JC / Railbird

Sunday Evening Notes

I thought that for the next couple of years my goal was to get a PhD in political science, but after watching ESPN’s sensational show on the 2005 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship this afternoon, I have a new goal: To make it to the 2006 NHC.

Rockport Harbor hits a bump on the Derby trail: The colt has a bruised foot. “Despite the setback, Servis said Rockport Harbor remains on course to make his seasonal debut in the Grade 3, $250,000 Rebel Stakes on March 19,” reports the Daily Racing Form. The Thoroughbred Times has a slightly more pessimistic take: “Fox Hill Farm’s Rockport Harbor missed a scheduled workout on Sunday and could be forced to miss his seasonal debut in the Rebel Stakes …” If he misses the Rebel, Servis does have the option of finding Rockport another race in late March, as he wasn’t scheduled to run after the Rebel until the Arkansas Derby on April 16. But this two-race prep schedule really doesn’t give horse and trainer much wiggle room.