2008 Belmont Stakes Contenders
Anak Nakal
Trainer: Nick Zito
Jockey: R. Bejarano
Record: 7-2-1-0
Best Beyer: 87
Earnings: $243,416
Finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby and sitting out for the Preakness Stakes, Anak Nakal is trying once more in case third time really is the charm. Since his win at the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in November, he hasn’t managed to place in the top five of any of the races he’s run. His sire, Victory Gallop, won the Belmont 10 years ago. Maybe Anak Nakal will celebrate the anniversary by winning.
Behindatthebar
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: D. Flores
Record: 5-3-1-0
Best Beyer: 99
Lifetime Earnings: $277,100
Behindatthebar missed the Kentucky Derby in order to prepare for Preakness, but then had to skip Preakness due to a bruised foot. This could mean two things for Behindatthebar. Either he’ll be slow after taking it easy to heal his injury, or he’ll get a rush from weeks of pent-up energy after not being able to race.
Big Brown
Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
Jockey: K. Desormeaux
Record: 5-5-0-0
Best Beyer: 109
Lifetime Earnings: $2,714,500
Big Brown isn’t just making history as the juggernaut of the horse racing world; if he wins Belmont, he’ll also be the first Triple Crown champ to have done so in 30 years. His agility left many speechless after the Preakness and now the only thing left to ask is whether or not he’ll be able to keep up the momentum he’s been running with.
Casino Drive
Trainer: Kazuo Fujisawa
Jockey: E. Prado
Record: 2-2-0-0
Best Beyer: 101
Lifetime Earnings: $185,282
It’s being argued that if anyone were to take Big Brown down, it’ll be Casino Drive. He doesn’t have many races under his harness but the experience he’s had is worth mentioning. He won his first race in Japan by 11 ½ lengths. He won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont by 5 ¾ lengths. And if genes count for something, then you should take note that he’s the brother of the last two Belmont Stakes winners.
Denis of Cork
Trainer: David Carroll
Jockey: R. Albarado
Record: 5-3-0-1
Best Beyer: 97
Lifetime Earnings: $413,552
Denis of Cork was a little rusty going into the Kentucky Derby but nonetheless came out in third place. He had won three races beforehand and placed fifth at the Illinois Derby. At the Kentucky Derby, he managed to get from last place to third. It seems as though he knows how to maintain a winning streak and get back up if he falters. Looks like he might prove to be another one of Big Brown’s competitors.
Icabad Crane
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: J. Rose
Record: 5-3-0-2
Best Beyer: 91
Lifetime Earnings: $235,400
At the Preakness Stakes, this colt was bringing up the back before racing hard to finish in third. He is continuously improving with the help of a great trainer and jockey, but when dethroning Big Brown is at stake, he’s going to need all that and then some. Hopefully June 7 might be the day he chooses to be a chip off the old block. His father, Jump Start, won the Belmont Stakes in 1992.
Macho Again
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: G. Gomez
Record: 9-3-3-0
Best Beyer: 99
Lifetime Earnings: $343,761
Placing second at the Preakness Stakes might be the closest Macho Again will ever get to beating Big Brown. Macho Again will need to focus on speed and agility to keep up with Big Brown.
Tale of Ekati
Trainer: Barclay Tagg
Jockey: E. Coa
Record: 7-3-1-0
Best Beyer: 95
Life Earnings: $869,200
Racing in spurts during the Kentucky Derby, Tale of Ekati managed to finish fourth. He’s swift and doesn’t give up, two key traits needed during the “Test of the Champion.”
Tomcito
Trainer: Dante Zanelli
Jockey: A. Garcia
Record: 8-4-1-1
Best Beyer: 92
Lifetime Earnings: $154,973
To Tomcito’s advantage, he’s already won a 1.5 mile distance this year. To his disadvantage, he’s currently recuperating from minor throat surgery. Tomcito and his trainers are taking it day by day to see if he’ll be able to race at Belmont. Like El Gato Malo, short earnings after placing third in the Florida Derby and seventh at the Peter Pan Stakes kept Tomcito from qualifying at the Kentucky Derby.
May 30, 2008
May 26, 2008
Big Brown May Compete with Curlin in Breeders' Cup Classic
There were rumors that the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes winner Big Brown would be retired after the Belmont. The trainer Rick Dutrow suggested Big Brown would instead move on to conquer the Travers Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Big Brown could face a considerable challenge in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race that may also include Curlin, the Preakness winner and 2007 horse of the year. He is widely considered the world’s top older horse.
Dutrow said he welcomed the challenge of facing Curlin but did not fear him. Big Brown has one more race to go before he takes the Triple Crown. Click to find out more about
Dutrow said he welcomed the challenge of facing Curlin but did not fear him. Big Brown has one more race to go before he takes the Triple Crown. Click to find out more about
May 21, 2008
Good Ba Ba First Breeders' Cup Qualifier
Good Ba Ba is qualified for the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile via a victory in the Champions Mile at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, the first race of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series races.
2008 Breeders' Cup Challenge Schedule
The Breeders' Cup Challenge series is highlighted by its 'Win and You're In' provision, with the winner of each of the Challenge races automatically qualifying for the corresponding divisional race in the two-day, fourteen-race, $25 million Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held October 24 and 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Here is the schedule for 2008 Breeders' Cup Challenge races.
| 27-Apr | | | |
| Race | Track | Division | TV |
| Champions Mile (I) | Sha Tin | Mile | TVG |
| 5-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | TV |
| Salvator Mile (III) | Monmouth Park | Dirt Mile | ESPN2 |
| United Nations (I) | Monmouth Park | Turf | ESPN2 |
| 12-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Princess Rooney (I) | Calder | F&M Sprint | HRTV |
| Smile Sprint (II) | Calder | Sprint | HRTV |
| 13-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Delaware H. (II) | Delaware Park | Ladies Classic | ESPN2 |
| 19-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| San Diego H. (II) | Del Mar | Dirt Mile | ESPN |
| Greenwood Cup | Philadelphia Park | Marathon | ESPN |
| 26-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Whitney H. (I) | Saratoga | Classic | ABC |
| Go For Wand (I) | Saratoga | Ladies Classic | ABC |
| Diana (I) | Saratoga | F&M Turf | ABC |
| A.G. Vanderbilt H. (II) | Saratoga | Sprint | ABC |
| 30-Jul | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Cougar II Handicap | Del Mar | Marathon | TVG |
| Aug. 3 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| John C. Mabee (I) | Del Mar | F&M Turf | TVG |
| Aug. 9 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Arlington Million (I) | Arlington Park | Turf | ESPN |
| Beverly D. (I) | Arlington Park | F&M Turf | ESPN |
| Aug. 16 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Sword Dancer (I) | Saratoga | Turf | TVG/HRTV |
| Aug. 17 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Longacres Mile (III) | Emerald Downs | Dirt Mile | TVG |
| Aug. 23 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Arlington Sprint | Arlington Park | Turf Sprint | HRTV |
| Del Mar H. (II) | Del Mar | Turf | TVG |
| Aug. 24 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Pacific Classic (I) | Del Mar | Classic | ESPN2 |
| Rancho Bernardo (III) | Del Mar | F&M Sprint | ESPN2 |
| Del Mar Mile H. (II) | Del Mar | Mile | ESPN2 |
| Pat O'Brien H. (II) | Del Mar | Sprint | ESPN2 |
| Ballerina S. (I) | Saratoga | F&M Sprint | ESPN2 |
| Sept. 7 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Woodbine Mile (Can I) | Woodbine | Mile | HRTV |
| Sept. 14 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Natalma S. (Can III) | Woodbine | Juvenile Fillies Turf | HRTV |
| Sept. 20 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Massachusetts H. | Suffolk Downs | Classic | TVG |
| Tiznow S. | Louisiana Downs | Dirt Mile | TVG |
| Sept. 24 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Morvich H. * (III) | Oak Tree | Turf Sprint | TVG |
| Sept. 27 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Jockey Club Gold Cup (I) | Belmont Park | Classic | TVG/HRTV |
| Goodwood S. (I) | Oak Tree | Classic | TVG |
| Lady's Secret S. (I) | Oak Tree | Ladies Classic | TVG |
| Yellow Ribbon S. (I) | Oak Tree | F&M Turf | TVG |
| Oak Leaf S. (I) | Oak Tree | Juvenile Fillies | TVG |
| Ancient Title S. (I) | Oak Tree | Sprint | TVG |
| Queen Elizabeth II S. (I) | Ascot | Mile | TVG |
| Fillies' Mile (I) | Ascot | Juvenile Fillies Turf | TVG |
| Royal Lodge S. (II) | Ascot | Juvenile Turf | TVG |
| Sept. 28 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Miss Grillo S. (III) | Belmont Park | Juvenile Fillies Turf | TVG |
| Norfolk S. (I) | Oak Tree | Juvenile | TVG |
| Oak Tree Mile S. (II) | Oak Tree | Mile | TVG |
| Pilgrim S. (III) | Belmont Park | Juvenile Turf | TVG/HRTV |
| Oct. 3 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Darley Alcibiades S. (I) | Keeneland | Juvenile Fillies | TVG |
| Oct. 4 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| TCOA S. (III) | Keeneland | F&M Sprint | TVG |
| Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (I) | Keeneland | Juvenile | TVG |
| Shadwell Mile (I) | Keeneland | Mile | TVG |
| Nearctic S. (Can II) | Woodbine | Turf Sprint | ESPN |
| Canadian International (Can I) | Woodbine | Turf | ESPN |
| E.P. Taylor S. (Can I) | Woodbine | F&M Turf | ESPN |
| Summer S. (Can III) | Woodbine | Juvenile Turf | ESPN |
| Champagne S. (I) | Belmont Park | Juvenile | TVG/HRTV |
| Frizette S. (I) | Belmont Park | Juvenile Fillies | TVG/HRTV |
| Oct. 5 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| Juddmonte Spinster S. (I) | Keeneland | Ladies Classic | TVG |
| Woodford Reserve Bourbon S. (III) | Keeneland | Juvenile Turf | TVG |
| Oct. 9 | |||
| Race | Track | Division | |
| JP Morgan Chase Jessamine S. | Keeneland | Juvenile Fillies Turf | TVG |
2008 Breeders Cup Schedule
2008 Breeders’ Cup Schedule of Races:
Friday, October 24
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic
Saturday, October 25
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile
$3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic
$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Friday, October 24
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic
Saturday, October 25
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint
$2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile
$3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf
$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic
$500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon
2008 Belmont Schedule
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