Barbaro Updates: 996

Posted April 26, 2010

updates are now here.

Update 6004: A day off from Fair Hill.

Well Calvin Borel did it again and won his third Kentucky Derby in four years, this time aboard Super Saver for trainer Todd Pletcher. It was Todd Pletcher's first win. Calvin had Super Saver placed somewhat forwardly, and along the rail pretty much the entire trip. There was crazy speed early in the race which stretched the field well and made Calvin's inside trip more makable. Around the far turn the trick was not to get caught by the front runners who were literally pulling up at that point. Calvin got first run down the lane and held off a fast closing Ice Box who had sat far behind in the early going. Paddy O' Prado and Make Music for Me finished third and fourth.

The first half mile was run in a torrid 46.16. The final time of 2:04.45 and change was slow and included a near 27 second last quarter. The track conditions were awful thanks to the weather.

Here are some media coverage:
Super Saver Wins the Derby!
Super Saver gives Pletcher a Derby win
Super Saver wins the Kentucky Derby
Super Saver, Calvin Borel capture 2010 Kentucky Derby

Update 6003: It's Kentucky Derby day! And here are my picks: Our 2010 Derby Picks Are Burning. Obivously the weather in Kentucky is having an impact on Derby day.

I rode six this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. And what a gorgeous morning it was here at Fair Hill. Four of mine also worked, so there was plenty of activity out there for me today. All went nicely.

While the Derby is the marquee race today, it's not the only big race: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.

Update 6002: Six ridden this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It was a little warmer start to the day too that made it a very pleasant morning's work. All mine went nicely, including the two babies I rode that went on the Tapeta track for the first time. One did hesitate a little going through the tunnel (under the dirt track) for the first time but then she was great.

Yesterday we previewed the Kentucky Derby on our 30 minute ABR radio show. It was a fun show, and hopefully you will enjoy not just the humor but also some of the insights (and background noise): Alex Brown Racing on the radio.

Of course the highlight of today will be Rachel Alexandra's race at Churchill Downs. 2009 Horse of the Year looks to turn the tables on Zardana who defeated her in a huge upset earlier this year. They appear in the 6th race, with a post time of 1:26 pm and (hopefully) on HRTV.

Blind Luck headlines the feature race at Churchill Downs later this afternoon, the Kentucky Oaks: Blind Luck Draws Post 5 for KY Oaks.

And please keep calling.

Update 6001: Another chilly start to the day at Fair Hill, but bright sunshine. I had five to ride for Michael Pino and all five went nicely. This included two sets of babies that both went to the gate for some schooling for the first time. It's always an interesting experience when you take a horse to the starting gate for the first time, but they were very good.

The field and morning line odds are now set for Saturday's Kentucky Derby: Lookin at Lucky Draws Inside Post. It will be a little while before I can really figure this field out. We will be hosting our ABR radio show at 2 pm today. We will of course focus a lot of our time on trying to handicap the Derby: Alex Brown Racing on the radio. We will be joined today by Lisa Grimm.

Here is my latest entry for The Rail: A Day in the Life of an Exercise Rider.

And please keep calling.

Update 6000: Wow, 6000 updates!

Seven ridden this morning for Michael Pino. It was a chilly start to the day. I had a mixed bag of activity out there. A couple of joggers, four gallopers, two of which were babies, and one worker who went 5/8ths. All went nicely, even the babies were pretty good as it was only there second day here. Here is my first horse, cooling out after her gallop.

This is my latest entry for The Rail: Countdown Begins for Derby Horses.

And please keep calling.

Update 5999: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

After the frenzied game of musical chairs over the weekend, we now have a reasonably good sense of who is actually going in the Derby - and it's certainly not Eskendereya or Rule (who, quite sensibly, now seems pointed for the Preakness). While it's not clear whether the front wraps he wore in his Wood victory were a hint that something was slightly amiss, he will be missed – but in some ways, his defection makes the potential race more interesting – and certainly more wide-open. Lookin At Lucky is the obvious successor to take on the favorite mantle, but here are a few more Derby starters on whom I'll be keeping a particularly close eye:

Noble's Promise
I liked his finish in the Rebel, and he has had more than his share of poor luck this season; he could be due for a big race.

Sidney's Candy
While I wish he had a good dirt prep on his resume, he seems more likely to make the transition more easily than many. But it's nice to see Joe Talamo have a horse with a real shot, after the I Want Revenge situation last year.

Awesome Act
Another victim of bad luck in the past, we know he likes the mud - and he's worth watching.

Devil May Care
Now we know she's definitely in the Derby - and she deserves her spot (which is more than I can say for some of the colts we'll likely be seeing - whether you agree with Beyer's entire column or not, I think he's right on with the notion that the earnings have become some sort of automatic Derby ticket, deserved or otherwise). And hey, she has namesakes in both a Jamie Cullum CD and a James Bond novel (albeit one by Sebastian Faulks). John Velazquez gets the mount.

Of course, we already have the field for the Oaks, and Blind Luck is the favorite. We'll go more in-depth with the Oaks tomorrow (as well as commenting on the Derby draw), but Amen Hallelujah and Crisp are my other two (rather chalky) picks.
And the Oaks undercard is going to have one very special guest: Rachel Alexandra is running in the La Troienne. She's back to her normal (for which read 'rather spectacular') work pattern, so hopefully we'll see her turn the tables on Zardana - although I'm equally fine giving her another race to get back into her true form.

In the meantime, check out Hello Race Fans and The Rail for more, as there is plenty of quality racing-related writing on tap this week - and remember to tune in to Alex Brown's radio show on Thursday, where I'll be handing out some dubious Derby and Oaks wagering advice.

I leave you (until tomorrow!) with this thought: can Pletcher get another last-place finisher with Mission Impazible?

Update 5998: Seven ridden this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. It has been damp here lately so most training occurred on the Tapeta track. All went nicely. Here is one of my fillies, a little over 30 minutes after she had finished training.

Here is my first contribution to The Rail. I interviewed Daily Racing Form's Mike Welsch: A Closer Look at the Derby Crop.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Alexa King, Bill Nack, Eskendereya, The Rail, pre-Derby workouts, Rachel Alexandra, Careless Jewel, Zardana, ABR radio, Steve Willard, Lisa Grimm.

And please keep calling.

Update 5997: A damp and dreary morning this morning at Fair Hill. I shedrowed five for Michael Pino for a very straightforward start to the day.

The Rail is back for another Triple Crown season. I will again be contributing.

Rachel Alexandra worked this morning ahead of her much anticipated start later this week at Churchill Downs.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 4:03 PM | Comments (192)

Barbaro Updates: 995

Posted April 19, 2010

updates are now here.

Update 5996: Eskendereya, the Derby favorite, is now scratched. Pletcher announced the decision at a 9:30 am press conference today. He has a problem they are working on, but could not risk him in the Derby: Eskendereya Scratched Out of Derby.

A day off for me today from Fair Hill.

Yesterday the Derby Trial was not won by a horse pointing for the Kentucky Derby: Hurricane Ike Wins Derby Trial Under Borel and D' Funnybone was upset in the Withers: Afleet Again Upsets Withers; D' Funnybone 4th.

Update 5995: Five horses ridden this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. And three of those also breezed. I think I breezed as many horses this week as I did for the entire 2+ years I worked for Steve Asmussen. I am now tired. At 11:30 this morning I am scheduled to be a guest on the radio on Sirius channel 126. Dave Johnson will be the host. Hopefully it will be fun.

Yesterday I wrote the following essay, looking at the pre-Derby works that are now ongoing: ALEX BROWN: PRE-DERBY WORKS YOUR LAST MEANINGFUL DATA POINT.

We have a light racing schedule this weekend, but it does include two intriguing 3yo races, the Derby Trial and the Withers: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you KBC Horse Supplies.

Update 5994: Five ridden this morning for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. And a gorgeous morning for training horses. All mine went nicely for a very straightforward start to the day.

Here is yesterday's 30 minute ABR radio show. A fun show that included guest Steve Willard, who gallops Zenyatta: Alex Brown Racing on the Radio.

And here is my weekly contribution to Eclipse Magazine: Alex Brown - 23rd April 2010.

And please keep calling.

Update 5993: Six ridden again today for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. And a very uneventful morning of riding horses, which was nice. I saw Peter Brette out there for the first time with Matz's crew, so they are back and getting in the swing of things. All in all a good start to the day.

The Kentucky Derby is getting ever closer, and this week on our 30 minute ABR radio show we will look at the training programs of those horses pointing for the Derby. Andy Durnin, one of our co-hosts, is there at Churchill Downs riding one of the contenders who is currently on the "bubble". Andy will also remind us of Pusiachi Pegasus' pre-Derby work out and the importance of a good work out before the Derby. We will also have a quick update on Mine That Bird. Should be another fun show, 2 pm today: Alex Brown Racing on the Radio.

And please keep calling.

Update 5992: Superfecta here, with your regular weekly update.

We finally have a better sense of the Derby field as the contenders begin to move into Churchill Downs in earnest; Lookin At Lucky seemed to enjoy the track, working a bullet this morning. Trainer Bob Baffert has buried the hatchet with jockey Garrett Gomez (you will recall he was not thrilled with his ride in the Santa Anita Derby) and taken a bit of advice from the rider - Lookin At Lucky will contest the Derby sans blinkers.

Eskendereya is also getting used to his new surroundings - he arrived in Louisville yesterday and stretched his legs a bit. Now that he's officially on the block, one wonders whether he will be sold before or after the Derby - but which side wants to be the big gambler in this situation? Apparently not Todd Pletcher, who may further spread his Derby risk by entering filly Devil May Care. While a decision won't be made immediately, I enjoyed this comment from Pletcher:

"She acts like she wants to run beyond a mile and an eighth," Pletcher said. "That is the main reason. We've worked her with a number of our colts who are being considered (for the Derby) and she has worked as well or better than most of them. But there is a lot to consider, including running in a field of 20 and things like that. We'll just wait and see after she works."

As I cannot say I'm terribly impressed by some of the 'other' Derby colts in Pletcher's barn (i.e., most of those who are not Eskendereya or Rule), she is probably a better candidate than many - but the filly I'd most like to see in the race is still Blind Luck. Still, if nothing else, by entering as many horses as he possibly can, Pletcher also ups his chances of finishing last (again).

Noble's Promise has been considered questionable for the Derby after a rough race in the Arkansas Derby and a subsequent lung infection, but things looked encouraging after his bullet work yesterday. Kenny McPeek is still erring on the side of caution and is not committing his horse to the race, but I believe he's worth watching; hopefully he will make the starting gate.

The usual pre-Derby jockey-change shenanigans have been afoot - Jon Court, who got longshot Line of David into the winner's circle for the Arkansas Derby, has been replaced by red-hot Rafael Bejarano. In this case, it's not a simple matter of creating bad karma; Bejarano had ridden the horse before, in California, and his Derby horse, Setsuko, probably will not make the field. It's still no fun to see Jon Court sitting out the big race again, though; one suspects that Bejarano might have easily picked up another last-minute mount (presumably knocking off another lesser-known jock) - and so it goes on.

In more unpleasant news, Tiz Chrome broke down while working toward the Derby Trial; he was put down on the track. Also aiming for the Derby Trial (so far, with better results) is Eightyfiveinafifty - and a win there could send him to the Derby, which would really be kicking it old-school - Tim Tam was the last horse to win both back in 1958.

There was sad news from across the Pacific as well; 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed died as a result of a twisted bowel. The 6-year-old (by Southern Hemisphere standards) stallion had been in training and was aiming to re-take the Cup before retiring to stud in another year or two - his interesting pedigree and proven staying ability are a loss to the breed in Australia (and could have been of great use here, as well - although commercial breeders would have disliked the notion).

Fortunately, across the Atlantic, Raven's Pass seems to be recovering well after colic surgery; he will be off work for a number of weeks, but the Breeders' Cup Classic winner should be able to return to action (as it were) shortly.

Finally, if you're an experienced curator looking for a terribly badly-paying job, why not consider becoming Curator of Collections at the (re-opened) Kentucky Derby Museum? While the collection will be great, it's either rather impressive or disturbing to know that there are cultural institutions that pay even more badly than my own...still, it's a job (for someone else)!

Update 5991: Six ridden again today for Michael Pino at Fair Hill. One of them worked 5/8ths, and I will admit to getting more tired than the horse at the end of the work! All others went nicely. A fight broke out at Fair Hill on my way home from my fourth set. It was a goose fight on one of the ponds!

Here is this week's Paulick Derby Index, which includes my top ten: PAULICK DERBY INDEX brought to you by Vinery LTD: TIME TO BLOSSOM. More and more Derby contenders are now in Kentucky. The latest contingent to arrive was a group of Todd Pletcher horses from Florida. Things are building up for the big event a week on Saturday.

And please keep calling.

Update 5990: Another chillier start to the day this morning at Fair Hill. I had six to ride, and it was not as straightforward a morning as one would hope. Two of my horses caused me some issues. But I did not fall off, so all was well.

Here is this week's ABR Facebook Group e-mail: Michael Matz, Fair Hill, Stardom Bound, Rachel Alexandra, Careless Jewel, Pimlico, Tim Woolley, Dr. Dan Dreyfuss, Bruce Wagner, DJ, ABR Radio, The Rail, Fritz.

And please keep calling.

Update 5989: A bit of a chilly start to the day at fair Hill this morning. I had six to ride, one of which breezed. All mine went nicely. And here is one of mine after she had finished training. As I was driving in this morning there was activity in Michael Matz's barns. I am guessing his horses have just shipped up from Florida. I also saw the Steve Klesaris trained Tempted for Tapit out on the track galloping. Things are getting busier around here.

And at Churchill Downs Rachel Alexandra put in another inpressive work. This report came from John Asher:

HORSE OF THE YEAR RACHEL ALEXANDRA IS 'RACHELESQUE' IN SIZZLING SIX-FURLONG WORK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Monday, April 18, 2010) -- Stonestreet Stable and Harold McCormick's Rachel Alexandra turned in a sizzling six-furlong workout on Monday at Churchill Downs as the reigning Horse of the Year displayed increasing sharpness as she nears a return to competition.

Trainer Steve Asmussen's 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro covered the distance over a fast track in 1:11.40 shortly after 6 a.m. (EDT). She worked in fractional times of :12.40, :24.40, :36.40, :48 and :59.40 under Dominic Terry and the champion galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.1. The work was the fastest of seven at the distance.

It was her Rachel Alexandra's third work since her return to Churchill Downs and her second consecutive move at six furlongs. Last Monday she breezed that distance in :1:12 and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25.20. She had breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 a week earlier.

"She worked crazy good," said Asmussen. "She's had three works here since she's been here and they have been extremely 'Rachelesque.' I'm happy to see her putting in work like she did last year."

There is still no decision on the race that will mark Rachel Alexandra's return to competition. She has competed only once since a victory over males last fall in the Woodward (GI) at Saratoga -- the first win by a female of any age in that prestigious race. She was defeated in her only start this year when she was upset by Zardana in a runner-up finish in the $200,000 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds on March 13.

And please keep calling.

Posted by Alex at 3:30 PM | Comments (176)