THE JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP and SUPER SATURDAY

Photos by Annie Wade

Ron The Greek wins the Jockey Club Gold Cup

RON THE GREEK

PRINCESS OF SYLMAR WINNER OF THE BELDAME GRADE I

Belmont was hoping with a nice turnout for a spectacular card of wonderful racing that left everyone feeling good win or lose, the finishes were thrilling.  Blue sky with little puffs of white clouds, no wind and perfect temperatures made for a pleasant afternoon on Super Saturday.  Eleven races and everyone of them full of the finest bred horses in the country and a couple of remarkable Irish lassies too.  It was the kind of day that if you pick on conformation you might be overwhelmed by the quality of horse-flesh.  Every steed that passed by in the paddock under the close scrutiny of an educated New York handicapping crowd was followed by another equally as beautiful, genetically perfect and awesomely fit.  Anyone would be proud to have owned a starter on Super Saturday.

To give you some idea the maiden special weight was won by an Unbridled Song, Misconnect, trainer by Todd Pletcher for Repole Stables.  And if there wasn't enough to keep you busy on track there was plenty of great simulcast races to play.  It's hard to walk past a screen with interesting prospects.  If you don't like the prices your getting you might find something better at another track to keep you going, such as the four-year-old maiden by Partner, Ave Nox who won paying 9-2 in a maiden-claiming at Laurel; enough to stake you in the next local.

MISCONNECT

The major reason for going to the track is having the advantage of seeing the horses before you bet.  Cay To Pomeroy was the best looking animal in the next but others had better form and he went off at an attractive price of 8-1.  It's Murphy's Law that when you follow your morning line selections and ignore the eye-catchers they get up and win, and when you go for the good-lookers, your morning line picks come in. Logic doesn't always have a lot to do with it but you have to try and keep your head out of your butt.
Which brings us to the Beldame Invitational Grade I, a star attraction everyone had come to see the flashy Royal Delta, and that she was, without doubt THE most fantastic drop-dead gorgeous mare on course who just never takes a bad picture.  This was to be a two-horse race between the regals, Royal Delta and Princess Of Sylmar, so no value here but quite the show.  In the paddock Royal Delta (trained by Bill Mott) was captivating and somewhat overshadowed the little princess but sweet victory went to the smaller three-year-old filly, Princess of Sylmar (trained by Todd Pletcher) when she gallantly ran down Royal Delta to win.

PRINCESS OF SYLMAR

ROYAL DELTA

Pletcher, trained yet another Unbribled Song colt to win the Kelso Handicap, Grade II.  Graydar, was however the complete package of outstanding presence and three wins in his last three starts, so no price there either but boy what a horse, a big dappled gray.  How we are going to miss Unbridbled Songs's progeny.











GRAYDAR




Logic battled value in the Vosburgh Invitational Grade I when the impressive Private Zone took them wire to wire only easing for a split second to let the public think another favorite, Justin Phillips, was going to get the money.  A determined Private Zone found and gave a little more to come back and win.  An unwarranted objection further teased punters but the horses barely touched in the stretch and no one could have denied Private Zone his victory.
Surprise, surprise, no value in the next either with an Irish invasion.  The Flower Bowel Invitational Grade I, a mile and a quarter on the inner grass, which is not that great from a spectators view, was taken out by the Irish mare, Laughing.  Another combination of looks, form, talent and class doing what the visitors with their squared tails do best, run on the grass.  She was followed home closely by stablemate Tannery.

LAUGHING

Logic doesn't follow logic in racing or we wouldn't bet.  Gamblers have short memories at times and under estimated the power of Little Mike and Mike Smith in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Grade I. Yes, remember last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Little Mike but what had he done since?  Not a lot but he was value at 8-1 and he had the jockey that makes the difference, crikey Mikey.

LITTLE MIKE HOLDS OF BIG BLUE KITTEN

MIKE SMITH HUGS LITTLE MIKE AFTER WINNING THE TURF CLASSIC

Finally the best of the best was saved for last if you had any money left this was where a good eye and no logic could have really paid off.  The Jockeys Gold Cup Invitational Grade I.  By now even the most emotional bettors should have given up on poor Orb, who still looks awkward and a bit stressed in the paddock.  He's not built like the others.  Orb is the tall lanky kid in the playground who doesn't fit in, always craning his neck to scourer for threats on the horizon.  He looks more like a European horse than and American, he has that high head carriage and he's leggy.  It makes you wonder if he wouldn't do better with some time off to fill out or shipping to England to train on the moors; maybe he'd be happier with that lifestyle.  He's too good a horse to just let fade away to a dodgy future at stud.  He has disappointed fans enough times now to question if he would get a full book at a high price for the rest of his life.  A comeback is needed to remind us that Orb is a Derby winner.    

ORB

Best looking steed in the race, Ron The Greek by far.  If one had been judging a thoroughbred class at a horse show Ron The Greek would have beaten all horses at Belmont on Saturday and gone Best In Show, but then Bill Mott has never put a horse in a race that didn't look great.  So logic would kick in and say that Palace Malice, who also looked good was a better choice, or last years winner Flat Out.  Alpha, by Bernardini, who seems to impart a quality appearance of superior breeding to all his off spring, and owned by Godolphin Racing of course looked amazing too.  Swayed by the logic of form and recent performances the betting public let Ron The Greek go off at 21-1, the best price all day.  A boil over in the big one as often happens because we are so afraid to take a chance on a long shot and look foolish.  Intimidate by those who only play on big days and wouldn't really know shit about a horse if the book didn't tell them who to bet.  So the next time you are all hyped up  for a big race and see something other than the favorite or logical choice, take a shot on it, even a show bet sometimes pays better than a short priced winner.  Sure it's nice to say you had the winner but it's smarter to win more money.  Short price winners are better than valued losers but long shots give you the most satisfaction, not just because they pay better but because you saw something not everyone did and it paid off, so have confidence in you choices.  If you don't you probably shouldn't be on them, they can do without the negativity, we all can.

RON THE GREEK

You are never going to find a long shot on paper it can only be done by physical appearance and estimating the horses fitness by evaluating muscle tone for distance.  The art of backing winners comes down to selecting short priced horses with good form, that everyone has access to, or having a good eye for a horse and finding something outstanding in the paddock.  Then you have to have the balls to go with it, follow your gut.  Remember on a Super Saturday they're not out for a Dingo's breakfast (a pee and a look around), all the starters are live except for the obvious rabbits.
If you are having a bad day and need to get some positive energy back, go down to the tunnel where they park the pony-horses with a pocketful of mints and ask a rider if you can give one to his horse, it will perk you up and change your luck.

SLUMBER (Gb), ANOTHER EYE-CATCHING MOTT HORSE, 4th IN THE TURF CLASSIC

One to watch out for in the Breeders' Cup   

    

THE HAMPTON CLASSIC, GRAND PRIX

Kent Farrington, the winner, aboard Zafira clearing the final fence in the first round.

Georgina Bloomberg and Juvina, 3rd. place 

Richie Moloney, 2nd place, checks to see if the last fence in the first round is still standing as he makes time. 

Richie Moloney and Kent Farrington.     Georgina Bloomberg

A grey ceiling threatened proceedings as often does on Labor Day weekend.  During the night a wicked thunderstorm had frightened horses stabled in tented barns on Snake Hollow Road, and woke everyone on the east end of Long Island. No damage was done or spirits dampened and the event turned out to be, the best ever Hampton Classic Grand Prix.
Thirty-seven of the finest international show jumpers competed in the World Cup Qualifier with a purse of $250,000 sponsored by FTI Consulting.  An anxious crowed 'oohed' and 'aahed' with every fence negotiated.  The first few riders incurred time penalties and a set-time adjustment was considered.  Course builder Guilherme Jorge, banking on giving viewers an exciting show, hung out bravely with a nail-biting crowd for the first of only five clear rounds in what was proving to be a demolition derby.  The familiar 'clip' of a rail bouncing out of  it's cup and thudding to the ground was beginning to raise uncertainly of a clean winner.  Until, the ninetieth rider, Kevin Babington on Mark Q, and Irish bay gelding, made it though unscathed within 85 seconds.   Eleven more riders followed, none jumping without faults.  With seven competitors left Babington was looking like a sure bet, then the cloud lifted and Richie Moloney, Georgina Bloomberg, Kent Farrington and Brianne Goutal all jumped clean inside the time allowed.
The course was shortened for the jump-off taking out the very difficult back to back double combinations of 6 a. and b., and 7 a. and b. among others; the height was raised and the final outcome would be decided by the prestigious Longines clock.  It was a sultry afternoon and the pressure was on.  Irish born Richie Moloney scored the first clear.  Organizers could have played "New York, New York" for the next competitor, Georgina Bloomberg (the Mayor of New York's daughter).  Bloomberg had announced she was pregnant and a positive buzz from the crowd helped brake a spell of bad performances in front of her father, as she too jumped clear.  Glory however, went to last year's winner Kent Farrington on his back-up horse Zafira, who was not listed in the program.  When Farrington's entry Voyeur, came up with filling in his ankle the morning of the Classic, this nine-year-old KWPN mare, (by Nassau from Cappucino van Berkenbroek), considered by Farrington to be young and green, really stood-up to the plate clocking in at 38.51.  Richie Moloney and the different style of Slieveanorra, an Irish gelding, finished second in 40 seconds; and the glowing Georgina Bloomberg, on her beautiful grey mare Juvina placed third, scoring on-the-board for the first time in the Hampton Classic Grand Prix.
Farrington joined an elite group of five riders that have now defended  their Classic win successfully in consecutive years; one of whom is respected thoroughbred racehorse trainer, Michael Matz.

Richie Moloney and Slieveanorra greet the fans.

Georgina Bloomberg and Juvuna 

Juvina, 3rd place 

Kent Farrington and Zafira

Kent Farrington collecting 1st prize in the Hampton Classic Grand Prix

Zafira and Farrington's lap of honor

Brianne Goutal on Nice De Prissey, who also made the jump-off.

     Nice De Prissey was one of five stallions in the competion. 

Nice De Prissey, the strength and beauty of a stud.

Nice De Prissey, the final clear in the first round. 

Kevin Babington and Mark Q, the first clean round to make the jump-off.

McLain Ward on Rothchild.  He is the only rider to have won the HC Grand Prix twice in consecutive years, 1998, 1999, 2009 and 2010 but did not make the jump-off this year. 

Preceding the main event was a special retirement ceremony for a Grand Prix legend, Glasgow. Unfortunately this presentation was made while riders were walking the course and many spectators failed to grasp the full extent of the horse's career achievements which include, winning the Refco King George V Cup at Hickstead, to mention just one.  This magnificent animal was sadly not paraded once around the arena for the public to see or photograph; a disappointment to anyone who went to the Classic especially to honor him.  It's not all about the movie stars under the big tent, the equine talent makes the event possible.
Places are what you make them and horses make them better.  Annie Wade
(Photos by Annie Wade).
Other photos from Classic Week will be posted in a few days.