Macho Again after winning the Jim Dandy (superterrific)

According to Raceday360, Macho Again had a bit of a late night last night, however it sounds low key compared to some of his previous antics. Perhaps his name should be Rowdy Again, or he should swap names with Wanderin’ Boy!

Yours truly has only taken the most cursory of glances at the Travers (and no glances at the other races) but it looks to be a real honest to god horse race… how exciting!

Best of luck to everyone today, and here’s the only hot tip I have to offer this weekend… go to Twitter, sign up (if you’re not already) and follow Raceday360. You can follow by RSS or even get it sent to your phone… Jessica will be dispatching reports all weekend via Twitter (otherwise known as tweets), just like this Macho Again tidbit. If you can be there yourself, why not feel like it?

Posted by dana on Aug 23 2008    
Filed Under: 2008, West Point Thoroughbreds, 3yo, Saratoga, Racing

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In a word, wow. Not that he had the toughest of competition today but I think someone may have slipped a little Winstrol laced Kool-Aid in my “what am I going to do with an hour to post” beer.

And did anyone call Macho Again? I took a quick look around and didn’t see anyone call that one! It looked really good for Racecar Rhapsody but he couldn’t hold off the hard charging Icabad Crane and Macho Again. Too bad too, my strategy involved a series of tri boxes of Big Brown, Racecar Rhapsody and the field. I also had a much more limited series of exactas, that did not include Macho Again.

Back to Big Brown, I was impressed with how well he rated and how effortlessly he took over to ultimately crush the field. That’s one more thing to check of my “prove it to me” list… can he intentionally rate? Check.

The Belmont should provide an opportunity for him to prove the one last thing that I’d like to see (and just in time too!)… how will he handle some real competition? His only competition so far has been his post position in the Derby. Casino Drive should be the first real competition of the equine variety to cross his path. Bring it on!

In other news, besides missing the Preakness trifecta by 3/4, I missed the Dupont Distaff exacta by nose thus concluding a full day cashing no tickets.

Here’s a note of interest in the Bloodhorse article about Big Brown’s retirement plan:

When the colt will be retired is completely controlled by his owners, IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.

Do you think there’s a clause in the deal that nullifies it if he’s injured? Do you think the money has changed hands or does it change hands when he’s retired? In other words, who assumes the risk? Maybe they both do if there was some payment now with the balance payable upon retirement. If Three Chimneys assumes the risk it will be interesting to see just how sporting IEAH will be about it… clearly they could certainly count on continued purse money!

Well, congrats to Big Brown and Macho Again and West Point Thoroughbreds… now there’s a partnership group I actually like!

Posted by dana on May 17 2008    
Filed Under: West Point Thoroughbreds, 3yo, Drugs, Greed, Prove it to Me, Wrap Up, Pimlico, Preakness, That's Why They Call it Gambling, Breeding, Gambling, Retirement Watch, Triple Crown, Racing

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Yowza, I just turned on the OTB channel to learn that Steve Asmussen & Shaun Bridgmohan won 6 races, including all 4 stakes races, on the Fairgrounds card today… that’s what I call a Jockey Trainer combo!!

I was able to watch race 10, the last race of the day, to see if they could make it 7 and they almost did. West Point’s Cadet Gold wired the field setting pretty fast fractions (:21.58, :45.15, :57.85, 1:11.86) and holding off a game Stonestreet Song (Bridgmohan/Asmussen) by a nose. It was an impressive effort for both colts but Cadet Song was the more impressive of the two as he hung tough and paid $16.

Posted by dana on Dec 22 2007    
Filed Under: Fairgrounds, Steve Asmussen, Shaun Bridgmohan, West Point Thoroughbreds, 2007, 2yo, Racing

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I just watched the 4th at Aqueduct, a 6F $52k Maiden Special Weight for 2 year olds. In the paddock I noticed that 2B, National Pride, looked a bit like a younger Curlin.

He sat mid-pack off the pace and and the top of stretch began his run. He had those giant Curlin-like strides and was really ate up the 3-4 lengths that the front running Saratoga Russell had built. As he got closer and eventually passed Saratoga Russell to win, it was apparent just how giant his strides really were. It was a very professional looking run! Saratoga Russell, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, also ran a nice looking race.

Posted by dana on Nov 17 2007    
Filed Under: Aqueduct, National Pride, Saratoga Russell, West Point Thoroughbreds, 2yo, Curlin, 2007, Maiden, Racing

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Bobby Trussell, co-owner of Walmac farm, has a nice opinion piece at Bloodhorse that I just saw today (it’s been up for about a week).

The piece, entitled Culture Change, highlights changes in the racing culture as it pertains to frequency of racing. One thing he rightfully highlights is the outrageous use of legal drugs.

It is my belief that our horses are over-medicated to the point that they are seriously weakened. Over the last 30 years, horses have received more and more medication and have raced less and less. The drugs not only don’t work; they are counter-­productive. Just look at other countries where they medicate less and race more. All drugs are toxic and our 2- and 3-year-old horses receive dozens of drugs in a given month. My average vet bill here is more than $800 per month.

The trainers are letting the vets run the game. The real problem is not illegal drugs, but the legal ones that they train and race on. Salix and Bute are given out like candy. These drugs have major side effects; just ask the humans who take them. Salix, which is used for works as well as races by many trainers, is a diuretic that depletes minerals and dehydrates a horse. Bute causes ulcers, a common ailment on the backstretch. Horses need more time to recover from their drug “hangover” after a race.

I suppose it’s not surprising given the incredible over use of legal drugs in our culture by humans. I’d love to see a general percentage of what commercials in prime time are for medications (both prescriptions and over the counter). At some point we all have to pay the piper, whether it’s the liver failure that awaits statin takers or the weakening of the bred which is already upon us.

He also goes on to point out issues with shoeing and win percentage conscious trainers as other contributing factors.

Also, check out Valerie’s post about the fire sale at West Point Thoroughbreds. I read the move as the partnerships realizing that they can make a nice profit on their very talented assets, not so much that they we would be being purchased for breeding. Am I being naive? I hope not!!

Posted by dana on Oct 03 2007    
Filed Under: Drugs, West Point Thoroughbreds, You Tell 'em!, 2007, Breeding

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