The 140th Belmont Stakes
http://www.drf.com/tc/belmont/2008/pps/belmontstakes08.pdf
Well it's put up, shut up and/or make excuses time. The above link takes you to the past performances of this year's Belmont Stakes. A total of 9 contenders are entered to take on Big Brown. Below I'll tell you what I think about each entrant and their chances.
1. Big Brown. This week I have read stories galore from media markets all over our country. The majority that relate to Big Brown are more about the attitudes, practices, presents and past of his connections. That sells papers and get readers right? Right. I talk regularly with a very close friend who knows a little something about how to get the best story out there about your horse and his people. That isn't going on with Big Brown. There is always someone who wants to criticize and attack those on top. There always will be that someone but in this case - you have to admit that the On Tops haven't done anything to make their image warm and lovable. Not even lukewarm and almost likable. It's a shame - because Big Brown gets lost in the controversy. My thoughts for him winning are basically - it his race to lose. The excuses are already built in because of the feet and the supposed steroid - no steroid crap going around. He should be heads and tales, feet and shriveled testicles above the rest. It will be interesting to see the non politically correct names that will come about for his foals (maybe that's just my mind) if he ever sires any (I say that because he's inbred to infertility giants and with the admittance of Winstrol every month - he's possible to sire as many children as me - and I got none). If he wins - I'll be happy as hell for the horse and for Boundary - his sire. And take a look at his new sponsors. I'm all about sponsorship and endorsements - and I've even frequented a strip club or 7 but - Hooters is just tacky. I'm laughing about so much right now.
2. Guadalcanal. I'll say it again. Guadalcanal. Because he's not been on any radar - however, he's trained and owned by Fred Seitz - who knows his horses very well and knows what they are capable of doing. He received his first training win a few years back with a filly named May Night - getting her first win as well in the P. G. Johnson S. at Saratoga. So clearly his entering of this maiden in a stakes is not altogether crazy. It might be just right.
3. Macho Again. Me likey. I beat my hands senseless and screamed like Kim Basinger's best acting feat for this colt 3 weeks ago at Pimlico. That of course, caused me to be more out of breath standing still than Big Brown winning the Preakness. I'm so out of shape. Anyway, Macho Again worked his ass off to get 2nd - he was steadied during the race and he was 5-wide coming into the stretch. I'm not saying that caused him to not win - just saying that it doesn't help a brotha out.
4. Denis of Cork. Me likey a lot. He was one of my Derby picks - and yes he didn't win. But he was 3rd and he is now fresh. I love his sire Harlan's Holiday and I think he's going to really enjoy Belmont and the 1 1/2 miles.
5. Casino Drive. Oh my goodness. So his mother has produced the last 2 Belmont S. winners. She, Better Than Honour, is the dream mare. First foal was a Storm Cat filly named Teeming that won 3 of her 4 starts. Second foal was an unraced A.P. Indy filly (full to Rags to Riches) named Magnificent Honour. Watch for both of them as future pretty damn good broodmares. Third foal was Jazil - he won the Belmont (I rocked it!) in 2005. The son of Seeking the Gold didn't do much else - considering he's a Grade 1 winner - but he won the Belmont. Her fourth foal was Rags to Riches - the star offspring of this mare. The filly won 4 Grade 1 races - including the Belmont S. - where she dug in like Affirmed and didn't let Curlin by her. An historic moment - and simply a great race. So the next foal is Casino Drive - and he's running in the Belmont. I mean seriously - could you just love this mare? I would if she were mine. Casino Drive is by Mineshaft who has not lit the world on fire IMHO but this colt is pretty hot. Broke his maiden in February in Japan by 11 1/2 lengths - then shipped to the US and won the Peter Pan S. at Belmont (important) by 5 3/4 lengths. So - we are looking at so much history and a little bit a pressure for Saturday.
6. Da' Tara. He has run at Belmont and it was a 2nd in his first start. He seems to like going further only when the track is sloppy. He should have stayed home but he'll give a little run for a bit. He was beaten 23+ lengths by Big Brown in the Florida Derby - seriously.
7. Tale of Ekati. Was fourth in the Derby beaten 11 lengths. He too is fresh. He actually lost ground but held is position. However - that was 20 horses to deal with and he's 2 for 2 at Belmont.
8. Anak Nakal. I don't know why they are running him. At first I was excited then I remembered he's been off the board in all 4 starts this year. He was 7 wide in the Derby while finishing 7th by 15 lengths. Oh Anak Anak Anak. Or Anag Anag Anag? Hmmmm.
9. Ready's Echo. Very intriguing prospect. He was 3rd to Peter Pan to Casino Drive. I don't know that he wants to go this far - but he might because these days - horses get the distance because they are there.
10. Icabad Crane. Not Ichabod Crane the man - this is the horse. He did run a good 3rd in the Preakness and has a little better race record. However - he may seriously need Gunpowder (the horse of the real fictional character) to get him to the wire.
My personal thoughts (because I'm a personal thinker). I will not be upset if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown. I won't however honor him as I do the other 11 - at least not yet. I do hope he REALLY runs later this year. I suspect that to be a press release that will be subject to change. I will personally cheer on Macho Again and Denis of Cork. I may throw something tricky together when I bet to include Big Brown and Casino Drive - and maybe quite possibly the maiden.
Will we get that special historic moment on Saturday? We'll see, one thing that will happen for sure is that we will have a moment in time when we all were captured by yet another possible megastar.
Well it's put up, shut up and/or make excuses time. The above link takes you to the past performances of this year's Belmont Stakes. A total of 9 contenders are entered to take on Big Brown. Below I'll tell you what I think about each entrant and their chances.
1. Big Brown. This week I have read stories galore from media markets all over our country. The majority that relate to Big Brown are more about the attitudes, practices, presents and past of his connections. That sells papers and get readers right? Right. I talk regularly with a very close friend who knows a little something about how to get the best story out there about your horse and his people. That isn't going on with Big Brown. There is always someone who wants to criticize and attack those on top. There always will be that someone but in this case - you have to admit that the On Tops haven't done anything to make their image warm and lovable. Not even lukewarm and almost likable. It's a shame - because Big Brown gets lost in the controversy. My thoughts for him winning are basically - it his race to lose. The excuses are already built in because of the feet and the supposed steroid - no steroid crap going around. He should be heads and tales, feet and shriveled testicles above the rest. It will be interesting to see the non politically correct names that will come about for his foals (maybe that's just my mind) if he ever sires any (I say that because he's inbred to infertility giants and with the admittance of Winstrol every month - he's possible to sire as many children as me - and I got none). If he wins - I'll be happy as hell for the horse and for Boundary - his sire. And take a look at his new sponsors. I'm all about sponsorship and endorsements - and I've even frequented a strip club or 7 but - Hooters is just tacky. I'm laughing about so much right now.
2. Guadalcanal. I'll say it again. Guadalcanal. Because he's not been on any radar - however, he's trained and owned by Fred Seitz - who knows his horses very well and knows what they are capable of doing. He received his first training win a few years back with a filly named May Night - getting her first win as well in the P. G. Johnson S. at Saratoga. So clearly his entering of this maiden in a stakes is not altogether crazy. It might be just right.
3. Macho Again. Me likey. I beat my hands senseless and screamed like Kim Basinger's best acting feat for this colt 3 weeks ago at Pimlico. That of course, caused me to be more out of breath standing still than Big Brown winning the Preakness. I'm so out of shape. Anyway, Macho Again worked his ass off to get 2nd - he was steadied during the race and he was 5-wide coming into the stretch. I'm not saying that caused him to not win - just saying that it doesn't help a brotha out.
4. Denis of Cork. Me likey a lot. He was one of my Derby picks - and yes he didn't win. But he was 3rd and he is now fresh. I love his sire Harlan's Holiday and I think he's going to really enjoy Belmont and the 1 1/2 miles.
5. Casino Drive. Oh my goodness. So his mother has produced the last 2 Belmont S. winners. She, Better Than Honour, is the dream mare. First foal was a Storm Cat filly named Teeming that won 3 of her 4 starts. Second foal was an unraced A.P. Indy filly (full to Rags to Riches) named Magnificent Honour. Watch for both of them as future pretty damn good broodmares. Third foal was Jazil - he won the Belmont (I rocked it!) in 2005. The son of Seeking the Gold didn't do much else - considering he's a Grade 1 winner - but he won the Belmont. Her fourth foal was Rags to Riches - the star offspring of this mare. The filly won 4 Grade 1 races - including the Belmont S. - where she dug in like Affirmed and didn't let Curlin by her. An historic moment - and simply a great race. So the next foal is Casino Drive - and he's running in the Belmont. I mean seriously - could you just love this mare? I would if she were mine. Casino Drive is by Mineshaft who has not lit the world on fire IMHO but this colt is pretty hot. Broke his maiden in February in Japan by 11 1/2 lengths - then shipped to the US and won the Peter Pan S. at Belmont (important) by 5 3/4 lengths. So - we are looking at so much history and a little bit a pressure for Saturday.
6. Da' Tara. He has run at Belmont and it was a 2nd in his first start. He seems to like going further only when the track is sloppy. He should have stayed home but he'll give a little run for a bit. He was beaten 23+ lengths by Big Brown in the Florida Derby - seriously.
7. Tale of Ekati. Was fourth in the Derby beaten 11 lengths. He too is fresh. He actually lost ground but held is position. However - that was 20 horses to deal with and he's 2 for 2 at Belmont.
8. Anak Nakal. I don't know why they are running him. At first I was excited then I remembered he's been off the board in all 4 starts this year. He was 7 wide in the Derby while finishing 7th by 15 lengths. Oh Anak Anak Anak. Or Anag Anag Anag? Hmmmm.
9. Ready's Echo. Very intriguing prospect. He was 3rd to Peter Pan to Casino Drive. I don't know that he wants to go this far - but he might because these days - horses get the distance because they are there.
10. Icabad Crane. Not Ichabod Crane the man - this is the horse. He did run a good 3rd in the Preakness and has a little better race record. However - he may seriously need Gunpowder (the horse of the real fictional character) to get him to the wire.
My personal thoughts (because I'm a personal thinker). I will not be upset if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown. I won't however honor him as I do the other 11 - at least not yet. I do hope he REALLY runs later this year. I suspect that to be a press release that will be subject to change. I will personally cheer on Macho Again and Denis of Cork. I may throw something tricky together when I bet to include Big Brown and Casino Drive - and maybe quite possibly the maiden.
Will we get that special historic moment on Saturday? We'll see, one thing that will happen for sure is that we will have a moment in time when we all were captured by yet another possible megastar.
In fairness to Big Brown, Hooters is not the horse's sponsor. He is Desormeaux's sponsor. Kent did that on his own and the owners are not particularly thrilled about it. Supposedly, NYRA may stop it anyway.
I like BB to win, Tale of Ekati to place, and Anak Nakal to pick up the pieces in third.
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