Barbaro Updates: 60
updates are now here.
Update 568: Best of luck tomorrow for Lost in the Fog (thanks Anna).
Update 567: Just spoke to Peter Brette, he visited Bobby earlier this afternoon. Barbaro was comfortable, Peter was happy with him. Peter brushed him and changed his bandages etc.
Quick reminder, Lost in the Fog vigil, 7 pm tonight, east coast time. Whereever you are, whatever you are doing, spare some thoughts for the Fog.
Update 566: Sue McMullen sent me this e-mail this morning in reference to the Jackson's horse Enticing who recently ran at York.
I've just spoken to William Haggas, trainer of Enticing and asked him how she'd come out of the Nunthorpe, his thoughts on the race and where she goes next.
Willaim said she was absolutely fine and it had been an ambitious plan to go for the Nunthorpe, which on the day just didn't come off. He said she clearly wasn't happy on the ground and she was also up with the pace early on, which hadn't really been the plan so overall, it just didn't go right for her. But she has lots of speed and all being well, she will now go for the Flying Childers, at York on 8 September. This race normally takes place at Doncaster during the St Leger meeting, but Doncaster is currently closed for extensive rebuilding so the meeting has been transferred to York. The Flying Childers is a Group 2 over 5 furlongs, but her participation will depend on the ground as she won't run if it's soft.
I may have to pursuade Sue to become our European racing correspondent. Anyone want to volunteer for other racing jurisdictions around the world ?
Update 565: Jeannine Edwards just e-mailed me the following for their telecast on saturday.
We are televising the Woodward and Forego Handicaps on Sat, 4:30pm, espn. Right now we are planning a Funny Cide feature, a look back at Forego (who won the Woodward 1974-77), an interview with Nick Zito (he has Commentator in the Forego and Sun King in the Woodward), a possible interview with Eugene Melnyk who owns Flower Alley, a tribute to the horsemen who died in the Lexington plane crash (one of whom was the breeder of Flower Alley), and of course, an update on Barbaro and most likely Lost In The Fog. This is our last show until Sept 30 when we will begin our "Countdown to the Cup" series before the Breeders' Cup. Those shows, (3 total, on Sept 30, Oct 7, and Oct 14) will be 2 hours long and will take place at Santa Anita, Belmont, and Keeneland. Each show will also have a cut-in from another track hosting big races on that day. These shows will highlight all the major horses in their final preps for the Breeders' Cup... they should be very exciting!!
edit: racing is on espn not espn2 this weekend.
Update 564: Just spoke to Barclay Tagg. He did not breeze Funny Cide today, apparently the track was not suitable, they have had A LOT of rain in Saratoga. Funny Cide did a gallop today. They may give him a short breeze tomorrow, if the track is great, otherwise he will gallop into the Woodward on saturday. Barclay also noted Stormy Kiss came out of her race on sunday (third Ballerina) in good shape. I will catch up with Barclay again tomorrow.
Annie (Michael Matz exercise rider) rode Round Pond today, her first outing since her race on sunday (Molly Pitcher at Monmouth). She had a nice quiet trip outback (although Annie did mention a few deer) and does appear to have come out of her race well from the weekend.
Update 563: Michael Matz just let me know Bobby had a comfortable night last night (tuesday night). Passed him on my way to the gate on my fourth set. On the third set, Randy's Bullet and I saw plenty of deer going up Goat House Hill out back.
updated 8:05am
Update 562: Just spoke to Michael Matz who said he hasn't heard anything yet this morning (wednesday). I wanted to make sure nobody worried that there is no early update today. Possibly I will get one closer to 9am during my short break time. It's a cooler, rainy morning which actually makes it a pleasure to ride. The woodchip track at Fair Hill handles the rain well and thus the rain does not overly disrupt our training. And of course, we can always take the horses out back now that the rain has taken the sting out of the ground. For my third set, I'm about to get on Randy's Bullet and take him up Goat House Hill. Finally, I'd like to thank those that contributed to my gift basket on Saturday and Michael said that there is another gift waiting for me in his tackroom this morning.
updated wednesday 7:20am
Update 561: It seems to be becoming conventional wisdom now that this year's crop of three year olds is very strong. Those leading the crop include Barbaro, Bernadini, Showing Up, Discreet Cat and Henny Hughes, and that list does not include Jazil who won his last start: The Belmont! Anyway, the following are a couple of articles that highlight the leaders.
The first article: Current class of three-year-olds judged excellent. The article begins:
The 2006 class of three-year-old thoroughbreds can now be rated as excellent. Bernardini's runaway victory in the Travers Stakes puts him at the top of his generation among active three- year-olds.
Imagine what type of rivalry there could have been if Barbaro had not suffered his career ending injury in the Preakness Stakes. Bernardini and Barbaro may have reminded racing fans of Affirmed and Alydar.
The second article: Rail Chatter takes a look at the "buzz" behind Discreet Cat. It does however also discuss Barclay Tagg, who is having a good Saratoga meet, excerpt:
My buddy Barclay Tagg is having a great meet at the Spa. He's been winning at about a 30 percent clip. He's taken a couple of stakes races already, and he has Funny Cide in the Woodward this Saturday. Kenny Mayne is the one, I think, who said about Barclay during the Triple Crown run of Funny Cide three years ago, "Here comes Barclay Tagg for an interview with as much anticipation as a man going to an IRS audit."
Yet Barclay has entered the psyche of the nation, as I saw on Saturday in a very unusual way. I went past a group with a baby in a seat. The mother was making it laugh - as parents do - by doing the old peek-a-boo thing. But instead of saying "Ah, boo!" she was saying, "Ah, Barclay. Barclay , Barclay!" The baby was laughing heartily. What can you say? Barc, you da man!
In the spring a leading contender for three year old honours was Brother Derek, he has been rested since his consecutive fourths in the Derby and the Preakness, he will be back for the second half of his three year old campaign on saturday: 'Derek' back and not forgotten. The following is an excerpt:
The exploits of Barbaro, Bernardini, Discreet Cat, Henny Hughes, and Showing Up have provided ample evidence that this crop of 3-year-olds is truly special. Brother Derek was at or near the top of that list earlier this year. With plenty of time to recover from the rigors of the first two legs of the Triple Crown, and with a series of strong works at Del Mar in the past month, Brother Derek appears set to launch his comeback on Saturday in the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes.
"We had a lot of fun with the Derby, the whole thing," Hendricks said at his barn. "It was fun to be part of the Kentucky Derby, which is the biggest race in the world.
"Cecil and I," Hendricks said, referring to owner Cecil Peacock, "tried to take it in and enjoy it, and not get caught up in the win-at-all-costs mentality, because that's devastating if you get beat. Now, it's on to Phase 2."
Good morning, Barbaro (and Jo!) -
Up early, waiting for Wire-To-Wire to come on.
Hoping for ACN later. Time for more coffee!
Eat your breakfast, Barbaro - It's the most important meal of the day!!!
Posted by: Marg in Maine at August 30, 2006 9:22 AM