09/23/2012 2:07PM

Parx: Alpha still on target for Breeders' Cup Classic

By David Grening
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Justin N. Lane
Pennsylvania Derby winner Handsome Mike will be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Alpha, who finished sixth in the Pennsylvania Derby, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Handsome Mike, will remain under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

 Alpha, who dead-heated for win in the Travers and who won the Jim Dandy, suffered his first loss since the Kentucky Derby.

 Jockey Ramon Dominguez told McLaughlin that Alpha’s nose was right up against the gate prior to the start of the race and he needed an assistant starter to back Alpha up a little bit.

 “When the guy moved him back he got mad and it caused us to break a touch slow, get squeezed, then he got keen,” McLaughlin said. “He wanted to be there close to the lead and then he went to the inside and couldn’t get out of the inside. I was shocked to see he only got beat [4 1/4] lengths.”

 Meanwhile, Handsome Mike, the two-length winner of the Pennsylvania Derby as the 19-1 longest shot on the board, came out of the race in good order, according to Parx-based trainer Cal Lynch, who saddled the horse for owner Paul Reddam.

 Lynch said that Handsome Mike lost a hind shoe in the race but otherwise came back fine.

 Lynch said that Handsome Mike was scheduled to be flown back to Southern California on Tuesday.

 On Saturday, Reddam said that Handsome Mike would likely be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

 Macho Macho, the Pennsylvania Derby runner-up, returned to New York and will likely ship to Churchill Downs on Sept. 26, Asmussen said. Asmussen has not yet picked out a spot for Macho Macho.

 

 

mace More than 1 year ago
Alpha should stay in NY but I know Questing will be shipped west for the breeders cup and any other of his stable that can win a share of the good purses for that weekend.
Marcello Marocco More than 1 year ago
Sam Alpha was run there for $1,000,000....
Sam Shelby More than 1 year ago
I thought it was odd to run Alpha in this race instead of the jockey gold cup at Belmont, seeing as he runs 1st or 2nd in NY.
Kyri Freeman More than 1 year ago
Well, that was ugly. I wonder if the Travers horses bounced... and I did hear some mention of the rail being really deep, which is definitely what Stephanoatsee was running like when he was trapped down in there. Handsome Mike was pretty well regarded here in SoCal earlier in the year. But still, I don't see any of these having an impact in the Classic.
Tim Roberts More than 1 year ago
Perhaps they did bounce, but neither one of them ran any kind of big number in the Travers. They are just not all that good.
Kyri Freeman More than 1 year ago
I would have to agree, they're not worldbeaters.
Tony Regalbuto More than 1 year ago
Mike stole the Pa Derby plain and simple...the race was run similar to the Cotillion pace wise, but the only difference was that there weren't any breeders cup champions chasing him!!!!!
Advance Plumbing More than 1 year ago
Shipping a horse morning of the race ?? Nice job big mac head! The horse ran great hey big mac. Ur lucky they dont fire u !!
russell More than 1 year ago
Another terrible joke. BC Classic? What are people smoking?
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Alpha was no where near the fastest horse entering the race. The fastest horse was 2nd.
Mick More than 1 year ago
Another Stay Thirsty case, pretty damn good in NY, can't run a step elsewhere. Although it seems Stay Thirsty is tired of NY now too.
Ray Sousa More than 1 year ago
poor race,poor field for such a big purse.handsome mike won because this race was run at a snails pace and the surface was a little weird.then theres the ride by ramon .youve got to love the excuses "his nose was up against the gate i had to ask the gate guy to pull him back and after that he got mad",ramons gate issues are very unique and becoming quite common.the winner had only one win in a maiden race ,lost a hind shoe and still found a way to win at 19/1,he either loved the surface or this race was just strange.oh yes i almost forgot leandro mora is filling in for doug oneill the aprentice has learned well from the master.
Ponies Payme More than 1 year ago
What were you watching RAY? With the exception of the nose being up on the gate (who could tell other than Ramon) EVERYTHING he said was true. He was tight, he did rush up in an uncostom manner and he didn't run his race. Obviously, you bet a lot of 3/5's and Ramon has beaten you a lot. Race for race, he is one of the best in the country, yet you bash him all the time. As for me, I've said it before and will say it again. Bet early and often my fiiend, as you are cluless.
Ray Sousa More than 1 year ago
actually i never bet 3/5s and did not bet this one either.and will always bet against ramon on a short priced favorite,unless its for one of three stables.the others he stiff on a regular basis.look at last fridays card at belmont he had the best horse in the race on almost every race and won with none,a very good day for me.as for cluless watch ramons rides when hes stiffing a favorite hes usually unbalanced and bobbles slightly out of the gate and either goes right to the inside and fights the horse or finds a boxed in position angel cordero would be proud.now when he wants to win the ride is almost allways perfect.
Big Jeff More than 1 year ago
Ray, thought you might have turned the corner on the whole conspiracy thing. You had actually posted a few coherent, if not intelligent, comments. But now you're back on the Ramon / juice wagon. Why do I get the image of you sitting alone wearing a tin foil hat watching the races?
avlamal More than 1 year ago
what a bunch of bs my friend u r worse than ramon