A pair of upsets highlighted the major racing action in the US this weekend, starting with the Gr-IT Eddie Read Handicap, which was highlighted by a pair of weid occurences.  First, Thorn Song took the early lead and was coasting along the first quarter mile.  Then, for whatever reason, he saw something and ducked out, almost throwing his rider and having to be pulled up.  This in turned spooked favorite Monterrey Jazz, who was stalking a couple of lengths back.  Monterrery' then took off like a shot and sprinted to a 6-7 length lead along the back stretch against the urging of his jockey.  By the time he hit the home stretch, he was zapped... allowing the late running Global Hunter to come storming from the back of the pack to overtake the leaders and pull away for a comfortable win.

 The win was the first in the US for the Argentine-bred after four straight losses... Too bad the race evolved as it did, as both Thorn Song and Monterrey Jazz had been apparently hitting their peak and it would have been a great race under normal conditions...

A milder upset came then in the Gr-I Coaching Club American Oaks, as Funny Moon also closed strong from way back, taking the outside route around the final turn, then picking off one horse at a time, taking the lead as they neared the wire then holding off charging Don't Forget Gil...

 The win was her first career stakes win... A nice win for a good looking filly, but being in the same division as Rachel Alexandra, they all are running for second place...

Finally in England, the favorite, multiple Gr-I winner Conduit broke a mini two-race '09 losing streak, taking command of the Gr-I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes with furlong to go, then outfighting stablemates Tartan Bearer and Ask down the stretch before pulling away for an easy win.

 The win was his 6th in 12 career starts, and third Gr-I, for the Irish-bred and raises his career earnings past $3.4M.

Finally, in a battle of Puerto Rico's last two Horses of the Year, the mare Batalladora, the '06 HOY, went gate to wire, besting heavy favorite and '07 and '08 HOY Defensora with ease in the Gr-I Clasico Constitucion...

Batalladora had been struggling this year, winning only 2 of 5, but was allowed to bound to front and set an easy pace and when Defensora tried to make a move, her rival was just let loose and she won by 3+

Tune in later for previews of the upcoming weekend's action, which will feature major races from Saturday through Monday, and will feature Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra vs Belmont winner Summer Bird in the Gr-I Haskell, Kentucky Derby winner Mine that Bird in the Gr-III West Virginia Derby, and the return of Florida Derby winner Quality Road... who we had rated as the top 3yo before his injury... in the Gr-II Amsterdam Stakes.

A pair of Gr-I's highlight the racing weekend in the US this week, starting with the Eddie Read Handicap, for 4yo+ at 1-1/8m over the turf at Del Mar park in California. Looking to take them from gate to wire will be the speedy Monterrey Jazz, just three weeks after smoking the field in the Gr-II American (below). 

But pressing him early should be multiple Gr-I winner Thorn Song, who will need to be at his best as he has only won 1 of his last 5, although that was the Gr-I Shoemaker Mile, and has not won at over a mile since Nov '07.  But should those two burn themselves out in front, Artiste Royale will be closing strong and looking to break a 4-race losing streak after his win in the Gr-II San Marcos back in January, although he's been second or third in his last three... The race should be decided early, and will revolve around how easily a lead Monterrey Jazz can get.  If he is allowed to set the pace at his leisure, it will be over quick.  But if a hot pace and battle ensue, Artiste' might be passing them all down the stretch.

Last year's suprise win was the first and only graded win for Monzante, who only won 4 times in his career.  He finished 5^th in his one race afterwards and has since been retired.

Moving on to the Gr-I Coaching Club American Oaks for 3yo fillies over 1-1/4m at Belmont Park, where a group of lightly raced fillies will be looking for their biggest win to date... and their owners thrilled that Rachel Alexandra is nowhere in sight as she prepares for the Haskell next week...   The most accomplished of the bunch is multiple Gr-III winner Hightap, most recently the winner of the Gr-III Iowa Oaks and 4 of 5 in 2009.  But keep an eye out both for Livin Lovin, in the top 2 in 4 of 5 starts and winner a Gr-III winner at 2yo, and Gr-III Florida Oaks winner Don't Forget Gil, in the top 3 in 7 of 8 races... Hard to gage with such young fillies, but Hightap looks hard to beat and her closing style should thrive in this distance.

Music Note won this race in 2008, one of three Gr-I wins last year and a nod as an Eclipse Award finalist.  She finished fifth in the Gr-I Ogden Phipps last month after an almost 8 month layoff.

There is also the Gr-I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in England on Saturday.  Breeders Cup Turf winner Conduit is the early favorite, and is coming off a game third in the Gr-I Coral Eclipse Stakes and looking for his first win in '09, and will clash with stablemate Tartan Bearer, who was just nipped near the wire in the Gr-I Prince of Wales, as well as '08 Gr-I Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire, making his first start in 9+ months since his lackluster effort in last year's English St. Leger... which was won by Conduit... and Gr-I Coronation Cup surprise winner Ask, out to prove that win was no fluke... yet we'll believe it when we see it. And for no particular reason, we like Tartan Bearer to take the lead within the final couple of furlongs and finally land the big one. 

This race was won last year by Duke of Marmalade, one of his four Gr-I's in '08, on his way to European Older Horse Champion honors.

So that's it for this week, so enjoy and see you at the races.

A pair of horses punched their ticket to the Breeders Cup this weekend, starting with Swift Temper, who took the early lead and never gave it back in the Gr-II Delaware Handicap, first withstanding early pressure from Acoma, then leaving behind a stretch challenge from Unbridled Belle for the surprisingly easy win.

The win was just her fifth in 27 career starts, of which only one had been graded.  But the big purse took her earnings over the $1M mark. The win secures a spot for her in the BC Ladies Classic.

Next up was the ungraded Greenwood Cup, where Brazilian import Alcomo came from off the pace to overtake odds-on favorite Nite Light at the quarter pole then win under an easy hand ride by almost 2+. 

The win was his first in 4 US starts this year after a multiple graded stakes winning career in his native Brazil.  The win sets him up for the BC Marathon.

Stay tuned for a preview of next weekend's action, featuring the Gr-I's Eddie Read and Coaching Club American Oaks, as well as the England's Gr-I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which we incorrectly stated was going to be run this past Saturday.

 No major stakes this weekend at home, but a pair of Breeders Cup spots are up for grabs this Saturday. 

We start things off with the Gr-II Delaware Handicap, where the winner will ear a place in the BC Ladies Classic.  Leading the field are multiple stakes winner Acoma the recent winner of the Gr-III Mint Julep Stakes (above),  and of 2 of 3 in '09, and Unbridled Belle, the winner of the 2007 Delaware Handicap in and the Gr-III Obeah Stakes last out in her second start in '09 following a 7 month layoff... Super filly Rachel Alexandra was entered in the race, but was pulled prior to final declarations, and will instead take another shot at the colts in the Gr-I Haskell in just over two weeks.  That race will also feature Gr-I Belmont winner Summer Bird and Gr-II Arkansas winner Papa Clem, so it should be a really good one..

The talented Hystericalady won this race 2008, a multiple graded winner winner of $2.4M, and who went to dead heat for fourth in the BC Ladies Classic that year.  She is now retired.

Next up is the Greenwood Cup and a spot in the second running of the BC Marathon.  The top choices appear to be Eldaafer and Nite Light, who most recently finished noses apart in the Gr-II Brooklyn Handicap, where the former came out on top by a nose.  Eldaafer's 3 of 5 career wins have been on muddy tracks, while Nite Light has finished in the top 2 in 10 of 12 career starts, although has yet to score a graded win.  If rain does not show, maybe the tables will be turned.

This race was made a BC Challenge last year after not being run for 2 years and was won by 10yo Evening Attire, a former Gr-I winner and earner of almost $3M, while setting a track record in the process.  That race would be his last, as he was retired with an injury ahead of the Breeders Cup.

Finally, French-raced Cavalryman came from midpack to storm pass the leaders deep in the stretch and pull away for a comfortable 1-1/2 length win the Gr-I Grand Prix de Paris yesterday.  The win was his first graded stakes win... Not much impact to the division, although in typical fashion Euro bookmakers and reporters are already talking about Cavalryman's expected mix in the Arc... bit too early.

And speaking of Europe, the Gr-I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes will be run Saturday at England's Ascot racecourse.  Breeders Cup Turf winner Conduit is the early favorite, and is coming off a game third in the Gr-I Coral Eclipse Stakes and looking for his first win in '09, and will clash with stablemate Tartan Bearer, who was just nipped near the wire in the Gr-I Prince of Wales, as well as '08 Gr-I Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire, making his first start in 9+ months since his lackluster effort in last year's English St. Leger... which was won by Conduit.

This race was won last year by Duke of Marmalade, one of his four Gr-I's in '08, on his way to European Older Horse Champion honors.

With a new month underway, below are the latest ToTT US Racing Standings.  Comments only on changes from last month.

Horse of the Year

1. Rachel Alexandra (above)
2. Gio Ponti - Along with Rachel, only triple Gr-I winners in '09.  More of a #1A than #2.
3. Einstein

Three-Year-Old Male Horse

1. Mine that Bird
2. I Want Revenge / Quality Road - Pioneerof the Nile has been removed from the list, as he has been retired following an injury in training.

Three-Year-Old Filly

1. Rachel Alexandra
2. Stardom Bound
3. Justwhistledixie

Older Male Horse

1. Einstein
2. Macho Again
3. Rail Trip - Dominating win + pair of seconds has his third in shallow division.

Older Female Horse

1. Zenyatta
2. Seattle Smooth
3. Life is Sweet

Sprint Horse

1. Bribon
2. Fabulous Strike
3. True Quality

Female Sprint Horse

1. Informed Decision
2. Ventura
3. Game Face - Three graded wins in '09 makes the cut

Male Turf Horse

1. Gio Ponti
2. Einstein
3. Presious Passion - Record setting UN Stakes win, among 2 first and 2 seconds in '09, gets him on the list.

Female Turf Horse

1. Forever Together
2. Diamondrella
3. Gozzip Girl - 3 wins and a Gr-I in 4 starts has her streaking up the charts.

We will add 2yo columns once the Gr-I's start off in late summer.