Sunday, June 28, 2009

Rachel Alexandra, Super Filly

SHE WAS GREAT TODAY winning by almost 20 lengths! Now, I’ve seen the great Secretariat and the great Rachel Alexandra win big at Belmont. Both were special experiences.

Our very large filly, Arielle’s Song, will run for the first time on the grass at 6 furlongs on Thursday, July 2 in the first race at Belmont. Post time is 1PM. We saw her today and tried to snuggle her a little. She doesn’t like it too much, seems scared. Linda says she is very hard to handle and she feels a race will help her learn. In short, don’t expect a victory because this is more in the way of training her. (Boy, July 2nd is going to be a busy day. I have a 6AM appointment and Arielle and Jonathan performing at night at Sullivan Hall, Sullivan Street between Bleecker and W. 3rd. They’re asking people to show up at 7:30. If you want to join us for dinner at Ennio and Michael at 6PM, please let me know.)

Ahvee’s Destiny will either run at Monmouth (Oceanport, NJ) on July 12 or Penn National (Grantville, PA near Harrisburg) on July 15th. There are two big races at Penn National on 7/31 and 8/1. The July 15th race is a prep for those races. It would be ideal if she runs well in the prep to have her stay there until the big races but we have to conquer logistical problems.

More to come.


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Saturday, June 20, 2009

My Mistake

Frustrating… between the weather and health issues, we struck out today. Arielle’s Song would not have raced even if she was healthy because of the rain. We (I) decided not to send Ahvee’s Destiny to Colonial Downs because of the threatening weather.

We were going to ship her down on Thursday to give her one day to acclimate to her new surroundings and recover from her long trip to southern Virginia but Linda said that we would not run her if the race came off the grass. I did not want to put her through a trip of 9 – 10 hours, if she might not run. So, when the weather looked iffy and because the Colonial turf course was soft earlier in the week (in fact they took the races off the turf on Monday), the chances were for at best a soft grass course which she doesn’t like much and the entrants included Smart and Fancy who had beaten her twice, I thought the chances were not good enough to put her through the shipping process, even though we had the 3 post and C.C. Lopez.

Yesterday, we found out that 7 horses had scratched, including Smart and Fancy but it was too late. The race ran today on firm turf in a very slow time that she could have easily beaten but c’est la vie. I made the wrong call… but would probably make it again, unless Linda let her run whether it went on grass or not.

Looks like the probable next race for her will be at Monmouth on July 12. Rhoda and I have a wedding that day, so hopefully, some of you can represent us.

Depending on how Arielle’s Song responds to medication, we still hope to race her next month at Belmont. Odds are that Hear the Footsteps will not race until Saratoga.

Katy’s Office Girl had a decent breeze today going 3 furlongs in less than 37 secs. Hopefully, she’ll be ready for Saratoga too.


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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Scratch Arielle's Song

She had a nice easy workout today but came out of it coughing and, when scoped, she exhibited some spots of blood. Between the weather report and what is termed a minor health issue, she will not be entered for Saturday.

Ahvee’s Destiny is ready and willing but it looks like the weather will not cooperate. I’d like her to run, even if it comes off the grass but Linda has the final word (so far). Certainly, I would not like to see Ahvee’s Destiny trek for 9 or 10 hours to Southern Virginia and then not race.

Oy!


Hear the Footsteps also had a nice workout today. I know his teeth are good…


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Monday, June 15, 2009

Love bite

Visited with the new acquisition, Hear the Footsteps, last weekend. Tried to feed him a carrot. He liked my arm better. It must be love!

Arielle’s Song now scheduled for Saturday at Belmont. Ahvee’s Destiny has been entered that same day at Colonial Downs in Virginia for the Buckland Stakes. It’s a “look-see.” I’ll let you know what we saw and what the decision is. Smart and Fancy, who beat us in Maryland will be there as well as a new cast of characters. We have the 3 slot with C.C. Lopez vs. Smart and Fancy who will be in the 13 post position.


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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Plans

It’s been raining a lot. This makes it difficult to train much less race. But for all you who have said they’re waiting for a race at a metro track, Arielle’s Song is pointing to her first race at Belmont on Friday, June 19th. It’ll be a mile on the grass, if weather allows. Let me know if you intend to come, so I can gauge how much seating to reserve. First race on Fridays is now 3PM. Belmont has all kinds of happenings for their “Sunset” racing, including music, probably a concert and much more.

Ahvee’s Destiny was supposed to be nominated for a race at Woodbine in Toronto on June 21. However, they missed the nomination date. It’s still a possibility, since we can pay for a supplementary nomination. This race is at 6 furlongs (she hasn’t raced this long a distance since 2007) on the grass. It’s a graded stakes with a purse of $200K. In other words, it’s a high quality race that will have a high quality field. In the meantime, we’ll be looking for other alternatives. A decision on the Canadian race must be made by next Wednesday. Ahvee’s Destiny breezed on Monday a little faster than Linda wanted her to because she was a little rank (unruly). At least, she was the fastest of those breezing that distance.

Katy’s Office Girl breezed a slow 39+ seconds for 3 furlongs. Unfortunately, she has not shown any speed in her short workouts. We can only hope that she can run long distances with some speed in reserve.

Conseated Lady has arrived at Saratoga and will gradually resume her training.

Hear the Footsteps breezed 4 furlongs in 49+ last week and looks good to all.

We still keep track of Rexy who will be competing against one of Linda’s horses at Fingerlakes on Sunday. I’ll be rooting for Rexy.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Washed out!

Ahvee’s Destiny’s race at Monmouth has been taken off the turf because of bad weather at Monmouth. So, she has been scratched.
I’m returning tomorrow and will let you know what the future plan will be.

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Friday, June 5, 2009

Candy Éclair

At 5 – 2, Ahvee’s Destiny is the Morning Line favorite for this $60K stakes race on Saturday at Monmouth. It’s 5 ½ furlongs on the grass with lots of good competition. She has the 9 post against her but should be competitive. I expect to be in the air homeward bound when the race is run, so I won’t get to see it until I return. Hope someone is going to represent us in the Winner’s Circle (let me know). Hope she gets to the Winner’s Circle!

Arielle’s Song continues pointing to a mid-June race at Belmont.

Hear the Footsteps had his first workout for us at :49 sec. for 4 furlongs. Conseated Lady will be shipped to Saratoga this weekend and go back into training. IT’S HORSIE TIME!

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