I’ve been at both of Forever Together’s winning Diana’s and both were impressive. Moronic planning is keeping me from personally attending this year’s rendition, but I’ll watching and rooting (but playing a win a bet on Shared Account, who I think really has a shot… see, one can be a gambler and a fan!).

It should be noted in the work prior to last year’s victory Forever Together worked a gaudy 57H! Looking at her current works makes me think that today is the day she’ll break her losing snap (and yes, I’ll also have a sizable exacta of Forever Together over Shared Account… see Kevin’s excellent post on Playing Favorites at Hello Race Fans!).

Here’s the champ (I’ll always call her that, even if she’s not a reigning a champ this year) after last year’s Diana. I love how pleased her groom was and the crowd really cheered as she walked by, it was a great moment.

And now the replays…

2009 Diana Stakes Replay

2008 Diana Stakes Replay

Even though we’re not together this year, I hope the champ gets her third Diana, a race I will always think of as hers.

Update: Forever Together put in her usual classy effort but got third in a head bob to Proviso and Shared Account.

Posted by dana on Jul 31 2010    
Filed Under: Hello Race Fans, 2010, YouTube, Turf, Race Replay, Saratoga

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Paddy o’Prado working at Churchill for the Derby (Jamie Newell)

Paddy o’Prado goes postward as the favorite in this weekend’s Virginia Derby, a race that would normally be the second leg of the Grand Slam of Grass. The what? (see here) In short, it’s a turf racing series comprised of the Colonial Turf Cup, Virginia Derby, Secretariat Stakes with a big fat bonus for anyone who can sweep the series and then win the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

As discussed at length before, even if a 3-year-old could sweep the series, winning the BC Turf might possibly be more challenging than sweeping the series. This year in particular could be additionally tough with the main track races on dirt, meaning all the talented euro-turfers would remain on turf. Two time winner Conduit has been retired but Starspangledbanner or Fame and Glory could show up. And let’s not forget Gio Ponti.

After Paddy o’Prado won the Colonial Turf Cup I headed over to the Colonial Downs site to check on the Grand Slam of Grass but could only find last year’s page. I emailed them and confirmed that there is no Grand Slam this year but they hope it will be back next year. Could this be the year with a viable contender and no series? Only time will tell. Whatever the outcome, I hope Paddy o’Prado crushes it and comes back next year. He’s been nothing but impressive so far.

Somewhat related, I happened upon an interesting blog yesterday. The Morning Line follows Marshall Blevins on her travails working at Colonial Downs for the summer. It’s mainly pictures (good ones!) but it’s an enjoyable glance into life on the backstretch.

And one of my favorite annual events is back, the Equispace Toga Contest! If you love Saratoga there’s no reason you shouldn’t be playing along.

Best of luck to Paddy o’Prado, and best of luck to you with any online horse betting you have planned for the weekend!

Posted by dana on Jul 16 2010    
Filed Under: 2010, Grand Slam of Grass, Breeders' Cup, Racing

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Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse on Pink Stiletto Day (Pink Stiletto)

It only occurred to me about 30ish minutes ago that some fun could be had in honor of Gay Pride (today) with hunch bets. Over at the horseplayers teen party chat line (twitter) John of Not to the Swift noted that he was going to play any horses with “rainbow” in the name, which promptly lead to me to start looking for gay-ish names.

Make a cocktail, put on some disco, dust off your tiara and oh HONEY, get ready to do some online horse betting!

Like many a good gay I’m late for brunch and some of these races have already run, the but names are still funny.

Belmont:
5th: Magic Queen, Strategic Missile (winner!)
6th: Diva in Training

Calder:
5th: Stylish Act
6th: Lady Charlie, Super Girlie
10th: Sade Dream

Churchill:
6th: Gossiper, Spend and Spree

Hollywood Park:
3rd: Ms. G.I. Jane
6th: Sky’squickscore
7th: Unzip Me
8th: The Whammer
9th: Good Vibration

Monmouth Park:
2nd: Beautiful Rainbows
3rd: Street Talk’n Man
4th: Hello Handsome, Another Love
7th: Quick Ride (winner!)
8th: Lots of Tricks, Self Made Man
9th: Lady Alexander

Best of luck, and no matter how it turns out, you look FABULOUS!

Posted by dana on Jun 27 2010    
Filed Under: 2010, Hunch Bet, :), Racing

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Slew’s Tizzy and Joel Rosario winning the 2008 Native Diver (Charles Pravata)

My beloved Slew’s Tizzy returns to racing today in the Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows! It sort of feels like when your pet runs away from home and comes back several months after you’ve already resigned yourself to their absence.

The last we saw of Slew’s Tizzy he was in the Doug O’Neill barn where he had won the Native Diver in December of 2008 (pictured above) after a string of decent efforts (minus the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile). He had vastly improved with O’Neill, and while enjoyable as a fan, it was also always a bit of concern given that O’Neill is no stranger to drug violations. He ended up on Dan Illman’s disabled list with a stall injury and now has magically landed in the barn of Calder trainer Terrance Oliver.

I don’t know anything about Oliver, other than his win percentage is a dismal .06, his first time with team percentage is an equally dismal .09, his +180 days percentage is a respectable .17 and his dirt percentage is .09. Dirt isn’t Slew’s Tizzy’s preferred surface either, unless it’s muddy.

He’s still racing for Joseph LaCombe, who is also his breeder, so at the very least he hasn’t been dumped somewhere unsavory. He’s also reunited with Robby Albarado, which I take to be a very good sign. Let’s just say I’m cautiously optimistic and glad to know where he is… and of course rooting for him!

Update: He started off a bit slow, got into a good position and then faded about half way through the race. I’ll keep an eye out to see if he turns up on the work tab again. I hope they put him back on synthetics!

Posted by dana on Jun 26 2010    
Filed Under: :), 2010, Charles Pravata, Robby Albarado, Slew's Tizzy, Racing

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(Jason Moran)

Eagle-eyed photo Jason Moran spotted something interesting during Sunday morning workouts at Belmont.

Some insight from the morning work outs. On the inside is the very capable Munnings. On the outside, with I believe Johnny V., is a horse that was listed as completing the 5 Furlong work in 1:00.46 Breezing. Munnings was caught in the same time but was classified as doing it Handily, (note this photo is 30 or so yards after the finish line). Here is the kicker, the outside horse is an unnamed 2 year old (AP Indy-Madcap Escapade) that was bought for a million bucks in last year’s September Keeneland Sale. Think they were trying to figure out what they have here? Look out for this one.

Hmmm, very interesting indeed. And good work Jason!

Posted by dana on Jun 21 2010    
Filed Under: Jason Moran, 2010, Workouts, 2yo, Belmont, Todd Pletcher, Racing

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