Barbaro Updates: 346
updates are now here.
Update 2246: Curlin had his final prep for the Haskell this morning: Curlin gears up for Haskell, excerpt:
Looking a picture of health, as strong and robust as he did for all three Triple Crown races, Curlin breezed an easy half-mile in 49.56 seconds under exercise rider Carmen Rosas, posting fractions of 13 seconds for an eighth of a mile and 25.52 for a quarter before galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.97. The move had trainer Steve Asmussen in good spirits as Curlin cooled out back at the barn with assistant trainer Scott Blasi on the lead shank.
"He looked great, and the work was very good," said Asmussen. "He did it just about the way we drew it up. Carmen is amazing when it comes to that sort of thing."
Update 2245: News from Double Trouble. Red Aspen's eye is doing much better this morning. We will have to keep a very close eye on it but it has improved since yesterday.We are optimistic that it will heal completely and she will have no problems with it. She was also trying to bite other horses over her webbing this morning. This is her normal behavior so we think that she is feeling fine. Quick Quest is running in the 5th race at Delaware Park today and he was very chipper while walking in the barn this morning. He is getting a better post position for this race than the last race and hopefully the turf will be to his liking. Whip Smart hopefully will be running on Friday. She went nicely today. Robbie Walsh who is one of our regular excercise riders rode his first race this weekend after having a terrible accident in the Spring. He won the race and we are very happy to see him back in the saddle.
Update 2244: Steve Haskin writes: Steve Haskin's BC Countdown: A Sense of Saratoga, excerpt:
The one person who virtually lives with Street Sense is Paul Rutherford, who is the colt's hotwalker in the morning and a lawyer in the afternoon. For Saratoga, he has taken a six-week vacation to be with the horse.
"When we were walking to the detention barn, people were shouting, 'Thanks for bringing him,'" he said while grazing the horse following his Monday morning jog. "As we walked on the horse path to the paddock, they were shouting, 'That's Street Sense. That's Street Sense. Go, big guy.' It was the most amazing thing. I'm getting chills talking about it. It's just so cool being with him."
I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Paul Rutherford before the Preakness. He is a Fan of Barbaro.
Update 2243: Street Sense appears in good order after his win on sunday. As is usual he trained the next day, yesterday, which is a very unusual move: Street Sense on track for Travers, excerpt:
"He was happy to go to the track this morning, but not all that excited about it," said trainer Carl Nafzger. "This race really took that edge off, which he needed because he was really too sharp for me. I don't know if I could have held him another week if I had to. And it's always good to get that first one out of the way."
Other horses seem to have come out of their weekend races well. NoBiz worked on the turf yesterday, with a planned debut run scheduled on monday on the turf.
The Haskell which is run on sunday, like the Jim Dandy another prep for the Travis, is shaping up to be a short but solid field: Haskell still looks like a good show, excerpt:
Even without the Derby winner, the Haskell is shaping up as a very solid race with six strong contenders topped by the Preakness winner Curlin. The Haskell will be Curlin's first race since his loss by a head to the filly Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes.
He will face Derby runner-up Hard Spun; Dwyer winner Any Given Saturday; the unbeaten Cable Boy; Xchanger, who won the Barbaro Stakes at Delaware Park last time out; and Imawildandcrazyguy.
Hay, FOB's!
###
Am I among the first to post today? Its a sunny morning here in Chester County and hopefully it will be a wonderful day.
###
Many hugs to all of you...and LaurieH, we were both talking a lot...we both have a lot going on and I was so happy to hear your voice. I think my visit to you will be the first instance of "taking my show on the road." SherryVW, Arizona will definitely be next on my list of places to go teach what I have learned from so many beautiful horses. We'll chat and set a date.
###
Eva, keep us posted on what is going on with you.
Alex, thank you for everything you do.
ShelleyA, let us know what we need to do today. Anybody know if the Ag Appropriations bill vote will be on C-Span today?
Healing, Love, Peace,
ONS,
Lyn Gilbert
Posted by: Lyn Gilbert at July 31, 2007 12:24 PM