After one of the last big days of Breeders' Cup Prep Races, here are some of key Beyer Speed Figures from the major stakes courtesy of Daily Racing Form. This time, I've included the horses previous figure for comparison.
BELMONT PARK
Jamaica
Prince Will I Am 90 (86)
Citrus Kid 87 (72)
Beau Choix 86 (94)
Frizette
A Z Warrior 81 (66)
R Heat Lightning 78 (76)
Joyful Victory 71 (77)
Champagne
Uncle Mo 94 (102)
Mountain Town 85 (61)
I'm Steppin Up 66 (61)
KEENELAND
Woodford
Silver Timber 99 (89)
Central City 98 (81)
Due Date 97 (90)
TCA
Dubai Majesty 91 (90)
Old Time Religion 89 (78)
Informed Decision 88 (90)
First Lady
Proviso 102 (97)
C.S. Silk 101 (82)
Gotta Have Her 101 (86)
Breeders' Futurity
J.B.'s Thunder 84 (72)
Santiva 77 (68)
Wilcox Inn 77 (73)
Shadwell Turf Mile
Gio Ponti 99 (100)
Society's Chairman 97 (84)
Courageous Cat 94 (103)
OAK TREE - HOLLYWOOD
Oak Tree Mile
Liberian Freighter 102 (96)
Colgan's Chip 102 (100)
Tropic Storm 97 (100)
Ancient Title
Smiling Title 103 (96)
Supreme Summit 102 (92)
EZ's Gentleman 100 (90)
Showing posts with label Gio Ponti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gio Ponti. Show all posts
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, September 4, 2009
Horse of Year Candidates
With a dwindling list of big races before the Breeders' Cup championshp in early November, now is a good time to speculate as to the favorites for Horse of the Year.
It appears that there will be five horses competing for year end honors and the chase is led by superfilly Rachel Alexandra. By the end of Saturday's races, the chase could either be over or a little more wide open.
Here are the contenders and some quick facts:
Rachel Alexandra (2009 Record - 7-7-0-0) - Simply put, she's the odds-on favorite to win Horse of the Year. Her string of impressive wins in 2009 add up to a 65-length margin and include the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness, Mother Goose and Haskell. The breathtaking victories in the Oaks and Mother Goose were some of the more impressive you'll ever see but the fact she has beaten the boys twice is equally as amazing. A win in the Woodward would secure her place as one of the best fillies of all-time and basically guarantee HOY.
Zenyatta (2009 Record 3-3-0-0) - The other "big girl" in racing has a career perfect record (12-for-12) but has only raced outside of her home base in Southern California once. Her best chance of winning Horse of the Year is if she beats Rachel in the Breeders' Cup (which is highly unlikely as Rachel's owner has said she is not running in the BC), or if some sort of match race is agreed to. If she does finish her career unbeaten, she still would rank as one of the best fillies of all-time but a notch below Rachel.
Gio Ponti (2009 Record 5-4-0-0) - The four-year-old colt has quietly had a great 2009 as he's rattled off four straight wins, all Grade 1's. The highlight came last month when he beat an international field in the the Arlington Million. The big knock against Gio Ponti is that he's a turf horse and there has only been one grass horse to be named Horse of the Year in the last 25 years. The only chance he has for HOY is if he switches to (artificial) dirt in the Breeders' Cup and wins the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Summer Bird (2009 Record 7-3-1-1) - The winner of the Belmont and Travers has gotten better with each start. His only hiccup this year was a 6th place finish in the Kentucky De
rby which is forgiveable considering he only had three outings before the "Run for the Roses." His best chance to capture HOY will be if he wins the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont and Breeders' Cup Classic plus a Rachel loss. (Remember: Rachel did beat Summer Bird in t
he Haskell).
Einstein - (2009 Record 5-2-0-2) - He is the longest shot of the group. In early summer, the venerable 7-year-old looked to have climbed back as the top older horse after winning the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day. But since then, he's run third and fifth. He'll need to win the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday and the Breeders' Cup Classic if he has any chance combined with a Rachel loss. Either way, he's a great story and will probably head off to stud at the end of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Mine That Bird, Macho Again, Rail Trip
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Americans The Best?
CHICAGO - The Breeders' Cup is still a few months away but the best horses are beginning to set themselves apart from the pretenders.
One of those traditional "bar raising" events every year is the Arlington Million and the race and it's two Grade 1 undercard races typically attract the best turf horses not only in America but in the world.
Since the Europeans race primarily on grass, they are perceived to have a big advantage when coming to the States but this year, the American turf horses may actually be the best.
The American horses "swept the board" by capturing all three of the major races on Saturday's Million card.
In the Arlington Million, Gio Ponti rattled off his fourth straight win with a 1 1/4-length win over fellow American Just as Well. That win stamped him as one of the the best turf horse in the world. There are still plenty of Europeans who have not made the track to the U.S. but Gio Ponti dispatched three Euros on Saturday.
Stotsfold (3rd), Cima de Triomphe (4th) and Gloria de Campaeo (7th) all had chance to win but were not up to the task.
Does this mean Gio Ponti in unbeatable? Hardly. There are still major races yet to run in Europe and the U.S. but the bay colt has certainly will be the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
In the other two big races on Saturday at Arlington, the Beverly D. and the Secretariat, the American also came out on top. Dynaforce posted a 1 1/4-length win in the Beverly D. The Europeans ran 2nd (Alnadana), 6th (Denomination), and 7th (Mad About You).
In a stirring stretch duel American Take the Points prevailed over Euro Black Bear Island in the Secretariat.
When the world does converge on Santa Anita in early November for the Breeders' Cup, there is no question that the Europeans will be a major factor. They were last year with the signature win coming in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
But, early on, Round 1 goes to the U.S.A. Stay tuned. It's going to be fun over the next few weeks.
One of those traditional "bar raising" events every year is the Arlington Million and the race and it's two Grade 1 undercard races typically attract the best turf horses not only in America but in the world.
Since the Europeans race primarily on grass, they are perceived to have a big advantage when coming to the States but this year, the American turf horses may actually be the best.
The American horses "swept the board" by capturing all three of the major races on Saturday's Million card.
In the Arlington Million, Gio Ponti rattled off his fourth straight win with a 1 1/4-length win over fellow American Just as Well. That win stamped him as one of the the best turf horse in the world. There are still plenty of Europeans who have not made the track to the U.S. but Gio Ponti dispatched three Euros on Saturday.
Stotsfold (3rd), Cima de Triomphe (4th) and Gloria de Campaeo (7th) all had chance to win but were not up to the task.
Does this mean Gio Ponti in unbeatable? Hardly. There are still major races yet to run in Europe and the U.S. but the bay colt has certainly will be the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
In the other two big races on Saturday at Arlington, the Beverly D. and the Secretariat, the American also came out on top. Dynaforce posted a 1 1/4-length win in the Beverly D. The Europeans ran 2nd (Alnadana), 6th (Denomination), and 7th (Mad About You).
In a stirring stretch duel American Take the Points prevailed over Euro Black Bear Island in the Secretariat.
When the world does converge on Santa Anita in early November for the Breeders' Cup, there is no question that the Europeans will be a major factor. They were last year with the signature win coming in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
But, early on, Round 1 goes to the U.S.A. Stay tuned. It's going to be fun over the next few weeks.
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