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Monday, October 13, 2008

Monday Morning Notes - Oct 13

- Cowboy Cal became the fifth Derby horse to win his next race when he was moved up to first via DQ in the G3 Bryan Station at Keeneland. Seaspeak, widest of all on the turn, came in and bumped Cowboy Cal lightly three times or so on his way to a narrow hard fought win. I imagine that none of the bumps by themselves would have caused a disqualification, and that it was the persistent nature of them that led to the decision. Still, Cowboy Cal seemed to give as good as he got in the bumping, had the lead inside the sixteenth pole despite everything, and Seaspeak was able to battle back late. I think it was a borderline call.

Cowboy Cal could make his next start in the Hollywood Derby (G1) on November 30 and the McNairs will keep him in training as a four-year-old. [Thoroughbred Times]
For Pletcher, who we mentioned was lagging at Belmont, it was just his second win of the Keeneland meeting, out of 18 starters. The Toddster had an absolutely miserable day at Keeneland on Saturday, with Splash of Color (9th at 8-5); Frame of Reference (12th at 3-1); and Understatement (11th at 3-1) - oh man! But the Bryan Station was his 21st graded stakes win of the year. Long ways from the 57 he won in 2006, but not too shabby still.

Seaspeak has never run poorly in his five career starts, all on grass. He was 12-1 off a third place finish in a key allowance race (four subsequent winners). He's by Mizzen Mast (Cozzene), out of a Gone West mare who's a half sister to the Grade 1 grass winners Cetewayo and Dynaforce.

- Casino Drive absolutely toyed with the allowance field that he faced on Sunday. Three wide or more for the entire turn for home, man, he was just cruisin.' Victor Espinoza got a bit busy at the end to hold off Dakota Phone, but the overall ease with which he won was rather startling considering his inexperience, layoff, travel, quarantine, etc., etc., I still believe however that the notion of him winning the Classic is ridiculous, and that it wouldn't be a good thing for the sport in this country in any way. So I expect to be both betting and rooting extra against him in the big race.

7 Comments:

Patrick J Patten said...

as a regular reader of LATG, I read this as Casino Drive is the biggest lock on the two day event. Thanks for the tip ;-D

Anonymous said...

Casino Drive, in case few others point it out, was assigned 116-lbs vs. the entire field assigned 120-lbs each.

In the BCC he'll have 122-lbs (as will any three-year old like Big Brown) vs. 126-lbs for four-year olds and up.

I don't think CD has ever raced at the distance of 1 1/4 mi (Peter Pan was 1 1/8mi) or carried that much weight, although I may be mistaken on the latter.

Anonymous said...

Casino Drive has never been asked to go all out, there is more there than what was shown on Sunday. The horse is out of Better then Honour. So I don't think distance will be a factor at all especially considering that Jazil and Rags to Riches ( both out of Better Than Honour) won the Belmont Stakes at mile and a half. You could get 8-1 on this horse in the Classic, at that point, head to the windows!!

Anonymous said...

Well there goes Big Brown. Injured and retired. I was looking forward to seeing the matter settled once and for all.

Big Brown Retired After Workout Injury

El Angelo said...

Big Brown injured his foot this morning and has been retired. Have to think this may make Curlin will also pass on the Breeders Cup and go to Japan.

Anonymous said...

This was not just about BB. If Curlin can kick ass on Pro-ride they will let him. Come on...

Anonymous said...

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VLTs and road bumps

They all agree the state is losing $1 million a day in education aid for every day there is no Aqueduct racino, but the leaders in Albany still came to a stalemate over the winning bidder for the project.