Jan Hoadley's Horse Racing fan blog

Older horses are nominated in the Eclipse awards representing some professional race horses as well as a couple that captured the public’s attention. Nominees for the older male include Einstein (BRZ) Gio Ponti and Kodiak Kowboy while the females are Life is Sweet, Music Note and Zenyatta.

Life is Sweet is a royally bred lady by Storm Cat out of the Kris S mare Sweet Life. She won the Lady’s Classic after what could be deemed a sketchy year of second in the Milady G2, third in the Hollywood Gold Cup G1 before two fourths. However, three of those four “not wins” were against winter Zenyatta.

Music Note, third to Life is Sweet in the Ladies Classic also stamps an impressive pedigree, by A.P. Indy out of Note Musicale by Sadler’s Wells. She won two of three outs other than the Ladies classic including the G1 Beldame and G1 Ballerina.

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A look at the award nominations of three year olds holds the probable winner without question. There are but a few names that come up when looking at top three year olds of 2009 and one of those is the Queen of the public.

Rachel Alexandra is heavily considered for Horse of the Year and as such there is little doubt she is also top three year old in the minds of many. A strong campaign over multiple tracks and distances the talented daughter of Medaglia D’Oro has romped over foes both male and female and took on the older males with success as well. It would seem she’s an easy pick for top 3 year old filly and a reasonable pick for top 3 year old as she’s beaten all three colts and is Horse of the Year nominee along with top older female Zenyatta.

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Some nice 2007 foals hit the track as two year olds in 2009 and among the best are those nominated for Eclipse awards in the 2 year old division.

The top nominations for colts are Lookin at Lucky, Noble’s Promise and Vale of York while the top fillies nominated are Blind Luck, Hot Dixie Chick and She Be Wild.

Lookin’ at Lucky brings some strong credentials to the table and is among the early hard looks for the Kentucky Derby. A son of Smart Strike out of the Belong To Me mare Private Feeling, he has the classic connections of Mike Pegram (owner) and Bob Baffert (trainer) along with breeding that can get the job done. He went into the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile undefeated with two G1 wins and a G2 win following his maiden win. He ran second in the Juvenile to Vale of York but bounced back with another G1 win in the CashCall futurity at a mile and 1/16 and has earned serious consideration for the award based on performance.

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Whether on the track or off old horses are an adventure into horses. They can be grumpy and have very definite likes and dislikes or go along with whatever is laid out before them. They’re a combination of fragility and hard as nails – and remind us that even nails bend under pressure.

On the track an ‘old horse’ can be 5 or 6 or can be a respected campaigner of 10 or 11 that runs their heart out every time they’re asked and sometimes get the job done. Most if they don’t earn their keep don’t stay on the track, so seeing that 8 or 9 or 10 year old you can figure they’ve earned some war stories.

Their legs may show some signs of battle. They may be a little sore the next day or take a little longer to warm up than the spry two and three year olds. The older horses have learned to entertain themselves and those around them.

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Breeders Cup weekend started yesterday with an incredible performance in the Marathon. The gritty 9 year old Cloudy's Knight loped to the lead coming out of the turn and looked to be a winner until Man of Iron loomed on the inside. Coming out of the turn it shows what this weekend is all about. Both horses dug down for every ounce of energy they had and it took a photo to separate them. Perhaps Cloudy's Knight didn't see the challenger in time but the gutsy old guy fought back not giving up and driving back desperately.

 Yesterday was "ladies day" with features that included some of the top fillies. We saw the two year old She Be Wild get the Breders Cup Juvenile fillies while Midday captured the Filly & Mare Turf. Some said the Ladies Classic would be less than normal without Zenyatta, but such was not the case. Careless Jewell opened up to roll away from the field but couldn't hold on. Her strides shortened on the turn and in the stretch Life is Sweet romped to the front opened up by daylight - awesome race.

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It's been a tough month for champions in the TB world. As mentioned in a previous post Gone West was lost. The others are also major horses that have left fans reeling.

 There's the loss, to a heart attack in his pasture, of popular sire El Prado of the 21st.

On the heels of hearing that was news of Summer Squall being euthanized due to age. Summer Squall chased Unbridled in one of the most memorable Derby races of all time. Summer Squall came back in the Preakness to the race that defined the gutsy race horse.

Sitting fourth down the backside Summer Squall put it in gear with Unbridled on the outside as they sat down for a drive and they collared the leader with Unbridled and Summer Squall head to head for several strides  then drawing off to an impressive win.

Continue reading "The Thoroughbred World Loses Legends"

I know he's 25. I know colic complications happen and even with surgery not all can be saved. But the loss of the big horses (be they famous or not) always tugs a nerve. Gone West has been euthanized following complications from colic surgery.

Gone West in his prime made a huge move and looked to be the winner of the 1987 Wood Memorial coming into the stretch. Gulch drove back with a big hearted gutsy move refusing to give up and the two hit the wire together with Capote and other big horses further back.

Gone West was pensioned earlier this year at Mill Ridge Farm. The son of Mr Prospector out of Secrettame by Secretariat, Gone West earned $682,251 on the track himself, winning 6 of 17 starts. His second dam was by Tim Tam. As a sire he's produced 98 stakes winners, 48 graded stakes winers and winners of nearly $77.7million in earnings. It included 1202 foals of racing age now, 19 crops. The list of offspring is huge. Champion sprinter Speightstown. European 2 year old champion Zafonic. G1 winners Johar, Grand Slam, Da Hoss, Comendable. G3 winners Mr. Greeley, and leading sire G3 winner Elusive Quality. Leading French sire Zamindar is another.

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