October 2007
0 posts
The New Site is Up!
Update your bookmarks and point your browsers to:
http://greenbutgame.org!
My recap of today’s racing is there as well… see you there!
September 2007
38 posts
Finally...
Rick Violette gets his first win of the meet in the second at Belmont with a wire to wire romp by Globalization (I’m still alive in the early pick 4!). I was starting to wonder when he’d get a win. My note on Globalization was that he had a jock change + his last work was an endurance builder… I thought both were encouraging.
On a bias note, both wins so far were from the 5th...
Two Bullets and a 2nd
I was just procrastinating handicapping the 6th - 11th at Belmont today when I noticed a few nice workouts.
Belgravia 5f @ 58.4 H (1/14) @ Santa Anita (wow!) The Green Monkey 5f @ 1.00.8 B (1/43) @ Belmont Ravel 4f @ 47.60 B (2/21) @ Keeneland
Ravel was previously training at Arlington, I wonder if this means an entry is imminent?
Back to handicapping…
HELL to the YEAH
Hard Spun, period.
Upset Bowl Invitational!
Wow! Sadly, I had the wrong upset winner… Rosinka, but for a moment there it looked it really good for her! Lahudood, how about it! That’s the last time you’ll get her at 21-1. What a great inside move… I have to admit I dismissed her totally… my only note was that her last race was too big of a jump in class… not this time!
On a bias note, Alan Garcia/Kiaran...
Hard Spun vs. Street Sense
For the reasons well mentioned many other places, I like Hard Spun to win the Kentucky Cup tomorrow… how about you?
polls - Take Our Poll
Sorry for lack of posting, I’ve actually been putting the finishing touches on the new and improved GbG, hopefully launching this weekend.
Off to handicap… good luck to everyone tomorrow, especially Hard Spun!
Guess Who I Met...
The Hennegan Brothers! Well, virtually speaking that is, on Facebook. Who knew that site could actually be used for things other than getting bitten by zombies and sending people virtual drinks! If you don’t already know, they’re the film making brothers who directed the genius and yet to be released First Saturday in May. Swifty and I were lucky enough to see it at the Tribeca Film...
Catching Up...
All my unsuccessful attempts to hit the pick 4’s and pick 6’s this past weekend, especially the carryover, have kept me from a few posts. First off, I have to thank Steve Crist for his I, Idiot post. It made me feel so much less idiotic about my multi-race exotic follies. Mind you, I was out of Sunday’s Pick 6 in the first (5th) race and didn’t have any picks in the 2nd...
Old "Fast Track", Still at It →
Dick Powell has an article at Handicapper’s Edge about the unnecessarily over sealed track at Belmont and all the injuries, including Rags to Riches.
[quote] Rags to Riches’ injury is one of numerous ones, some catastrophic, that have occurred since racing returned to Belmont. Despite what track superintendent John Passero says, the track is too hard from the constant sealing. I know...
Isn't the Goal to Raise the Bar? →
Excellent with a capital E commentary by Dan Liebman of Bloodhorse on breeding and the new gold (sub) standard.
Superfecta pointed this out yesterday but I just now read it and have to give it 4 thumbs up. It’s always satisfying to not only see someone point out something hideously wrong, but to also point who and what’s to blame. You go Dan Liebman.
Summing it Up...
I was just over at Left at the Gate and thought I’d share a comment that pretty sums up something I’ve blogged about many times.
[quote]
Alan, I’m so glad to see you blogging at the official BC site about the detrimental effect that today’s sparse campaigns are having on the sport. I’ve been a fan since I was seven years old, but in recent years my interest has...
More on Imawildandcrazyguy's Turf Debut →
Not only has IWCG never run on turf, he trained on it for the first time on Monday. Looks like it went well, No Biz liked it and Teuflesberg did alright… now if we could just get Hard Spun on the Turf!
[DRF]
I Was Wondering About This... →
Buried in a Lawyer Ron update was some info on The Monkey.
[quote]
Pletcher said The Green Monkey came out of his third-place finish in a six-furlong maiden race at Belmont Sept. 15 in good order. The Green Monkey’s debut was regarded as a highlight of the racing card because of the $16 million he brought at auction last year as a 2-year-old.
“You would think a horse that worked as fast as he...
Imawildandcrazyguy, Heading to the Turf →
Just noticed stretch running grey gelding Imawildandcrazyguy is entered in the Needles S. this saturday at Calder. It’s a 1 1/16th mile on the Turf. I’m pretty sure this will be his first Turf outing.
[DRF]
Please Sign This Petition →
There was another sad and needless death of a carriage horse this weekend near Central Park. The horse, Smoothie, was startled by a snare drum from a group of performing break dancers and bolted.
I found the story as I was going to one my fav sites, Gothamist (a NYC blog), to see if they posted a story about R2R being back at Belmont. They had covered the Belmont Stakes and R2R in the spring so...
At Least There's One... →
uplifting racing story this weekend. Shakespeare, a true ‘comeback kid’, made a huge move on the inside to win the Woodbine Mile just as it looked like Kip Deville (who ran a great race) had it in the bag.
What strikes me about as interesting about Shakespeare’s story is that he’s overcome a lot of injury’s and is still going strong… something we don’t...
Rags to Riches, Out for the Year →
She sustained a hairline fracture yesterday that will take her out for the year, but her connections say that she’ll run a s 4 year old. Man, I had a sneaking suspicion that we weren’t gonna see her in the Breeders’ Cup this year, I shoulda gone to Belmont yesterday to lay eyes on her.
It's Worth Noting
That Lear’s Princess had run, and run well, in all of the races that Rags to Riches missed. I hadn’t seen anyone make that point yet. One of the things I really love about horse racing is that each race is really anyone’s game, and yesterday was a fab reminder of that.
Talent is one thing, but timing is another and both played a big part of yesterday. Both fillys are clearly...
For those in search of The Monkey's race replay
A quick check of my stats this morning showed that folks are on the hunt for this replay… enjoy.
Take away the price tag and he had a respectable first showing (pun somewhat intended). This was Roi Maudit’s 6th race.
As it turns out...
I’m not the only one having a bad day. Rags to Riches just lost to Lear’s Princess by a half a length! I suppose it’s not totally surprising, but still.
So, team Pletcher and their illustrious money bags owners didn’t fare so well today with The Green Monkey, The Leopard and Rags to Riches.
Man, Kiaran McLaughlin is beaming as he’s walking Lear’s Princess...
Exact Quote...
I’m a huge moron! Yes, I just said that out loud as Sound of Speed took me right out of the pick 6. Why am I a huge moron? Because at the last minute I took him out and put in Fez, who wasn’t even on the board! My other choice, Metro Meteor placed. Ugh.
Show me your Monkey
Now that that’s finally over with, the Green Monkey showed in his debut. Hopefully now we can all move on and see how he progresses. I would point out that even Rags to Riches came in 4th in her debut.
Very few of those maidens wanted to go in the gate! Only the winner Roi Maudit and Secret Design, who came in 4th, went into the gate quietly.
And, in bias land, post position 5 and 3...
Out of the Pick 4 in the First Race...
Again. Although two of my picks placed and showed, I also had them as an exacta box. Dammit! Well, I won’t let this keep me from late Pick 4. And yes, I singled the Green Monkey.
Devereux looked really good winning the second as did Genuine Devotion in the first.
Retirement Watch - Tiz Wonderful →
Just found this item by chance. He suffered what seems to be a very serious injury in the More Than Ready that’s characterized as career ending. I say seems to be because I have no idea what this injury is.
“It is a complete disruption of the suspensory ligament. It is a severe breakdown injury involving the soft tissue around the fetlock. It is definitely career-ending.”
Perhaps...
The Last Laugh...
I had a realization about the Green Monkey the other day. Imagine that you have 16 million dollars to spend on a horse, or anything. If you’re willing to spend that kind of money, while still spending other large sums of money, it’s probably not putting you in precarious financial position to do so.
My hunch bet, so to speak, is that the it doesn’t matter if the Green Monkey...
Quick, Let's Get a Broodmare! →
I meant to post this earlier, but I saw this buried little item last week in Bloodhorse about Invasor’s sire fee. Admitedly, I know little to nothing about breeding and the industry, but that number seemed kinda low compared to the speculation I’ve seen about Street Sense & Hard Spun’s fees. Unless it’s industry standard to set a lower fee on a proven horse with a not...
Classy and Classic
It was a gorgeous warm day at Belmont. Swifty & I got there in record time. He didn’t get a chance to handicap so getting there an hour before the first race really helped.
Usually our routine is that we talk through the horses, watch the parade, go to the windows and then have the “what did you do?” chat back at the seats. We rarely go to the windows together. After...
Off to Belmont!
More later…
In Other Horse News... →
NY Times article on the city’s Horse Carriage industry. The city comptroller did an audit that (finally) uncovered the neglect to the horses and blamed the city.
I have only one thought to share on this… tourists, if you wouldn’t let your pets run around in New York City traffic, then don’t hire a horse-drawn carriage.
Sign the petition to ban horse-drawn carriages in...
Poor Monkey... →
Brutal headline: “Racing’s most expensive dud?”.
You know, I get annoyed when people make fun of the Monkey, they should be making fun of the idiot who payed $16 million. I suppose that’s what one is really making fun of when one makes fun of the Monkey, but as I’ve said before (and will happily say again), it’s not his fault people are idiots.
[ABC News]
The Monkey to be Featured on ABC World News! →
Buried in today’s thoroughbred notebook is this tidbit:
[quote]
ABC World News Tonight will air a special feature on tonight’s newscast (6:30-7:00 p.m. ET in many markets, check local listings) about The Green Monkey, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt that sold for a record $16 million last year as a two-year-old in training, but has yet to make his racing debut.
[end quote]
Probably not...
Retirement Watch - Jazil →
It’s sort of surprising/odd/fishy that his last race was in April and they’re just now retiring him.
[DRF]
Speaking of...
3 year olds I’m looking forward to seeing as 4 year olds… I was thinking about a few horses from the Derby trail that were either injured or took breaks (is that just a euphemism for being injured).
While I don’t remember Timber Reserve, his second to last race was the Remsen, so I take it he was in contention at one point. He ran so well today, let’s see some more of...
Timber Reserve Wins Derby, Ties Record
Timber Reserve held off a very game Xchanger in a stretch battle to win the million dollar Pennsylvania Derby and tie the track record. I’m also happy to report that Slew’s Tizzy broke his weird 1st or 7th streak by coming in 4th. Zanjero placed, not sure about the rest of the field yet. All and all, it’s was a pretty exciting race.
Lawyer Ron Makes the Case for 4 Year Old Campaings
When Swifty and I were at Saratoga earlier in the summer, we had the pleasure of watching Lawyer Ron break the track record during the Whitney. None of us had him, I had Papi Chullo & Wanderin’ Boy, I can’t remember who Swifty & Joan had, but it was a thrilling a race. Swifty, Joan and I were standing there with our mouths open, somewhat shocked at what had just happened as his...
Lawyer Ron, Holy Crap!
Speaking of 2 for 2, Lawyer Ron just CRUSHED the field in the Woodward for 2 amazingly impressive wins in a row!
Ok, I’ll do my “Lawyer Ron, convincing argument for 4 year old campaigns” post this weekend. Wow!!
No Biz, 2 for 2 Baby!
No Biz Like Shobiz just won his second consecutive turf race at Delaware holding off a game closing Twilight Meteor. It was a squeaker on the wire and I only saw the last 5 seconds or so, rather unexpectedly I might add.
I haven’t totally gotten my new system fine tuned so I thought the live video from Brisbet wasn’t gonna work (because of course I didn’t think to see if I had...
Input Wastes Valuable Time
That was an old joke I used to have about a former place of employment where no matter how valid and urgent the concern was, the answer was always “we don’t see any reason for concern, everything is fine and we don’t intend to make any changes.”
The Bloodhorse Now article New York Horseman Critical of Racing Surface reminded me of that attitude.
[quote]
Trainer Richard...
Disorder of Priorities is Right...
Paul Moran of Newsday at the Races couldn’t have been more right when calling this a disorder of priorities:
[quote]
While there has been no fine or suspension of jockey Javier Castellano for his flagrant misuse of the whip while riding the subsequently deceased Indian Flare in Sunday’s Ballerina Handicap, the stewards slapped owner Peter Kazamias with a $3,000 fine for a “gross display...
August 2007
39 posts
Nice to See Some Action Taken... →
and that Russell Baze is also publicly taking responsibility for his actions. It’s a step in the right direction in terms of enforcing excessive whipping violations.
Now it would be nice to see some action taken on Indian Flare’s behalf. REALLY nice.
[SF Gate]
Secret Gypsy, Shortest Record Holder? →
J Be K broke Secret Gypsy’s 5 1/2 furlong record set just shy of 2 weeks ago. Quite a bunch of fast 2 year olds this year!
Update:: or are they a product of the over sealed track?
[NTRA]
I Wish I Hadn't Read This... →
I’m a little off my game in terms of keeping up with reading what with the new job. Actually, I can’t really blame the new job on not knowing about this blog! I just found it tonight following a link from Railbird.
At any rate, this post made a sad situation even more sad. I didn’t see this race and once I found about Indian Flare I didn’t really wanna see it, but now I...
Sad...
Last night I was reading the Saratoga race results as I didn’t watch any of the races and I noticed that in the Ballerina Indian Flare, according to the write up, “dueled along the rail to the top of the stretch and gave way and broke down after the finish”. I took a look around and couldn’t find any additional info about the break down.
This morning as I was getting...
Here's a Question...
Swifty and I were having an email chat yesterday as I was placing online wagers for him. After the Travers we were discussing Hard Spun & Street Sense, he writes:
“Meanwhile, do you think they’ll run HS in the sprint or classic at the BC? All the talk will be about can SS win the BC Juvy, Ky Derby, Travers and BC Classic… I hope the NTRA realizes they have a good story on...
Blogging with Borel →
In case no one noticed, Calvin Borel has a blog over at NYRA. He’s actually posted every day and has an entry up about the Travers.
[NYRA]
Catching Up...
First off, the King’s Bishop & Travers were really exciting races! I was so happy to see Hard Spun finally get his G1 (even if the design of the plan was to get him black type for his stallion career).
I thought, as most, that Street Sense would put that field away with a little more ease, but what a stretch battle! I was suprised to see him rate and am looking forward to reading...
This Break in Blogging...
Yawning horse (Alymay Wu).
brought to you by the need for a giant break!
I’m happy to report that last wednesday was my last day at my old job. I’m getting ready to start my new job at the end of the week (long story) and in the interim I really needed to take a giant break.
I had a few things I definitely wanted to get done, such as upgrading my home system and network (done,...
Playing to Win →
I just discovered that Andy Serling has a video show at YouBet called Playing to Win. Steve Davidowitz was the featured guest this week as they talked about today’s races at Del Mar.
I’ve become a fan of Serling from his regular appearances at Siro’s Cup this year. I had no idea he had a show… perhaps I’ll see the Travers edition prior to the race… I caught...
What's Not to Love... →
about a girl and her handicapping! Nice post by Ron Correll over at The Morning Line about a 20 year old girl who’s really into handicapping. Who can blame her?
World's Best Race Caller... →
Brief video profile of Tom Durkin, NYRA race caller and total genius!