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I think this is a much tougher year in the division, but if she keeps her form she should have no trouble repeating.

This is what I heard today. Hope it works out.

It is pretty wild how this year's older male division is up in air.

Who knows if Maximum Security and Game  Winner will race  again let alone regain their form.

Combatant appeared out of nowhere to take the G1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Gift Box and Higher Power have not returned to their previous form.

A lot of questions.

She is amazing and looking great so far this year.

Well  , many thought Justify had sown up Horse of the Year with his Triple Crown win. Then he was retired without racing again.

Who would have thought after his 4 G1 win sophomore season zgere would be two other horses who surpassed that mark?

Accelerate won the Santa Anita Handicap, the Gold Cup, the Pacific Classic, the Awesome Again and the Breeders Cup Classic.

Monomoy Girl won a G1 Ashland, G1 Kentucky Oaks, G1 Acorn,  G1 Coaching Club American Oaks, 2nd by DQ in the G1 Cotillion and the G1 BC Distaff. A whisker away from 6 G1 wins.

Monomoy Girl may have actually faced the toughest schedule of all the horses up for HOTY.

Its a very tough call and that may end up benefiting Justify.

Well, a number of favorites won, but I had the benefit of attending and it was a ton of fun.

Seeing Enable sweep the double of the BC Turf and Arc was amazing and Magical was magical.

Accelerate proved he could win away from home. Roaring Lion did not like kickback, but won European HOTY. Mendelssohn was on a suicide mission on a tiring track on the inside but still managed to finish only 4 lengths behind the winner. Gunnevera finished second again. Thunder Snow finished a close third. Yoshida showed he probably needed a bit more seasoning before the race, or maybe the mile distance is better for him. McKinzie and West Coast were asked to do too much too soon. And Catholic Boy just didn't have it outside of NY.

Abel Tasman showed she is ready for the next stage of her life. Monomoy Girl proved to be pretty special winning the Distaff with Midnight Bisou third.Great to hear she is coming back.

City of Light proved tough in the Dirt Mile travelling better tham Catalina Cruiser.

And we shall see if Game Winner can become the third BC Juvenile/Kentucky Derby winner. In 2006, the BC was at Churchill and Street Sense became the first. In 2010, 2009 BC Juvenile winner Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the race.

One of my favorite horses of all time is Sham. I have read more books on him than Secretariat. I just love this horse. I love Big Red too, but I will always love the little horse that could...

https://youtu.be/i4-S0RfvVPM

Aside from Winstar's games...

Blended Citizen
Bandua
Bravazo
Free Drop Billy
Gronkowski
Hofburg
Justify
Noble Indy
Restoring Hope
Tenfold
Vino Roso

We have eleven here which is a nice field number wise if they all go, but with the best horses challenging being closers have the connections thought about who is going to generate pace up front to provide a chance for the closers to close? LOL

Well, the Kentucky Derby offered us a record making performance by Justify has he became the first unraced 2 year old Kentucky Derby winner since Apollo.

I was amazed at his performance because he was able to do it being so lightly raced and having his raced bunched together so much.

Do we have another Triple Crown winner on our hands?

It certainly looks like it may be the case, but it seems that way every year. I remember last year reading that everyone thought Always Dreaming would do it, then before that Nyquist would do it. However, Justify seems pretty remarkable.

I think Lukas may have something to say about the outcome with his entries. They are training well. I also wonder about Diamond King and John Servis.

Looking forward to the post-position draw, though it really has seemed inconsequential in this race.

6 Track Records...

It was quite an exciting day of racing.

Thunder Snow may be headed back to the US for a campaign which would be great. Hs besting West Coast was impressive in a new track record.

Mendelssohn delivered a very special performance. Some may balk at his competition, but he was pretty impressive and has already shipped well to compete in the BCJ Turf.

Mind Your Biscuits was nothing but amazing bucking the trend by winning far off the pace.

Wow.

Better late than never I hope.

Hope to flesh out the info soon...

1. Instilled Regard
2. Good Magic
3. Catholic Boy
4. McKinzie
5. Avery Island
6. Mask
7. Firenze Fire
8. Solomini
9. Enticed
10. Tiz Mischief
11. Promises Fulfilled
12. Zulfikhar

Happy New Year Everyone...

This may be earlier than I have ever done this...

1. Classic Empire (Pioneer of the Nile by Empire Marker and Sambuca Classic by Cat Thief by Storm Cat) 30
Next Race:
G3 Bashford Manor,  6 furlongs
G1 Breeders Futurity, 8.5 furlongs 10
BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 20

2. Not This Time (Giant's Causeway by Storm Cat and Miss Macy by Trippi by End Sweep by Forty Niner) 18
Next Race:
G3 Iroquois, 8.5 furlongs 10
2nd G1 BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 8

3. Gormley (Malibu Moon by A.P. Indy and Race To Urca by Bernstein by Storm Cat) 10 
Next Race:
G1 Frontrunner Stakes, 8.5 furlongs 10

4. Practical Joke (Into Mischief by Harlan's Holiday and by Halo Humor by Distorted Humor) 14
Next Race:
G1 Hopeful, 7 furlongs
G1 Champagne, 8 furlongs 10
3rd BC Juvenile, 8.5 furlongs 4

5. Mastery (Candy Ride by Ride The Rails by Cryptoclearance by Fappiano and Steady Course by Old Trieste by A.P, Indy)
Entered G3 Bob Hope Stakes, 7 furlongs

6. McCracken (Ghostzapper by Awesome Again by Deputy Minister and Ivory Empress by Seeking the Gold by Mr. Prospector)
Next Race: Kentucky Jockey Club
Street Sense, 8 furlongs

Whoa. Just woke up to find out that Churchill Downs has eliminated points for the Hopeful and Del Mar Futurity?

I wonder if Gun Runner does well here if he might point to the Pegasus.

He did run very fast at Churchill in the Matt Winn.

I know he missed at Parx, but he won the Louisiana Derby at 9 furlongs. 

Dream field:
Anchor Down
Arrogate
Beholder
California Chrome
Dortmund
Effinex
Firing Line
Found
Frosted
Gun Runner
Noble Bird
Runhappy
Shaman Ghost

[RACE 6 FrontRunner S. (Grade I) POST TIME - 3:00 PM]

This is my own name...NY has Super Saturday I thought Champions Weekend had a nice ring to it.

After all, they do have a number of champions running...

Beholder - champion older mare
Stellar Wind - champion three year old
California Chrome - Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Dubai World Cup and Pacific Classic Champion
Dortmund - Santa Anita Derby champion
Lord Nelson - Bing Crosby and Triple Bend champion
Etc. 

RACE 6 FrontRunner S. (Grade I)  POST TIME - 3:00 PM

Purse $300,000. For Two-Year-Olds. One And One Sixteenth Miles.

PP   Horse    Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L
1   Gormley (KY)      2/C   L   V Espinoza   122   J A Shirreffs   8/1
2   Plum Dandy (KY)      2/C   L   M E Smith   122   S Callaghan   6/1
3   Secret House (KY)      2/C   L   S Gonzalez   122   D F O'Neill   20/1
4   Midnight Pleasure (KY)      2/C   L   M Garcia   122   S Ruis   6/1
5   Straight Fire (KY)      2/C   L   F Prat   122   J K Desormeaux   9/5
6   Klimt (KY)      2/C   L   R Bejarano   122   B Baffert   6/5
7   Vibe (KY)      2/C   L   K J Desormeaux   122   J K Desormeaux   20/1
Owners: 1 - Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss ; 2 - Spendthrift Farm, LLC ; 3 - Head of Plains Partners LLC or Sheep Pond Partners ; 4 - Ruis Racing LLC or Ruis ; 5 - Jungle Racing LLC, LNJ Foxwoods or KMN Racing LLC, Et Al ; 6 - Kaleem Shah, Inc. ; 7 - Big Chief Racing, LLC, Rocker O Ranch, LLC or Desormeaux

Breeders: 1 - Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate; 2 - Tom Evans, Tenlane Farm, Oratis & Darley; 3 - Normandy Farm; 4 - Roger Long; 5 - Spendthrift Farm LLC; 6 - Thor-Bred Stables, LLC; 7 - Kings and Queens Farm

Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Malibu Moon - Race to Urga , by Bernstein ; 2 - Medaglia d'Oro - In Secure , by A.P. Indy ; 3 - Tiznow - Mega Dream , by Medaglia d'Oro ; 4 - Midnight Lute - Platinum Preferred , by Vindication ; 5 - Dominus - Tricky Indy , by A.P. Indy ; 6 - Quality Road - Inventive , by Dixie Union ; 7 - Astrology - Oaks Lily , by Badge of Silver ;

RACE 7 Awesome Again S. (Grade I)  POST TIME - 3:30 PM

Purse $300,000. For Three-Year-Olds And Upward. One And One Eighth Miles.

PP   Horse    Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L
1   California Chrome (CA)      5/H   L   V Espinoza   125   A Sherman   2/5
2   Dortmund (KY)      4/C   L   R Bejarano   121   B Baffert   5/2
3   Hoppertunity (KY)      5/H   L   F Prat   121   B Baffert   6/1
4   Win the Space (KY)      4/C   L   G L Stevens   121   G Papaprodromou   20/1
5   Soi Phet (CA)      8/G   L   K J Desormeaux   121   L Powell   30/1
6   El Huerfano (CA)      4/R   L   M A Pedroza   121   P Miller   50/1
7   Hard Aces (KY)      6/H   L   S Gonzalez   121   J W Sadler   15/1
Owners: 1 - California Chrome, LLC ; 2 - Kaleem Shah, Inc. ; 3 - Pegram, Watson or Weitman ; 4 - Kretz Racing, LLC ; 5 - Benowitz Family Trust, Powell or Viskovich ; 6 - Barber or Wachtel Stable ; 7 - Hronis Racing, LLC

Breeders: 1 - Perry Martin & Steve Coburn; 2 - Emilie Gerlinde Fojan; 3 - Betz/D.J. Stable/Kidder/J. Betz/Robenalt; 4 - Spendthrift Farm, LLC; 5 - ARCHA Racing Inc.; 6 - M. A. Douzos; 7 - Dreamchaser Thorobreds

Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Lucky Pulpit - Love the Chase , by Not For Love ; 2 - Big Brown - Our Josephina , by Tale of the Cat ; 3 - Any Given Saturday - Refugee , by Unaccounted For ; 4 - Pulpit - Teamgeist (ARG) , by Mutakddim ; 5 - Tizbud - Summer Jersey , by Siberian Summer ; 6 - Tannersmyman - Adriftinthebay , by Capsized ; 7 - Hard Spun - All in With Aces , by Quiet American ;

Equipment Changes: 2 - Dortmund - Blinkers On

RACE 8 Rodeo Drive S. (Grade I)  POST TIME - 4:00 PM

Purse $300,000. For Fillies And Mares, Three Years Old And Upward. One And One Fourth Miles. (Turf)

PP   Horse    Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L
1   Keri Belle (KY)      6/M   L   N Arroyo, Jr.   121   J A Shirreffs   15/1
2   Frenzified (GB)      4/F   L   S Gonzalez   121   J M Cassidy   10/1
3   Queen of The Sand (IRE)      6/M   L   B Blanc   121   P Gallagher   20/1
4   Avenge (KY)      4/F   L   F Prat   121   R E Mandella   6/1
5   Real Smart (KY)      4/F   L   D Van Dyke   121   H G Motion   15/1
6   Tiz a Kiss (CA)      6/M   L   J Talamo   121   R Baltas   20/1
7   Majestic Heat (CA)      4/F   L   G L Stevens   121   R E Mandella   12/1
8   Fresh Feline (KY)      5/M   L   C Sutherland   121   J A Shirreffs   20/1
9   Generosidade (URU)      7/M   L   T J Pereira   121   P H Lobo   12/1
10   Nancy From Nairobi (GB)      5/M   L   M E Smith   121   J W Sadler   10/1
11   Decked Out (KY)      3/F   L   K J Desormeaux   118   J K Desormeaux   12/1
12   Zipessa (KY)      4/F   L   F Geroux   121   M Stidham   7/2
13   Elektrum (IRE)      5/M   L   V Espinoza   121   J W Sadler   5/1
14   Sobradora Inc (ARG)      4/F   L   R Bejarano   123   S Callaghan   6/1
Owners: 1 - Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Moss ; 2 - DP Racing ; 3 - Derrick Fisher ; 4 - Ramona Bass, LLC ; 5 - Bjorn E. Nielsen ; 6 - Cicero Farms, LLC ; 7 - M. Auerbach LLC, Ron McCauley or Bardy Farm ; 8 - Lazy F Ranch ; 9 - Haras Phillipson, Inc. ; 10 - Hronis Racing, LLC ; 11 - Voss, Big Chief Racing, LLC or Head of Plains Partners LLC ; 12 - Empyrean Stables ; 13 - Hronis Racing, LLC ; 14 - Katsumi Yoshida

Breeders: 1 - Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss; 2 - Stuart Stuckey; 3 - R. Coffey; 4 - Lerici Syndicate; 5 - Bjorn Nielsen; 6 - Dahlberg Farms LLC; 7 - Madeline Auerbach & Barry Abrams; 8 - Mr. & Mrs. Robert Horton &Charles Middleton III; 9 - Haras Phillipson; 10 - Norman Court Stud; 11 - Haymarket Farm LLC; 12 - G. Watts Humphrey Jr. &Sally S. Humphrey; 13 - Sweet Caroline Partnership; 14 - La Biznaga

Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Empire Maker - Belleski , by Polish Numbers ; 2 - Yeats (IRE) - Librettista (AUS) , by Elusive Quality ; 3 - Footstepsinthesand (GB) - Lough Mewin (IRE) , by Woodman ; 4 - War Front - Lerici , by Woodman ; 5 - Smart Strike - Rose Diamond (IRE) , by Daylami (IRE) ; 6 - Cee's Tizzy - Candy Factory , by Seattle Bound ; 7 - Unusual Heat - Chi Chi Nette , by Ole' ; 8 - Kitten's Joy - Merry Me in Spring , by Wekiva Springs ; 9 - Nedawi (GB) - Xiang-Vi (BRZ) , by Quinze Quilates ; 10 - Sixties Icon (GB) - Madame Hoi (IRE) , by Hawk Wing ; 11 - Street Boss - Once Around , by You and I ; 12 - City Zip - Precious Princess , by Horse Chestnut (SAF) ; 13 - High Chaparral (IRE) - Carolines Secret (GB) , by Inchinor (GB) ; 14 - Include - Stormy Soberly (ARG) , by Bernstein ;

RACE 9 Zenyatta S. (Grade I)  POST TIME - 4:30 PM

Purse $300,000. For Fillies And Mares, Three Years Old And Upward. One And One Sixteenth Miles.

PP   Horse    Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L
1   Off the Road (BRZ)      5/M   L   T J Pereira   121   R E Mandella   30/1
2   Beholder (KY)      6/M   L   G L Stevens   125   R E Mandella   3/5
3   Vale Dori (ARG)      4/F   L   R Bejarano   121   B Baffert   10/1
4   Tara's Tango (KY)      4/F   L   M Garcia   123   J Hollendorfer   6/1
5   Stellar Wind (VA)      4/F   L   V Espinoza   125   J W Sadler   8/5
Owners: 1 - Quick Road Stable ; 2 - Spendthrift Farm, LLC ; 3 - Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum ; 4 - Stonestreet Stables, LLC ; 5 - Hronis Racing, LLC

Breeders: 1 - Haras Louveira Ltda; 2 - Clarkland Farm; 3 - Abolengo; 4 - Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC; 5 - Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC

Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - Quick Road (BRZ) - Intuicao Direta (BRZ) , by Roi Normand ; 2 - Henny Hughes - Leslie's Lady , by Tricky Creek ; 3 - Asiatic Boy (ARG) - Valerina (ARG) , by Halo Sunshine ; 4 - Unbridled's Song - Scarlet Tango , by French Deputy ; 5 - Curlin - Evening Star , by Malibu Moon ;

RACE 10 Chandelier S. (Grade I)  POST TIME - 5:00 PM

Purse $300,000. For Fillies, Two Years Old. One And One Sixteenth Miles.

PP   Horse    Virtual
Stable   A/S   Med   Jockey   Wgt   Trainer   M/L
1   With Honors (KY)      2/F   L   F Prat   122   J K Desormeaux   9/2
2   Noted and Quoted (FL)      2/F   L   R Bejarano   122   B Baffert   6/1
3   Champagne Room (KY)      2/F   L   M E Smith   122   P Eurton   4/1
4   Zapperkat (KY)      2/F   L   N Arroyo, Jr.   122   R Baltas   9/2
5   American Cleopatra (KY)      2/F   L   S Elliott   122   B Baffert   7/2
6   Bitzka (OH)      2/F   L   T Baze   122   J W Sadler   12/1
7   Datz a Violation (KY)      2/F   L   M A Pedroza   122   D Greenman   50/1
8   Mistressofthenight (KY)      2/F   L   K J Desormeaux   122   R Baltas   10/1
9   Princess Coco (KY)      2/F   L   V Espinoza   122   J K Desormeaux   15/1
10   Lake Time (KY)      2/F   L   G L Stevens   122   J E Kruljac   10/1
11   Nikki My Darling (OH)      2/F   L   D Van Dyke   122   D Greenman   30/1
12   Demigoddess (KY)      2/F   L   B C Boulanger   122   C R Stutts   50/1
Owners: 1 - LNJ Foxwoods ; 2 - Speedway Stable, LLC ; 3 - S. Alesia, Ciaglia Racing LLC or Exline-Border Racing LLC, Et Al ; 4 - J K Racing LLC or Chandler ; 5 - Zayat Stables, LLC ; 6 - Hronis Racing, LLC or John W. Sadler, Inc. ; 7 - Loooch Racing Stables, Inc. or Ellis ; 8 - Beerman Family Trust or Hall or Sayjay Racing LLC ; 9 - Brehm Racing Stable ; 10 - Mary or James P. Abel ; 11 - Loooch Racing Stables, Inc or Imaginary Stables ; 12 - Bryan M. Carney

Breeders: 1 - LNJ Foxwoods; 2 - Gilbert G. Campbell; 3 - Respite Farm; 4 - Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC; 5 - Zayat Stables; 6 - Andy Stronach; 7 - Jumping Jack Racing LLC; 8 - George Krikorian; 9 - Lynn B. Schiff; 10 - Alberta Davies; 11 - Sheltowee Farm & James E. Evans; 12 - Murray Stroud

Pedigrees (Sire - Dam, by Dam Sire): 1 - War Front - All Her Class , by Street Cry (IRE) ; 2 - The Factor - Silver Cub , by City Zip ; 3 - Broken Vow - Lucky to Be Me , by Bernstein ; 4 - Ghostzapper - Noelle Rose , by Lion Heart ; 5 - Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma , by Yankee Gentleman ; 6 - Tiago - Raindrop , by Thunder Gulch ; 7 - Stay Thirsty - Rings and Things , by Thunder Gulch ; 8 - Midnight Lute - Ringmistress , by Bandini ; 9 - Pioneerof the Nile - A. P. Cindy , by A.P. Indy ; 10 - Tapizar - Doe , by Forestry ; 11 - Creative Cause - Zamindarling , by Zamindar ; 12 - First Dude - La Chica Sensual , by Lightnin N Thunder ;

Potential field:

American Freedom?
Arrogate
Beholder
California Chrome
Comfort
Dortmund
Effinex
Exaggerator
Frosted
Gun Runner
Hoppertunity
Melatonin
Mubtaahij
Nyquist
Samraat
Shaman Ghost

Wouldn't it  be great if the BC Classic for once had an also eligible list...just a thought...

If Mubtaahij wins the JCGC, does Frosted get entered in the Dirt Mile? I hope not.

American Freedom
Arrogate
Connect
Creator
Destin
Economic Model
Exaggerator
Gift Box
Governor Malibu
Laoban
Mohaymen
Mo Tom

Big field possible...

Have not been able to get access.

Brody's Cause
Creator
Destin
Exaggerator
Gun Runner
Lani
Nyquist
Outwork
Suddenbreakingnews

Another relatively small field...

Who is going to be in it to win it...

Nyquist
Exaggerator
Lani
Fellowship
Awesome Speed
Collector
Cherry Wine
Laoban
Stradivari
Uncle Lino

Questionable:
Gun Runner

Out:
Brody's Cause
Suddenbreakingnews

[Nyquist]

So we have two top three year olds going at it this Saturday. What could be better?

The Tsunam-mi in Miami
The Feat On The Beach
The Thrilla in Flo-rid-da

In this corner we have the undefeated 6-0 two year old champion, Nyquist "the Annihilator" Reddam.

Nyquist (Uncle Mo by Indian Charlie by In Excess and Seeking Gabrielle by Forestry by Storm Cat) 30
Next Races: G1 Florida Derby, 9 furlongs, April 2
Trainer: Doug O' Neill
Owner: Paul Reddam
G2 San Vicente, 7 furlongs BSF 100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl2BNPhOFwg

G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile BSF 89
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTI5q1Koopc

G1 Frontrunner Stakes BSF 79
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmgScLQOUtI

G1 Del Mar Futurity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiYIDtWnG2Q

G2 Best Pal Stakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ-oloJzJDM

And in this corner we have the undefeated 5-0 "Mayhem" Mohaymen al Maktoum. 

Mohaymen (Tapit and Justwhistledixie by Dixie Union by Dixieland Band by Northern Dancer) 70
Next Race: G1 Florida Derby, 9 furlongs, April 2
Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum

G2 Fountain of Youth, 8.5 furlongs BSF 95
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln65GwxbFrU

G2 Holy Bull, 8.5 furlongs BSF 95
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzdsNY5aL0g

G2 Remsen Stakes, 9 furlongs BSF 95
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeLM-9FwywA

G2 Nashua Stakes, 8 furlongs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryHq_7aPfDI

Who is going to win this battle of titans?