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Curlin's Options Open: ... said trainer Steve Asmussen after the champion finished second in the Man o' War. Why not help owner Jess Jackson decide what comes next? Via the Paulick Report: He's not quite Uncle Sam looking for a few good men and women to sign up for the U.S. Army, but Jess Jackson does want something from the public: their opinion.... the California winemaker and Thoroughbred horseman is seeking input from both fans and horsemen in an online poll on where 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin should race next. Cast your vote here, any time before July 30. So far,...; [Posted July 16, 2008 1:45 AM]; ---

Finally: Some good news from trouble-plagued trainer Rick Dutrow, reports ESPN: Calls to Dutrow for comment Monday were not returned, and he has stated he's sworn off interviews for a while. Let's all enjoy the peace and quiet. Related: Big Brown was unhurried in his first workout since the Belmont Stakes, going five furlongs in 1:06.73 at Aqueduct this morning. As in his work before the Belmont, Big Brown drifted out going into the turn. "Nice easy breeze," said Dutrow after. As for the quarter crack, "It's all good."...; [Posted July 2, 2008 6:15 PM]; ---

Curlin Takes to Turf: And Churchill Downs has posted video of the morning move. Or, I should say, has posted a video of Ashley Walker and Jill Byrne talking about Curlin trying turf, with snippets of the seven furlong work (in company, around dogs) interspersed among their analysis, but you can get an idea of how he went (very well, clocking 1:31.20) from those bits....; [Posted July 1, 2008 3:45 PM]; ---

Dear Bill Finley: Are you kidding? Send Big Brown to the Arc? We already know that Big Brown can handle the grass. He's bred for it and he broke his maiden by 11 1/4 lengths on the grass last year at Saratoga.... And, obviously, Big Brown has the quality and class to beat a field of international stars. Yes, obviously, based on ... what, exactly?...; [Posted June 29, 2008 8:15 PM]; ---

Ranking Curlin: Jason Shandler puts Curlin at #7 on a list of the top 10 of the past 30 years, while Jon White crams the Horse of the Year in at #72 on a list of the 100 all-time greats. Me? I'm reserving judgment until his career concludes....; [Posted June 24, 2008 1:40 PM]; ---

Harry Aleo, 1919-2008: Harry Aleo (in the cowboy hat) with Lost in the Fog in the Golden Gate winner's circle after the 2005 Golden Bear. Photo by ibison4. Reports the Blood-Horse: Harry J. Aleo, the crusty Northern California Thoroughbred owner who burst into national prominence with 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog, died at his San Francisco home on the afternoon of June 21. He was 88. Aleo campaigned many good horses in northern California with trainer Greg Gilchrist, but the late champion Lost in the Fog was his big horse, the one who brought Aleo to racing's pinnacle, although not...; [Posted June 22, 2008 6:45 PM]; ---

Monday Morning Links: - Curlin could be Arc-bound. Time to start planning an October Paris sojourn ... - Dear NTRA: Free "Web 2.0" advice worth following. - Check out the Paulick Report, now live. - San Felipe winner Georgie Boy, who missed the Kentucky Derby with a pulled muscle in his hind, is back in training and prepping for races later this year. - Enjoy Met Mile winner Divine Park while you can: Stud plans for the 4-year-old son of Chester House are set. - Posting will be light this week, but I'll back in full swing soon, looking toward to the upcoming...; [Posted June 16, 2008 9:15 AM]; ---

Nicanor's Odds?: I know it's nearly sacrilegious to discuss anything but the Belmont Stakes this week, but a hot debate has erupted in my office concerning what Nicanor's odds will be when he debuts. For those who don't know, Nicanor is the late Barbaro's full brother. He's a two-year-old currently in training with Michael Matz at Fair Hill. The Blood Horse's Claire Novak has been maintaining a blog dedicated to the colt's development. In discussing Novak's most recent entry, I said to a coworker that I am enjoying the hype because it will lead to Nicanor being the "bet-against of the millennium"...; [Posted June 4, 2008 10:21 AM]; ---

Sunday Morning Notes: - Zenyatta may be most exciting horse racing this year (and yes, I'm including Big Brown in the also-rans, since he's a comet that'll be seen no more after June 7). The 4-year-old filly ran her unbeaten streak to five in the G2 Milady at Hollywood on Saturday. Bumped and squeezed at the start, Zenyatta showed a super turn of foot, closing from last into a slow pace (the first quarter in :24.74, the first half in :48.19) and kicking away to a 2 1/2-length win. "She always makes everyone look like they stopped," said co-owner Ann Moss after. "It's...; [Posted June 1, 2008 11:30 AM]; ---

Sunday Night Links: - The dress code at Saratoga will be more casual this summer. "It's the way the world is headed," said NYRA spokesman John Lee of the changes (Gazette). Men in tank tops will remain forbidden in the clubhouse. Thank goodness. - Spin! "The truth of the matter is, once we eliminate use of anabolic steroids, we will have arrived at the European drug model with some variations." Those variations, so minor -- just Lasix, phenylbutazone, and cortiscosteroids. - Magnificience returns triumphant from a 13-month layoff....; [Posted May 18, 2008 11:40 PM]; ---

A Terrible Accident: According to the final necropsy results (PDF) released today by the KHRA, there was no "catastrophic event," no heart attack or pulmonary aneurysm that felled Eight Belles as she galloped out after finishing second in the Derby, causing her leg injuries. The report concluded that the filly suffered compound fractures in both front legs at the fetlock joints, for which she was euthanized on track, and noted that "no pre-existing bone pathology was observed." In other words: She was sound and what happened was a terrible accident. 5/16 Update: KHRA reports that Eight Belles tested negative for steroids and other...; [Posted May 15, 2008 4:50 PM]; ---

Chicken or Egg: Abolishing horse racing would abolish the Thoroughbred whose purpose as a racehorse dominates any reason that it might otherwise exist. I've read a couple articles about how horse racing has turned off some fans. I've yet to talk to anyone actually invested in the industry who has turned away from it. The breeding sheds were still open on May 4, the tellers took bets on the day's races, and Fasig-Tipton didn't cancel any of its upcoming sales. The thing that astonishes me is that the whole situation seems to have surprised people. Barbaro's accident was only two years ago, and...; [Posted May 6, 2008 3:58 PM]; ---

Rags to Riches Retired: Disappointing, but hardly unexpected: Rags to Riches has been retired. The hairline fracture that sidelined the champion filly in 2007 reappeared following a recent gallop at Palm Beach Downs. "We took some additional X-rays," said trainer Todd Pletcher, "and after discussing the situation with Mr. Tabor, we agreed it wasn't worth the risk of continuing on with her" (DRF). Rags to Riches will be bred to Giant's Causeway this spring. She exits with a record of 6-5-1-0, earnings of $1.3 million, and a place in racing history as the first filly to win the Belmont in 102 years:...; [Posted March 24, 2008 1:10 PM]; ---

Rags to Riches Works: Rags to Riches breezed three furlongs in :38.4 over a good track at Palm Beach Downs on Tuesday, according to a Watch Mail received this morning. After more than six months away, the Belmont Stakes winner finally may be on the comeback trail ......; [Posted March 12, 2008 10:20 AM]; ---

Tagg on Funny Retirement: "It would be like if I wanted to retire and they told me to go and live in a cave and be a person again."...; [Posted March 7, 2008 8:00 AM]; ---

Notable Returns: Last seen finishing nearly 24 lengths behind Asiatic Boy in the 2007 UAE Derby, Nashua Stakes winner Day Pass returns in the second at Gulfstream on Sunday. Once more in trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's barn, the colt starts in the 7-furlong OC/N2X off a string of decent works, including two recent bullets at Palm Meadows, and goes back on Lasix. At Santa Anita, Florida Derby runner-up Notional makes his first start since last March in the 6 1/2-furlong Daytona. The downhill turf handicap came up a tough comeback spot for the 4-year-old, who is also making his turf debut, with Desert...; [Posted February 16, 2008 11:30 PM]; ---

$16M Dud Heads to Stud: With a record of 3-0-0-1 and earnings of $10,240, The Green Monkey has been retired to stand stud at Hartley-De Renzo Thoroughbreds of Florida in 2009. The farm plans to build the 4-year-old Forestry colt his own barn and is considering offering tours to visitors interested in seeing the priciest thoroughbred ever purchased at auction: "I think people would like to see him," De Renzo said. "He's a pretty special horse. His price was the most expensive in history, and he is a part of Thoroughbred history" (Blood-Horse). No fee for The Green Monkey's services has been set yet, but...; [Posted February 11, 2008 10:30 PM]; ---

Magnificent Manifestation: The funniest thing I've read in weeks: The awestruck populace listened in rapt attention to the words of the great horse's spirit as he urged the people to remove their metaphorical blinders and open their eyes to the world around them; to never put too much weight on their sesamoid and long pastern bones; and to remember that Barbaro Day is not just the day that Barbaro died, but the day that human beings learned to put their differences aside and treat one another as they would want a 1,200-pound racehorse to be treated. [Thanks, Dana.] More poignantly, Jon White...; [Posted January 31, 2008 9:00 AM]; ---

No Pressure, Guys: Glenye Cain Oakford reports that Barbaro's little brothers are progressing well, with 2-year-old Nicanor in early training at a Florida farm and "unnamed yearling" still gamboling in a Kentucky pasture....; [Posted January 20, 2008 12:00 PM]; ---

Evening Attire's Top 10: Evening Attire's 10 most memorable races, as chosen by trainer Pat Kelly on the eve of the gray gelding's 2008 debut (DRF). [Link via the delightful Brooklyn Backstretch.]...; [Posted January 16, 2008 10:30 PM]; ---

Back in Training: The sensational three-year-old filly Magnificience returned to training two weeks ago and is about six weeks away from her first workout in months for trainer Bruce Headley, reports Daily Racing Form: Headley said Magnificience is galloping daily on the training track, and that she is "very smooth, she is the same Magnificience." Magnificience attracted attention last winter with a brilliant debut win at Santa Anita, in which, after walking out of the gate and trailing the field by 10 lengths during the first quarter, she made a big move up on the outside and surged away to a 6 1/2...; [Posted October 31, 2007 8:00 AM]; ---

What Saps the Spirit: "A natural pack leader, the idea of 'cover' to Lava Man is repulsive, and staring at the heels of pacesetters Surf Cat and Get Funky down the backstretch and into the far turn appeared to sap Lava Man's spirit" (DRF+)....; [Posted October 9, 2007 5:30 PM]; ---

John Henry, 1975-2007: Photo courtesy of Horsephotos/NTRA. John Henry, 32, was euthanized at 7:05 p.m. Monday at the Kentucky Horse Park (Herald Leader). The long retired champion had been in poor health since August and was suffering from Cushing's disease and kidney problems. "There was a real difference in his demeanor and his sparkle, between Friday and Sunday," said Horse Park executive director Jack Nicholson. "He seemed to be going in a downward cycle again." A public memorial service will be held on October 19 at 2:00 p.m. for the Hall of Famer who was a two-time Horse of the Year. The...; [Posted October 8, 2007 9:00 PM]; ---

Tuesday Evening Notes: - After losing the Adirondack and Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga by a combined 50 lengths, Phantom Income returned to winning form on Saturday in the NATC Futurity at Meadowlands (Blood-Horse). Sent off at 8-1, the two-year-old filly pressed the early pace, then squeezed through on the inside to win by 4 1/2 lengths over New York City Girl. Final time for the six furlong race was 1:09. An impressive debut winner at Belmont in July, Phantom Income was declared a non-starter in the Adirondack after a gate incident marred the break, leaving the second favorite trailing the field by several...; [Posted October 2, 2007 8:00 PM]; ---

'Riches Misses Work: Rags to Riches spiked a temperature this morning, forcing the cancellation of a scheduled work and imperiling her planned start in the September 8 Ruffian at Belmont. "She's acting perfect, she's bright, sharp and aggressive, but the thermometer's a little bit off," said trainer Todd Pletcher (DRF). Later in the day, Sherry Ross caught up with the conditioner, who reported that the fever was gone, the filly's bloodwork fine, and that he might breeze her on Wednesday, "but it's premature to make any decisions yet." Two things: Is anyone else beginning to doubt that we'll see Rags to Riches race...; [Posted August 27, 2007 9:15 PM]; ---

Darley Snaps Up Another: Haskell winner Any Given Saturday will join Street Sense and Hard Spun in stud duties at Darley next year, reports the Thoroughbred Times: Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) winner Any Given Saturday will join fellow top three-year-olds Street Sense and Hard Spun on the Darley stallion roster in 2008. The Distorted Humor colt out of Weekend in Indy, by A.P. Indy, will continue racing for WinStar Farm and Padua Stables and retire following the Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park. Think the handicap division is thin now? Wait until next year. Related news: Wildcat...; [Posted August 15, 2007 7:00 PM]; ---

Today's Retirements: - Wilko, winless since the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, has been retired to an unnamed Kentucky farm (Blood-Horse). He and Cash Included, also retired, have been entered in the Fasig-Tipton fall sale. - Owing to an injury suffered in last Saturday's Test Stakes, Cotton Blossom has been retired (ThoroTimes)....; [Posted August 13, 2007 9:10 PM]; ---

Nobiz Aces Turf Test: - Nobiz Like Shobiz aced his first turf try in today's G2 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, stalking pacesetter Sahara Heat through easy early fractions, taking the lead in mid-stretch, and then holding off a late-surging Marcavelly to win by half a length. The 6-5 favorite, Nobiz Like Shobiz paid $5.20. Final time for the 1 1/8 mile race run over very firm ground was 1:49.29. - Any Given Saturday came out of the Haskell fine, trainer Todd Pletcher reported this morning, and is scheduled to arrive in Saratoga on Tuesday. Curlin was back in trainer Steve Asmussen's Spa...; [Posted August 6, 2007 5:45 PM]; ---

Funny Cide Party Plans Set: Funny Cide's retirement party is all set for next Friday at Saratoga: The Kentucky Derby winner turned stable pony will parade for fans on the racetrack one last time, an oversized card will be available for signing, and NYRA will give away copies of a limited edition PEB poster commemorating the occasion, which will be autographed by members of Sackatoga Stable and jockey Jose Santos (who announced his retirement earlier this week) outside the silks room. "It's going to be a blast," said Jack Knowlton, managing partner for Sackatoga (Times Union)....; [Posted August 3, 2007 9:00 AM]; ---

'Riches Back at Belmont: The Belmont winner is back in her stall following a thorough physical exam at the New Bolton Center, but it sounds like she's iffy for the Alabama Stakes on August 18. "I would say it's 50-50 whether or not she will run here or not," said Pletcher (ThoroTimes)....; [Posted July 27, 2007 4:55 PM]; ---

Monday Evening Notes: - The loss of his apprentice bug on Saturday hasn't slowed Joe Talamo: The rider had three wins on Sunday, two more today at Del Mar, giving him seven wins for the meet's first five days (LA Times). - Rags to Riches, pulled up during a Sunday workout, is sound, veterinarian Steve Allday said after examining the filly this morning, but she'll be sent to New Bolton for a complete physical anyway. "Although everything seems to be fine, in order to be thorough she will have a complete physical done," said trainer Todd Pletcher (Blood-Horse). - "One of the biggest...; [Posted July 23, 2007 9:30 PM]; ---

Friday Morning Notes: - The two best stakes races this weekend are at Colonial Downs on Saturday, where both the Virginia Oaks and the Virginia Derby drew full fields. In the Oaks, Dreaming of Anna, coming off a win at Arlington in the Double Delta Stakes, will try to regain her graded stakes form. The 9-5 morning line favorite, she'll face Ashland Stakes winner Christmas Kid and trainer Barclay Tagg's Bit of Whimsy, who finished in a dead heat with Rutherienne after a difficult trip in the Sands Point. In the Derby, Circular Quay tries turf for the first time. "This isn't necessarily...; [Posted July 20, 2007 9:00 AM]; ---

Discreet Cat Jogging: Cigar Mile winner Discreet Cat, found to have a throat abcess after his last place finish in the Dubai World Cup, is back on track. "He's jogging sound and we're real happy with him," said Godolphin assistant trainer Rick Mettee. "He'll probably start galloping by the time we get up to Saratoga" (DRF). No plans yet for Discreet Cat's next start....; [Posted July 18, 2007 10:40 PM]; ---

Rags to Riches out of Oaks: Never mind that bit about Rags to Riches working this morning or her exciting return to the races next Saturday: The Belmont winner is out of the Coaching Club American Oaks, trainer Todd Pletcher announced today, owing to a slight fever. "Her temperature was 101 degrees, which is not high, but a little beyond the normal range," said Pletcher. "She hasn't quite seemed herself the last couple of days. We won't breeze her without her being 100 percent." Rags to Riches will be pointed to the Alabama at Saratoga on August 18 (ending speculation that she might start in the...; [Posted July 16, 2007 10:45 AM]; ---

Belmont Loves the Ladies: Rags to Riches and Curlin at the wire in the Belmont Stakes. Photo Adam Coglianese/NYRA. Superfilly Rags to Riches is scheduled to work Monday morning at Belmont in preparation for her start in the Coaching Club America Oaks next Saturday, which will likely draw a short field despite the 23 nominations the race attracted since few trainers are eager to test their fillies against the Belmont winner. For Rags to Riches' first race since her historic victory, NYRA is offering free admission to women on Saturday and ESPN is bumping the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar to show...; [Posted July 15, 2007 8:00 PM]; ---

Funny Cide Retired: "We decided that after the great fun and excitement of watching Funny Cide win the Wadsworth Memorial at Finger Lakes at the age of 7, it would be a good note on which to retire the horse," said trainer Barclay Tagg (Blood-Horse). Funny Cide goes out a winner, sound and happy; he'll remain at the track for now, and begin retirement as a stable pony in Tagg's barn. As for what's next for the Derby winner, I second Valerie's idea to make him racing's equine ambassador. From Youtube: Funny Cide's 2003 Kentucky Derby and 2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup...; [Posted July 13, 2007 10:00 PM]; ---

Green Monkey Nears Debut: The world's most expensive racehorse points toward a Saratoga maiden special weight debut. Trainer Todd Pletcher makes no promises about how the $16 million colt's first race might go: "I will do everything I can to have him as ready as I can first time out, and sometimes you can only do so much" (NY Times)....; [Posted July 13, 2007 9:45 AM]; ---

Top 3YOs Work: Prepping for the August 5 Haskell, Preakness winner Curlin worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 at Churchill Downs this morning in company with stablemate Tiz Wonderful (Blood-Horse). Curlin will ship to Saratoga on Thursday, enjoy the Spa for a couple of weeks, then head to Monmouth. Hard Spun, another likely Haskell contender, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 at Delaware Park, also in company, with an unnamed filly stablemate. When the son of Danzig starts next, he'll have rider Mario Pino, dumped for Garret Gomez in the Belmont, back aboard. "I had a discussion with Mr. Porter and he said it's OK...; [Posted July 9, 2007 11:00 PM]; ---

Asmussen Goes for Double: Trainer Steve Asmussen will send out the likely favorites in both the Debutante Stakes and the Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs this afternoon (Courier-Journal). In the filly stakes, he'll be represented by Wonderful Luck and Rated Fiesty, who looms over the rest of the field with a 102 Beyer earned in the G3 Kentucky Breeders' Cup, the race favored Ready's Image finished third in before winning the 5 1/2 furlong Tremont at Belmont last week by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:02.86, getting a 99 Beyer. In the more competitive Bashford, Asmussen will send out three, including Kodiak Kowboy, winner of...; [Posted July 7, 2007 9:00 AM]; ---

No Phantom: Impressive romp by the Rick Violette-trained Phantom Income in Belmont's second today. Making her debut, the two-year-old filly finished the 5 1/2 furlong maiden special in 1:03.79 under a handride and more than 10 lengths ahead of place horse Shining Sea, paying $11.60 to win. Todd Pletcher's firster, Crosswater, bet down to an absurdly low 3-4, finished third. Phantom Income, out of Catch the Ghost, a half-sister to 2004 champion Ghostzapper, is a daughter of Montbrook, who's 12% with debut winners and 5-for-11 with his two-year-olds to race so far this year....; [Posted July 6, 2007 4:00 PM]; ---

Perfect Fleetheart: - The SoCal filly remains unbeaten after wiring Hollywood's Wednesday opener as the 3-2 favorite. Fleetheart could start next in a Del Mar stakes race. Considering how well she's handled everything asked of her so far (up in class, surface change, stretching out, etc.), it's exciting to contemplate how she might perform at the stakes level ... - Trainer Steve Asmussen is the subject of a lengthy and sympathetic profile that gets right into the doping rumors: "People who say I'm a cheater? Well, that's the dumbest thing I ever heard," he says. "On average, mine cost a 100 [thousand],...; [Posted June 28, 2007 8:30 AM]; ---

Scat, Daddy: Florida Derby winner Scat Daddy has been retired with a tendon injury: "Our vets told us he would need 90 days rest, so we would have run out of time to get him back for the major races this year, and the decision was made to retire him to stud,'' explained trainer Todd Pletcher (DRF). That 90 days was too long to wait for a minor injury to heal suggests owners Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith were planning to retire the son of Johannesburg at the end of the year anyway, which isn't all that surprising, but is still a...; [Posted June 25, 2007 7:30 PM]; ---

Fleetheart Returns: - Fleetheart, emerging star of the SoCal allowance ranks, returns to the track in Hollywood's first race on Wednesday. The four-year-old filly is a perfect 3-for-3 since beginning her career last October and has shown considerable toughness and talent in all of her starts. She's stretching out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles for the first time and it looks like she'll have some competition from Fun Logic, breaking to her outside, who won at the distance two starts back. But Fleetheart also looks like the lone speed in this five-horse field, and she should have no problem handling...; [Posted June 24, 2007 5:45 PM]; ---

Invasor Retired: Invasor, working with stablemate Like Now, on Saturday morning. Photo by Adam Coglianese/NYRA. No! No! No! I haven't been this disappointed since Afleet Alex was sent to stud. It seems Invasor suffered a fracture of the sesamoid in his right hind leg during this morning's workout. He'll be moved to Shadwell Farm, where he'll stand in 2008. Blood-Horse has the edited press release. Video: Watch Invasor win the Dubai World Cup, Donn Handicap, Breeders' Cup Classic, and the Uruguayan Triple Crown, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin talk about his star. Related: Invasor's retirement scrambles the early end-of-the-year honors picture considerably....; [Posted June 23, 2007 9:00 PM]; ---

Invasor Works a Bullet: Wrapping up his prep for next Saturday's Suburban Handicap, Invasor breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track in :59.2 this morning, in company with stablemate Like Now. The work was the fastest of 23 at the distance. Invasor is on a six-race winning streak, which includes last year's Suburban, and hasn't raced since winning the Dubai World Cup in March. So far, it looks like his toughest competition next Saturday will be Met Mile winner Corinthian. Now, that's a race to go to the track for ......; [Posted June 23, 2007 11:30 AM]; ---

Remembering Ruffian: With ABC's Ruffian movie scheduled to air this Saturday, the magnificent filly is very much on racing fans' minds. Here's a reminder of what was so spectacular about Ruffian: Over on Turf Luck, the Quinella Queen ponders the poetry of Ruffian's past performances, while John at Not to the Swift shows off a ticket he couldn't bear to crumple....; [Posted June 8, 2007 8:30 AM]; ---

This Is Good News ...: An "on-track equine injury reporting system" will be implemented, as a pilot program, at 30 racetracks starting June 1 (Blood-Horse). To the 30 tracks that have signed on: Thank you. This a wonderful initiative that can mean only safer horses and fewer sad stories....; [Posted May 30, 2007 9:15 PM]; ---

Barbaro Writes Back: Barbaro has received a lot of fan mail recently, and now, with a little help from his assistant Doreen Steinmetz, he's taking the time to write back: Dear Nancy, Well, I appreciate your patience as I sift through these bags full of mail from all my supporters. Know that your letter meant a lot to me. You know, I'm not exactly sure what life has in store for me now. Racing is all I've ever known, really. I guess I'll just have to get used to taking it easy. One day at a time, etc. etc. From all I've heard,...; [Posted June 1, 2006 9:00 AM]; ---

Barbaro "Officially 51%": It's been more than a week since Barbaro had surgery on the hind leg he shattered in the Preakness and the colt couldn't be doing better, Dr. Dean Richardson said this afternoon: "He's actually done far better than we could have ever hoped, so far ... He's perfectly comfortable and all his vital signs are normal. His blood work is good, and basically, at this moment, he could not look any better in terms of his medical condition. His prognosis is much better than it was, but he still has a long way to go." Richardson, who said the colt's...; [Posted May 30, 2006 10:00 PM]; ---

Barbaro Naps, Scratches Ear: The news continues to be good about Barbaro: The colt enjoyed a nap, some crunchy treats, and felt comfortable enough standing on his injured right leg that he scratched his left ear with his left foot. "He is stable and happy," said Dr. Dean Richardson, who offered a "cautiously optimistic prognosis" for the colt on Tuesday. "Every day that goes by, the risk diminishes." 5/26/06 Update: Barbaro has been fitted out with a special shoe on his left hind foot. "One of the complications that can occur following leg fractures in horses is the risk of developing laminitis in the...; [Posted May 24, 2006 9:30 PM]; ---

Barbaro Doing Well: Barbaro continues to do well, two days after surgery on his fractured hind leg. "He's actually better today than he was even yesterday, and he was pretty good yesterday," said Dr. Dean Richardson....; [Posted May 23, 2006 9:10 PM]; ---

Barbaro Bright, Frisky: "He got through the night very well, day one and into day two is going as well as expected," Corinne Sweeney, a veterinarian and the hospital's executive director, said Monday. "He is standing on the leg, and with the appropriate amount of weight on it.... He also showed appropriate interest in the mares, which means he's acting like a young colt should."...; [Posted May 22, 2006 3:00 PM]; ---

Barbaro in Surgery: Update: Barbaro is out of surgery and standing in an intensive care stall at New Bolton. "Things right now are good," said Dr. Dean Richardson. "He practically jogged back to his stall ... He's very comfortable right now." The news is about as good as can be hoped for, but Richardson did caution that Barbaro still faces a challenging months-long recovery from his injuries. "To be brutally honest, there's still enough chance for things going bad that it's still a coin toss even though everything went well." Photos: Here's one of Barbaro coming out of the recovery pool and another...; [Posted May 21, 2006 2:30 PM]; ---

Return to the Winner's Circle: Funny Cide snapped an eight-race losing streak with a win on Sunday in the Kings Point Stakes at Aqueduct. "It has been a long time," said Sackatoga managing partner Jack Knowlton. "We're just happy to get him back into the winner's circle." The Kings Point was restricted to NY-breds; Sunday was the first time since his two-year-old season that Funny Cide raced in restricted company. After taking an early lead, Funny Cide faded in the stretch, but then showed his old fighting spirit, gamely coming back to put away Gold and Roses, who finished second. Before Sunday, the last race...; [Posted April 30, 2006 6:00 PM]; ---

LITF Returns Saturday: - Sprint champion Lost in the Fog makes his four-year-old debut on Saturday in the Golden Gate Sprint. The race is the first for "the cool dude" since he finished seventh in the 2005 Breeders' Cup Sprint after winning his first 10 starts. Four others are entered in the Sprint, but only one -- Carthage -- appears to have the speed to challenge him. Carthage won his last two starts, earning Beyer speed figures of 108 and 105 for the efforts, and is coming off a two-month layoff, as opposed to Lost in the Fog's six-month break. Trainer Greg Gilchrist...; [Posted April 20, 2006 9:00 PM]; ---

Noted: March 15: - A record number of American horses are heading to the March 25 Dubai World Cup, including the unlikely Wilko and Donn winner Brass Hat, aka Cinderella. You can follow all the World Cup news on the Dubai Racing Carnival blog. - Rockport Harbor's career could be over. The four-year-old reinjured the foot that caused so many problems last year in Saturday's Razorback Stakes, in which he finished fifth. Trainer John Servis said a small split appeared in the old wound's scar and that the site would be patched, but no decision would be made about Rockport's future until the...; [Posted March 15, 2006 8:00 PM]; ---

Noted: February 22: - In his penultimate workout before the March 4 Santa Anita Handicap, Giacomo worked seven furlongs in 1:25 at Hollywood on Monday, the fastest of seven at that distance. "He was feeling very good this morning," said trainer John Shirreffs. Giacomo finished third in the February 4 Strub Stakes, which was his first start since last June. - Happy Ticket's Saturday night return at Evangeline was nothing less than triumphant. In her first start since the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Happy Ticket easily won the Premier Night Distaff by 5 1/2 lengths, paying the minimum of $2.10 on a win ticket....; [Posted February 22, 2006 6:00 PM]; ---

Too Late: "She was standing on her three good legs in the ambulance. Her eyes were bright. She didn't look to me as if she needed to be killed. The rubber floor of the ambulance she stood on was clean except for some clods of dirt that had fallen from her hooves, but there was no blood that I could see. My hopes rose. But then Ben, the trainer, came. He saw his horse and stepped away. He hung back, standing by my husband's truck. There were tears in his eyes."...; [Posted February 19, 2006 10:00 PM]; ---

Silver Train Works: Despite an uncertain future in the wake of owner Mahmoud Fustok's death last week: The Breeders' Cup Sprint winner worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Sunday at Gulfstream, prepping for a possible start in the March 4 Richter Scale Breeders' Cup Handicap. "He's in 'jail' right now because of the ownership situation," said trainer Richard Dutrow. "If things are cleared up by the time the race comes around, that's where we'll go."...; [Posted February 14, 2006 3:40 PM]; ---

Funny Cide Second in Return: And his connections couldn't be more relieved: "I'm glad he ran a good race," trainer Barclay Tagg said after Funny Cide was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Sir Greeley. "This wasn't his ideal distance and this was a real salty race. I'm just pleased he showed some life." The race, an allowance, was Funny Cide's first start in many months after a dismal 2005 campaign, in which the now six-year-old Kentucky Derby winner ran five times and finished out of the money in each....; [Posted February 3, 2006 10:45 PM]; ---

More on Alex's Retirement: Trainer Tim Ritchey believes Afleet Alex's stumble in the Preakness could have caused the injury that led to his retirement on Thursday: "I was always amazed that he showed absolutely no problems after the Preakness," Ritchey said. "Even though he appeared sound and never took a bad step, he probably bruised something in the Preakness. If that's the case, and it makes sense to me that it is, that was probably the cause of the hairline fracture of the cannon bone." Dick Jerardi allows that as one possibility, but also wonders: Was it there all along and just not detected?...; [Posted December 3, 2005 12:00 PM]; ---

Afleet Alex Retired: Because of a recently discovered leg injury. The problem, a wedge-shaped bit of abnormal bone, was uncovered during a scan of the colt's injured left front leg, in which Alex was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the cannon bone last July. Dr. Patricia Hogan described the wedge as "essentially an island of brittle bone that was once badly bruised, and over time has slowly lost its blood supply," and said, "We talked to Dr. (Larry) Bramlage about it and he said if it ever healed at all it would have taken months, and I don't think we'd ever feel...; [Posted December 1, 2005 10:15 AM]; ---

Return to the Winner's Circle: Evening Attire brought his nine race losing streak to an end on Saturday with a win in the Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct. "When he is up there, stalking horses, he is happy," said trainer Pat Kelly. "I was glad to see him up there. He is not done yet. He is hanging in there." Kelly said the seven-year-old gelding could start next in the Queens County Handicap on December 10....; [Posted November 21, 2005 11:10 AM]; ---

Taste of Paradise Retired: Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up and Vosburgh Stakes winner Taste of Paradise has been retired. The six-year-old has a tendon injury, discovered by trainer Richard Mandella after a recent gallop: "When I ran my fingers down his leg, there was just the slightest little bump.... We took an ultrasound to see if there was a little swelling because he had hit himself or because there was actually a tear, and we found just a tiny lesion on the tendon. It was only about the size of a teardrop, but he wouldn't have been able to perform at the level he had...; [Posted November 11, 2005 3:45 PM]; ---

Alex Out Until 2006: The latest news on Afleet Alex is hardly surprising: Trainer Tim Ritchey was still talking about the Cigar Mile last week, but Cash Is King managing partner Chuck Zacney all but said Alex was done for the year. This weekend came the announcement that x-rays showed the colt's hairline fracture isn't completely healed and that he won't run again until 2006, when he may start in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Santa Anita in January or the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream in February. Despite Alex's long absence from the races, Ritchey believes the dual classic winner should be named Horse...; [Posted November 6, 2005 6:10 PM]; ---

Saturday Notes: At Churchill Downs, Catcominacha won the Iroquois Stakes, earning himself a spot in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on November 26. In the way of anyone lucky enough to own a promising two-year-old, owner Thomas McCann can't help thinking about the Kentucky Derby in the wake of his improving colt's win. "This horse has taken us places we've never dreamed of, places we've never been before," McCann said. "Somebody said something about doing this again here the first Saturday in May. That sounds wonderful." Favorite Flanders Fields, an impressive maiden winner at Belmont in September, was caught wide from the...; [Posted November 5, 2005 9:00 PM]; ---

Either ...: Afleet Alex won't run again until 2006 ... or he'll start in the Cigar Mile on November 26. The owners hint at one plan, the trainer at another. --- Not coming back this year or next: Roman Ruler. The Dwyer and Haskell winner trained by Bob Baffert was retired to stud on Monday. He'll move into his new home at Hill 'n' Dale Farm on Wednesday....; [Posted November 1, 2005 7:45 AM]; ---

Four Furlongs in :46: Wow: Afleet Alex worked four furlongs handily in :46 at Belmont this morning (Blood-Horse). "This work was to get some air in his lungs," [rider Jeremy] Rose said afterward. "We ran to the pole a lot more than last time just to make sure it was a consistent work. This was a lot stronger than his last work. I let him run the last half-mile and he seemed to enjoy it. He was really picking it up in the stretch." Next for Alex: A prep race....; [Posted October 7, 2005 8:30 AM]; ---

Afleet Alex Works: Afleet Alex worked five furlongs handily in :59.8 at Belmont this morning, the fastest of eight works at that distance. It was his first workout since undergoing surgery for a hairline fracture in July. Trainer Tim Ritchey wasn't surprised by Afleet Alex's performance (Blood-Horse): "It didn't amaze me how fast he worked, because he did it easy, and he always works like that," Ritchey said. "What really amazed me was when he pulled up on the backside, and I walked and jogged back with him on the pony, and he wasn't even blowing. When you breeze them, you need to...; [Posted September 30, 2005 10:30 AM]; ---

Kitten's Joy Retired: Turf champion Kitten's Joy has been retired to stud (New York Post). "The cartilage has worn through in his left knee where he had surgery [last November to remove bone chips]," said owner Ken Ramsey. "Dr. [Larry] Bramlage said the knee might have been bothering him when ran he ran second in the Arlington Million [his last start]. But I'm not complaining. We had a great ride, a great run." I give Ramsey credit for being so philosophical. Early in July, after Kitten's Joy won his 2005 debut, the Firecracker, Ramsey outlined a big year for his star. He'd run...; [Posted September 26, 2005 1:00 PM]; ---

Happy Ticket BC Bound?: Ballerina winner Happy Ticket, the Lousiana-bred filly with a 10-for-11 record, is being pointed to the October 1 Beldame at Belmont, and may go on to start in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, said trainer Andrew Leggio (Daily Racing Form)....; [Posted September 21, 2005 1:00 PM]; ---

Another One Out: Add Commentator to the injured list (Thoroughbred Times). The Whitney winner is out for the fall season with a shin injury that was aggravated during the Woodward on September 10. Trainer Nick Zito had said after that race that Commentator would return to sprinting, which raised the exciting prospect of a matchup with Lost in the Fog in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. I'll guess we'll have to wait until next spring to see anything like that. You know, if all the horses (Bellamy Road, Afleet Alex, Giacomo, etc.) out with injuries come back in 2006 as promised, it will be...; [Posted September 20, 2005 7:30 PM]; ---

Afleet Alex Gallops: Afleet Alex went out for his first gallop in nearly two months this morning at Belmont. "I spoke to Dr. Hogan and Dr. Bramlage yesterday, and they said the x-rays were really good," trainer Tim Ritchey said (Blood-Horse). Alex galloped with a pony today and will do so for the next two or three days before going out on his own. "He's a little eager, obviously," said Ritchey. The trainer said yesterday that he'd still like to try to get Afleet Alex to the Breeders' Cup Classic, which must be hoped for (although, obviously, I don't mean at the price...; [Posted September 16, 2005 3:40 PM]; ---

Afleet Alex Works: In his first workout since winning the Belmont Stakes on June 11, Afleet Alex breezed five furlongs in 1:00.9 at Belmont this morning. It's expected that Afleet Alex will make his next start in the August 7 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth....; [Posted July 10, 2005 12:00 PM]; ---

Remembering Ruffian: It was 30 years ago today that the undefeated Ruffian met the 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in a match race billed as a "battle of the sexes." Ruffian was the perfect filly: "Raced 10 times. Won 10 times. Led at every call of every race. All those 1's made her past performance chart look like a picket fence" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Foolish Pleasure was a pretty good colt. Like much from the 1970s, all I know of Ruffian comes from photographs, fuzzy television footage, and other people's stories. ESPN Classic aired a "SportsCenter Flashback" episode on Ruffian this afternoon...; [Posted July 6, 2005 6:00 PM]; ---

Triumphant Returns: Roman Ruler and Kitten's Joy both turned in impressive performances in their first starts off long layoffs, with Roman Ruler winning the Dwyer by half a length over a game Flower Alley in his first race in nearly four months, and Kitten's Joy blowing by the rest of the Firecracker field to win by a length in his first start since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Turf last October. The four-year-old has been out this year owing to surgery last fall for a bone chip in his knee. Trainer Dale Romans, delighted at the win, told Jennie Rees, "I...; [Posted July 5, 2005 10:15 AM]; ---

Rider Change for Funny Cide: Jerry Bailey will ride Funny Cide in his next start, the July 2 Suburban Handicap at Belmont. Longtime jockey Jose Santos was replaced with Bailey after the June 11 Brooklyn Handicap by trainer Barclay Tagg, who said of his decision, "I just think now and then a change of hands is good on a horse." (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted June 24, 2005 11:50 AM]; ---

Horse Notes: Afleet Alex settles into barn 18 at Belmont. (Daily Racing Form) Kitten's Joy is among the 36 nominees to the Firecracker Breeders' Cup. The race would be the 2004 turf champion's season debut and his first race since having knee surgery last fall. (Lexington Herald-Leader) Rock Hard Ten is back galloping. Trainer Richard Mandella is pointing him toward the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap, with the eventual goal of running in the Breeders' Cup Classic this October. (Blood-Horse) And owner Rick Porter reports on rockportharbor.com that Rockport is back on the track. Trainer John Servis told the Daily Racing Form that...; [Posted June 23, 2005 2:50 PM]; ---

Ouija Injured, Ruler Works: Ouija Board, last year's winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, sustained a minor cannonbone fracture in the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Ascot last week. She threw a shoe and ran seventh in that race, her first start since the Breeders' Cup. Owner Lord Derby said the filly would be out until September at least, and may be retired. (BBC) Roman Ruler put in a fast work at Hollywood at Monday, going six furlongs in 1:10.2. Trainer Bob Baffert had been pointing Roman Ruler toward the Jersey Shore on July 2, but is now thinking he'll start...; [Posted June 21, 2005 5:45 PM]; ---

Change of Plans: The effect of Ghostzapper's retirement continues to be felt in the older male handicap division. Trainer Mark Hennig has adjusted Eddington's 2005 campaign now that the 2004 HOTY is out of the picture. Eddington was scheduled to start in the Suburban, the Saratoga Breeders' Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders' Cup Classic. He's still on schedule for the Suburban and is a definite for the Classic, but may now enter the Whitney and the Woodward in place of the Saratoga and Gold Cup. The July 2 Suburban will be Eddington's first start since winning the Pimlico Special...; [Posted June 18, 2005 10:05 AM]; ---

Ghostzapper Retired: Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year, has been retired with a hairline fracture in his left front ankle. Ghostzapper last raced on May 30 in the Met Mile, which he won by more than six lengths. It was then that he sustained the injury: "After the race, he had some filling in his ankle," trainer Bobby Frankel said. "We X-rayed it and didn't find anything, but I wasn't comfortable with it and wanted to make sure everything was all right. I didn't want to take any chances, so I sent him to New Bolton (Medical Center) on Wednesday (June...; [Posted June 14, 2005 8:05 PM]; ---

"Hard-Hitting Throwback": Steven Crist writes a nice column about Afleet Alex, praising him for being competitive as a two-year-old and a three-year-old, something that doesn't happen often anymore: More recently, it has become practically a given that it's just too much to ask the modern racehorse to be competitive at the highest levels of both 2-year-old and 3-year-old racing. Exceptions such as Point Given seem more exceptional with each passing year. Before this year, we had three consecutive Derby-Preakness winners in War Emblem, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones who among them did not even compete in a graded stakes as 2-year-olds. You...; [Posted May 27, 2005 7:05 AM]; ---

Light Campaign for Ghostzapper: 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper makes his debut this Monday in the Met Mile at Belmont, and trainer Bobby Frankel has a light 2005 campaign planned for his after that. Ghostzapper will race just four or five times this year. After the Met Mile, he may start in the Suburban, the Whitney, and the Woodward, and then wrap up the year with another appearance in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Anyone with pretentions of taking on the champ will have to do it on his home turf: All of Ghostzapper's races (but for the Whitney) will be at Belmont. (Daily...; [Posted May 26, 2005 7:05 AM]; ---

Afleet Alex Is the Best: "Or at least he's the best at many, if not most, distances that are commonly run, and he's best at most racetracks, on most surfaces, under most circumstances and on most days. He's consistently, reliably and even tenaciously superior, if superiority is measured in terms of sustained performance." Question: What else would superiority be measured by? (Star-Telegram)...; [Posted May 23, 2005 12:10 PM]; ---

Holy Bull, Past and Present: The sire of this year's Kentucky Derby winner talks to Maryjean Wall: "I've got mares to breed; more Giacomos to make. And a date with me costs $15,000, sweetie." (Lexington Herald-Leader) Holy Bull's former trainer Jimmy Croll remembers the 1994 Derby -- in which Holy Bull ran 12th -- very well, and not too happily: "In my mind, I'm quite sure that it wasn't a fair race," says Croll, who is retired now and living in Monmouth Beach, N.J. "I've had a hard time getting over it." (Baltimore Sun)...; [Posted May 18, 2005 10:25 AM]; ---

"He Might Fly": Lost in the Fog easily beat two challengers in yesterday's Golden Bear Breeders' Cup at Golden Gate Fields. The undefeated colt set a track record, going six furlongs in 1:07.32, and amazed not just fans, but owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist with the performance: "Both of us were a little amazed today," Gilchrist said, speaking for Aleo. And hype isn't Gilchrist's style ... Nobody was surprised at the win. But Gilchrist was quietly blown away. "The time is one thing," he said, "and the way he did it ..." What can Fog do if he is asked to...; [Posted May 15, 2005 5:45 PM]; ---

Swiss Champion: Paul Moran has no patience for those proclaiming Silent Witness' greatness. Remember: "Silent Witness is the best sprinter in Hong Kong, where he has been unchallenged, which is like being heavyweight champion of Switzerland." (Newsday) Gallant Fox, now -- there's a horse for the ages. Such a shame he's been forgotten. (LA Times)...; [Posted April 28, 2005 9:45 PM]; ---

Sweet Catomine Retired: Owner Marty Wygod announced today that Sweet Catomine has been retired and will be bred to A.P. Indy. (Blood-Horse) So mysterious: "Wygod said he would disclose more details about Sweet Catomine's condition and the reasons for her retirement after [his April 23 hearing before the CHRB]." (New York Times)...; [Posted April 20, 2005 2:55 PM]; ---

Not Such a Sweet Ending: Harsh words from Sherry Ross: "Running a 'short' horse is nothing new in this game.... This was a case, though, of connections of a highly regarded horse who otherwise appeared to be in top condition, and who needed to prove herself in the Santa Anita Derby in order to earn a trip to Kentucky. All who wagered on her that day, or in the future book for either the Derby or Kentucky Oaks (she was favored in the latter pool but won't compete in the filly version of the Derby either) are now, officially, suckers. Or in the immortal words...; [Posted April 11, 2005 7:13 AM]; ---

Fog Moves East: The unbeaten Lost in the Fog is heading to New York for the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. (NYRA)...; [Posted April 4, 2005 9:20 AM]; ---

America America, New Mother: The filly America America caught racing fans' attention in 2003 with her unconventional career -- she raced 17 times in four countries as a two-year-old -- and with her win in the 2004 Lone Star Oaks as a three-year-old. She was retired last summer after sustaining a hairline fracture in the Coaching Club of America Oaks with a career record of 4-7-4 in 27 starts (24 of those stakes races) and earnings of more than $400,000, and later sold in foal to El Prado. Her former owner and trainer Franck Mourier sent the photo to the left (click to enlarge)...; [Posted March 26, 2005 11:15 AM]; ---

A Bit of Trivia: Matt Graves pointed out last week that Affirmed and Afleet Alex have something in common: both won the Sanford and Hopeful at Saratoga as two-year-olds. Reading Pete Axthelm's "The Kid" last night, I spotted another parallel: The 1978 Triple Crown winner also had a shortened Derby prep season -- just 45 days -- and the first race of Affirmed's three-year-old campaign was a sprint that he won easily. His second was a 1 1/16 in which he struggled to beat even lightly regarded rivals. Sounds familiar. Related: Another thing the two horses had in common is that they both had...; [Posted March 22, 2005 7:00 AM]; ---

Happy Birthday, John Henry: The legendary runner turns 30 today. "If any horse could live to be 30 years old -- despite a checkered early career that saw him pass through the hands of multiple trainers and owners, a grueling campaign on crooked legs that earned seven Eclipse Awards (including two Horse of the Year honors), a foul disposition that made other renegades seem like Mister Rogers, and a near-fatal bout with colic at age 27 -- it would be John Henry, who was to celebrate that milestone on March 9 at his home in the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park...; [Posted March 9, 2005 3:25 PM]; ---

30 Up: "Not many thoroughbreds see 30, but John Henry, extraordinary when he raced, is among the leaders in longevity as well." There are two thoroughbreds known to be older than John in Kentucky, and probably not that many more nationwide. (LA Times)...; [Posted March 4, 2005 9:10 AM]; ---

Dear Smarty: "With more than one million pieces of fan mail, several dozen marriage proposals and an animated feature film in discussion, Smarty Jones shows no signs of diminishing popularity post-retirement." Marriage proposals? (Bucks County Courier Times) Comment: Three months away from the Kentucky Derby and several horses have generated Smarty 2.0 hype, such as Rockport Harbor, Shamardal, and Lost in the Fog. Sometimes I get the feeling that racing, as a whole, is looking for a Big Horse: a horse beloved by the nation, a horse that can pack in the crowds not just to watch it race, but to watch...; [Posted February 5, 2005 11:30 AM]; ---

Funny Cide Ready: For his five-year-old campaign. The gelding is wintering at Gulfstream Park and will return to the track later this spring. "The tentative plan is to have Funny Cide make his first start on March 5 in the Grade II, $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap.... If he doesn't make it into the starting gate for that one, Funny Cide may go in the Grade III, $100,000 Skip Away Handicap on April 2 at a mile and an eighth." I love the Sackatoga gang for continuing to run this fabulous horse -- although, I'm sure it's not that tough a decision for them,...; [Posted January 17, 2005 6:20 AM]; ---

Azeri Retired: "Azeri, the world's all-time leading money-earning female, has been retired from racing. Michael Paulson, who heads his father's Allen Paulson Living Trust that raced Azeri, made the decision to retire the 6-year-old daughter of Jade Hunter rather than race her a few more times, as was under consideration. 'In some sense I'm sad, but in another (sense) I can't be,' said Paulson. 'She had a remarkable career and we're very proud of her.'" (Blood-Horse)...; [Posted December 23, 2004 4:35 PM]; ---

Ghostzapper Who?: "But no hero, no champion, nothing could make us happily forget everything ugly and awful in the world like Smarty Jones, a rambunctious little chestnut colt from that non-hotbed of thoroughbred breeding, Philadelphia, who captured the imagination of non-racing fans like no horse since the three Triple Crown winners of the '70s, and maybe like none since the first and greatest of those, Secretariat." (Salon)...; [Posted December 21, 2004 9:00 AM]; ---

A Man, A Horse, A Book: Bob Merz dreamed of becoming a writer, but he lacked a muse -- until Smarty Jones came along. (The Review) Tangentially related: Smarty Jones is named one of ten nominees for BeliefNet's most inspiring person of the year award. (BeliefNet)...; [Posted December 16, 2004 8:55 AM]; ---

Zippy Not Retired: "A day after telling an upstate New York newspaper that Zippy Chippy, the horse who loves to lose, has been retired, owner-trainer Felix Monserrate has apparently had a change of heart. Monserrate said Monday he is not sure what he will do with the 13-year-old gelding who is winless in 100 career starts, adding that there is a 40 percent chance he will run again in 2005." Poor Zippy. Doesn't he deserve retirement? Here's hoping that Monserrate changes his heart once more. (ESPN)...; [Posted December 7, 2004 7:50 AM]; ---

100 Starts Enough: Zippy Chippy has been retired. Owner Felix Monserrate says he hopes to make Zippy, who turns 14 this January, an outrider pony at Finger Lakes. (Democrat & Chronicle)...; [Posted December 5, 2004 10:40 AM]; ---

Better Talk Not Conceding: "Flushed with joy in the immediate aftermath of a Breeders' Cup Turf victory, trainer Graham Motion said Better Talk Now would be put away for the rest of the year and would reemerge late next spring." But Motion reconsidered: "So Better Talk Now was sent west on Tuesday for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, which will be the first start on the West Coast for Better Talk Now, and the first runner ever at Hollywood Park for Motion." (Daily Racing Form) Related: Graham Motion has posted photos on his blog of Better Talk Now and a few of...; [Posted December 1, 2004 8:00 AM]; ---

Hard to Believe: Trainer John Servis tells the Daily Racing form that two-year-old Rockport Harbor still has a few things to learn: "This horse hasn't really learned how to run yet. He hasn't gotten aggressive. Once he starts figuring that all out, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with." Related: Unbeaten Rockport Harbor meets unbeaten Galloping Grocer in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. The race's outcome should affect this year's voting for champion male juvenile, writes Paul Moran. (Newsday)...; [Posted November 25, 2004 7:15 AM]; ---

The Way to the Derby: Afleet Alex follows Smarty Jones' path through Arkansas. (The Capital)...; [Posted November 21, 2004 9:55 PM]; ---

Smarty SOTY, not HOTY: "Smarty may not even be the best horse to race in America this year -- that honor will almost certainly go to Ghostzapper, who won the Breeders' Cup Classic in record time. But have you ever heard of Ghostzapper? I love racing, and I have no illusions about the sport ever being saved by a Triple Crown winner. It's a boutique pastime that gets its moment in the sun every spring. For that reason, horses like Ghostzapper, with the kind of speed that comes along once in a generation, deserve to be the true champions. But horses with the crossover...; [Posted November 19, 2004 3:55 PM]; ---

Just An Average Horse: The legendary 18th century racehorse Eclipse was average, says a British scientist. "In that very averageness lay the secret of his greatness." (New York Times)...; [Posted November 16, 2004 7:35 AM]; ---

Faster Horses? Maybe: It depends on who you ask. (ESPN)...; [Posted November 15, 2004 2:15 PM]; ---

Crazy for Haruurara: She's lost more races than Zippy Chippy, but the Japanese public is crazy for perpetual loser Haruurara. "The unlucky thoroughbred can now lay claim to a 113-race losing streak, even after having been ridden by Japan's top jockey, Yutaka Take, which has only added to the Haru Fever gripping the nation. T-shirts, keitai (cell-phone) decorations (a little horse with a small sign reading "Never give up") and postcards bearing her photo have been flying out of stores. She's been in a Kirin beer commercial, is the subject of a popular song and has even had the honor of meeting the...; [Posted November 11, 2004 4:25 PM]; ---

Rockport's Next Start: Trainer John Servis "is considering a start in either New York's Remsen or the Kentucky Juvenile" for two-year-old prodigy Rockport Harbor. (Post-Gazette)...; [Posted November 7, 2004 11:25 AM]; ---

Birdstone Retired: With an ankle injury. (Thoroughbred Times)...; [Posted November 3, 2004 3:44 PM]; ---

Smarty Reprise?: Rockport Harbor's easy win in yesterday's Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct cemented his "Smarty II" nickname, still, trainer John Servis cautions, "There's not a lot of comparisons between the two, other than they're both fast." (New York Times) More: "Let the comparisons begin" (New York Daily News) and official race results (Equibase)...; [Posted November 3, 2004 6:10 AM]; ---

Returning Next Year: "Two months shy of her seventh birthday, the champion mare Azeri probably is not finished racing, her trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, said Sunday. Azeri could be among several notable Breeders' Cup starters who will be back next year, going against a trend in which many top horses are retired early to be bred." Lukas said Azeri would likely start two more times before she is bred next year. (New York Times) Related: "Ghostzapper not finished spooking competition" (Baltimore Sun) and "Stronach says Ghostzapper to race in 2005" (Blood-Horse); "Wilko to remain in US, point toward Derby" (Blood-Horse)...; [Posted November 1, 2004 8:50 AM]; ---

He's Back: Funny Cide is feeling good again, and so are his connections. "Barclay Tagg is infamous in horse racing for his gloomy, grumpy, pessimistic personality, so his enthusiasm, even giddiness, the other day came as a surprise. It seems that a happy horse can make a happy trainer, even when it comes to Tagg. "Funny Cide sizzled in a half-mile workout in 464/5 seconds on Tuesday morning at Belmont in his last major move before the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday at Lone Star Park in this Dallas suburb. Tagg then declared that Funny Cide was 'doing better than he ever...; [Posted October 29, 2004 8:45 AM]; ---

Comeback Hopes Dashed: Even after Smarty Jones' retirement was announced last August, his owners, Ray and Pat Chapman, were hoping there was a chance the colt could return to training in 2005. "Sadly, according to [trainer John] Servis, recent ultrasound tests showed significant cartilage loss in the colt's left front ankle. That was previously undetected and would have made it impossible for Smarty to have resumed training." (Philadelphia Daily News) Related: "The racehorse who nearly took the Triple Crown still captures the public's adulation in retirement" (The Free Lance-Star)...; [Posted October 23, 2004 10:12 AM]; ---

Smarty II?: Probably not. Rockport Harbor is "a pretty good colt," trainer John Servis tells Bill Finley. "But it's way to early to make that comparison." (ESPN)...; [Posted October 15, 2004 9:09 AM]; ---

Smarty Still Draws Crowds: Smarty Jones is still packing in fans. An average of 250 visitors a week descend on Three Chimneys Farm for a peek at the colt, so many that the farm has hired a full-time tour guide and plans to build a new parking lot. (Thoroughbred Times)...; [Posted October 10, 2004 4:45 PM]; ---

Champion Stayer, Now a Legend: The great British racehorse Persian Punch, fondly remembered. "If ever a horse did take on human qualities, particularly of response and affection, then he did." (The Independent)...; [Posted October 10, 2004 4:30 PM]; ---

Why Not Funny Cide?: "Funny Cide will be in the starting gate later this month in the Classic. He will be facing a much tougher field that day than in the Gold Cup with the likes of Ghostzapper, Saint Liam, Pleasantly Perfect, Bago, and Roses in May as likely opponents. "But he likes the underdog role. "That's the precise position he was in prior to last year's Kentucky Derby. A New York-bred gelding win the Derby? "Hah, they all said. "One of these days a NY-bred will take the Classic as well. We've seen two Florida-breds (Unbridled, Skip Away), two Maryland-breds (Concern, Cigar), a...; [Posted October 6, 2004 7:24 AM]; ---

Cliff's Edge Retired: The Cliff's Edge is retired. "The 3-year-old, who was second behind stablemate Birdstone in the Travers, suffered a broken right front ankle during the running of the Gold Cup and will be retired to stud at the Vinery in Lexington, Ky." (New York Daily News)...; [Posted October 4, 2004 7:19 AM]; ---

Zippy Chippy Is: "He is the Tattaglia brothers messing with Sonny Corleone. He is the inventor of the eight-track stereo and the producer of Gigli. He is the Cubs, the Red Sox, 'new' Coke and the 1997-98 Denver Nuggets (11-71, in case you've forgotten) all rolled into one. He is the fuzzless tennis ball. Compared to Zippy's travails, Napoleon's trip to Russia and the CIA's sleuthing in Saudi Arabia start to look pretty good." (Denver Westword)...; [Posted September 30, 2004 6:50 AM]; ---

A Colt's Life: It isn't easy, being prepped for sale. (Courier-Journal)...; [Posted September 28, 2004 7:47 AM]; ---

A Perfect Setup: "At first glance, Ghostzapper's Woodward victory doesn't look like anything to get excited about. For a horse who was being accorded superstar status after he earned an off-the-charts 128 Beyer when winning the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth, his Woodward was a struggle.... But the Ghostzapper bandwagon need not lose any passengers. For him, this was a race of subtle positives, and one that should set him up perfectly for the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Classic," writes Bill Finley. (ESPN)...; [Posted September 17, 2004 12:55 PM]; ---

Zippy Goes for 101: And then, can he retire? Zippy Chippy's owner, Felix Monserrate, announced after the gelding's 100th race on Friday that he would run again next weekend. Bob Matthews isn't convinced that's such a great idea: "Barring a miracle next weekend at Northampton, it appears that what little speed the Zipster had is either gone or he's no longer interested in using. One hundred races is plenty for any thoroughbred. It is time for the leisurely retirement Monserrate has promised him." (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle) More: "Zippy Chippy passes the century mark ... And we were there!" (Equidaily) Related: "It's no surprise...; [Posted September 12, 2004 2:15 PM]; ---

Zippy Chippy, 0-for-100: The hapless horse ran dead last in today's second race at Northampton....; [Posted September 10, 2004 3:40 PM]; ---

Zippy Goes for 100: Zippy Chippy, loser of 99 races in a row, is set to make his 100th start this Friday in race two at Northampton. Willie Belmonte, the leading jockey at the fair this year, is named to ride him. Go, Zippy, go! (Thoroughbred Times)...; [Posted September 8, 2004 9:10 PM]; ---

Zippy Chippy, 0-for-99: The lovable loser ran seventh in the sixth race at Northampton this afternoon....; [Posted September 4, 2004 5:25 PM]; ---

Another Chance to Cheer a Star: "Both Funny Cide, who finished second in his race, the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap, and Azeri represent something the sport has in precious little supply: stars who race beyond their 3-year-old seasons." Fans, who gave Azeri a standing ovation following her Go For Wand win in early August, get another chance to cheer the chestnut mare in today's Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga. (New York Daily News)...; [Posted August 27, 2004 11:35 AM]; ---

Too Good Too Early: Afleet Alex, the two-year-old 4-for-4 after winning Saratoga's Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, won't be a Kentucky Derby contender, despite the exceptional ability he's shown to date, writes Bill Finley: "Come the first Saturday in May, 2005, you can rest assured that Afleet Alex will not duplicate Smarty Jones' Kentucky Derby victory. That's not necessarily a knock on the horse. It's just that he'll be attempting to do something that horses just can't seem to do anymore. You can't be at your best in mid-August and still at your best in early May." (ESPN)...; [Posted August 24, 2004 9:10 PM]; ---

"Super Mare" May Run in Classic: Depending on her performance in Saratoga's Personal Ensign Handicap on Friday, Azeri could run in the Breeders' Cup Classic this October. (Dallas Morning News)...; [Posted August 24, 2004 8:55 PM]; ---

Trainers, Horses Prep for Travers: Purge, Eddington, and Lion Heart prepare for Saturday's big race (ESPN); trainer Nick Zito plans to send out a trio (New York Daily News); and a likely longshot "has the look of greatness" (Times Union)....; [Posted August 24, 2004 10:00 AM]; ---

Look to Ashado: Who's the best three-year-old in training? It just might be the filly Ashado: "She's remarkably consistent, handles multiple distances and surfaces -- fast, muddy, Santa Anita, Aqueduct, Saratoga, Belmont, Churchill, Keeneland, Fair Grounds," trainer Todd Pletcher tells the New York Daily news. Further bolstering her reputation as something special: Her win in the Kentucky Oaks and the two graded stakes wins from her two-year-old season. Related: "Ashado ready for an encore" (Daily Racing Form) [8/21 Update: Society Selection wins Alabama (ESPN)]...; [Posted August 20, 2004 6:30 PM]; ---

More News From Saratoga ...: "For Funny Cide, it's root, root, root by the home team" (New York Times), "Azeri wows them with blazing work" and "Afleet Alex center stage in hopeful" (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted August 20, 2004 6:25 PM]; ---

Smarty Jones Makes His Move: And is settling in just fine in his new Kentucky home. Those interested in visiting Smarty at Three Chimneys Farm are welcome to schedule a tour. (Boston Globe)...; [Posted August 17, 2004 8:45 PM]; ---

Still Nasty: He might be a great turf horse, but John Henry sounds like a fearsome presence in the barn: "He'll kick you, bite you, step on your toes, or even try to trip you by swinging out his front leg when you're walking him. He spends a lot of time thinking about what he can do to get you." (Thoroughbred Times)...; [Posted August 16, 2004 9:30 PM]; ---

Smarty Says Goodbye: More than 10,000 fans gather at Philadelphia Park to see him off. (Bucks County Courier Times)...; [Posted August 15, 2004 12:05 PM]; ---

"He was de mostest hoss": "Eighty-four years after his last race and 57 years after his death at age 30, Man o'War remains among the greatest thoroughbreds of all time. In 1919, as a 2-year-old, he and Babe Ruth became superstar forerunners of what would be termed the Golden Age of Sport, aka the Roaring Twenties." (Washington Times)...; [Posted August 9, 2004 5:20 PM]; ---

No Rematch?: " Fans might not get to see the two great mares Azeri and Sightseek duke it out again" in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga on August 27. Trainer Bobby Frankel is rethinking Sightseek's schedule: "I don't want to be running her every three weeks." (New York Daily News)...; [Posted August 6, 2004 3:20 PM]; ---

World's Worst Racehorse to Retire: "Hapless racehorse Haruurara dreams of win before retirement." Zippy Chippy only lost 86 races -- the "deplorable," but very popular, Haruurara has lost 112 in a row since her debut. Japan Racing Association sources claim the owner plans to retire Haruurara by next March following one last race in which she'll be ridden by Japan's top jockey, Yutaka Take. (Mainichi Daily News)...; [Posted August 6, 2004 2:45 PM]; ---

Gone too Soon: Free House died too soon, too suddenly, writes Jay Hovdey. "The death of Free House on Monday afternoon at Vessels Stallion Farm marked one of those unsettling moments when a seam rips loose in the fabric of the Thoroughbred universe, and for a second, nothing much makes sense." (Daily Racing Form)...; [Posted July 22, 2004 8:00 PM]; ---

Birdstone, Cliff's Edge Return: Birdstone had his first workout since winning the Belmont Stakes, breezing four furlongs in :50.81 on Sunday (Thoroughbred Times); The Cliff's Edge returned to racing on Sunday, finishing second in the Dwyer at Belmont in his first start since the Kentucky Derby (New York Times). Both horses are being pointed toward the Travers at Saratoga on August 28....; [Posted July 12, 2004 8:15 PM]; ---

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