Barbaro Updates: 530
updates are now here.
Update 3183: The debate continues, are we racing to breed, or breeding to race. Pyro is off to Darley after his racing career concludes: Pyro to stand at Darley after racing career.
Indian Blessing is set for a freshening after suffering her first defeat: Indian Blessing Could Miss Kentucky Oaks.
Off to the races at Sam Houston Race Park and then for dinner with Paul Nolan and his wife.
Update 3182: A lovely morning at Sam Houston Race Park. As is usual for a Sunday, we had plenty of workers and jockeys in to help with the workers. Ten sets overall, of which I rode six, all before the break. Mine were either jogging on light galloping. It did give me a chance to watch the 2yos working after the break. Who knows if there is a Pyro among them, but it is sure fun watching and hoping. Steve Asmussen was here to supervise. He was in good form after Pyro's emphatic win yesterday. We chatted about Pyro and Curlin a little walking to the track after the break. Steve mentioned a work that Pyro and Curlin did together going 3/4s at Fair Grounds a few weeks ago, he said in twelve years of training at Fair Grounds he had never seen anything like it. Lets hope they can both stay healthy and continue to do what they are doing! A fun morning, although it was a little early to get up today with the clocks changing!
Update 3181: A good Saturday afternoon of racing. Performance of the day goes to Commentator who was clearly much the best in the Richter Scale: Commentator Destroys Richter Scale Foes. Upset of the day belongs to Proud Spell who ran closer to Indian Blessing and overtook her at the sixteenth pole to win late: Proud Spell Bewitches Indian Blessing.
Pyro continued his progress towards the Derby with a troubled trip and win in the Louisiana Derby. There were decent horses behind him in this race: Pyro Makes Statement in La. Derby Win. Michael Matz's Visionaire came from the clouds (or somewhere, it was very hard to see) to just get the nod in the Gotham Stakes: Visionaire Finds Way in Foggy Gotham.
All in all a fun afternoon's racing. I also got to see Eddie Kenneally's Taletobetold making her first start back this year off a layoff. I used to ride her in Kentucky. She faded a little at the end in a sprint stake but looked great in the paddock.
Update 3180: Off to the simulcast to watch many of our twenty six runners, which include Pyro, Reporting For Duty and Zanjero (Zanjero Makes 2008 Bow in Razorback 'Cap.)
Update 3179: A chilly start to a gorgeous morning at Sam Houston Race Park. We had nine sets, five of which were 2yo sets. In fact our last set to go out was a set of 10 2yos, I think that is the largest group of babies we have galloped together. All my horses went nicely. As I was jogging back on one of my horses I was chatting away with another exercise rider (Christy) from another barn. Someone on my inside spooked into my horse, my horse ducked a little and Christy fell off her horse! No harm done, but the siren went off as the horse galloped away into the chute. Anyway, all in all a decent morning's work, we now have a busy day of runners with 26 horses in today at seven racetracks!
Update 3178: Three Derby preps are to be held this afternoon, the Louisiana Derby, the Gotham Stakes and the El Camino Real Derby. The Derby trail will start to get more interesting.
Daheer, who disappointed in two starts this year, has now been retired: Daaher Retired, to Stand at Nashwan Stud. Also recently retired is Oprah Winney: Grade II Winner Oprah Winney Retired.
Good morning everyone! Happy Saturday!
Posted by: Kathy In SC at March 8, 2008 12:02 PM