Barbaro Updates: 342

updates are now here.

Update 2219: The answer to the quiz, update 2217: Nigel is Congressman Whitfield's (very cute) dog. Terri C was first with a correct answer and the $100 goes to New Life Equine Rescue in Maryland.

Update 2218: Street Sense completed an easy half mile work at Saratoga this morning in preparation for his likely comeback race this weekend, the Jim Dandy: Street Sense Works at Saratoga, excerpt:

"All we wanted to do this morning was to let him feel the track and he came on across it well," said trainer Carl Nafzger. "He's a nice quiet horse; I already know how fast he can go, I didn't need to find out if he has speed."

"He went good," said Borel. "It's what we wanted, to see how he would handle the track, and he went across it like a bear. He's just blossomed; he was a lot more forward with me this morning. He's just an awesome horse."

Update 2217: I had a very interesting meeting in DC, interesting for me anyway. The meeting was with Congressman Whitfield and also in the meeting were Chris Heyde (SAPL), Nancy Perry (HSUS), James Robertson (Congressman Whitfield's legislative aid) and Nigel. The meeting's value was in putting faces to names and getting a better understanding of the workings of Congress and the Senate. As I talked a little about Fans of Barbaro I could tell they were very impressed with what everyone here has achieved as a group. It was cool! Anyway, I am sure the meeting will help build closer relations with groups important to the horse anti-slaughter movement. $100 to the equine welfare charity of choice for anyone who correctly identifies Nigel's role in the meeting.

Update 2216: Saratoga is loaded with stakes races each day (Subtle Aly Wins Tight One in Schuylerville), the first major stake is the Whitney Handicap, to be run on saturday and covered by ESPN: Flashy Bull succeeds Invasor for McLaughlin in Whitney, excerpt:

McLaughlin said Flashy Bull benefited from a 5 ½-month freshening that followed an off-the-board finish in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) last August.

"He's just a bigger, stronger, better four-year-old than he was a three-year-old," McLaughlin said. "We’ve always liked him, obviously to take him to the Kentucky Derby, but we're seeing the real Flashy Bull this year and it's a lot of fun. He's run very well and kind of surprised us last time beating a strong group in the Stephen Foster the way he did it. He opened three or four [lengths] turning for home. The jock [Robby Albarado] might have moved a little bit early, but we got the money, so we don't complain."

Media blitz week is yielding results already: J-S LETTER: Slaughter of horses needs to end.

There will be no update from Fair Hill this morning, I am off to Washington DC for the morning.