deja vu

That's what I get for refusing to spell check that filly's name. Darn. Veiled Reference ran great, got beat by about a half length by Shesmymortalenemy on Sunday at Charles Town (chart here). VR took a nasty stumble at the start that proved the difference, and did really well to soldier on as she did. If we weren't sure after the first start, we sure are now: those CT turns are not fun for our girl. Just too tight. Sheskeepingmeupatnights is able to scoot around them like a little motorcycle, while VR has to work hard just to make her way around. All the credit to the winner and her jock, who rode a great tactical race. She's a handy filly that really loves that track and lays it down every time out. I saw her back in the receiving barn afterwards and she looked like she'd been through the ringer, but you have to admire those kinds of horses, even if they're giving you nothing but headaches.

Veiled Reference did come out of the race somewhat banged up. That stumble at the start took a toll on that foot of hers (that's a lot of weight to hoist up), so we're going to keep an eye on it over the coming days. She's been walking the shedrow this week; if all well, we'll get her back on the track maybe next week. I'll have to get on to Tim and figure out where to next. Beyer speed figure came back at a 72, which is fine enough 2nd off nearly 2yr layoff. Goal for third off is drive back to Baltimore where I'm not muttering to myself the entire trip back home.

as the old saying goes...

I'm all for serving up revenge nice and cold, but we probably took it a touch too far waiting the close to two years before having another go at Shesdebonairess (btw, I refuse to spell check that one; figure I'm close enough). Veiled Reference gets her shot, anyway, on Sunday down in Charles Town. The two fillies, plus six others, are scheduled to go 6 1/2 furlongs in the seventh. Live feed of the approximate 3:20pm post can be found at usual site, espn.com, here.

Caught up with Tim briefly this afternoon and he reports that Veiled Reference is well. Breeze last weekend at Fair Hill was at a good clip going 5/8ths, and she took it all nicely. Blacksmith was by today to put on some new kicks.

We'll see what kind of pep she has coming out of the gate. Figure the work, plus the first one back at 4 1/2 in April should have her much sharper. Ideally, would like to see her sit off one or two before making a run. If she wants to go altogether, not too keen to fight her; like a lot of horses, she seems much more comfortable w/o the dirt in her face.

Any speed she does have will be more and more effective as the distances increase. After all, we saw the role that Rachel Alexandra's tactical foot played in the Preakness. Sure, it helped that her main pace rival, my man, Big Drama, cast in his stall that morning, broke through the gate in the afternoon and was an overall mess leading up to the race (ummm, yeah, just a few negative pre-race indicators, which you can bet Borel didn't miss), but the filly still had to have the foot for Borel to put to use. Mine That Bird had no such speed, of course.

As a sidenote, it was shocking that Mike Smith, of all jocks, would wind up taking him wide (not that it was his fault, or anything). My favorite bit after the race was Smith talking about how he was looking for a rail trip. He said it with the same pained expression that he uses when talking marriage w/ Chantal Sutherland, so you knew where his head was at ("This is believable, Mike. You're doing great.") Man, I'm pretty sure Smith hasn't scraped paint since Holy Bull carried him around the oval, though I'm confident the relationship w/ Chantal is strong.

Bawlmer, Baby

This would be perfect spot for a number on the state of Maryland racing (if you guessed, "not pretty," ding, ding, ding), but you'll have to settle for quick take on Preakness. Figure since it's being run in my very own back yard, it would be tacky to remain silent. First, the filly. She's berry, berry good, right up there with some really nice fillies, (Zenyatta needn't worry)  but she's more likely to finish third or fourth, than she is to win it. The two weeks is the rub, combined with fact that she won't be facing pace rivals with lifetime speed figure highs of 75. She'll want nothing to do with Big Drama out of the gate, and I'm pretty sure her connections know it and will look to have her just off the pace. Wide trip and slow pace typically not fun times (as horses to inside always have answer when jock lets it out a notch). She's good, though, as I said, so she'll be in the mix late. Pioneer, Musket and Papa just a cut below true G1 horses (such a relative thing, sure, but you know what I mean). Who does that leave? Mine That Bird? Yeah, he'll be around, but it was pace, track, slop that moved him up in Derby (plus trio above nothing stellar). His New Mexico races were deceptively good, so you have to give him some credit. Plus, I like small horses that try (are you reading that up in NY, my little Gold Fever friend?) Big Drama in with a big shot, especially if Rachel takes back. Distance is question mark, but if track is playing to speed and he's 10-1 or more, he's the play. His two-turn pace figures are killer. I like Pletcher's Take the Points, too. A grinding sort, but he might sit good trip behind speed and just suck along. He's fresh, training well, and he'll be a big number. General Quarters needs the perfect catbird trip to have a shot; if things don't go his way, he's toast. I'll play against coming back quickly.

Hope it's a fun Preakness day wherever you're taking it in. We'll look to keep the party going with some fun of our own down in WV next weekend.  

do what you do

Talk about a mare stamping her foal! Thankfully, filly has the few years to figure out what to do with those legs. Crystal at Dutchess View just sent pic along, so wanted to throw up pronto. Everyone doing well.

Veiled Reference, born on May 8, 2005, is doing well herself. Tim worked her 5/8ths on Saturday at Fair Hill and she did it nicely. Still looking at spot later in month at Charles Town. Hope to sneak in a visit to her before start if I can, just to make sure she knows that she is still very special. You know how it is when new babies come along - have to make sure older ones in fold feel the bit of love. Don't need tantrums in the paddock next out...

hello, world

Got the call this morning from Dutchess View. Nautical Agent foaled a healthy chestnut filly last night and all is well. Filly stood and took to nursing like a champ, and her mother is acting like she's read up on the whole motherhood thing. (I was wondering what those mysterious charges to Barnes and Noble on the AMEX were all about...). Awesome news, of course. I only know enough to know that goofy things can sometimes happen in the breeding business, so I'm thrilled that the filly and her mom are both to the good. Obviously, we're excited to get pictures soon; promise to put them up once in hand. Basic report that the filly is average-sized, maybe on the smallish side if you're picky (which, apparently, is common for first-time mares). Size thing doesn't concern me all that much. Nautical Agent herself was never huge, plus Gold Fever a compact guy that muscled up as he developed. Once some balance, athleticism and try are in the mix, she'll have a good shot to be a racehorse. All limbs reported to point in the right direction; no horrible flaws that caused alarm. Seems she's just a nice, no-nonsense filly, which is fine by me.

Depending on how she's getting on, we'll look to breed Nautical back to Disco Rico later this month. Would have been happy to return to Gold Fever, but he's since relocated to Minnesota, of all places. He doesn't call or write, which is typical, right? We'll keep fingers crossed that he sends a card on the filly's birthday. Disco Rico a son of Citidancer, a stud I always loved. Disco actually very correct, which you don't see in many of the Citidancers. Nautical Agent correct, too, so we have the bit of wiggle room if there's a curveball thrown from the gene pool. Those Citidancers typically have big try in them, so would be nice double shot of effort between sire and dam. That's all getting a bit ahead ourselves, though.

Pics up shortly. I'll see about wallet sized numbers to show off to coworkers. "Oh, Janet is doing ballet these days? That's so nice. Did I show you a picture, BAMM (throw down picture), of the greatest NY-bred filly ever?"

ho hum

I promise, no stories like this when Nautical Agent's Gold Fever foal wins the Derby in 2013. Guess there was a reason all those cowboys were wearing black hats in the winner's circle yesterday. Shady dealings involving the connections aside, still a fun story to have had Borel and this tiny gelding score out on the big day. You'd think the rail would have been jammed up with horses given the way it was playing all day, but, as in any pressure situation, guys are gonna fall back on what they know: sitting the 2-3-4-5 wide trip and looking to stalk. Borel played his game, too, and it just happened to be what the doctor ordered. Between brown bags stuffed with cash in Alaska and the boys from IEAH last year, we're on a roll with the fuzzy stories in Derby. Wonder what kind of price you could have gotten on the incarcerated owners of Einstein in the 10th hooked up with bribery charges in the 11th? $634 it turns out, which seems kind of light. They must have hammered it in country club pens around the country...

Caught Tim briefly earlier the week and all fine with Veiled Reference. We'll figure things out in coming weeks for sure, but probably try to stretch her out next out, coming right back at Charles Town in all likelihood. She still hasn't figured out what the heck was going on in last, so we'll cut her some slack and dial up extra ground and slower pace. She'll be on her toes with the quick one under her belt, anyway, which is fine.

Let's see if we get news from New York this week on Nautical Agent. Had the chance to chat with folks up there last week and she seems just about ready to rock. They have her under camera at night to keep tabs and Nautical seems to be taking everything in stride. No word just yet, but we'll see what the next few days bring. Cigars (chocolate) are at the ready.