HORSE RACING
Cyberknife Gets His Lizzo On Edging Baffert' Trained Taiba At Monmouth
TURN UP THE MUSIC, TURN OUT THE LIGHTS-CUZ I'M GONNA BE OK, OH YEAH...ALLRIGHT, IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!
July 23, 2022
ybsports staff images
Jockey Florent Geroux guides Cyberknife down the stretch to grab The Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park.
-STORY TO BE UPDATED LATER TODAY
The image above shows just how close the finish was between Taiba and Cyberknife at Monmouth Park
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Monmouth Park Offers A Win And You're In Breeders Cup Stakes Race
Oceanport, ……………… Park Racetrack ……………………
July 23, 2022
YBSPORTS STAFF COLUMN,
Monmouth Park Racetrack should be considered as one of the Crown Jewels’ of the East when lofty rankings are given out each year by the Horse Racing Association. It boasts one of the most picturesque horse racing facilities in the world combined with some of the most magnificent racing you’ll ever see. Each year Monmouth puts on a show worthy of being considered Breeders Cup quality and that’s because their biggest race, The Haskell Stakes, a Grade 1 race, is a qualifying race for the famed Breeders Cup Stakes.
One of the great benefits, or should I say attractions to Monmouth is the welcoming feeling you get that quickly embraces you upon your entering the grounds. From the time you find parking in one of their spacious yet incredibly well kept parking areas, to your walk through the meticulously manicured front gates, there is a signature of embrace. Upon entering you quickly realize that you are about to experience something very special. And that accompanying presence is there even on non big raceday weekends.
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Monmouth Horse racing fans have a special way of showing their love and loyalty to their favorite sports!
THE KENTUCKY DERBY YbSports Staff
Russ Harris ybSports File Photo
Black holes, Novas, Galaxies, and Nebulas…all “things” associated with deep Outerspace. “Things”, that transcend time, and continue to capture our imagination at every age. Over and over again!
Science has taught us that these “things” are light years away from us. This we know because of space exploration and math. As much as some of us would like to believe, we simply can’t catch a flight to any sector of space that we desire. Just ask NASA, the ticket price would be well out of our reach for starters, then there are the time constraints. Anyone got a few weeks to spare for travel? The Super bowl, Wimbledon, the World cup, March Madness and The Olympics… all things associated with earthly venues. These “things” also transcend time, and yes, even they continue to capture our imagination. Television has taught us that these “things” are simply mere hours away from us. This we know because of cable.
Every year of the calendar year on the first Saturday in May, The Kentucky Derby is contested in Louisville, Kentucky. Local weather reports are forecasting heavy rains the might before the Derby in Louisville so the 126th running of the Derby might be run on a sloppy track. But neither rain, nor dark clouds will disturb the beauty, and the pageantry of the Derby, and the track’s ambiance will not be any less brilliant on Saturday than it has been in previous years because of the presence of inclement weather. In fact, the sales of Mint Juleps from previous years have not dropped off because of bad weather if you believe the concessions reports.
Billed as the fastest two minutes in sports, it is often much too short to fulfill our craving and hunger, but just long enough to keep us wanting for more. Louisville is a fascinating city to visit and it offers visitors some of the country’s most amazing attractions. A tour of the “Louisville slugger” baseball factory and museum will leave any fan of sports mesmerized and euphoric. The museum’s center piece is a section that contains baseball bats that have been signed by some of the most gifted players ever to play the game. This is definitely for the baseball lover in you. Then there is Freedom Hall. The venerable college basketball arena made famous by its’ legendary coach Joe B. Hall. I’ve covered many of the big time basketball programs along the east coast and sure, their arenas are large, expensive and antiseptic looking, but they are void of coziness, but not Freedom Hall. Although spacious, and very loud nothing quite compares to the intimacy that Freedom Hall offers its' beloved cardinals and its' famous history.
So if you are going to Louisville and time is permissible, there is one little thing you might want to consider while you're there and that would be taking a stroll across the second street bridge. It’s a bridge of rather ordinary appearance that spans the Ohio River and connects one part of Louisville with another. The Second street bridge is simply put, very common looking except for one minor thing… it just happens to be the same bridge where one of sports most recognizable faces, (Muhammed Ali) threw his USA Olympic Gold Medal from into the Ohio River one night after returning to Louisville from the Olympics. Then there’s the Kentucky Derby…and all that comes with it. This is where your mind can overload thinking about the multitude of amazing sights and sounds you will see and hear. You want beauty…half of Hollywood’s starlets will be there. What’s that you say, show you somebody with dough and lots of it! How about Air, as in Air Jordan. That’s Michael Jordan, as in the owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats basketball team and still proud owner of the title(the world's greatest basketball player, ever). Mike has made Churchill his personal hangout on derby day. Do you like long automobile processions and heavy security? Well, I’ve got just the thing for you, political diplomats! How about those dignitaries, when was the last time a high- ranking diplomat missed a Triple Crown
Race? Which one would you guess will be there this year soaking up all of the attention? This years’ race pits some very accomplished three-year-olds against one another in this grueling one and one quarter mile sprint vying for the 2 million dollar purse. Churchill is still one of the few premier racing surfaces that still use traditional dirt as its topsoil. What’s that you say? I didn’t give you enough or any history on who’s competed at Churchill? Hmmm, let me see. Does the name Man O’ War ring any bells? No? How about The Biscuit, John Henry, Secretariat, Real Quiet, Rachael Alexandra, Big Brown, Smarty Jones, Fusiachi Pegasus, Point Given, and Barbaro to name a few. Do any of these names move you? They should. At one glorious time or another they’ve all graced the front stretch between the majestic Twin Spires with their presence. All of them, remarkable in their efforts and still unforgettable to us. And yes to this day, they all still transcend time and they continue to capture our imagination and our hearts.
ZENYATTA; A LOOK BACK AT GREATNESS
ybSports Staff story Russ Harris
Churchill Downs is a special place to watch a magnificent horse go through its’ early morning practice. Early morning runs are generally the more personal workouts for the horse and its' most adoring companion, the jockey. Present at one of these workouts can often place the observer in a time capsule that can only be described as pleasantly therapeutic. Early morning workouts are commonly framed out in a picturesque setting that is accompanied by a wall of curious fog sitting low and just barely hovering above the surface of the red dirt track and although you cannot see the horse, or his rider you can certainly hear these magnificent animals’, hooves pounding the soft manicured dirt. And if you can inch the remainder of your frame close enough to the railing, and close your eyes, you'll be able to hear the locomotive style breathing of the horse. Remain quiet, ever so quiet and you'll begin to feel the hoofbeats impeding on your chest. Legendary names have been forged on the hallowed grains of dirt and clay that go into making up the turns at Churchill, and the two most recognized spires on the planet that sit atop the front stretch at the Downs. Many great horses and racing figures have all taken their turn at trying to capture the imagination of the racing world and in most cases instant notoriety and fame. But Saturdays' race would bring a different type of energy with it because of a female horse that just happens to stand seventeen and a half hands, and who likes to do a tricky little dance as she passes in front of her throng of adoring fans.
The dance as some have come to address it appears to be a playful little two shuffle, but some observers feel it is merely a moment where Zenyatta is trying to dispel a little nervous energy before the thrash of noise and accolades. As she made her way out onto the track and down along the pre-stretch to begin her warmup lap you could see Zenyatta’s handlers imploring the crowd to quiet down as the most famous celebrity of the moment made her way in front of them to history's untold. The mighty Zen, along with her trainer, John Shereffs, appear to be a match made in heaven. Take for instance that Shereffs, who spent a significant amount of time in Vietnam during the war, had to be talked into going to the track by a good friend of his just to take up an interest in something other than sitting around and deteriorating. .This was big John's parting gift from a war that nobody really wanted. John had made the discovery that he had lost all ambition to be competitive and blamed it all on the war. But then came Zenyatta.
ybsportsonline staff column
There is no joy in Elmont . Mighty California Chrome did not achieve his prophesied victory. Still, June 7, 2014 remained a glorious day for the running of the 146th Belmont Stakes. Early, before the day’s races began and the real crowds arrived, it was still possible to appreciate the grounds with their stately clubhouse building, the at-their-peak rose bushes growing through the fences, and the blankets spread along the lawns for picnicking. This year, coolers were not allowed into the park, necessitating the use of see-through plastic bags (oh the joys of security) for any refreshments or belongings. But the park does get kudos for keeping the entrance fee at only $10, when many another big racing venue asks much more. And the excited onlookers were still able to find adequate viewing space at track-side or near the large screens outside for the early races.
ejb
YBSPORTSONLINE STAFF PHOTO
Former Jockey LaFitt Pincay has become a prominent face and voice for television broadcasting of Triple Crown and Breeders Cup Racing.
A trio of race guides begin their parade of leading the competitors, including favorite, California Chrome around the saddling track.
Ybsports Staff Column . .
Monmouth Park, Oceanport, NJ
The only downside of traveling to Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ for the races is creeping along in infuriating fashion on the Garden State Parkway, doing battle with shore traffic on this August 2nd Sunday 2015. Once arrived, the parking is adequate, although not as inexpensive as it used to be. The price of parking and entrance fee have been raised to compensate, so we were told, for the fact that people were not placing as many bets as in the past
Immediately inside the entrance we are greeted by a “Welcome to the Haskell” display with , what else so close to the beach, a large intricately carved genuine sand castle. Head off to your left and find the hat booth where you can exchange your ticket for a Haskell cap. Taking in the grounds as a whole, one is taken with the pristine atmosphere of the club house with its green and white striped awnings .The bright flowers dotting the landscape are repeated in the baskets hanging along the porch railings on the track side of the building. A goodly number of bench seats are available trackside and areas all around are available for picnicking. Near the saddling ring is a café made most attractive with multi-colored umbrella tables.
The record 60,983 crowd was of course swollen by American Pharoah fans, hungry to see something special at this William Hill Haskell Invitational, richest of all invitationals held in America, offering over one million dollars in stakes for the country’s top 3 yr olds. The 2014 winner , Bayern, went on to win the Breeder;s Cup. A victory this year would be trainer Bob Baffert’s eighth Haskell win if American Pharoah delivered. His horse was being ridden by a top jockey, Victor Espinoza, having guided the Pharoah to victory in every triple crown race. Born in Mexico, Victor was raised with horses and drove a bus at age 17 in Mexico City to pay for jockey school. He and his ride seemed to have a special bond that helped them perform so well together.
Ahmed Zayat, Pharoah’s owner was quoted as saying that he was a most intelligent and even compassionate horse, often lying down in his stable with the owner and others as they talked quietly to him. When it was time to enter the track amidst a fanfare of “American Pharoah, we love you,” the star of the day walked in calmly for his big moment and one realized how comparatively small and unpretentious he appeared. But this horse with the great speed and greater heart did everyone the favor of winning.
My one disappointment at Monmouth that day was not to see my favorite jockey, Rosie Napravnik. She is a real Jersey girl and has always been prominent throughout the season at this track, having ridden the winning horses in both the 2013 and 2014 Molly Pitcher Stakes. She is the only woman to have ridden in all three triple crown races and was the leading rider at Keeneland Race Course . The bad news is that Our Rosie of the Racetrack has retired, at the peak of her career, from the life of a jockey. The good news is that she and husband trainer Joe Sharp are the proud new parents of son Carson, born June 1, 2015. She will now help her husband who is becoming more prominent in his area, giving neither a yes or no to a future return to the track. You are the best, Rosie. We wish you well and will miss you at every major race as well as Monm
YBSPORTSONLINE STAFF PHOTO
Jockey Victor Espinosa sits aboard presumable horse of the year favorite American Pharoah in Monmouth for this year's Haskell race.
