Breeders' Cup may pick Downs
Louisville track, Santa Anita likely finalists for event's races in 2009
Churchill Downs is one of two leading contenders to hold the 2009 Breeders' Cup, the head of the Lexington-based organization said yesterday.
Although the Breeders' Cup World Championships have never been held at the same track two consecutive years, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., will hold it next year and is the other leading contender for the 2009 event, Breeders' Cup President Greg Avioli said.
Avioli said site selection will be discussed at the organization's February board meeting. He said initial conversations have taken place with the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita and Churchill and added that a couple of other cities are interested.
"I would tell you right now the leading contenders would likely be either Churchill or Oak Tree," he said.
Churchill has acknowledged informal conversations with the Breeders' Cup, and spokeswoman Julie Koenig Loignon said yesterday that its view of the situation hasn't changed.
After the 2006 cup, Churchill officials expressed concerns that they did not make enough money from the event.
The Breeders' Cup receives the bulk of the wagering revenues on the day of the championship races, while Churchill makes what it would on a regular Saturday -- or a little more, track President Steve Sexton has said.
"What we've expressed to Breeders' Cup has not changed since we hosted the event in 2006," Loignon said yesterday. "So they're aware of our concerns."
She said she is not aware of any formal application by Churchill. Churchill Downs has played host to the Breeders' Cup a record six times -- and garnered the event's five-largest one-day attendance figures.
Churchill is "one of the best venues for horsemen in the whole country," Avioli said. "Our international contingent loves Churchill. It's just a great facility all around to hold the Breeders' Cup in."
Avioli said no specific negotiations have taken place.
Running two years in the Los Angeles market at Santa Anita would give good odds for decent weather, allow extended marketing opportunities and help the event engage the music and entertainment industries, Avioli said. "I think a deal could be done with either one of the racetracks depending on what our board decides to do."
A Kentucky tax break that has benefited the Breeders' Cup organization will disappear if the cup doesn't come to Churchill in 2009, and legislators interviewed in October said it seemed unlikely it would be renewed.
Breeders' Cup also announced it is adding three races to next year's two-day event on Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita Park during the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting.
The three races will bring the total to 14 with purses of $25.5 million. Three other races were added for this past October at Monmouth Park, the first time that the cup races were spread over two days.
The new races, which will be on Friday, are the:
$1 million Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 6½ furlongs.
$1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf for 2-year-old fillies at 1 mile.
$500,000 Dirt Marathon for 3-year-olds and up at 1½ miles.
Breeders' Cup spokesman Jim Gluckson said the distance of the turf sprint would be adjusted in the future depending on what a host track's turf course can accommodate.
The three new races appear to be the end of the expansion for the foreseeable future, Avioli said.
"I think this gives us a solid core of races for the two days," he said. "We're cognizant of the importance of not having too many races as diluting the fields."
Jazil gives royals a flush
With the Triple Crown races over, talk yesterday at Belmont Park began looking ahead to the second half of the season for 3-year-old horses. And if one entity has a strong hand, it's the Maktoum family of Dubai.
That royal family figures to have Saturday's Belmont Stakes winner Jazil (owned by Sheik Hamdan), Preakness winner Bernardini (Sheik Mohammed) and 3-for-3 UAE Derby winner Discreet Cat (the Maktoums' Godolphin Racing) prominent among such races as Monmouth's $1 million Haskell, Saratoga's $500,000 Jim Dandy and $1 million Travers and perhaps culminating in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said the Aug. 26 Travers at Saratoga is a logical goal for Jazil. The Tom Albertrani-trained Bernardini, who skipped the Preakness, is scheduled to make his next start in the July 29 Jim Dandy with an eye on the Travers. Discreet Cat, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, is expected to run in Belmont's July 4 Dwyer Stakes.
Albertrani called it "a brotherly rivalry" among the Maktoums.
"They compete together in a lot of races in Europe," he said. "And now that they have some nice horses in the States, you might see more of that here."
Agreed Rick Nichols, the U.S. vice president of Sheik Hamdan's Shadwell Stable: "They're very competitive amongst themselves and their horses in a race. If we want to go in a race, we will, and vice versa. If we were to win or to run against each other, and we were to finish 1-2 or they finish 1-2, they'll both be happy."
McLaughlin, who grew up in Lexington, Ky., not only delivered Shadwell's first U.S. classic, but also 22 days earlier its first Grade I of any kind in this country when Invasor won the Pimlico Special.
"Now they might be wondering what I did wrong for all those years," McLaughlin joked. "… To win this in the first run in the Belmont is great. We just hope we keep getting back to the Triple Crown because that's what it's all about."
McLaughlin and Albertrani share more than the Maktoums as clients and winning their first Triple Crown races this year. Early in their careers they worked at the same time for trainer Mark Casse, then based in Kentucky. McLaughlin ultimately went to work for D. Wayne Lukas, Albertrani for Bill Mott. McLaughlin's and Albertrani's tenures in Dubai overlapped, and now their Belmont barns are next to each other.
"We have a lot in common, I guess, and we're pretty good friends," Albertrani said. "I'm just really pleased that he was able to win a classic like the Belmont."
Another friend of McLaughlin's -- trainer Todd Pletcher -- saddled Belmont second-place finisher Bluegrass Cat and third-place Sunriver.
Pletcher now is 0-3-2 in 21 Triple Crown starts. Bluegrass Cat, the program favorite, wound up the close third betting choice behind eighth-place Bob and John and fourth-place finisher Steppenwolfer. Sunriver, the program second choice, wound up fourth choice.
"I thought both horses ran well, and that's all you can do," he said. "I still haven't gotten a favorite beat, though."
McLaughlin, Albertrani and Pletcher agreed that Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is the big favorite for the 3-year-old championship unless another horse has a huge summer and fall.
"If you won the Travers and Breeders' Cup Classic, you'd have a great chance," McLaughlin said. "But with the sentimental scenario and Barbaro didn't do anything wrong, it would be hard to top him. But we'll give it our best."
Pletcher said that although Barbaro will stay in people's thoughts, they "are going to move on.
"I thought it was a great crowd (61,168) given that there was no Triple Crown on the line, no Afleet Alex story line or romantic stories or interest like that," he said.
"Obviously the Derby winner is going to carry the most publicity, the most following, regardless of what he does afterward.… Certainly anybody who has any championship ideas is going to have to do something really remarkable from here on out."
Belmont Stakes Taking Shape
Here are the expected starters for the Belmont Stakes on June 10 at Belmont Park. Jockey Ramon Dominguez rode Bluegrass Cat to a second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby behind Barbaro, but regular jockey John Velazquez, who broke a shoulder and cracked a rib in a spill at Keeneland on April 20, has been working the colt out in the morning for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Horse Trainer Jockey
Bluegrass Cat Todd Pletcher John Velazquez
Bob and John Bob Baffert Garrett Gomez
Deputy Glitters Tom Albertrani Edgar Prado
Hemingway's Key Nick Zito Jeremy Rose
High Finance Rick Violette Eibar Coa
Jazil Kiaran McLaughlin Fernando Jara
Oh So Awesome Jim Jerkens Mike Smith
Platinum Couple Joe Lostritto Jose Espinoza
Sacred Light David Hofmans Victor Espinoza
Steppenwolfer Dan Peitz Robby Albarado
Sunriver Todd Pletcher Rafael Bejarano
Other possible starters:Cause to Believe, Sweetnorthernsaint.
Barbaro Making Progress After Surgery
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro is making progress from surgery on his broken leg, even showing an interest in mares, but the colt still faces a long and perilous road to recovery, his surgeon said Monday.
Dr. Dean Richardson, who performed the intricate five-hour operation, was satisfied with the result, but blunt about the future for a horse who put together an unbeaten record until he broke down in the Preakness Stakes.
Richardson, who operated on Barbaro at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals on Sunday, said the horse's chances for survival were still 50-50. He said Barbaro was showing positive signs and "acting much more like a 3-year-old colt should act."
Barbaro was trying to bite in his stall and even showing interest in a group of mares who stopped by to visit.
"There's some mares there, and he's extremely interested in the mares," Richardson told ABC's "Good Morning America."
Nevertheless, he emphasized that the horse had a long road ahead, and would never race again.
"Realistically, it's going to be months before we know if he's going to make it," Richardson told CBS' "The Early Show." "We're salvaging him as a breeding animal."
Barbaro's surgery to repair three bones shattered in his right rear leg at the Preakness went about as well as Richardson and trainer Michael Matz hoped. It wasn't long after surgery when Barbaro began to show signs he might make it after all.
After a dip into a large swimming pool before he was awakened - part of New Bolton's renowned recovery system that minimizes injury risk - Barbaro was brought back to his stall, where he should have been calmly rested on all four legs.
Barbaro had other ideas.
"He decided to jump up and down a few times," Richardson said, smiling. "But he didn't hurt anything. That's the only thing that really matters. It had Michael worried."
That's not much to worry about after the agony of the previous 24 hours. Barbaro sustained "life-threatening injuries" Saturday when he broke bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness Stakes.
His surgery began around 1 p.m., but it wasn't until about eight hours later that Richardson and Matz emerged for a news briefing.
"I feel much more relieved after I saw him walk to the stall then when I was loading him in the ambulance to come up here, that's for darn sure," Matz said. "Nobody knew. It was an unknown area going in. I feel much more confident now. At least I feel he has a chance. Last night, I didn't know what was going to go on."
Unbeaten and a serious Triple Crown threat, Barbaro broke down Saturday only a few hundred yards into the 1 3-16th-mile Preakness. The record crowd of 118,402 watched in shock as Barbaro veered sideways, his right leg flaring out grotesquely. Jockey Edgar Prado pulled the powerful colt to a halt, jumped off and awaited medical assistance.
Barbaro sustained a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint - the ankle - was dislocated.
Richardson said the pastern bone was shattered in "20-plus pieces."
The bones were put in place to fuse the joint by inserting a plate and 23 screws to repair damage so severe that most horses would not be able to survive it.
Horses are often euthanized after serious leg injuries because circulation problems and deadly disease can arise if they are unable to distribute weight on all fours.
Richardson said he expects Barbaro to remain at the center for several weeks, but "it wouldn't surprise me if he's here much longer than that."
Tucked away on a sprawling, lush 650-acre (263 hectares) campus in Chester County, the New Bolton Center is widely considered the top hospital for horses in the mid-Atlantic region. The center is renowned for its specialized care, especially on animals needing complicated surgery on bone injuries.
Roses, other assorted flowers and cards from fans and admirers expressing well wishes were delivered to the center and displayed in the lobby. One sign said "Be Well Barbaro." Two apples and five carrots, some of a horse's favorite snacks, lay next to the flowers.
"I feel at least better that we've made every effort to save his life," Matz said. "At least he has the chance now to have a career as a stallion."
Barbaro's injury came a year after Afleet Alex's brush with catastrophe at the Preakness. Turning for home, the horse was bumped by another and nearly knocked to his knees before gathering himself and going on to win.
Where Have all the Horses Gone
As of the Tuesday before the 131st Preakness Stakes, only nine thoroughbreds are definite starters for the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint are the only three coming out of the Run for the Roses.
Joining those three are Withers Stakes winner Bernardini, Gotham Stakes victor Like Now, Hemingway's Key and Diabolical. Possible starters also include Platinum Couple and Greeley's Legacy.
Whether eight or ten horses break from the starting gate, Barbaro will be the odds-on favorite for the 1 3/16 miles race. His tremendous victory in the Kentucky Derby has apparently chased away all but a brave few rivals.
Even Smarty Jones had nine rivals to defeat in 2004 after his solid win in the Run for the Roses. Last year, Giacomo's Kentucky Derby win did nothing to prevent a full field of 14 from starting in the Preakness.
It's obvious there is no fever for the Preakness Stakes that many have for the Kentucky Derby. 'Derby Fever' has a lot more ring to it than 'Preakness Fever'.
Even veteran trainers such as Wayne Catalano can find reasons not to run in the $1 million classic. As to his reason for not starting Lewis Michael at Pimlico, Catalano stated, "We decided to go to the Peter Pan (Stakes). Belmont's a bigger track, and we like the setup. We'd love to come to the Preakness, but there's a lot of speed in the race and we didn't think it was in our best interest."
Then again the small field can actually attract three-year-olds with lesser ability. Trainer King Leatherbury is looking to starting Ah Day in the Preakness Stakes for that reason. "The short field is making us consider the Preakness more strongly," said Leatherbury.
It is unusual that just three horses from the Kentucky Derby go on to run in the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown. In 2005, 10 of the 14 starters in the Preakness ran in the Kentucky Derby.
Not all Triple Crown races are created equal. The Kentucky Derby is the premier event on the calendar. The Belmont Stakes, the third jewel, has become the second most important race. Many horses are held back from the Preakness Stakes and pointed toward the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes.
Two suggestions to make the Preakness more attractive: put the race three weeks after the Kentucky Derby and raise the purse to $2 million.
132nd Kentucky Derby Odds Released
All Horse Racing (http://www.allhorseracing.com), an international gaming company, today released the latest odds on who will win the 2006 Kentucky Derby: AP Warrior 12-1 My Golden Song 75-1
Barbaro 8-1 Point Determined 12-1
Bluegrass Cat 10-1 Private Vow 35-1
Bob and John 8-1 Racketeer 50-1
Brother Derek 5-1 Red Raymond 100-1
Cause to Believe 18-1 Refinery 100-1
Deputy Glitters 75-1 Sacred Light 25-1
Discreet Cat 7-1 Seaside Retreat 100-1
First Samurai 15-1 Sharp Humor 30-1
Flashy Bull 40-1 Showing Up 25-1
Greeleys Legacy 200-1 Steppenwolfer 25-1
High Cotton 50-1 Strong Contender 15-1
Jazil 20-1 Sunriver 30-1
Keyed Entry 30-1 Sweetnorthernsaint 8-1
Lawyer Ron 8-1 Too Much Bling 75-1
Like Now 50-1 Wanna Runner 75-1
Little Cliff 100-1 Well Armed 150-1
Mister Triester 100-1 With a City 75-1
The world may be watching the "Greatest 2 Minutes in Sports" at 6PM EDT on NBC, but they will be making their Kentucky Derby bets online at All Horse Racing.
To celebrate the Running of the Roses, All Horse Racing is offering a free bet on the Kentucky Derby as well as free bets on the other two jewels of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
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All Horse Racing is a recognised leader in the online horse racing industry with a focus on the thoroughbred and harness horse racing market. Members have the ability to place wagers online or over the telephone on over 100 racetracks including Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Philadelphia Park, Pimlico Race Course and Belmont Park. Real time audio and video feeds are available for hundreds of races each day.
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Derby a 30-year ambition
After it was over, after their horse had finally found clear sailing past the far turn and taken off, after Roy and Gretchen Jackson posed Saturday in front of the winner's trophy and were interviewed on ESPN, a track official asked whether they wanted to watch a replay of Showing Up winning the Lexington Stakes.
"Oh, yeah," Gretchen Jackson said.
Who wouldn't want to keep watching? The Jacksons' story is turning into a fairy tale, and it looks as if the Kentucky Derby will have another fascinating Philadelphia story next week.
Two years ago, it was Smarty Jones, whose owner, a Philadelphia car dealer, watched the Derby while tethered to an oxygen supply. It was the last great run of Roy Chapman's life.
Last year, Afleet Alex was beaten in the Derby but came back for a stunning win in the Preakness and a romp in the Belmont Stakes. His group of five owners, who all knew their way to a betting window, were together on their first horse. They partied and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a local charity, Alex's Lemonade Stand.
In this year's story, a charming husband-and-wife team from Chester County, Pa., would be the first owners in the 132-year history of the Kentucky Derby with two undefeated horses in the race.
All that Showing Up and Barbaro have to do is stay healthy and get to the gate at Churchill Downs on May 6. Showing Up left the race Saturday with a puncture wound in his right front leg, then arrived at Belmont Park on Monday after a 131/2-hour van ride from Lexington.
Trainer Barclay Tagg said Showing Up is scheduled to run in the Derby unless his condition takes a turn for the worse.
"We're very lucky, that's all I can say. We've been blessed," Roy Jackson, 69, said Saturday after Showing Up impressively won the Grade II stake at Keeneland, giving the horse the earnings it needed to qualify for the Derby.
Barbaro, the Florida Derby champion, already had his ticket punched and is one of the Derby favorites.
"You've been climbing the ladder for 30 years, trying to get a great racehorse," Gretchen Jackson said last week in an interview on their 190-acre farm in West Grove, Chester County.
The Jacksons have never been to the Derby. They've never seen a race at Churchill Downs. Roy Jackson remembered popping his head inside the gates once.
At the Derby, both horses would be bucking history. Barbaro, 5 for 5 lifetime and trained by former Olympic equestrian medalist Michael Matz, will try to be the first Derby champion in 50 years to win off a five-week layoff. Showing Up, 3 for 3 and conditioned by Tagg, trainer of 2003 Kentucky Derby champion Funny Cide, would be only the second Derby champion who didn't race as a 2-year-old. The first was Apollo in 1882.
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