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.

Like Old Times for Lukas

For many many years, when Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas entered a horse in a 2-year-old stakes race, you had to pay close attention. He seemed unstoppable in all big freshman races.

Lukas had stables at every major racetrack and built an impressive roster of horses. That wouldn't stop him from shipping horses all over the country, which led to the "Wayne off the Plane" handicapping angle.

Now in the later stages of his career, the former basketball coach has a much smaller stable.
But that doesn't mean he's lost the ability to train young horses.

On closing day of the Saratoga meet, Lukas stepped back in time and sent Dublin to a nice two-length win over Aspire in the 105th renewal of the Hopeful.

It was the sixth win in the Hopeful for Lukas but this one might have the most Kentucky Derby promise of his previous five victories. Dublin is a son of Afleet Alex, who also won the Hopeful and went on to capture the Preakness and Belmont. His mother, Classy Mirage, was also a multiple graded stakes winner.

Lukas helped pick Dublin for owners Robert Baker and William Mack at the famous Keeneland Yearling Sale last September for $525,000.

"He has a long, rangy stride," Lukas said. "He’s got a lot of balance to him. He’s pretty gifted. I feel like he’s going to develop. This was my No. 1 pick in the sales. I still haven’t lost my eye in that part. I like to play in the main arena – these 2-year-olds, when they turn 3, that’s the name of the game. Bill Mack and Bob Baker are the reason this horse is here.”

You can be sure we will see Lukas and Dublin in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, another race Lukas used to own. His record there is five victories in 37 entrants.

For now, Lukas will ship Dublin back to his home base at Churchill Downs and two months from now, he could be the trainer people are talking again about when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.

Other horses to keep an eye as they get older are Aikenite, Backtalk and Westover Wildcat.

Never Too Early

With the close of the Saratoga racing season at hand, the meet wraps up with a look to the future. And by future we are talking about the Kentucky Derby.

The last big race of the meet is the Hopeful Stakes which is for 2-year-old colts and geldings and there is a near capacity field of 12 set to run this afternoon.

The great thing about seeing these freshman run is that these are 2-year-olds that typically will be around as 3-year-olds and have a chance to make the "Run for the Roses."

If you look at some of the horses that have won the Hopeful, there's reason to be excited. (Thanks to Wikipedia for the list below.)

Among the future stars we've seen include: Afleet Alex (winner of 2005 Preakness and Belmont), Came Home, and 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. The race has also produced Triple Crown winner Secratariat and Affirmed.

Today's Hopeful horses to watch include: Backtalk, who is unbeaten in three starts including two stakes victories; Dublin, a regally bred son of Afleet Alex who won impressively at Saratoga last time and Enumerate, a Steve Asmussen-trained colt who lost to Backtalk in the Sanford last time.

2008	Vineyard Haven	Alan Garcia	Robert J. Frankel	Frankel/Lazzinnaro/Diamond Pride	1:23.40
2007	Majestic Warrior	Garrett Gomez	William I. Mott	Kinsman Stable	1:23.04
2006	Circular Quay	Garrett Gomez	Todd A. Pletcher	Michael & Doreen Tabor	1:23.00
2005	First Samurai	Jerry D. Bailey	Frank L. Brothers	Lunsford & Robbins III	1:23.25
2004	Afleet Alex	Jeremy Rose	Tim Ritchey	Cash is King LLC	1:23.58
2003	Silver Wagon	Jerry D. Bailey	Ralph Ziadie	Buckram Oak Farm	1:23.47
2002	Sky Mesa	Edgar Prado	John T. Ward	John C. Oxley	1:23.08
2001	Came Home	Chris McCarron	J. Paco Gonzalez	Trudy McCaffery	1:21.94
2000	Yonaguska (DH)	Jerry D. Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Michael B. Tabor	1:24.52
2000	City Zip (DH)	Jose Santos	Linda L. Rice	Thompson & Bowling	1:24.52
1999	High Yield	Jerry D. Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Bob & Beverly Lewis	1:22.85
1998	Lucky Roberto	Robbie Davis	Frank A. Alexander	Jesse Robinson	1:23.81
1997	Favorite Trick	Pat Day	Patrick B. Byrne	Joseph LaCombe	1:23.87
1996	Smoke Glacken	Craig Perret	Henry L. Carroll	Karkenny Levy et al.	1:23.63
1995	Hennessy	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Bob & Beverly Lewis	1:23.44
1994	Wild Escapade	Jorge F. Chavez	Leo O'Brien	Dogwood Stable	1:23.24
1993	Dehere	Chris McCarron	Reynaldo Nobles	Due Process Stable	1:15.80
1992	Great Navigator	Aaron Gryder	John F. Mazza	Roron Stables	1:15.71
1991	Salt Lake	Mike E. Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	William T. Young	1:17.74
1990	Deposit Ticket	Gary L. Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	1:16.20
1989	Summer Squall	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	Dogwood Stable	1:16.80
1988	Mercedes Won	Robbie Davis	Arnold Fink	Christopher Spencer	1:16.60
1987	Crusader Sword	Randy Romero	MacKenzie Miller	Rokeby Stable	1:18.60
1986	Gulch	Angel Cordero, Jr.	Leroy Jolley	Peter M. Brant	1:16.40
1985	Papal Power	Don MacBeth	Charles Peoples	Bayard Sharp	1:18.40
1984	Chief's Crown	Don MacBeth	Roger Laurin	Star Crown Stable	1:16.00
1983	Capitol South	Jerry D. Bailey	Lou Rondinello	Darby Dan Farm	1:17.40
1982	Copelan	Jerry D. Bailey	Mitchell Griffin	Fred W. Hooper	1:16.60
1981	Timely Writer	Roger Danjean	Dominic Imprescia	Peter Martin	1:16.20
1980	Tap Shoes	Ruben Hernandez	Howard M. Tesher	Leone J. Peters	1:17.00
1979*	J.P. Brother	Joseph Imparato	John P. Campo	Diamond Peg Stable	1:16.20
1978	General Assembly	Darrel McHargue	Leroy Jolley	Bertram R. Firestone	1:16.40
1977	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Laz Barrera	Harbor View Farm	1:15.40
1976	Banquet Table	Jean Cruguet	George T. Poole, Jr.	C. V. Whitney	1:16.20
1975-I	Jackknife	Jean Cruguet	John P. Campo	Elmendorf Farm	1:16.60
1975-II	Eustace	James Nichols	Wayne Rose	Eugene Cashman	1:16.40
1974-I	The Bagel Prince	Angel Cordero Jr.	Edward Pappalardo	Edward Shamie	1:16.80
1974-II	Foolish Pleasure	Braulio Baeza	Leroy Jolley	John L. Greer	1:16.00
1973	Gusty O'Shay	Robert Kotenko	Harrison E. Johnson	Mrs. Gerard Hopkins	1:16.40
1972	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable	1:16.20

En Fuego

Her name says it all - Hot Dixie Chick.

The Steve Asmussen-trained 2-year-old filly sat just off the early pace and then rolled up the inside and cruised to home a 1 3/4-length score over Beautician in the $300,000 Spinaway at Saratoga.

Now Asmussen has two of the top fillies in the country. Horse of the Year "lock" Rachel Alexandra and "The Chick."

"Today she was very professional and maintained her margin to the wire," Asmussen said. "Obviously, today she reached a new level. I don’t know if we look past this at all. It’s a Grade 1, the Spinaway. She’s got a mind that’s spooky. She’s extremely laid back. (Assistant trainer) Scott (Blasi) said she was laying down in the holding barn. Her demeanor is why she’s stabled next to Rachel (Alexandra). You can’t have a better demeanor than that.”

Now there should be a great battle between Hot Dixie Chick and Mi Sueno for top freshman filly. Both horses will likely meet in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in early November.

To give you a quick background on Mi Sueno, she's very well bred - A daughter of Pulpit out of the speedy stakes winning mare Madcap Escapade (ironically both were trained by Frank Brothers.) She has three in a row including the Del Mar Debutante on Saturday. Her trainer is also looking for his consecutive two-year-old filly championship. Eric Guillot conditioned Stardom Bound last year.

Mi Sueno will have the advantage of having run over the "artificial dirt" tracks of Southern California and we know that Hot Dixie Chick's owners aren't big fans of those surfaces.

There's obviously plenty of time until the Breeders' Cup but it looks like BC Juvenile Fillies should be a highlight of the event.

The Next Star

The Rachel Alexandra hype will subside for a while but attention paid to the Steve Asmussen barn won't quiet down much as he sends out a young star today at Saratoga.

Hot Dixie Chick, who is owned by Jess Jackson's wife Barbara Banke, started off her career with a runner-up finish at Churchill Downs on May 14. Since then, she has rattled off two straight wins including a blow out win in the Schuylerville last month here at Saratoga.

Today, Hot Dixie Chick will run in one of the higher profile races for 2-year-old fillies, the Spinaway. (Race set to start at 5:56 PM ET.) On paper, the race seems to be a one horse race. Her average winning margin is six and her last two Beyer Speed Figures are 100 and 103.

It's highly unlikely that Hot Dixie Chick will become another Rachel Alexandra. Rachel is frankly a once in a lifetime horse. But it's fun to speculate and dream a bit about how good "The Chick" will be.

Her only competition for best 2-year-old filly is the well-bred Mi Sueno, who captured the Del Mar Debutante Saturday. If they meet in the Breeders' Cup, it should be a wonderful matchup.

Rachel - Day After Thoughts

Some random thoughts after Rachel Alexandra's powerful and historic win in Saturday's Woodward at Saratoga.

• Rachel's final Beyer figure of 109 was probably the only negative of her performance, if you can call it that. It takes nothing away from her effort but you almost might have expected a little faster number. (Thanks to DRF for the Beyer).

• Credit to owner Jess Jackson for not being afraid of any big competition and running Rachel against some of the best handicap horses in the country. Most owners would have taken the safe route and entered her against her own gender but the Woodward gave the 31,000 fans on track plus countless others a trackside seat to history.

• Jockey Calvin Borel, who is one of the nicest guys in racing, didn't give Rachel the best ride by any means. Getting into a speed duel was not optimal against a field of older boys but she was gutsy enough to turn back every challenge. And as jockey Robby Albarado told me after the race, that's what makes a champion. Could not have said it any better myself.

• The scene yesterday at Saratoga was incredible. A lot of the fans that were in attendance came out specifically to see Rachel run. There is rarely anticipation to see any one horse so to walk in the crowd and feel "the buzz" was a nice change of pace.

• We should not forget about the tremendous job Rachel's former trainer Hal Wiggins did. Wiggins trained the superfilly up until early May when Jackson purchased her for a reported $5 million (but that number was never officially disclosed.) Wiggins sent Rachel postward for the most impressive and decisive Kentucky Oaks victory ever.

• Speaking of $5 million, Rachel could well have been the biggest multi-million bargain in history. Even if she never runs again, you have to figure she's worth at least $10 million.

• Let's hope Jackson is a man of his word and does bring her back to the races next year. If she runs again this year, it's likely only one more time but racing would a well needed "shot in the arm" if she runs in 2010. He did bring his star of 2007-08, Curlin, back as a 4-year-old and was rewarded with another banner year.

Rachel's Connections In Tough Spot?

Rachel Alexandra is now in racing's all-time elite. After her stirring victory in the Woodward on Saturday, it left little doubt as to her stature.

She has a mortal lock on champion 3-year-old filly and a padlock on Horse of the Year unless something crazy happens in the next three months. Now her connections have a tough choice - do they race her again this year and if so, where?

The racing fan in me, as well as scores of others, wants to see her take on unbeaten Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in two months. It's probably the only matchup left this year that would have any significance for her.

Owner Jess Jackson has said on many occasions that running on the "plastic" artificial dirt of Santa Anita is out of the question. But he is in a no-win situation with her next step.

The Woodward was undoubtedly a tough race on Rachel and since she went wire-to-wire and hold to dig deep to hold off Macho Again. It was her toughest race since she held of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness.

Jackson can easily keep Rachel on the sidelines the rest of the year and you couldn't fault him for doing so. And if you read between the lines of his quotes, that appears to be the most likely scenario. If that happens, you can only hope that we will indeed see her as a four-year-old.

“I can’t honestly say (if she'll run again this year," he said. "Hal (Harold McCormick) and I will have to talk about it and Steve’s going to have to bless her coming out and what her condition is. She’s run more races than Zenyatta’s run, and Zenyatta’s 5 years old. You can’t expect a young youngster – she’s only 3 – running against older horses, running against older mares – you can’t expect them to keep going all the time. You have to give them a break, and we’ll talk that over very seriously.”

Racing so badly needs Rachel to run as often as possible and she's had eight starts this year already. There may not be another horse like her for some time. Jackson knows that, but he will undoubtedly air on the side of caution. As a result, he's in a great but tough spot.

If he were to run her again, the options are:

Beldame - A proposed purse boost to $1 million for the Beldame at Belmont was an attempt to lure Zenyatta east and keep Rachel in New York. That would be a huge shock if that came to fruition, especially since the race is only a month after the Woodward.

Breeders' Cup - This would give Rachel two months to recover from the Woodward and her presence would add a sensational and needed boost to a championship event. She could either run in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic against the boys or more likely the $2 million Ladies Classic. The excuse of not running her because of the "artificial dirt" is a weak one though. (Jackson needs to forget about Curlin's moderate performance in last year's Classic.) She has a win at Keeneland on the Polytrack and there's no reason to think that a different surface would stunt her abilities. It would be a great way to cap off an undefeated and all-time great year.

Clark Handicap - Churchill Downs put on a great Thanksgiving weekend of racing and the Clark has always attracted good horses over the year. There is also precedent for Rachel to run in this 1 1/8 mile race. Surfside, a regally bred 3-year-old filly, went wire-to-wire to capture the 2000 renweal. Churchill is also Rachel's home base and CD might even throw in a purse boost to help lure her into race. But their connections indicated it would be too late in the year.

Match Race - The only other spot that might make sense is a staged match race with Zenyatta. Belmont and Sam Houston Park have offered inducements to bring the two together and there might be more to offer those incentives now. Jackson didn't appear to close the door on that after the Woodward.

"It depends on both horses coming out and what both camps would be willing to do," he said. "I’ve indicated Rachel’s had a full race year already. It might be that they get together, but I can’t predict that. It takes two to [tango], but it better be a good venue or neither one will come.”

No matter what happens, for those who have seen her this year have witnessed greatness. Let's just hope it's not the last time.