bridge loan to nowhere

As I've touched on in the past, we're all about sustainability here in NJ. For example, have a look at the measures being put in place to see to it that happy horses are bred in-state for years to come. You'll like this one. I just can't believe it never occurred to anyone to maybe grab a copy of Quicken at Best Buy and balance the books every so often. I mean, everyone's had that time or two when they've sent out a check and had to do the mad dash to the bank to cover it, but c'mon, I've never had the state legislature bail me out. And, sure, I know that the breeders were counting on supplemental monies, but that's like spending holiday bonus money before it's actually in hand ("What do you mean, 'marginally competent?' What about my bonus? I already bought the Play Station! Don't do me like this!"). Yeah, the state will throw a $5m or $10 bone at the breeders, whatever it is, but it's all just a bit of pissing into the wind, I'm afraid, and certainly won't help see to higher state foal crops. Ladies and gentlemen, New Jersey Racing!

Hope everyone has had a great holiday season so far. I'm off to Maine to ring in the New Year, which should be a good time. Depending on what kind of snow we get, it could mean a lot of Scrabble and bear hunting out back of the house. (Okay, one of those two is a lie.) If it really comes down, maybe I'll get to take a spin in the John Deere and plow some driveways. Anyway, if the site gets a little too quiet over this next stretch, you'll know how things went down. Just try to remember me fondly.

doh!

Veiled Reference ran great last night at Charles Town, getting nailed on the wire after making all the pace. Chart of the race is here. She's come back fine and is busy now doing last minute Christmas shopping. It was tough to miss out on the stakes win (they're now reconsidering the definition of juggernaut in the dictionary), but it's impossible not to love how she performed. She showed great speed and heart and really moved forward off of that maiden win (ran a speed figure of 76 versus the 63 last out). She's still a little green, but she'll learn from this one that, yes, sometimes other fillies are coming after you. Plus, we'll help her out and get her the added distance that she needs. No more of these shifty little sprinters; she wants to roll off 12 second eighths, so that's what we'll dial up.

Enjoy the photo. It's kind of like the rejection letter from that college that you really, really wanted to get into. Blow it up, stick it on the wall and just let the anger build. Do I have that right? Probably not. Filly is heading into '08 the right way, so we'll look to get ours down the line. Have a great holiday, everybody.

oh, okay

Short pre-race write up from DRF for Saturday's Eleanor Casey at Charles Town. Couldn't even get a "from the powerful T Street Stable operation," in there. Don't these guys read the blog? You look up juggernaut in the dictionary and it's just a big T printed there. Geeze. Anyway, just sending along the link.

just saying

It's worth checking out the latest news from Lambholm South, the Florida farm standing the great Express Tour. Our boy is on a roll. Isle Repo It won nicely at Calder this past week, posting a big speed figure going two turns and doing it the right way. Good to see that Express Tour has the few winners now, particularly given his small crop of 11 out of the gate. I told one of my friends down in Florida that I'll offer up my 2008 season to him for $750 and a six pack, so we'll see if I get any takers. Obviously, he's got a long road to haul, but I'm really encouraged by the type of horse that he's throwing. Just like the man himself, they're tough, fast, no-nonsense types that lay it down each time out. I'll take one of those all day over some of the flashier get that are more popular in the marketplace. He can be had for a song now, but if he can sustain what he's started into his second crop, he's in with a shot to make it. As I told my dad, they haven't sold him off to Turkey just yet, so he's doing something right. Here's hoping Isle Repo It rocks on with his bad self.

Closer to home, Nautical Agent will ship out from Overbrook next week to another local farm in Colts Neck. It's quieter than the training center, so maybe she won't get as fired up watching her barn mates train in the mornings. I've been told that they have a few show horses at this joint, so she'll have to get to work prepping for that life in the circus she's always wanted. All is well at last report. We'll probably x-ray the leg in February to see where it is and go from there.

gas up the car, baby

It's on again down at Charles Town in West Virginia. Veiled Reference will return in the Eleanor Casey Stakes on Saturday night, a race restricted to 2yo WV-bred fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs. Entries are here. She'll be left to wonder where all the boys are from that last visit, but hopefully not too confused so as to be thrown off her game. Post time is at 10:27pm. You should be able to watch the feed from the track at espn.com (link here). I'll make the trip, if only to have an excuse for my failure to round up stellar Christmas gifts this year. ("What can you do, Mom? I was in the car all weekend. No, of course we're cool. What's wrong with a baby cactus for Christmas? Cacti need love, too."). So, with that going for me, as well as the Charles Town nightlife, it just makes sense to hit the road. Veiled Reference is on the hook for gas money to make the trip back, so if things don't break our way, this might wind up a permanent relocation. I figure I can probably wander the casino floor at Charles Town for a good week or two before anyone misses me. Kate might tire of stealing all the blankets without a fight after awhile and call me on the cell or something to find out my whereabouts. Or at least call to find out where I'd left her gifts. Fortunately, cacti can survive long spells without water, so I'd be able to direct her right to it in the closet, no harm done. Plus, I could get her to drop the other one off with my mom. I've found you just can't send those things through the mail.

fun at the depot

Alright, so maybe it wasn't the ideal day to go and grab a tree, what with the 30 mph winds and all, but we braved the elements, took a drive to Home Depot and landed a cute little number that seems perfect for our place. Herman, our ornament (don't call him "oriental," please) penguin buddy, has assumed his position toward the top of the tree, located for ideal viewing of the adjacent TV, and we seem pretty well set for the holidays. Yes, Kate will be devastated when she piles up present after present for me and she's left to look at dead space under Herman for herself, but that's just something she'll have to get over. If she has any luck, maybe I'll throw a Kit Kat bar in her stocking. Or not. We'll see how the balance of the week plays out.

Much, of course, will depend on how Veiled Reference gets on in her next affair down in Charles Town. We're still shooting for that stakes race toward the end of the week (this Saturday, 12/22). She had her final breeze in preparation on Saturday at Fair Hill and laid down a fairly serious 5/8ths move in something like 1.02 and change. Times, of course, are all relative. Tim worked her himself and he's reported to really pile on the weight between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so the final time probably doesn't do her move justice. I spoke to him afterwards and he was pleased enough, so she must have gotten around there in good form. We'll see where we are with that race toward the middle of the week. If she goes, we'll have a perfect excuse to make another DC run and hook up with my brothers.

Nautical Agent is doing well down at Overbrook Farm in Colts Neck. She continues to take everything in stride, just as she always has, and has responded well to her initial treatment. If she keeps on like this, we'll figure out shipping plans for her in the new year. In all likelihood, she'd head to a farm/clinic for additional recovery before getting situated somewhere for the balance of the year. She is an absolute sweetheart, so I don't think we'll have too much trouble finding caretakers once she's bounced back from the injury.

get in early

Don't thank me now, but you'll now be able to tell your friends that you were in on Express Tour before anyone, maybe even his mother. He had his first winner last month from an initial crop of just 15 foals. Express Tour, you might remember, nipped Street Cry in the UAE Derby back in the day (note Street Cry's big burst similar to his son's Street Sense in the video; both father and son tended to want for more once making the sharp run). Express Tour was poorly managed from there, unfortunately, but still fired an awesome race in the 2001 Jerome Handicap for one of my bigger scores of memory. I don't mean to brag or anything, but you know this whole subprime mortgage lending mess? You know the one I'm talking about, right? Well, let's just say that the winnings from that afternoon would cover their fair share of that nut. Do I feel bitter that I used them instead for a 5% down payment on my castle and went with a juicy adjustable rate mortgage for the balance? Yeah, sure, I do. But I don't hold it against Express Tour. He told me to lock in for 30 years. And it looks like I might be in trouble.

Okay, I made some of that up, but you get the point. Express Tour has been berry, berry good to me (and the Fed might be wasting its time on that other matter) and I'm hoping he'll be good at stud, too. I expect tough, fast, durable runners like his daddy, Tour D'Or, got back in the day. He doesn't stand for Hard Spun's $50,000 - try $2000 instead. What a steal!!! (Disclaimer: ummm, yeah, I own a share of him.) Just be glad to be on the bandwagon now. It's the least I can do, it being the holiday season and all.