Barbaro Updates: 338
updates are now here.
Update 2205: Real Lace did not fire this afternoon, and perhaps turf racing is not her game. She sat close to the slow early pace and when it was time to quicken, which she should have been able to do off such a pace, she flattened out. Oh well, time to regroup and perhaps look at other options for her.
Update 2204: Rags to Riches was pulled up in her scheduled work today, nothing was found to be amiss when she was looked over afterwards: Rags to Riches pulled up during workout, excerpt:
"Lauren said she started off the breeze and something didn't feel right so she pulled her up," Pletcher said. "I don't know if she stepped on something. . . . But we got over there she was fine, we got her back [to the barn] she's fine.
"Classify it as a head-scratcher, I guess," Pletcher added. "I just don't know."
Update 2203: Funny story, as I was getting ready to leave for DC I went to check my e-mail for directions. It turns out my DC trip is not for another week, so I am now unretired for a week.
Real Lace is running at Philadelphia Park this afternoon with Victor Molina aboard.
Update 2202: A lovely morning this morning here at Fair Hill. I did not go in to ride today, my first day post Fair Hill! I did go over to Michael Dickinson's farm and interviewed Michael for about an hour for my book. Very interesting perspective on Barbaro and horse racing in general. I then swung back via Fair Hill to interview Eduardo Hernandez, Barbaro's groom. I asked Eduardo a couple of questions and asked him to answer in Spanish. It will be a while before I know what he said. I did interview Michael Matz a couple of days ago, so I only have one more interview to conduct (Kathy Anderson) and I think I will be good to go for a while.
My current plan is to be in Washington DC for next week, come back to Fair Hill next weekend and then head off on my travels while writing a book. I will launch a new site sometime over the next week which will look and act much like this site has done, and on top of racing will document my travel, which I am planning to be from one racetrack to the next across America. I will return this site to Tim. All the while I will work with Tim to make sure this site and the new site work well (I hope).
Update 2201: Racing media coverage of three key races yesterday:
CCA Oaks:
Octave scores in CCA Oaks
Octave Scales New Heights in CCA Oaks
Octave a star pupil in Coaching Club American Oaks
Virginia Derby:
Red Giant upsets Virginia Derby
Red Giant Casts Pletcher's Shadow in Virginia Derby
Red Giant sets track record in Virginia Derby
San Diego Handicap:
Sun Boat flies late in San Diego
Sun Boat Wins San Diego With Clear Sailing
Sun Boat rallies to win San Diego Handicap
Update 2200: A nice win by Octave, and not unexpected as the 1-2 favourite. Third place finisher Folk ran a nice race hanging tough to about the sixteenth pole. For those watching the telecast you will have noted Michael Dickinson congratulating Jeannine on her birthday, this explains: Happy Birthday to You! I am interviewing Michael Dickinson tomorrow for my book.
Update 2199: Racing is on at 4pm on ESPN. Prefect Drift has sustained an injury and may be retired: Injury could end Perfect Drift's career.
Update 2198: A lovely morning this morning for my final morning at Fair Hill ... bitter sweet. A few FOBs also came out, which was nice. First out was Fortuna, she went to the Tapeta track and galloped a mile and a half. She galloped nicely, Tim was on the dirt track jogging Real Lace. Second out I was on Linda's Pistol and Tim was on Quick Quest, we worked them together on the Tapeta track, 5/8ths. Pistol worked fine but Quick Quest looked great coming down the lane. Next out was Mass Romantic, my last to the track. She came to the Tapeta track and galloped a mile. She went very nicely. Last out was Kitty, she went with her usual companion, the Two Punch 2yo (with Robbie Walsh) and we went out to the fields for a nice easy day. A nice way to end the morning!
Update 2197: Some decent racing around the country today. Octave heads the New York headliner, the CCA Oaks, which obviously lost its marquee horse when Rags to Riches pulled out (Octave a formidable presence in CCA Oaks). ESPN is broadcasting (update 2195). At Colonial Downs Circular Quay makes his first start on the Turf (Summer Doldrums, Strike a Deal rematch at Colonial). If you need to know how strong Todd Pletcher's barn is all horses mentioned so far are his. On the west coast Buzzards Bay returns on the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar (Buzzards Bay enjoys racing on Southern California synthetics).
Prolific sire, Woodman, was euthanized on thursday: Woodman Euthanized at Age 24.
I can't believe that after all these months, I'm the first.
Good morning, Barbaro. And happy travels, Alex.
Posted by: Vonda at July 21, 2007 12:06 PM