Railbird 2004–2019

Archive for 2006

Silver Train Wins Met Mile

– And trainer Richard Dutrow couldn’t be more pleased. “We’re very happy,” Dutrow said. “How often do you see things work out like that? I’m talking about the Met Mile after the Breeders’ Cup win and it happens.” Silver Train is 4-for-6 at Belmont, 1-for-8 everywhere else. The Pedigree Guru is hinting that a stud deal will soon be announced for the sprinter: “He is going to be a happy boy just off Leestown Road.” [Announced the very next day: “Silver Train going to Vinery for stud.”]
– Dutrow may be a very happy man right now, but trainer Nick Zito isn’t. Sun King finished behind Silver Train in the Met. “It’s a little frustrating. In the Donn, we finished second. In the Pimlico Special, we finished second. In the Met Mile we finished second — and we beat [trainer Todd] Pletcher all three times … It’s like the freakiest thing ever. The horse ran great. He ran his guts out. This was a tough beat.”
– “Jockey Corey Nakatani earned his 3,000th victory one race after guiding Aragorn (Ire) to a 1 3/4-length win in the $321,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (G1) on Monday at Hollywood Park.”

Posted in Races/Results on May 30, 2006

Belmont Field Grows to 10

– Without the Derby or the Preakness winner in the field, the Belmont looks wide open. Ten horses are considered definite for the race and at least three others are under consideration. Among the definites are Bluegrass Cat, second in the Kentucky Derby, and Steppenwolfer, who finished third.
– It’s almost certain that Bluegrass Cat will have a familiar rider aboard in the Belmont. Jockey John Velazquez, out since April with an injury, is working horses for trainer Todd Pletcher in the morning and plans to return to racing early in June. “It’s looking pretty good that Johnny will be able to ride [Bluegrass Cat],” said Pletcher. “He’s been working the horse the last few days and hopefully he’s going to start riding next week.”
– Honey Ryder finally figured out the Belmont turf, winning the Sheepshead Bay Handicap by one length over Noble Stella. She finished fifth in the same race last year and was 0-for-5 over the Belmont grass until Saturday. “The difference between this year and last year and that she was covered up and inside this time,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “Last year, she was never able to relax.”

Posted in Triple Crown on May 28, 2006

The Rock Turns 100

Rockingham Park opened for its 100th season on Saturday in front of a crowd of 4,185. Driver Mike MacDonald started off the year with a bang, winning five races, including the day’s feature with Whosurboy, who set a track record of 1:49 in the one mile Invitational Pace. The New Hampshire track, which opened in 1906 with a 21-day thoroughbred meet, will run a 60-day harness meet this year.

Related: “Happy 100th, Rockingham Park. May you enjoy as many more birthdays as time and the economy allows, and may racing fans come to the track this summer to take part in your celebration.”

In other New England racing news: Mom’s Command, jockey Carl Gambardella, and late Rockingham owner Lou Smith will be inducted into the New England Turf Writers’ Association Hall of Fame this summer.

Posted in Track Notes on May 27, 2006

Readings: Heinz

They were going to the post for the sixth race at Jamaica, two year olds, some making their first starts, to go five and a half furlongs for a purse of four thousand dollars. They were moving slowly down the backstretch toward the gate, some of them cantering, others walking, and in the press box they had stopped their working or their kidding to watch, most of them interested in one horse.
“Air Lift,” Jim Roach said. “Full brother of Assault.”
Assault, who won the triple crown … making this one too, by Bold Venture, himself a Derby winner, out of Igual, herself by the great Equipoise … Great names in the breeding line … and now the little guy making his first start, perhaps the start of another great career.

(more…)

Posted in Readings on May 26, 2006

Bernardini Will Skip Belmont

– Preakness winner Bernardini will skip the Belmont, said Darley USA president Jimmy Bell. “Bernardini has had three races in quick succession, and Sheikh Mohammed feels that the colt deserves a break before his next target, which will be determined in due course.” Races being considered for the colt include the Haskell and Travers. Without the Derby or the Preakness winners in the Belmont, the last leg of the Triple Crown series will be starless. That’s bad news for TV ratings and NYRA maybe, but good news for horseplayers: This year’s race should be a competitive one.
– Lost in the Fog is headed to Churchill.
– In his first workout since suffering an injury earlier this year, Corinthian breezed three furlongs :38 at Belmont this morning. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is hopeful that the talented cold will race before the end of the Belmont meet on July 22. As long as there are no setbacks in his training, it’s possible Corinthian could start in the Dwyer on July 4.
– Another possible for the Dwyer is the undefeated Discreet Cat, who would be making his first start since winning the UAE Derby in that race. “The Dwyer is the race we’re kind of pointing for,” said assistant trainer Rick Mattee. “The timing should work out good and it’s a mile and a sixteenth.”
– Balance will have surgery on Saturday to remove a bone chip in her ankle. “They say it’s very small … the way it looks in the x-rays it doesn’t look like she’ll be out too long — maybe 75 days,” said trainer David Hofmans.
– Trainer John Servis and owner Rick Porter split up this week. “I’m all right with it,” said Servis, who declined further comment. “We left on good terms.” The 26 horses that Porter had with Servis will be moved to several other trainers, including Kiaran McLaughlin and Tom Albertrani. Round Pond, winner of the Azeri Breeders’ Cup, will go to Michael Matz’s barn.

Posted in News, Triple Crown on May 25, 2006