I've seen this movie before

Movement finished third on Wednesday. Check the chart or the video on calracing.com. I don't want to talk about it.

Movement back in action Wednesday

The filly drew post position 8 in a ten horse field of $8k maiden claimers. The race is carded as the tenth and nightcap. Given the class drop, I expected a softer spot. I still think she can handle this group, but there are a few serious runners in here. Also, there's no telling what the two first time starters have under the bonnet.

Movement 4th Again

Movement finished fourth in a solid field of maidens Saturday at Pleasanton. Jockey Barrington Harvey in the irons, pictured.

Movement to be tested in Pleasanton

The filly drew into a five and one half furlong 25k maiden claimer [past performances - pdf warning] to be run Saturday June 30th at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. Superjock Barrington Harvey will be aboard for her second off the layoff outing. I couldn't be happier to have him in the irons.

Pleasanton is known as a speed favoring track, but on opening day horse were also successful coming from just off the pace, although no deep closers prevailed. Movement has displayed versatility and has some tactical speed. She can come from off the pace or set it. I'm inclined to believe she prefers to make one run, although she is flexible as to when you press the button.

Da Goat Displays Bad Judgement

racing website proprietor books hapless blogger Tote Board Brad as weekly guest, bringing shame to his once proud online destination

That's right folks, Da Goat is slumming it by interviewing yours truly this week. Check out this weeks Goat, and if you can stomach it have a listen to the weekly interview found on the right hand side of the Goat homepage in which I spout off about NorCal racing, the California fair circuit, and my filly.

Movement 4th in Comebacker

Movement ran a credible fourth [chart - pdf warning] Thursday against solid company. Billy Mac's Forestry filly just nosed us out of third pace money, which cost me $900. This is a game of inches.

She broke sharply, then settled. In fact, she settled so much, I though she just wasn't going to pick up her feet, that she was horrible outclassed, or completely off her game. Then she came with quite a bit in the lane to make up a lot of ground. My initial reaction was that our jockey, Pedro Flores, waited too long to press the button. After watching the replay, he did get after her at the top of the stretch and rode hard through the lane. Perhaps he should have kept her slightly closer to the pace, but upon watching the race several times now, it was not the offensive ride I initially thought.

Initial reports are that she came out of the race great. The folks at the barn said she was not tired and scarcely drank any water. She was coming like a house afire at the wire, and was difficult to pull up. If the race really didn't take much out of her we might run her back sooner than we have in the past. We might even see her at Stockton.

Given the way she ran many folks at the paddock bar suggusted she may want to go long. And, she might, but she might be just as apt as a sprinter. She did everything the jock asked of her from taking back to changing leads to changing lanes in traffic to having a pretty strong answer when he finally asked the question. These are the trappings of a professional racehorse.

Filly Prepares for 1st Start Off the Layoff

Last week Movement worked 6 furlongs from the gate in 1:14 and change. she came out of the gate sharply, settled, and bopped back and forth with her workmate, an older horse that was supposed to be in front at the end. She was on the inside and relaxed enough to let the other horse take as much as a 1/2 length lead at times, but then would come on again and take a head lead. They went back and forth for about half a mile before Movement took a permanant lead. Even after three quarters, she galloped out well and was tough to pull up.

This morning she posted a four furlong bullet work in 48 & 3, good for the 4th best time of 17 29 at the distance. [more works came in since i posted this. one in 48 flat and two others at 48 & 2.]

Were looking to start her in a Maiden 20 claimer on June 7th. Maiden 20 for 3 year olds should be a good sight easier than the same conditions for 2yos because all those good horses at that level have won and moved on. There can always be a big droppers or a late developing horses in the races, though, so a win is by no means assured. I think she will be competitive, though.

Straight Shooter

Movement breezed a half mile in 49 flat this past Sunday, which was eleventh best of 26 at the distance. The work was the best she has put in since at least December, as she stayed straight this time. She has had a bad habit of getting out her last several works and in her last two starts. This is very promising.

Here's video of her breeze, Juan Ochoa aboard, accompanied by bluesman Lightin' Hopkins.

Movement Takes it on the Chin

Everyone's favorite race filly, Movement, had an altercation with her pasture mate over the weekend. She caught a hoof in the chin courtesy of a Quiet American filly. It's superficial and shouldn't effect her training in any way, but I'm sure it gave her a bit of a start. She'll be back in the Jamey Thomas barn at Golden Gate Fields soon and in training after her respite in the mountains.

Pic courtesy of partner Irv who went up for a visit at the ranch.

-In other news, the pools remain open as Downtown has not yet reported any information that might move the line. I believe she had a date with the Houseguest last night, so there may be some inside information floating about.

Yo Chillin'

Here's a pic of Movement enjoying the snow in the Sierra foothills. Farm manager Nicole says that she's really enjoying playing in the snow, bucking and kicking in the pasture with another filly.

Movement Taking Time Off

We gave Movement the twice over and there doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong with her to explain her dull effort. We decided to turn her out and sent her to a ranch in the Sierra foothills for some R&R. She's been in training now for a year and she may have become track sour. We're hoping that after some pasture time she'll want to put her mind on racing again, as she's shown she can. She'll let us know when she's ready to come back, but she should be ready before the summer fairs.

Movement Throws Clunker

Movement ran an uninspired third in a very soft spot in her last race. After two scratches, including the Wygod first time starter I expected to be tough, Movement went off as the post time favorite.

Her effort was like downtown surface parking: Ugly and inefficient. She broke well from the gate, but immediately began running with her head cocked as she did in her most recent breeze. She was also getting out in the lane. She finished a well beaten third in a slow race with a weak field.

"Like in any sport, you practice how you play," trainer Jamey Thomas said, noting she ran just like she breezed the week before.

Despite her dull effort, one highlight of the day was watching the race from the rail. And I don't mean on the apron, but right on the track at the rail where the track photographer stands. Being that close to the action is truly amazing.

Movement Entered in Thursday's Nightcap

Entries were drawn on Friday for a $20,000 maiden claimer for three year old fillies going six furlongs over the main track at Golden Gate Fields. From a glance at the PPs she looks to fit with this bunch, but is by no means a standout on paper. Nonetheless, I think the tough competetion will come from the first time starts. Partying Pam Wygod© and husband Marty don't send horses north for a tag just so they can enjoy a weekend in the city by the bay. Generally they want to win and have their lesser stock claimed. The Wygod's are stakes people, not low end claiming folk like me.

Movement Posts Lackluster Work

Movement breezed a half mile on Wednesday in a pokey 51 flat. As with her previous breeze, which was impressive, the time is irrelevant but the trainer's perception of it is paramount: "She worked like shit."

She breezed with her head cocked for most of it and was getting out quite a bit, which is to say she drifted. This is in stark comparison to her last breeze, which was downright dreamy. We don't know exactly why she did this, as the rider, equipment, and track were the same as in the last breeze. She may have fought with the bit, or she may have just been headstrong, wanting to do her own thing. She came out of the work fine, was not lame and did not show any indication of ill health.

We're pointing her for a 20k maiden claimer on January 11th to be contested at six furlongs over the main track. This was not the ideal workout before a start, but does add an element of drama to the proceedings.

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.

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.

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.