Across the Board - NESN.com

There's something about Saratoga

Colin Sheehan — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:12:00 GMT

Every summer my buddies and I pack up the car with sandwiches, a cooler of beer, lounge chairs, and the Daily Racing Form and head on up to Saratoga Springs in upstate New York for a weekend at the races. This yearly trip began about seven years ago when my father took me there for the first time. The place had everything, beautiful golf courses, beautiful women, and a happening nightlife and, of course, the best horses in the country.

The next summer, after a little convincing, my buddies and I made the three hour trip for the first time. Each year the trip gets a little bigger. With the cold weather creeping into the New England area, I am already looking forward to next year’s trip. It is never too early to plan for a weekend in Saratoga as the hotels fill up pretty quickly during the six week meet.

The racing season, which usually begins at the end of July and runs through the first week of September, kicks off with the Whitney Stakes race and ends with the Travers Stakes. While these are not the official beginning and ending of the season, they are the two biggest races on either end of the schedule. These two races tend to be very busy as they draw the biggest crowd, so if that’s not your scene, I would avoid these two days. On the other hand, you will see the best horses of the year and downtown Saratoga will certainly be happening.

To get the most out of a trip to Saratoga, drive up on a Friday morning and stay until Monday evening. If you leave around 8 a.m., you will have plenty of time to make the first race on Friday. There is live racing all weekend, with races going until about 5 p.m. on Monday, getting you home around 9 p.m. if you leave right after. Many hotels in downtown Saratoga offer better deals if you book Friday through Monday. On the Travers and Whitney weekends, many of them demand that you stay all three nights. Room rates generally run around $170-$200 a night. The best spot to camp out for the weekend is on Broadway because it is close to the track and the nightlife for after the races.

The nightlife on a Friday and Saturday night in Saratoga after the races is as vibrant as anywhere. Upon leaving the track, after a day of winning hopefully, be sure to stop in at Siro’s, located directly outside the track. It is where all the fun is after the final race. The bar is outside and almost always features live music. There is a lot of room to move around and dance if you like, and the bartenders are all very friendly. As the sun goes down though, so does the crowd as they head towards the downtown area.

There are a variety of bars on this Caroline St. for the 20-35 year old crowd. Two of my personal favorites are Gaffney’s and the Saratoga City Tavern. Located directly across from each other, these two spots are always hoping.

Gaffney’s features an outside patio and live entertainment, while the City Tavern features five floors with a variety of different atmospheres, including a roof top bar. The different floors include a newly renovated sports bar, a dance club and another with a fireplace and pool table.

The roof top deck is where I usually end up as you can look out over Caroline St. The nights are usually quite comfortable in July and August in Saratoga, so I enjoy these two bars because of their outdoor areas. Don’t forget, the bars in New York are open until 4:00 a.m.

If you get tired of going to the track, Saratoga also offers some wonderful rounds of golf. Mornings in Saratoga are very beautiful. Whether at the track or a golf course, the sun rising up over the dew on the grass offers a picturesque scene. Saratoga’s well kept grass invokes memories of Fenway Park’s outfield.

There are about seven golf courses within minutes of downtown Saratoga and although I have not played them all, I can certainly recommend the Airway Meadows Golf Course. It is an absolutely beautiful and challenging course that is split by a runway for an airport. Eighteen holes with a cart is $32. If you get out early enough, you can make the first race back at the track.

It is also important to note that Saratoga is close enough to make it a day trip. The ride home isn’t quite as fun, especially if you have lost money, but if you need to save on the hotel, it can certainly be done. Check into local private clubs as well, as many offer day trips up to Saratoga.

I recommend making a stop in Saratoga a part of you next road trip. Please feel free to email me with questions or recommendations for your trip to Saratoga.

Across the Board word of the week:
ROAN: A roan horse is a horse that has white hairs mingled throughout its coat. They are truly beautiful horses.

Fun Fact of the week:
Man O’War, considered one of the greatest thoroughbred’s ever, lies in rest at the Kentucky Horse Park, where his grave is marked by a statue. Man O’War produced more than 64 stakes winners including War Admiral, who went on to win the Triple Crown in 1937. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1957.

Translating the form

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:19:00 GMT

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving and are well-rested for the busy Christmas shopping season.

In my last blog, I broke down the different sections in the daily racing form of a past performance chart and exactly what the numbers and letters stand for. In today's edition, I will attempt to give some tips on exactly which information you should be paying attention to.

It is very easy to get your hands on this information at any local race track or newsstand, but unfortunately, just having the information does not mean you will be picking winners. Actually, picking a winning horse comes from breaking down the information, finding trends, learning how good a horse really is, and of course, a little luck. I am by no means a professional handicapper, but I will go through the steps I take in breaking down a particular race.

Before I begin, I would like to give a reminder that in betting on a horse race, you are not betting against the track, but rather the other bettors that are betting on the particular race. This piece of information is very important in the concept of trying to beat the horse that is selected as the favorite.

A horse becomes a favorite because other bettors involved in that race have made him the favorite. I always have the mindset that I am not trying to beat the race; I am trying to find that trend or piece of information that others are missing. After all, if you beat the favorite, your payoff is going to be greater.

With this approach, I begin looking at a race by getting an idea of what the horses will be facing on that day. I like to have an idea of what all the horses in the race will be facing (we can refer to these as "constants" -- things that aren’t changing). These "constants" include the type of race, the distance of the race, the type of track and the weather.

The weather only becomes a factor when it is not a nice day out. If it is raining and the track is muddy or sloppy, I will immediately look at how all the horses have raced on the sloppy tracks in the past (that is, if they have at all). For a horse that has run on a sloppy track three times and has faired OK, I tend to give more consideration than a horse that has not raced on the slop at all.

When looking at the type (the class) of race, I will immediately go through each horses past performances to see if they are dropping in class or stepping up in class. For example, let’s say there is a typical claiming race for $22,000, which consists of eight horses. Six of the eight horses have all been racing at or around this same purse, and all of them have won at this level. One of the other two horses has been racing at $7,000 and has only two wins, while the last horse has been racing at purses of around $50,000 but has not finished better than sixth place. We cannot throw out this horse simply because he has not finished better than sixth place, but we probably can throw out the horse stepping up in class because he was barely winning at the class he was racing at before.

As far as the surface of the race, I will go through and look at how horses have raced at the particular surface in which they are running in. If a horse has never run on the turf before and is scheduled to run in a turf race, I might make note of that as a reason he will not win. It is important to note that horses that run on the turf and switch to dirt usually fair well. However, the opposite cannot be said.

As for the distance of the race, I will also take note if a horse has been running at five furlongs and is all of the sudden running a mile (one mile = eight furlongs), because the horse most likely will not be in condition to compete in such distance. For the most part, I will remove two or three horses per race base on this factor.

My next step is perhaps the most important one in breaking down a race. This is when I check the outcome of their previous races. This involves the section of the racing form where a horse’s position during his last race is posted.

In last week’s example, I used a race that Pyro had raced in. His positions in his last race went from seventh to third, to his second-place finish. I will look at a few of his races to see if this is how Pyro usually races. In his prior race, he went from “11th, to sixth, and finished third.” This tells me that Pyro likes to hang out in the back and finish the race strong. I will write the word “late”, next to this horse’s name, to remind me that this horse has “late speed.” Some horses like to go to the front in the beginning of the race, and if I see that a horse tends to do this in a few of his previous races, I will put the letters “E/S” which stands for “early speed.” Another horse may have “fourth, third, and a finish of second.” This horse likes to stay off the pace of the leader and usually stays within the pack. For horses that run this style, I will place an “O/P,” which stands for “off the pace.”

If a majority of the horses like to go to the front (early speed, or “E/S”), chances are they are going to tire each other out, leaving the race for a horse that has a history of “late speed.” If there is an abundance of horses that like to close (have “late speed”), the early speed horse will be able to get in front and dictate the pace of the race, meaning there is a good chance for that horse to go wire-to-wire for the victory. If there is a nice mixture of both early speed and late speed, the race should shape up nice for horses that like to run off the pace of the leader.

Finally, I will take into consideration the “Buyer” speed figures for each horse. See last week’s blog on where to find this number. This number gives you an idea of how the horse runs. It is similar to a rating. If a horse has been consistently putting up buyers in the 70’s, you can be fairly confident he will put up a similar figure. If other horses in the race have been putting up 90’s, you can assume that the horse putting up 70’s will not beat the others. You can use these numbers to throw out horses that don't perform as well as others.

But, of course, any horse can win on any given day, but these numbers are fairly reliable.

I would like to send along my prayers to Grade 2 winner Shakis, who had to be euthanized after breaking a leg two weeks ago. He was a favorite horse of mine and will surely be missed.

Fun fact of the week
On Nov. 22, 1990, Jockey Pat Day notched his 5,000th career winner aboard Screen Prospect in the Falls City Handicap.

Word of the week
Paddock: This is the area where horses are saddled prior to going to the track.

Picking the winning horse

Colin Sheehan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:25:00 GMT

With the horse racing season in somewhat of a down time, I figured it would be an excellent time to break down the past performance page for beginner handicappers.

Today, I will focus on one horses PP page, and next week, I will break down that horse compared to the other horses in a race to try and come up with a winner. As I mentioned last week, Pyro was a wonderful two-year-old that I began following last winter, so I figured I would start with his past performances. The race he was entered into for this past performance was the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita last October.

A past performance chart is exactly that -- a chart that breaks down Pyro’s last few races. Some charts such as the Daily Racing Form will break down all of Pyro’s races, while charts that you might buy at the track will only break down his last few. This particular chart breaks down Pyro’s last six races. The chart also gives random information such as who the jockey will be, who the owners are, and how the horse has raced on particular surfaces.

I will begin on the top left of a past performance page, which is fairly self-explanatory. The number "6" is which post position Pyro will be breaking from. It is the number that is used for all betting purposes. If Pyro was a horse you would like to bet on, you would refer to his No. 6, rather than by his name. Sometimes, an owner or trainer will enter two horses in the same race, and if this happens, it is considered a coupled entry. The two horses will be numbered 1 and 1A. If you bet on the 1, you will also get the 1A.

Beneath the 6, a color is written to display which color the horses’ saddlecloth will be. The 20-1 is the morning line that has been set on this horse. It is used as a guideline and does not mean that if you bet Pyro, you will get 20-1 odds. As people bet on Pyro, the odds will increase or decrease. Whatever the odds are when the race goes off are the odds you will get. The Owner, Silks and Trainer are displayed next.

The Silks refer to the uniform the jockey will be wearing. It is meant to make it easier to follow the jockey through the race. Next to the trainer is his statistics at this meet (0-0-0-0) 0 %. That means that today’s races at Santa Anita will be Steven Asmussen’s first races of the year at Santa Anita. Next to Pyro’s name is (L). This means that Pyro is using a medication called Lasix.

If there is a little 1 next to the L, it means that he is using the medication for the first time, and is an angle I take into consideration. If a horse has been racing without Lasix and then adds Lasix, I expect that horse to run a little better than he did without Lasix. The 122 is the weight that Pyro will be carrying on his back.

Beneath Pyros' name is the color of the horse, the age and sex of the horse, the father and the mother of the horse, and where and when the horse was born.

The top right of the past performance gives a quick overview of how Pyro has fared in his career at different surfaces. Shaun Bridgmohan is the jockey that will be riding Pyro on this day. Beneath his name is how he has fared at this meet. He has not raced at Santa Anita, either. The 97 is the estimate for what Equibase Speed Figure the horse will get in the race. I will get into speed figures more in-depth next week.

On the top right is how Pyro has raced in his career, and it is broken down by year, surface type and distance. For example, in 2008, Pyro started in eight races. He finished in first place in three races, finished in second place in two races, and finished in third place in one race. He has earned a total of $953,165 in 2008, and his best speed figure in those races was 105.

This particular race was on the dirt, so it is good to see that Pyro has raced on the dirt quite a bit (12 races) and has done pretty well (first, second, or third in 10 of the races). The OSA (which stands for Oak Tree at Santa Anita) is how Pyro has raced at this track in his career, and this is in fact his first race at Santa Anita (which was immediately a huge warning sign).

AllWeather is how Pyro has raced when the weather has not been good. Some horses are very good when the track is sloppy or it is raining, so if you are at the track on a messy day, this is important to consider. On this particular day, the weather would not have an impact.

The next part of the PP page is how the horse has raced in his previous starts. I will go left to right. On the far left is the date of the race and what track the race was at, including what race number. That is followed by the track condition (in the last race, the track was fast), the race distance (1 1/16), and how many days off the horse had going into that race (Pyro had 42 days off going into his last race). The times given are the times of the winning horse.

Next you have the type of race. Any race with a G is considered a Graded Stakes race (considered the best type of race), and followed by the amount of the purse money. I could go on for pages on all the different types of races, but the three main types of races to recognize are Stakes races, Maiden races and Claiming races. Maiden races are for horses that have never won before, and Claiming races are races in which horses can be purchased for a specific price.

When looking at this section, I generally look to see if a horse is taking a major drop in class. Let's say a horse has competed in three stakes but has not finished better than fourth place and is now racing in a Claiming race. His competition, on the other hand, may have a few wins, but they are all at Maiden and Claiming levels. The horse that has not finished better than fourth may still be the best pick because his competition has been much harder.

The next section is the part of the racing form I personally pay the most attention to. To beginners, it looks like a bunch of random numbers, but this is where you can really pick your winners. We will look at Pyros' last race to explain what each number means.

The 65 and 103 are the speed figures for this race. The Official Equibase® Speed Figure tells you how fast a horse has been running in his recent races with a single number. In this race, Pyro finished with a 103. The 65 refers to the pace of the race. The next number (12 in this case) refers to the post position which Pyro broke from in his last race. In this race, we already mentioned that Pyro will be breaking from the 6 post position, while in the last race he was outside at the 12 position.

The next three numbers refer to what position Pyro was in during different points of the race. This is how I tell a horse’s running style. In this race, Pyro was hanging out in the back prior to charging late. He went from seventh place early in the race, began to make a move to third and ultimately finished in second place. The little number represents how many lengths back he was of the next horse.

In this race, Pyro finished in second place, one length behind the winner. For speed horses that like to set the pace, you will usually see all oness in this section as they like to try and get out to the front. In next week’s edition, I will explain how I compare different horses' running style to come up with a prediction of how the race will turn out and ultimately how to pick a winner.

Next, you see who the jockey was for this race, how much weight Pyro was carrying in that race, and that he was on Lasix for that race as well.

The *1.20 refers to the odds that Pyro went off at in that race. The * denotes that he was the favorite on that day. Next is the order of the top three horses in that race, followed by the weight they were carrying and how much they were in front of the next horse. On the far right of each race, there is usually a little note on how the horse ran. In this race, Pyro was five wide (from the inside), and drifted in the stretch (which may have cost him the come-from- behind win). The 12 refers to how many horses were in that race.

The final section on the PP form is the recent workouts that the horse has run. It gives the date, the track, the length of the workout, the time of the workout, the workout type and the rank of that day. The types of workout are Breezing and Handily. Breezing means that the horse worked at a moderate speed, which is less effort than Handily. Handily usually means the horse ran with little push from the jockey or ran at maximum effort. The rank is how the horse ranked against other horses working out at that facility, at the same distance on that day on the same surface.

It’s a lot to take in, but if you break it down section by section, it becomes easier to understand. This is a good building block to build from, and next week, I will continue to give some insight as to what it all means and eventually offer some strategies to help you pick some long-shot winners. To be continued …

Word of the week
Handicapping: This is the study of factors in the past performances which determine the relative qualities and abilities of horses in a race.

Fun fact of the week: The first major thoroughbred racing track in the United States was at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 1863. Known as the “Spa,” the six-week meet in upstate New York is considered one of the best and most competitive meets in the racing year.

Horses of the future

Colin Sheehan — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:49:00 GMT

During the summer months, I enjoy watching horse racing to see which horses will be serious contenders in the Breeders' Cup, otherwise known as the world championships of thoroughbred racing. Beginning in November and through the winter months, I enjoy paying close attention to the 2-year olds that may materialize into the next Triple Crown champion.

The Run for the Roses is very exciting, but when you go into that race in May, cheering for a horse that you thought could do it back in November, it makes it that much more special. While I have been following horse racing for about five years now, last winter was the first time I began “scouting” the 2-year-olds for the Triple Crown.

The Saratoga meet in August is a great place to begin looking for promising 2-year-olds. Last year, while I was in Saratoga, two horses that grabbed my attention were War Pass and Pyro. War Pass, who went on to win his first five races, did not race in the Derby after injuring himself. I was always impressed how he would get to the front of the race and never look back, except when Pyro was racing.

Pyro captured my attention in the way he was able to close in a race. Going from last place to first was never out of the question with this horse, and it was always exciting to see him coming down the stretch. Pyro ended up finishing eighth on Derby day, but did end up having a strong year, finishing second in the Jim Dandy Stakes and Indiana Derby.

I have already circled Midshipman as an impressive 2-year-old, and he did not disappoint on Breeders' Cup day. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Capt. Candyman Can won the Iroquois, and Sara Louise won the Pocahontas, both 2-year-old Stakes races.

While looking ahead to the Derby next year is exciting, it also sadly means that the end of the 2008 meet at Suffolk Downs is upon us. The last day for live racing is this Saturday and features the first-ever Phantom Gourmet Beer and Food Phest.

The event will include free beads, mechanical bull rides and sumo wrestling. The event starts at noon, and tickets are only five dollars. It should be a great time. Parking is free, and Suffolk Downs is located on Route 1A North in East Boston. (OK, I’ll give ya an early daily double, too. Go with the 1, 1 and 8, 8 daily double. They certainly are not guarantees, but you will make some cash if either comes through.)

Overall, I was very happy to see the changes that occurred this summer at Suffolk to try to attract more people. This year, they actively promoted fun events for the entire family, including face painting, getting your picture taken with a horse and jockey, jockeys on stilts, and balloon making. They also did their work to try to attract a strong field, including a stunt to try and get Curlin to race Big Brown in the MassCap. It didn’t work, but it was certainly worth a try, and after all, having Commentator come to take the Masscap wasn’t too shabby. Hopefully next year, it won’t be a one-horse race, though.

Suffolk Downs also hosted two DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifying tournaments this summer, and if you are looking for an exciting way to spend a Saturday, be sure to check when they will be hosting this tournament next year. The fee this year was $60 and included lunch.

A handicapper makes his pick, and then the races are set up so that they go off roughly every five minutes. You can make some great friends who are avid racing fans as well. I have attended one qualifier tournament the past two years, and I will be sure to attend again next year. No experience is needed. Good job to all the hard workers over at Suffolk Downs, and I am already looking forward to next year’s meet.

Phrase of the week:
Daily Double: Type of wager calling for the selection of winners of two consecutive races, usually the first two races of the day and the last two races of the day.

Fun fact of the week:
Nov. 5, 1988: Julie Krone became the first female jockey to compete in the Breeders' Cup. She rode Darby Shuffle to a second-place finish in the Juvenile Fillies race. She went on to become the first woman jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race when she rode Halfbridled to victory in 2003.

Breeders' backlash

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:51:00 GMT

This year's Breeders' Cup showcased the world's best horses and, in turn, gave fans some very exciting races. While the Europeans didn’t fair too well on the first day, they certainly made their presence known on Day 2, topped off by Raven’s Pass taking home the Breeders' Cup Classic, upsetting Curlin.

On the second day, the Europeans won five of the nine Breeders' Cup races, including the Turf, the Mile Turf, and the Juvenile Turf. Switching from turf to polytrack was an easier transition than switching to traditional dirt, and that is why so many horses were brought in from Europe to compete.

The major upset came in the Classic, where the race was being referred to as “Curlin versus the world.” Curlin took the lead around the final turn but could not hang on and finished a disappointing fourth. Curlin runs best on the dirt, and I think he lacked that closing kick on the polytrack. Had this race been on the dirt, the results would have certainly been better.

Although Curlin disappointed his fans, another fan favorite took care of her business the day before. Zenyatta was the main attraction on Day 1 as she remained unbeaten in her career by taking the Ladies' Classic in impressive fashion. She was content to fall behind to start the race, only to circle six wide coming into the stretch and then surge for home.

Curlin's loss and Zenyatta’s win set up a very intriguing debate about who should get the Horse of the Year award in January. On Sept. 25, I wrote right here on Across the Board, “With a little luck, it’s possible that she [Zenyatta], could be horse of the year. Of course, she would need both Big Brown and Curlin to stumble a bit.”

Big Brown retired prior to the Classic, and Curlin did stumble a bit with his loss. Even with the loss, though, Curlin faced the much tougher competition on the whole for the year, including a win in Dubai. Zenyatta only faced fillies this year, and lacking a race against the males may be the reason her name is not pulled for the Eclipse award. Although, according to NTRA.com, the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll has Zenyatta ahead of Curlin with 11 first-place votes compared to Curlin’s seven first-place votes.

This reminds me of the argument you hear every year in college football when there is an undefeated team with a weaker schedule compated to a team with one loss that plays a tougher schedule. Curlin does have to be given credit for racing in the Classic on a surface that was not his favorite, and his connections have to be given credit for bringing Curlin back as a 4-year-old. They could have made a lot of money by retiring Curlin to stud, but instead decided to bring him back to race against the best (unlike Big Brown's connections who planned on retiring him a while ago).

I can go either way with this argument, and I am torn on who the award should go to. It's hard to look past a perfect record, and I am leaning toward giving the prestigious award to Zenyatta.

While I didn’t have too much luck with my trifectas last week, I did mention a few horses that came through for me, and a few of them even paid some nice prices. While watching the first few races Day 1, I made note that early speed was not holding up, most winners were coming late to win and this would be a major factor for the rest of the weekend.

Stardom Bound did go off as the favorite in the Juvenile Fillies and made a huge move on the outside with a strong finish for the win.

Prior to race six on Day 1, it was noted that Forever Together has a pint of Guiness every morning, and sure enough, she went out and came late for the win, paying a nice $11.80. Maybe the pint of Guiness will become a trainer's trend.

The first race on Day 2, I mentioned Muhannak as a serious contender, and she went off at 12 to 1. She ran a nice race and came off the pace to win, paying $26.80.

Desert Code came late to win at the wire in the second race and paid $75.00, which was the second-biggest payout in the Breeders' Cup history.

The only other race I was right on was the Juvenile where I loved Midshipman. I was hoping to get better odds on him, but unfortunately, he went off at 3 to 1, and ended up paying $9.20. This is a horse that I will certainly be keeping my eye on for the first week in May of next year (Kentucky Derby).

Donativum is another two-year-old who won on Day 2, and we will have to keep an eye on him as well. You never know where the next Triple Crown winner will arise from, but victories in the Breeders' Cup could be a great place to start.

With the Breeders' Cup in the rearview mirror, it is time to begin looking at the 2-year-olds to see who will be contenders for next year's Triple Crown challenge.

This weekend, Churchill Downs features two Grade 3 races for Juveniles, the Iroquois Stakes and the Pocahontas Stakes. Court Vision won last year's Iroquois and went on to compete in the Derby. Competitors for the Iroquois include undefeated Casey’s On Call, Nick Zito-trained Brave Vicory, and stakes winner Abbott Hall. This race will be a start for looking at next year's serious contenders.

Words of the week:
Apprentice: A jockey who has ridden for less than a year and who receives weight allowances.
Juvenile: A 2-year-old horse

Curlin's legacy

Colin Sheehan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:47:00 GMT

While the Ladies' Classic is the highlight race on Friday, Saturday features the Breeders' Cup Classic, which will include Curlin, North America’s all-time leading money earner.

A win for Curlin would make him the front-runner for the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. It was going to be the race of the year, since it seemed as though it was finally going to be the matchup between Big Brown and Curlin, but Big Brown was retired to stud earlier this month after suffering an injury.

There is still some great competition for Curlin, though, including Casino Drive and Go Between. The Classic tops off a great day of racing, including eight other Breeders' Cup races. I break it down for you right here on Across the Board.

Race 1 on Saturday is the Breeders' Cup Marathon run at a mile and a half. This is a long race, and I usually like to look at horses that have gone that distance before. The morning-line favorite is Sixties Icon, a horse imported from England. He has won his last three and has won four times at this distance.

The other imported horse is Muhannak, who was won three out of four races this year. His one loss was at a mile and a half, but he has won at this distance before. Both horses are serious contenders.

Delightful Kiss has won his last two races, but I am leaving him out based on the fact that he hasn’t posted a Beyer speed figure above 94 all year, while all the others have posted at least a 109. Cedar Mountain has won two of his last three and will be looking to come late, rounding out the trifecta. I am going with a trifecta key 4 / 5, 6, 8.

The second race is the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and features Mr. Nightlinger, who is looking to win his sixth straight race. In his previous five wins, he has gotten out to the front and gone wire-to-wire. The difficulty in this race is that Mr. Nightlinger drew the 14th post position which could be a tough spot in a sprint. Diabolical is racing for Godolphin Race Stable and must be considered. He only has one win so far this year, though.

My pick in this race is the 3, True to Tradition. He has won three out of his last four races, including his last, which was a Grade 2 victory. He will be racing just off the pace and should close nicely. He is 15-1 in the morning line. For exotics, I would put him with the 1, 5 and 8.

The third race on Saturday is the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, led by Goodwood Stakes winner Well Armed. He has raced against some very strong horses over his last few, including finishing third behind Curlin in Dubai. He will be racing near the front, and I see him finishing in the front.

Pyro, one of highest-ranked horses to start the year, looks to get back in the winning circle, and he wil certainly be flying late in the race, as he was in the Travers at Saratoga. However, the one race Pyro ran on the Polytrack was the worst of his career, and that has too be taken into consideration. Two Step Salsa is my upset pick. Throw out his last race, which was on the dirt, and he had some pretty impressive wins and places. With that race on the dirt under his belt, he will look to improve. His morning line was set at 15-1.

For the Breeders' Cup Mile, I am turning to the imports from Ireland. The Breeders' Cup Mile features one of my favorites from Ireland, Shakis. He closes very well on the turf and has the very hot hand of Alan Garcia riding him.

The other Irish horses include Whatsthescript, Daytona and Goldkova, all of whom have a great chance of winning this race.

Goldkova has finished in the money in all eight of her career races and comes into this race on a winning streak of three, all of which were at a mile and were stakes races. She is the only filly in the race and will be coming off the pace.

Daytona is three for three at Santa Anita but has not won since May. In his last two races, he lost to the 11, Whatsthescript.

Whatsthescript is four for five at the distance and is my choice to enter the winner's circle. My trifecta key is 11 / 1, 4, 5. I’m going against one of my favorites, but Whatsthescript has been very impessive lately.

In the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, I am looking to the outside and the No. 11 horse, Midshipman. He has a nice closing kick and should be in the money. Only four horses in the race have run over the Poly at Santa Anita, Midshipman being one of them. The horse he lost to was Street Hero, who will be breaking out of the 8 spot. The 2, Gallant Son will round out my trifecta box. He’s won four in a row, including his last at a mile and a sixteenth.

I love the 9, Fatal Bullet, in the seventh race. This horse has a ton of speed and should be able to take the race wire-to-wire.

In the eighth race, I’m taking the 3, Grand Couturier, and the 4, Soldier of Fortune. Soldier of Fortune is regarded as one of the best imports entered in this year's Breeders' Cup. We also need to look out for Red Rocks, who was the only horse to beat Curlin this year and is a previous Breeders' Cup winner.

That leaves the ninth and final race, which is the granddaddy of ‘em all, the Breeders' Cup Classic featuring Curlin. Also entered are Go Between, Casino Drive, Tiago, Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator, Smooth Air, Student Council, Raven’s Pass, Fairbanks, Colonel John and Champs Elysees.

Duke of Marmalade is a serious threat to upset Curlin. He is imported from overseas and runs great at the distance and on the turf. On the outside, I think Colonel John has a great shot as well. He showed what he is capable of in the Travers at Saratoga, beating Mambo in Seattle by less than a nose. It was a great stretch run, and he really showed some grit.

Colonel John is based out of California and has a lot of experience on the Polytrack, and he has done very well on it. Casino Drive is the horse that was imported to race in the Belmont and was expected to be the main challenger to Big Brown. He was scratched from that race, though.

Curlin is arguably one of the best horses in the last twenty years, and I am very excited to see him cement his legacy with a win in this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. I am going with the trifecta box of Curlin, Duke of Maramalade and Colonel John (4, 9, 11).

Enjoy the races and best of luck to all.

Filly Friday

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:17:00 GMT

Well, it’s been a tough week. The Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs, and the Bruins lost two games in shootouts. But there is no better cure than the unbelievable races taking place this weekend.

It is the Super Bowl of horse racing, and that is the Breeders' Cup. Although there is no Big Brown-Curlin showdown, there are fourteen Breeders' Cup races taking place at Santa Anita, with the best in the country battling for a spot in the winner circle.

For horse racing fans, it's the most exciting two days of the entire year. (Yes, even more exciting than Derby day). Without further adieu, let’s look at Friday’s races. Friday features the fillies and mares, and includes the Ladies' Classic. I began to touch on the Filly and Mares Sprint last week, but with the entries and post positions out now, I’ll start there.

Race 3: Filly and Mare Sprint
This race was full of early speed until an untimely temperature all but cancelled Indyanne from running in the race. The fever was reported on Wednesday, and although there is a slight chance she may still run, it is very doubtful. Indian Blessing is a very strong horse who figures to be going at it early with Indyanne. With her out, Indian Blessing should have an easier time getting to the front. She has the ability to go wire-to-wire for the victory. Another speedster to look for is the 9 horse, Dearest Trickski. She is three for four this year, and her one loss was after a four-month layoff. Morning line has her at 15-1.

With all the early speed, I like to look for a closer who will take advantage of them tiring each other out. Intangaroo has the ability to come late and has finished in the money in all five starts at Oak Tree. She’s hard to throw out of your exotics. The 6, Zaftig, is a horse that has actually beaten Indian Blessing, but I don’t like that she hasn’t raced since June. The last time she took more than a month off, she came back to finish fourth.

I’m going with a 3, 5, 9 trifecta box, and a 5/3, 4, 9 trifecta key. These are based on the fact that there is no Indyanne.

Race 4: Juvenile Fillies Turf
The added distance may be a question for a few in this race, especially since they are 2-year-olds. The 2 horse, Laragh, is the early speed in the race and can go wire-to-wire. I like the 8, Sugar Mom and the 11, Saucey Evening, coming late. This is a wide-open race, but these are the three horses I have circled.

Race 5: Juvenile Fillies
The 10, Stardom Bound, has been installed as the morning line favorite at 2-1 coming off two Grade 1 victories. In both of those races, she came late, and in her last, she won at a mile and a sixteenth at Santa Anita.

As always, I’m looking to beat the favorite, though, and in this race, C.S. Silk and Dream Emperor are intriguing horses. C.S. Silk went wire-to-wire her last time out in what was her best race yet, and if she can repeat that performance, she will be in the money. It’s important to note that Robby Albarado will be riding her over Dream Empress.

Dream Empress is coming off a Grade 1 victory at the same distance. He will be coming off the pace. Be Smart ran well in that race with Dream Empress and will be going at it early.

I’m going with a trifecta key 12 / 5, 8, 10.

Race 6: Filly and Mare Turf
The sixth race on Friday is a mile and a quarter on the turf and features two of my favorite horses, Dynaforce and Mauralakana.

Dynaforce is coming off a win in the Flower Bowl Invitational in which she went wire-to-wire. She is sired by Dynaformer, who is excellent with horses on the turf.

Mauralakana finished second in that race but was no match for Dynaforce. I had a good feeling about Dynaforce in that race when I wrote about it a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I don’t have that same feeling for this race. I don’t think she is going to be able to hold off the field down the stretch.

Wait a While is three for four at this distance and is three for three at Santa Anita, and I can see her being strong enough to take this race.

I always give consideration to Godolphin Racing Stables, and they have Folk Opera entered in this race coming off a Grade 1 victory. She will be looking to go wire-to-wire.

I am going with a trifecta key, 5 / 6, 7, 9 and a trifecta box 5, 7, 9.

Race 7: Ladies' Classic
The seventh race on Friday is the Ladies' Classic, and it features Zenyatta, the filly who is eight for eight in her career. I have written a lot about Zenyatta over the past few weeks, including the possibility of her winning Horse of the Year if she wins this race.

She has been listed as the 3-5 favorite and, in fact, is the biggest morning-line favorite of all the races. I am rooting for Zenyatta to take it home, and I think she will. Hopefully, being the in No. 1 post position is not an issue.

Zenyatta will be looking to take down the defending champion, Ginger Punch. She will be stalking the lead and coming on late.

Cocoa Beach has worked out very well this week and will be looking for the upset. It should be one of the best races this weekend.

Big Brown and out

Colin Sheehan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:30:00 GMT

Will racing fans finally get the matchup between Big Brown and Curlin in the Breeders Classic? It has been a question I have been asking for a few weeks, and unfortunately, we finally now know the answer: No.

While all along it has been a question of whether Curlin will be entered, it is now Big Brown who will not be racing. Big Brown suffered an injury to his front right hoof on Monday at Aqueduct and will be retired to move on to his breeding career. It is a great disappointment as it appeared there was going to be a showdown, but this is certainly in the best interest of the horse.

Big Brown captivated the country earlier this year in his run for the Triple Crown after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The one loss of his career came in the Belmont Stakes in his quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed. Big Brown won seven races in eight starts including the Haskell Invitational and the Monmouth Stakes.

The interesting part of Big Brown’s wins though is that the majority of them were on the dirt, while he was considered to be a better horse on the turf. The Classic was scheduled to be Big Brown’s final race prior to being retired, but now that it’s not happening, horse racing fans are left wondering, “What If?”

I remember standing in the infield at Pimlico after Big Brown romped in the Preakness thinking, “What if Big Brown and Curlin could somehow race against each other?”

It was a hot topic in East Boston as Suffolk Downs made the race a possibility by offering $5 million if the two horses remained unbeaten heading into the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow quickly put that idea to rest saying his horse would not run in Boston, but was very clear that they wanted a shot at Curlin, even saying, “We’re way better than Curlin.”

As the calendar turned to August it did not seem like the race was going to happen because Curlin’s connections were uncertain about racing on the synthetic surface in the Breeders Cup. After his very impressive win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup though, they announced they would travel to Santa Anita to begin training for a possible start in the Classic.

I immediately got my hopes up, only to have them dashed again by Monday’s unfortunate news.

The news from Monday also opens up the Horse of the Year debate. If Big Brown hadn't been scratched and went on to the Classic, I’d say he would have wrapped up the prestigious award. With him out, it may open up the door for Zenyatta, the female who is eight-for-eight.

Zenyatta has won on several different surfaces at several different distances. Given the sucess Big Brown has had this year, tt’s hard to throw him out of the discussion completely; but if Zenyatta wins the Breeders Cup Distaff, she will be perfect on the year, including seven-straight graded stakes victories.

Her one down side (if it is a down side) is that her competition has not been as strong because she basically scares away other trainers from entering their horses because she is so good. But that's not her fault, and a win on Breeders Cup weekend, should hush that conversation.

Then you have Curlin, the defending Horse of the Year. If Curlin enters and wins the Breeders Cup Classic, he would once again be a front-runner for the award. He won impressively in Dubai against the best in the world and also became the all-time money-earner in North America. If he happens to slip up in the Classic, the nod might go the female. It's hard to throw out the fact he's beat the best in the world though.

With the Breeders Cup just around the corner, we'll take a look at the Filly and Mare Sprint, which is for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Indyanne is one of the fastest fillies in the country and has five wins in six career starts. Her only defeat came at Saratoga where she had trouble at the start. The rough start forced her to have to give a little more to get to the front and, therefore, left her vulnerable in the stretch, where she was caught and finish second. Indyanne qualified for the Filly and Mare Sprint by winning the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland. She got out to the front in that race and just barely held off Wild Gams for the win.

Indian Blessing, the winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last year, will certainly be in the mix. She is another speedster who has won five of seven races this year, including the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga and the Gallant Bloom at Belmont. She is currently 24th with $730,000 in earnings this year. There could be a great speed duel between her and Indyanne.

Intangaroo won the Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga to qualify for the Filly and Mare Sprint. She came late down the middle of the racetrack to beat another contender, Suger Swirl. Intangaroo has won four out of six races this year and beat Hystericalady on Derby day. Hystericalady gave Zenyatta a tough fight in the Lady’s Secret. It’s sure to be a hard fought race with a lot of speed. A horse that closes nicely like Intagaroo might cause the upset.

A busy weekend

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:57:00 GMT

I’ve known for over a month that there was a possibility of witnessing history in the Jockey Club Gold Cup last Saturday, but the excitement didn’t set in until the field turned for home. It was at that point that I found myself screaming at the TV, urging on Curlin. It was on that final turn in which Curlin began to make his move into the history books. He overtook Wanderin Boy and Merchant Marine at the top of the stretch, and while Wanderin Boy didn’t quit, Curlin did what he needed to do to win his second consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup and pass Cigar to become the all-time leading money earner in North America.

It also sets up what could be one of the most exciting races in a long time -- the possible duel between Big Brown and Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Curlin took his first trip over the Poly track this week, and the only question remaining was how he would react to it.

It’s a story to follow over the next few weeks to get a better idea if Curlin will in fact be entered. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it will be a great race for the sport, and I am really hoping that it happens. I’m taking Curlin all the way if it does.

In the Jockey Club Gold Cup, I had a dollar on the trifecta which returned $24.60, covering the other bets I made and adding 60 cents to the pot. Oh well, Curlin wasn’t going to get beat. Aside from Curlin winning, there were 22 other major stakes races, and overall, the favorites did not disappoint. In fact, Black Seventeen, who went off at 23-1, was the only long shot to win.

It was a good meter on how competitive this year’s Breeders Cup may be. Zenyatta, whom I mentioned last week, came on strong in the final furlong to win the Lady’s Secret. She has now won eight consecutive races, and if Big Brown or Curlin stumble in the Classic, she will be horse of the year.

Dynaforce beat out Mauralakana and Communique on the turf in the Flower Bowl Invitational, further proving what I wrote last week that any horse by Dynaformer is a good horse on the turf. He returned a nice $8.60 for a $2 bet. The $2 trifecta paid $32.80.

Mani Bhavan, Pyro, Shakis, War Monger and Doctor Dino are the headliners in action this weekend, as the meet at Keeneland opens on Friday. Being from Boston, I will admit I placed Mani Bhavan on my watch list solely because of his name which is similar to our old friend “Manny being Manny,” but he was actually very impressive up at Saratoga with two wins including one in the Grade 1 Spinaway. Alan Garcia, arguably the hottest jockey in the country will be aboard him again. Be sure to give him some consideration in the ninth race in the Alcibiades Stakes on Friday.

Pyro will be racing Saturday in the Indiana Derby. He looked good closing in the Travers and will be in the money in this race.

One of my personal favorites, Shakis, will be racing on Saturday in the Shadwell Turf Mile, with the winner earning an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Other contenders include War Monger, Rahy’s Attorney and Lord Admiral. I will have more on this race coming soon.

Doctor Dino (FR) is the 2-1 favorite in Saturday's Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine. The winner of this race earns a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He has three Grade 1 victories already.

The Shadwell Turf Mile is one of five Grade 1 stakes races at Keeneland on Saturday and should be a great race. I don’t see there being a huge fight for the early lead and I see Thorn Song having an easy time grabbing that lead. He has been in the money in all five races at a mile, and had the lead against Shakis and War Monger in the Grade 2 Baruch before yielding. That race was a mile and 1/8 though and maybe the shorter distance suits him better. The 5, 9, 11, and 12 shouldn’t be far behind Thorn Song. It appears that there will be quite a few horses running late, which might set up nice for Thorn Song.

I am a big fan of Shakis, but he is the morning line favorite and I think he can defiantly be beat, which might set up nice for a good pay day. With that being said, the 11 horse, Karelian, is a very interesting choice that may get some very nice odds. He is six for six in the money at a mile, is two for four in the money at Keeneland, and he is coming off one of his best races back in July.

Also on the outside, the 12, Rahy’s Attorney is a very strong horse coming off a win in the Woodbine Mile. Lord Admiral, the 5, is coming from overseas, as is Lovelace, and both should be able to run an impressive race on the turf.

With Shakis going off as the favorite, I am going with Thorn Song to top my keys.

$2 Trifecta Key 3 / 5, 11, 12     = $12
$5 ACB 11                                = $15
$1 Tri Box   2,3,12                     = $6
$.10 Superfecta box 1,3,10,11   =$2.40

The race is wide open and you can make an argument for many different scenarios. Best of luck to all.

Racing term of the week
Mare: A female horse, 5 years or older.

Fun fact of the week
Suffolk Downs in East Boston opened its doors on July 10, 1935, and hosted over 35,000 fans on that day. In that same year, Top Row won the first-ever Massachusetts Handicap. The third running of the Mass Cap in 1937 was won by the legendary Seabiscuit.

Breaking the bank

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 21:59:00 GMT

Here at Across the Board, I can only hope to do as well as I did last Saturday. But as you could see from the payouts, the MassCap certainly wasn't that hard of a race to handicap.

Commentator went off as the heavy favorite and he did not disappoint, scoring a MassCap record 14-length victory. He returned $2.20 "Across the Board." As he made the turn for home, Commentator showed the East Boston crowd why he is one of the best in the country.

The win would have qualified Commentator for the Breeders' Cup Classic, had he not already qualified with his victory in the Whitney. However, Trainer Nick Zito has not committed Commentator to the Classic yet, the major reason being that the race is being run on a synthetic track. Won Awesome Dude and Cuba rounded out the trifecta, which paid $28.60.

My bets from last week were:
$2 Trifecta Box 2, 3, 4 = $12 bet                                               Correct - Paid: $28.60
$5 Win, Place on 3 = $10 bet                                                     Correct - Paid: $11.50
$1 Trifecta Key 2/ 3, 4, 7 = $6 bet                                             Correct - Paid: $14.30
Total bets = $28                                                Total Winnings: $54.40    Total = + $26.40

So we didn't break the bank on this one, but at least we’re returning our tickets to the betting window, rather than throwing them in the trash. Doubling your money isn't too shabby!

In last week’s blog, I also mentioned Hold On Smokey who was racing in the 7th for trainer Donald Kielty. He finished first and paid a nice $6 to win and $4.40 to place. For a trainer that had hit at a 78 percent clip at Suffolk, that’s a pretty nice pay out.

While the MassCap was certainly the main event, the excitement in the crowd was felt from the first post. A strong crowd of 17,712 were greeted with nice weather and exciting racing. After all, it’s not every day a Grade 1 winner comes through Boston.

The high point of my day was when Nick Zito walked up next to me and watched the replay of his horse Palmer's Approach romp in the second race. He talked with a few fans and signed a few autographs before heading off.

Other notes from Saturday:

Jockey John Valzquez was a perfect 3-for-3 on MassCap day.
Trainer Nick Zito was 3-for-4 on Mass Cap day.
My Pal Charlie won his first graded stakes race in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.
The Bob Baffert-trained Indian Blessing won fairly easily in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont paying $2.40. She is now 8-for-10 in her career and will be heading to the Breeders Cup to contend in either the Breeders Cup Sprint, which would be against the males, or in the Breeders Cup Fillies and Mare Sprint. She has raced very well on the dirt and is another horse whose training that may be questioning the synthetic surface.

So, on we go to this weekend, where 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin will try to become the all-time leading money-earner in North America when he races in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. If Curlin wins, he will pass Cigar (1994-1996), who earned $9,999,815.

While Curlin is one of my all-time favorite horses, it’s important to note the purses that Curlin is winning these days are much larger than those Cigar was winning when he was racing. It is still an incredible feat though and can be witnessed live on Saturday on ESPN news.

Like all other racing fans, I am hoping Curlin impresses enough so that his connections place him in the Breeders Cup Classic to face off against Big Brown. What a race that would be!

Another thing to watch for is Mambo in Seattle. The bay colt is slated to enter the race this Saturday at Belmont, and it will be very interesting to see how he races after his impressive race at the Travers, where he lost by a nose to Colonial John. I will be posting my thoughts on the race once the entries are released (Thursday).

Other notable horses in action this weekend:

Zenyatta who is a perfect 7-for-7 will be racing in the Grade 1 $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes. She is a very impressive horse who has won over all different surfaces including Cushion, Polytrack and dirt and at all different distances. With a little luck, it’s possible that she could be horse of the year. Of course, she would need both Big Brown and Curlin to stumble a bit. She also beat Tough Tiz’s Sis three times before Tough Tiz’s Sis crushed everyone in the Grade 1 Ruffian.

Ginger Punch, last year’s Ladies Classic winner will be racing Saturday in the Grade 1 $600,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.

Grade 2 winner Tres Barachos and Grade 1 winner Tiago will be racing in the Goodwood at Santa Anita.

My thoughts on race 10 at Belmont:

I think Wanderin Boy will be pressing the pace early and looking to go wire to wire. He is 3-for-3 in the money at Belmont Park including a second place in last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Merchant Marine and Timer Reserve should be going at it early as well, maybe not with Wanderin Boy, but close behind. It is very interesting to note that Merchant Marine has raced at Belmont six times and has finished first in five of them. The downside is that she raced at 1 ¼ mile once and finshed fifth.

The two closers in the race will be coming from the outside posts with Mambo in Seattle and Stones River. I was very impressed with Mambo in Seattles’ stretch run in the Travers, just missing first by a nose. The downside is that Mambo in Seattle has yet to race at Belmont.

Curlin should be comfortable racing off the pace behind Wanderin Boy. Curlin is the best horse I have seen and is one of my favorites, and therefore I have a hard time picking against him. I think the wild card in the race is A.P. Arrow. Since returning from Dubai she has raced three times and has an improved Beyer in each race. He will need to be at his best to get some of the cake.

So where does that leave us? Well you won’t win much but how do you bet against the best horse in the last year and a half?

I’m going with:

$2 trifecta key 5 / 2, 7, 9 = $12

$1 trifecta box 2, 5, 9 = $6

$1 trifecta box 5 / 2, 4, 9 = $6

It's another race that won’t have a big pay off with Curlin winning, so I’d actually suggest keeping the betting low and rather enjoy the excitement of watching one of the best horses of our time right now.

Another big race at Belmont on Saturday is the 7th race which is the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational.

The two horses to watch are the 2 -- Communique and the 4 -- Mauralakana. I was very impressed with both of these horses in the Beverly D. last month at Arlington Park and placed both of them on my watch list. I am excited to see them face off again and would certainly include the two of them in any bets for this race. If the weather cooperates and the race is on the turf, the other horse to look out for is Dynaforce who is by Dynaformer who has a great record with turf horses.

Two other notes: Watch out for the 4 -- Proudinsky in the 9th. He looked very impressive in his race against Big Brown in the Monmouth Stakes. Also watch the 1 -- Ginger Punch in the 6th. She has won four in a row and will be a competitor on Breeders Cup day for sure.

Good luck and enjoy a great weekend of high stakes racing. It is the best weekend of racing prior to the Breeders Cup.

Racing term of the week
Lasix: a medication used in the treatment of bleeders. It is usually noted in the racing form by a L. If it is L1, it means the horse is racing for the first time on Lasix. Horses that run with Lasix for the first time will usually race better than they have in the past and deserve a little more credit for the race they are about to run.

Fun fact of the week
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the most horses to race in one race was 228 set in Bayanwula, Xiwuzhumuqinqi, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in China on July 25, 2005.

And they're off!

Colin Sheehan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:11:00 GMT

Welcome to the all-new "Across the Board" blog, your source for local and national thoroughbred news and the one place to follow all the big names in horse racing. Look for tips on how to read past performance charts, how to enjoy a day at the races and insight to upcoming big races. Today’s issue focuses on the upcoming Massachusetts Handicap being run at Suffolk Downs this Saturday.

While Northeasterners dread the coming of Labor Day because it marks the unofficial end of summer, racing fans dread the holiday because it marks the end of the meet at Saratoga. It marks the end of one of the most competitive meets in the entire sport, and this year was no different.

The weather dampened the spirits of many beachgoers in the Northeast through July and the beginning of August, and it also affected the meet at the Spa. Attendance was down 18.9 percent through the first three weeks, but made a significant rebound once the sun began shining.

Even though the weather was bad, the excitement was not. From Nick Zito’s 7-year-old Commentator going wire to wire to capture his second Whitney, to the battle at the wire between Colonial John and Mambo in Seattle in the Travers, to everything in between (including a $2 Trifecta that paid over $106,000), the racing was once again very competitive.

After the calendar turns to September, horse racing fans and Red Sox fans turn their attention toward October and championships. The Red Sox battle for their second straight championship, and thoroughbred fans get ready for the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which runs at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 24 and 25.

Here in Boston, though, we anxiously await Sept. 20 for the 66th Massachusetts Handicap, which does actually have an impact on the Breeders’ Cup. For one day a year, racing fans turn their attention to East Boston. The racing may not match the 36-day meet in upper New York, but considering there wasn’t a MassCap in 2005 and 2006, I’ll take it.

The nine-furlong race joins four prestigious Grade 1 races as a qualifying race for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge features a “Win and You’re In” format, so the winner of the MassCap will automatically qualify for entry in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The other four races include the Whitney Handicap (won by Commentator), the Pacific Classic (won by Go Between), the Jockey Gold Cup and the Goodwood Stakes (both to be raced on Sept. 27).

If you haven’t been to the track before, this Saturday is the day I highly suggest you attend. It is very exciting when the horses are coming down the stretch, thundering toward the wire. You can bet as little as $2 on a race and still have just as much fun. Over the course of the day, that would only amount to $20. There’s no better feeling than cheering for your horse and having your pick come through first at the wire.

If you haven’t been to the races before, here are a few hints to help make your day more enjoyable – and hopefully more profitable:

1. Show up early on Mass Cap day since the crowd continues to grow as the day goes on. The first race will go off around 12:45 p.m.

2. Bring a pen for keeping notes in your program. (They sell them at the track for 25 cents if you forget one). The program costs $2.

3. If you plan on betting, don’t bring more money than you plan on losing. Beer and food is rather reasonable ($4.75 for a beer, $5.25 for a mixed drink, between $2 and $4 for snacks, hot dogs, pizza, etc.). There is a parking lot that is free.

4. Try and get a spot where you can see the paddock (the area where horses are saddled and paraded before a race) and the track. But also be in position to get to a betting window fairly easy. Watch the horses in the post parade.

5. Pay attention to the first few races and what is happening. Are horses going wire-to-wire for the win, or are they coming from behind and catching the leader in the stretch? Are the favorites or long shots winning? Is there a particular jockey or trainer who is on a hot streak? Take these into consideration as the day goes on.

The entries for the MassCap were drawn Wednesday and are as follows:

Post -- Horse, Jockey, Morning Line, Trainer, Weight (pounds)

1 -- Beck and Call, Tammi Piermarini, 20-1, James Taglianetti, 110

2 -- Commentator, John Velazquez, 3-5, Nick Zito, 122

3 -- Won Awesome Dude, Casey Lambert, 8-1, Michael Mareina, 112

4 -- Cuba, Pedro Cotto Jr., 6-1, Bobby Dibona, 112

5 -- Volcanic Force, Clifford Dooley, 20-1, Osvaldo Rivera, 110

6 -- Dr. Pleasure, Cornelio Velasquez, 7-2, John Ward, Jr., 112

7 -- Riversrunrylee, Pedro Gonzalez, 15-1, Juan Camilo, 112

Commentator is the heavy morning-line favorite at 3-5, and rightfully so. He is a Nick Zito-trained horse and won the Whitney Handicap for the second time of his career in July at Saratoga. He went wire-to-wire with the lead in that race, and a repeat of that performance should be enough to take home this race. He has three wins in four starts this year, and his lowest Beyer Speed Figureof those those races was a 108. Hall of Fame trainer Zito has been eyeing the MassCap for Commentator since the end of July, so Commentator will be ready for sure.

Five-year-old Dr. Pleasure ran in last year’s MassCap and finished in third place behind Brass Hat. He has had some solid races since then, including a win his last time out at Saratoga.

Cuba has won five of his last seven races and has won racing different styles. He has won going out to the lead also has won coming off the pace.

Won Awesome Dude is another horse having a very good year. He has finished in the money in six of seven races, including three wins. His Beyer Speed Figures in his last four races have all been over 100.

Race Breakdown
By no means am I a professional handicapper, but here’s how I see the race shaping up …

Commentator is the best horse in the race and will be tough to beat. He will most likely go to the front and try to go wire-to-wire. The other early speed horses in the race will be Riversrunrylee and probably Volcanic Force. I can see Beck and Call and Won Awesome Dude trying to run down Commentator late. If anyone can beat Commentator, I think it will be Won Awesome Dude. His last four races were the best of his career, and since his last race, he has had three strong workouts. He should be making his move toward the end of the race, and if the front-runners can wear down Commentator, it will set up nice for the No. 3 horse.

Out of the three long shots (Nos. 1, 5 and 7), I think the No. 7 horse, Riversrunrylee, has the best chance of placing in the money. He has the most experience on the Suffolk track, and his best races have come more recently. It will take his best effort.

So, while I think Commentator will take the race, I am going to box him in hopes to get a nice price with Won Awesome Dude.

$2 Trifecta Box 2, 3, 4 = $12 bet

$5 Win, Place on 3 = $10 bet

$1 Trifecta Key 2/ 3, 4, 7 = $6 bet

Total bets = $28

A few other notes on the races besides the MassCap:

Anthony W. Dutrow has some competitive horses running, including an impressive horse Cavallo Pazzo in the ninth race.

In the seventh race, Trainer Donald Kielty is running Hold On Smokey. He is 14-for-18 in the money which is a 78 percent clip. Not too bad.

News and notes
Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown ran a very impressive race on the turf in the Monmouth Stakes on Sept. 13. It was the return to turf for Big Brown, whose first win came at Saratoga on the turf when he won by 11 lengths. Big Brown went to the front early and pressed the pace. Coming around the final turn, it looked as though the field was going to catch him, but he showed great determination, dug in and hit the wire first. Proudinsky was closing on him down the stretch but Big Brown was very impressive in fending him off.

The race on the turf was a prep race for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. The question is, will it be against Curlin? While all race fans want to see the two match up against each other, Curlin fans are hesitant as the surface at Santa Anita favors Big Brown, especially after watching him in the Monmouth Stakes.

Curlin is slated to run next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 27. If he wins that race, he will pass Cigar as the all-time leading money earner in North America with over $10 million.

Jim Dandy winner Macho Again will race Saturday in the $500,000 Grade 2 Super Derby. You may remember Macho Again from the Preakness when he finished second behind Big Brown. He is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 10-horse field.

Racetrack terminology
Front-runner: A horse who usually leads (or attempts to lead) the race for as far as he can.

Fun fact
Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes in 1973 by 31 lengths in 2:24.