Barbaro Updates: 897
Updates are now here.
Update 5302: Teaching Internet for First Time Starters at Woodbine.
Update 5301: Thoroughblog on yesterday's Prince of Wales: BRAVE, excerpt:
It was not a sizzling fast renewal of the PRINCE OF WALES STAKES but it was a very exciting finish as the recent maiden winner GALLANT, at 15 to 1 ding donged to the wire with MILWAUKEE APPEAL, the no-give-up filly, and both held off the slow charging Eye of the Leopard, the Plate winner.
GALLANT won the photo after judges looked at it a while.
To most observers, MILWAUKEE APPEAL looked like the winner on the bob but the photo showed a teeny weeny loss for the CEC Farms filly.
And a photo essay from TripleDeadHeat: Photo Essay: Photo Finish Decides Thrilling Prince of Wales Stakes.
Update 5300: NYRA on Rachel Alexandra's work today:
"RACHEL" TURNS IN BULLET WORK AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Preakness and multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Rachel Alexandra was back on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course Monday morning for a more serious workout.
Trainer Steve Asmussen and assistant Scott Blasi watched as the three-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro breezed five furlongs in 1:01.38, the fastest work of twelve at the distance. She took the first three fractions in :12 3/5, :25 and :37 1/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. This was the first time that Asmussen has been at his Saratoga stable since Rachel Alexandra arrived there on June 28.
"She's tremendous; she's a beautiful animal; she's doing great," Asmussen said. "She was unbelievably light on her feet today and she felt great about doing it. It was about as easy as she could do it. It was exactly what I was hoping to see."
Rachel Alexandra's next start remains a question mark, with several races being considered by her connections. One of those races is the Grade 2, $1 million Delaware Handicap for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 11/4 miles at Delaware Park this Sunday, July 19.
"I think [a decision] to eliminate the Delaware Handicap will have to be made today or tomorrow from a timing standpoint," Asmussen said. "They are drawing the entries tomorrow [for the race]."
Along with the Delaware Handicap, owners Jess Jackson, principal of Stonestreet Stables, and Harold T. McCormick and trainer Asmussen may also be considering the Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year-old fillies running 11/4 miles on July 25 at Belmont Park and the Grade 1, $1 million, nine-furlong Haskell Invitational for three-year-olds on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park.
"It's a timing thing more than anything," Asmussen said. "Her being a three-year-old filly that has success outside of her division just gives [us] that many more options. I think the only thing that we can state is the obvious - that's her and she looks good."
John Asher on Mine That Bird's work today:
KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER MINE THAT BIRD WORKS FIVE FURLONGS IN PREPARATION FOR WEST VIRGINIA DERBY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 13, 2009) - Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Mine That Bird continued his preparation for a return to competition in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby (GII) with a strong five-furlong work on Monday at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Chip Woolley looked on from the grandstand as the gelded son of Birdstone finished strong while covering five furlongs over a "fast" track in 1:02. Jockey Jamie Theriot was in the saddle as Mine That Bird galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.
Fractional times for the work were not available, but observers timed Mine That Bird's final eighth of a mile in less than 12 seconds, which pleased Woolley.
"The horse is doing super - he really worked good this morning," Woolley said. "He started off real soft - I imagine that first eighth of a mile must have been in 13-and-change. But he really picked it up down the lane and was really firing off the ground down the lane. He's coming into it real good. We're really kind of excited and ready to pick up and head across there and run."
"He worked fantastic," said Theriot. "He was nice and easy leaving the pole and he wanted me to pick it up in the last eighth of a mile and he came home in 11, so it was exactly what we wanted from him."
Woolley said Mine That Bird would work again next Monday, July 20, at Churchill Downs, which is scheduled to be his final local work before the West Virginia Derby. The race will be his first since he finished third to Summer Bird in the Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 6 at Belmont Park. The schedule now calls for Mine That Bird to ship to Mountaineer Park on Friday, July 24.
"We'll breeze him one soft one over the racetrack over there (at Mountaineer) and run," Woolley said. "After that we'll head straight to Saratoga (for the Grade I Shadwell Travers on Aug. 29)."
The work by Mine That Bird ranked as 12th fastest out of 18 moves at the distance.
Update 5299: Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird both worked this morning. No decision has been announced yet for Rachel Alexandra's next start. Mine That Bird is scheduled to start in the August 1 West Virginia Derby.
There is no change in the ABR Top Five for this week, in alpha order: Einstein, Macho Again, Mine That Bird, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.
Update 5298: More on yesterday's Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie: Gallant edges Milwaukee Appeal in Prince of Wales Stakes and Gallant grabs 15-1 upset in Prince of Wales.
And please keep calling and consider attending Horses on the Hill on July 14.
Good morning everyone
Good mornnng Barbaro
Posted by: Paul at July 13, 2009 12:07 PM