More Breeders' Cup coverage by the NY Times
Nov 4, 2013 20:21:55 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2013 20:21:55 GMT -5
Filly’s Death Overshadows a Triumph at the Breeders’ Cup
By TOM PEDULLA
Published: November 2, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. — A span of less than three hours at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Saturday starkly illustrated the excruciating swings of emotion intrinsic to thoroughbred racing.
Bob Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer whose high-powered operation has endured a series of fatal injuries, watched Secret Compass be euthanized after the running of the Juvenile Fillies. New Year’s Day stamped himself as an early Kentucky Derby favorite by outdueling Havana in the Juvenile.
“This game can be brutal,” Baffert said. “The highs and lows are just so strong. I’ve had some great moments and some sad moments. We get up every day, and win, lose or draw, we love these animals no matter where they run. It’s very emotional to lose one of them.”
Secret Compass became the first Breeders’ Cup casualty since George Washington broke down in the Classic in 2007. Secret Compass fell during the Juvenile Fillies; dumped and injured her jockey, John Velazquez; and sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation.
Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, an on-call veterinarian from the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said there was no chance to save the filly because of a lack of blood supply to the injured area.
“It is the worst type of injury we get, unfortunately,” McIlwraith said. Of the decision to euthanize her, he said, “There is no other alternative.”
Secret Compass, a Kentucky-bred horse owned by Westrock Stables, won two of four starts and earned $216,120.
“When you lose a horse like that, it takes all of the wind out of our sails,” Baffert said. “These horses are so close to us.”
Velazquez was taken to a hospital. Terry Meyocks, head of the Jockeys’ Guild, confirmed that Velazquez was found to have internal bleeding and was having emergency surgery to remove his spleen.
In the Juvenile — on a day that owners, trainers and jockeys point toward throughout the year — Havana had the disadvantage of breaking from Post 12 in a field of 13, but Gary Stevens, who replaced Velazquez, quickly overcame that. He bided his time in fifth in the early going before signaling it was time to go entering the final turn. Havana took command by two lengths at the top of the stretch for Stevens, who won the Preakness in May and returned to top form at age 50 after ending a retirement of more than seven years.
Although Stevens appeared headed for another signature triumph, New Year’s Day and Martin Garcia, who had yet to win a Breeders’ Cup race, were mounting a steady advance. New Year’s Day, sent off at 12-1 because he had not raced since gaining his first career victory against nonwinners at Del Mar at the end of August, ranged up to Havana and wore him down, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths. Strong Mandate took third.
Havana, in only his third start, ran as if he could be a major player as a 3-year-old, if he matures mentally and physically.
“I thought he actually settled beautifully,” his trainer, Todd Pletcher, said. “I’m really happy with the way he positioned himself. Gary said he got a little bit lost when he made the lead turning for home. Then he just got tired the last 100 yards.”
Baffert immediately started thinking big after New Year’s Day managed a major jump in class in the Juvenile. The horse packed enough punch at the finish to suggest added distance may increase his effectiveness.
“The minute he hit the wire, I started thinking about the first Saturday in May,” Baffert said.
He was referring, of course, to the Kentucky Derby, a race he knows well as the trainer of three Derby champions. He will need to lean heavily on that experience if he is to defy Breeders’ Cup history.
In the 29 years of the event, only Street Sense, who won the Juvenile in 2006, parlayed that into success in the Derby, the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
The Breeders’ Cup is set to return here next year, the fifth time in seven seasons the event will be held at Santa Anita. The setting is grand and the weather ideal, but the focus on the West Coast has its critics.
Ed Stanco, whose Princess of Sylmar finished last in the Distaff on Friday, is among the most outspoken owners in believing the event should visit a larger number of venues.
“If it’s a Breeders’ Cup championship, it should move around,” he said. “If you don’t move it around, all it becomes is the California championships.”
He also believes thoroughbred racing will miss opportunities if the trend continues.
“The biggest problem we have is fan interest,” Stanco said. “The best way to develop fan interest is to bring the game to them.”
No sites have been determined for 2015 and beyond.
www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/sports/fillys-death-overshadows-a-triumph-at-the-breeders-cup.html?src=recg
By TOM PEDULLA
Published: November 2, 2013
ARCADIA, Calif. — A span of less than three hours at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Saturday starkly illustrated the excruciating swings of emotion intrinsic to thoroughbred racing.
Bob Baffert, a Hall of Fame trainer whose high-powered operation has endured a series of fatal injuries, watched Secret Compass be euthanized after the running of the Juvenile Fillies. New Year’s Day stamped himself as an early Kentucky Derby favorite by outdueling Havana in the Juvenile.
“This game can be brutal,” Baffert said. “The highs and lows are just so strong. I’ve had some great moments and some sad moments. We get up every day, and win, lose or draw, we love these animals no matter where they run. It’s very emotional to lose one of them.”
Secret Compass became the first Breeders’ Cup casualty since George Washington broke down in the Classic in 2007. Secret Compass fell during the Juvenile Fillies; dumped and injured her jockey, John Velazquez; and sustained a lateral condylar fracture with dislocation.
Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, an on-call veterinarian from the American Association of Equine Practitioners, said there was no chance to save the filly because of a lack of blood supply to the injured area.
“It is the worst type of injury we get, unfortunately,” McIlwraith said. Of the decision to euthanize her, he said, “There is no other alternative.”
Secret Compass, a Kentucky-bred horse owned by Westrock Stables, won two of four starts and earned $216,120.
“When you lose a horse like that, it takes all of the wind out of our sails,” Baffert said. “These horses are so close to us.”
Velazquez was taken to a hospital. Terry Meyocks, head of the Jockeys’ Guild, confirmed that Velazquez was found to have internal bleeding and was having emergency surgery to remove his spleen.
In the Juvenile — on a day that owners, trainers and jockeys point toward throughout the year — Havana had the disadvantage of breaking from Post 12 in a field of 13, but Gary Stevens, who replaced Velazquez, quickly overcame that. He bided his time in fifth in the early going before signaling it was time to go entering the final turn. Havana took command by two lengths at the top of the stretch for Stevens, who won the Preakness in May and returned to top form at age 50 after ending a retirement of more than seven years.
Although Stevens appeared headed for another signature triumph, New Year’s Day and Martin Garcia, who had yet to win a Breeders’ Cup race, were mounting a steady advance. New Year’s Day, sent off at 12-1 because he had not raced since gaining his first career victory against nonwinners at Del Mar at the end of August, ranged up to Havana and wore him down, prevailing by 1 1/4 lengths. Strong Mandate took third.
Havana, in only his third start, ran as if he could be a major player as a 3-year-old, if he matures mentally and physically.
“I thought he actually settled beautifully,” his trainer, Todd Pletcher, said. “I’m really happy with the way he positioned himself. Gary said he got a little bit lost when he made the lead turning for home. Then he just got tired the last 100 yards.”
Baffert immediately started thinking big after New Year’s Day managed a major jump in class in the Juvenile. The horse packed enough punch at the finish to suggest added distance may increase his effectiveness.
“The minute he hit the wire, I started thinking about the first Saturday in May,” Baffert said.
He was referring, of course, to the Kentucky Derby, a race he knows well as the trainer of three Derby champions. He will need to lean heavily on that experience if he is to defy Breeders’ Cup history.
In the 29 years of the event, only Street Sense, who won the Juvenile in 2006, parlayed that into success in the Derby, the opening leg of the Triple Crown.
The Breeders’ Cup is set to return here next year, the fifth time in seven seasons the event will be held at Santa Anita. The setting is grand and the weather ideal, but the focus on the West Coast has its critics.
Ed Stanco, whose Princess of Sylmar finished last in the Distaff on Friday, is among the most outspoken owners in believing the event should visit a larger number of venues.
“If it’s a Breeders’ Cup championship, it should move around,” he said. “If you don’t move it around, all it becomes is the California championships.”
He also believes thoroughbred racing will miss opportunities if the trend continues.
“The biggest problem we have is fan interest,” Stanco said. “The best way to develop fan interest is to bring the game to them.”
No sites have been determined for 2015 and beyond.
www.nytimes.com/2013/11/03/sports/fillys-death-overshadows-a-triumph-at-the-breeders-cup.html?src=recg