At the Races Audience Poll

[Monarchos1]

Interesting ballot on the radio show's home page, www.thoroughbredracingradionetwork.com, asking folks to vote for the best races this year. There's a big selection, including some I had completely forgotten about, to choose from, but you can do a write in vote, too. Besides the race divisions, they have Best Story and Person of the Year categories. Just curious what folks on this site consider to be the "Best of" the year, especially on those latter two categories? Steve said yesterday they will be putting together some special programs to announce the winners.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...R4GwRyMg_3d_3d

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I could find no such poll at that link.

However, I think it's pretty clear that the "race of the year" is either...

Curlin's Buckpasser like comeback after not getting his trip early and being left for dead to beat the Derby winner in the Preakness.

Or, Rags To Riches beating Curlin in a great Belmont stretch clash.

Perhaps the Street Sense over Any Given Saturday Tampa Derby would be a clear cut and distant 3rd.

For me, It's the Preakness.

The Belmont featured a painfully slow pace - one of the more bizarre tactical rides you'll ever see in Gomez rating Hard Spun off that slow pace - and the race really had an inconclusive feel to it from a post race analysis standpoint.

I know a lot of people thought R2R ran by far the best race - I think Cannon said she had everything but the guy who ran on the track to punch Artax on the Preakness undercard go against her - but her "trouble" in that race all seemed highly overrated to me. When you consider how laughably slow the pace was - the bad stumble at the start meant nothing as long as she didn't hurt herself in doing so. The wide trip on the turns was also greatly overrated - when you consider it was a slow paced race - and at Belmont Park, where skimming the rail isn't exactly a great advantage.

Her main rivals Curlin and Hard Spun both looked out of their game. To a much lesser extent, Curlin didn't look very comfortable down inside of traffic behind the crawl pace...and to a greater extent, Hard Spun had no chance from off the lead in a slow paced 12 furlong race.

[stonegossard]

For me race of the year was Smokey Stover winning the Sprint last year at SA on Fla/Cal day in January. Had a ton of money on him that day. How could one not have bet him ?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

For me race of the year was Smokey Stover winning the Sprint last year at SA on Fla/Cal day in January. Had a ton of money on him that day. How could one not have bet him ?

He had your all-time favorite angle in his corner that day - first time Aaron Gryder on a difficult to ride sprinter!

[philcski]

From an entertainment perspective, the Belmont wins hands down.

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

He had your all-time favorite angle in his corner that day - first time Aaron Gryder on a difficult to ride sprinter!

Smokey stover should win eclipse award for sprinters based on the fact he still won with that incompetent idiot on his back.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

Smokey stover should win eclipse award for sprinters based on the fact he still won with that incompetent idiot on his back.

How can you say that about the top Jewish rider in the game?

[Scurlogue Champ]

Golden Hare is the best horse in the country...

winning machine

[The Indomitable DrugS]

OK, now that I've found the link amidst the Nascar like ads section, I'll post my choices.

Juvenile Fillies Division:

To me, WITHOUT QUESTION, the best performance of the year by a 2yo filly came when Indian Blessing broke her maiden in her debut. Looking like a female version of the early Seattle Slew, she broke poorly from a rail draw that's VERY tough going 5.5 if you don't leave the gates well. Despite that, she unleashed a breath taking display of sustained speed. I've seen Maykovsky, Macho Uno, and Harmony Lodge all have tremendous debuts going 5.5 furlongs at Saratoga this decade...and I have no doubt Indian Blessing's performance was better.

Among the options in the poll - I'd take Indian Blessing's BC Juvie fillies win. I strongly believe IB, like her dam, is a pure sprinter...and it's to her credit that she's been able to win a pair of Grade 1 races in career starts 2 and 3 at distances that I believe are far beyond her scope. She will be exposed in route races next year - but certainly has the talent to be considered a strong contender for the second running of the BC Filly and Mare sprint in '08.

Juvenile Division:

I see a maiden performance was added in this category - and while it was a remarkable thing to watch visually - Numaany won a very slow race over an uninspiring group of horses. If anyone remembers back to last year - Giant Chieftan was beaten 4 lengths in his debut at Saratoga after doing the same exact thing - at the same point of the race - with the same jockey (Javier Castallano) up. It was also a soft maiden race - and Giant Chieftan has since been always bet and always disapoints.

I think War Pass's BC Juvenile win is a very obvious selection. It was by open lengths the fastest Beyer ever earned by a runner in that race - and while circumstances may have made the race look better than it was - it was still a giant effort.

Filly and Mare Turf Division:

I don't really think I saw a single memorable Filly and Mare turf race all year long. By default, the Breeders Cup F & M Turf is my pick - even though it was run over a soft turf course - and featured a Euro runner who cost all chance to at least two of her rivals by racing very erratic before finally being eased up.

Sprint Division:

I can certainly understand the exclusion of IB's debut win in the Juv fillies poll. I don't get how the Vosburgh and especially the Forego were excluded in this one! The Forego is obviously the choice here.

It was a historic performance from a speed figure standpoint by the winner, Midnight Lute. Since the Beyer figures have been published in the Daily racing form more than 15 years ago - no horse had ever run a Beyer of greater than 124 sprinting...and prior to the Forego, only Artax had run a 124 Beyer. Which he did just once, when he broke Mr. Prospector's track record for six furlongs at Gulfstream Park while beating the following year's champion Kona Gold in the BC Sprint. Not only did Midnight Lute's 124 Beyer in the Forego equal the best sprint Beyer ever published - but his negative 7 Thoro-Graph figure in that race broke Ghostzapper's mark for fastest TG fig ever. Midnight Lute did win the BC Sprint next out - but that was at a distance a little sharp of his liking..and was not an overwhelming performance analytically.

Mile Divison:

I'd give an edge to Shakespeare's exciting win at Kip Deville's expense at Woodbine.

Distaff Divison:

While not as exciting or entertaining of a race as the BC Distaff or Alabama was - Rags To Riches Kentucky Oaks was a giant performance in an important race.

Turf Division:

English Channel going out with a lopsided win in the BC Turf is very obviously the winner here. I know there were circumstance that made his race look better than it was - much like with War Pass's juvenile - but both races are impossible to deny.

Classic Division:

The Preakness wins this - as well as race of the year.

Stories:

I'm not a big story guy at all - but I'd assume a filly winning the Belmont after 102 years would win. Though, it's not like she didn't have a big chance to win it going in.

Person of the Year:

Did anyone else find it amusing that both Larry Jones and Rick Porter are on this list? I vote for Scavs.

[Monarchos1]

I think it will be interesting to see which races win. Some folks will vote based on performance (big Beyers, margin, etc.) while others will look at the race itself (great duel, circumstances, etc.). I thought the dead heat with Bit of Whimsy and Rutherienne was a fabulous race in the F & M turf division.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by stonegossard

For me race of the year was Smokey Stover winning the Sprint last year at SA on Fla/Cal day in January. Had a ton of money on him that day. How could one not have bet him ?

I loved him that day too.. We got 7-1, I think...

Was part of the Magna 5, no?...

LINK TO SURVEY:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?s...R4GwRyMg_3d_3d

[stonegossard]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I loved him that day too.. We got 7-1, I think...

Was part of the Magna 5, no?...

Yeah...was 8-1 or so. God that was easy.

[cmorioles]

He paid just about the total of all his previous wins combined.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I could find no such poll at that link.

Look for this:


I had to do some write ins. For 2yo race of the year, I went with War Pass in the Champagne. For Sprint, I went with Fabulous Strike in the Vosburgh. For Turf Race, I voted for the Arc since it didn't specify US races only.

FM Turf, I went with Wait A While in the Ballston Spa. This was for two reasons. One, she ran great, and two, she did while Pletcher couldn't win a race at the meet.

For race of the year, I went with Curlin winning the Classic as he just dominated a very good field.

[Bystander]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Look for this:


I had to do some write ins. For 2yo race of the year, I went with War Pass in the Champagne. For Sprint, I went with Fabulous Strike in the Vosburgh. For Turf Race, I voted for the Arc since it didn't specify US races only.

FM Turf, I went with Wait A While in the Ballston Spa. This was for two reasons. One, she ran great, and two, she did while Pletcher couldn't win a race at the meet.

For race of the year, I went with Curlin winning the Classic as he just dominated a very good field.

What about the Just a Game on the Belmont undercard where My Typhoon easily beat Wait a While, "the best US turf filly" ?
I can ask DrugS...

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Bystander

What about the Just a Game on the Belmont undercard where My Typhoon easily beat Wait a While, "the best US turf filly" ?
I can ask DrugS...

That race was a joke.

A five horse field where My TYphoon was left on an uncontested lead through slow fractions.

Want me to start a Fireside Chat W/ DrugS Thread? I'm that available - I will take anyones questions on any topic right up until 7:30 PM

[Bystander]

Yeah I said I COULD ask you, if mr cmorioles chooses not to respond.
I know she was loose on the lead, but with a guy I despise yelling in my ear, "Wait a While's the BEST horse in training" as they went into the gate, I relish the fact that My Typhoon beat her. And remember- Wait a While went WITH My Typhoon early, and crumpled like a filthy tube sock.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I could find no such poll at that link.

However, I think it's pretty clear that the "race of the year" is either...

Curlin's Buckpasser like comeback after not getting his trip early and being left for dead to beat the Derby winner in the Preakness.

Or, Rags To Riches beating Curlin in a great Belmont stretch clash.

Perhaps the Street Sense over Any Given Saturday Tampa Derby would be a clear cut and distant 3rd.

For me, It's the Preakness.

The Belmont featured a painfully slow pace - one of the more bizarre tactical rides you'll ever see in Gomez rating Hard Spun off that slow pace - and the race really had an inconclusive feel to it from a post race analysis standpoint.

I know a lot of people thought R2R ran by far the best race - I think Cannon said she had everything but the guy who ran on the track to punch Artax on the Preakness undercard go against her - but her "trouble" in that race all seemed highly overrated to me. When you consider how laughably slow the pace was - the bad stumble at the start meant nothing as long as she didn't hurt herself in doing so. The wide trip on the turns was also greatly overrated - when you consider it was a slow paced race - and at Belmont Park, where skimming the rail isn't exactly a great advantage.

Her main rivals Curlin and Hard Spun both looked out of their game. To a much lesser extent, Curlin didn't look very comfortable down inside of traffic behind the crawl pace...and to a greater extent, Hard Spun had no chance from off the lead in a slow paced 12 furlong race.

What about R2R sick win in Ca. when see circled the field and was 7 wide into a speed favoring track. That to me was preety special.. How about when that midget of a horse EC CRUSHED in BC. That was pretty spectular eventhough I hate that horse.