Barbaro Updates: 222
updates are now here.
Update 1555: I caught up briefly, by phone, with Peter Brette this afternoon. They were very happy with Chelokee, given his troubled trip and the fact the final time of the race was close to the Fountain of Youth time. Lets hope he can continue to move forward off this, but he did appear to come out of the race well. They also worked Round Pond this morning, she worked a half, and she worked very well. They are pointing for a race next weekend for Round Pond.
I picked up my dog (I was away for the weekend) from a friend who had an old Cheltenham tape in the VCR. They were watching Rathgorman getting well beaten by Badsworth Boy in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The year previously he (Kevin Whyte, now the local hunt's whip) had won on Rathgorman (not sure why we were not watching that tape). Anyway, it was fun to watch, Cheltenham will only be a couple of weeks away now.
I have neglected to mention an old time New York favourite won another stake this weekend, at the grand old age of nine: Old Favorite Evening Attire Posts Stymie Upset.
Update 1554: On the breeding front Borrego (and others) have their first mares in foal: First Mares in Foal to Artie Schiller, Bellamy Road, Borrego. I was a big fan of Borrego having been present at two of his less successful races (Smarty's Preakness and Saint Liam's Breeders' Cup Classic). Over the years I have had the pleasure of "hanging out" with Beau Greely, his trainer. Also of note: Bernardini and Henny Hughes will be doing double duty here and in Australia. Southern hemisphere breeding cycles are opposite to northern hemisphere breeding cycles which creates this opportunity.
Jack Ireland writes about the new Barbaro Stake: Barbaro Stakes a good fit for Delaware Park and notes it will be a turf stake.
Update 1553: Some great racing yesterday all around. Lava Man continued his California dominance with a powerful win in the Santa Anita Handicap. Great Hunter proved to be the best in the Robert Lewis Stakes, beating Sam P who fought hard the entire race. I am not sure how tough this Derby prep was, it included a maiden and a couple who had recently broke their maiden. The big Derby prep in the east was won by Scat Daddy, who got up impressively to beat Stormello and NoBiz. The three were within a half length of each other at the wire with Adore the Gold a close fourth. NoBiz ran erratically, and this is something that I assume needs to be sorted out if he is to showcase his talent effectively. I still believe he is the most talented 3yo we have seen thus far, but winning is the all important thing to do.
Michael Matz's Chelokee was impressive in a troubled trip in the allowance race at Gulfstream. Lets hope he can take a next step up after winning this condition. Steve Klesaris' Diabolical ran well for third in the Richter Scale (that was marred by the tragic breakdown of Bright One). He looked like the winner at the quarter pole but Pletcher's horse, Half Ours, produced more. Pletcher also won the Hutcheson (Edgar Prado aboard King of Roxy) which helped make this his best day as a trainer. Corinthian is looking like a good older handicap horse, he narrowly held off Hesanoldsalt.
HBO is planning a Barbaro documentary: HBO Sports Increases Its Reach, excerpt:
"We are going to try to explain why Barbaro became so significant and important to the American public. The entire country rallied around this horse," says HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg of the project, slated to debut the first week of June.
Update 1552: Another great day for galloping horses this morning at Fair Hill, and it was a busy morning with gate day and plenty of workers.
I ended up riding six this morning. The day started with Nautical Agent, she galloped a mile nice and easily. Tim was out on Gator Nation that set. I then rode Lucky, he also galloped an easy mile in behind Tim on Who's Happy. Then it was Hawty Creek. She was to breeze a half in company with Farouche (with Tim). She went very well, they ended up going a half in 49 and change. It was the first serious work for Hawty Creek for quite some time, but you would not have known it the way she went. Its a shame she could not run this weekend (her race did not go and I understand now Philadelphia Park still has us locked out for a few more days). Anyway it was a good work. I then rode three for Bobby, all of which did some kind of work. All went well. The first was working for the first time, a little quarter mile work and was very cool. All in all a great morning for exercise riding.
I caught up quickly with Mark Shuman who has Xchanger down at Oaklawn waiting for the Rebel Stakes. He was not disappointed with the way he ran in the Southwest, finishing fifth. He will open gallop tomorrow and work next weekend in preparation for the Rebel. I did not realize Graham Motion has two in the Battaglia this afternoon, with Rutledge Cat and Legacy Reserve. Its worth keeping an eye on both of them.
A great day of racing today, enjoy!
Update 1551: As we have noted throughout the week, today's races will be very interesting to observe. The two key cards are at Gulfstream and Santa Anita, with another Derby prep at Turfway.
At Gulfstream Park we have the Fountain of Youth headed by NoBiz Like ShoBiz, the beast from the east ... who is meeting Stormello, who won graded stakes on the west coast. Added to those two we have Scat Daddy, Adore the Gold and Drums of Thunder. This must be the best pre-Derby prep to date. Post time: 5:24 pm. On the undercard we have the Hutcheson, a slightly shorter race (7 1/2 furlongs as opposed to a mile and an eighth) which can turn up a Derby hopeful (post time: 3:54 pm) and a gangbuster allowance race (non winners of a race other than) which includes Chelokee and Sightseeing among others (post time: 2:56 pm). Other Stakes on the undercard include a Sprint race and Fair Hill's Diabolical, returning to the races after his close second to Thor's Echo last fall, and an older horse race which includes Corinthian who was a monster in his first start of the year. I am guessing this is the best card of racing this year thus far.
At Santa Anita Park we have the Santa Anita Handicap, headed by California's best, Lava Man and another Derby prep: the Robert B Lewis Stakes. Great Hunter heads this, Sam P needs to prove his class against stakes competition (he narrowly defeated Chelokee in an allowance at Churchill last year) and Saint Paul needs to run like he is working (his last race was much improved and he is a recent purchase of Baffert's team).
Finally, Turfway Park includes the John Battaglia, another Derby prep, on a synthetic surface. We will root for Rutledge Cat and Graham Motion!
There is racing elsewhere too, but these seem the marquee events / tracks.
Nice to see Dominguez quickly get back to winning ways: Contessa, Dominguez Bag 4 Winners at Aqueduct
Good Morning Barbaro!!
Good Morning Alex!!
Good Morning FOB's
I wish each and every one of you a wonderful day today.
I hope and pray that all of the horses that race today race safe and without injury.
Cannot hardly wait to see you at The Barbaro Get Together on 4/29/07. It will be awesome.
Roses are Red
Violets are Blue
We love you Barbaro
and miss you to.
I believe in Miracles!!
I believe in Barbaro!!
Posted by: Debbie Cline at March 3, 2007 11:20 AM