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.

weekend happenings

Stable mail fired off an e-mail to me for a horse I haven't spotted on the tab in a looong time. It was for Veiled Reference, of course, who had her first breeze back on Saturday at Fair Hill. She went an easy 3/8ths, reportedly in 39 flat. I'll take the time with a grain of salt; Woolley likely makes these up more often than not. If he were like me, it would be to set up a score, or something of that nature, but I think he just doesn't have a clock on her. Sometimes, when Mike comes in, he'll clock 'em from the tower. Now that he's retiring in a month, maybe he'll be able to catch more of the workers. If I can swing it, I'll try to get out for her breeze later this week. She'll probably go another 3/8ths at a slightly quicker pace. If you see 40 seconds up on the tab, you'll know I had them add a few ticks...

Funny thing about Old Fashioned and Ramon Dominguez that I should have touched on earlier, is that they're really not the best jock/horse combo for each other. I know, I know, how can you argue with the record? That's all fine, sure, but my point is that the horse is a really super cruiser, and that's not Ramon's game. He's got an awesome, really fast cruising speed, but no real gears, no big burst of acceleration. And, Ramon, his strongest suit is riding horses with gears, whether for 5000n2l, or a Grade 1s. The guy is just really good at using a little bit of speed at the right time to gain position during key parts of the race. Once he's gotten the speed, he's adept at gearing horses back down and sitting tight. On the lead, he's fine, better than fine, but he doesn't get to do what he does best. Not to be cute, but they'd be better off with Chuck Lopez on Old Fashioned. Colt is not winning the Derby, anyway, never was, but Lopez would be better suited to using that high cruising speed of his, doling it out as needed.

I mentioned Lopez, and I'm rambling here a bit, but how ridiculous was that General George a month or so back at Laurel when Fabulous Strike sat off an opening quarter in 23 4/5? How could that possibly happen? Well, I'll tell you how. It was Edgar Prado up! I mean, c'mon, if speed is your horse's best weapon, what are you doing naming Prado in that spot? Awesome rider, best in Maryland, nation, world, I get it, but on Fabulous Strike? The second you named him, you knew True Quality and Chuckie Lopez would get away. Prado is just not going to use Fabulous Strike's speed early, even though it was his only chance of winning. A real head-scratcher in a pretty big spot.

Don't give up on Bon Jovi Girl after that last at Oaklawn. She wants longer and more pace. That race turned into a sprint - slow early, fast late - and the Jones filly will win that every time. At 1 1/8m+, she can cruise, grind and out-stay most fillies out there. 35-1+ in the Oaks futures pool was pretty generous.

what's that racket

Quick snippet of Veiled Reference galloping this morning at Fair Hill. She's on the outside with Tim, working in company with an unraced filly that goes by Rosa, I think, with Robbie up. They went a mile at a solid clip, certainly much faster than when I saw her the few weeks back. She was nicely into the bit; looked like she'd be happy to do more. Filly has definitely tightened up over the last month. While still has the bit of a belly, it should peel away pretty quickly once she gets started with weekly speed work, which Tim will kick off this weekend.

My favorite part of the morning was before she went out. They had her all tacked up and ready to go, so she knew what was up. After we left her stall to hang outside ourselves for a few minutes, she started banging at her yellow can in the stall, maybe trying to redirect some energy before getting out to work. It was pretty loud, certainly consistent, kind of like when a car alarm goes off on the block and you just keep waiting for it to stop. Anyway, after she'd been at it for a good bit, I told my dad that I'd head in to distract her, or something, and just as I get there, this other Irish exercise rider (from another outfit, not Robbie) is storming around the corner to take the can out of her stall. "You stop that, horse," said in a manner that suggested he might be saying "horse," but thinking of something perhaps a bit more colorful. I know from experience that you have to be sensitive to the Irish in the mornings from time to time, so I gave her a tsk, tsk for camaraderie's sake and he went on his way. She kind of looked at me then, as if to say, "what's his problem?" and then stood with her nose behind the can to indicate that she'd start back at it as she pleased. Always the lady...

steady as she goes

Nothing mind-blowing to report. Calculated Risk has an interesting post on the next great frontier worth checking out: underfunded pension plans. That's to say nothing of the health care nut we're on the hook for, as well. My man, Tom Byrne, has a timely read, too. Allowing state and congressional leaders to sort out where and when to spend stimulus dollars isn't exactly the way to do it, but I imagine that it's no surprise that they set it up that way. Rural areas will score out, I'm sure, leaving urban corridors with little more than peanuts. Byrne covers it nicely. Sorry business, as usual.

Veiled Reference in good form. Tim reports that she'll likely gallop another week before having her first breeze back, maybe next weekend. The snow holed her up in the shedrow for a bit, but she should have been out for these past few days. If I can swing it, I'll try to get out next week for a visit.

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