Breeders Cup Preview Day - Sprint

- After Lost in the Fog’s sizzling win at Bay Meadows on Saturday, his trainer Greg Gilchrist said "I really feel this horse, if you want to know the truth, would have won the Vosburgh today.” [Contra Costa Times] I wonder if even his most vocal skeptics would argue that.

In the Grade 1 race at Belmont, none of the supposed speed demons could stay even close to 15-1 Uncle Camie, and then the whole thing fell apart as 26-1 longshot Taste of Paradise (Conquistador Cielo) weaved through the field and zoomed by them all in the stretch. Jockey Garrett Gomez, having a fairly good day (he would later win with Borrego), explained: “I started swinging around at the top of the stretch. I changed my mind and went and split horses.” [Brisnet]

Woke Up Dreaming (5-2) was eased under the line, and Pomeroy, part of the favored entry along with Tiger Heart, was far back in 8th after breaking sluggishly and encountering some traffic when trying to rally in the stretch. Pomeroy’s jockey Joe Bravo: "Turning for home I'm a length off the winner and I'm running with him like I've got him no problem, and we got shut off again." [Daily Racing Form]

Taste of Paradise had managed just two thirds in six starts this year, but trainer Gary Mandella claimed that he’d been waiting for a chance to run the six year-old at Belmont, saying that the sweeping turn would be better for his problematic feet. "He was a little hesitant at the top of the stretch, but when he saw daylight, he knew what that meant....He cut and he was gone." [Thoroughbred Times] It was his third career graded stakes win, and his first Grade 1.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard one talking head or another speaking about the way Lost in the Fog just explodes out of the gate and discourages his competition from the very beginning of the race. You could see that on Saturday, and Russell Baze explained what the strategy was in regard to stalker Halo Cat, the only really legitimate contender in the field. "He broke well and we sent him away from there because we didn't want anybody hounding him.” [SF Chrnoicle] , adding "That was real hard, huh.."

The comment in the race chart says it all: LOST IN THE FOG was quickly in front and established a clear lead without need of urging, extended his lead on the turn while still well within himself then continued to draw off in workout fashion to win as he please. The final time was 1:08.05. The Breeders Cup Sprint is next, and does anyone still think he’s going to get beat?

- The folks at the American networks should be watching the coverage of the Arc d'Triomphe being carried on HRTV to see how to really televise horse racing.