Today was Kentucky Oaks day. A year after Rachel Alexandra performed one of the most dominating Oaks performance in contemporary era, she returned to Churchill Downs today to compete in the Grade 2 La Troienne. She lost the stretch battle to the closing kicks of Unrivaled Belle, who is one of the up and rising mare in this division.
As for the day's feature, it didn't disappoint a record Oaks day crowd of 116,046 people. The 6/5 favourite Blind Luck was in the 14th out of 14 position during the first part of the race, then went very wide in the second turn and charged home strongly to nosed out Ashland winner Evening Jewel, who proved that her last race wasn't a fluke and that she can handle conventional dirt. If Evening Jewel can train on, her stalking running style will always give her an advantage and it looks to me she is capable of winning at 9 furlongs.
The racing calendar in North America has transformed dramatically in the last few weeks. It has reached the point that I am getting overwhelmed with all the race cards in major tracks that I feel bad if I have missed an allowance at Arlington or a MSW at Woodbine. In today's Toronto version of the Daily Racing Form, it included full race card of Woodbine, Churchill Downs, Tampa Bay, Belmont, Arlington, Calder and Hollywood. Tracks like Golden Gate and Pimlico are already excluded. Several weeks later, other tracks like Monmouth, Delaware Park, Louisiana Downs and Fort Erie will join this group of racetracks.
My favourite race of the day though is the 18:40 at Fontwell, a Class 5 Handicap Chase at 3m2½f. A unique "8" shape chasing course with both a right turn and a left turn, a good crowd on a Friday afternoon card, always colourful and enthusiastic race call by my favourite Derek Thompson, and smart ride by apprentice Jimmy Derham and a gallant performance by the 13-year-old Boardroom Dancer who retook the lead from Mighty Moose in the final stride and won by a long head.
Chart
Replay
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Keeneland on Thursday April 22, 2010
Keeneland meet run annual in April and October. The weather resembles the summer racing season in Europe. The royale festivity atmosphere and strengthen the prestige of the meet. Even for claimers, having a victory at Keeneland will make owners feel better.
For the second consecutive days in a row, the card at Keeneland showed what it is known for in its April's meet- big competitive field with top class jockeys, lightly-raced, late developing but well-bred 3 and 4 year-olds running at long distances, and many of them are homebred and handled by good trainers.
Race 4 is a MSW for 3yo fillies run at 6f. First time starter Extravaganza won the race wire-to-wire in 1:10.37 at odds of 8/1. A 3yo bay filly by Elusive Quality, out of Shoppingwithbetty, by Danzig, Extravaganza is a homebred of Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm. She is trained by George Arnold II, and ridden by Julien Leparoux. Extravaganza's second dam is the Affirmed mare Buy The Firm, who won the Grade One Top Flight Handicap. Extravanganza was a $35,000 FTKJUL yearling buyback.
Race 5 is an allowance race for NW1X 4up fillies and mares run at 1 3/16m on the turf. The winner was the lightly raced French import The Gaillimh Girl (IRE). She had a race record of 1 win in 2 starts when a 3-year-old in France trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. This is her first start in North America. She is a 4yo bay filly by Montjeu (IRE), out of Pleiade (FR), by Baryshnikov (AUS), who himself is a stallion by Kenmare (FR). Both of Pleiade's dam, Petite Soeur, and second dam, Sigy, are graded stakes producer. Petite Soeur (by Lyphard) placed twice as a 3-year-old. She produced Gr3 winner Baroud D'Honneur. Sigy (by Habitat), was herself winner of the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. She's the dam of 3 black-type winners.
The Gaillimh Girl was sold by her trainer in the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in December 2009 at Deaville, and was sold to her current owner, the Bloodstock Management Stable, for a bargain €32,000. (note: there were 6 Montjeu mares sold at the sale with average price of €18,500.) Sent to the highly regarded trainer Christophe Clement, she was ridden by Julien Leparoux, and was sent off as the 2/1 favourite.
"THE GAILLIMN GIRL (IRE) steadied in the opening quarter behind rivals and eager to go, saved ground on the second turn, split the leaders with a furlong to go and proved best under pressure."
Race 6 is a MSW for 2yo run at 4.5f. Specialist trainer Wesley Ward had the odds-on favourite in Metropolitan Man who was ridden by Johnny Velazquez, and the 3yo New York-bred gelding did what's expected, "sprinted clear, set the pace of 22.33 and 44.83 near the rail and drew off under steady handling" and won by 7 1/4 lengths in 50.97. The trainer is pointing for the 2yo races at Royal Ascot in June once again, after his tremendous success last year. Metropolitan Man will surely add to his roster of speedy 2yo to be considered for the trip over the Atlantic Ocean.
Race 7 is a MSW for 3yo run at 1 3/16m on the main track. The winner was the third time starter Marenzio, a chestnut colt by Giant's Causeway, out of Bella Bellucci, by French Deputy. Michael Tabor own and bred Marenzio, and he also raced Bella Bellucci, who was best at 2 winning the Grade Two Astarita Stakes at Belmont over 6.5f. Marenzio is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Garrett Gomez. Being the favourite at odd of 8/5, Marenzio simply outstayed the rest. It was clear that once these 3-year-olds reached the one mile mark, those horses with the stamina have a big advantage running at races longer than 9f. "MARENZIO forwardly placed from the start, made a bold move along the inside after five furlongs, too over approaching the stretch and drew off while kept to the task." Nothing is impossible. He could go straight to the Preakness from here if he can get into the field.
Race 8 is the feature of the day, the Grade Three Bewitch Stakes for 4up f/m run at 1 1/2m on the turf. It was won by John Valezquez on Lady Shakespeare, a 4yo Theatrical filly, trained by Roger Attfield, bred and owned by Charles Fipke. I suppose she will be shipped back to Woodbine and probably has the E.P. Taylor already penciled as her goal of the season. The second-place finisher was Changing Skies (IRE), by Sadler's Wells, out of Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk. Changing Skies is owned by Ben Sangster's Swettenham Stud, and trained by Bill Mott.
The best is always reserved for the last. Race 9 has a cracking finish. It is an allowance race (NW1x) for 4up f/m run at 1 3/16m on the turf. The first three finishers, #1 Flaming Rose (Grand Slam x Rose of Tara (IRE), by Generous (IRE), #2 Bill's Presence (During x Presence Galore, by Deputy Minister), and #3 Dance Pass (Sadler's Wells x Super Gift (IRE), by Darshaan (GB)), were separated by 2 noses.
"FLAMING ROSE close up early while off the inside, lost position on the second turn, angled out four wide entering the stretch and closed well to be up in time. BILL'S PRESENCE closest to the pace off the inside, took over in midstretch and just missed. DANCE PASS (IRE) within striking distance three wide, made a mild run out of the second turn, responded willingly in the final furlong and closed well to miss."
The final time of the race is 1:57.70, 0.71 seconds slower than Race 5. The winner is a Woodbine based Canadian-bred homebred of the Chiefswood Stable, and trained by Eric Coatrieux.
For the second consecutive days in a row, the card at Keeneland showed what it is known for in its April's meet- big competitive field with top class jockeys, lightly-raced, late developing but well-bred 3 and 4 year-olds running at long distances, and many of them are homebred and handled by good trainers.
Race 4 is a MSW for 3yo fillies run at 6f. First time starter Extravaganza won the race wire-to-wire in 1:10.37 at odds of 8/1. A 3yo bay filly by Elusive Quality, out of Shoppingwithbetty, by Danzig, Extravaganza is a homebred of Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm. She is trained by George Arnold II, and ridden by Julien Leparoux. Extravaganza's second dam is the Affirmed mare Buy The Firm, who won the Grade One Top Flight Handicap. Extravanganza was a $35,000 FTKJUL yearling buyback.
Race 5 is an allowance race for NW1X 4up fillies and mares run at 1 3/16m on the turf. The winner was the lightly raced French import The Gaillimh Girl (IRE). She had a race record of 1 win in 2 starts when a 3-year-old in France trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. This is her first start in North America. She is a 4yo bay filly by Montjeu (IRE), out of Pleiade (FR), by Baryshnikov (AUS), who himself is a stallion by Kenmare (FR). Both of Pleiade's dam, Petite Soeur, and second dam, Sigy, are graded stakes producer. Petite Soeur (by Lyphard) placed twice as a 3-year-old. She produced Gr3 winner Baroud D'Honneur. Sigy (by Habitat), was herself winner of the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp. She's the dam of 3 black-type winners.
The Gaillimh Girl was sold by her trainer in the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in December 2009 at Deaville, and was sold to her current owner, the Bloodstock Management Stable, for a bargain €32,000. (note: there were 6 Montjeu mares sold at the sale with average price of €18,500.) Sent to the highly regarded trainer Christophe Clement, she was ridden by Julien Leparoux, and was sent off as the 2/1 favourite.
"THE GAILLIMN GIRL (IRE) steadied in the opening quarter behind rivals and eager to go, saved ground on the second turn, split the leaders with a furlong to go and proved best under pressure."
Race 6 is a MSW for 2yo run at 4.5f. Specialist trainer Wesley Ward had the odds-on favourite in Metropolitan Man who was ridden by Johnny Velazquez, and the 3yo New York-bred gelding did what's expected, "sprinted clear, set the pace of 22.33 and 44.83 near the rail and drew off under steady handling" and won by 7 1/4 lengths in 50.97. The trainer is pointing for the 2yo races at Royal Ascot in June once again, after his tremendous success last year. Metropolitan Man will surely add to his roster of speedy 2yo to be considered for the trip over the Atlantic Ocean.
Race 7 is a MSW for 3yo run at 1 3/16m on the main track. The winner was the third time starter Marenzio, a chestnut colt by Giant's Causeway, out of Bella Bellucci, by French Deputy. Michael Tabor own and bred Marenzio, and he also raced Bella Bellucci, who was best at 2 winning the Grade Two Astarita Stakes at Belmont over 6.5f. Marenzio is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Garrett Gomez. Being the favourite at odd of 8/5, Marenzio simply outstayed the rest. It was clear that once these 3-year-olds reached the one mile mark, those horses with the stamina have a big advantage running at races longer than 9f. "MARENZIO forwardly placed from the start, made a bold move along the inside after five furlongs, too over approaching the stretch and drew off while kept to the task." Nothing is impossible. He could go straight to the Preakness from here if he can get into the field.
Race 8 is the feature of the day, the Grade Three Bewitch Stakes for 4up f/m run at 1 1/2m on the turf. It was won by John Valezquez on Lady Shakespeare, a 4yo Theatrical filly, trained by Roger Attfield, bred and owned by Charles Fipke. I suppose she will be shipped back to Woodbine and probably has the E.P. Taylor already penciled as her goal of the season. The second-place finisher was Changing Skies (IRE), by Sadler's Wells, out of Magnificient Style, by Silver Hawk. Changing Skies is owned by Ben Sangster's Swettenham Stud, and trained by Bill Mott.
The best is always reserved for the last. Race 9 has a cracking finish. It is an allowance race (NW1x) for 4up f/m run at 1 3/16m on the turf. The first three finishers, #1 Flaming Rose (Grand Slam x Rose of Tara (IRE), by Generous (IRE), #2 Bill's Presence (During x Presence Galore, by Deputy Minister), and #3 Dance Pass (Sadler's Wells x Super Gift (IRE), by Darshaan (GB)), were separated by 2 noses.
"FLAMING ROSE close up early while off the inside, lost position on the second turn, angled out four wide entering the stretch and closed well to be up in time. BILL'S PRESENCE closest to the pace off the inside, took over in midstretch and just missed. DANCE PASS (IRE) within striking distance three wide, made a mild run out of the second turn, responded willingly in the final furlong and closed well to miss."
The final time of the race is 1:57.70, 0.71 seconds slower than Race 5. The winner is a Woodbine based Canadian-bred homebred of the Chiefswood Stable, and trained by Eric Coatrieux.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Keeneland on Wednesday April 21, 2010
There was no stakes race on Wednesday April 21, but the overall quality was very strong, and the jockeys have put in some spectacular performance in a number of the races.
Race 5 is a $100k maiden claiming race 3up at 7f. 9 went to the post. The favourite was Kiaran McLaughlin trained La Marseillaise, an Irish bred chestnut filly by Medicean. She was ridden by Garrett Gomez. Unhurried at the start, she settled saving ground inside at 7th, about 10 lengths behind. The pace of 22.69 and 45.75 was too fast for this group. Still staying inside at the turn for this 8/5 favourite probably have made some punters worry. But within splits of a second, Gomez steered the filly to the outside 5 wide and had clear view of the stretch. From that point onward, the filly picked up the runners one by one and won easily by 2 3/4 lengths.
Race 6 is an allowance race for NW1X for 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 on the turf. 9 went to the post. Javier Castelano rode Ernfold, a Canadian-bred filly by Stormy Atlantic, out of Wynyard, by Mr. Greeley and trained by Roger Attfield. Her last race was a gallant third behind Roan Inish and Resentless in the 1 1/16m Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine last October. The chart simply describe a very professional ride by the jockey and a rather green but promising run by this 3yo filly.
"Ernfold missed start a step, was unhurried into stride and settled in hand, took closer order three wide, shifted to the outside with three furlongs to run, circled six wide into the lane, collared Martita Sangrita with a furlong to run and edged clear late."
Earfold was a $100,000 KEESEP08 yearling graduate. I hope to see her soon at Woodbine!
Race 8 is an allowance race for NW2$X for 4up at 1 1/2m on the turf. It attracted a field of 11 horses. Winchester is the 2/5 odds-on favourite. A 5yo horse by Theatrical, out of Rum Charger, by Spectrum, he is trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Garrett Gomez. He race prominently and 3rd and 4th spot for the first mile of the race, only about 2 lengths behind. Drawing post #2, he saved ground all around. At the far turn, he seemed to lack racing room and punters were shouting for Gomez to shifted outside. But he can't! Turning for home, a gap was opened up and he steered outside, but another horse can inside and narrowed the gap. He split rivals, quickened late and was just up. It was a scary race for the favourite, and he never had clear sail until the last 70 yards and the horse picked up very nicely and accelerated. This was definitely not one of the best ride for Gomez, but the gutsy move to split horses was still very encouraging.
Race 9 is a MSW for 3yo fillies run at 1 3/16m on the polytrack. None of the horse trained in the US who's running a MSW in mid April of their sophomore season has the stamina to win legitimately at 1 3/16m. Having said that, Robby Albarado took the 7/2 second choice Wandaful Wandaful (by Hero's Tribute, out of Debby Dot Com, by Caller I.D.) right to the lead and set a reasonable fractions of 23.97, 48.44, 1:13.85, 1:39.95 and a final time of 1:59.73 to win the race by 2 1/4 length. Unraced at 2, the Kenneth McPeek-trained filly now has a record of 1 win, 2 seconds in 4 career starts.. With a dosage profile of 0-4-7-3-0, a DI of 1.14 and a CD of 0.07, her pedigree is free of Raise A Native. She is also inbred 4x4 to Nijinsky. She is one pace, but she seems to have the stamina to keep going for more. Maybe this is one of those rare ones in the US who loves to run all day. Wandaful Wandaful was a $12,000 FTKOCT08 yearling graduate.
Race 5 is a $100k maiden claiming race 3up at 7f. 9 went to the post. The favourite was Kiaran McLaughlin trained La Marseillaise, an Irish bred chestnut filly by Medicean. She was ridden by Garrett Gomez. Unhurried at the start, she settled saving ground inside at 7th, about 10 lengths behind. The pace of 22.69 and 45.75 was too fast for this group. Still staying inside at the turn for this 8/5 favourite probably have made some punters worry. But within splits of a second, Gomez steered the filly to the outside 5 wide and had clear view of the stretch. From that point onward, the filly picked up the runners one by one and won easily by 2 3/4 lengths.
Race 6 is an allowance race for NW1X for 3yo fillies at 1 1/8 on the turf. 9 went to the post. Javier Castelano rode Ernfold, a Canadian-bred filly by Stormy Atlantic, out of Wynyard, by Mr. Greeley and trained by Roger Attfield. Her last race was a gallant third behind Roan Inish and Resentless in the 1 1/16m Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine last October. The chart simply describe a very professional ride by the jockey and a rather green but promising run by this 3yo filly.
"Ernfold missed start a step, was unhurried into stride and settled in hand, took closer order three wide, shifted to the outside with three furlongs to run, circled six wide into the lane, collared Martita Sangrita with a furlong to run and edged clear late."
Earfold was a $100,000 KEESEP08 yearling graduate. I hope to see her soon at Woodbine!
Race 8 is an allowance race for NW2$X for 4up at 1 1/2m on the turf. It attracted a field of 11 horses. Winchester is the 2/5 odds-on favourite. A 5yo horse by Theatrical, out of Rum Charger, by Spectrum, he is trained by Christophe Clement and ridden by Garrett Gomez. He race prominently and 3rd and 4th spot for the first mile of the race, only about 2 lengths behind. Drawing post #2, he saved ground all around. At the far turn, he seemed to lack racing room and punters were shouting for Gomez to shifted outside. But he can't! Turning for home, a gap was opened up and he steered outside, but another horse can inside and narrowed the gap. He split rivals, quickened late and was just up. It was a scary race for the favourite, and he never had clear sail until the last 70 yards and the horse picked up very nicely and accelerated. This was definitely not one of the best ride for Gomez, but the gutsy move to split horses was still very encouraging.
Race 9 is a MSW for 3yo fillies run at 1 3/16m on the polytrack. None of the horse trained in the US who's running a MSW in mid April of their sophomore season has the stamina to win legitimately at 1 3/16m. Having said that, Robby Albarado took the 7/2 second choice Wandaful Wandaful (by Hero's Tribute, out of Debby Dot Com, by Caller I.D.) right to the lead and set a reasonable fractions of 23.97, 48.44, 1:13.85, 1:39.95 and a final time of 1:59.73 to win the race by 2 1/4 length. Unraced at 2, the Kenneth McPeek-trained filly now has a record of 1 win, 2 seconds in 4 career starts.. With a dosage profile of 0-4-7-3-0, a DI of 1.14 and a CD of 0.07, her pedigree is free of Raise A Native. She is also inbred 4x4 to Nijinsky. She is one pace, but she seems to have the stamina to keep going for more. Maybe this is one of those rare ones in the US who loves to run all day. Wandaful Wandaful was a $12,000 FTKOCT08 yearling graduate.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
April 4, 2010 Racing Review - Kindergarden Kid
Three months have been past in 2010 and we now enter April. The weather here feels more like the beginning of summer, with day time high of 25C in the last couple of days.
Jump Racing
It has already be more than 2 weeks since Cheltenham. I have to say that I really missed it. In this era in which horse racing exist 363 of 365 days in a year, there must be some form of racing going on somewhere in the world, so I shouldn't have this kind of feeling. For more than 4 months, human and horses were doing everything they can at various racecourses to somehow get their ticket to Cheltenham. With 4 consecutive days of racing and a total of 26 races, horse racing excitement reached the climax! When the Grand Annual Chase was finished, the excitement dropped to the bottom level.
With the exception for those whose primary goal is the Grand National (English, Scottish or Irish version), winners or losers from Cheltenham will find their consolation races at Aintree or Punchestown just a few weeks later, and then that's the end. I don't like this feeling. It is very different from the Arc meet or the Breeders' Cup, in a sense that I know a few of the top horses will retire and racing at the top level will be halted for a few months but racing at elsewhere around the world have just warmed up and start moving into the major actions. Whereas for jump racing, I have to wait 5-6 months as I don't understand French.
Racing Scene in North America
With the sudden change of the weather, the completion of the meets at several tracks and the start of the meets at other tracks, the momentum of racing here in North America is so different now from just several weeks ago. The road to the triple crown still dominates the scene as three-year-olds are sorting out among themselves at Hawthorne, Aqueduct and Santa Anita this week and then at Oaklawn and Keeneland next week. The meet at Turfway Park and Fair Grounds have finished; Aqueduct is moved to the outer track and Tom Durkin's voice is back; Oaklawn's meet is coming to an end next week and all the big jockeys are leaving Gulfstream as it is moving to the final month of their meet before handing over to Calder. Woodbine's meet has also begun with a series of 5f races, and of course, allowance race run for $91,000!
Then I saw a lot of people and horses at Keeneland, who is providing live streaming of all their races at their website with no registration required, plus, at high definition. That is incredible. The horses and the people are coming from various winter meets, but the atmosphere at Keeneland is so different, it makes an ordinary claiming race more interesting.
The only "A" track that is seemed to be immune from this transition is Santa Anita, where the backdrop is still fascinating and the size of the field is still pathetic!
I admit that I am overwhelm by all these change. The opportunity of high quality racing just keep coming at me. I feel bad that I may have missed the Oaklawn Handicap or the Skip Away Stakes, or the debut of Eight Belle's 3-year-old half sister in a MSW at SA.
I am looking forward to the $1 Million Charles Towns Classic on April 17.
Australia
It was Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Garden at Sydney. This is probably the second biggest day of racing in Australia, behind the Melbourne Cup day in terms of publicity. 2-year-olds in Australia only need to demonstrate they can go up to 1200m, And technically you can retire immediately after that to ensure the high stud fee if you are a colt. For fillies, naturally they will go on for another season. However, my favourite of the day was Faint Perfume again, this time in the 2000m Vinery Park Stud Stakes-G1.
Dubai
Gloria de Campeao won the Dubai World Cup. Was he a world champion. No. He simply was the winner of a race named Dubai World Cup that happened to have a purse of $10,000,000 this year and was run on a synthetic surface for the first time in the race's 15 years history. Was the field terrible? Not really, it is actually pretty good based on the active older horses around. Was he a deserved winner? It doesn't matter. The bottom line was that he won. It was a smart ride though. Did he have a legitimate chance? Obviously.
Race of the Week
My favourite race of the week is a 3-year-old named Kindergarden Kid, a $500,000 KEESEP yearling by Dynaformer. In his second career start, he won a 11f MSW at Gulfstream on the turf on March 31. His competitions were barely better than mediocre, but you rarely find a maiden race for three-year-olds run at 11f before the end of March in North America. So regardless of the result, I still like the race. Kindergarden Kid was the 4/5 choice and owned by the Lael Stable. It was a bouncy ride and not a fluent trip. He still looked quite green and fresh. Did I see a potential Belmont runner here? There is a $60k allowance race at 1 1/2m on the dirt at Belmont on May8. His asset is stamina, something that is so rare nowadays for racing here in North America.
Jump Racing
It has already be more than 2 weeks since Cheltenham. I have to say that I really missed it. In this era in which horse racing exist 363 of 365 days in a year, there must be some form of racing going on somewhere in the world, so I shouldn't have this kind of feeling. For more than 4 months, human and horses were doing everything they can at various racecourses to somehow get their ticket to Cheltenham. With 4 consecutive days of racing and a total of 26 races, horse racing excitement reached the climax! When the Grand Annual Chase was finished, the excitement dropped to the bottom level.
With the exception for those whose primary goal is the Grand National (English, Scottish or Irish version), winners or losers from Cheltenham will find their consolation races at Aintree or Punchestown just a few weeks later, and then that's the end. I don't like this feeling. It is very different from the Arc meet or the Breeders' Cup, in a sense that I know a few of the top horses will retire and racing at the top level will be halted for a few months but racing at elsewhere around the world have just warmed up and start moving into the major actions. Whereas for jump racing, I have to wait 5-6 months as I don't understand French.
Racing Scene in North America
With the sudden change of the weather, the completion of the meets at several tracks and the start of the meets at other tracks, the momentum of racing here in North America is so different now from just several weeks ago. The road to the triple crown still dominates the scene as three-year-olds are sorting out among themselves at Hawthorne, Aqueduct and Santa Anita this week and then at Oaklawn and Keeneland next week. The meet at Turfway Park and Fair Grounds have finished; Aqueduct is moved to the outer track and Tom Durkin's voice is back; Oaklawn's meet is coming to an end next week and all the big jockeys are leaving Gulfstream as it is moving to the final month of their meet before handing over to Calder. Woodbine's meet has also begun with a series of 5f races, and of course, allowance race run for $91,000!
Then I saw a lot of people and horses at Keeneland, who is providing live streaming of all their races at their website with no registration required, plus, at high definition. That is incredible. The horses and the people are coming from various winter meets, but the atmosphere at Keeneland is so different, it makes an ordinary claiming race more interesting.
The only "A" track that is seemed to be immune from this transition is Santa Anita, where the backdrop is still fascinating and the size of the field is still pathetic!
I admit that I am overwhelm by all these change. The opportunity of high quality racing just keep coming at me. I feel bad that I may have missed the Oaklawn Handicap or the Skip Away Stakes, or the debut of Eight Belle's 3-year-old half sister in a MSW at SA.
I am looking forward to the $1 Million Charles Towns Classic on April 17.
Australia
It was Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Garden at Sydney. This is probably the second biggest day of racing in Australia, behind the Melbourne Cup day in terms of publicity. 2-year-olds in Australia only need to demonstrate they can go up to 1200m, And technically you can retire immediately after that to ensure the high stud fee if you are a colt. For fillies, naturally they will go on for another season. However, my favourite of the day was Faint Perfume again, this time in the 2000m Vinery Park Stud Stakes-G1.
Dubai
Gloria de Campeao won the Dubai World Cup. Was he a world champion. No. He simply was the winner of a race named Dubai World Cup that happened to have a purse of $10,000,000 this year and was run on a synthetic surface for the first time in the race's 15 years history. Was the field terrible? Not really, it is actually pretty good based on the active older horses around. Was he a deserved winner? It doesn't matter. The bottom line was that he won. It was a smart ride though. Did he have a legitimate chance? Obviously.
Race of the Week
My favourite race of the week is a 3-year-old named Kindergarden Kid, a $500,000 KEESEP yearling by Dynaformer. In his second career start, he won a 11f MSW at Gulfstream on the turf on March 31. His competitions were barely better than mediocre, but you rarely find a maiden race for three-year-olds run at 11f before the end of March in North America. So regardless of the result, I still like the race. Kindergarden Kid was the 4/5 choice and owned by the Lael Stable. It was a bouncy ride and not a fluent trip. He still looked quite green and fresh. Did I see a potential Belmont runner here? There is a $60k allowance race at 1 1/2m on the dirt at Belmont on May8. His asset is stamina, something that is so rare nowadays for racing here in North America.
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