Haynesfield
October 8th 2010 03:28
The Jockey Club Gold Cup (1 1/4 mile - Grade 1) at Belmont Park was supposed to provide another victory for Blame, the horse believed by many to be the best male in the US, and horse most capable of ending Zenyatta’s unbeaten 19 win winning streak when both meet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta continues to fulfil her side of the bargain, even if her 19th win was by a narrow margin, and took all of the Hollywood Park straight for Mike Smith to push her to victory over Switch in the Lady’s Secret.
But the unfashionable Haynesfield rewrote the Breeders’ Cup Classic script when he turned around an 11 1/2 length defeat by Blame in the Whitney in August, into a comprehensive 4 length victory over the same horse in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Jockey Ramon Dominquez got away with murder when he was allowed to dictate the speed off very slow fractions - stoking Haynesfield up at the half-mile pole, moving 7 lengths clear with a furlong to run, and never allowing Blame (or any other challenger) to draw close as he cruised home to win. It was a brilliant ride - but it is unlikely that Dominquez would be again allowed to lead on Haynesfield as he did in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and ultimately steal a Grade 1 race, without next time another jockey seeking to challenge earlier and improve their position (and winning chances).
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Haynesfield will (most likely) proceed on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and another clash with Blame - as well as other contenders in Zenyatta, Lookin At Lucky, and Quality Road. It seems unlikely that in the biggest race of the year Haynesfield will be allowed to dictate off such slow sectionals. He is likely to go around as an outsider again.
Haynesfield has proven a track specialist at Belmont Park, now having 5 wins from his 6 starts at the track. And he has now pushed his earnings past $US1 million. Often a winner in lesser Grade races, Haynesfield has prove a good acquisition for Turtle Bird Stable. Although recognised from an early age as having a long stride and high cruising speed, the chestnut son of Speightown has always been nominated by the stable as ‘not having a perfect conformation’.
Though imperfect - and sometimes inconsistent - Haynesfield nonetheless has now earned his place to race against a field of the very best.
Haynesfield an easy winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Zenyatta continues to fulfil her side of the bargain, even if her 19th win was by a narrow margin, and took all of the Hollywood Park straight for Mike Smith to push her to victory over Switch in the Lady’s Secret.
But the unfashionable Haynesfield rewrote the Breeders’ Cup Classic script when he turned around an 11 1/2 length defeat by Blame in the Whitney in August, into a comprehensive 4 length victory over the same horse in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Jockey Ramon Dominquez got away with murder when he was allowed to dictate the speed off very slow fractions - stoking Haynesfield up at the half-mile pole, moving 7 lengths clear with a furlong to run, and never allowing Blame (or any other challenger) to draw close as he cruised home to win. It was a brilliant ride - but it is unlikely that Dominquez would be again allowed to lead on Haynesfield as he did in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and ultimately steal a Grade 1 race, without next time another jockey seeking to challenge earlier and improve their position (and winning chances).
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Haynesfield will (most likely) proceed on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and another clash with Blame - as well as other contenders in Zenyatta, Lookin At Lucky, and Quality Road. It seems unlikely that in the biggest race of the year Haynesfield will be allowed to dictate off such slow sectionals. He is likely to go around as an outsider again.
Haynesfield has proven a track specialist at Belmont Park, now having 5 wins from his 6 starts at the track. And he has now pushed his earnings past $US1 million. Often a winner in lesser Grade races, Haynesfield has prove a good acquisition for Turtle Bird Stable. Although recognised from an early age as having a long stride and high cruising speed, the chestnut son of Speightown has always been nominated by the stable as ‘not having a perfect conformation’.
Though imperfect - and sometimes inconsistent - Haynesfield nonetheless has now earned his place to race against a field of the very best.
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