The Breeders Cup today: A disaster

Tucumcari · Postby **Tucumcari** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:44 pm

Sigh

TJ · Postby TJ » Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:49 pm

Roma wrote:Breeders Cup History :
What happens with Mr. Brooks in Breeders Cup Sprint , 1992 ???

Thank !

Hi Roma,
I think you are referring to Mr. Nickerson who ran his last race in the BC Sprint in 1990. That was by far the worst Breeders Cup in racing history. Mr. Nickerson suffered a fatal heart attack and died on the racetrack. Shaker Knit, who jumped the fallen Mr. Nickerson hit the ground and broke his back--he too was later destroyed. Jockey Chris Antley aboard Mr. Nickerson, suffered a broken collar bone. As if that wasn't enough, Dayjur was going on to win that ill fated race and jumped two shadows that were cast on the track from equiptment on the roof causing his defeat. That should have been an omen as the day got worse from there. Go For Wand broke down a 100 yards from the wire as she was holding off a determined Bayakoa in the Distaff. I think that was the most tragic breakdown I have ever witnessed on the track. You could hear a pin drop after Go For Wand went down, people wept openly all around the grandstand. This went on right in front of the crowd and it was a terribly gruesome sight to see.
On a slightly brighter note Lester Piggot (English Jockey Champ) had made a comeback to the saddle at 60 years old just two weeks prior to winning the mile aboard Royal Academy. This was also the year Carl Nafzger won the Classic with Unbridled. TJ

reese · Postby **reese** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:27 pm

Rokeby Forever wrote:Curlin beat Lawyer Ron by less than a length in the JCGC. Today, the difference was the length of the stretch. Did the track have something to do with it, or did Pletcher forget to feed Lawyer Ron for last three weeks?

Pletcher should have "borrowed" some feed from Asmussen.

geowarrior · Postby **geowarrior** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:44 pm

Maybe Curlin was just a better horse. Lawyer Ron didn't really get the mile and a quarter, and things would have had to be perfect for him to get the job done.

I like to think that Curlin is in fact a good horse. Or is there a special drug that I don't know about that can make a larger than average thoroughbred take tight turns on a very sloppy track and come within a tick of the track record?

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:55 am

geowarrior wrote:Maybe Curlin was just a better horse. Lawyer Ron didn't really get the mile and a quarter, and things would have had to be perfect for him to get the job done.

I like to think that Curlin is in fact a good horse. Or is there a special drug that I don't know about that can make a larger than average thoroughbred take tight turns on a very sloppy track and come within a tick of the track record?

Hey Geo,
The guy was coming back off a six month suspension, so if there is something out there, he may know about it. Cheap shot I know, but I couldn't resist cosidering the circumstances. I hear so many trainers being knocked on this site because people "assume" they are using drugs, yet Asmussen was suspended 6 months for using drugs and he is a great trainer. This horse could be trained by my grandmother (unfortunately Granny is dead and buried) and win, he is a freak of horsedom. He doesn't know all the new theories about bouncing and 2 yo conditioning necessary to win these major races.
I tip my hat to Curlin and the efforts of Scott Blasi, but Asmussen, I just don't know. It is so unjust that the horse was taken away from Helen Pitts (who developed this horse through the tough times, despite an operation for OCD lesions of the ankle--the reason why he sold inexpensively) and given to Asmussen fresh off his suspension. I guess it pays to push the drug rules in this business, the rewards are certainly worthy of the crime. Sorry for the mini-rant but this gets me:>) TJ

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:15 am

i'd say you're post is about as far off as it could be.

winds · Postby **winds** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:31 am

I wish they had kept Curlin with Helen Pitts too. She has a lot of friends in MD that's for sure.

winds

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:47 am

Asmussen this, Asmussen that...Helen Pitts deserves all the credit in the world for Curlin. She must have put one heck of a foundation into Curlin for him to survive the Asmussen barn this long.

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:47 am

ratherrapid wrote:i'd say you're post is about as far off as it could be.

If you were referring to my post, you are entitled to your opinion just as I am on a public forum. But the fact still remains he served 6 months, that's a long suspension. Biancone got a year and bargained down to 6 months and another 6 months before he can apply for a trainers license. TJ

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:53 am

Hi Winds, Roke,
Yes, Helen Pitts got a raw deal. Even her mentor McPeek (who purchased Curlin) tried to get the horse from her. Never thought I'd say this Roke, but I agree with you too, LOL :>) TJ

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:07 pm

TJ

since you've formed a definitive opinion of Asmussen perhaps you'd post some details. Why was Asmussen suspended. How many times has he been suspended. What were the violations. Was he in town when the violations occurred? Was any defense made to the violations, and what was the defense?

Kenny McPeek as a "mentor" of Helen Pitts would be other than a ringing endorsement from what little I know since I'd struggle to name a horse McPeek has failed to injure within six months of the horse being in his barn. Ditto Ms. Pitts.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:01 pm

ratherrapid wrote:Kenny McPeek as a "mentor" of Helen Pitts would be other than a ringing endorsement from what little I know since I'd struggle to name a horse McPeek has failed to injure within six months of the horse being in his barn. Ditto Ms. Pitts.

Who's the one that broke down Harlan's Holiday....Ken McPeek or Todd Pletcher?

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:35 pm

ratherrapid wrote:TJ

since you've formed a definitive opinion of Asmussen perhaps you'd post some details. Why was Asmussen suspended. How many times has he been suspended. What were the violations. Was he in town when the violations occurred? Was any defense made to the violations, and what was the defense?

Kenny McPeek as a "mentor" of Helen Pitts would be other than a ringing endorsement from what little I know since I'd struggle to name a horse McPeek has failed to injure within six months of the horse being in his barn. Ditto Ms. Pitts.

Hi Rapid,
That case was tried and finalized, the opinion I formed was through fact, not my doing, but Asmussen's himself. That's a long time and only the worst offenders are subject to that kind of penalty. The excuses are just that, I wasn't there, it was my assistant, it was my vet, it was my groom etc. If any of your questions in defense of Asmussen is in fact true they usually take that into consideration when issuing the penalty. Such as the extenuating circumstances in the Biancone case who also received a long, but modified vacation. So if he did use any of those excuses in his defense, and he still got 6 months, that's a lot of time.
By the way, in my bringing up Asmussen's suspension it was and is a fact. Your allegations against Mc Peek and Helen Pitts are they also fact? TJ

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:56 pm

i've yet to research it, but am reasonably confident in stating what i posted about mcpeek. doubt you'll see anyone mount a defense.

as to ms. pitts, peas to the pod, i've yet to see her keep a major horse running and suspect without being positive that the Curlin's connections knew exactly what they were doing when they moved the horse. if i'm wrong, apologies to ms. pitts.

With regard to Asmussen's suspension i know nothing about it, and it sounds as if neither do you. does this fellow really impress you as someone that would intentionally endanger their license? i'd like to know the details before inferring the guy is an ax murderer.

winds · Postby **winds** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:06 pm

How can Helen Pitts show what she can do if people take her nice horses out from under her?

The people that know Helen in MD are good horsepeople, they also admire her horsemanship, one of her supporters is Charlsie Cantey. Charlsie doesn't support anyone privately that isn't a good horseperson.

I'm sure I've met Helen, though my memory doesn't serve me well. But based on the people that I know, she certainly would have done as well as Steve Asmussen.

winds