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#2
10-26-2008, 10:42 AM
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Bet Asmussen is wishing he had gone with his first mind and not brought Curlin out here for this. Couldn't even beat Tiago. He'd still get my vote but I'm sure a lot of voters will be swayed or come close to it as far as him vs. Zenyatta for HOY.
I've said for 20 years that the QE II Stakes at Ascot is a better prep for the Classic than for the BC Mile. Midnight Lute is something. Zarkava is REALLY something. Anyone that still wants to debate that these junk tracks play favorably for grass horses, I hereby enter into evidence exhibit A, the BC Classic. I wish Zenyatta had been in the Classic. American trainers should have to be sent to Europe to do one year of studying. Maybe then, we could see more fillies do what Goldikova did, what Zarkava did, and what Zenyatta could have done this year......take on and beat the boys. The temperature was over 90 degrees and the Euro's dominated the day. It was 100 last time at SA and they were very successful then too. I'd hope that one day, this silly notion that the warm temps of Southern California put them at a disadvantage. Probably won't though. I think it's as ingrained in the minds of players as the silly thoughts about Pimlico. How about that Baffert guy.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020) Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine 
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#3
10-26-2008, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
With the honourable exception of Giant's Causeway (who was a well-beaten second at Ascot) when before has the QEII figured in the Breeders' Cup Classic shake down?
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"Pound for pound the greatest sportsman Britain has ever produced." John Francome on A. P. McCoy.
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#4
10-26-2008, 02:31 PM
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Quote:
Shadeed, Milligram, Warning, Zilzal, Markofdistinction, Bigstone, Mark of Esteem, Desert Prince, and Air Express (?) all came over here and lost. There were three losers from that race that came over and won the Mile (Miesque, Ridgewood Pearl, and Barathea) while Excellent Art was a very close second. Why does this happen? Because those horses are true milers and they usually lack the stamina that it takes to win the QE II, even though that race is run at a mile. So look at what's been happening since 2000. First, Giant's Causeway comes over and very nearly wins the Classic. He was arguable better at longer distances than at a mile. Falbrav won the race and lost by less than a length in the BC Turf and he was arguably better at longer distances than a mile. Same with Ratki. Then you have these two this year. My point is that even though they haven't historically used it that way, I've always felt that horses that do well in the QE II, especially winners, would have fared better if given a shot in the Classic because usually, they don't have the quickness required for an American run mile but they do have the stamina for American 10f races. I guarantee you that if next year's QE II winner comes over for the BC, it will be for the Classic and not the Mile.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020) Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
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