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Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg Oct 3, 2007 |
If the summer heat steamed and sizzled, then thoroughbred racing blazed and scintillated thus far this season. Seldom have we seen so many top contenders nose and neck it out in so many races...and the beat goes on, as Curlin last weekend nosed past older Lawyer Ron to take the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Headed to the Breeders' Cup, these two may meet again, where they'll also find the likes of Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun, and Street Sense, all of whom have fashioned narrow escapes this year.
The first filly-colt confrontation in many years occurred in the Belmont Stakes. Entertainment supreme was the result as filly Rags to Riches bore down on the powerful Curlin with fabulous strength and courage to get the heart-pounding win.
Calvin Borel won the Best Jockey Espy award from ESPN sports, then went to Evangeline Downs and won the inaugural Cajun Jockey Challenge. The likable southern gentleman has won well over 4,000 races and placed in over 7,000 and has amassed over $87 million in earnings from more than 30,000 starts. Whew!
Half brother to Seattle Slew, famed 1977 Triple Crown champion, Seattle Dancer, the most expensive yearling ever sold (for $13.1 million in 1985), died in July from an apparent heart attack. His foalings had already earned nearly $30 million.
No kidding...the dual classic winner (Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, 2003) Funny Cide called it quits in July. The seven-year-old gelding bowed out with a win in the Wadsworth Memorial at Finger Lakes and will be a stable pony under the care of the trainer who first loved him, Barclay Tagg.