Barbaro Updates: 86
updates are now here.
Update 728: Something Wild ran a nice third today at Laurel. I just caught up with Tim, by cell phone, as he was returning from the races. Something Wild was in a fourteen horse allowance field, "never win a race other than" condition. He broke sharply, was taken slightly off the pace, moved down to the rail going around the turn and basically ran a gutsy race. He seemed to cool out well. His owner, Walter Simek, from Arizona, flew in for the race.
Update 727: Peter just called, he had heard from Michael who had visited Barbaro this afternoon. Barbaro remains comfortable. A quick, upbeat report. And then Kathy Anderson called. She was just leaving New Bolton (6:35 pm). She again said he looked good, very bright. Mrs. Jackson and Dr. Richardson were both there during Kathy's visit. Barbaro was munching on hand-picked grass!
Update 726: Just moved the site. There was some whacky behaviour during the move, but I think it is now functioning. On a more somber note, we have lost two more athletes, Precisionist and Second of June, who many recently saw running second in the Woodward.
Update 725: Jeannine Edwards just sent me the following e-mail regarding ESPNs plans for racing this weekend:
Here is a preview of Sat's show.....
After a 3-week hiatus (during which I was on vacation riding in the WY wilderness.... doesn't get any better than that!) the live ESPN horse racing coverage continues on Saturday with the "Countdown to the Cup" series, 4-6pm ET. We're really looking forward to these next 3 shows, Sept 30, Oct 7, and Oct 14 in anticipation of the Breeders' Cup on Nov 4 (also on ESPN.) Most of the key contenders in each of the 8 BC race divisions will be in action over the next 3 weeks... we'll see all the stars of our sport, in their final prep races. It should be very exciting! We'll even have a look at the European contingent for the BC on our show this weekend, as we have a 2 1/2 minute international feature from across the pond.
This Sat's show features 4 big races... the Clement Hirsch and Yellow Ribbon from Oak Tree (Santa Anita), the KY Cup Classic from Turfway Park, and the Kelso Handicap from Belmont. Our "host" location is Santa Anita. I can't wait to see The Tin Man run in the Clement Hirsch... he's a marvel. 8 years old and in the best form of his life, after 2 seriously bowed tendons, ankle injuries, and various other minor ailments. He's spent about 3 years on the sidelines, and has been carefully managed by his trainer, Dick Mandella, who says The Tin Man is his all-time favorite horse and the barn pet. He's quite a character and has endeared himself to all those around him. He reminds me of John Henry... small, plain-looking, but with the heart of a champion. He'll be running in his 3rd Clement Hirsch and 3rd BC Turf... he first competed in both races in '02. We have a 2 1/2 minute feature devoted to The Tin Man on our show. Joan, one of our Associate Producers, is interviewing Mandella and The Tin Man's owners tomorrow (Wed) for the story.
In the Yellow Ribbon, 3-year-old Wait A While takes on older mares for the first time in the Yellow Ribbon on turf. Wait A While is shooting for her 4th win in a row. She'll face tough California mares like Dancing Edie and Live Life, but she appears to be on a roll right now for Todd Pletcher and has really made her presence felt in the distaff turf division. She gets a big test on Sat.
Our old friend Perfect Drift is running again this Sat, in the KY Cup Classic. He's such a cool horse, and always tries his best. I think the track was not particularly suited to his running style in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. He's done well at Turfway (won 4 of 6 starts) but not since they switched over to the Polytrack surface... should be interesting to see how he handles it. He zipped through a sharp 5-furlong workout over the track about 2 weeks ago in his only "trial run" on the surface. Premium Tap, who last won the Woodward at Saratoga, and Gouldings Green, who's been super consistent this year, are his chief rivals.
At Belmont in the Kelso, it should be an interesting match-up between Godolphin's Ashkal Way, who's won 4 of his 5 starts and has been a pleasant surprise for his connections since coming to this country in the spring, Meteor Storm, an old (7) campaigner who's made over $1.3 million but hasn't raced since December (was nearly retired to stud) and may prefer more ground than the one-mile of the Kelso, and Friendly Island... a sprinter who's never raced beyond 7 furlongs and never been on turf. They're feeling him out for a possible start in the BC Mile on Turf. The Pletcher stable's confidence in him jumped way up when he scorched through a 1/2 mile workout on turf last week... :47.4 on a turf course that doesn't play fast.
Lots of great stories, interviews, and exciting racing to look forward to on Sat. And of course, we'll update everyone on Barbaro and include a tribute to the late great Lost In The Fog.
Update 724: I just met Rick Rosenblatt, who wrote this story for the AP, which was published yesterday: Barbaro looks good; still has ways to go. Rick was in Fair Hill, and likely writing a follow up story. He visited Barbaro yesterday, so I had to ask him for his report! He said he looked bright in his eye, and alert. Any unexpected sound garnered his attention. He was out grazing, and took a little nip out of Rick's trouser leg. Anyway, Rick seemed pretty happy with what he saw. He had previously seen Barbaro in the ICU, a couple of months ago. The AP also took a bunch of photos yesterday (so they are the most recent), you can see a few at espn: Horse Racing Photo Wire.
Here's another poignant poem: For Every Horse an Angel.
Update 723: Another comfortable night for Barbaro last night (tuesday night). I just saw Michael Matz by the clocker's stand. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. Also another absolutely gorgeous morning here at Fair Hill. Beautiful sunrise, a thin layer of mist coming out of the ground, plenty of deer grazing...I am currently stood behind the gate on a two year old to do a bit of gate schooling and then we'll open gallop a quarter down the lane.
updated wednesday 7:20am
Update 722: Julie created this wonderful memorial to Lost in the Fog.
Fans will be able to celebrate Lost in the Fog on saturday at Golden Gate Fields: Track to honor Lost in the Fog. The following is an excerpt:
Golden Gate Fields will salute Eclipse Sprint champion Lost in the Fog, his owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist on Saturday. A special DVD featuring each of the colt's victories will be given away, and career highlights will be shown throughout the day.
Golden Gate Fields has been swamped with requests about the video and had fans from as far away as Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey inquire about attending the day to pay their respects to the colt, who was euthanized on Sept. 17 after battling cancer.
Donations in the name of Lost in the Fog can be made to the Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Northern California's only non-profit horse rescue and rehabilitation facility. The GEVA address is P.O. Box 2101, Glen Ellen, CA 95442.
"If it's something to help horses, I'm always for it," said Aleo, who has allowed GEVA to auction off pictures of the colt in the past.
This Bloodhorse article: Crystal Clear is a wonderfully written article about the Fog. It begins:
He was special; a simple word that seems inadequate, but at the same time says it all. He was speed incarnate, not just blazing fast but white-hot fast, able to run a second quarter faster perhaps than any horse before him. He was without pretensions, no blue-blooded pedigree or flighty temperament. He was all business.
An update was posted to the IN HONOR OF BARBARO RESCUE CHALLENGE, providing the status of the fifth challenge, this was swifty met, you have raised more than $9,000!
Good morning, Barbaro!
Good morning, all you Fans of Barbaro!
*************GOOD NEWS!!!!!*************
Another Senator has signed on to co-sponsor - Carper of Delaware in on board as of this morning!!!!!
We CAN do this, even if it's one senator at a time!
Hope Barbaro has sunshine and lots of grazing today.
Proud member, Fans of Barbaro
Posted by: Marg in Maine at September 27, 2006 9:52 AM