Weekend Review: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Another great weekend of stakes action all across the country (and in Europe) as we inch closer to the 2012 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on November 2nd and 3rd. As a minor change to the weekend review, I'm going to break things down into the Good, the Bad and the Ugly from the weekend results.

Let's get to it!

The Good

There was lost of "good" this weekend: Wise Dan dominating the Shadwell Turf Mile, Shanghai Bobby staying undefeated in the Champagne and Groupie Doll showing off her class in the TCOA at Keeneland.

I really liked Tapitsfly's victory in the First Lady on Saturday over a pretty tough field of turf fillies and mares. I'm not big on her chances at a mile and a quarter in the Filly & Mare Turf, but I wouldn't mind seeing her take a shot at the boys in the Mile.

The Bad

Amazombie didn't look good at all in the G1-Santa Anita Sprint Championship where he finished 4th as the 4/5 favorite. The pace was quite quick up front (21.69 and 44.94) but when it came time to make a winning move coming off the turn, Amazombie just didn't have the kick necessary to go on. He only finished a little over a length behind the winner but, visually, this wasn't a strong race. An in-form Amazombie should have dominated that race with the way it set up for him.

Amazombie's connections were so dismayed with his performance that they have decided to have him undergo "precautionary health tests" in the coming days, according to the Daily Racing Form.

The Ugly

Dullahan in the Jamaica Handicap. That was all kinds of ugly (and some serious money burning for people that put their cash on him).

As I commented on Saturday, Dullahan had run well in previous tries over turf, making his flop in the Jamaica all the more perplexing. Trainer Dale Romans suggested that the soft ground (the course was rated GOOD on Saturday) was the likely reason for his dull performance and that probably has some merit when you consider Dullahan never looked comfortable at any point.

So, where to go from here with Dullahan? If it was me, I'd point towards the Breeders' Cup Turf with the knowledge that the course will almost certainly be hard and firm on race day. What I expect, however, is that they'll take a shot in the Classic (where he'd be an instant toss for me).