Railbird 2004–2019

Horses Archive

Triumphant Returns

Roman Ruler and Kitten’s Joy both turned in impressive performances in their first starts off long layoffs, with Roman Ruler winning the Dwyer by half a length over a game Flower Alley in his first race in nearly four months, and Kitten’s Joy blowing by the rest of the Firecracker field to win by a length in his first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last October. The four-year-old has been out this year owing to surgery last fall for a bone chip in his knee. Trainer Dale Romans, delighted at the win, told Jennie Rees, “I think he’s better than last year” (Courier-Journal). Owner Ken Ramsey has plotted out an ambitious campaign for the turf champ that will take him to the Arlington Million, the Arc de Triomphe, the Breeders’ Cup, and then the Japan Cup. “If he could win the Arc and that race in Tokyo, there would be nobody else they could compare him to as far as achievement goes,” said Ramsey.
After the Belmont Stakes, the three-year-old division looked a little lopsided — there was Afleet Alex, and then there was everyone else — but Roman Ruler’s Dwyer victory serves notice that dual classic winner Alex can expect some competition for end of the year honors. In one of the best comeback races this year, Roman Ruler moved from the back of a tight pack to the lead at the top of the stretch, and managed to keep a challenging Flower Alley at bay through the final furlong, to the relief of trainer Bob Baffert. “It was a must win,” he said after the race (New York Post). The Dwyer has Roman Ruler’s owners excited at the possibility of taking on this spring’s big horse:

Roman Ruler will stay in New York and may start next in the Haskell or the Travers.
The Times article also mentions that Bellamy Road is recovering well from a minor injury sustained in the Kentucky Derby, but probably won’t return to racing before the end of the summer. “He’s galloping right now,” said trainer Nick Zito. “Maybe we’ll have him ready by the end of Saratoga. The Travers is out. It’s too much of a long stretch to make that, a mile-and-a-quarter race with him just getting back now.”

Posted in Horses on July 5, 2005

Rider Change for Funny Cide

Jerry Bailey will ride Funny Cide in his next start, the July 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont. Longtime jockey Jose Santos was replaced with Bailey after the June 11 Brooklyn Handicap by trainer Barclay Tagg, who said of his decision, “I just think now and then a change of hands is good on a horse.” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Horses on June 24, 2005

Horse Notes

Afleet Alex settles into barn 18 at Belmont. (Daily Racing Form)
Kitten’s Joy is among the 36 nominees to the Firecracker Breeders’ Cup. The race would be the 2004 turf champion’s season debut and his first race since having knee surgery last fall. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Rock Hard Ten is back galloping. Trainer Richard Mandella is pointing him toward the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, with the eventual goal of running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this October. (Blood-Horse)
And owner Rick Porter reports on rockportharbor.com that Rockport is back on the track. Trainer John Servis told the Daily Racing Form that the colt will not be ready for the Haskell, but could make the Travers.

Posted in Horses on June 23, 2005

Ouija Injured, Ruler Works

Ouija Board, last year’s winner of the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, sustained a minor cannonbone fracture in the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Ascot last week. She threw a shoe and ran seventh in that race, her first start since the Breeders’ Cup. Owner Lord Derby said the filly would be out until September at least, and may be retired. (BBC)
Roman Ruler put in a fast work at Hollywood at Monday, going six furlongs in 1:10.2. Trainer Bob Baffert had been pointing Roman Ruler toward the Jersey Shore on July 2, but is now thinking he’ll start the horse in the Dwyer Stakes. “I’m not crazy about running him at six furlongs,” said Baffert. “Right now, I’m leaning toward the Dwyer … I have several options if he runs well there. I can always cut back in distance after that.” (Blood-Horse)
Don’t Get Mad is headed to the Swaps. (Thoroughbred Times)

Posted in Horses on June 21, 2005

Change of Plans

The effect of Ghostzapper’s retirement continues to be felt in the older male handicap division. Trainer Mark Hennig has adjusted Eddington’s 2005 campaign now that the 2004 HOTY is out of the picture. Eddington was scheduled to start in the Suburban, the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s still on schedule for the Suburban and is a definite for the Classic, but may now enter the Whitney and the Woodward in place of the Saratoga and Gold Cup. The July 2 Suburban will be Eddington’s first start since winning the Pimlico Special in May. (Daily Racing Form)
Trainer Robbie Bailes needs a new plan for Scrappy T — the horse didn’t take to the turf as it was hoped he might. Scrappy T worked out on Colonial Downs’ turf course yesterday, with the idea that he might run in the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby, but Scrappy T didn’t like the change of surface. “[Rider Ramon Dominguez] said he didn’t have the same spurt that he had on the dirt,” said Bailes. Scrappy T may be pointed to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown instead. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Posted in Horses on June 18, 2005