LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In hindsight, Custom for Carlos might have fit nicely a couple of weeks ago in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Not given to second-guessing, however, trainer Eddie Kenneally would gladly settle for a spot for Custom for Carlos in the Sprint next year, when the Breeders' Cup returns to Churchill Downs.
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DRF Past Performances
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bobby Frankel went out a winner.
Entries for Wednesday's races at Hollywood Park were taken before Frankel died early Monday morning, so the Wednesday program listed Life By R R, who ran in the fifth race, as being trained by Frankel. And when Life By R R subsequently won, victorious jockey Alex Solis realized the significance of the win as he passed the finish line. Solis gave a couple of fist pumps, something usually seen in a stakes race, not a $25,000 claimer.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Martin Drexler, who had been one of the top trainers at Assiniboia Downs, elected to cast his lot at Woodbine this year.
And Drexler, who had tested the waters here the past few falls, certainly has had no regrets.
"It's been great - beyond anything I could have expected," said the 39-year-old Drexler, who has six stalls here. "I set kind of a lofty goal of 10 wins. I thought if I could scrape up 10 wins I would be ecstatic."
MIAMI - Big Drama and Duke of Mischief knocked heads with some of the elite members of the 3-year-old division this past summer, both getting Grade 1 experience under their belts while banking nearly $700,000 between them in 2009. Currently, they are getting some rest and relaxation with trainer David Fawkes hoping to have both back in action as 4-year-olds this winter at Gulfstream Park.
WHO'S HOT
The hottest jockey in Southern California is Joel Rosario, who went 7 for 22 opening weekend and won both California-bred stakes with middle-odds winners. Bestdressed ($12.60) won the On Trust Handicap on Nov. 14, and U R All That I Am ($13.20) won the Cat's Cradle Handicap on Nov. 15. Rosario and Rafael Bejarano have emerged as the circuit's top overnight riders; Rosario's mounts generally offer greater wagering value.
John Sadler, trainer of deep closer Bestdressed, said, "Rosario's a great rider for him because he's such a strong finisher."
The advent of the synthetic-track age in Southern California has forced some unforeseen handicapping ramifications on horseplayers, one being how to assess prospective Derby candidates who established themselves on synthetic footing. The old dirt situation reliably revealed the best of the West as those top juveniles went through Oak Tree's Norfolk, maybe the Breeders' Cup wherever it was held, and in Hollywood's year-end prize, the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. That race has produced numerous Derby/Triple Crown protagonists such as Ferdinand, Snow Chief, Alysheba, A.P.
WHO'S HOT
In the middle of last week, I was in the paddock talking with valet Shane Borel, who is Calvin Borel's nephew and his uncle's biggest fan. I needled him a little, asking him why Calvin was not flying up the fence on closers as he is known to do. I even remarked that apprentice Freddie Lenclud seemed to be utilizing Borel's signature move more than Borel.
Then, on Saturday, Borel proceeded to win four races in a row, including some in rail-skimming fashion.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Oaks Day is known as "Louisville's Day at the Races." For thousands of locals who either can't afford the price of tickets to the Kentucky Derby or have no desire to fight the even bigger crowd that day at Churchill Downs, the Oaks is enough for them.