Friday, September 28, 2012

LET'S GO TO THE RACES!
September 28-30

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 
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12 NOON PDT/3:00 EDT

www.Zenyatta.com will be live-streaming the festivities at Santa Anita Park, courtesy of HRTV.  According to the announcement at Zenyatta web site, the feed will be posted this evening, with the ceremony happening tomorrow at 12 pm PDT/3:00 EDT.  

Q&A with Sculptress Nina Kaiser on the Zenyatta statue

Simple LIST of races, time ordered format:  Click here
ENTRIES, time ordered format: Click here

FLASH:  SANTA ANITA SUPER SATURDAY - DRF LIVE STREAM - click here

TCI Insider - VIDEO - Jon and Joel, along with Ed DeRosa, handicap Saturday's big day
Mike Watchmaker's Weekend Warrior, handicaps Saturday big races

Here are the highlights that stand out for me.  To get more in-depth handicapping information, you will find many links here to see what the "experts" have to say.

SUPER SATURDAY:
The BELDAME at Belmont - Several of my favorites are ROYAL DELTA, IT'S TRICKY, and DISPOSABLEPLEASURE, all are talented and each can make the case they could win this Grade 1.  G2 KELSO:  Love several in this race, but the edge goes to SHACKLEFORD, then TO HONOR AND SERVE, and TRICKMEISTER.    G1 VOSBURGH at Belmont:  JUSTIN PHILLIP, FORT LOUDON, SEAN AVERY, THE LUMBER GUY, and the durable, hard-knocking 7 year old CAIXA ELETRONICA, my favorite, will be making his 56th start, after recently winning the Charles Town Classic and the True North Handicap. 

In the JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC, at 1 1/2 mile - LITTLE MIKE gets the edge as he's been winning everything in site this year, including the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the Grade 1 Turf Classic, and the Sunshine Million.  POINT OF ENTRY has also been making his bid for an end of season Eclipse award, with two recent Grade 1s in the Man O' War and the Sword Dancer, and the Elkhorn.  All of these races have been at the 1 1/2 mile distance.  Aidan O'Brien's TREASURE BEACH has shipped in, with Jamie Spencer in the irons.   

Is there anything any bigger than the JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP?  Huge race with a 94 year old history behind it and the ghosts of Seattle Slew, Exceller, Affirmed all bringing a heightened excitement to this annual Fall classic.  The following all can make the case they can win:  RON THE GREEK, RULER ON ICE, STAY THIRSTY, FORT LARNED, ATIGUN, and FLAT OUT. 

In the ZENYATTA STAKES (formerly Oak Tree Lady's Secret), I will be pulling for SWITCH, who is the only horse in this race to have run against the race's namesale, Zenyatta.  Switch will be nearing the winding down of her career, and I would love for her to go out winning this big Grade 1.  Others to consider, with some of the connections to Zenyatta also making their bid, include STAR BILLING, who is trained by John Shirreffs; LOVE AND PRIDE, INCLUDE ME OUT, JOYFUL VICTORY, and the Chile sensation, AMANI, trained by Neil Drysdale. 

The G1 AWESOME AGAIN asks the question: Will GAME ON DUDE get back on his winning ways?  Also, RICHARD'S KID (he raced against Zenyatta, remember?) RAIL TRIP, NONIOS (love any of the Pleasantly Perfect progeny); SUGGESTIVE BOY (ARG) could have a say in the outcome.
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DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

Races in time ordered format with cards below.

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Friday, September 21, 2012


Saturday, September 22

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 
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HAPPY RETIREMENT, AWESOME GEM!!!
The old man going to green pastures, retiring at 9 after a very successful run. 



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NOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY BUT some exciting matchups nevertheless on Saturday.
Light fare this weekend, but Parx Racing offers not one, but two $1 Million races Saturday in the Grade 1 COTILLION and Grade 2 PENNSYLVANIA DERBY, as well as a lucrative supporting feature in the $300,000 GALLANT BOB STAKES. There are also rich races Saturday at other tracks that don’t often grab the spotlight, namely the $400,000 Charles Town Oaks and the Grade 3, $200,000 KENT STAKES at Delaware Park. Meanwhile, at Belmont Park, the main event is a good renewal of the Grade 2, $200,000 GALLANT BLOOM HANDICAP.  Read more at source...

ALPHA and GOLDEN TICKET, the two 3-year-olds colts who dead-heated in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 25 at Saratoga, were both entered on Monday in Saturday’s $1 Million PENNSYLVANIA DERBY at Parx Racing in Philadelphia, headlining a star-studded race card that also includes the first match-up of the 3-year-old fillies QUESTING and MY MISS AURELIA.  The Pennsylvania Derby is one of two million-dollar races on Saturday at Parx, along with the COTILLION, which drew QUESTING and MY MISS AURELIA, last year’s 2-year-old champion filly. While both races have the same purse, the Derby stands out as the better betting race, drawing eight 3-year-olds males, while the presence of Questing and My Miss Aurelia in the Cotillion scared off all but two other fillies.  Read more at source...

Just want a simple LIST of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the ENTRIES?    Click here 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

Races in time ordered format with cards below.

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Friday, September 14, 2012







SEPT. 15-16

A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 
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                        Includes the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes and the Woodbine Mile with Wise Dan and Cityscape
                        Juveniles on display

Just want a simple LIST of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the ENTRIES?    Click here 

TWO ST. LEGERS!
CAMELOT will attempt to live up to his heroic name this Saturday when he goes to post to try for something that hasn't been done in Great Britain in 42 years: take home a win in the final leg of the English Triple Crown, the 1 3/4 mile, the GRADE 1 ENGLISH ST. LEGER. Jay Hovdey sets the table for us and gives us a rundown on the rest of the field. Click here. Post time on Saturday will be 10:40 a.m. EDT/3:40 p.m. in GB.

There's another "St. Leger" race being run on Saturday. FAME AND GLORY will be aiming to give the Ballydoyle team a Classic double as he leads nine contenders for Saturday's Gain Horse Feeds IRISH ST. LEGER at the Curragh. Trainer Aidan O'Brien is planning to take a helicopter to the track after watching Triple Crown-seeking Camelot try to complete his hat-trick in the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

Not to be confused with the English St. Leger, the IRISH ST. LEGER is 1 3/4 miles and will be run at The Curragh in Ireland on SATURDAY. If you watched Royal Ascot this year in June, amid the din of all the flurry about Black Caviar and Frankel's historic successes, there was a remarkable feat by a little-known horse by the name of SIMENON. At Royal Ascot, Simenon won a marathon of 2 1/2 miles on June 19, and then 4 days later on June 23 won another marathon of 2 3/4 miles! He is "shortening up" (!) in the Irish St. Leger, which is a 1 3/4 mile race. And, he's not even the favorite!

Other notable home-trained contenders include the John Oxx-trained Hartani, who will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire, and Massiyn who represents Michael Halford. Johnny Murtagh had been in line to dash back from Doncaster, where he rides Ursa Major in the Leger, to partner stablemate Royal Diamond in the Irish equivalent but Niall McCullagh has now been booked to ride. Steps To Freedom and Shu Lewis complete the line-up.  Post time is 6:05 p.m. local time, or 1:05 p.m. EDT

OTHER ACTION includes the Grade 1 GARDEN CITY on Saturday at Belmont, and Sunday is WOODBINE MILE and NORTHERN DANCER TURF, both Grade 1 races at Woodbine.  A simple list of races as well as entries follows.   TCI Insider Video with Jon Cunningham and Joel Siegel  Jon & Joel discuss the Top 5 debutantes in the country leading up to what is an intriguing Breeders' Cup division in 2012 -- the Juvenile Fillies. The boys also recap leading female sprinter Groupie Doll's big comeback last weekend, and take a look at the potential impact this Sunday's Woodbine Mile will have on this year's Breeders' Cup Mile.

NOTE ABOUT PAYNTER:  He's still doing well, he's able to go outside and graze, his feet are comfortable, however, he's not totally out of the woods, yet, so thoughts and prayers are still needed.  He's been a brave boy, and Dr. Larry Bramlage offered some very good words of hope that Paynter may actually be able to return to racing if he continues to improve the way he has been doing. 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

TIP:  If you enjoy watching overseas racing action, registration is free at www.AtTheRaces.com and the site has the fastest replay results along with full race cards.  Give it a try.  European races, especially those in Great Britain and Ireland, provide a wider view of the sport.  In Great Britain and other European countries, there are more middle distance and longer races.  In the U.S. a race of 1 1/2 miles is considered a marathon, however, in Great Britain and elsewhere, that is a middle distance race length.  Fully 50% of the races run overseas are over 1 1/4 miles, some as long as nearly 3 miles. 

Races in time ordered format with cards below.

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Friday, September 7, 2012

LET'S GO TO THE RACES, SEPT. 8-9


A quick reference tool meant to help the newer fan (like me!) 

NOTE:   AFTER A RACE HAS BEEN RUN, you can return here, click on the CARD to view the Results and watch a REPLAY. 
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Best wishes to Paynter for a full recovery.  News has been encouraging in the last couple of days and here's hoping the news continues to be excellent!







Flash!  Saturday:  DRF LIVE STREAMING Super Derby & all races La. Downs - click here
Flash!   Sunday: DRF LIVE STREAMING HASTINGS FULL CARD - Click Here
                                  Watch British Columbia Derby - Hastings Racecourse
                                   Mario Gutierrez will try to win BC Derby for mentor

LOUISIANA SUPER DERBY - Saturday, 6:10 p.m. EDT, and
PRESQUE ISLE MASTERS STAKES - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT
No Grade 1s in the U.S., but some interesting racing fare, nonetheless, with the two major races being the Grade 2 $500,000 SUPER DERBY at Louisiana Downs, and the Grade 2 $400,000 MASTERS STAKES at Presque Isle Downs for fillies and mares, running at 6.5 furlong, all on Saturday. 

Mike Watchmaker with the DRF believes that Fly Lexis Fly is the horse to beat in the Super Derby, even though he's not the favorite.  He covers the other racing action over the weekend, as well.  Mike Watchmaker "Weekend Warrior"

IRISH CHAMPION STAKES - Saturday, 12:45 p.m. EDT
IT'S SNOW FAIRY IN A DUEL OVER NATHANIEL!!  Write-up and video replay - click here

Have to go overseas for some great Grade 1 action, one being the SPRINT CUP at Haygood in Great Britain, where William Buick will ride ORTENSIA, then catch a helicopter ride to Leopardstown in Ireland to ride NATHANIEL in the IRISH CHAMPION STAKES.  Confidence appears to be strong behind Nathaniel for victory in Saturday's mouthwatering clash with Snow Fairy and St Nicholas Abbey in the Group 1 Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes despite trainer John Gosden saying his runner will not be at his peak.  Snow Fairy's jockey Frankie Dettori said he was unsure about how seriously he was planning to take Gosden's comments and bookmakers have followed suit with Ladbrokes shortening the Coral-Eclipse winner to 11-10 favourite (from 5-4), William Hill going 11-10 (from 11-8) and bet365 cutting him to 5-4 (from 11-8) for the race.  Nathaniel, Snow Fairy and St Nicholas Abbey will be joined in the Irish Champion Stakes by Born To Sea, Light Heavy and Daddy Long Legs and Pat Keogh, Leopardstown's chief executive, believes it will be "a race to remember".  He said: "We're delighted with the standard of the field for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes this year as it features really exciting horses." 

BRITISH COLUMBIA DERBY - Sunday, 8:10 p.m. EDTThe Grade 3 BRITISH COLUMBIA DERBY at Hastings Race Course, will be live-streamed on DRF (click here) which will include the full card for the day.  This is the "home" course for Mario Gutierrez, who became an overnight star when he rode I'll Have Another to historic wins in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakenss this spring.  Mario will be riding for his mentor, Glen Todd, and hopes to bring home a win for his friend of a race that thus far has eluded him.  The horse, Taylor's Deal, clearly the horse to beat on Sunday, has won three of his four starts this year, including the British Columbia Cup Stellar’s Jay Aug. 6 by a commanding 5 1/4 lengths.  Good luck to Mario and Mr. Todd, along with the trainer, Troy Taylor!

TC Insider - Video  The TCI Boys go on location to Keeneland on the heels of next week's world-renowned September yearling sale. They discuss key races that are sure to have Breeders' Cup implications, and catch up with Taylor Made Sales' Mark Taylor to talk about the wide-ranging impact the upcoming sale has on the Thoroughbred horse racing industry.


Just want a simple LIST of the races, time ordered?  Click here
How about a Time Ordered list with the ENTRIES?    Click here 

DON'T FORGET:  Even if you can't watch the U.S. races live, you can come back here after the race has run, click on the CARD listed under the race, and watch a REPLAY!  Let's go to the races!

Races in time ordered format with cards below.

Read more »
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