Breeders' Cup edition 2008 is now in the history books.
These races will probably be analyzed and discussed more than any previous Breeders' Cup because of the "Ladies' Day" race card on Friday, October 24, and certainly because this was the first time these championship races were run over a synthetic surface.
First, an analysis of Ladies' Day.
Personally I don't like the name but I agree somewhat with the concept.
Ladies' Day sounds like a special day at the track for ladies, complete with special prices, special drinks, and other special perks just for ladies and to entice women to come to the track.
Ladies' Day last Friday, however, was a day dedicated to female horses and the sex-limited races in which they participated.
These five races attracted outstanding fillies and mares and there was no shortage of heart-pounding finishes.
Both Stardom Bound in the Juvenile Fillies division and Zenyatta in the Ladies' Classic turned in thrilling stretch drives that rivaled anything we saw on Saturday.
Stardom Bound is truly that ...
and Zenyatta is beyond description in her accomplishments during her racing career.
She is routinely dazzling in her performances and is undefeated in nine starts.
She is indeed a super star and may have established a good case for Horse of the Year honors.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf race was a heart-stopper as Maram literally outnosed Heart Shaped at the wire.
On Saturday of course everyone was waiting for the Classic and waiting for Curlin to do what he does best ...
win races.
However, this was not Curlin's day and, although he made his move and for a moment it appeared that he would indeed conquer the world, it was not to be.
Raven's Pass hit the wire first with Curlin finishing fourth.
Discussion of course now centers on whether Curlin lost the race because of the synthetic surface or if he is just feeling the effects of a long year of racing.
He won the Dubai World Cup in March, returned to the US and has raced several times since then.
His worst finish, before the Breeders' Cup, was when he finished third in a turf race.
He's won two other races on the dirt this year, but even while winning seemed to be uncharacteristically dull in those races.
Curlin has returned to Louisville and there has been no announcement as of this writing as to the future plans for this great horse.
So what's the score for the synthetic surface, Pro-Ride, at Santa Anita? The Euros love it as evidenced by their five victories over the two days.
Since the Breeders' Cup will be back at Santa Anita again next year, perhaps we can expect even more of the overseas horses to compete as they all appeared to be comfortable with the surface.
This is very good news for the Breeders' Cup and for horse racing in the US in general.
Certainly the best part about the two days and the 14 races was the total lack of injury to any horse or any rider.
Much unlike the horror show that unfolded last year in the Classic at Monmouth Park in New Jersey when George Washington broke down trying to run on that slippery, sloppy track and was euthanized, every race this year was run without incident.
Even the California heat and the synthetic surface which seems to generate it's own heat and makes the track at least 20 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature, did not seem to affect the horses or riders.
In my opinion, this was a very successful weekend of world champion racing and world champion race horses.
All the races were cleanly run and the best horses on those days were victorious.
I'm already looking forward to the Breeders' Cup in 2009 and all the new thrills that are in store.
Go Baby Go!
These races will probably be analyzed and discussed more than any previous Breeders' Cup because of the "Ladies' Day" race card on Friday, October 24, and certainly because this was the first time these championship races were run over a synthetic surface.
First, an analysis of Ladies' Day.
Personally I don't like the name but I agree somewhat with the concept.
Ladies' Day sounds like a special day at the track for ladies, complete with special prices, special drinks, and other special perks just for ladies and to entice women to come to the track.
Ladies' Day last Friday, however, was a day dedicated to female horses and the sex-limited races in which they participated.
These five races attracted outstanding fillies and mares and there was no shortage of heart-pounding finishes.
Both Stardom Bound in the Juvenile Fillies division and Zenyatta in the Ladies' Classic turned in thrilling stretch drives that rivaled anything we saw on Saturday.
Stardom Bound is truly that ...
and Zenyatta is beyond description in her accomplishments during her racing career.
She is routinely dazzling in her performances and is undefeated in nine starts.
She is indeed a super star and may have established a good case for Horse of the Year honors.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf race was a heart-stopper as Maram literally outnosed Heart Shaped at the wire.
On Saturday of course everyone was waiting for the Classic and waiting for Curlin to do what he does best ...
win races.
However, this was not Curlin's day and, although he made his move and for a moment it appeared that he would indeed conquer the world, it was not to be.
Raven's Pass hit the wire first with Curlin finishing fourth.
Discussion of course now centers on whether Curlin lost the race because of the synthetic surface or if he is just feeling the effects of a long year of racing.
He won the Dubai World Cup in March, returned to the US and has raced several times since then.
His worst finish, before the Breeders' Cup, was when he finished third in a turf race.
He's won two other races on the dirt this year, but even while winning seemed to be uncharacteristically dull in those races.
Curlin has returned to Louisville and there has been no announcement as of this writing as to the future plans for this great horse.
So what's the score for the synthetic surface, Pro-Ride, at Santa Anita? The Euros love it as evidenced by their five victories over the two days.
Since the Breeders' Cup will be back at Santa Anita again next year, perhaps we can expect even more of the overseas horses to compete as they all appeared to be comfortable with the surface.
This is very good news for the Breeders' Cup and for horse racing in the US in general.
Certainly the best part about the two days and the 14 races was the total lack of injury to any horse or any rider.
Much unlike the horror show that unfolded last year in the Classic at Monmouth Park in New Jersey when George Washington broke down trying to run on that slippery, sloppy track and was euthanized, every race this year was run without incident.
Even the California heat and the synthetic surface which seems to generate it's own heat and makes the track at least 20 degrees warmer than the ambient temperature, did not seem to affect the horses or riders.
In my opinion, this was a very successful weekend of world champion racing and world champion race horses.
All the races were cleanly run and the best horses on those days were victorious.
I'm already looking forward to the Breeders' Cup in 2009 and all the new thrills that are in store.
Go Baby Go!
SHARE
