Mick Kinane retired today from race riding. One of Ireland's best jockeys, it doesn't look like that he's planning on starting a training career. However, for today lets look back at his career which included three Arc wins, three Breeders' Cup wins and an American Triple Crown win (along with British as well).
Here are some of his greatest races
1990 Belmont Stakes (Go and Go)
2001 Epsom Derby with Galieo
2002 and 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf wins with High Chaperral (the 03 edition being a dead heat with Johar)
2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Johannesburg
While they where all nice horses, Mick will be remembered by one horse alone. That's Sea the Stars, here is some of their wins.
2009 2000 Guineas (Embedding was disabled)
2009 Epsom Derby (Embedding was disabled)
And the biggest win of the son of Cape Cross' career along with his final start the Prix L' Arc de Triomphe
Congrats on your retirement Mick from a fan (And fellow June 22 baby) in America.
If you remember back in April I did an interview with Maria Michalak who wrote a book on Eight Belles. Last week she was featured in Bloodhorse, to see the article you can click here.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
It's WinStar's World and Venezula's Rachel Alexandra
Three 2yo stakes, three wins. The November/December reign that is WinStar Farm continued on Friday night when Rule (who I've mentioned before) won the Delta Jackpot. While he has to prove that he deserves a spot in next May's Derby with his preps in Florida next year, I'm sure he will do his best. Keep an eye on the now four headed monster of WinStar's (Rule, fellow stakes winners American Lion and Super Saver, as well as maiden winner Dolsymeyer (I know I messed up the spelling of his name, so if anyone knows the actual spelling please post on this post. I know he's trained by Bill Mott). There is one more major race for the Derby this year and that's the Cash Call Futurity in a few weeks.
Meanwhile yesterday in Puerto Rico, was the Classico Caribe which is the Carribian's biggest race of the year. It's at 1800 meters which is about a mile and eighth, and features the best 3yo's from all around the Carribian. It came down to between two horses Mexico's Vivian Record and Venezula's Barbera. In the end Barbera, a daughter of Water Poet who in turn is a half brother to Swain, won impressivly. Vivian Record was second with the boys far way back. The cool thing is Barbera will be a US based horse, I don't know if her trainer plans on coming up from Venezula, or if there will be a US based trainer who will take over. Either way will she be an Invasor or a Tomcito. Only time will tell with that.
As you see on the side I put up a poll of who your favorite horse this year was. I should note, this is NOT a Horse of the Year discussion. I'm just curious with who people like. The poll is was expected to stay open until Christmas, however I think I'm going to close it within the week. There might be another poll right away, or I could wait till after the new year. This upcoming week is a pretty major one with the expected return of Lava Man. I've already posted my concerns about his return, but I hope it goes well. As for posts, I will have at least 2 more this week. I haven't decided the order yet, but I will say that one of them will be on my favorite turf race of the year, the other one has yet to be determinded. Stay tuned for those soon.
Meanwhile yesterday in Puerto Rico, was the Classico Caribe which is the Carribian's biggest race of the year. It's at 1800 meters which is about a mile and eighth, and features the best 3yo's from all around the Carribian. It came down to between two horses Mexico's Vivian Record and Venezula's Barbera. In the end Barbera, a daughter of Water Poet who in turn is a half brother to Swain, won impressivly. Vivian Record was second with the boys far way back. The cool thing is Barbera will be a US based horse, I don't know if her trainer plans on coming up from Venezula, or if there will be a US based trainer who will take over. Either way will she be an Invasor or a Tomcito. Only time will tell with that.
As you see on the side I put up a poll of who your favorite horse this year was. I should note, this is NOT a Horse of the Year discussion. I'm just curious with who people like. The poll is was expected to stay open until Christmas, however I think I'm going to close it within the week. There might be another poll right away, or I could wait till after the new year. This upcoming week is a pretty major one with the expected return of Lava Man. I've already posted my concerns about his return, but I hope it goes well. As for posts, I will have at least 2 more this week. I haven't decided the order yet, but I will say that one of them will be on my favorite turf race of the year, the other one has yet to be determinded. Stay tuned for those soon.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Jackpot Night
Well this is it, really the final preview of 2009 for TB Chat. And it's a very good race that is often overlooked, the $750,000 Grade 3 Delta Jackpot. A win basically guarentees the winner a spot in the gate in 5 months. Here is the field,
Delta Downs - December 4, 2009
Race 9 - 9:34 PM Exacta / Trifecta (50 cent min.)/ Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) Superfecta (10 Cent Min.) / Quinella
STAKES Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot S. (Grade III)
Purse $750,000. For Two Year Olds. One And One Sixteenth Miles.
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Gallant Gent (KY) 2/G L* K J Desormeaux 119 C A Lewis 2/1
2 2 Uh Oh Bango (AZ) 2/R L* G W Corbett 119 R K Owens 4/1
3 3 Rule (KY) 2/C L J R Velazquez 119 T A Pletcher 5/2
4 4 Grand Slam Andre (KY) 2/C L S J Sellers 119 S M Asmussen 6/1
5 5 Litigation Risk (FL) 2/C L J Castellano 117 R A Violette, Jr. 12/1
6 6 Bench the Judge (KY) 2/C L G Melancon 119 G Smith 12/1
7 7 My Time to Star (IL) 2/C L R Albarado 119 D L Romans 8/1
8 8 Oak Motte (TX) 2/C L D Saenz 119 T M Amoss 12/1
On paper this is a three horse race between Gallant Gent, Uh Oh Bango and Rule. Gallant Gent who is the morning line favorite is coming off a seventh place finish to Pounced in the BC Juvenile Turf. He has a win over the dirt, but that was at Fairplex which is smaller then Delta. Uh Oh Bango is coming off a second place finished to Thiskyhasnolimit in the Irquouis, beating Dublin in the process. However, Thisskyhasnolimit came back to finish 6th to Super Saver in the Kentucky Jockey Club Cup. He of the three is also the most likely to bounce off a good effort. This leaves me to the horse who has beaten half of the field already, and that is Rule. As I've mentioned before this son of Roman Ruler is out of a Personal Flag mare who is in turn is a half sister to 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. He is the owner of the track record for one mile, and the added distance should not be problem. In matter of fact he is the third member of what I call WinStar's three headed monster (the other other two are California based American Lion, and the formentioned Super Saver).
Top three:
Rule
Gallant Gent
Uh Oh Bango
Of course in racing anything can happen, there will be a recap on Monday of this race.
Delta Downs - December 4, 2009
Race 9 - 9:34 PM Exacta / Trifecta (50 cent min.)/ Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) Superfecta (10 Cent Min.) / Quinella
STAKES Boyd Gaming's Delta Jackpot S. (Grade III)
Purse $750,000. For Two Year Olds. One And One Sixteenth Miles.
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Gallant Gent (KY) 2/G L* K J Desormeaux 119 C A Lewis 2/1
2 2 Uh Oh Bango (AZ) 2/R L* G W Corbett 119 R K Owens 4/1
3 3 Rule (KY) 2/C L J R Velazquez 119 T A Pletcher 5/2
4 4 Grand Slam Andre (KY) 2/C L S J Sellers 119 S M Asmussen 6/1
5 5 Litigation Risk (FL) 2/C L J Castellano 117 R A Violette, Jr. 12/1
6 6 Bench the Judge (KY) 2/C L G Melancon 119 G Smith 12/1
7 7 My Time to Star (IL) 2/C L R Albarado 119 D L Romans 8/1
8 8 Oak Motte (TX) 2/C L D Saenz 119 T M Amoss 12/1
On paper this is a three horse race between Gallant Gent, Uh Oh Bango and Rule. Gallant Gent who is the morning line favorite is coming off a seventh place finish to Pounced in the BC Juvenile Turf. He has a win over the dirt, but that was at Fairplex which is smaller then Delta. Uh Oh Bango is coming off a second place finished to Thiskyhasnolimit in the Irquouis, beating Dublin in the process. However, Thisskyhasnolimit came back to finish 6th to Super Saver in the Kentucky Jockey Club Cup. He of the three is also the most likely to bounce off a good effort. This leaves me to the horse who has beaten half of the field already, and that is Rule. As I've mentioned before this son of Roman Ruler is out of a Personal Flag mare who is in turn is a half sister to 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. He is the owner of the track record for one mile, and the added distance should not be problem. In matter of fact he is the third member of what I call WinStar's three headed monster (the other other two are California based American Lion, and the formentioned Super Saver).
Top three:
Rule
Gallant Gent
Uh Oh Bango
Of course in racing anything can happen, there will be a recap on Monday of this race.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Favorite Races of 2009: Kentucky Oaks
This is the next installment into the Favorite Races of 09 series: the Kentucky Oaks!
You know that Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness, Haskell and Woodward for Jess Jackson, but she wouldn't be where she is today if it wasn't for her breeder and former owner Dolphus Morrison. In my opinon, the Oaks was not only the turning point in her season, but her career as well. Rachel at the time of the Oaks was only a G2 winner as not only a 2 year old, but a 3 year old as well. The field came up light with the scratch of the most likely winner other then her Justwhistledixie being injured the morning of the race. It turned out to be no contest as Rachel stayed off the flank of pacesetter Gabby's Golden Gal until just before the top of the stretch, what resulted was an eventual 20 1/4 length romp, just off the stakes record set in 2003 by Bird Town. Here is that remarkable win, and could be the one that most people remember her by after the three wins against the boys.
Tomorrow night will be really the final stakes preview of the year for TB Chat, it's the G3 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs.
You know that Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness, Haskell and Woodward for Jess Jackson, but she wouldn't be where she is today if it wasn't for her breeder and former owner Dolphus Morrison. In my opinon, the Oaks was not only the turning point in her season, but her career as well. Rachel at the time of the Oaks was only a G2 winner as not only a 2 year old, but a 3 year old as well. The field came up light with the scratch of the most likely winner other then her Justwhistledixie being injured the morning of the race. It turned out to be no contest as Rachel stayed off the flank of pacesetter Gabby's Golden Gal until just before the top of the stretch, what resulted was an eventual 20 1/4 length romp, just off the stakes record set in 2003 by Bird Town. Here is that remarkable win, and could be the one that most people remember her by after the three wins against the boys.
Tomorrow night will be really the final stakes preview of the year for TB Chat, it's the G3 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
2009 Favorite Races: Kentucky Oaks
For the next few weeks I will be reflecting on the 2009 season, a year that will go down as "Year of the Female". Once a week I will posts featuring that I loved and/or saw in person. Most of them will be Thoroughbred races, however I may throw in an Arabian race or two. Today's post is about the most dominate win this season by male or female racehorse. Of course I'm talking about the Kentucky Oaks.
Set the scene in the months leading up to this race we have to go back one year to November of 2008. The race is the Golden Rod S., the Malibu Moon filly Sara Louise who was coming off a win in the Pocahontas S. is the morning line and post time favorite. However, a filly by the first crop stallion Medaglia d' Oro goes to the lead and never reliquinshes it. Sara Louise finished second and the Tapit filly War Echo finished third. The Medaglia d' Oro filly, whose name was Rachel Alexandra, was ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by Hal Wiggins. So why is this race important? It started a win streak and possibly the best showing by a 3yo filly since Ruffian.
The Oaks was supposed to be a showdown between Stardom Bound from the West, Rachel Alexandra from the Mid-West and Justwhistledixie from the East. Unfortanlly BC Juvy Fillies winner Stardom Bound, was not the same horse that she was as a 2yo. This was dispite her winning 2 G1's, however after a hiccup in her final prep, she was put away for the Spring.
Set the scene in the months leading up to this race we have to go back one year to November of 2008. The race is the Golden Rod S., the Malibu Moon filly Sara Louise who was coming off a win in the Pocahontas S. is the morning line and post time favorite. However, a filly by the first crop stallion Medaglia d' Oro goes to the lead and never reliquinshes it. Sara Louise finished second and the Tapit filly War Echo finished third. The Medaglia d' Oro filly, whose name was Rachel Alexandra, was ridden by Calvin Borel and trained by Hal Wiggins. So why is this race important? It started a win streak and possibly the best showing by a 3yo filly since Ruffian.
The Oaks was supposed to be a showdown between Stardom Bound from the West, Rachel Alexandra from the Mid-West and Justwhistledixie from the East. Unfortanlly BC Juvy Fillies winner Stardom Bound, was not the same horse that she was as a 2yo. This was dispite her winning 2 G1's, however after a hiccup in her final prep, she was put away for the Spring.
How Time Flies
It just feels like yesterday that I started this blog, however next month (January 28 to be exact) is will be one year since I began my journey on this blog. And what a year it's been,
the up and down on the Triple Crown trail
Well Armed's Dubai World Cup win
Rachel Alexandra's amazing 20 length romp in the Oaks
Mine That Bird's 50-1 shocker in the Derby
The previously mentioned Rachel and MTB's heartstopping Preakness
Zenyatta's much anticpated 5yo debut
Summer Bird sweeping the "Big Three" NY G1's
Sea the Stars' Arc
Rachel's heartstopping Woodward
Rachel's Haskell
Zenyatta's amazing BC Classic win
Rule breaking his maiden and setting a track record
Ventura's very popular Matriach win
Unbridled Belle's Obeah and Turn Back the Alarm
Swift Temper's Delaware Handicap and Ruffian wins
Careless Jewel's amazing Alabama and Delaware Oaks wins
Icon Project's uber impressive Personal Ensign
There are many other races that I could put here, but that would take ages to compleate. One thing is for sure, this is a year that no one will forget.
So what to expect in 2010? I haven't decided yet, there maybe a road trip to an undisclosed location where there is a pretty well known track, but plans have not been written in stone yet. There might also be a trip to Pimlico to see the Preakness (TBD if I can convince a non horse racing friend of mine to come with me, then we are all set!). I'll have my favorite race of the year post up tomorrow, followed by on Friday with a preview of that night's Delta Jackpot which features my boy Rule.
the up and down on the Triple Crown trail
Well Armed's Dubai World Cup win
Rachel Alexandra's amazing 20 length romp in the Oaks
Mine That Bird's 50-1 shocker in the Derby
The previously mentioned Rachel and MTB's heartstopping Preakness
Zenyatta's much anticpated 5yo debut
Summer Bird sweeping the "Big Three" NY G1's
Sea the Stars' Arc
Rachel's heartstopping Woodward
Rachel's Haskell
Zenyatta's amazing BC Classic win
Rule breaking his maiden and setting a track record
Ventura's very popular Matriach win
Unbridled Belle's Obeah and Turn Back the Alarm
Swift Temper's Delaware Handicap and Ruffian wins
Careless Jewel's amazing Alabama and Delaware Oaks wins
Icon Project's uber impressive Personal Ensign
There are many other races that I could put here, but that would take ages to compleate. One thing is for sure, this is a year that no one will forget.
So what to expect in 2010? I haven't decided yet, there maybe a road trip to an undisclosed location where there is a pretty well known track, but plans have not been written in stone yet. There might also be a trip to Pimlico to see the Preakness (TBD if I can convince a non horse racing friend of mine to come with me, then we are all set!). I'll have my favorite race of the year post up tomorrow, followed by on Friday with a preview of that night's Delta Jackpot which features my boy Rule.
Rock that Jackpot!
As most people know, I'm a huge Funny Cide fan. Well on Friday his nephew Rule, runs in the G3 Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs. I'm very excited for this race as he broke the track record in the prep for this race. It did take three times to break his maiden, but that's okay. I couldn't find video of his track breaking race, but I do have video of him breaking his maiden.
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