HORSE RACING: Trainer must bring Curlin to face Big Brown in ul...

The sport needs a Curlin - Big Brown showdown? The sport could've had one at Saratoga or Belmont. Didn't IAEH "need" to run Big Brown there? News flash: there's a totally new racing surface at Santa Anita, and already some people are saying its loose and hard to grip. So, we want to have a showdown to save racing on a track that either or both horses potentially can't run over? Enough with the ultimatums.

Thank you both for talking straight racing. Here is my list of big races this weekend- AS BIG AS A RACING WEEKEND AS THE BREEDER'S CUP!!! Enjoy horse racing lovers and please don't be so quiet on this forum!

Belmont- Saturday 9/27 6th race 3:40 $600,000 Beldame Stakes entries- 1. Ginger Punch, 2. Lemon Drop Mom, 3. Cocoa Beach, 4. Leah's Secret, 5. Unbridled Belle (1st Ginger Punch, 2nd Lemon Drop Mom, 3rd Unbridled Belle), 7th race 4:13 $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes entries- 1. Palmilla, 2. Communique, 3. Dynaforce, 4. Mauralakana, 5. Jade Queen, 6. Hostess (1st Mauralakana, undecided on rest) 8th race 4:45 $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes entries-1. Fabulous Strike, 2. J Be K, 3. Lucky Island, 4. First Defence, 5. Kodiak Kowboy, 6. Rockerfeller, 7. Black Seventeen (1st Fabulous Strike a Smart Strike baby!!!, 2nd J Be K, 3rd Kodiak Kowboy always right up there) 9th race 5:20 $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes entries- 1. Interpatation, 2. Elusive Fort, 3. Dancing Forever, 4. Proudinsky, 5. Summer Patriot, 6. Grand Couturier, 7. Strike A Deal, 8. Presious Passion, 9. Jade's Revenge (subject to change- 1st Grand Couturier, 2nd Proudinsky, 3rd Interpatation) 10th race 5:50 $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes entries- 1. Ravel, 2. Merchant Marine, 3. Timber Reserve, 4. Wanderin Boy, 5. Curlin, 6. Angliana, 7. AP Arrow, 8. Stones River, 9. Mambo In Seattle (1st is easy- CURLIN!!!, the rest are harder ... 2. Mambo In Seattle, 3. Timber Reserve)

Calder-Saturday 9/27 3:50 pm The Needles Stakes: 1st Smooth Air is doing a Big Brown and using this as a BC prep, 2nd Tour Ireland is a Euro, 3rd Dynhocracy is another local horse (Imawildandcrazy's trainer). Entries- 1. Cigar Man, 2. Atlantic Paws, 3. Joey The Scholar, 4. Smooth Air, 5. Dream Maestro, 6. Wise Answer, 7. Dynhocracy, 8. Tour Ireland, 9. Dubai Destination.

Golden Gate- Saturday 9/27-1st Awesome Gem, 2nd Delightful Kiss, 3rd ???? 3rd race $200,000 All American Stakes entries- 1. Saratoga's Magic, 2. Delightful Kiss, 3. Our Partner, 4. Asperity, 5. Victorian Prince, 6. Assessment, 7. Awesome Gem (I TOTALLY WANT DELIGHTFUL KISS TO WIN! BOREL IS UP!)

Hawthorne- Saturday 9/27 8th race 4:54 $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup entries- 1. Wayzata Boy, 2. Brothers Nicholas, 3. Canela, 4. Magna Graduate, 5. Fairbanks, 6. Barcola, 7. Better Than Bonds (1st Barcola, 2nd Fairbanks, 3rd Magna Graduate)

Monmouth- Saturday 9/27 2 YO colts 9th race 4:34 $200,000 Monmouth Park NATC Futurity entries- 1. Valiancy, 2. Pray For Action, 3. Great Patriot, 4. Join In The Dance, 5. Wild Proof, 6. Forty Thieves (I am undecided! Hoping Vindication's Wild Proof shows the promise of his debut)

BEST WAY TO DROWN OUT PETA? Talk about racing and enjoy yourself doing so!

Oak Tree- Saturday 9/27 4th race 2:00 $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial entries- 1. Ferneley (IRE), 2. Tranduction Gold, 3. Bonjour (NZ), 4. You Got Me Rocking, 5. Out Of Control, 6. Red Giant, 7. Spring House (hard to pick! must study!) 5th race 2:30 $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes entries- 1. Super Freaky, 2. Wake Up Maggie (IRE), 3. Hystericalady, 4. Zenyatta, 5. Santa Teresita (1st Zenyatta, 2nd Hystericalady, 3rd ???)

Oak Tree- Saturday 9/27 6th race 3:00 $250,000 Ancient Title Stakes entries- 1. Street Boss, 2. Delta Storm, 3. Decado, 4. Idiot Proof, 5. Sailor's Sunset, 6. In Summation, 7. Esperamos, 8. Cost Of Freedom (1st Street Boss, 2nd In Summation, 3rd Idiot Proof) 8th race 4:00 $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes entries- 1. Will O Way, 2. Stardom Bound, 3. Candilejas, 4. Palacio de Amor, 5. Montana Fields, 6. Magic Roberta, 7. Empressive Lady, 8. Oro Blanco, 9. Toro Bonito, 10. Black Magic Mama, 11. Kinesiology, 12. Malusita (1st Stardom Bound!!!) 9th race 4:30 $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes entries- 1. High Heel Sneakers (GB), 2. Vacare, 3. I Can See, 4. Black Mamba (NZ), 5. Valbenny (IRE), 6. Solva, 7. Gula Gold, 8. Marzeline (IRE), 9. Live Life (FR), 10. Wait A While (1st Wait A While, 2nd Vacare, 3rd Valbenny) 10th race 5:00 $500,000 Goodwood Stakes entries- 1. Zappa, 2. Tres Borrachos, 3. Informed, 4. Surf Cat, 5. Slew's Tiznow, 6. Albertus Maximus, 7. Well Armed, 8. Tiago, 9. Spirit One (FR), 10. Mostacolli Mort, 11. Mast Track (1st Tiago, 2nd Tres Borrachos, 3rd Slew's Tiznow)

Oak Tree- Sunday 9/28 4th race 2:00 $65,000 Pine Tree Lane Stakes entries- 1. Tiz Elemental, 2. Tizzy's Tune, 3. Jimbo's Fire Ant, 4. Felicitee, 5. Spenditallbaby, 6. Coco Belle, 7. Magnificience (1st Magnificience, 2nd Tiz Elemental, 3rd Coco Belle) 7th race 3:30 $200,000 Oak Tree Mile Stakes entries- 1. Awesome Gem (multiple races entered in), 2. Global Hunter (ARG), 3. Hurry Up Austin, 4. Tybalt, 5. Dilenna, 6. Ferneley, 7. Hyperbaric, 8. Tropic Storm, 9. Golden Balls (IRE)(1st Awesome Gem, 2nd Golden Balls, 3rd Global Hunter) 8th race 4:00 2 YO Colts $250,000 Norfolk Stakes entries- 1. Regal Ransom, 2. Azul Leon, 3. Del Conte, 4. Street Hero, 5. Liturgical, 6. Midshipman, 7. Believe In Hope (NObama!!!!), 8. Tiger Blitz, 9. Silent Valor, 10. Brushburn (1st Midshipman- twice unbeaten Baffert winner, 2nd Silent Valor- also twice unbeaten, 3rd Azul Leon)

Philly Park-Saturday 9/27 (Will add picks and comments) 8th race $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap entries- 1. Canadian Ballet, 2. Hi Beautiful, 3. Peisince, 4. Smart And Easy, 5. Star Of Idabel, 6. Weeks, 7. Beau Dare, 8. Classify, 9. Ahvee's Destiny, 10. Sheets, 11. Casanova Killer. 9th race $250,000 Gallant Bob Handicap entries- 1. MJ's Enchanteur, 2. Rollers, 3. Cobra Strike, 4. Courting Wisdom, 5. Fujita, 6. Golden Spikes, 7. Lantana Mob, 8. Desert Key, 9. Evening's End, 10. Devereux (1st Lantana Mob, 2nd Golden Spikes, 3rd Rollers)

Turfway Park- Saturday 9/27 6th race 3:48 $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies entries- 1. Bold Union, 2. Sugar Mom, 3. Complicity, 4. Believe In Me, 5. Megalicious, 6. Juliet's Sprite, 7. Saxxy Rose Lee, 8. Westline, 9. Dream Express. 7th race 4:20 $100,000 Kentucky Cup Sprint entries- 1. Nautical Storm, 2. Eaton's Gift, 3. That's Gran, 4. Hatta Fort, 5. Fatal Bullet, 6. Salute The Sarge, 7. Gentleman James, 8. Beyond Ready, 9. Silver Sword, 10. No Advantage (1st Salute The Sarge, 2nd Gentleman James, 3rd Eaton's Gift)

The order of these posts got mixed up, but you guys will figure it out. Don't forget to order KFC Chicken with your viewing snacks- the racing industry should do a BUYCOTT of PETA and patronize the companies they target for destruction- like YUM! Brands (loyal sponsor of the Triple Crown through both Barbaro and Eight Belles accidents)

Turfway Park- Saturday 9/27- 8th race 4:55 2 YO Colts $100,000 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes entries- 1. Sir Bubba, 2. Gresham, 3. Proud Jefe, 4. Retap, 5. Tar Beach, 6. Da Bear Facts, 7. West Side Bernie, 8. Just Like Biscuit. 9th race 5:29 $100,000 Kentucky Cup Distaff Stakes entries- 1. Tazarine, 2. Fancy Fusaichi, 3. Marquee Delivery, 4. Bear Now, 5. Unforgotten, 6. Maren's Meadow, 7. Devil House (Go Larry Jones!!! 1st Maren's Meadow) 10th race 6:02 $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes entries- 1. Honest Man, 2. Zanjero, 3. Extreme Supreme, 4. Yate's Black Cat, 5. Canela, 6. Stream Cat (1st Zanjero- who never got his due!!!, 2nd Stream Cat, 3rd Honest Man)

What the game needs is fewer racing days, more robust field sizes, lower takeout, elimination of breakage, cheaters' ruled off for life after multiple violations and an end to the ridiculous infighting between the owners, tracks and wagering outlets.

Curlin at $10 mill will be HOY without going in the BC Classic. The BC Classic run on plastic is not the champion's race; wing the big NY races on dirt is going to prove more important than winning a BC Classic on kitty litter. What we have here is old fashioned competition where the BC Classic will no longer be the determining race in a championship season but rather a horse's performance over an entire season will be considered as a whole portfolio, just as it should be. Making the BC Classic into a Super Bowl, winner-take-all event was a big mistake for racing- sure, it helped the BC event, and the KY breeders, and that is about it. We need championship Grade I races all season long at major tracks around the country. I think that is what Jess Jackson is trying to encourage and I salute him for his efforts, we need many more like him to break this BC-Super Bowl mentality.

Wow! Thanks for all of your picks guys. What a way to celebrate one of the biggest weekends in racing. What horse racing also needs are fans and horsemen smart enough to take their ideas for further improving American racing to the NTRA, JC, KTHA, ect. AND NOT on horse racing forums populated and poisoned by anti-racing activists-many disguising themselves as reformists just so they can get in more jabs about horse racing and further pollute the general public. When you great reformers post here you waste your breath and help those who hate racing advertise it. When horse racing is no longer enjoyed enough to talk about, make picks, and HAVE FUN it is over. When horse racing fans and horsemen have more PASSION than animal rights activists racing will emerge triumphant. I would rather have no one backing me up than people who lack passion and don't know how to fight TO WIN.

Get real. After what bb did in the belmont there's no way he can be hoy. Curlin's the champ and has proved it over and again. BB's connections had several opportunities to take him on (at Belmont and Saratoga) and opted to continue bullying mediocre fields. Owners like jackson are exactly what the sport needs. Disappointments like BB's belmont and his obnoxious connections are everything that's wrong with racing today. Just imagine secretariat pulling up in the Belmont stretch. Curlin at least has the longshot potential to be a top 10'er. Name one top 10'er that BB's connections could even dream of passing...Man o' War, Secretariat, Citation, Kelso, Count Fleet, Dr Fager, Native Dancer, Forego, Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid...i dont think so.

Curlin has nothing to prove. Brown should have been in more of the stakes races pre Breeder's Cup. he was asked, they didn't want a challenge. Curlin's been going strong and is headed for the Cup. My money says Brown won't even show up.

Brown is a good solid horse, proven on the turf even. His owners and trainers are too afraid of losing or afraid of injury due to the fact he is retiring the end of the year- at a hefty breeding fee. Love Brown, but he is in the wrong stable. I wish Zito had him.. I think he would have shown us what Brown can or cannot do and for the right reasons.

Curlin is the best older Horse to run in this centry. Ive seen them all. No hes not Big Red but neither is Big Brown . Curlin is a great race Horse. Maybe not the best ever but in the top 3 all time. But that my opinion ive only been around Horse racing 37 years.

Lets give some credit to Steve Asmussen and Scott Blasi here guys.Scott has done a teriffic job with Curlin. They will have him ready for the breeders cup. And if you really think Big Brown is the better Horse here. Its obvisous to me you havnt followed Horse racing long enough. Curlin is a monster on Dirt. Big Brown has not beaten anything worth talking about. Recaptureing the Glory. Is that not Louie Roussel Horse that could not win at FG? PLEASE !!

Trashy people abuse horses. They run them to death.

Tom Amoss wrote:

Lets give some credit to Steve Asmussen and Scott Blasi here guys.Scott has done a teriffic job with Curlin. They will have him ready for the breeders cup. And if you really think Big Brown is the better Horse here. Its obvisous to me you havnt followed Horse racing long enough. Curlin is a monster on Dirt. Big Brown has not beaten anything worth talking about. Recaptureing the Glory. Is that not Louie Roussel Horse that could not win at FG? PLEASE !!

Tom, you are very correct and gracious in the first sentence giving koudos to both Assmussen and Blasi as the assistant. Then in the second sentence you gave it all to Blasi. If you trained Curlin knowing you like I do, you would be so angry at any suggestion of Frank getting the credit. You also did not have to get personal and mention Louie Roussel's name, then again, it is just like you! Exactly why you lack friends or positive comments where you are concerned whether in business or personally. Don't be such a knocker all the time! See you in New Orleans!