Barbaro Updates: 696
updates are now here.
Update 4096: Mike Iavarone Co-President & CEO; IEAH Stables, owner of Big Brown and others, was a guest on Bloodhorse's Talkin' Horses, and was asked about Horse Slaughter:
Ontario, Canada:
Can you comment on your position on the horse slaughter issue?
Iavarone:
My position is horse slaughter is pretty obvious as I have been somewhat outspoken against it and Dr. Patty Hogan who will be our head surgeon at the Ruffian Center has given testimony in Washington DC against it.
Update 4095: Big Brown returned to the work tab for the first time since his win at Monmouth: Big Brown Drills at the Big A.
Update 4094: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
I spent much of Saturday glued to TVG (now a TBA sponsor) since the Powers That Be did not see fit to otherwise televise more than one of the eleven G1 races featured this weekend between Belmont and Santa Anita (not to mention the overseas races). Before the two star performances, however, there were a few upsets along the way.
First, Henrythenavigator finally saw the back of Raven's Pass -- a horse he has beaten three times. They may face each other once more this season in California; one imagines that the weather and firmer ground would favor Henrythenavigator -- after last year's nightmare with George Washington, I wonder if they would be so keen on trying the Breeders' Cup if this year's installment were at a muddy Belmont. Ginger Punch was not so lucky against Cocoa Beach in the Beldame and Street Boss was also outfinished in the Ancient Title, but neither could really be said to have run a terrible race -- they both just seemed a bit tired.
The new surface at Santa Anita proved no impediment to superstar Zenyatta; she's (almost always easily) beaten the best fillies of her generation, and Saturday's Lady's Secret was no different. Hystericalady gave it all she had, but when jockey Mike Smith asked Zenyatta to go, she loped off, leaving the few who dared to face her in the dust. Her consummate ease in the Distaff division suggests that she might take a crack at the Classic - but perhaps next year. Let her win the Filly & Mare Classic this go-round, let the dust settle and swoop in for next year's Classic Classic. If she's this good at 4, she could be even more of a monster at 5 -- and I would not be surprised if retirement was an easy excuse for some top colts to duck her.
Curlin's record-breaking Jockey Club Gold Cup repeat was almost coolly professional; he clearly knew just what he had to do and dispatched his rivals with no trouble once called upon. He's earned his place in history while the rest of his agemates sat on the sidelines watching -- and I doubt they would have matched his success. I was not a Curlin fan during last year's Triple Crown series; I didn't like the path he took to the Derby, I didn't like his jailbird owners and I especially did not like that he was switched from Helen Pitts to Steve Asmussen. I give a lot of credit to Jess Jackson for trying to iron out the ownership situation and even more to the horse himself for proving what he was capable of. Here's hoping we see him in the Classic - and, if we are lucky, next year. We'll see how he settles in at Santa Anita.
Of course, there were many other fine performances -- Wait a While's Yellow Ribbon was another confident victory by a star, although her effort is being somewhat eclipsed by Curlin and Zenyatta's stories -- but having watched Zenyatta win, it's easy to see why others seem to pale in comparison.
Check back later this week for more on last weekend's races (which will likely involve a discursion into folklore -- you have been warned) and a preview of Sunday's Arc, which should see Zarkava take on Duke of Marmalade...
Update 4093: Some wild and wet weather this morning at Woodbine. Thunder and lightening rolled in later in the morning, and my last horse (Terry Jordan's) stayed in the shedrow as the thunderstorm loomed directly overhead! The six I galloped for Steve all went nicely. Which was good because of a distinct lack of sleep from last night's benefit could have made for a tough morning's work! Now time to recuperate a little, although I am having lunch with some of the LongRun people!
Update 4092: Peppers Pride is in the entries for Saturday at Zia Park, New Mexico. She is attempting to increase her winning streak to seventeen races and set a modern day record: Peppers Pride Seeks Record 17th Win.
Last night we, Darren Dominic and I, attended a benefit for fellow exercise rider Matt Douglas. Matt suffered third degree burns in a barbeque accident last week and will be out of action for a good while. It was good to see so many people out in support of Matt. The highlight of the evening was a "bidding war" between jockeys Jono Jones and Tyler Pizarro for a picture that I am not entirely sure either of them wanted. Fun to watch and all for a great cause.
In memory of John Hettinger please keep calling and writing.
For Canadians: Canadian Horse Defense Coalition Call to Action.
Hiya, FsOB! It's one of those rare days when I reset the alarm for another 15 minutes of shut-eye. Challenging times that we are living in these days; I have to remind myself to say "Be like Barbaro" when I feel overwhelmed.
Alex, that sounds like a nice charity event for your friend Matt Douglas. I hope that the yield will help defray some of his medical expenses.
Wishing everyone a safe day. Healing thoughts to Chief, Lukas, Chessie, Sherman, & Loretta & Heart!
#### Marg, glad that our FsOB in Downeast Maine are all safe!
To Renee & Jane: Thanks for your kind words last night. ####
Posted by: Robyn Hoffmann at September 30, 2008 11:30 AM