Weekend Recap: Bittersweet

From the Dubai World Cup races to the Florida Derby card overflowing with stakes races at Gulfstream Park and the Louisiana Derby (and undercard) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Saturday had fine horse racing from early morning to evening. Despite the abundant quality of all the races, however, it was something of a bittersweet day.

Dubai World Cup: The richest race in the world was run on Saturday, and although technically an American horse—2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom—won, for me his victory was both bittersweet and disappointing.

The disappointment was largely due to the uncharacteristic performance of Royal Delta, who had been (literally) rearing to go while training at Meydan Racecourse in the days leading up to the race. Leading early, she set very modest fractions (roughly 50 seconds for the first half mile) and led going into the final turn. But she appeared to hit a wall at the top of the stretch and faded to 10^th. It was a big surprise and a disappointment. Anyone that reads this blog regularly will know that I'm a big fan of Royal Delta, and it always hurts when one of "your" horses performs very poorly.

On the other hand, an American horse hasn’t won the Dubai World Cup since the race moved from Nad Al Sheba Racecourse’s dirt track to Meydan’s Tapeta surface in 2010. Animal Kingdom conquered this obstacle; however, as he will not return to the United States and will stand stud in Australia this fall, he isn’t truly an American horse anymore, is he? Hence, the bittersweet flavoring of his victory. 

As a bonus, here's a video of Cigar's 1996 Dubai World Cup win in the inaugural running of the race. For those held spellbound by the great Cigar, early 1995 through late 1996 was a magical run for racing, and no moment of this time was more defined than Cigar's win in Dubai. That day, after flying halfway around the world to an exotic land to conquer all that was thrown at him, Cigar truly became America's horse.

Gulfstream Park: Gulfstream Park had seven stakes on the card for Saturday, including the Florida Derby (Gr. I), Gulfstream Oaks (Gr. II), Sir Shackleton Stakes, and Orchid Stakes (Gr. III), which were of particular interest to me. Click each aforementioned race for a video. Overall, the day of racing here was also bittersweet.

Giving Capt. Candyman Can a peppermint

The Sir Shackleton Stakes was run by a horse Shannon and I like a lot--Capt. Candyman Can. He failed to fire and trailed the field. Since he finished last in his previous race, the Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on February 23, I wondered if it was time to retire Capt.

As it turns out, I was correct. The Daily Racing Form released an article today announcing Capt.'s retirement.

The three-year-olds of 2009 have proven to be some of the more memorable for me. Rachel Alexandra, Giant Oak, Musket Man, Quality Road, Mine that Bird, Mr. Hot Stuff, and Capt. Candyman Can. It was April 4, 2009; my husband and I were at Hawthorne for the Illinois Derby. It was clear but cold outside and I wasn't adequately dressed for the weather so we spent most of our time inside, watching races across the country on the televisions while we awaited the Illinois Derby.

On these televisions, two horses in particular caught my eye--the beautifully handsome, appropriately-named Mr. Hot Stuff in the Santa Anita Derby, and the oddly-named Capt. Candyman Can in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct (click here for video). That oddly-named horse won his race drawing away and the next day, I put him in my virtual stable. Little did I know that we would meet him three years and six months later.

Racing fans become attached to the horses they follow, particularly as the years flow on and the horse continues to race. Naturally, one becomes more attached to particular individuals, for one reason or the other. Capt. Candyman Can became such a horse for my husband and I, and we are happy that he is retiring safe and sound, with a bright new career on the horizon. Thanks for everything, Capt., it was a great few years.

Capt., his personality, and a corgi.

The Orchid Stakes was a few races later but I missed watching it live. It was recording while I was at the barn, riding Limerick. I wasn't having the best of days up to my ride, but was in a better mood after (as riding can do), and was in an even better mood once I returned home and watched the recording of this race.

I posted a few weeks ago that it was a huge thrill to watch Regalo Mia nab her first stakes win. Well, it's an even bigger thrill to see her accomplish the coveted title of graded stakes winner. Yeah! The lovely Sligo Bay - Shake It Up mare unleashed a good closing drive over the Gulfstream turf to win the Orchid with room to spare. Regalo Mia appears to be improved this year; I hope to see her get her first grade I win later in the year. Here's a good Blood-Horse article on her win.

The Gulfstream Oaks was the most impressive race of the day. Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy - Dream Rush, by Wild Rush) took command of the lead over the final turn and won by over 20 lengths, handily. The final time for the 1-1/8 mile race was 1:48.97. Several races later, Orb won the Florida Derby--also 1-1/8 miles--in 1:50.87. It's not often that you see a filly so dominate her race that she wins in a time nearly two seconds faster than the time for a Kentucky Derby prep worth 100 points. 

Orb himself is interesting and has become one of my Kentucky Derby picks. His fourth dam, Laughter (Bold Ruler - Shenanigans) is a very close relative to the great Ruffian. Orb himself is also owned by the Janney family and races under the same silks that Ruffian herself raced in. Maybe it's just me, but amongst the three-year-old colts this year I see so many signs from our trip to New York last year. I spotted Oxbow in the paddock at Saratoga before his first race, Verrazano is named for the Verrazano-Narrows bridge, which we crossed to get to Belmont Park, and Orb is owned by the Janney family and descends from the family of Ruffian. It's kind of surreal, but it's also cool.

Weekend Recap

The big race of the weekend was not the Donn, but an earlier stakes on the same card: the Kitten's Joy Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. It was the first race of the year for 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and his last in this country before heading to Dubai for the World Cup. He will not return to the United States--the remainder of his international life has been mapped out with a stop at Ascot Racecourse in England before taking up stud duty in Australia. I will confess that I've never hopped on the Animal Kingdom bandwagon. Instead, I liked Point of Entry for the Kitten's Joy. A Phipps Stable homebred, the son of Dynaformer and grandson of Seeking the Gold has a pedigree strong with two of my favorite stallions. Something of a late bloomer, the 5-year-old Point of Entry has been racking up the wins in recent months, including the Man o' War, Sword Dancer, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and a good second to Little Mike in the Breeder's Cup Turf.

Dynaformer, sire of Point of Entry, in 2008. Died 2012

Seeking the Gold, damsire of Point of Entry, in 2008.

 After a slow first half of :50.52, Animal Kingdom made a huge move to the lead; I sensed that jockey Joel Rosario realized how slow the pacesetters were going and had a mild panic. He passed Point of Entry, who had been stalking the lead to the outside. Point of Entry then responded and rallied back while going three wide on the turn for home. Animal Kingdom had the shorter route to the inside but was unable to hold off Point of Entry's strong stretch drive. It was a thrilling race! I later read that many people think Rosario's early move cost Animal Kingdom the race. But I disagree; I think he was simply outrun by a more classy turf horse.

Other personal racing highlights of Saturday include Fort Loudon's win in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship and watching Gary Stevens nab his first stakes win since 2005 atop Slim Shady, who wired the San Marcos at Santa Anita. Gary won his second stakes on Sunday but I missed seeing it live, unfortunately. Arlington Park regular Romacaca raced in the Suwannee for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park on Saturday but did not finish well in a closely-contested race.

This is one weekend too late, but Verrazano's win on February 3rd is noteworthy. He won his first race in a 6.5 furlong MSW on January 1st and I immediately added the colt to my list of Kentucky Derby prospects. His most recent win in a two-turn allowance race was impressive, to say the least--he handily blew away the field by over a dozen lengths and earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance, the highest of any three-year-old colt to date this year. He's certainly cemented his spot on my list of Kentucky Derby hopefuls!



By More Than Ready (whom I saw race in the 2000 Kentucky Derby, the only Derby I've attended in person) and out of the Giant's Causeway mare Enchanted Rock (also the dam of 2012 Kentucky Derby hopeful El Padrino), whether Verrazano has the pedigree for the Derby's 10 furlongs is questionable. But he just might have the class to overcome his genetics.

In other news, Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud's 100th birthday was on Saturday. Few have done more for the sport of Thoroughbred racing than Nerud. He is best known as the trainer of Dr. Fager, one of the more brilliant horses of the 20th century. The speedy colt was named for Dr. Charles Fager, the surgeon that saved Nerud's life after a bad fall from his pony caused a grave head injury. Nerud also played a hand in breeding and training various champion Tartan Farm runners and descendants, including Dr. Fager's half sister Ta Wee, Rough N' Tumble, Minnesota Mac, Intentionally, In Reality, Fappiano, Unbridled and Cozzene. Nerud is also one of the founding members of the Breeder's Cup World Championships. More information on Nerud and his life can be found on a newly-created website for his 100th birthday: http://www.johnnerud.com/

Lastly, one of the most popular off-track Thoroughbreds on Facebook, Blue Blue Sea, passed away on Saturday. I first learned of his story when I was scrambling to raise funds for Oil Money's Dream last spring. There were many parallels between Limerick and Blue Blue Sea. Blue's owner even followed and helped rescue a half-brother of Blue, which reflected what I was trying to do for Oil Money's Dream, who is related to Limerick. You can read more about Blue Blue Sea and his half-brother Gran Huracan here and here. Rest in peace, Blue Blue Sea.