Our two best horses...

…last and next to last. We'd be having a successful year, if the results were read from bottom to top. How awful to watch your two big winners become big losers!

Ahvee's Destiny was left at the gate. When the jockey tried to recover, the horses in front of him came together and pinched her out. She was really never in the race. they scoped her after the race and found a respiratory infection. I think if they had not found that, we'd have had to seriously consider getting her to the breeding shed immediately, since it seemed she did not want to run. Linda feels she can be competitive. So, the breeding shed will wait until next year.

Awakino Cat has been a mystery. When he was supposed to tie up last year, under different ownership, he beat Ahvee's Destiny twice and won three straight races. Since we've owned him, he's tied up and had to be vanned off the track, then he's lost three straight races. Maybe it's caused by the owner! In his race last night, he was perfectly positioned. Then, Fatal Bullet pulled up along side of him and smacked into him, pushing him into the horse to his inside. After that, none of them faired well with Awakino finishing dead last.

The joy of racing will continue at Belmont on May 28 and 29. We hope Katy's Office Girl and Holy Blitzer will race that weekend. If they do as well as "the best two," it really will be Memorial Day weekend!

I've won and I've lost. Winning is better… and a lot more fun!

Best,

A.

Third Place

Hear the Footsteps ran a decent race. Alex Solis got him out of the gate quicky but then took him a little too far back. Alex said Footsie was slipping on the turn. Then he got behind a wall of horses into the stretch. When Solis found a hole, he went through and ducked in to the rail. Footsie had a big rush to get him onto third place but then flattened out a bit and made little further progress. Still a nice race for his first time this year. Hopefully, he will not have bled and won't be sore.

Ahvee's Destiny is the morning line favorite in a wide open race on Tuesday at Presque Isle Downs. On Wednesday at Presque Isle, Awakino Cat has ended up in what should have been a Graded Stakes race that includes the likes of Fatal Bullet, a million dollar plus winner. It'll be a tough one.y

May sun shine somewhere for you on this otherwise rainy day

Best,

A.

Your weekend racing update

Ahvee's Destiny was scratched from a race at Belmont today but will run in an allowance race on Tuesday night at Presque Isle Downs, the site of her only victory last year. She's coming out of post position 7 with Harry Vega aboard. He guided her to victory last year.

It will be sort of a prep race for her defense on June 21st of the $100K Satin & Lace Stakes title she won there last year. Since Linda's brother Wayne is headquartered in Presque Isle Downs, Ahvee's Destiny will stay there with his operation until after the race on the 21st. There is an allowance race for Awakino Cat at Presque Isle on May 18th, so I presume they will be shipping them there together.

BTW, the racing surface used by Presque Isle Downs is a synthetic surface called Tapeta. It is the same surface used in Dubai, where they have the World Cup Races for very big purses. I could see Ahvee and Avi going to Dubai for the World Cup Sprint, couldn't you? Sheik Mohammed wouldn't mind… I hope!

Hear the Footsteps is scheduled to race on the grass in tomorrow's 8th race at Belmont. It's his first start of the year and this is a longer route, so he may need the race, especially since he's facing the two horses who beat him in his last outing. If the race comes off the grass because of rain, he will be scratched. He has Alex Solis, who is a solid rider, aboard.

Now, we see what happens. Hope you all have a good weekend!

Best,

A.

Scratch Ahvee's Destiny

To make a long story short (another commercial for Colin Quinn), Linda thought it didn't make sense to take a long trip with questionable weather and a VERY tough field of boys in Atlantic City tomorrow. I am always worried when we skip an opportunity… and I have never been to the Atlantic City Race Course, so this would have been a new adventure. I'll just hope that we find races for fillies and mares where we are more competitive and that are blessed with good weather.

I really love that horse. Just thinking about her being stabled in Saratoga again, makes me want to go and see her… this time with Carrots in hand, so she can plant kisses on my cheek and be rewarded!

Best,

A.

Winner's Circle Photo

Sammy and Flossy came to Belmont yesterday and got a chance to get their photo taken in the Winner's Circle… it was with a grey horse, just not Katy. Linda had another entrant named Love Shack who won the race. Katy, who was 24 lengths behind going into the stretch, finished 5 1/2 lengths behind in third place. So, at least, she got a small check.

Ahvee's Destiny is scheduled in a 5 furlong stakes at Atlantic City tomorrow. Post time is 6PM. Let's hope the rain holds off. Go Ahvee!

Cricky'sGoldeneyes had surgery on both legs. He had a major tear of his right suspensory. OY!

Best,

A.