JC / Railbird

News Archive

Noted: March 4

– Todd Pletcher will train the $16 million colt. “I’d rather train him then run against him,” said Pletcher when asked about the pressure of training the world’s most expensive horse. The as yet unnamed two-year-old is expected to be in Pletcher’s Kentucky barn by April 1.
– Bellamy Road is back in training at owner George Steinbrenner’s Florida farm. “The main target this year is the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” said farm manager Edward Sexton. “He’ll run maybe three times before that. He’s well on target … and training like a bear at the moment.”
– “One of Pleasanton’s best specialty sandwich makers has emerged as the hottest young jockey in the country.”

Posted in News on March 4, 2006

Noted: March 1

– Coolmore’s purchase of an unraced two-year-old colt for $16 million at the Calder juvenile auction on Tuesday is “a calculated risk,” one that left agent Demi O’Byrne with a “shaky hand” when it came time to sign the ticket. “He was special … He must have been!,” O’Byrne said after, trying to explain the the world-record price.
– Via The Pedigree Guru, via TBA member Athlone, comes this fascinating article published in the Lexington Herald-Leader a couple of weeks ago about intensive breeding and ballooning book sizes for stallions: “It’s one of those things that get a lot more talk than action … I’d say on a theoretical level the industry is concerned, but I haven’t heard anyone come up with any rational alternative to trump capitalism. As long as owners are willing to have their mare be the 200th mare in a stallion’s book, it’s going to continue.” This is really why Coolmore’s willing to pay $16 million for an unraced colt.
– In his first start since finishing 19th in last year’s Kentucky Derby, Bandini set a track record for a mile at Gulfstream this afternoon, winning an allowance race by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:34.19.

Posted in News on March 1, 2006

Noted: February 19

– Bluegrass Cat wins the Sam F. Davis at Tampa. “He was a fresh horse and ran exactly the way we wanted him to,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. 63-1 Deputy Glitters was second.
– $8 million colt finishes second in career debut.
– “Memo to Frank: Lay off the Spa.”

Posted in News on February 19, 2006