I was at my OTB causing a scene when he won. I knew when he broke on top he was on his game. He likes to look atleast one horse in the eye, which he got to, and the pace was perfect for him. What a good boy!!!
Pictures from the Indy Star
(Move your curser over the image to see the descriptions)
Accompanying article by IndyStar: “Tin Cup Chalice earns wire-to-wire win”
In his previous start, Tin Cup Chalice finished second by a neck in the Step Nicely Stakes at New York’s Belmont Park on Sept. 14, his first loss after six victories.
"It was all my fault,’’ said LeCesse, who owns the 3-year-old colt with Scott Vanlaer. "We got there late and we didn’t school him at the starting gate like we usually do. He was too sharp.’’
LeCesse wasn’t going to make that mistake again. He brought Tin Cup Chalice to Hoosier Park on Wednesday to prepare for Saturday’s Grade II, $500,000-added Indiana Derby.
The New York bred responded in a big way. He slowed the pace early under jockey Pedro Rodriguez and then held off the favored Pyro in the stretch for a wire-to-wire victory in the 14th annual Derby, the highlight of Hoosier Park’s thoroughbred season.
Thus continued a remarkable run for Tin Cup Chalice, who was bred by LeCesse and is named after the Jimmy Buffet song.
He suffered serious health problems as a baby (botulism) and later as a yearling (colic). LeCesse was concerned at one point they would prove fatal. He and Vanlaer tried to sell him after he recovered.
Good thing they didn’t. Earlier this year, Tin Cup Chalice earned a $250,000 bonus by sweeping the Big Apple Triple, a series of three races for New York-breds held at Belmont, Finger Lakes and Saratoga.
On Saturday, he gave the Finger Lakes-based LeCesse his first graded stakes victory and earned an extra $287,460, increasing his career earnings to $827,280.
"When you’ve got a good horse like this, you really don’t care where you run,’’ said Rodriguez, a veteran of New York state who was making his first appearance at Hoosier Park. "I felt very confident.’’
Despite Tin Cup Chalice’s exploits, he still went off at 10-1 odds Saturday – and for good reason.
Pyro, winner of the Grade II Louisiana Derby and an eighth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, had run well in two starts at Saratoga this summer and is trained by perhaps the nation’s top trainer, Steve Asmussen.
Also in the field was Acai, who had won two races in a row before finishing second by a neck in the Grade II Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 1 and is owed by IEAH Stables, the group that owns Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown.
Cigar Mile next??
The Grade 1 $300,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile, at Aqueduct Racetrack, will be Saturday, November 29, 2008.
The nominations last year closed November 10th.
With most of the big sprinters either in the BC or retired I’d think NYRA would encourage TCC’s connection return to NYC for another race. He’s done well shipping downstate from Finger Lakes.
It all depends on how tired he may be from the Indiana Derby. His folks may have already planned on the season being over as he’s paid all the bills and ended already on a very high note. With $827,280 in career earnings adding another $200k to break $1M could however be a mental goal.
As I cited before on the Breeders’ Cup threads I think he has proven more then Casino Drive ever has yet CD is going to the $5M BCC. So go figure.
I would love to see Tin Cup in a G1. He is certainly still in training and periodically setting down for a couple of 3/8ths works. I sense a gearing up for something else but I can offer no official information. I would be surprised if TC sits idle until the end of November though. I think the potential for an off track at the end of November in Aqueduct also lessen TC’s chances for the Cigar Mile. It snowed last night up here in Rochester and FL was a muddy yucky mess this morning. They aren’t even breaking anymore thanks to the track conditions being either soup on concrete depending on when they get around to sealing it daily.
Cool. I never miss the Cigar Mile. It’s one of my favorite days of racing.
[QUOTE=el camino;3598041]
Cigar Mile next??[/QUOTE]
TCC was entered - but scratched - from Wednesday Oct 29th’s feature race on opening day at Aqueduct, the $65,000 Best of Luck Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 mi. That race generally serves as a prep for the Grade 3, $100,000 Discovery.
However the day prior TCC’s trainer and part-owner Lecesse said:
what Tin Cup Chalice does [in the Best of Lucky] could determine whether he runs in the Discovery Nov 22 or the Cigar Mile one week later.
(Only a field of 5 were going to race in the Best of Luck with TCC in it. The race with just four horses was won by Storm Play who now is a perfect 3-0 and like TCC is a speed on the lead horse.)
At this point Tin Cup Chalice very well could start in the $300,000 Cigar Mile H. (G1) on November 29. However I’d think they’d one race in him before that.
One of the likely Cigar Mile starters: Larry Jones-trainer Kodiak Kowboy who just won impressively the $150,000 Sport Page Hdcp (G3) last weekend at Belmont.
Actually I missed why TCC was scratched from the Best of Luck Stakes, from Wed Oct 29:
Tin Cup Chalice scratched because of a bruised left front foot.
Michael Lecesse, the trainer and part-owner of Tin Cup Chalice, said Wednesday it was too soon to tell how long the horse will be out of action. Lecesse said if the injury heals quickly, he may run him back in the $125,000 Mountaineer Mile on Nov. 8
Word is now that he may run TC in JAPAN…
More to come soon.
~Emily
I think Emily suggested this as a rumor a couple of days ago 
Confirmed today! Japan Cup Dirt (JPN G-1) for Tin Cup Chalice
Rochester Democrat & Chron Nov 5, 2008: “Horse from Finger Lakes will race in Japan”
Tin Cup Chalice, the star of thoroughbred racing at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack in Farmington, is becoming a world traveler.
The 3-year-old gelding will race in the $2.4 million Japan Cup on dirt on Dec. 7 at Hanshin Racecourse.
Tin Cup Chalice has won 8 of 9 career races, including the Grade II Indiana Derby on Oct. 4 and a sweep of the Big Apple Triple.
Japanese racing officials contacted trainer and co-owner Mike LeCesse last week and offered to pay all expenses for Tin Cup Chalice to compete.
The biggest challenge, besides the trip and quarantine requirements upon arrival, is the direction of the race. American horses run counter-clockwise. The Japan Cup will run clockwise around the oval.
LeCesse officially decided to make the trip this morning after Tin Cup Chalice completed his first “wrong-way” workout without incident.
“This morning was the big deciding factor in deciding to go,” LeCesse said.
Props to these guys having the stones to race outside of the US and take on the big boys!
FINALLY!!!
I jumped at the news… didn’t realize it wasn’t ‘out there’ yet.
Good luck to Tin Cup!!
~Emily
I hear Japan is a nice place! If it were New Zealand, I might jump on the band wagon so to speak. I’m very excited for TC though. He worked well today, galloping out in fine style and frustrated with the easy work. He’s a smart, tough cookie and I think he’ll handle everything just fine. It really couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, a more stand up jockey, and a more amazing racing stable. Everyone has played a part, the owner is very generous and appreciative, and no one deserves it more. Go TC go. So where can I watch this race? Any ideas?
[QUOTE=olympicdreams04;3633755]
So where can I watch this race? Any ideas?[/QUOTE]
For the last few years TVG has aired the Japan Cup and Japan Dirt Cup live.
In fact Simon Bray and Todd Schrupp were live on site in Nov 2007. By comparison with the live coverage of the Melbourne Cup this year it was a Aussie feed to the TVG hosts in the Los Angeles studios.
I’d almost guarantee that TVG will air the Japan Dirt Cup again live this year. With Tin Cup Chalice being in the race I think there is an added reason to go.
Cool news. The Japan Cup Dirt and the Dubai World Cup are the only two very serious dirt races run outside the US every year.
[QUOTE=olympicdreams04;3633755]
So where can I watch this race? Any ideas?[/QUOTE]
Umm from the stands if you were smarter!!!
~Emily
Anyone we know get to travel with the horse??? How exciting!!!
Yes do tell… is anyone we know traveling to Japan???
(::Gives OD04 the serious evil/envious/rolling/annoyed eye::
~Emily
Some more bits from the Rochester Dem & Chron: “Finger Lakes star Tin Cup Chalice to race in Japan”
excerpts
“It’s like a fairy tale,” said LeCesse, a Farmington resident.
In the spring, LeCesse and co-owner Scott Van Laer, a forestry service employee from Saratoga Springs, were merely hoping their homebred gelding would be good enough to win the New York Derby at Finger Lakes.
Tin Cup Chalice not only won the Derby on his home course, but he became the first horse to sweep New York’s unofficial triple crown series, the OTB Big Apple Triple.
Now, while still basking in the Grade II victory by Tin Cup Chalice in the Indiana Derby just a month ago, they’re making plans to head to Japan.
And totally by chance.
Out of the blue an official from the Japan Racing Association phoned LeCesse and asked if he would enter Tin Cup Chalice in the Japan Cup.
“I called Scott and said, ‘Somebody could be playing a bad joke on us but …’” LeCesse said.
The race apparently is lacking foreign competitors. Superstars such as Curlin, Big Brown and Colonel John were nominated but aren’t going. LeCesse said he doesn’t know of any other American horses that are entering.
Pedro Rodriguez, the regular rider for Tin Cup Chalice, will travel to Japan with the horse on Nov. 19.
The race field, which had 16 starters in 2007, is primarily comprised of Japanese horses with a few entrants from the United States and England.
Only one American horse, Fleetstreet Dancer in 2003, has won the dirt Japan Cup. There is also a Japan Cup on turf.
“This will be a very tough trip for him,” LeCesse said. “You hope you can go there, perform well for Americans, and come back in one piece.”
Oh, that’s awesome!!! How exciting! 
