Premature Proclamation

No major surprises at tonight’s Eclipse awards—especially when The Bloodhorse.com posted within their article about Curlin winning 3-year-old male award that he also won Horse of the Year—at least 30 minutes before it was actually announced at the awards ceremony! That would be like the Associated Press prematurely posting online the Best Picture Oscar winner before it broadcasts live—in a world where the greater population actually cared about horse racing and its awards. Way to go, Bloodhorse! Where’s Ray Paulick when you need him? At least they couldn’t post in advance the biggest news—Jess Jackson announcing what we have all hoped (and recently expected)—that they would indeed race Curlin this year. My dream race for this coming year: a Curlin-Rags to Riches rematch, in the 10f Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in September!

I still hate Lahudood as female turf champion and I’m moderately surprised that Asmussen didn’t win as trainer over The Toddster (not that I particularly like either one of them). While Shadwell as owner may be the logical choice, my admiration, respect and awe are totally reserved for Maggi Moss. Unlimited resources can buy you quality well-bred horses that statistically will win you oodles of graded stakes and higher purses…it takes a real horsewoman to work as hard as Ms. Moss does to select horses on a budget that can win. Congratulations, Maggi, on the nomination, though. It was very much deserved!

It was announced today that Citronnade will be bred to Ghostzapper this year. Lahudood is booked to Kingmambo, while AP Indy will cover Balance. Most notable about Bernandini’s first foal arriving earlier this month is the filly’s dam, Belle Nuit—also mother to Darley’s $4 million November Fasig-Tipton purchase Octave. Guess that answers the question about which Darley boy gets first crack at Octave, doesn’t it? Better luck next year, Hard Spun.

As a Penn State alum, I was tickled to run across Bill Finley’s recent article about former Nittany Lion quarterback—and horseplayer—John Sacca. Particularly of interest was his quote: “I like the baby races, the maidens, the entry-level type allowance races. That's what I go after. I think I can outwork some of the public in those races. I do a lot of information gathering on things like the sires and the siblings.” My soul mate! (just kidding, dear hubby). Exactly the kind of races and approach I enjoy taking.

Nice article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette about Calvin Borel and his three “live” Derby prospects—Turf War, Denis of Cork and Blackberry Road.

Finally, condolences to fellow TBA blogger Dallas and Donna Keen over the loss of their promising former claimer Mercantile who fractured his left front ankle and was euthanized after breaking down in Sunday’s third at Fair Grounds, an incident that also injured jockey Donnie Meche.