Post BC Horse Racing Updates

[two gun sid]

From DRF:
Brother Derek may try turf
Brother Derek's ambitious fall campaign is about to get even tougher. Fifth as a 22-1 longshot in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Brother Derek will train this week on the Hollywood Park turf course, and may race on grass for the first time Nov. 26 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
Trainer Dan Hendricks explained Tuesday that owner Cecil Peacock "wants to explore all opportunities" with Brother Derek by working the colt on grass. If he handles it, the 1o1/4-mile Hollywood Derby will be considered. The surface switch is fuel for cynics. After winning six of his first eight starts, including the Santa Anita Derby, Brother Derek has lost five straight.
Brother Derek was fourth in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, fourth in his comeback in a minor stakes at Del Mar, second in the Goodwood, and fifth in the BC Classic. If he does run in the Hollywood Derby, at least Brother Derek will be dropping in class. The race is restricted to 3-year-olds.
"It's hard to tell a guy to pass the last 3-year-old race of the year for $500,000," Hendricks said.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80502.html

Barbaro's leg bearing his weight
Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro continues to show improvement and is bearing his weight on his right hind leg without problems a week after veterinarians removed the cast he had worn for six months.
Barbaro shattered his lower right hind leg in the May 20 Preakness. He had surgery to repair the leg at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center equine hospital the next day and has remained there since.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80504.html

From The Bloodhorse
Fleet Indian Continues Stall Rest
Fleet Indian, who was injured during the stretch run of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), underwent precautionary radiographs and an ultrasound Nov. 13 at Taylor Made Farm.
"The ultrasound just really showed what we knew already," said Paul Saylor who owns the multiple grade I winning mare. "She's got a tear in both sides of her suspensory in her left leg. And beyond that not being good, she is standing up on it pretty good. They are thinking of maybe taking the splint off and she is eating and appears comfortable."
Saylor said radiographs of the left ankle and knee were also taken as a precautionary measure.
Fleet Indian is expected to remain under stall rest at the Taylor family's farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36359

[aaronbees]

1. I like this aggressive plan for BroD

Ever since his Goodwood race, he's been rounding back into form. And though they were losses, his two Churchill races were to my eyes his most impressive. Hope he takes it to Showing up in the Hollywood Derby, and I think his style would be suited to the grass quite nicely. But he was my Derby horse, so maybe I have highly unrealistic hopes for him still; he does need a win soon.

In other news, Sweetnorthernsaint won another comeback race (minor stakes) at Delaware the other day. Ouija Board's already in Japan to close out her career with the Japan Cup (quite a good field) and the Hong Kong Vase. Declan's Moon is set to race in December, and Gorellas is reportedly coming back next year.

[two gun sid]

2. Ouija Board Honored With Second Cartier Horse of the Year

Award.

From The Bloodhorse:
For the second time, Ouija Board was named Europe's Horse Of The Year at the 2006 Cartier Racing Awards, presented at the Four Seasons Hotel in London's West End Wednesday, Nov. 15.

The 5-year-old daughter of Cape Cross, trained by Ed Dunlop in Newmarket, England, becomes the first horse in the 16-year history of the Cartier Awards to win the Horse Of The Year award twice. Lord Derby's star performer also collected the top honor in 2004.

Her performance in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood, where she just touched off Alexander Goldrun, and a second Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs earlier this month also enabled Ouija Board to collect the 2006 Cartier Older Horse Award.

In the Horse Of The Year category, Ouija Board saw off opposition from Pride, Alexandrova, Teofilo and George Washington, while in the Older Horse category she prevailed over Pride, Hurricane Run, Shirocco and Reverence.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36391

[two gun sid]

3. How much blood?

From Thoroughbred Times:
IF RESEARCHERS are correct, buyers may have another tool to use when selecting a prospective racehorse.

In Standardbred studies in the late 1960s, Swedish researchers drew a correlation between the amount of blood coursing through a horse's body and its ability to excel as an athlete. The studies were based on the principle of oxygen transport: The greater the number of red blood cells, the better the horse could deliver oxygen to its tissues and the more efficiently it could clear away waste products that cause a horse to tire.

Dean Householder, Ph.D., a former associate professor of animal science at the University of Kentucky and the president of the consulting firm Thoroughmotion, was intrigued by the studies, so he began an investigation to see if their results in Standardbreds held true for Thoroughbreds.

"Dr. Sunne Persson did the work in Sweden," Householder said. "He was one of the pioneers in sports medicine in horses. They were correlating blood volume in Standardbreds with exercise-tolerance tests and found basically that horses that had greater blood volume tended to work a given distance in a quicker time compared with the horses that didn't.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horsehealth/hhview.asp?recno=67759&subsec=

[Justpat]

4. Trainers are not allowed to use drugs that increase red blood cell production.

They test for it at all the tracks. It was a big thing a while ago,
but when they started testing for it, it went by the wayside.

One reason that some horses can pump blood more efficiently is
the heart size. A major reason for Secretariat's greatness was his
incredibly large heart. It was way bigger than the average horse.
If I remember correctly, it weighed 13lbs. That is huge.

A horse with a pea heart will not have the strength or breathing
capacity to be worth anything as a racehorse regardless of its breeding.

We have a client who does most of the heart scans at sales. They have
been doing research on this stuff for about 25 years. I have them scan
all my young horses and if they do not have an adequate heart, I
sell them.

[two gun sid]

5. The Tin Man to Miss Citation With Soreness

From The Bloodhorse:
Trainer Richard Mandella reported Sunday from Santa Anita that The Tin Man, the 123-pound high weight for the $400,000 Citation Handicap Friday, would skip the grade I test at 1 1/16 miles on grass.

"No serious problems; he just stiffened up again," said Mandella, of the 8-year-old Affirmed gelding. "I'm going to quit training him and give him a couple months off."

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36448

[aaronbees]

6. That's too bad...

I think he had an outside shot at Turf Male o' the year if he ran and ran well. Sounds like Mandella's doing right by him, though.

I like Rob Roy in this race.

[two gun sid]

7. Goodbye Artsplace

From ustrotting.com:
It was a sauna-like New Jersey day this past August when I visited Southwind Farm with our advertising director, Deveau Zubrod.

We toured the facility with the lovely and capable farm manager, Laura Young, admiring the picturesque gardens, the rolling pastures, and the sassy mares and foals. But our visit was not complete until Laura asked with a widening smile, “Do you want to see Artsplace?”

She knew it was a silly question. Of course we wanted a chance to see arguably the world’s greatest pacing stallion, whom Deveau’s parents, Art Zubrod and Leah Cheverie, had raised and managed from their Brittany Farms. And he was all you would expect him to be—aristocratic yet playful, muscular yet refined. It was like being in royalty’s presence, as fans blew from every direction to cool the king, and his longtime groom, Charlie Williams, stroked his forehead with a soft cloth.

Ever the proud “parent,” Charlie brought Artsplace out so we, too, could caress that broad forehead, run our hands over the supple muscles of his neck, and tickle the little white spot on his back near his rump. He appeared the picture of soundness and health--glossy of coat, robust in build and bright of eye.

http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=18873&z=18

[aaronbees]

8. Neat Ruffian video tribute

On Youtube, of course. Very nicely done (though it has some match race footage you should be aware of if you view):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGFswkcfqaA

The same poster has some videos of her races, which I'd never actually seen on video until now. I was kinda young when she raced, but read everything I could on her once first learning of her legendary feats.

She's always been the embodiment of courage to me, and now it's nice to really see why. Magnificent.

[two gun sid]

9. Discreet Cat in the Cigar Mile Saturday.

Looks like a real test for him with some good competition. Badge of Silver, Dixie Meister, Silver Train and Sharp Humor.

Don't forget the Remsen and the Demoselle for Juvenile Colts and Fillies.

[aaronbees]

11. I like that Sharp Humor

Hope he gives Discreet Cat a run for it. This is a great racing weekend, including the turf festival at Hollywood Park!

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all, your family and friends, Sid and other horse fans; hope it's a blessed ... and lucky ... one. :)

[two gun sid]

12. Thanks aaronbees, and...

a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

The Cigar Mile looks like a great race. Not often do you get to see so many very good horses in a Grade I this time of year.

[two gun sid]

10. Jose Martin, Trainer of Groovy, Dies at 63

From The Bloodhorse:
Jose Martin, who trained Groovy and two other champions and was a member of a prominent New York racing family, died Wednesday at North Shore University Hospital after a lengthy bout with lung cancer.

The son of Hall of Fame trainer Frank "Pancho" Martin and father of trainer Carlos Martin, Martin celebrated his 63rd birthday on Oct. 11.

"He was a great father and a great friend," said Carlos Martin. "He was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago, and he fought it hard. About six months ago, it came back."

Martin, who was born in Havana, Cuba, followed his father to the United States when he was 17 and began to work for him in 1961. After spending two years as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., he began training on his own in 1967.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36498

[two gun sid]

13. Premium Tap cruises in Clark

From DRF.com:
After a horrible trip and questionable ride cost Premium Tap all chance in the Kentucky Cup Classic, trainer John Kimmel and jockey Kent Desormeaux were the epitome of dejection and frustration.

But after Premium Tap got a perfect trip and textbook ride Friday in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap, the colt responded with a breathtaking triumph, leading to elation and jubilation, with Kimmel and Desormeaux exchanging hugs and high-fives in the Churchill Downs winner's circle.

"That's the horse I was looking for today," said Kimmel. "There's no question Kent can horseback. Everybody makes mistakes. I'm just glad we had this opportunity to redeem ourselves."

Sent away the 9-5 favorite in a field of 12 3-year-olds and upward, Premium Tap broke sharply after being reluctant to load, then raced in third position behind a furious early pace set by Bright One and Wanderin Boy. With a half-mile to go in the 1 1/8-mile Clark, Desormeaux had a ton of horse beneath him, and after Premium Tap easily took command at the quarter pole, the race was for second. Premium Tap won by 7 1/4 lengths, while Wild Desert was up in a three-way photo to get second by a nose over A.P. Arrow, who was just another nose ahead of Master Command, his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80785.html

Afrashad splashes home in front
Though he hasn't been gone long, it was still a happy homecoming Thursday for jockey Richard Migliore, who guided Afrashad to a gate-to-wire 1 1/4-length victory over Sir Greeley in the $108,300 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct.

Migliore, a New York regular since the mid-1980's, recently moved his tack to Southern California, where he was slated to return early Friday morning. He arrived in New York late Wednesday so that he could spend Thanksgiving with his family as well as ride Afrashad, a horse Migliore thinks "can do better things next year."

Carrying 132 pounds on Thursday, Afrashad broke on top and, despite the efforts of Rudy Rodriguez on Kazoo, was able to run uncontested through fractions of 22.63 seconds and 46.23 before covering the six furlongs in 1:11.05 over a sloppy main track. He returned $4.30 as the favorite. It was the first stakes victory for Afrashad, a son of Smoke Glacken owned by Godolphin Racing and conditioned by Saeed bin Suroor.

"I wasn't that concerned with the rabbit factor today," said Migliore, who noted that Afrashad was compromised by pace pressure when third in the seven-furlong Sport Page Breeders Cup last out. "Three-quarters of a mile this horse can run the whole way."

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80749.html


Malibu Mint wins Top Flight on DQ
Malibu Mint was handed a controversial victory by the stewards in Friday's Grade 2, $150,000 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct.

Rahys' Appeal, a 23-1 longshot in the scratched-reduced six-horse field, rallied past Malibu Mint in midstretch and finished three lengths in front of that rival at the wire. But the whip of Alan Garcia, the rider of Rahys' Appeal, inadvertently struck Malibu Mint, under Eibar Coa, around the eighth pole. Coa lodged an objection and the stewards disqualified Rahys' Appeal from first and placed her second.

While many believe that a whip to the face is automatic grounds for disqualification, that is not the case. The rules state that a horse should be disqualified "if a jockey willingly strikes another horse or jockey" with the whip. The Aqueduct stewards did not deem Garcia's actions as willful, but they did determine it cost Malibu Mint a chance to win.

Malibu Mint, coming out of a 12th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, raced up close to the pace established by Yolanda B. Too and prompted by favored Mo Cuishle, who would eventually fade to last. Malibu Mint rallied three wide entering the turn and took a short lead from Yolanda B. Too approaching the quarter pole after running six furlongs in 1:11.14.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80781.html

[two gun sid]

14. Ashkal Way Swoops in for Citation Victory

From The Bloodhorse:
Godolphin Racing's East Coast invader Ashkal Way, given a patient ride by Garrett Gomez, seized the lead mid-stretch en route to his third successive graded stakes victory in the $400,000 Citation Handicap (gr. IT) on the Hollywood Park turf course Friday.

Sent off at generous odds of nearly 4-1, the Irish-bred Ashkal Way collected his first grade I win while turning in a stakes-record time of 1:39 3/5 for the 1 1/8-mile distance on firm going. The 4-year-old Ashkalani gelding took over from the fading Silent Name, inched away to an open advantage on the challengers Hendrix and Three Valleys inside the eighth pole and could not be headed to win by one length.

The 25-1 outsider Hendrix, last in the field after six furlongs, closed impressively after finding room to nose fellow closer Three Valleys for second with Cosmonaut, invading from the East with Edgar Prado in the irons, finishing fourth, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Gomez, who took the last three races at Hollywood Park Friday, has won on Ashkal Way all four times he has been aboard him.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36516

Baze Moves One Win Closer to Pincay Thursday
Jockey Russell Baze moved one win closer to Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record for lifetime victories during the Thanksgiving Day program at Bay Meadows on Nov. 23.

Baze recorded his 9,524th victory aboard 4-5 favorite Power by Jules ($3.60) in the first race on the card – his eighth win in the past 12 mounts – but was blanked in five subsequent rides. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Power by Jules won by 4 1/2 lengths, moving Baze to within six of Pincay's mark of 9,530.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36504

[two gun sid]

15. Discreet Cat Fired Up in Record Cigar Mile

From The Bloodhorse:
Godolphin Stable's undefeated Discreet Cat equaled the one-mile track record at Aqueduct Saturday while turning away a stubborn Silver Train leaving the eighth pole to win the $294,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile.

It was the toughest decision of Discreet Cat's career but, in the end, it was no sweat for the bay son of Forestry who claimed his first grade I victory by 3 1/4 lengths. The final time of 1:32 2/5 (1:32.46) equaled the clocking for Easy Goer in winning the 1989 Gotham. Discreet Cat carried high weight of 124 pounds.

With no urging from jockey Garrett Gomez, Discreet Cat cruised to the lead from pacesetter Sharp Humor at the quarter pole, but Silver Train - battling on the inside for Edgar Prado - passed him to get the lead. The two fought it out through the stretch before Discreet Cat, shaken up by Gomez at the furlong marker, pulled away. Gomez showed his blossoming star the whip a couple of times but won the race with a strong hand ride.

"I had plenty of horse in the stretch," Gomez said. "I showed him the stick a couple of times and he went about his business. He's never been hit with it. I've been excited ever since I put a leg on him. To run as fast as they ran and the way he was doing it, he's just a nice horse."

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36520



Thor's Echo Makes Case in De Francis Dash
TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) champion Thor's Echo, racing in the Superman silks of Suarez Racing, made his case for a 2006 Eclipse Award, repelling a menacing challenge from the unlucky Diabolical to win the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (gr. I) at Laurel Park Saturday.

Breaking from the far outside, Thor's Echo, the 11-10 choice in the field of nine, was four or five wide all the way for regular rider Corey Nakatani while surging past the pacesetting Crafty Schemer approaching the eighth pole. Diabolical, bottled up on the inside, angled out five or six paths wide for the drive under Mario Pino. He closed to the Thor's Echo's withers in deep stretch but the winner pulled away in the final strides to win by three quarters of a length under a drive from Nakatani. The final time was a sharp 1:08 3/5.

Diabolical held off the 3-1 second choice Nightmare Affair and jockey Ramon Dominguez by a neck for second.

The California-bred Thor's Echo, a four-length winner of the BC Sprint at odds of 15-1 on Nov. 4 for trainer Doug O'Neill, benefited from a sizzling pace Saturday, stalking Crafty Schemer, Attila's Storm and Coppertone Kid in fourth through fractions of :21 4/5, :44 3/5 and :56 3/5. He shifted inward after taking the lead but got straightened out in time to get the job done.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36522

[two gun sid]

16. Thor's Echo helps Eclipse chances

From DRF.com:
Are two Grade 1 stakes victories within three weeks, including the Breeders' Cup Sprint, good enough to propel Thor's Echo to an Eclipse Award? Trainer Doug O'Neill certainly hopes so, but even he admits that Thor's Echo doesn't have the champion sprinter title locked up.

A 4-year-old based in California, Thor's Echo strengthened his Eclipse credentials Saturday afternoon at Laurel Park when he withstood the 3-year-old Diabolical by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 1, $300,000 Frank De Francis Memorial Dash.

Thor's Echo ($4.20) sat in fourth behind swift, contested fractions of 21.96 and 44.70 seconds set by Crafty Schemer, Attila's Storm, and Coppertone Kid. Coming into the stretch, jockey Corey Nakatani made a four-wide move with Thor's Echo, who dug down and refused to allow Diabolical to get past him.

"I thought I had him," said Mario Pino, who rode Diabolical. "He charged at him, but that horse just kept digging in. We were running; I just couldn't get by the winner."

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80817.html

'Nobiz' dominates Remsen
Barclay Tagg pegged Nobiz Like Shobiz as a Triple Crown horse five minutes after he first saw him. In just over 108 seconds on Saturday, Nobiz Like Shobiz proved that Tagg knows what he's talking about.

Making a scintillating move from the quarter pole to the eighth pole, Nobiz Like Shobiz roared to a 6 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. Zanjero rallied from last to be second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Kong the King.

The win puts Tagg and his owner, Elizabeth Volando, back on the Kentucky Derby trail. Tagg won the Derby in 2003 with Funny Cide and finished sixth in it this year with Showing Up.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80819.html

Boca Grande shines in Demoiselle
t has been just three weeks since trainer Shug McGaughey and the Phipps family lost their talented 3-year-old filly Pine Island to a fatal injury suffered during the running of the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The slow healing process was accelerated somewhat Saturday, when the McGaughey-trained and Phipps-owned Boca Grande slipped through an opening along the rail and drew off to a 3 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct. Get Ready Bertie, who had moved past Boca Grande down the backside, had to settle for second, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of headstrong favorite Successful Outlook.

Boca Grande is a daughter of A.P. Indy out of the multiple graded stakes winning mare Country Hideaway. Country Hideaway is a half-sister to Matlacha Pass, who is the mother of Pine Island, a multiple Grade 1 winner this year.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80820.html

[aaronbees]

17. That was an electrifying move by Nobiz

I'm officially on his bandwagon; here's hoping he stays healthy and sound on the way to a Kentucky Derby win. ;)

Very impressive move by Boca Grande to plug through on the rail like that. May she help heal the Phipps family in the wake of Pine Island.

Discreet Cat? Best horse in the world right now.

[two gun sid]

18. Showing Up Good as Billed in Hollywood Derby, BroD scratched

From The Bloodhorse:
Poised to spring coming off the far turn, Lael Stables' odds-on favorite Showing Up surged past Crested in the stretch en route to a convincing 2 1/4-length victory in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) on the turf Sunday.

The Barclay Tagg-trained Showing Up capped a huge 3-year-old season with his second grade I win Sunday, completing the 1 1/4-mile event on firm going in an excellent time of 1:59 1/5 with Cornelio Velasquez aboard. He also captured the Secretariat (gr. IT) at Arlington Park this summer.

Tagg, making a rare appearance in Southern California, said afterward that Showing Up would rest up and return for his 4-year-old season this spring.

"He just keeps showing up," joked Tagg, whose only previous stakes win at Hollywood Park came with Miss Josh in the 1991 Gamely Handicap.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36536

OB, if you see this, who is Showing Up's sire, Strategic Mission? I've never seen any of the SM's run before.

[Justpat]

19. I don't remember who trained him,

but he won a Grade III at age six. He didn't race at two and was
basically an allowance horse until he won the grade 3 and he was
second in a grade II grass race at Keeneland, I believe.

He is a half to Sultry Song and Solar Splendor, both Grade I winners.
He stood his first year at stud in upstate NY for 3,500.00.

Now he is moved to Gainesway where he stands for 10,000.

He has done well with the limited number of upstate mares bred to
him originally in NY. He should do really now that he is in KY
with a better book of mares.

If you want to look up stallions go to either the Blood Horse or
Thoroughbred Times sites and click on the stallion register.

[two gun sid]

20. Thank you for the info...

I could not remember him. I thought he might have been a NY sire so I thought I'd ask you.

I am quite impressed with Showing Up. He appears to be a very nice horse. I hope Tagg and his gang win a bunch of races with him.

[two gun sid]

21. Deep Impact Charges to Japan Cup Victory; Ouija Board Third

From The Bloodhorse:
Reigning Japanese Horse of the Year Deep Impact got the redemption his connections desperately wanted--following a defeat and medication violation in France--when the 4-year-old son of Sunday Silence rallied from last to win the 26th running of the $4.6-million Japan Cup (Jpn-I) at Tokyo Race Course on Sunday.

Dream Passport finished second, a half-length ahead of the globe-trotting mare Ouija Board, who recently was named the Cartier Horse of the Year for the second time.

Favored at odds of 3-10, Deep Impact broke last in the field of 11, and jockey Yutake Take kept him in that position for the opening mile, tracking just behind Ouija Board and Frankie Dettori as Cosmo Bulk set the pace.

At the top of the stretch, Take swung Deep Impact to the outside while Dettori split horses to make Ouija Board's run. Dream Passport got the first jump on the pacesetter, but Deep Impact had dead aim and took command in the final furlong. He completed the 2,400 meters (about 1 ½ miles) on firm turf in 2:25.10. Cosmo Bulk, Fusaichi Pandora, Meisho Samson, Freedonia, Swift Current, Tosen Shana O, Heart's Cry, and Yukino Sun Royal completed the order of finish.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36532

I think that's it for Ouija Board. What a career! I know Derby will not sell her but, anybody wanna take a guess what she would be worth as a broodmare at auction?

[aaronbees]

23. She's priceless to me.

I'll really miss her. I think she's running in the Hong Kong Vase, though, before her rendezvous with Kingmambo.

[two gun sid]

22. Best subplot of the Baze story...

From DRF:
Baze on the brink of record
Jockey Russell Baze tied Laffit Pincay Jr. as the world's winningest jockey on Thursday, scoring his 9,530th victory aboard Christie's Fame in the sixth race at Bay Meadows. Baze finished fourth in the seventh race and sixth in the eighth and last race Thursday.

"That's Russell Baze riding into the record book," said track announcer Michael Wrona as Baze pulled clear in the stretch.

Christie's Fame, a 3-year-old filly, went wire to wire in a $6,250 claimer at one mile and won by 4 1/2 lengths....

Lawrence Zimmerman, Christie's Fame's 81-year-old co-owner, was initially more excited about the paycheck he was about to receive than being part of an historic moment. He said that he only had $157 in his bank account when he checked in the morning before coming to the race.

Thank you Mr. Zimmerman for making my day. You must truly love the sport and my hats off to you.

[aaronbees]

24. Hats off to Baze, too!

That is a cool story; it's fun to see a smalltime owner get a paycheck like that, shows what it really means to be a fan of the sport.

Kudos to Russell Baze for equaling the record! Considering it's Pincay he'll top, that's quite an accomplishment.

[two gun sid]

27. Baze Becomes Racing's All-Time Leading Rider!

From The Bloodhorse:
Russell Baze became Thoroughbred horse racing's winningest jockey when he broke Laffit Pincay Jr.'s record with a victory aboard Butterfly Belle at Bay Meadows on Friday, Dec. 1.

Win No. 9,531 came in the fourth race, when the 48-year-old Baze found a hole along the rail and drove through it to win on the Longden turf course, named for Johnny Longden, who once held the record Baze broke.

Baze doffed his riding helmet to the cheering crowd.

Pincay had owned the mark since Dec. 10, 1999, when he took it from Bill Shoemaker. Pincay, 59, was on hand for his fifth day of watching Baze, who had won once in each of the previous two days. Baze tied the record of 9,530 on Thursday.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36606

[aaronbees]

25. Hialeah Park today....

This racetrack is a big reason why I got into the sport -- beautiful, ornate and totally exotic place to race. I have fond memories of watching Kentucky Derby contenders race there early in their 3-year-old year.

Miami Herald presentation on its current condition (state of disrepair): http://www.miami.com/multimedia/miami/news/archive/soundslides/Hialeah-new-Park-SS_2006-10-27/index.html

[Justpat]

26. They didn't show the stable area.

I was there in '01, I think it was the last year they raced.
We had Gaviola there for a grass stake.(She got sick and had
to scratch) The track surface was the best I have ever trained
over. But the barns were a dangerous wreck. They were all rotted
out from the termites and just disrepair. No one ever fixed a thing
there. One day I leaned my arms on the railing on the outside of
the shedrow and the entire section of railing came away from the
barn and fell into the stable yard between barns.

But even with all its problems in the final years, I loved being
there.

[aaronbees]

29. Glad you got to experience it

I wish I could have. It does look bleak as far as its future is concerned, and that'a shame. I seem to recall Swale winning or running in a race there before his Derby win, but that's a little fuzzy and I don't have his PP's on hand.

What ever happened to Gaviola?

[Justpat]

31. Gaviola was retired after her four year old season

and bred to Storm Cat. That foal has not races.
She was bred to Gone West twice. Both are great looking foals.
The owner sent the Storm Cat to Pletcher and she never started.


I don't remember if Swale ran there, but Slew won the first start
of his three year old year there running 7/8 in 1:21.


It was a gorgeous facility when it was in good condition. The
woodwork in the dining rooms was breathtaking. Everything about it
was class, down to the big lazy fans that were in the upstairs
area. I loved it.

[aaronbees]

38. Was just watching a Slew vid on youtube

And it showed his Flamingo Stakes win. Still very impressive after all this time.

You guys headed down to Florida this winter?

[Justpat]

41. We are stuck in NY for the winter.

We don't have the stock to justify going to FL this year.
Rats.

But of course racing may shut down in mid January and we will
all be looking for a place to go.

[Awsi Dooger]

32. Wow, thanks for that slide show link

I loved Hialeah, my favorite track and I've been to many of the famous ones like Churchill Downs and Saratoga. I remember my parents took me for the first time when I was a young boy in the '60s. It was a Sunday and no racing, but we got a tour of the premises and I was in awe anything could be that elegant. We lived maybe 10 miles away but Hialeah seemed like a different world. Those trams are exactly what I remember from that day, almost 40 years ago, taking us from the parking area.

I saw that Slew race in '77. An absolute blur around the final turn. I remember my mouth was open. Also the Flamingo a few weeks later. He was eased in that race but still won handily.

I wasn't quite of age but I found a way to get a college ID and get in. Florida tracks didn't allow minors. I remember handing that ID the first time, very nervous, and the young girl looked at it and seemed to be suspicious, but then she tilted her head and said, "OK." What a relief, and a newfound toy!

The next year I saw Alydar, then Spectacular Bid in 1979. Bud Delp was pissed that the track wasn't to his specifications. I remember he went on Hank Goldberg's radio show on WIOD in a drunken stupor, complaining about the track conditions and referring to Slew's time in the '77 sprint, saying something incoherent along the lines of, "I'd the track to be like it was that day..."

Once I went away to college I didn't attend Hialeah very often. A few times in the early '80s for major races. Gad, I think the last time I saw the Flamingo was '83.

In '84 I was back in California but I don't think Swale ran at Hialeah. Perhaps in a prep, but I'm almost certain he didn't run in the Flamingo. I was at Santa Anita that day and everyone gathered for a call of the Flamingo. Devil's Bag was Swale's stablemate and considered superior, the Derby favorite. But he bombed badly in that race, beaten by Time for a Change and Dr. Carter and I think one other horse. Swale then defeated Dr. Carter in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream.

The winter date disputes always seemed to favor Gulfstream and I think Brunetti tried to get the state legislature to mandate the prime middle dates to Hialeah but that was rejected. They rotated for a while but I think Gulfstream finally won them permanently, and Hialeah ended up competing with Calder, which IMO was a joke, in terms of class and history if not the upkeep of the track.

To tell you the truth I'm surprised the track is still looking as good as it does. That entire area has seen better times. And all the trees still standing really shocked me. Anyone who has been to Miami the last few years knows the trees took a big hit from a couple of hurricanes. I play golf courses where almost every large tree was uprooted and had to be removed.

My dad will enjoy that link also.

[aaronbees]

40. Cool story, Awsi

Glad you got to experience such a gorgeous track as a youngster. Me, I had Balmoral Park about 20 minutes away when I was a kid ... not quite the same thing but it still got me hooked somehow. ;)

I hope someone finds something useful to do with Hialeah; would be a real shame to let it fall apart further.

[two gun sid]

28. Weekend results from races 11-1-06 to 11-3-06

From DRF:
Foxysox victorious in Bayakoa

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80993.html

Ballast's victory caps Grand Slam I

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80984.html

Sailors Sunset surprises in Underwood

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80988.html

Meditations romps by 10 3/4 lengths

http://www.drf.com/news/article/80981.html

Meditations looks like a filly that we should keep our eyes on as a 3 YO.

[aaronbees]

30. I don't understand what's happening with Declan's Moon

That was not an encouraging performance to my eyes. He's run in three sprints since his return but seems to me to need longer. A knockout run by Sailors Moon ... and on the cushion track no less!

[two gun sid]

33. Ouija Board Withdrawn from Vase; Retired.

From the Bloodhorse:
Ouija Board has been withdrawn from the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-I) at Sha Tin Racecourse Sunday due to soreness in the splint bone of her left foreleg.

The mare had been expected to conclude her brilliant racing career with a second victory in the Vase, a race she won last year, but during the routine pre-race veterinary examination Saturday morning, Hong Kong veterinary officials discovered the soreness.

Initially, another examination was to have been conducted Sunday morning. However, trainer Ed Dunlop x-rayed Ouija Board Saturday and found a slight problem. He took her out onto the track Saturday afternoon for an easy canter to evaluate her condition. Following that exercise, he and owner Lord Derby made the decision to withdraw her from the race rather than risk further injury.

"It is a very, very sad end to her career and an emotional day for everyone who have put in a huge team effort," Dunlop told the British Press Association.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36679



What a great racemare Ouija Board has been. I cannot say enough good things about her.

[aaronbees]

34. Truly a WORLD champion

Sure was hoping to see her ride out with style and a victory, but she wrote her own legend on the track and owes nothing to the racing world. We're all fortunate to have seen real greatness and courage from her. That Nassau Stakes win this year ranks as one of the most thrilling races ever, and here's wishing her success and happy days as a broodmare. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing little Ouijas frollicking on the track.

Sporting Life story: http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/06/12/09/RACING_Hong_Kong_Vase.html

Channel 4 story: http://www.channel4.com/sport/microsites/R/racing/features/06-11/O_board.html

[Justpat]

37. I'm glad they retired her.

It seemed to me that they were getting to the bottom of the well
after the Breeders Cup race. The one in Japan was very close to
the BC.

They seem to have pretty good vet inspection before the races there.

[aaronbees]

35. Hong Kong International race results....

Vase: Collier Hill (holding off a late charge by Kastoria)
Sprint: Absolute Champion (over Silent Witness and demolishing the track record)
Mile: The Duke (beating Armada by a head)
Cup: Pride !!!!! (absolute thriller with Admire Moon almost catching that great mare at the wire)

[two gun sid]

36. Evening Attire back on work tab

From DRF:
Evening Attire, a Grade 1 winner and earner of more than $2.5 million, breezed three furlongs in 37.92 seconds Thursday morning over Belmont Park's training track as he prepares for a possible 9-year-old campaign in 2007.

Evening Attire, a gelded son of Black Tie Affair owned by Joseph and Mary Grant and T.J. Kelly, has not run since finishing last in an off-the-turf allowance race at Belmont in May. Evening Attire, winner of the 2001 Jockey Club Gold Cup, has not won since taking the Grade 3 Stuyvesant Handicap in November 2005. Last year, he was plagued by slow starts out of the gate.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81078.html

[aaronbees]

39. Barbaro: Could Be Released in "Not So Distant Future"

Amazing.


http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36704

Barbaro Update: Could be Released in 'Not So Distant Future'
by The Associated Press
Date Posted: 12/13/2006 6:55:12 PM
Last Updated: 12/13/2006 7:00:57 PM

By PATRICK WALTERS
Associated Press Writer
Barbaro's surgeon said the Kentucky Derby winner could be released from the hospital "in the not so distant future."

Dean Richardson, chief surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, declined to offer a timetable for the horse's release.

"His departure from here depends on many things. In my mind's eye, he can leave in the not so distant future," Richardson said Dec. 13.

Richardson, who has been cautious in his updates since Barbaro was admitted for what doctors described as "life-threatening injuries," continued to sound optimistic Wednesday, saying the horse is still making good progress.

** rest of the story at the link **

[two gun sid]

42. T.H. Approval Retired with Sesamoid Injury

From The Bloodhorse:
Multiple grade II winner T.H. Approval, injured during the Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IT) Saturday, has been retired because of a sesamoid break, trainer Eduardo Inda reported from Santa Anita Thursday.

"The x-rays were no good," said Inda. "He has a fractured sesamoid on his right front. His racing career is finished."

Stud plans for the 5-year-olds son of With Approval have not yet begun. Inda said the injury was not life threatening and would not require surgery.

T.H. Approval finished seventh in a field of eight as the 3-to-2 favorite in the Turf Cup.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36733

T.H.Approval was kind of a throwback to a different type of racing. The longer the distances the better he was. Reminded me of a Princequillo or one of the oldtime stayers.

[aaronbees]

43. That's a real shame

I was puzzled by his race this past weekend at Hollywood. He never got into it at any stage after running so consistent this year. Losing stayers like him is not good for the game, but perhaps he'll pass that ability forward.

[two gun sid]

44. Hall of Fame Trainer Scotty Schulhofer Dead at 80

From The Bloodhorse:
Retired Hall of Fame trainer Flint "Scotty" Schulhofer died Dec. 14 at Aventura Hospital in South Florida. He was 80.

According to his son and retired second-generation trainer, Randy Schulhofer, his father had been in the South Florida hospital since Dec. 5.

"He went peacefully," Schulhofer said. "He had a lot of friends and followers. He was just a great man, and he will be missed."

Scotty Schulhofer, who was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1992, saddled five Eclipse Award winners: Mac Diarmida, 1978 turf male; Smile, 1986 sprinter; Fly So Free, 1990 2-year-old male; Rubiano, 1992 sprinter; and Lemon Drop Kid, 2000 older male.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36741

[two gun sid]

45. Stormello Streaks to Hollywood Futurity Win

From The Bloodhorse:
Stormello rebounded from a disappointing try in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) six weeks ago to capture the $441,500 Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) in a gutsy effort Saturday.

Making his debut on synthetic track under jockey Kent Desormeaux, Stormello made all the fractions but needed to rally in the stretch along the inside after being headed and passed by the 15-1 outsider Liquidity, who produced a grand fight with David Flores in the irons. Stormello regained the advantage at the sixteenth pole and finished a neck in front under a full drive, stopping the clock in a solid 1:42.

Co-owner and breeder along with Al Eisman, William Currin trains the leggy chestnut colt by Stormy Atlantic--Wilshewed (Carson City), the late-rallying winner of the Norfolk Breeders' Cup (gr. II) by a neck at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting a month prior to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. In the Juvenile, Stormello was sent off at nearly 10-1, fought for the lead through swift fractions, and tired to finish fifth - beaten nearly 16 lengths by Street Sense.

"I gave Kent a picture of the Norfolk," Currin said. "It showed the horse on the outside, and I said, 'no instructions, here's the picture.' Instead he's on the lead and he maintains the lead. And when he's challenged, he has to re-break. Signs of a very, very good horse. I'm so thrilled.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36753



He is now my Derby horse. That was a really impressive race by Stormello.

Link to race replay: http://www.ntra.com/races.aspx?id=22127§ion=races

[aaronbees]

46. Stormello is a good Derby horse for now

Dead game the way he fought back in the stretch after some good fractions he set. Gotta love the fashion sense of the blinkers, too. ;) I'm still w/ Nobiz as my Derby choice.

Just think, in about a month the whole TC trail starts again.

[two gun sid]

47. Happy Holidays to all you horse people!

I wish you all the very best and look forward to another year shootin' the breeze about horses. Each and everyone of you are special to me and I want you to know that.

I spent the morning today giving pneumabort injections, giving wormers, mucking out run-ins and schooling weanlings. I am a muddy mess. We have not had any snow and it has stayed above freezing and it has been raining for 3 days. Michigan is not supposed to be like this.

Lots of things going on in MI with racing in this coming year. None of it looks good for the horse business. Cuts in purses, cuts in breeder's awards. It feels like a dying business in this state. Everybody is talking about PA and NY and moving their breeding and racing there. That is not an option for us. And to be honest, I'm not really scared of what the new year will bring. We're getting by so far and I'll keep plugging away at it. I'll breed a Champion yet. Hell, it looks like a lot of my competition is throwing in the towel. They're a bunch of wussys. There is a reason they don't play this game in short pants.

Peace on Earth.
Nollaig Shona, a chairde.

sid

[aaronbees]

49. Happy, peaceful holidays

to you, Sid, and other horse fans down here in the sports forum. It's been a difficult year in the game and hopefully 2007 will bring more lucky tidings and good news for the sport. I was actually working on an article this week about Barbaro's journey and had the good fortune Thursday to visit a local horse who, several years ago as he approached the ripe age of 30, broke his fibula and was nearly put down; but his owner, dedicated to this red roan's great character and the hard times they'd shared together, pushed on to seek treatment and now it's years later, and he's alive and though not thriving, able to be a part of the family that's loved him for many years. It was inspiring to meet them, and that's the thought I hold in my heart heading into the new year.


RIP Pine Island, Lost in the Fog, Horatio Nelson, Second of June ... and too many others we lost this year. They will never be forgotten.

[jakefrep]

56. Same to you, if somewhat belatedly....

...Our Lindy Lane soon-to-be 3yo is in Florida with his trainer, and we have two promising 2yo fillies in training, a Chip Chip Hooray and a Pegasus Spur. Our situation here in Ohio is not a whole lot better, thanks to the failure of Issue 3.

[two gun sid]

57. I was a little suprised by the defeat of Issue 3 in OH...

I thought you guys were gonna get it.

Good luck with your horses this coming year. It sure is gettin' tough to make ends meet in this business. We sold off some racing stock and we will only campaign one or two 3 YO fillies this year. I'm not even sure we will be able to afford that.

[two gun sid]

48. Brother Derek faces hurdles in Malibu

From DRF:
ome people still believe in Santa Claus and Brother Derek. Good luck cashing a bet on either one.

The winter racing season begins Tuesday at Santa Anita, where neither holiday cheer nor Brother Derek's $1.5 million bankroll are relevant in a seven-furlong sprint that is the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, the traditional opening-day feature the day after Christmas.

But change is afoot. Synthetic racing surfaces are replacing dirt, Bobby Frankel soon will pass Charlie Whittingham as the all-time leading trainer in Santa Anita history, and divisional hierarchies will undergo constant revision this winter.

The first shift is expected in the Malibu, which kicks off the three-race Strub Series for 4-year-olds of 2007. A two-turn front-runner, Brother Derek faces quicker one-turn specialists, including likely winner Arson Squad, Latent Heat, Da Stoops, and Midnight Lute.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81432.html

[two gun sid]

51. BroD beaten badly....

I don't understand why he was entered in this race.

For the record, Bobby Frankel's Latent Heat won.

[aaronbees]

54. It was a crazy race

Have you seen it? He was fighting Gomez and had no room to run all around the turn and into the top of the stretch. I think they should've run him in the Sir Beaufort. BroD's a hard luck horse, but I think stretching out in the Strub series should help. I also think being on the lead is the way to go with him.

[two gun sid]

55. 'Hard luck horse' is a good description....

I still think he's a real nice horse but, I think they need to give him some easier chances to win. The Malibu was not an easy race for BroD. He needs a little more distance.

[two gun sid]

50. Record-setting mare Magical Romance produces premature filly

From Thoroughbred Times:
Magical Romance, who was purchased for a world-record $9,358,608 (4.6-million guineas) at the Tattersalls December mixed sale on November 28, produced a bay filly foal by Pivotal early Wednesday morning.

The price paid by Lady Serena Rothschild for Magical Romance, winner of the 2004 Sky Bet Cheveley Park Stakes (Eng-G1), set a world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect at purchased public auction. The previous record price was $9-million, paid by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum for champion Ashado in the 2005 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

The foal arrived 24 days prematurely at Banstead Manor Stud. By the registration rules of British and other Northern Hemisphere racing jurisdictions, Thoroughbreds all advance in age by one year on January 1. Magical Romance's foal will officially become a yearling less than two weeks after birth.

When she begins her racing career, if she does so in the Northern Hemisphere, she will compete against horses that are six to 11 months older.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2006/December/21/Record-setting-mare-Magical-Romance-produces-premature-filly.aspx

Glad the filly is alright but, damn, that has got to be disappointing. This business sure has some ups and downs but it is never boring.

[Justpat]

52. You have to be game as hell to be in this business.

That's tough. This filly will probably not race until she is four,
if ever.

[two gun sid]

53. Bud Delp dies at 74

From DRF:
Hall of Fame trainer Grover G. "Bud" Delp died Friday night from cancer at his Ellicott City, Md., home. He was 74.

Best known as the trainer of Spectacular Bid, Delp was inducted into racing's Hall of Fame in 2002. He saddled 3,674 winners and his horses earned nearly $41M in purses.

Spectacular Bid won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 1979, and in 1980 won all nine of his races en route to Horse of the Year honors.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81547.html

Bud Delp had his detractors and sometimes I was one of them but, the way he handled The Bid's 4YO season was worthy of praise and it probably got Bud into the HOF. I will miss his style and the way he approached the game. When ever he had good horses he didn't keep them in the barn he ran them hard and often. No one can say he ever ducked any tough races. He lost his whole stable once in a barn fire but, he was back the next meet and won the trainers title. He pushed himself and his horses and oh god, could he talk.

When he was inducted into the Hall his brother had a big sign that read:"Greatest Trainer to ever look through a pair of glasses". I thoght that was pretty funny. Grover Delp was a real character and I am gonna miss him. Flaws and all.

[two gun sid]

60. A better link for Delp

From The Bloodhorse:
In August of 2002, Delp was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in the presence of many of his family and friends. He and his wife went to visit the Bid that summer along with their children, Pajeen and Cleve. They weren't born when ‘Bid was running and never had a chance to see him. His two oldest sons were also very much a part of his life. Gerald is the jockey agent for Rod Madigral while Doug helped at the barn in the morning before going to his paving business. Delp enjoyed the fact that he saw all four of his children often.

"We're a close family," Delp said four years ago. "It's been a great life. Few men will ever know what it's like to have a horse like Spectacular Bid. I can't describe it. It's something you have to experience."

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=36888

[aaronbees]

61. The game's gonna miss him .... eom

[two gun sid]

58. Jazil to return in Aqueduct allowance

From DRF:
Belmont Stakes winner Jazil will make his long-awaited return to the races in a second-level allowance race over Aqueduct's inner track on Friday. Seven horses were entered against Jazil in the 1 1/16-mile race, which carries a purse of $48,000.

Jazil has not run since winning the Belmont on June 10. He was sidelined for two months with bruising to a hind cannon bone and did not return to training until early September. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is hoping to use Friday's race as a prep for the Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 3.

McLaughlin is also keeping Jazil in mind for the Donn Handicap on Feb. 3, but he is hoping to have Breeders' Cup Classic winner Invasor ready for that race. Both Jazil and Invasor are owned by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stable and are unlikely to run in the same race until later in the year.

This will not be Jazil's first appearance on the inner track. On Dec. 7, 2005, Jazil won an off-the-turf maiden race by a head over Tasteyville on the inner.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81583.html

It ain't fair that one guy gets to own two good horses like that. LOL.

[aaronbees]

62. Been wondering what that little guy's up to....

Some of his fans over at FinalTurn call him "squishy." :P I really hope he comes back strong.

[two gun sid]

59. Results for first graded race for 3 YO 2007: Soldier's Dancer

From Thoroughbred Times:
The first graded race for three-year-olds of 2007 went into the books on Monday when Herman Heinlein’s Soldier’s Dancer registered a late-closing victory on the turf over an evenly matched field in the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby (G3) at Calder Race Course.

The Lost Soldier gelding rated near the back of the nine-horse field under Cornelio Velasquez as Sedgefield and Storm in May set a moderate early pace. Storm in May held a head advantage through six furlongs and was pressured by Sedgefield into the stretch, where the pair dueled for command.

Soldier’s Dancer advanced to fourth with a six-wide move entering the lane but closed swiftly to overtake the front-runners in midstretch, drawing clear to win by three-quarters of length over Sedgefield. Storm in May, who was brushed as he battled Sedgefield in the stretch, hung on for third, finishing another 1¾ lengths back.

Sent off as the 3-to-2 favorite, Soldier’s Dancer completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.95 over a firm turf course.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2007/January/01/Soldiers-Dancer-surges-late-for-Tropical-Park-Derby-win.aspx

From DRF:
Nobiz Like Shobiz gets back to work
While New Year's morning was an easy one for the majority of the horses stabled in and around south Florida this winter, such was not the case for Nobiz Like Shobiz, who celebrated his third birthday Monday at Gulfstream by working - four furlongs in 49.50 seconds under regular rider Cornelio Velasquez.

Nobiz Like Shobiz, who ended his 2-year-old campaign at or near the top of everybody's list of 2007 Kentucky Derby contenders, ran fractions of 12.82 seconds, 24.34, and 37.06, and galloped out an easy five furlongs in 1:03.47. The work was the first for the son of Albert the Great since his impressive 6 1/2-length triumph in Aqueduct's Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 25.

"I wanted him to go in 48 and change, but it didn't really matter," trainer Barclay Tagg said after Nobiz Like Shobiz had finished cooling out back at the barn. "I just wanted to let him stretch out, and he went good. I like to have Cornelio work him when I can because he's light, he knows the horse well, and he's the one who has to be satisfied with the way he's going."

Tagg's first objective with Nobiz Like Shobiz this winter is the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes here on Feb. 3.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81594.html

[aaronbees]

63. Nobiz .....

Good grief, I can't believe the first preps are already looming. Triple Crowns are starting to make me feel old.

[aaronbees]

64. Eclipse finalists announced

http://www.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=22424

* Two-year-old male: Circular Quay, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Street Sense
* Two-year-old filly: Dreaming of Anna, Octave, Point Ashley
* Three-year-old male: Barbaro, Bernardini, Discreet Cat
* Three-year-old filly: Bushfire, Pine Island, Wait a While
* Older male: Invasor, Lava Man, Premium Tap
* Older female: Asi Siempre, Fleet Indian, Round Pond
* Sprinter: Discreet Cat, Henny Hughes, Thor's Echo
* Male turf horse: English Channel, Miesque's Approval, The Tin Man
* Female turf horse: Gorella, Ouija Board, Wait a While
* Steeplechase: McDynamo, Mixed Up, Sur La Tete
* Owner: Darley Stable, Lael Stables, Shadwell Stable
* Breeder: Adena Springs, Darley, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson
* Trainer: Kiaran McLaughlin, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher
* Jockey: Russell Baze, Garrett Gomez, Edgar Prado
* Apprentice jockey: Martin Garcia, Julien Leparoux, Rosie Napravnik

My picks:
Street Sense - That Juvie was tremendous, rail bias or not. (But Nobiz is my Derby horse.)
Dreaming of Anna - Dominating and promising.
Bernardini - Hard choice, but his Classic was good enough.
Pine Island - Came into her own and consistently showed it on dirt (most competitive surface).
Invasor - No question here, though his total campaign continues paltry seasons at the top.
Fleet Indian - Top of her class and classy, if not brilliant.
Thor's Echo - Hats off on going for it with another Gr. 1 after the Sprint win!
The Tin Man - Most consistent of a perplexing bunch.
Wait a While - Best lady on turf who ran here more than once. (Enjoy your date with Kingmambo, Ouija Board.)
Mcdynamo - Quick perusal of PPs tells me he deserves it. :)
Darley Stable - Either them or Lael.
The Jacksons - Nod to them for breeding "Gorgeous George."
Kiaran McLaughlin - Won when it mattered: Belmont, Classic. Sorry, Pletcher's not even close.
Edgar Prado - See above: Derby, Distaff.
Julien Leparoux - Super year for him, great patience as a rider.

HOY: Invasor ... Though I'll admit I'd almost be tempted to toss him and put Lava Man here anyway for a consistent campaign. I'm sorry, but four stateside races just blows. In fact, if I had an Eclipse vote that's what I'd do.

Last year Team Afleet Alex won a special Eclipse, so you know something has to be in store for Team Barbaro.

[two gun sid]

65. I see the Maktoum's bought Thor's Echo today...

...let's see... they own Thor's Echo, Henny Hughes, Invasor, Jazil, Bernardini and Discreet Cat.

This just doesn't seem good for the sport.

<on edit> Stronach retired Spun Sugar.

[aaronbees]

66. You can bet he's going to the Golden Shaheen in Dubai

Honestly, I'm more upset about Bernardini retiring early than this, though I really hate to see such consolidation. Somehow I'm surprised they'd buy a gelding. They must see some real promise for his next year. Bummer for O'Neill, as Thor's Echo took that whole crew for a nice little ride.

Shame about Spun Sugar ... any idea whom she'll be meeting in the love shack?

Looks like Strong Contender and Sweetnorthernsaint are in the Hal's Hope this weekend (http://www.drf.com/news/article/81662.html). I'm liking Strong Contender there.

Any thoughts on the Eclipse nominees?

[two gun sid]

69. Lava Man: HOY!

[Justpat]

67. They're buying their way to the top because they can.

It was the son of one of the Sheiks who bought Thor's Echo.

Maybe we should start a new thread?
This on is getting kind of long.

[two gun sid]

70. I have to work overtime this weekend and won't be around...

please, you or aaronbees, start a new thread.

I have a righteous rant brewing about the Maktoums and the Coolmore Gang and the state of the business. I just need some time to sit down and get it all out.

Peace out and I'll see youse guys in a few days.

[Justpat]

68. They're buying their way to the top because they can.

It was the son of one of the Sheiks who bought Thor's Echo.

Maybe we should start a new thread?
This on is getting kind of long.

[two gun sid]

71. Out of Gwedda returns tomorrow at GP 1-7-07...

blazingly fast horse that ran a big Beyers as a 2YO. Almost a 100 I think.

Couple of real fast 3YO in this race, 9th at Gulfstream. Straight Faced, Green Vegas could give OOG a hard time of it. None of them look like they are gonna get classic distances but this ought to be a barnburner.