Real Racing Starts After Triple Crown

Horseplayers know that the real racing starts after the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown is for the public, casual players that like to show up at the racetrack in fancy hats. Horseplayers, those of us who want to make money at the track, know that summer racing is where it's at.

Summer is the time when the best horses show up in the biggest races. Saratoga and Del Mar is where the big American horses prep for the Breeders Cup. This year should be no different. See below for info on 6 of the top horses currently training. Not surprisingly, 3 are trained by Bob Baffert.

Arrogate

The best horse in the world should prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. He might run in the San Diego Handicap. He might run in the Pacific Classic. Bob might want to put him in both races. The handicap division out West has no horses capable of staying with Arrogate. Both the San Diego and  P. Classic should be nothing more than highly-paid workouts for the incredibly talented son of Unbridled's Song.

Songbird

Her win in the Ogden Phipps was as professional as it gets. If Mike Smith had wanted to, he could have gotten much more out of the Jerry Hollendorfer monster filly. The latest is that she stays on the East Coast and preps in the Delaware Handicap in July. She might have another prep before the Breeders" Cup Distaff. I think Hollendorfer has decided to keep her away from Stellar Wind, the only equine that could possibly challenge her in the filly and mare division, until the BC Distaff.

Shaman Ghost

Trainer James Jerkens hasn't announced Shaman Ghost's next race. He'll most likely prep for the Breeders' Cup in one of Saratoga's signature races, the Whitney or Woodward. Why not run in both?

Drefong

He's on the comeback trail. If I know Bob, he's going to prep Drefong in one big sprint race at Del Mar. Then, he'll prep him one more time before the Breeders' Cup Sprint. The Breeders' Cup is at Del Mar this year. Who knows? Baffert might keep him at Del Mar until the sprint.

Mor Spirit

Mor Spirits performance in the Met Mile speaks for itself. This guy has truly grown up. I remember him being smaller as a three-year-old. He should be able to run for days. It's not likely that Baffert puts him in longer races. But, if he decides to save Arrogate for the BC Classic by only running that one in the San Diego, Mor Spirit could show up in the Pacific Classic. We shall see.

Gun Runner

Wow. I waited to write this blog because I wanted to see what Gun Runner did in the Stephen Foster this past Saturday. That was unbelievable. I'm not sure if he's as good as Arrogate. I do know that he showed an acceleration that I hadn't seen before. If he maintains his form, he'll be a viable contender in the Breeders' Cup Classic.