Captain Candyman & Vineyard Haven duke it out in the stretch of the King’s Bishop (Adam Mooshian)

This break in Breeders’ Cup content is brought to you by the De Francis Dash and Vineyard Haven!

The De Francis Dash is back this Saturday at Laurel after a brief hiatus.

The 57-day schedule is highlighted by the return of Laurel’s marquee race, the $300,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1), which was not carded in 2008 due to a purse account shortfall, on October 24.

Many were entered, including Fabulous Strike and Kodiak Kowboy but the recently returned Vineyard Haven is the only marquee name for this years event.

You may remember his stunning return in the King’s Bishop a couple of months ago at Saratoga where he ran huge coming off an 8 month layoff but was rightfully DQ’d for pilot error.

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He’s been working great and had a nice blow out today so it’s probably safe to assume that he’ll be sharp on Saturday. But let’s not forget the second choice in the morning line odds, Fleet Valid, son of 1993 De Francis Dash winner Montbrook.

In fact, Vineyard Haven has some family ties to the DeFrancis dash as his half brother On the Vineyard is by the 1996 De Francis Dash winner Lite the Fuse. Who are the previous De Francis Dash winners? Several have turned out to be champion sprinters (from Brisnet):

Introduced in 1990, the De Francis Dash is one of the elite six-furlong sprints in the country with four of the 18 winners — Housebuster (1991), Cherokee Run (1994), Smoke Glacken (1997) and Thor’s Echo (2006) — earning Eclipse Award honors for champion sprinter.

Update: As it turns out current entrant Peace Chant also has ties to the De Francis Dash! This was brought to my attention this morning in the comments by Val of Foolish Pleasure and Fillies First (thank you!):

Don’t forget that the mare Safely Kept, who was left in the gate and came from dead last to finish third in that 1991 De Francis (and had won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in 1990) is the dam of Peace Chant who drew post 6. He wasn’t bad for six furlongs in the G1 Forego last out.

Vineyard Haven won’t become this year’s champion sprinter but that doesn’t mean a strong win wouldn’t be impressive and probably a giant relief for whoever made all those Godophin purchases that are finally paying off! And perhaps this is a prep for the Cigar Mile at the Big A.

While I couldn’t dig up Thor’s Echo’s rendition, here are the rest of the champions mentioned above + Montbrook & Lite the Fuse’s (i.e., everything over at YouTube).

1997 - Smoke Glacken:

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1996 - Lite the Fuse:

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1994 - Cherokee Run:

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1993 - Montbrook:

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1991 - Housebuster - WARNING: there is a breakdown in the stretch.

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It should also be noted that GbG and Brooklyn Backstretch fav Saratoga Russell is entered as well. Good luck to all!

Posted by dana on Oct 21 2009    
Filed Under: Saratoga Russell, 2009, De Francis Dash, Laurel, Sprint, Fabulous Strike, Thor's Echo, Race Replay, YouTube, Racing

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According to Wikipedia, cotton is the appropriate gift for one’s second anniversary. I like a nice cotton T-shirt and prefer cotton over synthetics any day of the week… good thing too as today is Swifty’s and my 2 year horse racing anniversary!

2 years ago today we finally decided go out to Belmont after talking about it off an on for several months. We had originally planned on going out today but both of us have too much to do, plus we’re going to Saratoga for opening week!

When we went last year, we learned a lot of valuable lessons, such as trying to handicap every race on the card for multiple days in a row is much harder than we anticipated, the payouts at Saratoga are fantastic, one may end up sitting by someone who hits a 4 digit trifecta using their hotel room number (while you handicapped all night to not a cash a single ticket), and perhaps most important, that regardless of the afore mentioned lessons, there’s no where else I want to be on opening week of Saratoga!

Last year I met Joan, who will be joining us again this year, which is great because I hardly ever get to hang out with her in the city. This year also adds a welcome twist, Swifty and I now have a lovely group of friends to hang out with!

I noticed today that Fabulous Strike threw a bullet breezing 5F in :59.84 (1/26) in preparation for the G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on Saturday 26th. Other probables include Abraaj, Black Seventeen, Bustin Stones, First Defence, Sammarco, and Thor’s Echo. The rest of the Whitney card is shaping up to be interesting as well.

Last and probably least, I have a little hunch play for the 3rd at Belmont. Shtarker from the Allen Jerkens barn is running back from last week where, according to the running lines, he was through after a half. That race was 1 1/16th, todays is 6F and he gets blinkers + long shot Sanchez has the mount. He’s 15-1 in the morning line and I’m gonna put a little money on him across the board as I’m willing to go with Allen Jerkens on this.

Update: Shtarker came in last! Oh well, heat and humidity never help intuition.

Good to luck to all today, especially Evening Attire!

Posted by dana on Jul 19 2008    
Filed Under: Fabulous Strike, 2008, Becoming a Fan, Evening Attire, Thor's Echo, Saratoga, Belmont, Racing

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Post Time for the Belmont (~ RAYMOND)

Quickly, here are my picks for the card… I posted my win selections over at the TBA homepage along with the other TBA picks. I put a straight pick 6 ticket on those selections as well. No doubt Swifty and I will be playing some pick 4s and 6s together.

I’m going with Thor’s Echo returning to form and Benny the Bull regressing a bit. I also like Suave Jazz and a little bit of Council Member!

I think Bayou’s Lassie will have the pace her way and takes them wire to wire, or Lady of Venice and/or Bit of Whimsy come on. I love Criminologist but don’t think it’s enough distance for her.

Now that Dance Gal Dance is out, I think Indian Blessing will probably go wire to wire, but I still like Zaftig and Game Face.

What a field! I love both Shakis and Stream of Gold in here. Out of Control is a logical choice too, particularly since he stumbled in the stretch last out. Proudinsky looks dangerous as well as he does well off a freshening as does Better Talk Now winning on his return from an abysmal effort aboard last year. I think the pace is not going to be to Dancing Forever’s liking and I loved Pays to Dream’s last out but the turf was really soft as was the pace. I’ll probably play a little Stalingrad and Strike a Deal across the board too.

Obviously I’m bummed about Casino Drive but I am looking forward to seeing what looks to be a Triple Crown. I’ll be wheeling BB over several in supers, most likely most if not all of Tale of Ekati, Denis of Cork, Macho Again, Anak Nakal, Guadalcanal and Icabad Crane.

Good luck to everyone, enjoy your day and let’s get everyone home safe!!

Posted by dana on Jun 07 2008    
Filed Under: Indian Blessing, Benny the Bull, TBA, Raymond Haddad, Casino Drive, Anak Nakal, Denis of Cork, Tale of Ekati, Criminologist, 3yo, Thor's Echo, Belmont, Retirement Watch, Triple Crown, Handicapping, Turf, Belmont Stakes, Racing

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Thor’s Echo before the 2006 Ancient Title at Santa Anita (Charles Pravata)

Besides being generally excited about what promises to be an exciting day at my most favorite track and the potential of witnessing a Triple Crown, I think I’m most excited to see Thor’s Echo return!

As mentioned before, Thor’s Echo has a sentimental place in my racing history. The 2006 Breeders’ Cup was my first real foray into handicapping in a serious way… it was clear to me at this point that my interest in racing was way beyond the casual “hey, let’s go to the track”.

Swifty and I had gone to Belmont for the 3rd time a few weeks before the Breeders’ Cup. It was the running of the Frizette and Jamaica. I had Sutra in the Frizette, which was great because she went off at 12-1, but nuttin’ in the Jamaica.

As we were leaving the track that day I had the feeling I always used to have back in my clubbing days when the lights would come on and it was time go home… I couldn’t believe it was over and more importantly when was I gonna do it again.

Enter the 2006 BC. I had started to grow tired of handicapping at the track, feeling like I could probably make better decisions if I had more time to analyze the data. I didn’t even realize at that point that I could actually get the past performances ahead of time! Our pal Joan sent sent us the BC past performances on that that Thursday and the rest was history!

Thor’s Echo and Miesque’s Approval were my two picks of the day, both long shots. Swifty has bragging rights to Invasor. I think the best part was that we spent the day at the Yankee Clipper sitting with a large table of investment bankers who were college pals of one of our friends. Swifty and I, the two newbies kicked their a$$es on the day… not to mention that they seemed a bit crestfallen to be outdone by a Lady.

Unfortunately there’s a dearth of Thor’s Echo replays on YouTube, the BC sprint is there but it’s really choppy and pretty much unwatchable so I’ll point you to his few replays on NTRA.

The BC Sprint was followed by a win in the De Francis Dash, which locked up his win of the 2006 Eclipse Sprinter of the Year award.

According to NTRA:

2006 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Sprinter. Purchased privately by the Maktoum family for an undisclosed price at the beginning of the year. After two losing efforts in Dubai, he returned to Doug O’Neill’s Hollywood Park barn in May. Following surgery in August to remove a bone chip in a hind ankle, will be given time off and will point toward an ‘08 campaign.

So here he is, back for his 2008 campaign in the True North on the Belmont under card. His works have been solid, and although they’ve been over the cushion track at Hollywood, he’s beyond proven on conventional dirt.

Welcome back Thor’s Echo, what a nice surprise!

Posted by dana on Jun 04 2008    
Filed Under: :), Charles Pravata, Geldings, 2008, De Francis Dash, Sprint, Come Back, Belmont, Fans, Invasor, Thor's Echo, Breeders' Cup, Racing

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Downhill Turf Course at Santa Anita (Charles Pravata)

There’s a whole helluva lot of racing this weekend! It’s somewhat head spinning. In addition to Derby and Oaks preps (really interested to see Country Star vs. Proud Spell in the Ashland) there’s a ton of action at all levels. So much so that I’m going to try to get a start on some handicapping tonight.

Until then, I just wanted to point that I’ve seen Thor’s Echo on the work tab a couple of times!

Here’s what I’ve been able to dig up at NTRA (while admittedly not digging too hard for lack of time):

2006 Eclipse Award winner for Outstanding Sprinter. Purchased privately by the Maktoum family for an undisclosed price at the beginning of the year. After two losing efforts in Dubai, he returned to Doug O’Neill’s Hollywood Park barn in May. Following surgery in August to remove a bone chip in a hind ankle, will be given time off and will point toward an ‘08 campaign.

He’s a total sentimental favorite of mine as I had him to win in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup. This was not only my first Breeders’ Cup but it was the height of my “oh my god, I love horse racing and all I want to do is handicap” fever. Not like it’s gone away, it’s just more under control (I think).

Posted by dana on Apr 03 2008    
Filed Under: Geldings, 2008, Proud Spell, Country Star, Charles Pravata, Thor's Echo, Derby Trail, Breeders' Cup, Racing

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