THANKSGIVING WEEK RECAP

Two superstars, Curlin and Zenyatta, made public appearances last weekend. It is likely that one of the two will be voted 2008 Horse of the Year.

Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year, was honored between races at Churchill Downs last Saturday. Instead of racing in 2009, Curlin will embark on his new career as a stallion at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky.

Undefeated Zenyatta was honored between races at Hollywood Park last Sunday. She is scheduled to race next year.

In addition to the opportunity for racing fans to see Curlin and Zenyatta, there was plenty of racing action to enjoy last week, with a total of 14 graded stakes races decided from coast to coast. Here is a recap:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

GRADE II FALLS CITY HANDICAP. Churchill Downs.

Results: (1) Miss Isella, (2) Skylighter, (3) Tell It as It Is.

Winner: Trained by Ian Wilkes, ridden by Calvin Borel.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 88. Kettleoneup won the 2007 Falls City with a 90 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Falls City: 109 by Indian Vale in 2005.

Miss Isella benefitted from an inside trip with great rail rider Borel aboard to win by one length at 15-1. This was Borel’s fifth victory in the Falls City. He previously had won it with Kettleoneup (2007), Lead Story (2003), Silent Eskimo (1999) and Halo America (1996).

A daughter of Hall of Fame member Silver Charm, who won the 1997 Kentucky Derby on the same track, Miss Esella registered her first stakes victory in the Falls City.

Brownie Points, who finished second (behind Zenyatta and in front of Ginger Punch) in the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap last April 5, wound up fifth in the Falls City while racing for the last time before becoming a broodmare.

Spring Waltz finished sixth in the Falls City as the 2-1 favorite. Trainer Bobby Frankel had indicated beforehand that the Falls City probably would be the final race for Spring Waltz.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28.

GRADE I CITATION HANDICAP. Hollywood Park.

Results: (1) Hyperbaric, (2) Formal Decree, (3) Becrux.

Winner: Trained by Julio Canani, ridden by Tyler Baze.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 100. Lang Field won the 2007 Citation with a 101 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Citation since the figures were first published in the Daily Racing Form: 112 by Fastness in 1995 and Leroidesanimaux in 2004.

Recap: Hyperbaric’s connections elected to skip the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Mile and wait for the Citation. The decision proved a wise one. Hyperbaric, splendidly rated by Baze, led past every pole and prevailed by three-quarters of a length at 5-1. This extended Hyperbaric’s winning streak to four.

Whatsthescript, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, ran sixth in the Citation as the even-money favorite.

GRADE II CLARK HANDICAP. Churchill Downs.

Results: (1) Einstein, (2) Delightful Kiss, (3) Commentator.

Winner: Trained by Helen Pitts, ridden by Julien Leparoux.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 101. A.P. Arrow won the 2007 Clark with a 103 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Clark: 116 by Surfside in 2000.

Recap: Pitts, the original trainer of Curlin, has done a wonderful job with Einstein, who won the Clark by 1 1/2 lengths at 9-2. Commentator, the 2-5 favorite, ended up third.

Einstein, winner of the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the grass at Churchill Downs last May 3, is a son of 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck. Spend a Buck has sired such other Grade I winners as Pico Central, Hard Buck and Antespend.

“I am just so proud of him,” Pitts said the following day in the Churchill Downs barn notes. “I have never had a horse who loves his job so much.”

Pitts said the next goal for Einstein will be the Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on Feb. 1.

GRADE II TOP FLIGHT HANDICAP. Aqueduct.

Results: (1) Leah’s Secret, (2) Slewfoundmoney, (3) Boca Grande.

Winner: Trained by Todd Pletcher, ridden by Eibar Coa.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 97. Mini Sermon won the 2007 Top Flight with a 94 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Top Flight: 108 by Educated Risk in 1994 and Reciclada in 2000.

Recap: Coming off a victory in the Grade II Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs, Leah’s Secret rallied to take the Top Flight by three-quarters of a length as the 5-2 favorite.

GRADE III MIESQUE STAKES. Hollywood Park.

Results: (1) Habaya, (2) Internallyflawless, (3) Eloquently.

Winner: Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, ridden by Richard Migliore.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 80. Sea Chanter won the 2007 Miesque with an 87 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Miesque: 98 by Fantastic Filly in 2000.

Recap: Based on her pedigree, it was no surprise to see Habaya become a graded stakes winner in the Miesque. She is a daughter of super sire Storm Cat and Eclipse Award winner Golden Apples. Golden Apples was the nation’s champion female grass performer of 2002.

Habaya powered home from well off the pace to get the job done by three-quarters of a length at 2-1. She now has won two of three career starts.

SATURDAY, NOV. 29

GRADE I CIGAR MILE HANDICAP. Aqueduct.

Results: (1) Tale of Ekati, (2) Harlem Rocker*, (3) Bribon.

*Harlem Rocker was disqualified and placed second after finishing first.

Winner: Trained by Barclay Tagg, ridden by Edgar Prado.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 106 by both Harlem Rocker and Tale of Ekati. Daaher won the 2007 Cigar Mile with a 114 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Cigar Mile: 124 by Quiet American in 1990.

Recap: Tale of Ekati, coming off a win in the Grade II Jerome Handicap, took the Cigar Mile at 8-1 through the disqualification of Harlem Rocker. Harlem Rocker had surged to a clear lead during the stretch run, but drifted in while Tale of Ekati was rallying along the inside rail. When Harlem Rocker took Tale of Ekati’s path, Prado had to steady Tale of Ekati and alter course to the outside. Tale of Ekati then resumed rallying to finish second, a scant nose behind Harlem Rocker. Following a stewards’ inquiry, Harlem Rocker was disqualified and placed second.

This was Tale of Ekati’s second Grade I victory. He also won the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last April 5 before finishing fourth in the Grade I Kentucky Derby. A win by Tale of Ekati over older rivals in a race like the Cigar Mile goes a long way in showing that Big Brown did not beat a bunch of creampuffs when he won the Run for the Roses.

Among the Cigar Mile vanquished, I thought Bribon, who finished third, ran an excellent race. After being as far back as 13 1/2 lengths early and encountering trouble with a quarter of a mile to go, he rallied to lose by only three-quarters of a length.

California invader Monterey Jazz, making his first start since winning the Grade III Texas Mile at Lone Star Park last April 26 with a huge (118) Beyer Speed Figure, set a brisk pace (:22.87, :45.31, 1:09.42) in the Cigar Mile before faltering to finish seventh as the 3-1 favorite. The time of the race was 1:35.01.

Wanderin Boy, coming into the Cigar Mile off a second to Curlin in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup, did not finish. Sadly, he reportedly shattered the sesamoids in his left foreleg and was euthanized.

GRADE II DEMOISELLE STAKES. Aqueduct.

Results: (1) Springside, (2) Boleyn, (3) Sky Diva.

Winner: Trained by Josie Carroll, ridden by Garrett Gomez.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 87. Mushka won the 2007 Demoiselle with an 84 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Demoiselle: 94 by Smoke’n Frolic in 2001.

Recap: In this year’s Demoiselle, there was good news and bad news. The good news? After racing on Polytrack and the turf at Woodbine, Springside drew away in the stretch to win the Demoiselle in isolated splendor by 9 1/2 lengths at 5-1. The bad news? Springside was in distress after the finish and vanned off the track.

Springside was taken to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. As you may recall, that is where Barbaro was taken after the 2006 Preakness Stakes.

According to Daily Racing Form’s David Grening, Springside underwent surgery Monday at the New Bolton Center, with “several screws inserted into her right front pastern bone.” Dr. Dean Richardson performed the surgery, according to Springside’s trainer. Richardson also was Barbaro’s surgeon following his Preakness injury.

Sky Diva, winner of the Grade I Frizette Stakes on Oct. 4 and third in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 24, was the heavy Demoiselle favorite (35 cents to $1). She was no match for Springside in the stretch and was nosed out of the place by 33-1 Boleyn.

GRADE II REMSEN STAKES. Aqueduct.

Results: (1) Old Fashioned, (2) Atomic Rain, (3) American Dance.

Winner: Trained by Larry Jones, ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 100. Court Vision won the 2007 Remsen with a 76 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Remsen: 105 by Read the Footnotes in 2003.

Recap: Old Fashioned took the early lead and drew off in the stretch to win by 7 1/4 lengths as the heavy favorite (75 cents to $1). The son of Unbridled’s Song is now undefeated in three career starts.

Unbridled’s Song also is the sire of Midshipman, winner of this year’s Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Owner Rick Porter (Fox Hill Farms) and trainer Jones teamed up to finish second in the last two Kentucky Derbies with Hard Spun and Eight Belles. Based on the Remsen, it looks like Porter and Jones certainly have a contender for the 2009 Run for the Roses in Old Fashioned, who is to reside at the Fair Grounds during the winter.

GRADE II GOLDEN ROD STAKES. Churchill Downs.

Results: (1) Rachel Alexandra, (2) Sara Louise, (3) War Echo.

Winner: Trained by Hal Wiggins, ridden by Calvin Borel.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 99. Pure Clan won the 2007 Golden Rod with an 83 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Golden Rod: 104 by Silverbulletday in 1998.

Recap: In the Grade III Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1, Sara Louise won by 3 3/4 lengths at 7-2, with Rachel Alexandra second as the 2-1 favorite.

It was a case of sweet revenge for Rachel Alexandra in the Golden Rod, as she won by 4 3/4 lengths at 3-1, with Sara Louise second at 8-5.

Dream Empress, runner-up to Stardom Bound in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, never threatened in the Golden Rod. She finished fourth as the 7-5 favorite.

Rachel Alexandra had a chip removed from her left front ankle after finishing second in the Grade III Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs last June 28. She will be going to Oaklawn Park, according to Wiggins.

GRADE II KENTUCKY JOCKEY CLUB STAKES. Churchill Downs.

Results: (1) Beethoven, (2) Giant Oak, (3) Capt. Candyman Can.

Winner: Trained by John Ward, ridden by Calvin Borel.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 90. Anak Nakal won the 2007 Kentucky Jockey Club with an 86 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Kentucky Jockey Club: 105 by Captain Steve in 1999.

Recap: Borel swept both graded stakes for 2-year-olds on last Saturday’s closing-day card at Churchill Downs. As was the case earlier in the week with Miss Isella, Beethovan benefited from a rail-skimming trip thanks to Borel.

Beethoven races for John Oxley, who collaborated with Ward to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos. Beethoven, a son of Sky Mesa, won the Kentucky Jockey Club by a neck at 6-1. It was his third victory from five career starts. Beethoven posted a pair of victories during the Churchill Downs fall meet. He also won an allowance contest at Churchill on Nov. 1.

Capt. Candyman Can, winner of the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill on Nov. 1, was sent away as the 11-1 favorite in the Kentucky Jockey Club. After carving out the early fractions, Capt. Candyman Can finished third, a half-length behind Beethoven.

GRADE III GENEROUS STAKES. Hollywood Park.

Results: (1) Mr. Rod, (2) Bittel Road, (3) dead heat between Hype and Bourbon Bay.

Winner: Trained by Dan Hendricks, ridden by Chantal Sutherland.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 89. The Leopard won the 2007 Generous with a 91 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Generous: 101 by Incurable Optimist in 1998.

Recap: After losing his first four races while racing on synthetic surfaces and dirt, Mr. Rod won his grass debut at Hollywood Park on Nov. 1. He now is two for two on the turf after posting a front-running victory in the Generous. Mr. Rod won the Generous by 1 1/2 lengths at 6-1. Bittel Road ran second as the 11-1 favorite.

GRADE III HOLYWOOD TURF EXPRESS HANDICAP. Hollywood Park.

Results: (1) California Flag, (2) Racketeer, (3) Delta Storm.

Winner: Trained by Brian Koriner, ridden by Joe Talamo.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 105. Unusual Suspect won the 2007 Hollywood Turf Express with a 95 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Hollywood Turf Express: 111 by Swept Overboard in 2001.

Recap: In an eye-catching exhibition of sheer speed, California Flag darted immediately to the front and went on to prevail by 4 1/2 lengths as the 17-10 favorite. He had won the Grade III Morvich Handicap down the hill at Oak Tree on Sept. 24 before finishing 10th in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on that same downhill course on Oct. 25. In the Breeders’ Cup, California Flag and fellow speedster Mr. Nightlinger ran each other into the ground after dueling through insane early fractions (:20.73, :41.81, 1:05.32).

Sutherland, who was third in the standings at Woodbine prior to joining the Southern California jockey colony during the Oak Tree meet, said the win aboard California Flag in the Hollywood Turf Express was her first in a graded stakes race in California.

California Flag is a full brother to Cambiocorsa, who was a multiple Grade III-winning grass sprinter in Southern California.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

GRADE I MATRIARCH STAKES. Hollywood Park.

Results: (1) Cocoa Beach, (2) Precious Kitten, (3) Visit.

Winner: Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 96. Precious Kitten won the 2007 Matriarch with a 102 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Matriarch: 109 by Tout Charmant in 2000.

Recap: While Zenyatta is undefeated in nine career starts, some have questioned the quality of those she has beaten. But it is clear that when Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, she defeated an extremely talented 4-year-old filly in Cocoa Beach.

After finishing second in the Ladies’ Classic, Cocoa Beach won the Matriarch by three-quarters of a length as the 19-10 favorite. This was only Cocoa Beach’s second start on the turf. The only other time she raced on the grass, she won a race at about five furlongs by 4 1/2 lengths while making her career debut in her native Chile early in 2007.

Cocoa Beach was three for four in the U.S. for Godolphin Racing this year while posting Grade I victories on the dirt and turf. Prior to the Ladies’ Classic, Cocoa Beach won the Grade I Beldame Stakes on the main track at Belmont over 2007 Eclipse Award winner Ginger Punch.

According to bin Suroor, Cocoa Beach will remain in the U.S. and not be sent to Dubai as is the case with many of the Godolphin horses.

GRADE I HOLLYWOOD DERBY. Hollywood Park. Nov. 30.

Results: (1) Court Vision, (2) Cowboy Cal, (3) Midships.

Winner: Trained by Bill Mott, ridden by Ramon Dominguez.

Winning Beyer Speed Figure: 100. Daytona won the 2007 Hollywood Derby with a 99 Beyer. Top Beyer in the Hollywood Derby: 111 by Super Quercus in 1999.

Recap: Last early in the field of nine, Court Vision closed with a rush to win by three-quarters of a length at 7-2. Gio Ponti, the 3-1 favorite, ended up seventh.

Dominguez had quite a weekend. After taking Saturday’s Grade II Remsen aboard Old Fashioned, Dominguez won a pair of Grade I races at Hollywood Park the following day with Cocoa Beach and Court Vision.

Court Vision had topped my first Kentucky Derby Top 10 list for this year back on Jan. 2. He did make it to the Derby and finished 13th.

My first Kentucky Derby Top 10 list for 2009 will be released just four weeks from now on Dec. 31. No doubt Old Fashioned will be high on the list.