Essay On Horse Racing

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Horse racing is a fickle sport. One minute, a horse and its connections are on top of the horse racing world and one misstep later, it all comes crashing down.

This past Saturday, horse racing fans got a not so subtle reminder of that very fact. As Mastery cruised to a 6 3/4 length victory in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes, his back hind condylar bone sustained a fracture just seconds after crossing the wire. The injury has taken him right off the Kentucky Derby trail just as he had ascended to the top on the contenders list.

Horse racing can also be a cruel actor. As trainer Bob Baffert and owner Cheyenne Stables are left to ponder what might have been, the attention now turns to dozens of other trainers and owners who will now have an opportunity …show more content…

In a change of tactics, the Dialed In colt sat and made a strong move around the turn and into the stretch for an easier than looked 5 3/4 victory. With a lively pace expected for the Kentucky Derby, he just might have the right running style. Next up should be the Florida Derby on April 1.

With only four starts, all victories, on his resume, McCracken might still have plenty of upside. Though largely untested due to the competition, the Ghostzapper colt looked very good in his 2016 finale, a workman like victory in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in November at Churchill Downs. He opened up his trip on the Derby trail with 1 1/2 length win in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes a head of Tapwith, who returned with a stylish win in the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby.

With three wins from five starts, Tapwith could be improving at just the right time. Under the direction of trainer Todd Pletcher, the Tapit colt has the right pedigree for the 1 1/4 mile distance of the Derby. At a purchase price of $1.2 million as a yearling, it will be interesting to see how he performs against what figures to be a loaded field in either the Grade I Florida Derby or Grade I Bluegrass

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