Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Dec 9, 2009, 12:01 pm
With winter settling in in earnest, there's not a lot going on in the racing world Stateside. The Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta Horse of the Year debate continues apace, of course, with Jess Jackson ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Dec 2, 2009, 9:27 am
As many have noted, Vodka's thrilling win in the Japan Cup put yet another stamp on the Year of the Filly. With Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta Stateside, Goldikova in Europe and Vodka in Asia, it ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 24, 2009, 2:34 pm
Things are slowly getting back to normal here at Casa Superfecta, after a quick jaunt to the left coast for some soccer (but more on that later). The Breeders' Cup may be in the history books, but...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 10, 2009, 1:43 pm
While Zenyatta's historic win in the Classic seems to eclipse the rest of the two-day event, there were many other interesting storylines - each race stood out in its own way this year. Marathon ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 8, 2009, 8:07 am
Memory plays a very particular role in horse racing, and the journey from historical statistic into the realm of myth necessitates some editing of that memory. We remember that Man o'War won twen...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 7, 2009, 6:57 pm
Some early press reports - Racing Post: Zenyatta Makes Breeders' Cup Classic History The Age: Remarkable Zenyatta Takes Breeders' Cup Classic New York Times: Zenyatta Stuns Males to Win Breed...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 7, 2009, 12:50 pm
We'll just go straight in for the commentary - latest updates always on Twitter. Juvenile Turf I had Viscount Nelson with Pounced in my exacta, so I won't be cashing any tickets, but it was a...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 6, 2009, 2:09 pm
The Breeders' Cup is finally upon us; from my vantage point (watching TVG), the weather looks perfect. We've had a few scratches - Kera's Kitten in the Juvenile Turf, and Allegre from tom...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 9:20 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Mine That Bird, Chip Woolley, C. Borel, 12-1 Perhaps unfairly overlooked; he does have the rail and Bo-Rail. 2 Colonel John, Eoin Harty, G. Gomez, 12-1 Solid run...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 9:15 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Telling, Steve Hobby, J. Castellano, 20-1 Sword Dancer winner is competitive with American turf runners, if not often in the winner's circle. 2 Conduit (IRE)...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 9:07 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Mastercraftsman (IRE), Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 6/5 Class of the field, no question (pictured). 2 Furthest Land, Michael J. Maker, J. Leparoux, 20-1 Won...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 9:00 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Court Vision, Richard Dutrow, Jr., R. Albarado, 12-1 Looked good last time out, but this is a tall order. 2 Whatsthescript (IRE), John W. Sadler, K. Desormeaux, ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 8:52 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Alfred Nobel (IRE), Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 20-1 Has G1 and G2 wins in Europe, not as lucky his last few races. 2 Piscitelli, Gregory D. Sacco, K. Deso...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 8:47 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Zensational, Bob Baffert, V. Espinoza, 7/5 Likely the fastest horse in training (pictured); will the post position hurt? 2 Cost of Freedom, John Sadler, T. Baze,...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 5, 2009, 8:32 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Zip Quik, Patrick L. Biancone, M. Smith, 50-1 Has 1 win so far, from 5 starts; often in the money. 2 Viscount Nelson, Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 6-1 Lovel...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 4, 2009, 9:52 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Careless Jewel, Josie Carroll, R. Landry, 2-1 Looks absolutely outstanding here - and it would be great to see a female trainer score a big win. 2 Life Is Sweet,...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 4, 2009, 9:29 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Visit (GB), Robert J. Frankel, J. Velazquez, 10-1 Always close, but has not won since last August. 2 Forever Together, Jonathan Sheppard, J. Leparoux, 5/2 Defen...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Nov 4, 2009, 9:08 am
#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds 1 Free Flying Soul, Bruce Headley, M. Smith, 50-1 California mare likes the track, but seems outclassed here. 2 Sara Louise, Saeed bin Suroor, L. Dettori, 9/2 Hey,...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 28, 2009, 10:16 am
You'll want to go over these today - I'll be doing that on a train shortly, with more to come later. In the meantime, here are a few quick thoughts -- Zenyatta's first preference is the C...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 27, 2009, 9:52 am
While we are focused on the Breeders' Cup, across the pond they are already thinking about next year's 2000 Guineas and the Derby, thanks to St. Nicholas Abbey's impressive victory in the ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 23, 2009, 1:13 pm
The Breeders' Cup defections continue apace; Icon Project has been retired with a tendon injury, Macho Again caught a cough, Gitano Hernando and Lahaleeb didn't want to pay entry feeds, Rail T...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 21, 2009, 9:49 am
I wrote a new post about the Breeders' Cup Marathon last week for the NTRA that has yet to appear there (in case you're wondering why part of a 'new' article will be out of date by the...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 20, 2009, 12:31 pm
As we move inexorably closer to Breeders' Cup time (pre-entries are to be announced in a little more than a week), things are fairly quiet - last weekend's (stateside) races were most notable ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 13, 2009, 11:39 am
Although we had the rare luxury last weekend of enjoying racing on normal-ish television for two days in a row, we're now in that odd pre-Breeders' Cup holding pattern, where we wait on the wh...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 12, 2009, 9:18 am
Sometimes, just sometimes, racing fans catch a break - on both Saturday and Sunday, ESPN actually showed some racing. American soccer fans were not as fortunate; while we got the desired result (we&#...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 9, 2009, 9:48 am
Yes, it's another Friday with too much going on - time for some quick hits! Things New Yorkish/Canadian Is Dublin a lock in the Champagne? Recall that Vineyard Haven and Munnings were 1-2 last y...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 8, 2009, 9:48 am
Because time is short today, and you can never have enough Simon Pegg, today we offer two 'jockey' sketches from Big Train spliced together:
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 7, 2009, 3:03 pm
Isn't it odd that ESPN the Magazine chose to Alex Solis to represent naked jockeys, over Chantal Sutherland, for their clothing-optional issue (out on Friday)? You can watch him getting some neth...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 6, 2009, 1:18 pm
The past weekend's racing raised almost as many questions as it answered, but two were given an unqualified affirmative - yes, Sea the Stars is really that good, and yes, Summer Bird loves New Yor...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Oct 2, 2009, 12:37 pm
It's Super Saturday at Belmont and there are two days of spectacular racing at Longchamp, so let's get right to it. First up, the outstanding card at Belmont. The Beldame is suffering somewh...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 29, 2009, 11:29 am
While Lava Man is working toward a comeback, the equally hard-knocking Better Talk Now is finally heading for retirement. Better Talk Now was aiming for another G1 win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic c...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 25, 2009, 1:35 pm
Time is short today, so we are limited to a few brief bullet points: Lava Man back in training – the 'Behind the Music' version is very informative. Zenyatta to possibly run a few times ne...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 25, 2009, 10:04 am
...is up over there. More to come later!
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 22, 2009, 11:24 am
Ventura added her success in the Woodbine Mile to the ongoing Season of Female Domination; second in this race last year, she blew past the field to win easily this time around. Although it's a W...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 18, 2009, 12:00 pm
This year's edition of the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs may not be its most stellar, but it does have an interesting cast of horses who have something to prove (a perfect setup for 'Jockeys&...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 15, 2009, 9:55 am
As much as I like to complain that the racing industry often Gets It Wrong, the Breeders' Cup did two Very Good Things this week (and it's only Tuesday). First, they announced that a race wil...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 14, 2009, 2:25 pm
This post also appears on NTRA.com. At first glance, the Breeders' Cup Marathon might seem as though it was designed to attract the European horses bred for longer distances; but while the Marath...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 8, 2009, 11:22 am
Almost all of last weekend's stories played out exactly as scripted - Sea the Stars continued his march to greatness in Ireland, while we here in the US continued to enjoy Rachel Alexandra's a...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 5, 2009, 7:20 pm
Opportunities to bask in the glow of historical perspective abound in Rachel Alexandra's win in the Woodward - it's difficult to imagine anyone else even close to Horse of the Year after such ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 4, 2009, 8:57 am
It's a rare year in which the Woodward could determine Horse of the Year; we are lucky enough to be living through one of them now. While some have scoffed at the level of competition Rachel Alex...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 3, 2009, 2:06 pm
With all the excitement over Rachel Alexandra's run in the Woodward, it is easy to overlook that there are a few other exciting races that won't be on national television this weekend either. ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 2, 2009, 11:04 am
The Woodward field is set, and it's larger than I had thought it would be: 1) Da' Tara 1A) Cool Coal Man 2) Bullsbay 3) Rachel Alexandra 4) Macho Again 5) It's a Bird 6) Asiatic Boy 7) P...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Sep 1, 2009, 1:46 pm
We here at Superfecta HQ are always pleased when we pick a winner that some have doubted; with that in mind, it was especially nice to see Summer Bird win the Travers (and earn a 110 Beyer in the proc...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 28, 2009, 10:20 am
Travers weekend is upon us, and for once, we'll get some decent mainstream television coverage on ESPN - although the Ballston Spa won't be shown live, the other major stakes races on Saratoga...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 27, 2009, 8:24 am
The Blood-Horse's Tom LaMarra noted earlier this week that our fair commonwealth of Pennsylvania has launched a marketing campaign to make the track 'cool' again. I noticed an ad on phill...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 25, 2009, 2:20 pm
This year's Alabama may not have had a filly in Rachel Alexandra's class, but that didn't stop Careless Jewel from emulating her in a big-margin victory (and running a 106 in the process)....
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 24, 2009, 12:34 pm
It's official - Rachel Alexandra will take on the bigger boys in the Woodward. The announcement was made this morning after another one of her 'routine' clocker-stunning workouts. While ...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 21, 2009, 10:12 am
The collective connections of the fillies in the Alabama are no doubt breathing a sigh of relief at the absence of Rachel Alexandra. Without her long shadow looming over them, we get the chance to no...
Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 20, 2009, 12:11 pm

Comment - Like

Superfecta posted an article on Superfecta Blog - Aug 18, 2009, 11:53 am

Comment - Like