Posts from September 2007
Upset Bowl Invitational!
Wow! Sadly, I had the wrong upset winner… Rosinka, but for a moment there it looked it really good for her!
Lahudood, how about it! That’s the last time you’ll get her at 21-1. What a great inside move… I have to admit I dismissed her totally. My only note was that her last race was too big of a jump in class… not this time!
On a bias note, Alan Garcia/Kiaran McLaughlin have now won 2 today. Also it’s Alan Garcia’s first G1, congrats to him, it was a great ride!
Posted by dana on Sep 29 2007
Filed Under: Alan Garcia, Kiaran McLaughlin, Lahudood, Rosinka, 2007, Racing
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Guess Who I Met…
The Hennegan Brothers! Well, virtually speaking that is, on Facebook. Who knew that site could actually be used for things other than getting bitten by zombies and sending people virtual drinks! If you don’t already know, they’re the film making brothers who directed the genius and yet to be released First Saturday in May. Swifty and I were lucky enough to see it at the Tribeca Film Festival.
I mentioned it here as part of a larger point that there are plenty of things that could be done to bring casual fans into the fold, such as play their film on TV every year around Derby time to make the connection to casual fans that the Derby doesn’t “just happen” in hopes getting them engaged the following year.
Steve Crist also wrote a really great article on the film (within a week of my blog post, Coincidence? More than likely).
They also have a collection of nice clips, some outtakes and some from the film, of Barbaro. I’m gonna ask them to post some Lawyer Ron clips as well… he and Jazil were also featured in the film.
At any rate… go to their site and register so you can find out when there’s a screening in your area. They also have a film blog.
Posted by dana on Sep 25 2007
Filed Under: Hennegan Brothers, Film, First Saturday in May, YouTube, Jazil, Kentucky Derby, Derby Trail, Barbaro, 2007, Lawyer Ron
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All my unsuccessful attempts to hit the pick 4’s and pick 6’s this past weekend, especially the carryover, have kept me from a few posts. First off, I have to thank Steve Crist for his I, Idiot post. It made me feel so much less idiotic about my multi-race exotic follies. Mind you, I was out of Sunday’s Pick 6 in the first (5th) race and didn’t have any picks in the 2nd (6th), but I did have Giveityourbestshot! Mia blew my chances at the meager Pick 4. I should have gone with her instead of The Ag, solely based on Pletcher’s cold streak.
Speaking of which, my favorite handicapping god Steve Davidowitz, has a DRF+ article with a lot of great insights, such as when to avoid a horse based on a good trainer with a cold streak. Other salient points include the fine points of subtle class drops & class relief + when to bet a bridesmaid to win. All points that could have helped this past weekend, but I can’t wait to put to use this coming weekend!
Published late on friday was a little article about NYRA agreeing to “try” to keep the track soft.
Hopefully they really will try. [DRF]
And, one of my favs from early in this year’s Derby trail, Belgravia is back on the work tab! He was a promising 2 year old last year who won the Hollywood Prevue and seemed well on his way to the Derby trail. Here’s a profile of him at Thoroughbred Times’ Road to the Triple Crown. A quote from his trainer caught my eye…
“He doesn’t need it (Lasix),” Biancone said. “Simple as that. I will not judge other people. So far, so good, he hasn’t needed it. We never used it with Lion Heart. I mean, if a person trained with aspirin every day, and did not need it, eventually it loses its effectiveness and does not work.”
Who needs Lasix when you could have cobra venom!
Posted by dana on Sep 25 2007
Filed Under: Belgravia, Patrick Biancone, Pick 4, Pick 6, NYRA, 2007, Derby Trail, Triple Crown, Handicapping, Racing
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Dick Powell has an article at Handicapper’s Edge about the unnecessarily over sealed track at Belmont and all the injuries, including Rags to Riches.
Rags to Riches’ injury is one of numerous ones, some catastrophic, that have occurred since racing returned to Belmont. Despite what track superintendent John Passero says, the track is too hard from the constant sealing. I know that this time of year, it is hard to maintain Belmont since the angle of the sun becomes more severe and some spots dry out differently than others. But based on the running times of Saturday’s early races and the account of how the track was groomed Friday after the last race, we lost a racing superstar to an injury that could have been avoided.
It’s not like this is first time this has been pointed out (and in this case, directly to NYRA) … but clearly it’s waaaaayyyyyyyy more important to have a FAST track.
[Handicapper’s Edge]
Posted by dana on Sep 21 2007
Filed Under: Injury, You Tell 'em!, NYRA, 2007, Rags to Riches, Belmont
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Excellent with a capital E commentary by Dan Liebman of Bloodhorse on breeding and the new gold (sub) standard. Superfecta pointed this out yesterday but I just now read it and have to give it 4 thumbs up.
It’s always satisfying to not only see someone point out something hideously wrong, but to also point who and what’s to blame. You go Dan Liebman.
Posted by dana on Sep 20 2007
Filed Under: You Tell 'em!, Dan Liebman, 2007, Breeding
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