Movement Breezes 12/28

Movement was scheduled to breeze yesterday, but the power was out at the track, and in much of the Bay Area due to a storm system that will be blanketing Colorado with snow again shortly. She was able to glide over a track graded "Good" this morning, though, stopping the clock at 1:03 2/5th. Of 25 workers at the distance her time was 21st fastest. Or fifth slowest. But time only matters in prison. She worked well and her gallop out pleased Jamey. "She just kept on going," the conditioner said.

'Tis the Season

Movement asked me to pass along her best wishes to all readers during the holiday season. As you can see, she has plenty of Christmas spirit. Whether she dons a party hat or a lamp shade for New Year's remains to be seen.

Golden Gate Report 12/22/06

Vic Stauffer was trackside at Golden Gate this morning. He will be huslting book for Jason Lumpkins, who is scheduled to begin riding at Golden Gate on December 29th according to Stauffer, who is not new to the profession. Stauffer has kept book for many Jocks over the years at the Fresno meet.

In past years Stauffer was calling races at Gulfstream Park during this time, but Larry Colmus will take over the mic for the meet. Gulfstream's loss is NorCal's gain. One trainer noted "Vic actually works the backstretch. We've got the sorriest bunch of agents of most any circuit, but Vic hustles."

I'll look for a rebuttal from another agent when the Golden Gate meet opens on Tuesday. Mark and Steve, agents for C. Martinez/C. Millwood and P. Flores/L. Martinez respectively usually talk good smack.

Sunday Breeze

Movement breezed a half mile in 48 and change on Sunday, good for the 9th best time among thirty-something works at the distance. I didn't attend the work or talk to Jamey afterward, but I'd guess it's like all the other recent works. She settled nicely and finished well. If one thing we glean, it may be that she's not put off by an off track. Let's hope, because we'll see plenty of that over the next couple months in NorCal.

Update: Jamey said almost exactly what I printed above, and seemed quite happy with her effort. There's really nothing in the book for us right now, but maybe something will pop up on the overnights.

Movement Gallops Friday

Here's video of Movement galloping (high res version here, GooTube below) this past Friday on a muddy, but reasonably deep track. There's nothing notable here, but judging by the number of views these videos get they're popular even if redundant. Nonetheless, you'll be treated to the stylings of the best bluesman you've never heard of. Jimmy "Duck" Holmes laid down eleven bottom of the pocket blue reels for Broke & Hungry Records last winter. If you only buy one blues album this year, it should be this one.

Industry Critics and Defenders Appear on L.A. Radio Program

By now you've all read the articles about California race horse doping in in the Orange County Register (part 1, part 2, and part 3), now listen to the author, CHRB Vet Rick Arthur, and Ed Halpern discuss some of the points made. The Los Angeles NPR station KCRW had all three as guests during their Which Way L.A. program on Tuesday December 12th.

I think Arthur and Halpern could have done a better job of explaining why a "positive" in California is different than a "positive" in New York or Illinois, as we have a more graduated system.

What was left wholly unaddressed was Arthur's failure to implement a sensible plan when it comes to TCO2 tests.

With regard to the TCO2 test, the problem is in the design itself. Dr. Rick Arthur was previously a private racetrack vet who worked for many trainers. Somehow he has ingratiated himself with the CHRB brass to secure an extremely high paying cushy government job with little oversight. He designed the TCO2 test and the thresholds, but his methodology has not been peer reviewed. He draws the conclusion that banned alkalizing agents have been administered to a horse within 12 hours if that horses test returns a ~37 or higher. This does not follow. I have spoken to a CHRB vet personally that believes the test as designed is fundamentally flawed. Also, there's even been horses that tested over the limit (Doug O'Neil trained one) then were placed in a detention barn and tested again, AND WERE STILL OVER THE LIMIT. This proves that the conclusion drawn from the test results is faulty. If someone performed a double blind study, there's no doubt in my mind that Arthur's methods and design would be discredited. Alas, it hasn't happened.

A further problem created by the CHRB's incompetence is a false bifurcation of the discussion. Horsemen who complain of the CHRB's failure in design and implementation of testing standards are labeled as soft on medication violations. Conversely, If you support more strict medication rules, clearly you must also support Ingrid Fermin's & Rick Arthur's design and methods, no matter how flawed. This does nothing to advance the debate.

As an industry we need to develop methods and systems, which represent sound science, that accurately and fairly address medication issues. The vast majority of this work has been done, but the CHRB is unable or unwilling to implement a sound program.

Lucky Hood Brings Luther Home

In the opener at Bay Meadows Wednesday, the Jamey Thomas trained At a Boy Luther notched another win [chart - pdf warning] with help from this blogger's lucky blinkers. If you look closely at the pic above, you see the Tote Board Brad Bluenote emblazoned on the headgear.
Some readers may also remember that this is the gelding I touted about a month ago. These were the same conditions and today he got it done, albeit at a shorter price.

TBA New York Meet-Up

This past weekend while in New York I met up with several TBA members at Aqueduct Racetrack. I can't overstate how much I enjoyed talking track with folks. Even in a brief afternoon I was able to learn plenty from my cohorts, and wish I could spend every weekend at the track with them. They are each such experts in the game compared to your average fan, and as you know an average fan is hard to come by in itself.
I much prefer to go to the racetrack not because of the facility. My couch, television, Tivo, internet connection, and fully stocked bar offer a more comfortable and more technologically advanced racing experience. But, I go so that I can talk racing with people who get it. This step up in quality of experience is even greater when comparing discussing racing with folks at my local track and members of the TBA. These aren't just fans, but students of the game, and they are at the head of the class. Thank you.

The Big A Gets a Bad Rap

While Rubin of Average Horseplayer is at the Racing Symposium standing up for bloggers, and Alan of Left at the Gate is embarrassing turf writers everywhere with his prolific and hard hitting investigative news, and Patrick of Pulling Hair is digging up new content sources outside the MS(HR)M, I am in New York for three consequetive days of race trackery.

I have always heard that Aqueduct is a toilet; that it represents the worst of thoroughbred racing facilities. I'm here to say, it ain't so. I found the Big A warm, inviting and with plenty of ammenities. For one, it only costs $1 to get in. Then, another $1 to get to the swanky section upstairs. On the upper level in one unheralded corner there are these high end sofas pointed at TVs. No, there is no additional charge to sit there, living room style, and enjoy the feed. I even fell asleep on one for in excess of twenty minutes and was left unmolested.

As Alan has reported, the grandstand is closed, and ontrack attendence looked to be in the hundreds. Well, that just means more for me.

I only bet one race on the day. I couldn't pass up the Don Rickles Stakes. Alas my top choice ran 2nd and the other half of my exacta box finished up the track. Even so, it was a great day at the track. And, can we give it up for the Don Rickles Stakes? In honor of Rickles, post your favorite insults in the comments section.

Baze Passes Pincay

You've seen the news reports and the now iconic photo of Russel holding one finger up. That pic is credited to Bill Vassar (although several others, myself included, got the same shot) and really is a good one, in my opinion. I believe the shot I've seen in the papers was actually taken by his assistant, but it may have been Bill himself. The truely interesting thing is that when Bill wasn't immediately getting the iconic pic he wanted, he kind of made it happen. Take a look at these two pics I took. In the first Bill is holding his index finger up, indicating to Russell to do the same. I didn't hear exactly what he shouted to him, but it was along the lines of "Russell, hold your finger up like this."

A Bridesmaid Again

[this picture courtesy of Bill Vassar, track photographer]

Movement ran well and was clearly the best horse in the race, finishing second [see chart - pdf warning]. She broke in the vanguard then settled well just a couple of lengths off the pace. She got boxed in at the rail forcing Jockey Martin Bourdieu to check hard behind the tiring pace setter and swing outside. She was closing strongly at the wire, but was 3/4 of a length short, even though she made up 2+ lengths in about five strides. She passed the winner another two strides after the wire. That's horse racing.

After the race all Martin could say was "sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry." But that's horse racing. She was probably good enough such that she could have been hung four wide throughout and still beat this bunch, but we didn't know that at the time, and Bourdieu didn't want to give up the rail too early. He also told me he had plenty of horse left as she re-rallied.

Do notice that the race set up exactly as Jamey had predicted in the pre-race video. Also, video of the race is available at CalRacing.com.

Pre-race Video

It was great to see such a large crowd came out to Bay Meadows today and that lots of press were on hand just to watch Movement.

Here are some per-race comments by trainers Steve Suzuki Miyadi and Jamey Thomas. Google video below, or the higher res version.

Will I Still Have a Filly in 4 Hours?

I haven't addressed this, trying to keep my mind off it, but...

I'm scared to death we're going to lose her to the claimbox. If she wins and is claimed, $12,500 is more than fair value for her, but it would still be really sad.

Regrouped; ready

Below are comments from the Form's Odds and Comments, Closer Look, and Race analysis sections, in that order.

Regrouped; ready

Stamina issues obvious but she should at least muddle the pace; show horse in last took a maiden $32k seller, then won $40k starter by over 3 with a 69 Beyer on 11/16; a half bro lost 7 times; backers have to hope the freshening put her over the top.

MOVEMENT has had a six-week freshener since fading badly in a turf route. She was a runner-up in her first two sprints and moves back to her best game here. She has three works in the interim. Barn has positive stats on the switch form turf to dirt and route to sprint bus is 0-for-14 with 2 YOs the past two years.