Zarkava and Sea The Stars produce "super foal"...and other news
by Matt Gardner on Feb 16, 2011 7:02 PM EST
in Racing News
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A look at some of the items making news in the world of horse racing, including first start plans for Uncle Mo, a Fountain of Youth that looks like it will have a loaded field, news about TV coverage of this year's Belmont Stakes, and an eagerly awaited foal from a couple of Arc winners.
-It was expected that current Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo would make his three-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12th. According to an article at BloodHorse.com, owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher are considering running Uncle Mo in the ungraded Timely Writer Stakes at Gulfstream on the same day. The Timely Writer will be run as a one turn mile.
The Derby favorite debuting in a listed stakes race (against what will likely be a middling to poor field) is a fairly lackluster proposition; I don't know that a 8.5 furlong workout is really going to do much for Uncle Mo.
-The Fountain of Youth Stakes, scheduled to run on February 26th at Gulfsttream Park, looks like it's going to feature a very competitive field (BloodHorse: Fountain of Youth Coming up Strong) as Gourmet Dinner, To Honor and Serve, Dialed In, Soldat, Bowman's Cuaseway, Casper's Touch, and Shackleford are probable entries.
-The 2008 and 2009 winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe are the proud parents of a bay colt foaled on February 11th. The foal is the result of a mating between Sea The Stars (2009 Arc winner) and Zarkava (2008 Arc winner).
-The Belmont Stakes will not be returning to ESPN/ABC this spring, as the Disney-owned networks pulled out of negotiations to televise his year's event (Thoroughbred Times: ABC/ESPN bows out of Belmont talks). It now appears likely that the Belmont, along with the Derby and the Preakness, will be back on NBC.
-It's probably too early to be concerned about the graded earnings list for Triple Crown nominated horses but there's probably four horses that have locked up enough earnings to get into the Derby should they so desire. The current Top 20 is below along with a few thoughts on the current standings.
|
# |
Horse |
Earnings |
|
1 |
Uncle Mo |
1,260,000 |
|
2 |
Gourmet Dinner |
700,000 |
|
3 |
J P's Gusto |
490,000 |
|
4 |
Comma to the Top |
456,000 |
|
5 |
Turbulent Descent (f) |
295,550 |
|
6 |
Soldat |
270,000 |
|
7 |
Rogue Romance |
258,000 |
|
8 |
Dialed In |
240,000 |
|
t9 |
Clubhouse Ride |
210,000 |
|
t9 |
To Honor and Serve |
210,000 |
|
t11 |
Decisive Moment |
200,000 |
|
t11 |
Jaycito |
200,000 |
|
13 |
Santiva |
180,254 |
|
14 |
Anthony's Cross |
162,000 |
|
15 |
Riveting Reason |
147,500 |
|
16 |
Blue Laser |
143,502 |
|
17 |
Willcox Inn |
139,000 |
|
18 |
Silver Medallion |
124,334 |
|
t19 |
Brethren |
120,000 |
|
t19 |
Sweet Ducky |
120,000 |
Uncle Mo and Gourmet Dinner are absolute locks at this point, and I'd be shocked if 18 horses picked up $400,000 in earnings to pass both J P's Gusto and Comma to the Top. Assuming everyone stays healthy and on the Derby trail (something that is never a given), there are essentially 16 spots in the starting gate still up for grabs.
For those looking to solidify their position - Soldat, Rogue Romance, Dialed In, Clubhouse Ride, To Honor and Serve, Decisive Moment, and Jaycito - a single win in a race worth at least $500,000 will likely lock them into the starting gate.
Turbulent Descent, a filly, was nominated to the Triple Crown by her connections. It doesn't mean she'll run, but she'll be included in the earnings list going forward.
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Uncle Mo
With the decision to go with only two prep races prior to the Derby, I think its important that both the races are at two turns. I hope they enter the Tampa Bay Derby, but of course the connections no better than I.
I would agree...
I think a couple of two-turn races would be best although I think starting off with a one-turn race wouldn’t be that bad if it was a challenging race. Obviously I don’t know who would enter against him, but I would guess that since the GP race is ungraded (and not really for much money ($100k)) that the field will be awfully weak. You have to wonder how much he’ll get out of that race if it’s nothing more than a workout.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 16, 2011 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
Looks good, doesn't it?
I am very interested to see To Honor and Serve make his 3yo debut against a group like that.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 16, 2011 9:45 PM EST up reply actions
I'm also interested to
I’m also very interested to see Soldat and Dialed in run with a deep group.
The FOY has the looks of a pretty important prep...
We should be able to get a good read on a bunch of these colts. Both Soldat and Dialed In have had the luxury of a race this spring so I would think they’ll both be ready to run a strong race.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 17, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions
Sounds like
There are going to be a lot of high profile foals in the coming years. Didn’t I hear that they are going to attempt breeding Rachel and Curlin as well as Zenyatta and Bernadini.
Yep, that's correct
Rachel and Curlin. Should be interesting since the Rachel/Curlin foal will likely be born the same year as the Zenyatta/Bernardini…assuming all goes well with the matings this spring.
I read an article recently that some English bookmakers were taking bets as to whether the Sea The Stars/Zarkava colt would win the 2012 Arc…or something like that. Now that’s a future wager!
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 17, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
You would have to imagine
Those odds would be quite nice. It’s hilarious the stuff you can gamble on. I wonder how on earth you could even handicap that.
I know...it's got to be for people who just love the action.
During the Royal Ascot meet in June, English book makers put odds on what color the Queen’s hat will be each day. I loved it, every day I was watching to see which one she wore and what the odds were on that selection. (On the last day of the meet, bookmakers were offering 500/1 if the Queen wore a Union Jack hat….needless to say, she did not.)
In many ways I love that philosophy: if you want to bet on it, we’ll set a line. Kind of like those crazy Super Bowl prop bets.
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 17, 2011 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
I found the link
I had it a bit wrong…William Hill set the odds at 50/1 for the colt to win the 2014 Epsom Derby, not the Arc.. Still, I think I’d need a bit more than 50/1 to bet on a just foaled colt to win a race three years from now!
"A bad day at the track is better than a good day at the office."
And Down The Stretch They Come | @PressThePace
by Matt Gardner on Feb 17, 2011 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
I think that
That’s a bit low too. I’m surprised I’ve never seen a Triple Crown prop bet like that. Although, how could any horses’ odds be under 100-1 for something like that.
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