JC / Railbird

Horses Archive

Friday Morning Notes

– The two best stakes races this weekend are at Colonial Downs on Saturday, where both the Virginia Oaks and the Virginia Derby drew full fields. In the Oaks, Dreaming of Anna, coming off a win at Arlington in the Double Delta Stakes, will try to regain her graded stakes form. The 9-5 morning line favorite, she’ll face Ashland Stakes winner Christmas Kid and trainer Barclay Tagg’s Bit of Whimsy, who finished in a dead heat with Rutherienne after a difficult trip in the Sands Point. In the Derby, Circular Quay tries turf for the first time. “This isn’t necessarily a permanent thing, but we thought it was a good option at this stage. We thought it would be worth taking a shot,” said trainer Todd Pletcher (DRF). Well, Circular Quay does have that late kick … maybe he’ll find that gear more useful on the grass than it’s been on the dirt.
– Street Sense worked a brilliant five furlongs in :57.4 at Churchill on Thursday. “I had him on cruise control,” said rider Calvin Borel. “He’s got so much power to him now it’s just unbelievable” (BRIS). The Kentucky Derby winner is scheduled to start next Saturday in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.
– One Hot Wish, the two-year-old daughter of little-known sire Bring the Heat who set a world record winning her debut at Keeneland this April, returns to the track today in Del Mar’s seventh (LA Times). Never mind: One Hot Wish will be scratched (DRF). She may start next Wednesday. Is it just me, or is getting hard to follow horses with all these scratches and retirements lately?

Posted in Horses on July 20, 2007

Discreet Cat Jogging

Cigar Mile winner Discreet Cat, found to have a throat abcess after his last place finish in the Dubai World Cup, is back on track. “He’s jogging sound and we’re real happy with him,” said Godolphin assistant trainer Rick Mettee. “He’ll probably start galloping by the time we get up to Saratoga” (DRF). No plans yet for Discreet Cat’s next start.

Posted in Horses on July 18, 2007

Rags to Riches out of Oaks

Never mind that bit about Rags to Riches working this morning or her exciting return to the races next Saturday: The Belmont winner is out of the Coaching Club American Oaks, trainer Todd Pletcher announced today, owing to a slight fever. “Her temperature was 101 degrees, which is not high, but a little beyond the normal range,” said Pletcher. “She hasn’t quite seemed herself the last couple of days. We won’t breeze her without her being 100 percent.” Rags to Riches will be pointed to the Alabama at Saratoga on August 18 (ending speculation that she might start in the Travers) and the Breeders’ Cup.

Posted in Horses on July 16, 2007