Jockey Club Gold Cup Super Saturday!

[two gun sid]

You don’t need anyone to tell you Summer Bird, Quality Road, and Macho Again are the horses to beat. But with rain in the forecast, if you’re looking a Wagon Limit (who knocked off Skip Away and Gentlemen in the slop) result, or at least a longshot to finish in the money, don’t dismiss Sette E Mezzo.

This son of Dynaformer is crying out for a mile and a quarter and slop, and his third to Justenuffhumor in the Bernard Baruch (Gr. IIT) in his stakes debut indicates he is a horse on the improve.

If it does come up sloppy or muddy, note that he is by Dynaformer, one of the true stamina and slop influences in America, and his dam is by Alydar. His second dam, Slewbopper, is by stamina and slop influence Seattle Slew and is a half-sister to the top-class Greentree stakes horses Stop the Music and Hatchet Man. Stop the Music, you may remember, defeated Secretariat on a disqualification in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I). He also was second to Secretariat in the slop in the Laurel Futurity (gr. I) and sired Temperence Hill, who won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in the slop, as well as the Travers (gr. I) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) as a 3-year-old and Suburban Handicap (gr. I) at 4. Hatchet Man defeated Forego in the 1 1/4-mile Amory Haskell Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth and is the broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby winner Strike the Gold (who is by Alydar). Slewbopper's dam, Bebopper, is by Tom Fool, another stamina and slop influence, especially through his son Buckpasser.

Sure it’s a stretch to think he can defeat this field, but in the slop and stretching out to 10 furlongs for the first time, you never know. He does have some positive factors going for him.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52791/haskins-weekend-stakes-analysis

If anyone needs PP's for tomorrow's Stakes races or any race tomorrow, PM me and I'll provide a link for you. Good luck and I'll be putting up my picks later. - two gun sid

[Condem]

1. The field with odds, please, two gun.

Taking another look.

[two gun sid]

2. See if this works for you...

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatch.cgi/public/BarclayTagg/TAGG%20BARCLAY/9999/summary.html

Click on the link to the PDF for Saturdays race. It's the only free way I can provide PP's. Good luck.

[two gun sid]

3. My Picks for the JC Gold Cup

1. Summer Bird
2. Macho Again
3. Dry Martini

Better throw Quality Road and Asiatic Boy in your trifectas, too. Pretty evenly matched race. Dry Martini runs well at Belmont.

[Venceremos]

5. I've lost twice now by

playing Macho Again in the exotics in races past 9 furlongs. The only time he's ever hit the board past 9 panels was his second place in last year's Preakness, more than 5 lengths behind the winner and in front of very questionable competition. The sire did his best at 9 panels, too, and his dam side doesn't inspire any confidence. So I'm leaving him out of my JCGC tickets (now watch the horse will finally get 10 furlongs).

I'm going with a Summer Bird - Quality Road - Asiatic Boy - Dry Martini trifecta box.

Sette E Mezzo is interesting with that incredible stayer pedigree. I might play him in another trifecta box. The pedigree looks like the horse should run all day.

[two gun sid]

7. That looks like a very good ticket....

I'm liking Macho Again to hit the board in here. With his running style I think he can get the distance but he has to have a :47 half.

Sette E Mezzo may just be able to hit the board if everything breaks down. He should run all day, like you say.

Good luck!!

Do you have any picks for the Cali races?

[two gun sid]

17. You were exactly right. Macho Again ain't getting the distance...

even with a good pace.

[aaronbees]

13. I like that trifecta

I'll say Summer Bird, Dry Martini, Macho Again in that order for the JCGC ... actually I think it's Summer Bird's race to lose. What a great weekend of racing! I really like Sea the Stars for the Arc, but part of me will root for Dar Re Mi to exact her revenge on the French for that absurd disqualification a few weeks ago.

[two gun sid]

4. Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont

Christophe Clement has had many talented stakes winners during his years as one of the nation’s leading turf conditioners, but the French-born trainer now admits Gio Ponti may be at the top of that list. On Oct. 3, the 4-year-old son of Tale of the Cat seeks his fifth consecutive grade I grass victory when he lines up for the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.

The 1 1/2-mile Turf Classic will be Gio Ponti’s final prep before shipping to California for the Breeders’ Cup. Though Clement has not said which race the bay colt will race in, the most likely spot will be the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) on Nov. 7.

“He might be, or is, the best horse I have ever trained,” Clement said of the nation’s leading older turf horse who won the Arlington Million (gr. IT) in his last start. “And I probably enjoy him more now than I would have 15 years ago because I know how difficult it is just to win a grade I. He brings a lot of enjoyment to all of us, to everyone in the barn—grooms, exercise riders, myself and his owner.”

Owned by Shane Ryan’s Castleton Lyons, Gio Ponti has captured two of his grade I victories this season over Belmont’s turf course—the June 6 Manhattan Handicap and the July 11 Man o’ War Stakes. As a juvenile, he broke his maiden there, and last year won the Hill Prince (gr. IIIT) and was runner-up by less than a length in the Jamaica Handicap (gr. IIT) on the same course.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52777/gio-ponti-tries-for-fifth-straight-grade-i

My picks:
1. Gio Ponte
2. Grand Couturier (GB )
3. Musketier (GER)

[Condem]

6. Sette Mezzo

Dry Martini, Quality Road.

[two gun sid]

8. That should pay a bundle....

Good luck!!!

[two gun sid]

9. The Vosburgh - My Picks

1. Fabulous Strike
2. Go Go Shoot
3. Kodiak Kowboy

[two gun sid]

10. Mastercraftsman Romps in Diamond Stakes

It looks as if Mastercraftsman will be joining stablemate Rip Van Winkle in the starting gate for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) after the colt’s easy victory in the 1 1/8-mile Diamond Stakes (Ire-III) on the all-weather track at Dundalk.

Mastercraftsman, under Johnny Murtagh, allowed Via Galilei and his own pacemaker, Augustusthestrong, to open up a 15-length advantage down the backstretch. Murtagh didn’t ask Masterctaftsman for his run until they passed the three-eighths pole, with the leaders still far out in front. But the 2-9 favorite hit his stride quickly, changed leads on cue turning for home, and blew right on by the two leaders, while being hand-ridden by Murtagh.

Fiery Lad, at 10-1, made a run on the far outside, but Mastercraftsman was well in the clear and now being taken in hand by Murtagh. He was under wraps passing the wire, winning by five lengths.

This was an excellent test to see how he’d handle the synthetic track, and he did everything right, striding smoothly over the surface, rating kindly, and putting in an explosive move when asked. It was an extremely easy victory, and he’ll no doubt head for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52797/mastercraftsman-romps-in-diamond-stakes

[two gun sid]

11. Norfolk: Lookin At Lucky Seeks 4th Straight

Unbeaten Lookin At Lucky seeks his fourth consecutive win for trainer Bob Baffert and a spot in the starting gate for next month's Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) when he faces 11 juvenile rivals in the $300,000 Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meet Oct. 4.

Purchased in April by Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman for $475,000, Lookin At Lucky will be a solid favorite in the 1 1/16-mile event, which guarantees the winner an opportunity to run in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile as part of the "Win and You're In" challenge series. The son of Smart Strike , coming off victories in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and Best Pal (gr. II) this summer, is the only graded stakes winner in the field.

Lookin At Lucky, who was the even-money favorite in the seven-furlong Futurity, rallied from seventh early to score by one length in a determined effort. He will be stretching out to a route for the first time in the Norfolk, a race Baffert has won four times in the past 12 runnings.

Baffert's most recent Norfolk triumph came in 2004 with Roman Ruler . The Hall of Fame conditioner was second in the race last year with Midshipman, who went on to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Eclipse Award as the nation's outstanding male 2-year-old.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52785/norfolk-lookin-at-lucky-seeks-4th-straight

[two gun sid]

12. My Norfolk Picks:

1. Dave In Dixie
2. Lookin At Lucky
3. Alfarabi

I'm adding John Scott in my gimmicks, also.

[two gun sid]

14. Possible Worries For Arc Hotshot

Epsom Derby winner Sea The Stars seeks to secure his place in racing's firmament in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris but victory may not be the foregone conclusion bookmakers anticipate.

They rate the Irish colt a hot 6-4 on favourite to gild his magnificent career with a sixth Group One win in succession.

But rival jockey Kieren Fallon feels that Sea The Stars may finally feel the effects of a hard season.

Fallon, back in action after a drugs ban and a race-fixing court case where he was acquitted, won the Arc in 2007 on Dylan Thomas and in 2005 on Hurricane Run.

He told Racing UK TV: "Sea The Stars has been on the go all season and I'm hoping it's the end of the road for him."

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/03/sports/sports-uk-horse-racing-arc.html

[aaronbees]

15. Do you know of any place online to see it?

Would love to get up early and watch this. That Fallon is all class. Not. What did you make of the JCGC?

[two gun sid]

16. Quality Road ran a good race. Summer Bird is the best 3YO colt.

Macho Again needs a fast pace to close and is probably best at less than 1 1/4m. Good day of racing. Music Note rawks. Gio Ponte blew his chance for HOTY.
Kodiak Kowboy owns Fabulous Strike.

The best I have for the Arc is this link: http://france-galop.empreinte.com/2009/site/kiosque/index.php?lang=en&themeid=4

[aaronbees]

18. Thanks for the link

I'll see if it works in the morning. Or I'll check my Xpressbet live video. Maybe they'll have the Arc live. I think Summer Bird has won 3-year-old of the year unless Mine that Bird comes back to win the Goodwood and Classic. I think Rachel put a lock on HOY since the Woodward and no horse could take it away from her no matter what kind of run they put together. That was a strange race run by Gio Ponti - did he just get tired out in the bog or just can't go that far? Probably the latter. Music Note may just be favored in the Ladies Classic if she goes. Watch out Zenyatta!

[bread_and_roses]

19. A horse without a win in two years steps up - this is what I love about racing

- the total unpredictability. Nothing against Geo Ponti - a very nice horse for sure, and that was a pretty glacial pace, but it was fun to see Intapretation fight back after being headed. Nice looking horse, too - sturdy looking legs.

That was an exciting race between Summer Bird and Quality Road.

I'd like to see Sea the Stars win today.

[aaronbees]

20. He did it!!!!

Sea the Stars wins! :D

[bread_and_roses]

21. oh, wow. TY. It's not up on any news yet - hope someone will post a video

quite remarkable - I can't wait to see it.

[aaronbees]

22. Video up on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1gCT5OYoEY

Just incredible! :party:

[aaronbees]

23. Sea the Stars joins the immortals with Arc win

And to think we've seen Sea the Stars and Rachel Alexandra in the same year. The racing gods have smiled down on us in a wonderful way.


Full story: http://www.racingpost.com/horses/home.sd?story=638936

Sea The Stars joins the immortals with Arc win
By Nicholas Godfrey AND RP STAFF IN FRANCE3.13PM 4 OCT 2009

Report: France, Sunday

Longchamp: Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) 1m4f, 3yo+

SEA THE STARS earned his place among racing's immortals with a stunning victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday.

Already a dual Classic winner, the astonishing Sea The Stars joined the greats with a brilliant performance to win Europe's biggest Flat race by a couple of lengths over the gallant Youmzain, who took the runner-up spot for the third year running.

Sent off 4-5 on the pari-mutuel and 4-6 with British bookmakers, Sea The Stars was winning his sixth consecutive Group 1 contest for trainer John Oxx and jockey Mick Kinane.

Having broken alertly - and running a little too freely for Kinane's comfort - Sea The Stars was reined back into mid-division, well off the Ballydoyle pacemakers Set Sail and Grand Ducal.

But this wasn't entirely straightforward, and Sea The Stars' legion of fans may have been forgiven a few moments of concern as he looked to be hemmed in when top filly Stacelita kicked for home in the straight.