Congrats to ALL the winners.....it was a GOOD day on the Pro-Ride! :)

only if it is a off the turf race. Havent there been races that have gone from dirt races to turf races and maintained the same status? lots of races switch distances all the time with no change in grades. The graded system is in need of a complete overhaul anyway

I have no feelings for or against Curlin, but I didn't understand Randy Moss' comment that the Classic in NO WAY (I capitalized this because that's how strongly he said it) diminishes his reputation. Now this I dispute. It's not fair to say that had he won, Curlin would have been the best horse in the last 25 years (I wonder who decided that, by the way) because, presumably, he'd have overcome an unfamilar surface and tough Euro challengers, yet in the same breath say that the loss has no effect on his standing in racing history. You can't have it both ways. I don't think Curlin's reputation as a very good horse was diminished, but his historical reputation as a great horse was.

I'm gonna guess I suck now.

You could see him trying at the to of the stretch but he just spun his wheels after not getting the lead over the track

i'd still rather have mud/slop and soggy turf. :wf

How about the Dee Tee runners?

i think he meant it shouldn't diminish what he's accomplished up to today.

Poly, Concrete, Broken Glass, Horses Rule!!!!!!!!!!!

i don't know about dirt to turf. but if they don't lose it, why do they take it for going to the main track? that makes no sense...
but it is due an overhaul.

Way to go Joe!

And then send your horse for all hes worth at the 1/2 mile pole yes have to agree very strange

because a field of turf horses running on dirt is rarely representative of a race of a similar grade on the dirt. the committee does not have to drop the grade for an off the turfer though.

Well, yes - that's absolutely true. ESPN was full of drama queens today, though. Was it William Nack doing those breathless profiles of various horses? Every time Curlin's name was mentioned, it was always followed by "possibly/probably best horse of the last 25 years". Annoying. Nonetheless, there's nothing to knock about this guy.

The real justindew wouldnt have asked such a question.

General admission gives you access to the paddock gardens which include the walking ring, the main floor under the grandstands all the way up to the rail of the track and I think you also get access to the Dungon under the main floor. That's where it is easy to place a wager after the horses head to the track.


If you are coming from the west, take Baldwin south (its one exit before Santa Anita) and it runs alongside the stable area.



jezebel and 2Hot4tTV, thanks for the great advice!

Baldwin allowed EZ access with only a brief wait for two traffic lights. Also surprisingly allowed for EZ exit to 210 after the Classic. In fact we were rolling west of Pasadena by about 4:25.

Nice surprise was discovering early the infield access with General Admission. Made it to the far gate for the backside break for the 1st race Marathon. Was really cool to see the horses come by the same backside spot the 2nd time around.

Made it to the spots you mentioned. In fact, once we nailed down the logistics we were set for the Classic. Had a rail paddock spot for the Classic walk in, and for the walk to the ring for rider's up. An extra little neat part was realizing Bo Derek
still looks great as she came within a couple feet of us with the paddock entourage.

And from the paddock for the Classic, we went 1/2 way though an infield tunnel, then up to a trackside rail view for the on track introductions....and of course for the stretch drive.

A great great day. Lots of anecdotes, including one where I thought Richard Migliore was going to try to kiss my wife on his walk to the ring just before the Classic. Turns out his intended recipient was just over my wife's shoulder, but my wife and the guy I was talking to thought the same as me for a split second. A good laugh!


Thanks again.

In fact, if I had opted for a grandstand seat for the extra $$ it would have likely felt like a "ball and chain" keeping me from the freedom and access General Admission offered.

She would smoke any three year old filly that ran in the US this year.

I had to listen to the races on mute cause I was sick of hearing that title. He's not even in the conversation and that was before he lost today. He's not even the best of this decade. Hell, he's not even the best of this year.

I'd have no issue with giving it to her. Precedent has been set over and over in the past with giving Eclipse awards to horses that come over here and win one race. If Miesque can walk away with two races here and two titles, why not Goldikova? Daylami, Johannesburgh......the list goes pretty long. Hell, High Chaparral was voted the champion turf horse in 2003 and he didn't even win his BC race outright (deadheated with Johar). Singspiel never won a race in the US (won the Canadian International and ran second in the BC Turf) and still won the title. Arazi came over and won the Juvenile and not only won the title but was one of the three finalist for HOY. So why not Goldikova?

Actuals
Marathon-2:28.24
Dirt Mile-1:33.41
Juvenile-1:40.94 (fastest ever, barely beating out Stardom Bound)
Sprint-1:07.08 (fastest ever)
Classic-1:59.27 (3rd fastest ever)

I'm just glad we all got to see M LUTE put it all together again. I knew they couldn't run with him if he stayed together (physically)during the race. That's the most talented horse Baffert has ever trained.

2nd most.

Silver Charm says hi :)

Under this thinking she would finish a distant second to Zarkava.

Surely ( though, in this case, Shirley seems more appropriate ) Justin could have returned with a more thought out post.

and it's time to get rid of that Japanese flag...

whatever chuck thinks is best for our girls. i play very little on our race days.

put her on the DIRT in the spring against Eight Belles:( or most of the season against Proud Spell or Music Note.

Goldicova was one of the real standouts but she isnt even the best SHE in Europe. With the quality looking a little fillie like, are we gonna see more of them busting up the boys club next year?

It was a very rough day for Murtaugh. His ride on Fleeting Spirit was absolutely no picnic either. Then Dettori outrides him in the Juvie Turf. Then going head-to-head with the rabbit. Then he chooses Duke of Marmalade over Henrythenavigator in the Classic. Terrible decisions all day.

And he moved too late on Heart Shaped and cost her the race in the Juvy Fillies Turf.

Tough weekend for Murtagh.

Zenyatta to use a mutual fund analogy won a basket of races, against good but not great competition. She didn't hit a home run in my opinion but you can't knock her record, however you can question the quality of horses she ran against. She should have been in the Classic in my opinion. Winning the formally named distaff really didn't help her reputation.

Goldikova ran as a 3yr old filly against boys, and pretty much outclassed her rivals as she pleased. I thought that one performance far outshined any one performance Zenyatta had this year. I don't know which filly should win the Eclispe. But when you mention both horses to me, I have more of a respect for Goldikova after the championships.

zenyatta isn't in the running for top 3 yo filly, but has the mare championship sewn up. i just wish she'd have run in the classic, but maybe next year....since it's in her backyard again. and yes, i know, she won on dirt-that wasn't a knock on her ability on a surface, but she obviously likes santa anita.
anyway, as for goldikova...i have an issue with any horse coming here, running once, and winning the award-i didn't like it when high chaparral did the same. these awards are for imo the top horses for the year, here. goldikova didn't run here all year, she ran here once. a breathtaking performance, but not one which i feel negates any and all racing by every other 3 yo we had here running and winning.

it just seems like when they do a broadcast and gush about a particular horse, they curse him. it happened with war pass earlier this year. they went on and on (and on and on) about how good he looked, he was slew all over, yada yada...and then the horse finished last.
then you had big brown, on and on about how he was about to win the tc. oops.
and then curlin yesterday. i know they're probably thinking they're building excitement and tension. imo they're just building a headache between my temples.

now, had pacheco and goldberg got into a fight, that would have made the broadcast just great.

i still wonder tho....why the change in seating arrangements? did he bitch, or did she???

wow. you are GOOD!!

For what it's worth I feel no different about Curlin today as I did before the Classic. So much for hurting his legacy...

funny you say that...neither do i.

well, i hope he gets to keep midnight lute in training...because i don't know what will happen with midshipman because of his new owners.
and then i read this from drf:


Where and how Midshipman prepares for next year's Kentucky Derby is uncertain. John Ferguson, a racing adviser for Sheikh Mohammed said "there's every possibility" the horse could winter in Dubai and be transferred to trainer Saeed bin Suroor, but "nothing's definite".


at least he has vineyard haven.

I completely agree with your last paragraph - I could see Goldlikova IF there were no worthy 3 year old fillies out there. However, both PS and MN are legitimate championship-caliber fillies with outstanding campaigns. Goldlikova will probably get votes from silly writers, but she has no shot.

Also, I think I might have to give the Eclipse for male turf horse to Conduit simply on the basis that there is no way on earth I could justify giving it to Kip Deville (who I like) based on his one win in a graded stakes at Belmont, a bad race at Woodbine and a good 2nd in the BC. That is a weak, weak resume for a champion.

or they could give it to ravens pass.:p