Death Threats … To a Horse???

You have to stop and wonder what’s going on in the world when a thoroughbred race horse receives death threats. This troubling circumstance came about last week when Rinterval’s life was threatened just days before she was due to run in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park. Considered to be one of the top challengers to the mighty Zenyatta on Saturday, Rinterval had given the undefeated superstar a strong challenge in the Clement Hirsch Stakes, in both horses previous race. When trainer Eric Reed arrived to his horse on Thursday he was surprised to see a group of security around the barn. He wondered if they were there keeping an eye on  him. In fact they were there to protect his horse. The first thing that crossed my mind when I learned of the situation was the stabbing attack of Monica Seles by a rabid tennis fan named Gunter Parche in 1993. Parche was an obsessed fan of Steffi Graf who could not bear to see the object of his affection supplanted as the number one player in the world by the younger Seles. Monica Seles survived the on court attack, but her athletic career was derailed and never quite the same as before she was stabbed. With the help of 24/7 security detail surrounding Rinterval, the five-year-old mare, owned by Jerry Jamgotchian, was kept safe until it was time to bring her over to the track for the race. In a bizarre turn, Rinterval had to be scratched moments before the running of the grade 1 race. Apparently she became agitated by the noise and waving of signs created by the presence of Zenyatta. She banged her head in the commotion and was scratched for her safety. In the Hollywood Park paddock fans can get very close to the horses. Too close to comfort for Reed, who said he doesn't blame the fans, but would consider saddling his horses outside of the usual area in future races at Hollywood Park. According to Reed, Rinterval was left no worse for wear after the ordeal, and in fact worked five furlongs at Hollywood Park yesterday before flying back to Kentucky, where she is being now pointed for the Spinster Stakes this coming Sunday. Horse racing is a sport that invokes great emotion and passion. I know this fact firsthand, but to turn that fervor into even the threat of harming or killing a horse disgusts me. To the despicable person or persons who made the death threat … I urge you to get some help.

32 Days and Counting … ZATT’s Breeders’ Cup Rankings

MARATHON 1. Temple City 2. A.U. Miner 3. Eldaafer 4. Alcomo 5. Unusual Suspect JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 1. Winter Memories 2. White Moonstone 3. Roxy Gap 4. New Normal 5. Fancy Point FILLY & MARE SPRINT 1. Champagne D’oro 2. Evening Jewel 3. Rightly So 4. Sara Louise 5. Sweet August Moon JUVENILE FILLIES 1. Summer Laugh 2. Tell a Kelly 3. Wonderlandbynight 4. Awesome Feather 5. R Heat Lightning FILLY & MARE TURF 1. Midday 2. Red Desire 3. Éclair de Lune 4. Hibaayeb 5. Ave LADIES’ CLASSIC 1. Blind Luck 2. Havre de Grace 3. Devil May Care 4. Life at Ten 5. Biofuel JUVENILE TURF 1. Rough Sailing 2. Soldat 3. Major Gain 4. Air Support 5. Pluck TURF SPRINT 1. California Flag 2. Chamberlain Bridge 3. Rose Catherine 4. Fatal Bullet 5. Stradivinsky MILE DIRT 1. Musket Man 2. Tizway 3. Here Comes Ben 4. Crown of Thorns 5. Warrior’s Reward JUVENILE 1. Stay Thirsty 2. Boys at Tosconova 3. Uncle Mo 4. Jaycito 5. Pathfork MILE 1. Goldikova 2. Violon Sacre 3. Gio Ponti 4. Sidney’s Candy 5. Paco Boy SPRINT 1. Discreetly Mine 2. Big Drama 3. Atta Boy Roy 4. Girolamo 5. Kinsale King TURF 1. Paddy O’Prado 2. Workforce 3. Al Khali 4. Fame and Glory 5. Bourbon Bay CLASSIC 1. Blame 2. Zenyatta 3. Lookin at Lucky 4. Quality Road 5. Espoir City

Lions and Tigers and Zenyatta, Oh My!

Who doesn’t love a good cliff hanger. A film that holds you gripped in suspense until the very end when the thrilling climax is revealed. Usually the hero comes out on top, that is, if it is a typical Hollywood script. I’m here to tell you, Zenyatta is pure Hollywood. I’ve seen this film over and over again, and I can't help but be sucked in every time. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

In a New York State of Mind

What a day. Good horses, great times, and better people. Sincere thanks to all of you that made my homecoming to Belmont an unforgettable day. A man with friends is a rich man, and yesterday I felt like a billionaire. As far as the equine stars, there was no doubt that Haynesfield stole the show. Touted to us by Sam the Bugler, the lone New York-bred in the field made every pole a winning one in the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup. The days headliner, on a day with five grade 1 stakes, was dominated by the four-year-old son of Speightstown. Under a heady ride by Ramon Dominguez, Haynesfield was allowed to relax on an uncontested lead, while setting early fractions that were slower than expected. Opening up by as much as seven lengths early in the stretch, he proved long gone from the rest, including heavily favored Blame. Sent off at 7-1, Haynesfield improved his lifetime record to a sparkling 9 for 13. At the wire, he was under wraps, and four lengths ahead of Blame, the 4-5 favorite, who had his five race win streak snapped. Haynesfield, proving he enjoys Belmont as much as I do, is now a whisker away from being perfect in six starts at Big Sandy. In the day’s other big events, it was the Flower Bowl that proved to be the most exciting. English import Ave was able to split horses in deep stretch, and power to a narrow victory over Changing Skies and Red Desire. It was the first victory in America for the Roger Attfield trained miss, and announces her as a real threat for next month’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Also impressive on Belmont’s yielding turf course yesterday was Winchester. The early trailer in the nine-horse field, he uncorked a furious rally that carried him by the game favorite Paddy O'Prado who had made what looked like a winning move on the turn. The win in the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic was Winchester’s second grade 1 victory on big days at Belmont this year, as he had earlier accounted for the Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day. As a 2-1 favorite, I was not willing to place my money on Girolamo, who had never before run the distance of six furlongs. The sprint trip proved to be no problem, as the four-year-old son of A.P. Indy showed the rest of the field both his class and his heels in powering his way to an easy score in the Vosburgh Invitational. In the Grade 1 Beldame, Life At Ten, returned to her winning ways with a rather easy two length tally. Clearly enjoying no Rachel Alexandra to deal with, she won her fifth stakes race of the year in only six starts, and now will head to the Breeders’ Cup as one of the horses to beat in the Ladies Classic.

Super Saturday

It’s good to wake up on the East Coast. The air is crisp, the rain is gone, and I’m working on very little sleep which only adds to my giddiness for the day of great racing ahead. Let’s get right into the five marquee events that make up Super Saturday today at Belmont Park. The Vosburgh Invitational kicks off the grade 1 promenade and traditionally serves as a key prep for the Breeders‘ Cup Sprint. Despite being a grade 1 affair at a sprinting distance, the Vosburgh lacks a ton of early speed, which could well give an advantage to the pacesetter. That early leader should be Wall Street Wonder who was becoming one of the top sprinters in the country before a Spring setback in the sloppy Churchill Downs Handicap. If he can shake free from the sharp New York bred, Driven by Success, as the field turns for home, Wall Street Wonder could be long gone at a distance he loves. Girolamo proved last Fall that he is a colt of quality, and had a useful prep a month ago in the Forego Stakes. If he can return to the form where he was last year at this time, he will be a major danger in here, but with only one race since last year’s Classic and running at a distance that he’s never before competed, questions abound. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

The ZATT Zone

What you are about to read is a small chapter from a series of works called the ZATT Zone. I believe you will find that it is a very special kind of series. One that explores the deepest, darkest recesses of the mind and the nature of all things. There is only one goal in the telling of these stories, and that is entertainment. Entertainment, for you the audience. In the reading of these stories you will be sent down a path of infinite possibilities. A journey of wonderment so vast the only place these stories can be housed is in the human mind. So grab a beverage of your liking, sit back and strap in, and get ready for the ride of a lifetime. For you my friends, are about to enter … the ZATT Zone. **** Today’s story is called Belmont or Bust, and it is about two men who are bound by a singular, common ideal. Picture, if you will, these two men hurtling down a highway, armed only with a Daily Racing Form and hopes and dreams of seeing great horses and of picking winners. Their story begins innocently enough in a normal sort of place, in a normal sort of town. From there, the journey these two men will unknowingly embark on, will forever change them in ways beyond what they could ever imagine. Passing by the quiet towns of Indiana, and the farms and industry of Ohio, over and through the mountains of Pennsylvania, and the swamps of New Jersey ... the names of these men are Zipse and Zenner. Two ordinary men who happen to fancy the ponies. It was Zipse’s idea to go to New York, and more specifically Belmont Park. While Zenner was only an agreeable participant. The trip to Belmont proved uneventful enough, and the day at the races for the two men was progressing nicely. A few cashed tickets, good friends, good horses, and good times. As the horses entered the starting gate for the day’s feature, a strange wind blew in and the sky went purple. Zipse thought the starting gate bell was louder than he had ever heard before. As the first hoof pounded the ground to begin the race, everything had changed. They felt it. Zenner looked at Zipse who was suddenly endowed with an afro and a groovy mustache. Zenner, whose mutton chops were covering half his face, yelled “what just happened?” Zipse was stunned but never took his eyes of the horses. Honest Pleasure was on the lead. Zenner stared at his racing form and could not believe what he was seeing … It was indeed October 2, but the year jumped of the page at him in three dimensions … 1976! He grabbed Zipse by the shoulder and shook. “Where are we?” Just then announcer Dave Johnson proclaimed, “Forego is 6th on the outside.” Zipse turned to Zenner and said, “Watch the race. Something tells me this is gonna be a good one!” **** All they were looking for was a horse racing adventure. The best laid plans of mice and men, and Zipse and Zenner, for they have just entered the ZATT Zone.