Racing! Will the Breeders’ Cup stay at Santa Anita?

Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get ready for Belmont Stakes week.

Among the many subplots that will be playing out in the final three weeks of the Santa Anita season is will this crown jewel of the Stronach empire be hosting the Breeders’ Cup in November?

Craig Fravel, the head guy at the Breeders’ Cup, testified before a California assembly special meeting attended by virtually no one that the Breeders’ Cup was “scheduled” to be at Santa Anita. Not an endorsement but not a death knell either.

And then there was a third horse fatality in nine days when Kochees could not be saved despite extraordinary measures to save him. Santa Anita has not had any fatalities since then, about a week.

I’ll be in New York this week for the Belmont and have requested some time with Fravel. There is no confirmation that will happen but it would be pretty weak if it didn’t.

All of this leads up to a column written by my friend, Tim Sullivan, columnist at the Louisville Courier Journal. He’s top shelf, multiple award winner, including an Eclipse Award. He makes the case that the Breeders’ Cup should be moved to Churchill Downs. You can read the full column here.

Here are some excerpts:

“The Breeders’ Cup commitment to Santa Anita is unbroken but may be untenable.

“Thoroughbred racing’s so-called ‘world championships,’ the sport’s biggest showcase outside of the Triple Crown, are still scheduled for Nov. 1 and 2 at the picturesque plant at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains.

“Yet the death of 26 horses at Santa Anita since Dec. 26, the mounting pressures and investigations that have resulted and the inherent risks in tempting fate all argue for a change of venue, and most likely a return to Churchill Downs. …

“What began as a drumbeat now sounds like a whole percussion section. What has been the most postcard-pretty Breeders’ Cup site now seems the most problematic. …

“Now, after … more fatalities, the 14-member Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors must weigh whether it can afford to show solidarity with Santa Anita or should move its main event for the sake of the sport.

“There’s no way to hold a Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita this year without dead horses being a dominant theme, and horsemen living in fear of another catastrophic breakdown. However improbable, the possibility of a Breeders’ Cup fatality at Santa Anita is so fraught with peril that to run that risk this year seems like folly.”

Tim goes on to say that there is no guarantee any other site would be any safer. He also points out that nine of the 14 Breeders’ Cup board members have ties to Kentucky horse farms. The board meets the last week of June after Santa Anita closes on June 23.

Of course, I would like to see it stay at Santa Anita but it pretty much has to run the table as far as safety for the remainder of the season. And that’s very possible. If you can do six weeks, what’s to say you can’t do the next three weeks?

If that happens the Breeders’ Cup will be in a tough spot. No one, absolutely no one, wants another breakdown, but sadly it would probably make the decision to move easier.

It’s unlikely we’ll know the decision before the board meets. After all, if it could, the Breeders’ Cup logo’s version of “E pluribus unum” would be “When we have something to announce, we’ll announce it.”

Even though Fravel is the top guy, the decision to stay or move will be made by the committee, but possibly after a recommendation. How that turns out will likely define his tenure at the Breeders’ Cup.

If Santa Anita stays clean and the event is moved to Louisville, what will that say about his appearance before the California legislature?

Yes, there’s a lot left to tell on this story.

Santa Anita review

A couple of notes before we get to the feature. The first race winner, Camby, has Rocco Baldelli, manager of the Minnesota Twins as his co-breeder. That factoid comes courtesy of TVG’s Kurt Hoover. … And, in that same race horse Silenced and jockey Tiago Pereira checked out OK after the 3-year-old gelding blew the turn heading into the stretch with Pereira ending up on the turf and the outrider grabbing Silenced. It was a five-furlong turf race. Is it my imagination or do a higher than normal number of horses blow the turn? Another safety risk? Hope not. (Yet, they moved the Monrovia Stakes off the turf and onto the dirt at that distance while leaving all the mile races on the grass.)

The feature was the $150,000 Cinema Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Neptune’s Storm, under a thoughtful ride by Drayden Van Dyke went to the front with about two furlongs to go and won by a length over Parsimony.

Neptune’s Storm paid $5.00, $3.00 and $2.40. King of Speed was third.

“The thing about him is he’ll rate,” said winning trainer Richard Baltas. “He doesn’t have to have the lead . . . but he came home fast. I didn’t have to tell Drayden anything. He rode the horse last time. I just told him to have him up close.”

Van Dyke made it seem like it wasn’t a difficult trip.

“Yes, we got away with some soft fractions and that helped,” Van Dyke said. “I learned from riding him last time and then working him in the mornings that when horses come to him on his outside, he’ll re-engage and fight back. On the gallop out today, horses came to him and he took off. He should like more distance.”

Big races review

A look at graded stakes or races worth $100,000 or more on (late Saturday) and Sunday.

Late Saturday

Churchill Downs (9): $120,000 Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, 3 and up, 5 furlongs on turf. Winner: Extravagant Kid ($8.00)

Churchill Downs (10): $100,000 Aristides Stakes, 3 and up, 6 furlongs. Winner: Wilbo ($11.00)

Sunday

Woodbine (8): $100,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes, 3-years-old, 6 furlongs on turf. Winner: Souper Hot ($9.50)

Santa Anita (5): $150,000 Cinema Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles on turf. Winner: Neptune’s Storm ($5.00)

Final thought

Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Can’t beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you don’t like it, then you’re probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up. Remember, it’s free, and all we need is your email, nothing more.

Any thoughts, you can reach me at johnacherwa@gmail.com. You can also feed my ego by following me on Twitter @jcherwa

Now, here’s the star of the show, Sunday’s results. See you on Friday.

CAMBY had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away leaving the turn and into the stretch, fought back along the rail when headed in midstretch to regained the advantage under left handed urging in deep stretch and gamely prevailed. DEUCE between horses early, stalked inside, came out into the stretch, bid alongside the winner to put a head in front in midstretch and was outgamed to the wire. MO FORZA broke behind the field, angled in and saved ground throughout and picked up the show. SNAPPISH (GB) had speed between foes then stalked outside a rival, came three wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. BIG HEADED BABY five wide early, stalked three deep then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked a further response. L'ENGINEER broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then outside a rival, continued just off the fence into the stretch, came out under urging past midstretch then had the rider lose the whip late and was not a threat. LOVE AND HOLD pulled between horses and steadied early, chased just off the rail, bore out badly on the turn and into the stretch and dropped back. SILENCED had good early speed between horses then dueled outside the winner, bolted leaving the turn and into the stretch and lost the rider. The stewards conducted an inquiry into the run into the stretch before ruling SILENCED was the cause of his own trouble.

RAGING WHISKEY had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, inched away leaving the turn and into the stretch, drew clear under urging and held. THANKS MR. EIDSON a bit slow to begin, chased between horses three wide into the turn, angled in off the rail, came out leaving the turn then drifted four wide into the stretch, drifted in through the final furlong and gained the place. VERIFIED broke in and a bit slowly, stalked inside, was in tight into the turn, came out leaving the turn then was fanned five wide into the stretch, drifted in some in the drive and bested the others. RESTORING DREAMS angled in and dueled inside the winner, battled along the rail on the turn and weakened in the drive. PREACHER turned his head and was straightened to break slowly and awkwardly, went up four wide into the turn then stalked off the rail, came three deep into the stretch and also weakened. D K'S CROWN broke in some, stalked a bit off the rail then between horses, steadied in tight into the turn, came out leaving the turn and was fanned six wide into the stretch and had little left for the drive.

TEQUILA JOE stalked inside, came out into the stretch and again in upper stretch, bid four wide in midstretch, drifted in and battled outside the runner-up under urging and gamely prevailed. BUCKSTOPPER KIT saved ground stalking the pace, split rivals with a bid in midstretch then drifted in, took a short lead along the rail and continued gamely to the end. ACCOUNTABILITY stalked a bit off the rail, bid outside the pacesetter into and on the second turn, took the lead nearing the stretch, fought back between foes in midstretch and held third. WAR CHEST four wide into the first turn, stalked three deep to the stretch and lacked the needed rally. START A RUNNIN had speed outside then inched away and angled in, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail into and on the second turn and in the stretch, steadied as rivals went by just past the eighth pole and weakened. INCREDIBLE LUCK three deep into the first turn, stalked between horses, dropped back in the stretch and had little left in the final furlong.

PHANTOM BOSS sped to the early lead off the rail, dueled inside foes then along the fence on the turn, inched away into the stretch and won clear under a left handed crack of the whip and an energetic hand ride then steady handling late. PAS DE PANIQUE broke a bit slowly, was five wide early then bid outside foes into the turn and three wide, angled in some into the stretch, drifted in a bit and was clearly second best. FLY THE SKY a bit slow to begin, settled just off the rail, went outside a rival on the turn, came out into the stretch and gained the show. SIDE STREET DAVE saved stalking the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, continued inside and weakened. YOU'RERIGHT AGAIN four wide between horses early, angled in and chased a bit off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. SPECTACULAR POINT between horses early, angled in and saved ground off the pace and failed to menace. TOO LATE four wide early, angled in and bid between horses into and on the turn, fell back outside a rival leaving the turn and into the stretch and weakened.

NEPTUNE'S STORM angled in and tugged a bit and stalked outside a rival, bid outside the leader to press the pace into and on the first turn, battled alongside that one on the backstretch and second turn, took a slim advantage into the stretch, inched away in deep stretch and held gamely under urging. PARSIMONY close up stalking the pace outside a rival then between horses into the second turn, continued a bit off the rail leaving that turn and into the stretch, waited off heels in upper stretch, came out for room in midstretch and finished willingly to edged the pacesetter for the place. KING OF SPEED took the early lead and angled in, set the pace inside then dueled along the rail, fought back into and in the stretch, could not quite match the winner in the final sixteenth and just lost second. GREGORIAN CHANT (GB) a step slow to begin, saved ground chasing the pace, went up three deep into and on the second turn and into the stretch and was outfinished. MORE ICE broke out a bit, saved ground chasing the pace, fell back some on the second turn and weakened in the drive.

MIDCOURT stalked outside a rival, bid three deep leaving the second turn and into the stretch, took a short lead outside the runner-up nearing midstretch and held gamely under urging between foes late. JUSTIN'S QUEST pressed the pace outside a rival, put a head in front leaving the second turn, fought back a bit off the rail in the stretch, drifted in late and continued gamely to the end. STREET CLASS saved ground stalking the pace, awaited room leaving the second turn, came out into the stretch, angled out again past the eighth pole and finished willingly outside the top pair late. POTANTICO sped to the early lead, set a pressured pace a bit off the rail, fought back inside on the second turn and into the stretch and weakened late. COMMANDING CHIEF stalked inside then a bit off the rail, came under urging on the second turn, angled three deep into the stretch and lacked a solid late bid.

SEASIDE DANCER sped to the early lead outside a rival, angled in and set all the pace inside, kicked away under urging in the stretch and held on gamely. HEATHERS GREY three deep into and on the first turn, stalked outside a rival then a bit off the rail into and on the second turn and into the stretch and gained the place. PERSEPHONE saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and three deep into the stretch and bested the others. MISS FLAWLESS (FR) tugged three deep then angled in and stalked just off the rail to the stretch and lacked a late bid. GORGEOUS IN GREY angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, came out leaving the second turn and into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. EQUAL MEASURE pulled early, chased between foes, came out some in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. NORWEGIAN had speed inside and pulled some, drifted out into the first turn, stalked between horses then outside a rival, continued between foes leaving the backstretch and outside a foe on the second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. CASH FOR CASS outside a rival early, angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, cut the corner into the stretch and lacked a response in the drive. SUPREMA angled in outside a rival then settled inside on the backstretch and second turn and into the stretch and did not rally. SETTLE IT stalked three deep, came four wide into the stretch and weakened.

UNO TROUBLE MAKER had speed inside foes then inched away, set the pace a bit off the rail, drifted out some into the stretch, continued clear under some urging, drifted inward in deep stretch and proved best. TIME FOR EBBY between horses early, stalked outside a rival, came out in upper stretch and gained the place. HANG A STAR had speed between rivals then stalked just off the rail, angled to the inside into the stretch and bested the others. VIOLETTE SZABO five wide early, was close up stalking the pace outside a rival, came a bit wide into the stretch, drifted in and weakened. PRINCESS DORIAN saved ground stalking the pace, cut the corner into the stretch, continued inside and also weakened.

HONEYFROMTHESOUTH had speed four wide then stalked outside, came four wide into the stretch, rallied under urging to the front outside foes in deep stretch and inched away. LA SHIRIMP in a bit tight early, stalked three deep then outside a rival and between foes into the turn, continued just off the rail leaving the turn, swung out into the stretch and gained the place. CLAUDELLE dueled between horses then outside a rival, put a head in front in midstretch, was between foes in deep stretch and edged a rival for the show. VANGOGO had good early speed and dueled a bit off the rail then inside on the turn, came out a bit into the stretch and was edged for the show. FABIOLLA (GB) saved ground chasing the pace throughout and had a mild late bid along the rail. MISS GINGER between horses early, chased a bit off the rail, split horses leaving the turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. BELLIZE four wide early, chased outside a rival, came out three deep into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. THE NIGHTINGALE settled off the rail, went outside a rival on the turn and three deep a quarter mile out, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed late kick. TRUE MISCHIEF saved ground stalking the pace, steadied in tight into the turn, continued inside and weakened. NOBLE GODDESS prompted the early pace three deep then stalked off the rail, continued outside a rival on the turn and three wide into the stretch and also weakened.