There's no telling how 2012 will end, but at the very least this year is getting off to a much faster start than 2011. A year ago at this time, the sport was being held hostage by Uncle Mo, as an industry starved for a Triple Crown champion eagerly awaited the 3-year-old debut of the much ballyhooed reigning juvenile champ. It turned out, he did not make it to the racetrack until March 12, and when he did he pretty much set the tone for one of the more disappointing seasons in recent memory.
But now, here it is the first week of February and last year’s juvenile champ, Hansen, has already been to the races.
Promising Triple Crown candidates like Alpha, Liaison and Rousing Sermon will be in action this weekend.
Game on Dude, one of the best older horses in training, starts his campaign Sunday in the San Antonio at Santa Anita, and Animal Kingdom, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, is expected to make his first start since the 2011 Belmont Stakes on Feb. 25 in the Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
And it’s only Feb. 4.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Putting it all together, last Sunday’s Holy Bull at Gulfstream changed the outlook for the Triple Crown as Algorithms was a convincing winner with Hansen finishing second to absorb his first career loss.
Algorithms, trained by Todd Pletcher, was much the best in the Holy Bull, winning by five lengths. Better than that, his final time of 1:36.17 for the one-turn mile was not that taxing. With the Kentucky Derby three months away, he still has plenty of time and room to develop into a legitimate Triple Crown contender.
As for Hansen, he might be the division champ but his stamina – especially at a classic distance – was suspect coming into the year and the Holy Bull only seemed to strengthen that perception.
The only silver lining for Hansen is that he stumbled at the start and the race was contested on a sloppy, sealed track. Maybe one or both were valid excuses and he’ll revert to top form on a fast track.
Time will tell, though in the meantime, Saturday’s Withers at Aqueduct and Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita promises to fill in more of the blanks about this 3-year-old crop.
Alpha should have little problem handling his rivals in the Withers, while Liaison and Rousing Sermon, who were 1-2 in the Cash Call Futurity, will face a more severe test from the likes of Empire Way, Isn’t He Clever and Sky Kingdom in the Lewis.
Lest we forget, the Strub is also scheduled for Saturday at Santa Anita and it will bring together Tapizar, Jaycito, Ultimate Eagle and Prayer for Relief.
Yes, it’s a heckuva good weekend for racing – in early February, no less – and I’m guessing things will be getting even better before too long.
And what are your thoughts? Do you like what you’ve seen so far in 2012? Are we looking at a big year for racing?
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