What Does A Gulfstream Win Photo Look Like?

Precisely That indeed!

Soooo, now 6 horses in, my career as Hall of Fame minority owner has a second win to its credit. Calumet here I come. Things are actually looking up for me at the moment. The partnership that may or may not be aware that I am a member now has 2 horses in its stable. Actually more than that, I'm just a part of two of them. Along with Precisely That we have a 3 year old maiden named True Raise, who looks to be shedding the maiden title soon. I'm guessing early April. If not early April then late April. If not late April then...well...you get the point.

Still cooler, I'm actually going to get to meet the dynamic duo this weekend in Florida. The pair are stabled at Calder and I plan on dropping in while I'm down for the Florida Derby with my old man. Details and pictures to follow, but from what I know so far its going to be a trip not soon forgotten. No decision on a race winner yet but the field looks better every time I glance through it. Elysium Fields, Fierce Wind, Hey Byrn, Big Brown, Face the Cat, and foreign invader Tomcito all show up with something to prove on the big stage. More to follow.

The Risen Star

The first big Derby prep of the year goes down today in the Big Easy, the handicapping of which is anything but. This would be the Grade III Risen Star at the Fair Grounds.

The name of the game in these spring races is to make sure you stand in the top 20 of the graded stakes earnings at the end of April. $100k won in the Grade I Florida Derby is worth just as much as $100k won as a 2 year old in a Grade III race. There's always a horse on the outside looking in. Last year it was Chelokee who got bumped when I'mawildandcrazyguy ran. Crazyguy deserved to run, or so said the money. That being said, there are already horses in the Risen Star with the money to get in the Derby. Pyro, who finished second in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile and the Champagne, both to War Pass, makes his 3 year old debut today and we should have a good indicator on his progression over the winter. Dogwood Stable's Blackberry Road has 2 seconds, a third and a fourth in graded company, which means that another place or show will probably get him in the gate should he stay healthy. The undefeataed and highly touted Z Fortune is coming off a win in the Grade III LeComte over Blackberry Road and looks forward to a promising spring.

The class runs deeper than the graded earners in this race. Tom Amoss and Julien Leparoux are here with the 3 for 3 Prince Cortez looking to make a name for himself at the premier level. Amoss also has Peteadoris who, along with Signature Move and Mike Matz's (Barbaro) Visionaire, is coming off of back to back victories. Throw in the Canadian invader Bonanza and James Tafel's (owner of Street Sense) Unbridled Vicar and you have what looks to be a crowded win photo.

There's a surprising lack of early speed in the race, so my guess is Signature Move and longshot The Darp will be out on the lead with Z Fortune right off the pace. The pace should hold and Z Fortune should take advantage. Blackberry Road closing for second and Pyro third. Though he's been training with Curlin in the offseason (think Knowshon Moreno working out with LaDanian Tomlinson) Pyro is probably going to need a race to get back in the swing of things.

Though it deserves more than a brief mention, winner of the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies Indian Blessing returns on the same card, and looks to return to form in the Grade III Silverbulletday. The loaded card also features Grasshopper and Magna Graduate in the Grade III Mineshaft, and Better Talk Now shows up for the Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap.

I normally wait for the azalea's to bloom, but its 60 degrees outside and I can hear the birds chirping. That's enough for me. The season is upon us!

Personal Best

If Nelson from the Simpons was here, he'd probably weigh in with an appropriately timed "Ha ha!"

The lead singer of The Main Ingredient would be quick to tell me that "Everybody plays the fool...sometimes."

Bob Costas would find a way to call it a triumph of the human spirit in horse form.

If Lewis Grizzard were still with us I have no doubt I would hear, "Son. If luck were oil I'd say you're about a quart low."

Larry Munson would probably tell me that "Ole Lady Luck just snuck in there and snatched one from us at the very last minute."

Perhaps, Larry. Perhaps.

Personal Good, recently departed to the great stable on the other side of the barn, won his first start since my minority ownership reign ended five horses back of the wire on an actually pleasant South Florida afternoon. That was a week ago. Soooo, the powers that be saw the obvious dormant talent and ran him back a week later at an elevated class level and he wins by a head under Joe Bravo.

The damned horse, in 6 career starts, has run 6th-1st-5th-1st-5th-1st. If he ever wins the Derby he'll have finished 8th in the Derby Trial the week before. I'm reminded in times such as these that the man who relies on the rabbit's foot is quick to forget the luck it brought the rabbit.

I'm off to find a shiny lucky penny.

Nominations Are Out

448 horses were nominated to the triple crown this week, including 2 fillies. As expected, trainers such as Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, D Wayne Lukas, and Bob Baffert lead the way. I made a quick scan and noticed that the list includes Spain and Perfect Story colts, a half brother to Harlan's Holiday, and Breeder's Cup Juvenile winner War Pass. This is only the first chance to get in but each new nomination period raises the price. It cost $600 to nominate a horse for this list but it will be $6,000 to nominate one before the end of March. This goes pretty much up to the last minute when it takes a couple hundred thousand to enter your horse. Pocket change for the rich and famous. Early retirement for me.

Personal Good is scheduled to run in the 3rd at Gulfstream on Thursday for his new owners. Its a little quick to send him back in my opinion, but he seems to run well every other race so this may work out well for them. He has a $50,000 price tag which means he won't be coming home with us when the race is over.

Precisely That

There's a new occupant in the barn today. The partnership that recently saw Personal Good claimed away picked up Precisely That, a 5 year old Tactical Advantge mare, in the 1st at Gulfstream today. Precisely That is 6-5-5 in 23 career starts, including a length and a half win this morning. Bill White will take the reigns for this one as well.

Precisely That was claimed at the beginning of last year for $10,000 and went on to earn over $100,000 for the year, including a $38K allowance win at Monmouth. In her last 13 starts she's 4-4-3 which I hope is a strong indicator for how 2008 will go.

No Hands!

Got to love the horse industry. My reign as horse owner lasted a quick minute and 11 seconds down the tilt-a-whirl that is Gulfstream Park today. Personal Good hung right off the lead until the far turn where he faded back to finish 5th. Perhaps he'd already heard the news that he was claimed, off to another stall in another barn, to race another day under another set of silks. Perhaps he was just tired.

Either way I wish you the best of luck Mr. Good. I'll keep an eye out for you in upcoming races. In the mean time I'll be here, checking out the mid level claimers, waiting to be taken back up to the summit so that I can go screaming down the ride again.

Off To The Races

And they're off!

The hopefully legendary career of Personal Good, champion racehorse, and myself, champion minority owner, gets underway on Monday in the 2nd at Gulfstream, a 6 furlong, 40k claimer for 3 year olds. All you can really hope for at a claimer of this level is to not get claimed and hope the horse runs well enough to move up into allowance company. Keep your fingers crossed. He gets the professional craftsmanship of Todd Pletcher's personal valet John Velazquez, so at least I know he's in good hands. Or I think he is. Where some jockeys have a style (Borel on the rail, Pat Day from 35 lengths back), Johnny likes to find the best horse and then ride him. But I do feel comfortable with him which is nearly as important as Personal Good feeling comfortable with him.

It should be noted that Patrick over at Handride has a piece of a horse named Powerful Storm going in the 12th at Turfway this afternoon. Patrick got involved in a partnership through Adena that allows the yous and mes of the world to own a piece of some regally bred horses such as Ghostzapper's half brother, Holy Knight. For anyone interested in getting involved and who might be a bit intimidated by some of the sale and stud prices that get thrown around, a partnership is a great way to get your feet wet. The Adena Racing Venture is a good place to go, as is West Point Thoroughbreds (yellow silks with black star that runs all over the place), and Cot Campbell at Dogwood Stables has them too. Its a lot of fun to have your own horse, but also a good time following the horses of the people you come across along the way. Good luck today, I'll be watching the ticker.