HORSE RACING NEWS weekend of July 23

[u4ic]

King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes - what a great field! http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56156&subsec=3

Round Pond & Cesario both on the shelf: http://www.bloodhorse.com/

[henslee]

1. kick for horseracing. Don't know much about it but have been to

Santa Anita a few times. Always had a great time.

[u4ic]

10. Welcome to the racing thread, henslee!

:hi:

[two gun sid]

26. Welcome, henslee.

[henslee]

30. Thanks. Horses... I love them. Spent some time in Virgina among them.

[Justpat]

2. Hello u4ic

I made it up to the Spa OK. Tired, but happy to be here.

And welcome to horseracing Henslee.

[u4ic]

8. Hi Old Broad!

Glad to hear you made it ok. How many horses did you bring there? Please keep us up to date when your horses are running, and good luck!

[Justpat]

13. We have twenty horses here.

The first one runs Wednesday, I think.

[u4ic]

22. You've even got a cheering section here...

[aaronbees]

23. We'll be rootin for ya, OB...

Best of luck!

[Justpat]

31. Thanks!

The first one to run is Port Chester on Wed.

[u4ic]

37. What a

wonderful bottom half he has! Good luck - I've put him in my VS.

How are the Chester Houses? He died after only a couple crops on the ground, didn't he?

A full to Ghostzapper is also running that day - Aristocrat - he definitely has shown he hasn't got his brother's talent...

[Justpat]

39. This one is pretty talented

but he's not pretty to look at. He is a rather skinny,
raw boned type. But he has a stride like an 18 hand horse.

Some Chester House horses have run well on both dirt and turf
but this one is strictly turf.

[two gun sid]

3. Back from the Fowlerville fair....

finished second today. Mickey cut the whole mile and got beat by a nose at the wire. Good effort today and I am damn proud of him. Onto Caro next Wednesday.

Glad you made it to the Spa safe and sound OB. Hope everything is well with you and your stable. We will be rooting for you.

[Justpat]

4. That's great Sid!

THanks for letting me know.

I can't believe I have developed an interest in "jugheads".

[two gun sid]

7. Thanks OB. You, u4ic and jake are the greatest...

I do appreciate the support.

You know, Zito and his wife own part of a trotter named Centerfold Hall.
As fun as jugheads are, I still think TB's are, hands down, the most exciting race horses. Someday, after I retire, I sure would like to try them.

Go Baby Go!

[Justpat]

14. How soon would you run a trotter back?

With the race horses they usually get a 3-4 weeks between races.

[two gun sid]

15. Next Wednesday. The horse that beat us is back in Monday.

I know the TB's need time between starts. They run so damn hard.

Most SB can race once a week. We have bred the soundness out of them though. They used to race in heats. Not that long ago either.

[u4ic]

9. Congrats, sid!

:toast:

I've forgotten...if a horse breaks stride, do they have to go to the back of the field, and then try again? Or are they DQ'ed?

[two gun sid]

12. Thanks, u4ic,

The horse is checked and brought back on the gait. No DQ but they sure end up at the back more often than not.

[u4ic]

21. Thanks ..............n/t

[jakefrep]

16. Glad to hear your horse did well

We're probably in Thursday night at Raceway Park for the Lucas Co. Fair card.

[two gun sid]

19. Thanks jake, I'll be looking for y'all thursday night.

[jakefrep]

63. 2nd tonight at Raceway Park...

...about 10 lengths back from a very nice Sire Stake horse. Our division of the 3yo filly trot went in 2:00.3. The other division went in 2:07.1. That's been our luck this year, always getting stuck in the fastest division.

[rinsd]

5. Del Mar just opened up again...

...I can't wait to go.

[two gun sid]

6. I've always wanted to see racing at Del Mar...

I'm in the midwest so Arlington is the best racing I usally see. I wish you good luck at the races. If you're a handicapper, let us know how you do or better yet, tout a us a hot horse!

[GOPisEvil]

11. Aw, man...Del Mar is beautiful.

First time I ever saw live racing was there. I wish I could go.

[jakefrep]

17. Summer has officially begun...

...now that Saratoga & Del Mar are open.

[jakefrep]

18. Azamour sets track record in King George....

The Aga Khan's Azamour set a new course record in winning the King George & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes...

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56179&subsec=3

[u4ic]

20. He's definitely the star over there this year

along with Divine Proportions.

I wouldn't be surprised if Doyen is retired soon. He's clearly not the same horse as last year.

[jakefrep]

34. Azamour is on track to meet English Derby winner Motivator...

...in the Irish Champion Stakes later in the summer. I would pay large money to see that race. It will be interesting to see if Motivator has recovered from his defeat in the Coral-Eclipse (?).

[aaronbees]

24. Smuggler takes CCAO...

per the Bloodhorse story: http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=29182 .... looks like she has an edge on 3yo filly division w/ Round Pond out.

from the article:

Phipps Stable's favored Smuggler swept past her rivals Spun Sugar and Summerly to register an impressive victory in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Saturday.
In her first attempt at the 1 1/4-mile classic distance, Smuggler, a bay daughter of Unbridled-Inside Information, proved more than adept for jockey Edgar Prado. She took the lead in mid-stretch and pulled away to an easy 3 1/2-length triumph in a time of 2:04 1/5 in the 3-year-old test for fillies.

"It worked out the way we planned it," said Prado. "I wanted to wait, and then when it was time to go, wait a little more."

[aaronbees]

25. Bellamy in King's Bishop...

This will be quite a race if this turns out to be true. Bloodhorse article: http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=29177 (I'd take Roman Ruler in this one, I think.)

from the article:
Is it possible the race of year will be run on Travers (gr. I) day, but will not be the Travers? While the presence of Afleet Alex in the Travers will make the "Midsummer Derby" a special race, how about a showdown between Lost in the Fog, Bellamy Road, and Roman Ruler in the seven-furlong King's Bishop Stakes (gr. I)?
That is looking like a distinct possibility with the announcement by trainer Nick Zito that the brilliant Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner and Kentucky Derby (gr. I) favorite Bellamy Road likely will make his return to the races in the King's Bishop, a race already on the schedule for unbeaten sensation Lost in the Fog and the recent Dwyer (gr. II) winner Roman Ruler.

"I have to bring him back someplace," Zito said. "I know it's a tough spot, but when he's right he can run with anybody. He knows how to get ready; he pumps himself up."

[two gun sid]

29. I'd pay money to see that race. I hope the NTRA ...

makes sure it is televised.

[two gun sid]

27. Gun Salute Wins Grade II American Derby In Final Stride.

From Chicago Barn to Wire website:
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (July 23, 2005) -- Brant Laue's Gun Salute rallied from mid-pack to win the Grade II $250,000 American Derby, presented by Jack Daniel's, overtaking race favorite Purim in the final stride of the mile and three-sixteenths race for 3-year-olds. Cornelio Velasquez rode the Bill Mott-trained son of Military, who covered the distance over "good" turf in 1:55.31.

Longshot General Jumbo set a quick pace in the race, drawing off early to a seven-length lead through a half mile in 47.05 seconds and a three-quarter split mile of 1:11.56 with even-money choice Purim racing in second. At the top of the lane, Purim grabbed the lead before the eventual winner drove on the outside to get up in the last jump to score by a nose.

The American Derby was the second stakes win of the season for Gun Salute who previously captured the $100,000 Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland in April. He earned $150,000 to double his bankroll to $298,344 for owner- breeder Laue.

"This is my first homebred runner, ever," Laue said. "To have him prevail at a great track like Arlington on a big day like this is special. There are a lot of opportunities for good 3-year-old turf horses and this was certainly a prime target for us."

http://www.barntowire.com/2005/APresults050723c.html


COOL CONDUCTOR WIRES FIELD IN GRADE III ARLINGTON HANDICAP

http://www.barntowire.com/2005/APresults050723b.html


NOISETTE RALLIES TO CAPTURE GRADE III MODESTY HANDICAP

http://www.barntowire.com/2005/APresults050723a.html


Congratulations to Cornelio Velasquez. He had one helluva day.

[two gun sid]

28. Mr Muscleman wins eighth straight in Trotting Classic

From USTA website:
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - July 23, 2005 - Mr Muscleman <$2.60, $2.20, $2.10> held on for his eighth straight win, ninth in 10 starts this year, with a neck victory over a fast closing Sand Vic <$3.40, $2.60> in the $85,000 Trotting Classic, the sixth race and the first of two Classic Series races for male horses, on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

In the eighth race, the $85,000 Pacing Classic, Dr No <$3.20, $2.40, $2.40> cruised to a one and a half length victory over Ponder <$3.00, $2.60> in 1:49 flat. Articulator <$4.40> was third by two and three-quarter lengths.

Mr. Muscleman, driven by Ron Pierce and trained by Noel Daley, trotted the mile in 1:51.4, the fifth straight in which he was timed in 1:52 or faster. His only loss this year was by a neck in the Su Mac Lad Final on April 10. The two-time Dan Patch Award winner has 29 wins, 13 seconds and three thirds from 52 career starts for a bankroll of $2.3 million for Adam Victor & Son Stable LLC of New York City.

"The hole opened up so we dropped in there," Pierce said of the first quarter. "I moved him as we straighten up down the backstretch. We got a little breather on the turn but not enough. I called on him at the head of the stretch, and he took off. Sand Vic almost got us; he was coming good. I had to reach up and give Mr Muscleman a swat to keep going. He had a right to be tired."


http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=10569&z=1

[jakefrep]

33. A slightly better picture of Mr Muscleman...

..winning the 2004 Kentucky Futurity...

[Justpat]

32. New track record today at Belmont

A horse owned by Godolphin Stable went six furlongs in a staggering
1:06.4

My God, thats fast. He went 21.3, 44 and change, 55:2 and finished
up in a new track record.

The name of the horse was Keep The Faith. He is a son of the
deceased Sunday Silence out of a Dayjur mare.

Yikes.

[u4ic]

35. Holy moly!

He was smokin'! I'm going to have to dig out my race replays password and take a look at that race tomorrow.

A Bit O'Gold wins the Chinese Cultural Stakes at Woodbine. http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=29198 It looked like Mobil was going to run right by ABOG, but he dug in and pulled away at the end. He's definitely the class of the older horses there, and his trainer's a woman! :bounce: It was actually a very nice field by Canadian standards.

Big upset...Soaring Free (1-9) loses the 7f Ontario Jockey Club Stakes to Awesome Action. It's been 2 years since Soaring Free lost at WO.

Sweet Return beats Singletary and Castledale to win the Eddie Read: http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=29199

Very sad indeed...Emanuel Jose Sanchez, jockey at Colonial Downs dies of apparent dehydration: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56181&subsec=1

[u4ic]

36. Anybody been to the 'new' Breeder's Cup website?

:wtf:

That has to be the worst layout I've ever seen on a website.

Also, it doesn't look like they have all the past races on there! Crap, I loved going back and watching the replays. I wouldn't be surprised if a very expensive DVD of all previous races will be for sale shortly.

[Justpat]

40. Send them an email and tell them what you think.

They might like to know how to make it better.

[u4ic]

47. I'm trying to wade through the site

and do just that.

Wow, I can't believe how user un-friendly it is. They change it every year, but it's always been easy to navigate.

[two gun sid]

42. The Sanchez death is horrible for the sport...

anyone want to give any opinions on jockey weight? I'd be interested in hearing what people say about it.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I would like to say that I would like to see the scale of weights raised. That is just an opinion and I really am not aware of all the repercussions of raising the weight.

[u4ic]

46. I'm not in the game

but I would agree with you, sid...I'd hope to see the weights raised as well. And like you, I think the issue is probably quite complex. The consequences don't hit me.

They did it in Europe recently...

A couple of articles on the subject: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/04/25/spt_sptrac1a.html

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2002-07-31-romero_x.htm

[jakefrep]

44. You go to WO much?

It's an impressive facility. I'd like to see a big turf race there sometime - the outer turf course is awesome.

[u4ic]

48. Not much,

considering it's 3000 km away. ;)

Actually, I left the Toronto area in 1990 and haven't been back since. I've only been to the pre-renovated Woodbine.

I love the design, but then again, I'm partial to turf racing myself. I hope to get that way again someday.

[jakefrep]

49. Well, 3000 km IS quite an obstacle...

...distance is funny that way ;)

[GOPisEvil]

38. Wow!!!! That's flying!

:wow:

I watched the races from Del Mar (and one from Monmouth) yesterday on TV. Man, I miss Del Mar, what a gorgeous place. Choctaw Nation and Sweet Return both looked good.

[Justpat]

41. And it was his first start in 15 months.

He precviously raced in Australia.

[two gun sid]

43. I just looked up the chart...

that is something to come back from a lay-off like that and run a big race. Usually Dickenson is the only guy who gets that kind of performance out of a horse.

[two gun sid]

45. Company offers to clone Thoroughbreds

From Thoroughbred Times:
Horsecloning.com, a San Francisco company founded by Peter Kagel, says it is prepared to clone a horse for $367,350 and a 15% royalty although it does not guarantee any horses will be produced by the cloning.

Kagel said Gordon Woods, Ph.D. and a team of University of Idaho researchers who cloned three mules in 2003, would perform the cloning. The Jockey Club does not allow cloned Thoroughbreds, but Kagel is hopeful that will change one day.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56280&subsec=1


I think this is very interesting. Will the breeders in the TB business look to capitalize on this technology or will they stick to live cover only? I would hate to see the tradition change because I love the history of the sport. Still, I'd love to see a race with Man O War, Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, Slew or any other great you could think of.

[two gun sid]

50. Good luck Tomorrow Old Broad.

I'll be watchin' the race on YouBet.

[u4ic]

51. Congrats, Old Broad!

Second! :toast:

He showed a lot of guts to shake off Charlevoix...but boy, the winner was just flying at the end. What a great race!

I see the full to Ghostzapper also won - Aristocrat - earlier in the day.

[jakefrep]

52. WOOHOO!...

...I made $17.10 on Port Chester today! I bet $2 across the board and got back $17.10. Sometimes it really does pay to bet with your heart instead of your head!

[Justpat]

54. That's great! I'm glad you made some money.

[Justpat]

53. Thanks Sid and u4ic

He ran great but got zapped at the wire by the four horse.

He is such a game horse.

We have one in tomorrow. Truely Ruby on the grass. She is pretty
neurotic. I don't know if she'll like the detention barn. THe
first time she had to go to the detention barn at Belmont she got
herself so worked up that when she came into the paddock I didn't
recognize her. She looked like she lost 50 lbs.

[two gun sid]

55. I bet Aristocrat but, I didn't put anything on OB's horse...

I was afraid I'd jinx OB. Congratulations OB. Your horse looked good.

[u4ic]

56. Madcap Escapade retired

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=29225

[aaronbees]

57. Afleet Alex injured!

Hope he returns to the track and heals well. :(

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=56314&subsec=2

from the article:
Afleet Alex to miss Haskell, Travers due to injury

Cash is King Stable’s dual classic winner Afleet Alex is expected to miss about two months of training after sustaining a hairline fracture of the cannon bone while training at Belmont Park.
The three-year-old son of Northern Afleet was operated on at the New Jersey Equine Clinic in Clarksburg by Patricia Hogan, V.M.D. on Wednesday and a screw was inserted into the colt's leg to repair the fracture. Afleet Alex was returned to trainer Tim Ritchey’s barn at Belmont Park shortly after the procedure, according to Cash is King managing partner Chuck Zacney.

Zacney said Thursday that the colt would miss the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) on August 7 at Monmouth Park and Travers Stakes (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course in August but that he expects the colt to return to training in time for a fall campaign that would include the $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 29 at Belmont.

[Justpat]

58. I bet it was in his left front. That was the leg

that took most of the pounding during his stumble in the
Preakness. I'm glad it something like this though. These fractures
heal completely.

But don't be surpised if he is retired. It cost a fortune in insurance money to keep him in training.

[aaronbees]

62. You are correct....

it was the left front, hairline condylar fracture at the bottom of the cannon bone, per info. from a poster at a few horse racing boards who knows the Alex crew. I'll have to go back and look at some of the photos from that Preakness race. Alex also worked a mile recently, if I'm not mistaken -- perhaps that exacerbated it? If he suffered it in the Preakness and ran on it in the Belmont, that would be amazing.

I hope he pulls through but yeah, wouldn't be surprised if they retired him. Visions of the big $$ lured in front of Smarty Jones' owners last year on the one hand with insurance costs on the other .... what a shame that would be to have a repeat of that retirement.

[Justpat]

67. I hope to be in the postition of making those kinds

of decisions some day. What to do - race or retire my mega million dollar colt. That's a tough one.

[two gun sid]

59. Back from the Caro Fair...

track was horrible. Half of it was underwater. Races were postponed 1 1/2 hours. Mickey hated the deep going. Warmed him up two trips and he wouldn't go. Got on the right line like he was hurting. We scratched him.

[Justpat]

60. Good idea to scratch.

Running a green horse in those conditions is not a great idea.

You did the right thing.

We had a bummer of a day too.

[two gun sid]

61. Yes ma'am,

I looked up the results just before I posted. I'm sorry. Did she get worked up before the race?

[u4ic]

64. Hopefully next time out will be better for you, OB

Good luck in the Diana.

[Justpat]

66. We're thinking of scratching.

It's really, really tough. All Grade 1 races are, but I
don't want to see her get her head kicked in.
THe entire field is exceptional.

[u4ic]

65. Better luck next time, sid

when does he race next?

[two gun sid]

68. The vet came out today and told us Mickey has some hock...

issues. Nothing major but, deep tracks aggrevate his hock. We are going to stay on the harder surfaces so, we race next Aug. 15 at Midland in the MI Futurity.

[jakefrep]

69. That's too bad...

..I've heard that the Michigan fair tracks are notoriously deep and sandy. Hope he gets well soon.

[two gun sid]

70. We gave him a HA injection for lubrication...

damn, I hated doing that. He's in his stall until Monday.

When do you guys go next?

[jakefrep]

71. Most likely Weds. night at Bowling Green, OH

Unless Dad gets a wild hair and decides to go in the State Fair race at Scioto Downs.

[Justpat]

72. HA is great for joints. It's not like you were

injecting a steroid in there or something.
HA actually helps the joints. We use it all the time.

[two gun sid]

73. It worries me that a 2 YO needs injections...

at all. His hock can only get worse in my opinion. I guess it's not really the injection that bothers me as much as the fact that we have to inject him. LOL. Does that make sense? Maybe I baby him too much.

I would never forgive myself if something happened to him while racing. I feel responsible to my partners for him because I picked him out and he's all we have going right now. I don't usually get too close to the horses but, he's such a clown and has such a good personality and is so easy to be around I like him a like a pet or something.

Well, thanks for listening to me whine.

How's everything in your stable, OB?

[Justpat]

74. We don't inject two year olds much

but hocks are about the only thing we would do on a youngster.
And that would be if it was close to racing or had run a time
or two. In my experience, hocks are one joint that don't get
better without help.

I had a horse of my own that I turned out a couple of years ago
because his hocks were killing him. I thought he would benefit
from the rest but when he came back he was the same. The vet
were using in FL at the time said he felt that hocks never got
better without HA and/or magnetic hock boots. I think he was right.

Our stable is OK for now. We run a few next week.

And for what it's worth - don't apologize for getting close to the
horses. Speaking for myself, getting close to them is what makes
this life worthwhile. They are some of the finest, most genuine
characters I know. I get attached to most of them.