Morning Works 5-27

Movement worked three furlongs in a recorded time of 37 flat Saturday morning. It wasn't terribly quick, but she wasn't being asked for run, either. More importantly, she didn't dog it in the final sixteenth and wasn't taxed after the work. She didn't go straight for the water, and she did clean up her feed.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of the work, as I didn't pick her up until the three sixteenths pole. I did get a good spot in the grandstand for future shots though.

While at the Jamey Thomas Barn, I took a look at an old workout log that included Furando, the first horse I ever owned.

Cloned Mules Racing Debut Nears

Ruby Thomas conditions the feisty Idaho Gem
Cloned mule Idaho Gem has shipped from the Sacramento area training center where she had been stabled to the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds where he will continue his conditioning. He is set to ship to Winnemucca, NV early next week where both clones are set to race the following weekend. The third clone, currently in Idaho, will also be in Winnemucca. The three are expected to garner more media attention that Winnemucca has seen in some time.

Mystery remains over trainer of Idaho Star
Also on track at the Fairgrounds was Idaho Star, Gem's younger brother. He is being campaigned by Roger Downey, American Mule Racing Association board member. Mr. Downey has been very coy about who will train his charge, however. I have not inquired personally, however I have heard multiple reports that when asked who the trainer is, Mr. Downey has responded with "You'll find out" or other words to the effect.

The mule has recently been at J. Browning's farm in Petaluma, CA. Mr. Browning is a horse breaker, but is not known for starting horses in his own name. Per a search of the CHRB license database, Mr. Browning does not appear to have a trainer's license, either. While on track at Stockton, Star was in Ron White's Barn. Mr. White is not believed to have trained or started any mules in the past. It is more likely that Mr. White was merely offering his backstretch operation for the mule care while he was on track for the recent media event. He has since shipped out from Stockton.

Mr. Downey has employed several trainers for his mules in the past, but broke ties with one trainer that had the bulk of his mules in the last few years. In whose name the clone will start remains a mystery.

Tears & Prayers

Please, please, please be ok. We can't stand to lose you.

Movement Update

Movement worked 2 furlongs in company last Friday in 24:4 according to the official clocker and Jamey got her in 24:2. This morning she went in 24 flat, this time with two other horses. Both Jamey and the clocker caught her in 24 this time. She was within herself for both works. She has shown at least a modicum of speed that may make her worthy of starting in a maiden claimer this summer, but whether she can take it past two furlongs remains to be seen. I just hope she stays healthy.

Things Left Unsaid

Enough. Stop with the mail. I acquiesce.

Both of my readers, apparently with the help of one of their moms, have begun a letter writing campaign to attack my inept blogging, given my lack of Derby and Triple Crown coverage. I admit it. I have never once mentioned the Kentucky Derby, or the Triple Crown. One reader is right that I may "regret never mentioning" this years edition, if it turns out to be historic. I had best go on record now: Barbaro will win the Triple Crown. Right, wrong, late to the party, or piling on, I've got it out there.

Of course if you want real insight, go see these folks. Alan offers some of the most in depth coverage anywhere. Railbird hosts as professional a site as you will ever see. Patrick even declared This Is The Year months ago. I can't complete with these folks. I promise to offer more coverage if Movement makes it into the Oaks next year, though.

Top Ten Sources on Horse Racing

Despite being misquoted, a recent T10S post alerted me that several of the TBA blogs have been deemed as elements of the Top Ten Sources on the sport. Top Ten Sources scours the web for the "blogs, podcasts, wikis, news sites, and every kind of syndicated source online" to come up with a list useful to their readers. Yours truly just snuck in under the wire in the ten spot while Turf Luck took top honors. Not that their list is ordinal, but that's the way I like to think of it. Still, it's an oversight that Turf Luck wasn't also included in the blogging librarians top ten.

Update: The Harvard kids and their friends that operate this sight have retooled it, killing all the old links in the process. Alan at Left at the Gate is still off the list, but this is less of an oversight and more along the lines of when the NBA decided they could not give the MVP to Jordan every year. The list is for amateur bloggers, a category Alan doesn't fit into.

Et Tu Christina?

Tonight on the set of Lady Luck, TVG's answer to The View, Christina Olivares declared she had not been involved professionally in the sport "before coming here". Of course, readers of this blog will recall I nominated her for a Viewer's Choice Award last year for her outstanding work on HRTV, where she worked both behind and in front of the camera.

I fear TVG management has brain washed her, as they wish to do with their viewers in their effort to convince them there is no other horse racing network, nor are there any races which aren't shown on TVG. Just as TVG will not so much as mention even the biggest stakes race run at a Magna track, much less show them on tape delay, clearly Tony Allevato has implanted a chip in her brain to block out the memories of her past.

Regardless, I wish her the best. She's always been one of my favorites.

Backstretch Dodges Bullet During Immigrant Boycott

I spoke with a couple of trainers about Monday's boycott, and each said they did not notice major absenteeism. The small number of mostly young backstretch workers that were absent could have as easily been missing due to "bottle fever," one trainer noted. Another trainer said one of his exercise riders was missing, but that the rider in question had a less than stellar attendance record to begin with.

MSNBC reports similar results at Churchill and the nation's tracks in general. Last month the Blood-Horse noted that the industry and the American Horse Council, of which I am a member, were voicing their concerns on capital hill given the reliance on immigrants on the backstretch.

Readings: Murray

Given that plagiarism is the greatest form of flattery, I'll take a page from Railbird's playbook and offer a vaguely misogynistic passage I was drawn to from William Murray's swan song Dead Heat.

"How's she feel about you and the horses?"
"She doesn't give a shit, basically," he said.
"You ain't going to marry her?"
"Not unless I can get her to run a mile in one thirty-four and change for me."

Unmucked Stalls and Bare Produce Shelves

All the produce markets in my neighborhood are closed today. I had to go to Safeway to buy leeks. (gasp!) Of course the produce is of low quality and horribly over priced at the megamart, so I passed altogether.

I hope the backstretch operations across the country had ample help to muck the stalls and feed our beloved horses today. As a fan of both produce and horse racing I am keenly aware how much we rely on immigrants, particularly Latin immigrants.