Running The Rail Down at Fair Grounds
___________________________________________________________________________
This week I shipped over to the hub of Louisiana horseracing as I visited the Fair Grounds to see how morning works are progressing, and to cover some potential sophomore Triple Crown hopefuls as they competed in the LA Derby on Saturday. While my choice on the day was Dynark Stables Bozo Speed, many handicappers seen the rise of a potential dark horse to compete in the TC. Showing all he had in the final sixteenth of a mile in Saturday race, Meat's Edward III was gaining ground and looked very much like he was going to catch the eventual winner as they came to the wire. If jockey C Nakatani would have relaxed with his mount Bozo Speed even the slightest amount, we could have seen a totally different outcome in the LA Derby.
As for morning works, the track remained consistently fast on the week and I was able to catch up with two of HRP's owner/ trainers . On Tuesday, being ever the gentlemen, Eric from Maverick Racing had placed 132 juveniles on the track that morning. I asked him if any were returning from the DMR trials that were held a week early.
" This were their FIRST and ONLY works on the track this week, " he told me. One in particular that caught my eye was a grey juvenile filly by the name Troy Trojan who had the third best work for the five eights distance on the day with a 1:01.42 handily finishing behind two four year old colts. I quickly researched her pedigree and found that her dam She Hears Thunder ( B. f. 4) was claimed from Threshold for a cool dollar price. So I asked Eric how he considered this combination when looking at breeding prospects.
" Take a look at her sire Excellent Gigi " he said, " hes proving to be a monster!" " She is a half sister to UNLV Runnin Rebel who is out of another nice dam by the name of Irish Castle. " I asked his feelings in regards to this filly and how she fits into his juvenile program. " She is my fastest and she is very special to me" he stated, then continued to add " my second through sixth fastest are still at the farm." " In total I bred/brought 160 and the other twenty eight are slightly behind this group."
It seems his breeding program is moving along nicely and he closed out by informing me, " I have invested alot in my stallions and mares in my program, but I have also found a few one and two dollar diamond in the rough mares that are producing nicely" We shock hands and I wished him well and thanked him for taking the time to share and express his love of the game and let us hear a little bit of whats happening behind the scene.
On Thursday I was lucky enough to catch up with a fixture here at HRP since his first horse Canadian Oil took to the suface at MNR on June 23rd 2003 where he would finish runner-up. Two days later at CD he would find his first ever victory with a grey filly by the name of Daley Planet who would win by some six lengths against Alw47.4 company. The distinguished gentlemens name is Rob from Canadian Racing. After exchanging pleasantries I got down to asking about the 284 thoroughbreds he shipped over from the backstretch that morning to work the six furlong distance on the grass.
" I work horses once a week on a four week rotation concentrating on the six furlong and a mile distances on both the dirt and grass." It was interesting to find out from this veteran trainer that his workout regiment followed the same lines as horse classifications. Thoroughbreds are consistently referred to A class or B class runners, and Rob seems to take the same approach with his horses so to speak. " I separate my horses into two groups- those that are working fast enough and those who dont. " He went on to say, " The FG group were those who are not." " My main group worked over at RP on the same day. " It was interesting to listen to the intensity in his voice as he spoke about his training program. " In General " he continued to add, " as my horses mature, some will improve and graduate themselves over to the main group. Once they make it to the main group then they will be entered into races."
I asked him about his juvenile works routine and Rob was quick to point out " My juveniles work at another farm over a half mile distance until they get to race " he said, " then they will switch to the same 6f/8f work cycle." Like many horseplayers I learned alot from this veteran and gained even more respect for his openess in sharing his beliefs in the game. Hopefully many of the new owner/trainers can reap some rewards from his comments and take a page out of this successful owners book. Its people like Rob from Canadian Racing and Eric from Maverick Racing, as well as many others here at HRP who are willing to help and make the game and the community a great place.
Heres a look at the week in review;
| Distances |
4 Fur. Dirt |
5 Fur. Dirt |
1 Mile Dirt |
4 Fur. Turf |
5 Fur. Turf |
I Mile Turf |
|
What A Friday g. 3 |
Manhattan Ladym. 5 |
B C Exchange h. 5 |
La Bella Vita m. 5 |
Matty Girl f.4 |
Tonado c.4 |
| Sunday |
Dynark Stable |
Australia Wide |
Drabfantasy |
Zz Equine Racing |
Ringleader |
Meat |
|
48.56 H |
59.05 H |
1:37.49 H |
47.88 H |
59.44 H |
1:36.19 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poweroftwentytwo g. 4 |
Arctic Xerxes c.4 |
|
Bagdad Blonde f .4 |
Hiddendale g. 4 |
|
| Monday |
Axeman |
Ekli Stables |
No Works |
Buxwen Farms |
Dynark Stables |
No Works |
|
47.13 H |
58.80 H |
|
49.47 B |
59.39 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Strawberry Pup c. 4 |
Spirit Of Fury c. 4 |
Im Smoken f. 4 |
Hangman Jury c. 4 |
Legs Eleven g. 4 |
| Tuesday |
No Works |
Mwn Racing |
Meat |
Dynark Stables |
Alydar Stables |
Diablo Diablo |
|
|
59.31 H |
1:38.79 H |
46.65 H |
58.35 H |
1:36.15 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sand Wedge g. 5 |
Fuel Up h. 6 |
|
Rust In Peace f. 4 |
Golden Globe h. 6 |
|
| Wednesday |
Buckeyebred |
Mwn Racing |
No Works |
Pocket Aces Racing |
Mwn Racing |
No Works |
|
47.44 H |
59.65 H |
|
47.37 H |
59.85 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mansfield f. 3 |
Sinister Mind h. 5 |
Manhattan Lady m. 5 |
Deuce Coupe c. 4 |
Awesome Princess m. 5 |
|
| Thursday |
Buckeyebred |
Whitewater Stables |
Australia Wide |
Profeit Stables |
Profeit Stables |
No Works |
|
48.51 H |
59.51 H |
1:37.96 H |
47.41 H |
59.22 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guillermo g. 5 |
Overbrook f. 3 |
Magic Professor g. 3 |
Manhattan Project f. 3 |
Break Your Fingers c. 3 |
| Friday |
No Works |
Rousee |
Aml Racing |
Blood Horse Stables |
Ekli Stable |
Bush Wackers Of Ohio |
|
|
1:00.08 B |
1:40.43 H |
47.65 H |
1:00.04 H |
1:39.20 H |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short Stiff m. 5 |
Mythical Creature g. 3 |
Thrilled m. 5 |
|
Newbie Z f. 3 |
With Admiration c. 4 |
| Saturday |
Truitt |
Homeview |
Dynark Stables |
No Works |
The Freakshow |
Meat |
|
46.95 B |
1:00.38 H |
1:38.09 H |
|
59.75 H |
1:36.80 H |
| Horses Name |
Owner/trainer |
Date of Work |
Trk. |
Dist/ Cond. |
Time |
| Bozo Speed |
|
Mar 22 |
FG |
4 Fur. Fst |
47 H |
| Delusional |
|
Mar 22 |
FG |
6 Fur. Fst |
1:12 H * |
| Good Ole Boy Network |
|
Mar 21 |
GP |
3 Fur (T) fm. |
35.4 H |
| Out Of Reach |
|
Mar 21 |
GP |
6 Fur (T) fm. |
1:10.2 H * |
| Jasper Carrot |
|
Mar 22 |
SA |
7 Fur Fst |
1:24.4 H * |
| Lost Opus |
|
Mar 22 |
SA |
6 Fur Fst |
1:12.4 H |
| Bird Bird |
|
Mar 22 |
SA |
6 Fur (T) fm. |
1:09.3 H |
| Microminiaturization |
|
Mar 23 |
PEN |
4 Fur Fst |
47 H |
| Stealth Fighter |
|
Mar 23 |
FG |
4 Fur (T) fm |
46.3 H |
| Tensweesh |
|
Mar 23 |
SA |
1 M Fst |
1:38.4 H |
| Vice Admiral |
|
Mar 24 |
AQU |
5 Fur Fst |
58.2 H * |
| Blood Rain |
|
Mar 25 |
KEE |
3 Fur (T) fm. |
34.4 B |
| Bulls Run |
|
Mar 25 |
FG |
5 Fur Fst |
59.2 H |
| Devine Pal |
|
Mar 25 |
KEE |
5 Fur (T) fm |
1:01.2 B |
| Luhukatmego |
|
Mar 25 |
AQU |
1 M fst |
1:39.4 H |
| Shanghai Mystery |
|
Mar 25 |
GP |
6 Fur Fst |
1:12.0 H * |
| Vaqueiro |
|
Mar 26 |
KEE |
5Fur (T) fm |
1:00.0 B * |
| Blue Steele |
|
Mar 26 |
GP |
1 M Fst |
1:41.4 H |
| Danzest Dancer |
|
Mar 27 |
GP |
6 Fur Fst |
1:12.0 H * |
| First One |
|
Mar 27 |
AQU |
6 Fur Fst |
1:12.0 H * |
| Khe San Troop |
|
Mar 27 |
GP |
7 Fur (T) fm |
1:23.2 H * |
| Wild Vicar |
|
Mar 27 |
AQU |
6 Fur Fst |
1:12.4 H |
| Acopolipto Kid |
|
Mar 27 |
SA |
6 Fur (T) fm. |
1:10.3 H |
