Curlin beating Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont (Charles Pravata)

It’s looking like that’s what Curlin will be next Saturday in the Man o’War! The licensing issues are still not totally worked out, but inching closer with the expectation of it being finalized in the beginning of the week.

The licensing issues could be resolved at the beginning of the week when a Kentucky civil-court judge is expected to formally transfer the assets of two Kentucky attorneys who own a minor interest in Curlin to those who won a civil-case judgment against them.

Not only does it look like we’ll see him in New York, but it seems to be shaping up to be a turf war, so to speak, with Breeders’ Cup turf champions Red Rocks and Better Talk Now also expected to run.

And in other good news on the turf, my boy Thorn Song , back at his best distance of a mile, beat the impressive Einstein by about a length and half in the Firecracker at Churchill today, not that I could wager on it with my TWINSPIRES account (ludicrous!).

Happy 4th y’all!

Posted by dana on Jul 04 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Steve Asmussen, Twinspires, Signal Wars, Einstein, Thorn Song, :), Belmont, Fans, Curlin, Turf, Charles Pravata, Racing

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Big Brown’s little white spot (Charles Pravata)

I think Joe Drape’s sneak peak of the Belmont under card over at The Rail is what did it. Damn, that’s one fine looking under card!

Benny the Bull, Thor’s Echo and Kelly’s landing? Bring it! Not to mention, Thor’s Echo!!! Bayou’s Lassie, Criminologist and Sharp Susan? J Be K and Majestic Warrior? Indian Blessing, Sherine and Zaftig? Einstein, Better Talk Now and pretty much the whole field of the Manhattan? I’m ready to start handicapping now!

As news of all the Belmont contenders trickles in, it’s also hard not to excited about the Belmont as well. Big Brown foot issue is a non-issue, Prado gets the mount on Casino Drive, Garcia gets the mount on Tomcito, Tale of Ekati made Tagg crabby, Denis of Cork is fresh and working incredibly well, Gomez get the mount on Macho Again, Ready’s Echo is in and Anak Nakal is working well.

Last year was my first Belmont as a fan, and as a New Yorker you know I was there! Swifty and I were marveling at how incredible it would be for our first two Belmont’s to be of the historical variety. Since Swifty is the luckiest man alive I think it’s a distinct possibility, I mean let’s forget Big Brown for a moment, it’s really all about Iavarone, Swifty!

Posted by dana on May 29 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Benny the Bull, Thorn Song, Sharp Susan, Indian Blessing, Big Brown, Einstein, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Casino Drive, Criminologist, Majestic Warrior, Barclay Tagg, Belmont, Retirement Watch, Fans, Belmont Stakes, Edgar Prado, Charles Pravata, Alan Garcia, 3yo, Racing

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Shamdinan in the paddock at Belmont for the Man O’ War (Sarah K. Andrew)

I love Shamdinan. What’s not to love… he’s handsome, talented and his name is really fun to say. Shamdinan, Shamdinan. I could say that all day!

However, I have one word of caution about the handsome and talented Shamdinan, he likes his turf soft. Knowing this about him is one of the only reason why he was one of the only tickets I cashed at the Breeders’ Cup.

In addition to his very nice performance over the soft turf at Monmouth, his win in the Secretariat was over good turf. His two 5th place showings came over firm turf. Currently, the turf at Gulfstream is listed as firm.

Mind you, I’m too sniffly, sneezy and eye watery to handicap right now or would be looking at Gulfstream Turf Stakes to see who I think has the best chance today. I do love that Thorn Song and would imagine I might just put a little sentimental money on him.

Best of luck to all!

Posted by dana on Feb 23 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Gulfstream Park, Thorn Song, Shamdinan, Turf, Sarah K. Andrew, Racing

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One of my favs, Thorn Song, runs tomorrow at Gulfstream in the Canadian Turf Handicap. [NTRA]

You may remember that Thorn Song beat Cosmonaut last time out in the River City Handicap.

Close readers of GbG might also remember that, in addition to holding him close to my heart because I really liked him before he blossomed, he taught me a valuable lesson about handicapping/note making and the importance of a game plan (that’s flexible!).

Go Thorn Song!

Posted by dana on Jan 03 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, Thorn Song, Turf, Handicapping, Racing

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Thorn Song paid $16.80 in the G3 River City Handicap at Churchill today in an exciting down to the wire finish beating Cosmonaut by a neck.

Close readers of this blog might remember Thorn Song as a horse that taught me a valuable lesson this summer.

Time got away from me this afternoon between the leftovers and errand running. I fired up my Brisbet account literally right as the race started so I didn’t get a chance to throw any money on him but I’m happy to see he’s really improving!

It was also Kent Desormeaux’s 3rd win of the day.

Posted by dana on Nov 23 2007    
Filed Under: Churchill Downs, Thorn Song, Turf, Kent Desormeaux, 2007

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