Can you believe that its this time again in the great world that is Photo Finish and that can only mean all roads point to Churchill Downs. This year however we have arrived via the Brit Oval and the amazing game that decided the fate of the Ashes. OK so I promised myself I wouldn’t mention it but it was too tempting!So back to the real reason we are here and that is the Breeders Cup. And this year in comparison to most other years the fields are already bulging and the possibility that there will be field cuts due to the number of horses entered and not just in the juvenile division.
I will focus solely this year on the Classic as this year more than most does it deserve that title. A quick run through the entries will show that there are the winners of this years Triple Crown races, Autharky representing the mighty Rainbow who won the Kentucky Derby and representing Bally Doyle, Reichenbach Falls who took the Belmont and Preakness as well as the Haskell Invitational. However both these horses are having their first runs back after picking up long term injuries – Autharky pulled up injured for 21 days after finishing 3rd in the Super Derby and this race will come almost exactly 14 days after the enforced rest period and Reichenbach Falls who was out for 19 days with injury after winning the Haskell but has had the benefit of a much longer rest period – nearly 2 months. It will be interesting to see which tactic pays off – short or long rest. Interesting Bally Doyle have double entered their colt for the Breeders Cup meeting, so hold your bets till the last minute just in case he goes for the Endurance.
And then there is Regal Son the winner of the Classic for the last 2 years and is trying to make it three times the charm and also try to cement his place in PF history and win the Horse of the Year Award after being narrowly beaten by Heatseeker last year. This 5yr old horse has been virtually unstoppable this season despite picking up niggly sore days but nothing bad enough to stop him from competing and has also taken the Handicap Triple Crown. The stable star from Snowbank Farm has nothing left to prove and after yours truly managed a few words with the stable owner Laurie Brown, we can report that stable confidence is high and that anything that beats Regal Son will have to be on top of their game and running in high octane spaz juice!
Big N’Tough represents Rivendell Stables and this game colt is coming off a last place finish in the KY Cup Classic but despite not winning this season has been on the board in three G1s and last season was 2nd in this race to Regal Son.
Next up are two entries from FDL Lodge the mighty Australian outfit. First is Camena’s Thunder, a son Thunder Arctic and All For Camena both legends in the game but this colt has been campaigned almost exclusively on turf – his only two starts on dirt being off the board finishes. Whilst not wishing to be too negative about any runner in the race this is one colt that we will be looking for at the rear of the field rather than the front!
More interestingly is Come Vampire who was purchased privately in a deal worth to be in excess of $5million from Establos Del Castillo following wins in The Queens Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Since the purchase however this colt has only managed a 2nd in the Super Derby but never discount a runner from this stable.
The winner of the Super Derby was Dynamo and Firstholme Racing are more than happy to enter their colt in the Classic as he beat two other Classic entrants in that race. He also set a track record in the race to prove that the win was no fluke and that this was a horse on his way up. Although his earnings may not be high his form looks solid enough to warrant a post position in the race.
At 6 years old , Hold That Train is the oldest runner in the race but don’t let the age fool you. This is one serious racehorse whose race record of 56-16-11-12 with earnings of $9,403,750 makes this entrant one to be reckoned with despite mixing his racing this season between turf and dirt. His win in the KY Cup Classic was impressive with a PSR of 107 and Big N’Tough behind him finishing 5th. It definitely wouldn’t be a surprise to see this iron horse finishing in the top half or even top 4 of the field.
Another horse with a few miles on the clock is Point Taken representing Point Given Stables. His best form is generally to be found in the G2 ranks but he has winning form in G1s although including one on heavy at the start of this season. An interesting runner but as reliable as this tough guy is a top half field finish is the best that can be hoped for.
Chiknsmack Stables sends out one of their stable stalwarts, Priceless Revenge and this colt has shown scintillating form in the top ranks for the last two seasons including taking the Hollywood Gold Cup this year, with none other than Heatseeker back in 5th. He also took the Oaklawn Handicap with a track record and 115 PSR which more than entitles him to be up there in the firing line when the finishing line comes into view. The stable is not known for misplacing their horses and considering the caliber of other runners it is assumed that this colt is in the race to win and not make the numbers up. Double entered in the BC Mile.
Speedy hasn’t quite lived up to his moniker and whilst this good looking colt by Handsome Man (BC Sprint Winner) out of a good race mare in Xtra Heat, it would be fair to say that this race could be a few furlongs too far despite his winning form at Shenandoah Downs over 9f in a track record. It may be that after having a look at the field on Thursday evening, Zippy Chippy will decide to pull this colt from the race and keep him down at a lower level where he seems to be able to perform better. It could be asking too much also if he takes up his alternative entry in the Sprint.
And last but not least is Vindictive representing the amazing Italian stable of Olmo Dorato. This colt has really come into his own in the last 4 races winning both the Travers and Woodward Stakes and posting a PSR of 117 in the latter. This horse also shows that good horses don’t have to cost a fortune, having been picked up from Endless Vista for the tiny sum of $25,000 and now boasting earnings of over $1.5millon. Another horse with an entry in the Endurance like Reichenbach Falls.
So having gone through the field and digested the form book I bet you are all wondering on what our predication will be for the finishing order?! Well its definitely going to be a horse and its definitely going to be exciting but as for my top tips? Lets just say that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Regal Son, Vindictive and Autharky up there with Reichenbach Falls and Come Vampire mixing it up at the business end of the race.
At the end of the day we are here for the racing and we have been blessed to see such a stellar field of runners entered so far – with the chance of a few late entrants just to throw the whole complexion of the race up in the air!
Anyway, one must be off to visit the other owners here – I am sure that was Jim Webber just landing his Sikorsky S76 which you cant miss as its painted in his stable colours of blue and yellow with the banner proclaiming it to be the home of the only TC winner in PF history – nothing like being modest in this game! I wonder who that was behind the tinted windows with the Dolce & Gabanna shades carrying the latest Louis Vitton overnighter……..
