Blinkers Off Archive

Blinkers Off – Wednesday

Special Railbird correspondent Blinkers Off checks in from the backstretch. Today at Churchill …
Graham Motion, a great guy but not exactly a human quote machine, has one good line this week for reporters about Adriano and he’s sticking to it: “I must be the only trainer in the world with an A.P. Indy that can’t run on dirt.”…
Speaking of one-liners, Henny Youngman used to have a good one about racing. “I once bet on a horse that was so slow, I saw him turn around and say to the jockey, ‘Whaddya hittin’ me for, there’s nobody behind us.” …
Todd Pletcher missed the trainer’s dinner Tuesday night with either strep throat or a flu bug, depending on who you talk to. He arrived at his Churchill Downs barn this morning, however, looking razor sharp as always, moments after Monba and Cowboy Cal danced off the van from Keeneland and into the barn. After a brief photo shoot worthy of Ashlee Simpson, Pletcher was surrounded by a media swarm more interested in his take on Polytrack than his 1-2 finishers in the Blue Grass Stakes. After 10 minutes of this, one late-comer walked up and asked, “Todd, what do you make of Polytrack?” He snickered, but patiently repeated everything he had just said. His PR flak made a slicing motion with her hand across her throat — a gang signal someone is about to get killed — and Pletcher turned and walked away.
“Are you sick, Todd?” a reporter called out.
“Yes.”
“Did you just give it to all of us?”
“I hope so.” …
A lot of people are talking to Richard Dutrow this week like he’s a cheater. To his credit, Dutrow just calls everyone “babe” and recommends they “bet out” on Big Brown.
“Who wants to cheat and win the Derby? That’s not us,” he said …
There’s a lot of talk about whether Colonel John can transfer his Santa Anita form to a dirt track. Trainer Eoin Harty says no problem, but he also says, “As long as it’s not a wet track.” Rain is called for Friday and Saturday.

Posted in Blinkers Off, Racing on April 30, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby

Blinkers Off – Tuesday

Special Railbird correspondent Blinkers Off checks in from the backstretch. Today at Churchill …
Rick Dutrow and Big Brown are unquestionably the stars of this Kentucky Derby. Not only did Dutrow have the lone formal press conference scheduled Tuesday, the location was changed as well, leaving several veteran Derby reporters scrambling. “How are we supposed to know these things?” asked one, who happened to fortunately be standing in the media center where it had been moved to. “Word of mouth,” she was told …
Dutrow, wearing a “Palm Meadows” cap and a down vest over a hoodie (temperatures were in the low 40s), might become the new D. Wayne Lukas of Triple Crown racing if he continues talking about women instead of horses. “It’s like trying to be with a pretty girl and you can’t,” he said in response to one question, eliciting laughter, some of it nervous. The trainer was on better footing when asked about Kent Desormeax, a two-time Derby winner, calling Big Brown the best horse he had ever been on. “Desormeaux got paid a lot of money to say that,” Dutrow responded …
Nick Zito was in fine New York form outside his barn. Talking about Anak Nakal and Cool Coal Man, not exactly Affirmed and Alydar, Zito said, “I wish Bill Parcells was here. I’d tell him we have Jeff Hostetler.” Zito held court at length about his distaste for Polytrack. “I like dirt and grass. I don’t want something from the attic.” …
David Carroll, whose Denis of Cork moved into the Derby field after Todd Pletcher and Satish Sanan decided to hold out Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar for the Preakness, vowed to never let Ragozin Sheets or any other speed figures determine how he trains his horses. “Shove those numbers up their asses,” Carroll said.

More Blinkers Off

Wednesday, 4/30: Motion on Adriano, Dutrow on cheating, Harty on Colonel John.
Thursday, 5/1: Bad deal for track employees, being glad you weren’t in the Beatles, Casner hopes for synthetic Churchill.
Friday, 5/2: Gayego’s feet fine, tight security, whispers about Pyro.
Saturday, 5/3: Manny the Magician, $1 exacta box.

Posted in Blinkers Off, Racing on April 29, 2008 / Tagged Kentucky Derby