Tag: Quiet Giant

Posted on

Clinching the Clark

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

Mr. Z

Mr. Z, above, lovable and yet a bit of a nibbler.  In the D. Wayne Lukas stable in June, 2015. The benefit is worth the risk if you are lucky enough to meet him.

Happy Thanksgiving!  I have so much to be thankful for this year and the blessings will keep coming.  Churchill Downs has a very nice closing weekend lined up for us.  11/24-11/27 brings 4 days of racing with 7 nice stakes including the Grade 1 Clark Handicap!

Mr. Z in the Ack-Ack

Mr. Z, above, in the Ack-Ack Handicap in October, 2016.

The Clark Handicap is one of America’s older races.  Occurring annually in the Fall, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, this year’s addition takes place on Friday, 11/25/16.  The race is named for the founder of the Louisville Jockey Club, Colonel M. Lewis Clark.  The Louisville Jockey Club built much of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.  The 142nd running of the Clark Handicap is a dirt race of 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) for horses age 3 or older.  The purse is $500,000.  The Clark Handicap will post at 6:24 p.m. EST.  We will be treated to a field of 10 horses on a card of 12 races.  The competition is as follows by post, horse, jockey,trainer and morning line odds :

  1. Gun Runner/Florent Geroux/Steven M. Asmussen/4/1
  2. Effinex/Junior Alvarado/James A. Jerkens/4/1
  3. Are You Kidding Me/Alan Garcia/Roger L. Attfield/15/1
  4. Shaman Ghost/Javier Castellano/James A. Jerkens/8/1
  5. Hawaakom/Miguel Mena/Wesley E. Hawley/20/1
  6. Noble Bird/Julien R. Leparoux/Mark E. Casse/7/2
  7. Breaking Lucky/Luis Contreras/Reade Baker/8/1
  8. Mr. Z/Ricardo Santana, Jr./D. Wayne Lukas/30/1
  9. Hoppertunity/John R. Velazquez/Bob Baffert/5/2
  10. Prayer for Relief/Robby Albarado/Dale L. Romans/30/1

There are a lot of big talent horses in this race and a few more obscure Thoroughbreds as well.  Any horse will be lucky to win but historically some Clark winners have really clinched the title and hit it twice.  Hodge won in 1915 and 1916.  Bold Favorite was 1st in both 1968 and 1969 and Bob’s Dusty won in 1977 and again in 1978.  Hoppertunity and Effinex will both have the chance to win their second Clark Handicap in tomorrow’s race.  Looking to the trainers, Bob Baffert will have a chance to win his 4th Clark Handicap, which would make him the trainer with the most wins.  Currently, Ben Jones, Smiley Adams and Bob Baffert have all won the Clark thrice.

Mr. Z in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes

Mr. Z, above in the Hagyard Fayette Stakes in October 2016.

Gun Runner is the KY bred colt of Candy Ride and Quiet Giant.  He is 3 years old.  Gun Runner has won 5 of his 11 career starts.  He is experienced at Churchill Downs and was 3rd in the 2016 KY Derby.

Effinex is the 5 year old son of Mineshaft and What a Pear.  Bred in NY, he has won 9 of his 27 races.  His only race at Churchill has been the Clark Handicap in which he dominated in 2015.  He had a surprisingly late finish in the BC Classic this year.  Can he win the Clark again?

Are You Kidding Me is a KY bred 6 year-old.  He was born to Run Away and Hide and Sweet Awakening.  He has won 9 of 31 races and holds the 2015 Sovereign Award for Champion Older Horse.  He has primarily raced at Woodbine but he finished 5th at Churchill in the Stephen Foster Handicap this past June.

Shaman Ghost has not raced in 3 months.  He had to scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a brief illness. He is a ON bred colt by Ghostzapper and Getback Time.  Shaman Ghost is trained by Jerkens, winner of the 2015 Clark.  He has won half of his 12 starts and he holds the Sovereign Award for 2015 Champion 3 year Old Colt.

Hawaakom is a 6 year-old KY bred gelding born to Jazil and Nafisah.  Hawaakom has won 7 of his 30 career starts.  He has experience at Churchill, including a second place finish in the Lukas Classic in October.

Noble Bird is trained by Casse and I have had the extreme pleasure of visiting this KY bred horse while he was stabled at Keeneland.   This 5 year old colt is sired by Birdstone.  His dam is Anyhow.  Noble Bird’s jockey, Leparoux, won the Clark in 2008 with Einstein. Noble Bird has won 7 of 19 starts.  He frequents both Keeneland and Churchill.  He won stakes races at both in October.

Breaking Lucky is another ON bred colt.  He is the 4 year-old son of Lookin At Lucky and Shooting Party.  He has won 3 of 15 career starts.  His last time out was his only Churchill race where he finished 8th in the Lukas Classic.

Mr. Z is the KY bred 4 year-old colt of Malibu Moon and Stormy Bear.  He has had 22 career starts including two Breeders’ Cup entries.  Mr. Z broke his maiden in his first race, that was at Churchill Downs in 2014.  He also won the Ohio Derby.  He is clearly my favorite horse in this race and trained by my favorite trainer, D. Wayne Lukas.  If Lukas wins this race and Baffert does not, it would put Lukas in as one of the few 3 time Clark winning trainers.  Lukas won the 2013 Clark with Will Take Charge.

Hoppertunity won the Clark in 2014 and finished second in 2015.  He is a KY bred horse by Any Given Saturday and Refugee.  Hoppertunity has won 6 of 23 starts.  He recently finished 4th in the BC Classic.  Is it his turn to clinch a second Clark?

Prayer for Relief is the oldest horse in the race at 8 years-old.  He is a KY bred horse by Jump Start and Sparklin Lil.  He has raced an amazing 44 times with 8 wins.  He raced in the Clark Handicap in 2011, 2013 and 2014.  It must be a favorite race for him by now.  His trainer, Romans, won with Shackleford in 2012.

Ack-Ack 2016 with Mr. Z

Mr. Z, above, in the paddock before the 2016 Ack-Ack at Churchill Downs.

I hope everyone has plenty of blessings that they can be thankful for today.  Enjoy your family, friends, lots of food and the last live races at Churchill Downs of 2016.  I’ll be rooting for Mr. Z.  I enjoy watching some of the more experienced horses in the game taking another shot at a nice stakes race.  Happy Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for all of my readers and the support you have shown me.  Thank you!

Share This:
Facebooktwitter
Posted on

Transfixed by the Travers

Share This:
Facebooktwitter

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.

IMG_8383

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.

 

IMG_8384

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.

Share This:
Facebooktwitter