JC / Railbird

Races/Results Archive

Friday Notes

– The Saratogian picks up on the Blood-Horse story from earlier this week about a wild plan being floated for New York racing that includes splitting the franchise, closing Aqueduct, and turning Belmont into a slots palace. All that could never happen, right?
– Calvin Borel’s first ride at Pimlico is a winning one: Unbridled Sidney romped on the turf in the Very One stakes this afternoon.
– Nobiz Like Shobiz got back to work this morning, breezing four furlongs in :48.42 at Belmont.
– As soon as the Preakness is over, speculation about which horses might be entered in the final leg of the Triple Crown is sure to begin. According to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, possibles for the Belmont include Rags to Riches, Imawildandcrazyguy, Tiago, and Slew’s Tizzy. Hm … Tiago and Rags to Riches. If Street Sense wins the Preakness, either of those two could make the Belmont stretch run pretty interesting.
– Carryover alert: There’s a Preakness day pick six carryover of $123,631 at Belmont.

Posted in Races/Results on May 18, 2007

Fleetheart Rising

– Watch mail this week brought notice of an entry for the Southern California filly Fleetheart, who caught my attention in February after an impressive starter allowance win. “Second career start, first off layoff, up in class, tough, drew off to win with ease,” say my notes on the race. She’s making her third start in Hollywood’s seventh on Wednesday. It’s another class jump and off another layoff, but Fleetheart’s been training great over the Hollywood Cushion Track, has the field’s best Beyers, has shown a willingness to tussle for the lead, and her competition’s a little weak. She’s 5-2 on the morning line, but looks more like 8-5 to me.
– Even though Liquidity broke my heart with his poor showing in the Santa Anita Derby, and did nothing to redeem himself in the Derby (bye-bye, future wager), I’ll be looking forward to his next race (DRF), the June 2 Ohio Derby at Thistledown, where he could meet up with undefeated Withers winner Divine Park (DRF).

Posted in Races/Results on May 8, 2007

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