I Still Love Curlin!!
Curlin
photo by Barbara Livingston/BloodHorse
That said, Curlin did not win the Breeders' Cup Classic today at Santa Anita Park.
I was pretty bummed out, but there was always this big question mark for him (and many other horses) about how he would handle the (artificial dirt surface) Pro-Ride track.
Obviously, it did not agree with him. He led coming down the stretch but was then overtaken by eventual winner, Raven's Pass. Euro horse Henrythenavigator placed second and Tiago got up for third.
I can't really say much more about it.
Except this:
Curlin came in fourth (the only time he's finished out of the money) and when he headed back to the barn, he passed the grandstands and got a heartfelt standing ovation from the very appreciative crowd. They know he nearly didn't come to this year's Breeders' Cup, and they know what he's already accomplished in his career.
The fans LOVE Curlin, and seeing as how this might have been his last race, they wanted him to know how beloved he truly is.
On with the racing recap.
I won't go on about all the various races - there were 9! You can read all about them here or here. Suffice it to say, the idea that the Pro-Ride surface was alot more like turf than dirt was right on the money, because in 9 races, 5 of them were won by European horses - who are obviously turf specialists! Hence the term 'Euro-Saturday' was coined.
Anyway-
I just want to post some pics - cause I love the horses!!
European invader Raven's Pass defeating Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic
photo by Rick Samuels/BloodHorse
Another European, Conduit -winning the Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Turf .
photo by Rick Samuels/BloodHorse
Midnight Lute wins back to back Breeder's Cup Sprints!
photo by Rick Samuels/BloodHorse
This race meant a little something to me...
First of all, Midnight Lute has been in my fantasy stable for three years.
Second, he is a son of one of my favorite horses: Real Quiet (who was nipped by a nose to lose the Triple Crown in 1998). He is owned and trained by the same connections also.
Third, he won this race last year as well as this year. Super cool in my book!
Fourth - he's freakin' American.
And lastly, let's face it - he's gorgeous - and huge - he barely fits in the starting gate and is over 17 hands high... that's big, folks.
Donativum (Euro) scores in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
photo by Z/Matt Barton/Thoroughbred Times
Midshipman sails to finish in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
(look for him to be tagged the early Kentucky Derby favorite with that win)..
photo by Rick Samuels
Albertus Maximus defeats two longshots in the TVG Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
photo by Z/Matt Barton/Thoroughbred Times
Desert Code, the biggest longshot on the board, wins the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
photo by Z/Matt Barton/Thoroughbred Times
European Muhannak triumphs in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Marathon
photo by Rick Samuels/BloodHorse
Goldikova -a brilliant Euro filly!- wins the Breeders Cup Mile
photo by Z/Matt Barton/Thoroughbred Times
All in all, a fine day of racing!
And the best news: it went off without a hitch, and without an incident - no injuries (or worse)...
I went to the OTB with my dad as usual and we bet each race after careful studying of the Daily Racing Form.
We got excited after I hit the winner on the first race (Muhannak) - I mostly only do 2$ bets, I'm not that brave with my money. But Muhannak went off as something like 15-1... so it at least paid for my other bets.
Then we got even more excited when Dad hit Desert Code - he was a major long shot - like 36-1, so that was a nice payoff.
However.... our luck ended with that.
We didn't win anymore on the day - but we had a great meal & dessert and had a blast watching all the races.
Post script: I didn't actually bet on Midnight Lute because he was the favorite, as was Curlin, but I wanted both to win.. and at least Lute scored me some fantasy points.
Curlin won my heart a long time ago and had nothing else to prove.
*So now there's the long wait to the spring and the Triple Crown season...
Thankfully, horseracing is a year round sport - so I won't get too wistful!
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