JC / Railbird

Races/Results Archive

Claiming Crown

I love the idea of the Claiming Crown. It’s a fantastic event — celebrating the claimers that make up the majority of races, treating cheap horses like stakes horses. Some of the starters are both, such as Lord of the Game, claimed for $10,000 last Janauary and now a grade 2 winner. Only five will start against the Cornhusker victor in the $150,000 Jewel Stakes, where Lord of the Game is easily the best. “When you look down at his record, the only horses who have beaten him were Pollard’s Vision and Badge of Silver,” said trainer Tom Tomillo said in reference to Lord in the Game’s third-place finish in the National Jockey Club Handicap. “He gave Badge of Silver all he wanted (so) I think they’ll have to beat him. He’s tough” (Blood-Horse).

Posted in Races/Results on July 14, 2005

Weekend Racing

It’s a big weekend of racing coming up at Delaware Park, with six stakes races carded for Saturday and Sunday, including the $1 million Delaware Handicap, which has attracted six graded stakes winners (Daily Racing Form), and the Delaware Oaks, which will feature Sis City and Round Pond (Blood-Horse). The once hot High Limit will make his first start since the Kentucky Derby in the Leonard Richards Stakes. A bevy of familiar names from this spring’s Triple Crown season — Sun King, Sort It Out, and Scrappy T — are set to start as well. An impressive win from any one would add some depth to three-year-old division, as Surf Cat did last Saturday in the Swaps (LA Times). Although, as the Times article points out, Surf Cat’s rise to prominence off one win is “indicative of the frailty of the game,” as is the fact that neither Surf Cat, nor last weekend’s Gold Cup winner Lava Man, is nominated for the Breeders’ Cup.
Papi Chullo is entered in the Richards as well, but it’s safe to say the maiden will scratch — Papi is entered in the fifth race at Belmont on Friday, where he gets Rafael Bejarano aboard and is the 7-5 morning line favorite.

Posted in Races/Results on July 14, 2005

Lost in the Fog, 8-for-8

The only real question about Sunday’s Carry Back Stakes at Calder was by how much Lost in the Fog would win. I thought he’d see a little challenge from Hot Space, the colt making his second career start who scored a 96 Beyer winning a maiden special in mid-June. But no, Lost in the Fog loped along in the lead from the start with rider Russell Baze aboard making no moves until the stretch, when he drew away easily under mild urging to win by more than seven lengths. Lost in the Fog made it look so effortless, it’s hard to believe that he ran a record race (SF Chronicle). His time for the six furlongs was 1:09.3, faster than any previous Carry Back, and faster than the other two grade 2 sprints on the card. Now 8-for-8, Lost in the Fog will be pointed to the King’s Bishop at Saratoga on August 27. Trainer Greg Gilchrist said he’s planning to get the unbeaten colt to upstate New York early: “I think I’ll get him into Saratoga a couple of weeks ahead of the race. I’ve never been to Saratoga, and I’ve heard all the stuff about the track, it being the ‘Graveyard of Champions’ and all that, and I’d like to work him at least once over the track before he runs there” (LA Times).
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Madcap Escapade was another big winner at Calder yesterday, bouncing back from a defeat in her last race to win the Princess Rooney Stakes by more than five lengths (Daily Racing Form). Happy Ticket finished second, suffering her first loss in 10 starts. No disgrace there. As Happy Ticket’s trainer Andrew Leggio said, “She ran great and I’m sorry she didn’t win but she got beat by a real nice horse although I’d like another chance at the winner going seven furlongs in the Ballerina.”

Posted in Races/Results on July 11, 2005

Saturday Winners

Lava Man wins the Hollywood Gold Cup, Surf Cat wins the Swaps (LA Times). With his eight and three-quarters lengths win in the Gold Cup, Lava Man — who was claimed by trainer Doug O’Neill for $50,000 less than a year ago — set a record for winning margin in the race. Count O’Neill among those surprised by Lava Man’s dominating performance: “When we claimed him … I thought we were getting a horse that might run for $40,000 or $50,000 on grass. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we were getting a Grade I winner.” Favorite Limehouse finished fifth: “He never showed up,” said jockey John Velazquez.

Posted in Races/Results on July 10, 2005