MOVEMENT

I submitted the name application to the Jockey Club Registry yesterday with my first three choices for our Exploit filly: Movement; Grand Complication; Verge and Foliot. I fully expect to be awarded Movement. So much so, I've already ordered my "MOVEMENT" HOODIE. For those in the know, you can see I'm working with a mechanical watch theme, my other passion.

Delta Slam Still Seeks Maiden Win

The $145k colt and half brother to our filly is still seeking an elusive first win. The rough start may have cost him a bit in his last, and he managed to bring home a small check after flattening out in the stretch, but this guy seems to have been a bit overpriced as a 2yo in training this past spring.

Indian Racing

Akshay in India made it to a nearby track for the first time recently and shares some sharp images with us. Whenever I travel, I'm sure to hit the local horse track, whether in Rio De Janeiro, Saigon, England, or Sallisaw, Oklahoma, for that matter. Horse racing doesn't have the popularity of futbol or many other sports, but so many even far flung destinations have a track. When I show up at one of these emporiums of horse racing, devoid of tourists and sporting a substantial language barrier, I'm always welcomed with the universal horseplayers zeal when discovering another appreciating soul of their personal hidden gem--the track.

This Mumbai track looks plenty grand and I'd love to play punter in their grandstand one day. Their website puts most American tracks to shame. I wonder how they ever found a web developer in India though.

Racing is one gift the English left the subcontinent I hope is not begrudged. Regardless, India is likely to be a better steward of the sport in the coming century than that other little known set of colonies in America. I hope Akshay makes it back to the track to uncover more of racing's delights.

Fragile Breed Begs for Rankings

I diverge briefly today from my narrow focus on small time horse ownership. I feel fellow bloggers like Alan, Patrick, Jessica, Ruben & Jonathan do a much better job of analysis than I can, yet since Patrick and the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance have overcome my initial skepticism over rankings, I wanted to pile on a bit.

Bill Finley offers up some rather ill-informed writing on racing yesterday, and yet I agree with his key premise: the breed is too fragile. I'll leave the "ill informed" portion of my critique, particularly with regard to his analogy between the horse and the NFL running back, for another post.

But make no mistake, the breed is fragile. How this happened and what to do about it is another matter. I believe it has much less to do with the trainers and more to do with breeding. My position is that, at the margin, a trainer can likely get slightly more from a lightly raced horse on key race days. Given that this game is one of inches, there is incentive to do so.

Breeders have lit the path to fragility by the traits they seek....Longevity, not among them. This leads trainers to run even less as experience with the evolved (read: more fragile) breed reinforces this notion as more fragile horses are more likely to be injured training and racing.

Why do they breed more fragile horses, then? For a flash in the pan, these horses perform at a higher level, even if the chance of a horse so bred competing in many races for many years is quite low. There are also exceptions, of course. The Poisson distribution has shifted, not to say that a few horses can't still fall somewhere in the "spectacular" range of the z-scale. [someone with actual knowledge of statistics should correct my likely incorrect nomenclature, here]

Another aspect of the fragile breed issue that is often ignored is the role of science and equine medicine. We are far more able to detect minute problems in todays horses than those of 20, 50 and 100 years ago. The value of breeding rights today dictate that little risk be taken, when in years past owners and trainers might be oblivious to risks such as Afleet Alex's avascular necrosis problem, that was "almost impossible to see."

What's the solution? I don't know precisely, but one can not dictate to owners and trainers to run their horses more. Nor can breeders be ordered to value stamina and longevity. What seems to be the best solution is one developed and sponsored by Patrick over at Pulling Hair. Awarding Horse of the Year honors based on a system that rewards activity and not just a couple of big wins would go a long way. If Patrick's system was subscribed to rather than the current writer based regime, the owners, trainers, and breeder's would eventually come along. If the incentive is there, breeders will breed for those traits and owners and trainers will run accordingly.

New Acquisition

I bought 10% of a filly for a song this morning from Ruby Thomas, my trainers mom. I told her about some of the partnerships I'm in and she thought dishing off small percentages to hacks like me sounded like a good idea. It's not often that you can get a small percentage of a horse with no mark-up and without the partnership management taking a big cut of the winnings.

I couldn't say no. Plus, Ruby is super sweet, and I love watching her mules on the summer fair circuit. As I've mentioned before, she will have Idaho Gem, one of the cloned Taz mules next summer. I'm headed to Winnemucca in June so I can see two mules with the identical genetic makeup race one another.

If anyone wants a piece, I'll give you her number.

Leave to Appeal - CHA-CHING!

A tad delayed in getting this up, but this li'l filly is like the energizer bunny. We claimed her for $6,250 and now she's won for $12,500 and $16,000. This last race was a delight the way she charged up the lane to nip the chalk at the wire. And with the SoCal turf suplements the purse rang in at $24,000. If only all claims worked out so well.

Results and Entries

Delta Slam finished in mid pack last Wednesday with an uninspiring run. I didn't see the race, but the chart didn't offer much promise. We'll keep watching in hopes he turns it around.

Leave to Appeal is being stepped up in class yet again and is entered in the 7th at Golden Gate on Black Friday. You can keep the shopping malls, I'll be at the track.

A partner in my Exploit filly, Irving, alerted me to a couple of broken maidens by Exploit progeny. One, in a 2yo Maiden Special Weight at Zia Park at the new track in Hobbs, NM, and another MSW winner at Hawthorne for 3yos. Both brought home nice checks, but I'd rather not have to wait until November of our horses three year old campaign to get our picture taken. Unless there are some extinuating circumstances, we'll drop her to a level where she can win before then. I have no illusions--we probably have a claiming horse here, but we'll let her opinion rule, of course.

Delta Slam Tries Turf

Half brother to our yearling, Delta Slam drew the six hole in a one mile maiden special weight over the Matt Winn Turf Course tomorrow at Churchill. He's got enough turf pedigree, in my opinion, and has every right to take to the surface. This is a solid field, though, and he'll have to improve to make an impact. We're hoping for the best.

Hard Day at the Track

I spent no less than 14 hours indulged in nothing but horse racing Sunday. From 6a works to TVG & HRTV supplied night racing. I dropped the little lady off at SFO at 5:30am and hotfooted it to Golden Gate for morning works--homemade bloody mary mix in tow.

Sunday was Cal Cup day with an early post so I had no down time, even utilizing the renovation break to make a few picks. It was lackadaisical handicapping, loads of fun, and as it turns out profitable.

About mid-card I ran into one of my favorite jocks, Barrington Harvey. He's not setting the world on fire, but he's a decent rider and I cleaned up with him at last year's Golden Gate fall meet when he logged a fourbagger and I had three of 'em.

Last Wednesday Barrington had tipped me off to an Ellen Jackson mount he had the following day--longest shot on the ML. He'd worked'em and said this was a ton of horse. I don't bet on Barrington's tips, but not because his tips are no good. They usually have some merit, but he tells EVERYBODY and when he's got a live one they'll get crushed.

At any rate, the horse ran well for second. The long and the short of the story is "Baze cried to the stewards" lodging an objection and Barrington got DQ'd and days. I didn't see the race and one jockey's account of events is less than reliable, but I always root for Barrington. He's headed to New York this weekend to see his kids and was hoping to get a win or two so he could throw some cash around. He had two mounts today, both up the track. I hope he gets a winner tomorrow. Tough gig, being a jock.

Leave to Appeal Upsets at 14-1

Leave to Appeal scored her third win in a row on Wednesday despite being hung five wide in the far turn and lugging out in the stretch.

The real headline is that this is the very first time I did not place at least a token win bet on a horse in which I had an ownership interest*. I was despondent after being shut out at the windows on the 6th at Santa Anita when I loved the 2 horse Stormin' Away at a very generous 10-1. The race went off with 1 MTP still showing on the in house feed and with my voucher still in the terminal. He wired the field, I sulked, then watched with mixed emotions as my horse took the honors at an even bigger price. The fact that I did not bet my horse tempered the joy I took from the win. This does not seem rational, but there is no denying the mixed emotions I felt as she stuck her nose in front at the wire. It probably speaks volumes about me. Deep down I'm still far more of a horse player than a horse owner.

*It seems somehow pretentious or misleading to say "a horse I own" or "my horse" when I only own between 2% and 20%, as is the case in most of these partnerships. I suppose it's time I get over that, for the sake of readability and avoiding wordiness, if nothing else. The yearling, on the other hand, I feel truely is My Horse, even if I have dished off some to a coupla partners.

Leave to Appeal entered Wednesday

Leave to Appeal is the most recent claim from a partnership I've been in for about a year. There are nearly 40 partners which makes it a bit impersonal, in that you don't get the access you would as an outright owner, or in a small self directed partnership. The advantage is someone else handles all the bills, you can get in for a very small investment--just a few hundred dollars--and this one is structured such that all fees are paid out of the initial investment and the assets, if any, are liquidated after the term of the partnership elapses.

We claimed her for $6,250 so we're stepping up quite a bit, but Armando's pretty high on her and she has some back class.

Breeder's Cup Post Mortem

Those were some of the worst selections ever represented as actual handicapping. All in all, I dropped more at the windows than I think I ever have in a single day at the track. I had a blast and it was worth every penny.

Breeder's Cup Picks

Juvie Fillies
Knights Templar - Yes she's a half to my filly, and that gives me an excuse to single a longshot in my early pick 4, but I don't care for Adieu or Folklore in this race, especially at the short price they'll each be. If I went one more deep, I'd take the Belmont proven Sensation.

Juvie boys
I like Henny Hughes, and my wise guy play is Superfly. First Samurai is a toss. Crawled home in the Champaign, and Henny had Stevens sending her hard. Regardless, you can't take short price with 2yo's....they're just to fluid when developing at this age.

Filly & Mare Turf
Karen's Caper - I'm all over her at the ML of 15-1 and higher, and I think she'll be higher. She had her stateside prep, has loads of talent, and the off going will be no problem. I'm adding Wend in my Pick whatevers. Ouija Board is capable of repeating, but the odds keep off most of my multi race tix. I love superstar Megahertz and she proved she can handle shipping and an off course in Chicago, but this is the type of company she hasn't been able to run with.

Sprint
I'm singling LITF, like the rest of the free world. The only non-multi race bet I'll make in this race is maybe Lifestyle and/or Attila's Storm to show. God forbid Foggy finishes off the board, these lads have every right to pay my next credit card bill with a show bet.

Mile
Leroidesanimaux is going to be tough to beat, and I can't leave him off the Pick 3/4/6. At least one pick whatever will include Valixir & Majors Cast, and these two will comprise my exacta.

Distaff
Stellar Jayne. It's the tactical speed. She's like a kinky girlfriend--you can do anything with her. On the lead, off the pace, up the rail, out wide. I'll also incorporate the young and improving Sweet Symphony. There's all kinds of value here.

Turf
Tough race. I'm taking imports Shirocco and Azamour, in that order. Gun Salute and Fourty Niner's Son rounds out my super.

Classic
Rock Hard Ten scratched which greatly decreases the value of the race from a sporting perspective, but from a betting standpoint, it saves me money. Single Borrego in the P6, and add Sauve on the wider tix.

Delta Slam Disappoints

The only foal of racing age out of the filly's dam finished 9th at Keeneland today. After his last race, I really thought he'd put it together next out. He was stepping up in class, drew the ten hole, and prefers to stalk or close--tough hand to win with on the speed favoring Keeneland strip. Anyhow, it wouldn't be horse racing without some disappointment.

Delta Slam in Third Career Start

Delamere's first foal, now a two year old, goes postward on Thursday in a $50,000 maiden special weight on the main track contested at 8.5 furlongs. We'll be rooting for him.

Starlet

Kathy from Triad sent me some pix today, and said "She is doing well -- "full of it" with the cool weather that has arrived!"

This reminded me of Charlie Whittingham, the famed trainer, who was fond of saying, "Owners are like mushrooms. Keep them in the dark, and feed them plenty of shit."

Hopes Up, Cash Down

The first boarding bill from the horse farm came today. No surprises, but I had to look over the charts from the half-siblings' races to remind myself what I'm paying for--not hay and oats--but hope. In the horse racing racket, hope isn't cheap.

The pain is further abated as Knights Templar is now pointed to the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies race. If by some stroke of luck we see a win in the Cup for her, and a big win from Delta Slam I'd expect a phone call from the bloodstock set about our filly in short order. Not likely, but one can hope.

Naming Conventions

In the world at large horse names are of far more interest than horse races. Neophytes at the track are more apt to discuss how cute or funny the names "Susie's Indiscretion" and "Rent Check" in the fourth race are, than they are to delight in the way the third race ended in a thrilling photo.

Horseplayers forget this. Just the opposite, we will relish the memory of the 7 horse in an open claimer that we cashed on at 30-1, or that chestnut shipper that closed at astronomical odds to complete our trifecta. Particularly, when it comes to the bread and butter of most tracks' weekday cards consisting of maiden and claiming races, we may forget the horses even have names as we make our running notes in the form and place our bets by number.

Now it's different, though, because I'm the one that will register this filly's name. I nearly forgot about this aspect, as horseplayers are want to do, but luckily my new partners reminded me before the checks were written and feelings were hurt. I've been in a lot of partnerships initiated by others where I didn't get to register a horse. I took time off work, flew to Kentucky, and sucked up to Frank Taylor from Taylor Made farms so that I could get a quality pony I could afford. He doesn't make a habit of selling fillies below market, but he threw this first timer a bone. I'll be damned if I don't name her.

A common convention is to name horses after their sires, dams, or both. Storm Bird begat Storm Cat. Better yet, Colonial Affair begat Jefferson's Secret. Now the Jockey Club and a rather inventive owner are in court battling over his request to give a daughter of Jefferson's Secret the name Sally Hemmings.

Many owners name their horses consistent with a theme. Harry Aleo, owner of Lost in the Fog, names most of his horses with his hometown in mind and has campaigned the likes of Sutro and Frisco Star. Eugene Melnyk chooses names of places near his home in Barbados such as Graeme Hall and Flower Alley. I'm leaning toward a mechanical watch theme, but remain undecided on a name. Merely knowing that I have a horse I haven't named yet seems to compel folks to assemble and declare the best name for my horse. I've received no small number of suggestions about what to name her, but I see no need to either follow or host a naming convention.

Knights Templar Dominates in Mazarine

October 1st was a good day for owners of both foals by Exploit and foals out of Delamere. Not only did the Delamere colt offer a good account of himself, but this 2yo Exploit filly put on an exhibition in the Grade 3 Mazarine.

Woodbine
Knights Templar takes Mazarine BC

By RON GIERKINK
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Knights Templar ($10.10) led throughout the $270,400 Mazarine Breeders' Cup, taking the Grade 3 stakes for 2-year-old fillies by 13 1/4 lengths at Woodbine Saturday.
Knights Templar set fractions of 23.59 and 47.26 seconds, before opening up a five-length lead midway on the far turn of the mile and a sixteenth route. She drew off in the stretch, winning in a quick final time of 1: 43.15.

"She ran brilliantly today," said Jim McAleney, who rode Knights Templar for trainer Danny Vella. "Danny gave me permission to go if nobody else wanted [the lead]. He said he just wanted her happy and comfortable the first part of it, and she was happy and comfortable the first part, the middle part, and the last part."

Knights Templar banked $168,900 for owners Clover IV Stable and Krista Seltzer.

Sudsy Baby rallied along the rail to edge Top Notch Lady by a head for second. Favored Arravale finished ninth in the 11-horse field.

Delta Slam Puts in Good Second Start Effort

Delta Slam is by Grand Slam and is the first foal out of the little known Broodmare Delamere. He was a $145k Barretts purchase as a 2yo in training this past spring. I'll be looking for him to break his maiden in his next start, hopefully in a few weeks.

The chart of an October 1st race shows the 2nd place horse Delta Slam making an impressive 5-wide move around the far turn to finish a half length behind the favorite in a 12 horse field, and well clear of the show horse. In his first race he hopped the start and showed little. Sometimes horses take a while to figure it out, even if they have talent.

This is good news. Hopefully he's taking after his mother, and his half sister by Exploit can show as much promise by her second race. Of course, Grand Slam is no slouch, either.

Grand Slam is a more desirable sire than Exploit, has a higher stud fee at $85,000, and brings higher prices at auction. Grand Slam sired the likes of Limehouse and Cajun Beat. For comparison, Exploit's fee when he covered Delamere was $30,000. Now he stands in Korea, which is another reason we got this filly cheap. The reason being, if Exploit isn't in the US sireing winners, he's off the radar and thus less demand for his offspring. Also there's the American blinkers that horsemen wear that tells them if the stallion isn't in the US, it must not be much of a stallion.