Ten for Ten

Undefeated superstar, Lookin at Lucky, won the Preakness Stakes today and is now a perfect ten for ten lifetime. That very well could have been my opening line had good fortune been on his side. An overstatement? Perhaps, but Lookin at Lucky once again proved himself to be at the very top of his class once again. He may not have won the Breeders’ Cup as a juvenile, but with a better trip he would have. Lookin at Lucky was still good enough to win all his other races at two, and easily take home the Eclipse Award as America’s best juvenile. He may not have won the Kentucky Derby, but he was forced into the rail so forcefully that his chances to win were all but nil after the first quarter mile. After that beginning, finishing in the top third of the field was quite an accomplishment for the son of Smart Strike. He may not have even won his final prep for the Kentucky Derby, but his trouble in the Santa Anita Derby was severe enough for his jockey, Garrett Gomez to go after rival jockey Victor Espinoza with a right hook. Would he have caught Sidney’s Candy that day? No one knows for sure, but I wouldn’t put it past this horse. Ten races could have easily been ten wins with only a little luck. Instead Lookin at Lucky has been the brunt of seemingly awful racing luck, but the bottom line is he still has a sparkling record with seven wins in ten tries, including six graded stakes wins. He is already a champion, and in strong contention for another this year, and now he is a classic winner. The horse whose luck needed to change finally had things go his way. He was due, in fact he was overdue. Look out world, Looking at Lucky is back…all he ever needed was a fair chance. Photo by Cecilia G. Felix

Black-Eyed Susan Day and An Old Friend

My first day at Pimlico was interesting, let’s just leave at that. It is nice to be at the Maryland track with so much tradition, and the home of one of America’s biggest races. I explored the place inside and out, and came to the conclusion that it is old. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Adding to my interesting first day at Pimlico was the result of the day’s big race. It was strange. In the Black-Eyed Susan, I had decided to play two horses, Seeking the Title and Diva Delite. Neither of my selections would finish the race. Diva Delite clipped heels with C C’s Pal and fell to the track. Meanwhile Seeking the Title, trying to avoid the fallen horse and jockey, unseated jockey Kent Desormeaux. Julien Leparoux, rider of Diva Delite, received medical attention on the track before he was taken to the Hospital for further examination. Leparoux seems to be OK for the most part, but will no doubt feel the hard spill for awhile. Desormeaux and both fillies, Seeking The Title and Diva Delite, avoided serious injury. Leparoux is scheduled to ride Pleasant Prince in the Preakness, while Desormeaux will be on Paddy O’Prado tomorrow. Acting Happy went on to win the Black-Eyed Susan by 1 1/2 lengths in the bizarre running. I was left to wonder…Pimlico, are you trying to tell me something? After the unusual Black-Eyed Susan result, I met some more bad news. One of my favorite horses, Skip Away passed away this morning of a heart attack at the age of 17. Skip Away was a horse I remembered on this blog not that long ago, and a horse I had a great affection for. He was a modern day warrior who danced every single dance. Skippy was a son of Skip Trial, who won 18 times in 38 starts. He ran consistently well in top flight competition over four consecutive seasons, amassing more than $9.6 million in earnings. He was a three-time Eclipse Award winner and the 1998 Horse of the Year. Skip Away was a winner of ten grade 1 races, but today on my initial visit to Pimlico, I could not help but to recall a losing effort. In the 1996 Preakness, I liked Skip Away, as I usually did, and was disappointed he could not never reel in the speedy Louis Quatorze. Skip Away finished second in that Preakness, but had many days of redemption after leaving Pimlico. I am sorry to see a true champion leave us so soon. Rest in peace Skippy, you are one horse I will never forget. Let’s hope that tomorrow is a better today. It should be…tomorrow is Preakness Day.

Who Am I ???

*I won exactly one quarter of my starts, was in the money in two-thirds of my races, and never once finished 2nd. *My first eight races were all in the same state until I hit the road in earnest. *Both of my stakes wins came in my second season of racing. *Bred in Kentucky, my sire was a champion in two countries and a grandson of the great Northern Dancer. *All of my trainer‘s best horses were for the same owners, and I was owned by them as well. *I hold an interesting record in America‘s greatest series of races. *I ran in all three legs of the Triple Crown, where my average odds were 40-1. *While well known in U.S. racing, none of my connections (owner, trainer, or jockey) have ever won the Kentucky Derby. *Both of my stakes wins came at the same American racetrack. *Today I stand at stud south of the border, quite a bit south. *I was never a champion myself, but I did defeat two champions, a Derby winner, a Preakness winner, a Belmont winner, a Travers winner, and a Breeders’ Cup winner. You should know by now … Who Am I ???

Winning at My First Preakness

Everyone remembers their first time. Whether it is a first kiss or a first visit to Disneyworld, there is something magical about that first time. My friends, I am thrilled to announce that I will be experiencing an important first this week in Maryland. I know what you are thinking, and no, that’s not it! Please remove your mind from the gutter. I am talking about a horse racing related first time. I am somewhat embarrassed to announce (let me whisper this, so no one else overhears) that I have never been to the Preakness. I have never even been to Pimlico for that matter.  I know it’s hard to believe. I have been going to the races since birth and I’ve been to around three dozen different thoroughbred racetracks. I’ve been to countless Kentucky Derbies and Belmont Stakes, but never once to the Preakness. Why? I have no good answer, but I will finally rectify the sad state of affairs in a matter of days. It’s about time, and I consider completing the Triple Crown as a rite of passage of sorts. And every subsequent visit, no matter how many years later, will be compared with this trip, my first Preakness. I am chomping at the bit to get there, and once I get there I plan to win. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

ZATT Update - Kathleen O’Connell & Anthony Stephen

Calder’s champion trainer in 2009 continues to impress racing fans and now even the hardcore followers of horse racing agree, Kathleen O’Connell is among the best and most under-appreciated conditioners in the business. After her history-making training title at Calder the veteran trainer took on Jamie Ness and his powerful stable and she tied the nation’s 2009 second leading trainer in wins for the recently concluded meet at Tampa Bay Downs. Tampa’s leading trainer on multiple occasions, Ness found himself in an unusual position facing off against O’Connell, fighting to keep his usual place on top. In every stall early in the morning and atop her pony every day when the track opens for training, she did not show the pressures of being in a trainer battle for the title, but in her eyes, you could see the intensity that makes her so special. Not blessed with classically bred racehorses or the richest owners, O’Connell continues to compete using her trademark hard work, intelligent use of the condition book, and a steely focus on the well-being of her horses. At a racetrack where brilliant conditioners Wayne Catalano, Dale Bennett, Tom Proctor, and so many others send full-strings for the winter racing, her work ethic powered her runners to upset win after upset win, when she wasn’t sending the morning line favorite to the winner’s circle. O’Connell is no stranger to the top five in the trainer standings whether at Calder, Tampa or Colonial Downs, but when others would sit back and enjoy their exciting careers she just continues to work harder and smarter than the year before. Readily admitting it is exciting to be in contention every year for training titles, O’Connell flat out refuses to take a breath and admire her fine work instead using the time to find ways to improve her horses. Traveling back and forth to Miami all winter O’Connell prepared her runners to not only share the training title at Tampa but has freshened many of her Calder runners and has them primed for Calder and others for Colonial Downs. And, as if to prove yet again she has the heart and eye of a champion, O’Connell among her many accomplishments was first to regularly ride and win races with a new face to America's race riding scene when she spotted and rode Anthony Stephen on some of her Tampa winners. The semi-vacationing rider also went on to win several races for multi Breeder’s Cup winner Wayne Catalano at Tampa. Both excellent trainers were first to recognize why he was a superstar in every country he has ridden in and again firmly cements them both as overall brilliant judges of talent from the sales ring to the winner’s circle. Meanwhile, look for Anthony Stephen to make another crack at American racing in the near future.

Rail Trip, Tanda and Fly Down

Last year Rail Trip proved that he was one of the top handicap horses in America, highlighted by a smashing victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup. This year he may be even better. Making his first start in eight months, and since a minor injury that kept him out of last Fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Rail Trip turned the Mervyn Leroy Handicap into a personal showcase of his immense talent. The 3 ½ length win was as effortless as it was impressive, as he stalked Three Drunks early and then took over the race at his pleasing. The Jay Em Ess owned colt looks bigger, stronger, and more confident than ever now as a five-year-old. Competition in the Mervyn Leroy was not the strongest, and things will surely get tougher for the Ron Ellis trained horse, but on Saturday he served notice that he will be the one to beat in all big handicap races this year in California. A possible showdown with super mare Zenyatta may be in his future, and hopefully the son of Jump Start will take to a dirt surface come Breeders’ Cup Classic time. One thing is for sure, this winner of 7 of 10 lifetime races, is one serious racehorse. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here