December 2009
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Crist Blog | May 28, 2009
"2009 Racing" for $800, Alex
The Answer is: Einstein, Informed Decision, Rachel Alexandra, Stardom Bound.
The Question: name the only four horses who have won two Grade 1 stakes races so far this year.
Here's the Grade 1 tally to date, with the schedule through the end of June:
Bobby Frankel leads all trainers with three Grade 1 victories so far, and five jockeys are tied with a trio apiece: Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez, Julien Leparoux, Mike Smith and John Velazquez.
By my count, we're at 114 109 Grade 1's this year with the cancellation of the Pimlico Special. So that's 25 down, 89 84 to go.
--Here, according to a Belmont Park press release today, are the "likely players" for the four Grade 1's there on Belmont Stakes Day, listed in alphabetical order:
Belmont: Brave Victory, Charitable Man, Chocolate Candy, Dunkirk, Flying Private, Luv Gov, Miner's Escape, Mine That Bird, Mr. Hot Stuff, Nowhere to Hide, Summer Bird. And "maybe" Rachel Alexandra.
Manhattan: Better Talk Now, Court Vision, Cowboy Cal, Gio Ponti, Grand Couturier (GB), Interpatation, Lauro (GER), Premium Gold.
Acorn: Be Fair, Devotee, Doremifasollatido, Dream Play, Funny Moon, Just Jenda and Justwhistledixie.
Just a Game: Captain’s Lover (SAF), Carribean Sunset (IRE), Diamondrella (GB), Forever Together, Modern Look (GB)and My Princess Jess.
These are hardly set lineups nine days out, just known likely starters. You can find the complete nominations for these races by going to the NYRA homepage and clicking "Stakes Nominations" under "Horsemen" in the left-hand column.
--Real lineups and pp's are up for Saturday's Belmont card, where the $350,000 Guaranteed Pick-4 (which handled $490k last Saturday) comprises a firster-heavy statebred maiden race, the restricted Mckaymckenna Stakes for older turf fillies, the G2 Sands Point for 3-year-old turf fillies (including Gozzip Girl and Magical Affair), and an open maiden turf race.
In the Mckaymckenna, I'm intrigued by Shadiyna, who was entered and scratched from last Saturday's much tougher Sheepshead Bay. She's still eligible for a N2x, but her lone American start was much better than the lowly 76 Beyer it earned -- she was first off a six-month layoff and dead last early behind a ridiuculously slow pace. That she was even nominated and entered for a graded stakes makes me think she's eligible to improve quickly. She's the same 12-1 ML Saturday that she was a week ago and deserves consideration at anything near that price.
--Commenter dale_tillotson: Does the photo at right answer your question?
Popeye(left) and Dondo are resting up for Saratoga, which opens in 62 days. If Dondo is looking a bit more robust since his arrival, well, it turns out that retirement, and extra-crunchy Cheetos, agree with him.
Posted by Steven Crist May 28, 2009 5:18:39 PM | Permalink
Keywords:
Comments
john_piesen says:
Steve: It's always a good thing to see that great minds think alike. Please check out the current post on "johnpiesen.com" Hope all is well with you.
Posted by John Piesen Jun 16, 2009 8:18:46 AM
forego76 says:
Steve: Thanks for the Cheetos memory. Back in the day when I was training racing greyhounds at a track in southwestern Vermont, I adopted Tels Shannon, one of my less talented racers who made a career out of running second, or "pacing the field," as we used to call it. No matter the level of competition, Shannon would do her best to run second, once in a while accidentally winning when she met up with another greyhound on the front end who had similar goals. Anyway, after I adopted Shannon, I still took her with me to the kennel everyday so that she could socialize and otherwise hobnob with her still-active former kennelmates. At the end of the morning, after I had exercised, benched, weighed, turned out, and fed the racers and put them up for an afternoon of rest and soft rock music listening before the evening races, I would stop at the local store on the way home for a sandwich and chips. Once Shannon got to know the routine she would lay in the backseat whining until I opened the bag and gave her at least three Doritos. She didn't care much for the roast beef or bologna or whatever. It was the Doritos that she demanded, and she seemed to know when we got to three. I really miss having a greyhound around (lease agreements) but your stories and images are great and whenever I see an adoption group I always stop to give them a donation which buys me several minutes of attention-giving time with their adoptees. Thanks for making them part of your family. By the way, I don't recall if you ever mentioned it or if I ever saw it in one of your photos, but they LOVE bean bag chairs. You know, they have so little fat between the floor and their bones, that anything with padding will do. But there was always something special about the bean bag chairs.
Posted by Forego76 Jun 1, 2009 10:42:30 AM
larry_thiel says:
I think a masters match race between Popeye and Dondo could probably be the DRF race of the day if you staged it on a Monday or Tuesday.
Posted by Larry Thiel May 30, 2009 4:01:11 PM
yuwipi says:
Extra crispy in front - those puffed ones are like eating cheese flavored cotton candy.
Enjoyed your last two columns Steve. Maybe they don't refer to the Belmont as "a breeders race" much anymore because breeders aren't what they used to be. As you point out the commercial breeding industry seems to be able to package up a stallion image and sell it successfully, at least for a few years. There just doesn't seem to be the same reservoir of dedicated march to their own tune breeders around anymore. I'm sure the game is not the better for it.
Was very interested to read your ideas on the Breeders Cup. Somehow I don't think the folks that brought us "pink day", and demonstrated arrogance astounding enough to place the event in the same location two years running, will be able to digest the plain straightforward thoughts in the article. I'm also sure the game is not the better for that either.
Keep after 'em.
Posted by yuwipi May 29, 2009 9:16:34 PM
causeways37 says:
Well Steve,
Looks like you'll get your wish. Shadiyna was slated to only run if the course came up soft. Given the current conditions, it should suit her well enough.
Posted by Causeways37 May 29, 2009 3:56:46 PM
sean says:
Steve, thank you so much for listing the probables for Belmont Day. I've been looking all over and I couldn't find them anywhere. They all look like contentious races, though the Acorn seems a little light...the 3 year old fillies (with one exception, obviously) don't seem that strong. Especially compared to last year.
Looks like Mine That Bird will be a heavy, heavy favorite in the Belmont if Rachel passes on it.
Posted by Sean May 29, 2009 3:03:53 PM
william_ware says:
Great dogs.. it appears they're more spoiled than my Golden Retriever and Gordon Setter. Good for you.........they are great companions and good for your Karma! Have a nice summer and win tons at Saratoga. More biscuits and toys for them! Your blogs are always enlightening.
Posted by William Ware May 29, 2009 2:28:05 PM
callmetony says:
62 days thank GOD real racing comes to NYRA . Just a thought when I look at your grade 1 winners list and think about the horses that are down with some sort of injury ...... I think this years Taveres could be something else with Rachel, Mine , Quality Road .... If all the horses come back sound it could be better then the derby ......
Posted by callmetony May 29, 2009 12:04:47 PM
rtabusdriver says:
I hereby nominate as a triumverate to save racing (TB and SB) and bring it into the 21st century Crist, Davidowitz, and Beyer. An abolishment of the old order is completely and utterly justified based on their past performance over the last 150 years. Ignoring a dimishing fan base and treating the betting public with contempt is a sure fire receipe for disaster. That's what they've given us! Politcal hacks that have been apppointed to racing commissions and state boards will be the death of the industry. Think it can't happen? Do these names ring a bell? U.S. Steel, Republic Steel, Oldsmobile - get it? God help all of us that really love this sport/business/gambling interest.
Posted by rtabusdriver May 29, 2009 11:57:20 AM
keith_longey says:
...Does anyone have any idea what Zito might do with TWO front running types: Miner's Escape and Nowhere to Hide?
They both can't try a steal, a la Da'Tara's sole speed tactic: could Zito think of sacrificing both in a pressure situation of either Charitable Man (r Rachel Alexandra)on the front end, by relaying their speed? Could tht tactic work to set up anoff the pace run from his Brave Victory..who showed a new dimension in the Wood?
Any ideas of what he's up to.
Posted by Keith Longey May 29, 2009 8:07:15 AM
unitas says:
Steve, after seeing the photo, I originally thought Dondo was a chestnut entered in tomorrow's 3rd at Belmont, thanks for the clarification. Dondo is obviously living the good life, as well he should. Woke up this morning to find it pouring outside here in Nassau county, I've got to believe that this will effect today's turf races at Belmont Park(slated for races 4,5,7 and 9), with either part of or all of these races being moved to the main track. A week to go until The Belmont, and the question remains whether RA will go or not. I have a feeling the connections are leaning towards not running, but I hope I am wrong. Big Sandy usually plays kind to near the pace types going 12 furlongs, and sans Mine That Bird, at this point she is just a better racehorse than the 3yo colts who are still standing. Give RA a summer vacation after The Belmont, and point her towards a start either late at the Saratoga meet or one at Belmont's Fall Championship meet(which by name has lost much luster the last 2 decades).
Posted by Unitas May 29, 2009 7:11:44 AM
ponyman says:
Mine That Bird Jockey--If the horse is good enough any of top 25 jockey,s will do. It is still horse racing.
Posted by ponyman May 29, 2009 6:55:43 AM
gofor_broke says:
[Regarding] Grade 1 talk: The Kentucky Derby is NOT equal to the Florida Derby or Wood Memorial. It's nonsense. The Kentucky Derby and the Madison Stakes have equal value?
The system in this sport is totally screwed up and horse racing media just buys into it.
Posted by gofor broke May 29, 2009 6:39:37 AM
sherpaguide says:
"robust" Dondo, that's awesome...miss my 2 retired 'hounds that passed recently...but I've got my wayward Boxer with me now.
Also glad to have my wife escorting me to Suffolk Saturday for some birthday live racing...it's not 'Toga but it's fun non-the-less...and some sweet restaurants in town to blow some winnings afterwards :)
Posted by SherpaGuide May 28, 2009 10:26:05 PM
steeplestakes says:
Extra crunchy Cheetos? The store was out of Milk Bones?
Posted by Steeplestakes May 28, 2009 10:22:58 PM
dale_tillotson says:
steve. thanks for the reply, looks like dondo has already found his spaaaa.
Posted by dale tillotson May 28, 2009 8:43:40 PM
silver_charm says:
Hard to believe Todd Pletcher is not on that list five months into the year.
And Mike Smith is tied for the lead in the jocks category inspite of always unfairly being accussed of riding like the dogs are up.
Posted by Silver Charm May 28, 2009 7:35:55 PM
dale_tillotson says:
Thanks for continuing this blog with all of the great info you provide. As the summer slowly starts to warm up although i am not complaining of these moderate temperatures here in the northeast it would be good if you could give us all a hound update.
i don't think i have seen any recently, and was wondering how the new addition is doing.
Posted by dale tillotson May 28, 2009 6:00:00 PM
Comments to this entry are closed.
About
Steven Crist has been the Publisher and a columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered racing for The New York Times from 1981-1990; was founding editor-in-chief of The Racing Times in 1991-92; and a vice-president of the New York Racing Association from 1994-97. He recently released an instructional DVD titled "Exotic Tickets," and is the
author of several books including "Betting on Myself" and "Exotic Betting."
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Joseph Lee on Champions of the 2000's
- gofor_broke on Champions of the 2000's
- steve mercier on Champions of the 2000's
- frank mitchell on Champions of the 2000's
- justindew on Champions of the 2000's
- Octave-the-Rave on Champions of the 2000's
- Curt A Vassallo on Champions of the 2000's
- eddiecoyle on Champions of the 2000's
- taketheredeye on No Dual Option
- Frank L. on Champions of the 2000's
