JC / Railbird

Goldikova

The Week That Was

A few photos and videos from Breeders’ Cup week at Churchill Downs …

The sun rose late each morning at Churchill Downs. Here’s Filly and Mare Turf contender Harmonious, going out for exercise in a dark and chilly hour.

Ladies’ Classic winner Unrivaled Belle, with jockey Kent Desormeaux up, before working four furlongs at Churchill on Monday morning.

Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Big Drama on the track Tuesday morning.

Ladies’ Classic favorite Blind Luck schooling in the Churchill paddock.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up Boys at Tosconova on the Churchill track.

Trainer Rick Dutrow watching Boys at Tosconova gallop.

Goldikova returning to the barn.

Trainer Freddie Head talking with reporters outside Goldikova’s Churchill barn on Wednesday. “I’m very confident,” said Head of the mare’s chances to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile again.

Breeders’ Cup Mile contender Paco Boy out for training on Friday.

Workforce walking the turf course on Friday. The Arc winner was a late scratch from the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday due to trainer Michael Stoute’s concerns about the condition of the surface.

Zenyatta, in the Churchill Downs chute on Thursday morning, walks by with her pony. This may be my favorite 10 seconds of video, ever.

Zenyatta coming off the track on Thursday.

Andrew Rosen, owner of Theyskens’ Theory, and rider Frankie Dettori before the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday. The filly, sent off as the 5-1 second favorite, finished sixth. Dettori won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday with trainer Brian Meehan’s Dangerous Midge.

Goldikova, garlanded, paraded, and cheered after winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile for a historic third time. View from the press box balcony.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic field going to post. Tense moments watching.

Posted in Racing on November 8, 2010 / Tagged Big Drama, Breeders' Cup, Churchill Downs, Goldikova, Unrivaled Belle, Workforce, Zenyatta

From Chantilly

“Honestly, these French.” Honestly, have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy reading Chris McGrath’s Independent columns? Today’s piece comes from Goldikova’s barn, where trainer Freddie Head took questions about the 5-year-old mare who may beat Zenyatta to the punch as the first horse to win three consecutive Breeders’ Cup races. Not that anything is to be assumed. “Gio Ponti, if he runs, will be the one to beat this year I suppose,” Head told the Racing Post, speculating on possible challengers in the Mile.

Posted in Racing on October 26, 2010 / Tagged Breeders' Cup, Champions, Distaffers, Goldikova, International, Turf Writers

Awards Trivia

Goldikova has surpassed Canford Cliffs in the running for this year’s Cartier Awards Horse of the Year. A record third win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile will clinch it, just as a second straight win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic will assure Zenyatta of the Eclipse Awards Horse of the Year title. If both win, it’ll be the first time in the 20 years that the European and American awards have existed concurrently that mares are named HOTY in the same year. It’ll also be the second time in three years for both the Cartier and Eclipse awards that a female horse is named Horse of the Year. Not quite two years after Foolish Pleasure dubbed 2008 the first “Year of the Chick,” distaffers are still on a roll.

Posted in Racing on October 5, 2010 / Tagged Cartier Awards, Champions, Distaffers, Eclipse Awards, Goldikova, Horse of the Year, Zenyatta