Horse Racing 2025

A week of Saratoga starts Thursday. This is actually supposed to be a week of stakes at Belmont, but the powers that be felt the races were better off at Saratoga than Aqueduct (some big turf races, and just more excitement). So there is a mismosh of usual Belmont and usual Saratoga stakes at Saratoga this week/weekend. Then I presume (couldn't find the calendar) they go back to Belmont at Aqueduct for a week or two, then it is back to Saratoga for the 40 day meet that ends on Labor Day. I just take the races a day/week at a time.

On Thursday, there is an interesting race. Race 3 is the Victory Ride, a sprint for 3YO fillies:
[ URL above; Thursday June 3, 2025; Saratoga - Race 3; PPs ]
Victory Ride was a nice sprinter in her day, but what caught my eye is that her broodmare sire was Flying Paster. He was a 3YO back in 1979 when Spectacular Bid was a 3YO. I can remember Flying Paster, the California invader, coming east to present a challenge to Bid. Howard Cosell constantly drones, "The Bid against The Paster" in the promos and leadup to the KYD. But the Paster finished 5th..
Anyway, I digress. A very nice filly named Echo Sound is a likely luke warm favorite here. She was injured after her 3rd start and took half a year off. She returned and won the Miss Preakness stakes. If she improves off that effort, she's a likely winner to be in the winner's circle. It used to be that the Winner's Circle at Saratoga was actually a chalk drawn circle that the winning horse and connections would stand in for their victory photo; I think that was the last actual Winner's Circle in the US, but a concrete patio, not in the geometric shape of a circle, was introduced a few years ago. Speaking of chalk, did you know that the use of the term 'Chalk' to designate the favorite, originated with the bookmakers at tracks when they used to change the odds on their chalk boards leading up to a race. The horse that produced the most chalk dust was usually the favorite. Darn, digressed again.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
Friday is the 4th of July and brings 3 interesting races at Saratoga (or is it Belmont at Aqueduct at Saratoga?):

The Schuylerville for 2YO fillies usually is on the first day of the Saratoga meet, yet this top race is on the second day of this non-Saratoga meet:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 2; PPs ]
The favorite is likely to be My Sweetheart, who ran a good speed figure in her only start; but a daughter of Flameaway? Miss Magical might have some spark.A stake race and 2/3 of these horses are maidens/First time starters. Obviously these horse's trainers think a lot of these fillies, but I would watch the odds board and bet the 2 highest odds horses. 2YO fillies are flaky.

The Belmont Derby Invitational for 3YOs is a turf race. They apparently wanted to run this race on a nice turf course, so this 4 day meet is in Saratoga:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 9; PPs ]
Final Gambit finished 4th in the KYD. Test Score and New Century like the turf. I leave this to the turf handicappers beyond this comment.

Tomorrow's Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3YO fillies is being run on Saturday and is available on the above, Brad Cox, page.

The Suburban is a Belmont race, but will be run here at Saratoga this year. Looks like an interesting race:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 10; PPs ]
Locked has run with the top horses in the country, but is by no means a lock in this race. Awesome Aaron beat Locked in the Pimlico Special. Antiquarian is a developing 4YO; Preservationist is the (interesting) sire of this horse. Preservationist also sired the good 3YO Chunk Of Gold. But Preservationist did not develop (win his maiden) until he was 4YO, but he was a terror through 6YO, including winning this race, the Suburban.
I like Antiquarian who finished 2nd to Mystik Dan last time out. I'd include Locked in an exacta box if Locked is not odds-on.

In the 11th race, the Harvey Pack, is a horse named Axthelm. Harvey Pack and Pete Axthelm were buddies who spent a lot of time hanging out at Belmont. You may also remember them being paired as ace handicappers during the early Breeder's Cup tv shows. Very bittersweet to see these 2 names hook up again on a race card. Harvey Pack was the best.. Harvey ended each TV show with "May The Horse Be With You."
Forward to 12:31 on this video to see Pack and Axthelm talking about the 1984 BC Classic (Wild Again won this race, Slew O Gold 2nd):

Larry
DevilHorse
 
On Saturday, it is derby day.. Iowa Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Prairie Meadows - Race 7; PPs ]
This race marks the return of Magnitude, who won the Risen Star by open lengths; however, he was sidelined with an injury. Not obvious that he is in shape, or even at 100% health. Being in shape is important for a horse with early speed. Big Truzz is lightly raced and finished 3rd in the Woody Stephens; not sure if he can go the distance (is this heaven?) as he has only sprinted so far. But as a son of Justify, he has license to go long(er). Itsmybirthday finished 2nd in the Texas Derby.

It's derby day.. Indiana Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Horseshoe Indianapolis - Race 12; PPs ]
Chunk Of Gold is back, after finishing 2nd in the Ohio Derby. He will do battle with Coal Battle and Publisher; these 2 horses have shown themselves to be (at the moment) in the 2nd tier of 3YOs and have swapped placings in the Arkansas Derby and the KYD. Big Truzz also entered here, but less competition in the Iowa Derby. The horses mentioned could make a neat trifecta box.

Only 5 Derbys mentioned in this post.

Have a great weekend; going to a cookout?!

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
On Saturday, it is derby day.. Iowa Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Prairie Meadows - Race 7; PPs ]
This race marks the return of Magnitude, who won the Risen Star by open lengths; however, he was sidelined with an injury. Not obvious that he is in shape, or even at 100% health. Being in shape is important for a horse with early speed. Big Truzz is lightly raced and finished 3rd in the Woody Stephens; not sure if he can go the distance (is this heaven?) as he has only sprinted so far. But as a son of Justify, he has license to go long(er). Itsmybirthday finished 2nd in the Texas Derby.

It's derby day.. Indiana Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Horseshoe Indianapolis - Race 12; PPs ]
Chunk Of Gold is back, after finishing 2nd in the Ohio Derby. He will do battle with Coal Battle and Publisher; these 2 horses have shown themselves to be (at the moment) in the 2nd tier of 3YOs and have swapped placings in the Arkansas Derby and the KYD. Big Truzz also entered here, but less competition in the Iowa Derby. The horses mentioned could make a neat trifecta box.

Only 5 Derbys mentioned in this post.

Have a great weekend; going to a cookout?!

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...
Forgot the 2YO race of the day. The Sanford:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5,2025; Saratoga - Race 3; PPs ]
Bringing It Back has the best speed figure. However, Obliteration looks like he destroyed the field in his first start. Might have a better ROI.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
A week of Saratoga starts Thursday. This is actually supposed to be a week of stakes at Belmont, but the powers that be felt the races were better off at Saratoga than Aqueduct (some big turf races, and just more excitement). So there is a mismosh of usual Belmont and usual Saratoga stakes at Saratoga this week/weekend. Then I presume (couldn't find the calendar) they go back to Belmont at Aqueduct for a week or two, then it is back to Saratoga for the 40 day meet that ends on Labor Day. I just take the races a day/week at a time.

On Thursday, there is an interesting race. Race 3 is the Victory Ride, a sprint for 3YO fillies:
[ URL above; Thursday June 3, 2025; Saratoga - Race 3; PPs ]
Victory Ride was a nice sprinter in her day, but what caught my eye is that her broodmare sire was Flying Paster. He was a 3YO back in 1979 when Spectacular Bid was a 3YO. I can remember Flying Paster, the California invader, coming east to present a challenge to Bid. Howard Cosell constantly drones, "The Bid against The Paster" in the promos and leadup to the KYD. But the Paster finished 5th..
Anyway, I digress. A very nice filly named Echo Sound is a likely luke warm favorite here. She was injured after her 3rd start and took half a year off. She returned and won the Miss Preakness stakes. If she improves off that effort, she's a likely winner to be in the winner's circle. It used to be that the Winner's Circle at Saratoga was actually a chalk drawn circle that the winning horse and connections would stand in for their victory photo; I think that was the last actual Winner's Circle in the US, but a concrete patio, not in the geometric shape of a circle, was introduced a few years ago. Speaking of chalk, did you know that the use of the term 'Chalk' to designate the favorite, originated with the bookmakers at tracks when they used to change the odds on their chalk boards leading up to a race. The horse that produced the most chalk dust was usually the favorite. Darn, digressed again.

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...
Echo Sound returns to the winner's circle:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1940838498816123191
Echo Sound returned a nice $5 and looked much the best. It looked as if she could have gone a bit longer.

Larry
Devilhorse
 
DevilHorse said:
Friday is the 4th of July and brings 3 interesting races at Saratoga (or is it Belmont at Aqueduct at Saratoga?):

The Schuylerville for 2YO fillies usually is on the first day of the Saratoga meet, yet this top race is on the second day of this non-Saratoga meet:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 2; PPs ]
The favorite is likely to be My Sweetheart, who ran a good speed figure in her only start; but a daughter of Flameaway? Miss Magical might have some spark.A stake race and 2/3 of these horses are maidens/First time starters. Obviously these horse's trainers think a lot of these fillies, but I would watch the odds board and bet the 2 highest odds horses. 2YO fillies are flaky.

The Belmont Derby Invitational for 3YOs is a turf race. They apparently wanted to run this race on a nice turf course, so this 4 day meet is in Saratoga:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 9; PPs ]
Final Gambit finished 4th in the KYD. Test Score and New Century like the turf. I leave this to the turf handicappers beyond this comment.

Tomorrow's Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3YO fillies is being run on Saturday and is available on the above, Brad Cox, page.

The Suburban is a Belmont race, but will be run here at Saratoga this year. Looks like an interesting race:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 10; PPs ]
Locked has run with the top horses in the country, but is by no means a lock in this race. Awesome Aaron beat Locked in the Pimlico Special. Antiquarian is a developing 4YO; Preservationist is the (interesting) sire of this horse. Preservationist also sired the good 3YO Chunk Of Gold. But Preservationist did not develop (win his maiden) until he was 4YO, but he was a terror through 6YO, including winning this race, the Suburban.
I like Antiquarian who finished 2nd to Mystik Dan last time out. I'd include Locked in an exacta box if Locked is not odds-on.

In the 11th race, the Harvey Pack, is a horse named Axthelm. Harvey Pack and Pete Axthelm were buddies who spent a lot of time hanging out at Belmont. You may also remember them being paired as ace handicappers during the early Breeder's Cup tv shows. Very bittersweet to see these 2 names hook up again on a race card. Harvey Pack was the best.. Harvey ended each TV show with "May The Horse Be With You."
Forward to 12:31 on this video to see Pack and Axthelm talking about the 1984 BC Classic (Wild Again won this race, Slew O Gold 2nd):

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...

Kingsolver and My Sweethart, the only horses with a race under their belt, finished one two in the Schuylerville; they were the top 2 favorites:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941193632662659555
Simone finished 3rd, but raced very greenly. Will be worth a bet if she drops into regular maiden company.

Test Score won the Belmont Derby:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941253791002526127
One of those rare, good sons of Lookin At Lucky.

Phileas Fogg (4th choice in a 7 horse field) won the Suburban in a good effort:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941263360596771232
The end of the race was dramatic. Antiquarian would have won if the race was 10 feet longer.

Another mention of Harvey Pack. Here is Andy Serling (Ace NY Handicapper) talking about Harvey Pack:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941143319461159224
Harvey's Paddock Clubs were the best. He sometimes brought guests; Andy Beyer showed up on big race days. His show on SNY was a can't miss because it added another dimension to the races. The people, the horses, the relationships.
Before Harvey's media presentations, there was a Saturday show in the NY area with Frank Wright (a top trainer who was very eloquent), Dave Johnson (who called many KYD's.. "and Down The Stretch they come"), and Charlsie Cantey (exercise rider, married for a while to a top local trainer, serving the Maggie Wolfendale role before Maggie was born). I'd guess that Harvey took some of the best from that weekly show and blended it into his daily show.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
Kingsolver and My Sweethart, the only horses with a race under their belt, finished one two in the Schuylerville; they were the top 2 favorites:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941193632662659555
Simone finished 3rd, but raced very greenly. Will be worth a bet if she drops into regular maiden company.

Test Score won the Belmont Derby:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941253791002526127
One of those rare, good sons of Lookin At Lucky.

Phileas Fogg (4th choice in a 7 horse field) won the Suburban in a good effort:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941263360596771232
The end of the race was dramatic. Antiquarian would have won if the race was 10 feet longer.

Another mention of Harvey Pack. Here is Andy Serling (Ace NY Handicapper) talking about Harvey Pack:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941143319461159224
Harvey's Paddock Clubs were the best. He sometimes brought guests; Andy Beyer showed up on big race days. His show on SNY was a can't miss because it added another dimension to the races. The people, the horses, the relationships.
Before Harvey's media presentations, there was a Saturday show in the NY area with Frank Wright (a top trainer who was very eloquent), Dave Johnson (who called many KYD's.. "and Down The Stretch they come"), and Charlsie Cantey (exercise rider, married for a while to a top local trainer, serving the Maggie Wolfendale role before Maggie was born). I'd guess that Harvey took some of the best from that weekly show and blended it into his daily show.

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...
I found this article on Charlsie Canty. It connects up with a lot of the female broadcasters of today:
www.bloodhorse.com

On Racing: Honoring Charlsie Cantey

Racing Commentary by Jay Hovdey
www.bloodhorse.com www.bloodhorse.com

It occurs to me that women have a different relationship with the horses than men; from the horse's point of view.
I used to spend time at breeding farms, when the foals were dropping (being born). The midwives were usually women because they didn't make the horses feel quite as nervous. Mares giving birth are very sensitive to the ambient conditions. 90% of foals are born at night (survival instinct so a foal is up, moving, and nursing before the sun comes up and a predator can get it). Multiple pregnant mares together, if they are near ready, will often give birth together on the same night. It is most interesting. Horses can be very sensitive and perceptive animals.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
On Saturday, it is derby day.. Iowa Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Prairie Meadows - Race 7; PPs ]
This race marks the return of Magnitude, who won the Risen Star by open lengths; however, he was sidelined with an injury. Not obvious that he is in shape, or even at 100% health. Being in shape is important for a horse with early speed. Big Truzz is lightly raced and finished 3rd in the Woody Stephens; not sure if he can go the distance (is this heaven?) as he has only sprinted so far. But as a son of Justify, he has license to go long(er). Itsmybirthday finished 2nd in the Texas Derby.

It's derby day.. Indiana Derby Day:
[ URL above; Saturday July 5, 2025; Horseshoe Indianapolis - Race 12; PPs ]
Chunk Of Gold is back, after finishing 2nd in the Ohio Derby. He will do battle with Coal Battle and Publisher; these 2 horses have shown themselves to be (at the moment) in the 2nd tier of 3YOs and have swapped placings in the Arkansas Derby and the KYD. Big Truzz also entered here, but less competition in the Iowa Derby. The horses mentioned could make a neat trifecta box.

Only 5 Derbys mentioned in this post.

Have a great weekend; going to a cookout?!

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...

Magnitude is back, in a big way, winning the Iowa Derby.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941647790679130307
Magnitude had complete control; just a tap on the shoulder at the head of the stretch is all that was needed from jockey Ben Curtis. He won by over 9 lengths. We still don't know how Magnitude will size up against Journalism and Sovereignty, but I hope we get to see him try.

The Indiana Derby was won by Tip Top Thomas:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941630260430418408
Coal Battle couldn't close the gap on the front running winner. It was interesting that I heard the commentators mention that there was an extreme track bias at Horseshoe Indianapolis for speed (aka front runners). Chunk of Gold was scratched.

The Sanford was one of 2 races at Saratoga that provided a couple of eye popping performances. Obliteration was the watch word:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941554975362236802
Obliteration is by Violence, who throws a few good horses (think Forte, Newgrange, and Dr. Shivel). This is a very exciting result; this was a stakes race, and we'll see if he can go longer.

Also, in a 2YO maiden race at Saratoga:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1941544815482765769
Ewing, a son of first year sire Knicks Go, was tremendous and also bears watching. Knicks Go was a slow to develop horse, so I was not surprised at the slow production of Knicks Go, but apparently he may arrive on the scene sooner than expected.

Here is an oddity that I became aware of.. How many KYD winners broke their maiden at Saratoga? You'd think that it would be a lot, but it isn't. I came up with only 2, both fillies. Winning Colors and Regret. How can this be? Well, the way I figure it, the good colts will have broken their maiden before getting to Saratoga, or started later. Still other great horses that have broken their maidens at Saratoga, have just not produced in that one race. It is querky.

Recent Beyers:
Test Score - 90
Phileas Fogg - 104

Where were you 50 years ago today?
I was at the Foolish Pleasure/Ruffian match race!

Larry
DevilHorse
 
I was plotting out the races I might want to cover in this forum and I chanced upon a race at Canterbury Downs (Minnesota). It is a $30k allowance race named after Frances Genter. Immediately I was taken back to the 1990 KYD where Unbridled won.
Here is Unbridled's winning KYD:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=450091312674902

The real story was happening in the stands. Unbridled was owned by 92 year old Frances Genter; Mrs. Genter could barely see passed her arms with any clarity, but she was there at Churchill taking it in. Her trainer was Carl Nafzger. During the race that was to be his first KYD win, Nafzger spent his time giving Mrs. Genter a play by play of what was going on at the track. Check this out:

Nafzger also trained Street Sense to a KYD victory in 2006.

Those moments are what gets you about this game. They are rare, but they burn into your memory.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
Rumors are flying that Journalism will be going to the Haskell at Monmouth a week from this Saturday. The strong suggestion came from one of the owners. Of course, the trainer usually has to weigh all of the factors, and he is the one that ships the horse. Up until this point, almost all of the top 3 YOs are at Saratoga and are pointing towards the Jim Dandy for their Travers prep race. I'm pleasantly surprised that there may be an equal weighting of stars in the Haskell and Jim Dandy.

Monmouth recently had a horse 'escape'. A young horse named Hawkstone was spooked on track and threw his rider. The horse then took off and went through a gate that had been left open. The horse then went to the highway and found a Dunkin! Hawkstone didn't stop for coffee, but he did make it to the Atlantic Ocean for some R&R. Monmouth Racetrack is just a mile or so from the ocean. Horses are great swimmers and often do therapy in the pool. Rider and horse are both safe.
I once had a horse break its leadshank and attempt to escape to the nearby highway. Fortunately he made a wrong turn and ended up in a dead end between two paddocks.

What is a top 2YO worth once he shows some ability. Take the case of Romeo, he recently won his 2nd of 3 starts in a minor stake, the Bashford Manor. He is out of young sire Honor A.P., respectable, but not a powerhouse producer (yet). Romeo just sold for $1.7M at auction.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
Friday is the 4th of July and brings 3 interesting races at Saratoga (or is it Belmont at Aqueduct at Saratoga?):

The Schuylerville for 2YO fillies usually is on the first day of the Saratoga meet, yet this top race is on the second day of this non-Saratoga meet:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 2; PPs ]
The favorite is likely to be My Sweetheart, who ran a good speed figure in her only start; but a daughter of Flameaway? Miss Magical might have some spark.A stake race and 2/3 of these horses are maidens/First time starters. Obviously these horse's trainers think a lot of these fillies, but I would watch the odds board and bet the 2 highest odds horses. 2YO fillies are flaky.

The Belmont Derby Invitational for 3YOs is a turf race. They apparently wanted to run this race on a nice turf course, so this 4 day meet is in Saratoga:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 9; PPs ]
Final Gambit finished 4th in the KYD. Test Score and New Century like the turf. I leave this to the turf handicappers beyond this comment.

Tomorrow's Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3YO fillies is being run on Saturday and is available on the above, Brad Cox, page.

The Suburban is a Belmont race, but will be run here at Saratoga this year. Looks like an interesting race:
[ URL above; Friday July 4, 2025; Saratoga - Race 10; PPs ]
Locked has run with the top horses in the country, but is by no means a lock in this race. Awesome Aaron beat Locked in the Pimlico Special. Antiquarian is a developing 4YO; Preservationist is the (interesting) sire of this horse. Preservationist also sired the good 3YO Chunk Of Gold. But Preservationist did not develop (win his maiden) until he was 4YO, but he was a terror through 6YO, including winning this race, the Suburban.
I like Antiquarian who finished 2nd to Mystik Dan last time out. I'd include Locked in an exacta box if Locked is not odds-on.

In the 11th race, the Harvey Pack, is a horse named Axthelm. Harvey Pack and Pete Axthelm were buddies who spent a lot of time hanging out at Belmont. You may also remember them being paired as ace handicappers during the early Breeder's Cup tv shows. Very bittersweet to see these 2 names hook up again on a race card. Harvey Pack was the best.. Harvey ended each TV show with "May The Horse Be With You."
Forward to 12:31 on this video to see Pack and Axthelm talking about the 1984 BC Classic (Wild Again won this race, Slew O Gold 2nd):

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...
Been out of town so just watched. Loved everything in the video except didn’t show the race. I am hoping to find it on YouTube. My recollection is Pat Day won on Wild Again. Can’t remember if I actually watched the race on television. Wonder if the vets would clear Slew of Gold to race in today’s world.
 
TheDevilMadeMeDoIt said:
Been out of town so just watched. Loved everything in the video except didn’t show the race. I am hoping to find it on YouTube. My recollection is Pat Day won on Wild Again. Can’t remember if I actually watched the race on television. Wonder if the vets would clear Slew of Gold to race in today’s world.
Click to expand...
Just watched the race and what a great race. The thing I most noticed is Pat Day only appeared to whip the horse one time. Wild Again went out with the early speed and was involved in fast fractions yet he held off the “better” horses over 1 1/4 miles. Have to say the owner was pretty optimistic in the pre race interview with Tom Hammond.
 
DevilHorse said:
I was plotting out the races I might want to cover in this forum and I chanced upon a race at Canterbury Downs (Minnesota). It is a $30k allowance race named after Frances Genter. Immediately I was taken back to the 1990 KYD where Unbridled won.
Here is Unbridled's winning KYD:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=450091312674902

The real story was happening in the stands. Unbridled was owned by 92 year old Frances Genter; Mrs. Genter could barely see passed her arms with any clarity, but she was there at Churchill taking it in. Her trainer was Carl Nafzger. During the race that was to be his first KYD win, Nafzger spent his time giving Mrs. Genter a play by play of what was going on at the track. Check this out:

Nafzger also trained Street Sense to a KYD victory in 2006.

Those moments are what gets you about this game. They are rare, but they burn into your memory.

Larry
DevilHorse
Click to expand...
Can’t believe that was 35 years ago. It seems like yesterday. I definitely remember watching that race live on television. It is one of the great stories of the Ky Derby. Thanks for the memories.
 
TheDevilMadeMeDoIt said:
Been out of town so just watched. Loved everything in the video except didn’t show the race. I am hoping to find it on YouTube. My recollection is Pat Day won on Wild Again. Can’t remember if I actually watched the race on television. Wonder if the vets would clear Slew of Gold to race in today’s world.
Click to expand...
Slew O'Gold was a big horse (16.3 hands) [Forego was 17 hands].
Seattle Slew was a bit of a 'miss' at stud. His best sons were Slew O'Gold, Swale (died a few weeks after he won the KYD), and of course A.P. Indy (the reason SS will live on in pedigrees). He sired a few other champions (Landaluce) and sires (Capote). He was not a successful broodmare sire; his best broodmare credit was Cigar (great horse, shot blanks as a sire).

Larry
DevilHorse
 
I really don't have much for you this weekend. No big dirt races. Del Mar opens in a week. The Haskell in a week.

Here is the most ineresting race I found. A 2YOC maiden race at Saratoga:
[ URL above; Saturday July 12, 2025; Saratoga - Race 1; PPs ]
Where else will you get a $5k horse taking on a $1.4M horse? Curtain Call has one race of experience.. being punished by Obliteration in their first start (by 7); Obliteration came back and won a stakes race, so no shame there. Tagermeen is well bred and must look like the $1.4M they paid for him; but his workouts are not that exciting. Steve Asmussen trains this horse and does very well with first timers. Wise Words has a good start under his belt and is worth every bit of the $5k they paid for him; he will be an underlay in this 6 horse race.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
I have mentioned the StrideSAFE technology before. This is a mechanism where the horse wears a sensor and has his races and workouts monitored and analyzed with the intent of detecting anomalies in a horses stride that suggest a future breakdown. This article has a lot of information in it. The most interesting one is where trainer Dale Romans was given a report on one of his horses suggesting a high chance of a breakdown; so he did a precautionary PET scan on the horse and found a problem with the sesamoid bone, even though the horse visually appeared just fine:
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

StrideSAFE Update: A New Level of Veterinary "Finesse"

In discussing the evolution of his StrideSAFE wearable sensor, Dave Lambert turns to a tufty-haired German philosopher called Arthur Schopenhauer, who described new truths as a play in three parts. “First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.”...
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
Thanks to the Thoroughbred Daily News for providing stories like this from behind the scenes.

Of course, this method of horse safety will require a lot of trials to show that statistically this is significant results; after all, you can't prove when a horse would have had an injury, if they are given rest and therapy (which cures what does or doesn't ail you). But this is promising. It is especially good when some of the trainers experiment with the new technology.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
DevilHorse said:
I really don't have much for you this weekend. No big dirt races. Del Mar opens in a week. The Haskell in a week.

Here is the most ineresting race I found. A 2YOC maiden race at Saratoga:
[ URL above; Saturday July 12, 2025; Saratoga - Race 1; PPs ]
Where else will you get a $5k horse taking on a $1.4M horse? Curtain Call has one race of experience.. being punished by Obliteration in their first start (by 7); Obliteration came back and won a stakes race, so no shame there. Tagermeen is well bred and must look like the $1.4M they paid for him; but his workouts are not that exciting. Steve Asmussen trains this horse and does very well with first timers. Wise Words has a good start under his belt and is worth every bit of the $5k they paid for him; he will be an underlay in this 6 horse race.

Larry
DevilHorse
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Curtain Call was indeed up to the win:
https://twitter.com/x/status/1944074461080178866
This makes Obliteration look like a killer (an oft used horseracing term to refer to a top horse). Tagermeen was a decent second and is probably worth a bet the next time out.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
Decided to look at Monday races at Ellis Park. This year maiden races have purses of $100,000, I believe the same as Saratoga. I can’t believe I just typed that. The second race is a 2 year old Maiden fillies race. It is filled with expensive and well bred horses all running for the first time ever. The first horse I saw is Integrity a $375,000 purchase sired by Maxfield whose kids are winning on debut at 22%. She has really good works and I thought she has to be the one. Then I continued and Asmussen has a $275k purchase by McKinzie with good works. Assmussen works his older horse slow, but puts speed in his young horses. By the way he must hate flying. He drove to Louisville from Saratoga on Saturday and then showed up at Ellis on Sunday. Brad Cox has a $240k purchase Collective Beauty with a bullet last work. He wins Maiden Special debuts at 24%. Then there is Search Party by Gun Runner, a home bred with a 46 4/5 bullet work over the track. Last of the high priced horses is Glory Me a GunRunner purchased for $975k. The trainers of these in addition to ones previously mentioned are Mark Casse, Brendan Walsh and Cheri DeVaux. I will be looking to see who made the trip to Ellis today. I will have to pick one for my opening Double and Pick 5 but will see what Andie Biancone says before betting the second race. I may bet Integrity for the simple reason I liked his father, Maxfield, and his offspring are winning 22% on debut. My other pre race choice is Search Party with the fast work over the Ellis track. This is a loaded field. There are two other $100,000 purses today. As I finished this just saw Cox scratched Collective Beauty. My guess is he will look for an easier field.
 
Journalism is 4/5 in the Haskell this Saturday. There are a couple of good horses, Gosger (2nd in the Preakness) and Burnham Square (2nd to Eastern Avenue in the Matt Winn, 6th in the KYD), but mostly I'm disappointed that the majority of the armada of good horses in KY and Saratoga will not ship in. This suggests to me that the Jim Dandy (next weekend) is going to be LOADED.
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

Journalism Named 4-5 Haskell Morning-Line Favorite, Draws Post Two

GI Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (Curlin) was named the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes...
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com www.thoroughbreddailynews.com

PPs when they become available.

Larry
DevilHorse
 
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