Today is the first of two major weekends for final Breeders’ Cup preps. It is also the first weekend since early March that there has not been racing action in Chicago, so it gives me some time to focus on just the out of town preps.
It also gives me some time to play with words: one cherita for each of the day’s ten graded stakes races at Belmont and Santa Anita. I chose the form because it is short, flexible, and lends itself to imagery and narrative.
If you’re not into poetry, my next post will be back to my (normal) prose. If you do read poetry, come in.
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (GI)
Ectot leads, head bobbing, tail stiffly behind
all eyes on Flintshire
from last to second best
Ectot, now one with the bog
escapes — proclaims his class
had not been relegated to the past
Gallant Bloom Handicap (GII)
fighting before, then flying, Momameamaria
Paulassilverlining lying behind
sweeps outside with perfect timing
Quezon trying
Wavell Avenue too mildly
Paulassilverlining finding
Pilgrim Stakes (GIII)
forever locked in the gate
Frostmourne forth, back, forth
tenacious, still so young
expectations of a sequel
to an Oscar Performance
like the Godfather, better
Vosburgh Stakes (GI)
a fiery early pace burns out
Stallwalkin’ Dude rekindles
his love affair with mud
but he who laughs last, laughs best
or in the deeds of Joking
he who runs last, runs best
Beldame Stakes (GI)
Paola Queen, Off the Tracks, a fight
Forever Unbridled, in hand
adheres to her plan
confidence
around easily, past, gone
across the wire alone
FrontRunner Stakes (GI)
rivals in medium and time
Klimt, such turn of foot
but life is a struggle
when the angel of the north
has flown away
Gormley, easily home
Awesome Again Stakes (GI)
catch me, says California Chrome
mane flying, engine running
Dortmund exerting
Chrome stretching his legs
a nine-furlong jog
with four overmatched workmates
Rodeo Drive Stakes (GI)
everyone loves a parade
Avenge, effortless flair
befitting the grand marshal
eleven others followed
admiring her easy ways
aspiring to her poise
Zenyatta Stakes (GI)
champions rematch
Beholder and Stellar Wind
turn for home together
one champion
passes the torch
to another
Chandelier Stakes (GI)
eleven-filly free-for-all
two turns later
a two-horse race
Noted and Quoted channeled Stellar Wind
With Honors set the pace
but settled for place
Blinkers Off 