Graded Victor She Be Wild Heads Alcibiades

By Esther Marr

With a grade III victory already under her belt, undefeated She Be Wild figures to be the one to beat in the Oct. 9 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I), one of two feature races kicking off Keeneland’s FallStars Weekend. The $500,000 contest is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

She Be Wild will face 11 rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies on the Polytrack. Campaigned as a homebred by Nancy Mazzoni, the Wayne Catalano-trained filly broke her maiden by 7 1/4 lengths at Arlington Park May 30, and then easily won the Top Flight Stakes by 5 1/4 lengths at the Chicago track Aug. 8. She will enter the Alcibiades off a 5 3/4-length score in the Sept. 5 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (gr. III).

“She's a small filly, but she's feisty,” said Catalano of the daughter of Offlee Wild —Trappings, by Seeking the Gold, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 at Keeneland Oct. 4. “She looks like she'll do anything. She went to the lead (in her debut), and she laid right off it and she rated (in her two most recent races). She looks like she's a handy little horse.”

Catalano is accustomed to having an undefeated 2-year-old filly. In 2006, he saddled Dreaming of Anna to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) to conclude her juvenile season and earn an Eclipse Award as division champion.

When asked if he thought She Be Wild might be able to repeat Dreaming of Anna's success, he said, “I would love to. Dreaming of Anna was a great horse. We had a lot of fun. She brought a lot of joy to the stable. We're looking forward to doing it again.”

She Be Wild, who will be ridden for the first time by jockey Garrett Gomez, will break from post three.

While Westrock Stables’ filly Decelerator has finished off the board in her last two starts, she did show some promise in capturing the Debutante Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs earlier this summer, and the Alcibiades could mark a return to her winning ways. Decelerator is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who has also entered her stablemate, Debutante fourth-place finisher Tidal Pool, in the Alcibiades. While jockey James Theroit will be in the irons on Decelerator, Chris Emigh gets the mount on Tidal Pool.

Another viable contender is the grade I stakes-placed filly Beautician, who ran second to Hot Dixie Chick in the Sept. 6 Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga. Trained by Kenny McPeek for Peter Callahan, the daughter of Dehere has been on the board in all three of her starts, including a second in the July 29 Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III), also at Saratoga. Kent Desormeaux will ride, and the pair will break from post four.

Rounding out the field are graded stakes-placed runners Sassy Image and Screen Legend; Monmouth Park stakes winner Kid Kate; stakes-placed runner Negligee; and winners Blackwell, Zilva, Amen Hallelujah; and Quick Breeze.

$600,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I, Race 9, 6:15 p.m.), 2YO fillies, 1 1/16 Miles)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight
1. Blackwell (KY), C H Borel, 118
2. Tidal Pool (KY), C A Emigh, 118
3. She Be Wild (KY), G K Gomez, 118
4. Beautician (KY), K J Desormeaux, 118
5. Negligee (KY), R Maragh, 118
6. Screen Legend (KY), J L Castanon, 118
7. Zilva (PA), J Rose, 118
8. Decelerator (KY), J Theriot, 118
9. Amen Hallelujah (FL), M Mena, 118
10. Kid Kate (KY), J R Leparoux, 118
11. Quick Breeze (KY), C J Lanerie, 118
12. Sassy Image (KY), R Albarado, 118

Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.

Breeders' Cup next for Awesome Gem

Marcus Hersh,
Daily Racing Form

STICKNEY, Ill. - Third in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Classic and sixth in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile, Awesome Gem is bound for another Breeders' Cup start on the heels of his brave victory Saturday in the Hawthorne Gold Cup. The question is which one.

"We haven't mapped out a plan yet," trainer Craig Dollase said Monday. "He's definitely going to the Breeders' Cup, but we're not sure which race yet."

Awesome Gem's victory here Saturday came over the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, but the Classic is only one of three races being considered for Awesome Gem. A return trip to the Mile is a possibility, but so is the 1 3/4-mile Marathon, Dollase said.

Awesome Gem remained stabled at Hawthorne as of Monday and is due to fly back to Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. Dollase said the gelding had exited the Gold Cup in fine fashion, and he was pleased with how Awesome Gem had handled a muddy racetrack. Awesome Gem hadn't encountered mud since finishing third to Curlin in the 2007 BC Classic and he got plenty of wet racetrack splattered onto him Saturday. David Flores kept Awesome Gem down along the fence for most of the Gold Cup, and he made two runs (one to get position, the second to win the thing) while never showing any sign of backing away from the muddy kickback.

Nite Light raced wide into the first turn and turned in a solid performance finishing second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Nite Light won his Polytrack debut last month in the 1 1/2-mile Turfway Park Fall Championship and has run in races as long as two miles. The Breeders' Cup Marathon seems a natural target for him, and Nite Light could well wind up in that spot.

"I'd say it's a strong possibility," Michael McCarthy, Todd Pletcher's assistant, said just after the Gold Cup.

Blind Luck handles switch to route

Steve Andersen,
Daily Racing Form

ARCADIA, Calif.- After her winning performance in Sunday's $300,000 Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, it is hard to believe that Blind Luck started out in a maiden claimer at Calder back in June.

"That happens sometimes, but not very often," trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Blind Luck ($9) made an impressive transition from sprinter to router in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf over 1 1/16 miles, the leading prep for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies here on Nov. 6.

Blind Luck was given a confident ride by jockey Tyler Baze. He kept the filly on the rail until the end of the backstretch, and rallied three-wide on the turn to reach contention in early stretch. With a sharp closing kick, Blind Luck pulled away late to win by 2 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:43.19.

"She really closed nicely," Hollendorfer said.

Always a Princess, the winner of a maiden race over 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 5, set a moderate pace of 23.04 and 47.59 seconds and held on for second. "She looked like she was going to give it up, but she kept going," trainer Bob Baffert said.

Always a Princess broke from the rail and jockey Garrett Gomez said he had little choice but to send her to the front.

"We knew the pace wouldn't be 44," Gomez said. "She did what she was supposed to do."

The New Jersey invader Bickersons, third in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 6, finished third in the field of 11 after stalking the pace throughout. The first three finishers are bound for the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Blind Luck is co-owned by Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico, and John Carver. By Pollard's Vision, Blind Luck has won 3 of 4 starts and $267,900. In her debut, she won a $40,000 claimer for maidens over 4 1/2 furlongs by 13 1/4 lengths at Calder on June 21.

Blind Luck's only loss was a second to Mi Sueno in the Grade 1 Darley Debutante over seven furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 5, her stakes debut.

Summer Bird Does it Again, Wins JCGC

By Jason Shandler

Summer Bird continued his meteoric rise to the top of the Thoroughbred ranks, as he turned back fellow 3-year-old Quality Road to win the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) (VIDEO) by a length Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

In doing so, Summer Bird seized a commanding grip on the 3-year-old male division and stamped himself as one of the favorites for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) next month at Santa Anita Park. Trainer Tim Ice said the son of Birdstone would be pointed toward that Nov. 7 race if he came out of the race in good order.
Owned and bred by Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, Summer Bird has now captured three of the most prestigious events in America in just his eighth month of racing. He scored in the June 6 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in only his fifth start, took the Aug. 29 Shadwell Travers (gr. I) convincingly, and conquered older horses in his first try in the Gold Cup. Summer Bird became the first horse since Easy Goer in 1989 to win all three of those races in the same year.
“It means a lot to win the three races in New York,” Ice said. “It’s been 20 years since a 3-year-old won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I think it puts him in an elite group, and he should be named (champion) 3-year-old colt.”
Under Kent Desormeaux, 6-5 favorite Summer Bird followed Quality Road for most of the way in the 10-furlong contest. Quality Road, who was third in the Travers, tracked pacesetter Tizway under John Velazquez through an opening quarter-mile of :24.96, then took over nearing the half-mile pole (49.73). The son of Elusive Quality was still in front as he hit the far turn, but had company from Summer Bird, who raced wide while making his bid.
Those two were nearly even when they hit the quarter-pole, with Tizway the only rival within striking distance. Though racing wide, the two sophomores were well ahead of the rest of the field when they reached the eighth-pole. Summer Bird poked a head in front at that point and inched clear of Quality Road after a long stretch duel.
The final time of a “sloppy” main track was 2:02.51. Tizway was third, 6 1/2 lengths better than Macho Again, who disappointed as the 5-2 second choice.
“Unlike the Travers, he was completely off the bridle, just cruising along,” Desormeaux said of Summer Bird. “Once I positioned him, he was floating, completely turned off. At the quarter pole, he spit past Quality Road and he was idling.
“He’s trying to be the best horse I’ve ever ridden. He was awesome today. He pulled up quietly like nothing had ever happened.”
Velazquez was also pleased with Quality Road, the Florida Derby (gr. I) and Amsterdam (gr. II) winner from earlier this year.
“I don't think we’ve seen the best of him yet,” Velazquez said. “I'm not knocking (Summer Bird). The other horse ran a great race, too. I think my horse is better on a dry track. I would like to see both horses on a dry track to see which one is the best horse. (Summer Bird) had an advantage over my horse. He had been running all summer long.”
Quality Road’s trainer Todd Pletcher was non-committal when asked if his horse would go on to the Breeders’ Cup.
Summer Bird, who is out of the Summer Squall mare Hong Kong Squall, has now produced a 4-1-1 record from eight starts and has earned just over $2 million. His only blemish in his last four tries came in the Aug. 2 Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park when runner-up to Rachel Alexandra.
The winner paid $4.50, $2.80, and $2.10. The exacta (3-7) returned $15.20, and the trifecta (3-7-4) was $95.
Dry Martini was fifth, followed by Sette E Mezzo, and Asiatic Boy.


Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.

Is the Price Right?

Last week I told you I would be speaking to marketers from across the country at the NTRA's Marketing Summit in Las Vegas. I asked for your ideas and you responded -- man, did you ever respond! I received almost 50 substantive, insightful, passionate responses. Read all of the comments for yourself but be aware that to see all of them, you have to go to two places now. My blog is posted not only on the NTRA website but also on Bloodhorse.com in the Blog Stable.

I was so impressed by the effort that I actually incorporated paraphrased versions of almost every one of the comments into my remarks. I think it is fair to say that your views had a very positive impact on the Summit. Portions of my remarks can be accessed online. Take a look and send me your comments. By the way, several experienced horse players, including the last two DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship winners, who participate in the NHC Player Advisory Panel were invited and did attend most of the sessions.

I organized the speech around a series of questions. The first two questions were coincidentally the questions posed by Rosie (posted 9/26/09 on ntra.com). "What are we selling?" and "To whom are we selling?" Here's how I answered the questions. Given the stiff competition we face from casinos, Internet gambling options, and other forms of entertainment, to recover the losses we have suffered in this economy, we must get back to basics. We have to recommit ourselves first and foremost to selling our game as a unique, challenging, exciting opportunity to wager on live horse racing. To that end, our primary customers are and must always be horseplayers.

I did add one twist that is essential. Tracks are also selling racing opportunities to owners and trainers. Full competitive fields are what horseplayers want, so marketers working in concert with their respective racing departments must sell great racing opportunities to owners and trainers just like they must sell great racing and wagering opportunities to horseplayers. The tracks with full, competitive fields will attract the bettors.

The third question I asked is the most important, and for many tracks, the most difficult. At what price are horseplayers willing to buy what we are selling? Said another way, do some tracks need to consider a reduction in takeout? From a pure economics perspective, the answer is clearly "yes."

Takeout is the amount of the commission withheld by tracks from all winning wagers. Typically the takeout rate averages about 18 % -22 % on a blended basis. Price, or in our case takeout, is the single biggest driver of value and it is overall value that determines whether people will buy your product for the price at which you are offering it. If you listen at all to horseplayers, they are saying over and over again to this industry -- "Your price is too high for the product you are offering." "We love horse racing but at your prices, we are forced to seek other forms of gambling which may not be as exciting but are more profitable for us." "Reduce the takeout and we will wager more money and more often." Why else would rebaters be able to lure our biggest bettors away from the live track? Tracks have tested these waters before with mixed results but it’s time to plunge back into the process and find the optimal takeout rate for all parties- tracks, horsemen and players.

As I stated to the audience, the industry spends a lot of time and energy fighting over the "price" paid to host tracks and horsemen by distributors of the simulcast signal (receiving tracks, OTBs, ADWs and the like). This important discussion relates to the wholesale pricing of our racing product. It's time for this industry to also concern itself with the retail price or the price paid by the consumer (i.e. the horseplayer). Every other industry fighting to survive in this economy is taking a hard look at its retail pricing structure and it is high time horse racing considered doing the same.

Such a change will take creativity and experimentation by tracks and horsemen, and some distributors may object because it may eat into their margins. Nonetheless, now is the time to once and for all prove (or disprove) the overwhelming majority of academic research concerning takeout which says, in essence, less is more. Now is the time to determine whether in fact, less takeout actually means more wagering and ultimately more revenue for tracks, horsemen and horseplayers. Said another way, let's focus on growing the economic pie instead of always arguing among the participants about how we will carve up a shrinking economic pie. See the 2004 NTRA Players’ Panel Recommendations for more detail on the relationship between handle and takeout.

I spoke about these topics at length then ended with this thought which is a paraphrase of an idea provided by one comment to "Marketing 101" posted on Bloodhorse.com: "Treat the gamblers (and I would add "the horse") right and the rest will take care of itself." Well said, Volunteer.

How would you answer these fundamental questions? Are we selling the right product to the right people? Why have most track experiments with lower takeout failed to generate new handle? Do you pay attention to takeout when you play? Let me hear from you.

JCGC: Will Summer Bird Soar Again?

By Jason Shandler

Though his racing career began just seven months ago, Summer Bird has accomplished extraordinary things in a short period of time. The Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Shadwell Travers (gr. I) winner will try to defy the odds once again when he faces older horses for the first time in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Summer Bird, installed as the slight 2-1 morning-line favorite, will attempt to put a stranglehold on the 3-year-old male division in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, but he will face a tall task. Not only will the son of Birdstone have to defeat a group of accomplished older horses that includes Macho Again, Dry Martini and Asiatic Boy, but he will have to once again take down Quality Road, who should be better prepared this time around.
“I think he’s up to it,” said trainer Tim Ice, who conditions Summer Bird for owners/breeders Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman. “He’s had seven races, and now is as good a time as any to face them. He looks super and he is doing excellent.”
A field of seven was drawn for the Gold Cup, which is the last of five grade I races on the Belmont card. Post time is slated for 5:43 p.m. EDT.
It has been quite a whirlwind four months for Summer Bird, who finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) in just his third start before going on to win the Belmont at odds of 11-1 five weeks later. The chestnut colt then finished runner-up to super filly Rachel Alexandra in the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) before completing his incredible span by dominating the Aug. 29 Travers at Saratoga by 3 1/2 lengths. Both of his grade I triumphs came under Kent Desormeaux, who will have the mount once again. They will break from post 3.
Summer Bird has worked three times at Belmont since his Travers win, the most recent one a five-furlong breeze Sept. 26 in 1:02.40. On Sept. 30, he schooled in the paddock between afternoon races.
Out of the Summer Squall mare Hong Kong Squall, the Kentucky-bred Summer Bird has earned more than $1.5 million from his seven starts.
“Any grade I race is important, but when you add onto it the historical significance of Easy Goer being the last 3-year-old to win the Belmont, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in the same year, it’s very meaningful,” Ice said. "Horses like Man o’War and Arts and Letters did it. if Summer Bird could add this to his resume, it would speak volumes for him.”
Although defeated by five lengths in his third-place Travers effort, Edward Evans’ homebred Quality Road should be in a much better position to win the Gold Cup. The son of Elusive Quality was making just his second start in more than four months in the Travers and prepped for that race in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam (gr. II), a winning effort in which he set the course record.
Winner of the Florida Derby (gr. I)—also in record time—Quality Road was diverted off the Triple Crown trail after a pair of troublesome quarter cracks forced him to the sidelines. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who took over conditioning duties prior to the Amsterdam, is expecting a top effort from the bay colt as he makes his first start at Belmont, where he is based.
“He’s run well everywhere he’s raced–Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park, and Saratoga–so I don’t think it’s going to make a difference one way or another,” said Pletcher. “We’re hoping for fast conditions, and we’re ready to go.
“He’s always been kind of a push-button horse, but we’re really pleased with the way he’s training. He’s traveling well and doing everything you’d like to see a horse do leading up to a big race.”
Regular rider John Velazquez will have the mount on Quality Road (5-2) and they will break from 7.
Both 3-year-olds will carry 122 pounds and receive a four-pound weight break.
Leading the strong contingent of older horses is West Point Thoroughbreds’ Macho Again, who enters off a devastating loss to Rachel Alexandra by a head in the Sept. 5 Woodward (gr. I). In fact, the 4-year-old son of Macho Uno was runner-up at Saratoga twice this summer, also losing by 1 1/2 lengths to Bullsbay in the Aug. 8 Whitney Handicap (gr. I).
Winner of the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds and Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs earlier this season, Macho Again finished fifth in the 2008 Belmont Stakes in his only start at the racetrack. An earner of more than $1.7 million from 20 starts, the Dallas Stewart trainee will keep regular rider Robby Albarado.
“We’ll just see,” said Stewart when asked about facing Summer Bird. “You’re talking about the Belmont and Travers winner. (Macho Again is) a top horse, championship caliber. We’re looking forward to running.”
Macho Again (7-2) shipped in from his home base at Churchill Downs Oct. 1.
Carol Nyren’s Dry Martini has shown a fondness for Belmont this season, winning a pair of races there including the July 4 Suburban Handicap (gr. II) by two lengths in come-from-behind fashion. The Florida-bred son of Slew Gin Fizz was an even fifth in the Whitney in his most recent start. Edgar Prado rides for Barclay Tagg.
“This year, the 3-year-olds, the survivors, are pretty strong,” said Tagg. “We know Dry Martini likes this track. When you’re doing well and are comfortable on a track, you may have an edge.”
Asiatic Boy was runner-up in both the Stephen Foster and Whitney, and fourth in the Woodward. The 6-year-old Argentine-bred seeks his first win since returning from Dubai this spring, but is capable of a winning effort. He has won four international races in his career and earned more than $3.3 million from 18 starts. Alan Garcia will have the mount for Kiaran McLaughlin.
“He’s a neat horse, a nice horse,” McLaughlin said of the son of Not for Sale. “The weights have not been in his favor the last couple of races, and he’s been a notch below those who have been beating him. But he’s deserving of a chance.”
Completing the field are Tizway, fourth in the Whitney in his stakes debut, and Sette E Mezzo, who makes his first start on dirt since his racing debut back in March of 2008. Last out, Sette E Mezzo was third in the Aug. 28 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga.

$750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I, Race 10, 5:43 p.m.), 3-Year-Olds and Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Sette E Mezzo (FL), R A Dominguez, 126, W I Mott
2. Macho Again (FL), R Albarado, 126, D Stewart
3. Summer Bird (KY), K J Desormeaux, 122, T A Ice
4. Tizway (KY), R Maragh, 126, H J Bond
5. Asiatic Boy (ARG), A Garcia, 126, K P McLaughlin
6. Dry Martini (FL), E S Prado, 126, B Tagg
7. Quality Road (VA), J R Velazquez, 122, T A Pletcher

Copyright © 2009 Blood-Horse Publications. All rights reserved internationally.

By Jay Privman
Posted 6:28 PM

The results of last year's Breeders' Cup, the first ever run on a synthetic surface, have had a major impact on this year's event, to be held Nov. 6 and 7 here at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting. Most notably Rachel Alexandra, widely considered the current front-runner for Horse of the Year, will not compete.But this year's Classic is shaping up as such a compelling race that several scenarios exist in which the Horse of the Year discussion could be greatly expanded.

Gold Cup lures a diverse group
By Marcus Hersh - Posted 5:29 PM

The horses in Saturday's $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup, a complex mix, are coming from all over this country. Three horses are based at Hawthorne, but the remaining eight come from seven different venues, with stock in from New York, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and California.

Indiana Derby attracts an encouraging 15
By John McDulin - Posted 4:56 PM

Hoosier Park's racing event of the year had a cloud of uncertainty hanging over it until Wednesday, when 15 entries were drawn for the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby.

Win points California Flag toward Turf Sprint
By Steve Andersen - Posted 8:42 PM

California Flag is right back where he was a year ago - bound for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 7 after a front-running in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita on Wednesday.

Goldikova might be even better this year
By Marcus Hersh - Posted 5:57 PM

When Breeders' Cup Mile winner Goldikova finished seventh of nine in her season debut at Longchamp, trainer Freddy Head thought "maybe she wouldn't be the same" filly this year. And it's true, Goldikova might not be the same: She may be even better.

Icon Project changes path to try synthetic
By Jay Privman - Posted 5:07 PM

Zenyatta, Cocoa Beach, and Music Note are still among the nation's leading female runners, and those three are among the top contenders for this year's Ladies' Classic, to be run Nov. 6 at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting. But there are some prominent new shooters on the horizon, including Careless Jewel and Icon Project.

Defections take luster from Beldame
By David Grening - Posted 4:55 PM

Grade 1 winners Icon Project and Music Note were expected to square off in Saturday's Beldame at Belmont, but that match-up was nullified Wednesday when the connections of Icon Project announced their filly would skip the Grade 1, $600,000 Beldame to run in the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 11.

Sumo extending a tried-and-true formula
By Mary Rampellini - Posted 5:19 PM

More than 20 years ago, Arthur Hancock was unable to move a dark bay colt by Halo at two separate auctions and ended up racing Sunday Silence in partnership. Saturday, another horse Hancock was unable to sell at auction, Sumo, will run in the Grade 2, $500,000 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park.

Copyright © 2008 Daily Racing Form, LLC. All rights reserved.