2009 Triple Crown Rankings
ARCADIA, Calif. --- Get out your notebooks, pencils , calculators and stop watches. We're officially on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
The first important prep race, of course, was the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 7.
Over the years, the Juvenile has been a key indicator of future Derby success, even though only one Juvenile winner (Street Sense in 2006) actually went on to win the Run for the Roses on the first Saturday in May. Last year, for instance, Mine That Bird finished 12th and last in the Juvenile at Santa Anita and then won the Derby three races later.
If that pattern holds true, go bet your future book money on D'Funnybone, the New York-based colt (stabled at Aqueduct with trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.) who ran 13th and last in the Breeders' Cup race.
Don't laugh. This was the only time in five career starts that D'Funnybone had raced on a synthetic surface. And, after watching races at Santa Anita for four days, I have come to agree with the widely-held opinion that "dirt horses" can't handle synthetics. The Juvenile is a throwout for D'Funnybone, who ran second for the first three-quarters of a mile, and should not be downgraded.
Another non-winning contender to emerge from the Juvenile is runner-up Lookin At Lucky, beaten by a head as the 2-1 favorite. Leaving from post 13, he closed from 10th to be second and, as trainer Bob Baffert said, "He probably was the best horse, but the post killed him." There's no reason to think Lookin At Lucky is not going to be Baffert's main Derby horse.
"He showed today what a good horse he is," Baffert said. "It's just frustrating to know you have much the best horse and come up short like that. ... At least you know that you can look forward to the Derby."
Oh yes, the winner of the Juvenile was an Irish-bred, Dubai-owned bay colt named Vale of York.
Whether or not he'll become a Derby threat is yet to be known. As the Dubai-based Godolphin Stable does with all its good 3-year-olds, Vale of York will be taken home to winter in Dubai and train there for the Derby. This formula has so-far been unsuccessful and Godolphin has yet to earn a dime at the Derby.
"I think we're definitely [going to] take him back to Dubai and look at the New Guineas and the [Dubai] Derby there at the new race track that Sheikh Mohammed [Godolphin's owner] is building," said Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager. "But after that we'll look at the Kentucky Derby. But we need to make it through the next stage first before we can make any firm committments."
Crisford said "of all the 2-year-olds we have right now, he would be the one we're looking at for Churchill Downs. But handling synthetic surfaces and racing on the dirt surface is two completely different things. So this horse will not have run on any dirt by time he gets to Churchill Downs if he gets there."
Crisford went on to say "the horse booked his ticket [to Churchill Downs] winning today. He's certainly booked his ticket to be given the respect to try to get there anyway. Let's hope he can get there."
Crisford said that before the Breeders' Cup victory, Vale of York was considered just the second best 2-year-old in the Godolphin stable. The best youngster was thought to be Buzzword, who finished fifth in Saturday's other Breeders' Cup race for 2-year-olds --- the Juvenile Turf --- at a mile on the grass. It was the first race in North America for Buzzword, who posted a 2-3-1 record in seven starts on the grass in England and France.
It also was the first race in the U.S. and on a non-grass surface for Pounced, the winner, who had won once and placed twice in his only career starts in England and France.
Nat Rothschild, owner of Pounced, was asked if he was dreaming about the Derby now.
"I just want to enjoy today, and this week, and this month, and even the rest of the year, savor this moment," Rothschild said. "I don't think about the next step."
But I do.
I'm going to put the names of D'Funnybone, Lookin At Lucky, Noble's Promise (third in the Juvenile followed by:) Piscitellli, Aikenite, Beethoven, Radiohead, William's Kitten, Eskendereya, Alfred Nobel, Pulsion and Aspire in my "Horses to Watch" list and buckle up for a long, hot and interesting fall, winter and spring. And maybe send a few "Future Book" bets to Las Vegas along the way.
The Derby this year is on May 1, just 174 days away. As the man tells the jockeys at the starting gate, "get tied on!"
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Triple Crown time in Canada
With the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in the history books, it's time to focus on Canada's Triple Crown for 3-year-old thoroughbreds born in that country. The series started with Eye of the Leopard winning the Queen's Plate at Woodbine on June 21 and continues with the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 12 and the Breeders' Stakes over the Woodbine turf on Aug. 2.
There will be no Triple Crown winner this year. Queen's Plate winner Eye of the Leopard finished third in the Prince of Wales, a half-length behind Gallant and Milwaukee Appeal, who were separated by a nose. Long shot Perfect Shower took the Breeders' Stakes at odds of 46-1.
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Here is how Canadian Triple Crown runners have fared the rest of the year (with career records, trainer, jockey and date of last race).
Milwaukee Appeal (14-5-5-3, $1,069,538. Scott Fairlie, Patrick Husbands, 11/15): Filly finished third in the Queen's Plate and second in the Prince of Wales. ... On Aug. 22 finished second by 11 lengths in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. ... On Sept. 26 finished second in the Selene Stakes at Woodbine. ... On Nov. 15 finished second in the Jammed Lovely Stakes at Woodbine.
Eye of the Leopard (7-3-0-1, $786,340. Mark Frostad, Eurico Rosa da Silva, 8/2): Won the Queen's Plate, finished third in the Prince of Wales and finished 11th in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 27 finished sixth in the Ontario Derby at Woodbine.
El Brujo (13-6-4-1, $557,290. Malcolm Pierce, Edgar Prado, 10/17): Finished 13th in the Queen's Plate. ... On Aug. 12 finished second in an allowance race. ... On Sept. 26 won the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Sprint at Turfway Park. ... On Oct. 17 won the Grade 3 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland.
Gallant (10-2-1-1, $402,820. Mark Casse, Corey Fraser, 9/7): Won the Prince of Wales Stakes and finished sixth in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 7 finished eighth in the Elgin Stakes.
Tasty Temptation (10-2-3-1, $400,905. Mark Casse, Patrick Husbands, 7/25): Filly finished fourth in the Queen's Plate. ... On July 25 won the Wonder Where Stakes on the turf.
Mr. Foricos Two U (8-2-2-1, $350,810. Catherine Day Phillips, Patrick Husbands, 8/2): Finished second in the Queen's Plate, fifth in the Prince of Wales and fourth in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 6 finished third in the Vice Regent Stakes.
Perfect Shower (9-2-1-0, $337,347. Roger Attfield, Calvin Borel, 10/21): Won the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Oct 21 finished eighth in a 1 1/2-mile allowance race on the turf at Keeneland.
Guipago (14-2-5-2, $285,320. Analisa Delmas, Tyler Pizarro, 9/6): Finished second in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 6 won the Vice Regent Stakes.
Active Duty (9-1-1-4, $201,460. Mark Casse, Corey Fraser, 6/21): Finished 12th in the Queen's Plate.
Keino West (13-2-3-1, $198,720. Steve Attard, Jim McAleney, 9/26): Finished sixth in the Queen's Plate, fourth in the Prince of Wales and fifth in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Aug. 29 finished second in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Sept. 7 finished second in the Elgin Stakes. ... On Sept. 26 won an allowance race over 1 1/8 miles of turf at Woodbine.
Shut It Down (9-2-3-1, $194,385. Lorne Richards, Russell Baze, 6/21): Finished seventh in the Queen's Plate.
Parabola (13-3-0-1, $175,900. Barbara Minshall, Chantal Sutherland, 10/16): Finished seventh in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 6 finished fourth in the Vice Regent Stakes. ... On Oct. 16 finished sixth and last in an allowance race at Woodbine.
Genius Kinshasa (13-3-2-0, $165,880. Vito Armata, Emile Ramsammy, 10/30): Finished ninth in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 7 finished seventh in the Elgin Stakes. ... On Sept. 25 won an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 15 finished fourth in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 30 finished second in an allowance race on the turf at Woodbine.
Reservoir (6-2-0-1, $136,500. Julia Carey, Jim McAleney, 10/11): Finished 11th in the Queen's Plate and third in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 6 finished fourth in the Saranac Stakes at Saratoga. ... On Oct. 10 finished fourth in an allowance race at Woodbine that came off the turf.
Bucephalus (7-1-1-1, $134,000. Kevin Attard, Tyler Pizarro, 6/21): finished 10th in the Queen's Plate.
Flip for the Coin 13-1-1-3, $127,690. Vito Armata, Emil Ramsammy, 11/8: Finished fifth in the Queen's Plate, sixth in the Prince of Wales and 10th in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Aug. 29 finished second in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Sept. 6 finished eighth in the Vice Regent Stakes. ... On Sept. 24 finished 10th in an allowance race on the turf at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 17 finished third in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Nov. 8 finished 14th in an allowance race at Woodbine.
Stardust Ziggy (10-1-2-1, $103,453. Lorna Perkins, Jerry Baird, 8/29): Finished ninth in the Queen's Plate. ... On July 10 finished seventh in a maiden race. ... On July 31 won a maiden special race by a nose. ... On Aug. 29 finished eighth in an allowance race at Woodbine.
Mensch (17-0-3-0, $67,397. Analisa Delmas, Jono Jones, 11/11): Finished 12th in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Aug. 14 finished fifth in a maiden claiming race on the turf. ... On Sept. 2 finished sixth in a maiden race on the turf. ... On Oct. 12 finished second in an off-the-turf maiden race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 20 finished fourth in a maiden race at Woodbine. ... On Nov. 11, finished second in a maiden race at Woodbine.
Rapid Release (18-1-4-3, $50,049. William Tharrenos, David Clark, 11/7): With Roger Attfield as trainer, finished eighth in the Queen's Plate. ... On July 25 finished sixth in an allowance race. ... On Aug. 29 finished ninth in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Sept. 17 finished seventh in a $40,000 claiming race on the turf. ... On Oct. 10 finished eighth in a $12,500 claiming race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 25, in first start fo Tharrenos, finished fifth in an allowance race at Woodbine. ... On Nov. 7 finished second in a $20,000 claiming race at Woodbine.
Hisaki (10-0-0-1, $27,355. Analisa Delmas, Jerry Baird, 8/2): Finished 13th in the Breeders' Stakes.
Full Throttle (8-0-0-1, $10,749. Mike Keogh, Omar Moreno, 10/28): Finished eighth in the Breeders' Stakes. ... On Sept. 26 finished 10th in a maiden special weight race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 10 finished eighth in a maiden special weight race at Woodbine. ... On Oct. 28 finished seventh in a maiden special weight race at Woodbine.
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Three different winners in U.S. Triple Crown
Rachel Alexandra, impressive winner of the Kentucky Oaks by 20 1/4 lengths on the day before the Kentucky Derby, scored a sparkling wire-to-wire win from the far-outside 13th post position to become the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924. Derby winner Mine That Bird came charging from last to finish second by a length.
But owner Jess Jackson decided not to send her on to the Belmont Stakes (At 6:27 p.m. on Saturday, June 6).
Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird took the lead in the stretch at the Belmont Stakes but was run down by long shot Summer Bird under Kent Desormeaux before a Belmont Park crowd of 52,861.
U.S. Triple Crown runners' status
Rachel Alexandra (14-11-2-0, $2,948,914. Steve Asmussen, Calvin Borel, 9/5): Won the Preakness. ... On June 27 won the three-filly Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park by 19 1/4 lengths in stakes-record time. ... On Aug. 2 won the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park by six lengths. ... On Sept. 5 she beat older males in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga.
Summer Bird (9-4-1-1, $2,323,040. Tim Ice, Kent Desormeaux, 11/7): Finished sixth in the Derby and first in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Aug. 2 finished second in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. ... On Aug. 29 won the $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga. ... On Oct. 3 won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. ... On Nov. 7 finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Mine That Bird (14-5-2-2, $2,196,581. Chip Wooley, Calvin Borel, 11/7): Won the Kentucky Derby, finished second in the Preakness and third in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Aug. 1 finished third in the West Virginia Derby. ... On Oct. 10 finished sixth in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita. ... On Nov. 7 finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Regal Ransom (8-3-2-0, $1,747, 200. Saeed bin Suroor, Richard Migliore, 11/7): Finished eighth in the Derby. ... On Sept. 19 won the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. ... On Nov. 7 finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Pioneerof the Nile (10-5-1-1, $1,634,200. Bob Baffert, Garrett Gomez, 5/16): Ran second in the Derby and finished 11th in the Preakness. ... In July he was retired with a soft tissue injury to his left front leg.
Big Drama (11-6-2-0, $1,218,750. David Fawkes, Eibar Coa, 8/29): Finished fifth in the Preakness. ... On June 20 he became a millionaire with a seven-length victory in the $250,000 Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town. ... On Aug. 1 finished second in the West Virginia Derby. ... On Aug. 29 finished sixth in the King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.
Papa Clem (11-2-2-1, $994,940. Gary Stute, Garrett Gomez, 9/6): Finished fourth in the Derby and sixth in the Preakness. ... On July 11 finished third in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. ... On Aug. 2 finished fourth in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. ... On Sept. 6 finished seventh in the Del Mar Derby on the grass.
Musket Man (8-5-0-3, $902,600. Derek Ryan, Eibar Coa, 5/16): Finished third in the Derby and third in the Preakness. ... Is out for the year with a bone bruise to the left front foot. ... Expected to race in 2010.
Desert Party (7-4-1-0, $688,467. Saeed bin Suroor, 5/2): Finished 14th in the Derby. ... Injured, out indefinitely.
Chocolate Candy (14-4-3-1, $619,500. Jerry Hollendorfer, Joel Rosario, 11/7): Finished fifth in the Derby and ninth in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Sept. 5 finished second in the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar. ... On Oct. 10 finished fifth in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita. ... On Nov. 7 finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.
General Quarters (13-3-3-1, $641,735. Thomas McCarthy, 5/16): Finished 10th in the Derby and ninth in the Preakness.
Take The Points (11-4-2-1, $614,590. Todd Pletcher, Edgar Prado, 10/10): Finished 13th in the Preakness. ... On June 20 finished fourth in the Colonial Turf Cup. ... On July 18 ran third in the Virginia Derby. ... On Aug. 8 won the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on the turf at Arlington Park. ... On Oct. 10 won the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap on the turf at Belmont Park.
Friesan Fire (9-4-1-1, $603,625. Larry Jones, Gabriel Saez, 5/16): Finished 18th in the Derby and 10th in the Preakness. ... Sidelined with injuries to both front legs. ... Had surgery.
Terrain (10-3-1-1, $512,084. Albert Stall Jr., Robby Albarado, 6/16): Finished seventh in the Preakness. ... On June 16, broke a leg in the Iowa Derby and was euthanized.
Hold Me Back (7-3-1-0, $508,874. William Mott, Kent Desormeaux, 7/18): Finished 12th in the Derby. ... On July 18 finished fifth in the Virginia Derby.
West Side Bernie (8-2-2-1, $407,360. Kelly Breen, Stewart Elliott, 5/2): Finished ninth in the Derby. ... Sold to Godolphin Stable of Dubai for undisclosed price
Charitable Man (7-3-0-1, $457,200. Kiaran McLaughlin, Ramon Dominguez, 8/26): Finished fourth in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Aug. 29 finished fourth in the Travers Stakes at Saragoga.
Dunkirk (5-2-2-0, $393,200. Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 6/6): Finished 11th in the Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes. ... Suffered an injury to left hind leg in the Belmont, had surgery, probably out for the rest of the year.
Join in the Dance (13-1-5-1, $382,120. Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez, 11/7) Finished seventh in the Derby. ... On Aug. 9 finished second in a 7-furlong allowance race at Saratoga. ... On Sept. 7 finished second in the Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. ... On Oct. 3 finished fourth in the Ohio Derby. ... On Nov. 7 finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.
Advice (9-2-0-2, $269,898. Todd Pletcher, Garrett Gomez, 7/18): Finished 13th in the Derby. ... Finished fourth in the Jefferson Cup on the turf at Churchill Downs on June 13. ... On July 18 finished seventh and last in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Atomic Rain (11-3-3-1, $268,540. Kelly Breen, Joe Bravo, 8/2): Finished 16th in the Derby. ... On June 6 he won an allowance race at Monmouth Park. ... On July 11 he won the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. ... On Aug. 2 finished sixth in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Flying Private (13-2-3-0, $263,080. D. Wayne Lukas, Julien Leparoux, 6/6): Finished 19th in the Derby, fourth in the Preakness and sixth in the Belmont Stakes.
Mr. Hot Stuff (13-1-1-4, $180,610. Eoin Harty, Julien Leparoux, 11/6): Finished 15th in the Derby and eighth in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Aug. 7, finished fourth in a one-mile allowance race at DelMar. ... On Aug. 2 finished third in an allowance race at DelMar. ... On Sept. 24 finished sixth in an allowance race at Golden Gate. ... On Nov. 6 finished second in an allowance race at Santa Anita.
Brave Victory (10-2-2-1, $114,533. Nick Zito, Ravi Maragh, 6/6): Finished seventh in the Belmont Stakes.
Nowhere to Hide (14-2-2-2, $112,796. Nick Zito, Julien Cornelio Velasquez, 10/2121): Finished 17th in the Derby. ... Finished fourth in an allowance race at Belmont on June 13. ... On July 11 ran fifth in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. ... On Aug. 2 finished sixth in the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. ... On Aug. 21 finished fourth in an allowance race at Saratoga. ... On Oct. 21 finished third in an allowance race at Belmont.
Luv Gov (15-1-3-2, $99,703. D. Wayne Lukas, Ravi Maragh, 10/7): Finished eighth in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont Stakes. ... On Aug. 21 finished third in an allowance race at Saratoga. ... On Oct. 7 finished sixth in an allowance race at Belmont Park.
Miner's Escape (8-2-0-0, $74,590. Nick Zito, Jose Lezcano, 6/6): Finished 10th in the Belmont Stakes.
Tone It Down (8-3-2-1, $72,960. William Komlo, A. Castellano, 11/13): Finished 12th in the Preakness. ... On Nov. 12 won an allowance race at Laurel.
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