Tag: Bubbler

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Pegasus Premier

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California Chrome is one happy horse!
California Chrome is one happy horse!

The time is near for the premier of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational!  It has been one year since Frank Stronach announced his vision at the Thoroughbred Owners Conference at his Gulfstream Park.  By May, the stage was set for the inaugural running of the Grade 1, world’s richest race.  This Saturday, 1/28/17, history will be made when the 1st winner of the Pegasus takes home $7 million dollars, the share awarded to the 1st place finisher of a race with a $12 million dollar purse.

The Pegasus World Cup will surpass the $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup to become the richest Thoroughbred race world wide.  California Chrome won the 2016 Dubai World Cup and he will be hard to beat as he aims for the Pegasus which would push his earnings to $21 million dollars, the highest for any Thoroughbred in history.  The Pegasus was created by Frank Stronach, the billionaire tycoon for the manufacturing of auto parts and the founder of The Stronach group.  He envisioned this race to benefit the Thoroughbred racing industry.  He wanted to showcase the sport in our somewhat off-season in a way to please the fans and attract new attention for racing.  He perfectly positioned the race in the calendar during a time that would allow horses to compete with ample recovery time after the Breeders’ Cup and before the Dubai World Cup as well as a final send off for horses retiring to breed which usually follows each February in North America.  The Pegasus filled the spot of the former Donn Handicap, inaugurated in 1959.  The Donn was held at the same time of the year and had the same distance, grade and track however, it carried a purse of only $500,000.  The Pegasus race will be for Thoroughbreds age 4 and upwards.  It is 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main dirt track at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL.  12 horses were selected from backers whom each invested their own $1 million dollars.  Each horse will get a $250,000 dollar return on their investment.  2nd place will take $1.75 million and third place will get their $1 million returned.

The name Pegasus was applied to honor the greatness of horses as Stronach intended when he had a 110 foot, 473 ton, $30 million dollar statue of the mythical winged horse, Pegasus, built at his Gulfstream Park.  It is the largest bronze equine statue in the world.  The Stronach group owns several racetracks in addition to Gulfsteam; Golden Gate Fields, Pimlico Race Course, Santa Anita Park, Portland Meadows, Rosecraft Raceway and Laurel Park in America.  They have foreign investments as well and they own simulcasting and wagering technologies.  Additionally, they breed Thoroughbreds and have an aftercare program too.  Stronach will be represented by their Stronach Stables, Shaman Ghost, in the Pegasus, with it’s post owned by their own Adena Springs.

For tickets ranging from $100 to over $700 dollars, fans may buy tickets to attend the 12 race card this Saturday at Gulfstream.  There will be 6 other stakes this day, 3 of those are graded stakes.  Race 1 kicks off at 11:30 A.M. EST.  For television viewers, NBC will feature live coverage from 4:30 to 6 P.M. EST.  There will be viewers in 122 countries.  Race 12 is the Pegasus, with a post time of 5:40 P.M.  The field is as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer//morning line odds/owner/$1 million investor:

  1. Arrogate/Mike Smith/Bob Baffert/7-5/Juddmont Farms. Inc./Coolmore
  2. Prayer for Relief/Florent Geroux/Dale Romans/50-1/Zayat Stables, LLC. and RoseDown Racing/RoseDown Racing Stables
  3. Neolithic/John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher/30-1/Starlight Racing/Starlight Pegasus Partners
  4. Noble Bird/Julien Leparaoux/Mark Casse/25-1/Mack Oxley and Broman Fostock/Mack, Fostock and Broman
  5. War Story/Antonio Gallardo/Jorge Navarro/50-1/Looch Racing Stables, Inc. Ellis, Imaginary Stables, and Daybreak Racing, LLC./Dan Schafer
  6. War Envoy/Luis Saez/Mick Ruis/50-1/Ruis Racing, LLC./Ruis Racing, LLC.
  7. Shaman Ghost/Jose Ortiz/James Jerkins/20-1/Stronach Stables/Adena Springs
  8. Semper Fortis/Tyler Gaffalione/Doug O’Neill/50-1/Reddam Racing, LLC./Reddham Racing, LLC.
  9. Keen Ice/Javier Castellano/Todd Pletcher/12-1/Donegal Racing, Jerry and Ronald Frankel and Calumet Farm/Ronald and Gerald Frankel
  10. Breaking Lucky/Luis Contreras/Reade Baker/25-1/GunPowder Farms LLC., West Point Thoroughbreds, et. al/Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Randy Hill and E. Young
  11. Eragon/Edgar Prado/Laura Wohlers/50-1/James McIngvale/James McIngvale
  12. California Chrome/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman/6-5/California Chrome LLC./California Chrome,LLC.

Arrogate is the 4 year old grey son of Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler.  He is considered Chrome’s worst competition.  Arrogate finished a half length before Chrome in the BC Classic in 2016, a move many consider the fault of Chrome’s jockey whom has vowed to ride Chrome differently in this race.  However, Arrogate’s win in the Travers Stakes was a record breaker and he is a fine, fast horse.  He has the rail position so he will have to break well to keep from getting pinched. He has a record of 5 in 6 for wins.  He has never raced at Gulfstream.

Prayer for Relief is the 9 year old male horse of Jump Start and Sparklin Lil.  He has won 8 of 45 starts.  His last win was in 2013. He has experience at Gulfstream Park and finished 4th in the Donn in 2015.

Neolithic is a 4 year old colt of Harlan’s Holiday and Swingit.  His only 2 wins were his only 2 races at Gulfstream.  He has 7 career starts.  He has not won a graded stakes and his last race was an allowance.  He won that race and he broke his maiden in his first outing, each took place at Gulfsteam.

Noble Bird is a 6 year old horse born to Birdstone and Anyhow.  He has won 7 of his 20 races.  He has never raced at Gulfstream but he has won a graded stakes race.  I witnessed his win in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes this last Fall meet at Keeneland and have fed him a mint.  He’s a good boy.

War Story is the gelding of Nothern Afleet and Belle Watling.  He is 5 years-old and has finished 1st in 4 of 17 races.  He has raced at Gulfstream and he has participated in many graded stakes including two BC races.

War Envoy is 5 years old and he was born to War Front and La Conseillante.  He has won just 2 of 21 starts.  He has not raced at Gulfstream nor has he won a stakes race.  He has raced twice in the BC.

Shaman Ghost is also 5 Years-old.  He was sired by Ghostzapper.  His dam is Getback Time.  Shaman Ghost has raced and won at Gulfstream.  He has won graded stakes and holds the 2015 Sovereign Award for Champion 3 year-old colt.  He has a record of 6 wins in 13 starts.

Semper Fortis is a 4 year old colt.  He is the offspring of Distorted Humor and Rebridled Dreams by Unbridled’s Song.  Semper Fortis has never raced at Gulfstream before or won a graded stakes.  He has won 2 of 12 races.  Primarily, this horse has raced in California.

Keen Ice ran third behind California Chrome and Arrogate in the 2016 BC Classic.  He is a 5 year-old horse born to Curlin and Medomak.  Keen Ice’s jockey won the 2016 Eclipse Award.  Keen Ice has won 2 of 19 races.  He was 6th in last year’s Donn.  He won the Travers Stakes in 2015 beating the amazing American Pharoah.  He has raced 3 times at Gulfstream.  His last race was the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream where he finished 2nd.

Breaking Lucky is a 5 year-old horse sired by Lookin at Lucky.  His dam is Shooting Party.  Breaking Lucky ran his first race at Gulfstream.  He holds a win record of 3 in 16.  He has won a graded stakes.

Eragon is a 6 year-old horse born to Offlee Wild and Express Time.  He has won exactly half of his 20 starts.  This is his first race in North America.  He is an Argentina bred horse.  He has won three Group 1 races.

California Chrome is the favorite and certainly my favorite.  He is the 6 year old flashy chestnut of Lucky Pulpit and Love the Chase.  I have written about this horse a lot.  Please, search my page for more stories about this 4 time Eclipse Award champion.  He has raced and won on many tracks and in 2 countries.  Chrome has won 16 of 26 starts.  I am hoping he wins once more before retiring to Taylor Made Farm to start his career as a stallion.  I am looking forward to bringing him back to my hometown.  Unfortunately, wins from post 12 are very rare at Gulfstream due to the track conformation.

Don’t miss your chance to watch California Chrome race one final time!  This is a horse people will talk about for the ages.  The Pegasus World Cup will also be most historical.  I would like to thank The Stronach Group for working towards improvement in recognition for the Thoroughbred industry and supporting aftercare of both jockeys and horses.  Check back soon for more adventures in the industry.

 

 

 

 

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Birthday Bash Betting

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Silver Charm at Old Friends in Ky
Silver Charm at Old Friends, in KY

Happy Birthday celebrations are coming up for all Thoroughbreds in North America.  On January 1st, our country’s race horses will all turn one year older, as does this blog, Thoroughbred U.  I have thoroughly enjoyed writing weekly over the past 2 years and am readily looking forward to all that 2017 has to bring.  Not to delay, the first day of 2017 brings us an opportunity to indulge in one of our very favorite sports, horse racing.  When your eating your traditional cabbage, potatoes and black-eyed peas you’ll be getting lucky.  No better way to test that new luck than a wager in the San Pasqual Stakes!

Santa Anita, now in Arcadia, California, was first constructed in 1907.  It has experienced many changes but has retained a strong and rich racing history.  In 1935 the Santa Anita Handicap was inaugurated.  This race has seen many famous contenders.  That same year, the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes got its start.  This stakes race has proven to be a great prep race for many fine horses.

The 2017 edition of the San Pasqual will take place on 1/1/17 at 4 P.M. live in California or at 7 P.M. in my EST zone.  Gates open at 10:30 A.M. and the 1st race is at 12:30 P.M.  The 8th race on a card of 9 is the San Pasqual.  It is a dirt race of 1 and 1/16 miles, 8.5 furlongs, for Thoroughbreds 4 years and older.  The purse is set at $200,000.  Last year, California Chrome won the San Pasqual and began a fantastic streak of many wins.

In the history of the San Pasqual, Bob Baffert is the trainer with the most wins.  He started gathering his San Pasqual successes in 1999 with Silver Charm.  I visited Silver Charm on one warm and wet day where he lives at Old Friends in Kentucky.  Baffert won again in 2002 and 2003 with Wooden Phone and Congaree respectively.  He won in 2013 with Coil and in 2015 with Hoppertunity.  This year he has hopes of winning again with the favorite, Arrogate.  Then he plans to race Arrogate against the amazing California Chrome in the first ever, Pegasus World Cup on 1/28/17 at Gulfstream Park, in Florida.

The 2017 running of the San Pasqual Stakes has a small field as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/and morning line odds:

  1. Prospect Park/Norberto Arroyo, Jr./Clifford w. Sise, Jr./Pam and Martin Wygod/10/1
  2. Accelerate/Tyler Baze/John W. Sadler/Hronis Racing, LLC./8/1
  3. Dalmore/Kent Desormeaux/J. Keith Desormeaux/Big Chief Racing, Head of PlainsPartners, LLC., Rocker O Ranch, LLC, et al./20/1
  4. Midnight Storm/Rafael Bejarano/Philip D’ Amato/A Venneri Racing, Inc. and Little Red Feather Racing/4/1
  5. Arrogate/Mike E. Smith/Bob Baffert/Juddmonte Farms/1/5

Prospect Park is sired by Tapit, though he is not grey himself.  His dam is Quiet Romance and he was foaled in 2012.  He has only won 3 of his 14 starts and none of those wins were made in 2016.  He has raced exclusively in CA and many times at Santa Anita.

Accelerate is the 2013 offspring of Lookin at Lucky and Issues.  He has 2 stakes races in his career, the The Los Alamitos Derby Stakes, where he won and the BC Dirt Mile where he finished 3rd.  He has finished first in 3 of his 7 races.

Dalmore has a record of 3 wins in 14 starts, just like Prospect Park.  Dalmore is the product of Colonel John and Silver Breeze, delivered in 2013.  He frequents the CA racing circuit and he won the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on 7/2/16.

Midnight Storm was born to Pioneer of The Nile and My Tina in 2011.  He has won 9 of 20 starts and his last 5 starts were in California.  He last raced at Del Mar in the Native Diver Stakes on 11/27/16 and he won after finishing 3rd in the BC Mile earlier that month.  It find it noteworthy that Native Diver won the San Pasqual in 1966.

Arrogate was foaled to Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler in 2013.  He is a lovely grey horse.  He has won the last 5 of his 6 races, 3 of those wins were at Santa Anita.  2 of his wins were in stakes races, The Traver’s Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  He had a work out on 12/27/16 and he was looking fine covering 6 furlongs in 1.12:20.

Happy New Year, Happy birthday and all the other happy that I wish for each of you!  May all of you have safe passage into the new year and many blessings throughout.  I’ll continue to post my Thoroughbred thoughts and experiences as we continue to grow.

Update: Arrogate scratched due to rain.

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Transfixed by the Travers

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IMG_8382

This year’s Travers stakes is going to be huge!  This race is literally massive in terms of both entries and talent.  The 147th running of the Travers Stakes has 14 contestants.  It is tied for the highest number of entries, that record was established in 1977.  6 of the 14 horses in this field were in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.  Saratoga’s “Midsummer Derby” is shaping up to be one of the finest races of the season.

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The Travers Stakes was inaugurated in 1864.  It is held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, NY.  The race has varied historically but this year the crowd capacity will be capped at 50 thousand fans to watch the $1.25 million dollar Grade 1, of 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs), dirt race for 3 year-old Thoroughbreds.  One of Saratoga’s finest races, the Travers, has acquired the name of the “Midsummer Derby”, traditionally held in August.  The track itself has the nicknames of ” The Graveyard of Champions ” due to the frequency of  major upsets that have occurred at this track and “The Spa” because of the areas historical and rich mineral springs.  The Travers is named for William R. Travers.  He was the owner of the 1st horse to win this race, Kentucky. Travers was also president of the Saratoga Racing Association.

In 1941 there was a Superfecta won by Whirlaway.  A Superfecta is the combination of winning all of the Triple Crown legs and the Travers Stakes. One recent example of an upset at the Travers happened just last year.  After American Pharoah went on an 8 race winning streak, that included sweeping the Triple Crown series, he was 2nd in the 2015 Travers, losing to Keen Ice.  This win by Keen Ice gave his rider the title.  Javier Castellano is the jockey with the most Travers wins, at a total of 5.  American Pharoah redeemed himself in his next race, as if he needed to, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  The combo of the Triple Crown plus the BC Classic is called a Grandslam and American Pharoah is the only horse to have ever achieved the Grandslam.  Whirlaway is the only Superfecta winner.

Another very special horse won the Travers in 1920, Man o’ War.  In his honor, Tiffany and Co. created a trophy, a gold plated replica Man o’ War Cup is given to the winner of the Travers annually.

Please, allow me one more interesting historical fact before we get to the 2016 entries.   There is a nice goose pond infield of the Saratoga track.  A canoe was placed there in 1926.  Since 1961, the canoe is painted in the silk colors of the Travers winner each year.

 

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Finally, here is our enormous field by post/horse/jockey/trainer/owner:

  1. Arrogate/Mike Smith/Bob Baffert/Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
  2. American Freedom/Rafael Bejarano/Bob Baffert/Gary and Mary West
  3. My Man Sam/Manuel Franco/Chad C. Brown/Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables, LLC. and Jay W. Bligh
  4. Governor Malibu/Joel Rosario/Christophe Clement/Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bull Stables
  5. Forever d’Oro/Luis Saez/Dallas Stewart/Charles E. Fipke
  6. Anaximandros/Leonel Reyes/Mikhail Yanakov/Mikhail Yanakov
  7. Exaggerator/Kent Desormeaux/J. Keith Desormeaux/ Big Chief Racing, LLC., Head of Plains Partners, LLC., Rocker O Ranch, LLC, et al.
  8. Destin/Javier Castellano/Todd A. Pletcher/Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC. and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
  9. Gift Box/Junior Alvarado/Chad C. Brown/W.S. Farish
  10. Connect/John R. Velazquez/Chad C. Brown/Warren A. Croll, Jr
  11. Majesto/Ricardo Santana Jr./Gustavo Delgado/Grupo Seven C Stable
  12. Creator/Irad Ortiz Jr./Steven M. Asmusen/WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay
  13. Laoban/Jose L. Ortiz/Eric J. Guillot/McCormick Racing, LLC. and Southern Equine Stable, LLC.
  14. Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/Steven M. Asmussen/Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC., Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stables LLC.

Arrogate is the KY bred grey son of Unbridled’s Song and Bubbler.  He has won the last 3 of his 4 career races.  He has never been entered in a stakes race.  Smith has not won the Travers since 1998 and Baffert has not won this race since 2001.  Arrogate has never raced at The Spa.

American Freedom is a KY bred colt, sired by Pulpit, his dam is Gottcha Last.  He has won 3 of his 5 races.  He won 1 of 3 graded stakes.  American Freedom has not raced at Saratoga but while he shares a trainer with Arrogate he has more East coast experience. Bejarano has not won the Travers.

Another KY bred is in post 3.  My Man Sam is the offspring of Trappe Shot and Lauren Byrd.  He has won once in his 6 starts and he participated in 2 graded stakes races including the KY Derby.  He often runs second and he could probably do that once again.  In his last race he was second and that was at Saratoga.  Trappe Shot finished 9th in the 2010 Travers.  Franco nor Brown have historical wins in the Travers. Brown is on a roll at Saratoga.  He got his 1,000th win while racing there on Wednesday.  Brown has 3 entries in the Travers.

Governor Malibu is a NY bred with NY racing experience.  He was 2nd his last trip out and that was at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy Stakes.  He is the son of Malibu Moon and Akilina.  Governor Malibu has won 2 of his 9 starts.  He has placed in 2 of 3 graded stakes. Neither Rosario or Clement have won the Travers.

Forever d’ Oro is the KY bred Colt of Medaglia d’ Oro and Lemons Forever.  He recently finished 3rd at Saratoga.  This was one of his 5 races.  He has won once.  He participated in the Belmont Stakes.  His sire, Medaglia d’ Oro, won the Travers in 2002.  His dam sire, Lemon Drop Kid, won the Travers in 1999.  Forever d’ Oro’s jockey, Saez, won the Travers in 2013.

Anaximandros is a colt by Hard Spun and Dragon Fly.  He is KY bred with a French dam.  He has won 2 of 5 races.  He was 4th his last race which is his only graded stakes experience.  He has not raced at Saratoga.  His jockey nor trainer have ever won the Travers.

Right in the middle sits the favorite, Exaggerator!  Sired by Curlin he is the KY bred colt born to Dawn Raid.  He has more experience then the preceding post positions with 6 wins in 13 starts.  He ran all three legs of the 2015 Triple Crown finishing 2nd, 1st then a disappointing 11th respectively.  He had a triumphant rebound in his very next race when he finished 1st in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.  Kent Desormeaux won the Travers in 2009.

Destin is a grey colt by Giant’s Causeway and Dream of Summer.  One of my favorite farms, Taylor Made, had a part in his KY breeding.  He has won 3 of 8 races.  He finished 3rd at Saratoga behind Governor Malibu in his last race.  He participated in the KY Derby and the Belmont Stakes.  He finished 2nd to Creator in the Belmont.  He is a multiple graded stakes winner.  Pletcher last won the Travers in 2011. Castellano has won the Travers the most.

Gift Box is a grey ridgling. In his pedigree are Twirling Candy and Special Me.  He has 2 wins of 5 races.  He recently finished 2nd at Saratoga.  He was 3rd in his only graded stakes race.  The jockey nor the trainer has won a Travers Stakes race.

Connect is another colt by Curlin.  He is a KY bred horse with Bullville Bell as his dam.  He is on a streak winning his past 3 races out of a career 4 starts.  He just won at Saratoga last month, besting Gift Box.  He has not entered a graded stakes before.  Connect’s  dam sire, Holly Bull, won the Travers in 1994.  Mike Smith was the jockey for Holy Bull’s win.  Smith is Arrogate’s jockey this time.

Majesto is a KY bred ridgling.  He was born to Tiznow and Unacloud.  He has only finished first in one of his 8 races.  He has two graded stakes races in his resume and one of those was the KY Derby.  His last race was at Saratoga where he finished 6th.  His connections have not won the Travers. Majesto’s dam sire, Unaccounted For was 4th in the 1994 Travers Stakes.

Creator is a grey colt sired by Tapit, thus another KY bred.  His dam is Morena.  He has finished first place in 3 of his 11 starts.  It was not his day in the KY Derby but he was 1st place in the Belmont Stakes.  Most recently he finished 6th at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy.  He has the ability but not the consistency.  His jockey and trainer haven’t won a Travers before.

In the lucky 13 post position stands Laoban.  He is the son of Uncle Mo and Chattertown.  He is a KY bred colt.  He won one time in a career 8 races.  That one time counts big for this race as it was right at Saratoga last month when he conquered the Jim Dandy Stakes.  He has raced in 6 stakes races including the Preakness.  He has the experience.  His trainer and his jockey are looking for their first Travers wins too.

Finally, we end the field with Gun Runner.  Bred in KY by Candy Ride and Quiet Giant this colt has a 5 in 8 record for wins.  He was 3rd in the KY Derby  but holds multiple graded stakes wins.  He has not raced at Saratoga.  Geroux would be happy to get his first Travers title.

Be sure to buy tickets now if you are fortunate enough to be planning to attend.  It is expected to be a sell out.  The card includes 13 nice races.  Four BC Win and You’re In races are up for grabs.  The Travers is the 11th race on Saturday 8/27/16.  It will post at 5:44 P.M. EST.  NBC will provide television coverage from 4:30 to 6 PM.

Thank you to our regular handicapper for allowing me use of his photos.  I fully rely on my own photos and those of close friends and family.  I really appreciate having access to pictures of horses and places I haven’t experienced yet.  Check back regularly for new Thoroughbred posts.

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