Hello Broadway, half to No Biz breaking his maiden at Saratoga (Bud Morton)

When I saw this today, I remembered immediately that I recently asked if they had announced the inevitable regarding War Pass yet.

Today was the day… they finally came out with it and announced that War Pass has been officially retired and will stand at Lane’s End, a deal that was put in place after last year’s BC Juvenile. No surprise, just check it off the “when will they announce it” list.

Within a half an hour I notice that No Biz’s stud fee has been announced… $7,500. As Jessica put in in her reply to my email question “Is it just me or is No Biz a huge bargain?”

What a great price on a horse that won stakes at two and three, on dirt and turf.

And what do we think the fee for War Pass will be? (Upcoming poll alert!!) Much more than $7,500, that’s for sure.

Just last weekend halfs to No Biz and War Pass duked it out it a classy baby race with No Biz’s little bro, Hello Broadway, gamely defeating Imperial Council (no relation) by a nose while War Pass’s little bro was in the mix for show.

What are the odds of that coincidence? And too bad I didn’t have a few bucks on it!

Posted by dana on Sep 05 2008    
Filed Under: 3yo, 2yo, War Pass, 2008, Bud Morton, Injury, Maiden, Let Horses Race, Breeding, Retirement, Saratoga, Nobiz Like Shobiz, Racing

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Visionaire & Alan Garcia winning the King’s Bishop (Bud Morton)

Team Valor has announced that Visionaire, excellent surprise winner of the Kings Bishop, will not be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup this year.

“It has taken us awhile to figure out exactly what this colt is most effective in doing, and he is a terrific one-turn runner at distances just past a sprint,” said Barry Irwin of Team Valor. “We look forward to following a traditional tried-and-true path toward a career as a stallion while shooting for the Jerome (Breeders’ Cup Handicap, gr. II) and (Hill ‘n’ Dale) Cigar Mile (gr. I).

AND…

“Next season, we look forward to racing him in the Carter (gr. I) and Metropolitan Mile (gr. I). This colt possesses the ability to be very explosive on the turn, and we feel he will get even better with age. He is a very exciting prospect and is lightly raced, having run only 10 times.”

Go Barry Irwin… how refreshing is that? I wish Notional’s connections had taken a page out of that play book and kept him at a mile. With early retirement season upon us, it’s nice to count Visionaire as one who will be returning. Thank you Barry Irwin!

Posted by dana on Sep 04 2008    
Filed Under: Sportsmanship, 2008, Impressive, Bud Morton, Partnerships, Alan Garcia, Wooo!, Let Horses Race, Saratoga, 3yo, Racing

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Go For Wand & Randy Romero after the 1990 Mother Goose (Bud Morton)

I just noticed that Dan Ilman did a nice post on the great filly Go For Wand that chronicles her career with links to racing highlights that’s definitely worth a look.

“Having by this time gained enormous respect and affection for her, New Yorkers bet Go for Wand down to 1-10 in the Beldame Stakes on October 7 and were rewarded with a typical tour de force. She raced nine furlongs in a track-record 1:45 4/5 to win by almost five lengths from some hard-hitting fillies and mares including Colonial Waters, the runnerup, winner of more than $1,000,000.”

Here’s the 1990 Beldame Stakes:

Turning our attention to current rapidly improving fillies, you probably noticed that Zaftig (excellent picture here) was sidelined with a foot bruise. This means she’ll miss the Mother Goose, which was to be her match up against Oak winner Proud Spell. Hopefully she’ll be ready for the Coaching Club Oaks on July on 19th.

Did I mention Mushka is back on the work tab?

Posted by dana on Jun 19 2008    
Filed Under: Mushka, 2008, Proud Spell, Bud Morton, Dan Ilman, Legend, Race Replay, 3yo, YouTube, Racing

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Pays to Dream on the outside lives up to his name (Bud Morton)

They’re retired with an injury!

Pays to Dream, the long shot that came on to surprise in the Dixie and then ran a game third in the Manhattan was retired with a fracture. Ugh is all I can say to that, and of course, get well soon!

Here’s his eye popping run in the Dixie on the Preakness Card:

And his game effort in the Manhattan:

Posted by dana on Jun 09 2008    
Filed Under: Turf, :(, YouTube, Get Well Soon, Bud Morton, 2008, Injury, Javier Castellano, Belmont, Retirement, Race Replay, Pimlico, Edgar Prado, Racing

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Starters out of the gate for the Belmont Stakes (Bud Morton)

Everyone comes back ok!

And as usual, you can count on Barclay Tagg for a good quote, he said of Tale of Ekati who came away with a gash:

He was fine until he got stepped on. He has a gash. I don’t know how bad it is. I know he is walking sore on it. Anytime a 1,000-pound horse steps on your heel at 40 miles an hour, it’s not pretty. I don’t know how long the gash will take to heal. Each gash and each horse is different. It should heal in about a month, but you never know.

Posted by dana on Jun 08 2008    
Filed Under: Tale of Ekati, Bud Morton, 2008, Belmont Stakes, Belmont, Barclay Tagg, Racing

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