Saturday Recap (2-29-12)

Yet another amazing Saturday has been spent in the study of elite, Thoroughbred athletes. I wish I could say "company", but unfortunately, I have been unable to attend any of the summer or fall -time stakes. Like last weekend (and the weekend before..), the majority of my selections have fallen upon hard luck. Some, however, have managed to reconfirm my beliefs in them!

Executiveprivilege: the leader of my Top 10 Juvenile Fillies watch.

Beldame Stakes (GI): Royal Delta is a freak. While I expected she'd win today, I certainly didn't envision a 9 length defacing of Grade I winner It's Tricky! To go to the Ladies Classic or the Classic? Now that is the question. Personally, as much as I'd like to see her bump heads with My Miss Aurelia and Questing, the $3 million Classic seems to be shaping into a weaker field -- and how cool would it be for another filly to be Horse of the Year?

Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI): While my selection (and one of my favorite racehorses), Caixa Eletronica, was unable to catch high-flying The Lumber Guy, he was oh-so-game in defeat. Down the stretch, CE closed like a Ferrari versus pack mules, but just didn't find enough ground to get there in time. Never the less, my love for this seven-year-old stallion was more than quadrupled! He is just that gutsy of a racehorse -- indeed, this was start number 58 for him.

Kelso Handicap (GII): Like many, I was hoping for a Shack Attack in this race. Much to my dismay, the chestnut Shackleford was passed up in the stretch by Jersey Town, who hadn't won since the November of 2011 (in the Cigar Mile, nonetheless)! We'll likely be seeing much of this field rematch in the BC Dirt Mile. As muddled as this lot is, who knows what'll become of the race?

Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI): Flat Out must really love Belmont Park! Today he remained a perfect 3-for-3 on the track, winning his second Jockey Club Gold Cup in a row. While he's terribly inconsistent elsewhere, Flat Out is a Belmont-running machine; I'm disgusted at myself for not including him in my trifecta! My brave little Stay Thirsty, however, did the Repole folk proud with his wire-to-almost-wire running! For a minute, it looked like he might actually win it.

Front Runner Stakes (GI): In the kick-off of the Derby Point System, Power Broker broke his maiden and romped home in front of favored Know More by six, astonishing lengths! Although I didn't handicap this race, I can guarantee that I would not have included him in any of my selections. While I'd rather not judge him until he proves his consistency, this horse looks like one to watch!

 Chandelier Stakes (GI): Like Power Broker, Executiveprivilege dominated her division by six lengths. The fellow Baffert trainee was much unlike her colt counterpart, however, in that she was sent off as the heavily backed favorite. As you may know, EP is currently the leader of the my Top 10 Juvenile Filly standings. Although the final time wasn't earth-shattering, she certainly looked good for a 2YO filly going first-time at 1 1/16 on the dirt!


And those are the six most memorable races that I chose to watch on one especially rainy, Saturday afternoon. Tomorrow, keep your eye on both the Matron and Futurity!