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Saturday, June 7, 2008

How The Heck Did Da' Tara Win?

Isn’t it annoying to read someone second-guessing why they should have bet a longshot winner when they didn’t? Well, after pouring intently over the Bris past performances of Da’ Tara, I’m beginning to see (barely) why he shouldn’t have been a toss-out. First, he is by Tiznow, so the distance shouldn’t have been an issue—and obviously it wasn’t. Other things to like in his pedigree: through his dam, he traces back to Ribot (through Tom Rolfe’s son Hoist the Flag, sire of the dam sire Pirate’s Bounty), as well as War Admiral, Nashua and Swaps. Nice old names. Also, interestingly, his dam Torchera is a full-sister to Sound Wisdom, whose daughter Unbridled Girl is the dam of Belmont runner-up Denis of Cork! How cool is that?

When you look at the track bias stats, only Big Brown and Da’ Tara are given “+ +” running styles; none of the others had even a single “+”. In the terms of his Bris Speed Rating, Da’ Tara had a 99 last out—behind only Casino Drive (scratched), Ready’s Echo (dead-heated for third) and Big Brown; thus, on speed alone, he was competitive with the rest of the field. His young jockey Alan Garcia has been tearing up Belmont this spring, second only behind Eibar Coa in wins. Maybe not enought to put him on top, but enough to throw him on some tickets as a wild card.

Yea, I know—woulda, coulda, shoulda! I hardly believed that any horse could have wired this 12-furlong race—but it happened. I know it’s not fair to do so, but indulge me…I’ll only do it once. IF Casino Drive had been 100% and in this race, I still firmly believe he would have been the winner. But, he didn’t run so I won’t mention it again. Hearty and well-deserved congratulations to Nick Zito, Alan Garcia and Robert LaPenta! We thought it would be War Pass, but they evidently have another talented 3-year-old in the barn.

Denis of Cork ran the race many thought he would, getting up for second and clearly better than Zito’s other horse Anak Nakal and the Toddster’s Ready’s Echo who dead-heated for third. Just imagine how good Denis of Cork could have been this Triple Crown season if his idiot owner hadn’t messed with his prep. Macho Again was up in contention until Ready’s Echo passed him late—the distance most likely put him away. As I suspected, Icabad Crane wasn’t up for this run after running so well in the Preakness; he was also very washed out in the paddock and post parade—I suspect the heat got to him. I’m not sure if Barclay Tagg wanted Tale of Ekati so close to the lead, but when ABC’s camera fell on him watching his horse in the post parade, you could tell he was already concerned—Ekati looked a bit washed out too. And maiden Guadalcanal—what can you say? He did beat Icabad Crane. I just can’t believe that he went off at shorter odds than Anak Nakal, Ready’s Echo, and Da’ Tara! With three of the four longest shots in the field coming in, the payouts were incredible. The $2 exacta paid $659, a $2 trifecta paid $3,703 with Anak Nakal ($3,954 with Ready’s Echo), and $2 superfecta paid $48,637 with Anak Nakal ($47,309 with Ready’s Echo). Damn Belmont for not allowing dime supers today!

Casino Drive is departing for Japan on Tuesday, but may apparently return for the Breeders’ Cup. According to his connections, the Travers would not be feasible due to quarantine issues.

As for Big Brown, I’m sorry for the horse—he looked very uncomfortable from the moment the gates opened. I’m glad he didn’t break down, and that there appears to be no perceptible physical reason for his performance. Kent Desormeaux did a good job taking care of him, although easing him just so he didn’t finish fifth, as Jay Privman reports, is a bit odd.

As for Dutrow and IEAH—I’ve said it beforekarma is a bitch. First, NYRA nixed their Hooters deal, and then they lose the Triple Crown. Still, I wonder how much dough Dutrow made today wearing that Trump Taj Mahal Casino hat for all to see on national television? Yea, he and Donald Trump make a perfect pair. I won’t lower myself to the level of some gleeful commentators, such as ESPN’s Pat Forde, but maybe Dutrow learned something today, babe.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

In the Breeders Cup Classic and the Belmont I bet the long shots on the side as a safety net for my handicapped handicapping skills. I did not bet on the Belmont this year somehow I was too depressed about the TC this year, as I am not a BB fan and Casino Drive scratched.

Big Brown is a good horse and it is a shame for the chaos. I have heard Dutro/TVG commentators say the hoof crack is nothing and have read that horses have run with cracks. I saw a picture of the quarter crack and it looked terrible. Then Zito graciously evaded a question about running a horse with a crack and I heard professional horse people agree the hoof screwed BB up.
Kent D. did not have a good ride, it looked like BB and KD were having a power struggle, who knows, I glad BB is OK.

Long Live Curlin!

Sharon Crute said...

Valerie, thanks for the link to Pat Forde's rant. While he was on a roll, I wish he had mentioned something about Baffert revealing his true self as he called Kenny Mayne a pri__...

SaratogaSpa said...

Nice post race analysis..I looked at the form again after the race and then Da' Tara shot off the page at me..but then again, doesn't that happen every time a horse wins who you don't pick. That is what makes horse racing so fun -you just can't figure it out until after the race, then you come back for me.

Anonymous said...

LOL - we're all going over the PP's again today going "huh?" - you point out the same stuff I saw. How the heck did we totally toss out lone speed? We had blinders on and only saw Big Brown. Even the best I know did the same.

When I think that he, Curlin, and Smarty Jones have been beat there (not to mention a host of others) - I'll never play the favorite at Belmont again.....but I will bet some $2 souveneirs. The rest of the bets will be to beat them - and lone speed is never a toss. Lesson learned. :)

Unknown said...

darn... i kinda wish they could keep Casino Drive here to be in the Travers.

Anonymous said...

Point Given should have won the triple crown in 2001 but blew his Derby...somethimes all you can do is scratch your head...