Man have I been busy. Since I last posted I’ve changed jobs twice and moved from one residence to another. It is also my busiest time of the year at work. On top of those things, as you may have noticed prior to this break, my thoughts and attitude about the sport of horse racing had soured a bit.
Hopefully you have been keeping tabs on the action with both breeds and other interesting developments at Pull the Pocket and The Aspiring Horseplayer.
A lot has happened since April 28th …
Somethings to get caught up on.
First off, in what looked to be great news about a topic discussed here in the past, Jayne Vaders was suspended indefinitely by the PA Racing Commission. However, as it seems is the norm, the news turned sour just as quickly when her lawyer won another stay this week.
Sick sport huh? Here is someone who has been caught cheating numerous times yet it has taken two years and now longer for the issue to be handled. Once it is handled, I’m sure it will end up being a slap on the wrist, ala the Rucker and Ledford incidents at the Meadowlands.
There is a thread over at Pace Advantage discussing this topic and a poster claims to have lost over $18000 by claiming a horse off of Vaders. I have a friend I went to high school with that also took a bath after claiming one off of her. Claimed the horse at the Pha for $12500 and the horse wasn’t competitive until they dropper her to the $5k level.
And then the news the Calder was raising their take out percentage broke. We can’t gain any news fans, times are tough for most economically, but we are going to raise the price of wagering on our product for this meet. I don’t have much to say about it other than they are on the no bet list along with Hawthorne ( more on that below ). Pull the Pocket said what needed to be said about the Calder Take Out over at his place.
On a more positive note ( sarcasm), Michael Gill looks to be seriously getting back into the game. You know Mike Gill right? He was the owner of a horse who broke down at Gulfstream a few years ago and before the horse could be tested/evaluated by any officials his trainer and vet on record cut the horses leg off? Yeah that guy. Anyways, over at Thats Amore Stables place, the topic gets discussed in a more positive light, including comments from two of Gill’s former trainer, Mark Shuman and Phil Schoenthal.
Here’s another one for the reasons this game sucks list. If anyone hasn’t seen this DQ, I bet you can’t watch it and not lose your lunch. This has got to be the worst I’ve ever seen and anyone who reads knows my thoughts on the subject. Here is the video:
Gruesome huh?
Apparently there was another head shaker at Pimlico on 4/24 at Pimlico, the 6th race. I haven’t viewed that yet.
Good news though. The Oaks and Derby are this weekend. Should be interesting if nothing else.
The opening of Delaware and the first big stakes card at Pimlico bring back some thoroughbred racing excitement to my agenda. The racing in Maryland has taken a turn for the better and Delaware, while offering short fields, usually has some decent horses.
Pimlico’s opening Saturday card is highlighted by the Federico Tesio Stakes ( race 9 ) for 3 year olds. Occasionally this race yields a Preakness starter and this year looks to have a few entered who may have some potential. John Servis is on record saying that Indian Jump would earn a Preakness spot with a good effort as is Graham Motion, Icabad Crane’s trainer. ESPN will televise the Tesio during their broadcast of the Lexington Stakes from Keeneland.
Three other stakes are carded, including the Allen’s Prospect ( race 4 ) for 3 year olds and up going 6F. Grand Champion and Ravalo are the most notable runners entered. The Geisha Handicap ( race 6 ) for 3 year old fillys and older mares going 1m 1/16th is highlighted by Maryland/Delaware terror Lexi Star. The other stake on the card is the Jim McKay ( race 8 ) for 3 year olds and up going 1m and 1/16th. Mostly local crew assembled for this one, Eddie C. is the now horse. Etude is a horse I like in here, getting back to doing what he does best I feel, going a route of ground.
I’ll be spending my Saturday at Delaware Park with my Asst. Trainer friend. A rather average card kicks off the Delaware meet. The card is highlighted by the Peach Blossom for 3 year old fillies going 6 furlongs. The usual suspects are back riding, including Dominguez, Pino and Caraballo along with Rose Marie Homiester Jr. who comes off a great Tampa meet. The usual training suspect are also back, including Scott Lake, Tony Dutrow, Steve Klesaris, Mike Pino and Howard Wolfendale. A new shooter amongst the training roster is David Jacobson.
Well … we learned that Fox Hill Farm’s Eight Belles is going to be entered in both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. I can almost guarantee that barring an injury, she’ll be in the Derby starting gate.
We also learned that Adriano will be clogging up the Derby, just as predicted by yours truly regardless of what the connections were saying after the Lane’s End. He didn’t run a lick in either of his dirt starts, but Derby here they come. I selected him in the Lane’s End, but he probably should stick to turf and/or synthetic and the people at Churchill should start considering a revamp of the criteria that it takes to be eligible for the Derby.
So what did we learn this week? I expanded the period to week, from weekend, since Keeneland has good weekday racing and some important harness racing took place Monday to Thursday.
Well …
As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m not a fan of synthetic surfaces. As I’ve also previously mentioned, not even the exciting, classy racing at Keeneland can overcome my disdain for the synthetics.
Today’s Lexington Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland only strengthened my disdain. Pyro, the even money favorite, and many peoples early Derby choice, just ran an absolute dud to finish 10th. He couldn’t even fight off Medjool for 9th.
And before anyone sends me a comment asking why I am so suprised after I’ve been publically skeptical of Pyro on some sites/blogs, mentioning that he hasn’t run particular fast even while being ultra impressive visually, I’ll say this: I was skeptical of him at even money. I didn’t think he was a lock like most folks. He hadn’t run faster than the fillies on the same cards. I wasn’t skeptical enough to predict him to finish 10th. He is a good horse. I thought he might run 2nd or 3rd, beaten a length once he faced a solid field. Not 10th.
Rant over … I don’t mind losing money, or watching logical horses lose so long as a reason exist other than the change of surface. Race after race over this stuff horses change form radically with no other explanation. How can anyone take it seriously from a wagering stand point?
So what did we learn this weekend? Plenty of good racing on for both the pacers/trotters and the thoroughbreds. The 3 year old picture was painted a little further and we learned a few things about a couple of the contenders.
This is the 3rd time I’ve said that, but I’m going back to one I’ve already said it about.
Big Brown ….
Wow … anyone who just watched that performance in the Florida Derby has to be impressed. 22.3 and 45.4? Gone!
Big day of racing ….
The first three are in the books in Dubai and so far Rick Dutrow and Edgar Prado are having a big night.
They won the Godolphin Mile with a resurgent Diamond Stripes, who looked finished in early stretch.
They also won the Golden Shaheen with Benny the Bull. Idiot Proof completed an all American exacta.
Mick De Kock continued his dominance of the UAE Derby, running 1st and 2nd with Honour Devil and Royal Vintage.
What more needs to be said? The filly that won the Belmont and beat Curlin has been retired. Another blow to a sport that can’t take too many more. Her first Grade 1 win at Santa Anita was one of the 5 most impressive performances by a thoroughbred I have ever seen.
“A filly in the Belmont”
