ZATT is Silenced

I was so looking forward to this past weekend. On Saturday, it would be the 141st running of the Travers Stakes. One of the most prestigious and historic races in America, this year’s edition featured a full field of eleven sophomore colts who appeared extremely evenly matched on paper. Then on Sunday, it was to be the next chapter of the Rachel Alexandra story. I have made no secret of my affection for the filly, and the Personal Ensign offered her numerous new challenges. It would be her first grade 1 of the year, her first race with one of the most respected horses in the country in Life at Ten, and her first attempt at the classic distance of a mile and a quarter. My anticipation for the weekend at Saratoga was intense, and heightening the anticipation was my personal confidence in the feeling that I knew who were going to win these two races. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Here’s Why Fly Down Wins

There is no doubt that the Mid-Summer Derby is one of my favorite races of the season. Year and year out, it acts as a great bridge between the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup. This year’s edition of the Travers is no different. What it lacks in superstars, it makes up for with competitiveness. There is literally not one horse, among the eleven, that would be a major surprise to me if they crossed the wire first. Having said that, I have a couple of reasons why I believe Fly Down may be the one to prove victorious. Reason number one is stamina. In watching years of Travers, it occurs to me that this is a race in which the need for stamina is somewhat underrated. Saratoga’s dirt course combined with the classic distance seem to weed out the horses that do not appreciate the extra furlong. This year there is a clear division, in my mind at least, between horses who will get the distance, and those who will deploy the parachute at some point in the stretch. You can make a case that the only four likely to not need an oxygen tank at the eighth pole are the four horses who ran (and did well) in the triple crown races, namely Super Saver, Ice Box, First Dude, and Fly Down. The other seven have never been the distance for a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is the Travers will prove a tough race to attempt the distance for the first time. I would be more likely to forgive this drawback if any of the other seven had breeding that screamed distance … none do. Reason number two is pace. A full field of eleven gunning for a million dollar win should ensure solid early fractions. Also, in looking over the field’s past performances, there are several horses in here who need to be on or near the lead. The combination of those two things have bells and whistles going off in my handicapping brain. A fast and contested pace, with many of the field’s contestants not wanting the distance anyway, should lead to some serious staggering down the lane. It also should set the race up nicely for the closers. For that reason, I prefer Nick Zito’s pair of Fly Down and Ice Box over my other two contenders based on stamina, Super Saver and First Dude, who both want to be part of the early pace. Of Fly Down and Ice Box, I believe the former is just a better horse, and will beat his barn mate. A repeat of his Dwyer or Belmont performance should be plenty good enough to see Fly Down victorious in tomorrow’s Travers, and don’t be too surprised if you see New York Nick Zito all smiles after the race with a 1-2 finish. It ought to be a fun, and counting the hours down in anticipation of the big race, has me recalling some of my favorite Travers. There may be none more memorable than my very first. The year was 1978 … for my memories on that epic showdown, please visit today’s piece on ZATT History.

Look to the Longshots In the Belmont Stakes

I have been watching The Test of Champions for the past four decades, and I know it takes a unique kind of horse to succeed over a mile and a half at Big Sandy. The Belmont Stakes is a race that will underscore the greatness of a champion, but it also is one that tends to point out the deficiencies of a lesser horse. Over the years, I have learned to look past the favorites who will be beaten at Belmont. The average winning payoff for the Belmont winner over the last decade is a hefty 40 dollars, and I expect more of the same this year, so my money will be on the live longshots over the clear favorite. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Belmont Stakes Blues

No Triple Crown this year. So what. We have not had a sweep in 32 years, and I am used to living without one, and now we do not have to worry about being disappointed by the Derby and Preakness winner going down in New York. The Triple Crown should be reserved for the crème de la crème. If we do not have that this year, than so be it, there should be no Triple Crown winner. Personally, I am not going to cry about it, nor am I going to talk about the Belmont as less of a race because there is no opportunity for a Crown winner. The Belmont is still the Belmont, which is one of the most important races in our nation. This year’s edition will be sans a Derby or Preakness winner, which will guarantee a trio of classic winners in 2010. That could make things very interesting later in the year, say in the Travers, with the three winners hooking up. Without a standout, the Belmont promises to be a very interesting race from both a competitive standpoint as well as a wagering opportunity. I know I am already looking forward to betting against the favorite. Here is a list of horses currently looking at the Belmont Stakes, with my earliest of morning lines: Ice Box   2-1 Fly Down   4-1 First Dude   6-1 Dublin   10-1 Make Music For Me   12-1 Devil May Care   15-1 Uptowncharlybrown   15-1 Game On Dude   15-1 Drosselmeyer   20-1 Stately Victor   20-1 Stay Put   20-1 Setsuko   20-1 New Madrid   20-1 Superstars and world beaters? No, but doesn’t this still look like a pretty interesting race? I will be looking forward to the Belmont Stakes as usual, plus the fabulous card that Belmont puts together for the day. If you want to sing your Belmont Stakes Blues, do it someplace else. ZATT is all in!

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

The Fine Art of Eating Crow

I must admit, I woke from bed yesterday morning rather excited at the prospect at once and for all seeing what Drosselmeyer could do. He has been a horse I have been following and liking since last Fall. The Dwyer would be the race where he would leave all excuses in the rearview mirror. I pictured a stalking trip and a powerful explosion at the top of the lane that would carry him six lengths clear of the rest of the field. The impressive win would send him onto the Belmont as one of the horses to beat. Things went exactly as planned, except for one small detail, it wasn’t Drosselmeyer who impressively blitzed the field. Rather it was the Nick Zito trained, Fly Down who now looks like a legitimate up-and-comer, and one that may have a say come four weeks from now in the Belmont Stakes. Ever the optimist, I took the opportunity of being so wrong, to revisit a favorite recipe of mine for last night’s dinner.  The recipe follows... Here is what you will need: -1 large crow (de-feather the crow only if you want to take the easy way out) -4 tablespoons butter or margarine -2 tablespoons flour -1/2 cup clear stock -1/2 cup white wine seasoning -The rest of that bottle of wine (for rapid consumption) Cooking Instructions: -Melt butter or margarine in a heat-proof Dutch oven. -When hot, sauté the crow gently all over until it's golden brown. -Remove the bird. -Add flour, stock and wine, blend smoothly. -Bring to a boil and add seasoning. -Return bird to the Dutch oven and cover. -Cook in preheated 350 degree oven, turning bird while cooking, for 35 to 40 minutes, or until bird is tender. Many of you may never need to eat crow, but if you are like me, and eating crow is far from an unfamiliar occurrence, then by all means try this recipe and enjoy!