PHAROAH, PHAROAH, PHAROAH, THE CROWD HAILED: KING OF OVALS

American Pharaoh and Victor Espinoza 

Saturday June 6th, 2015, the day that broke the 37 year Triple Crown drought at Belmont Park, New York.  Rain or shine, it didn't matter to a great horse, he likes both and made it look easy in any weather.  Only a non-horseman would have bet against him, someone who doesn't understand that champions not only possess terrific physical attributes but have to mentally be in the zone also to pull off a Triple Crown.  Of all the good horses that have won the first two jewels in recent years American Pharaoh was the most likely to succeed in the third to be crowned King of Ovals.  He is a calm horse which indicates a low resting heart-rate making him easier to train than a highly strung sweat dripping, bucket of anxiety.  An important quality for a thoroughbred racehorse since they tend to lose weight quickly, go off their food and train off.  You have to find the right temperament, nurture it, and not bugger it up.  The best trainers recognize it and know how to keep a horse, the right horse, at peek.
In the very same barn their was another exceptionally talented horse, Dortmund, but he didn't seem to like the crowds.  He was more on edge and nervous, unsettled enough to warrant saddling in the tunnel at the Kentucky Derby.  This effects their performance.  Nothing much seems to ruffle Pharaoh's feathers, the challenges came at him during the Belmont but fell away with only Frosted putting in a really good effort.  They were all quality horses that had won classic races from Dubai to New York but AP drew away by five.      
War Emblem stumbled at the start of his Belmont Stakes,  Smarty Jones was a puller and the challengers wore him down purposely to have it snatched in the last few strides.   The gelding, Funny Cide, was a puller also and a horse that sat on his flank made him overwork an tried him to defeat.  Big Brown had the worst ride you will ever see in a Belmont, look at the replays and judge for yourself.  His jockey decided to pull the horse up after getting him in trouble.   I'll Have Another, was questionably withdrawn the night before.  California Chrome, a lovely horse, just wasn't as fit on his big day as Tonalist.
American Pharaoh was able to run wire-to-wire and still had juice in the tank.        

Frosted, Iced The Wood Memorial

Frosted winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes

A perfect spring day at Aqueduct race course in New York drew a bigger crowd for the Wood Memorial Stakes than it has in a long time.  An important day for those who follow the "Derby Trail," it is also the running of the Santa Anita Derby in California and the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland.  Any of these winners' has an excellent shot at victory in the "Run for the Roses" on the first Saturday in May.

Kentucky Derby 2015, is clustering a field of stars this year.  The brightest for me being last week's UAE Derby winner, Mubtaahij, and not just because I was there but the easy at which he took the lead and won by eight lengths impressed me.

Mubtaahij after winning the UAE Derby

Another very fine and quality horse undefeated in six starts shinning in the California Derby for trainer Bob Baffert was, Dortmund.  This striking plain chestnut of seventeen hands is a fiery comet and I can't wait to see Mubtaahij and Dortmund do battle.

American Pharaoh, also trained by Baffert sure looks the part winning his lead up races with easy.  He's a front runner who pulls away and hasn't had the whip wheeled at him once.  A wet track in the Rebel Stakes was no problem.  I believe he'll put them away in the Arkansas Derby this weekend.  Ever since Smarty Jones I never let that winner fly under the radar.

I see a break to the next line of charge in the KD possible a duel for show between Carpe Diem, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby, and Materiality, winner of the Florida Derby.  I've kind of given up on a Bluegrass winner taking home the roses but Carpe Diem could make a fool of me and I wouldn't throw out Upstart yet, who fought on hard in the Florida Derby.  The hope of a Wood Memorial horse getting the first jewel of the Crown escapes me too, although Frosted is a sterling steed.  Churchill Downs is still  a galaxy away and there maybe falling stars before the magical day.  I just want it to be a good horse race; fairness in running for all and a deserving victor who dares to shoot for the Triple Crown.

Easter Saturday, Wood Day was a card packed with delights at the Big A. and here are some of the highlights:

Zingarelli by Bernardini returns to scale

The Bill Mott trained Rectify was no surprise  in the 3 YO Maiden

Pretty gray Juba wins the fifth  race (alw)

Summer Place To Be captures the sixth race in great stride (alw)

Condo Commando got the jump on them in the Gazelle Stakes and never looked back.

March by Blame (the horse that defeated Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup) beats Lord Nelson in the Bay Shore Stakes

JL Ortiz smiles for the camera as he wins the Carter Handicap on Dads Caps

The Dubai World Cup 2015

Prince Bishop and William Buick return to scale after winning the Dubai World Cup 2015

Some of my favorite horses have run in the Dubai World Cup, the first being won by my lifetime star, Cigar, who sadly passed away last October.  This year another special American lined up with hopes of winning the richest horse race on the planet, California Chrome but when Prince Bishop got the better of him in the final strides, he spat his bit out and gave it up without a whimper.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a Chromy, I always have been and always will be, he gets my support every time.  He put in a huge effort to run second from a horrible position on the outside and I couldn't help wishing Jerry Bailey had been in the saddle.  Chromy, is just not an aggressive runner and tends not to fight back like some other horses.  It's probably a pecking order mentality thing he has going on and I'm not knocking him, he's a polite racehorse.
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California Chrome going out for the DWC



All the races on the card where equally fantastic.   For me the highlights were: Brown Panther winning the Dubai Gold Cup, Sole Power in the Al Quoz Sprint, Secret Circle winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen and Solow's win in the Dubai Turf.  Thank goodness for successful internet connection in the nick of time.

Manark winner of the Dubai Kahayla Classic

 


Solow wins the Dubai Turf with Maxime Guyon

Sole Power and Richard Hughes take the Al Quoz Sprint



Dolniya who beat Flintshire to win the Dubai Sheema Classic

The DWC has always been at the top of my bucket list and although I visited Meydan for opening night of the carnival last year this was my first Cup.  What a terrific show, great racing, fireworks and a rock concert.  The weather was perfect and the atmosphere relaxed.  Women dressed up but by the end of the night like any other big race day in the world they were carrying their shoes and the men were wearing their fancy hats.


High on my bucket list but not a horse race, was also an African safari and it made perfect sense to stop over in Dubai from Nairobi on my way back to New York.  For the price of the race ticket parking was included, so I rented a car.  Driving to the track is easy and I hate taxi lines.  On arrival I spotted a booth where the men were surprised but pleased to issue me a free copy of Al Adiyat, the equivalent of the Daily Racing Form.  It is helpful for doing the complementary pick 6 entry as there is no on-track betting, you also get in the drawing for another big give away.  The race book and pen are free and beautiful little girls dab you with perfumed water.  Afternoon tea was set out and I thought that was it but a buffet dinner followed during the night.  An open bar delighted many and pretty young women walked around offering cigars.

The DWC is something every horse racing fan should experience at least once in his or her life, and even if you are not horsey you'll enjoy it.  I recommend doing the barn area tour too if you have the time one other morning.  Book it through the Meydan Hotel where you will breakfast before seeing the stables and touring the five story grandstand.
Florida Derby Day is always the same day as the World Cup.  One of the key Kentucky Derby trail races it looks like it could be a strong Derby field this year with the winner Materiality and second place, Upstart.  Mubtaahij, winner of the UAE Derby last Saturday, will also be gracing the Downs.  Here in New York this Easter Saturday we have another great Derby prep race in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.  I have to see them in the flesh to make a selection but I'm thinking like everyone else, Daredevil and Frosted.  There is a full card of awesome races including the Grade1 Carter Handicap.   I can't wait to see The Big Beast again.  I'm a Beast groupie now, like some of us were for Shackleford.
Luck at the Window (or online)!



Secret Circle defeats Super Jockey in the Dubai Golden Shaheen



Tom, a happy race goer from Scotland looking very fashionable in his lady's hat.

Frankyfourfingers, just because he looks so amazing. (5th in the Godolphin Mile)