Johnny Valasquez

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What the Nation is saying about Jockey Johnny Valasquez...

Dead Heat Debates' Eclipse Award Selections

The Eclipse Awards are only a week away, and with the nominations already released, people can now choose from the top three horses chosen for each division. Before I give mine, I feel it prudent to mention a very noticeable snub. While I love Shackleford, and respect the season he had, Stay Thirsty...Read More

Posted 138 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Acclamation over Cape Blanco? Didn't we "debate" this one already? I thought I had convinced you ;-) · 138 days ago ·

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travel_vic · The epieneter of racing is, was and most likely will always be EAST of the Mississippi. If a horse cannot come there and strut their stuff over the other leaders, or have a surrogate do it whom they had beaten in the West, then they have to settle for second best. It is as true today as when Fort Marcy after losing to the best of the west, got the call. You have to win in the EAST to be turf champ, BUT one year, not too long ago, the Eclipse went to a horse which had NEVER raced in the US. · 138 days ago ·

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zxswordxz · Cape Blanco...hands down. Three trips to the US and you call that running in the east? Did Acclamation even left Cali...... · 138 days ago ·

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Floridaf · travel_vic: Which horse are you referring to? · 138 days ago ·

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Floridaf · Laura, you and I have already debated this one, and I think we came to a draw if I remember correctly, but I pick Amazombie over Caleb's Posse for champion male sprinter. · 138 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Singspiel. · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · Brian, you know me, I have the hardest head on the face of the planet lol. Zxswordxs, He ran twice in New York and once in Chicago, so yes that is EAST, in terms of geography. And while the travel is no easy feet, it is much easier for a horse from Europe to travel to the East then to fly all the way to the east then over again to the west. Also, a lovely geography note for you, Cali takes up nearly the entire west coast line, while the east coast is made up of several states. That is one reason I never harp for a Cali horse, including Zenyatta to ship out, because their home state is bigger than Florida and NY. He ran in the best races that were available and faced the best horses in that division. So yes, Acclamation over CB. FloridaF, yes we have, but it's always fun to keep things going :) · 138 days ago ·

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Floridaf · As I understood it, I thought horses HAD to have raced in the U.S. in order to be eligible for the Eclipse Award. Was 1996 different because an American series was run at Woodbine? · 138 days ago ·

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Neville · Animal Kingdom did not win outside of KY and Stay Thirsty did not win outside of NY. I think the difference in the media support lies in the head-to-head matchups. AK beat ST in the Derby by nearly 12 lengths while ST had no apparent excuses, but finished behind ST in the Belmont with a huge excuse, ie. running injured. · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · Neville an apparent distaste for the track is an excuse. Thirsty has never run well at CD in any of his now three starts. Also, he had a disasterous final prep. If you ask me he had plent of excuses to lose going into a race he was probably not even close to fit enough for and over a track he did not like. AK, while running injured, one would not know it for that move he made showed no signs of laboring. He simply flattened out. If one wanted to say the break and he had too much ground I would understand. · 138 days ago ·

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zxswordxz · DeadHeat, I understand that he ran two race in NY and one in the midwest. Are you seriously going to debate the size of Cali vs the distance from Europe to Easter Part of the US? Why don't you find out the distance from Cali to Chicago and Europe to Chicago...You tell me which horse would have a more difficult trip? · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · I did not debate size vs distance. I am saying that I don't take away points based on just racing in Cali because it takes up so much of the west Coast. I'm also not debating the travel, and you would know that if you read everything. You implied that CB did not have an east coast campaign. He did. The travel is a lot on a horse, however, it is much harder for a Euro to ship from Europe to the EC than from Europe to the WC. I'm not discrediting CB, however, when you implied he did not have an EC season, I had to correct. Chicago is on the easter side of the US, and NY an east coast state, therefore EC campaign · 138 days ago ·

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zxswordxz · What I was trying to emphasize on my original comment was that it shouldn't be about east coast/ west coast, since one horse travel to another Continent and the other stay in his home state. · 138 days ago ·

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stevebiscuit · A mile is not a sprint, it has never been considered a sprint and shouldn't be regarded as a sprint. Amazombie won the Breeders Cup SPRINT! He is your Champion Sprinter. Even The Factor is a more deserving Sprint Champion than Caleb's Posse. Amazombie beat older horses in sprints twice. Caleb's Posse did that once, and that's only if a mile is a sprint. He's a deserving champion 3 year old though. · 138 days ago ·

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footlick · Nice breakdown, Dead Heat. And an interesting debate about shipping from Europe. I do believe that shipping once here is easier, shipping three times across the Atlantic will take it's toll, which is why you do not see many horses doing it. Either horse is fine to me, but I believe Cape Blanco had a little more to overcome. I like Acclimation for older male, as I can't count his Pac Classic for the Turf award and I believe it was his strongest performance. Stay Thirsty should have been in the running for 3 yr old title. Sprint title is a toss up really. Purists will like Amazombie, but remember Precisionist won the Sprint title with one sprint race, if I remember correctly, albeit the BC Sprint. Also, just a side note, My Miss Aurelia is the highest weighted two year old in the world according to Timeform. Interesting. Quite an accolade for an American two year old filly. Thanks Dead Heat for the breakdown. · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · zx, you made it east and west when you said "did Acclamation even leave Cali." That is why I responded with, I don't take points off there, since Cali is West Coast Racing. If a horse runs in the top races that are there for them, I don't take points. Footlick, I don't doubt that the shipping takes a toll, and honestly, I'm not going to be horrified if CB wins, I just happen to like Acclamation for the award better. Steve, then why is it reffered to by many as an elongated "sprint." If it is not a route, and is not going to be considered one then it's a sprint until given it's own division or made to be respected as a route. Amazombie is an Older male, so honestly, that point is moot. It is not like he is up agaist it when going against his own division. A 3yr old taking on old, since they are rising, carries much more weight, since they step up and out of their 3yr old division. The Ancient Title field was weak, and The Factor, in the mile was crushed by Caleb, i'll repeat that, he was crushed. He didn't fire in the AC, and unlike CB is not unbeaten around one turn. There is no plausible way you can say he deserves it over CP, since his win over CP came in a route. CP dominated the, two "reguar" sprints, then dominated at CD. Amazombie does have a shot to beat him, however, before the AT, there were a lot of ppl who called that field weak outside TF, and he did not fire. Amazombie did back it up with his Sprint win. Prior to that his best claim to fame was a in a Grade two. · 138 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · I don't think Acclamation is worthy of two Awards. He and Cape Blanco split Older Male and Turf Eclipses! For me the toughest pick was for Turf Female! · 138 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · Usually in these debates the phrase "Body of Work" comes up somewhere, some people thank the eclipse winner should be the best horse, others think the winner is the horse with the best "Body of Work". But if you are a "Body of Work" voter doesn't that include losses as well as victories? Caleb's Posse lost 5 times including a 12th place in the Arkansas Derby and Stay Thirsty finished 12th in the Derby and 11th in the Breeders Cup Classic. I believe Animal Kingdom was the best 3 year old to race last year and could say he even had the best body of work as well. · 138 days ago ·

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dubby30 · From what I remember in the past the Man O’ War, Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch would be more important than running in the Eddie Read, Charles Whittingham and Hirsch Turf, I guess that has changed to accomodate Acclamation, whom I believe will not win even 1 eclipse award. Its also important to remember the 5th place finish in the Frank Kilroe when Acclamation was bested by Times Gone By, who recently lost and ran 3rd in an Allowance Optional Claimer at Hollywood Park. Fortunately everyone has opinions and when or if a horse or horses happen to be you favorite I guess you can find a way to spin how a horse traveling 4000 miles to Chicago to run in the top American Turf race compared to a horse that traveled the 133 miles from Del Mar to Hollywood to Arcadia, I guess Cape Blanco should have skipped the Arlington Million and came out to Cali to run in the much less important Cali races to "Prove himself" against Falcon Rock. Seems a bit confusing to be torn between a horse with 3 Grade 1 wins in the top turf races in America compared to a horse that ran in races that were contested by horses that are currently running in Optional Claimers. But what’s even more confusing is Acclamation for Older male with 1 win off the turf in the Pac Classic, top older male would to go Game on Dude easy, with Tizway 2nd and honestly Flat Out should have been the third nominee. His downfall being running 5th and last in races this year against mediocre company. The Juvi award may well go to Hansen off of the BC victory but it was my assumption that the BC crowned its champion while the eclipse is an indication of the full year. I guess the thought process would be a nose victory in the BC with a msw and a 100k ungraded stakes would trump Union Rags who was running in a msw, the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and G1 Champagne. The full balance of the year easily gives indication that Union Rags should win the award, but apparently just as with the Jim Murray being more important than the Arlington Million, the Breeders Cup Juvi is basically the only gauge by which you crown a juvi champion, no reason to consider the Grade 2 and Grade 1 that the other horse won, Hard to understand certain reasoning, but I guess if you like a certain horse its easy to make up and spin things in that horse’s favor. Hard to tout Hansen over UR when looking at the year, and there is no plausible way you can even being to try to spin Acclamation over Cape Blanco. Im just saying. · 138 days ago ·

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zxswordxz · Agreed with Mike on AK...It is very difficult to win the Kentucky Derby. Caleb's Posse didn't even show up for that.... · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · Dubby, I didn't spin anything, and honestly, you like to look at competition and not grade, there was no way those races you hold in higher esteem were grade one based on field. Gio off form, Deans Kitten never won a single race this year. Mission Approved has no wins of consequence this year, Grassy? really? The fields both horses faced were fairly similar in competition. CB did the travel, that is not a spin, and as I said I really wouldn't mind him getting an the award, I happen to like the 5 consecutive better, with four on turf. The rest of your post in reguards to him is a one sided rant. Older Male, he won three grade ones for older males, that is not a spin, that is a fact. Two were on turf, one on synthetic. Game on he beat easily that day and he also tied the track record i believe. Both horses you mention have less grade ones than him. Hansen won the head to head. As I have said in the past if it is a flukey win in the head to head, I go with the entire season. If the horses never met i go with the season. However, Hanse was not a fluke and he won. He has a grade one win and a stakes win now, thats not a fluke. He gets it based on that. Again, nothing is a spin. What i have on here is fact, be blind to that if you wish. · 138 days ago ·

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Winplacsho · I agree with most of your selections, but I would give Amazombie champion sprinter. He successfully campaigned all year at sprint distances & won the biggest sprint race their is. I understand that Caleb's Posse beat Uncle Mo and took the dirt mile, but he doesn't have the body of work of Amazombie. · 138 days ago ·

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shadowno · With regard to #YO male, to win a classic award like the Eclipse you should at least be considered of sufficient quality to contest the classic races and the Kentucky derby will always be the biggest race in America.. Trying to claim a minor league derby at B and C tracks in Iowa, Ohio and Indiana and getting soundly defeated in Iowa and Indiana is hardly champion material. Also he was previously smacked around by ArchX3 and The Factor in Arkansas. As I see it his claim to fame is the BC Mile and he is in reality just a late running sprinter who only defeated one of the major contenders (Shackelford) and the win only evened their head to head record. He is a major cut below AK, Shack and Stay Thirsty ROI. · 138 days ago ·

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shadowno · @Dead Heat. Believe you have the right angle Re: Hansen v UR. Any questions were decided on the track and with regard to their seasons, the Saratoga Special, while graded, has not been a race providing a winner of importance since 1997. Certainly, nothing comprable to prior Kentucky Cup Juvenile winners Point Given and Vindication. · 138 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · Objectively written. Nice point made on ST vs AK although I believe AK to be the better horse ST did do it on the track . · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · I think both have a good body of work. Both have five stakes wins, however four of Caleb's are graded while only four of Amazombie's are graded. · 138 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · sorry, meant to say Amazombie only has three graded stakes wins. · 138 days ago ·

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WilliamCaple · Gotta be Hansen. Only three races, yes....but dominant in all three and that's counting Breeders Cup. Union Rags closed, but Hansen led the entire way! derbydeals.com · 137 days ago ·

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Bella of the Ball

The greys are coming out in a force this 2011, and just before the year was about to turn over another silver grey lass put herself on the watch list. Ciao Bella debuted this past Sunday, the 18th, in spectacular fashion. Read More

Posted 160 days ago ·

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brooklyn.steve · Looks good. Time didn't matter a lot here as the race was at hand. Visually she looked great. See how she does against winners, but looks to be a big time horse. · 160 days ago ·

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Floridaf · Giant's Causeway is turning into quite the sire. Does not suprise me that Ciao Bella did so well in her debut. Looking forward to her future races. · 160 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · This is they type of debut I like a lot, and an added bonus was the mile distance. I love that she closed and rated. I love how well she closed, love how easy she did it, and how she ran on. It wasn't a Christine Daae or Discreet Dancer, where it was impressive, but you saw the horse was being ridden at the end a little, they went w2w, but were slowing down some. This had everything you could want. · 160 days ago ·

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Floridaf · She's definitely going to go the distance. Just imagine if she had had a pace to run at. · 160 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · I think if she had a pace to run at you may have seen her mid pack, instead of closing, but I think that kick would have been just the same. · 159 days ago ·

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Winplacsho · Couldn't agree more, she was ultra professional. Most of Pletcher's debut winners are keyed-up front runners, but was really impressed with the way she rated and kicked home. Also, it was at a mile & you rarely see debut winners at a longer distance like that. · 158 days ago ·

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cpsoren121 · Agree Florida on Giant's Causeway! Good read by Dead Heat!! · 157 days ago ·

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Don't Back Down

Time for Mike Repole to step up as a sportsman. Keep Uncle Mo and training and prove that you are the sportsman you claim to be.Read More

Posted 274 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · I agree ... what say you Mr. Repole? · 274 days ago ·

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MaryPetrecz · 106 beyers in the Kings Bishop? 101 in the Travers? hummmmm....the KB was wicked fast...I could't believe my eyes. Uncle Mo retired? (?????) · 274 days ago ·

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Horseracingirl · I will be EXTEREMELLY sad if Mo retires now. Why bring him back for one race and then retire him? I love Mo with all my heart, and if it is in the best intrest of Mo to retire him, fine...but if he is HEALTHY, let him RUN! · 274 days ago ·

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kedez2012 · I dont understand why Repole would what to retire him. He's only just gotten started! I agree completely with the suggestion to go to 6F and maybe try the BC Sprint. Then he'd (hopefully) have horses in the Classic, Sprint, and Juvenile. · 274 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · Mo will stay in training. Repole has proven again, while a little on the rash side, to be a true sportsman. · 274 days ago ·

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aj.mindiola · Those beyer numbers are a joke how do you give Uncle Mo a 106 in a losing slow paced race? · 273 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · How was that in any way a slow paced race? 22, 44, 1.09 as fractions? He ran the fastest seven furlongs on the card and the second fast six furlongs of the day. That is hardly what i would call slow. · 273 days ago ·

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GoTexas · I must not have been watching when Repole made the comment about Mo retiring...it sure wasn't on the channel I was watching. I can only imagine it must have been made maybe right after Mo finished second. I was just tearing up watchinghim run his heart out; win, lose or draw, he was spectacular! I was please to see that the Repole folk released info that Mo and Thirsty looked good after their races. I hope the other runners are Ok too. · 273 days ago ·

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AmbitiousD · Mo really ran his heart out as if almost telling his owner he wanted to keep racing. I truly hope Repole doesn't retire Mo. These horses are athletes and warriors and in any major sport, there will be injuries and illnesses when competing at the top level of competition. Imagine if every NFL QB retired after receiving a concussion. It's difficult to watch horses get retired with such a "half glass empty," or a "what could go wrong, will go wrong" mentality. True champions are defined by the adversities they overcome and proving their greatness.Common Mikey, let him run!!! · 273 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · He made the comment right after the race. I don't believe any channel showed it, but it was reported on DRF and USA Today that he said that. However, he now seems much more upbeat. It looks as though Mo will go to the PA Derby, where he will face THAS. · 273 days ago ·

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