The Nomination Is In: October 10, 2009; The Oak Tree Mile Grade II at Santa Anita on Turf for 3 YOs and Up

In the white halter is Cowboy Cal, The Turk's chalk in today's Oak Tree Mile on turf at Santa Anita. This Sarah K. Andrew picture captures the effort and the result where he lost by a head to the magnificent Einstein.

The weather in Arcadia will be good and the turf should be firm. A review of DRF Daily Simulcast Track Data indicates no bias on either surface with rails set at 30 feet. You'll find up to date track data and changes here.

Race 6 Santa Anita, Post Time 6 PM ET; The Oak Tree Mile Grade II; 1 Mile on Turf for 3 YOs and Up.


Cowboy Cal is a solid Grade II horse, owner of the best 2009 BSF at 106 and 5 of 7 efforts are in the money in 2009. He's far from an iron pipe lock but with the distance reduction this son of Giant's Causeway with Gomez up today should run himself into the top four for Trainer Pletcher. Escaping quality like Einstein and Justenuffhumor and Gio Ponti makes him the class of this collection of good runners.

5 YO Whatsthescript(Ire) is coming off a layoff after back to back show finishes in Grade I and II Turf events at 1 1/8 miles. Last win was August 2008 and is 2 of last 8 but a race best 107 BSF on Turf and a race best 107 BSF at the mile distance. Taining sharply including a 6f 1:12 4/5s and a 5f :59 2/5. 3rd in the Breeders' Cup Mile on this course last year. Trainer Sadler does a good job of preparing his runners after layoffs >60 days with a 25% win rate on 110 tries.

The next tier of horses, my B+ and B group are all solid and must be factored in the Super ticket, most likely 2-4. Global Hunter (Arg) gets the edge with strong work and a solid recent work in Grade I turf racing with back to back 100+ BSFs at Del Mar.

Allicansayis Wow is the 4 YO filly who is taking on older males for the second time after a solid second in the Grade II Del Mar mile. Trainer Biancone is sharp and I wonder why he places his horse in this race. Training well, :59 1/5 at 5f last week on the turf. Best BSF on the turf is 95 and no wins at one mile or at SA. Jock Fallon up today, a wild card as well. Good enough to find 3rd or 4th but hedging down more tickets then not.

Monterey Jazz is coming off a very dull Grade II effort at the mile in August. freshened and training well including a nice 1:11 2/5 at 6f under a hand ride, and Jock M. Smith gets the nod today for Trainer Dollase. 5 of 11 on Turf and has a year best 104 BSF, owns a 118 BSF from a slick effort in the Grade III Texas Mile in 2008. Hedging up as high as 2nd.

I continue to watch the races at Santa Anita closely as we build towards the Breeders' Cup 1 month from now. Last weekend's loss of Grazen to a career ending injury and the death of Blackbriar put a real damper on ye' old Turk's spirits. Let's hope for a better weekend.

For the latest opinion in the pending Breeder's Cup, tune into the fine work that Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance members are doing at the NTRA website.

Have fun, Turk Out!

The Nominations are in: November 28th, 2008

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. The Turk, along with little Turk and the whole Turk brood keep a low profile on Turk-ey day, but we feel pretty safe now that the feather frenzy is over.

I'm looking to handicap and enjoy 4 particular races today.

Race 3 at the Big A is The True Affair, a 7F jaunt around cold dirt for Fillies 2 YO.

The ML favorite is at 3-1, a Kiaran McLaughlin trained, Garcia ridden, West Point Tbreds owned Justwhistledixie. This is a tough race to call and I'm predicting a good payout for the winner as well as some insight into these baby girls, which is why we are paying atention instead of lined up like lemmings outside a box store.

Race 11 at CD is the 1 1/8 mile, G2, The Clark Handicap, being held for the 135th time. There are some horses as a horse fan I really enjoy and this is quite a treat to get this lineup. I most likely won't be betting because I think, but also want, Commentator, the ML 1-1 favorite, to run away with it. The Turk loves Commentator, and that's why I'm smart enough to not get too carried away with betting this one. I will say, if you can make make an arguement against Commetator, the money will be there. That will be my approach. I really liked Einstein early this year, unraced since the Arlington Mile way back in early August.

The last tw races for me today will both be at HOL. Race 6 is The Miesque, a 1 mile G3 for 2 YO Fillies on Turf. Kiaran McLaughlin again has the ML favorite, 5-2 Habaya, running for Shadwell Farms today with R. Migliore up. I wonder what's like to have a barn full of potential like Kiaran seems to have had the past few?

And finaly, Race 8 at Hollywood, The Citation Handicap, G1, 1 1/16 miles raced across Turf for 3YO and up. ML favorite is Whatsthescript coming off a 99 Beyer in the Breeder's Cup Mile. I'm going to be studying this one closely as I think it will be a great race with a good payout most likely.

The Turk is settling in for a little work and a little pleasure. I appreciated the kind notes of Thanksgiving blessings from strangers but readers of the Turk. I hope you all enjoy some good leftovers and some great races.

Breeder's Cup Preview: The Mile

Breeder's Cup Mile, G1. 3 yo and up October 25,2008.

A strong field of entrants, some of whom may go in different races, but we'll pretend for now that they all run the mile. The Turk is having a real ball looking at the Europeans, studying the pedigrees, the PP's, and trying to sort out how they will fare with so many intangibles: How did they ship? How will they like the hard and fast turf? They seem so strong on paper and on video, but the races are run on the track, not in The Form as Papa Turk likes to tell me. Speaking of Papa Turk, he needs a pacemaker. He's a kind and loving father and the rest of the Turk clan is there for him. I also will be telling him not to watch the Raven's Pass because this horse may be too much for his ticker right now.

Raven's Pass, a 3 yo bred at Stonerside Stable in KY has won his last two races. This video is from his last race, beating Henrythenavigator in a tough stretch run at Ascot in the QE II Stakes at 1 mile, G1, on September 27, 2008. This horse may go in the Classic, but I couldn't wait any longer to show some video on him.



And I'd be remiss to not show Henrythenavigator beating Raven's Pass at the Sussex Stakes, G1, a 1 mile at Goodwood on July 20, 2008. I liked Raven's Pass in the loss still, digging in deep and losing by a head. If they meet in the Classic, I see no reason why Raven's Pass won't finish in front.



Kip Deville, the defending Breeder's Cup Mile Champion is coming off of the Woodbine Mile where he just didn't fire when he needed to and lost to a very game, and unfortunately absent Rahy's Attorney. This is still a beast of a 5 yo, capable of a 110 Beyer rating and not intimidated by the Euro's. While watching this race, pay attention to fellow entrant Ventura (104 Beyer). He's a steady 103 Beyer his past three races, including a nice G1 in June beating Lady of Venice and Together Forever. The Turk thinks if Ventura would have won the Woodbine Mile we'd be looking at <4-1. He didn't and I'll be watching the tote board minutes before post looking for good value.




Whatsthescriptis an interesting horse and this video is the Del Mar Mile, G2, from August 24, 2008. Fellow entrant Bold Chieftain Placed. Also watch for another entrant, Daytona.



The Shadwell Turf Mile,G1, from KEE on October 4, 2008 featured four of the entrants. Thorn Song (105 Beyer), Shakis (102 Beyer), Lord Admiral (102 Beyer) and War Monger (102 Beyer), as well as Rahy's Attorney all battled for a blanket finish after Thorn Song. There was alot of game efforts to like here.



Some of the other entrants, Goldikova and Precious Kitten I have highlighted in other posts. I'm going to skip over Awesome Gem and US Ranger (no disrespect Col. Morgan).

Lots to digest.