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