Two Year Olds, Passports, and other Thoughts...

Okay so this post was going to be titled "Two Year Olds Try to Navigate 16 Furlongs"; however, it has turned itself into an Editoral about many other things. Forgive the tangents that go off of this article, my mind is 100 places right now. I do hope that when reading this you will be able to find some sort of entertaining/thoughtful thread that will make it worth reading.






On February 2, 2010 (game time) 20 two year old colts and fillies will try to navigate two miles at Shenandoah Downs. They will race around the oval track not once but twice in February. They will be asked to go further than most horses ever will, and for some this will be their first starts.


There are only 17 races 1,142 that ask a horse to go 2 miles. 17 for the entire year. This Starter Allowance is the first of the year, and trainers are asking their young two year olds if they can go around the track twice. It is unthinkable. Most horses will not be able to do well at this distance when the are at their peaks. But in February, a two year old is not ready to handle 16 furlongs.

23 stables have entered their 2 year olds with 27 entrants. Not all will race this saturday, but all their owners thought that they should have a shot at trying to find their way through all 16 furlongs. It is a duanting task for any horse - let alone a young 2 year old.



People say that they want reality for Photo-Finish - what with the sending horses around the globe in less than 2 weeks. However, we must look at the realism of sending a 2 year old to the post for a race that is 16 furlongs. I do not claim to be an expert on real life horse racing, but I have to believe that in February most two year olds would not be ready to race - let alone trying for 16 furlongs.


I do know some trainers that have been hesitant to send their 3 year olds to the Kentucky Derby, because they believed that May was too early to send their 3 year olds at 10 furlongs (granted KYD would be run at the very highest levels).

If you want some real life examples - 2006 American Champion 2 Year old Street Sense. As most of you know, Street Sense won the BC Juvenile in 2006 and in 2007 went on to win the Kentucky Derby.

His first race came in July 9, 2006 in a madien at 6 furlongs where he came home second. His next race was at 6.5 furlongs and was also a madien which he won. I might also note that Street Sense raced only 5 times in as many months as a young juvenile - his lowest time between races was 22 days. So REST is something that these trainers also keep in mind.

However, there may be another reason why these trainer's are so keen on sending out their juvenile racers to this particular race. It is the first race in the Global Classic Challenge which is a contest for the top 2 year old classic racer. There are big prizes to be won from this challenge which could offset the cons for entering this race.

I do not wish to step on anyone's toes. But there have been some heated discussions on the forum talking about realism of travel time - to me this is the bigger problem. We do not have enough races on the card to make "Time/Region Zones" for some horses. Some horses can only compete at 5-6 furlongs on dirt. Which makes it very hard for some trainer's to find a full schedule for them. If "Racing Passports" were put into effect, I have to believe that this job will be that much harder.

It would also mean that G1 horses may trickle down the slopes in the G2/G3 races - just because it fits their schedule and trainer's not wanting to/can't send them to another contitent. Some people have argued that this is the problem - sending G1 horses around the globe to compete in every $1 million + race. Yes, it is a bit disheartening to see the same G1 horse compete in every big race; however, to a smaller stable who has a string of G2-G3 horses it would be devastating to see that same G1 caliber horse entered in the $150,000 G2 race.

Wouldn't it be better to have the top caliber horses racing against eachother? Until we have enough races to off-set this, then I do not see how Passports will be feasable for smaller stables.

Like I said above, I have gotten on a bit of tanget and I hope that you will excuse me.

Getting back to the two year olds, I for one will be watching their race to see how these youngsters fare. To see who has anything close to fast fractions in the last mile or so....

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Click on the Global Mail link to read an excellent article about the horses entered in this race.

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Matt's Notable Mention: I would love to hear feedback from trainer's about their thoughts on 2 year olds and 2 mile races - esp. those who have 2 year olds entered in this race.

Also, thoughts on Passports as well... seeing as how I did get on a bit of a tangent.

Also, here is my disclaimer. I do not mean to offend anyone by my posts. I am just telling one man's opinion. I apologize if I have offended someone, please do not take these comments personally. If anyone would like to contridict me on anything, I would love to hear it and you could write an article that will be published unedited.

Legendary Racer Honored at Shenadoah's First Graded Stakes

On March 6, 2010 history will be made in Photo Finish. The greatest horse to ever set foot on the tracks will be honored in the first race named in his honor - G2 Revenge Stakes. In addition it is the first Graded Stakes race held at Shenandoah Downs - the lovely establishment in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

The setting couldn't be better for this inaugural race, nor could the timing of such a race. It is G2 race restricted to 3 year olds at 10 furlons on dirt with a purse of $300,000. It is only 2 months from the Kentucky Derby and we expect that this race may become a popular test for our young three year olds. We are assuming that the racing stewards are hoping to attract some bigger name horses with the start of (possibly) more Graded Stakes Races.

Currently Shenandoah Downs has 121 races on the card with the largest purse - besides the Revenge Stakes - at $128,000. There has been a rumor as of late that the stewards are planning more graded stakes races for the following season - and that this race is a test of sorts.

However, it also calls to the attention of the namesake - Revenge. He was a brillant golden chestnut colt who appeared out of nowhere in his 3 year old season. To a handful of players who were around to see this colt race he quite literally broke the mold. He had an amazing record of $9,960,000 18-14-1-1 and to this day still holds 4 World Records from 9 furlongs to 12 furlongs.

However, I will let Joe the Trackman tell you about Revenge in an archived post from oure predecessor The Racing Rag (partly because he did such a good job and I hope that new readers will be inspired to read some archived articles... and because it is exam week and I don't have time, so I thought why waste such a good resource).

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Unraced as a 2YO, Revenge made his debut in the 1 1/16m mile Fountain Of Youth Stakes (Race 77) at Gulfstream Park (gr. 2). After leading most of the route, he fell behind another 3YO making his debut, a gray colt from Australia named Bold N Free. The Aussie, of course, went on to win an Eclipse Award and would earn a reputation for tenacity in the stretch, but in this race he could not rally against Revenge, who charged past in the final 100 yards for an impressive 1 ½-length win. The time of 1:41 established a track record.

Next up was the 8-furlong Gotham Stakes (Race 101) at Aqueduct (gr. 3). The colt hated the muddy track, but he had only one other horse to beat, and he came away with an easy second victory and looking very much like a Derby horse. The connections at KRF had him on the Derby train again 20 days later, again in a match race (they were too common in those days), this time in the 9-furlong Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Race 121) at Keeneland (gr. 1). His time of 1:49.21 set a track record and gave him an easy six-length victory over a colt named Celtic Cat. The big news was that KRF owner Karie McBrian experienced every trainer’s nightmare when her super 3YO came back limping. He would need 10 days of rest and theraby before he could begin working again. He was back in training on April 23 at Keeneland, but the Kentucky Derby was then just 10 days away, and McBrian decided she could not have the colt fit enough for the big race. Instead, she set her sights on the Preakness.

Many observers believed Revenge would have defeated Spanish Midnight in the Derby. True, the KRF colt had run only three times that spring, and in only one of them had he faced even a modest test, but his performances in the Preakness and in the Belmont Stakes were so spectacular that even the most unbiased observer would have to concede that he in all likelihood would have taken the Derby, too, and thus been the first 3YO TC winner in Photo Finish history. This is not to disparage Spanish Midnight’s victory in the Derby, who was fast enough and tough enough to win despite sutaining a serious injury that would keep him recuperation for almost three weeks.

So what did Revenge do in the Preakness? He clocked a time of 1:51.58, good enough for a world record, and notched a Power Speed Rating (PSR) of 138! In the Belmont? He covered the 12 furlongs in an astonishing 2:21.80, setting another world record and duplicating his 138 PSR.

And he was not finished.

In the 10-furlong Hollywood Gold Cup (Race 206) his PSR was a whopping 146! On that fast Hollywood Park dirt he clocked a 1:55.66, another world record. In the 9-furlong Swaps Stakes (Race 233) his time of 1:45.57 meant that he had set four world record in as many starts!

But it couldn’t last. In the 9-furlong Haskell Invitational (Race 259) at Monmouth Park (gr. 1), he returned to earth, finishing third – his firsrt defeat -- behind Spanish Midnight and King Midas. Revenge was merely superb in his final starts that season, winning the Visa Travers Stakes (Race 284) and the Super Derby XX (Race 334). In the Breeders' Cup Classic (Race 382), Revenge again succumbed to Spanish Midnight, who won by a neck over his archrival (why is Spanish Midnight so ignored by breeders?).

Revenge's connections were very careful in selecting his races during his 4YO season. They gave him a long rest and did not send him out until the Dubai World Cup (Race 517) at Nad Al Sheba. This was arguably the strongest field in Photo Finish history. It certainly was, at the time, a meeting of giants. Despite being the high-weight at 126 lbs., Revenge went off as the 6:5 favorite (Spanish Midnight was second favorite at a distant 5:1). Giving six and eight pounds to his nearest competitors but running on the kind of dry, fast dirt track that he loved, Revenge proved his dominance on that long Dubai straightaway, by outrunning and outlasting the best horses in the world and earning his richest purse.

After his victory in the World Cup, Revenge continued his excellence. He won three of his final five starts, setting another world record and two track records. He showed poorly in the Breeders’ Cup Classic that year (Race 809) but finished up his career with a win in the Cigar Mile (Race 827). He had compiled a record of 18-14-1-1 $9,960,000, and the folks at KRF decided it was time to send Revenge to the breeding shed.

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I for one am thrilled that this idea has been taken up so well by everyone. I thought it would be an easy way to add races in areas that are laking, and it would be nice to honor some of the legendary horses of past.

With the first being the G2 Revenge Stakes I am anxious to find out just how many owners will send their Revenge babies to participate in this historical event.

But I am also looking for the G1 L. Brown Handicap...

The Song Still Rings Strong

G1 Donn Handicap 9 Furlongs 3 Year Olds+

By Post Position:
1. Zephyrbab 3 Year Old Colt Owned: FDL Lodge
2. Pegasus Song 6 Year Old Mare Owned: Goforwand Stables
3. Beamington 5 Year Old Male Owned: Olmo Dorato
4. Isca’s Revenge 5 Year Old Mare Owned: Smokey’s Stable
5. Rolling Thunder 4 Year Old Male Fender Stable
6. Venezia 4 Year Old Mare Owned: Port Pirie Racing
7. Hold That Train 4 Year Old Mare Owned: Parklands


Over the weekend 7 horses walked to the post for this 9 furlong test. For some it was to prove that they are still champions, for others it is a test of things to come. In this field we have 6 horses that have earned over $1 million (the three year old is trying to prove himself).

This field was packed with some high class horses, but it was the 6 year old mare that ran across the wire first. After winning 4 Eclipse Awards, 5 Breeder’s Cup Races (Juvenile Fillies, Distaff – 2007, 2008, 2009), the Dubai World Cup, Kentucky Derby, and Santa Anita Handicap (twice), Pegasus Song is coming back for more and looks to be in top shape for her 2010 campaign.

The five year old winner of the Belmont, double BC Endurance winner, Beamington was a fast closing 2nd and looks like he is also in for another stellar year. Whereas Isca's Revenge looks like she has seen better days with her 5th place finish behind Venezia and Hold That Train.


All the horses broke well from the gate, and Pegasus Song was sent to the lead early her jock pushing her to get to the turn first. The black colt by Bold N' Free Venezia was not be left behind, and they soon began an early duel for the lead. With Isca's Revenge sitting just behind the leaders content to wait, and a few lenghts back Rolling Thunder, Hold that Train, and Beamington waiting to make their move. Zephyrbab was some 8 lengths back and falling further behind.

By the time they entered the backstretch Venezia was in the lead by over a length, with Pegasus Song holding on to third. Isca's Revenge, Rolling Thunder, and Beamington had started to move up on the leaders and Isca's Revenge had taken over 2nd from Pegasus Song with Hold that Train along side Pegasus Song and Beamington a length behind in perfect position.

As they traveled down the backstretch, both Venezia and Pegasus Song's jockeys were giving their mounts a short rest in preparation for the duel ahead. Hold that Train was starting to make his move on Isca's Revenge and they battled for 2nd on the heels of Venezia. Beamington and Pegasus Song were sitting about 3 lengths back waiting for the second turn to make their moves. Rolling Thunder and Zephyrbab were some 9 and 10 lengths back.

As they entered the final turn for home Pegasus Song got a touch from the whip and began making her move with about 3.5 furlongs to go with Beamington on her heels. In front of them was Venezia who held on to first, Hold that Train who held a short lead over Isca's Revenge.

Down on the inside Pegasus Song passed Isca's Revenge and made her move for the leaders. Beamington was forced to go outside of the leaders. With less than a furlong to the finish Pegasus Song caught Venezia and in the last few strides Beamington also caught her finishing the 9 furlong test strong.

Hold that Train beat the filly Isca's Revenge to the wire, and Zephybab moved passed Rolling Thunder who finished last.

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Matt's Notable Mention: Everyone talks about Smart Money being the all-time great for staying in the elite strings for the longest - but this mare just might take that crown from that legend - or at the very least she should be his Queen. This mare was your Champion 2 Year old (winning the BC Juvenile in Track Record time) and although she didn't win Champion Older Female last year she did win the Santa Anita Handicap with a time of 1:57.79 and has won the Breeder's Cup Distaff 3 times in a row (and holds the Track Record).

It will be interesting to see how sharp this mare stays at 6 years old. No one has defended their BC title for 4 years in a row. And maybe if she does still impress at 6 years old more owners will be less likely to pre-maturely retire their horses... but that is a topic for another article.