Dancing Forever Together Are BC Stories
Dancinginmydreams's Legacy and Connections' Commitment Reflected
Oct 30, 2008
Forever Together and Dancing Forever, son of Dancinginmydreams, are the names of two horses who participated in this season's Breeders' Cup World Championships races. Their monikers immediately conjure up scenarios of long associations, or long-lasting relationships.
Forever Together's Name
A team commitment resulted in the naming of one of this season's entrants in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Forever Together, named by owner George Strawbridge, Jr. and trainer Jonathan Sheppard, is a name they chose to represent their 40-year-plus association in the Sport of Kings.
Forever Togethe further cemented the connections by winning his turf event.
Shirreffs and Harty Believe Pro-Ride is the Future
The large number of European entries in the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita's Pro-Ride resurfaced tack is an indication of how well the artificial surface is being accepted, trainer Eoin Harty remarked at this year's competition. European horses regularly race on turf and synthetics.
Trainer John Shirreffs, who actually prefers dirt racing, agreed with Harty's assessment. "The results (of these races) will say a lot about what's going to happen (in the future of artificial surfaces)," Shirreffs said on Saturday (October 25).
Most Thought Out Owner Reflection at BC
Charles Cono, owner of BC Juvenile Fillies winner Stardom Bound, was considering selling off his Thoroughbred interests before the BC Cup races.
However, after Stardom Bound's stirring romp in the Juvenile Fillies contest, a trip that impressed everyone, Cono, when asked about the sales possibility, remarked, "We're thinkin'."
Mike Smith Speaks About Synthetics
Winning jockey Mike Smith rode Stardom Bound and Zenyatta to amazing victories in the Breeders' Cup races. Before the competition, he was interviewed and asked about racing on synthetic surfaces in general and in particular on Pro-Ride, the artificial surface used in reconstructing the Santa Anita track, where this year's Breeders' Cup was held. Santa Anita has already been named next year's Breeders' Cup host.
Smith offered several observations about Pro-Ride. He said:
- (1)...horses skip over it, rather than dig in, which is why grass horses do better on it than dirt-experienced runners do
- (2)...big, powerful horses tend to have more trouble with it for the above reason
- (3)...if a horse scrambles early on the synthetics, he is more unlikely to recover as well as he does on dirt, and most often he doesn't recover his stride at all
- (4)...late stretch diggers can't get their usual grip into the artificial surface like they do in dirt
Filly Friday Donated to Cancer Research
The two-day expanded Breeders' Cup card resulted in filly and mares participating on Friday, October 24, while the boys waited for Saturday, October 25 to run their competitions. The new format for Friday (October 25) instantly became known as "Filly Friday".
"Filly Friday" led to a further girl thing. Part of the day's track proceeds were donated to breast cancer research. Individual participants chipped in, as well. Jockey Edgar Prado donated to the cause 5% of whatever earnings he attained on the day. Breast cancer recently took the life of his mother.
