Curlin Defeat Leaves Arc Bid on the Rocks
Curlin finished behind Red Rocks at Belmont Park, making an appearance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe unlikely .
The chance that Curlin, the world's best dirt horse, might line up for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October appeared to be receding yesterday, after he finished second to Red Rocks when odds-on favourite for the Man O' War Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday night, his first race on turf.
Curlin was two lengths behind Red Rocks at the line, with Better Talk Now, like Red Rocks a former winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf, back in third. However, he did not produce the burst of finishing power on the fast grass course that has become a trademark on dirt, having been held up well off a furious pace set by Sudan and Mission Approved.
As the race developed, Red Rocks, sitting third down the back with Javier Castellano, was in a much better position to strike down the stretch than Curlin, who was ridden by Robby Alborado. Nonetheless, the favorite's failure to reel in Brian Meehan's runner was disappointing.
"We just didn't see that late kick from him today," Jess Jackson, Curlin's majority owner, said afterwards. "I don't know if that was because he is still getting used to the turf, or what. My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test. We know what he can do on dirt, and that is always an option."
Curlin can still be backed at 12-1 in places for the Arc but is now 20-1 (from 10-1) with Ladbrokes.
Red Rocks has now won six of 19 career starts, including two Group Ones, with earnings of nearly GBP 1.75 million. Meehan said: "We will see how he is over the next few days but the Breeders' Cup will be his main plan, and what we do between now and then is up for discussion."
(c) Guardian Newspapers 2008
J Be K takes Jersey Shore Stakes
OCEANPORT - Toby Sheets, the assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, summed up the
performance of J Be K on Friday in the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park in one word.
"Smashing,'' Sheets said.
J Be K was "smashing'' for the second consecutive start as he rolled to a four-length win in the $150,000 Grade III six furlong race for 3-year-olds.
This performance came 27 days after J Be K romped by 5 1/2 lengths in the $250,000 Grade II Woody Stephens at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day.
J Be K is 5-for-5 in his career in races at seven furlongs or less. His only two losses came in the Withers at a mile at Aqueduct on April 26 and the Louisiana Derby at 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on March 8.
Since the Louisiana Derby, J Be K has won the Grade III Bay Shore at seven furlongs at Aqueduct by five lengths, the Woody Stephens and Friday's race.
"The last three races he's really started to blossom,'' said jockey Garrett Gomez, who has ridden J Be K in his last four races. "He's grown a lot. He's gotten bigger.
"He's always been a big, strong horse. He's like a teenager just getting out of high
school. He's just turned the corner as far as his racing goes.''
J Be K, who went off as the 2-5 favorite and paid $2.80 to win, dueled for the lead with Go Go Shoot, eventual runner-up and 5-1 second choice Silver Edition, and 7-1 Indy Joe while racing three wide through a blistering first quarter mile in 21.2.
"Going into the race, I knew I had the best horse, so I really wanted to keep him in the clear and out of trouble,'' Gomez said.
"He's a sharp breaker, so the plan was to just let him hop out of the gate and go from there,'' Sheets said. "I didn't expect four horses to be going for the lead.''
J Be K assumed the lead midway on the far turn. He led by a half-length after a half mile in 44.1 and increased his lead to 4 1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch.
Gomez hit J Be K once left-handed in the stretch and then showed the horse the whip twice with his right hand.
J Be K's final time was 1:09.0. Silver Edition finished runner-up to J Be K for the second straight time. He also was the runner-up in the Woody Stephens.
"Garrett geared him down toward the wire, which should have saved something for his next race,'' Sheets said.
"People don't really think he has any speed, but if you back at his 2-year-old line at
Saratoga (J Be K's debut last Aug. 29), you see differently,'' Gomez said.
Challenge Day
The first two races of the 57-race Breeders' Cup Challenge series will take place today at Monmouth Park.
The winner of the $750,000 Grade I United Nations Stakes at 1 3/8 miles on the turf will earn an automatic berth in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf, to be run on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
The winner of $300,000 Grade III Salvator Mile Stakes will automatically qualify for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, to be run on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita.
The Bobby Frankel-trained entry of Champs Elysees and Sudan head a field of nine entered in the United Nations. Since Ramon Dominguez has been named to ride both of Frankel's horses, odds are that only one of those horses will run.
The retired English Channel, owned by Jim Scatuorchio of Rumson and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf last Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park, won the United Nations the last two years.
Gottcha Gold, who stunned 1-10 favorite Lawyer Ron last year in the Salvator and then went on to win the $300,000 Grade III Phillip H. Iselin Handicap and finish second in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth Park, is the odds-on favorite over five rivals in the Salvator.
Because of a live broadcast by ESPN2 that runs from 6-7 p.m., post time for the Salvator and United Nations are at 6:13 and 6:47 p.m., respectively. They are the 11th and 12th races on a 12-race program that begins at 12:50 p.m.
(c) 2008 Asbury Park Press
Best Horses That Didn't Win the Crown
Since Jimmy Carter was in the White House when a horse last won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, it is no surprise much is made of the difficulty of winning a Triple Crown.
But if it is so hard for a horse to win all three races, why is so easy to win two? It has happened in 18 of the 30 years that have gone by since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown in 1978. That's 60 percent of the time.
Eleven horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Five have won the Preakness and Belmont. Two have won the Derby and Belmont.
The horses who won the Derby and the Preakness get the most attention because, like Big Brown on Saturday, they raced in the Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line. Of the 10 that were in that position before Big Brown, the best, in my opinion, was Spectacular Bid, the thunderous dark gray who was a three-year-old in 1979. After winning the Derby and the Preakness, he stepped on a safety pin in his stall on the morning of the Belmont. The pin became embedded in his hoof, and he ran third in the Belmont. After recovering from the injury, he won 12 of 13 races before retiring after his four-year-old season.
Of the five horses that won the last two jewels after faltering in Kentucky, the best, in my opinion, was Point Given in 2001. Trained by Bob Baffert, the massive colt dominated his rivals in the Preakness and the Belmont after finishing fifth in Kentucky. Baffert received more attention for Silver Charm and Real Quiet, colts that went into the Belmont with a chance, but there's little doubt he would point to Point Given as his most talented "near miss." The colt won 9 of 13 career races, ran second in three and finished out of the money only once, in the Derby.
Of course, any list of the best horses that didn't win the Triple Crown must start with Man o' War, widely considered to be the greatest American thoroughbred ever. He won the Preakness and the Belmont in 1920 but didn't run in the Derby because his owner, Sam Riddle, believed it was too soon for any three-year-old to run a mile and a quarter.
Then there was Native Dancer, the Gray Ghost, who won 21 of 22 career starts, including the Preakness and the Belmont, but finished second in the Kentucky Derby as a 1-5 favorite. Today, it is rare when a top American horse doesn't trace back to him.
Where will Big Brown fit in if he loses Saturday? He has only raced five times and won't grace the track much longer, so it will be hard to lump him with all-time greats who took on more challenges. But as a 2-5 morning-line favorite, he is a good bet to join the shorter list of horses who DID capture all three legs.
(c) 2008 The New York Times Company
Belmont Stakes Odds Without Big Brown
Because oddsmakers firmly believe that Big Brown will win the 2008 Belmont Stakes, most are offering odds on the other horses without Big Brown. BodogLife is one such betting site offering odds excluding Big Brown.
In this situation, Denis of Cork pays $3 for every $2 bet. Tale of Ekati pays $5 for every $2 bet. Macho Again pays $6 for every $1 bet. Other horse odds appear below.
"It's a good option since Big Brown requires risks as high as $5 just to win $1," explains Don Shapiro of Gambling911.
And most of the betting action currently was coming in on Big Brown. Casino Drive was giving Big Brown a run for his money in the betting world but had to drop out in the last minute.
All odds courtesy of Bodog Life.
(2) Guadalcanal
20/1
(3) Macho Again
6/1
(4) Denis Of Cork
3/2
(6) Da' Tara
10/1
(7) Tale Of Ekati
5/2
(8) Anak Nakal
10/1
(9) Ready's Echo
11/1
(10) Icabad Crane
8/1
(c) Gambling 911
2008 Belmont Stakes Betting Odds - Zito to Pull Another Birdstone Upset
In 2004 Smarty Jones, the dominant winner of both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, figured to bury his rivals in the Belmont Stakes and become the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1979.
There was no doubt in the minds of almost every single horseplayer in the nation. Smarty Jones looked sensational in the Preakness Stakes. He was just fantastic. He had the stamina, the heart, the look and the speed to go down as one of the greatest horses in the history of thoroughbred racing. A win in the Belmont Stakes was all that was needed.
Well, look what happened. A horse by the name of Birdstone, trained by native New Yorker Nick Zito, upset Smarty Jones in Belmont Stakes betting and denied the son of Elusive Quality the Triple Crown.
Zito is back for the 2008 Belmont Stakes with Anak Nakal. Anak Nakal, a son of 1998 Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop, doesn't look to be anywhere close to the level of Birdstone. Then again, Birdstone didn't look like he had a shot to beat Smarty Jones in 2004.
And besides, this is Nick Zito we're talking about. At the beginning of this racing season, Zito had the horse to beat in the Triple Crown races in War Pass. He also had Cool Coal Man and Anak Nakal. If anybody was going to wager on which trainer would saddle the horse, or horses, to win the 2008 Kentucky Derby, they would have definitely mentioned Nick Zito.
Zito is no stranger to Triple Crown success. He won the 1991 Kentucky Derby with Strike the Gold, the 1994 Kentucky Derby with Go for Gin, and the 1996 Preakness Stakes with Louis Quatorze. He's trained Grade I winning 3-year olds A.P. Valentine, Halory Hunter, Albert the Great and Stephen Got Even.
Which makes me wonder what exactly he thinks he's got in Anak Nakal. On paper the horse looks like an absolute play against, but with Nick Zito calling the shots, I sort of have to take another look.
Nick Zito takes his time with his horses. He never rushes them and usually will train them the old fashioned way - - five and four furlong works to build both stamina and speed, keep them in the barn until he feels that they are ready, etc. To me, it means that Anak Nakal must be showing Zito something in the mornings or else the trainer wouldn't even attempt to win the Belmont Stakes with this horse.
Cool Coal Man would seem to be the better option for Zito, but, then again, Zito might be thinking that Cool Coal Man can't get the distance while there is no doubt that Anak Nakal can.
Getting the distance is one thing. Running down monsters like Big Brown and Casino Drive is another.
But I repeat - - this is Nick Zito we're talking about. He knows that Belmont dirt strip about as well as anybody in thoroughbred racing. And besides, he shocked the world once before in 2004. There's precedence here.
So if anybody can pull off the shocker its Nick Zito. Just keep that in mind on June 7th when the gates open for the 2008 Belmont Stakes.
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
Belmont Stakes Odds Favor Big Brown
The Belmont is approaching. Will Big Brown take the Triple Crown?
The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, sees its 133rd running on Saturday, June 7. The Bodog Racebook has all your Belmont Stakes odds, but before you place your bets, be sure you read up on your Belmont Stakes contenders.
Big Brown - 1/3
Big Brown captured the Kentucky Derby two weeks before exploding to victory in the Preakness Stakes. His race record is now 4-4-0-0, and he has won by a combined total of 39 lengths.
Anak Nakal - 40/1
Kentucky Jockey Club winner finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby. His race record is 7-2-1-0.
Behindatthebar - 25/1
Lexington Stakes winner was scratched from the Preakness Stakes because of a bruise in his left front foot. His race record is 5-3-1-0.
Casino Drive - 7/2
Kentucky-bred but Japanese-trained and is the brother of the last two Belmont Stakes winners. Has raced only twice - the first was an 11 1/2-length victory in his first start in Japan, and the second was a 5 3/4-length victory in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont.
Denis of Cork 10/1
Southwest Stakes winner finished third in the Kentucky Derby. His race record is 5-3-0-1.
Icabad Crane - 50/1
The Federico Tesio winner finished third in the Preakness Stakes. His race record is 5-3-0-2.
Macho Again - 40/1
The Derby Trial winner finished second in the Preakness Stakes. His race record is 9-3-3-0.
Mint Lane - 50/1
Finished second behind Casino Drive in the Peter Pan Stakes. His race record is 7-2-2-1.
Tale of Ekati - 20/1
Wood Memorial winner finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby. His race record is 7-3-1-0.
Tomcito - 50/1
Champion 2-year-old of 2007 in Peru didn't have enough earnings to join the Kentucky Derby field. His race record is 8-4-1-1.
Spark Candle - 50/1
Casino Drive's stablemate finished sixth in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. Could possibly run in the one-mile Hill Prince (G3) on Friday, June 6th instead of the Belmont Stakes. His race record is 6-1-2-0.
Favorite to win Big Brown is 2/3 of the way to becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner. Can he do it? Place your Belmont bets today.
(c) BODOG
The Day at the Races
BY DAN LAULETTA
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Saturday, May 3rd 2008, 8:03 PM
Zaftig won the Grade III Nassau County Stakes Saturday under an aggressive ride by Jorge Chavez. It was the first time beating winners for the Jimmy Jerkens-trained filly, who improved her lifetime record to 2-for-4. The $125,640 winner's check bested her previous overall total by nearly four times.
Jerkens and Chavez went to the post figuring 4-5 favorite Carolyn's Cat would be on an easy lead, and both were pleased when Stewart Elliott sent Irish Smoke up to challenge early.
"I knew the favorite was the only speed," Chavez said. "I was hoping someone would go with her and that's what happened."
Zaftig is ready-made for Belmont's sweeping turns, yet she was struggling on the far turn yesterday.
"For some reason she can't hold her position around the turn," Jerkens said. "She kind of got sandwiched and was on the wrong lead. But then Jorge kind of pushed (J Z Warrior) out and when she hit the straightaway she got the job done."
Carolyn's Cat put away Irish Smoke and held second while J Z Warrior took third.
Jerkens said he will consider the Grade I Acorn on the June 7 Belmont Stakes undercard as the next start for Zaftig.
OOPS: Several fans were left out in the cold when the supply of free T-shirts ran out prematurely. In recent years the T-shirt giveaway has become a staple of the Kentucky Derby day festivities at Belmont Park. All NYRA promotions are "while supplies last," so the unlucky latecomers will have to wait for the next promotional giveaway.
SATURDAY'S CARD:
2ND: Manteca roared to the front on the far turn and won easily at odds-on for Rajiv Maragh, who lost with heavily favored Ricardo A in the opener.
3RD: Channing Hill put Sunday Sarah on the lead and they just barely lasted for the top spot. Receipt was well-positioned throughout but did not fire until Alan Garcia switched him off the rail. Favorite Grand Advice was rolling late but did not get moving in time.
4TH: Tahoe Warrior got the trip under Garcia, who threaded his way through for first run on the leaders in the stretch.
5TH: Motor Patrol and Dr. W emerged from a vicious speed duel to last to the wire when Motor Patrol held on as favorite. The best of the closers, Papa Jerry, managed third.
6TH: The top two favorites finished in reverse order when Cross the Atlantic was forced to alter course in upper stretch, quite possibly costing him at least as much as Vision of Sunrise's margin of victory.
7TH: Garcia got the trip in a turf sprint yet again, getting up at the rail with Mohegan Sky. This one was not without its anxious moments as Garcia's mare was shut off while trying to split horses near the eighth pole before finding clear sailing inside. Both of Garcia's turf winners on the day were for Linda Rice.
9TH: Maragh won his third of the day on big favorite What a Tale.
(c)Copyright 2008 NYDailyNews.com. All rights reserved.
|
