The Pinnacle
After Friday started with a fight and ended with a controversial non-gate scratch, the opening BC action Saturday was docile to say the least.
In the Juvenile Turf, Pluck overcame a slow start and a dropped rider to win going away at a fat 6-1 under Garrett Gomez. The colt has only run poorly once and he had the legit excuse of the mud in his racing debut. Future is so bright for this guy; his connections have to wear shades.
They say the shortest way around an oval is on the rail and Big Drama accentuated that fact with his win from the fence in the Sprint. Now, 9 for 16, he built on his $1.5 million bankroll by controlling the pace and the outcome.
Horse for the course Hamazing Destiny made a huge middle move but could not sustain it at the end while show horse Smiling Tiger has to be watched for his next start and he had worked great coming to the race but did not get the best of trips.
The need for speed was met in the Turf Sprint with a final clocking of :56.53. Chamberlain Bridge, who had foot problems last week, overcame trouble and a 7-wide trip to collar pacesetter Central City. Bridge is now 16 for 31 career and he padded his already million-dollar status.
The name is nothing special, but the horse surely is as Uncle Mo destroyed his rivals in the Juvenile coasting to the wire to win by daylight.
The question now will he be able to get the Classic distance in the Kentucky Derby. Mo’s sire Indian Charlie won the 9-furlong Santa Anita Derby and was third in the Derby beaten 2 and three quarters lengths.
His dam graduated at a mile, won at a mile and 16th on the grass and dropped a 5-route winner.
Stay tuned.
History was made in the Mile as Goldikova became the only horse ever to win three BC races. She took the Mile in 2008 with a 107 Beyer and then built on that figure in last year’s score before posting the 106 Beyer Saturday.
She is one of the ones.
In the Dirt Mile, it was all about 1-800-longshot as Dakota Phone nailed Morning Line on the wire at hockey sticks, a juicy $77.40.
Trainer by Jerry Hollendorfer has won over 220 races this year and his student Phone settled for up and coming superstar rider Joel Rosario and put in a dazzling late bid.
The mile and a half Turf is not for those with a faint heart. Dangerous Midge ran like his name suggests to win his 4th of 7 career starts under Frankie Dettori, who was winning his 4th BC Turf and his 7th BC race overall.
His connections decided to skip the Arc after winning the Arc Trial and he still has plenty of room to improve.
The big moment finally arrived, the crowd was on pins and needles and they were treated to a brilliant Classic and a very entertaining 2 days.
The trip to my local track was worthwhile as the collective grown when Zenyatta, who recorded a 111 Beyer, fell short said in one moment how much she meant to the sport.
Take nothing away from Blame as he is expertly handled by Al Stall and has a right to get better.
What a long, strange trip it’s been and we’ll do it all over again next fall at Churchill on November 4 and 5 so take a rest, recoup, but sharpen up those pencils for the next stars.
