Red Rocks Defeats Curlin in the Man O'War, photo from Thoroughbred Times
I still can’t get over that crazy Man O’War on Saturday. The pacesetters, Mission Approved and Sudan, took off at the break and put 8-10 lengths on the rest of the field. Red Rocks settled in an easy third, about a length ahead of Curlin and True Cause. As expected, the sprinters gave out in the stretch and Red Rocks took over with Curlin on his heels. Then, just when I thought Curlin would surge by Red Rocks, he…um…didn’t. He hung on like laundry on the line in the backyard. Better Talk Now came on gamely for third. SO much for the BC Turf winners being off form. So much for Curlin going over to France. I’d like to see Curlin at least once more on turf, maybe in the Arlington Million. They say Curlin does better the second time he races over a track. Maybe he’ll win next time. There’s also the Sword Dancer at Saratoga if they want to try again. The ownership has been pretty open to trying different things with Curlin, but they also say the BC Classic is out because it’s on plastictrack. If I had such a good horse, I’d at least try the tires — he couldn’t perform worse than he did on turf. If they want to try different stuff, they my even try that new BC Dirt Marathon at 1.5 miles. He’d outclass any other horse in that field and give ESPN a reason to broadcast the race.
Other Races: HYSTERICALADY dominated the Delaware Handicap by 4. She defeated Lemon Drop Mom and last year’s runaway winner, Unbridled Belle. I have always liked Hystericalady and she hasn’t disappointed me this year. Plus, she’s given me a lot of points in the Road to the Breeders’ Cup contest!
ARLINGTON HANDCP Gr3: 1)STREAM CAT $7.00 2)Cosmonaut $2.10 3)Corrupt EX pays $12.80 (Distorted Reality scr)
AMERICAN DERBY Gr2: 1)TIZDEJAVU $3.40 2)Sir Henry 3)Ablaze With Spirit (Blue Exit SCR, Boss LAffite 6)
DELAWARE OAKS Gr2: 1)PROUD SPELL $2.60 2)African Violet 3)She’s All Eltish (Maren’s Meadow 4)
AZALEA Gr3: 1)INDYANNE 2)Dubai Majesty 3)Dancing Allstar (Grand Obsession 4, Dites Moi 5)
CARRY BACK Gr2: 1)GOLDEN SPIKES 2)Gentleman James 3)Lantana Mob (Salute the Sarge 5, Carson’s Legacy 7)
PRINCESS ROONEY Gr1: 1)MISTICAL PLAN 2)Miraculous Miss 3)Dream Rush (Looky Yonder 5)
SWAPS Gr2: 1)TRES BORRACHOS 2)Two Step Salsa 3)Colonel John (Nownownow SCR)
POKER HNDCP Gr3: 1)KIP DEVILLE $2.80 2)Tam Lin $2.90 3)Operation Red Dawn (Sensational Humor 4)
NOt as good this week as last week, but not a total disaster. Sarge needs to pick it up!
skipaway2000 
I still think Hystericalady is overrated.
Let’s have a handicapping competition. I think that could be healthy for both of our blurgs.
Okay. I guess we’ll have to hammer out the rules.
I was thinking you’d get one week to pick any races you want, and we’d both submit three selections prior to each race. The next week we’d do the same, but for an equal number of races that I’ve selected. At the end of the two (or however many weeks), we’ll see who’s more accurate. Of course, that raises the question of how to measure accuracy.
“Worst Racehorse Name”?
I can’t believe you’d say such a thing.