Bleacher Report - Articles by Susie Wright

Horse Racing: Inside the 25th Breeders Cup - Part I - Off the Final Turn

Susie Wright — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:08:15 -0500

all photos: susie wright Horse Racing - Inside the 25th Breeders Cup - Off the Final Turn - Part I is the first of IV. One click of the mouse sent my random drawing entry rushing off into cyber space. Three short weeks later, three closest friends and myself, were banking low into LAX. Our destiny the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships held at historical Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA. Horse racing can be addictive, at least it has been for me. It began when I happened to see a clip on the tv news. A close up, seven or eight second long playback of Majestic Prince in deep stretch giving his all to the wire in winning the 1969 Kentucky Derby. I was 6 and I was hooked. Late last September, I sat at my computer and filled out the entry form. What an incredible, unbelievable, opportunity of a life time this would be. A trip to 25th Breeders Cup. Wow! (Attending any Breeders' Cup event from Kansas City would certainly always illude my budget.) There was only one chance, one winner. I sighed audibly as I activated the 'Submit Entry' box on HRTV's website, An all inclusive, four day, three night stay at the Pasadena Hilton in old town and tickets for four to the 25th Breeders Cup both days. 2008 was the first year the Breeders Cup had been spread over two days. The mare/filly championships on Friday and the horse/colts on Saturday. Oh, what dreams are made of... Can you imagine? I could imagine!!! But what were my chances of really winning, of beating the long odds? I had won one door prize to date, no raffle or lottery ticket had ever paid off. I can only surmise that I had incidentally saved up all my luck for this one chance. I, of all the people, had won and I could not call my sister fast enough! Armed with a Canon EOS 20-DIN digital camera, a 55-200mm Zoom lens and three extra batteries, I set upon this monumental event with the intention of capturing every moment. 665 frames later, I felt confident of success. Photos of winners as they cross the finish line and or standing blowing in the winner's circle are one thing. We had free run of the grounds and I can tell you this. we found the action. It was the raw, awe inspiring power of the field as heads turned for home that captivated us. Running wide open and muscling for position off the final turn. It was as definitive as it was riveting. Come with me inside of the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships. Enter into the surreal beauty of Santa Anita Park ...and have a look through the lens. (Part I of IV.)

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Horse Racing: Filly, Stardom Bound for Kentucky Derby?

Susie Wright — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:38:11 -0500

photo by: susie wright

Stardom Bound looks through the gate as she loads in for her impressive win in the Beesemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies held Oct. 2 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. Gate handler: unknown.

Stardom Bound passed her first test of 2009 winning the $300,000 Las Vergenes Stakes G-I yesterday at Santa Anita Park in her first start for new owner, IEAH Stables and trainer Bobby Frankel. The win gives her four consecutive G-I wins.

Post race interviews confirmed speculation. The IEAH connections have set a course for Stardom Bound towards the Kentucky Derby, first leg of the Triple Crown, to be run May 2.

The Las Vergenes G-I was the first time out off a lenghthy lay-off for the daughter of Tapit. Her previous outing having been a dominating, come from behind, effort in the Bessemer Trust Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies G-I, back on October 24, for Golden Goose Ent. LLC. and trainer Christophe Clements.

Michael Iavarone and IEAH Stables purchased the Eclipse Award winning champion 2-year-old filly, Stardom Bound for $5.7 million at the Fastig-Tipton fall mixed sale in November a week after her captivating Breeders' Cup win.

Stardom Bounds' wins have all been similar in the style department. Much like Curlin and Ventura, Stardom Bound virtually walks out of the gate, settles out near the back of the pack and waits to make a long sweeping move on the outside around the finial turn, passing horses down the stretch and beating them to the wire.

While her running style might not seem conducive to a 20 horse Kentucky Derby field, she did get a bit more education running in traffic in the Las Vergenes.

Rafael Bejarano aboard Haka mirrored Mike Smith and Stardom Bound on the outside beginning about the 3/8 marker. Haka was holding Stardom Bound down on the inside as they ran up onto the leading flight.

Bejarano, made a deliberate late move on Haka, swinging to the outside of Century Park forcing Smith to keep Stardom Bound to the inside and split horses.
Once in the gap, a light tap from Smith set Stardom Bound down for the drive and with her ground eating strides she quickly devoured the leaders.

Saucy Evening tried to run with Stardom Bound from the 1/8 pole, putting in a valiant effort down the stretch to finish third and Haka came on with a strong late kick to finish second.

The brilliant gray filly, had once again, delivered her trademark knock out punch, and with not much more than a hand ride from Mike Smith.

Stardom Bounds next start has been penciled in:
The Grade-1, $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on April 4 at Santa Anita Park...against the colts.

It will be her finial prep before a run in the Kentucky Derby and there will be many sharks in the water. In particular, Pioneerofthe Nile.

He too, claims Santa Anita's track, as his own.

Horse Racing: Nicanor, Dust or Diamond in the Rough?

Susie Wright — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:48:22 -0500

Nicanor's maiden voyage was nothing like his brother Barbaro's.

Barbaro romped in his maiden start at Delaware Park winning by eight-and-a-half clear lengths. Nicanor was 24-three-fourth lengths back when the leader hit the wire having beaten just two of the twelve starters.

Nicanor walked with the field in a tight knit group along the outside rail and around into the shadow of the starting gate. All were well mannered youngsters, warming up without incident and loading peaceably. The starter caught them well and all broke to a nice line.

Unfortunately, Nicanor bumped with Andiron, to his right, causing him (Nicanor) to stumble just a few jumps out. Edgar Prado stayed seated but they found themselves bringing up the back of the pack and with a good view of all.

Finishing 10th of 12 was not the debut the Nation most had hoped for Nicanor.

Just hearing the race result or glancing at the race chart would make one sigh and dejectedly turn away.

But wait. It is not so black and white when it comes to young horses, or horse racing in general for that matter. If one were to looked just a little closer, Nicanors' debut would not seem like such a total let down.

Nicanor recovered nicely from the tumultuous break and hit his stride. Prado had his hands full moving up the back stretch. His colt was full of run. Taking a good hold on Nicanor and standing high in the stirrups, he eased Nicanor to the rail as the bay colt continued pulling him along, picking up horses regardless of the strangle hold. Nicanor was wanting to do more. A trait that can't be taught.

Nicanor showed fearlessness as he ran up into the tight quarters of the leading flight. A trait that can't be taught.

Into fifth position now and just three lengths off the leaders at the half-mile marker. They had made up a dozen lengths on the field. Briefly they had to steady. Prado guided Nicanor off the rail from behind horses, finding him a scrap of daylight. Nicanor went through boldly splitting horses as the field entered the far turn. A trait that can't be taught.

Midway around the turn, with a one-fourth mile to go Nicanor hit the wall.

It was to be expected.

He had exerted extra energy after the break just staying on his feet. He had sprinted, showing good speed, to make up a dozen lengths that he had spotted the field in the first one-fourth and he had been unyielding to Prado's attempt to relax and rate him the whole way.

Now he was tired and out of air...and beside that...his foot hurt.

Nicanor had grabbed his left quarter in the scramble out of the gate. 'Grabbing a quarter' is a term used to describe a horse overreaching with a hind foot and striking/raking the heel/hoof of a front foot, sometimes causing tremendous damage, just ask Big Brown. The injury was found after the race and was reported as a "...slight injury. We’ll just have to see how long it takes to heal." his connections said.

How much did this effected Nicanor's performance? Only Nicanor knows.

He will get out of the gate cleanly and he will learn to relax and rate with time.

He showed confidence and much courage.

He navigated his course flawlessly under Prado and was undaunted by his foes.

He showed speed and a good turn of foot early on in the race and most importantly, he displayed that sometimes ellusive element, gameness.

Let's not despair just yet. Over all I would count his debut a success.

After all, who wants to be EXACTLY like their brother anyway.

Horse Racing: Nicanor, A Lot Riding On Carefree Colt

Susie Wright — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:16:05 -0500

It is just another day for the blood bay colt, Nicanor, full brother of the legendary Barbaro.

The early sun is shining, and he can feel its warmth as he and Messeging walk through the shed rows on their way to the track for a morning work, life is good.

Tomorrow he will load into the starting gate at Gulfstream Park in race No. 8 for a $40,000 Maiden Special Weight at one mile on the dirt.

Across the nation a small tingle has grown into a tangible buzz. Three years of anticipation and expectation have grown in our human minds with phrases like—"...filling big shoes...," ..."as good as Barbaro...," "...his chances for the Derby...," "...will he deliver like his brother...," "...what about a Triple Crown..." floating around among horse racing fans.

Tomorrow, Nicanor will feel the afternoon sun, have a walk out onto the track with his pony horse Messeging. He will make his run around the track in company of other "clueless" youngsters, all in their element. A good bath and nice hay will follow, life is good.

He will be making an auspicious Saturday debut nestled quaintly between the G-III Holly Bull Stakes for 3-year-olds and the G-1 Donn Handicap for older horses.

Many will be watching him leave the starting gate with Edgar Prado aboard, sporting the familiar blue and green silks of the Jackson owned Lael Stables. Sitting on the edge of seats, fingers crossed, all will be hoping to see some flash of brilliance—a smashing win, a commanding, dominating stretch run, all the while, reminded how much he looks like his fallen brother.

This first race will only pose more questions in regard to Nicanor. It is only in the long run that the answer will come.

Can he mend our broken heart is what we really want to know.