Posted by Avram Freedberg
They say you can’t go home again. Part of the reason for that saying, is that conditions change, you have certain expectations that may not be realizable, you’re used to magical things happening and now it’s mundane.
Each of the past two years, we have arrived in Saratoga and Ahvee’s Destiny has run in a Stakes race the day after our arrival… and WON! What a wonderful way to start your vacation.
This year we arrived to find the house we were renting rife with problems. We walked in to find a cleaning person “finishing up.” Suffice it to say that in our opinion, she hadn’t really started. The refrigerator was filthy. The first time I tried the Master bath shower, it started spewing mud on me. All the windows were open and the flies roamed throughout. It was hot and uncomfortable. When it rained, it leaked on my sink in the Master bath. There was no remote control for the garage. And, the pool looked like a swamp.
So, we had a cleaning person we knew come in and clean. We dealt with each of the problems – one by one. Only the pool remains an issue and even that has been made more presentable, though it’s not usable yet.
We have not had one horse race yet. Ahvee’s Destiny was scheduled to race Sunday in this year’s edition of The Finney Stakes, which she won last year. Inexplicably, the race did not fill (with entries) and was not used. So, we’re caught in a dilemma about where and when to race her.
Arielle’s Song is preparing for her “do or die” race. If she doesn’t do, she may no longer be a race horse.
Hear the Footsteps arrived this week. He is still pointing to a race on August 7th. However, he is a little thin. So, is It’s Truly Ahvee, who had a nice breeze today but was reported as “running out” a bit. So, we’ll have to see how he comes out of the breeze tomorrow.
Two out of four of the Obviously NY Stable 2-yr olds, have been famed out due to physical problems. Holy Blitzer is still at Belmont with some soreness. And, Katy’s Office Girl has been sent to a farm an hour north of Belmont for 60 days.
On the plus side, we’ve had fun with good friends and are situated right next to the Oklahoma training track. So, we wake up to see horses all around us. We’ve gone to several concerts and are seeing Maroon 5 tonight and Sting with the Royal Philharmonic tomorrow night. Last night, we spent some time with Bo Derek at a charity event because we were with Bay Buchanan, whom Bo wanted to meet and greet. Plus, we had fun at the auction. The historic Canfield Casino venue was very special.
It’s always fun to feed the horses at the stables and be out watching them train early in the morning. We find it at once peaceful and exhilarating. The food has been really good. I’m sure the waistline has grown!
Hope all is well with you. Still room available at the inn for next mid-week… Have a lovely weekend!
Best,
A.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Holy Blitzer
Posted by Avram Freedberg
She got a bad state today when she was looking the wrong way when the gate opened. However, Cornelio Velasquez did a good job setting her to task and before long she was third. As they neared the stretch turn, he had her advancing 4 wide. I was excited. She looked good. The leader was fading and she was coming on. As they passed the furlong marker, Cornelio (inexplicably, as far as I was concerned) ducked in with her and tried to take her between horses, rather than pursue the clear outside path he had already established. Keep in mind, he was told by her last jockey that she spooks easily.
Well, you can guess the outcome. The horse to her inside got scared of the whip used by the jockey to her further inside and came out right into Holy Blitzer. She was now sandwiched between horses and lost all chance to proceed to victory. I don’t get it… but there it is. I’m going to place a real nice bet on her next time, if she faces similar competition at Saratoga.
Speaking of Saratoga, the race meet starts Friday. We’ll be in Saratoga until mid-August and then as needed for races our horses participate in.
Hope to see you there!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
She got a bad state today when she was looking the wrong way when the gate opened. However, Cornelio Velasquez did a good job setting her to task and before long she was third. As they neared the stretch turn, he had her advancing 4 wide. I was excited. She looked good. The leader was fading and she was coming on. As they passed the furlong marker, Cornelio (inexplicably, as far as I was concerned) ducked in with her and tried to take her between horses, rather than pursue the clear outside path he had already established. Keep in mind, he was told by her last jockey that she spooks easily.
Well, you can guess the outcome. The horse to her inside got scared of the whip used by the jockey to her further inside and came out right into Holy Blitzer. She was now sandwiched between horses and lost all chance to proceed to victory. I don’t get it… but there it is. I’m going to place a real nice bet on her next time, if she faces similar competition at Saratoga.
Speaking of Saratoga, the race meet starts Friday. We’ll be in Saratoga until mid-August and then as needed for races our horses participate in.
Hope to see you there!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Belmont meet ends Sunday
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Hopefully, Holy Blitzer will win the 8th race on Sunday on the grass at 6 furlongs. She runs against our friends’ Patsy Symon’s Gitchie Goomie and Larry Goichman’s High Cry and four or five others. Apparently Ramon Dominguez thinks High Cry has a better chance than Blitzer, since he opted to ride that horse even though he won with Holy Blitzer easily in her last race. He replaces Cornelio Velasquez on High Cry. Now, he will ride Holy Blitzer. Oh well, we don’t seem to get a lot of respect for our horses.
Katy’s Office Girl has a slight condylar fracture of her ankle. It will require stall rest and a slow comeback. Unless her ankle gets better and she doesn’t show the fracture on her 10-day follow-up X-ray, we can presume it will be 90 – 120 days before she is training again.
Ahvee’s Destiny “ran down” in her race at Suffolk Downs. I believe this means she “burned” her hooves during the race and is being treated with TLC and no workouts. She is aiming to race on August 1st at Saratoga in the same race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
Hear the Footsteps in putting on weight. If he doesn’t bleed in his workouts, he will race on August 7th at Saratoga.
Arielle’s Song is due to breeze early next week. If she stays well, she will race soon at Saratoga. It may be her last chance as a race horse.
Stuck With you (I mean, It’s Truly Ahvee) and the Obviously New York two-year olds continue Gate Training and will breeze next week. Hopefully, they are on the verge of competing on the race track.
Cricky’sGoldeneyes is still on the farm in Florida. He will not come North until September but Pat says he’s doing well… maturing and enjoying himself.
We’ll be a Belmont to root for Holy Blitzer. Go Blitzer!
Have a nice weekend.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Hopefully, Holy Blitzer will win the 8th race on Sunday on the grass at 6 furlongs. She runs against our friends’ Patsy Symon’s Gitchie Goomie and Larry Goichman’s High Cry and four or five others. Apparently Ramon Dominguez thinks High Cry has a better chance than Blitzer, since he opted to ride that horse even though he won with Holy Blitzer easily in her last race. He replaces Cornelio Velasquez on High Cry. Now, he will ride Holy Blitzer. Oh well, we don’t seem to get a lot of respect for our horses.
Katy’s Office Girl has a slight condylar fracture of her ankle. It will require stall rest and a slow comeback. Unless her ankle gets better and she doesn’t show the fracture on her 10-day follow-up X-ray, we can presume it will be 90 – 120 days before she is training again.
Ahvee’s Destiny “ran down” in her race at Suffolk Downs. I believe this means she “burned” her hooves during the race and is being treated with TLC and no workouts. She is aiming to race on August 1st at Saratoga in the same race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
Hear the Footsteps in putting on weight. If he doesn’t bleed in his workouts, he will race on August 7th at Saratoga.
Arielle’s Song is due to breeze early next week. If she stays well, she will race soon at Saratoga. It may be her last chance as a race horse.
Stuck With you (I mean, It’s Truly Ahvee) and the Obviously New York two-year olds continue Gate Training and will breeze next week. Hopefully, they are on the verge of competing on the race track.
Cricky’sGoldeneyes is still on the farm in Florida. He will not come North until September but Pat says he’s doing well… maturing and enjoying himself.
We’ll be a Belmont to root for Holy Blitzer. Go Blitzer!
Have a nice weekend.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Seabiscuit Stakes
Posted by Avram Freedberg
That’s the name of Ahvee’s Destiny’s 5 furlong grass race from post 6 at Boston’s Suffolk Downs tomorrow. She’s closer to home (but we can’t go because of prior commitments – BOO!). She’s got a tough race but it’s less of a ride for her to get there and a larger purse than the race at Presque Isles Downs. It’s at 3:27PM tomorrow but not on TVG as I originally thought. So, watching it stream on the computer will have to do.
True to Tradition and stablemate, Awakino Cat, will be the toughest competitors if Jiu Jitsu Jax scratches. Otherwise, he may be favored. H G Ramos is the number 2 rider at Suffolk Downs, so we can only hope he will do as well as Harry Vega did with her at Presque Isles Downs on June 8th.
C’mon Ahvee, it’s the Seabiscuit Stakes. He wasn’t a horse that was loved by the pundits, just by the public. We’re your public and we love you. Do it to it!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
That’s the name of Ahvee’s Destiny’s 5 furlong grass race from post 6 at Boston’s Suffolk Downs tomorrow. She’s closer to home (but we can’t go because of prior commitments – BOO!). She’s got a tough race but it’s less of a ride for her to get there and a larger purse than the race at Presque Isles Downs. It’s at 3:27PM tomorrow but not on TVG as I originally thought. So, watching it stream on the computer will have to do.
True to Tradition and stablemate, Awakino Cat, will be the toughest competitors if Jiu Jitsu Jax scratches. Otherwise, he may be favored. H G Ramos is the number 2 rider at Suffolk Downs, so we can only hope he will do as well as Harry Vega did with her at Presque Isles Downs on June 8th.
C’mon Ahvee, it’s the Seabiscuit Stakes. He wasn’t a horse that was loved by the pundits, just by the public. We’re your public and we love you. Do it to it!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Ahvee's Destiny will NOT race tonight
Posted by Avram Freedberg
She will race on Saturday at Suffolk Downs. More info Friday.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
She will race on Saturday at Suffolk Downs. More info Friday.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Thanks for your good wishes
Posted by Avram Freedberg
A week ago I was feeling more like a young man. Last Friday night, I came down with a blitzkrieg cold. On top of my having problems with the thin air up here, I could not sleep a wink. Frankly, I was scared… couldn’t breathe, couldn’t sleep, heart beating heavily in my chest.
So, of course, I just kept doing things, got in touch with my wonderful doctor who is always available and phoned in prescriptions, took my daughter’s recommendation and got a neti pot, and took up Hillary Zitter’s offer to use oxygen. Saturday night I slept a little, Sunday night best night of sleep yet. Between Friday night and tonight, I went ballooning, did a lot of walking, went to an amusement park and actually rode a small coaster, visited Betty Ford Gardens and Nature Center, etc., etc. I’m tired, still feel sick BUT FEEL ALIVE!
I couldn’t argue with Linda Rice about scratching Holy Blitzer for a softer race. When you scratch a grass horse for another race, you never know if the weather will see that next race taken off the grass. She certainly would have been competitive. As it turned out, her stablemate, In Te Domine, won the race easily.
That begs the question, “was she scratched in favor of the other horse?” At this point, it is moot. Linda will look for another race and we’ll see how she does.
In the meantime, Ahvee’s Destiny is going back to Presque Isle Thursday night for a $48,000 allowance race against the boys. I’ll get to see the past performances of the entrants tomorrow. However, it is likely she will be in good shape versus the field. Then she will run at Saratoga on August 1st in a Stakes race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
She had a bullet workout today, breezing handily 4 furlongs in 48.80. She’s ready. Go Ahvee!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
A week ago I was feeling more like a young man. Last Friday night, I came down with a blitzkrieg cold. On top of my having problems with the thin air up here, I could not sleep a wink. Frankly, I was scared… couldn’t breathe, couldn’t sleep, heart beating heavily in my chest.
So, of course, I just kept doing things, got in touch with my wonderful doctor who is always available and phoned in prescriptions, took my daughter’s recommendation and got a neti pot, and took up Hillary Zitter’s offer to use oxygen. Saturday night I slept a little, Sunday night best night of sleep yet. Between Friday night and tonight, I went ballooning, did a lot of walking, went to an amusement park and actually rode a small coaster, visited Betty Ford Gardens and Nature Center, etc., etc. I’m tired, still feel sick BUT FEEL ALIVE!
I couldn’t argue with Linda Rice about scratching Holy Blitzer for a softer race. When you scratch a grass horse for another race, you never know if the weather will see that next race taken off the grass. She certainly would have been competitive. As it turned out, her stablemate, In Te Domine, won the race easily.
That begs the question, “was she scratched in favor of the other horse?” At this point, it is moot. Linda will look for another race and we’ll see how she does.
In the meantime, Ahvee’s Destiny is going back to Presque Isle Thursday night for a $48,000 allowance race against the boys. I’ll get to see the past performances of the entrants tomorrow. However, it is likely she will be in good shape versus the field. Then she will run at Saratoga on August 1st in a Stakes race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
She had a bullet workout today, breezing handily 4 furlongs in 48.80. She’s ready. Go Ahvee!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Holy Blitzer
Posted by Avram Freedberg
She may be scratched today. More info when I’m feeling better.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
She may be scratched today. More info when I’m feeling better.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Holy Blitzer
Posted by Avram Freedberg
She’s scheduled for Sunday, July 4th at Belmont. She’s paired with In Te Domine from Linda’s barn in a 7 furlong race on the grass. If she can run as well as she did in her grass debut, she will be very competitive. David Cohen is in the irons. Let’s see what the Jewish boy can do.
I’ll be trying to watch from Beaver Creek, CO, land of the jet setter. Skiers, hikers, white water rafters, etc. What the hell am I doing here anyway!? I’m not sure but I know my task master keeps me at it. Maybe she hopes I will succumb to the thin air up here. Still here though. What’s a nice Jewish boy doing in a non-air conditioned condo with two crucifixes in the bedroom? I guess he was probably a nice Jewish boy too.
IPAD still giving me problems but found this PC in the lobby. Go Holy Blitzer!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
She’s scheduled for Sunday, July 4th at Belmont. She’s paired with In Te Domine from Linda’s barn in a 7 furlong race on the grass. If she can run as well as she did in her grass debut, she will be very competitive. David Cohen is in the irons. Let’s see what the Jewish boy can do.
I’ll be trying to watch from Beaver Creek, CO, land of the jet setter. Skiers, hikers, white water rafters, etc. What the hell am I doing here anyway!? I’m not sure but I know my task master keeps me at it. Maybe she hopes I will succumb to the thin air up here. Still here though. What’s a nice Jewish boy doing in a non-air conditioned condo with two crucifixes in the bedroom? I guess he was probably a nice Jewish boy too.
IPAD still giving me problems but found this PC in the lobby. Go Holy Blitzer!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
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