Aktuelles » inning was an unusual move. "Im

Thoroughbred racing is not static. It cant be, not when the participants -- equine and human -- are made of flesh, bone, and blood. By definition, over time, performance will change.We got a perfect illustration of this over the summer thanks to Beholder and Stellar Wind. Beholder, a three-time Eclipse Award winner, and Stellar Wind, the best choice as champion of a 3-year-old filly division that lacked a real standout, met for the first time last June in the Vanity Mile. Beholder was making her second start of the year and Stellar Wind was making her first start as a 4-year-old, meaning it could be said Beholder had a conditioning edge a recent race will often afford. Beholder won the Vanity by 1-1/2 lengths over Stellar Wind, but the contest really wasnt as close as the win margin would suggest. Beholder was far from fully extended to prevail.These two met for a second time nearly two months later in the Clement L. Hirsch. It was the first outing since the Vanity for both. Beholder went to the lead and controlled a comfortable pace, a huge tactical advantage over Stellar Wind, who was being hard used at an earlier stage in the race than she would have been under different circumstances just to stay in touch with Beholder. Yet despite having the demonstrably tougher trip, Stellar Wind admirably persevered, wore down Beholder, and got the best of her by a half-length. And as was the case with the win margin in the Vanity, Stellar Winds win margin in the Hirsch did not really do her justice.Beholder came back to finish a game, if soundly beaten second in the Pacific Classic to California Chrome, finishing ahead of some other good males, while Stellar Wind sat out and awaited her third meeting with Beholder in the Zenyatta Stakes early this month.If the Clement Hirsch was an indication that Stellar Wind had loosened Beholders grip on the older dirt female division, the outcome of the Zenyatta offered proof that a passing of the torch had indeed taken place.In a race very similar to the Hirsch, Beholder tactically controlled the Zenyatta pace while Stellar Wind was hard pressed to stay with her. Stellar Wind was doing the dirty work, not allowing Beholder to shake loose, which would very likely hand her the race, and keeping her honest at an expenditure of her own resources. Stellar Wind, who was also wide on the first turn, again had the much tougher trip. And again it didnt matter. Beholder ran great, as she always does. Stellar Wind just ran better, winning by a neck, and again being better than just a neck would suggest.As noted, this game is not static, and all of this comes to mind because I see a situation analogous to the above example in the biggest stakes race on Saturday, the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.Since last fall, Catch a Glimpse has been the best grass filly of her generation in North America, winning eight straight races on grass since switching to the surface in her second career start in August of last year. Among the big races she won were last years Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies, the Penn Mile over males, the Belmont Oaks in game fashion. And along the way, Catch a Glimpse elicited favorable comparisons to Tepin, last years Eclipse Award winning turf female and, like Catch a Glimpse, a member of trainer Mark Casses barn.Time and Motion is a contemporary of Catch a Glimpses, and though a respectable fifth to her in the Breeders Cup last fall when still a maiden, no one considered her an equal. At least not at that time. However, Time and Motion has improved steadily this year, and changed her frame of reference to Catch a Glimpse over the summer. Time and Motion was a gaining second to Catch a Glimpse in the Belmont Oaks, beaten just a half length, and in August, Time and Motion handed Catch a Glimpse her first ever loss on turf, beating her in the Lake Placid Stakes.The Lake Placid was run in a similar manner to the Clement Hirsch involving Stellar Wind and Beholder. Catch a Glimpse, with better early speed than Time and Motion, controlled a comfortable pace, giving her a huge tactical edge over Time and Motion, who was put into a drive at least an eighth of a mile earlier than she would have been under different circumstances. Yet despite Catch a Glimpses big pace advantage, and Time and Motion having to make a sustained, grinding run, Time and Motion caught Catch a Glimpse in time to win by a neck. And sorry of you heard this before, but again in this instance, the win margin was not really indicative of the relative performances of these two that day. First by a neck doesnt really do Time and Motion justice.Catch a Glimpse will control the pace again Saturday in the QE II, and she will again be bet over Time and Motion. And no one would be surprised if Catch a Glimpse gains revenge on Time and Motion because, well, shes still a fine horse. But if you watched the Lake Placid with an understanding of all the factors in play, it is difficult not to think that when it comes to 3-year-old turf fillies, there has been a change at the top, and Time and Motion is, now, the better horse. Stitched College Jerseys . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. NCAA Jerseys Wholesale . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. http://www.cheapcollegejerseys.us.org/ . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Cheap NCAA Football Jerseys .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Cheap College Jerseys From China .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. VALENCIA, Spain -- Antoine Griezmann has won the best player award in the Spanish league for last season.The Atletico Madrid forward was announced as the winner in a ceremony organized by La Liga in Valencia on Monday. The Frenchman was not at the ceremony.Atletico also had Diego Simeone win the best coach award, Diego Godin earn the best defender award, and Jan Oblak clinch best goalkeeper.Barcelonas Lionel Messi was sselected as the best forward, and Real Madrids Luka Modric as the best midfielder.ddddddddddddTeam captains voted for the top players in each position, while a data-analysis system generated the best player award.Barcelona won the Spanish league last season, ahead of Real Madrid and Atletico. ' ' '