Quote Originally Posted by DevilHorse View Post
All of our 2YOs will have a birthday this Sunday as they become 3YOs.

Entries are not yet out for the Smarty Jones (first KYD points for the new year) at Oaklawn Park. On rare occassions Stakes races move from one track to another; The Smarty Jones Stakes was at PARX last year. By moving the race from Dec 31 to Jan 1 they have unusually changed the race from a 2YO race to a 3YO race!

Oaklawn Park is having a 2YO jamboree on the last day of the year (all 2YO races). There are a couple of races that caught my eye:

The Renaissance Stakes looks like the highest quality/accomplished race of the card:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...2/summary.html
[ URL above, December 31, 2022; Oaklawn Park - Race 6, PPs ]
Two Eagles River might be a good one; he has a very high Beyer first out, and finished 2nd in his only other start where he bled; he will be on Lasix for the first time (betting angle) but remember that for the KYD many of the prep races exclude the use of Lasix. Two Eagles River is from the first crop of Cloud Computing (Preakness Winner); we've heard precious little from this young stallion, but perhaps there are good things to come. Also of interest is the undefeated Count de Monet.

Also on the card, in race 2, is Magical Song, the daughter of the great Songbird. Magical Song closed fast in her debut and will be a contender with a better start.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...5/summary.html
[ URL above, December 31, 2022; Oaklawn Park - Race 2, PPs ]

The more interesting race that I found is the Harlan's Holiday at Gulfstream Park:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, December 31, 2022; Gulfstream Park - Race 10, PPs ]
Skippylongstockings (3rd in the Belmont and winner of the West Virgina Derby) makes his return to the races after a moderate layoff. Simplification (winner of this year's Fountain of Youth Stakes) returns to Gulfstream Park (he lost to Skippylongstockings in the WV Derby).
Harlan's Holiday was the sire of Into Mischief and is a pretty fair horse to see in any horse's pedigree.

Sad to hear that the very nice racehorse Code Of Honor was euthanized because of complications associated with Colic. Colic and Laminitis are common diseases/illnesses in race horses. Treatments are not as effective as we'd like them to be.

Larry
DevilHorse
The old year ended with a bang for some, a whimper for others.

In the Renaissance, Frosted Departure won a contested stretch battle with the favorite Two Eagles River.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
https://twitter.com/i/status/1609294403239305216

Also for 2YO fillies, at a slightly longer distance, was the Year's End Stakes. Defining Purpose was much the best and might be a contender down the road for the KYO:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
https://twitter.com/i/status/1609319620938272768
Defining Purpose did not change leads till the 1/16th pole and was an easy winner. The Year's End Stakes for 2YO F is the filly analog of today's Smarty Jones Stakes.

Magical Song was a dud in her second start. The maiden race was won by Bolt For Allison:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
https://twitter.com/i/status/1609266931651182592
This filly is by Bolt D'oro who will be the top money winning first year sire over Justify and Good Magic.

The Harlan's Holiday was won by Skippylongstocking:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/insta...e=inc&print=on
https://twitter.com/i/status/1609308161487388677
Pioneer Of Medina did that rare come from behind, after being passed in the lane by Simplification, to get 2nd.

Larry
DevilHorse