Saturday, July 27, 2013

Ups and Downs

We've been in Saratoga for over a week but had many frustrations with our computer which delayed any messaging. So, let's play catch-up.  

Hear the Footsteps was entered in a Stakes race last Sunday but was not quite recovered from his two victories in nine days and with the tough competition, he was scratched.

Cameron Lucky ran Thursday night at Saratoga Harness but managed only a 4th place finish in a claiming race.

Inchcape had run two sprints on dirt very poorly. So, Linda tried him on turf and extended the distance to 1 1/16 miles. It was a great call, since he just missed today by less than a head at 13-1. We were excited with his race, since we thought we found a new young horse who could be competitive. Apparently, someone else thought he had potential, since they claimed this 13-1 shot and we lost the race... pretty frustrating, even though that is the business of claiming. You win some and you lose some... very philosophical, even practical... but it still hurts!

Tomorrow, It's Truly Ahvee will run in a claimer at a much lesser price. It's the sixth race out of the 13 post with Cornelio up.

Jess Not Jesse is on the "also eligible" list. If there is an early scratch of another entrant, Jesse will get in the race (unless Linda thinks it inadvisable to run). It's the eleventh race on the turf with Cornelio in the saddle for this one too. It's also a cheaper claimer.

The way people have been claiming horses at this Saratoga meet (there were 18 claims for the same horse in a recent race), we'll probably lose both of them to a claim. Ugh! Double ugh if they don't win.

Best,

A

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Agony and the Ecstasy

Greetings!

Friday afternoon and evening showed both sides of horse racing, or as ABC used to say the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!

 

Hidden Music, our expensive claim of a few months ago, took off from the start went as fast as she could, fighting Jose Ortiz all the while. She kept trying to "get out." This is just as it sounds, she wanted to go to the outside, rather than run in a straight line.

 

Jose could not control her speed. At one point she was in front by 7 lengths. Of course, to the viewer, it looked like she might runaway with the race... that certainly would have been ecstasy for us! Too bad, we thought, that we weren't at Belmont for this breakthrough performance.

 

The only thing that broke through was her stamina. By the time she came around the stretch turn, she was finished. I think she may be still running! She would barely have been first in the next race. That's agony.

 

In the 8th race, Hear the Footsteps was going against a tougher crowd than his last race... at least on paper. I had to get to synagogue and dinner in Scarsdale, so we couldn't be at Belmont for his race. We had to watch it on the computer.

 

Jose took him out near the lead and then settled back into 4th, except this time he was further back than in his last two races. I got worried by how far back he was running. Then Tom Durkin, who calls the races, said, "Hear the Footsteps is uncoiling that stride of his" and I knew were coming on.

  

Jose took him wide around the stretch turn. Was it too wide? He was still in 4th place and now they were running out of stretch, but he kept coming on. By the 1/16th pole, he was in front by a long nose and kept the 2nd place finisher at bay, expanding his lead to win by 1/2 length. Yay Footsie, three in a row! Not even the Queen (Ahvee's Destiny) managed to do that.

  

Yup, that was the ecstasy... three wins in ten weeks, after 2 1/2 years without a single victory. Linda found spots where he could shine in 6 and 7 furlong sprints. He certainly rose to the occasion. twenty-one starts, five wins, three seconds and nine thirds. Quite impressive, Footsie. Good boy! 

  

Best,

  

A.

  

Sincerely,

Avram Freedberg

Everything's Cricket Racing

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Hear the Footsteps

Greetings!

The weather at Belmont yesterday afternoon was hot and humid. We had been worried that the forecast rain might result in Footsie's race being taken off the grass. It didn't rain and there was Footsie walking into the paddock. The humidity left him a bit wet... but ready 

Jose Ortiz had been aboard him for his last race, when he won for the first time in two years. We met Jose in the paddock and before you know it, he was aboard and the parade to the post followed.  

Footsie was 5-2, not quite the favorite. He went into the 4 post and when they were all in the gate, the bell sounded and he came out near the top but then settled back to fourth on the inside. He ran easily but appeared boxed in by all the horses around him. 

However, when they came around the stretch turn, Jose eased him to the outside, found a seam between horses and started making his run towards the leaders. "C'mon Footsie," we all yelled... and he did! By the 16th pole, he had edged in front and kept edging away from his competition to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Out came my silks (they only come out for appearances in the Winner's Circle) and we got Footsie, who was very excited, to join us in the Winner's Circle. Then, we went to dinner and broke out a bottle of sparkling Italian Prosecco with Linda and Aaron, the Matzah Man.

Footsie is quite special. He has finished in the money in an incredible 80% of his races! He's won his last two races and has 4 wins, 3 seconds and 9 thirds. In addition, he's a happy horse. He squeals when he goes out to train each day. When he eats our carrots and treats, he nibbles... very dainty! We love him and so does the trainer's staff people.  

When you come to stay in Saratoga, you may end up in the Ahvee's Destiny bedroom or the Hear the Footsteps bedroom (sorry Pomerantzs but he's earned it!). Yay Footsie!

Hidden Music is entered for Sunday at Belmont in the fourth race. If she runs, we plan to be there.

We'll be going to Saratoga in just two weeks. Have a lovely weekend!

Best,

A.

Sincerely,

Avram Freedberg

Everything's Cricket Racing


Wednesday, July 3, 2013

It's almost Saratoga time

Kaddish is the memorial prayer one say during three prayer services each day. It must be said with a Minyan, a minimum of ten adult Jews (men only, for the Orthodox) present. Since we could not find 10 circumcised Masai warriors, much less 10 Jews, we had to cancel a wonderful African Safari in Tanzania with our good friends.

Instead, we went to a trade show in Rome, where we could find synagogues who had a daily minyan for the various services. Naturally, Linda Rice decided to run some horses at Belmont the day after we got to Rome. Awakino Cat, a stalwart of her barn for 6 years, came in second in a $25,000 claiming race and was claimed by trainer David Jacobson. Arch Traveler was entered in $35,000 claiming race that same day and ran a lackluster fourth but was not claimed.

Cameron Lucky, our only harness horse, ran out of the money the last two weekends 

Today, Hear the Footsteps is scheduled to run on the turf in the 9th race at Belmont with Jose Ortiz in the irons out of the 4 hole. It'll be an off track. As long as there are no big downpours, the race should stay on the grass... but who can know. He'll be competitive. He usually is. Go Footsie!

People are making reservations for their stays in Saratoga. Give us a call, if you're interested. It's great to wake up and watch the horsies train in the mornings. Our Jose likes it too! 

  

Best,

A.

Sincerely,

Avram Freedberg

Everything's Cricket Racing