Bob Hill
Staff writer

European Domination

As we drove from the hotel to Santa Anita on Friday morning, I commented that I hoped the European horses would fare well in the heat of California and on the switch from turf to the Pro-Ride surface.  I think we can conclude that both were accomplished, as horses that have been racing in Europe won five of nine races on Saturday.

Muhannak (IRE) was a mild surprise in the Marathon, and Raven’s Pass was scintillating in the Classic on the Pro-Ride.  Only the win by Desert Code in the Turf Sprint prevented a sweep on the lawn by European horses.  Goldikova (IRE) beat the boys in the Turf Mile, Donitivum captured the Juvenile Turf, and Conduit won the race that I refer to as the Turf Classic.  It may require a great deal of barn space for European horses when the Breeders Cup returns to Santa Anita.

The Puzzle of Synthetic Surfaces

The Breeders’ Cup is a handicapping challenge under regular circumstances, but adding the variable of synthetic surfaces and the switch of so many turf horses onto it, made the calculus even more complex.  Add to that the fact that most American handicappers can glean little useful information for the past performance records of European racing, and dart-throwing starts to sound more scientific.

I think there is beginning to be enough evidence to suggest that good turf horses have a chance of doing well on the switch to synthetics.  The big question is going to continue to be how do horses good on synthetic surfaces transfer their form to dirt.  When it comes time for Stardom
Bound and Midshipmen to head for next spring’s elite three-year-old races, handicappers will face the challenge of not knowing what to make of their synthetic records.

I think what happened on Saturday at Santa Anita will have a positive long-term impact on the sport, but in the immediate future I suspect we’ll see some hand wringing and a hear a fair amount of excuse making.

Humble Pie

My handicapping partner Kat Kubik picked four winners out of the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, and I picked three.  The only consolation for me was picking Desert Code; a winner that paid $75.  Hope our readers did better than we did. 

Horse of the Year

I do not get a vote, but if I did I would vote for Zenyatta for horse of the year honors.  Dominating one-run closers make for great horse race viewing, and she certainly fits the bill.
Young Love

Stardom Bound, in addition to being fantastic on the track, is one gorgeous horse.  The dapple grey daughter of Tapit out of the mare My White Corvette (Tarr Road) is stunning.  Her every movement speaks of royalty.  The amazing thing is that Stardom Bound is still quite lanky, leaving a great deal of room for the growth that maturity will bring.

Santa Anita – Best Venue in Racing

Speaking of Santa Anita, I want to go on record that Santa Anita is the best venue in America for fans to watch and wager on thoroughbred racing.  In the past three years, I have had seats at the same price point at Churchill Downs, Monmouth Park, and Churchill Downs for Breeders’ Cup racing.

Even though our seats were between the quarter pole and the eighth pole at Santa Anita, I felt as though I was present at the event.  The big screen was visible, and the betting tote boards were easy to read and use.

The tellers, security guards, and vendors at Santa Anita understand customer service and display their knowledge of it at nearly all times.  The place was built to accommodate a large crowd, and do so with grace and flair.

When Churchill was remodeled, the owners went to great lengths to improve the experience for the fan who can afford high priced tickets.  The common fan, however, continues to sit on backless benches, bet in compounds resembling penal institutions, and have the pleasure of walking all over the grounds to get to their seats.  The aura of the place seems so uninviting that it must rub off on the help.  The security people at Churchill act as though they are protecting royalty from the commoner.

At Churchill Downs in 2006, my seats were in the bleachers between the quarter pole and eighth pole.  I was seated so low to the ground that our only choice to know that horses passed by was to stand on the benches.  With that view, we could see the top of the jockeys heads.  At no time that day did I know the outcome of a race until it was over and I could see the replay.  By then I was in a line 25 to 40 people deep to place my next wager.

Monmouth Park did a great job last year under awful conditions last year.  I really am not sure how good my seats in the temporary bleachers were, because I sat in them for only two races due to the weather.  Needless to say, Monmouth was stretched to its very limits to host the event.

I for one am quite happy that the Breeders’ Cup will return to Santa Anita in 2009.