OCEANPORT, N.J. - Curlin raced to a dominating victory Saturday in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park on Saturday while the other favorites faltered.
Curlin, ridden by Robby Albarado, was the 4-1 fourth choice in the 1 1/4-mile race. He made a huge move in the turn, overtaking Hard Spun, the front-runner who wound up second in the field of nine 3-year-olds and upward. Awesome Gem, a 28-1 shot, closed late for third, while Street Sense, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth after making his move at the same time as Curlin but failing to sustain it. (via Hard Spun News)
Because of the rain, speed broke down in almost every early race today. As a result, I changed my strategy on the three races and wound up dead even on the day. I did not bet Dream Rush in the 8th, but kept money on Maryfield, who won. I went across the board on Nownownow and Cannonball in the 9th for profit, but also lost on boxing The Leopard and Prussian. At that point I was up $60, which I bet in the 10th and lost it all. I did not bet Gottcha Gold to win, but boxed him with Xchanger. I put win bets on Xchanger and Lewis Michael. Oh well. I do feel I was right about Discreet Cat, though.
Any Given Saturday/Lawyer Ron – Both of trainer Todd Pletcher’s contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge galloped 1 3/8m Friday morning. It has been pretty routine for them this week after their serious works at Belmont Park last Sunday – they paddock schooled on Wednesday and Thursday and have galloped every day. (via Hard Spun News)
OCEANPORT, N.J. - He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year, then six months later became the first horse to parlay a win in that race to one in the Kentucky Derby. Since then, he has added the Travers Stakes to his resume. And on Saturday at Monmouth Park, Street Sense will try to go out a winner in his final start, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, which would cap an unprecedented quartet of victories.
The mountain of accomplishments is mirrored by the ease in which Street Sense goes about his work. The other morning at Monmouth Park, trainer Carl Nafzger was surrounded by a thicket of press when one reporter began a question thus: “Have you ever had …?” (via Hard Spun News)
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Of this year’s celebrated crop of 3-year-olds, there might not be a more versatile runner than Hard Spun. He has won stakes on conventional dirt surfaces and synthetic surfaces. He has won stakes races going short and going long. He has won on a fast track and on a sloppy track.
What he hasn’t done, it seems, is win when everybody’s watching, and that has made Hard Spun perhaps the most underappreciated, overlooked runner in Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Monmouth Park. (via Hard Spun News)
Any Given Saturday – The 1 1/4m distance of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge is not trainer Todd Pletcher’s main concern, even though this 3yo son of Distorted Humor has never won beyond a mile and an eighth. (via Hard Spun News)
Any Given Saturday – A strange rain that waffled between sunshower and drizzle Wednesday morning had little effect on the 3yo Distorted Humor colt, who will look to win his fourth straight race in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge. Like the rest of his stablemates at trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn, he jogged at Monmouth Park. (via Hard Spun News)
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The draw for post positions for Saturday’s 24th Breeders’ Cup was delayed Tuesday morning by a half-hour to process paperwork, then took a while to commence owing to some windy speeches. For the first time, 11 races were drawn, and the process took 49 minutes from start to finish. (via Hard Spun News)
Thanks to my friend Dan for capturing this video of my birthday trip with my friends to Belmont. 7-7-07 was a great day…unfortunately, the 7th horse in the 7th race lost (Defrizz). Regardless, a good time was had by all…including Anna, Ace, Dan, Megan, Steven, Rebecca, Ted (my nephew, the handicapping prodigy), and Ilona and her mom.
ELMONT, N.Y. - The majority of the final major preps for the 141 horses pre-entered in this year’s 11 Breeders’ Cup races will take place between Friday and Wednesday mornings, although most of that work will be done at sites other than the host track, Monmouth Park. (via Hard Spun News)
OCEANPORT, N.J. - A total of 141 horses, including a Breeders’ Cup Classic that includes all the leading contenders for Horse of the Year, were announced on Wednesday at Monmouth Park as pre-entries for the 24th Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 26 and 27 at Monmouth. (via Hard Spun News)
The strong core group of contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Classic has largely scared off any fringe players, so the field will not come anywhere close to the maximum of 14. (via Hard Spun News)
