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Zenyatta Highlights 2009 Breeders’ Cup 2009-11-05
Zenyatta’s barn has sent her to the Breeders’ Cup Classic instead of trying to go
for the repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. She is the 5-2 morning line
favorite and will be ridden by regular rider Mike Smith. She’ll face 12 other rivals
including Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird and Belmont Stakes winner
Summer Bird.
As expected, Rachel Alexandra will not be racing in the Breeders’ Cup this year.
There are six Breeders’ Cup races on Friday’s card. First post is 2:15pm ET.
There are eight Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday’s card. First post is 1:05pm ET.
XpressBet will offer wagering online and by phone for the Breeders’ Cup. There will also be advance wagering on Friday for Saturday’s card.
The wagering menu includes 10-cent superfectas and Super High 5 wagering in the Ladies’ Classic on Friday and the Classic on Saturday.
Also, there is a new wager called the Jockey Head2Head. Wagering on the Head2Head is just like wagering on a horse to win, except it will be jockeys. There will be a total of 13 individual jockeys and 1 all-others (14 total betting interests). The jockey that wins the most Breeders’ Cup races over the two day period will be the winner of the wager.
Here is the list of Head2Head Jockey Program Numbers:
Program Number. Jockey Name (# of mounts in Breeders’ Cup) – Morning Line Odds
1. Garret Gomez (11) – 3/1
2. Javier Castellano (4) – 50/1
3. Rafael Bejarano (7) – 40/1
4. Kent Desomreaux (9) – 10/1
5. John Murtagh (6) – 6/1
6. Frankie Dettori (7) – 6/1
7. John Velasquez (10) – 5/1
8. Ryan Moore (5) – 20/1
9. Joel Rosario (7) – 50/1
10. Mike Smith (6) – 12/1
11. Julien Leparoux (11) – 6/1
12. Alan Garcia (6) – 30/1
13. Rajiv Maragh (6) – 15/1
14. All other jockeys (all races) – 8/1
There is also a two-day double that will consist of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic on Friday and the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.
Enjoy the Breeders’ Cup and good luck at the races!
WHAT TO PLAY THIS WEEKEND 2009-10-02
Belmont’s championship meet is well underway and this Saturday features an excellent group of stakes races, highlighted by the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Below is a complete list of major stakes races this weekend.
Saturday, October 3:
Belmont Park – Jockey Club Gold Cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, Vosburgh Stakes, Flower Bowl, Beldame
Hawthorne – Hawthorne Gold Cup
Philadelphia Park – Fitz Dixon Cotillion Stakes
Hoosier Park – Indiana Derby
Thistledown – Ohio Derby
Red Mile (H) – Kentucky Futurity
Sunday, October 4:
Oak Tree – Norfolk Stakes, Oak Leaf Stakes
Belmont – Pilgrim Stakes, Miss Grillo Stakes
These are just a few of the many great races available to wager on this weekend.
A Look Back at the Super Derby 2009-09-18
As the 30th running of the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs is scheduled this Saturday afternoon, I thought it would be a good chance to look at some of the horses that have won this race and what they did in their careers.
1983 - Sunny’s Halo: Second Canadian-bred to with the Kentucky Derby. He also won the Arkansas Derby. He broke the track record at Louisiana Downs when he won the Super Derby by 12 lengths.
1987 – Alysheba: He won the both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes in his attempt to win the Triple Crown. As a 4-year-old he won the Santa Anita Handicap and Woodward Stakes before a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic which helped him secure the 1988 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.
1989 – Sunday Silence: Won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes as well as the Santa Anita Derby, San Felipe Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, all as a 3-year-old. Became one of Japan’s most successful sires.
2000 – Tiznow: Won the 2000 and 2001 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Classic as well as the Goodwood Handicap and the Santa Anita Handicap.
For being 30 years young, the Super Derby has already amassed quite a history. What 3-year-old will add to this legendary group? Find out Saturday at beautiful Louisiana Downs.
BELMONT DOUBLE GRADE I STAKES SATURDAY 2009-09-11
Belmont’s first Saturday of the fall championship meet is highlighted by two Grade I stakes races, the Ruffian Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up and the Garden City Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on the turf. Below are some things to look out for in those feature races.
Ruffian Handicap::
Expected Favorite: # 1 Seventh Street – is already a multiple Grade I winner this year by taking the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn earlier this meet as well as the Go For Wand Handicap at Saratoga in the slop. She is the even money morning line favorite.
Potential Upset: #5 Luna Vega – you don’t see 7-2 morning line horses as “upsets” much, but she may have a chance against #1 Seventh Street. She finished 6th to Seventh Street in the Go for Wand, but bounced back nicely with a victory in the Grade II Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park. One of Steve Asmussen’s go to riders, Shaun Bridgmohan will take the ride.
Garden City Handicap::
Weather will be key for this race. If the weather is anything like Friday, then expect a soft or yielding turf course. If it dries out overnight, maybe it can be upgraded to good.
Expected Favorite: # 1 Gozzip Girl – has been fantastic, so matter where or what surface she races on. Already this year, she has three graded stakes wins, including the Grade I American Oaks at Hollywood Park in her last start. She has proven that a wet turf course won’t stop her, as she took the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont on May 30 on a yielding turf course.
Potential Upset: #9 Keertana – has a nice streak of stakes starts, including finishing 2nd to #6 Shared Account in the Grade II Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga. It’ll be a challenge to beat the Gozzip Girl, but the fact that she as run on a wet turf course and raced well shows that she has the potential to pull the upset.
RACHEL HIGHLIGHTS LABOR DAY WEEKEND 2009-09-04
This Labor Day weekend is full of great stakes races highlighted by the always exciting Rachel Alexandra on Saturday. The Preakness Stakes winner looks to continue her dominance this Saturday in the Woodward at Saratoga. She already has beaten all of her male and female 3-year-old opponents and now will look to beat older horses for the first time. Her victory would be historic as if her victories have not already cemented her as one of the great fillies of all time.
Sunday ‘s Pacific Classic features a battle between Colonel John and Einstein. Colonel John enters this race off of a victory in the Wicker Stakes on Del Mar’s turf course. He was a multiple Grade I winner as a 3-year-old last year taking the Santa Anita Derby and the Travers Stakes. The 5-2 morning line favorite is going to be tested by the versatile Einstein. No matter what racing surface, he always brings his ‘A’ game. This year alone, he has victories in the Santa Anita Handicap on the synthetic main track as well as on the turf course at Churchill Downs Turf Classic. He also finished third on the traditional main track surface at Churchill in the Stephen Foster.
Labor Day features some hopeful 2-year-olds in the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar; as well as the Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park, the Cane Pace at Freehold, and the All-American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN TRAVERS STAKES 2009-08-28
Expected Favorite:
# 4 Quality Road – The Florida Derby winner missed the entire Triple Crown due to a foot injury, but looks to be healthy. Since then he’s moved to the barn of Todd Pletcher. His comeback race was the 6 ˝ furlong Grade II Amsterdam at Saratoga. He clearly showed he was the class of the field after he had a stumbled break as a well as going 5 wide and was still able to win.
Potential Upset:
#5 Our Edge – This Nick Zito trained 3-year-old is coming off of an absolutely dominating performance in the Grade III Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park. This was his third consecutive victory and his first graded stakes win. He’ll likely go out for the lead. If he can separate himself from the rest of the field and set some slow fractions, he could be crossing the wire first. Alan Garcia, one of this meet’s top riders, will be aboard.
Also look out for Kensei and Summer Bird. Kensei has been fantastic in his last two victories, including the local prep race, the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes. He has already beaten a few runners here, including Warrior’s Reward and Charitable Man. Summer Bird is the Belmont Stakes winner. His return to the races was a solid second place finish to superstar filly Rachel Alexandra in the Grade I Haskell Invitational at Monmouth.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SWORD DANCER 2009-08-14
Expected Favorite:
# 1 Grand Courturier – The defending champion looks to return to his top form after the last couple of disappointing races. He had to go 6 wide in the Man O’ War last time out. He could get a better trip her with the rail post. He seems brings his best toward the end of summer into the fall. Last September, he absolutely crushed the field in his 10+ length victory in the Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont. His closing kick would benefit a wet turf course, so make sure to watch out for him if it rains.
Potential Upset:
#3 Lauro – This 6-year-old has been really solid the last couple of starts, except for the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont. That start could be excused because he probably didn’t take too kindly on the yielding turf course. Losing to Gio Ponti isn’t that bad either, considering that Gio Ponti just won the Arlington Million last week. He couldn’t chase down Presious Passion in the United Nations at Monmouth, but there is nothing wrong with a solid second there. A firm turf course may be key if he wants to pull the upset.
#9 Brass Hat:
Just want to give some love to the 8-year-old gelding that keeps coming back from career ending type injuries only to return and win graded stakes races. He’s totally reinvented as a turf horse after a successful run on dirt surfaces that included a trip to the winner’s circle in the Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream. He had a solid third place performance in the United Nations last out. Not sure if he can win this race, but it is the personal sentimental choice.
Welcome! 2009-07-16
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