Suff
12-28-2003, 10:39 AM
If You are not Familiar with Donovan he's a Local NYRA Capper and a Part of thier Multi-media pre race show broadcast over the Simal Signal.. He's fairly sharp.. although I like Kelley Getiwich better.. she looks into races a bit deeper than he does...
Anyway,, a good article he wrote on New Yorks Best races this year.
With only six days left in 2003, it is time to look back and remember the best stakes races staged at New York Racing Association tracks this year. The criteria for selecting the races included excitement and meaningfulness of the race as well as the horses that participated.
No. 1 - Belmont Stakes. Anyone at Belmont Park on June 7th witnessed a day of Thoroughbred racing they are sure not to forget. More than 100,000 fans packed the grand facility on a miserable rainy day to see if Funny Cide could become that elusive 12th Triple Crown winner. Sent off the even-money favorite over archrival Empire Maker and four others, the popular New York-bred gelding made the lead, but was clearly not comfortable in the slop. Close throughout under a strong ride from Jerry Bailey, Empire Maker made a bid on the turn, put Funny Cide away and dug in to hold off a late charge from eventual Travers winner Ten Most Wanted. Oh well, maybe next year.
No. 2 - Suburban Handicap. Mineshaft made his first of several New York starts an impressive one. He broke well and sat a perfect trip behind a longshot speed horse under jockey Robby Albarado. Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi was right alongside Mineshaft at the top of the stretch until Albarado shook up Mineshaft and drew clear under a moderate hand ride while Volponi was all-out.
No. 3 - Whitney Handicap. With Mineshaft sitting this one out to be fresh for the fall, the Whitney featured a re-match between Volponi and Medaglia d'Oro. The last time they met, Volponi easily drew off to a huge score in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but that would not be the case on this early August afternoon. Medaglia d'Oro, favored off a four-month layoff, raced closer to the lead than Volponi and took advantage of his position inheriting the lead and staying on well to best the 2002 Classic winner.
No. 4 - Jim Dandy. While Funny Cide fans might not be too happy with the choice for No. 1, they might like this one a little better. Strong Hope, a lightly-raced and improving three-year-old from the Todd Pletcher barn set quick fractions to lead every step of the way. Empire Maker, who had not run since his Belmont triumph, fell more than six lengths off the early lead leaving him with plenty to do in the stretch. Empire Maker finished strongly but could not get by Strong Hope. After the race, Empire Maker's trainer, Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel said, "We learned he wants to be in the fight." As it turned out, that would be Empire Maker's last fight, as he was retired to stud. Maybe we never saw his best, maybe we did. The debate as to how good a racehorse he was will linger for years.
No. 5 - Carter Handicap. Congaree officially won the unofficial "Aqueduct Horse of the Year" award for 2003 based on his wins in the Carter Handicap and, later in the year, the Cigar Mile, the two most important races for older horses at the Big A. The Carter was probably the better race of the two. Going seven furlongs, the five-year-old sparred with Affirmed Success earlier on, disposed of his elder and was well clear in front of Aldebaran.
No. 6 - Wood Memorial. The first meeting between Funny Cide and Empire Maker was an exciting one. The two hooked up in a memorable stretch duel with Empire Maker coming out on top. The presence of these two horses made the Wood Memorial the premier prep race, especially when Empire Maker and Funny Cide went on to win all three Triple Crown races.
No. 7 - Diana Handicap. This $500,000 Grade 1 attracted an awesome group of filly and mare turfers. The race seemed very evenly matched going in and it played out that way. Voodoo Dancer, Heat Haze and Wonder Again were heads apart in the stretch. When Wonder Again backed out, Voodoo Dancer and Heat Haze continued to go at it in a thrilling duel to the wire with Voodoo Dancer coming out on top.
No. 8 - Riva Ridge. While the best three-year-olds were set to run a couple races later in the Belmont Stakes, a nice group of sophomore sprinters went to the post in the Riva Ridge. Midas Eyes, the 4-5 favorite looked like he would be impossible to run down after opening a lead in the stretch, but Posse sustained his rally from 10 1/2 lengths back to nail Midas Eyes at the wire.
No. 9 - Demoiselle. Based on her stakes wins earlier in the season and a strong runner-up effort to Halfbridled in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Ashado seemed like a solid favorite. Another filly in the Demoiselle, the lightly-raced La Reina from the Shug McGaughey barn, also received significant tote action. Ashado sat just behind pacesetter Please Take Me Out and La Reina before taking command in mid stretch. La Reina refused to give up, however, fighting back to get on even terms near the wire. Ashado won a desperate head-bobbing finish in one of the better renewals of this race in recent years.
No. 10 - Personal Ensign. Wild Spirit, sent off the 1-5 favorite in the field of five, looked impossible to beat on paper. In the race, she got bottled up inside approaching the top of the stretch and never gave a big spurt, even though she seized the lead in the stretch. Passing Shot and Jose Santos took advantage of Wild Spirit's unwillingness to open up and nailed the chalk on the wire. Another big upset for the Giant Killer, Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens.
Anyway,, a good article he wrote on New Yorks Best races this year.
With only six days left in 2003, it is time to look back and remember the best stakes races staged at New York Racing Association tracks this year. The criteria for selecting the races included excitement and meaningfulness of the race as well as the horses that participated.
No. 1 - Belmont Stakes. Anyone at Belmont Park on June 7th witnessed a day of Thoroughbred racing they are sure not to forget. More than 100,000 fans packed the grand facility on a miserable rainy day to see if Funny Cide could become that elusive 12th Triple Crown winner. Sent off the even-money favorite over archrival Empire Maker and four others, the popular New York-bred gelding made the lead, but was clearly not comfortable in the slop. Close throughout under a strong ride from Jerry Bailey, Empire Maker made a bid on the turn, put Funny Cide away and dug in to hold off a late charge from eventual Travers winner Ten Most Wanted. Oh well, maybe next year.
No. 2 - Suburban Handicap. Mineshaft made his first of several New York starts an impressive one. He broke well and sat a perfect trip behind a longshot speed horse under jockey Robby Albarado. Breeders' Cup Classic winner Volponi was right alongside Mineshaft at the top of the stretch until Albarado shook up Mineshaft and drew clear under a moderate hand ride while Volponi was all-out.
No. 3 - Whitney Handicap. With Mineshaft sitting this one out to be fresh for the fall, the Whitney featured a re-match between Volponi and Medaglia d'Oro. The last time they met, Volponi easily drew off to a huge score in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but that would not be the case on this early August afternoon. Medaglia d'Oro, favored off a four-month layoff, raced closer to the lead than Volponi and took advantage of his position inheriting the lead and staying on well to best the 2002 Classic winner.
No. 4 - Jim Dandy. While Funny Cide fans might not be too happy with the choice for No. 1, they might like this one a little better. Strong Hope, a lightly-raced and improving three-year-old from the Todd Pletcher barn set quick fractions to lead every step of the way. Empire Maker, who had not run since his Belmont triumph, fell more than six lengths off the early lead leaving him with plenty to do in the stretch. Empire Maker finished strongly but could not get by Strong Hope. After the race, Empire Maker's trainer, Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel said, "We learned he wants to be in the fight." As it turned out, that would be Empire Maker's last fight, as he was retired to stud. Maybe we never saw his best, maybe we did. The debate as to how good a racehorse he was will linger for years.
No. 5 - Carter Handicap. Congaree officially won the unofficial "Aqueduct Horse of the Year" award for 2003 based on his wins in the Carter Handicap and, later in the year, the Cigar Mile, the two most important races for older horses at the Big A. The Carter was probably the better race of the two. Going seven furlongs, the five-year-old sparred with Affirmed Success earlier on, disposed of his elder and was well clear in front of Aldebaran.
No. 6 - Wood Memorial. The first meeting between Funny Cide and Empire Maker was an exciting one. The two hooked up in a memorable stretch duel with Empire Maker coming out on top. The presence of these two horses made the Wood Memorial the premier prep race, especially when Empire Maker and Funny Cide went on to win all three Triple Crown races.
No. 7 - Diana Handicap. This $500,000 Grade 1 attracted an awesome group of filly and mare turfers. The race seemed very evenly matched going in and it played out that way. Voodoo Dancer, Heat Haze and Wonder Again were heads apart in the stretch. When Wonder Again backed out, Voodoo Dancer and Heat Haze continued to go at it in a thrilling duel to the wire with Voodoo Dancer coming out on top.
No. 8 - Riva Ridge. While the best three-year-olds were set to run a couple races later in the Belmont Stakes, a nice group of sophomore sprinters went to the post in the Riva Ridge. Midas Eyes, the 4-5 favorite looked like he would be impossible to run down after opening a lead in the stretch, but Posse sustained his rally from 10 1/2 lengths back to nail Midas Eyes at the wire.
No. 9 - Demoiselle. Based on her stakes wins earlier in the season and a strong runner-up effort to Halfbridled in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Ashado seemed like a solid favorite. Another filly in the Demoiselle, the lightly-raced La Reina from the Shug McGaughey barn, also received significant tote action. Ashado sat just behind pacesetter Please Take Me Out and La Reina before taking command in mid stretch. La Reina refused to give up, however, fighting back to get on even terms near the wire. Ashado won a desperate head-bobbing finish in one of the better renewals of this race in recent years.
No. 10 - Personal Ensign. Wild Spirit, sent off the 1-5 favorite in the field of five, looked impossible to beat on paper. In the race, she got bottled up inside approaching the top of the stretch and never gave a big spurt, even though she seized the lead in the stretch. Passing Shot and Jose Santos took advantage of Wild Spirit's unwillingness to open up and nailed the chalk on the wire. Another big upset for the Giant Killer, Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens.