2007 Breeders' Cup: Lots of Losers and Some Final Thoughts

Review of my 2007 Breeders’ Cup selections proved that it was not one of the most profitable days for me at the track with only one winner – Curlin ($10.80). The Magic Beer Bottle fared only slightly better, with Kip Deville ($18.40) as its only winner. But the interesting fact of these two winners is that there is a Texas connection: Curlin is trained by Arlington-a-city-located-between-Dallas-and-Fort-Worth’s, Steve Asmussen, who by the way, has won Lone Star Park’s Training Title 965 times, and Kip Deville embarked on his racing career at Lone Star Park before being squired away to the bright lights of fame and fortune in the Dutrow barn. It was a good day to be a homer.

And as the horse racing world is ready to crown Curlin as Horse of the Year, I would like to remind everybody that you read it here first,

Gary West: How do you get Curlin to be Horse of the Year?
Steve Asmussen: Win the Classic. [PP, June 26, 2007]

Although it was a tough day at the windows for many (read: me), there were a number of events that should be recognized:

Nicest Score: Stuart-the-Newlywed’s tout of Lahudood ($25.40), insisting that jockey Alan Garcia is one of the best kept secrets in racing. Also noteworthy is the fact that Cecil, Frank, and Leroy disregarded this highly informative tout because no way and no how was nobody going to beat Nashoba's Key.

Best Excuse(s) for Holding a Fistful of Losing Tickets: Superfecta provided a detailed explanation that her selections “did not think much of the track” and “struggled with the track” and “wanted no part of the track” and “may not found the track to his liking” and required a “more honest track.”

Profound Tragedy, Part I: George Washington

Profound Tragedy, Part II: Post Breeders’ Cup Ultimate Retirement Party that includes the departures of Street Sense, Hard Spun, Corinthian, English Channel, Honey Ryder, et. al.

Profound Tragedy, Part III: Soggy weather. Although true champions emerge regardless of track conditions, it would have been a whole lot nicer if Mother Nature cooperated for Monmouth Park’s big moment.

Storybook Ending: Maryfield, the claimer that went on to find stardom in the Breeders' Cup.

Special Recognition for Being a Negative Nancy: Genius Alan’s anonymous commenter on his Breeders’ Cup Live Blog. I finally got around to reading Alan's multitude of prose during his exceptional Breeders’ Cup blogging endeavor. Anonymous commenter has a lot to say and I probably will not vote for him in the upcoming primaries.

Pay Attention to History, You Nit-Wit!: No Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe winner has gone on to win the Breeders Cup Turf. And I was positive that Dylan Thomas was the exception. Hah!

And finally,

Am I the Only Person Who Feels This Way? I would be disappointed to see Breeders' Cup restricted to a Churchill Downs - Santa Anita - Belmont rotation as some have suggested. It's supposedly the World Thoroughbred Championship and a world class champion wins on any track, whether it be Churchill Downs, Nad Al Sheba, or Sam Houston.