Voters tend to be attracted to dominant performances and his Grade 1 romp in the Woodbine Mile was a fitting reprise of his G2 Fourstardave in Saratoga.
This, of course, makes Wise Dan a three-surface star which—for me at least—is a valuable new definition to what a true Horse of the Year might be. My ballot had him ranked #2 behind retired dual classic winner, I’ll Have Another.
And this is the fall of the year, when the scores can really change and change quickly. At this late stage of the 2012 season, the Horse of the Year race is one of the most open it has been in years.
There are plenty of runners capable of stringing together back-to-back scores to be recognized as the best in show, most especially if the Breeders’ Cup Classic is one of them.
Unless, of course, we’re talking about the Ladies Classic and, somewhat unbelievable, a filly named Questing can become the first the first 3-year-old distaffer to become Horse of the Year since, well, Rachel Alexandra, three years ago.
Yes, Virginia, and the other swing states, too, Thoroughbred racing’s highest honor might go to a female racehorse for the fourth consecutive year. It boggles the mind, really: Who would believe that such a thing could even be possible?!
Questing currently is ranked at #8, two spots behind I’ll Have Another, and will seek her third consecutive Grade 1 in the Cotillion Stakes Saturday at Parx Racing.
Morton Fink, owner of Wise Dan, and trainer Charles Lopresti, said after the Woodbine Mile that they would have to consider a run in the Classic, though the trainer believes ‘Dan’ is better on synthetics and especially turf.
This year, Wise Dan is one narrow, very tough-trip defeat in the Stephen Foster from being undefeated in four starts, having romped in the G3 Ben Ali in the spring, his season’s debut.
When Wise Dan won the G1 Clark at Churchill Downs last fall at 9 furlongs, it didn’t appear that another eighth of a mile would be an issue. But the 5-year-old gelding is not terribly stoutly bred and that might be something nagging at his trainer.
But this is one guy who certainly acts the part, looks it, is extremely well put together and apparently has, in trainer-speak, a good mind.
So it will depend on the connections of Wise Dan whether they want to go the dough or the gusto, the brass ring, the big enchilada, and hope that Questing doesn’t continue her extraordinary ways.
Or what if horses like Game On Dude or Mucho Macho Man, to name two, win a G1 prep before also taking the Classic, making either very difficult to defeat at the ballot box?
It is said that geldings come into peak at age 5. The Classic and Horse of the Year are out there for Wise Dan, and here’s the thing: He’s proven that he can defeat Grade 1 horses on dirt and has already won a G1 prep.
Horsemen are fond of saying that you run in the Kentucky Derby because you only get one chance. No one knows what the future may bring. For Wise Dan, the time is now.
Could English Racing History’s Loss Be Breeders’ Cup’s Gain?
The defeat of Camelot over the weekend, insuring there will not be a Triple Crown winner on the other side of the pond may be a loss for history but perhaps a gain for Breeders’ Cup day.
Clearly, the concerns expressed by his connections, that the formerly undefeated colt might be compromised by the St. Leger’s 14-1/2 furlongs, were misplaced. Or, in the words of trainer Aidan O’Brien: “Maybe I should have run a rabbit.”
Well, it works for Frankel.
In the final analysis, it was the pace and race dynamics that prevented this very talented 3-year-old from becoming the first horse since the great Nijinsky in 1970 to sweep the English Triple Crown.
And considering that he won the English and Irish Derbies from closer to the pace, watching this colt sit covered up and against the fence for much of the journey must have been frustrating for his connections.
Young Joseph O’Brien might have been, at once, overconfident and overcautious, too. Given the conditions, finishing well and just missing after altering course behind a fresh rival that got the first run, indicates Camelot should have won it.
Young Joseph won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf for his dad aboard St. Nicholas Abbey for the Coolmore folks that also own Camelot. If the Arc de Triomphe isn’t on his radar, he certainly could lend his star power to America’s premier grass test.
20 Sep 2012 at 06:11 pm | #
Happy to see a five year old in contention for horse of the year. The best thing is, if he stays healthy, he’ll be around a lot longer. Here’s hoping for another John Henry.
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Today is harness racing’s equivalent to a triple crown event, it’s Little Brown Jug Day. The race is run in heats and featues two preliminary races, with the winners squaring off later - yes the same day - to determine the winner.
It’s a full day of racing starting a little later this morning and lasting most of the day.
There are Pick 4’s with low takeouts of just 15% and free PP’s are available online at USTrotting.com and at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair website.
Mine are printed out and I’m heading to the OTB!
20 Sep 2012 at 07:07 pm | #
It was a good try by Camelot and certainly wasn’t the distance that did him in as you point out. It looked as if they were going to try to shoot up the rail and once that failed, the eventual winner had already gotten position and first jump. Honestly though were he mine I wouldn’t send him over here to run on a 7f bullring turf course but would go Arc and/or Champions Day. He and Frankel in the Champions would be good press, though if British scribes are to be believed about the ever discussed quality of the 3yo crop, Frankel will blow his doors off.
20 Sep 2012 at 07:25 pm | #
Denny, I’m so confused; there are ‘A’ cards, and ‘B’ cards with, I don’t know, 17 races on Jug Day.
Who do they think they are, Saratoga?
I’d love to go to the Jug someday; we love tail gate parties. I think first Jug Elim is 1 pm. Check your local listings.
Al, I don’t really expect Camelot to come over, more just hoping. Besides, I’m sure O’Brien has no shortage of able substitutes.
Would love to see Camelot beat Frankel, should they ever meet, but I seriously doubt even that meeting would happen. Don’t know enough about the Euros to have any meaningful opinion.
Not knocking Frankel, a great miler; just tired of the “greatest ever” hype. Step out of your comfort zone, already.
20 Sep 2012 at 11:28 pm | #
I’d have to say, Mr. Pricci, that Camelot is a good horse and definitely best of his group, but at a mile and a quarter, Frankel would destroy him. The one thing to know about British racing is they nail the class level ratings right on the head. At a mile and a half, it could go the other way. Those managing him seem to believe he simply isn’t a middle distance horse and I think they are probably right about that. We complain when sprinters get entered in the Derby, so I can’t buy the “out of the comfort zone” argument.
As to greatest ever, we seem to live in a world now that thinks superlatives are necessary to justify anything. I don’t think you can compare eras in any sport with any degree of reliability anyway, so it is a fairly meaningless debate. Ruth may have been the best in his day, but that “giant” of a man would be dwarfed by the modern player at 6’2”, 215, hardly bigger than me. In fact, Derek Jeter is 6’3” and not a lot lighter if you want to compare. He’d be good today probably, but he wouldn’t be “Babe Ruth”.
So instead of tiring of the hype, ignore it and just watch the race and enjoy it for what it is. You may not see perfection, but you’ll see something pretty good.