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Friday, August 22, 2008

Travers Stakes Post Positions

2008 Travers Stakes Betting
The 139th running of Travers Stakes is at Saratoga tomorrow August 23.
- Post Time: 5:45 pm (EST)
- TV Coversage: ESPN 4:30 - 6:00 (EST)
- 2007 Winner: Street Sense
$1M Travers Stakes Post Positions and ML
PP Horse Jockey Trainer ML
1 Tale of Ekati Prado E S Tagg Barclay 20-1
2 Colonel John Gomez G K Harty Eoin 8-1
3 Da' Tara Garcia Alan Zito Nicholas P 8-1
4 Tizbig Velasquez C Jerkens H Allen 30-1
5 Macho Again Leparoux J R Stewart Dallas 6-1
6 Cool Coal Man Velazquez J R Zito Nicholas 15-1
7 Amped Chavez J F Zito Nicholas P 30-1
8 Harlem Rocker Coa E M Pletcher Todd A 4-1
9 Mambo in Seattle Albarado R J Howard Neil J 5-1
10 Tres Borrachos Baze T C Greely C Beau 15-1
11 Pyro Bridgmohan S X Asmussen Steven 7-2
12 Court Vision Desormeaux K J Mott William I 12-1

Pryo is a ML favorite. Bet Pyro to win Travers Stakes !

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Thursday, August 21, 2008

Curlin is running for the Woodward Stakes

This Saturday is the Graded 1 Travers Stakes, the highlight of the Saratoga meeting and the oldest major thoroughbred race in America. Already this week, racegoers have had the chance to participate in a hot dog eating contest and on Tuesday an ice cream eating one at Travers Festival.

As good a race as the Travers is sure to be though, it is the Woodward Stakes next Saturday that is really catching the imagination with the proposed appearance of 2008 Dubai World Cup winner Curlin. Curlin worked seven furlongs in 1:24.84 under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas as he prepares for the $500,000 Woodward Stakes here August 30. Curlin worked in company with stablemate Hawaii Calls, breaking off about a half-length in front of that horse while on the inside. Curlin is heading back to dirt for his next race, but his majority owner says that doesn't necessarily mean the turf experiment is over. Check out horse betting odds and Curlin's odds to win the Woodward Stakes!

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Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Big Brown's Trainer Has a Really Big Mouth

The latest news coming out of Big Brown's stable smells a lot like dirty trash talk to me...

"Curlin couldn't win the Derby, we could," said Big Brown's trainer Rick Dutrow. "Curlin couldn't win the Haskell. We could. Curlin got beat by a filly. We haven't. Our horse is undefeated on grass. Curlin isn't. I don't know why people think Curlin is such a good horse. We're way better than Curlin."

If I owned Big Brown I'd have a little heart-to-heart with my trainer, Rick Dutrow. It seems the outspoken Maryland native has talked himself into a corner with the first punch coming from none other than Curlin's owner Jesse Jackson.

"I think it's bad for racing to have trash talk," Jackson said. "To run down another guy's horse, I don't think it's right. It demeans the industry. I'd like to meet Big Brown, preferably on the dirt, which is each one's best surface, but I think they're considering retiring Big Brown before we have a chance to meet him."

It would be one thing if Jackson didn't play into Dutrow's hand by keeping quiet. But here's what Jackson said about his beloved 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin:

"I don't know that there is any horse his equal right now and I loved to match Big Brown," Jackson said. "I never thought he (Big Brown) was as good but I've always wanted (to) ... who finds out? At the wire you find out. That's when you know what you have."

The only way for this fight to be decided is by pitting the two horses against each other. Will Curlin race Big Brown in the 2008 Breeders' Cup? Bet on it!

Monday, August 04, 2008

Breeders' Cup Big Brown's Next and Last Big Race

Big Brown's win on Sunday was huge for co-owner Michael Iavarone and trainer Rick Dutrow, but when asked what was next -- neither could make any commitments.

"I think right now Rick will evaluate him and we'll plan a sensible campaign," said Iavarone. "The Breeders' Cup Classic is the ultimate goal."

Although jockey Kent Desormeaux was pleased with the way Big Brown ran this race, he told reporters that at one point he thought Big Brown was going to be beat.

"He found a new gear and just kept sticking his neck out," Desormeaux said. "I knew he was going to get there. At the top of the stretch that horse (Coal Play) took off, but Big Brown took off after him. Today, he showed he's a warrior."

So it isn't certain whether or not Big Brown will run the Travers at Saratoga on August 23, but it looks like the winning colt will make one last run at the Breeders' Cup Classic before retiring to stud.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Big Brown Wins Haskell Invitational

Big Brown is back, baby!

In his first race back since his Belmont Stakes bomb, Big Brown beat a field of seven to take the $1 Million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park this afternoon. In second place was Coal Play and coming in third was Cool Coal Man.

Stay tuned for comments from trainer Rick Dutrow and jockey Kent Desormeaux following Big Brown's big win...

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