The Best of Racing - July 26, 2011

7/26/2011 2:04 PM
I'm a fan
My Favorite
Blind Luck and Harve De Grace in the Delaware Oaks
Older Females
 
1. Blind Luck Moves to the top of this division, and HoY race, with a thrilling win in the Delaware Handicap.
 2. Havre de Grace Excellent filly, but you have to wonder if the top one has her number.
 3. Awesome Maria Sad to see this one will not get her chance with the top two in 2011.
 4. Switch Vanity loss was nothing to be ashamed of.
 5. Sassy's Image Silky Sullivan type run at Calder keeps her sprint skein going strong.
 6. Embur's Song Pletcher filly is on a roll north of the border.
 7. St Trinians  DQ'd and Blind Luck'd in her last two, still tough though.
 
3-year-old Males
 1. Pants on Fire The horse to beat on the Jersey Shore, bring on the Haskell!
 2. Shackleford A win in the Haskell or the Travers could vault him to the of the division.
 3. Animal Kingdom The current leader of the glamour division is out for the year.
 4. Uncle Mo Imagine if the juvenile champ brings back the old magic in the Grade 1 King's Bishop.
 5. Premier Pegasus I hope California's best sophomore can make it back and soon.
 6. Coil Could be the one to make a big statement if he can beat the East Coasters in the Haskell.
 7. Ruler On Ice The Belmont win keeps him on the list for now, but I don't like his chances on Saturday.

 
 
3-year-old Females
 1. St. John's River Big comeback in the Delaware Oaks, she is my pick for the Alabama.
 2. It's Tricky  Her last two point her out as the one they all have to deal with to win the Eclipse.
 3. Turbulent Descent Loss in the Acorn looks better after the CCA Oaks; will be tough to handle in the Test.
 4. Zazu You can count on this beautiful gray's late run for Team Moss.
 5. R Heat Lightning She's at Saratoga, but it sounds like she is still a ways off from a return.
 6. Inglorious Queen's Plate winner is headed to the Alabama next.
 7. Plum Pretty The  Kentucky Oaks winner looks better at 1 1/16 miles. 

 
Older Males
 1. First Dude Has been retired with a tendon injury; waiting for a replacement at #1.
 2. Sidney's Candy Pletcher's new gun looks to fire a big shot in the Whitney
 3. Twirling Candy Not far off in the Gold Cup, but he is now 0 for 2 at 1 1/4 miles.
 
4. Tizway Looking forward to his return race in the Whitney after the Met Mile pip.
 5. Game On Dude 
Like him or not, he is one tough dude at the classic distance.
 6. Apart My dark horse for the Whitney could shake things up with a big performance.
 7. Friend Or Foe NY bred looks to follow in Haynesfield's hoofsteps and then some.
 
 
 Sprinters
 1. Trappe Shot Yes, I would keep him sprinting too, the True North was fantastic!
 2. Smiling Tiger That's more like it! Impressive in the Triple Bend.
 3. Flashpoint Looks like this youngster enjoyed his return to sprinting at Monmouth.
 4. Big Drama Still waiting patiently for the return of the champ.  
 
5. Noble's Promise Did not quite kick it in a high enough gear last time at Calder.
 6. Apriority Scratched from that same race at Calder's Summit of Speed.
 7. Jackson Bend Saratoga win was both overdue and an eye-opener.
 
 
Turf Males
 1. Cape Blanco Man O' War win his U.S. debut was as easy as it was impressive.
 2. Acclamation Eddie Read win was aided by lack of pressure, but hard to knock winning.
 3. Gio Ponti Two-time champ is looking for a rematch with the top one in the Arlington Million.
 4. Courageous Cat America's best at a mile right now earned a hard fought victory in the Shoe.
 5. Teaks North Beating two tough Euros at Monmouth was a topnotch performance.
 6. Caracortado Was not helped when Acclamation had an easy early lead in the Eddie Read.
 
7. Rahystrada Impressive win in the Colonial Cup in his latest.
 
 
 
Turf Females
 1. Keertana Beating the boys in her latest has her tops in the division right now.
 2. Winter Memories She'll try to keep the train rolling when she faces More Than Real tomorrow. 
 3. Aruna Came back with a strong win in the All Along.
 4. Stacelita Performance against boys in the U.N. was solid, but not spectacular.  
 
5. Shared Account BC winner did not do much in return, but I am willing to give her a pass.
 
6. Fantasia Excellent victory on Arlington Million Preview Day.
 7. Malibu Pier Back to her winning ways in the Beverly Hills.
 


 
International
 1. So You Think Has the advantage of being able to win at multiple distances.
 2. Goldikova She is still the champ until someone proves they can beat her more than once.
 3. Black Caviar Undefeated mare is way too much for her competition down under.
 4. Canford Cliffs 4yo star is bracing for a big challenge from an undefeated youngster.
 5. Frankel Undefeated sophomore will have to step up his game to remain undefeated. 
 6. Nathaniel King George win points him out as the best distance 3yo in Europe.
 7. Workforce A little dissapointing on Saturday, he may need a little more cut to the turf.

 
[Who do you think are the best ... tell us on the HRN Power Rankings!]

 

 

What the Nation is saying about The Best of Racing - July 26, 2011...

Totally agree with about Keertana being best of the Turf Females, and I am so happy to see my favourite guy, Pants On Fire, getting some respect. But watch out for Ruler On Ice in the Haskell. He will have some serious speed to close into.
He is coming off a nice win in the Pegasus, CFC, and if I am right, he will have a Haskell trophy in a few days ... Brian, it is a loaded division! Summer Soiree is very interesting but has not won a big race yet. I can't wait to see her next race on turf.
Brian, I'm at a loss for your top 3 yr old being Pants On Fire. Although he won the Louisiana Derby, what else has he done? He was soundly beaten in the Risen Star Stakes, and was a non-threatening 9th in the Ky Derby. I do believe Kelly Breen is the up-and-coming trainer following his win in the Belmont, but, what else has POF done to gain your top vote?
Summer Soiree deserves a spot on the 3-year-old fillies list but it's practically impossible to argue the placement of all the others. Just another sign that the division is loaded I guess. :)
Blind Luck has been going in big races for two years straight, I can't fault her choice of races one bit ... 2-year-olds are coming soon! ... No argument with It's Tricky at #1, if the year ended today, I would vote for her. I just believe St. John's River will change all that starting with the Alabama.
Zipse, I agree with all your picks, more so than Watchmaker picks, except for St Johns River. It's Tricky has put up a much better record and numbers. St Johns River ran an 86 Beyer in her only Stakes win and has lost 4 of 6 races.
Where are the two-year-old males and females? Tis the season of the two-year-old debuts!!!
My biggest thing with the connections of BL now is that they refuse to take on males even once this year. IMO if you feel you have the best then put them in races where the best can all come to. But, the little energizer bunny herself is amazing :)

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