Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Back from Saratoga

On Friday, the night before we left for a quick Saratoga sojourn, Numismatic broke stride in his race for the second time in a row. We felt ready to throw in the towel when Eric said the horse has been exhibiting excited “male” signs and suggested gelding Numismatic for one last chance to get him focusing on his races. After hearing that, I thought I’d never want to ever cross Eric!

Saturday was very busy. We went to Belmont to support Pat Symons’s Gitchee Goomie who was running in the Ticonderoga Stakes. This was to be her last race before being sold as a broodmare. She looked good at the top of the stretch but could not maintain her momentum. Still, fininshing third in a $175K race still gets a decent pay check. It would have been really sweet if she could have won and beaten her nemesis, Hessonite, who was the odds-on winner.

That gave us 1 ½ hours for what the GPS said was a half-hour trip to NYC for dinner with good friends before seeing the original Frankie Valli on Broadway. An electronic sign on the approach to the Midtown Tunnel said it would take 26 minutes to get through the tunnel but 2 ½ hours later, we had to skip dinner and go straight to the theater. We were lucky the warning showing an empty gas tank did not get us stuck in the tunnel or on the street before we could find a gas station. At least, Frankie put on a great show! (Of course, I’m prejudice since we are one of the presenters).

We left for Saratoga after the show and pulled in before 2AM, to bed by 3AM and up to see the horses train at 6:40AM. We visited Ahvee’s Destiny who is getting her winter coat. Otherwise she looked good and was a little finicky about what she would eat. So, sometimes, we bit into the carrot to get her to follow suit and she did! She was funny.

On Monday before we left, we got to see It’s Truly Ahvee. He looked good and preferred Mrs. Pastures cookies, though he ate most of what we offered. He’ll be coming down to run at Aqueduct next week. Hear the Footsteps will also stay up North for a little while and race on the grass at Aqueduct, weather permitting.

Jess Not Jesse is entered in a race on Friday but will probably scratch and go to Pat in Florida. Tomorrow he’ll get an X-ray and Ultrasound to check his ankles and an inflamed tendon. Depending on the results, he may get turned out for two or three months or he might need some simple surgery. Awakino Cat will also go to Pat but remain in training and race at Gulfstream when ready.

Tday, there was a tragedy at Belmont when Jaeger (maybe Yeager), Abigail Adsit’s little white dog, ran out in the road and was killed instantly by a car. She’s devastated, just as we would be if it happened to our beloved Jose. Jeanne will go to Belmont tomorrow to comfort her daughter. Our sincere condolences.

Wishing you good things,

A.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Going to Saratoga

With all that’s been going on this Fall, we’ve missed an International Balloon Festival and a horse sale, since Labor Day. The synagogue in Saratoga we attend is having a Centennial Ball on Sunday, so we’re going. It’ll be the last chance to see whichever horses are still based there, since the training area closes down November 1 until next April-May. Of course, we’re going to see our mare, Ahvee’s Destiny at Ellen’s farm.

Awakino Cat didn’t like the soft grass, the hard competition or the 7 furlongs (but that may just be the level of competition). He was well placed, fell back, came on a little but was empty in the stretch for a 6th place finish.

Jess Not Jesse’s race came off the grass, so he scratched.

It’s Truly Ahvee should be ready for a race as Aqueduct opens.

Hear the Footsteps ate nothing yesterday and was running 102 fever. Hopefully, he’ll bounce back quickly. Not much more time for grass races and the wet weather makes even fewer of them.

Numismatic runs in a $7500 claimer tomorrow night. He’s coming out of the 7 spot, so it’ll be a tough race for him. If he doesn’t show something soon, he’ll be going on a permanent vacation.

We’ve just acquired a 4-yr. old filly, pacer Cameron Lucky, and shipped her to Eric’s farm. Hope to meet her this weekend.

Have a lovely weekend!

Best,

A.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Horses

Awakino Cat is in a turf stakes race today at Belmont. It’s the 7th race with post time at 4:02 at 7 furlongs from post 6 with Cornelio Velasquez in the irons. He’s 8-1 morning line against a tough crowd but we love him just the same. Go Awakino!

Jess Not Jesse had his Belmont race on Wednesday taken off the grass, so he scratched. We’re hoping to come up with something for him and Hear the Footsteps next week.

It’s Truly Ahvee needs a couple of more breezes before he is ready to race. Hope it’s soon.

Our trotter, Numismatic, gives us lots of agita. He’ll be put into the lowest class to try and find a way for him to win.

Best,

A.