Posted on 06/06/2015 1:32:17 PM PDT by ETL
Problem with the Preakness, is it was a MUDBATH. Sec didn’t have to face this at all in the TC. Everything was fast.
AP is no Sec, but still it has to be seen in context. And it is what speed figures are for, too (AP’s just are not that good, even for a top-level 3yo; I’m hoping he’ll get better).
I must confess..I don’t watch racing like I used to.
But I really don’t know how many of the TC winners kept racing. Why would they?
Chance of getting hurt...chance of losing and tarnishing their cred. Same thing with the “almosts”.
The owners got their stud fees after the Preakness. Smart move as far as I’m concerned. Lots and lots of $$$ to be made there. Especially after this length of time.
Big beautiful horse.
Wimping out is a young trend. Only in my lifetime - which includes the “super ‘70s”. They were not as tough as earlier schedules, as a rule.
Sir Barton - ran all the way through 4, top older horse.
Gallant Fox - ran through 3
Omaha - ran through 4, last season in England inc. Queen’s Plate and just missing Ascot Gold Cup
War Admiral - ran all the way through 4 into 5, top older horse
Whirlaway - ran 20 as 3yo and 22 as 4yo, continued onto 5, top elder
Count Fleet - retired after TC due to injury
Assault - top older horse through 4, raced to 7
Citation - ran 20 races at 3yo, laid off for serious injury, returned to race at 5 and 6, top older horse
Secretatiat - ran through 3 (syndicate for stud forced it)
Seattle Slew - ran through 4, top elder
Affirmed - ran through 4, top elder
Thanks for the info. Very interesting.
But in todays world it seems the horses don’t race like they used to. People used to run their horses on a more regular basis. IMHO, that wasn’t a bad thing. It built stamina.
Today...it seems like folks are more concerned about resting their horses between races...hence the number of “ringers” that come in to a big race.
From an animal perspective...I guess that is a good thing. After Eight Bells...I nearly gave up on racing all together.
That horse is going to pasture. Stud fees will be outrageous.
Yep...he’ll make lots of bucks and be pampered beyond belief.
That’s ok with me. But there will be lots of colts that he sires that won’t be worth a.... well you know.
If I’m not mistaken a quarterhorse is “live cover”. a thoroughbred can be artificial insemination.
So sorry...AP.
Took the blinkers off....seems to like to race.
I believe you got that backward. Thoroughbreds are live cover only. AP has his work cut out for him. He’ll be rigorously scheduled.
One of the horse racing mags I follow on FB called him “The 12th Wonder” (-:
I would imagine Pioneerof The Nile’s (AP’s Sire) stud fee will rightfully go up as well.
AP showed he is better than the rest.
Here’s a horse racing story that will break your heart involving the great Alydar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnZfNMAVzYs
No. TBs must be live cover.
Ya’ll are correct.
I have been getting things backwards my whole life! Lol
I had forgotten a lot of the details of that scandal.
Very tragic story.
Final Quarter Faster Than Secretariat
Triple Crown winner Secretariat may have taken the 1973 Belmont by a record 31 lengths and in a record time of 2:24, but American Pharoah was faster to the finish over the final 440 yards. Big Red took 25 seconds; American Pharoah was .68 seconds quicker, going two furlongs in 24.32 seconds.
“He flew home the last quarter,” American Pharoah’s trainer Bob Baffert said June 7. “I’ve never had a horse like that. I’ve never seen a horse run like that. I wasn’t around for the Seattle Slews and Secretariats. But what we witnessed... I was pretty in awe.’
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92491/final-quarter-faster-than-secretariat
On May 20, The New York Times reported that Zayat had sold breeding rights to the colt to the Ashford Stud, a division of Ireland’s Coolmore Stud, but retained control over the colt and his racing career.[75] Before the announcement, offers for American Pharoah’s breeding rights reportedly exceeded $20 million.[76] After the Belmont, Forbes magazine reported that Zayat had actually sold the breeding rights to Ashford in late 2014, long before he began his Triple Crown run, and that Zayat retained 100% of the racing rights. Forbes went on to estimate that if American Pharoah stood for a $100,000 stud fee, he could be worth $50 million. More conservative estimates placed his potential stud fee at $75,000 and his potential value at about $25 to $36 million.[64] The Times reported breeding rights had been sold for $13.8 million: $9.8 million with an additional $4 million incentive if American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes.[77] Zayat retained an undisclosed percentage in the colt’s breeding career,[78] and said the plan was for American Pharoah to retire from racing at the end of 2015.[79]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pharoah#Remainder_of_2015_season
>>>Took the blinkers off..
“American Pharoah made his track debut in a maiden race over six and a half furlongs on the Polytrack surface at Del Mar Racetrack on August 9. Ridden by Martin Garcia, he started as the 7–5 favorite against eight opponents. He became unsettled before the race and, after running in second place until the stretch, faded to finish fifth behind Om, Iron Fist, One Lucky Dane, and Calculator, more than nine lengths behind the winner.[31] He ran in a blinker hood, which appeared to unnerve him, as did the commotion in the saddling paddock. Baffert addressed his anxiety issues by removing the hood and stuffing cotton in the horse’s ears for subsequent races.[32]
Despite his defeat, American Pharoah was moved up to Grade I class for the Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs on September 4.[33] He was ridden by Victor Espinoza for the first time and started as the 3.2–1 second favorite behind Best Pal Stakes winner Skyway, with Calculator and Iron Fist also in the field. American Pharoah took the lead from the start and went clear in the straight to win by four and three quarter lengths from Calculator, with a gap of more than eight lengths back to Iron Fist in third.[33] Commenting on the colt’s improvement, Baffert said, “We took the blinkers off, put cotton in his ears and schooled him a lot. He trained well, we decided he was ready and we put him in there. Today, he behaved himself and showed what he could do. He did what we thought he’d do the first time.”[34]
On September 27, American Pharoah was made the 1–2 favorite for the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Santa Anita Park. As in his previous race, he was immediately sent to the front by Espinoza and stayed there, pulling away from his rivals in the straight to win by three and a quarter lengths over Calculator, with Texas Red a length and a half away in third.[35] After the race, Espinoza said, “All the way he was on a high cruising speed. He has such a long stride. He moves really nice and is light on his feet.” Baffert commented, “I can’t believe his demeanor, how he has changed since his first out. He’s so professional. He’s really mentally there.”[36]
American Pharoah was aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on November 1 but was scratched from the race after sustaining a “deep bruise” to his left front foot in a workout on October 27.[37] Nonetheless, in the Eclipse Awards for 2014, American Pharoah was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse, beating Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red by 126 votes to 111.[6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pharoah#2014:_two-year-old_season
Ping to post 156
Thanks!
I also said somewhere on this thread that most Triple Crown winners immediately retired. Doesn’t look that will be the case with AP.
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