Dec 11
12
Luck – The New HBO Series
“Is it better to be good or is it better to be lucky”? In the case of David Milch and Michael Mann I find that each happens to be both, good and lucky because they have another hit series on their hands in “Luck”.
“Luck” premiered this past Sunday on HBO and I found it to be very entertaining while also very interesting. David Milch has a way of introducing characters that on the surface seem almost ordinary but happen to be very compelling with a dark side. And throughout his past television series these intense characters take us back and forth from one side to the other as we slowly sink into their thoughts and actions.
The characters introduced in just the first hour of “Luck” already have my mind and emotions going into different directions. For instance the “old man” trainer that finally has the horse he has waited for his entire life. The ‘”aging gangster” that just got out of prison and is trying to latch back on as payment for what is owed him. The “young unknown jockey” seemingly talented enough to become a star. The group of “track buddies” that finally get their big score.
There is no telling what’s going to happen with these characters but it will ceratinly be an interesting ride finding out.
One other thought I would like to address is that the horse racing industry is hurting in a big way. It seems more politicians would like to do away with the entire industry instead of trying to help it. So with the introduction of a series based on horse racing I was hoping for it to be a huge success and for it to turn more people onto the sport. However if “Luck” is going to create more people getting into Thoroughbred racing than it’s going to have to add characters that smile. Characters that don’t walk around with that “dark cloud” over them.
Maybe it wont happen in this series. Perhaps it was never the intent of the makers of “Luck” to try and build such an audience but it would have been nice. Surely “Luck” will be a big hit whether or not it creates new fans for Thoroughbred racing. I was just looking for the win-win situation. I guess I am still a dreamer. For some Thoroughbred racing will always have that dark cloud hanging over it. For me, that dark cloud is really a rainbow.
Posted in Uncategorized by .
Oct 11
25
Breeders’ Cup Coverage 2011
Well, once again it’s time for Breeders’ Cup Weekend and of course I am thrilled. I mean why not? Once again we get to see racing’s best go at each other for two days and the cliche’ of “anything can happen” will certainly come to life as these races unfold.
At NickBorg.com we will be covering every race on BC Weekend including the entire Friday and Saturday race cards offering Selections and Analysis as well as some Spot Plays allong with our noted Pick-3 and Pick-4 Outlines.
I have already been doing some homework on these great races and in fact at this point I feel it’s important to get a grip on which horses have been the most visually impressive during their morning works.
Workings: My man at the track tells me that Turallure is going to surprise many. He has been working extremely well and his last two works were done over a wet and very loose turf course where Turallure was just gobbling up the ground as his rider sat motionless. In fact he has been looking this great during his last 3 works. So he figures to fire big on race day.
Royal Delta seems ready to give her best race yet. Bill Mott has her fresh and revved up where she seems to be sitting on a huge effort.
To Honor and Serve has been working very well with Blinkers. He has never worn them prior so it will be ntersting to see if he actually has them on race day. Honor has a tendency to bear out during his stretch runs however with the Blinks added for the works he has stopped bearing out. So improvement has already taken place.
Closing Notes: The BC races are usually so competitive that several horses in each field have the talent and ability to win. Therefore in most instances the horse that wins these races is usually the horse that benefits the most from the trip. Analyzing the way each race will be run is very critical in BC races. I recommend spending more time trying to interpret each races pace scenario and concentrate on how the running of the race will unfold.
Good Luck to All and Enjoy a Great Weekend of Racing!
Aug 11
30
The Return of Uncle Mo
Late last year I saw a 3-year-old colt named Uncle Mo win The Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park in a hand ride after dueling early in a first quarter in :22 1/5th seconds. Now, in my estimation, if you can last on the lead at 6 or 7 furlongs after running the first quarter in :22 1./5th seconds I consider that a nice performance.
But getting 1-mile after dueling through the first half of the race posting a :22 1/5th opening quarter is eye opening. And finishing in a hand ride and coming home in a very good :24 seconds is pretty darn impressive to say the least. And quite simply doing it as a 2-year-old means that something pretty special is going on. Of course by the time of Mo’s following victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile everyone knew of the capability’s Uncle Mo.
To start his 3-year-old campaign Uncle Mo was enetered in the 1-mile Timely Writer. But why? I couldn’t understand why this horse, with the chance of being great, was entered in a race and at a distance that just didn’t seem able enough to allow the needed conditioning and foundation to get 1 1/4 miles about 50 days and just one more prep race later.
In Mo’s following race, The Wood Memorial he was allowed the early lead under soft splits and caved in late. I just couldn’t believe that Mo looked so bad. The works prior to the Wood were not very good. And I was up in arms stating that Mo will never get 1 1/4 miles in The Derby training and racing so lightly. I couldn’t believe Pletcher woukld rely on Mo’s talent so heavily without insuring that Mo can get 1 1/4 miles in the Derby.
In retrospect did Pletcher realize something was wrong or different with Mo the prior months before launching his 3-yer-old campaign? What would better explain the weird campaign Mo had been given to start his 3-year-old season?
Either way I guess that’s all in the past. Uncle Mo is healthy again and looked very good rating sprinting off the early lead this past Saturday. He turned on the juice heading home and got to the top in the stretch in a hotly contested comeback race against a solid field.
He seemed leg weary late and got beat at the wire but I feel it was a great effort to build on. I expect Mo to be his old self next time out having this race under his belt and will show us his brillinace once again.
Stay Thirsty has risen to the top of the heap! Once regarded as Uncle Mo’s stable-mate Stay Thirsty has won his way to the top of the 3-year-old division.
After just missing the victory in The Belmont Stakes by 3/4′s of a length he followed that giant effort with an easy win in The Jim Dandy drawing away late andagain followed that giant effort by taking down The Travers.
Heading into the Jim Dandy and again into The Travers I had stated that we still have not seen Stay Thirsty’s best race. What followed were 2 giant efforts by an improving 3-year-old that many had written off earlier during this year.
Now, arguably perhaps, Stay Thirsty sits atop the 3-year-old division. If he takes down another big race this season …well that’s a no brainer!
May 11
23
Where it’s Really At
I am so tired of hearing it. It’s the same talk every year for the past I don’t know how many years. “They are an ordinary bunch”, “They are a slow bunch”, “They are a substandard group”, “He’s not worthy of a Triple Crown”.
Every year the Thoroughbred industry leaders use these same horrible terms to describe the 3-year-olds battling for the Triple Crown. I am tired of hearing it. And frankly, they don’t know what they are talking about.
Most people have come to terms with the fact that the Thoroughbred is not the same animal it used to be. They don’t stand up to the rigors of running and training like they used to. Basically these days the Thoroughbred needs more time in between races to recover and they don’t have the tenacity to keep coming back with huge efforts race after race especially when considering the classic distances.
The breed has changed because the method of breeding changed say about 30 years ago. There was more emphasis put on breeding for speed instead of breeding for stamina back then. Therefore the speed influence has changed the breed we currently know.
Of course we still will find greatness in the breed as we just witnessed it the past 2 years with Zenyatta for one. But on average the breed has declined in performance and that’s a fact we all have to face right now. However I just don’t think it’s corect to disrespect the runners of today. They always seem to get less respect than they deserve. If a horse wins 2 of the 3 Triple Crown events he is not considered to be great. ok, I agree with that. But don’t just dismiss the horse and say “ehh, another year without a Triple Crown Champ” and “He’s ordinary”.
Every year I read our industry leaders comments and it amazes me that they just toss aside these horses and their monumental efforts because they fall a little short.
These horses are not average or ordinary but they are dispelled as if they were. Anyone who really saw what was going on in this year’s Preakness Stakes realizes the great effort that was given by the winner and the horse that just came up short. Ordinary, not in the least. A little bit slower than say the all time greats, yes, but not ordinary at all.
Since there hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner for so many years why don’t we just come to terms with the existing Thoroughbred and it is what it is and not for a lack of effort, can’t win the Crown right now? Why not still embrace these horses for trying their best and instead of knocking the industry that built the careers of these so called industry leaders where they still draw paychecks from, why not embarce what we have these days?
You know I have come to realize that these leaders are the ones dragging this industry down. They are the real problem as to why moral and spirit in this game are so low. Why don’t they give something back instead of just keep knocking it. I guess in reality they are not leaders. Leaders are supposed to be followed. These guys would lead us to oblivion.
I want to see a Triple Crown winner. We all do. But till it happens I will still be yelling for that 21-1 shot to win the Derby.I mean how sweet was that? I for one realize that the 3-year-olds that are being dismissed as ordinary and substandard are the winners of the major stakes races and Breeders’ Cups of tomorrow.
And finally, after this Saturday’s incredible Preakness battle shouldn’t the headlines in this industry’s top tabloids have read ”What A Finish” ! instead of the ordinary and substandard tripe they usually peddle?
Posted in state of racing triple crown by .
