Curlin's Road to Immortality Starts Today
To grass, or not to grass? That is the question and, with that, the grand Curlin experiment begins today in the 11-furlong Grade 1 Man o' War at Belmont Park.
Steve Asmussen, the trainer who's left nothing to chance when it comes to the 2007 Horse of the Year, begins prepping for a go in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the track modeled after Longchamp, the site of what has been called the world's most prestigious horse race.
For the first time--I don't know, ever?--the Man o' War is not in its traditional place on the Belmont fall calendar. To make the NYRA turf program all it can be, the Man o' War was moved to the summer meet this year, to be followed by the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Turf Classic, back at Belmont, in the fall, Grade 1s all.
But first things first for Curlin, and a meaningful test it will be for a horse that hasn't been beaten since this time last year.
Four of his six Man o' War rivals are Grade 1 winners, including two winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf, the redoubtable Better Talk Now and Red Rocks, one European who actually prefers firm ground.
The group also includes last year's Sword Dancer winner, Grand Couturier, and the Gran Premio Di Milano winner, Sudan, now under Bobby Frankel's shed and a recent Grade 3 prep winner for this at Golden Gate Fields.
Actually, Sudan rates to move forward off his recent race and will have to if he wants to be competitive. But it certainly appears that he's been pointed this way by Frankel, who probably didn't count on the Horse of the Year being part of the fray.
Curlin's two main obstacles are the two Turf winners. Our guess is that while Bobby Ribaudo wouldn't mind winning this, a repeat victory in the Sword Dancer, which would be his third start of the season, is the more coveted target.
Mission Approved and True Cause just look too ambitiously placed in this spot.
Nine-year-old Better Talk Now might have lost a step to age but not much more. He still wants to be competitive, still earns Grade 1 performance figures, and just wants to beat you. He showed that in the recent Manhattan before running into the herd while in the midst of his rally. It didn't cost him the win, but clearly he would have finished closer.
Graham Motion's gelding goes sans rabbit today, but likely will get an honest enough pace from either Mission Approved or Sudan, perhaps both. Per usual, Ramon Dominguez takes the call.
Red Rocks just likes racing on this side of the pond. Two years ago he won the Turf over firm Churchill Downs ground and last year was a good third in the bog at Monmouth Park, the classy winner English Channel benefiting from a dream trip under the conditions. Patient Javier Castellano replaces ebullient European star Lanfranco Dettori.
Of course, it's Curlin's race to lose despite his grass inexperience. He's worked three times since winning the G1 Stephen Foster, including a seven-eighths breeze around the dogs on grass at Churchill in 1:31 2/5, satisfying his trainer.
On the Equiform performance scale, it appears only Better Talk Now and Red Rocks can pose a serious threat the favorite, whose figures tower over the group. If Curlin takes to the turf, everyone else is running for second. There's nothing to it--but to do it.
Hope It's A Clear Day: We'll be watching the Man o' War from Connecticut OTB's Bradley Teletheater, trying to win a handicapping contest for which we qualified with a Top 20 finish in New Haven tournament last winter.
A live money contest, it costs $100 to enter and $100 to buy in. The handicapper with the highest bankroll wins, players getting to keep the money in their account at contest's end. Handicappers can wager in person or on line; win, place and show only.
In addition to prize money, the top three finishes earn a spot in the 2009 World Series of Handicapping at the horseplayer friendly Orleans in Las Vegas.
The five regional contest tracks are Belmont, Monmouth, Delaware, Philadelphia Park and Suffolk Downs.
(c) 2007 - 2008 HorseRaceInsider
Music Note Wins 'Goose; Proud Spell DQ'd
In her first start since winning the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Proud Spell had a horrible trip that ended with being disqualified from second to third as Music Note won the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park June 28.
Though just a four-horse field, Proud Spell stumbled at the start and had to check down the stretch as Music Note won her third straight race and became a grade I stakes winner in her first stakes start. Proud Spell finished second but bore out down the stretch and was taken down a spot by the stewards, which elevated Never Retreat to second. Hamsa was fourth.
Though Proud Spell had trouble, take nothing away from Music Note, who had broken her maiden last November in her second race by 7 1/4 lengths, and after nearly six months away from the races, returned May 22 to win an allowance race at Belmont by an easy seven lengths.
Proud Spell may have been 1-5, but the bettors made Music Note 3-2, so not far back in the wagering in the small field.
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Saaed bin Suroor, Music Note is by A.P. Indy and out of the Sadler's Wells mare Note Musicale. She was bred in Kentucky by Gainsborough Farm.
Proud Spell nearly went to her knees out of the gate but moved up on the inside as Never Retreat made the lead. Proud Spell sat in second and Music Note settled in third as they went a quarter in :24.83. By the time they went the half in :48.66, Never Retreat was still in front but Music Note had moved to second.
Jockey Gabe Saez was content to sit on the rail with Proud Spell as they ran six furlongs in 1:13.09. When the field entered the stretch, Saez was waiting for Never Retreat to come off the rail but it never happened. He had to check, went out to the middle of the track, and then went back to the rail, which is where Proud Spell likes to run.
Under left-handed whipping, Proud Spell drifted out as Music Note and Javier Castellano went on to win the race convincingly. After an inquiry, Proud Spell was disqualified.
"I had a beautiful trip, even though she stumbled at the start," Castellano said. "I tried to position myself; I did not want to be on the lead. It was a pretty tight trip. I wanted to be in position to just push the button. She gallop out good, and I don't think she will have a problem going farther."
"From the very start, we was (sic) against it," said Proud Spell's trainer Larry Jones. "She looks like she's okay; she didn't grab a quarter or nothing. From the beginning, it looked like it wasn't going to be our day. When we needed somewhere to go, we had nowhere to go. And when it was time to go, we weren't going."
Music Note ran the nine furlongs in 1:49.75 and paid $5.30 and $11.60. There was no show wagering. Never Retreat returned $20.
(c) 2008 The Blood-Horse, Inc.
Advanced wagering on Belmont Stakes
Could this be the year that a thoroughbred wins the Triple Crown? Many feel that Big Brown can win the final leg, the Belmont Stakes, after winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness States.
Anticipation is mounting and the excitement is growing especially in New York. If Big Brown completes his mission he will be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978.
Local racing fans are urged to make their advanced wagers at Monticello Raceway where beginning Friday, June 6, they will be able to bet on their favorites for the Saturday running of the Belmont Stakes.
The mutuel windows will open at 11:45 am on Friday, June 6, a day in which Monticello Raceway will offer an 8-race harness program.
There will be no live racing at Monticello Raceway on Saturday, June 7 but mutuel windows for wagering on the Belmont Stakes will open at 11:30am.
(c) 2008 Harnesslink
Big Brown by the numbers
Not since Whirlaway in 1941 has Thoroughbred racing witnessed such a domination of the opening two legs of its Triple Crown. The Big Brown express, which has rolled through Louisville and Baltimore in commanding style, now chugs along just one destination away from immortality: New York.
The historical barometers for Big Brown's Belmont Stakes are mixed. Much of that won't matter once the gates spring open. Many say a horserace is a horserace and stands alone on today's evaluation of talent, not yesterday's results. But this is, after all, a game not only rooted in opinions, but one-hundred percent fueled by them at the betting windows.
Big Brown Blowouts
In winning the Kentucky Derby by 4-1/4 lengths and the Preakness by 5-3/4, Big Brown became just the fifth horse in history to win those races by a combined margin of 10 lengths or more, joining Smarty Jones (14-1/4 combined lengths), Whirlaway (13-1/2), Funny Cide (11-1/2) and Count Fleet (11). But only Big Brown and Whirlaway were able to win both races each by 4-1/4 lengths or more. Whirlaway romped by 8 lengths in the '41 Derby and 5-1/2 in the Preakness.
Of the nine most dominant winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (by cumulative margin), six went on to annex the Triple Crown. Spectacular Bid, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones failed to finish the deal after commanding starts to the series. But the six dominant winners to sweep were all before 1949. So, if you want to spin things more modern, horses to win the Derby and Preakness by 7 or more combined lengths since 1948 are 0-for-3 in the Belmont.
And, In This Corner ...
The number that might matter most on Belmont Stakes Day could very well be the total number of entrants. Note that none of the 11 horses to sweep the Triple Crown have ever bested more than 7 rivals at the Belmont Stakes. And, none of those 11 ever toppled more than 32 total rivals in the entire Triple Crown series.
Affirmed beat a grand total of 20 competitors in his 1978 Triple Crown coronation. By contrast, Big Brown already has shrugged away 30 challengers in the Derby (19) and Preakness (11).
Since Affirmed last won the Triple Crown, 10 aspirants to the throne (11 including Big Brown) have come calling at the Belmont. During that time, the average number of Belmont challengers has been 8.5. The 11 Triple Crown winners faced just 48 challengers combined or 4.7 per race.
Of the 29 all-time Triple Crown-bid-Belmonts, 22 have seen 9 or less horses in the starting gate.
Early in the recruitment stage, the potential Belmont field looks something like this: Big Brown, Casino Drive, Tale of Ekati, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Macho Again, Icabad Crane and Tomcito.
Over/Under Odds
It's quite plausible Big Brown's Belmont Stakes odds will actually increase after going off at 20 cents on the dollar in the Preakness, due to the presence of unbeaten Japanese X-factor Casino Drive. The only Triple Crown winners to go to post at 20 cents on the dollar or less were Count Fleet (.20), Secretariat (.10) and Count Fleet (.05).
Depending on the field size, Big Brown should close in odds in the Smarty Jones (.35) and Spectacular Bid (.30) neighborhood. Rest assured, he won't be even-money or greater as were recent Triple Crown aspirants Funny Cide (1.00), War Emblem (1.25) and Charismatic (1.60).
Of the 29 horses all-time to reach the Belmont with a chance at history, 23 have been bet down to even-money or less.
Light Seasoning
Much was made about Big Brown becoming the first Kentucky Derby winner since Regret in 1915 with only three prior career starts. He comes to Belmont with five races under his belt, which is even light by modern standards of Triple Crown hopefuls. Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones all had eight races under their belts - the least amount of any Triple Crown hopefuls since Affirmed's sweep.
But note that likely Belmont opponents Casino Drive (two) and Denis of Cork (four) are even more lightly raced, and they very likely could go off second and third choices in the wagering. You're only as lightly raced as your competition; that's the modern day battle cry.
Where Art Thou Spoiler?
Ten times since Affirmed the Triple Crown has been spoiled at Belmont. And, the role of the spoiler has been worn by horses of many different hats.
Three Belmont spoilers were complete newcomers to the Triple Crown trail: Coastal over Spectacular Bid, Summing over Pleasant Colony and Sarava over War Emblem.
Three Belmont spoilers were beaten in both the Derby and Preakness and found the third time to be the charm: Victory Gallop over Real Quiet; Easy Goer over Sunday Silence; and Bet Twice over Alysheba.
Two Belmont spoilers were horses who ran in the Derby, but skipped the Preakness and awaited the final leg of the series: Birdstone over Smarty Jones and Empire Maker over Funny Cide.
One Belmont spoiler was beaten in the Derby, came back to prep in-between elsewhere than the Preakness, and returned to the series victorious: Lemon Drop Kid over Charismatic.
One Belmont spoiler jumped into the Triple Crown fray in the Preakness (skipping the Derby): Touch Gold over Silver Charm.
A Hand for the Fans
The fans have been honed in on Big Brown -- rightly so -- sending him away as the betting choice in both the Derby and Preakness. In the past 30 years, the only times the fans have nailed both the Derby and Preakness winner have been with Big Brown, Smarty Jones and Spectacular Bid.
(c) 2008 ESPN Internet Ventures
How to bet on Triple-Crown try
With wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness under his proverbial belt, the horse named Big Brown is gunning to become the 12th Triple Crown winner at this weekend's Belmont Stakes race in New York, and Bay Area bettors will have a number of options for wagering on the race.
For the most exciting options, put your money on Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, where Belmont's entire 13-race card will be simulcast live on televisions and the big matrix board.
On Friday, Golden Gate Fields will offer advance wagering for the big race all day. On Saturday, the day of the of the main event, Golden Gate Fields grandstand and clubhouse gates in Berkeley open at 8:30 a.m. Local post time for the Belmont Stakes, the 11th race on the card, is approximately 3:35 p.m.
Tom Ferrall, publicity manager for Golden Gate Fields, says fans will be able to participate in all the bets offered at Belmont Park, including the Pick Six (where you pick the winners of races Nos. 6-11) and the Pick Four (where you pick the winner of races Nos. 8-11). Both promotions will have guaranteed betting pools of $1 million apiece.
A jazz band will provide tunes for fans attending the racetrack on Saturday. Also, fans will have the option of attending a wine festival at the track. Admission to the festival, which will be held trackside near the winner's circle, is $15 and includes five tastings, a souvenir wine glass and hors d'oeuvres. Wineries from Napa, Sonoma and the Central Coast will be represented.
For the carless or closeted gamblers, there's another (legal) way to wager without leaving the house. At XpressBet, bettors can access the same exact odds (probably in the neighborhood of 1 to 5 for Big Brown) as those available at Belmont Park.
Operating out of Pittsburgh, the site works like an online outpost of an off-track betting shop. Thanks to the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, the site can collect Internet wagers from gamblers in certain states, including California.
John DeSantis, vice president of marketing for the Web site, says this convenience comes with pros and cons.
"On the one hand, you don't have to spend a ton on gas to drive your car to the track, pay admission, pay for beers and stuff like that," he says. "On the other hand, you're watching the race alone and not experiencing it with other folks like you."
(c) 2008 Hearst Communications Inc.
2008 Belmont Stakes Betting - Exacta and Trifecta Wagering
If you're an online horse betting maniac like me, you're most likely rooting for Big Brown to win the Triple Crown and do some Belmont Stakes betting. History is sexy when looking at the past triple crown winners, but let's face it, money is what we're in love with. So make sure you study the full track odds. But if you're going to invest in Big Brown to win, place or show, there's very little of the green stuff to be made if the colt indeed makes history at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7th.
When Big Brown won the Preakness Stakes he returned a mere $2.40, $2.60 and $2.40 to win, place and show, respectively. The winning price was the shortest since Spectacular Bid paid $2.10 in 1979.
At the Belmont, the tote board will display much of the same or even shorter prices. The beast that's embarrassed his competition, winning by an average of almost eight lengths in five career victories, will most likely go off at odds of 2-5 or 1-5. BetUS horse odds list him at -350 to win.
There will be an enormous amount of $2 win tickets sold to the betting public that's hoping to pocket a history-making souvenir, and all that dead money will contribute to the low odds and small payouts. Any win tickets purchased on Big Brown, other than looking for a keep sake, is a bad investment in my opinion. Looking outside of win, place and show wagering would be a wise choice.
The Belmont sets up perfectly for Exacta and Trifecta betting. If you're new to the online horse wagering scene, to win an Exacta you must select the two horses that finish first and second in their exact order on a single ticket.
To cash in on a Trifecta, you must select the horses that finish first, second and third in exact order. You can also box Exacta and Trifecta tickets, meaning your selections can cross the wire in any combination.
In the past 11 years, six horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but were beaten in the Belmont, most recently Smarty Jones in 2004.
If Big Brown is to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, he'll have to beat expected challengers undefeated Casino Drive, Tale of Ekati, Denis of Cork, Nakal, Behindatthebar, Ready's Echo, Macho Again, Icabad Crane and Tomcito.
Casino Drive, who is undefeated in two starts, will be the second betting choice going off at roughly 6-5. A Big Brown-Casino Drive is a tempting Exacta bet, but in just his third career start, you don't know what Casino Drive will give. If you bet horses online, you should be careful investing in him despite all the hype that will be made about his ability to beat Brownie.
I'm going to throw out Casino Drive and tie Big Brown with Macho Again for a larger Exacta payout. Macho Again finished second in the mile-and-three-sixteenths Preakness and has the pedigree to also handle the 1.5 mile Belmont distance. In eight career starts, he's finished first or second seven times.
My Trifecta ticket will consist of Big Brown, Macho Again and Behindatthebar, who was expected to give Big Brown a run for his money in the Preakness but was a scratch due to a minor ankle bruise.
Putting Big Brown on top of your exotics offers the opportunity to root for history in money-making fashion. Online sports betting veterans know it's a risky investment on horses with short prices. So be safe and take advantage of the less costly Exacta and-or Trifecta wagers that has potential of a hefty return.
(c) 1994-2008 BetUS
No Agreement Between MidAtlantic Co-Op, NYRA
April 28, 2008
MidAtlantic Cooperative LLC, the simulcast purchasing enterprise that represents 16 regional racetracks, has been unable to reach a new simulcast agreement with New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA).
Therefore, effective April 30, 2008, MidAtlantic Cooperative members will cease simulcasting NYRA racing from Belmont Park. The cessation will not affect the simulcast of the Belmont Stakes, for which a separate agreement has been reached.
MidAtlantic Cooperative could not accept NYRA's unprecedented monetary demands for its Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga signals. A series of counter proposals, which would have provided significant increases to NYRA, were rejected by it.
"MidAtlantic Cooperative remains committed to reaching an acceptable contract and minimizing the interruption of simulcasts," said executive director Martin Lieberman. "However, this is a necessary step to protect the long-term interests of our members. NYRA's unreasonable price demands, if agreed to, will negatively impact our member racetracks' ability to present live and simulcast racing in the region."
The MidAtlantic Cooperative includes 16 member tracks and their off-track wagering entities, including Meadowlands Racetrack, Monmouth Park, Freehold Raceway, Atlantic City Race Course, Philadelphia Park, Penn National Race Course, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Charles Town Races, Delaware Park, Dover Downs, Harrington Raceway, Ocean Downs, Rosecroft Raceway, Colonial Downs, Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park.
(NJSEA)
(c)2002 Standardbred Canada. All rights reserved.
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