– When news broke Monday morning that Rags to Riches was out of Saturday’s Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont, it seemed logical that ESPN would go back to their original plan to show the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, which had been bumped for the Oaks and the anticipated appearance of the Belmont winner. Well, that’s not happening. “[ESPN] just couldn’t react fast enough,” said Craig Dado, Del Mar’s vice president for marketing. “I guess it serves them right. I think that’s what they call karma” (North Country Times).
– Breeders’ Cup officials unveiled a new Breeders’ Cup web site today and announced that the entire Breeders’ Cup day card would be streamed live online (ThoroTimes). Cool.
– Curlin worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 over the Oklahoma training track this morning (BRIS). The Preakness winner is scheduled to start next in the August 5 Haskell at Monmouth.
Posted by JC in Media/TV/Film on 07/17/2007 @ 6:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Never mind that bit about Rags to Riches working this morning or her exciting return to the races next Saturday: The Belmont winner is out of the Coaching Club American Oaks, trainer Todd Pletcher announced today, owing to a slight fever. “Her temperature was 101 degrees, which is not high, but a little beyond the normal range,” said Pletcher. “She hasn’t quite seemed herself the last couple of days. We won’t breeze her without her being 100 percent.” Rags to Riches will be pointed to the Alabama at Saratoga on August 18 (ending speculation that she might start in the Travers) and the Breeders’ Cup.
Posted by JC in Horses on 07/16/2007 @ 10:45 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Even-money favorite Tiago won the Swaps at Hollywood on Saturday by 2 1/2 lengths after jockey Mike Smith guided the half-brother to Giacomo through an opening on the rail to the inside of pacesetter Desert Code. This was a really nice move by horse and rider: Tiago, settled into fifth, four lengths off the lead, until the field turned into the stretch, could have as easily swung to the outside and taken the lead, but Smith and his willing colt charged through on the rail with confidence (video). “Normally, I would have chosen [to go wide], but a horse like this absolutely loves the fence,” said Smith. “He’ll run through anything, so I wasn’t worried. All he needed was a little room to get his head through and he just goes” (LA Times). Albertus Maximus finished second, Souvenir Slew third. Tiago, carrying the highweight of 122, is the fourth horse to win both the Santa Anita Derby and the Swaps, and earned a 103 Beyer for the 1 1/8 mile race run in 1:48.76.
– Todd Pletcher upset Todd Pletcher in Sunday’s Delaware Handicap. Positioned third, less than a length off the pedestrian pace set by Peak Maria’s Way through the first three quarters, Pletcher’s 8-1 Unbridled Belle drew off easily to win the Delaware Handicap by 7 3/4 lengths (Blood-Horse). The trainer’s much favored Indian Vale finished fifth with no excuse.
– Sunriver proved his first race on the turf wasn’t a fluke by following up on that allowance win with a stakes victory on the grass. The four-year-old went wire-to-wire in the Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont on Sunday, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunriver would start next in the August 11 Arlington Million.
– Chalk another up for Posse: Bet the Diva became her freshman sire’s 10th winner with a maiden special score at Belmont. The Gary Contessa trainee broke smartly from the gate, took the lead early, and won by 3 1/4 lengths.
– Del Mar opening day entries are up and Bob Baffert’s much talked about two-year-old Maimonides, a $4.6 million Vindication colt with several bullet works, is set to debut in race three on Wednesday has been scratched from the day’s third (DRF). Vindication was undefeated in four starts as a two-year-old and named the 2002 champion juvenile; he was retired in early 2003 with a suspensory injury. His first crop is hitting the track now and has so far yielded two winners from seven starters.
– Apprentice Michael Baze, with 73 wins, became the youngest jockey to win Hollywood’s riding title since Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker in 1950. “It’s unbelievable,” said the 20-year-old of his achievement (LA Times). The Hollywood trainer race was tight to the end, with Jeff Mullins and Doug O’Neill finishing in a tie (Bob Ike).
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 07/15/2007 @ 8:10 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
