Horses in Training - Expected Starts for Top Horses – January 12:

Acoma - 4yo f - Carroll - Helen Alexander & Helen Groves -
Afrashad – 7yo c- Suroor – Godolphin –
Albertus Maximus - 5yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31 - then Dubai campaign
Archipenko - 5yo c- de Kock - Sheikh Mo -
Ariege - 4yo f - Frankel - Stronach -
Arson Squad - 5yo c - Dutrow - Siegels
Asiatic Boy – 5yo c – De Kock – Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum –
Ball Four - 8yo g - Pletcher - Coolmore - Santa Anita Handicap - March 7
Barrier Reef - 4yo c - Albertrani - Darley - possible for Evening Attire - Aqueduct - Jan 17
Becrux – 7yo g – Drysdale – Team Valor & Barber –
Bob Black Jack - 4yo c - Kasparoff - Harmon & Kasparoff - out for several months with injury
Brillant – 6yo c – Howard – Mill House - Fair Grounds campaign
Casino Drive - 4yo c - Fujisawa - Hidetoshi -
Champs Elysees – 6yo h – Frankel – Juddmonte -
Charitable Man - 4yo c - McLaughlin - Warrens
Chatain – 6yo c- Penna – Lazy F Ranch –
Cocoa Beach - 5yo m- Suroor - Godolphin - will return in spring in New York
Colonel John – 4yo c – Harty – WinStar Farm - San Fernando - Santa Anita - Jan 17 or Strub - Santa Anita - Feb 7
Commentator – 7yo c – Zito – Farmer – one start in Florida then northern campaign
Cool Coal Man - 4yo c - Zito - LaPenta -
Court Vision - 4yo c - Mott - IEAH & WinStar - winter in Florida
Cowboy Cal – 4yo c – Pletcher – Stonerside – San Pasqual - Santa Anita - Jan 10 or San Fernando - Santa Anita - Jan 17 - then Strub - Santa Anita - Feb 7 - then Santa Anita Handicap - March 7
Cribnote - 3yo c- Violette - Red Diamond Stable - 3 year old campaign in Florida
Daiwa Scarlet - 5yo m- Matsuda - Keizo Oshiro - - February Stakes - Tokyo - Feb 24 - then race on Dubai World Cup night
Dearest Trickski - 5yo m- Sadler - Mankiewicz
Denis of Cork - 4yo c - Carroll -Warrens - injured - out til 2009
Diabolical – 6yo c- Suroor - Godolphin -
Diamond Stripes - 6yo h - Dutrow - Four Roses Thoroughbreds
Doctor Dino – 7yo h – Gibson – Salmean - Hong Kong Vase - Sha Tin - Dec 14
Eagle Mountain – 5yo c- de Kock - Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa - Super Thursday prep day in Dubai - March 5 – then Dubai Duty Free or Dubai Sheema Classic - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Einstein – 7yo h – Pitts – Midnight Cry - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31 or FP Turf Cap - Feb 23
El Gato Malo - 4yo g- C Dollase - West Point -
Euroears - 5yo c - Calhoun - Helzers - layoff for surgery
Fabulous Strike - Beattie - Downey – 6yo c – Dubai Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Fierce Wind - 4yo c - Zito - out of training for now - lung problem
Fleeting Spirit - 4yo f - Noseda - The Searchers
Forever Together – 5yo f – Sheppard – Augustin Stable - 2009 campaign to begin at Keeneland
Gayego - 4yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell - Dubai Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Genuine Devotion - 5yo f - McLaughlin - Barry -
Georgie Boy – 4yo g – Walsh – Schwary -
Giant Gizmo - 5yo c- Frankel - Stronach - hurt - out for the year
Ginger Brew - 4yo f - Lynch - Stronach -
Gio Ponti - 4yo c - Clement - Castleton Lyons -
Go Between - 6yo h – Mott - Vegso – Sunshine Millions - January 24
Goldikova - 4yo f - F. Head - Wertheimers - will be kept in training with BC repeat main goal
Good Ba Ba - 7yo g - Schutz - Yuen -
Habaya - 3yo f - McLaughlin - Shadwell -
Harlem Rocker - 4yo c - Pletcher - Stronach - Donn - Gulfstream - Jan 31
Haynesfield - 3yo c - Asmussen - Turtle Bird -
Hello Broadway - 3yo c - Tagg - Valando - Hutcheson - Gulfstream - Jan 30
Honest Man - 6yo h - L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm -
Hyberbaric - 6yo g - Canani - Prestonwood -possible Santa Anita start - main goal - Dubai Duty Free - Nad Al Sheba - March 28
Indian Blessing – 4yo f – Baffert – Earnhardt - Palos Verdes - Santa Anita - Jan 25 then Golden Shaheen - Nad al Sheba - March 28
In Summation – 6yo c – Clement – Waterford Stable – Sunshine Millions Sprint - Santa Anita - Jan 24 or Palos Verdes - Santa Anita - Jan 25 - then return to Florida
Intangaroo - 5yo m- Sherlock - Tom Grether Farms -
Johnny Eves – 5yo c – Robbins – Hillard –
Kelly's Landing - 8yo g - Kenneally - Mr. Prospector - Gulfstream - Jan 17
Kip Deville – 6yo c – R Dutrow –IEAH Stable - Gulfstream Turf Handicap - February 1
Kodiak Kowboy – 4yo c – L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Fair Grounds campaign
Laragh - 3yo f - Dutrow - IEAH -
Lattice – 5yo c – Mott – Dilschneider & Claiborne –
Lear’s Princess – 5yo f – McLaughlin – West Point – injured - time off
Liquidity – 5yo c – O’Neill – Reddam –
Listen – 4yo f – O’Brien – Derrick Smith –
Literato - 5yo c - Suroor - Godolphin -
Little Belle - 4yo f- Suroor - Godolphin -
Luky Island - 5yo c - McLaughlin - Shadwell -
Macarthur - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coomore -
Macho Again - 4yo c - Stewart - West Point -
Mambo in Seattle - 4yo c- Howard - Farish - Fiar Grounds campaign
Marchand d’Or – 6yo g – F Head – Giral –
Marsh Side - 6yo h - Drysdale - Robert Evans -
Mast Track - 5yo c- Frankel - Frankel -
Meisho Samson - 6yo h - Takahashi - Matsumuto
Midshipman - 3yo c - Suroor - Godolphin - Dubai campaign before KY Derby
Minted – 4yo c – Fabre – Aga Khan –
Mint Lane - 4yo c- J Jerkins - Pinebloom Stable - injured - likely to return for 4 year old campaign
Monterey Jazz – 5yo c – C Dollase – Class Racing & Arndt -
Mr. Nightlinger - 5yo c - Calhoun - Martin Racing Stable
Much Obliged - 4yo f- Pierce - Pin Oak -
Music Note – 4yo f – Suroor – Godolphin -
Natagora – 4yo f – Bary – Friborg –
Noonmark – 6yo h – Asmussen – Bolton & Corrigan
Not Bourbon - 4yo c - Attfield - Fipke -
Old Fashioned - 3yo c - Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Southwest - Oaklawn - Feb 16 - then possibly LA Derby - Fair Grounds - March 14
On the Acorn – 8yo g – Indizguys Stable – Mitchell –
Out of Control -6yo c – Frankel – TNT Stud – Hong Kong Cup - Sha Tin - Dec 14
Pioneer of the Nile - 4yo c- Baffert - Zayat
Proud Spell – 4yo f – Larry Jones – Brereton Jones - Apple Blossom - Oaklawn - April 4
Proviso - 4yo f - Fabre - Juddmonte -
Pure Clan - 4yo f- Holthus - Lakin -
Pyro – 4yo c- Asmussen – Winchell –
Rail Trip - 4yo c - Ellis - Jay Em Ess Stable -
Rainbow View - 3yo f- Gosden - Augustin -
Rebellion - 6yo h - Motion - Hickory Tree -
Red Rocks – 6yo h – Hennig – Reddam -
Rio De La Plata – 4yo c- Suroor – Godolphin –
Run Away and Hide - 3yo c- Werner - Kird, Bates, et al -
Rutherienne – 5yo f – Clement – Virginia Kraft-Payson
Sageburg - 5yo c - Royer-Dupre - Aga Khan -
Saucey Evening - 3yo f - Motion - Augustin Stable -
Sailor's Cap - 4yo c- Toner - Team Valor -
Sakhee’s Secret – 5yo c – Morrison – Swire –
Secret Gypsy - 4yo f - Werner - Richland Hills - Gulfstream Park winter sprint stakes
Seventh Street - 4yo f - McLaughlin - Darley -
Smooth Air - 4yo c - Stutts - Mount Joy Stables - Sunshine Millions Classic - Gulstream Park - Jan 24
Solar Flare - 5yo c - L. Jones - Fox Hill Farm - Fair Grounds campaign
Spring House - 7yo c - Canani - Hubbard -
Square Eddie - 3yo c - O'Neill - Reddam - San Rafael - Santa Anita - Jan 17Stardom Bound - 3yo f - Dutrow/Frankel - IEAH - Las Virgenes - Santa Anita - Feb 9 - then Santa Anita Oaks - March 9 - then possible KY Derby track through SA Derby
Stream of Gold - McLaughlin - Zabeel -
Sweet Vendetta - 4yo f - Contessa - WinStar -
Tale of Ekati - 4yo c - Tagg - Fipke -Richter Scale - Gulfstream Park - Feb 14 or GP Handicap - March 14 then Godolphin Mile - Nad Al Sheba - March 28
Tariq – 5yo c – Chapple-Hyam – Homeizi & Sagar
Tiago – 5yo c – Shirreffs – Moss – San Antonio - Santa Anita - Feb 8
Tizdejavu - 4yo c - Greg Fox - Cooper & Ziebarth -
Tribesman – 5yo g – Hansen – Qvale
Two Step Salsa - 4yo c - Suroor - Godolphin - Dubai World Cup or Godolphin Mile - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Unbridled's Heart - 4yo c- Suroor - Godolphin -
Ventura - 5yo m - Frankel - Juddmonte - Santa Monica - Santa Anita - Jan 31
Vineyard Haven - 4yo c - Suroor - Godolphin- Dubai campaign - then KY Derby
Visionario – 5yo c – Fabre – Aga Khan -
Well Armed – 6yo h – Harty – WinStar Farm –
Whatsthescript - 5yo c- Sadler - Tommy Town -
Yeats – 8yo h – O’Brien – Coolmore – 8yo h - Ascot Gold Cup - June 19
Youmzain - 6yo ho - Channon - Jaber Abdullah - Dubai Sheema Classic - Nad al Sheba - March 28
Zada Belle - 4yo f - Albertrani - Darley - Fritchie - Laurel - Feb 16 or Distaff - Aqueduct - March 21
Zambezi Sun - 5yo c - Frankel - Juddmonte - California winter campaign
Zenyatta – 5yo m – Shirieffs – Moss - resting for 5 year old campaign beginning in spring at Hollywood
Zulu Chief - 4yo c - O'Brien - Coolmore -

Zayat 2 year olds win in Florida and New York

Z Day - bought for 150k at Keeneland September - won in his 4th start in the 3rd race at Aqueduct at

Zoi Zoi - bought for 575k at Fasig-Tipton February O8 - won her debut race very impressively in the 3rd at Calder for Todd Pletcher at 3-5.

The stable also has the 2yo filly Heart Ashley running in the last race at Fair Grounds today - an allowance race for nw1x.

Even though it would be hard to describe anyone "rooting" for some of the large stables that dominate North American racing today, it still would be good for the sport to do more to acknowledge the star stables such as Zayat, Darley/Godolphin, IEAH, Juddmonte, Coolmore.

Bris has a link to watch the entries for this stable - for some reason it didn't have Zoi Zoi in the Calder race today. I am not sure if Bris has watches for other large stables:

http://www.zayatstables.com/newWin.html?frameHref=http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatch.cgi/public/ZayatStables/ZAYAT+STABLES+LLC/9999/summary.html

Day after Breeders' Cup at Belmont

Zenyatta's half-sister Treasure Trail ran her first race as a 2 year old for Shug McGaughey today in the 6th race at Belmont - she ran 4th at 4-1 after running similar to her sister - breaking last and making a sweeping move entering the stretch but hung a bit late unlike the champ.

In the Turnback the Alarm stakes, Altesse won a game wire to wire victory over the Stronach mare Spring Waltz by coming back in stretch after being overtaken.

Betting Without Borders - 2008 Caulfield Cup Payouts

North American payouts ($1 dollar)

All The Good Win - $41.65
Exacta - $733.50
Quinella - $279.45
Trifecta (All in 3rd spot) - $1,257.05
Super - (All in 3rd & 4th spots) - $2,025.40

NSW Tab ($1 dollar)
All the Good Win - $51.90
Exacta - $735.90
Quinella - $471.90
Trifecta - $63,367
Super (called First Four in Aussie) - $735,584.40

Victoria Tab ($1 dollar)
All the Good Win - $47.70
Exacta - $811.30
Quinella - $423.10
Trifecta - $71,679.00
Super (called Victorian First Four in Aussie) - $936,128 including jackpot payoff of $201,378.05

Good report on betting on the race in Victoria (Melbourne:

http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/spring-racing/Default.aspx?id=37208&page=1&keyword=

Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada

Holiday racing this weekend at Woodbine. Today's stakes are the Carotene for 3yo Ontario fillies and the 98th running of the Durham Cup for 3 and up going a mile and an eighth. All horseplayers should be thankful for Woodbine. Woodbine Entertainment runs one of the classiest racing operations in North America. The track is lively and racing is split off nicely from the slot area. The television production is excellent - I just watched a rundown of the Top 5 Durham Cups in recent history. They run their biggest days - Queen's Plate, Woodbine Mile, and Canadian International days - extremely well. Their website is among racing's best also.

Best International Race Days

1) Arc day at Longchamp
2) Dubai World Cup Day
3) Breeders Cup weekend
4) Hong Kong Cup day at Sha Tin
5) Japan Cup
6) Melbourne Cup
7) Royal Ascot meeting
8) Canadian International Day at Woodbine

Best Regional/Local Bred Race Days

1) Sunshine Millions Day
2) Cal Cup Day
3) KY Cup Day
4) Queen's Plate Day at Woodbine
5) Maryland Million Day at Laurel
6) Lousiana Champions Day at FG

Magna Woes

Frank Stronach started a 3 year old filly named In Hot Soup in the 3rd race at Woodbine today. She finished 2nd as 2-1 fav.

Labor Day Racing in North America

Final day of racing for the year at Ellis Park, River Downs, Canterbury Park, Timonium, Fairmount Park, Sacramento, Ruidoso, and of course, Saratoga.

Highlight of the day will be the 104th renewal of the Hopeful at Saratoga featuring Coolmore's Munnings, Darley's Desert Party and the New York bred wonder Cribnote.

There is plenty of good stakes action from 50k to 200k including multiple stakes cards at Canterbury, Del Mar, Finger Lakes, Monmouth, Mountaineer, Pinnacle, Presque Isle, Remington, and Woodbine.

The best card of the day may be at Philadelphia Park where they are offering their first slots-enhanced Pennsylvania Derby- the 29th running - with a million dollar purse that drew a full field of 14. 5k & 7.5k claimers running for purses of 16k at the track - how can a non-slots state like Maryland possibly compete?

A few other items on today's racing:

Females may take all three stakes today at Remington - even though only one is carded exclusively for them. The 2 year old filly Seacrettina will go postward favorite for the Clever Trevor and the Pin Oak 5 year old mare Brownie Points will likely be the same in the DeBartolo Handicap.

The 6 year old gelding Joey P tries for his 13th win on the Jersey Shore in Icecapade (9th) at Monmouth.

Just Like Biscuit is in the Cradle Stakes at River Downs today - this 2 year old has already run 8 times already - probably the most of any 2 year old in North America. No runner in the Del Mar Debutante has run more than 4 times. There is no indication that running 2 year olds this often causes detriment to their future career - regardless of what some commentators have written about lately.

Arlington Park runs their full 10 race card on the turf today in an event called the Turf Showcase.

My local track - Canterbury - has a cracker card featuring the locally owned Grade II Cornhusker winner Wayzata Bay returning on closing day for the second consecutive year and a meeting of the two best local 2 year olds - Minnetonka Mist and Win Willy - in the 4th race.

The Great Mares

Monmouth is running the Miss Woodford stakes on Sunday as part of the undercard with the feature being the 63rd running of the Molly Pitcher starring the great mare Hystericalady. Miss Woodford was the best horse around - male or female - in 1884 with a perfect 9 for 9 year - part of a 16 race winning streak over three years beginning when she was three in 1883 and ending when she was five in 1885. Miss Woodford stakes on Sunday is at 6 furlongs - a distance that Miss Woodford probably didn't run past the age of two.

At least they keep running the Miss Woodford at Monmouth. Another great race mare Ginger Punch won the 61st Personal Ensign stakes at Saratoga on Friday winning a long stretch duel by a nose. Personal Ensign retired undefeated in 1988 with a perfect 13 for 13 record - obviously deserving the recognition of a Grade I race. But the stakes race now named for Personal Ensign was previously named for the great race mare Firenze from 1948 through 1984. Firenze was the best horse in the country - male or female - in 1888 when she race 22 times, winning 13 races and never finishing out of the money. The majority of her races were against males and she was owned by James Ben Ali Haggin whose silks can still by seen on the turf when his descendant Louis Lee Haggin III runs a horse.

I'm glad Monmouth honors a great mare whose name very few people now would recognize and I wish that NYRA would find a way to have to continue to honor a great race mare from the 19th century.

Whitney Day 2008

Watching the action from Saratoga today, horse racing looks very good on HD TV - Keeneland is broadcasting all their races in HD starting with the fall meet.

Winning Colors' 2nd to last foal - Ocean Colors - was practically distanced as the 13-10 favorite in the Schuylerville on opening day at the Spa. But today, Personal Ensign's final foal - Baronial wins a maiden race in her 4th start. Here is link to NY Times story by Bill Finley from opening day: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/sports/othersports/23racing.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Trainer Bret Calhoun won two turf stakes today - winning the Taylor's Special at Arlington with Mr. Nightlinger (winning his fourth straight race) and the San Clemente at Del Mar with Storm Mesa (winning her fifth straight race and third consecutive stakes).

The Daily Racing Form should expand the Watchmaker Watch to include breakouts of top 10 horses in each Breeders Cup division. Mr. Nightlinger would be included in the turf sprint division.

July 14 - This Day in Racing History

1999 - TVG begins broadcasting.

1956 - Swaps wins the 17th Hollywood Gold Cup with Bill Shoemaker up giving Shoe the first of his 9 wins in the race.

1951 - Marta wins the Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park – first sports event broadcast in color television in United States. Described by CBS as “first remote pick-up on a regular color video broadcast”, two races shown live in the first of four scheduled broadcasts from Monmouth during the summer.

1951 - Citation becomes the first horse to earn 1 million dollars by winning the 12th Hollywood Gold Cup.

1923 - In Memoriam wins the inaugural running of the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Park setting a track record of 2:04 1/5 for the mile and a quarter.. Since Highball had won the American Derby in1904, there had not been a race of national importance run in Chicago. Former heavyweight champion Jack Johnson is among the estimated 35,000 in attendance.

Normalcy Returns

An very formful day in the major racing action on Saturday as Curlin - the best dirt runner in the world - returns with an easy victory in the 31st Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. The three major older filly and mare stakes are all won easily by the favorites - Ginger Punch in the Phipps at Belmont, Unbridled Belle in the Obeah at Del Park, and Hystericalady in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill. The Pick-Six at Churchill yesterday - an all-stake Pick-6 - paid a whopping $48.00 for six with a conso of $2.80 for picking five winners. Biggest price was Tizdejavu winning the Jefferson Cup at 3-1 second favorite.

Older Filly & Mare Day in America

Three stakes for fillies and mares three & up today - the fields line up this way:

Belmont - Ogden Phipps - 300k- Grade I-40th running (formerly Hempstead Handicap) - 1 1/16 - 6 runners (Spring Walt - half of the Stronach entry is a non-runner)

Churchill - Fleur de Lis Handicap - 300k -Grade II- 34th running -1 1/8 - 5 runners (Cowgirls Don't Cry is a non-runner)

Delaware - Obeah Handicap - 150k - Grade III- 1 1/8 - 7 runners (Adorable Jane is a non-runner)

Plenty of opportunity for the trainers to dodge other horses and earn black type for the owners and breeders. No industry coordination to a national bet on these races or to change the stakes schedule so that it is not so overloaded for this type of race today. The only two races in this division that are in any sense "national" attracting a diverse field from all points are the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn in April and the Del Cap in the middle of July at Delaware Park.

Winning Colors' daughter wins first start

Looking very much like her mother, Derby winner Winning Colors, the two year old filly Ocean Colors broke very fast from the gate. fended off a challenge from the favorite the Zayat filly Jehan at the top of the stretch and drew off in the lane to win by 5 1/4 at 3-2 yesterday in the 4th race at Churchill. She is trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by her breeders and owner of Winning Colors when she was a broodmare Gainesway Thoroughbreds. Winning Colors has one more foal to race - a yearling filly by Mr. Greenley.

Winning Colors also won her first start with a wire to wire win during the August 1987 Saratoga meeting defeating eventual Breeders Cup filly winner Epitome.

Another nice post Triple Crown story to go along with Curlin's return to American racing today.

Big Brown Comparisons

In reviewing past Triple Crown race winners, the two horses that I would most compare him to are Seattle Slew and Majestic Prince. Big Brown started three times prior to winning the Derby - the least starts since Regret in 1915 (whose three prior races were all as a two year old). Seattle Slew started six times prior to the Derby (3 as a 2 year old and 3 preps prior to Derby). Majestic Prince started seven times prior to the Derby (twice as a 2 year old and 5 races in the run up to the Derby). Both Slew and Prince were undefeated coming into the Derby.

Other comparisons would be the ownership groups were somewhat new to racing ownership - Alberta oilman Frank McMahon owned Majestic Prince after buying him for a record amount as a yearling. The Slew Crew were a very young ownership group. IEAH Stable is rather a new phenomenon in racing ownership.

Majestic Prince's jockey - Bill Hartack - was attempting his second bid for a Triple Crown winner after missing out when Northern Dancer finished 3rd in the 1964 Belmont. Majestic Prince suffered a tendon injury in the Preakness and trainer Johnny Longden did not want to contest the Belmont but owner McMahon overruled him and the horse went on to New York to finish 2nd - 5 1/2 lengths back and never race again in his life - ending his career with a 10 starts - 9 wins - 1 second record.

Another tragic demise of a great race mare

Nashoba's Key - a 5 year old mare who had won 8 of 10 starts and was equally proficient on turf and synthetic - was put down this morning at after smashing her hind leg against the stall wall. Trainer Carla Gaines issued the following statement:

"In a freak accident at 5:30 a.m. this morning at Hollywood Park, Nashoba’s Key kicked the wall of her pen and broke her hind leg. She was euthanized shortly thereafter. She brought a lot of joy to everyone’s lives that were lucky enough to be associated with her and we will all miss her very much."

She was without doubt the best horse that the talented Ms. Gaines has trained in her career.

Memorial Day 2008

Divine Park ran down Commentator late to the win the 115th Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont today. Everyone calls the race the "Met Mile" - even track announcer Tom Durkin - but the stature of the race demands a more formal name.

The race began to be run on Memorial Day in 1956 when 2-5 favorite Nashua was upset by Midafternoon. When Memorial Day switched to the final Monday of the month from May 30 in 1971, NYRA moved the race to the Monday holiday.

Decoration Day (previous name for the holiday) - Memorial Day - Memorial Day Monday has always been a big day for racetracks since the holiday began after the Civil War. A crowd of 12,562 attended Belmont today - slightly down from the 60,000 throng of the early 1970s.

I'd like to do a comparison of attendance and handle figures of Memorial Days in the past - not only Belmont Park but the local track Canterbury Park. I believe it would clearly show the continued decline of the sport over the past four decades.

Belmont Stakes Day has now become the focal point for the meeting and attendance is always largest on that day.

Irish 2000 Guineas & American 1000 Guineas day

88th running of the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh features a cracking rematch of the 1-2 finishing of the English 2000 Guineas - Henrythenavigator running for Coolmore and New Approach running for Sheikh Mo. The horses are actually by the principals' wives - Sue Magnier - wife of Coolmore tital John Magnier and New Approach runs in the name of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya of Jordan - wife of Sheikh Mohammad. Nownownow - winner of the Breeders Cup Juve Turf race last fall at Monmouth - makes a rare United States invader appearance at the Curragh also. He is trained by David Wachman - John Magnier's son-in-law. TVG is the only ADW taking the action and will show the race live at 10:45 a.m. Eastern.

Arlington Park hosts the inaugural running of the American 1000 Guineas on the turf course today. Various tracks over the past 120 years have tried to duplicate the 1000-2000 Guineas classic races run over a mile in Europe here without any success. This is the latest effort - the most successful being the Withers stakes in New York that began in 1874 to be the American 2000 Guineas. Aristides - inaugural Kentucky Derby winner - completed the Withers-Derby double in 1875.

Arlington has one of the best cards of their meeting today - running three stakes with the 1000 Guineas, the 74th running of the Arlington Classic, and the Hanshin Cup with Spotsgone with Earlie Fires riding for brother Jinks looking for a repeat of last year's victory in the race.

The Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) closes the action late this evening on TVG with Reginetta looking to become the 5th filly to complete the Oka Sho-Yushun Himba (1000 Guineas-Oaks) double at Tokyo racecourse.

The Near Miss Story

The eleven Triple Crown have great stories of their triumphs but there are even more great and probable unknown stories about the ones who reached the Belmont on the verge of the Triple Crown and suffered defeat. Steven Crist has a listing of them all on his blog on the DRF website:

http://cristblog.drf.com/crist/

My favorites:

June 3, 1944 - Calumet Farm's Pensive is defeated by Bounding Home while errant reports are being broadcast on radio that Allied Forces had begun the invasion of Europe. The track was preparing to cancel the rest of the card when word of the error came.

June 7, 1958 - The epic tale of Tim Tam has to go down as one of the most gallant stories in the history of the North American turf.

June 1, 1968 - Calumet Farm's Forward Pass is denied the "asterisk Triple Crown" by Greentree's Stage Door Johnny - also denied are the 2nd attempts of Trainer Henry Forrest (Kauai King in 1966) and Ismael Valenzuela (Tim Tam's rider) to win the Crown. Greentree wins their fourth Belmont.

June 6, 1998 - Real Quiet - ridden by Kent Desormeaux and trainer Bob Baffert's 2nd successive bid for the Crown - is denied victory in the final jump by Victory Gallop.

June 5, 2004 - The Whitney colors take their 7th Belmont when Birdstone runs down Smarty Jones in a driving rainstorm with track announcer Tom Durkin practically weeping during the stretch run.

The challengers for the Crown are a combined 11 for 29 in the Belmont Stakes.

June 7, 2008

Will be the 50th anniversary of Tim Tam's brave attempt to win the Triple Crown as the 3-20 favorite in the Belmont Stakes. The Calumet Farm horse was closing in on the lead at the quarter pole when he begun to swerve out. He would still finish 2nd in the race and walk into the ambulance that would take him away with his trainer Jimmy Jones in tears. He sufferd a fractured sesamoid in his right front leg and was retired to stud.