Keeping Breeders' Cup Classic winner in training

Horseracing Betting Lines

11/10/2011 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - These days top flight thoroughbreds rarely keep racing beyond the age of four. So it's news when there is even a suggestion that a leading racehorse might remain in training.

Breeders' Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer was to be retired from racing after last week's race, now his owner WinStar Farm is reconsidering that decision.

"All options are open for Drosselmeyer, and we expect to make a decision by some time next week," said Elliott Walden, WinStar President & CEO on Wednesday. "Our phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday's big win, including Mike Smith lobbying to keep the horse in training. So we're weighing all of our options and will do what we feel is best for Drosselmeyer and WinStar."

Jockey Mike Smith has every hope to ride Drosselmeyer again. The Hall of Fame rider was aboard the colt last year in winning the Belmont Stakes.

"I had ridden him once to win the Belmont on him," Smith shortly after winning this year's Classic, "and to get a chance to ride him back in the Classic, I don't know, I got this good feeling as soon as I found out."

The 4-year-old colt was to be retired to stand the 2012 breeding season in New York. However, a clause in the contract allows some maneuvering room if Drosselmeyer were to win the $5 million Classic.

"Horses in this day and age don't run a lot of starts. He's had 15," Walden noted on Saturday. "A lot of them don't have stamina, and he will get you the Classic type horse. So that's an exciting thing for his breeding credential, and we'll just sit down and huddle and see how that is."

Five weeks before taking the Classic Drosselmeyer finished a solid second to Flat Out in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. That came seven weeks after a seventh on the turf in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga. In June the colt was second in the Brooklyn Handicap behind Birdrun with his only other 2011 win coming in a minor stakes at Belmont in May.

"Back before we ran him at Saratoga, we ran him on the grass," Walden said following the Classic victory. "We had a plan to get to the Breeders' Cup. Bill (Mott) came up with the fact that there was a race when he was second on Belmont day, he came up with a plan to run him on the grass once because it was a mile and a half, and that would set him up for the Jockey Club and see what happened in the Jockey Club and where that would take us.

"He ran well in the Jockey Club, and I think anybody that's seen him train all week, well, for two weeks, would just know that this horse is doing very well and is peaking at the right time."

Drosselmeyer was 14-1 for the 1 1/4-mile Classic which was understandable considering his 2011 efforts.

"We backed out of the horse after the Belmont last year," the trainer noted. "We gave him a lot of time. He had a couple of easy months off, didn't do anything.

"We brought him back the beginning of the year. He was fat and really kind of didn't get in the rhythm the first two or three races. As the year progressed, he seemed to get a little better and a little better.

"Really midway through Saratoga, after we ran him in the Sword Dancer, it was kind of like somebody had flipped a switch, and he just turned around. He was moving great. He was into his training. There again, he ran a big one in the Jockey Gold Cup to be second.

"And he was coming on. We didn't beat the winner, but it looked like -- really, Elliott kind of made the decision, I think, to lean towards the Classic with him after that race. Really, it was a great decision, and we've been here for a month, and the horses have had good work on the racetrack. I think it really paid off."

Drosselmeyer more than tripled his career earnings to $3,728,170 with his Classic victory. One more year in training with continued success on the track can give him and his connections much more money and increase his stud value even more.

Sportt Horseracing Betting News

<< Mayakoba Golf Classic, PGA Tour agree to extension
Playa del Carmen (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The PGA Tour announced Thursday it has agreed with the Mayakoba Golf Classic on a six-year contract extension through the 2018 season. This is the second six-year agreement between the two parties, a

<< Djokovic, Murray reach Paris Masters QFs
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World No. 1 and former champion Novak Djokovic and second-seeded Andy Murray were a pair of third-round winners Thursday at the $3.06 million Paris Masters. The reigning U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian

<< Pirates ink C Barajas
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates signed veteran catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year contract on Thursday. The deal includes a club option for 2013. Barajas hit .230 with 16 home runs and 47 RBI in 98 games fo

<< Wild streak into San Jose
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Wild are off to a great start and find themselves in position to post their longest win streak since 2007. They may have the San Jose Sharks to thank in part for that. After swapping a handful of p

<< Canucks visit Kings at Staples Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Canucks may be having some issues scoring 5-on-5, but they showed in their last game just how dangerous their power play still is. Vancouver hopes to move above .500 on its current road trip as it visits the Los A

Bradley takes Penn State job with 'mixed emotions' >>
State College, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tom Bradley met the media on Thursday for the first time as Penn State's football coach and said he took the job as Joe Paterno's interim successor with 'mixed emotions.' Bradley, a defensive back for

Cowboys place K Buehler on IR >>
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Cowboys placed kicker David Buehler on injured reserve Thursday due to a groin problem. Buehler, who handled kickoff duties in four games this season, re-injured his groin at practice Wednesday.

Flames place Morrison on IR >>
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames placed forward Brendan Morrison on injured reserve Thursday due to inadequate rehabilitation following surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Morrison last play

Twelve Lions selected to CFL All-Star team >>
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The B.C. Lions had a CFL-best 12 players listed on the league's All-Star team, which was disclosed Thursday. Quarterback Travis Lulay, receiver Geroy Simon, tackles Ben Archibald and Jovan

Kings activate Fraser >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings activated forward Colin Fraser from the non-roster list on Thursday. Fraser has yet to play a game with LA, after coming over in a deal from the Oilers in late June which sent R

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.