Railbird 2004–2019

Archive for 2007

Tagg Sweeps Stakes

– There were only two graded stakes across the country on Saturday, but trainer Barclay Tagg took both, winning the Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct with Dave and the Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill with Bit of Whimsy. Dave, making his first graded stakes appearance in 34 starts, was an upset victor at 14-1. Bit of Whimsy, coming off a win at Keeneland last month, was the 8-5 favorite. “She’s had a terrific year,” said Tagg of ‘Whimsy, in his usual understated way (ESPN). The 3-year-old filly is 4-for-7 since making her career debut on April 1. In the past seven months, she’s finished in a dead heat with Rutherienne in the G3 Sands Point, run second to the ill-fated Alexander Tango in the G1 Garden City, and won the G1 QEII Cup last month. She’s now the best 3-year-old turf filly in training, and fortunately, it looks like we’ll see more of her. Tagg is sending Bit of Whimsy to Gulfstream this winter to prep for a 2008 campaign.
– Jockey Garrett Gomez tied Jerry Bailey’s record for most stakes wins in a year on Saturday, scoring his 70th with Hucking Hot in the Skirball-Kenis Stakes at Hollywood. As impressive as Dave looked kicking clear in the Red Smith or Bit of Whimsy did digging in to hold off Ciao in the Mrs. Revere, neither looked as good as Hucking Hot sitting patiently behind a wall of traffic, then splitting horses in the stretch to get the win. “There was a tiny hole at the top of the stretch and when I pointed her for it, she accelerated like it was the size of the Grand Canyon,” said Gomez of the filly’s bold move (LA Times).

Posted in Races/Results on November 11, 2007

Aqueduct Notes

– Another winner for trainer Kathleen Feron, now 4-for-6 at Aqueduct, on Friday when Them There Eyes upset the Scoot Stakes, paying $25.20 to win. The 3-year-old Holy Bull filly did something we don’t see much of these days: She won off short rest. Only the week before, she took an optional claimer and two weeks before that, finished second in the Office Miss Stakes for state-breds.
– Suddenly, Aqueduct is playing like Southern California. For the third time in less than three weeks, there’s a two-day pick six carryover at the Big A, with $118,054 in the pot for Saturday. The day’s feature is the very competitive Red Smith Handicap, which drew 12 starters and four AEs, and has no obvious favorite. If the race stays on the turf, I’m leaning toward Tricky Causeway, 8-1 on the morning line, but Operation Red Dawn, making his second start off a short layoff and wheeling back on two weeks rest, is another intriguing possibility, despite a penchant for traffic trouble.

Posted in Aqueduct on November 10, 2007

Suffolk Shipper Scores

It’s always nice to see a hometown horse make good in New York: Shipping in from Suffolk Downs off a 10-length debut romp, with jockey Yamil Rosario tagging along for the ride, Beijing House took an early lead and made hash of his three rivals in the third at Aqueduct this afternoon, finishing four lengths ahead of Top Leader as the 6-5 second favorite in the six-furlong allowance for 2-year-old New York-breds. Even-money favorite Be Bullish tired badly in the stretch and finished fourth, taking out a fair number of Aqueduct SHOWdown players who had selected the colt or were transferred to him after Rollers, Captain Backfire, and Starship Dancer scratched.
It’s rumored that the owners of Beijing House turned down a $200,000 offer to buy the Mutakddim gelding following his Suffolk win on September 19, which really was quite impressive. He finished the 5 1/2 furlong maiden special in 1:04.35, the second fastest time at the distance this meet and only a quarter of a second off the 1:04.09 record set on September 17 by 6-year-old Dennisport (who knocked the time down from the previous record of 1:04.11 set in 2004 by Four Cards Too). Final time for today’s race was 1:09.67, with the last eighth in a slowing :12.75.

Posted in Aqueduct on November 8, 2007

On the Verge

– Jockey Garrett Gomez, on the verge of setting a new record for most stakes wins in a year (DRF), had five mounts at Hollywood this afternoon and won two races, but neither was a stakes. In the War Chant Stakes, Gomez’s ride, the uninspiring favorite Karazi, finished sixth. The victory instead went to Jose Valdivia, aboard 3-1 Warning Zone. Gomez will get his next shot at tying the record, currently held by retired rider Jerry Bailey, on Saturday in the Audrey Skirbal-Kennis Stakes, where he’s named to ride Hucking Hot, a promising filly with a troubled past (ESPN).
– Five favorites and the Aqueduct pick six still paid $14,814. Love Cove at 11-1 in the second leg must have knocked out quite a few tickets vying for a piece of the two-day carryover pot this afternoon.
– There’s a great quote from George Bolton, part-owner of likely Horse of the Year Curlin, in the post-Breeders’ Cup issue of Blood-Horse: “Why would we retire him? So I can buy 10 more that can’t run?” The possibility that the Classic winner might return to the races as a 4-year-old grew stronger today with the news that Bolton and Jess Jackson have bought out partner Satish Sanan’s interest in the colt for an undisclosed sum. “Mr. Bolton and Mr. Jackson are looking at all possibilities for the future of the horse,” said lawyer Richard Getty (Herald-Leader). Bolton and Jackson now control 80% of Curlin. As for the other 20%, Michael at Curb My Enthusiasm has been following that saga.

Posted in Jockeys on November 7, 2007

Tuesday Odds and Ends

– California pushes the ADW mess toward a solution, beginning an eight-month experiment that splits broadcast and wagering rights. So, video remains exclusive, but horseplayers can wager on any track through any online wagering service in the state (Blood-Horse).
– From ESPN Sports Poll: “The number of people in the U.S. ages 18+ who said they are interested in horse racing increased for an unmatched fifth consecutive year.”
– It was sad to see Lava Man finish sixth in the California Cup Classic against a field he would have demolished last year (LA Times); it was also sad to see Digger all alone in the Laurel winner’s circle (WashPost).
– Nashua winner Etched is Dubai-bound, as is impressive maiden winner Music Note (DRF).

Posted in Racing & Technology on November 6, 2007