JC / Railbird

Alex to Miss Classic

Disappointing, but not unexpected news: Afleet Alex is out of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Tim Ritchey and veterinarian Patricia Hogan released a joint statement on the Afleet Alex web site this afternoon saying the colt’s injured ankle needs more time to heal:

After the recent works, Alex was radiographed again and although it is very subtle, it is evident that the bone is still in the end stages of the healing process. We are 99% there but for this horse we require 100%.

Ritchey said Afleet Alex will continue to jog and may still return to racing this year, possibly in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on November 26.
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Check out the photo on this MSNBC article: You can almost hear Afleet Alex being read his rights.

Posted by JC in Breeders' Cup on 10/10/2005 @ 5:25 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Never Mind the Slop

Rain and a sloppy track didn’t deter either of the favorites in the juvenile stakes at Belmont on Saturday.
Adieu proved she could handle an off-track and breaking from the inside post, winning the Frizette by two lengths over a stubborn Along the Sea (Blood-Horse).
In the Champagne, First Samurai confirmed his status as top two-year-old colt, beating runner-up Henny Hughes by two and three-quarter lengths. Henny Hughes’ margin of loss might have been less if the colt hadn’t engaged in a speed duel with Too Much Bling at the start; the two flew through the first half in :43.6, prompting announcer Tom Durkin to call, “The pace is almost too fast to believe!” From what jockey Gary Stevens said after the race, though, it seems Henny Hughes’ trainer Patrick Biacone wanted his colt to be tested on the lead (Daily Racing Form):

“My instructions specifically were to go to the front and improve my position,” Stevens said. “I asked [Biancone] last week if they go 21-and-4 what do I do? He said go 21-and-3. I just got off the phone with him, he’s happy, but I look like an idiot. The colt ran big.”

10/11 News: Henny Hughes has been transferred to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin (Thoroughbred Times). McLaughlin, Biancone trade compliments.
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Other Breeders’ Cup developments: Tap Day, winner of the Meadowland Breeders’ Cup on Friday night, may run in the Classic, said trainer Mark Hennig. “We’ll certainly take a look at it” (Courier-Journal). Choctaw Nation, third in the Goodwood to Rock Hard Ten and Roman Ruler, is another likely Classic starter. Singletary, winner of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Mile, rallied from last place to first to win the Oak Tree Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday. The five-year-old will try to repeat in the Mile, where he’ll meet Leroidesanimaux, winner of eight races straight. “He’ll need to be sharper than he was last year,” said trainer Don Chatlos (Los Angeles Times).
Beyers: First Samurai earned a Beyer speed figure of 101 in the Champagne, Adieu an 82 in the Frizette. At Keeneland, Dawn of War earned an 87 in the Futurity, She Says It Best an 81 in the Alcibiades. Tap Day came out of the Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup with 104. Pampered Princess earned a 98 in the Spinster Stakes, Intercontinental a 99 in the WinStar Galaxy.

Posted by JC in Breeders' Cup on 10/09/2005 @ 10:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter

Where Not to Go

Alex to Miss Classic

Never Mind the Slop