Don’t get me wrong, I love Curlin… I schlepped my exhausted self out to Belmont specifically to see him on Saturday and he did not disappoint. One of the many things I love about him is that he always shows up, a real pro.

I thought all of the stakes races at Belmont were great. I really liked Cocoa Beach but had her with Lemon Drop Mom instead of the gamely Ginger Punch. I discounted Dynaforce in favor of Communique over Mauralakana. Fab Strike was still impressive fighting back against Black Seventeen (E - I wish you were right!)… and I think Kodiak Kowboy (my choice with Fab Strike & First Defence) might have gotten there at 7F.

Last but not least was the performance that impressed me the most at Belmont, Grand Couturier in the Joe Hirsch… wow! And all this time I thought he was a yielding play against (which is why Shamdinan was my long shot in last year’s BC turf, and not Grand Couturier).

Curlin was the chestnut cherry on the excellent racing day cake. Swifty and I double high-fived as he crossed the line and let out a simultaneous and emphatic “YES!”… along with the rest of the smallish celebratory crowd.

But let’s not overlook the 50 ft woman, as Ernie likes to call her or Stardom Bound… her 2yo protege in the “Little Ladies”* Division who’s sometimes called Zenyatta Jr around the barn. These two put on one hell of a show and should not be overshadowed by Curlin’s transformation into racings 10 Million Dollar Man.

Zenyatta staying perfect while making the impressive Hysterical Lady look like an allowance level entrant trying to jump in class:

Stardom Bound, going 8 wide to show those other Little Ladies a thing or two:

Get your check books out, Stardom Bound will be part of a liquidation sale come November, but she’ll come with a reserve. I don’t suppose Fasig-Tipton accepts esnipe?

*Editor’s note: I’m going to call the Juvenile Fillies the Little Ladies as long the Ladies Classic name stands.

Additional editor’s note: while I know this post is not at all timely, I’m trying to get back in the habit of posting and this was a heck of a lot easier to start off with than trying to do the Marketing Summit and Task Force justice. Not to worry, I haven’t forgotten!

Posted by dana on Sep 29 2008    
Filed Under: Auction, Wrap Up, 2008, Zenyatta, Stardom Bound, Impressive, Shamdinan, Vosburgh, Curlin, Belmont, Hystericalady, Race Replay, Fabulous Strike, YouTube, Racing

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In Summation (inside) beats Greg’s Gold in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar (Charles Pravata)

It’s late, I’m tired… I’ll be pithy.

Outrageous! (for Ed).

An elaboration. Question, what about auctions? Cali’s doin’ it.

Not so bad.

Hopefully Thursday is firm.

Should be Fabulous!

Don’t wear an ascot unless you’ve been there.

And whatever you do, don’t hold back!

Posted by dana on Jun 17 2008    
Filed Under: Mainstream Media, Greed, Charles Pravata, TBA, Auction, Industry, 2008, Geldings, Drugs, Fabulous Strike, International Racing, Gambling, Breeding, OTB, TV, Turf, NYRA, NTRA, Racing

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Highly coveted broodmare prospect at Belmont (Sarah K. Andrew)

More coverage of the Crystal and Alexis of the breeding set if you’re interested.

Or, you can go here to keep up with all the sales news, not just the dramas and scandals!

Update: Valerie has a great Day 2 recap.

Posted by dana on Nov 06 2007    
Filed Under: Auction, 2007, Octave, Racing

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Broodmares commanded top dollar during the auctions of the past few days while stallion prospects didn’t fare so well.

Coolmore and Darley were at it again Green Monkey style, this time over 5yo mare Playful Act. Darley won this round spending $10.5 million [DRF].

As it turns out, the Octave Drama I mentioned yesterday was also none other than Coolmore vs Darley. Coolmore “angrily” insisted that they had won the $4 million bid but the bid spotters didn’t spot them. Does that sort of thing ever happen at Christie’s or Sotheby’s?

Ferguson, representing Maktoum, signed the ticket for $4 millon after lively bidding that also involved Coolmore Stud and the Ran-Jan Stable of Bob Naify and Jan Vanderbos. But Coolmore’s team, including principal John Magnier and regular bidding representative Demi O’Byrne, angrily protested the sale, saying they had believed they had made the winning $4 million bid.

Read all about it here. [NTRA]

Posted by dana on Nov 05 2007    
Filed Under: Auction, Greed, 2007, The Green Monkey, Octave

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Today’s late Pick 4 at Aqueduct payed a whopping !46,913! A Pick 4! As you can guess, no favs won in the last 4 races.

6th: Ocean Goddess payed $59
7th: As Do I payed $56.50
8th: Sugar Shake payed $6
9th: Dancing Tin Man payed $14.90

Also not surprising that there’s another Pick 6 carryover of $154,615.

Over at Fasig-Tipton land, Valbenny beat out Super Freaky in the auction ring as well going for $1.2 million. Appealing Zophie went for $1.15, Cotton Blossom for $1.9, Irish Smoke got away for a meager $750K in comparison and one of my favs, the tough as nails Asi Siempre, went for $3 million to someone named Steve.

It was fun and alarming to watch. I loved how the auctioneer would chide the audience and throw in references to the lineage amid the stream of numbers. Occasionally when they felt the current bid was too low they would stop in the middle and talk up “the lot”.

Check in with Valerie at Foolish Pleasure for a full recap of the auction… I only watched a bit of it + she really knows her stuff about about breeding and lineages so she’ll have tons on insights.

Posted by dana on Nov 04 2007    
Filed Under: Auction, Aqueduct, Asi Siempre, Cotton Blossom, Super Freaky, Valbenny, 2007

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