2011 BC Rundown

                                Drosselmeyer

This years Breeders' Cup brought excitement, upsets and continued chaos in the run for Horse of the Year as well as three-year-old champion. The stage was set for Havre De Grace, Flat Out and Game On Dude to take down this years Classic as well as leave Churchill with a lock on the Eclipse Award. All three left with disappointment instead as 14-1 Drosselmeyer came charging down the stretch to edge Game On Dude and capture his first graded stakes win since last years Belmont Stakes. It is now anyone's guess who will claim the award this year.

With Horse of the Year honors up in the air, the three-year-old division isn't any closer to naming a champion after they were outclassed by their older competition in the Classic. If Stay Thirsty, Ruler On Ice or Uncle Mo could have pulled out a victory, they certainly would be be crowned three-year-old champ. Now, Animal Kingdom is back in the picture and could take home the award since none of his foes stepped up and separated themselves in his absence.

The two-year-old champ is down to Hansen and Union Rags, with Hansen most likely leading the race by a nose after that exciting Juvenile race.

As the 2011 racing season comes to a close we are left with more questions than answers. What if Uncle Mo would have had a healthy three-year-old campaign? What if Animal Kingdom wouldn't have gotten clipped at the start of the Belmont? It is going to be interesting to see who claims Horse of the Year honors and who will emerge as three-year-old champion.

Marathon - Afleet Again


*Had Birdrun and Giant Oak as both finished in the money. A.U. Miner pulled up and Meeznah did not take to the dirt well at all. 


Sprint - Amazombie


*Had Amazombie and Jackson Bend as they went 1-3. Euroears and Giant Ryan just didn't fire. 


Dirt Mile - Caleb's Posse


*Hit the exacta with Caleb's Posse and Shackleford. Just missed the Tri as Trappe Shot came in fourth.


Juvenile - Hansen


*Hit the Trifecta with Hansen, Union Rags and Creative Cause. 


Turf Mile - Court Vision


*Had Turallure, Gio Ponti and Goldikova as they all finished 2-3-4. Court Vision spoiled the ex and tri.


Classic - Drosselmeyer


*Had Drosselmeyer. Havre De Grace and Flat Out came up short finishing 4-5. Stay Thirsty couldn't compete.

NY Stays True to Stay Thirsty

Travers Stakes - Stay Thirsty

Stay Thirsty continued his dominance at the New York tracks in the Travers Stakes on Saturday. Winning for his fourth time in four tries on New York tracks, Stay Thirsty now has a Grade 1 win to add to his resume. Whether it's running in the state of NY or just being a late bloomer on the track, the three-year-olds finally have a leader of their division that has put some distance between himself and the rest of the field. By no means is he a lock for the Eclipse Award, but he definitely is the heavy favorite heading into the fall.

Summer is all but over and fall is right around the corner. The races for just the three-year-olds are dwindling down and the Breeders' Cup is almost two months away. October 1st is the next anticipated stakes race and it should be very intriguing indeed. Stay Thirsty and the rest of his age group will be running against the four, five and six-year-olds for the first time in their careers in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He also will look to go an impressive five for five on New York tracks as the next race is back at Belmont.

*Stay Thirsty was the only horse that finished in the money who was pegged for the exotics. Ruler On Ice would have completed the super, finishing fourth. Shackelford faded earlier than expected, all the way back to eighth. Coil never fired, finishing a disappointing last. 

Up Next: The Travers

Haskell Stakes

Move Stay Thirsty and Coil to the top of the list. The winners of both the Jim Dandy and Haskell Stakes races this past weekend, showed that they are serious contenders in this years three-year-old crop. Both colts took home their second stakes win of the year and look to separate themselves from the rest of the pack here in a few weeks as they square off in the Travers Stakes.

With many of the top colts out this summer due to injury, it allows the likes of Stay Thirsty, Ruler on Ice and Coil to capitalize on their opportunity. A win in the Travers by any of these three colts would certainly put them in the lead for the Eclipse Award that will be given out at the end of the year.

- Picks in the Jim Dandy did not pan out as we went against the favorite Stay Thirsty.

- Had Shackelford in the Haskell, but he couldn't hold off Coil down the stretch.