Will be interesting to see what JB does with the Remsen

[covelj70]

The beyer numbers came back very slow given that Flashing ran 2 seconds faster at the same distance (albeit at slightly less weight) in the next race.

There was a ton of wind out there yesterday as well so that\'s another complicating factor in the fig.

Hard to believe the Remsen winner who ran a 101 last out only ran an 80 this time but I will believe it if the TG equivalent says so.

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend.  Big A was very crowded yesterday, it was great to see.

[richiebee]

covelj70 Wrote:
 
 Big A was very crowded yesterday, it was great to see.

Covel:

There were 4500 people at Aqueduct Saturday. It only seems crowded because they
have closed off a lot of areas to accommodate the weekday \"crowds\" of 700- 1000
people they will have over the winter. I will say that Equestris had as big a
crowd as I have seen in there, though I wish they would try to enforce the dress
code.

Other unsolicited observations: The Demoiselle was a Grade 2 race. All of the
fillies in the race were eligible for NW2 races lifetime. Still graded next year?

There is some debate as to whether Kodiak Kowboy\'s Cigar Mile victory should be
considered in determining whether he is Eclipse Award winning sprinter. That
debate aside, KK should be kommended for defeating the best 6 furlong dirt horse
in the US (Fabulous Strike) and arguably the best dirt miler in the US (Bribon).

Breeding Note: Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) at least two more progeny turf wins over
the weekend, The Mailet in the Miesque at HollyPark and Doubles Partner breaking
his maiden for Pletcher in the last race of the Fall CD meet on Saturday. At the
point now where I will be searching for RHT progeny trying turf first time,
especially after poor main track/synth efforts.

[covelj70]

Hey Richie,

I should have been more detailed in my comments on the Big A, it was Equestris that was packed.

Also, I apologize if my 3 kids had a downward impact on the dress code out there, it\'s hard to get a 6, 5 and 2 year old all dolled up to roll around on the floor at the Equistris.....lol

Obviously just kidding there, I am not a suit and tie guy at the track but I do think it\'s nice when people at least put a jacket or sweater on in the nicer areas of the track.

When I was going down to the paddock for the Remsen, one of the other owners or friends of owners had an old Tampa Bay Bucs Hardy Nickerson jersey on.  The guy behind be sighs and says, \"ah, the sport of kings\"  Was kind of funny.

I still wish the fields were bigger from a betting standpoint but overall, it was a great day out there.

My only regret was that I moronically put my horse in my pick 6 ticket and left Buddy\'s Saint off in the Remsen.  I really thought he would bounce off the huge effort and only 3 weeks rest (and maybe he did but just not enough).  That was the only one I missed for a surprisingly big 9k pick 6 payout.  Hate to get beat in the pick 6 by a 3/4 shot, especially since it was probably more heart than head that drove that decision.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

[miff]

Remsen came up very slow, only a tick faster than the fillies(extremely slow bunch going in) who carried a few pounds less.Beyers Remsen 80 will be like a TG 7-8 if JB sees it the same.Remsen pace was very honest for the day/track speed and surprised that Citrus Kid made the lead.

Buddy Saint did what he had to, off a perfect trip.May have \"bounced\" from his previous effort in the sense that the 3 weeks and/or prior exertion had an affect. First time two turns,going that far may be also be reasons.

BH clearly did not run as fast as his previous but is now a TC player and worth millions.

Mike

[covelj70]

Miff,

You thougtht you were surprised that Citrus Kid made the lead....I was privy to  the pre race instructions and I almost fell flat on my face after the first quarter.

We wanted to be not too far back but Rajiv took that a bit literally.

No one was going to beat Buddy on Sat as it turned out but if we had rated instead of dueled with Homeboykris, I thought we could have been second.

The figs for this will be interesting in that if BS really gets a 7 or 8 as you suggest (and which seems entirely reasonable), then everyone in that race went backward by 6 or 7 points which seems hard to believe.  

The wind was gusting all over the place out there so I will be curious to know if JB finds that had any impact and/or if the wind changed the track conditions at all as the day went on.  Or, maybe they all just did take a huge step backwards, that\'s always possible as well.

[miff]

Cov,

Seems Rajiv went for a spot and then got aggressive heading into the turn, maybe not wanting to lose ground by getting caught wide.Thought CK held ok considering he took on HK who wilted.CK may still be ok going long with a better set up.

The 2 year old fillies ran 30 minutes earlier, doubt the track changed speed in between,it was gusty/windy at times all day.JB may take some creative license due to conditions, but the race was definitely on the slow side when you look at the Demoiselle and the older Gazelle fillies.BS\'s TG fig may be saved by ground loss even though he had perfect dynamics in front of him,circling embattled leaders.

The suck up second horse, Peppi Knows from FL was fast on TG and ran ok.When racing conditions are rough,like Saturday, I tend to give them another shot to redeem themselves.

Mike

[covelj70]

Mike,

All good thoughts.

I was actually pretty pleased with the race from CK overall.  He\'s a May foal who still has alot of physical and mental developing to do.  He was literally shaking when he first got into the paddock.  I think his best race is sitting just off it as you suggest not dueling with a G1 winner for 6f on the front end.

I think he will put on another 100 lbs or so and should get to about 16.2 or 16.3 by the looks of it.  All in all, I was alot quite encouraged relative to my expectations.

Thanks again for the thoughts.

[Silver Charm]

I was away for the holiday an unable to see any races. However after reviewing the replay of the Cigar Mile thanks to Bloodhorse.com this was a Championship effort.

A settle, tuck, fan and grind\'em down run is difficult if not impossible to imagine coming from a Zensational who is the other contender.

The day they start pulling from Sprint Eclipse consideration efforts in races like the Met Mile or Cigar Mile is when they need to go back and vacate the Sprint titles of Precisionist and Smile..........

[richiebee]

richiebee Wrote: (on 11/30/2009)
-------------------------------------------------------
 
> Breeding Note: Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) at least
> two more progeny turf wins over
> the weekend, The Mailet in the Miesque at
> HollyPark and Doubles Partner breaking
> his maiden for Pletcher in the last race of the
> Fall CD meet on Saturday. At the
> point now where I will be searching for RHT
> progeny trying turf first time,
> especially after poor main track/synth efforts.

Best Actor\'s 11th beaten 37 lengths finish certainly qualifies as a poor main track effort.

The colt has shown ability, hopefully the Wests will get him onto the turf.

[Michael D.]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> richiebee Wrote: (on 11/30/2009)
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>  
> > Breeding Note: Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) at least
> > two more progeny turf wins over
> > the weekend, The Mailet in the Miesque at
> > HollyPark and Doubles Partner breaking
> > his maiden for Pletcher in the last race of the
> > Fall CD meet on Saturday. At the
> > point now where I will be searching for RHT
> > progeny trying turf first time,
> > especially after poor main track/synth efforts.
>
> Best Actor\'s 11th beaten 37 lengths finish
> certainly qualifies as a poor main track effort.
>
> The colt has shown ability, hopefully the Wests
> will get him onto the turf.


I\'m with Richie on this one, especially after the fine call on the Canadian turfers in the Appleton yesterday. Hope you hit that one good.

[richiebee]

Thanks, Michael.

In the Appleton, Storm Play, a 5YO Smart Strike runner trying the grass
for the first time, seemed to move well over the surface

[richiebee]

richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> richiebee Wrote: (on 11/30/2009)
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>  
> > Breeding Note: Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) at least
> > two more progeny turf wins over
> > the weekend, The Mailet in the Miesque at
> > HollyPark and Doubles Partner breaking
> > his maiden for Pletcher in the last race of the
> > Fall CD meet on Saturday. At the
> > point now where I will be searching for RHT
> > progeny trying turf first time,
> > especially after poor main track/synth efforts.
>
> BEST ACTOR\'s 11th beaten 37 lengths finish
> certainly qualifies as a poor main track effort.
>
> The colt has shown ability, hopefully the Wests
> will get him onto the turf.


Best Actor turns up in race 10 at Mth Saturday, Opt Cl($40K)/Nw2x.

The only 3YO in the field, BA has still not set foot on the lawn in the afternoon.
After his 11³⁷defeat in the Florida Derby, BA had two decent runs over
the synth at AP, and then was sold by Gary/Mary West and now races in the K Mac
barn.

Faces a field with much more turf experience, hoping for a decent price in what
amounts to a \"blind\" bet for me.

Also at Mth Sunday, West Ocean, just huge in her last 2 races, will go a short
price in the Klassy Briefcase. I think TG mentioned that her last effort earned
her an impressive TG #.