Labor Day Weekend Highlights

Here's a few quick snippets and stats from the big racing weekend that just wrapped up:

• The weekend, of course, was highlighted by Rachel Alexandra's incredible victory over older males in Saturday's Woodward at Saratoga. Although she may not run again the rest of the year, she gave everyone great thrills in 2009 and is a lock for Horse of the Year.
• Meanwhile, "across the pond" another superstar cemented himself as the King of European racing. Sea the Stars won the Irish Champion Stakes to earn his seventh straight victory. The John Oxx trained colt is slated to make his next start in the Arc de Triomphe next month.
• It was like the good ol' days for the 2-year-old colts as trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert each captured the big freshman stakes. Lukas sent out Dublin to a nice victory in Monday's Hopeful at Saratoga while Baffert captured the Del Mar Futurity with Lookin At Lucky. Both trainers are pointing toward the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Baffert looking for his second straight victory (Midshipman won in 2008).
• Not to be outdone, the 2-year-old filly races on both coasts went as planned for the favorites. Hot Dixie Chick remained the top young filly with an impressive victory in the Spinaway at Saratoga. That victory gave trainer Steve Asmussen a dream weekend as he won both with Rachel and "The Chick." While at Del Mar, Mi Sueno won the Del Mar Debutante. Both will move on the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
• Baffert had a banner weekend at Del Mar as he pulled a huge upset in the Pacific Classic with Richard's Kid and has the likely favorite for the Breeders' Cup Sprint after Zensational won the Pat O'Brien. Baffert will be seeking his third straight Sprint victory after Midnight Lute won the 2007 and 2008 renewals.
  
• It was good to see 7-year-old Einstein regain some of his old form as he was runner-up in the Pacific Classic.