CR Dunbar: Breeders' Cup - Classic Lacks Spice

I am finding that I am experiencing the same difficulty that ESPN will have on Saturday. What do you talk about when Curlin is more likely to win than Chance getting an STD on Real Chance of Love?

Thankfully for ESPN, they have deep pockets for the 5th Grader musings of Kenny Mayne to fill some time. Anyone want to take a guess at the comedy stylings of Mayne this go around? Most likely: Curlin and a curling iron. Holding out hope for: getting beaten by a riding crop.

Unfortunately for you, I am but a sports blogger with an empty wall where a gallant TV once stood. So, let me do a quick hard nose analysis of what I see in this race:

Curlin is good. He has never competitively ran on a synthetic racetrack before, but his warm ups at Santa Anita are showing that he is still all balls.

Early speed is lacking in this race and that Slytherin Todd Pletcher knew it so he entered Fairbanks. If Fairbanks goes uncontested, he could steal this thing, but I think Curlin is too good to let that happen.

Plenty of foreigners in this race, and I am American so I don't like that. If a commie put a gun to my head, my favorite foreigner is Duke of Marmalade because he knows the distance. Casino Drive is a big question mark because we don't know if he will go for the lead or stay back. He is bred for distance, so I imagine he will stay back, but nonetheless he has never been in a race like this before.

Student Council and Raven's Pass are sounding like hype horse to dust up some drama. No way Trainer Steve The Assman allows Student Council beat his precious Curlin.

My Plays:
Curlin to win in the exotics, not straight up because you won't win much.
Curlin keyed in an exacta box with Fairbanks and Go Between.

Fountain of Youth Found Dry

A big prep race ran this weekend. The Fountain of Youth Stakes pits top contenders in the Florida region against each other to help whittle the field for the Kentucky Derby.

This year's race was stacked with big names that didn't bring their 'A' games.



The card included top derby contenders: Court Vision, Z Humor, Monba, Anak Nakal and Cool Coal Man. Half of which will now need strong showing next time out or will be watching barnmates shoot for the roses and the stud life.

Cool Coal Man, who for some reason I find myself calling Cool Hand Luke, had an open, stalking trip with slow fractions from the leaders that allowed him to handedly take the stakes. However, Elysium Fields made a strong showing, proving that he belongs on the big stage. His kick at the end shows he can handle the distance.

Court Vision showed some pop at the end as a closer, but when it comes to closers no one beats Kyra Sedgwick, I mean Pyro. Monba, arch-nemesis Todd Pletcher's seemingly only horse for the derby this season, was pinched and faded. Anak Nakal never fired.

CCM had a good run, but a trip like that won't come in the derby. I was hoping the Fountain of Youth would shift out some big name posers, but I am afraid that they will all have another shot at the Florida Derby in March. But, I will have my good eye on that Elysium Fields next time.

Pyro Burning Down the House

While Ren and Willard whine about the loss of football, lack of baseball and yearn for a bowling surge, they blindly missed that the horse racing season has roared out of the starting gate.

The early Kentucky Derby preps have begun, and I have a slight tingling in my loins.

My “preseason” favorite Pyro made a Nell Carter cannonball splash in the Risen Star Stakes. Do yourself a solid and watch the replay. Kyra Sedgwick could learn a thing or two from this closer.

(www.imdb.com)

Pyro is trained by the Assman, the deserved trainer of the year (damn you Pletcher!), and workmate to the 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin. He has been the garfunkel to the undefeated War Pass who dominated the 2-year old scene.

Now as a 3-year old, Pyro took a step forward and will surely garner more attention as the derby approaches. Plus, he has the same name as an X-Men, how can you go wrong?

The derby prep season is young and many flavors of the week will have their time in the sun. HHR will be here to keep you abreast of the contenders so that you can win some cheddar on the first Saturday of May.

(www.marvel.com)

Breeders' Cup: Future Ex-wives Club

When owners and breeders are sorting through their catalogs looking to create the next Frankenstein horse, I doubt they are crossing their fingers to one day dominate the Filly & Mare Turf division. But here we are, Race 6 at Monmouth Park, the owner still gets a chance to win $2 million.

The competition hosts a fine young set that may be judged more by their birthing hips than what they do on Saturday. But since this is the first race in the Pick 6, we need to find a champion.

After analyzing the furture baby mamas, it is clear that this is a tough start to the Pick 6. I like the chances of 7 of the 12 horses.

There is no way I'm picking 7 horses for one race, so I need to leave the drama for my mama and pick one. I'm going with one of the favorites, Nashoba's Key. This horse doesn't know what it feels like to lose. However, she does like to make it interesting.

She knows how to stalk and is coming off some quality wins. The only question is whether she can handle the distance with the European imports.

Of the other seven that I like, Passage of Time, Precious Kitten and Wait a While.

For the bettors:
Lowest odds of 2,3,4,5,9,11, or 12 to win
Pick 6, 3 plus any of the above

-posted by C.R. Dunbar

Todd Pletcher is going to poke my eye out

While Stuart Scott determines whether it is cooler to have baby mama drama or commercials with your pet chihuahua, we are thick into the season of a re-budding sport: horse racing.

Granted, the Triple Crown is by far the most exciting part of the season and deserves attention, but it is only the start of the season not the end.

Tomorrow morning, the Lady Dunbar and I will be catching the Virginia Derby, the second leg of the $5 million "Grand Slam of Grass." This will be the fifth time this year I convince myself that I understand the sport but go home angry at life and eating bologna for a week.

The reason for this season's malaise, self doubt and flashes of what can be described as ‘roid rage is no other than Todd Pletcher. He has been awarded three consecutive Trainer of the Year awards, but has awarded me with an empty wallet and a stress-induced twitchy eye that he takes pleasure in poking.

Any Given Saturday, Sam P. and King of the Roxy burned me in the stakes races before the Kentucky Derby. For the Kentucky Derby, I bet heavily on Scat Daddy only to have Pletcher put a thumb in my eye with a 18th place finish. Clearly, I'm a masochist at this point and pick Circular Quay for the Preakness. Pletcher takes the opportunity to throw a jab to the eye to loosen it up a bit with another loss.

For the Belmont, I am set on not betting on another Pletcher horse. He has one in the race, Rags to Riches, a filly. A filly hasn't won the Belmont since 1905. Of course, you know what happens. Rags to Riches gives Pletcher his first ever Triple Crown race win and ruins my trifecta.

This brings me back to the Virginia Derby. Pletcher has entered Circular Quay, who has never raced on turf. I have made the decision to stay away, even though the horse's class and speed levels are superior to every other horse.

I am going with a slight underdog with Inca King, who may be able to shake loose from the competition and have enough gas at the end to stave off the competition. However, I'm bringing my James Worthy-esque sports goggles in case Pletcher is there to give me the ultimate Three Stooges inspired eye-gouge.

-posted by C.R. Dunbar