Barbaro Updates: 232
updates are now here.
Update 1609: Jeannine Edwards just e-mailed this update, ahead of the San Felipe, which will be broadcast live on ESPN tomorrow:
It was a delightful morning at Santa Anita... what could be better than 65-70 degrees, sun, mountains, a hot cup of coffee, and gorgeous horses to watch train? Only thing better would be actually riding some of those horses... but that was a different career.
Bob Baffert was telling me it's pretty much one and done tomorrow for Air Commander... he wants to see the horse win to move on to the next level (Santa Anita Derby). Air Commander's kind of a goofy sort, doesn't pay attention, tends to lean in on horses, so learning to perform professionally is paramount. Bob said this colt reminds him of his sire, Point Given, more than any of the other Point Given's he's had. He's a nice looking colt, but I personally don't think he's the greatest mover.
Dee Rain will be our Budweiser Longshot. He's a late-developing colt who is just now learning to focus thanks to a new piece of equipment... he'll be wearing ear muffs tomorrow. These help block out the noises that can get a horse riled up. His trainer, Rafael Becerra, said he's been training the colt in them and it's made a big difference in how settled and focused he is. Rafael says we haven't seen his best race yet.
Grapelli adds new equipment tomorrow also... blinkers. Richard Migliore told me he worked the horse with the blinkers, against Todd Pletcher's other good 3-year-old, Ravel, and he held his own. He said Grapelli rated nicely and then finished strongly during the work. Richie said it's a bit hard to gauge Grapelli's talent right now, because like alot of Thunder Gulch's (his sire), he's a bit lazy. Pletcher is hoping the blinkers will keep Grapelli within striking distance of the pacesetters tomorrow.
Merv Griffin and Doug O'Neill are extremely excited about Cobalt Blue... I was talking to Doug as he called Merv on the phone to remind him of our live interview during the show tomorrow. I said "Tell Merv to come to the paddock early, remind him the interview is LIVE," and Doug relayed to me that Merv said "I'll be there 3 races early if I have to!!" Doug said Merv spends alot of time at his farm with his horses, he really loves the animals, and he's excited about them all the time, which then carries over to everyone working for him. Doug said Cobalt Blue is a standout both physically and by pedigree, and he couldn't be training any better. He said he's giving him lots of long, strong gallops (1 3/4 miles) to build the foundation for racing around 2-turns. But he seems to be brimming with confidence about this colt, so keep an eye on him tomorrow. The winner of the San Felipe will most likely move on to the Santa Anita Derby on April 7.
Sorry you guys are enduring nasty weather back East. Hope it doesn't affect my flight home late tomorrow night...
Update 1608: Steve Haskin previews the weekend Derby preps, three of which will be shown on ESPN's broadcast tomorrow evening (Jeannine Edwards update 1604): Steve Haskin's Weekend Analysis: Tampa Tussle Highlights Derby Preps.
The answer to the second quiz question: Combs Ditch (congrats Marg in Maine). He unfortunately suffered from breathing problems and needed oxygen administered shortly after the finish of the race. Now to the final question, a winning answer will generate $100 to the winner's choice of Horse Rescue. Graham Rennison, used to work for Michael Dickinson in the UK and at Fair Hill. He still works at Fair Hill, now mainly on construction-oriented projects. Renny was an integral part of the Dickinson team and had an important role to play in Bregawn's victory. What was Renny's role. (I think my money is safe).
Update 1607: Kauto Star wins the Gold Cup!
Nancy Lewis provides a detailed report on Dr. Richardson's lecture at New Bolton Center earlier this week: Dr. Richardson lecture.
Update 1606: The temperature did drop, and its just a wet, miserable day weather-wise. Reminds me of an english winter's day, but as Tim noted this morning, at least we can shedrow and we do use wheelbarrows over here. If we were back home we would be mucking out with muck sacks (then thrown over our backs to take to the muck heap) and jogging around the lanes.
I shedrowed seven. Pretty quick morning's work, but even with the long johns back on it was cold. I told Tim I had quizzed everyone about Michael Dickinson's Gold Cup feat, the answer of which was too easy for everyone, or at least for Liz and LaserRob (he trained the first five home one year). My follow up question is which horse was supposed to be the spoiler, and what flaw did he have that compromised him significantly in the Gold Cup ? (I did ask Tim this this morning and after a lot of thought he got it). If that question is answered I have one more, for which I will provide a $100 prize to go to the horse rescue of the winner's choice. So keep guessing. BTW, Liz reported Bregawn, the winner of Dickinson's famous five is still alive at the grand age of 33.
Update 1605: Its the final day of the four day meet at Cheltenham, and today includes the marquee event, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Kauto Star looks to be the quality of the race, assuming he jumps round without incident: KAUTO ALL SET TO STAR. Michael Dickinson, who used to train at Fair Hill and is the inventor of the Tapeta surface, pulled off one of his most famous training feats in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, what was it ?
Update 1604: Jeannine Edwards just sent this e-mail that previews ESPNs show on saturday:
For our first show of the season we have the pleasure of seeing last year's Champion 2-Year Old, Street Sense, back in action. He'll be making his '07 debut in the Tampa Bay Derby. On paper, it's a 2-horse race between Street Sense and Any Given Saturday. What Any Given Saturday has in his favor is a prep over the track (the Sam F. Davis) and one race already under his belt this year. He also has more of a stalking style than Street Sense. Post time for the Tampa Bay Derby is 5:45 ET, so this race will be shown on tape delay on our show, which airs from 7-8pm ET (because we are on the West Coast.)
We also have the Rebel Stakes live from Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, post time at 7:06pm ET. This should be an interesting race with Teuflesberg, Flying First Class, Curlin, Xchanger, Officer Rocket, etc. A much more competitive contest than the Tampa race. It'll be fun to see how the two big maiden winners, Flying First Class and Curlin, handle the step up to stakes company. If I had to choose one to make a good accounting of himself I'd pick Curlin. Teuflesberg will have to duplicate his tour de force of the Southwest, but I don't see him going the opening half in :47.4 this time around! It should be a horse race!
Our feature race from Santa Anita is the San Felipe, post time 7:44pm ET. We have a compact field, most likely 5 will start, with Merv Griffin's Cobalt Blue headlining. Cobalt Blue stretches out to 2 turns but has been working tremendously at Hollywood Park for this race. We all know how dangerous Doug O'Neill is these days. We're planning a live interview with Merv before the race, and we'll also talk to Bob Baffert, who trains Air Commander. This son of Baffert's champion Point Given is making his stakes debut off of two impressive wins around two turns here at Santa Anita. This is Baffert's last bullet for the Derby, if he bombs, Bob will have to reload for next year. Todd Pletcher on the other hand, has enough Derby contenders for 5 or 6 trainers. He sends out Grapelli, who will add blinkers for this race. Level Red is another interesting colt who is owned by William Warren, the owner of the late Horse of the Year, Saint Liam.
In the show we'll also have a feature on the Elite Eight Derby Contenders according to Randy Moss and Jerry Bailey, who will be doing the show with Jay Privman and myself. Kenny Mayne joins us on tape with a feature on a charity basketball game between jockeys and eighth-graders. I won't tell you who won the game. :) After our last race wraps up, we'll have a preview of next week's show (the Lane's End at Turfway) and a sneak peak at the Dr. Richardson feature, which will air on that show.... March 24, 5-6pm ET.
We'll try to send some updated notes tomorrow after going out to the barns in the morning and speaking to some trainers on the phone. But right now it's 70 degrees and beautiful out here in Arcadia.... and it's almost time for dinner.
Update 1603: A quick update from Florida. Street Sense looks awesome in preparation for his first start of the year. His coat is bright, he is well mussled and looks very happy. The turf course at Gulfstream is wicked hard, they went the first quarter in a 25k claimer in 20 and change today. Keeneland has taken stall applications for its pending meet, and they have a record number of applications (re: polytrack). My source was bumped into by Invasor last week on the outside rail.
Update 1602: It was a beautiful morning this morning (galloping in sleeveless shirts), turning a little chilly this afternoon (just returned from the barn and putting on Hawty Creek's blanket which was left off last night), and apparently snow tomorrow: Aqueduct cancels live, simulcast racing on Friday.
The Rebel Stakes is one of the Derby preps to run on saturday, televised by ESPN: Trainer Sanders confident in Teuflesberg entering Rebel Stakes. Of course we will be rooting for Fair Hill's Xchanger.
Update 1601: Planning for Barbaro's birthday celebrations at Delaware Park are in full swing, thanks to FOB Sharon Crumb. We are using this page: Barbaro Birthday Celebrations to keep everyone updated as to what is being planned. Currently a little over 200 FOBs have signed up. If you are planning to attend please alert Sharon as soon as possible (contact on the birthday page). We will have capacity of twice as many as the number signed up by March 20 (I hope that makes sense, currently capacity is 400).
While I was not able to attend the lecture yesterday evening at New Bolton I know that a few FOBs did attend (see Lyn Gilbert's comment, timestamp: 2:21 pm). I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of FOBs at Fair Hill late afternoon and we chatted while Hawty Creek grazed (for a while anyway, then something got her very stired up)! That was fun. I was then to meet Sabina Pierce for an early dinner (and btw, here are her Barbaro pictures, some new ones). We had planned to meet at the Whip, but it was packed (wednesday evening is a steeplechase review night) so we then drove over to a restaurant near New Bolton, Sovona's. I was not too thrilled about this as its a BYOB and we had not brought anything along. Wouldn't you know, when we sat down, next to us was another FOB, who gladly shared their wine. Thanks Carole!
Update 1600: A gorgeous morning this morning at Fair Hill, many of us were galloping in sleeveless shirts by the end of the morning, although we hear snow in the forecast for tomorrow! Fluctuations in weather this time of year can be very troublesome for horses who can easily get sick. Lets hope this swing in weather is very short lived.
I rode six this morning, which I think is my ideal number (not too rushed). Hawty Creek was first on the Tapeta track this morning, just before seven o'clock. Close behind me was a set of Paul Rowland's, Tim was next on the track with Red Aspen. It was a nice peaceful start to the morning. Hawty galloped around nicely, very relaxed early, then she took a strong hold towards the end. The two I rode for Tim were my usual two of late, Nautical Agent and Grandma. Both went well (and my foot appears fully recovered from yesterday). I then rode three more which all went as they should.
Before I forget, Tim has brought Real Lace and Something Wild back in training. They have been back in the barn for three or four days now.
Mrs. Jackson called this morning, it has been a little while since we last spoke 'live', rather than trading voice mails. Anyway, she was in good form and is very grateful for everything everyone is doing. It was good catching up. I also called Barclay Tagg to get a quick update on his horses.
NoBiz did a maintenance breeze yesterday, a half in 49 and change. This is typical for Barclay, ten days after a race. Barclay put blinkers on NoBiz for the breeze, I assume the plan is to run him in blinkers for his next start to see if this helps him run straight down the lane. As Barclay noted, its hard to tell if the blinkers will help him. He worked fine in them, and he worked fine without them every other time he worked. Anyway, his next start is still likely the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Showing Up and Funny Cide have now had one or two works under them as they start getting ready for their respective 2007 campaigns. Still very early days for both of them.
Update 1599: Alan King trained his second festival winner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase: VOY HAS KING JUMPING FOR JOY, the feature race yesterday. Richard Johnson, a top jump jockey, previews his chances in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle today: MY MAN HAS A MIGHTY CHANCE.
Another successful rescue for Fans of Barbaro: 2 beautiful horses at slaughter risk !!!
Good Morning all!!
Posted by: Mary L Ohio at March 15, 2007 10:49 AM