Curlin surpasses Cigar's money record in Gold Cup, Big Brown next?

Move over Cigar and make way for the first $10 million purse winner in North America -- Curlin. Steve Asmussen conceded that this record was his #1 priority in bringing back Curlin for his 4 year-old season, not quite as altruistic as the reasons majority owner Jess Jackson stated for bringing back the champ. “I want to establish Curlin for what I think he is,” Jackson said. “He’s one of the horses of the century.” Trainer Steve Asmussen challenges industry peers on Mr. Jackson's decision to bring Curlin back as a four year-old, stating, "I want to meet the person who would leave so much money on the table for the sport of seeing what their horse could accomplish." If these statements were not just fanciful fodder (all too common in this industry), there is only one choice Team Curlin is left with... face Big Brown mano E mano in the Classic.

Timeform Global Rankings of Great Britian list Curlin as the top rated horse in the world, with Big Brown at #3. They comment on the two American standouts as follows, "Big Brown returned after an eight week break at Monmouth Park and showed plenty of determination to win the Haskell Invitational (gr. I). Whether the much-anticipated meeting with Curlin ever takes place seems doubtful, but there’s every chance that Big Brown will be right back at his best with that run behind him and that would be good enough to make Curlin have to pull out all the stops."

More on that likely date in the Breeders' Cup in future blog entries. I want to remind folks of the monumental record that Curlin took away from the great Cigar. Most remember Cigar for his 16 consecutive wins, tying Citation's North American win streak in major competition. In Cigar's first of two champion seasons (1995-1996), he was a perfect 10 for 10 with eight of those victories coming in Grade I races, facing the best of the best. Coming back to the track as a six year-old (yes, you heard that right...6!) he won the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in thrilling fashion. And while probably a little weary from the travel to and fro, managed to win several more graded races before the streak ended, routinely carrying more than 130 pounds. Cigar's last two career defeats were mostly chalked up to him being past his prime. I would argue that poor racing luck and career performances by Skip Away (carrying 5 fewer pounds and the controlling speed) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Alphabet Soup in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic (Bailey again had Cigar extremely wide on the turn, yet lost by only a head in a 3 way photo) were more probable reasons for defeat.

Skip Away and now Curlin have also carried 130 pounds or more, with Curlin topping that impost in each of his two victorious Dubai races this spring. It's no wonder then that these three horses are the top money earners of their generation. Although, Curlin now has an opportunity to put some daylight between himself and the rest of the field in this category, just as he routinely does on the racetrack.

I'll have a Breeders' Cup preview in the next week or so. The big dates for Breeders' Cup 25 are October 24-25 at Santa Anita race track in the Los Angeles area.



Horse Racing

Garrett Gomez pulls off Travers - Pacific Classic double

Jockey Garrett Gomez sure has come a long way from from his riding days at Oaklawn Park in the mid 1990s. After winning Saturday's Travers Stakes at venerable Saratoga by the slimmest of margins (on my Derby pick from this spring, Colonel John), he guided Go Between astutely to a neck victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. As if the biggest Grade I races of the summer weren't enough, he preceded his PacClassic victory with another impressive triumph on Whatsthescript in the $328,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT), giving that horse a perfect turf trip and making him one of the favorites for the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile later this fall. WinStar Farm nearly accomplished the improbable double, with Well Armed grudgingly giving up the lead in the final stride to Go Between in the $1 million Pacific Classic.

The Travers Stakes was quite a horse race (although some people thought it was more like a stock car race with all the bumping on the turn for home) with the Colonel stealing one with an extended head bob after being passed on the outside by Mambo in Seattle. Where the hell did this horse come from? We thought Big Brown was a late blooming three year-old colt, but this one still can do some damage before the year is over. Post-time favorite Pyro had a decent race to finish third. But absent yet again was the powerful stretch kick he showed twice earlier over the Fair Grounds course. It appears that his best racing days may be behind him. Jim Dandy winner Macho Again had some traffic trouble, but appeared to be retreating when it occured. Nick Zito's trio of charges, most notably Belmont winner Da'Tara, were hopelessly overmatched.

It's time to give Garrett Gomez some major props after he hit rock bottom in 2003 when he was serving prison time. Gomez got busted for a controlled substance while being away from the sport after he was unable to maintain the stringent weight guideline for jockeys. After working his way back to the track in late 2004, he had tremedous success in 2006 while leading North American jockeys with purse money earned at $20 million (by the way, his cut is 10% plus private retainers... not bad for a high school dropout!). He was snubbed at the Eclipse Awards that year in lieu of Edgar Prado and his memorable season with Barbaro. But in 2007 he backed that season up and then some while breaking Jerry Bailey's record for most stakes victories in a season at 76 (including two Breeders' Cup races).

Speaking of Jerry Bailey, is it just me or is he tremendously overrated as an analyst? I mean, the guy may have been a world class jockey, but Randy Moss' predictions of horses expected to show speed and pace figures are much more on point than his alien-shaped head counterpart. But that sure doesn't stop Bailey from hawking his handicapping DVD at every segment. And while I'm on the subject, the only thing Hank Goldberg has been "hammering" as of late is his piggy bank -- to find loose change. This guy has run out of his bankroll the last three ESPN racing coverages that I've seen, yet he was bragging about not losing a race prior to ESPN's coverage around the 8th race. Sure... great job hitting that non-winners of two lifetime race that NOBODY cares about. Why would he even be handicapping "crap races" with a card like Del Mar had Sunday? And would somebody please send Jenine Edwards a scarf so she can cover up the horse veins in her neck? I keep waiting for one of those things to burst all over Rick Dutrow's sweat laden shirt during an interview. Maybe then Rick would stop calling her "Babe." Where's Kenny Mayne when you need him?!


Horse Racing

Remembering the Greatness of 3 Fillies - Genuine Risk Tribute

This week we mourn the loss of the second of three fillies to capture The Kentucky Derby. More painfully, we suffer the loss of three heroines of racing within a six month span... 2 Derby winners (Genuine Risk - 1980 and Winning Colors - 1988) and this year's Derby runner-up, Eight Belles. I guess there is something to the saying that bad things happen in "three's".

Genuine Risk (February 15, 1977 – August 18, 2008) was a chestnut mare who won the 1980 Kentucky Derby and was the first filly to ever finish in the money in all three U.S. Triple Crown races. Ridden by Jacinto Vasquez, she finished second in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes -- an extraordinary feat for any horse, male or female.

High hopes followed the star of the prized Firestone Stable into the breeding shed, but only heartache ensued. Genuine Risk's first mating was to the Triple Crown winner Secretariat in 1982. The resulting foal expected in 1983 would have made history as the first offspring of two Kentucky Derby winners. Tragically though, Genuine Risk delivered a stillborn colt. Over the next 17 years, she produced only two living foals and neither colt ever made it to the track.

Winning Colors was euthanized February 17, 2008 at the age of 23 as a result of complications from colic, a chronic horse condition. She did not have a great deal of success as a broodmare either, although some of her progeny did well racing in Japan. The original femme fatale, Regret (1915 Derby winner), likewise produced only one major stakes winner (Revenge) out of eleven foals and died at the age 22.

To end on a positive note, I will gladly report that 2007 Belmont Stakes winning filly (besting 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin), Rags to Riches, is in foal to Giant's Causeway and expecting a wobbly four-legger in spring 2009. Let's hope that baby is also a healthy filly and carries on the tradition of excellence!

Travers Stakes coming this Saturday, so please check back for weekend updates.
Eric


Horse Racing

Can Big Brown put his best foot forward?

With a victory Sunday in the $1 Million Haskell Invitational, Big Brown can put his troubled past behind him and leapfrog Curlin to become the "it" horse again. This seems likely after a steady foundation of improving workouts, especially against his projected competition. While Atoned and Fountain of Youth upset winner Cool Coal Man are legitimate threats, the better lot of three year-olds wrestled in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga this past weekend. One time top sophomore Pyro couldn't quite catch Macho Again (2nd in Preakness) for the win in that race, while Belmont Stakes shocking winner Da'Tara was a factor again on the lead, before being pressed and finishing last. Tale of Ekati and Anak Nakal were also off the board finishers, but any of these would have been a strong second choice if entered in Sunday's Haskell.

In the other top race this weekend, Tough Tiz's Sis tries to finally get the better of undefeated (6 for 6)Zenyatta for trainer Bob Baffert in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap over Del Mar's Polytrack surface on Saturday. Many of you based at Oaklawn Park will recall the incredible performance by Zenyatta in the Apple Blossom Handicap (Grade I), while blowing past defending Breeders' Cup Distaff winner and Eclipse Mare Champion Ginger Punch. The latter mare strolled to another Grade I vicoty in the Go For Wand at Saratoga last weekend. Thus, these two are set for an epic rematch in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita this fall.

And to finish with Curlin... still no definitive word on his next start. This leads me to believe they are re-thinking the European foray and trying to map out the best three race sequence possible which ends with a Breeders' Cup race (I'm just not sure which one!).

Happy Racing,
Eric


Horse Racing

Man o' War field proves too deep for Curlin

Ordinarily, running a strong second in a Grade I turf race against multiple Breeders' Cup Turf champions would be a great thing. However, Curlin is no ordinary horse and his connections were thus stymied by his second place finish to Red Rocks at Belmont Park. And the 8,400 fans on hand at the Elmont, NY track probably wasn't what majority owner Jess Jackson had in mind after vowing to bring the champion back "for the fans to see and enjoy" for his four year-old campaign. It seems as though the fans were as lukewarm about Curlin on the lawn as the Champ himself, without his customary powerful stretch kick.

After all, this was the same place where Triple Crown junkies were delirious after the unforgettable stretch duel between Curlin and filly Rags to Riches just over a year ago in the Belmont Stakes. Even though this race had the marquee names (Curlin in addition to Breeders' Cup Turf champions Red Rocks and Better Talk Now), the race failed to match the anticipation with Red Rocks taking the lead from two speedballers with Curlin and Better Talk Now never seriously threatening the winner, which is unusual for a turf race finish.

Curlin coming up a bit short for the second time he's run over 10 furlongs (1 3/8ths on Saturday) makes me think his best distance isn't suited for the classis European turf races typically run at 1 1/2 miles. Let's hope Plan B or even C may be to work Curlin on a synthetic surface to possibly keep the dream alive of a Breeders' Cup Classic double, something the great Cigar could not even accomplish. With the trend of race tracks adopting the artificial dirt surfaces, success there could mean more value to future stud fees than success on the turf.

In the meantime, may all your bets be worth cashing!

Horse Racing

DRUGS, DRUGS AND MORE DRUGS

More bad press on the racing front, especially for the conditioners. And we're not talking about small stables at obscure tracks like Emerald Downs, mind you (no offense to the Seattle area track). What I can't figure out is why all these global pharma companies are losing money if most human athletes, and now their equine counterparts, are doping? Perhaps the decline is attributable to cyclists giving up "the juice" now that the Tour de France is enforcing their drug policies. Now there's a novel concept!

Larry Jones, the popular "cowboy trainer" of filly heroine Eight Belles and Hard Spun from last year's Derby trail, was shocked recently by officials at his home base of Delaware Park. Racing stewards informed Jones that Stones River had tested positive for illegal levels of clenbuterol -- a bronchodilator that helps burn fat and promote muscle growth -- after a race at Delaware Park this month. This was the first charge against Jones in 25 years as a trainer. He alleges that he was "targeted" by someone wanting to defame him after his vehement testimony against drugs in the Eight Belles aftermath. This is very plausible considering his clean record and how easy it would be in a low security environment to gain access to a claiming horse's stall.

What's a drug story without Rick Dutrow? Well that may be a tad harsh, but hasn't he asked for that with his skiddish behavior on the Triple Crown trail? Slick Rick is facing a 15-day suspension after one of his horses that raced on Kentucky Oaks day was found in violation of state medication rules. The ruling from the stewards at Churchill Downs came after an excess of clenbuterol was found in the system of Salute the Count following his second-place finish in the May 2 Aegon Turf Sprint. Clenbuterol is used to treat horses with allergies and breathing problems. It is widely used in training but under Kentucky racing guidelines should not be given to horses closer than three days before a race. So this infraction is mild compared to his previous issues in New York and Maryland, the foundation of his regular racing circuit.

And then the final shoe dropped (hopefully) yesterday, when trainer Steve Asmussen was notified that a horse in his care tested positive for the Class 2 substance lidocaine following a May 10th maiden special weight race at Lone Star Park. The Texas native was previously slapped with a six-month suspension from July 10, 2006, to Jan. 10, 2007 after a horse in his care tested positive for the anesthetic mepivicaine in Louisiana (and a similar infraction in New Mexico).

Naturally, his lawyer said Asmussen would "fight the charge." What these trainers need to be fighting is the urge to use the myriad of substances that can give a horse the edge needed to hit the wire first! However, as we have recently seen with another sports failure in MLB that I also hold in high regard, it is clear to me that the league is most guilty of "failure to supervise" or "lack of institutional control", or whatever you want to call it.

Horse racing has admitted their shortcomings and have pledged to swiftly close these proverbial loopholes, while Bud Selig pointed fingers at everyone except himself. So let me get this straight, the Commissioner has the authority to UNILATERALLY ban someone from baseball (Charlie Hustle should be in Cooperstown), but he's "allegedly" powerless to list banned illegal substances from baseball? Gimme a freakin' break...

Go Cubbies!!!

The UNluckiest horseshoe on earth???

There have been several significant stories (some largely unnoticed) on the national and international racing scene that are worthy of mentioning.

1) Spike Lee, aka Mars Blackman, coined the famous Nike ad with Michael Jordan, "It's got to be the shoe." The "shoe" now in the limelight is Big Brown's back right shoe, which as photos captured came loose towards the beginning of the Belmont Stakes. Many have authoritatively claimed this as the excuse to why Big Brown ran so poorly, while others discounted the importance of a loose shoe during a race, especially when the horse shows no inflamation in that area following the race. It's too bad for IEAH et al that all of Brown's shoes weren't glued on, like the front hoof getting all the special treatment with the quarter crack. One thing for sure, this shoe saga is now every bit as famous as the safety pin incident with Spectaculat Bid in 1979.

2) Jeremy Rose of Afleet Alex fame (2005 Preakness, Belmont) and Eclipse Award holder as top apprentice jockey has been suspended for six months for "extreme misuse of the whip" in a race yesterday at Delaware Park. Rose struck his mount, Appeal to the City, on the face which resulted in bleeding around the left eye. Certainly not a positive for this sport that is under attack on all fronts (see next point). I have yet to see the replay but I would like to give Jeremy the benefit of the doubt and hope this falls under the "accident" category. Which still leads you to wonder why these wire bound "tools" are permitted if something like this could EVER happen in a race. While I can understand the value of using a whip (keeping horses straight in stretch, telling a horse it's GO TIME), perhaps the nature of the crop should be given a gentile makeover or eliminated altogether (it's a level playing field if no one has one, right??).

3) Thoroughbred industry leaders reported for testimony last week in Washington at the House Energy and Commerce Committee's commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee. Congress basically reminded our sport that they gave horse racing the legal right to broadcast races and take bets across state lines, and now the industry needs more regulation. Rep. Ed Whitfield, a Republican from Kentucky's 1st District said that he expects to introduce legislation to ban the use of drugs in racing and require uniform collection and disclosure of medical information and injury and fatality data. He said that given the small amount of time left in this Congress, the legislation was likely to be proposed next year (seems like I've heard that one a few times!). However, this will not address the issues in breeding (or should I say, inbreeding) for SPEED, SPEED, SPEED leading to a more fragile horse running fewer races, all topics discussed by Arthur Hancock, a lifelong horse breeder.

4) A Queen is back in the winner's circle at Royal Ascot for the first time in 9 years. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her first victory since 1999 at the famous English track when her horse Free Agent won the Chesham Stakes. "The queen was absolutely thrilled, and after they passed the post she said, 'I've done it!' " reported her racing manager, John Warren. And we were led to believe that racing was the Sport of Kings...

No Brown Crown... Curlin to the Turf

Now that the Belmont dust has settled, it appears that it simply was a bad day at the track for Big Brown, who's stock has dropped as much as his corporate namesake, UPS. Rick Dutrow is pointing the strapping son of Boundary for a new campaign to include the Haskell Inviational at Monmouth Park in August and perhaps the Travers Stakes at Saratoga. If Brown again has his way with these nominal three year-olds, he will perhaps get the chance to go up against older horses in the 25th rendition of The Breeders' Cup Classic to be held at Santa Anita Park in late October.

One horse that is on quite a different path is Curlin, the recent winner of another Grade I race in the Stephen Foster Handicap, where much was made of the excessive weight assigned to Robby Albarado's saddle (128 pounds including the jock). Although the 10 to 15 pounds Curlin spotted his foes never factored into his four length victory, Steve Asmussen was quick to generate an excuse, if needed. He knows the burden of carrying even a few extra pounds, especially if the race were to unfold unfavorably for Curlin. In Cigar's penultimate performance in 1996, he finished a nose behind Skip Away after falling prey to very soft fractions (1:11 2 and 1:35 4) and being forced wide on the clubhouse turn. Although he nearly made up the difference in positioning and pace, perhaps the five pounds he was spotting the younger and highly talented Skip Away was too much to overcome. Asmussen knows (take note, Dutrow!) that things can -- and often do -- go wrong on the track and that every disadvantage can lead to defeat.

So rather than lobby weight assignments the rest of the year, Steve and majority owner Jess Jackson will pursue a brief turf campaign prior to retiring their champion, hoping to extend Curlin's win streak of five races on the lawn, while increasing his value at stud. For those of you who question or even criticize this decision, we must recall another chestnut horse some decades ago who finished his career with two impressive turf victories after proving dominance over dirt tracks. That horse's name, anyone? Secretariat.

Dutrow sweating Big Brown's loss

Dutrow is proving exactly why the pulse of the racing public was against this Triple Crown bid. Missed press conferences, finger pointing and excuses have emerged from "Camp Big Brown", now being led by IEAH co-President, Michael Iavarone. Here's a guy who's lied about a degree and phantom employment at Goldman Sachs, instead working at three penny stock pushing investment firms I've never heard of. He's been fined and censured by the NASD, sued by an Atlantic City casino and the Kenneland Association horse sales for not paying for horses bid at auctions... talk about a scumbag!! Even Big Brown wants nothing to do with this dude -- see picture at left.

For all the sports journalists out there who were on record as saying they didn't want this horse to sweep the Triple Crown, there is a collective sigh of relief. I must admit, on the far turn I was giddy with joy myself as I knew Big Brown was running out of steam, although I didn't care for Kent easing him with two furlongs remaining. Many bettors are demanding a refund (no chance), but more likely what may happen is jockey Kent Desormeaux being fined by the NYRA stewards for "competition infractions" by pulling up a non-injured horse prior to the race order being determined.

"I'm sure he didn't have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way (Desormeaux) was switching him all over the damn track," Dutrow told the Daily Racing Form. "I don't know what he was doing." He went on to say, "I feel like a loser right now, and I don't know why. Usually when I get beat I can handle it the right way, and I've handled this the right way, but I just feel like something's not right." What world is this guy living in? The only thing I've seen him do "right" is soil a shirt more than Bruce Pearl could on his best day!

So what did happen to Big Brown, people keep asking. Theories abound about the quarter crack, missed training and especially the steroids he didn't take prior to the Belmont. That may be reaching a bit since he hadn't taken his Winstrol (allegedly) dose since mid-April and performed fine in crushing his opponents in The Derby and Preakness. I conclude that a number of factors (3rd race in 5 weeks, scorching heat, apparent rankness fighting Kent's positioning early in race, breaking a step slow) threw Big Brown off his game and resulted in a bad day at the office. These do occasionally happen to all of us, you know?!

Kudos to Nick Zito, the new "giant killer" (with apologies to Allen Jerkens) of the Triple Crown. Nick, of course, conditioned another $70+ horse in Birdstone to knock off Smarty Jones in 2004's Belmont Stakes. But that one already had a Grade 1 win over the track as a two year-old. This Da'Tara came as quite a shock, being eligible for a non-winners of two lifetime race and going off as the longest shot on the board. Dennis of Cork rallied for second behind this soft pace to prove his worth as a sophomore. The Travers at Saratoga may be an interesting race with the top 3 year-olds all pointing for the late August "midsummer's Derby".

For now, the focus in deservedly back on the #1 rated thoroughbred in the world -- Curlin, as he prepares for his U.S. comeback in the Stephen Foster Handicap this Saturday at Churchill Downs. Let's hope this superstar can keep to his winning days.

Jim McKay Tribute

Jim McManus died at the age of 86 years young on Saturday just hours prior to the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes. While McManus (McKay was his professional name) is most associated with the man who brought us the unfolding events of the 1972 Olympics hostage crisis, he often said his greatest joy was covering thoroughbred racing and the Triple Crown events. Jim was the host that popularized ABC's Wide World of Sports for nearly four decades and brought the sights and sounds of the Olympics into American homes. During a career that "spanned the globe" for nearly 60 years, McKay was one of the greatest witnesses of 20th-century sports history.

McKay's first television broadcast assignment was a horse race at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore. It was the start of a love affair, which he shared with the nation each spring through his introductions to Triple Crown events for ABC Sports until NBC took over recently. It's a pity we now have to endure Bob Costas' linguistical vainglorious after being swayed by McKay's subtle balance.

Track announcer Dave Johnson worked with McKay during many horse racing telecasts.
"How many Saturday afternoons did we spend with Jim McKay?" he said from Belmont Park. "Maybe more than with family members. Never a cross word out of him, such a decent human being."

No more eloquent words can be spoken of Jim that what he once stated himself describing his passion, "There are few things in sport as exciting or beautiful as two strong thoroughbreds, neck and neck, charging toward the finish."

My Belmont wrap will soon follow...