Oaks, Kentucky Oaks

Beautiful as they are intelligent. Complex and cunning, the Bond girls have adapted through the years to keep pace with the times. They have become as important to the Ian Fleming films as Bond himself. Wherever you see James Bond 007, there will always be a Bond girl. In the world of Thoroughbred horse racing, the Kentucky Derby may get top billing, but you can‘t have the Derby without the Oaks. I give you the Oaks girls… The Top 10 1 Blind Luck (Pollard’s Vision - Lucky One by Best of Luck) It was not quite as easy as expected, but she closed like a rocket to win her 2010 debut in the Las Virgenes. The Jerry Hollendorfer miss finished off last year with a devastating display in the Hollywood Starlet. She has a firm hold on my number one position and is ready to hit the track again in Saturday‘s Santa Anita Oaks. At this point her connections say the Oaks and not the Derby is the goal 2 Christine Daae (Giant’s Causeway - Descapate by Dehere) Her two starts at Gulfstream Park this Winter has everyone buzzing. The grand looking Patrick Biancone trainee was blazing fast in her maiden win and very professional in a recent allowance win. She has already proven that she can handle the nine furlongs of the Oaks and there is no reason to think a quick ascent up the sophomore division is not in her future. An expected return race in the Bonnie Miss would be a class test, where she would face… 3 Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook - Sara’s Success by Concord‘s Tune) I am not sure about the distance capabilities of this Rick Dutrow trained filly, but she was ultra impressive in her recent win in the one mile Grade 2 Davona Dale. It was her second consecutive sharp stakes score and marked her first ever race on dirt. The Florida bred should get a stern test at the distance in her next race where she is likely to look one Christine Daae square in the eye in the nine furlong Bonnie Miss. 4 Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union - Above Perfection by In Excess) The unquestioned leader of the juvenile filly division through September, has been somewhat forgotten without a race in six months. The good news is, that much like her older and more famous stablemate, her work schedule has been geared up in New Orleans. Her 2010 debut should be just around the corner and if she can build upon the brilliance she displayed last Summer, she will once again be a force within the division for trainer Steve Asmussen. 5 Negligee (Northern Afleet - Naughty Notions by Relaunch) From the same sire who brought us Afleet Alex, when last seen she was making a very good run in the Breeders’ Cup, despite running an erratic course. The John Terranova trained filly, was a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Alcibiades last Fall and she has consistently run well in all of her starts. She is now working sharply in Florida and a return race should happen shortly. 6 She Be Wild (Offlee Wild - Trappings by Seeking the Gold) The Eclipse Award winner got off to a rocky start to her sophomore year. The Forward Gal 5th place finish was her first race since the Breeders’ Cup and her first career try on dirt, so I am willing to overlook that one, and give her another chance. One more dull effort on the dirt will make me wonder if she is more of a synthetics horse, but right now I still believe she will be able to handle the dirt and run much better next time on her trail to the Oaks. 7 Biofuel (Stormin Fever - Ms Cornstalk by Indian Charlie) When last seen this Canadian based filly was closing like a freight train in the Breeders’ Cup, only to sideswiped by Negligee. Once she regained her stride, she was again flying towards the leaders, but a little too late. Her ability to finish off two-turns races fast, make her well suited for the last Friday in April. At the beginning of the year, I considered her a major Oaks threat, but without a workout yet this year, time is running out on the Reade Baker trained filly. She is now galloping at Palm Meadows. 8 Jody Slew (Slew City Slew - Trustbuster by Housebuster) This improving granddaughter of Seattle Slew made a name for herself with a rousing win in the recent Silverbulletday Stakes at the Fair Grounds. In that race the Bret Calhoun trainee trailed the field for most of the way before unleashing an irresistible closing kick to get up at the wire. Continued improvement will make this experienced filly a real threat come Kentucky Oaks day. 9 Cozi Rosie (Pleasantly Perfect - Felidia by Golden Fleece) I love the distance breeding on this Oaks list newcomer. The John Sadler trained and Jerry Moss owned stretch runner is improving with every start and should be ready to make a splash against stakes competition. Her breeding and running style make her one to watch out for in the Churchill Downs stretch. The only thing holding her back from a higher placing on this list is a class test, and she should get that very soon. 10 Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet - Jewel of the Night by Giant’s Causeway) Unheralded California bred filly has run 1st or 2nd in her last six starts for trainer James Cassidy, including a good run against the top colt, Caracortado. She is already a stakes winner at around two turns at Santa Anita. Her last effort when beaten just a nose by the division leader, Blind Luck, in the Las Virgenes, is enough to garner her a place in the Top 10. She is the second daughter of Northern Afleet on the list. Don’t forget, Zipse at the Track contributes to the Derby Dozen over at Steve Munday’s WirePlayers.com A consensus of ten racing experts creates the Derby Dozen, and Steve will have the list up and running every other Tuesday evening. Check out the current Derby Dozen now: http://wireplayers.com/blog/1977-wireplayers-derby-dozen-volume-iv.html

Down and Derby - Female Style

How about a little love for the ladies? Today ZATT forsakes the boys and takes a look at the fairer sex, with my first Kentucky Oaks list. Although, with the recent success shown by the girls in the Triple Crown races, some of these may be looking at the Derby as well. Enjoy these talented young ladies. The Top 10 1 Blind Luck (Pollard’s Vision - Lucky One by Best of Luck) We will have to wait just a little bit longer for the 2010 debut of Blind Luck, as today’s card at Santa Anita has been washed away. The Jerry Hollendorfer miss finished off last year with a devastating display in the Hollywood Starlet. She has a firm hold on my number one position with a bullet and all accounts have her in fine fettle in Southern California. Let the Derby whispers begin. 2 Christine Daae (Giant’s Causeway - Descapate by Dehere) Two races and one win, lands her this lofty position? Well, yes. Anyone who saw her return to the races in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream three weeks ago, knows that she is the real deal. Expect her ascent up the sophomore filly division to be as swift as she was in her win. She will jump right into a graded stakes next in the Davona Dale and her experienced trainer Patrick Biancone sees big things in her future. 3 Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union - Above Perfection by In Excess) The unquestioned leader of the juvenile filly division through September, has been away from the races for five full months now. Her work schedule has started to gear up in New Orleans, so hopefully her three-year-old debut is not too far away. If she can reproduce her brilliance this year and carry it around two turns, she will be a force to be reckoned with in the division. 4 She Be Wild (Offlee Wild - Trappings by Seeking the Gold) The Eclipse Award winner got off to a rocky start to her sophomore year. It was her first race since the Breeders’ Cup and her first career try on dirt, so I am willing to overlook that one, and give her another chance. One more dull effort on the dirt will make us wonder if she is more of a synthetics horse, but right now I still believe she will be able to handle the dirt and run much better next out. 5 Biofuel (Stormin Fever - Ms Cornstalk by Indian Charlie) When last seen this Canadian based filly was closing like a freight train in the Breeders’ Cup, only to sideswiped by Negligee. Once she regained her stride, she was again flying towards the leaders, but a little too late. She has not worked yet this year, so it looks like her debut will still be a little bit down the road. She may very well appreciate the 9 furlongs and the Churchill Downs strip come Oaks Day. 6 Bickersons (Silver Deputy - Dancehall Floozy by Paramount Jet) Who was that blur that absolutely ran away with the Forward Gal last week and in the process left champion She Be Wild in the dust? None other than the Kelly Breen trained, and well traveled, Bickersons. I like this filly a lot and she provided me with my biggest wagering score of the year so far, but I have a feeling that her best races will be at one turn. Still, her performance last week was so good, it secures a solid position on this list. 7 Negligee (Northern Afleet - Naughty Notions by Relaunch) I easily could have ranked this daughter of the same sire who brought us Afleet Alex higher. She was a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Alcibiades last Fall and followed that up with a very good run in the Breeders’ Cup, despite running an erratic course. She is now working well in Florida for her return, and although I still rate her lower than six others, I will not make the mistake of underestimating her again. 8 Amen Hallelujah (Montbrook - Sara’s Success by Concord‘s Tune) I am not sure about the distance capabilities of this Rick Dutrow trained filly, but she was quite impressive in her recent win in the 7 furlong Grade 2 Santa Ynez. It was her second race in Southern California after missing her expected run in the BC, and showed marked improvement over her first race back. She has yet to race on dirt, but opportunities are wide open for this improving daughter of Montbrook. 9 Devil May Care (Malibu Moon - Kelli’s Ransom by Red Ransom) This Todd Pletcher trainee stepped up in a big way last Fall, when she won the Grade 1 Frizette after only one lifetime start. She did not do well on the synthetic surface of the Breeders’ Cup, but it was a lot to ask of such an inexperienced filly. She has been working steadily in Florida for a return to the races soon, and I see this one as a filly who should love the longer distances to come. 10 Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon - Discreetly Awesome by Awesome Again) The Stanley Hough trained, gray daughter of Maria’s Mon was impressive in her steady climb up the ranks of the best juvenile fillies on the East Coast last year. She won the Matron and did not have the best of it, when 2nd in the Frizette. She has not worked out at all this year, so we will have to wait and see on this talented filly who is bred to appreciate the extra ground when she stretches out. Don’t forget, Zipse at the Track contributes to the Derby Dozen over at Steve Munday’s WirePlayers.com A consensus of ten racing experts creates the Derby Dozen, and Steve will have the list up and running every other Tuesday evening. Check out the current Derby Dozen now: http://wireplayers.com/blog/1656-derby-dozen-volume-ii.html

The Rachel Diaries - Day 6

Today is labor day and our Rachel Alexandra vacation is winding down. Yesterday we spent half the day at beautiful Lake George and then caught the second half of the day’s races. At the track, I won a few dollars and saw some impressive horseflesh. In the Grade 3 Saranac, Bill Mott added yet another stakes winner on the lawn to his resume. Al Khali, a Kentucky bred son of Medaglia d’Oro, raced at two in Peru and has now become a force on grass in America at three. He won by only 1 ¾ lengths, but it was an effortless rally off a moderate pace and was geared down late. I will look for him to run long and against older soon. The Spinaway was predictably won by the precocious Hot Dixie Chick. She is the most impressive 2-year-old filly in the country so far and she ran very fast again yesterday. I was quite taken by the 2nd place filly Beautician. The gray daughter of Dehere has a beautiful long stride and ran a huge race yesterday. I am predicting big things in her future. One vital part of our trip that I have not mentioned yet is the food. Yesterday we visited a traditional stop for me, PJ’s Barbecue. This favorite of many is just a few minutes south of the track and serves the best barbecue chicken that I have ever tasted. It is slow roasted and constantly basted over an open pit with oil, cider vinegar and spices. It is succulent, unique and delicious. Unfortunately, this meal at PJ’s was bittersweet, as word is this will be their final Summer. Say it ain’t so PJ’s! Chicken was definitely a culinary highlight for us on this trip as back in Buffalo we visited a national landmark in the Anchor Bar. They originated the Buffalo chicken wing and today they still make the best that you can get. Our other meals were good but those two meals stood out. I would also be remiss in not mentioning something that I have been eating all of my life … a shout-out goes to the racetrack clam chowder, as good as it has ever been. Speaking of as good as she has ever been. I am still on a Rachel Alexandra high. The thrill of the stretch run, my great fondness for her, and the raw emotion of the uproarious crowd all made this one of the most exciting races I have ever seen. Despite the narrowness of her victory, I have the utmost respect for what she accomplished in making history by winning the Woodward. As outlined in my previous column, Rachel overcame a lot that would have cooked the goose of a mere mortal horse. I understand that Rachel will almost certainly not run another race this year and the slight, selfish sadness I feel is more than overshadowed by a sense of accomplishment and doing what is best for her. Not since Spectacular Bid in his 4-year-old season of 1980 has there been a horse with truly nothing left to prove, but that is how I feel about the 2009 campaign of Rachel Alexandra. I snicker at those who suggest that she can not get a distance. Do they not realize that she is 8 for 8 around two turns? Her nine race winning streak is compromised of races from one mile to a mile and 3/16. She has beaten the boys and she has beaten the men, she has won five consecutive Grade 1 races. Rachel has run brilliantly fast and won by record distances. She has showed the courage of a lion after battling on suicidal fractions. Rachel has won at seven different tracks this year. She has captured the hearts of millions of devoted fans. You have done enough great one. Take your rest. For next year will bring a whole new set of challenges to test your grandeur. I, for one, can not wait to see you run again. Thank you for 2009.