Back to Maryland

New baby on scene

Veiled Reference with Alphabet Soup colt born last weekend in NY. Mare and foal doing well, out to stretch legs this morning.

Hello? This thing on?

Ok, water cooler break over, I'm back at my station. Will spare you revisiting of my earlier posts on economic collapse (still think that stimulus was big enough?), and stick to the horses. Pic above of Nautical Agent's 2010 yearling (Disco Rico) just before getting on a van to South Carolina. She's a work in progress, but has some things going for her (good shoulder, covers some ground), which is all you can ask for at this stage of the game. Her older sister, Report Back (Gold Fever), is doing well, trying her best to fund the holidays here. Their younger brother, also by Disco Rico, is still in NY, living the charmed life of a weanling, filling his hours with play and good eats. That's him below as a baby, baby with Nautical Agent. Have to hunt around for some more recent pics. Mom is well, up to her usual tricks. Certainly as sweet as ever.


Veiled Reference still to the good, as well. Her Alphabet Soup weanling filly looks the part, and she's carrying another foal by the stud, due in April or May of next year. Baby shower plans to come together after the holidays, I think.

Hi, Baby!

Nautical Agent with Disco Rico filly foaled last week. Mom and baby both well. Plotting to take trip up north for a visit in few weeks. Veiled Reference, in foal to Alphabet Soup about a month and half now, is coming down to NY from Canada shortly, so we'll be able to see her, too. I just hope NA and VR get on well enough. Would be hard to have family in-fighting at the farm.

Re: Kentucky Derby, have to shake head after scratch of favorite, Eskendereya. Zayat thought he'd be able to hold him together for resale after the big Wood win (after all, they did give him the extra week for the NY race, not the Derby), but poor colt came back so off that they couldn't even have him vetted for a sale. That must have been a fun call between Pletcher and Zayat..."Umm, yeah, don't bother driving up the ask price, Ahmed, can't even get him to the track." Where will Zayat get the $34M now? I'll have to see what I can dig up in the couch cushions.

Ice Box in the Derby, even though I never cared for Zito's act after his Strike the Gold win (not in video, but you get a little taste w/ his gesticulating). Lookin' at Lucky most likely winner. Will use him up and down in exotics.

shocking

Yep, the troops went for the proverbial last cigarette rather than come up with anything that might actually address fundamental challenges facing the industry. Like, how do we move toward more racing dates, and more horses bred in state? I know, let's cut dates instead and hand out over-inflated checks to Todd Pletcher. You don't think the NYRA crowd isn't making it clear to NY outfits that they'll have to play nice if they want to partake in the slots fun when Cuomo takes office? Those conversations aren't happening? Was really too easy for Christie; he gets the one-time pop in numbers at MP; racing officials buy another year; Atlantic City interests are satisfied (both dodging the slots issue AND helping w/ final nails in racing's coffin). The shame is that NJ horsemen were only too happy to take the one time shot of cash with little to regard to long-term consequences. "Great, let me ship my mares down to NJ to foal! Oh, wait, umm, guys? What's the plan for 2011, 2012, and 2013? Anything? Guys?"

Don't worry, folks, we have everything under control here.

bad, bad signs

Had always heard noises about it, but this piece in Star Ledger not good news for the future of racing in NJ. Unless, of course, watching Pletcher pick up major cash w/ his C-string floats your boat. Cut to 71 days pretty much tells anyone even considering dropping a NJ-bred to forget about it. Sure, the top in-state outfits will do okay given their numbers, but the lower-level operations just won't have the chance to get out on their so-so stock. 71 days? In this day and age of 30-45 days between starts, how does that add up? Even with the meet spaced out, you're looking at significantly fewer opportunities to earn purses. Knock it down to 120 if you must, but be a little more creative than just buying into the nonsense sold by the trainers wintering down in Florida. Will be curious to see, too, how racing execs handle loss of income for those seasonal workers that make the MP meet go? Wonder if they'll step forward and take a 40% pay cut, too, all in the spirit of solidarity.

So, yeah, I'll ship in to chase NJSEA's purse money (if it can manage to stick around until '11), but you can bet that all the ancillary dollars (and open space) associated with my stock will stay out of state. Maybe even out of country, soon enough, given the state of affairs in NY, but you get the idea...

I guess curtains have been a long time coming for NJ racing. Still sad, though, to feel like final act just about to get underway.

"I'm getting bigger..."

Nautical Agent's Gold Fever baby up at Dutchess Views Farm in NY. She's coming along well, growing with each month. Will shoot up soon enough to see her in person. Nautical herself in good form. In foal to Disco Rico, which we're pretty psyched about.

Working on arrangements to ship Veiled Reference to Ontario. Not dodging any draft, just breeding her to Alphabet Soup. Yes, she's retired (sigh). No, I haven't written about it here. (I'm saving it for the book, okay?). She's doing really well, though. Currently at Bonita Farm in MD. She'll catch a van up north in the next few weeks. As you can tell w/ planned mating to Alphabet Soup, we're breeding a racehorse, baby, not something to look pretty on the page. Let's hope she takes to it like our girl, NA.

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.

oh, so that's the drill...

Great first start back last night for Veiled Reference. Chart is here. She finished a troubled trip, fast-closing third (dead heater), and galloped out strongly past the wire. Speed was good all night, as it often is on big race days (management just overworks the surface), so she was working against a bias, to boot. Sorry not to pick up a bigger piece of the purse, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Here's hoping the bit of luck circles back our way in some of the bigger spots on the calendar later in the year. Filly was understandably sluggish out of the gate, figured out she was supposed to run after about a sixteenth of a mile, and picked it up from there traveling wide and taking dirt. If the one filly hadn't floated her so wide into the stretch, decent chance she picks up second, if not the whole enchilada. Perfect prep, anyway, for what we're hoping to do with her as we get into the summer. She picked up some desperately needed seasoning, got a nice tightener for something longer, and we spared her a block of more intense training in the AM. We've totally wrecked Woolley's win percentage, sure, but here's hoping she can make amends in the coming months.

Ran into some of Veiled Reference's friends from back in the day, including Mark from Takaro Farm, where VR was raised. He was out for the big night along with Cathy, who owns Bocamis, the dam of Veiled Reference. (I think it's Cathy, anyway. I missed it because I was too busy trying not to throw up all over my shoes as the horses geared up to load. Now if I've goofed it up, I've gone and offended one of my three readers. Darn.) Normally, I would have had all sorts of questions about what Bocamis is up to these days, but I was too busy fighting to stay upright. For what it's worth, Cathy, Kathy, Candy and Carol, my vote is for a return trip to Louis Quatorze if she hasn't been bred this season...

grab the keys!

Veiled Reference is in the entries for Saturday! They said it would never happen, that T Street would never enter a horse again, but we have proved the doubters wrong! It's been a year and change in the making, so, yeah, it's good to be back in the game, baby. Filly drew a nice outside spot against WV-bred fillies going 4 1/2 furlongs. There's a little bit of speed right in and around her, so she looks to sit a pretty good trip if all goes well. Tim said she was pretty sharp from the gate last week - wouldn't surprise me to see her fairly forwardly placed. Distance a touch short, but money is right relative to the competition, and this bad boy should set her up for more ground in next. Tim, ever the perfectionist, wanted 2-3 more works before diving in, but once I explained that I just had to have her in on Charles Town's big day, he bit the bullet. I know, I know, why not the Preakness under card? Purses too crummy, man. Plus, I need Veiled Reference to pick up a few bucks so I can get Kate something for her birthday next week. Race will be fed live here.

country roads

Veiled Reference breezed from the gate on Thursday morning at Fair Hill. She went in 49 flat, and was planned to have a nice gallop out. She was scheduled to go in company, too, but I can't figure out for sure based on the tab. One colt from out of the woodwork matches up; maybe Woolley hooked up with a neighboring outfit. No news on how she's come out, so have to imagine all fine enough. Looking at spot next weekend at Charles Town as an option. No, not the $250,000 one, unfortunately; it's the $35k optional claimer (WV-bred F/M 4 and up, x1/$16k tag) going 4 1/2 furlongs. Probably a little short for her, but would tighten her up for the next start at a longer distance. Last time they ran it, fillies went 22 flat for the opening quarter followed by 24 4/5 (not a typo) for the second, so I figure she can place herself and shake off the cobwebs in the early running, then hit 'em with some pace in that second quarter. Purse is quite nice relative to the competition and some of the other spots out there, so if she's doing well early next week, we'll see if it makes sense to stick her in. Entries on Wednesday.

wiiindy

Shot up to Fair Hill this morning with Kate to check in on Veiled Reference. We actually remembered to bring carrots this time, so our filly found it within herself to tolerate us while munching on the treats. Tim had her out for a maintenance gallop (video below; Warning: it was pretty windy, so keep volume low to avoid blowing out ears). She traveled well, looked happy to scoot around the oval. Tim breezed her in company on Thursday (49 1/5), and that seemed to go well, too, so we're pleased with how she's getting on. She'll have one or two more works in the next few weeks before we hope to start her back, probably at 4 1/2 furlongs down at Charles Town. Distance is a little short for her, but the race should serve to tighten her up for the next go. Plus, we get to chase after a decent pot of money versus just work, work, working, so Kate's in the hunt for something more than a pack of Skittles for her birthday this year. (As if you would want more, right?...). That's Tim and Veiled Reference, pictured above, before going out for her gallop. Look how she smiles and poses for the camera like a good girl. (Despite all of our silly noises and faces, Tim wouldn't bite.)



I'd love to know more about the terms of the IEAH sale/purchase of Stardom Bound/I Want Revenge. As to the latter, I'm not crazy about him at 1 m 1/4, but whatever. Good for the dude who sold off a piece. The subsequent purchase of 25% of Stardom Bound is a little goofy, though. Wonder what price they put on her. More or less than the $5m and change from last fall? I know she's won all those G1s, but the girl has clearly failed to move forward physically since her 2yo season. Still really nice, mind you, but I wonder if IEAH sells 25% if she had truly improved. My guess is probably not, but, then again, they're hot to do another Big Brown deal, so if they have to give up a piece of a filly to have some stud prospect, they're gonna do it. Ashland not all that tough today; I'll root for What a Pear, just for the sake of the story (super speed bias at Big A helped her in last).

cliff notes

Really great article from latest Rolling Stone on the makings of our current situation. Breaks it all down quite nicely. If you only read a handful of pieces on the whole sad story, this should be one of 'em.

Veiled Reference went in company last week. Think she was to go 3 1/2 furlongs, so she'll breeze a half mile sometime this week. Tim works her now in concert with the phases of the moon (little odd, I know), but I try not to interfere with his training methods. If it's not the moon, maybe it was the rain we had. Moon would be so much cooler, though. Travel north to barn is on my to do list.

Quality Road a super nice horse, but definitely one we'll get to bet against come May. Sat perfect trip again on Saturday; will be a tough one to come by in big race. He has some issues w/ dirt, the inside, and relaxing, in general - three no-nos for the Derby. Sure, he might still pull it off, but he'll be solid play against at short price. Jimmy Jerkens still a genius, so no disrespect intended; we're talking parimutuelly, peoples.

battle stations

Veiled Reference worked 3/8ths again last Friday, going solo in 38 flat on the Tapeta. She went in hand, wasn't asked for speed. Plan is to go 3 1/2F this Friday in company, just to get her used to running at speed with other horses. Depending on how that goes, she'll likely step up to a half mile that first weekend in April. Hope to get up to Fair Hill for that one and see where she's at physically. Seems that she's in good form, anyway, but it's always nice to have a look in the flesh. Charles Town is out with their condition book for April, so we're right about at the time when Tim starts ducking my calls. Okay, that's only half-true, but shopping for spots is always a delicate process. Very easy for the slower horses, of course; it's the ones with a bit of ability that need a little thought. Goal first out just to get her a blow, tighten her up going short (reeeaaal short at Charles Town - 4 1/2F) before zeroing in on some of the races they have going two turns starting in May. For now, we'll see how she gets on picking it up in the mornings.