Breeder's Cup WeBLOG

It seems like every week thoroughbred racing loses another one of its equine stars and this week is no exception. The Eclipse Award winning sprinter of 2005, the hero and the heartthrob of Northern California racing, LOST IN THE FOG was put down Sunday September 17 at Golden Gate Fields, just three weeks after veterinarians found inoperable cancerous tumors in his spleen and along his spine.


According to reports, trainer Greg Gilchrist had just finished grazing LOST IN THE FOG outside his barn at the Bay Area track when the horse went into distress. Gilchrist said, “We accomplished what we wanted to do. It was all about giving him quality time. We did everything we could for him. He was happy and content right up to the end. He went quietly and easily.”


It was a sad and bittersweet conclusion to an all-too-brief racing career that saw LOST IN THE FOG start out with ten consecutive victories before finishing off the board as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last October at Belmont Park in New York.


What I remember most about LOST IN THE FOG and the Breeders’ Cup is not how the race ended, but just how gracious and accommodating Greg Gilchrist was with the fans, his fellow horsemen, and the racing media. I remember having an at-length conversation with him at the festive Thursday night VIP party at Belmont Park. He agreed to join us on our Thoroughbred Connection broadcast Breeders’ Cup morning and freely offered his mobile phone number so we wouldn’t have any trouble getting a hold of him.


Thinking back, it was the only Breeders’ Cup race I didn’t bet that day. I just wanted to focus on watching the race and pulling for LOST IN THE FOG to perform well without having to worry about how any wagers turned out.


Thanks for the memories LOST IN THE FOG! And thank you Greg Gilchrist for making it enjoyable to cover last year’s event!


One of my favorite human stars in racing, jockey Patrick Valenzuela, made an unexpected and successful return to the saddle Sunday at Woodbine. PVal, riding for the first time since July 16, replaced the injured Corey Nakatani and piloted the Neil Drysdale-trained BECRUX to victory in the G1 $1 Million Woodbine Mile. I realize there are more than a few Patrick Valenzuela critics –I dare say “haters”– out there, but don’t count me among them! Even though he’s let me down more than once after committing to an interview or an appearance on a broadcast, he’s always been courteous and friendly. I remember last year at Santa Anita I was in the saddling barn after a race, and Patrick said “hi” to me but I was concentrating on something else. He turned to face me and said, “What’s up, John? Aren’t you talking to me anymore?”


Congratulations to Bill Pietschmann, the week three winner in our Thoroughbred Connection "Road To The Cup" handicapping contest. His entry included the double-digit Monmouth Park winner JERSEY PEACH. The races for week four are already posted on the handicapping contest page and this week's entry code is TIZNOW, the only two-time winner of the BC Classic.


The big news in the NTRA Breeders’ Cup rankings was the debut of the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies polls. Hopeful Stakes winner CIRCULAR QUAY and Del Mar Futurity champion HORSE GREELEY are one-two in the Juvenile poll, while Del Mar Debutante winner POINT ASHLEY and Schuylerville victress COTTON BLOSSOM top the Juvenile Fillies division.