nals) ... its certainly a tough competitinals) ... its certainly a tough competiti | Forum

Certainly the biggest shock of the day Saturday, the last big day of prep races for next months Breeders Cup, was Tepins loss in the First Lady at Keeneland. Larry Doby Jersey . But it wasnt just that Tepin could finish only second at 2-5 that was so surprising, it was also the manner in which the First Lady upset was sprung.Photo Call, of all horses, bounded to the early lead and quickly dared everyone else in the First Lady field to catch her. It wasnt like Photo Call hadnt shown speed before. She had. This year. In all of her recent races. But those races in which Photo Call showed speed were all slow-paced, extended-distance events, most of which she didnt even run particularly well. So when Photo Call opened a sizeable early lead through a second quarter-mile in a fast 23.19, you could be forgiven if you were wondering what happened to the real Photo Call, and who is this imposter?Yet even when Photo Call turned for home with a gigantic lead that seemed in double-digit territory, I still kind of thought that Photo Call would tire and Tepin would catch her, just as Tepin did last March in the Hillsborough when Isabella Sings tried the same, front-running gambit. Only this time, Photo Call was a much better horse than Isabella Sings (even if she hadnt shown it in a while), and Tepin wasnt going to have her tank emptied in the stretch, not with the Breeders Cup just four weeks away.Photo Call held on to win by almost three lengths. And this was the first time Tepin was beaten by open lengths since August 2014, a staggering 26 months ago.Tepins connections were up front beforehand about not wanting to take too much out of Tepin on Saturday, which is why she went in the First Lady in the first place instead of the Shadwell Turf Mile against males. They didnt want her to have to run an A race, and she didnt.That said, this is now two straight races from Tepin since her historic victory at Royal Ascot that were not A performances. She did beat males winning last months Woodbine Mile, but that was not Tepin at her top. I know very well to never, ever underestimate a champion, and Tepin is absolutely all of that. But this is something to think about as she now targets a defense of her title in the Breeders Cup Mile.The irony of Saturday is Tepin lost against a female, and Miss Temple City prevailed over males in the richer Shadwell Turf Mile, a race she ran in, in part, to avoid having to face Tepin.This is the second time this year Miss Temple City opted for a Grade 1 start at Keeneland against males instead of taking on Tepin. She won the first one, too - last Aprils Makers 46 Mile the day before Tepin won the Jenny Wiley.Miss Temple Citys connections might consider sending a very nice gift basket to Tepins people. But dont make the mistake of taking Miss Temple City as a mere lucky opportunist. She is very good - she ran much better than her two losses at Saratoga would suggest on paper - and she beat a stronger group of males in the Shadwell than she did in the Makers 46.But for me, the Shadwell was all about Ironicuss fast closing second. This was Ironicuss first start since his troubled-trip second to none other than Flintshire in the Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day due to foot issues, and he might have gotten up had not an opponent shifted out in front of him in mid-stretch. In any case, Ironicus is now primed for a peak performance in the Breeders Cup Mile, and I think he is very dangerous in that spot.One other standout turf female who raced on Saturday must be mentioned here, and that is Lady Eli. Lady Eli, so breathtaking in the first phase of her racing career, made it all the way back from the scourge of laminitis to win the Flower Bowl. And now she sets her sights on the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf, for which she is Americas top hope.This is just a remarkable story. Remarkable, too, was the rousing applause fans in attendance at Belmont Park on Saturday gave Lady Eli on her return to the winners circle. Downstate New York racing fans throw receptions such as this around like sewer covers. So it was great to see, and thoroughly deserved.Saturday notes** Sadly, the devaluation of the once-great Jockey Club Gold Cup continued Saturday with Hoppertunitys decision over Effinex and three others.I dont want to knock Hoppertunity. Hes had the tall order of facing California Chrome, Beholder, and Shared Belief in several of his races and, like many others, he was simply not up to the task. Still, Hoppertunitys only victory in his 13 starts immediately preceding the Gold Cup was a nose decision in the San Antonio last February over Imperative, another who rarely wins. Lets just say this Gold Cup was not a key prep for the Breeders Cup Classic.** I liked both preps for the Breeders Cup Juvenile - the Champagne and the Breeders Futurity. The Champagne was a terrific race. Practical Joke got up by a nose despite a bad start over Syndergaard, who was admirably game after setting a scorching pace and fighting back after getting hooked by Practical Joke in mid-stretch. These are two fine colts.Classic Empire also showed a lot of substance winning the Breeders Futurity decisively. Because he wheeled and lost his rider at the start of the Hopeful (won by Practical Joke), the Breeders Futurity was Classic Empires first representative start in three months, and he was stretching out to two turns for the first time, to boot. Moreover, Classic Empire was wide throughout, a concession of ground that would have been significant in almost any situation, but one that was even more noteworthy considering the inside appeared to be very live Saturday on Keenelands main track. This was a very strong effort.** On the face of it, the Frizette seemed like a strongly run race, with Yellow Agate getting up by a head over Libbys Tail, with a chasm of more than nine lengths back to the third finisher. The clock says otherwise, however. Yellow Agates winning Beyer Figure was a modest 77, only marginally better than the even more modest 73 Beyer Dancing Rags was assigned for winning Fridays Alcibiades.For the record, Classic Empire and Practical Joke each earned 88 Beyers. Bo Jackson White Sox Jersey . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. Caleb Frare White Sox Jersey . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. https:///...ersey-white-sox.html . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield says Richmond playmaker Brett Deledio would be a welcome addition to the Cats.The Tigers veteran has been linked with a move to Geelong during the coming AFL trade period, with Richmond in need of early draft picks to rejuvenate Damien Hardwicks underperforming side.But Dangerfield will believe the mooted Deledio trade is the real deal when he sees it.He would look all right (playing for us) ... but theres so much speculation this time of year, Dangerfield said on Tuesday.Players are going here, there and everywhere but its not until the trade window opens up that clubs and players have any control over that.Well have to wait and see.Deledio has dismissed speculation he is on the move from Punt Road as media noise and is keen to play out his career with the Tigers.The AFL trade period begins on Monday, October 10, and ends on Thursday OOctober 20. Aaron Bummer White Sox Jersey. .The Cats bid for the 2016 AFL premiership ended with a disappointing preliminary final loss to Sydney, with Dangerfield and Joel Selwood the stand out players in Chris Scotts side.The star midfield duo had precious little support in the 37-point defeat but Dangerfield says Geelong already have the talent to win the clubs next premiership.It doesnt get any easier (to win preliminary finals) ... its certainly a tough competition, he said.Youve got to make the most of the opportunities you get, but Im confident with the side that we have that were not that far away.Dangerfield spoke to reporters at a charity event organised by teammate Jimmy Bartel, who shaved his beard off to help promote his anti-domestic violence message. ' ' '