TIPS HIPICOS
Semana del 1 al 8 de Junio de 2008

Big Brown Attempts to Make History in Belmont Stakes

By Ellis Starr

The 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes could be an event of historic proportions if Big Brown can do what 10 other horses who won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes failed to do since Affirmed last captured all three legs of the Triple Crown in 1978. If Big Brown wins the Belmont his name can be spoken alongside the great Seattle Slew, who was the last horse to enter and exit the three championship events undefeated when doing so in 1977. Those attempting the bittersweet role of spoiler include Peter Pan Stakes winner Casino Drive, Preakness runner-up Macho Again as well as Kentucky Derby third and fourth-place finishers Denis of Cork and Tale of Ekati, respectively. Potential early leader and recent Barbaro Stakes runner-up Da’ Tara might have a say in the outcome, as might Peter Pan third-place finisher Ready’s Echo and Preakness third-place finisher Icabad Crane. Anak Nakal and surprise late entrant Guadalcanal, who has yet to break his maiden in five career starts, round out the field that might become an afterthought if Big Brown becomes the 12th Triple Crown winner.

With it appearing that only his own physical issues, such as his feet, stand in the way of greatness, Big Brown is the one to beat in the Belmont Stakes. In terms of his Equibase® Speed Figures, Big Brown possesses a “quadruple advantage,” with even the lowest of his last four figures, 114 earned in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, being better than any other Belmont entrant’s best figure in any of their last four races, actually better than any other Belmont entrant in this field has ever earned. With the ability to put himself in good position from the start, even wide, and with what appears to be a series of gears to use throughout the race like a car, Big Brown should take some beating and is likely to emerge with the first Triple Crown series win since Affirmed 30 years ago.

Da’ Tara earned his best Speed Figure ever in his last race, 107, when finishing second in the Barbaro Stakes, which was run on the same day as Big Brown’s Preakness victory. Having improved from an 82 figure three races back to a 91 figure before the 107 last out, and with more improving to do, Da’ Tara could possess an early speed edge in that he led from the start in the Barbaro and was very tough for winner Roman Emperor to pass late, with Da’ Tara still three and one-quarter lengths clear of the third-place finisher. Having run a good race at Belmont when second in his debut last September, and as a son of Tiznow bred to run the grueling mile and one-half distance of the Belmont, Da’ Tara gets slight preference over the other potential spoilers to a historic Belmont Stakes.

Casino Drive also attempts to make history, because if he wins it will be the first time that progeny of the same dam, in this case Better Than Honour, won the Belmont Stakes three years in a row. With his half-brother Jazil having captured the race in 2006 and his half-sister Rags to Riches having gamely won the race last year, Casino Drive has been pointed to this race since his 11 length debut win in February in Japan, in a 13-horse field running a mile and one-eighth, a very tough question to ask a first time starter and one that Casino Drive answered with aplomb. Two and one-half months later, in only the second start of his career, Casino Drive won the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes by five and three-quarter lengths, earning a 108 Equibase® that if improved upon could get him into the range of the 114 figure Big Brown earned winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Macho Again improved off a 100 winning the Derby Trial stakes to a 107 figure when second in the Preakness to Big Brown, and he has potential for further improvement in the Belmont. In the Preakness, Macho Again won the “race within the race,” as there was no beating Big Brown, who was well ahead by the time Macho Again got into high gear, Macho Again still passed six horses to win the race for second by a half-length over Icabad Crane. As such, Macho Again could have something to say in the Belmont with another step forward in his form cycle.

Tale of Ekati earned a career best 107 when winning the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in April then regressed to a 99 when fourth in the Kentucky Derby. Ready’s Echo rallied from last to third in the Peter Pan to earn his second consecutive 99 figure in a row. Icabad Crane earned his second straight improvement in figures when garnering a 106 in finishing a half-length behind Macho Again and five and one-quarter lengths behind Big Brown in the Preakness. Denis of Cork rebounded to a 103 figure when third in the Kentucky Derby after a poor effort and (99) figures in the Illinois Derby. Anak Nakal was never a factor when seventh in the Kentucky Derby, earning a 94 figure, with his best 2008 effort his fifth-place finish (and 102 figure) in the Wood Memorial. Guadalcanal, still a maiden after five career starts, earned an 85 figure in a 1 ½-mile turf race at Churchill in his last start. As such, none of them seem to be capable for a top four finish in the Belmont Stakes if Big Brown, Da’ Tara, Casino Drive and Macho Again repeat or better their most recent efforts.

Entre los traqueos y ajustes importantes de los días miércoles y jueves registrados en la pista principal del Hipódromo La Rinconada - Caracas, se pueden destacar:

GRAN SLUGGER, 400 mt. en 24"3 en silla, con Richard Braho, en su accionar se vió de película. IMPERIAL ROD, 600 mt. en 36"3 en silla, con Eder Martínez Jr, de forma excelente y muy recuperado. REAL PRADO, 600 mt. en 38"1 en silla, con Santiago González, controlándole la velocidad. STEINBECK, 600 mt. en 36"3 en silla, con Cesar Torres, mostrando calidad y luciendo un misil.

RICHARD, BLACK ZAFIRO Y DUBAI DREAM, jugarán como Línea, Casi Fija y El Tajo, el día Sábado respectivamente, en el juego del 5 y 6 Nacional Electrónico, a disputarse en la arena del Hipódromo " La Rinconada ", Caracas.

Para ganarse unos cobres (08) PRADO DEL REY y (13) GRAN SLUGGER, rumba taquillera para éste próximo fin de semana en la Rinconada !!!

Queremos invitarles que jueguen el 5 y 6 Electrónico tradicional de nosotros los venezolanos, en las taquillas del INH o Centros Hípicos adscritos al INH, ya que últimamente ha arrojado dividendos muy buenos para los afortunados ganadores que acierten con 5 ó 6 ejemplares.

También queremos invitarles cordialmente ésta semana a que se suscriban con nosotros vía internet por correo electrónico, para que empiezen a disfrutar desde la comodidad de su computadora, de la mejor y más efectiva información hípica para el Hipódromo de La Rinconada que Ud. desee jugar y probar suerte en éste deporte sin igual, vamos anímense y suscribanse por una pequeña inversión semanal, quincenal o mensual !!!

Saludos y muy buena suerte ésta semana !!!

RETIRADOS - LA RINCONADA

JUNTA LIQUIDADORA DEL INH
HIPÓDROMO LA RINCONADA

RELACIÓN DE EJEMPLARES RETIRADOS

SABADO 3 DE MAYO DE 2008 REUNIÓN No. 035
CARRERA No. EJEMPLAR MOTIVO ORIGEN
1ª. 1 TORNADOR CÓLICO INSP. VET.
2ª. 2 BALBI JUNK DISPOSICIÓN REGLAMENTARIA COMISARIATO
4ª. 3 GREAT BLACK TRAUMATISMO CARPO M. A. D. INSP. VET.
4ª. 4 POWER HORSE INFLAMACIÓN NUDO M. P. D. INSP. VET.
6ª. 1 PASO DEL SOL DISPOSICIÓN REGLAMENTARIA COMISARIATO
7ª. 5 SINCULPA C. M. P. D. INSP. VET.
11ª. 9 EL GRAN JOTABE CÓLICO INSP. VET.
12ª. 10 PLAYA HERMOSA TENDONITIS M. A. Izq. INSP. VET.

DOMINGO 4 DE MAYO DE 2008 REUNIÓN No. 036
CARRERA No. EJEMPLAR MOTIVO ORIGEN
5ª. 2 MOREJON DISPOSICIÓN REGLAMENTARIA COMISARIATO
5ª. 5 SMALL WOLF CÓLICO INSP. VET.
5ª. 10 EXCELENT PARTS DISPOSICIÓN REGLAMENTARIA COMISARIATO
11ª. 7 PIMPINELA DISPOSICIÓN REGLAMENTARIA COMISARIATO