Well well welcome to Delta Downs, the home of Champions. This week, thanks to the Breeders Cup and their love for the fans, we are very fortunate to be able to witness the CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONSHIP. That's right, the BC arranged to fly in the winners for one final showdown, quite possibly instrumental in determining horse of the year honors.
It will be a challenge for all, one mile on the main course, this is how they'll line up.
1. QUEENS TRUST ridden by RUFFIAN....................3/1......121 lbs
Shortens up and switches from turf to dirt for classy connections.
2. FINEST CITY ridden by DUSTY..........................7/2.......121 lbs
Stretches out an extra furlong, jock lands here after winning this event last year, interesting!
3. NEW MONEY HONEY ridden by CATALINA............10/1.....121lbs
Distance should be ideal, needs to handle dirt as well as turf, tough task for rumored delicate feet
4. DREFONG ridden by STARK. ............................9/2.....126 pounds (83 pounds over at weigh-in)
Sprinter stretching out will need to take his stamina pills for optimal performance
5. ARROGATE ridden by JOHNHENRY......................5/1... ..126 pounds (19 pounds over at weigh-in)
Shortening up, connections have more experience than this talented runner has been allowed
6. CLASSIC EMPIRE ridden by OAKLAWNCAPPER......8/1......126 pounds (31 pounds over at weigh-in)
Youngster facing his elders will need to stretch out successfully, probable improvement next year
7. TAMURKAZ ridden by CIGARSHOP.....................6/1......126lbs (27 pounds over at weigh-in)
Everything in his favor according to the numbers drawn out of the pill bottle, gets the lucky post
8. BEHOLDER ridden by TIGERDANCER..................5/1.......121 pounds
Classy older mare always brings her A-Game, being in the picture is her specialty in the end
As expected, after the morning gallops and small breakfasts, before taking to the track for the big race the fillies and mares were all getting pampered at the spa.
Here's Beholder with Tiger Dancer applying the suds
And here's Queens Trust getting wet
OOPS, wrong queen!
Catalina giving the traditional baby bath to NewMoneyHoney
Dusty takes Finest City from San Diego to the beaches of Louisiana for the pre-race ritual
Meanwhile, back at the barn the colts took a different approach to the big race
The starter calls the entrants to the gate, the crowd is on their feet, and we're ready to go!
Ohhh noooo....that's #4 DEFRONG with STARK up being a bit premature!
Which reminded CIGARSHOP aboard TAMURKAZ in stall 6 of a story of confusion he shared
Anyways, the field is away in good order, as expected STARK aboard DREFONG and DUSTY aboard FINEST CITY both show their sprinter speed ensuring a quick pace for the mile event, some punters thinking they're nothing more than rabbits that will fade soon enough.
JOHNHENRY aboard ARROGATE has his horse on the muscle up near the lead in the early going.
CIGARSHOP aboard TAMURKUZ is trying to get the curious young colt focused.
OAKLAWNCAPPER aboard CLASSIC EMPIRE is just off their heels
TIGERDANCER aboard BEHOLDER as wells as RUFFIAN and QUEENS TRUST are willing to be patient and appear happy with their positions in the second flight.
CATALINA is trying to get NEW MONEY HONEY involved but its obvious early on the filly doesn't care for the surface.
The fog is so bad we can't see them going down the backstretch but here they come into the stretch
It looks like the experienced mares have taken control as we near the wire, RUFFIAN aboard QUEENS TRUST hugs the rail while TIGER DANCER has BEHOLDER looming up on the outside, JOHNHENRY switches to the left handed stick but will need more real estate for ARROGATE to mount his closing rally, DREFONG with STARK up held on better than expected with Lasix and other raceday meds.
Here's the photo, it looks like the 8 on the outside nips the 1 right at the wire!
ITS OFFICIAL
Undisputed Champion BEHOLDER with TIGERDANCER along for the ride finished first. $100.10
Runner-up title goes to QUEENS TRUST with RUFFIAN aboard $93.30
Show dough goes to JOHNHENRY'S mount ARROGATE $91.40
Completing the superfecta was DREFONG ridden by STARK $76.20
The rest of the field
Coming in 5th was CIGARSHOP aboard TAMURKAZ $63.40
6th place belongs to CLASSIC EMPIRE with OAKLAWNCAPPER at the controls, $53.70
7th place was DUSTY and FINEST CITY $31.00
Rounding out the field was CATALINA and the ouchy NEWMONEYHONEY $20.90
Congratulations, you're all champions in my book!
I've found it easier to tear up tickets at 8/1 instead of 8/5.
