Hooves down, Shared Belief.

3 for 3
Winner of 2 graded stakes, 1 a G 1, 1 sprint and 1 2-turn
Defeated 2 G1 winners in the Hollywood Futurity
Ran a 106 Beyer, well above any other in his crop
Each win by 5+ lengths

One trainer who HRTV said "will remain nameless" opined "he won't be the same horse on conventional dirt." Meaning,  of course, that he won't run a lick.

Who do we know who is high-profile, has a dog in the fight, and is unprofessional enough to say this? 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. 

Stud plans TBA. He's earned his retirement. And retired sound.

Jockey Club Gold Cup, twice
Suburban, twice
Cigar Mile
Westchester Hcp

Placed in the Whitney, Woodward, Forego, Met Mile and BC Classic. Earner of over $3.5 M.
Remarkably, most of that purse money was earned after returning from an 18 month layoff.
Have a long and happy retirement, fella.

I think the TBRF folks descending on the track for the futurity next weekend should come with shovels in hand to exhume the body of this wonderful racehorse. He doesn't deserve to be plowed under like the rest of the track.

Does anyone have an idea of what will happen to him? One would hope for relocation to SA, but I don't know if there are any plans to do this.

Who knows?  Was I the only one not particularly impressed by Honor Code yesterday? I think if New Years Day wins the Hollywood Futurity, the Eclipse is his. Two G1 over 1 G2 to me is a no-brainer.  And I'm an Honor Code fan, don't get me wrong, his Saratoga win was breathtaking. But since then he's been less so IMO.

She's a Tiger, despite the disqualification, displayed the most consistency over an otherwise mixed-up 2 year old filly group.

Schiaparelli was almost understandable,  but the constant mispronunciations of Emollient were crazy making.

But by far the worst has been Brigand. If I hear one more HRTV or TVG talking head say "Brig AND" I am going to scream! Thank goodness for Tom Durkin. He is the only, and I repeat ONLY one who has pronounced his name correctly over the years.

So just in case anyone from those media outlets reads these boards,  it's pronounced BRIG'nd, with the emphasis on the first syllable.

End of rant.   :

I started this topic on the other board and I'm bringing it back because of recent events concerning the horse that prompted me to start that topic. It makes me wonder who reads that board. Hmmm....

Of course,  what do I know, I am only a fan.

The horse of which I speak is Moments Notiz. He had at one time been running for as low as 12,500 at Indiana Downs and Turrfway,  but his form was very consistent and IMO he had a great deal of upside. Heck, Baffert brought Tough Tiz's Sis from Indiana Downs and she became a G1 winner. That's not to say this horse will do likewise,  but he has won on dirt, synthetic and in the slop, and his last Bris figure was a 99.

Imagine my surprise when I saw his name entered in a Starter Allowance @ Aqueduct, and under new ownership of David Jacobson. I guess since the previous owners only spent $2k on him and he's made $113K, they decided to sell him privately.

Oh, how I wish more than ever I'd reached into my pocket and shelled out that 12.5K.

I saw him on Inside Information on HRTV and wondered how things were on the farm. Hope he's happy, healthy,  and for the mares, h...y as well! 

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/81988/arc-winner-treve-is-cartier-horse-of-the-year

.....and a filly wins the top stayer award too! Congratulations,  Your Majesty!

Magician, winner of the BC Turf, takes home top 3 year old colt honors.
Chriselliam, winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, wins 2 year old filly award.

Since we're now post-BC, it's time to look for nice debut performances by the late bloomers.

Coup de Grace, winner of the 1st today at Aqueduct,  could be any kind. By Tapit out of a Storm Cat mare, he's owned by Fox Hill farm, who paid 200K+ for him. Nice looking, flashy chestnut. He can run too.

I've biotched about this for ages. There should be more mile races. Yes, we have some 8.5 races, but it's simply not a flat mile. The fact that SA only has the Santana Mile is baffling to me.  Look at the prestige of the Met Mile and the Cigar Mile.  And the G1 turf miles (Eddie Read, Shoemaker Mile).  C'mon guys, let's see more mile races.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2013/11/06/wise-dan-great-period.aspx

And it's apparent Steve Haskin is totally enamored with Wise Dan! 

He wasn't injured, according to Sadler, just a bit "immature," to quote him. Better to let him grow a little than to let him injure himself (like he almost did in his one and only start).

$100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes (gr. III, Race 3, 1:30 p.m., 2YOs, 7 Furlongs, All Weather)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Papa Turf (KY), E A Maldonado, 116, J M Kasparoff
2. Shared Belief (KY), C S Nakatani, 116, J Hollendorfer
3. Brother Soldier (KY), J Talamo, 116, C Dollase
4. Kobe's Back (KY), R Bejarano, 122, J W Sadler
5. Golden Dynamo (KY), J Couton, 116, R W Leonard

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/81927/four-to-test-kobes-back-in-hollywood-prevue#ixzz2k5j0bnXK

I must start this topic off with the horse that got me interested in thoroughbred racing as a child. It was only fitting that I would be reading the Black Stallion (in this case, it was a black gelding!) when I became a fangirl of Native Diver. 

Remarkably, he won stakes races at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.  And that blaze. That keyhole-shaped blaze is one that cannot ever be duplicated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo_5NHzOA3g

Can't bet against Wise Dan. The only misstep he took was on a sloppy track in a race taken off his favorite surface.

Sale runs from November 5 till the 14 and features such stars as Mizdirection and Groupie Doll going through the ring.

Japanese breeders will no doubt be there with deep pockets ....

http://www.keeneland.com/sales/november-breeding-stock-sale

Great weather both days:

Breeders' Cip Day 2

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/slideshows/slideshow/2013-breeders-cup-world-championships-day-2/2013-breeders-cup-world-championships--day-2

Breeders' Cup Day 1

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/slideshows/slideshow/2013-breeders-cup-world-championships-day-1/2013-breeders-cup-world-championships--day-1

While I couldn't complain about the weather,  the security was inconsistent.  What I'd posted about what you were allowed to bring through the gate was in contradiction to what happened at the front gate.  The end result? I left after 3 races, and didn't wager a penny, after at least 3 different security people all contradicted each other and one of my cohorts at the track had brought in items that he hadn't had confiscated but I did. 

While I understand the Boston Marathon bombing had something to do with the increased security, that's not my point; my point is that what the BC and SA indicate as contraband on their web sites agree with what happens to patrons at the gate. I don't, at this point, have any desire to attend the event again. I will happily watch it on TV and wager online if I must.

And was parking always $10? It seems to go up every year.

Beholder and Will Take Charge.

Per HRTV, he is in surgery to remove his spleen.

So far the score is Smith 2, Stevens 1 at the end of day 1.

Is there a sports comeback award that can be bestowed on Stevens? Truly remarkable.

NBSSN starts @ 1 pm tomorrow. 

HRTV of course will be covering throughout the day, but due to contractual obligations will only show the races on delay after NBC.

Debating whether to upgrade my already exorbitant Dish bill for just 1 month so I can see the races. I would be more inclined to do that if I were staying at home, but since I'm attending, may was well simply record the HRTV coverage.

Has anyone who has HRTV noticed that many of TVG's formers have migrated over there? Bob Baedecker (sp?), Christina Olivares Blacker, Michelle Wu so far. Joanne Jones is gone (yay!).

Now if only HRTV could cajole Frank Lyons over.

It's always funny seeing Baedecker and White on a show together. All they'd need to add is Jeff Siegel and they could spend the entire show reminiscing