Barbaro Updates: 106
updates are now here.
Update 860: No update tonight, which is not unusual. I did think this comment from Brandi was amusing (timestamp: 4:45 pm):
Last week, while on a cruise in the Caribbean, I was making my way to the ship's computer area to check on Barbaro when I happened to pick up the ship's single page "newspaper". There, to my pleasant surprise, was the news of Barbaro's cast change and the update from New Bolton Center. I was thrilled to see that his story continues to make headlines and capture the hearts of an international audience - even onboard a ship!
Update 859: I just spoke to Joe Deegan, exercise rider of Perfect Drift, who is getting ready for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Perfect Drift breezed last saturday, 5/8ths in 1:02. His final eighth was a sharp 11 seconds. Joe says Perfect Drift is training really well. He will breeze again this coming saturday, and they are looking for a similar kind of move. He galloped a mile and a half today, galloping on a little bit the last part of the exercise. He will likely jog tomorrow, and gallop again on friday before his breeze.
Overall Joe says that Perfect Drift is in good form. He came out of his last race (Kentucky Cup, close second, bad trip) very well, better than the previous race (Pacific Classic). Without Bernardini Joe thinks Perfect Drift has as good a shot as anyone, if the race sets up right for him. A fast early pace and a patient ride from the jockey.
I wanted to note that Mike Jensen, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, Inquirer duo honored for racing coverage was honored for his Derby coverage. Mike did a great story on this web-site (To check up on Barbaro, check out his blog for which he was not nominated for anything!)
Update 858: ESPN (Jeannine Edwards) was at Fair Hill this morning, with Michael Matz's crew. They are doing an in-depth piece on Barbaro that will air right before the BC on "Outside The Lines". They will also be intervewing others connected to Barbaro. Very cool. I saw a couple of Matz's riders at breakfast and was asking about the shoot. Michelle (Matz) apparently did some broadcasting of her own last week, covering the Maryland Million for Fox. I have Michelle on "special assignment" for this site, she speaks fluent spanish.
Ali, from Kennett Florist left this note in the comments (timestamp: 2:04pm):
Jen is going to take stuff down to Sabina early tomorrow morning. She will pick up here this afternoon. If you want to sent anything to the hospital. Sabina is doing well jen said.
Will post again later
We Believe
Update 857: I asked Sue McMullen (our Euro racing correspondent) to comment on the decision to run (the Jackson-bred) George Washington in the Breeders' Cup Classic. This is her e-mailed response:
There is quite a bit of negative comment about George's proposed run in the Classic. The consensus is that it is due to Coolmore's commercially-motivated desire to produce a 'dirt Danehill'. George is American bred, but his pedigree is Turf, unlike Giant's Causeway who could claim dual credentials. Danehill hasn't produced a serious dirt horse. The obstacles George will face cannot be overestimated. In addition to the journey and the overall differences in how things are done, even relatively minor differences such as the loading into the gate, he will run on a surface that is totally alien to him. After Friday's abortive attempt (due to fog) to fly him to Southwell to work (gallop) on the nearest surface we have in the UK and Ireland to an American dirt track, we are told he's now worked well on the Polytrack at home. The only similarity is they are both artificial surfaces. Horses bounce off the Polytrack and there is no kickback. Many of our turf horses work on artificial surfaces such as this as trainers have laid them to aid training when the weather is bad or when the ground is hard in the summer, but they are NOTHING like dirt. Kieren Fallon knows the horse well and even he says that until they race on dirt, you don't know how they'll take to it.
The rationale appears to be that even a gallant, two length defeat to the brilliant Bernadini in the Classic would better enhance George's credentials to stand at the Coolmore stud at Kentucky than an outright win in the Mile, where Ballydoyle is already represented with Aussie Rules and Ad Valorem. The cynics say he isn't seriously expected to beat Bernadini at his own game and in his 'backyard'. Even his style of racing doesn't enhance his chances. George is a hold-up horse and in his last two races has dwelt in the stalls allowing him to be ridden in that way. He can't dwell in the stalls in the Classic and our horses don't have the best record for breaking out of the gate in the Breeders' Cup. It's worth noting here that our horses are ridden differently from the start of a race so missing the kick at home doesn't always prove disastrous. But if he's to come from off a likely very fast pace he'll be chasing it from the start and, with a possible inside draw, he'll have to face significant kickback for the first time in his life behind a wall of horses, ploughing through an alien surface and his 'action' (way of moving) doesn't suggest he'll enjoy a switch to dirt. The hope must be that a brilliant George, at his best on the day, will somehow cope with all this.
This site has addressed the ongoing furore over George's alleged 'fragile' temperament and the belief by some that too much has been made of it. Indeed Aiden O'Brien himself expressed appreciation to the author at Ascot that it had been put into a sensible context on this website. For many of his fans who watched George's exemplary behaviour at Ascot when he was victorious in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, it was hard to see what the fuss was about. But in the ongoing debate about the widom of sending him for the Classic, it is inevitable that his alleged 'fragility' has cropped up and sited as yet another reason that he will struggle in the US.
Many of us here were saddened to see Dylan Thomas struggling on an alien surface (in the Jockey Club) and questioned the merit of asking a seriously good Turf horse to try and switch for what appears a largely commercial decision. And yes, racing is a business but you couldn't escape the sneaking feeling that he'd been let down. Horses know nothing of their value and just give the best they can, which makes it even sadder when too much is asked of them. Dylan has now retired for the season as it has been decided he's had enough hard races this year.
On the same day in May two Jackson-bred, bay horses blazed equally impressive trails on both sides of the 'pond'. One in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill and one in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Not only was this a first for breeding, but we also witnessed the emergence of two great racehorses, one on dirt and one on turf. Barbaro now has a greater fight ahead of him, just to survive, and George, by a curious quirk of fate, now heads for Churchill Downs.
If George does run in the Classic his fans will be praying fervently that he copes with it all and returns none the worse for it. He is a turf superstar and brilliant at his best, but with just about everything stacked against him, does it really seem fair?
Update 856: Another comfortable night last night for Barbaro (tuesday night). I saw Michael Matz as I was heading to the track on my second set. He had heard from Dr. Richardson. It is a very foggy, and somewhat humid, morning this morning. The track is sealed after all the rain we had yesterday. A quiet day for me this morning, only three - four to ride.
update 7:50 am, wednesday, october 18
Update 854: A nice article from the Thoroughbredtimes: Jacksons still wonder about Barbaro versus Bernardini which notes the rivalry that never was. The following are excerpts:
The second jewel of the Triple Crown could have been quite a battle between the two talented colts, and would have likely determined the Eclipse Award for the three-year-old division.
"It would have been great; I would have loved to have seen that," Jackson said. "It would have been interesting, and who knows? Obviously, both camps feel like they have the best horse.
"I think Barbaro had a tough race in the Kentucky Derby … and the fact that he won by 6 1/2 lengths and the fact that he galloped out ahead like 15 lengths--he put on a performance. That was one race, and all of the races Bernardini has compiled, gosh, it's amazing what he's done."
and
Jackson said she and her husband have not thought about winning an Eclipse Award so much as just wishing Barbaro had the opportunity to compete against Bernardini, and hoping he is able to continue to overcome a dire set of circumstances.
YIpppeee two days in a row!!!!!
Posted by: Margaret at October 18, 2006 11:07 AM