Barbaro Updates: 891 Update 5257: Happy July 4th! And with this American holiday... more > (82)
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Barbaro Updates: 889 updates are now here. Update 5251: A fun afternoon at... more > (51)
Update 5257: Happy July 4th! And with this American holiday there is always some good racing. This includes the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth Park: United Nations Loaded With Grade I Winners.
Posted by Alex at 9:50 AM | Comments (82)
updates are now here.
Update 5256: And we have two additions to the Woodbine Characters series:
Gail Cox, trainer. Gail Cox, a trainer at Woodbine, has a relatively small stable but from that small stable won a nice stakes race a couple of days ago. Chantal Sutherland rode the winner. Gail rides a lot of her own horses in the mornings.
Mike Novakovic, Champions Bar bartender. Champions Bar is on the third floor at Woodbine, and if you visit you will meet Mike Novakovic. He is the main bartender and seems to be there all the time. Champions Bar might as well be my local bar so I have gotten to know Mike quite well. Cool guy.
Update 5255: A fun afternoon at the races at Wooodbine, although we did not win a race from our two runners. Both were fourth. We did also paddock school in the second race (Paddock schooling second race at Woodbine). I then went up to the Champions Bar to watch some racing. Mike was bartending as usual (Mike Novakovic, Champions Bar bartender.) After the races I returned to our barn on the backside (Back at the barn at Woodbine.) Wayne Green, who had earlier won the third race with his new filly Victoria Charm, was finishing things up and putting on his fillies leg wraps (Wayne Green doing up his winning filly, Victoria Charm .)
Update 5254: Off to the races at Woodbine, from where I will be "tweeting" and "twitpicing".
Update 5253: A busy morning this morning for Steve at Woodbine. I had ten sets. No break. We just kept going. And a couple of my horses prooved trickier than usual so it was not such a straightforward morning. But I survived. That's not so for everyone as I saw Brian Lynch walking back to the gap, a loose horse had made that same journey ahead of Brian!
After I was done I headed over to the jocks room to catch up with Chantal Sutherland. I was helping her set up her iPhone so she can tweet more often. And this is Chantal's tweet as we tested things out.
And to continue our Woodbine Characters series:
Tyler Pizarro, jockey. Tyler Pizarro is one of Woodbine's younger members of the jockey colony. But Tyler has quickly established himself as a leading rider here at Woodbine. Tyler's services are in demand and he is well liked. A cool guy, Tyler rode a horse for us the other day (we had two in the same race and Luis could not ride both) and she ran a nice third in a stake.
Roger Broomes, David Cotey groom. Roger Broomes is another groom for David Cotey. And someone I have known since I first arrived at Woodbine last year since we share the same barn. All David Cotey's grooms are the same grooms as he had working for him last year. All good guys to help make the barn fun.
Update 5252: Rachel Alexandra, a horse helping humans: Rachel Alexandra Auction to Benefit Charity.
And please keep calling.
Posted by Alex at 9:48 AM | Comments (54)
updates are now here.
Update 5251: A fun afternoon at the races at Woodbine. I went over for the sixth race when we paddock schooled our two runners for tomorrow. This also gave me a chance to add to our Woodbine Characters series:
Gaye Lynch, horse identifier. Gaye Lynch, as the horse identifier, Gaye checks the lip tattoos of each of the horses that comes over to the paddock to race. She will check the numbers off with a list she has that also includes any identifying marks on the horses. Gaye is also around when we paddock school and she checks the first time starters and other horses that have yet to run at Woodbine.
Then Dragooner won the eighth race, our first winner here for a couple of weeks so that was very cool!
Update 5250: A straightforward morning this morning at Woodbine. We had seven sets. All galloped nicely, under very grey skies. Fortunately the weather remained relatively dry for the morning. One of mine went to the gate for a little gate schooling, and she schooled nicely.
And to continue our Woodbine Characters series:
Slade Callaghan, jockey. Slade Callaghan has been a jockey at Woodbine since 1994. Slade is originally from Barbados. Slade's recent successes have included Rahy's Attorney, who won the Woodbine Mile last year and recently won the King Edward VII Stakes here turning the tables on his rival Sterwins. Slade is a hard working jockey in the mornings, and always seems to be in good humor.
Elvis Kellman, exercise rider, David Cotey. Elvis Kellman is a freelance exercise rider who gallops almost exclusively for David Cotey. I have known "Billy", that is his nickname, since I arrived at Woodbine last year. Billy tried to explain to me how he acquired his nickname this morning, but it all went over his head. Billy has three kids, who I see sometimes with him at the races in the afternoons.
Update 5249: Mine That Bird's team is now seeking another jockey as Borel cannot commit to the long term: Borel No Longer Jockey for Mine That Bird.
And please keep calling.
Posted by Alex at 9:52 AM | Comments (51)
updates are now here.
Update 5248: An addition to the Woodbine Characters series:
Robert Landry, jockey. Congratulations to jockey Robert Landry who rode his 2,000th winner this afternoon at Woodbine!
Update 5247: My weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine: Alex Brown 1 July 2009.
Update 5246: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.
Quite naturally, the highlight of the American racing scene last weekend was the Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta show. But how did it play abroad? The Australian noted that:
Rachel Alexandra has grown a Secretariat-like profile in the past two months, galvanising the hardened racing public and reaching out to catch the attention of Mr Average Joe and Josie.And while I would quibble with the notion that Rachel Alexandra has gained a following like Secretariat yet (even if she wins like him when she feels like it), I would on the whole agree with their larger point - non-racing fans know who she is, while Zenyatta is still just the first half of a Police album as far as they are aware. (I base this on my extremely scientific survey of my work colleagues and family, many of whom have asked me 'what is Rachel doing next?' but who look on blankly if I reply I hope she will face Zenyatta at some point).It just happened that on Saturday on the US west coast, the five-year-old Street Cry mare Zenyatta won her 11th consecutive race, the Group I Vanity Handicap, to stay unbeaten.
Yet Zenyatta's excellent feat was swallowed almost completely by the events on the east coast where Rachel Alexandra made a stunning debut at New York's Belmont Park.
While we in the racing community debate whose win was 'better' (Rachel's time! Zenyatta's weight assignment!) the fact remains that unless the Zenyatta/Rachel Alexandra rivalry can happen in person (and, ideally, on 'Jockeys'), few in the general public will ever get to know Zenyatta - and that's the real shame.
Were you aware that Rachel Alexandra has her own official diary? Now you are. While in general I'm not a fan of the Horse Writing In The First Person genre, I did very much enjoy the behind-the-scenes video courtesy of Blayne Blasi, teenage son of assistant trainer Scott Blasi. I hope to see more video added along those lines. I would also like to see the videos Zenyatta's trainer, John Sheriffs, has been posting on YouTube gain a wider audience - an official Zenyatta website promoting them along with other content would be very welcome.
And while I recognize that seeing Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra share a starting gate is an unlikely dream (even with the suggestion that they could meet 'after the Breeders' Cup' - when? where?), I must continue to suggest the following: come on people - Del Cap!
Here at Superfecta HQ we are about to head to Kentucky for some downtime, so please excuse our absence and expect to see us back in action on July 13th. Should anything particularly exciting happen in the meantime, fear not - the revolution will be Twittered.
See you after the fourth!
Update 5245: It's July 1, which means today is Canada Day. Happy birthday Canada!
I had 8 sets for Steve this morning. Four before the break and four after the break which each went to the gate for a little schooling. All galloped nicely and schooled quietly. A fairly straightforward morning's work.
And continuing our Woodbine Characters series:
Constant Montpellier, jockey. Constant Montpellier is a jockey here at Woodbine. He rides for a number of trainers, including David Cotey. Constant was the first jockey to ride Mine That Bird in his races riding him in his first two starts. I wrote about Constant for The Rail: Mine That Bird's First Jockey Sings His Praises.
Robert Fierheller, gate crew. Robert Fierheller is on the gate crew here at Woodbine. While I don't know Robert well at all, the gate crew here seems to be very good, and patient. We school a lot of horses here in the mornings and they spend a lot of time handling our horses with care. As a member of the gate crew, Robert works in the mornings from 8 am to 10 am each day other than Tuesday when we have no gate schooling in the mornings. And then in the afternoons for each race day. Busy work.
Update 5244: There has been a lot of "chatter" in racing circles about the possible match up between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. As things stand this remains somewhat unlikely, at least until the Breeders' Cup which itself is unlikely: Zenyatta, 'Rachel' Duel Unlikely Before BC.
And please keep calling.
Posted by Alex at 9:53 AM | Comments (41)
updates are now here.
Update 5243: Off to OLEX, and I'll be tweeting updates.
And Salon wrote about horse slaughter. I was interviewed and am quoted: Horses to the slaughter.
Update 5242: Good news: Drumroll Please: Dam of Barbaro is Carrying a Filly! excerpt:
"Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are delighted that she continues to be in foal and it is a prospective full sister to Barbaro," Bell said.
Update 5241: A very pleasant morning this morning at Woodbine. I had six sets. All galloped, and all galloped very nicely. Luis, our jockey, was in to work a few horses. I went up to the track to watch the last one work, and it looked like she worked nicely.
During break I snapped a couple more pictures, in the track kitchen, for the Woodbine Characters series:
Don Parente, Eurico Rosa DaSilva's agent. Don Parente, who I don't know personally, is agent for one of the leading riders here, Eurico Rose DaSilva. Eurico recently won the Queen's Plate aboard Eye of the Leopard, so this team is obviously doing very well. Eurico rode one horse for us last year, I think to a second place finish. A very charismatic jockey. Don also used to be agent for Chantal Sutherland.
Joe Walls, trainer. Joe Walls, a trainer at Woodbine, is also father to Eclipse Award winning jockey Mickey Walls. Joe always has a good story to tell, and is someone I have been fortunate to get to know a little during my time at Woodbine. He recently had a bit of a Cancer scare, but told me this morning that all is well.
Update 5240: Here is the ABR Facebook Group e-mail for this week: Tweet this: OLEX, Chantal Sutherland, Rachel Alexandra, Paragallo, Chad Beckon, Greg De Gannes, Iavorone, Dutrow, Paragallo, Rene Douglas, Kelly Carlson, Olredlgetcha, Rahy's Attorney, Sterwins, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Woodbine, Tour of the Cat, Syphon City, Bison City, Frazee's Folly, Woodbine Characters.
And please keep calling.
Posted by Alex at 9:48 AM | Comments (55)
updates are now here.
Update 5239: Barbaro's 2yo brother Lentenor worked a half mile today: Lentenor Works Again at Fair HIll.
Update 5238: Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird worked this morning at Churchill Downs. From John Asher:
KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD BREEZES HALF-MILE IN :51 IN FIRST WORK SINCE BELMONT STAKES
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 29, 2009) - Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird worked a half-mile in :51 over a fast track Monday morning at Churchill Downs in his first serious training move since a third-place finish to Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 6
Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard for the first in a series of five breezes leading to a scheduled run in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (Grade II) on Aug. 1 at Mountaineer.
Working well off the rail in the four path, Mine That Bird clicked off fractions of :12.80, :25.20, :38.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:04.40. The half-mile time was the 30th fastest of 42 at the distance.
Coming off the track, Borel gave a big thumbs up to trainer Chip Woolley.
"He came off the track bouncing just like he was before the Derby," Borel said. "He's ready. He doesn't need much. He's playful and happy and back to right where he was before the Derby."
Woolley thought the work would be a little faster.
"I thought he'd go in :49 or :50 because he's a little fresh, the freshest he's ever been," Woolley said. "I thought he'd be in the bridle a little more, but he looked good and came back cool as a cucumber. He was a little more into the bridle at Belmont and got a little shook up. Believe me, I like it a lot better this way."
Owned by Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine, Mine That Bird will walk Tuesday and return to the track Wednesday with another half-mile work scheduled for next Monday, July 6.
"His work next week will be sharper and then we will back off a bit in the next one," Woolley said of the schedule that calls for a five-furlong work on July 13.
Woolley is contemplating a change in his travel schedule to Mountaineer in Chester, W.Va. Originally, the trainer wanted to have two works over the track there, and it could still happen.
"I may ship up later and have just one breeze there," Woolley said. "The Bird doesn't need to take his racetrack with him. He has run on that fast track at Sunland and the deep, sandy track at Belmont. He will still have a work on the 20th, the only question is where."
After the West Virginia Derby, Woolley has targeted the $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes (Grade I) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 where Mine That Bird possibly could meet up with Kentucky Oaks (GI) and Preakness (Grade I) winner Rachel Alexandra, the outstanding 3-year-old filly who won last Saturday's Grade I Mother Goose by a record 19 1/4 lengths in stakes-record time at Belmont Park. Mine That Bird fell a length short of catching Rachel Alexandra in the May 16 Preakness.
"If it happens, it would be a good thing for racing and that would be a great spot to do it," Woolley said. "Let's just see where things fall."
Update 5237: The ABR Top Five list of horses running in North America did not change this week. Two of the horses, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, ran. And ran impressively to reinforce their positions at the top of racing. Here is the list (alpha order): Einstein, Macho Again, Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra, and Zenyatta.
Update 5236: A quiet morning this morning at Woodbine, with only five to gallop. And all galloped nicely. One went to the gate for some gate schooling. Luis was in again to breeze three horses for us. I think they went well.
And continuing the Woodbine Characters series:
Nancy Sullivan, Roger Attfield's assistant. Nancy Sullivan, Roger Attfield's assistant, always seems in good form in the mornings on the rail supervising training hours. Nancy has quite a background, I believe she was a lawyer at one stage. Nancy has a farm where she has fostered for Long Run.
Anthony Reid, David Cotey groom. Anthony Reid (Tony) is in our barn, grooming for David Cotey. Always very pleasant, Tony loves to talk about the good trainers back in the UK. Sir Michael Stoute being one of them.
Shawn Kennedy, racetrack chaplain & exercise rider. Shawn Kennedy is the racetrack chaplain for Ontario (Chaplain Shawn, Ontario). Shawn spends most of his week here at Woodbine, and on Mondays goes down to Fort Erie. Shawn also runs the Jake Howard Center, which conveniently includes wireless internet access. I am in "The Jake" a lot. Shawn is also a freelance exercise rider, currently galloping horses from Stu Simon.
Update 5235: A fun afternoon yesterday spent at the races. It was the second leg of the Triple Tiara at Woodbine and the race was won by Dance for Us and Chantal Sutherland. They nosed out Emma Wilson aboard Flashy Got Even: Dance for Us earns first stakes win in Bison City.
And over in Ireland, Fame and Glory, with the absense of English Derby winner Sea The Stars, won the Irish Derby by five lengths: Fame and Glory Gives O'Brien 7th Irish Derby.
And please keep calling.
Posted by Alex at 9:48 AM | Comments (33)