 Photo by: Linda Pricci What a difference a year makes for Mike Smith |
Mike Smith, in tears at the podium, pounding his fist into the table saying “it’s my fault,” that Zenyatta did not wind up the “perfect” race horse. It was not Smith’s fault, but he out it on himself, not the great mare.
Smith, who with yesterday’s ride, equaled Jerry Bailey as the leading rider in Breeders’ Cup history with 15 victories.
Then there was Chantal Sutherland, she of the soft hands and cool demeanor, bidding to become the first woman to ride a Breeders’ Cup Classic winner.
Had it happened, it would have been at the expense of Smith; friends, but lovers no more.
And trainer Bill Mott, who, with John Shirreffs, became only the second trainer to win the male and female Classic in the same year.
As an aside, only four other trainers; Neil Drysdale, Bobby Frankel, David Hofmans and Wayne Lukas have won male and Female Classics.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci The young Joseph O'Brien in full stride with St Nicholas Abbey |
In fact, in winning his eighth Breeders’ Cup race, Mott continued his run at winning the biggest ones, having taken two Turfs, four Ladies Classics and now two Classics, the other being the great Cigar, in 1995.
In the final analysis, Drosselmeyer showed up, as did Game On Dude, who settled beautifully on the lead, despite constant hounding from Uncle Mo, who finished 10th, beating only stablemate Stay Thirsty and 24-1 Headache.
To Honor And Serve who, like Uncle Mo, was an early Kentucky Derby favorite but, like Mo, never made it to the dance. After stalking from good, outside position, after steadying from between horses curling into the first turn, tried a 3-path surge on the final turn, challenged for the lead in upper stretch but failed to stay.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci O'Brien Barn off to fast start with Wrote |
Flat Out who, despite training brilliantly at Churchill for two weeks, raced one-paced in a disappointing effort despite losing by a tad over three lengths.
Havre De Grace had a fairly eventful journey and was very game to finish fourth, after encountering trouble twice in the race. She’s just so genuine, even after not having the greatest week here.
This year’s Belmont winner, Ruler On Ice, a fast closing second in To Honor And Serve’s Pennsylvania Derby, finished well after being bumped soundly at the start, was going very well at the finish, third.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Horse for Course, Regally Ready remains unbeaten at Churchill |
But it was Drosselmeyer, who originally had been pointed for the Marathon, the purse being only 10% of the size of the Classic’s $5 million, touted his trainer and his owners, Winstar farm, that he would be worth a run in the big one.
They didn’t know if he could win but surmised that he would run well. When horses show up, and some of the others don’t funny things can happen.
Like Mike Smith flying down the center of the track only this time, getting there. “Winning the Classic is always a great kick. Yes, it does take some of the sting out of last year.”
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Hansen, the Grey, stays undefeated in the Juvenile |
“We’ve always have been pretty lucky here, happy that we’re the all-time leader in wins and stakes wins but the other guys keep biting at your heels.
“Winning the Classic is just…” his voice trailing off as he broke into the laughter of a man who just won 10% of a $5 million purse.
Game On Dude and Sutherland’s performance aboard him were excellent. The SoCal handicapper speedster might be the most honest member of the group, running his race virtually every time out. Their connections have much to be proud of.
 Photo by: Toni Pricci Caleb's Posse, the hottest sophomore in America |
Handle figures were incomplete as this is written but the two-day attendance total 105,820, as compared to the 113,353 who attended last year when Zenyatta was bidding for 20 victories without a defeat.
The Classic result throws the 2011 Horse of the Year high in the air. Where it will land at this point is anyone’s guess in the hours following this country’s most important race for older horses.
It would be hard to imagine Smith, Mott and the owners of Winstar Farm fretting over the issue late into Saturday night.
05 Nov 2011 at 07:33 pm | #
I remember John Pricci being a big Drosselmeyer guy last year. Hoping you cashed a ticket today!
05 Nov 2011 at 08:22 pm | #
Two month left along with a couple major races but it’s HotY time. How about 14 line up in 3 weeks in the Cigar Mile. Bring back the players from this one and throw in a few from the (dirt) Mile and Sprint and you’d have the best race of the year. hell, I’m going anyway, so might as well see a show while I’m there.
Instead we are doomed to 2 1/2 months of words not deeds. The more I think of it, the less I like the BC as it stands.
06 Nov 2011 at 12:08 am | #
Seriously John....It has to be Havre De Grace for Horse Of The Year right? She was the only horse of contention to really show up (with apologies to Game On Dude)
Also is Hansen 2 Year Old Male Champ or do we have a situation ala Is It True and Easy Goer where Rags is ultimately crowned after the loss because of what he has accomplished?
I wish there were more venues this year for Aurelia to show off because at this point she’s the only American horse that I have excitement going forward about.
Don’t know of a previous year where divisional awards seemed so confused, less a couple
06 Nov 2011 at 10:32 am | #
Gary, only used Dross in the multiples; keyed off So You Think and Flat Out; got nothing.
Goer, I do believe them; lots of people inside owning to cool temps, and people on the apron. Compared to Derby Day, place is going to look empty. I had no problem with the numbers.
Al, I’m with you; a bunch of top horses in the Cigar as H of Y more chaotic then I’ve seen in a long time; more on that later. But thinking Cigar asnd something important at Hollywood could have z bearing. But Al, even without BC, this has been a very uneven year between the fences. More on that later, too.
Someone proffered at dinner maybe Aurelia should be Horse of the Year. Think that a substasntial stretch but agree about the excitement factor. Another voter, with arm twisted, said Havre De Grace, maybe.
Famous East Coast bias for Union Rags? Not with me. Hansen gets my vote. Who was best in the Juv? If anyone asks, clearly they didn’t see the race.
Thanks all, on the road for next three days. Later…
JP
06 Nov 2011 at 01:07 pm | #
What the last two days showed was the fallacy of the superior horse and the the ultimate meaninglessness of year end honors. For the most part, these results were a function of location, location, location. Change the venue and you would have gotten a nearly complete new set of results. Amazombie, My Miss Aurelia, couple of the Euros probably would have won anywhere. Change the Juvenile to Belmont and Union Rags wins; Santa Anita and Creative Cause takes it. I don’t think that is a bad thing. I just think the way we talk about this sport and the relative merits of the equine athletes is not reality based and probably counter-productive vis a vis public perception.
06 Nov 2011 at 11:29 pm | #
Dear Mr. Pricci:
Regarding this comment: “Famous East Coast bias for Union Rags? Not with me. Hansen gets my vote. Who was best in the Juv? If anyone asks, clearly they didn’t see the race.”
Was glad to see they finally got Trakus at Churchill, of which I’m a big fan. Have not checked the Trakus figures for the Juvee, and not taking anything away from the winner, but indubitably, Union Rags, with that wide trip, must have covered many more inches than the winner, and if my memory serves me correctly from elementary school, the shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line, and all that rot.
Kyle, your the man; although I don’t think it is all a crock, people in this game (and in life), tend to make erroneous judgments based on insufficient data. They then react like a pinball machine, running around like a chicken with their head cut off, spouting off ridiculous false assumptions. That is why, even when I have a strong opinion about a race, or racehorse, at a particular moment in time, and I place a wager, and win, I do not necessarily believe I was correct in my assumption based upon the outcome of that particular race. It is just not enough to go on.
On second thought, yeah, it’s all a crock!
TTT
07 Nov 2011 at 04:22 am | #
Ted/JRP,
According to Trakus, Union Rags traveled 9 lengths farther than Hansen. You can make your own judgment about which was better.
I happen to suspect (but am not positive) the rail was deeper as the track began drying out in the middle part of the card.
Whatever happened to the traditional Churchill dirt which was sloppy at 7am and fast by 2pm?
07 Nov 2011 at 05:20 am | #
Couldn’t help but notice that you’ve enlisted another female member of the Pricci family to take photographs. Now it all becomes clear to me (3 days to get back from Lewavilll!!!!
TTT
07 Nov 2011 at 09:18 am | #
While it’s true Union Rags ran considerably farther, Hansen’s speed allowed him to clear and thus carve out the shortest trip. What we need to do is dispense with pack racing and go to time trials. That will tell us who the fastest horse actually is, instead of someone like Randy Moss telling the world that no other horse in The Classic field had ever run as fast as Uncle Mo did in The Kelso.
07 Nov 2011 at 09:20 am | #
To All,
One big mea culpa from me. No excuses, but working this event makes you punchy, and the sentence TTT alludes to was very poorly ridden, indeed. What it was supposed to indicate is that as the race was run, Union Rags was much the best!
But I must vote for Hansen, undefeated and winner of a “championship” event. While it’s true that not all BC will win Eclipse titles, events such as both Juvies and the Sprint are, with me, title-centric.
Kyle, your point is extremely well taken. However, that argument can be made every time a Horse for Course wins.
You pays your money; you takes your chances. Much more on this later. Time for breakfast, vote in the final NTRA poll of the year, and back on the road again. Saw a great blues band at B. B. King’s joint in Nashville last night--good food, too, including deep-fried pickles (I know, that’s what I thought, too).
Next stop, Atlanta, where a good night’s sleep will be in order.
Much to discuss in the coming days and week.
JP
07 Nov 2011 at 03:15 pm | #
Was glad to see some others take some consideration into what I said. While it is true that I grew up in Wantagh, Long Island with “Bets N Pieces” in “Newsday” by J.P. as my daily must read....I have been away from NY since 1995 and now am firmly entrenched in SoCal.
In reality I’m not totally against Hansen getting Juvenile honors, but I think the Breeders Cup in itself can be counterproductive at times because it can cause failure to examine an overall body of work when it comes to Eclipse Awards. This is especially the case with 2 year olds. I know this much, if I had a decent two year old I would run him in a couple of races against nobody’s in prep for the Juvenile. It is clear that past stakes wins are somewhat meaningless in the claim for 2 Y/O divisional honors. It’s all about winning the Juvenile and nothing more.
07 Nov 2011 at 03:39 pm | #
“But I must vote for Hansen, undefeated and winner of a “championship” event.”
This is one of the reasons why I’m getting less and less fond of the BC. Compare resumes
Hansen: 3-3-0-0 One Gr 1, one listed stakes win
Union Rags: 4-3-1-0 One Gr 1 win, one Gr 1 place, One Gr 2 win
It’s not even close which horse is better and which had a better year and it’s not Hansen. Switch posts for the two and tell me that Hansen still wins this BC race. Don’t have a BC Juvie Sprint and tell me Hansen gets a lone lead. AND there is still 2 months left in the year!
By this reasoning what’s his name that won the Classic as well as the other one that won the turf should win their respective divisions. Hey, they won on the sample of one on the big day.
Don’t even get me started on the Goldikova non-dq. Blaming the stewards is ignoring what PVal did in that race and I say the stewards gave what was the best possible and unbiased decision given the mess PVal created.
At least Caleb’s Posse won. That I enjoyed very much. The rest was strangely unsatisfying.
07 Nov 2011 at 06:36 pm | #
Folks, your argument may be with BC Limited, not me. And I may have acted too hastily, not thought it through and may reassess. Yes, there is plenty of racing left.
I need to see what PVal did. Did he have affrontery of actually trying to win the race? The nerve! But seriously, I need to see the head on again. What I don’t need to see is the non-existent pressure coming from the outside.
There’s much more to come, but still on the road. Will be checking in every morning, however.
JP
08 Nov 2011 at 02:07 pm | #
Patrick Valenzuela is a serious guy. Any guy who would shave his entire body is aces in my book. Would not want to ride against somebody like that.
TTT
09 Nov 2011 at 12:47 pm | #
Really cool post, it was really enjoyable! Moscato