Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Racing tonight and tomorrow night

They took Katy's race off the grass on Sunday at Belmont, so she scratched.

They didn't use the "Shana Tova" Stakes race for Awakino originally scheduled for Thursday at Belmont, so Ahvee's Destiny will run at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA tonight and Awakino Cat will run there tomorrow night.

Presque Isle Downs has an All-Weather synthetic track. Ahvee won the Satin and Lace Stakes there last year and won her biggest purse. However, she ran there in an allowance race earlier this year and ran poorly. Which Ahvee's Destiny will show up tonight? The track handicapper has made her the second favorite at 7-2. She runs from the fourth post position with the number 5 on her saddle blanket (This is because there is a two-horse entry in an outside post position but sporting the numbers 1 and 1A). It's race number 8 but will not be televised on TVG. Post time is 8:25PM. Harry Vega, whose ridden her in both her prior appearances, is up in the irons.

Awakino Cat's worst race was at Presque Isle Downs with Harry Vega up earlier this year. We're hoping it wasn't the surface but I guess we'll find out tomorrow night. We're trying to stretch him out to 6 1/2 furlongs and see if this helps his late kick. If he does well tonight, we will point him to a really big race in Cananda on 10/16… but let's get by this one first. He runs at 8 PM tomorrow night in race 7 from post 3 with the number 4 (Yes, there is a two-horse entry with the numbers 1 and 1A). Unbelievably, he is the morning line favorite at 3-1.

Once again, best wishes for a healthy, happy and successful new Jewish year! This goes for all of you, no matter what your persuasion.

A.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Fall Racing

Holy Blitzer will race today at Belmont Park in the 2nd race on the grass with Ramon Dominguez in the saddle. It's probably her last chance to perform before she gets shipped out to Finger Lakes but it's against stiff competition. I'm assuming it's the only kind of race that would be on the grass this time of year, because it certainly doesn't seem fair to her. The morning line odds are 15-1.

Ahvee's Destiny will take a whirl at Presque Isle again in a sprint some time in the next week. Details to follow when we know them. Awakino Cat is pointing to a listed Stakes at Belmont on September 29th at 6 furlongs.

Katy's Office Girl is being entered today for a race on 9/25 at Belmont but we don't know whether it will be used or whether it will be affected by the rainy forecast. The rain is the reason that a race we were anticipating for the Hear the Footsteps at Belmont on Saturday was not used.

Next week, It's Truly Ahvee and Cricket'sGoldeneyes will be ultrasounded and a dtermination made about trying to put them back in training, if possible.

That's the skinny!

Next week is Jewish New Year, so we wish a Happy, Healthy, Successful New Year to all!

Best,

A.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Race Results

To make a long story short, my I-Pad made it difficult to communicate from the road. So, eveything was done in shorthand.
Sorry about that.

Because of heavy rain in Saratoga, it was decided to send both Ahvee's Destiny and Awakino Cat to Parx in Philadelphia for the big races. Alan Garcia kept both horses on the inside behind a wall of competitors. Perhaps that's because they both lacked "early foot". However, Ahvee's Destiny went nowhere fast (or should I say slow) and finished up the track in 9th. Garcia found a hole late for Awakino Cat but at the short 5 furlong distance, he couldn't get on the board. Though he finished fast only 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, he was in fifth place.

It was exciting to have them compete for the big purses. Hopefully, we will lengthen Awakino's future races and see how he does with a little more time to catch the leaders.

Saratoga's season is done. We'll start contemplating the future in short order.
Have a good week!

A.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Big Races

Ahvee at Parx for $200K.

Awakino for $350K.

This afternoon weather permitting.

Avram C. Freedberg