Wow, a Harness Racing Victory!

It's been a long time since our last victory at Saratoga Harness but Timberwolf broke the slump this week with a 1 3/4 length victory when coming from the second tier from the #9 post. Plus, when the horse right in front of him broke stride early in the race, Jordan Derue had to swerve to avoid a crash, then get back in the race and come on in the stretch to win. It was pretty to watch, but Eric couldn't get from the paddock to the Winner's Circle because the golf cart to transport him didn't work!
We now have 3 harness horses who all run for cheaper purses but, at least, seem to be competitive. There's the aforementioned Timberwolf, Naugatuck and Red Star Tomahawk, who we just claimed last weekend. The last two will both be running Saturday night.
Last Sunday Pat Hoppel got Linda so excited about a weanling filly he saw at the Keeneland Sale in Lexington, KY, she called us so aggressively, we just had to bid. So while Rhoda was at a party, I was able to watch the auction live on-line… and we got her, but that's it (Sure, sure, you're saying... and I understand your disbelief). No more thoroughbreds, no matter how cute nor how impressive they are!
That magnificent physical specimen, It's Truly Ahvee was shipped to New Vocations to be trained for a less stressful career. We will miss him.
Footsie and Jess are down on Pat's farm in Florida. They are friends, See the photo above.
The four weanlings are (or will be) at Pat's farm.
The horses we claimed are with Linda at Belmont: Arch Traveler has yet to run his first race for us. Executive Office is in the same boat. Brother Bob got injured in Saratoga and has not run since. Hidden Music won her last race but is a grass runner, so time is running out on being able to run her in NY this year.
Ahvee's Destiny is still doing well. Hopefully, all will continue to go well and she'll have a new foal for us in February!
Have a lovely weekend!
Best,
A.

She wasn't crazy today!

We almost decided not to go to Belmont today for Hidden Music's race because she's been so awful and it was such a cheap race. But she had been getting a little better in her last few races and the race was only 6 furlongs, compared to 7 furlongs in her last race where she faded in the final furlong.

 

Hidden Music looked beautiful in the paddock. More importantly, she was calmer.

 

In the gate, when the bell sounded, Jose didn't hit her at all. Still, she went for the front. This time she appeared to be running easily, not rank as she had been in many of her prior races. Well, believe it or not, the race was over. She raced in front wire-to-wire and only lengthened her lead in the stretch to win easily by 4 1/2 lengths! Yay, Hidden Music.

 

Nice way to start the weekend! Hope yours is a good weekend too.

  

Best,

  

A.

Posted by Avram Freedberg Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!

It's NOT Saratoga!

Saratoga always seems like a happy dream. Belmont brings us down to reality.

 

Hear the Footsteps ran an unusual race in Saturday's Mohawk Stakes, going right to the lead, then fading back to 10th. He came up the rail as they turned for home but had no room to get through, so Jose to took him to the outside. Unfortunately, he kept drifting out and finished 5th, only a neck out of 3rd place.

 

Yesterday Jess Not Jesse was forced to go 7 furlongs because the 6 furlong races wouldn't fill. He ran against Awakino Cat again but this time Awakino got the upper hand in the stretch but could not quite get to the winner. Jess finished 3rd.

 

Tomorrow our crazy girl, Hidden Music runs in a 6 furlong $16K Maiden Claimer. To give you an idea of the disparity between races, the purse is only $26,000. The purse in Jess's race was $82,000 and in Footsie's race it was $200K!

 

It's possible these turf horses will shortly be sent to Florida, since the turf season here will soon be over. Should we call them, "Snowbirds?" 

  

Best,

  

A.

Posted by Avram Freedberg Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!

The worm turns

Everything does not go perfectly. Jess Not Jesse finished 3rd on Friday when he couldn't get sufficient foothold on the very slippery grass course.

Yesterday, Patsy Symons's horse, Effie Trinket, won the Filly Stakes race. So, we represented her in the Winner's Circle and got some Champagne too.

We hoped it was just a dress rehearsal for Hear the Footsteps's Stakes two races later but, despite a valiant effort, he finished third. He always tries. Both those horses do!

Cameron Lucky was coming on around the stretch turn at Saratoga Harness, when a piece of equipment broke and she had to be taken back. On top of that, she was claimed away from us. Oy!

Today, It's Truly Ahvee emptied out after 3/4 of a mile and finished last in his race at Finger Lakes. Rhoda said he didn't like the way the track announcer pronounced his name (he stressed the "vee," rather than the "Ah."

We really have been spoiled by such good luck. Still watching these magnificent animals is wonderful.

More Jewish holidays and more food... but less time to get things done. Best of all, more family time!

  

Best,

A.

Yom Kippur

Greetings!

So I should be concentrating on atoning and my apologies to all and, in fact, I will be. But with the seriousness of the Days of Penitence ending in the Day of Atonement, comes racing excitement... maybe.

Tomorrow's 1st race at Belmont might see Jess Not Jesse run on the grass at 7 furlongs, if the forecast rain doesn't take it off the grass. Can he last the distance.?Hope we get to see.

Brother Bob is entered in a cheap claimer tomorrow which I won't be able to see in real time.

Tomorrow night, a recent harness acquisition, Naugatuck is racing at Saratoga Harness with Cameron Lucky going on Sunday afternoon.

The biggest race, if it goes on the grass on Sunday at Belmont, is Hear the Footsteps running in another stakes race but at his longest distance yet, 1 1/8 miles. It's against all his friends from the West Point Stakes and some new faces. It's tough, but he deserves the shot.

It's Truly Ahvee runs in a $25K Allowance race at Finger Lakes also at a longer distance of 1 mile 70 yds.

That's a lot of racing in a short time. Whew!

As for the apologies and the introspection... it has been a tough year in many respects. I can't replace my mother. Of course, she is still with me. In fact, getting to read some of her thoughts in her papers, letters and travel diaries, it has been like talking to her on a deeper level. Unfortunately, I can't ask questions or make comments. Nonetheless, it's better than not having had the opportunity to connect with her on another level.

That's life, good things and bad things mix together. You can only hope for more of the good things. And, that is what I wish you, more good things in your life than the bad. I'll try to be more of a good thing than a bad thing. I hope you know that even though I'm doing my best, I expect to make my best better to all of our benefit.

Thanks for your friendship and your interest in my missives.

  

Best,

  

A.