Welcome back to the Twelve Days of Curlin Babies, where we celebrate the twelve most memorable races from Curlin’s progeny throughout 2017. Through all the hundreds of races in which they ran this year, these are the ones that keep reappearing in my mind. #12: Stellar Wind Wins the First Beholder Mile #11: Fireball Merlin Carries... Continue Reading →
another for the Keen Ice highlight reel
Keen Ice (Medomak, by Awesome Again) hasn't been the most consistent horse in his four seasons on the racetrack, but the son of Curlin has built a track record of blowing my mind once a year. In 2014, when he was two, that came in the form of an impossible-looking maiden victory. The next year,... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Pegasus World Cup Point/Counterpoint
This weekend features the richest race in horse racing history: the Pegasus World Cup (G1). Keen Ice, California Chrome, Arrogate, and nine other horses will go a mile and an eighth for a purse of $12,000,000. And, as we so often do for the biggest races of the year, Picks and Ponderings takes it on,... Continue Reading →
#2: the third annual Twelve Days of Curlin Babies
Welcome back to the Twelve Days of Curlin Babies, where we celebrate the twelve most memorable races from Curlin’s progeny throughout 2016. Through all the hundreds of races in which they ran this year, these are the ones that keep reappearing in my mind. #12: My Curby makes a winning visit to Arlington #11: Reversiontothemean... Continue Reading →
two bucks on Keen Ice
On the way out from Hawthorne today, after the Breeders' Cup Classic, I saw a ticket tossed onto a stair. Whoever played that ticket had a kind of faith I only wish I could have found. The thought to put $2 on Keen Ice's nose flashed through my head about five minutes before post. After... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies at the Breeders’ Cup!
The Breeders' Cup gets underway tomorrow. Just like every year since 2013, when Palace Malice ran in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Curlin is represented. In this year's Breeders' Cup, scheduled for November 4-5 at Santa Anita, five Curlin babies are slated to run. Curlin is still looking for his first Breeders' Cup winner. He came... Continue Reading →
Keen Ice, moving barns
The big news with Curlin babies today involves one who hasn't run in a week and a half: Keen Ice has been transferred to the barn of Todd Pletcher. Plans have not been solidified, but quotes from today suggest that Saratoga and (eventually) the Breeders' Cup Classic are on the radar. Crawford stated that this... Continue Reading →
Curlin babies and Eclipse finalists
Eclipse finalists were announced today. I thought there would be a chance to see three Curlin babies among them. Only one got the call. Sure, Keen Ice (Medomak, by Awesome Again) was never going to actually win Champion Three Year Old Male. American Pharoah locked that up as soon as he crossed the wire in... Continue Reading →
#1: the second annual Twelve Days of Curlin Babies
Welcome back to the Twelve Days of Curlin Babies: a look back on twelve races during 2015 that stand out. Among hundreds of races by Curlin’s progeny through the course of the year, they are the ones I keep returning to in my head, the ones that I am always ready and excited to discuss.... Continue Reading →
go Keen Ice!
Earlier this month, Romans Racing did a Keen Ice selfie contest. The rules were pretty simple: print out one of the #GoKeenIce signs, post selfies with the sign, and share them on social media with the hashtag. This was, of course, right up my alley. Keen Ice is not only a Curlin baby, but became... Continue Reading →
Palace Malice’s next chapter
Despite being far more passionate about words than pictures, sometimes I need a picture to tell the story. I saw the announcement on Thursday about Palace Malice retiring, and even said a few words about it. It did not feel as sudden as his retirement last year, a retirement that had never completely felt real... Continue Reading →
paint the canoe green and gold!
On September 6 of last year, a horse named Keen Ice had a improbable task ahead of him. Turning for home, Starbound and Tiznow R J were in a race of their own. Keen Ice had found his best stride, but may have left himself too much to do. Yet, Keen Ice kept going. He... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: Travers Day!
The biggest day of the Saratoga meet is almost upon us: Travers Day. Over at Picks and Ponderings, we dive into all the stakes on the card: six Grade I events and a Grade II. I handicap the Travers Stakes (GI), the Forego Stakes (GI), the Personal Ensign (GI), and the Ballston Spa (GII). Paul... Continue Reading →
Picks and Ponderings: 2015 Belmont Stakes Point/Counterpoint
Eight horses have entered Saturday's Belmont Stakes. American Pharoah hopes to complete a Triple Crown...and after the prep season and the first two jewels of the Triple Crown, just seven horses stand between him and history. As we did for the Preakness, Paul Mazur and I have gone horse by horse, point-counterpoint style, through the... Continue Reading →
Kentucky Derby Day!
Two weeks ago, I went to the Kentucky Derby with Candice. It was my first trip to the Derby (though not my first to Churchill Downs), and my first to any Triple Crown race. It was a bit different than I expected, mainly because I am so used to being a railbird, and yet general... Continue Reading →
