Posted by Avram Freedberg
When I first saw Holy Blitzer in person at Clyde Rice’s Indian Prairie Ranch, she was a beautiful, filled out, gray yearling about to turn 2. Next time, I saw her in Linda’s barn and didn’t believe she was the same horse. She had turned mostly white and thinned out a great deal. Actually, she reminded me of Katy’s Office Girl, who looked like that when she was a yearling.
Her first race last month looked awful. She started almost last in 10th position and never could catch up. She was running against other $15,000 maiden claimers… a pretty lowly group. She was one of the lows of the low. So, when she was the morning line favorite and Linda said she could win today’s race against $12,500 maiden claimers, I didn’t understand how she was going to accomplish that. I took a group to the Big A today to watch her but warned them of what should have been obvious to all. She wasn’t likely to win, no matter what the trainer and the track handicapper said. In fact, I mentioned my thought that the low odds from the track handicapper came about when he thought she was going to be coupled in the betting with a stablemate who had soundly trounced her by 6 lengths in their last meeting. However, that horse was scratched.
When she went off at almost 4-1 as the third choice, this seemed more in line, though it still seemed aggressive. Then, the bell sounded and the gate opened. She got a good start… not first but 2nd and then she was eased back to 3rd. Even though she was wearing blinkers to keep her focused, she kept looking around. As they came into the homestretch, her jockey, Gabriel Saez, asked her for more and she gave it… but just as she passed the leader, she looked to her right, tried to stride to her right and lost some ground. She was meandering right and left. Then Saez got into her and she started straightening away… and pulling away. Like a white steed with her little knight in gold and brown silks with Cricket in the middle urging her on, she took command. The chart shows her 2 ¾ lengths ahead of the 2nd place finisher. She WON! Imagine the margin if she had not had to run on the outside and if she didn’t do so much sightseeing.
Obviously, I’m thrilled she won but sad that I didn’t back her strongly. Much of my group shied away from strong backing because I was so down on her. I had forgotten one thing. She was the name sake of Jim Balitsos, Sr., the original Blitzer. No doubt his spirit helped her to victory. Yes, the other horses were pretty bad (the 2nd placer, Favorite Color, has run 20 times without winning – finishing 2nd 8 times and 3rd 4 times. She’s actually earned over $60K, pretty good for a non-winner of 20). Nonetheless, she was victorious. Go Blitzer!
I have to say, it felt good to make it to the winner’s circle, especially with my group present… and Rhoda, who couldn’t join us for lunch, but came down just for the race, standing next to me. I’m one lucky guy!
Happy Passover and Easter to all. I bet you’ll be hearing from me soon again.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Holy Blitzer
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Holy Blitzer will run tomorrow at Aqueduct in the 4th race. She’s coupled with another horse who beat her in her only race but that horse will be scratched according to Linda. Based on that coupling I believe, she is the morning line favorite (frankly, this is hard to understand based on her last performance, a terrible Beyer Speed Rating of 13). Nonetheless, I’ll be leading a group of 8 to root her on. We’ll go for a quick lunch, then down to the paddock to watch her saddle up and then watch the race. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to the Winner’s Circle, then back to work. A nice little diversion (particularly if we win!).
Ahvee’s Destiny had another breeze without shoes on. She was 2nd fastest and is doing well. Hopefully, she’ll be racing next month.
Hear the Footsteps had his first breeze since being gelded. He looked good, going 3 furlongs in 37.86. Nice for a first effort.
I’ll try to get an update from Linda and Pat on the other horses (It’s Truly Ahvee had a nice breeze at Pat’s farm last Friday). Back to you soon with more info and the race results.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Holy Blitzer will run tomorrow at Aqueduct in the 4th race. She’s coupled with another horse who beat her in her only race but that horse will be scratched according to Linda. Based on that coupling I believe, she is the morning line favorite (frankly, this is hard to understand based on her last performance, a terrible Beyer Speed Rating of 13). Nonetheless, I’ll be leading a group of 8 to root her on. We’ll go for a quick lunch, then down to the paddock to watch her saddle up and then watch the race. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to the Winner’s Circle, then back to work. A nice little diversion (particularly if we win!).
Ahvee’s Destiny had another breeze without shoes on. She was 2nd fastest and is doing well. Hopefully, she’ll be racing next month.
Hear the Footsteps had his first breeze since being gelded. He looked good, going 3 furlongs in 37.86. Nice for a first effort.
I’ll try to get an update from Linda and Pat on the other horses (It’s Truly Ahvee had a nice breeze at Pat’s farm last Friday). Back to you soon with more info and the race results.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Horse tails
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Two horses, two jockeys named Lopez, two different races, same result. Yes, by the end of each race, the jockeys were able to whip out their cameras and take photos of all the horse tails in front of them to form a beautiful montage of horses derrieres. Should make a nice poster you can send to your favorite horse’s ass. I know who the biggest horse’s ass is… unfortunately, it is the majority owner of these two nags! All the loving in the world and their good breeding has not turned them into race horses. I apologize to my partner in these horses (and his dad, who tends to back them strongly at the betting window), to my partner in life and to my daughter who named Arielle’s Song.
Yesterday, Conseated Lady was out of the gate fast and vied for the lead for more than half the race. Then she felt a little winded and decided it was time to fantasize about a cold beer or some iced tea. There was actually one horse who finished behind her.
Today, Arielle’s Song was perfectly placed in fourth. She seemed to be running well, started to come on into third and ran into a wall of those same beer cans. As they say, she emptied out (I guess to make room for the beer). She finished last. Ugh!
The good news is that the Queen of the Stable is back in training and breezed 3 furlongs barefoot on the grass. Even barefoot, she was fastest of the six who worked that distance today on the grass. She has a tiny bit of heat in her left front foot but as long as it doesn’t get worse, she should be fine. She’ll probably get horse shoes glued on soon. They seem to be working well on Canadian Ballet, her archrival in Linda’s barn. We’re currently aiming for a $100,000 race at Keeneland in Kentucky. However, I’ve heard that for each of the last two years and she’s never made it there.
Holy Blitzer should be entered to race at Aqueduct soon. Hear the Footsteps will begin galloping shortly. Katy’s Office Girl gets a week off from breezing because she’s getting too thin (not a problem I’m familiar with).
As for the two 2-yr. olds, Pat still loves It’s Truly Ahvee. Pat says he’s high strung (he better be careful or Linda may be looking to clip him. Next thing you know, she’ll be doing circumcisions!). As Pat puts it, “high strung… like lots of the really good horses!” There’s long way to go, but we can dream. Cricky’s GoldenEyes is also coming along. A decision on whether he will be sold at the Baltimore sale after the Preakness will be made in the next 2 months, once we see how he performs in training.
So, it really is the beginning of the racing season. Now someone’s gotta tell my horses!
Best,
A.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Two horses, two jockeys named Lopez, two different races, same result. Yes, by the end of each race, the jockeys were able to whip out their cameras and take photos of all the horse tails in front of them to form a beautiful montage of horses derrieres. Should make a nice poster you can send to your favorite horse’s ass. I know who the biggest horse’s ass is… unfortunately, it is the majority owner of these two nags! All the loving in the world and their good breeding has not turned them into race horses. I apologize to my partner in these horses (and his dad, who tends to back them strongly at the betting window), to my partner in life and to my daughter who named Arielle’s Song.
Yesterday, Conseated Lady was out of the gate fast and vied for the lead for more than half the race. Then she felt a little winded and decided it was time to fantasize about a cold beer or some iced tea. There was actually one horse who finished behind her.
Today, Arielle’s Song was perfectly placed in fourth. She seemed to be running well, started to come on into third and ran into a wall of those same beer cans. As they say, she emptied out (I guess to make room for the beer). She finished last. Ugh!
The good news is that the Queen of the Stable is back in training and breezed 3 furlongs barefoot on the grass. Even barefoot, she was fastest of the six who worked that distance today on the grass. She has a tiny bit of heat in her left front foot but as long as it doesn’t get worse, she should be fine. She’ll probably get horse shoes glued on soon. They seem to be working well on Canadian Ballet, her archrival in Linda’s barn. We’re currently aiming for a $100,000 race at Keeneland in Kentucky. However, I’ve heard that for each of the last two years and she’s never made it there.
Holy Blitzer should be entered to race at Aqueduct soon. Hear the Footsteps will begin galloping shortly. Katy’s Office Girl gets a week off from breezing because she’s getting too thin (not a problem I’m familiar with).
As for the two 2-yr. olds, Pat still loves It’s Truly Ahvee. Pat says he’s high strung (he better be careful or Linda may be looking to clip him. Next thing you know, she’ll be doing circumcisions!). As Pat puts it, “high strung… like lots of the really good horses!” There’s long way to go, but we can dream. Cricky’s GoldenEyes is also coming along. A decision on whether he will be sold at the Baltimore sale after the Preakness will be made in the next 2 months, once we see how he performs in training.
So, it really is the beginning of the racing season. Now someone’s gotta tell my horses!
Best,
A.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Monday, March 1, 2010
The smell of race horses is in the air.
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Our lease for the whole Saratoga season is official! We will be at 128 Fifth Avenue with 4 bedrooms, a pool and a view of the Oklahoma training track. In the end, we opted for more space, renovated digs and the training track in our backyard, rather than the ability to walk to the stables, back stretch and race track. It’s still less than ¾ of a mile to the main track, making for healthy exercise when weather permits.
Ahvee’s Destiny arrived at Palm Meadows training facility last week. She will continue to train without shoes for a while longer. Then, we may try glued horseshoes, rather than nailed ones. This would be easier on her hooves, as long as the glue holds well. Linda is trying it on another horse first to see the results.
Conseated Lady will run at Aqueduct on Wednesday and Arielle’s Song will run at Gulfstream in Florida on Thursday. Unfortunately, previous commitments will not allow me to be in either spot. However, I’ll try to be watching. Hope some of you can make it. Should you want to go, please call me ASAP and I will arrange for you to be treated royally (would you believe “treated well?”).
Yes, it’s the time of year when the horsies start training, running and, hopefully, winning. We’ve got two stalled at Belmont who have yet to do anything positive in a race and one who was just gelded. Down South, we have three at the training center and two at Pat Hoppel’s farm (one being prepared for a possible sale in May and one we hope will be a good runner). I’ll have to call Pat to find out how those two are doing.
Can’t you feel the excitement that the not too distant smell of Spring brings? The tremors of Kentucky Derby prep races produce new speculation that every winner will be the next Derby champ. I even joined a fantasy thoroughbred group at DerbyDreamer.com. I can hear the hoof beats… see the cloud of dust caused by these magnificent steeds coming into the homestretch… feel the adrenaline begin pumping as they near the finish line. Just the thought makes me smile. I can’t wait to touch my horsies, feed them carrots and marvel at their beauty. Please join me in 2010.
Don’t forget… the showdown between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra is scheduled for April 9th. I had the audacity to ask Linda if Ahvee’s Destiny could enter that race. I’m such a dreamer!
Best,
A.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Our lease for the whole Saratoga season is official! We will be at 128 Fifth Avenue with 4 bedrooms, a pool and a view of the Oklahoma training track. In the end, we opted for more space, renovated digs and the training track in our backyard, rather than the ability to walk to the stables, back stretch and race track. It’s still less than ¾ of a mile to the main track, making for healthy exercise when weather permits.
Ahvee’s Destiny arrived at Palm Meadows training facility last week. She will continue to train without shoes for a while longer. Then, we may try glued horseshoes, rather than nailed ones. This would be easier on her hooves, as long as the glue holds well. Linda is trying it on another horse first to see the results.
Conseated Lady will run at Aqueduct on Wednesday and Arielle’s Song will run at Gulfstream in Florida on Thursday. Unfortunately, previous commitments will not allow me to be in either spot. However, I’ll try to be watching. Hope some of you can make it. Should you want to go, please call me ASAP and I will arrange for you to be treated royally (would you believe “treated well?”).
Yes, it’s the time of year when the horsies start training, running and, hopefully, winning. We’ve got two stalled at Belmont who have yet to do anything positive in a race and one who was just gelded. Down South, we have three at the training center and two at Pat Hoppel’s farm (one being prepared for a possible sale in May and one we hope will be a good runner). I’ll have to call Pat to find out how those two are doing.
Can’t you feel the excitement that the not too distant smell of Spring brings? The tremors of Kentucky Derby prep races produce new speculation that every winner will be the next Derby champ. I even joined a fantasy thoroughbred group at DerbyDreamer.com. I can hear the hoof beats… see the cloud of dust caused by these magnificent steeds coming into the homestretch… feel the adrenaline begin pumping as they near the finish line. Just the thought makes me smile. I can’t wait to touch my horsies, feed them carrots and marvel at their beauty. Please join me in 2010.
Don’t forget… the showdown between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra is scheduled for April 9th. I had the audacity to ask Linda if Ahvee’s Destiny could enter that race. I’m such a dreamer!
Best,
A.
Avram C. Freedberg
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
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