Posted by Avram Freedberg
The horses paraded around uneventfully in the paddock prior to Hear the Footsteps’s race this afternoon when suddenly a thud was heard and the crowd around the paddock gasped noticeably. Cincinnati Kid a 30-1 shot lashed out at his jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan with his powerful foot as the jockey was about to mount him. He kicked Jermaine in the ribs. After lying motionless for several minutes, the jockey was lucid and was rushed to Albany Medical Center. The horse was scratched when no one else agreed to ride him. Later, Bridgmohan was judged able to ride tomorrow. A tragedy had been averted.
Now on to the race. Hear the Footsteps was bumped at the start, lost a shoe during the race and ran erratically, losing ground as the race progressed. Thanks to the skillful ride of Alan Garcia, Hear the Footsteps started moving well into the stretch. He kept on coming but it appeared he could not catch the leader. We were all screaming for him but it seemed the finish line would be reached too soon… but he kept on coming… and coming. As they approached the line, he inched in front but as the heads bobbed on the finish line victory was not assured. The PHOTO sign went up on the board. We waited breathlessly for the judges to post the order of finish. 1st – Hear the Footsteps. We all roared and I got to don my copy of the jockey silks and enter the Winner’s Circle. Rob and I were surrounded by family and friends. As Linda Rice arrived and Alan Garcia rode in on the victor, we posed for our photo. Wow! What an exciting race. The link below is to the official chart of the race (copy and paste onto your browser, if the link doesn’t work. Sometimes the entire link is not highlighted).
http://www1.drf.com/drfNCWeeklyHorseDisplay.do?track=SAR&country=USA&raceDate=20100807&raceNo=3
This was the first time ever that my children, Jonathan and Arielle and her partner, Tamar, were ever in the Winner’s Circle with us. Jonathan surprised us by arriving from California. It was very special. So, this Maiden win by Hear the Footsteps meant so much more because it was shared with them and so many good friends.
Arielle’s Song is entered in a race on August 11th and, we hope, our two year old colt, It’s Truly Ahvee, will race on the 14th. Then back to Stamford for a wedding and a few days of work before Ahvee’s Destiny races on the 18th (if she doesn’t race at Monmouth on the 15th).
We continue to have some very good luck at Saratoga. Yay!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Linda Rice meeting
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Linda is a beautiful woman as well as a leading trainer. I made a lunch date with her while Rhoda was busy with her friends at the Fabulous Fillies luncheon. We had a nice lunch and then she took me to look at yearlings on display who would be sold at tonight’s auction. Finally, she invited me to see her apartment. Well, my fantasies were in full gear as we went up to her beautiful apartment. She gave me the tour, including the Master Bedroom but I was precluded from even fantasizing when her parents greeted me. Oh well!
At lunch, we reviewed the horse situation with special emphasis on last week’s mistake riddled situation with Ahvee’s Destiny. I hit the trifecta with Ahvee’s Destiny last week. First, she was entered in The Finney Stakes for Sunday. She was the defending champion and, since the race is named for a repeat sponsor of the Saratoga Meet and the Racing Secretary said they expected 8 or 9 horses to compete and the weather was forecast to be good, I did not authorize spending $500 to enter her in another race at Penn National. Well, that was the first two parts of the trifecta… the Finney Stakes did not get sufficient entries and did not run and we had no alternate race. The race in Pennsylvania came up with a soft field, except for Canadian Ballet, who ended up winning the race in a time that would have made Destiny very competitive.
Then came the coup de grace… Linda had me spend $1500 to enter Destiny in a race in Canada, plus there were licensing fees, etc. Figure we spent $2000. However, after seeing the entrants, Linda did not want her to compete and scratched her from the race. No race, no action, $2000 lighter!
So, I am here for two weeks with not one race (Arielle’s Song was entered but there were too many horses). That and the trifecta above cause much frustration. Then I thought I found races in which Linda should have entered Destiny. However, she showed me I was wrong about the conditions. I felt really foolish.
Then, we spoke about the other horses. Hear the Footsteps should race on August 7th. It’s Truly Ahvee, the two year old colt will point for a race August 14th and Destiny will either race at Monmouth on August 15th or at Saratoga on August 18th. Arielle’s Song will be entered as soon as the appropriate race is scheduled. Unless she does well, she is headed for a lesser racetrack and eventually out of inventory. Linda says the same will have to be the situation with Holy Blitzer, whose knee is deteriorating.
Of the two remaining Obviously New York Stable 2-yr olds, Millie Money will likely get to the races first, if she starts eating again and Obviously Tuesday should get to the races by the end of the Meet.
I’ve come to the realization that my expectations were not realistic. The past two years have seen us come to Saratoga one day and Ahvee’s Destiny would win a Stakes race the next day. The camaraderie we’d had with other owners is still there, just not as constant or as strong as it appeared to be. The trainer is a star, so I can’t expect her to be spending lots of time with us. So, we’ll have to settle for what we can get. C’est la vie.
As for the house, it (and even the pool) are in shape and ready for the guests about to arrive. I can see we’re likely to be going back and forth after the 15th. That is the reason we took the house for the whole season. Now, if we can just win some races…
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Linda is a beautiful woman as well as a leading trainer. I made a lunch date with her while Rhoda was busy with her friends at the Fabulous Fillies luncheon. We had a nice lunch and then she took me to look at yearlings on display who would be sold at tonight’s auction. Finally, she invited me to see her apartment. Well, my fantasies were in full gear as we went up to her beautiful apartment. She gave me the tour, including the Master Bedroom but I was precluded from even fantasizing when her parents greeted me. Oh well!
At lunch, we reviewed the horse situation with special emphasis on last week’s mistake riddled situation with Ahvee’s Destiny. I hit the trifecta with Ahvee’s Destiny last week. First, she was entered in The Finney Stakes for Sunday. She was the defending champion and, since the race is named for a repeat sponsor of the Saratoga Meet and the Racing Secretary said they expected 8 or 9 horses to compete and the weather was forecast to be good, I did not authorize spending $500 to enter her in another race at Penn National. Well, that was the first two parts of the trifecta… the Finney Stakes did not get sufficient entries and did not run and we had no alternate race. The race in Pennsylvania came up with a soft field, except for Canadian Ballet, who ended up winning the race in a time that would have made Destiny very competitive.
Then came the coup de grace… Linda had me spend $1500 to enter Destiny in a race in Canada, plus there were licensing fees, etc. Figure we spent $2000. However, after seeing the entrants, Linda did not want her to compete and scratched her from the race. No race, no action, $2000 lighter!
So, I am here for two weeks with not one race (Arielle’s Song was entered but there were too many horses). That and the trifecta above cause much frustration. Then I thought I found races in which Linda should have entered Destiny. However, she showed me I was wrong about the conditions. I felt really foolish.
Then, we spoke about the other horses. Hear the Footsteps should race on August 7th. It’s Truly Ahvee, the two year old colt will point for a race August 14th and Destiny will either race at Monmouth on August 15th or at Saratoga on August 18th. Arielle’s Song will be entered as soon as the appropriate race is scheduled. Unless she does well, she is headed for a lesser racetrack and eventually out of inventory. Linda says the same will have to be the situation with Holy Blitzer, whose knee is deteriorating.
Of the two remaining Obviously New York Stable 2-yr olds, Millie Money will likely get to the races first, if she starts eating again and Obviously Tuesday should get to the races by the end of the Meet.
I’ve come to the realization that my expectations were not realistic. The past two years have seen us come to Saratoga one day and Ahvee’s Destiny would win a Stakes race the next day. The camaraderie we’d had with other owners is still there, just not as constant or as strong as it appeared to be. The trainer is a star, so I can’t expect her to be spending lots of time with us. So, we’ll have to settle for what we can get. C’est la vie.
As for the house, it (and even the pool) are in shape and ready for the guests about to arrive. I can see we’re likely to be going back and forth after the 15th. That is the reason we took the house for the whole season. Now, if we can just win some races…
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Saratoga... a different experience
Posted by Avram Freedberg
They say you can’t go home again. Part of the reason for that saying, is that conditions change, you have certain expectations that may not be realizable, you’re used to magical things happening and now it’s mundane.
Each of the past two years, we have arrived in Saratoga and Ahvee’s Destiny has run in a Stakes race the day after our arrival… and WON! What a wonderful way to start your vacation.
This year we arrived to find the house we were renting rife with problems. We walked in to find a cleaning person “finishing up.” Suffice it to say that in our opinion, she hadn’t really started. The refrigerator was filthy. The first time I tried the Master bath shower, it started spewing mud on me. All the windows were open and the flies roamed throughout. It was hot and uncomfortable. When it rained, it leaked on my sink in the Master bath. There was no remote control for the garage. And, the pool looked like a swamp.
So, we had a cleaning person we knew come in and clean. We dealt with each of the problems – one by one. Only the pool remains an issue and even that has been made more presentable, though it’s not usable yet.
We have not had one horse race yet. Ahvee’s Destiny was scheduled to race Sunday in this year’s edition of The Finney Stakes, which she won last year. Inexplicably, the race did not fill (with entries) and was not used. So, we’re caught in a dilemma about where and when to race her.
Arielle’s Song is preparing for her “do or die” race. If she doesn’t do, she may no longer be a race horse.
Hear the Footsteps arrived this week. He is still pointing to a race on August 7th. However, he is a little thin. So, is It’s Truly Ahvee, who had a nice breeze today but was reported as “running out” a bit. So, we’ll have to see how he comes out of the breeze tomorrow.
Two out of four of the Obviously NY Stable 2-yr olds, have been famed out due to physical problems. Holy Blitzer is still at Belmont with some soreness. And, Katy’s Office Girl has been sent to a farm an hour north of Belmont for 60 days.
On the plus side, we’ve had fun with good friends and are situated right next to the Oklahoma training track. So, we wake up to see horses all around us. We’ve gone to several concerts and are seeing Maroon 5 tonight and Sting with the Royal Philharmonic tomorrow night. Last night, we spent some time with Bo Derek at a charity event because we were with Bay Buchanan, whom Bo wanted to meet and greet. Plus, we had fun at the auction. The historic Canfield Casino venue was very special.
It’s always fun to feed the horses at the stables and be out watching them train early in the morning. We find it at once peaceful and exhilarating. The food has been really good. I’m sure the waistline has grown!
Hope all is well with you. Still room available at the inn for next mid-week… Have a lovely weekend!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
They say you can’t go home again. Part of the reason for that saying, is that conditions change, you have certain expectations that may not be realizable, you’re used to magical things happening and now it’s mundane.
Each of the past two years, we have arrived in Saratoga and Ahvee’s Destiny has run in a Stakes race the day after our arrival… and WON! What a wonderful way to start your vacation.
This year we arrived to find the house we were renting rife with problems. We walked in to find a cleaning person “finishing up.” Suffice it to say that in our opinion, she hadn’t really started. The refrigerator was filthy. The first time I tried the Master bath shower, it started spewing mud on me. All the windows were open and the flies roamed throughout. It was hot and uncomfortable. When it rained, it leaked on my sink in the Master bath. There was no remote control for the garage. And, the pool looked like a swamp.
So, we had a cleaning person we knew come in and clean. We dealt with each of the problems – one by one. Only the pool remains an issue and even that has been made more presentable, though it’s not usable yet.
We have not had one horse race yet. Ahvee’s Destiny was scheduled to race Sunday in this year’s edition of The Finney Stakes, which she won last year. Inexplicably, the race did not fill (with entries) and was not used. So, we’re caught in a dilemma about where and when to race her.
Arielle’s Song is preparing for her “do or die” race. If she doesn’t do, she may no longer be a race horse.
Hear the Footsteps arrived this week. He is still pointing to a race on August 7th. However, he is a little thin. So, is It’s Truly Ahvee, who had a nice breeze today but was reported as “running out” a bit. So, we’ll have to see how he comes out of the breeze tomorrow.
Two out of four of the Obviously NY Stable 2-yr olds, have been famed out due to physical problems. Holy Blitzer is still at Belmont with some soreness. And, Katy’s Office Girl has been sent to a farm an hour north of Belmont for 60 days.
On the plus side, we’ve had fun with good friends and are situated right next to the Oklahoma training track. So, we wake up to see horses all around us. We’ve gone to several concerts and are seeing Maroon 5 tonight and Sting with the Royal Philharmonic tomorrow night. Last night, we spent some time with Bo Derek at a charity event because we were with Bay Buchanan, whom Bo wanted to meet and greet. Plus, we had fun at the auction. The historic Canfield Casino venue was very special.
It’s always fun to feed the horses at the stables and be out watching them train early in the morning. We find it at once peaceful and exhilarating. The food has been really good. I’m sure the waistline has grown!
Hope all is well with you. Still room available at the inn for next mid-week… Have a lovely weekend!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Holy Blitzer
Posted by Avram Freedberg
She got a bad state today when she was looking the wrong way when the gate opened. However, Cornelio Velasquez did a good job setting her to task and before long she was third. As they neared the stretch turn, he had her advancing 4 wide. I was excited. She looked good. The leader was fading and she was coming on. As they passed the furlong marker, Cornelio (inexplicably, as far as I was concerned) ducked in with her and tried to take her between horses, rather than pursue the clear outside path he had already established. Keep in mind, he was told by her last jockey that she spooks easily.
Well, you can guess the outcome. The horse to her inside got scared of the whip used by the jockey to her further inside and came out right into Holy Blitzer. She was now sandwiched between horses and lost all chance to proceed to victory. I don’t get it… but there it is. I’m going to place a real nice bet on her next time, if she faces similar competition at Saratoga.
Speaking of Saratoga, the race meet starts Friday. We’ll be in Saratoga until mid-August and then as needed for races our horses participate in.
Hope to see you there!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
She got a bad state today when she was looking the wrong way when the gate opened. However, Cornelio Velasquez did a good job setting her to task and before long she was third. As they neared the stretch turn, he had her advancing 4 wide. I was excited. She looked good. The leader was fading and she was coming on. As they passed the furlong marker, Cornelio (inexplicably, as far as I was concerned) ducked in with her and tried to take her between horses, rather than pursue the clear outside path he had already established. Keep in mind, he was told by her last jockey that she spooks easily.
Well, you can guess the outcome. The horse to her inside got scared of the whip used by the jockey to her further inside and came out right into Holy Blitzer. She was now sandwiched between horses and lost all chance to proceed to victory. I don’t get it… but there it is. I’m going to place a real nice bet on her next time, if she faces similar competition at Saratoga.
Speaking of Saratoga, the race meet starts Friday. We’ll be in Saratoga until mid-August and then as needed for races our horses participate in.
Hope to see you there!
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Belmont meet ends Sunday
Posted by Avram Freedberg
Hopefully, Holy Blitzer will win the 8th race on Sunday on the grass at 6 furlongs. She runs against our friends’ Patsy Symon’s Gitchie Goomie and Larry Goichman’s High Cry and four or five others. Apparently Ramon Dominguez thinks High Cry has a better chance than Blitzer, since he opted to ride that horse even though he won with Holy Blitzer easily in her last race. He replaces Cornelio Velasquez on High Cry. Now, he will ride Holy Blitzer. Oh well, we don’t seem to get a lot of respect for our horses.
Katy’s Office Girl has a slight condylar fracture of her ankle. It will require stall rest and a slow comeback. Unless her ankle gets better and she doesn’t show the fracture on her 10-day follow-up X-ray, we can presume it will be 90 – 120 days before she is training again.
Ahvee’s Destiny “ran down” in her race at Suffolk Downs. I believe this means she “burned” her hooves during the race and is being treated with TLC and no workouts. She is aiming to race on August 1st at Saratoga in the same race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
Hear the Footsteps in putting on weight. If he doesn’t bleed in his workouts, he will race on August 7th at Saratoga.
Arielle’s Song is due to breeze early next week. If she stays well, she will race soon at Saratoga. It may be her last chance as a race horse.
Stuck With you (I mean, It’s Truly Ahvee) and the Obviously New York two-year olds continue Gate Training and will breeze next week. Hopefully, they are on the verge of competing on the race track.
Cricky’sGoldeneyes is still on the farm in Florida. He will not come North until September but Pat says he’s doing well… maturing and enjoying himself.
We’ll be a Belmont to root for Holy Blitzer. Go Blitzer!
Have a nice weekend.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
Hopefully, Holy Blitzer will win the 8th race on Sunday on the grass at 6 furlongs. She runs against our friends’ Patsy Symon’s Gitchie Goomie and Larry Goichman’s High Cry and four or five others. Apparently Ramon Dominguez thinks High Cry has a better chance than Blitzer, since he opted to ride that horse even though he won with Holy Blitzer easily in her last race. He replaces Cornelio Velasquez on High Cry. Now, he will ride Holy Blitzer. Oh well, we don’t seem to get a lot of respect for our horses.
Katy’s Office Girl has a slight condylar fracture of her ankle. It will require stall rest and a slow comeback. Unless her ankle gets better and she doesn’t show the fracture on her 10-day follow-up X-ray, we can presume it will be 90 – 120 days before she is training again.
Ahvee’s Destiny “ran down” in her race at Suffolk Downs. I believe this means she “burned” her hooves during the race and is being treated with TLC and no workouts. She is aiming to race on August 1st at Saratoga in the same race she won last year, The Finney Stakes.
Hear the Footsteps in putting on weight. If he doesn’t bleed in his workouts, he will race on August 7th at Saratoga.
Arielle’s Song is due to breeze early next week. If she stays well, she will race soon at Saratoga. It may be her last chance as a race horse.
Stuck With you (I mean, It’s Truly Ahvee) and the Obviously New York two-year olds continue Gate Training and will breeze next week. Hopefully, they are on the verge of competing on the race track.
Cricky’sGoldeneyes is still on the farm in Florida. He will not come North until September but Pat says he’s doing well… maturing and enjoying himself.
We’ll be a Belmont to root for Holy Blitzer. Go Blitzer!
Have a nice weekend.
Best,
A.
Visit the Official Avram Freedberg website!
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