polar opposites

Two fillies ran at Finger Lakes today (okay, one ran, one kind of shuffled along). Nautical Agent put in another fine showing against a fairly decent field and finished up second of seven (chart here). She lagged behind early and then, like the Little Engine that Could, kept grinding along to pass all but one. Unlike her stablemate, Fortuna, whom I had hoped would pick up a thing or two from her much smaller friend, Nautical Agent showed great try to take the dirt as she did and keep coming into the slow-paced affair. What she lacks in her frame, she makes up with her effort. Fortuna, beautiful as she is, just has no interest in running past other horses (chart here). Maybe if they drove an ice cream truck in front of the field it might spark some fire, but until Mr. Softee takes over Finger Lakes Race Track, we're in trouble. She'll need another career, either as a broodmare or in competitive eating.

Veiled Reference arrives tomorrow at Fair Hill (cue evil laughter). She's been training smartly, as they say, down in Ocala, so let's hope she carries that form north. While I was blissfully caught up in wedding comings and goings, she put in two very nice 3/4ths works in Florida (last one in 1.17 and change on Saturday), galloping out with purpose each time. She's looking like a filly that will do her best work at distances north of a mile, which suits me just fine, as that's where the money be.

Mass Romantic continues to train on in good form. She worked over the weekend, but I'm not sure of the time/distance, as they're hit or miss as far as what they post on the tab at Fair Hill. Those Irish and English outfits down there are setting up a bet half the time (they're just lazy the rest of the time), so it comes as no great surprise. I spoke to Woolley briefly the other day and he said all was well with her, so that's good enough for me.