JC / Railbird

Horses Archive

Alex Out Until 2006

The latest news on Afleet Alex is hardly surprising: Trainer Tim Ritchey was still talking about the Cigar Mile last week, but Cash Is King managing partner Chuck Zacney all but said Alex was done for the year. This weekend came the announcement that x-rays showed the colt’s hairline fracture isn’t completely healed and that he won’t run again until 2006, when he may start in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in January or the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in February.
Despite Alex’s long absence from the races, Ritchey believes the dual classic winner should be named Horse of the Year. “I’d like to congratulate (Breeders’ Cup Classic winner) Saint Liam and his connections, but I think my horse should be Horse of the Year. He had the most dominating races of the year; I would love to see it.” At least one voter agrees.

Posted in Horses on November 6, 2005

Saturday Notes

At Churchill Downs, Catcominacha won the Iroquois Stakes, earning himself a spot in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on November 26. In the way of anyone lucky enough to own a promising two-year-old, owner Thomas McCann can’t help thinking about the Kentucky Derby in the wake of his improving colt’s win. “This horse has taken us places we’ve never dreamed of, places we’ve never been before,” McCann said. “Somebody said something about doing this again here the first Saturday in May. That sounds wonderful.”
Favorite Flanders Fields, an impressive maiden winner at Belmont in September, was caught wide from the start and finished fifth.
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Two-year-olds were the highlight of the card at Suffolk Downs as well, with a field of 11 assembled for the Amelia Peabody Stakes. Longshot Auntie Millie won, finally breaking her maiden in her eighth start. The filly had finished second to favorite Flirt for Fame in her last race. Flirt for Fame finished fourth.

Posted in Horses on November 5, 2005

Either …

Afleet Alex won’t run again until 2006 … or he’ll start in the Cigar Mile on November 26. The owners hint at one plan, the trainer at another.
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Not coming back this year or next: Roman Ruler. The Dwyer and Haskell winner trained by Bob Baffert was retired to stud on Monday. He’ll move into his new home at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm on Wednesday.

Posted in Horses on November 1, 2005