I had an okay birthday yesterday. I wasn't anything special, but fun otherwise (Check Yarn Talk later for a full recap of my birthday).
Anyway, alot to recap today, so lets get started. First off the Americans at Royal Ascot almost got a Group 1 win as Cannonball ridden by Oliver Peslier (Corey Nakatani was supposed to ride, I wonder if he decided to stay in Cali.), got nosed out in the Golden Jubaliee. Not sure what his plans are for US races, but he could end up being the favorite in either the Sprint or Turf Sprint at the Breeder's Cup.
I do have pictures from an extremly rainy Delaware Park from Saturday, however I'm still editing them, and not all of them are up on my gallery just yet. So, I'm hopeful to get it all done by the end of next weekend. But the two stakes races where awesome and heartbreaking at the same time. First up in the Obeah, Unbridled Belle pretty much showed why she loves DP by romping home in the slop. She'll be one of the favorites for the Delaware Handicap. Sadly, All Smiles broke down in the race and dumped her jockey right afterwards, however I read that she made it. Of course she's not out of the woods yet, but hopefully an update on her comes soon. In the Susan's Girl, Bon Jovi Girl turned the tables on Payton d'Oro. I really wouldn't be suprised if BJG is nominated for both the Oaks and DelCap, as she has already beaten older females and the mile and quarter distance shouldn't be a problem. However with that being said, I think she is more likely for the Oaks. Coffee in Bed was pulled up in the Susan's Girl, so if anyone knows how she is, please leave a comment on this post.
That was just the begining of "Lets flatter Rachel Alexandra Day" (Bon Jovi Girl faced Rach at Oaklawn). At Charles Town that night, Preakness 5th place finisher Big Drama rebounded from his last two races and offically won for the first time as a three year old (he crossed the line first in the Swale, but was DQ'ed to second). Also running on Saturday, Take the Points was able to rebound to finish 4th (I think), in the Colonial Turf Cup.
Sunday was supposed to be a cornation for Medaglia d'Oro as a sire, however it turned into redemption for AP Indy. First off at Belmont, the royally bred With Flying Colors (Should I go through her pedigree, other then being by the 1992 Belmont winner, she is out of the wonderful My Flag, who in turn is out of Personal Ensign. Of course this makes her a half sister to Storm Flag Flying), upset G1 winner Cocoa Beach in a listed stakes. I'm not sure what's next for her, but I'm hoping they decide to nominate her for the DelCap as a prep for her grandmother's race (Big sis won that race in 2004). Distance wouldn't be a problem and would give Belle a challenge.
Then it was up to Woodbine for the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. I had chosen the MDO filly Tasty Temptation to win with Milwaukee Appeal finishing second and Eye of the Lepoard finishing third. Well the good news is niether of them did horribly, the bad news is I had them in the wrong order. Congrats to Lepoard and his owners Sam-Son Farm. Also this means that both the winners of the two biggest 3yo races in North America had the same broodmare sire, Smart Strike (see even with English Channel and Curlin retired he's making a name for himself). This is their first win in the QP since 2001. Milwaukee Appeal was third and Tasty Temptation finished fourth. A long shot (whose name is escaping me right now) was second. Why was it redemption for AP Indy? Two words: Friesan Fire. That was an extremly horrible Triple Crown. Plus Indy maybe pensioned soon.
So MDO's cornination will have to wait until the CCA Oaks which is Tasty Temptation's next start. Why not this weekend in the Mother Goose? That's because the headliner will only be facing at least three other horses. I had hoped we would finally have the Rachel vs Dixie matchup, but Justwhistledixie is going to the Test. Hopefully they meet up later, but I doubt it. Flashing, Don't Forget Gil and Malibu Prayer are all excpected to face Rach, I don't think they expect win however. But of course anything can happen in horse racing.
Zenyatta runs this weekend as well, but I expect her to face a short field as well.
Showing posts with label Eye of the Leopard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eye of the Leopard. Show all posts
June 23, 2009
June 1, 2009
Belmont Week is here!
It's Belmont week!
Mine That Bird had his final workout before the mile and half Belmont today, also returning to the track was Rachel Alexandra. I think both parties where very pleased with how they both ran. And Calvin Borel is confident in Mine, link. In other Belmont news, Summer Bird will be racing in blinkers for the first time. When the PP’s come out on Weds, I’ll have my picks then (I will say that I’m leaning towards a Mine That Bird/Charitable Man/Chocolate Candy trifecta). BTW Todd Pletcher is blogging again for NTRA, link.He did this in 2007 with Rags to Riches after she won the Belmont.
One of the 2yo’s who I’m watching worked out today up at Saratoga.
Rule
Your Comment: 2007 c Roman Ruler x Rockcide (Personal Flag)
Date: June 1, 2009
Track: Saratoga
Distance: Three Furlongs
Time: 37:62
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 17/59
I should note that I did remove a part of my comment that I usually have because I’m going to explain why I’m following this horse. Roman Ruler is by Fusaichi Pegasus and was part of the 2005 3yo class. Although he did not run in the Triple Crown, he was a highly regarded and won the Haskell beating Sun King. Rockcide is a NY bred by Personal Flag. She didn’t win a race, and while it maybe surprising that she got into a G1 winner’s first book, let me explain a little bit of her female family. Rockcide hails from the same family as Belle of Cozzene (G3 winner), Zee Oh Six (Listed Stakes winner and ¾ brother to Belle of Cozzene) and Quakerbell (Listed stakes winner). However, her grand dam’s best foal in the shed, was a mare who won only 2 races in her life (Note: This is a clue of where I’m heading towards wink wink). Rockcide is out of this particular mare, Belle’s Good Cide by Slewacide. Her first foal, a colt named Coincide (By Cozzene), won three races and is now standing in Venezuela. Her second foal was also a colt, a chestnut by a rookie stallion by the name of Distorted Humor (Note: Clue #2!, and I’m sorry I have to mention him and his most famous foal. The story wouldn’t be complete without it). This colt however, would end up being a gelding before his racing career began. Trained by Barclay Tagg and owned by Sackatoga Stable, Rockcide’s half brother is the one and only Funny Cide! If you are wondering Rockcide was Belle’s 3rd foal and only female. The final foal, Homicide (by Mojave Moon), is now a timber racer. Sadly sometime after Homicide was born, Belle passed away from colic.
Anyway back to Rule, the fact that he is up at Saratoga tells me that Nick Zito trains him. Which is cool, since Nick trains another great DH gelding by the name of Commentator (Whose full sister Source of Humor makes her debut for Graham Motion on Friday at Monmouth). However, I could also be wrong and there is another trainer who is based up there. So, if anyone knows who trains Rule, please leave a comment on this post. I’m pretty interested in who does train him, and if he’s going to make his debut at Belmont, or wait until later in the year. Especially since he’s been working steadily.
Even though the US Triple Crown will end this upcoming Saturday in the Belmont, the Canadian Triple Crown will be getting started in a few weeks. The final major prep was yesterday in the Plate Trial, and the winner was Eye of the Leopard (AP Indy x Eye of the Sphynx by Smart Strike), link. Owned by the famous Sam-Son Farm, he should be the favorite for the Queen’s Plate at a mile and a quarter. Also for you Square Eddie fans, he’s still not recovered from his recent setback and will skip the Queen’s Plate. I feel bad for his owner Paul Reddam, who is from Canada. However, it’s for the best. We should see him later this year in the other Cali races.
Sadly, Susan Magnier who owns Ballydole (her husband John, Michael Tabor and Derek Smith make up Coolmore), lost her father the great trainer Vincent O'Brien (No relation to Ballydole’s current trainer Aidan O'Brien) this morning in Ireland. Mr. O’Brien was 92 and trained many great horses including El Gran Senor (the future broodmare sire of Chester House and Empire Maker) and Nijinsky II (British Triple Crown winner, and the sire of Ferdinand and Dancing Spree). Link
Mine That Bird had his final workout before the mile and half Belmont today, also returning to the track was Rachel Alexandra. I think both parties where very pleased with how they both ran. And Calvin Borel is confident in Mine, link. In other Belmont news, Summer Bird will be racing in blinkers for the first time. When the PP’s come out on Weds, I’ll have my picks then (I will say that I’m leaning towards a Mine That Bird/Charitable Man/Chocolate Candy trifecta). BTW Todd Pletcher is blogging again for NTRA, link.He did this in 2007 with Rags to Riches after she won the Belmont.
One of the 2yo’s who I’m watching worked out today up at Saratoga.
Rule
Your Comment: 2007 c Roman Ruler x Rockcide (Personal Flag)
Date: June 1, 2009
Track: Saratoga
Distance: Three Furlongs
Time: 37:62
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 17/59
I should note that I did remove a part of my comment that I usually have because I’m going to explain why I’m following this horse. Roman Ruler is by Fusaichi Pegasus and was part of the 2005 3yo class. Although he did not run in the Triple Crown, he was a highly regarded and won the Haskell beating Sun King. Rockcide is a NY bred by Personal Flag. She didn’t win a race, and while it maybe surprising that she got into a G1 winner’s first book, let me explain a little bit of her female family. Rockcide hails from the same family as Belle of Cozzene (G3 winner), Zee Oh Six (Listed Stakes winner and ¾ brother to Belle of Cozzene) and Quakerbell (Listed stakes winner). However, her grand dam’s best foal in the shed, was a mare who won only 2 races in her life (Note: This is a clue of where I’m heading towards wink wink). Rockcide is out of this particular mare, Belle’s Good Cide by Slewacide. Her first foal, a colt named Coincide (By Cozzene), won three races and is now standing in Venezuela. Her second foal was also a colt, a chestnut by a rookie stallion by the name of Distorted Humor (Note: Clue #2!, and I’m sorry I have to mention him and his most famous foal. The story wouldn’t be complete without it). This colt however, would end up being a gelding before his racing career began. Trained by Barclay Tagg and owned by Sackatoga Stable, Rockcide’s half brother is the one and only Funny Cide! If you are wondering Rockcide was Belle’s 3rd foal and only female. The final foal, Homicide (by Mojave Moon), is now a timber racer. Sadly sometime after Homicide was born, Belle passed away from colic.
Anyway back to Rule, the fact that he is up at Saratoga tells me that Nick Zito trains him. Which is cool, since Nick trains another great DH gelding by the name of Commentator (Whose full sister Source of Humor makes her debut for Graham Motion on Friday at Monmouth). However, I could also be wrong and there is another trainer who is based up there. So, if anyone knows who trains Rule, please leave a comment on this post. I’m pretty interested in who does train him, and if he’s going to make his debut at Belmont, or wait until later in the year. Especially since he’s been working steadily.
Even though the US Triple Crown will end this upcoming Saturday in the Belmont, the Canadian Triple Crown will be getting started in a few weeks. The final major prep was yesterday in the Plate Trial, and the winner was Eye of the Leopard (AP Indy x Eye of the Sphynx by Smart Strike), link. Owned by the famous Sam-Son Farm, he should be the favorite for the Queen’s Plate at a mile and a quarter. Also for you Square Eddie fans, he’s still not recovered from his recent setback and will skip the Queen’s Plate. I feel bad for his owner Paul Reddam, who is from Canada. However, it’s for the best. We should see him later this year in the other Cali races.
Sadly, Susan Magnier who owns Ballydole (her husband John, Michael Tabor and Derek Smith make up Coolmore), lost her father the great trainer Vincent O'Brien (No relation to Ballydole’s current trainer Aidan O'Brien) this morning in Ireland. Mr. O’Brien was 92 and trained many great horses including El Gran Senor (the future broodmare sire of Chester House and Empire Maker) and Nijinsky II (British Triple Crown winner, and the sire of Ferdinand and Dancing Spree). Link
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