Shared Belief v.s. California Chrome In a Rematch...? | Retama Ruffian

So with the HOY decisions still up in the air, who really deserves it more, Shared Belief or California Chrome? The Breeders' Cup Classic should have been the deciding factor but with the controversial start and an intersting stewards' decision nobody really knows. Or they cannot begin to think about that now. Not with the fact that there could be a possible rematch between the huge rivals (who have only faced each other once), Shared Belief and California Chrome.

Art Sherman is sure that had the race been ten yards longer, his Kentucky Derby and Preakness winning trainee would have swept his rivals off their feet. But the past, is the past and they're is no reason to dwell on the "possible" winner. So Perry Martin is set on the fact that California Chrome will not race in Japan and he will certainly not running in the $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. According to BloodHorse, California Chrome will be headed to the Hollywood Derby at Del Mar. This will be his first start over turf.

If you are a huge "Chromie", DO NOT READ.
California Chrome's connections are huge jerks. Before they won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, I had a high respect for them but after their big classic wins all of their money and fame went to their heads. Anyone else remember when Del Mar wanted Martin and Perry to come over to breeze in front of his fans? The owners reply, come up with $50,000 and then we'll come. The owners have made it clear that they will not be starting Chrome for less than $1M next year. So now they're going to try to copy Shared Belief's effortless change from synthetic to dirt, but this time dirt to turf (or possibly synthetic)? STOP IT! Drop the rivalry. They both ran an amazing race and both horses deserve HOY. Aren't you going to stop trying to be better than last year's 2-YO Champion? Like, really? Aren't you the owners of the "People's Horse"? Isn't this sport about the horse, not the money? I guess not.  Rant over.

Shared Belief got bumped at the start by Bayern and I'm going to keep my mouth shut on this one. I don't want a heated discussion below. But the California horse from nowhere overcame his bumpy start to finish a well-ran fourth. Jim Rome, the majority owner of Shared Belief, wants a California Chrome-Shared Belief. This rematch will most likely be in the $10M Dubai World Cup, if there is not a sooner race.

So who do you think will win the Shared Belief-California Chrome retmatch, Clones and Chromies?

Until next time,
Madison

Breeders' Cup Playback (Friday and Saturday) | Retama Ruffian

Juvenile Turf-

1 M, Turf, $1M

Hootenanny railed past the inexperienced, yet highly regarded Luck of the Kitten. Wesley Ward finished 1-2 in the Juvenile Turf. Coolmore owns the Quality Road colt who has now started five times and has triumphed in three countries. Daddy D T upset for third place.

Dirt Mile-

1 M, Dirt, $1M

Goldencents, who made his final start in the Dirt Mile, became the only two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Goldencents was challenged by Vicar's In Trouble throughout the entire first quarter. In the stretch Tapiture attempted to bypass Goldencents but narrowly failed.

Mile-

1 M, Turf, $2M

Karakontie (JPN) paid $62 to win with the odds of 30/1. Karakontie rallied along the stretch turn to over take Toronado and Obviously. The three-year old victor had previously only raced in France. He was bred in Japan by his owner, Flaxman Holdings, and is trained by Jonathan Pease.

Xpressbet Sprint-

6F, Dirt, $1.5M

Work All Week went into the race with a seven for seven record on dirt. He tracked Fast Anna throughout the first half and took the lead, unchallenged. In the final ⅛ Secret Circle attempted to overtake the lead but the gelding held off the challenger to pay $40.20.

Turf Sprint-

6 ½F, Turf, $1M

Bobby’s Kitten entered the race having never racing less than one mile, but the 3-YO homebred surged from last to first, overcoming the favorite, No Nay Never. Chad Brown received his third 2014 Breeders’ Cup win.  

Filly & Mare Sprint-

7F, Dirt, $1M

Judy the Beauty, who was runner-up to Groupie Doll in 2013, finished a head in front of Better Lucky. Judy the Beauty took the lead from Stonestastic near the eighth pole. The race was completed in 1:21.92.

Filly & Mare Turf

1 ¼M, Turf, $2M

Dayatthespa got her first win at 1 ¼ mile and gave Chad Brown his second win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup. Dayatthespa beat the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, Stephanie’s Kitten. Dank, the 2-1 favorite, finished 4th.

Juvenile Fillies-

1 1/16M, Dirt, $2M

62-1 Take Charge Brandi, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, had a huge upset over the favorite Angela Renee. Take Charge Brandi took the reins of the race at the start and never let up, not even to the fast-closing Top Docile.

Juvenile Fillies Turf-

1M, Turf, $1M

Lady Eli set the fastest record ever for the Juvenile Fillies Turf and even finished :1.38 seconds faster than Hootenanny in the Juvenile Turf. Sunset Glow finished 2 ¾ lengths back, followed by Osaila (IRE).

Longines Distaff-

1 ⅛M, Dirt, $2M

Untapable, undoubtedly the Champion 3-YO Female, added a cherry to the top of her huge sundae with a 1 ¼ length win over Don’t Tell Sophia. The second ML favorite, Close Hatches, finished dead last.

Longines Turf-

1M, Turf, $2M

Main Sequence won his fourth grade one race with trainer Graham Motion. He held back until the final quarter, where he charged Flintshire (GB) to win by a half length. Finishing the superfecta was Twilight Eclipse and Telescope (IRE).

Sentient Jet Juvenile-

1 1/16M, Dirt, $2M

Winning by 6 ½ lengths, Texas Red, rushed from first to last to upset the favorite Carpe Diem. The race was finished by Upstart and The Great War.

Classic-

1 ¼M, Dirt, $5M

Bayern wired the field in the 1 ¼ mile Classic after bumping into Shared Belief at the start. Toast of New York came 2nd, California Chrome finished third and the favored Shared Belief completed the superfecta.

Breeders' Cup Friday (QUICK) Wrap Up

I'll be honest I wasn't really into Breeders' Cup Friday. Perhaps it was because I watched all of the races on my phone. And maybe because I was only into two races, the Dirt Mile and the Distaff.

The Dirt Mile was the only race I didn't watch and that was because I was handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. 😝 I don't think the race was that impressive from what I heard. But I'll be honest, I was Goldencents to win and Tapiture to come second. I was hoping that Vicar's In Trouble would have ran third but I am now hoping his injury was too serious and that he recovers quickly.

The Distaff had an obvious winner before the race started. Untapable. I didn't want her to win but I had to face the facts. Congratulations to Tapit for shattering the single-season earnings of a North American site. Close Hatches does not seem like she wants to run anymore. She came dead last. Retire Close Hatches and breed her. She might be a good sale but I'm not so sure with her last few finishes...

To Rosie Napravnik (for the very, very small chance of you stumbling upon this article) congratulations on your pregnancy. Seven weeks. I'm glad to hear you will stay in the buisness with your husband. I really hope your baby is a girl and she (or he!) follows your footsteps. We'll see you soon in the Derby winner circle but this time next to the horse, not on him.

Until next time,
Madison