We will take a look at some of this year's events to allow HRI readers, also an opinionated lot, to give their takes.
This is the 13th such "Moments" poll and I'm not sure any could top the pathos of the very first; the image of the late Chris Antley keeping Charismatic on his feet a hundred yards passed the Belmont Stakes finish line.
There have been some other truly memorable "Moments" as well: Tiznow winning a titanic stretch drive over Sakhee for America at Belmont Park in the first Classic run after 9/11. Birdstone's Belmont Stakes upset halting the Triple Crown bid of Smarty Jones three years later.
Then there was Barbaro’s brave battle in 2006; Rags to Riches’ historic Belmont Stakes defeat of Curlin and, of course, mighty Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Classic score in 2009 and the following year’s Classic and her gallant effort behind Blame when all appeared hopelessly lost.
There were a dozen such moments that captured the attention of the NTRA panel. I’ll go down the list, one by one, give an immediate reaction to the then handicap those results from my personal favorites. To wit:
Rosie Napravnik guides Pants on Fire to victory in the Louisiana Derby en route to becoming the first woman to win a Fair Grounds riding title—Great ride, but I might have chosen the race that specifically accounted for her the riding title.
Uncle Mo suffers his first defeat, running third behind Toby’s Corner in Aqueduct’s Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial—Please, No More Mo, please.
Animal Kingdom runs down his foes in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands— Pretty yummy, but would I have given this effort a second thought had it not come in the Kentucky Derby?
Shackleford overcomes pre-race nervousness to hold off Animal Kingdom in the Preakness—Dramatic? Definitely. Memorable? Not so much
Blind Luck prevails by a nose over Havre de Grace following a stretch-long duel in the Delaware Handicap—Right now, as we go down the list, definitely makes the finals for being the most dramatic finish in a big spot this year.
Caleb’s Posse catches a stubborn Uncle Mo in the Foxwoods King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga—Damn good finish, one of the best I saw all year, but not sure this sprint has that kind of cache.
Havre de Grace beats the boys in Saratoga’s Woodward Stakes—Has greater Horse of the Year implications than the Delaware Handicap but given the timing of the season, when Blind Luck and Havre de Grace were sharing the spotlight, not as “memorable” for me.
Joseph O’Brien, 18, becomes the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race, piloting St. Nicholas Abbey to victory in the Emirates Airline Turf for his father, Aidan O’Brien— From a historical perspective alone, and given daddy’s season, both here and aboard, this moment has to make the cut.
Court Vision spoils Goldikova’s attempt at a fourth consecutive TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile win, upsetting the field at 64-1—A race and result that was, for me personally, more forgettable than memorable.
Drosselmeyer and Mike Smith edge Game on Dude and Chantal Sutherland at the wire of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, giving trainer Bill Mott his second “Classic” in 24 hours— A tough call. If it weren’t for the Mike-Chantal-Mott factor, I probably wouldn’t give this year’s Classic a second thought.
Rapid Redux breaks a North American record by winning his 20th consecutive race—When is a record not a record? The parameters seem to change with every new winning streak. Not sure a “minor league” streaks are comparable to prime time performances. Sorry, but not for me.
If this were a horse race, my graded selections would be:
1. Delaware Handicap finish
2. Santa Anita Handicap Inquiry
3. Father-and-Son Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Your turn.
09 Dec 2011 at 04:10 pm | #
BC Classic - 15,000 people instantly pissed off that they didn’t cover the “Ex-Lovers” angle (the Smith-Sutherland exacta which paid $444).
10 Dec 2011 at 08:45 am | #
Don, I’ll take the over on the 15,000. Besides, I always remember what Dr. Sethi taught me in Management 101 class at SJU: Forget sunk costs.
10 Dec 2011 at 01:56 pm | #
The Pacific Classic was my favorite. Two top older horses breaking the 1 1/4 record at Del Mar. Acclamation, Twirling Candy, Joel Rosario, and Pat Valenzuela put on a show that day.
10 Dec 2011 at 07:10 pm | #
Indeed, a good race Wally. And will have something on PVal very soon, speaking of SoCal.
But I need to say this: I just can’t warm up to synthetic track racing.
Still can’t reconcile the results in a larger context.
10 Dec 2011 at 08:37 pm | #
BC Giveaway Day 2012: Complimentary one-size-fits-all straight-jackets will be given out to the first 15,000 customers.
(Or Frank Stronach, who goes through a lot of them in a very short time - whomever comes first).
With photos of Mike & Chantal on the back (hoping to make a killing, Hallmark Cards had ordered them in bulk just before Splitsville).
11 Dec 2011 at 01:05 am | #
JP,
I can’t fault your Delaware Cap selection because it showcased racing at its best—renewing a multi-year rivalry between the two top horses in a division who lived up to their billing with outstanding performances at a classic distance to produce riveting drama that would fuel discussion about the sport for months to come. Not since Affirmed and Alydar have we seen anything like it.
However, your assessment of the BC Classic’s significance surprises me; considering it was the most anticipated moment of 2011. Not only did Game On Dude come with his best game at the classic distance over a track that worked against his incredibly determined front-running style, but the victor – a TC event winner in 2010—who was expected to improve off an encouraging second place finish to the favored Flat Out following a layoff – also lived up to his potential by turning the tables on that rival. In doing so, he reinforced several notions: 1) The Jockey Gold Cup is the most productive prep for the BC Classic, 2) Mike Smith is the premier architect of deep-closing thrillers, and 3) Bill Mott is the most invisible high-profile trainer in North America. It was a showdown among HOTY candidates that didn’t disappoint.
We supposedly favor stamina over speed even if we don’t always breed for it accordingly. Havre De Grace did not win at 10 furlongs and neither did Tizway. Flat Out split his two 1-1/4 mile encounters with Drosselmeyer, but the latter’s combined placings and earnings were superior. As far as I’m concerned, Drosselmeyer won his divisional championship as well as HOTY on the track directly over his rivals as many believe it is supposed to be. I think that Game On Dude is the only satisfactory alternative in the event that Drosselmeyer is “Blamed” for being overlooked by most players.
Game On Dude’s HOTY credentials over an extended campaign are not unlike those of Zenyatta whose durability and consistency—combined with a game second in the 2010 BC Classic—qualified her for HOTY over her conqueror. The former’s competition in her other 2010 races weren’t close to what the latter faced in his 2011 G1 attempts. He was arguably the most accomplished 10 furlong horse in 2011, certainly the most conspicuous combination of speed and stamina, and demonstrably the most dramatic and photogenic finisher as well. I’m inclined to dismiss his Pacific Classic finish behind a multiple graded turf stakes winner (Acclamation), a Polytrak specialist (Stately Victor), and a horse he had previously beaten multiple times on dirt (Twirling Candy)—none of which showed up for the Classic on dirt.
11 Dec 2011 at 03:47 am | #
“Bill Mott is the most invisible high-profile trainer in North America.”
I: How true and well-written!
John, can we get a column about Peter Ferriola (no longer with us)?
I’ll bet you’ve got a dynamite story in you about him. Fire away.
11 Dec 2011 at 03:57 am | #
John, I also (and should have done so much earlier since its inscription) just carefully read “HRI will not, however, edit or discourage those who, with intellectual honesty, disagree with HRI staffers or other readers. We also will not, as is done on some racing sites, edit disagreeable or negative commentary in the interests of commerce.”
Do you have any suggestions as to how we can spread this disease of intellectual integrity within the racing and other media?
11 Dec 2011 at 05:56 am | #
With respect to playing “lovers” angles with jockeys, not much of a “wheel” player.
TTT
11 Dec 2011 at 12:03 pm | #
T, I’m usually locked into to your, let’s say, sometimes bizarre sense of humor. Am I being obtuse here but can’t say I get ythe wheel referense. Thanks for commenting, nonetheless, as with all of you.
Don, “spread the disease of intellectual integrity?” Despite its loyal and informed readership, HRI has not made me rich in four years.
I’m a horseplayer, and so I’m hopeful. All I’m saying is that its hard to have high standards when the money you make is tied to either other industry factions, or your access is controlled by the people you cover; whether it be on the track grounds or the subjects--horsemen--themselves.
AndI do have one story to tell about Ferriola that I learned from my next door neighbor, “Chuck from Saratoga.” Will get to it some day, but PVal will be first up in terms of a profile/recollection.
Indulto, you make so much sense sometimes it’s scary. But anticipating an event doesn’t mean it has the significance that you thought it might. All your qualifications are correct; but that’s the issue, they were qualified and the result did more to muddle the H of Y picture than resolve it. Plenty of time to address that notion, however.
As stated earlier, I do not know how to reconcile synthetic results and I tend to downplay their meaning vis a vis traditional American champions. But I will say that if I were comparing two horses; one of them a track specialist of some kind, the other a horse that possibly won on three surfaces, I probably would reward that runner for its versatility. But that’s just me.
Thanks again all.
JP
11 Dec 2011 at 11:23 pm | #
DR,
Thanks for the kind words.
JP,
Anticipation is what drives this game and why exponentially more people watched the BC Classic live than viewed the Delaware Cap prior to its replay. The Uncle MOment factor alone contributed to the anticipation this year as well as Game On Dude’s finish.
Barring a Big Brown flop, a Life At Ten fiasco, or a Goldikova Mile fraud, the BC Classic would seem to be the default Moment of the Year provided the eventual divisional champion or the HOTY showed up. Good thing it’s not a decision made by a relatively few when a possible exception arises.
A true champion on multiple surfaces should indeed get preferential consideration. Any horse that could win the Arc and the BC Classic would be an automatic in my book, even if that were its only race in North America. Acclamation’s California G1 streak falls somewhat short of deserving such an accolade.
12 Dec 2011 at 12:01 pm | #
Indulto, I’m not sure who the fans will vote for, to be honest, but I think you ID’ed the right Fave.
16 Dec 2011 at 09:39 pm | #
Indulto, that was a good commentary. I just have one question about you said: “The Jockey Club Gold Cup is the most useful prep”. Do you have stats to back that up? I really didn’t think ANY BC Classic prep was that much better than any other else.
16 Dec 2011 at 10:30 pm | #
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