JC / Railbird

Races/Results Archive

Second Season

– With the Triple Crown season well past, racing’s second season begins: For three-year-olds, that means prepping for the Travers Stakes; for all the divisions, the Breeders’ Cup.
– After four weeks off, Brother Derek returned to training at Santa Anita last Saturday. The colt is being pointed to the August 6 Haskell. “We’re looking forward to running at Monmouth Park,” said trainer Dan Hendricks.
– The Boston Globe publishes yet another article about how gloomy things are at Suffolk Downs (although, in fairness, the mood around the struggling track hasn’t been all that upbeat recently). At least a couple of people are happy: Trainer John Rigattieri and jockey Dyn Panell teamed up to win five races at Suffolk on Monday.
– This is just a nice story: “Amid the organized chaos in the morning at Canterbury Park, the 2-year-old bay colt gallops by, its head held high, the exercise rider easing him down the backstretch. From the viewing stand, trainer Todd Hoffrogge watches keenly for any signs that Bold Bulldog isn’t ready to race. There are none.”
– It’s been quiet around Railbird lately, and probably will be so for another week or two, owing to a couple of upcoming deadlines, but I’ll be back before too long with a summer reading round-up and a Saratoga preview …

Posted in Races/Results on June 20, 2006

Weekend News & Results

– Lost in the Fog is back. Last year’s champion sprinter ably won the Aristides at Churchill on Saturday by 1 1/4 lengths over Kelly’s Landing in a time of 1:08.52. “I’m relieved a little and very pleased because there were some people who had given up on him,” said trainer Greg Gilchrist after. “You win 10 in a row and then get beat, and people say you’re no good, but that’s human nature.” Skeptics probably won’t become converts after this one race, but Lost in the Fog’s performance on Saturday was reminiscent of his better races last year, and he did beat at least one good horse: Kelly’s Landing set a track record winning the 2005 Aristides and earned a Beyer speed figure of 112 for that effort.
– Also on Saturday: Wait a While won the Sand Points Stakes at Belmont, and Proposed scored a narrow victory over Star Parade in the Milady at Hollywood.
– Jockey John Velazquez, out with an injury since April, “made a triumphant return to the races,” winning the fourth at Belmont on Friday. “Just to come back and do what you love best is great,” Velazquez said. “To get the win is even better.”
– Sunday was Hot Dog Safari day at Suffolk Downs and thousands turned out for the event, a benefit for the Joey Fund. The day’s feature race was the Rise Jim Stakes for Mass-breds, which was won by Reprized Strike. The four-year-old ran down favorite Sprinkle of Gold in the stretch, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead. Storm Quest was third. On Saturday, Ask Queenie repeated in the Isadorable Stakes, winning the race by 5 1/3 lengths over Caller Sara Kate, with African Princess finishing third.

Posted in Races/Results on June 4, 2006

Silver Train Wins Met Mile

– And trainer Richard Dutrow couldn’t be more pleased. “We’re very happy,” Dutrow said. “How often do you see things work out like that? I’m talking about the Met Mile after the Breeders’ Cup win and it happens.” Silver Train is 4-for-6 at Belmont, 1-for-8 everywhere else. The Pedigree Guru is hinting that a stud deal will soon be announced for the sprinter: “He is going to be a happy boy just off Leestown Road.” [Announced the very next day: “Silver Train going to Vinery for stud.”]
– Dutrow may be a very happy man right now, but trainer Nick Zito isn’t. Sun King finished behind Silver Train in the Met. “It’s a little frustrating. In the Donn, we finished second. In the Pimlico Special, we finished second. In the Met Mile we finished second — and we beat [trainer Todd] Pletcher all three times … It’s like the freakiest thing ever. The horse ran great. He ran his guts out. This was a tough beat.”
– “Jockey Corey Nakatani earned his 3,000th victory one race after guiding Aragorn (Ire) to a 1 3/4-length win in the $321,000 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile Stakes (G1) on Monday at Hollywood Park.”

Posted in Races/Results on May 30, 2006

Weekend News & Results

– Steve Haskin recaps the Preakness, including the good (Bernardini) and the bad (Barbaro). TV ratings for the race increased 6%, and a record crowd turned out at Pimlico.
– In his North American debut, Invasor rallied late in the stretch to win the Pimlico Special on Friday, while Better Talk Now split horses to win the Dixie on Saturday. Sunriver prepped for the Belmont with a win in the Peter Pan. “Sunriver kept coming and finished up big,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “It looked like he still had something left at the end.” In the Shuvee at Belmont on Sunday, Take D’Tour rolled to an easy win, while favorite Indian Vale struggled in the rear and champion filly Smuggler tired in the stretch.
– Apprentice Julien Leparoux is heading to New York. “We will be riding on a regular basis probably [through] the last week of July, and we’ll definitely be going to Saratoga,” said his agent, Steve Bass.

Posted in Races/Results on May 23, 2006

Noted: May 15

– Weekend results: “With no impetus other than his own desire, Wanna Runner took possession of Saturday’s $300,000 Lone Star Derby.” At Hollywood Park, Grey Swallow won the Jim Murray by five lengths, and Surf Cat made an amazing move from last to first to win the Mervyn LeRoy. “I saw a lightning flash,” said trainer Bruce Headley. “That was some kind of move.” Jockey Alex Solis had a big day at the track, sweeping all three graded stakes at Hollywood on Saturday.
– Trainer Bob Baffert said neither Point Determined nor Bob and John would run in the Preakness. “I’ll take them back to California on Monday,” said Baffert. “I’ll let [those entered] soften Barbaro up in the Preakness so we can get him in the Belmont.” The defection of Baffert’s duo leaves just six probables (making the likely Preakness field the smallest since 1979), but two others are still being considered for the race: Trainer King Leatherbury may supplement Federico Tesio winner Ah Day to the race, and trainer Steve Klesaris may enter allowance winner Diabolical.
– Hemingway’s Key worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at the Oklahoma training track on Sunday in preparation for the Preakness. Jeremy Rose has been named to ride the colt, but the jockey may pass: “It’s not 100 percent whether or not we’re going to ride in the Preakness,” said Rose’s agent, Kid Breeden. “Right now it’s at best a 50/50 possibility.”
– The Green Monkey, aka the $16 million colt, worked for the first time on Sunday, breezing three furlongs in :39.4 at Belmont.
– Lost in the Fog could make his next start at Lone Star. Trainer Greg Gilchrist has nominated last year’s champion sprinter for the May 29 Beck Auto Group Turf Sprint. “We’ve always wanted to find a grass race for this horse,” said Gilchrist, “and this race at Lone Star would fit nicely in his schedule.”
– Julien Leparoux may be an apprentice, but he’s also the country’s leading jockey.
– Mid-Atlantic tracks like Delaware Park are growing crowded with Triple Crown race-winning trainers and jockeys. “They have slots, the trainers are getting better, the horses are getting better,” explained jockey Jeremy Rose.

Posted in Races/Results, Triple Crown on May 15, 2006

Weekend Results

– Lost in the Fog finished second to Carthage in the Golden Gate Fields Sprint. “You just have to tip your hat to [Carthage],” said Greg Gilchrist, who trains Lost in the Fog. “You have to give him a lot of credit because he ran a helluva race.” The race was Lost in the Fog’s first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last October. “I wish we could have won it,” said jockey Russell Baze, “but at least we got a race into him.”
– Magnolia Jackson recovered well from a bobbled start to win the Bed o’Roses Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Aqueduct. “What a gritty filly she is,” said trainer Gary Contessa. “Maybe now she’ll get a little respect.” Champion filly Smuggler finished fifth in the race, her first start since winning the Coaching Club Oaks last July. “It was good to get her back going,” said trainer Shug McGaughey.
– The old guy does it again: Proven Cure won the Littlebitlively Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday. “This horse amazes me,” said trainer John Locke of the 12-year-old gelding. “There were some very fast horses in there, and he seemed to win easily. He’s just amazing.”
– Proven Cure isn’t the only racetrack veteran to score a victory recently. Stormy Do, a 13-year-old gelding, won his 15th race since turning 10 on Monday at Philadelphia Park. “I don’t know he keeps doing it,” said trainer Jayne Vaders. “I imagine it’s just because he has a big heart.”
– In only his third career start and his first try around two turns, Showing Up won the Lexington Stakes, earning enough for a Kentucky Derby berth.

Posted in Races/Results on April 23, 2006

Rematch in Works

A rematch is on the schedule for Round Pond and Happy Ticket, the one-two finishers in last weekend’s very exciting Azeri Breeders’ Cup at Oaklawn (worth watching in replay if you somehow missed it — Round Pond set the pace, with Happy Ticket testing her every step and even catching her for a second as the pair neared the wire). Both came out of the Azeri in fine form and will make their next starts in the April 8 Apple Blossom Handicap.

Posted in Races/Results on March 15, 2006

Weekend Results & News

– A big crowd of 49,000 turned out to watch former $50,000 claimer Lava Man win the $1 million Big ‘Cap at Santa Anita on Saturday. “It really is a dream come true,” said co-owner Steve Kenly after. “From a claimer to the Big ‘Cap. It’s amazing.” Giacomo finished fifth, with no apparent explanation, other than that the race just didn’t set up for a deep closer like last year’s Kentucky Derby winner.
– Harlington wins the Gulfstream Park Handicap in his stakes debut; Mister Fotis the Richter Scale; and a fresh Wend leads all the way in the Honey Ryder.
– Saturday could have been called “Bobby Frankel Day.” The trainer started 11 horses on the 11-race card, but unfortunately, only went to the winner’s circle once, when First Word won the eighth, an allowance.
– Brother Derek wins the Santa Catalina; Corinthian beats First Samurai in the Fountain of Youth only to be disqualified and placed third for interference; and the field is the favorite in pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. More details, plus weekend workouts, in Derby Watch.

Posted in Races/Results on March 5, 2006

Rousing Return for Round Pond

Trainer John Servis was right about not keeping Round Pond in the barn for another month:

Posted in Races/Results on February 17, 2006

Rockport’s Back

And showed that he’s ready to be a player in the handicap division, winning Saturday’s Essex Handicap at Oaklawn by 2 1/4 lengths over Cougar Cat in his first start in nine months. Displaying the same toughness and heart he did as a 2-year-old, Rockport Harbor took an early lead and fended off a challenge from the runner-up, who managed to get a nose in front briefly at the top of the stretch. “Turning for home, that horse came to him and I asked him to run and he gave me what he had,” said jockey Stewart Elliott. “He was game. He showed that he was back.” He was also a little rank at the break, appearing to lose focus in the first few yards. “The big thing with him is mentally. This race is going to move this horse way up,” said trainer John Servis after, who suggested that Rockport’s next start could be the March 12 Razorback.

More: Rockport earned a Beyer of 98 for the Essex.

Posted in Races/Results on February 12, 2006