- Bernardini seems to be the real thing. He made the Jim Dandy Stakes seem easy. It is possible that many years from now we will remember Barbaro as "that horse that won the Kentucky Derby and then broke down", while we recall 2006 as the year we discovered the great champion Bernardini. His performances may also mark the emergence of Darley as perpetual participants on the big stage. Let's hope they keep him out of the breeding shed long enough to make a lasting impact.
- An impressive day for sire AP Indy. In addition to Bernardini winning the $500k G2 Jim Dandy Stakes, his son Suave won the $300k G2 Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park.
- But (and there always is a but) AP Indy's grandson, Corinthian, was a big disappointment in his return from being DQed in the Fountain of Youth back in March. He came in 3rd, more than 6 lengths back in a 53k allowance race while carrying the low weight. Maybe his insanity is indeed greater than his talent.
- Most think it is corny, but I think the bobblehead giveaway idea at Saratoga is great. It fits in with our doctrine of marketing the jockeys and trainers to increase fan interest. And NYRA got Pletcher's ethnicity correct unlike the Baltimore Orioles who made a caucasion player's bobblehead look African-American.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Monday Evening Thoughts
Sorry for the infrequent postings recently. We have been occupied with vacations and family obligations.
- Take a look at the 7th race of Saratoga's opening card on Wednesday. It's an Allowance Optional Claimer, $61,000 purse, 6.5 furlongs on the dirt for 4-year-olds and up. The entries look more like a Grade 2 Stakes race than a Wednesday optional claiming race. I'm the Tiger has won a Grade 1 this year, Spanish Chestnut is a Grade 2 winner, Vicarage and Kazoo are Grade 3 winners, Better than Bonds finished 3rd in a Grade 1, Awesome Twist is the favorite after a strong return to racing at Belmont, and then there is Spooky Mulder. I love this gelding. He is an equine ATM. He just prints money. 26 wins and practically always finishes in the money. He was claimed for $100,000 this year at the age of 8 with no breeding prospects. And don't forget he beat Silver Train this year. My money is on 10-1 Spooky to show the youngsters how a seasoned veteran gets it done.
- It looks like the problems facing U.S. racing are not unique. In fact, they might not be so bad compared to other places such as India. The government is looking to close the track in Mumbai because racing is "heavily losing money year after year" and the track only makes money from renting space for birthdays and weddings. There is a proposal to use the track land for the tallest building in the world and a new theme park. This article is interesting reading.
- For our non-TBA readers that haven't seen this, please check out http://www.racingsaratoga.com. It is a collaborative blog covering the entire Saratoga meet experience. The contributors are excellent writers and I expect it will be a very entertaining and informative read every day.
- Take a look at the 7th race of Saratoga's opening card on Wednesday. It's an Allowance Optional Claimer, $61,000 purse, 6.5 furlongs on the dirt for 4-year-olds and up. The entries look more like a Grade 2 Stakes race than a Wednesday optional claiming race. I'm the Tiger has won a Grade 1 this year, Spanish Chestnut is a Grade 2 winner, Vicarage and Kazoo are Grade 3 winners, Better than Bonds finished 3rd in a Grade 1, Awesome Twist is the favorite after a strong return to racing at Belmont, and then there is Spooky Mulder. I love this gelding. He is an equine ATM. He just prints money. 26 wins and practically always finishes in the money. He was claimed for $100,000 this year at the age of 8 with no breeding prospects. And don't forget he beat Silver Train this year. My money is on 10-1 Spooky to show the youngsters how a seasoned veteran gets it done.
- It looks like the problems facing U.S. racing are not unique. In fact, they might not be so bad compared to other places such as India. The government is looking to close the track in Mumbai because racing is "heavily losing money year after year" and the track only makes money from renting space for birthdays and weddings. There is a proposal to use the track land for the tallest building in the world and a new theme park. This article is interesting reading.
- For our non-TBA readers that haven't seen this, please check out http://www.racingsaratoga.com. It is a collaborative blog covering the entire Saratoga meet experience. The contributors are excellent writers and I expect it will be a very entertaining and informative read every day.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Martin Garcia
This is a nice article about Martin Garcia, and his rise to fame. We have been writing about Garcia for months now, but this article makes it seem like he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow. I think Garcia is an outstanding jockey, but I think things may change when he loses his bug. For the last year, he has posted most of his wins on "lesser" horses. I hope I am wrong, and he continues to dazzle at the Del Mar meet.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Declan's Back!
Hot off the presses:
Declan's Moon is entered to run on July 16, 2006 at HOLLYWOOD PARK
Race: 1 Distance: Six And One Half Furlongs Surface: Dirt Age: 4 Sex: Gelding Race Type: Allowance Optional Claiming Purse: $55000 Jockey: Victor Espinoza Trainer: Ronald W. Ellis
Race conditions: FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 THREE TIMES OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES OR WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER SINCE OCTOBER 1, 2005 OR CLAIMING PRICE $100,000. Weight, 123 lbs. Non-winners of two races other than Claiming, or Starter in 2006 Allowed 2 lbs. One such race in 2006 Allowed 4 lbs. (Allowance Horses Preferred).
Last Raced: 03/05/2005 at SANTA ANITA PARK in Race 5 Finish Position: 1st
Last Reported Workouts: 07/09/2006-HOLLYWOOD PARK-Five Furlongs-Dirt Fast-59:00 Handily 07/02/2006-SANTA ANITA PARK-Five Furlongs-Dirt Fast-58:80 Breezing 06/25/2006-SANTA ANITA PARK-Seven Furlongs-Dirt Fast-1.27:80 Handily
Declan's Moon is entered to run on July 16, 2006 at HOLLYWOOD PARK
Race: 1 Distance: Six And One Half Furlongs Surface: Dirt Age: 4 Sex: Gelding Race Type: Allowance Optional Claiming Purse: $55000 Jockey: Victor Espinoza Trainer: Ronald W. Ellis
Race conditions: FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON $7,500 THREE TIMES OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES OR WHICH HAVE NOT WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING, OR STARTER SINCE OCTOBER 1, 2005 OR CLAIMING PRICE $100,000. Weight, 123 lbs. Non-winners of two races other than Claiming, or Starter in 2006 Allowed 2 lbs. One such race in 2006 Allowed 4 lbs. (Allowance Horses Preferred).
Last Raced: 03/05/2005 at SANTA ANITA PARK in Race 5 Finish Position: 1st
Last Reported Workouts: 07/09/2006-HOLLYWOOD PARK-Five Furlongs-Dirt Fast-59:00 Handily 07/02/2006-SANTA ANITA PARK-Five Furlongs-Dirt Fast-58:80 Breezing 06/25/2006-SANTA ANITA PARK-Seven Furlongs-Dirt Fast-1.27:80 Handily
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Up and coming jockeys
The LA Times wrote a nice article about the up and coming jockeys on the west coast. Young jockeys like Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik, and Martin Garcia are the future of the sport. The success of 18 year old Fernando Jara helped move the spotlight to the young jockeys.
We the fans of horse racing need to recognize these jockeys as star athletes. We put so much emphasis on the horses, and give little respect to the jockeys. If the NTRA and the tracks concentrated on promoting the jockeys (as well as the races and horses), they may have a better turn out at the tracks.
Check the card at your local track, and start cheering for the future stars of our sport.
We the fans of horse racing need to recognize these jockeys as star athletes. We put so much emphasis on the horses, and give little respect to the jockeys. If the NTRA and the tracks concentrated on promoting the jockeys (as well as the races and horses), they may have a better turn out at the tracks.
Check the card at your local track, and start cheering for the future stars of our sport.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Ruffian (the movie)
Check out the trailer for Ruffian (the movie).
The movie is scheduled to debut in June 2007 on ABC in conjunction with ABC's broadcast of the Belmont Stakes.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
A Great Combination
There was an episode of Seinfeld where George combined two of his passions to enhance an experience. I was thinking about this yesterday while riding this:
to here:
Even though he didn't win, Julien Leparoux was awesome on Swap Fliparoo in the Genuine Risk Handicap. As you can see above, I caught a shot of them coming in 2nd. When I watched the race on the DVR this morning, I was amazed at the move he made to get up to challenge Behaving Badly. He makes horses better when he rides them. It's interesting that he came on the scene as Jerry Bailey was leaving it.
to here: 
Even though he didn't win, Julien Leparoux was awesome on Swap Fliparoo in the Genuine Risk Handicap. As you can see above, I caught a shot of them coming in 2nd. When I watched the race on the DVR this morning, I was amazed at the move he made to get up to challenge Behaving Badly. He makes horses better when he rides them. It's interesting that he came on the scene as Jerry Bailey was leaving it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)