Race of the Century - Second Division

Excitement fills the air as the huge crowd readies for the much anticipated 2nd Division of the Race of the Century. A field of 13 is set to do battle to get a step closer to 21st century bragging rights. The sun is shining and it is a little hot and humid for this time of year with temperatures approaching the nineties here at Churchill Downs. The horses look great but you can see the heat on at least one of their conditioners; Rick Dutrow, trainer of St. Liam, is completely washed out. The fans have had a tough time deciding between this loaded field. Ghostzapper rates a tepid favorite over Curlin, although both horses are listed at 9-2 on the tote board. Next is two-time Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Tiznow at 5-1 and the sentimental choice is Barbaro who will go off at 7-1. I’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsor Dapper Dan Hair Cream for helping to get all these great horses together. We’re getting close now. The horses are starting to load, let’s get ready to run. They’re all in, and…They’re Off!!! War Emblem is off like a rocket from the outside, just to his inside is Ghostzapper and there goes St. Liam on the rail. War Emblem is determined to have the lead as Victor Espinoza steers him towards the rail. St Liam and Ghostzapper are next, but there is a wall of horses between them. Azeri, Lava Man, Tiznow and Left Bank all try to hold their pos…OH! Left Bank checks sharply! Lawyer Ron and Rags to Riches are also bumped in the melee. That could have been disastrous, but everyone is still on their feet. It’s War Emblem by a length and a half. St. Liam and Ghostzapper are renewing their rivalry in the early stages with a Californian contingent of Azeri, Lava Man, and Tiznow close behind. Barbaro is down on the rail, with the recovered Left Bank back in contention. Next comes Lawyer Ron, the filly Rags to Riches, Afleet Alex and then back to Street Sense who has fallen some 20 lengths behind of the fast pace set by War Emblem. Fast, I’ll say :22 and 3 and now :45 and 3! It is a furious pace and the others are closing in. Just three lengths separates the first eight horses. War Emblem leads the chase into the far turn with St. Liam off the rail and Ghostzapper on the outside breathing down his neck. Lava Man and Barbaro move up and Tiznow is between horses. Afleet Alex moves up on the rail and Street Sense still has more than 15 lengths to make up. Rags to Riches is making her move. Spinning out of the turn that’s Ghostzapper who’s taken the lead, Tiznow joins St. Liam from the inside and Curlin is making a powerful move on the far outside. Barbaro is right there with Rags to Riches and Afleet Alex. As they approach the eighth pole it is Ghostzapper and Tiznow. Tiznow and Ghostzapper! Curlin is driving on the outside and … Afleet Alex bursts through a narrow opening on the inside! Afleet Alex is flying! Ghostzapper, Tiznow, Curlin and Afleet Alex! That’s Afleet Alex with Curlin on the outside, Afleet Alex has done it! Afleet Alex with Curlin, Tiznow, and Ghostzapper, What a Race ladies and gentleman! The top four finishers: Afleet Alex, Curlin, Tiznow, and Ghostzapper advance on to the final race in the Race of the Century. In the all important race for the fifth spot, the fans’ sentimental favorite, Barbaro, won a four hose photo over Rags to Riches, St. Liam and the late running Street Sense. Barbaro will round out the top five headed to the championship race. The final order of finish included Lava Man 9th, Lawyer Ron 10th, Left Bank 11th, Azeri 12th, and War Emblem staggered home in the stretch to finish last. Final time for the race over the fast Churchill Downs Dirt Course was 1:59 and 4. Ten of the best horses of the 21st Century have now qualified for the finals. The Race of the Century will include: Afleet Alex Rachel Alexandra Curlin Invasor Tiznow Point Given Ghostzapper Bernardini Barbaro Zenyatta

Race of the Century - First Division

It is a beautiful day here at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Seventy two degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The crowd is in high spirits as these wonderful champions are making their way to the starting gate. A quick check of the tote board reveals that the popularity of the super 3-year-old filly, Rachel Alexandra, is as strong as ever, and at 7-2, she rates a slight favorite over 2006 Horse-of-the-Year, Invasor, who is 4-1. 2001 3-year-old champ, Point Given is a solid third choice at 6-1. No other horse in the field is bet below 9-1 in this wide open affair. All the connections feel good about the way their horses are coming into the race, maybe none more so than Big Brown’s conditioner, Rick Dutrow, who has touted his charge to be almost a sure winner. The bettors seem less than impressed though as Big Brown is 16-1. The only female jockey in the race, Julie Krone, gives her mount Candy Ride a gentle nudge and the field is about half way loaded. They’re all in. And They’re Off!!! That’s Commentator from the outside sprinting to the lead, Smarty Jones on the rail and Hard Spun also move up. Calvin Borel has Rachel Alexandra rating comfortably on the outside of Big Brown. Next, Candy Ride, Lido Palace and Bernardini are all together and then there is a break to Mineshaft, Lemon Drop Kid, and Point Given on the outside. Invasor has moved to the rail and has only horse beaten so far and that’s the mare Zenyatta. Commentator blazes into the first turn, but both Smarty Jones and Hard Spun are keen on holding their positions, so we have a three-prong battle after the first quarter in 23 seconds flat. Big Brown and Rachel Alexandra are content to stalk in the next flight and the rest of the field tightens the gap just a little bit as it only about eight lengths separating first from twelfth place, with only the undefeated mare, Zenyatta content to trail in the thirteen horse field. And so it is Commentator on the outside, just ahead of Smarty Jones and Hard Spun, who leads the field through a demanding :46 and 2 half mile. Rachel Alexandra is being confidently ridden on the outside and just two lengths off the lead. Candy Ride makes a move in between horses to be next, followed by Lido Palace, Bernardini, Mineshaft and Point Given who travels down the backstretch far off the rail. Fernando Jara and Invasor are content to stay down on the inside, followed by Lemon Drop Kid and Zenyatta. As we move past the 3/8’s pole, that’s Smarty Jones who has put his nose in front. Hard Spun and Commentator are still right there and Big Brown, Candy Ride, and Rachel Alexandra are tracking intently. Invasor is going to need some racing room, Lido Palace is not responding and Point Given and behind him Zenyatta are both gearing up on the outside. The mile was run in 1:34 and 2 and it is Smarty Jones who will face a cavalry charge as they turn for home. Rachel Alexandra pounces first and overtakes Smarty Jones. Point Given is rallying on the outside and Bernardini moves up between horse. Invasor is full of run, but has no where to go. Rachel Alexandra opens up a length at the eighth pole with a wall of horses behind her. Point Given is coming on the outside and there is Invasor! Bursting through a hole near the rail. Rachel is resolute as Invasor and Point Given are all out. They’re not gonna get her today! 10 in a row! For Rachel Alexandra! Invasor is a tough luck second ¾ of a length behind and a neck ahead of Point Given. A filly for the ages…yes indeed! The top three finishers: Rachel Alexandra, Invasor, and Point Given advance on to the final race in the Race of the Century. In the all important race for the fifth spot Zenyatta rallied late to secure fifth place, behind Bernardini and just ahead of Candy Ride. So Bernardini and Zenyatta will join the top three in the championship race. The final order of finish included Smarty Jones 7th, Mineshaft 8th, Hard Spun 9th, Lemon Drop Kid 10th, Big Brown 11th, Lido Palace 12th, and a tired Commentator faded to 13th and last. Final time for the race over the fast Churchill Downs Dirt Course was 1:59 and 3.

Race of the Century (Two Divisions) - Post Positions & Morning Line Odds

First Division - Churchill Downs 1 ¼ Miles 1 Smarty Jones 8-1 S. Elliot 2 Hard Spun 20-1 M. Pino 3 Lido Palace 20-1 J. Chavez 4 Candy Ride 12-1 J. Krone 5 Big Brown 20-1 K. Desormeaux 6 Mineshaft 12-1 R. Albarado 7 Invasor 4-1 F. Jara 8 Rachel Alexandra 4-1 C. Borel 9 Lemon Drop Kid 20-1 E. Prado 10 Commentator 20-1 J. Velazquez 11 Bernardini 10-1 J. Castellano 12 Zenyatta 10-1 M. Smith 13 Point Given 6-1 G. Stevens Second Division - Churchill Downs 1 ¼ Miles 1 St. Liam 10-1 J. Bailey 2 Afleet Alex 10-1 J. Rose 3 Azeri 12-1 M. Smith 4 Lava Man 15-1 C. Nakatani 5 Lawyer Ron 15-1 J. McKee 6 Curlin 4-1 R. Albarado 7 Tiznow 5-1 C. McCarron 8 Street Sense 15-1 C. Borel 9 Barbaro 8-1 E. Prado 10 Left Bank 20-1 J. Velazquez 11 Ghostzapper 4-1 J. Castellano 12 Rags to Riches 15-1 G. Gomez 13 War Emblem 30-1 V. Espinoza These Mythical Races will be run on Sunday the 13th and Wednesday the 16th. The Final Race, with the top 5 from each division, will be run on Wednesday the 23rd. Good luck to all of your favorites and let me know who you like!