Aug 11, 2008

Somebeachsomewhere Early End?

Somebeachsomewhere not to race as a four-year-old?

Ridiculous!

Thoroughbred Big Brown and Standardbred Somebeachsomewhere, both unbeatens throughout the spring of their three-year-old seasons, proved vulnerable in June (BB's failed Belmont Stakes) and July (Somebeachsomewhere's upset in the Meadowlands Pace).

If the Triple Crown loss didn't devalue BB's future -- he since has won the Haskell Invitational -- Somebeachsomewhere's defeat shouldn't lessen his future prospects either. Both horses should make great stallions and contribute mightily to their respective bloodlines.

So let the big boys run while they can.

Somebeachsomewhere has years to go as a pacer. Let him glow into that twilight of greatness reserved only for the special ones! There's lots of time for him to pass on those talented genes!

Rumors of retiring the once-defeated pacer before he even gets to the pacing Triple Crown series are sad. Let the little fans have more than a moment, or two to enjoy the big boys. Pacers and trotters have much longer expectancies on the track than do runners.

Big Brown has already been scheduled for stud service at Three Chimneys Farm following his final three-year-old race, probably the Breeders' Cup Class in October. Somehow, it doesn't seem like enough to expect to visit the champ somewhere on shed row someday.

Nor to see Somebeachsomewhere roaming a pasture instead of blitzing for the wire in competition.

These two fellows are prime time. Let them continue to do what they have been primed for -- to race!