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SPIRIT WARRIOR GETS THIRD CAREER WIN IN LOUISIANA
Trainer Jason Cook's daughter, Peyton Lois Cook, was born on March 1st, 2010. On March 5th he got his first official win as a "dad." As Jason's wife, Tracey, said, "Miss Peyton was our good luck charm tonight." Thanks Jason, for not giving up on our little brown horse. A special thank you to Artero for his tireless efforts with all our horses. Thanks to Chris Bindner for helping us out while Jason is back in Kentucky with Tracey and the new baby. And, thanks to Steve Asmussen for saddling our little winner tonight!!
We never stopped believing in you, Spirit Warrior.
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Thursday, March 04, 2010
SURE SIGNS OF SPRING
OZONE PARK, New York--One of the surest signs of Spring doesn't involve groundhogs or birds, but rather horses.
New York racing fans can shake off the frosty cobwebs of winter by buying this Saturday's Daily Racing Form (for those of us who still read the printed product and are able to locate a newsstand that sells it) and turning to Aqueduct's 10th race, the Grade III, $250,000 Gotham Stakes. Ten horses are entered to contest the 1-1/16th miles and bolster their reputations on their way to competing in the area's ultimate Triple Crown prep race, the Wood Memorial.
It can be reassuring in these troubled times to engage in the simple act of attending an afternoon of racing. Despite the harsh economic climate, the racetrack still offers an astounding value ($2 general admission--compare that with stratospheric ticket prices to next weekend's Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden) for those who want a chance to escape for a few hours and participate in a rite that has endured for hundreds of years. Granted, a visit to the track can become expensive if luck isn't on one's side that particular day. It can also be quite lucrative if Fortune smiles. Betting is a filter that the fan layers on top of the track experience. The horses run just as hard either way, though, because that is their nature. They have no agents, no endorsement deals and no agenda. They simply run.
One ritual that I perform when I visit any racetrack around the world is to be sure and watch the first race upon arrival from the vantage point of the finish line in the shadow of the wire. While I enjoy the Grandstand, Clubhouse or box seats for the duration of the afternoon, starting the fun by blasting your senses with the sounds, sights, smell and excitement of a heartpounding stretch run reaffirms one's love of the sport.
Todd Pletcher has a horse entered in the Gotham. He seemingly has a horse or two...or three...entered in every Triple Crown prep race this Spring. Pletcher's Three Day Rush drew the rail with Fernando Jara riding. The man who launched Pletcher's career, D. Wayne Lukas, will saddle Wow Wow Wow from the outside post and give Cori Nakatani a leg up. The field also includes local hero Dick Dutrow's New York-bred Yawanna Twist (Edgar Prado) and Graham Motion's Turf Melody (leading rider Ramon Domingez). Julien LeParoux invades to ride Awesome Act.
The intriguing angle that surrounds Triple Crown prep races is the element of the unknown. Three-year-olds are being asked for steady improvement while running longer distances over the course of three months. Some rise to the challenge and most fail to compete at the highest levels. Think back to this time last year. Only a small group of people had ever given anything other than a passing notice to Mine That Bird. The backstory surrounding the horse is the stuff of Derby legends. In retrospect, Mine That Bird had legitimate credentials to compete in the Kentucky Derby and, in fact, was purchased in part to run in it. However, had anyone other than Calvin Borel been atop him during that race it's doubtful that the gelding would have been draped with the garland of roses that evening.
So indulge yourself this Saturday and go all "Old School." Buy the Form tomorrow, spend time time Friday evening smudging your hands and face with newsprint and be sure to take your time handicapping the Gotham. Scribble down seemingly inspired past performance insights all over the paper, languish over the comments in the running lines at the end of each horses' race and then change your mind six times. Handicapping from a sterile computer screen or from 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of printed out paper diminishes part of the tradition and romance of our collective racing experience. Who among us has not ruined an article of clothing as an ink-stained wretch with a strong opinion about a horserace? Do it because Spring is upon us.
To paraphrase Woody Stephens (who, no doubt, lifted the line from somebody else): "Nothing makes you feel young each Spring like a live three-year-old in your shedrow."
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Sunday, February 21, 2010
ESKENDEREYA IS A LOCK FOR THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY!!
Giacomo, Medaglia D' Oro, Fusaichi Pegasus were all Kentucky Derby contenders or winners whose names were absolutely slaughtered by media and the public alike in the weeks leading up to the excitement of the Kentucky Derby. This year, as Eskendereya crossed the finish line first in an impressive win of the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, my husband turned to me and said "oh no...here we go again." We spent the next few moments pronouncing "S ken da RAY uh" aloud until we were satisfied we could safely speak of the horse on or off the air as the occasion arises. And it will. We are gearing up for the podcast of The Track Kitchen radio show Triple Crown coverage; and, Gary no doubt will be on the air for WHAS -11 in the days and hours leading up to the big race.
Todd Pletcher has never won a Kentucky Derby. But, he is certainly mounting an impressive attack as these prep races begin...winning three of four majors in one day. As we all kick off our "fantasy stables" we realize, even if he's never won the Derby, he brings enough ammo to the game to give us lots of excitement (and points)!! And...he has other contenders with names that aren't just exactly Bob or John...lol. Take "Connemara" for a verbal spin. The El Camino Real Derby winner's name is sure to be misprounounced a few times in the coming days.
Personally, if I'm going to the Kentucky Derby with a horse, I like Jafaar. Just kidding. It's an inside joke among the Media Thoroughbred Group partners. Each time we get a new horse in the stable, one of our partners begins calling him Jafaar. That partner has a pretty keen eye for horses; and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Jafaar in the Kentucky Derby one day. It's all about the dream folks...all about the dream.
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Friday, February 05, 2010
EIGHTYFIVEINAFIFTY WILL RUN AWAY WITH THE WHIRLAWAY!!
If you can't get this one right, you probably aren't playing anything but names or numbers. Eightyfiveinafifty should run away with the Whirlaway on 2-6-10. Distance is the only question and it's a question for others in the very short field. Why is it a short field? Would YOU want to run against him?
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Thursday, February 04, 2010
DRAWING TO QUEENS
NEW YORK--When a decision has taken eight years to make, one might expect a blare of trumpets to accompany the long-awaited announcement. The musical notes were decidedly off-key last week when Gov. David Paterson alerted the horseracing world that Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) has been awarded the 30-year contract to operate 4,500 video lottery terminals at the first racino within the five boroughs.
The largest legally authorized betting operation in the city was handed to an entity with no gaming experience.
Paterson came to office in the sordid wake of the Elliot Spitzer sex scandal. His popularity is so anemic that fellow Democrat President Obama discouraged him from running for election at the end of his term. However, Paterson has decided to go "all-in" with the political chip that has dropped into his lap by granting the license to operate the racino to a politcally connnected group based in Jamaica, Queens. Negotiations were conducted in closed-door sessions that afforded very little input from horseracing people who will have to succeed or fail for many years based on this decision. It is interesting to note that Paterson's predecessor, George Pataki, could have decided to whom he would grant the right to operate the racino at any time during his eight-year term but chose not to do so.
It appears on the surface that the current governor has shored up his potential support during the next election in exchange for the right to decide the distribution of enormous amounts of potential revenue and a large number of jobs. The head of AEG is Rev. Floyd Flake. The fact that Flake's group has no experience operating anything remotedly resembling a massive and complicated gambling operation didn't dissuade Paterson from authorizing AEG to go forward with their plan. Paterson didn't have direct approval over which group would be granted the contract. He did have a tremendous amount of influence, though.
Veteran casino operator Steve Wynn had expressed keen interest in operating the Aqueduct racino, as had a group that included Penn National. Wynn dropped out of the selection process several months ago out of frustration over the lack of clarity in the scope of the racino and the seemingly capricious requirements expected of the successful bidder. Optimistic estimates have suggested that the facility might draw as many as 20,000 people daily who would generate revenues in excess of $1 million every time the gates opened.
It is important to note that much of the data upon which these estimates are based was collected and parsed in a more robust economic climate. Still, Paterson has made a decision affecting thousands of people who work in the racing industry and determining who will benefit from billions of dollars over the next three decades.
Horseracing in New York is struggling just like the rest of the industry. The New York Racing Association has hinted that it may not be able to fund the last leg of the Triple Crown this year, the Belmont Stakes. OTB is considering several radical solutions to its operating difficulties due to increased overhead costs and declining revenues, including opting for bankruptcy. ATM-like betting kiosks around the city, anyone?
This may not be the last chapter in the winding tale of the Aqueduct racino. Republican representatives and long-time political observers are doubtful that AEG will successfully meet the stated criteria in order to actually begin operations of the facility. For example, AEG must pay the state $300 million upfront before the first dime can be wagered at the Aqueduct racino.
It appears that, once again, an interested observer might draw a comparison between the capitals of New York state and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Frankfort and Albany are two small cities that sometimes make very curious political decisions that reverberate profoundly in the larger cities that fund their aspirations.
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Wednesday, January 06, 2010
TEARS OF JUPITER WINS NEW YEAR'S DAY FEATURE AT FAIRGROUNDS!
In a five and a half furlong sprint in the turf you'd better not have too many obstacles in the way. There's typically not much room for error. Tears of Jupiter had run three times over this surface with a win and two seconds. On New Year's Day she returned to the surface she seems to relish. She got a horrible break, had to check in the backstretch, got trapped behind horses in the final stretch and STILL won by a length. She showed lots of grit and determination. Thanks so much to new trainer Eric Heitzmann and his team. We LOVE you Tears of Jupiter!!
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Friday, January 01, 2010
Tears of Jupiter returns to Fairgrounds
If Tears of Jupiter runs back to her form at Fairgrounds on the turf she's definitely a play for your exotics. She has been no worse than second in three starts with one victory. Go BABY Go
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Friday, January 01, 2010
MAGICAL WINGS WIRES THE FIELD TO BREAK MAIDEN!!
Do you believe in "Magic"...as in Magical Wings? It has become a phenomenon in the MTG family. When we correspond about this particular horse, we almost always include the phrase "believe in Magic." Our "magic" is a big, beautiful chestnut gelding. He is regally bred and has a delightful personality. His dam, Cahooters, is also the dam of Buddha, the stallion. His sire is the Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus. He was purchased by our friend and horse racing partnership guru Cot Campbell at the Keeneland yearling sale in 2007 for over $200K. Cot saw that beautiful, majestic, well-bred specimen and had very high hopes for him. Although it didn't work out quite like he'd hoped due to some injuries early in training, Magical Wings has become a joy to several MTG partners. We purchased him privately in late summer 2009 and gave him some time off. He has responded nicely for his new connections. Magical Wings has raced seven times in his career and has four 3rd place finishes and a WIN!!
Despite the fact that he is not able to compete at the higher levels of the game, he has been a source of joy and fun for partners. My husband, Gary Roedemeier, introduced him to peppermints. He will actually put his head on Gary's shoulder and ask politely for more peppermints!
The beautiful daughter of our McConnell connections - professional singer Sibvon Rose - wrote a song for him. Can you guess what the title is? Yep...Believe!
Carol and Larry Waller were with us when Magical Wings arrived in our stable. We had a welcoming party at LaCroix. Spearheaded by our Del Lowell (manager of the farm) the crew had a small party at the barn when our beautiful horse stepped off the van!
John and Diane Chugg have traveled from their home outside Chicago to Kentucky twice to see Magical Wings train or run. The Chuggs received Magical Wings hats from a dear friend this year as a Christmas gift!
Matt McCoy was in the winner's circle on December 28th, 2009 when Magical Wings won. He has been a faithful follower and "believer" since day one. Matt has enjoyed sharing the "magic" with his co-workers, friends, and family.
Rock on, Magical Wings! You have a following. WE BELIEVE IN MAGIC!!!
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Monday, December 21, 2009
MADAM FOO FOO SCORES WIN #3
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
A WARM WEEK OF RACING IN CHILE
SANTIAGO, Chile--One of the problems with taking a two-week vacation around late October is the possibility that you could be traveling during the Breeder's Cup. Such was our fate this year. The upside to such a trip is the chance to visit new racetracks. We flew to Santiago, Chile, on the Thursday night before the Breeder's Cup (thankfully, the Yankees had won the World Series in Game 6, precluding a Game 7 that would have been played while we were in the air). Our ultimate destination was Vina del Mar on the Pacific coast with a long Spring weekend back in the capitol. We arrived in Chile on Friday morning and drove west immediately so that we got to Vina in plenty of time to see Friday's racing from Santa Anita. However, the only place where we could have watched all the races was at the local off-track betting parlor called Teletrak. Even the most die-hard horseracing fan would be hard pressed to spend a sun-splashed afternoon in a resort beach town indoors watching the BC events after a nine-hour flight from Miami. Especially since the questionable charm of any sterile, off-site betting location translates even as far down toward Antarctica as Chile. We took in the local sites instead. Certainly, Saturday's races would be broadcast on the ESPN Chile channel. They were not. We spent the early part of the afternoon channel surfing in hopes that at least one of the six cable sports channels would show the BC races. Instead, we had our choice of soccer, polo, soccer, tennis and soccer. At least we had a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean from the balcony. Finally, the welcome sight of the post parade for the BC Classic appeared on our television screen. In a cruel twist, the network audio feed was supplanted by Spanish-speaking analysis. The only distinguishable English word that we heard repeatedly was, "can-TOE-key" as each horse was introduced and the announcers cited where they had been foaled. At first blush, one might characterize seeing only one Breeder's Cup race as disappointing. Those who saw the Classic would disagree with that assessment. Zenyata's performance was one for the ages. Her devastating kick down the stretch was awe-inspiring in any language. Horse fans should feel a pang of disappointment for the connections of Quality Road, considering the promise of his season prior to the Kentucky Derby. After missing the Derby, he ran into more trouble at Santa Anita. Rarely has a top-flight horse balked so violently against being loaded into the gate. The assistant starter did a fantastic job of controlling the horse so that he didn't break through the starting gate prior to the stewards' decision to scratch him. Reports out of New York are that Quality Road refused to be loaded into the airplane and had to be vanned back to the East Coast. Astoundingly, the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct is under consideration. Any lingering sadness about our inability to watch the BC was erased over the next week as we had the privilege of visting two racetracks--Valparaiso Sporting Club S.A. in Vina del Mar and then Club Hipico de Santiago. The track in Vina could be equated to a track like Charles Town (only with a marble clubhouse and no slot machines) while Club Hipico is a beautiful, majestic facility with the Andes mountains serving as a backdrop. Surprisingly, neither track charged admission. In fact, the smaller Valparaiso didn't even have a toteboard or any concession stands. Racing fans bought impromptu picnic supplies at a nearby grocery store and then enjoyed their mid-afternoon meals on the grass near the track apron or in the grandstands. Our cab driver on the ride to the track mentioned that Jose Santos is from Vina and began his racing career there. The total value of the 15 races on the Valpo card amounted to the equivalent of $47,000. The races were run counter-clockwise at distances ranging from 1,000 meters to 1,800 meters. There was a healthy array of exotic wagers offered, but the difficulty of deciphering the past performances in Spanish precluded us from placing anything except unsuccessful win bets. At Club Hipico, they ran an astonishing 18 races clockwise over a maze of four courses (two dirt and two grass). The featured 14th race was contested at 1,200 meters for a purse of roughly $8,900 worth of Chilean pesos. American racing fans might be surprised to learn that the sheer number of races forces horsemen to bring their horses to the paddock to be saddled for the following race while the horses competing in the current event warm up on the track. The 7th race was a testament to the fact that there exist certain universal truths in racing. It was a Maiden Special Weight (or "no ganadoras") with 15 3-year-olds entered to be run at 1,200 meters. A well-bred first-time starter named Indy Kada was the odds-on favorite at post time. It takes an exceptional horse to win first time out. When compounded by the challenge of running against 14 other horses, many bettors would be reluctant to take short odds on a horse making its debut. Even Secretariat ran off the board the first time out (it was his only off-the-board finish) because Lucien Lauren wanted to try to cash a bet at Saratoga so he gave a bug boy a leg up. Lauen gave fellow Canadian Ron Turcotte the mount in the next race and Big Red galloped into history. Indy Kada finished off the board in his debut. Whether running at Churchill or Club Hipico, an odds-on favorite running out of the money in a large field lights up the toteboard. That toteboard at Hipico certainly looked terrific framed by Los Andes in the background.
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