Thoroughbred all-stars on display at Saratoga
For most, world-class thoroughbred horse racing is seen on television, usually limited to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
However, to see these beautiful creatures in person is a special experience.
Living in the Hudson Valley, just two-plus hours from Saratoga Springs, provides an opportunity that most racing fans in this country envy. For six weeks beginning this Wednesday, the stars of the thoroughbred-racing world take up residence at the Spa, not for the mineral springs, but for the enormous purses offered and the chance for glory.
Many say this is the best racing in the world at this time of year. The caliber of racing, coupled with a bucolic upstate setting, makes Saratoga a classic American sports destination.
A day at Saratoga, if planned right, will let you gaze on some true thoroughbred celebrities. Looking forward to the meet, here are some of the best you might see in action.
Good luck and keep the day job.
Pyro
The Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes winner at the Fairgrounds is in training on the Oklahoma track. Fans are likely to see him in the Jim Dandy on July 27. After finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby, he has a lot to prove. If he succeeds, the payoffs should be rewarding.
Colonel John
The star of the West is headed for the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23. He was the second choice behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, but lost his chance to win when he was demolished coming out of the gate. His trainer, Eoin Harty, hopes he meets Big Brown in the Travers, a scenario that seems unlikely. Big Brown is pointed to the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3.
Da'Tara
The Belmont winner will likely start in the Jim Dandy on opening weekend as his final prep for the Travers. A large field is expected, all set on proving his Belmont win was a fluke.
Mint Lane
A late blooming son of Maria's Mon - sire of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos - controlled the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park on July 6. The Dwyer is an excellent prep for the Jim Dandy.
Ginger Punch
The 2007 Eclipse Award winner as top older female of the year is back to defend her win in last year's Go For Wand Stakes on opening Saturday. Seeing this magnificent mare saddled in the paddock is worth the drive to Saratoga. Seeing her win will be a preview for her run in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic on Oct. 24.
Just think, as you watch that race from your easy chair, you can recall seeing her up close and personal at Saratoga.
Commentator
The surprise winner of the 2005 Whitney is training well at Saratoga. Student Council, upset winner of the Pacific Classic last year, comes East to try the Whitney. With Curlin, reigning horse of the year, bypassing the Whitney for a turf career, the race should be wide open. The next champion may emerge.
Screen your friend, Run Away and Hide
These are two fast, promising 2-year-olds. They both won a Grade 3 stakes race in their last start. Yet the real star of this crop may yet to run. He or she may surface in an undercard maiden race, like Big Brown did last year. That's what makes Saratoga so exciting.
(c) 2008 Hudson Valley Media Group
Safety Should Be Major Concern
I once heard a horse described as "1,000 pounds of muscle balancing on glass legs." That's not far from the truth, and recent tragedies have forced leaders in two sports - horse racing and eventing - to focus on making their competitions safer.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Eventing Association convened a "Safety Summit" June 7-8 to discuss how to avoid extreme injuries like those at this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. A horse named Frodo Baggins had to be euthanized after he sustained severe injuries in a somersault fall April 26 during the cross-country phase, during which riders navigate a course of difficult jumps and water obstacles within a time limit. That same day, another horse broke his shoulder in a fall at a jump and had to be euthanized.
The goal of the summit was "to reduce the number of horse falls in the sport," according to USEF President David O'Connor. It was attended by coaches, riders from every level, trainers, vets, horse welfare advocates, medical professionals and course designers.
Some of the suggestions included building more fences that will give way when hit by horses; tracking information on what kinds of fences cause falls; and putting riders on notice if they appear to be riding dangerously.
The USEF/USEA summit also discussed checking the medical records of horses and riders to ensure both are fit enough to compete, and devising standards to evaluate the performance and fitness level of both horse and rider.
The breakdown of the filly Eight Belles at this year's Kentucky Derby, with the memory of Barbaro's injury and eventual euthanasia in 2006 still fresh in everyone's minds, turned the spotlight on horse racing. Eight Belles fractured both front legs after finishing second in the Derby, and had to be euthanized on the track. The Jockey Club formed a Thoroughbred Safety Committee within days of Eight Belles' death. The committee will review breeding practices, race-day medications and track surfaces. And the National Thoroughbred Racing Association has asked state racing commissions to ban the use of anabolic steroids in horses by the end of the year. Steroids, which are legal at all racetracks in the U.S. except Iowa, make horses stronger and faster, but can also mask pain.
The horses that compete at the highest levels of eventing and thoroughbred racing epitomize what horse lovers prize most - beauty, athletic ability, competitive spirit and, perhaps most important, trust in humans. We owe it to them to protect them.
(c) 2008, The Hartford Courant
Did Loose Shoe Hurt Big Brown?
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Big Brown's co-owner Michael Iavarone rejected the notion Monday that steroid withdrawal played a role in the colt's last-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
What happened during the Belmont remains a mystery to Iavarone, although a picture he received from a freelance photographer appears to show Big Brown running in the Belmont with a dislodged shoe on his right hind hoof. There was no evidence of injury to the hoof after the race, but Iavarone said he did not think it could have been comfortable for the horse, who was wearing an acrylic patch on his left front hoof, to compensate for a painful quarter crack.
"It has to be considered a very strong possibility," Iavarone said. "If the shoe was off, it's like running on a wobbly cleat."
The trainer Rick Dutrow created a stir before the Belmont when he told reporters he decided against giving Big Brown his monthly dose of the legal steroid Winstrol. Some critics speculated that Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion, was suffering from steroid withdrawal during the race.
On Sunday, Iavarone said the more than 50 horses owned by International Equine Acquisitions Holdings would be steroid free by the end of the year.
Taking such an aggressive stance against drugs sends the right message, said Alex Waldrop, the chief executive of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
"I think they were affected by all of the criticism suggesting that Big Brown was some kind of pumped-up, steroid-laced phenomenon and it wasn't legitimate," he said. "They rightly concluded the only way to remove the cloud of suspicion is to remove steroids from horses, otherwise they're going to be constantly under suspicion."
The N.T.R.A. is pushing the 38 states that allow racing to ban all steroids but four considered therapeutic in nature.
(c) 2008 The New York Times Company
Pyro finds his fire at Churchill
LOUISVILLE -Blame the Polytrack at Keeneland for Pyro's 10th-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.
Blame hurt feelings, as trainer Steve Asmussen did, for Pyro finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
Credit a more relaxed attitude and better training ethic for Pyro's victory in the Grade III Northern Dancer Stakes, his first post-Derby chance for redemption, at Churchill Downs Saturday.
Pyro, a leading Derby contender before the Blue Grass, had been "agitated and flat nervous" before the Derby, "goofing around," according to Asmussen.
Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan noticed a change in the paddock Saturday. It translated to the track.
"He was fabulous today," the rider said. "He's been a temperamental horse. The work they've put into him paid off."
Bridgmohan got a clean but tight break, raced third with Pyro for the first 6 furlongs then took over in the stretch, winning by 13/4 lengths over My Pal Charlie, who was second at every call in the 11/16-mile race.
"Hopefully, this is the first step to a very good second half of the year," Asmussen said.
Jamie Theriot, who rode My Pal Charlie, said, "We ran all winter long with (Pyro), and we were second-best to him then."
Pyro, at $1.80-to-$1, was the second choice to fellow Derby starter Recapturetheglory ($1.10-to-$1), who finished fifth.
Jockey Garrett Gomez also shared the spotlight on Stephen Foster Day with three stakes victories. He won aboard Hystericalady, Tizdejavu and Dreaming of Anna.
Hystericalady got the stakes card started with an overwhelming victory in the Grade II Fleur de Lis Handicap.
Hysterical Lady, runner-up in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Distaff, led from the gate and stretched out her winning margin to 71/2 lengths.
Gomez made his move with a half-mile left. "At the head of the stretch, she gave me a little more kick than I was expecting," he said.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 1-2 favorite sailed home in 1:50.88 for the 11/8 miles. The 5-year-old mare is 9-for-19 lifetime and 9-for-14 on dirt surfaces.
Hystericalady was third in the Grade I Humana Distaff here on Kentucky Derby Day.
Hollendorfer is hoping Hystericalady will be ready for the Breeders' Cup on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.
"I can say that it is not her best surface, but she still has run well on it," Hollendorfer said.
Jockey Julien Leparoux was back in the saddle to guide even-money favorite Pure Clan to victory in the Grade III Regret over 11/8 miles on the turf.
Pure Clan was third with jockey Edgar Prado in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks May 2.
Under the direction of Louisville trainer Bob Holthus, Pure Clan was trapped on the hedge leaving the backstretch.
"It was a little tight," Leparoux said. "But when you are inside and have the good horse and the gas to go, you can do whatever you want."
Never off the board in eight starts, Pure Cane is 3-for-3 on the grass.
"We felt all along that her action was better suited for the grass than the dirt," Holthus said.
Tizdejavu led all the way to a 4-length victory over Golden Yank in the Grade II Jefferson Cup.
Gomez easily recorded his second stakes win of the day with the 3-1 second choice. Old Man Buck, at 2-1, was third.
Dreaming of Anna got her 10th victory in 15 starts by taking the Grade III Mint Julep Handicap, giving Gomez his third stakes victory.
A 1-2 favorite, Dreaming of Anna led from the start.
(c) Herald Leader
Filly will be buried at Derby Museum
Eight Belles, who died minutes after placing second in the Kentucky Derby last month, will be buried a couple of furlongs from the finish line.
Churchill Downs Inc. and the filly's owner, Rick Porter, announced yesterday that Eight Belles' ashes will be buried in the Kentucky Derby Museum's courtyard, at the base of a tree to be planted in her honor. No date for the ceremony has been set.
Eight Belles suffered breaks in both front ankles shortly after crossing the finish line May 3 and was euthanized on the track. Her death raised an emotional outcry across the nation.
"It's been a tremendous outpouring of support for her," Porter said yesterday by phone. "Just everybody feels for her. They just knew how magnificent a filly and how courageous she was. It's just been a very sad thing."
Churchill Downs also announced it is renaming the $150,000 La Troienne Stakes in honor of Eight Belles. The Grade III race for 3-year-old fillies is part of the Derby undercard.
Four Derby winners are buried in the museum's courtyard: 1933 winner Brokers Tip, Swaps (1955), Carry Back (1961) and Sunny's Halo (1983).
In January, Churchill announced that the ashes of 2006 Derby winner Barbaro will be buried outside Gate 1, under a statue that has been commissioned by his owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson.
What does Porter hope people will feel when they come to Eight Belles' memorial?
"I hope they remember how beautiful a filly she was and how great a racehorse and how much heart she had," he said, "and what could have been if the accident didn't happen."
Trainer Larry Jones said of the memorial: "It will give her a permanent place in Churchill's history. She will be remembered there forever. She gave her life for their marquee deal, and I think it's a very good gesture on their part."
Other highlights of yesterday's announcement:
Porter and the Churchill Downs Foundation each will contribute $25,000 to the Eight Belles Memorial Fund, established by Thoroughbred Charities of America to pay for research into racehorse injuries and for training retired thoroughbreds for other careers.
The track plans an "eight bells" ceremony next Derby Day in the filly's memory.
(c) 2007 Courier-Journal
Results mixed, but fillies have paid a steep price recently
One of the most debated questions coming out of the Eight Belles breakdown in the Kentucky Derby is whether owner Rick Porter and trainer Larry Jones courted disaster by racing a filly against colts.
The quick answer would seem to be of course not. She beat 18 of 19 colts, after all, losing only to a potential monster in Big Brown.
But in recent years, fillies who have tried the Triple Crown -- or the spring prep races leading up to it -- have tended to pay a heavy price. Whether that's coincidence or not is unclear, but the record isn't pretty, starting with Eight Belles.
Results of a necropsy are not yet back, so any guess why is simply conjecture at this point. Some say the race itself had nothing to do with it. Others aren't so sure, especially given the apparent competitiveness of Eight Belles.
"Perhaps getting beat to the point where the average horse quits trying, others keep trying to the point where they get hurt," said Greg Ferraro of the University of California-Davis Center for Equine Health. "Ruffian [who broke down in a famous 1975 match race with colt Foolish Pleasure] and Eight Belles are two prime examples. You're chasing something you can't beat.
"Fatigue plays a major factor in horses getting hurt. Risk of injury rises dramatically."
Last year Rags to Riches became the first filly since 1905 to win the Belmont by impressively outdueling Curlin in the stretch. She was knocked out for three months from that effort, then was injured in her first race back and was ultimately retired.
Prior to Eight Belles, the last fillies to run in the Derby were Three Ring and Excellent Meeting in 1999. It was a bad spring for both.
Excellent Meeting endured a rough Derby trip to finish fifth, and trainer Bob Baffert ran her back in the Preakness. She was so uncompetitive in that race that jockey Kent Desormeaux wrapped her up with 3/8 of a mile left. She didn't finish the race.
Three Ring had an even rougher Derby trip than Excellent Meeting and finished last. Prior to her next race, the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park, she reared in the paddock, flipped on her back and fractured her skull. She had to be euthanized on the spot.
Baffert also ran his other top-notch filly of 1999, Silverbulletday, in that year's Belmont. After 11 wins in 12 starts, she finished seventh and ran her slowest Beyer Speed Figure since early in her 2-year-old season. Silverbulletday did bounce back with three straight victories later that summer.
"After I ran Silverbulletday in the Belmont, I said I'd never do it again," Baffert said. "It can still be done, but it takes the right kind of horse. If something goes wrong it's painful and it's embarrassing. You better be prepared to take a lot of flak for it."
Baffert had another elite filly this year in Indian Blessing. Despite a dearth of talented 3-year-old colts in his barn, Baffert told the owners not to bother nominating Indian Blessing for the Triple Crown races against the boys.
"Don't even give me the temptation," he said.
Several fillies have tried to get on the Derby trail via one of its major prep races, the Santa Anita Derby. Recent results have not been good. Sweet Catomine was injured in the '04 Santa Anita. Surfside ran in the '99 Santa Anita and finished fifth, then was knocked out for all of the major filly races over the ensuing months. Eliza was beaten in the '93 Santa Anita, then was upset in her next start as the heavy favorite in the Kentucky Oaks.
Even the two warrior fillies who have won the Derby in modern times, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in '88, both went on to endure difficulties breeding. Neither has produced a stakes winner.
Of course, there are plenty of counterpoints to make. Serena's Song ran 16th in the '95 Derby and came back to beat boys later that summer, on her way to a very successful career. Sharp Cat was the beaten favorite in the '97 Santa Anita Derby but won the Acorn Stakes shortly thereafter and had two more Grade I stakes wins at age 4. Miesque routinely beat the boys during her stellar career. Ta Wee was champion sprinter in 1969 and '70, doing most of her work against boys. And three Breeders' Cup sprint champions have been females.
Jim Squires, who bred 2001 Derby winner Monarchos, told The New York Times he doesn't believe Eight Belles was put at undue risk running against colts. Arthur Hancock III, who has bred three Derby winners, isn't so sure.
He was present in 1964 when his father's prize filly, Lamb Chop, broke down against boys and had to be euthanized. He remembers his father swearing through his tears that he'd never subject a filly to that again.
"I saw it firsthand and learned my lesson there," Arthur Hancock said. "It's just nature. Do you know many women -- or any women -- who could play for the Kansas City Chiefs or Denver Broncos?
"I guarantee you one thing: If she does, it's going to be a long time before she wants to play football again. If she comes out of it. That's just the way this planet is."
(c) 2008 ESPN
Brown's day blues
KENTUCKY DERBY | THE 134TH RUNNING
Enthusiasm for impressive victory by unbeaten Big Brown tempered by breakdown of second-place filly Eight Belles
By Hank Wesch
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 4, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It had been something of a struggle to get through the crowd to the Churchill Downs track for J. Larry Jones, trainer of Eight Belles, the effort draining some of the enthusiasm generated by his filly's second-place finish in yesterday's Kentucky Derby.
Then Jones saw Kent Desormeaux, aboard Big Brown, coming back to the winner's circle.
"He didn't look like he'd just won the Kentucky Derby," Jones said. "He was a little bit solemn."
Jones looked for, but didn't see, jockey Gabriel Saez bringing Eight Belles back for unsaddling. He saw Saez riding double on a horse with TV commentator Donna Brothers.
"When I got to him, I said 'What's up?' " Jones said. "He told me 'Mr. Larry, they put her down.' "
The 4 3/4-length victory of Big Brown in the 134th Kentucky Derby, before the second-largest crowd in Churchill Downs history, 157,770, was tempered when Eight Belles was euthanized moments after the race after breaking bones in both front ankles.
Big Brown's impressive performance fueled dreams of thoroughbred racing's first Triple Crown in 30 years, if the undefeated colt can win the Preakness in two weeks and the Belmont Stakes in early June.
The loss of Eight Belles, a winner of four straight races against her own gender attempting to become only the fourth female winner in Derby history, invoked the nightmares of Barbaro and other racing tragedies that have occurred on the sport's biggest stages and days.
"This horse (Big Brown) showed you his heart and Eight Belles showed you her life today, I'm deeply sympathetic towards that team," said Desormeaux, who notched his third Derby victory, adding it to ones aboard Real Quiet (1998) and Fusaichi Pegasus (2000).
Eight Belles was "galloping out" and slowing down nearly a quarter-mile past the finish line when an outrider saw both front ankles snap. With no hope of life-saving procedures, Eight Belles was euthanized on the spot as soon as veterinarians arrived.
"It's nothing that could have been foreseen. I saw nothing at the end of the race, or early on while she was galloping out," a grief-stricken Jones said an hour after the race. "It's a quarter-mile after the race. Things like that don't happen there . . . She went out in glory. She went out as a champion."
Big Brown was everything that trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. and jockey Kent Desormeaux had said the colt would be during the long build-up to America's most famous race.
Win from the No. 20 post position, something not done since 1929? Win the Derby in only the fourth career start, something last done in 1915? No problem.
"A beautiful uneventful trip," Desormeaux said. "And he did it so within himself. He truly was in a gallop to the quarter pole. That's his maximum cruising speed. That's how we were going and he added power to the stride when I needed it."
"This horse settled nicely for (Desormeaux) and every inch of this race was to our liking today," said Dutrow, a Derby winner with his first starter.
The No. 20 post afforded Big Brown the, as it turned out unnecessary, insurance that a slightly tardy start wouldn't result in being caught up in a crowd. Desormeaux guided Big Brown on a four-wide path around the first turn, five-wide down the backstretch, no worse than sixth at any point and always within easy striking distance of the lead.
A three-wide move rounding the second turn to the head of the stretch put Big Brown in front, and it was a matter of getting closer to the rail and drawing away before crossing under the wire in 2:01.82. Eighteen-hundredths of a second faster than Street Sense last year. Forty-six hundredths slower than Barbaro in '06.
"This is what Derby winners do," Desormeaux said. "They can move you into a position, and then cruise, and then take you to another position and then cruise again.
"That's what he does. Every time I ask him (the response is) like leaving the starting gate."
Eight Belles was never worse than fifth and, Jones said, never bumped or hampered, was the strongest in pursuit of Big Brown and became only the second female to record a runner-up result in the Run for the Roses. Denis of Cork closed from 13th in the final quarter-mile to finish third.
Big Brown became the seventh horse to emerge from the Derby undefeated. His fourth straight win was worth $1,451,800 from the purse of $2.2 million and increased the Boundary colt's earnings to $2,076,700.
(c) Copyright 1995-2008 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
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