Quote Originally Posted by DevilHorse View Post
Some excitement from the big guns:

Life Is Good was on the work out docket yesterday, for new trainer Todd Pletcher. When last we saw this undefeated son of Into Mischief, he was on his way toward being the favorite in the KYD via the California route under the tutelage of Bob Baffert. Life Is Good had a modest workout going, until another horse came beside him at Saratoga yesterday, then the colt took off; after the finish line, he just kept on going. It was a very impressive effort to those who watched. He will be targeting a race on Travers day or the Smarty Jones (these are shorter distance.. the Travers are too long for a comeback effort).

This weekend, the big race is the Jim Dandy (named after the surprise long shot winner of the Travers long ago).
Essential Quality will be using this race as the tune-up for the Travers:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1509687
Also entered will be Weyburn and Dr. Jack who did well in the Pegasus against Mandaloran at Monmouth a month ago.
EQ is not a workout warrior, so don't read into that, but Saratoga is the Graveyard of Champions.

The Alfred Vanderbilt (remember Biltmore house NC??) for sprinters has drawn Mischevious Alex, Firenze Fire, Whitmore, and Special Reserve:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1341944
A great race!

At Del Mar, the track built with the leadership of Bing Crosby's Thoroughbred Track Club, is the Bing Crosby Handicap:
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...param3=1374280
C Z Rocket and (the recently missing) Dr. Shivel are entered.

Earlier on the card at Del Mar is a first time starter named Astronomer. Not sure if that should be in the astronomy thread or here???
http://www.brisnet.com/php/bw_pdf_vi...17&param3=2387
Race 3 at Del Mar by Air Force Blue. The Air Force Blue 2YOs were a revelation last year. Will that continue this year?

Larry
DevilHorse
Essential Quality won the Jim Dandy in a return to the races. Given a ride that was just as horrendous as he got in the KYD, he was about 5 wide on the first turn and about 6 wide on the final turn (that is hard to do). And still he managed to gut it out over Keepmeinmind with a rail skimming trip.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
He'll be sharper for the Travers, but going the extra distance a wide trip like this demands comes back to bite you like it did in the KYD.

The Vanderbilt went to longshot Lexitonian:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
This horse was scratched out of last year's race when he freaked in the gate. This horse went to the front and fought the whole way.
The favorites didn't fire, or their jockeys expected the early speed to come back to them (which they didn't).

In the Bing Crosby, Dr. Shivel is at it again, coming from behind, slicing through, to win:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
Dr. Shivel was taking on older company, and is lightly raced (this being only his 2nd 3YO race). Nice race for Eight Rings.
C Z Rocket got into it too late.

Larry
DevilHorse