| scotsalemfan |
There is an interesting undefeated horse this year:
Another romp for Curlin in Arkansas Derby
06:42 PM CDT on Saturday, April 14, 2007
Associated Press
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Curlin stormed down the stretch to another lopsided victory Saturday, winning the Arkansas Derby by a record margin for his third win in three career starts.
The chestnut colt had no trouble overtaking fast-starting Deadly Dealer around the second turn, then pulled away. He finished 101/2 lengths ahead of second-place Storm in May in Oaklawn Park's final Kentucky Derby prep race.
Curlin won the Rebel at Oaklawn last month by 51/4 lengths and cruised to a 123/4-length victory in his seven-furlong debut at Gulfstream Park in February. Still, he was considered a bit unproven coming into the $1 million Arkansas Derby because he was so lightly raced.
Now, he's established himself as a major contender for the Kentucky Derby. |
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| scotsalemfan |
Big races all that matter to Nafzger
By ANDREW BEYER
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Street Sense was crowned the nation's champion 2-year-old last season, and now Carl Nafzger, the colt's trainer, is starting the serious preparation that will lead him to the Kentucky Derby. But anything Nafzger accomplishes with Street Sense, or anything else that he does in his life, for that matter, will be regarded as an anticlimax.
There was one moment in Nafzger's 65 years that will always define him. If the sport had a time capsule, it would include a film clip of the trainer on the first Saturday in May 1990.
Nafzger was watching his stretch-runner, Unbridled, begin to launch his rally in the Kentucky Derby. Beside him was the colt's owner, 92-year-old Frances Genter. She hadn't wanted to attend the race, knowing that she would be better able to see and hear it on TV, but Nafzger insisted that she come, promising that he would be her eyes and ears. When Unbridled made his move, Nafzger told her, "He's taking the lead . . . There he is! There he is!" As Unbridled crossed the finish line, the trainer exclaimed, "You've won the Kentucky Derby, Mrs. Genter! I love you!" Then he turned and kissed the frail little lady.
This was the first time that ABC had put a microphone on owners and trainers involved in the Derby. Nowadays everybody is self-conscious about it. But Nafzger had forgotten about the microphone, and his "I love you!" was such a genuine, unscripted burst of emotion that it touched a nationwide television audience. The Derby made page one of newspapers across the country not because of Unbridled's powerful win but because of the little old lady, the "I love you" and the kiss.
It was a moment that showed Thoroughbred racing at its best, demonstrating the powerful feelings that the sport can engender.
If Nafzger came across to the American viewing public as a soft-hearted soul, the image was not entirely correct. "It depends what day you catch me on," he said. This is, after all, a man who once competed in the rough-and-tumble of world of professional rodeo - he was a bull rider, ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Nafzger started training in the late 1960's, connected with some high-level owners in the 1980's and since that time has run an operation that could best be described as old school. He has had long-term relationships with most of his clients and with his staff as well. His assistant, Ian Wilkes, paid his dues for so long that Nafzger put most of the horses in his barn under Wilkes's name, helping the assistant make a name for himself, though it's basically a joint operation. The only horses who run in Nafzger's name are those owned by Bentley Smith, son-in-law of Mrs. Genter, who died two years after Unbridled's win, and James Tafel, breeder and owner of Street Sense and a client of Nafzger's for more than two decades.
"I like the way Carl thinks," Tafel said. "He always brings a horse along at the pace he thinks the horse needs to be developed."
In an era when top trainers seek to develop mega-stables and to win as many races as possible, Nafzger is content with limited ambitions.
He has always maintained a stable of moderate size - he has about 40 horses in his barn now - and he said almost proudly, "I don't have a high win percentage. We're trying to win the right races"- with an emphasis on right. Training mostly for breeders, he wants to win the races that will enhance horses' reputations when they go to stud.
Nafzger's two best colts have won the right ones. Unbridled was never particularly impressive before he captured the Derby. He delivered another peak performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic, helping to earn Nafzger an Eclipse Award as the nation's leading trainer.
Street Sense hadn't done much of note before he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, though the people close to him thought he had star potential. When Tafel and Nafzger saw the youngster for the first time at Chesapeake Farm in Kentucky, the farm's owner, Drew Nardiello, told them: "He's so perfect he's got nowhere to go but down."
Street Sense won only one of his first four starts, but he showed flashes of the talent Nafzger knew he possessed. In the Breeders' Cup, everything fell into place. The leaders set a fast pace and weakened; jockey Calvin Borel found a clear path on the rail - which appeared to be very advantageous at Churchill Downs that day - and Street Sense exploded to score a 10-length victory, the biggest margin in the history of the Juvenile. Handicappers have been debating whether he is really as good as his margin of victory suggests or whether he looked good because of a perfect trip on the rail-biased Churchill track. The answer to their questions will start coming this week.
Street Sense will make his 3-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday, when he will face Any Given Saturday, a formidable rival from Todd Pletcher's stable. Street Sense will have his second and final prep race in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Then he will run in the Kentucky Derby and try to emulate Unbridled's feat.
But he can't emulate him entirely. When Street Sense scored his victory at Churchill Downs in the fall, Nafzger's words to the owner were: "Tafel, you just won the Breeders' Cup!" There were no hugs and kisses. It would be nearly impossible to duplicate the emotional wallop of Unbridled's win for Frances Genter in 1990. |
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| postpicker |
| Curlin is a contender but his light schedule will be undoing. Last horse to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old was Apollo, in 1882. Last horse to win the Kentucky Derby with three career starts was Regret in 1915. |
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| scotsalemfan |
Quote: Originally posted by postpicker
Curlin is a contender but his light schedule will be undoing. Last horse to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a two-year-old was Apollo, in 1882. Last horse to win the Kentucky Derby with three career starts was Regret in 1915. |
Yeah, but horses are trained differently now. There's a good horse named Circular Quay coming in with an 8 week layoff. Trainers never did that for the Derby.
I think Curlin has a good shot. Street Sense too. There's probably 8 or so horses with a shot to win. |
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| Petey Arms |
| who gives a crap its all about the belmont stakes!! i live a few block away from the belmont racetrack |
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| scotsalemfan |
I remember who won the Belmont last year, Jazil. The Derby winner had broke down, and the Preakness winner skipped the race.
But when the Derby winner wins the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes is a big event.
I was there for Real Quiet, who missed the triple crown by a nose.
I was planning on going for Funny Cide, but it rained all day, and I stayed home. |
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| cruz1785 |
| Holy shit. That's right the triple crown is just around the corner. |
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| scotsalemfan |
This was in today's NY Times. Todd Pletcher is a multi-millionaire. Very rare among horse trainers.
In September 2005, in the sales pavilion about 75 yards from the trainers’ barn at Keeneland, Jim Scatuorchio paid $250,000 for Scat Daddy, a son of Johannesburg, and gave the Pletchers a half-interest in him.
“I was around when Todd had 30 horses, and we have had a lot of success together,” said Scatuorchio, 59, who retired in 1998, after 30 years on Wall Street, to race horses. “It was a way of saying thank you.”
In 1999, Scatuorchio owned More Than Ready, a colt J. J. Pletcher helped select. He was their first good horse, winning five of seven starts as 2-year-old and placing fourth in the 2000 Kentucky Derby.
In September 2006, Tabor bought the Pletchers’ half-interest in Scat Daddy for several million dollars, just before Scat Daddy won the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park for his third victory in four starts.
“It was a lot of money,” Pletcher said, refusing to disclose the price. “It was an opportunity to get enough security for my family.” |
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| scotsalemfan |
The Past Performances for the Kentucky Oaks, to be run Friday, is online now at http://www.drf.com/row/row.html
The derby pp's will be on that page tomorrow, after they draw the post positions, on ESPN, 5 eastern. |
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| Kayotic1 |
| I think Curlin is the way to go here. I think I am going to do an exacta box with him and Street Sense. |
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| scotsalemfan |
They both have a big shot. I'm waiting to see the form online tomorrow, to look at different speed figures. I think those 2 are tough, and some closers, like Circular Quay and Triago.
It looks like a good race to bet a few bucks. |
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| Kayotic1 |
| Yeah I am going to throw down a couple for fun. Good luck. |
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| scotsalemfan |
| You too, good luck. I'm not a big bettor, but I have a phone account and enjoy betting light on some tv races. |
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| KingOfAllMedia |
| There is only one undefeated Triple Crown winner, and I don't think that record will ever be broken. The greatest horse of all time :hathair: |
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| KingOfAllMedia |
Quote: Originally posted by scotsalemfan
They both have a big shot. I'm waiting to see the form online tomorrow, to look at different speed figures. I think those 2 are tough, and some closers, like Circular Quay and Triago.
It looks like a good race to bet a few bucks. |
Where is it that you look online? I usually go down to the Teletrack on Derby Day morning and lay down a few bucks on my chosen horse. This year, I'm not so sure. Based on what everyone's saying, it looks like Curlin's the way to go at least to win. What are the current odds, or is it too early? |
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| scotsalemfan |
This DRF page - http://www.drf.com/row/row.html
It has a link to the Kentucky Oaks past performances now, and tomorrow, after posts are drawn on ESPN, they will have the derby pp's.
The last line I saw had Street Sense the favorite, then Curlin. |
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| KingOfAllMedia |
Thanks Scott. Keep us updated.
I've noticed that "Run For The Roses" by Dan Fogelberg has been on heavy rotation on the Sirius channels that play his music, for the past month or so. |
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| scotsalemfan |
Curlin, who is unbeaten in three starts but did not race at age 2, and Street Sense, who won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was the Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male, are seen by most handicappers as the two horses who will attract the most wagering support.
But which one will be favored? Mike Battaglia, who makes the morning line at Churchill Downs, on Tuesday said he was leaning toward making Curlin the favorite at 7-2, with Street Sense next at 4-1.
"I keep wavering, but I think it's going to be Curlin, then Street Sense," Battaglia said. "Curlin was favored in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. But last year, Brother Derek was a big favorite in Pool 3, and Sweetnorthernsaint was 10-1. It's a tough call."
Sweetnorthernsaint ended up the Derby favorite last year at 5-1, with Barbaro 6-1 and Brother Derek 7-1.
Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form's national handicapper, on Tuesday said he was likely to make Street Sense the favorite at 5-1, with Curlin next at 6-1.
"It seems that there is much more discussion about Street Sense," Watchmaker said. |
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| The Truth |
Here's the field and position..
Quote: 1
1 Sedgefield Miller Leparoux 50-1
2 Curlin Asmussen Albarado 7-2
3 Zanjero Asmussen Bridgmohan 30-1
4 Storm in May Kaplan Leyva 30-1
5 Imawildandcrazyguy Kaplan Guidry 50-1
6 Cowtown Cat Pletcher Jara 20-1
7 Street Sense Nafzger Borel 4-1
8 Hard Spun Jones Pino 15-1
9 Liquidity O'Neill Flores 30-1
10 Teuflesberg Sanders Elliot 30-1
11 Bwana Bull Hollendorfer Castellano 50-1
12 Nobiz Like Shobiz Tagg Velasquez 8-1
13 Sam P. Pletcher Dominguez 20-1
14 Scat Daddy Pletcher Prado 10-1
15 Tiago Shirreffs Smith 15-1
16 Circular Quay Pletcher Velazquez 8-1
17 Stormello Currin Desormeaux 30-1
18 Any Given Saturday Pletcher Gomez 12-1
19 Dominican Miller Bejarano 20-1
20 Great Hunter O'Neill Nakatani 15-1 |
Great Hunter and Any Given Sunday were good sleepers, but they're done.
I'm not sure who i'm going to put money down on, but I think Hard Spun can pull it off. |
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| scotsalemfan |
| Thanks for posting that. I just checked DRF.com and the past performances aren't up yet. They should be soon. |
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| Kayotic1 |
| Don't follow horse racing to much, so I am not sure what posts are good and bad here, but besides the two favorites (Curlin and Street Sense) I think I am going to take a shot on Scat Daddy. I also know someone who likes Liquidity for his long shot and he follows this stuff pretty close. |
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| scotsalemfan |
Scat Daddy wins a lot. 5 of 8. I think he won't be one of the favorites because his speed figures are a little below the favorites.
Liquidity should be a long price. His only win was against maidens. He gets blinkers off, maybe that will help him. |
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| scotsalemfan |
You can download the past performances now. It looks like a lot of longshots going to the lead.
1,6,9,10,and 17. Maybe Nobiz will be there too. |
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