Update on Novak

In response to the commenter who inquired about which writing award Claire Novak had won: In 2008, she won an award from the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The award, for sports writing in the magazine division, was for an article entitled “The Ecstacy (sic) and Agony of Edgar Prado,” published in Louisville Magazine in April of 2007.

So that satisfies the curiosity of that particular commenter.

The Novak post invited quite a few comments, not all of which, unfortunately, are quite so easy to address; their tenor and their content left me troubled. Contrary to what one anonymous commenter wrote, I have no problem, in general, with people not leaving their names. Some valuable comments have been left here anonymously, and I have generally responded to them as I do to those with names. On other sites, I have occasionally left anonymous comments. I understand that at times, anonymity can be useful. In fact, in the Novak post I used an anonymous quotation.

But--and I know that this is going to sound like a lecture, so please forgive that teacher side of me--it’s not useful when people hide behind anonymity to be unkind and gratuitously nasty, characteristics that I found in some of the comments left on the post about Novak.

As moderator of the site, I have choices: I can choose to not permit anonymous comments—though as it’s pretty easy to type in a pseudonym, that won’t necessarily solve the problem. I could moderate comments and choose not to post those that I think cross the bounds of civility, but I loathe, practically and in principle, the thought of approving some comments and disapproving others.

I like the free exchange of ideas that blogging and commenting offers, and mostly, the comments left here have been respectful and civil. But in addition to trying to maintain my idealistic little world of courtesy and consideration, I’ve got a pretty serious stake in self-interest here, too: I’m not going to get people to talk to me if they have to worry about getting pilloried by the anonymous.

I appreciate that on the Thursday of Breeders’ Cup week, Novak took the time to talk to me. I would imagine that, as someone in the public eye, she’s used to the slings and arrows of demanding readers, and that she’s enough of a pro to accept and shake off both the compliments and the insults. That said, I wonder if she'd agree again to talk to me, given some of the comments left on that post.

It’s possible to offer criticism and to disagree without being nasty, and I throw out a gentle request that that be the standard here. In my perfect little idealistic Internet world, this space would be like class: lots of conversation and contribution, lots of agreement and disagreement, lots of respect and consideration, each of us accountable to each other.

I recognize that that’s not likely, but nor does it have to be a free-for-all, where people can be callous and unkind with impunity. Given the amount of reading material out there, I appreciate everyone who takes the time to stop by here and read; I am grateful, too, that you take the time to comment. I learn from you; you persuade me and you dissuade me; you challenge me. I hope that you continue to.

Thanks--

The conversation continues...

On the Belmont backstretch on Monday morning, a blissful unawareness of the calendar might have led one to think that it was spring.

Trainers, exercise riders, spectators—all gradually shed layers as the sun rose higher. “It’s HOT!” was overheard more than once. A lone horse trained on the turf course.

But instead of the blue sky setting off fledgling green leaves, the colors of the trees along the backstretch were burnished. And instead of backside conversation dwelling on the Kentucky Derby, all the talk was of the Fall Classic. And I’m not talking about the Yankees.

In the barns as in the blogosphere, Zenyatta vs. Rachel reigned. Encountered on the way to the track, Allen Jerkens asked, “So what did you think of her?” Unprompted, he called out, “They should both get Horse of the Year.” He recalled 1957, when, he says, both he and Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons were honored as top trainers by the New York Turf Writers Association. Hmm…which is Zenyatta, and which is Rachel?

Another trainer, on his pony near the rail of the training track, said unequivocally, “Give it to both of them!”

Casual conversations spurred amicable arguments. “She never left California!” “She won the Classic!” “Who’d she beat in the Woodward?” “She beat colts three times!”

Trainers freshly returned from California updated reporters about their horses, about next races, about next year. One raved about the quality of the event at Santa Anita, how well everyone was treated, the beauty of the surroundings. Another bemoaned the suggestion, raised by Joe Drape in yesterday’s New York Times, that Santa Anita become the permanent home of the Breeders’ Cup. The work of the assistant starter who held on to Quality Road earned lavish praise.

Florida travel plans were discussed; Payson Park or Palm Meadows? When are you leaving? On a gloriously warm autumn morning, cold and dark New York racing seemed an impossibility. Who needs Florida?

But the calendar, if not the weather, tells us that it’s autumn, not spring or summer. If it were, we might still dream that they’d meet on the track, that we’d see Rachel go west or Zenyatta come east, or maybe they’d meet somewhere in the middle.

Training hours are over; the stable area is quiet. But still, in smaller pockets of conversation, still… “Who’dya think they’ll give it to?” “She was terrific, wasn’t she?”

Yes, she was. Both of them.

How the dirt horses did

A brief look at how the dirt horses did over the weekend.

Given the number of variables at play, it would be folly to try to draw definitive conclusions from these results; race records of individual horses on the various surfaces, including the different types of synthetics, would also need to be taken into consideration, and of course, a number of horses who have run primarily on synthetics also fared poorly at Santa Anita.

That said, it seems noteworthy that only one horse with success on dirt hit the winner’s circle at this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

FRIDAY

Marathon
Winner: Man Of Iron
Has run mostly or only on: Turf
Of the six entrants, two could be considered dirt horses: Eldaafer (7th), Nite Light (8th).

Juvenile Fillies
Winner: She Be Wild
Has run mostly or only on: synthetic
Of the six entrants, four could be considered dirt horses: Beautician (2nd) Ms. Vanezza (9th), Bickersons (10th), Devil May Care (11th)

Filly and Mare Sprint
Winner: Informed Decision
Has run mostly or only on: dirt and synthetic
Of the nine entrants, four could be considered dirt horses: the winner, Sara Louise (4th), Game Face (9th), Seventh Street (10th)

Distaff
Winner: Life Is Sweet
Has run mostly or only on: synthetic
Of the eight entrants, three could be considered dirt horses: Music Note (3rd), Cocoa Beach (6th) and Careless Jewel (8th), both of whom who’ve also been successful on synthetics. (Thanks to Ed DeRosa for pointing out my original omission of Music Note.)


SATURDAY

Sprint
Winner: Dancing in Silks
Has run mostly or only on: synthetic
Of the nine entrants, three could be considered dirt horses: Gayego, who’s had success on both dirt and synthetics (4th), Join in the Dance (9th), Capt. Candyman Can, who’s also got a win second over synthetic (8th)

BC Juvenile
Winner: Vale of York
Has run mostly or only on: turf
Of the 13 entrants, five could be considered dirt horses: Piscitelli (4th), Aikenite (5th), Eskendereya (9th), Aspire (12th), D’Funnybone (13th)

Dirt Mile
Winner: Furthest Land
Has run mostly or only on: turf and synthetic
Of the seven entrants, four could be considered dirt horses: Ready’s Echo (2nd), Neko Bay (6th), Bullsbay (9th), Pyro (10th)

Classic
Winner: Zenyatta
Has run mostly or only on: synthetic
Of the 12 entrants, six could be considered dirt horses: Summer Bird (4th), Richard’s Kid, who’s run well on both dirt and synthetics (6th), Regal Ransom (8th), Mine that Bird, who’s run well on both dirt and synthetics (9th), Einstein, who’s run well on dirt, synthetics, and turf (11th), Girolamo (12th).

Back tomorrow with further thoughts on the weekend, including a most satisfying win by Zenyatta.

The Backstretch Method: Saturday picks

The Backstretch method did better than it could have hoped yesterday, cashing on the exacta and winner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Let’s see how it works today.

Juvenile Turf: Kera’s Kitten is out in favor of Becky’s Kitten (poor Kera—she travelled all the way from Kentucky to see her namesake race! Check out Grening’s story in the DRF). Dean’s Kitten is here, too, along with Pounced. The race has feline trifecta written all over it.

Turf Sprint: Had Diamondrella in the Just A Game and was there for her First Lady at Keeneland; how do you not root for Angel Penna, Jr.? El Gato Malo is here, too, and with at least one of them inhabiting my household, I can’t ignore the Bad Cat. Sentimental favorite Richard Migliore rides Desert Code hoping for a repeat of last year’s BC success.

Sprint: I was at Saratoga for Capt. Candyman Can’s maiden win at Saratoga last year; he was terrific in the Bay Shore earlier this year, and following that race, his owner Joseph Rauch spoke at length about his horse. He was friendly, enthusiastic, pragmatic—and he clearly loved this horse. Capt. Candyman Can came back this summer to win the King’s Bishop via DQ, and I was sad to learn recently that Rauch had died suddenly. I’d have been rooting for this horse anyway, but even more so now.

Juvenile: William’s Kitten. ‘Nuff said.

Mile: Courageous Cat. Ditto.

Dirt Mile: Pass.

Turf: Presious Passion. He doesn’t fit into any of the Backstretch Method categories, but I can’t think of a horse who’s more fun to watch than he is. He runs with audacity, he virtually taunts his competitors, daring them to run with him…I hope he takes it all the way today, even though it will mean having to spell a word wrong to spell it right, which drives me bananas.

Classic: I’m rooting for a synthetic specialist and a turf horse, in a race that should be run on dirt, and sort of hoping for a dead heat here. Would LOVE to see the oft-maligned Zenyatta win. And then there’s Einstein, still going at 7, running gamely over whatever surface on which he’s put. I was Helen Pitt’s 11th grade English teacher, and I’ll root for her pretty much any time, anywhere.

Good luck, have fun, safe trips to all!

Breeders' Cup Friday: good news, bad news

Game over, Breeders’ Cup Day 1. I left school at the earliest possible moment and managed to get home in time to see all of the filly/mare races, to place wagers, and to end up in the black for about $60. For a $2 bettor like me, that’s a profit about which to be happy. And how lucky am I, unlike so many others, to have a job that in this instance, permitted me to see the races yesterday? Thank you, Pacific Time Zone.

So: I got to see the races. Horses I like did well (Rose Catherine may well be my new favorite). I made money. This BC skeptic is changing her colors, right?

Yeah, well, not just yet.

Frequently during Friday’s broadcast, I heard references to history. I heard references to “world championships.” And really, both of them rather confused me.

I don’t get this idea that running races on synthetic surfaces “evens the field,” as I heard so often on Friday. Does it make the races more attractive and accessible to European (and other) turf horses? Sure. But, how, exactly, is that an “evening”? Check out Andy Serling’s Twitter feed for commentary on dirt horses at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, but it doesn’t take a handicapping genius to recognize that running a dirt horse in this and last year’s Breeders’ Cup has been a significant handicap. Tipping the scales in the opposite direction doesn’t even the field; it just changes the direction of the slant.

You want to even the playing field? Run the races over three surfaces: artificial, dirt, turf. Give dirt horses—the majority of horses racing in this country—the opportunity to run over their favored surface. Otherwise, it’s like making tennis players contest on clay in order to be considered #1.

As far as history…you're kidding, right?

In a sport that has existed in this country for more than 350 years, that boasts a venue that has existed since 1864, and that runs races that were first contested more than 100 years ago…how do you make a claim that an event that’s been extant only since 1984 is “historical”?

ESPN and the Breeders’ Cup are not, I recognize, the same entity, but during yesterday’s broadcast, it wasn’t always easy to tell the difference. As the afternoon progressed towards the main event, the ESPN commentators more than once invoked the historic nature of the race. We were told that the “history-rich Ladies’ Classic” was coming up, and that “11 Ladies’ Classic participants” were in the Hall of Fame.

To which I respond, as I did yesterday on Twitter: if you love the history of the race
so much, why did you feel compelled to change its name?

As Kevin Martin of Colin’s Ghost and I questioned the name change, a Twitter entity named ESPN_Breeders (OK—maybe they are the same thing?) responded: “Do we change the Ogden Phipps back to the Hempstead too?”

Well, yeah, maybe you do, given that the Hempstead, named for a town on Long Island, honored where racing took place going back to the 17th century. But at least changing the name to the Ogden Phipps also honored a major New York racing influence—it was an exchange of one historical reference for another.

Changing the name of the Distaff to the Ladies’ Classic does not honor history; it eviscerates it, as was demonstrated when one of Friday’s television commentators somehow managed to say with a straight face that “11 Ladies Classic participants” are in the Hall of Fame.

Really? If I go to the Hall of Fame, will I find on Personal Ensign’s plaque, “Winner of the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic”? Will I learn that Bayakoa is the only repeat winner of the Ladies’ Classic? Perhaps the Racing Museum will construct new plaques, in a little bit of revisionist history, so that Hall of Fame members who won the Distaff will now be known to have won the Ladies’ Classic? If so, it will be following Wikipedia’s lead: type "list of Breeders’ Cup Distaff winners” into a search engine, and your first suggestion will be the Wikipedia page for “Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.”

The Breeders’ Cup can offer exciting races, terrific wagering opportunities, and a fan-friendly racing experience…as it did between 1984 and 2007, when the races took place on dirt, when all the races were on Saturday, and when the name of the premier filly and mare race reflected racing’s tradition and history.

I had hoped that perhaps this Friday Foolishness would come to an end after the Santa Anita Synthetic Experience…but given yesterday’s gains in handle and attendance, I am feeling sanguine about neither Fridays nor synthetics long disappearing from the Breeders’ Cup.

Brian's Breeder's Cup Preview: the Saturday races

Race 2: The Grade II, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at 1-mile.

POUNCED drew well and enters off a second to the accomplished Siyouni in a classy European Group I on the Arc undercard; tepid choice in a race that could go to just about anyone. KERA’S KITTEN has progressed nicely in both career starts and will test firm ground for the first time; complete unknown will be a big, big price, never a bad thing in a wide open race. INTERACTIF would be the top choice but got hampered by the draw, so he runs the risk of a very wide journey; look for him to be motoring late. As for the others: Zip Quik tries a new surface but looks outclassed; Viscount Nelson brings some solid Euro form and deserves a look for expert connections; Codoy just missed to Interactif in the Bourbon at a huge price, interesting; Gallant Gent seems better suited for the Juvenile; Awesome Act doesn’t appear to have the class of the other Euros; Canadian Grade III winner Bridgetown will be dangerous if he shakes loose early; King Ledley is another Euro who will need to find more; Becky’s Kitten was gaining on Bridgetown in Canada; Buzzword rates a long look but will be closer to the rail on the main track than the one on the turf course.

Race 3: The $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for 3&up at 6 ½ furlongs.

The word of the day is “impossible,” which describes this race quite nicely. We know they’ll be flying early and closing late, so let’s try to shock the world with SQUARE EDDIE, who has shown an electric turn of foot at times on synthetics; a relative unknown on the grass but he’ll be a big number. Why not? CANNONBALL is another who can close from the clouds and loves this turf sprint game; no one in this field could come close to getting necked out in the Golden Jubilee like he did. DIAMONDRELLA completes the come-from-behind trifecta; talented mare won two GI’s this year and has scored turf sprinting in the past. As for the others: Noble Court drew terribly but can close with a trip; Silver Timber has the tactical speed to get the jump on the proceedings; California Flag will kill off anyone who tries to go with him but a win is a shaky proposition; Lord Shanakill is a dangerous Euro with a Group I in his pocket; Get Funky is in with a longshot chance; Gotta Have Her might be in over her head with these boys; fellow distaffer Canadian Ballet will be in the mix early but not sure about late; El Gato Malo seems outclassed; Strike The Deal needs some help from this draw; Desert Code won this race last year but a repeat seems unlikely and Delta Storm would need a miracle from this post.

Race 4: The Grade I, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint for 3&up at 6 furlongs.

FATAL BULLET, second in this spot last year, drew beautifully outside main pace rival Zensational, which gives him a major tactical advantage; 9-for-11 on synthetics and set to make amends on last year’s run. CROWN OF THORNS looks to be sitting on a big run and also drew well to be outside the speed; might be the right price play. Wasn’t a fan of ZENSATIONAL (on top) going in, so no way I lean to him from the rail with all the speed to his outside; under the gun every step of the way and all three GI wins came over ridiculously weak fields. As for the others: Cost Of Freedom is coming up to a big run and loves the track (3-for-4); Gayego got set up beautifully last time in the GI Ancient Title but willing to try and beat him at underlaid odds; Dancing In Silks looks outgunned; Join In The Dance thought this race was at 3 furlongs; Capt. Candyman Can might not get enough pace to run at and Euro star Fleeting Spirit is a notorious worrywart at the gate who may be out of his element.

Race 5: The Grade I, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles.

Impossible, part two. PULSION closed strongly to just miss behind Lookin At Lucky in the GI Norfolk over the track and distance, his first start vs. winners; drawn much better today and is improving with each start, though the 20-1 ML is a pipe dream; ESKENDEREYA comes west with a big reputation and has run well over turf, so you can excuse the fact he prepped in NY; anytime you break your maiden in a 152k stakes by 7 ¼ lengths you’re doing something right; LOOKIN AT LUCKY was visually unimpressive in the Norfolk, is no faster than anyone else in the field and will be 8-5 from a horrendous post; an obvious contender but also the biggest underlay on the card. As for the others: Alfred Nobel seems over the top; Piscitelli is improving but is a cut below; Beethoven was all-out at 33-1 to win a Group I in Euro for O’Brien, which leaves doubt; no knocks other than price on GI winner Noble’s Promise; D’Funnybone has never tried synthetics and couple that with the short price and you’ve got to try and beat him; Vale Of York failed in a weak Italian Group I; Aikenite will be closing hard and has serious price appeal; Aspire is as talented as anyone but is an unknown over synthetics; Radiohead could be Europe’s best hope; and William’s Kitten is in deep.

Race 6: The Grade I, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile for 3&up.

Not only is GOLDIKOVA one of the best milers to hit the BC scene, but she benefits from facing an extremely weak cast; little in the way of joining Miesque and Lure as back-to-back Mile winners. ZACINTO would seem to be the main danger based on his strong second to Rip Van Winkle in the Group I QEII, though it is worth noting that was just a four-horse field; logical exacta partner should be even better in this race next year. COWBOY CAL is not in the class of the top choice, but he should be in front as long as he can go. As for the others: Court Vision won a weak GI at Keeneland and is overmatched by the Euros; Whatsthescript, third in this race last year, seems to have lost a step; Delegator has traded decisions with Zacinto in his last two and can hit the board; Karelian is easy to root for but hard to back; Courageous Cat is one of the best bred horses in training, but that won’t scare anyone when the gates open; Ferneley likes the trip but is 0-for-3 over the SA sod; Gladiatorus had to head to Italy to get back on the beam and seems well removed from the horse he was in Dubai and Justenuffhumor struggled in the soft ground at Keeneland but will appreciate the firm footing he’ll get here.

Race 7: The Grade I, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for 3&up.

The 7-for-11 MASTERCRAFTSMAN only needs his gate to open to defeat this soft group, seeing that three of his four losses have come at the hands of Sea The Stars only adds to the appeal and makes him the most logical winner of the 14 BC races. MIDSHIPMAN should own a distinct pace advantage and if the pick struggles, this guy could be scary turning for home; don’t forget that he won the Juvenile over the track last fall. NEKO BAY has yet to miss the exacta in six local starts and could be the one to break up the chalk fest. As for the others: Furthest Land upset the Ky. Cup but is up against it here; Bullsbay has battled a foot injury and missed a week of training, which is not the way to get to the BC; Mambo Meister has never been over a synthetic surface and seems well below the top choices; Pyro’s two worst races in a solid career have come on the plastic; Mr. Sydney doesn’t look like the GI miler he was in the spring; Chocolate Candy is a talented horse hoping they add the 9-furlong Dirt Mile and Ready’s Echo could spice up your tri with his big stretch kick.

Race 8: The Grade I, $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf for 3&up at 1 ½ miles.

CONDUIT won this race last year and gives every indication that he’s a better horse this time around; prepped beautifully in the Arc and looks hard to deny. Maybe PRESIOUS PASSION can break up the Euro brigade and fill out the exacta; owns a win over the course and will be in front for as long as he can take them. DAR RE MI wasn’t far behind the choice in the Arc and passed on the F&M Turf to run here; not out of it but she needs to improve. As for the others: Telling has come to hand in his last few but still needs major improvement to factor; Red Rocks is about 30 years removed from his upset win in this race in 2006; Spanish Moon could be a danger to stablemate Conduit and should get first run and Monzante will be rallying late and is a superfecta player.

Race 9: The $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic for 3&up at 1 ¼ miles.

Not sure why MINE THAT BIRD is taking so much heat for his Goodwood, as it seems like the perfect prep to get to this race. Off a layoff and surgery, at a distance well short of his best in a race, with no pace, on a surface he hadn’t been on in almost a year--and he gets beat less than 4 lengths while flying late. What the heck is wrong with that? Throw in the 15-1 you’ll get and he offers tremendous value. RIP VAN WINKLE is arguably the best horse in training and seems to have this field at his mercy in terms of class, but bad feet give off bad vibes so it’s worth trying to beat him. Rooting like heck for ZENYATTA to get it done and there’s little reason to think she can’t. Loves the course and her late run is even more electric here than anywhere else; unknown at the distance but with her big engine and giant stride there’s little reason why she can’t inhale them for the 14th time in a row. As for the others: Colonel John ran big in the Goodwood but others seem to have more reason to move forward; Summer Bird has done his best work over sloppy tracks and suspect competition in his last two and is a big question mark on the Pro-Ride; Twice Over has some Raven’s Pass-like qualities and will be a nice price--interesting; Richard’s Kid will be rallying late but not sure he’s good enough; Gio Ponti’s big late kick didn’t seem to have the same starch when he raced over the surface this winter; Einstein is an admirable performer, but is he a BC Classic winner? Girolamo would have looked much better in the Dirt Mile and seems destined to be a pace casualty; stablemate Regal Ransom walked in the Super Derby and won’t get that luxury here; never believed Quality Road was a 10-furlong horse and with this tough draw, other speed signed on and nagging doubts about his ability to handle the surface, he’s a big play against and Awesome Gem is simply not fast enough.

Let’s have some fun with the two Pk4’s on the card.

Early Main Ticket: Pounced, Bridgetown, Kera’s Kitten, Interactif WITH Cannonball, Square Eddie, Diamondrella WITH Fatal Bullet WITH Pulsion, Eskendereya, Aikenite, Radiohead, Lookin At Lucky…that’s a 4x3x1x5 for $60.

Late Main Ticket: Goldikova WITH Mastercraftsman WITH Conduit WITH all (13)…that’s a simple 1x1x1x14 for $13.

Late Backup Ticket: Zacinto, Cowboy Cal WITH Mastercraftsman WITH Conduit WITH Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Zenyatta…that’s a 2x1x1x3 for $6.

Late Backup Ticket: Goldikova with Midshipman, Neko Bay WITH Conduit WITH Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Zenyatta…that’s a 1x2x1x3 for $6.

Late Backup Ticket: Goldikova WITH Mastercraftsman WITH Dar Re Mi, Presious Passion, Spanish Moon WITH Mine That Bird, Rip Van Winkle, Zenyatta…that’s a 1x1x3x3 for $9.

Handicapping the Backstretch way

Even the most cursory of looks at racing newspapers, websites, and magazines yields a plethora of handicapping strategies. Beyer guys, Sheets disciples, avowed trip handicappers—everyone’s got an angle, out there for the taking.

I attended and bet on races for years before I became cognizant of my own handicapping strategies. Armed with past performances, I checked earnings, conditions, breeding, taking in and filtering information, ruling out and ruling in.

And slowly, slowly my own particular handicapping method emerged:

--If I'd fed a horse carrots or peppermints, I'd bet her.
--If I'd interviewed his trainer, I'd bet him.
--If I loved his or her sire or dam, I'd probably, but not always, bet him (all of those Lemon Drop Kid offspring got terribly expensive).
--If the horse had "cat" in his name, or maybe the name of one of my family members, I'd be quite likely to bet him.
--If I "discovered" horses as two-year-olds, particularly at Saratoga, into the wager they'd go.

And so those hours of poring over past performances was really whittled down--know what you're looking for, find it...bang! Wagers planned. Really, life is much simpler when you just bet on the horse that you want to win, rather than on the ones that you think will win. I like this idea of the automatic bet, to which I was introduced in Mark Cramer's Tropical Downs.

This astute approach is what has led Papa Backstretch to christen me the World’s Worst Handicapper (I disagree—that could be true only if I actually handicapped); it’s why I can make do with the track program rather than the Form; it’s why serious racing fans avoid this site like serious hockey fans avoid the Rangers.

Stubbornly undeterred by potential charges of frivolity, the threat of dismissal by Serious Betting Types, and the possible loss of large sums of money, I offer the 2009 Backstretch picks, a wholly unscientific and Genaro-centric look at Friday’s races:

Marathon: I get that this race makes no sense in the current U.S. racing environment and understand why many call for it to cease to exist…but I love the idea of it, of horses racing a long distance on dirt. That said, I got no dog in this fight. Who ARE these horses? Pass.

Juvenile Fillies Turf: Lisa’s Kitten, for obvious reasons. Tapitsfly, because the first time I saw Dale Romans at Saratoga this past summer, I asked whom he liked in his barn, and he named this filly, and because she won twice at the Spa.

When I was at Keeneland over Columbus Day weekend, I took a break from the races to settle in with some bread pudding on the second floor of the grandstand. Perched next to a big, beautiful, HD simulcast from Belmont, I watched, in awe, as a little speedball of a filly went to the front and never looked back, seemingly lengthening her lead with every stride. She went the six furlongs in 1:08, winning by nearly nine lengths and breaking her maiden in her first start on her turf. Her name was Rose Catherine, and she became a new favorite. She is FUN to watch.

Juvenile Fillies: My favorite two-year-old filly is Worstcasescenario, whom I loved in the Adirondack at Saratoga. She didn’t make it to the Big Event, and she’ll race at Aqueduct this weekend. In her absence, I’m out.

Filly and Mare Turf: In April I was at Keeneland the weekend the Jenny Wiley was run; Forever Together was making her first start of the year and first since winning this race last year. She won, and I had a new hero.

I got lucky this year: I was present for four of Forever Together’s five races; I was assigned to interview her exercise rider and cover the Diana for the Saratogian; and I got to visit her at the barn. I am hers…forever.

But what’s not to love about Rutherienne? I’ve been watching her for years, and she was second to Forever Together in that Jenny Wiley earlier this year. Her last race at Belmont was one of the gamest efforts I’ve seen. Can I hope for a dead heat here?

Filly and Mare Sprint: In the summer of 2008, I was at Dale Romans’s barn when Robby Albarado came to exercise an unraced two-year-old filly named Sara Louise. After the work, Albarado said, “She could win the first time out.”

She didn’t, but she did win her second start, and in six lifetime starts, she finished worst than second only that one time. After a second to Rachel Alexandra in the Golden Rod last fall, she was sold to Godolphin and shipped to Dubai, making her first start in ten months in the Victory Ride at Saratoga. She won easily, and lost the Gallant Bloom at Belmont by a head to Indian Blessing. I’ve fed her carrots since before she was a real racehorse; how could I root for anyone else?

Distaff: In November of 2007, the Backstretch family was firmly camped at Saratoga Raceway on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, to take in a little Aqueduct and Churchill simulcasting. It's a firmly entrenched tradition.

In the Demoiselle, my eyes kept coming back to one horse: Mushka. Bill Mott trained her; John Velazquez rode her. Don’t why I liked her, but I liked her.

She was way way way way back…and then she wasn’t. She swooped around the turn and around the field, and her win by four+ looked easy.

She got hurt and was gone until the summer of 2008; she was competitive in allowances but not so much in stakes races…until May. Second to the multiple graded stakes winner Criticism in the Sheepshead Bay at Belmont, Mushka then was third in the Dance Smartly at Woodbine. She bombed in the Diana…and won the Glens Falls. I was there at Saratoga for that one, and at Keeneland for her win via DQ in the Spinster last month.

So with all due respect to the thorough and rigorous handicapping methods used by Backstretch regular Brian Nadeau, if he's not picking my favorites, I won't be betting his tickets. I'll kick myself if they win...but I'd kick harder if one of these girls won without my backing. World's Worst Handicapper? Hm, probably not. World's Worst Bettor? Ah, maybe...