2 Miles from being Legen … wait for it … dary!

3,200 measly meters. That is all that stands in the way of So You Think from becoming a legend of the turf. He is already a superstar of Australian racing after yesterday’s convincing win in the $3 Million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. The win in the Cox Plate, the second most prestigious race in all of Australia, was the second in a row for the son of High Chaparral, thus becoming the first horse in the history of the great race to win as both a three and a four-year-old. So You Think now has the entire nation buzzing in admiration and anticipation. He has won each of his four races in 2010 with ease for his all-time great conditioner, 82-year-old Bart Cummings, and the best may be just around the corner. The repeat win in the Cox Plate was special, and proves that he is one of the best horses in the world, but there will be no time to rest on his laurels, for November 2 is looming. The two miles I speak of, is of course, the demanding distance of the race that stops a nation. The $6 million Melbourne Cup is the biggest of the big down under, and it is only nine days away. So You Think will be aiming to create history by winning the Melbourne Cup. Only a handful of horses have won both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, and for such an inexperienced horse to do it, would be legendary. While I have little doubt that he will be the best horse in the 24 horse field, major questions must be answered. The Melbourne Cup is after all a lot to ask for the young colt who has only raced ten times and has never run beyond 2040 meters. Can he do it? I think he can, and having 12-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer Bart Cummings in his corner can’t hurt his chances one little bit.

Longshots in the Breeders’ Cup? Youbet!

The Breeders' Cup has a long history of producing winners at big odds. Horses like Arcangues, Miss Alleged, Volponi, Lashkari, One Dreamer, Action This Day, Caressing, Miesque’s Approval, Desert Code, Vale of York, and Dancing in Silks have sent some lucky bettors home with smiles on their faces and cash filling their pockets. As approximately 200 quality horses ready to be pre-entered for the 2010 Breeders’ Cup, there is one thing you can count on, and that is great payouts in many of the races. With that in my mind, I have began my search for those horses most likely to light up the tote board on November 5 & 6. CLASSIC - In a race dominated by the big 4 of Zenyatta, Blame, Lookin at Lucky, and Quality Road, the Classic could prove the toughest of any for a longshot to make a dent. If one does though, I believe it will be Musket Man who is as honest as they come. The son of Yonaguska is riding a five race losing streak, which should ensure high odds, but has run well every time. He has good experience over the track and distance coming in last year’s Derby, and with a little racing luck is likely to be right there at the eighth pole. I am not sure if he will win this, but at 20-1 or so, is a great play in the exotics. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Say It Ain’t So Paddy O

Paddy O’ Prado to the Classic? Big mistake I say. Jerry Crawford is the manager of the Donegal Racing Partnership, the group that owns Paddy O’Prado. Yesterday Crawford announced the syndicate had decided at a recent meeting to run their colt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic rather than the Breeders‘ Cup Turf. Apparently this was a decision made after Crawford mulled over the options with trainer Dale Romans. Really? Paddy O‘Prado is one of the most exciting young turf horses American racing has seen in years. He has four impressive graded stakes wins on the grass in his last five tries. He is coming off a loss, but one in which he ran a big race when second in his first attempt on an off course, at 12 furlongs, and against older horses. It seemed to be the perfect prep for the biggest race on turf this nation offers. Paddy O’Prado is a turf horse. On dirt, Paddy O’Prado is a maiden. 7th, 3rd, and 6th. Three races on dirt and those are the results. In fairness, the third place finish was in the Kentucky Derby on the same track and the same distance as the Classic. That doesn’t mean much though, for this year’s Derby was simply not a good race. The track was sloppy and most of the best dirt horses did not run their race for various reasons. I ask you, what kind of shot would second place finisher, Ice Box, have in the Classic? Paddy O’Prado is not a dirt horse. Here is what trainer Romans had to say: “He ran well in the Derby on the same racetrack. It’s worth taking a shot. With the stallion potential of this horse, we’d like to see him do something big on dirt.” Sounds like this decision was made to boost his value as a stallion. I wonder what finishing 8th in the Classic will do for his stud value. In the Turf, he had a real shot. Paddy is that good on grass. In the Classic, he has no shot. I realize that if he runs big in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, I will look foolish as the author of this column … I am not worried. Paddy O’ Prado to the Classic? Big mistake I say.

Remembering ... Empire Maker

"Empire Maker is the best horse I have ever trained," said his trainer Bobby Frankel. "We weren't within 10 lengths of seeing this horse's best race." Strong words coming from a man who trained countless top horses in his Hall of Fame career. To understand this kind of great respect given to a horse who only raced eight times, you must start from the beginning. I find it impossible to remember Empire Maker without first thinking of his parents. The mating of Unbridled and Toussaud was a match made in heaven. A Kentucky bred homebred for Juddmonte Farms, Toussaud, by El Gran Senor, was a top class turf female of the early 90‘s. Most notable of her American races was a win in the Grade 1 Gamely Handicap and a fantastic battle she gave the great Flawlessly, in a losing effort, in the 1993 Matriarch Stakes. Toussaud began her racing career in England, where she was also a group winner before coming to the U.S. Once in California, Toussaud was trained by Bobby Frankel. I remember her a hard knocking mare that fired every time. As a broodmare, she may have been even better. Besides Empire Maker, Toussaud produced grade I winners Chester House, Chiselling, and Honest Lady, as well as grade 2 winner Decarchy, and was named Broodmare of the Year in 2002. Her mate in 2000 was Unbridled. The winner of my all-time favorite Kentucky Derby, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic of 1990, Unbridled was all class. Like Toussaud, the Eclipse Award winning son of Fappiano may have been even better in the breeding shed. Despite dying of colic at a young age, Unbridled was one of the most prolific sires at the end of the 20th century with 48 stakes winners, including siring a different winner of all three legs of the Triple Crown, in Gridstone, Red Bullet, and Empire Maker. It can be difficult to make a big impression in only eight lifetime starts but that is precisely what Empire Maker was able to do. In fact, he made an impression before he ever raced. So impressed with the beautiful bay colt, many surrounding Empire Maker placed future book wagers on him for the 2003 Kentucky Derby before he had run in his first race. It would be no surprise then when the Frankel trained juvenile made it to the track for the first time, he would be bet down in a big way. Sent off at odds of 2-5 in a maiden race at Belmont on October 20, 2002, Empire Maker cruised to an easy win under jockey Jerry Bailey. He was instantly tabbed on everyone’s short list of early Kentucky Derby contenders. The breeding, the looks, the talent, this young colt seemingly had it all. I also jumped on his bandwagon after the one race. Flash forward to the following Spring at Gulfstream Park. Prior to the 2003 Florida Derby, Empire Maker had just a maiden victory to his credit. From the beginning, Frankel and Juddmonte had only one thing in mind for this fantastic specimen. The First Saturday in May had always been the plan. Accordingly, he was brought along slowly, and in fact had only two starts since his maiden win. Third in the Remsen, and then second in the Sham Stakes, Empire Maker had shown potential in both races, but now only seven weeks from Louisville, it was time to put up or shut up. Adding blinkers for the first time in the Florida Derby, Empire Maker proved that the plan was working, and then some. With one powerhouse quarter mile, he drew off in the grade 1 race and suddenly all of his great potential was reality. Empire Maker won the Florida Derby by 9 ¾ lengths that day, and he was now a strong favorite to give Bobby Frankel his first Kentucky Derby winner. There would be one more race before the Derby, four weeks later in the Wood Memorial. On a muddy Aqueduct strip, Empire Maker used the Wood Memorial as the last prep for the 129th Kentucky Derby. Confidently ridden, Empire Maker hit the wire one half length ahead of new rival Funny Cide, with the rest of the field far back. I remember all the discussion after the race … had Funny Cide really given Empire Maker everything he wanted, or was the Juddmonte colt just toying with his competition and saving something for the Derby? We would soon find out in Louisville. Unfortunately, the great plan to have Empire Maker peak at Churchill Downs developed a hitch. On Tuesday before the derby, Empire Maker would suffer a foot bruise. Sent off at the highest odds of his career, but still a clear favorite at 5-2, he would run a fine race in the Run for the Roses. Fine was not good enough as Funny Cide improved off his strong Wood Memorial effort to take home the Derby. Empire Maker was second best, 1 ¾ lengths short of glory. Was the bruise the reason for his loss? Funny Cide ran huge, but still you have to wonder knowing how good Empire Maker could be. With no Triple Crown possible, Frankel decided to rest his star and take another shot at Funny Cide in five weeks. Empire Maker’s day in the son would come ironically on a sloppy track, as heavy rains left the Belmont Park oval sloppy for the Test of Champions. Funny Cide, who had romped at the Preakness in Empire Maker’s absence and was trying to become racing’s 12th Triple Crown champion, went out early in an attempt to lead his foes on a twelve furlong merry chase. Empire Maker would not let the favorite have an easy lead though, and sat within a length of Funny Cide. When rider Jerry Bailey asked for his charge to make his move, Empire Maker quickly moved to his rival on the far turn. The Derby and Preakness winner tried to fight back, but could offer little resistance to the talented son of Unbridled. It would be rally of the Illinois Derby winner Ten Most Wanted who would provide the only challenge to Empire Maker in the stretch. The Juddmonte homebred would have plenty left to hold off Ten Most Wanted by three-quarters of a length, while the Triple Crown hopeful finished a well beaten third. My thoughts after the race included disappointment in not having a Triple Crown winner, but also thinking the best horse had won. After the Belmont, Empire Maker had regained most of his lofty reputation and new big plans were laid out for him. First, he would use Saratoga’s Jim Dandy as his return to the races and prep race for the Travers. Heavily favored, his only competition appeared to be streaking front runner Strong Hope. Sitting well off the early pace, Empire Maker would be left with too much to do in his first race since the marathon in the Belmont. He would come with a valiant run on the outside to finish second by a quickly diminishing neck to the resilient Strong Hope. A great prep, but it would prove to be a prep for nothing. Setbacks occurred before both the Travers and then the Jockey Club Gold Cup. As valuable as he would be as a sire, no chances were taken. Empire Maker was retired from racing and was sent to stand for a lofty fee of $100,000 at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky’s Bluegrass. Passing on his wonderful bloodlines, Empire Maker has already proven a sire of top class, siring numerous stakes winners from his first few crops, including recent winner of the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic contender, Acoma. While only the sky is the limit for Empire Maker as a stallion, who knows how good he could have become as a race horse. His career was brilliant but brief, leaving fans wondering what might have been. I remember you Empire Maker.

Who Am I ???

*Bred in Kentucky, I was descendant of popular sire lines of both Northern Dancer and Raise a Native. *I was not a consistent winner, but all but one of my victories came in graded stakes. *The first four victories of my life came in the West, Midwest, East, and South. *My racing career was cut short by injury, but at least I went out a winner, with a near seven length score in my finale. *My two most important victories were the same two as my sire; we also share the same number of lifetime starts. *I had more stakes wins in the Land of Lincoln than any other state. *The average winning margin in my graded stakes victories was four lengths. *I saw racing action in three different years, but 80% of my wins occurred in my second season. *Not blessed with great racing luck, I unfortunately became known for my bad trips including in the Breeders‘ Cup. *Right or wrong, I always felt it was my broodmare sire that sent me down a questionable path. *Since my retirement, I have resided in New York, California, and Kentucky. You should know by now … Who Am I ???

So You Think He’s a Super Horse

So you think America’s Zenyatta and Europe’s Goldikova have the super horse market cornered? Not so fast my friends. You only need take a quick look down under to see that there is more out there besides the two great mares. On the precipice of equine greatness is Australia’s new racing hero, So You Think. He is a four-year-old New Zealand bred son of High Chaparral, who will be out to make history when he goes for back-to-back victories in Saturday‘s $3 million Cox Plate. The Cox Plate is regarded as the best weight-for-age race in Australia and is the second most important contest in the horse racing mad nation after only the Melbourne Cup. In recent years, The Cox Plate has featured large fields and wide open affairs. Not so this year, as only nine others have entered to challenge the heavily favored So You Think, who won last year by 2 ½ lengths. If he can send his throng of backers home happy, he will become the first horse since Northerly in 2002 to win consecutive runnings of the 2040 meter (just over 1 ¼ miles) turf race at Moonee Valley Racing Club. More impressively, with a win, So You Think would become the first horse in history to take the historic race at both three and four years old. Trained by the living legend, Bart Cummings, he has given his supporters great reason to be confident with three powerful wins leading up to the Cox Plate. His last race was in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes on October 9. In that race, rider Steven Arnold, who has yet to be beaten on So You Think, had the dark bay colt stalking early leader Red Ruler before quickly taking command three furlongs from the wire. From there, So You Think displayed why he is so highly regarded. Take a look. The Yalumba victory was So You Think's third victory in a group one stakes and raised his overall record to six wins and two seconds from nine starts. Perhaps even more exciting than the prospect of winning the Cox Plate again, is news that Cummings said that the four-year-old will try to pull off the great Australian double by wheeling back in the Melbourne Cup on November 2. Cummings turned the trick once before with Saintly, who completed the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double back in 1996. The Melbourne Cup will present new challenges as it is contested at the demanding distance of two miles.  If So You Think is successful in both races, he will instantly become a legendary figure in Australian sports, but first things first, and the Cox Plate will not be handed to him. Chief among his rivals will be the star mare, More Joyous. The Gai Waterhouse trained front runner is in the midst of an impressive winning streak and enters the big race as the clear second choice. Shoot Out may merit the role of third choice in the Cox Plate, but will do so with replacement rider Corey Brown, after the shocking death of Stathi Katsidis, who was found dead in his home yesterday morning. Whobegotyou and Zipping are considered the next two with the best shot to derail the So You Think train. In the end, these horses are likely only running for second money though. The 2010 should be all about So You Think. Move over Zenyatta, step aside Goldikova, there may be a new sheriff on the racing globe, and his name is So You Think. Photo by Su-Ann Khaw