Posted By Mark Geiger on January 5, 2012
Once you have made your purchase, you will be directed immediately to Warren Eves’ Horses to Watch, 1/5/12.
Posted By Warren Eves on January 21, 2012
By Warren Eves Aqueduct was down due to snow so we eye-balled nine three-year-old races across the country Saturday January 21 that could have Kentucky Derby applications. Shared Property’s third from post 13 in the 1-70 yard LeComte was the most notable run of the day. Trainer Tom Amoss had to leave the Fairgrounds Saturday feeling pretty good. His colt didn’t make amends for his sixth place finish over that poly track at Keeneland. Shared Property, however, had run amazingly well considering his ground losing trip. Away from the extreme outside Shared Property was hung four-wide entering the first turn. He began the run down the backstretch sixth outside one. Shared Property got backed up to eighth. He moved between horses to the far turn. Inside two on the second turn his rider had to wait to work their way outside. Once in the middle of the course and spanked left-handed he loomed up. He figured to (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on January 14, 2012
By Warren Eves Rival trainers have to wonder how Todd Pletcher gets one budding three-year-old talent after another. George Bolton’s Spring Hill Farm, a modust $60,000 Keeneland Sales buy in November, joined our list of 3-year-old Kentucky Derby prospects Saturday in his first pari-mutuel run. He’s yet another promising runner who calls the Pletcher shedrow home. Readied at Churchill Downs and honed at Palm Meadows the Smart Strike colt was no secret at the betting windows. He looked every bit deserving of the 3-to-5 odds. Away alertly but inward, jockey John Velasquez set the pace with the leggy Spring Hill Farm. He went the opening quarter in 23.46. Leading while racing out away from the rail he held a one-length edge into the turn. Spring Hill Farm opened up 2 lengths early in the stretch. The head-on shot (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on January 8, 2012
By Warren Eves Early on Todd Pletcher has yet another major player for Derby 2012. Thoroughbred horse racing’s best known trainer has done the least with the most when it comes to the first Saturday in May. He saddled a newly turned three-year-old in Florida Saturday that has it all. Discreet Dancer looked the part stretching his lengthy form out in a one-turn mile to win huge at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 7. He was clocked in a respectable 1:36.32. There was lots to like about this colt’s second pari-mutuel race. On the west coast (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on December 31, 2011
By Warren Eves Bob Baffert unveiled another budding star Saturday at Santa Anita Park. Peachtree Stables Princess Arabella could not have won her pari-mutuel racing debut any easier. She departed post numer four tardily and went in behind rivals who were away alertly. Sixth early jockey Martin Garcia had her fifth entering the turn. Princess Arabella reeled in the leaders entering the lane without being asked. Once in the lead Garcia never had to move on the two-year-old daughter of Any Given Saturday. It was like a walk in the park. Forget the fact she may not have any much talent finish behind her. Remember how easy the filly accomplished goal number one–to win for the first time. Veteran handicappers know impressive maiden race winners are not to be found at the next level. We have a hunch this coming sophomore might be the exception. Notes scribbled across my official program–Since speed was dominant on Dec., 30th, you might want to give maiden claiming winner Warren’s Samantha a second look when brought back vs. winners. We’d have to think Rafael Bejarano’s agent will have him back aboard next time out…………………We have always liked the way Barclay Tagg brings Lael Stables’ runners along. Simbamangu, coming off his maiden win in slop at Aqueduct, sure looks like a colt that is going to move forward. The Tale of the Cat colt was full of run all the way. Despite being locked in on the fence every step of the way, once Edgar (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on December 30, 2011
By Warren Eves If the following story doesn’t tear you up then you are half dead. On receiving the Santa Anita notes that were forwarded to me by Jay Richards. We immediately knew it had to be passed on. Human interest stories run the gamut in horse racing circles. They are the sort of thing that I have always gravitated toward. Here’s a marvelous story that was in Ed Golden’s Stable Notes for Friday from famed Santa Anita Park. GOOD DEEDS PAY OFF FOR DAVID AND HOLLY WILSON According to a story in the Orange County Register: ”A California man is the latest layaway angel to embrace the spirit of Christmas charity by paying off $16,000 still owed to one shop for presents. David Wilson, a car dealer from Laguna Beach, contacted the KMart in Costa Mesa after seeing a television report about other donors paying (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on December 29, 2011
By Warren Eves The knock on Garrett Gomez over the years has been his lack of effort riding for secondary placements when riding in lower classification races. Thursday at Santa Anita Gomez rode Lottawampum to a second place finish when she made her debut around one turn. The effort may not draw a lot of attention. Lottawampum’s 6th to the wire run was good enough to earn a spot on our “Horses To Watch” list. We’ll have an updated H to W list of around 80 horses on site this weekend. Edward Mercaldo’s Lottawampum is a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Indian Charlie. (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on December 26, 2011
By Warren Eves
Magic Middleton appears to be a claim to follow at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Chuck Peery, who used to base in northern California, claimed the two-year-old for $30.000 at Churchill Downs off Ken McPeek. He ran fourth that day. He brought him back at Gulfstream Park Monday, December 26th.
Monday Peery tried Magic Middleton on turf for the first time. It was a much better than looked third place effort. To say he lost a ton of ground is an under statement. Add to that the fact there was a lack of race tempo. That will give you the picture. Scorcher and Market Stride were claimed out of the race. There was no claim slip submitted for Magic Middleton.
Despite an alert break Magic Middleton was allowed to settle out to be near the rear. He was 11th between foes off the first turn. Last to the half-mile marker when the lreader was timed in 49.77, he began his run far wide. Eighth and to the top he kept digging late and was home third.
It was a much better than looked first effort over the Gulfstream Park turf coure. We’d have to conclude Magic Middleton will benefit from the race. He should be tough when Peery brings him back on the turf.
Michael Jawl and Kevin Jacobson are the new owners of Magic Middleton. They have to be elated with their new acquisition’s effort over the green in Florida. The colt fnished second over Keeneland Park’s poly surface making his debut.
Santa Anita opened its 2011-12 season to a healthy crowd of 44,519. While the focus was on the horses the famed racetrack also paid tribute to a longtime friend of ours paddock guard John Shear. He was badly injured back on March 12 when shielding a little girl from a loose horse. He somehow mended and was back on the job at age 90.
Posted By Warren Eves on December 16, 2011
By Warren Eves Animal Kingdom will make his comeback in the Dubai World Cup. And guess who’s starting off right where she left off last winter at the Fairgrounds? Michelle Lovell. We learned about plans for Animal Kingdom when I sent out an e-mail and spelled confirmation incorrectly earlier this week. Barry Irwin, whom we have known since our days in the Santa Anita pressbox, e-mailed me back pointing out my error. Irwin, well known for his Team Valor accomplishments, had quite a 2011. When I thanked him for letting me know I had made the mistake we asked how the “big horse(Animal Kingdom) was doing? Minutes later Irwin e-mailed me his long (more…)
Posted By Warren Eves on December 6, 2011
By Warren Eves Don’t know what designs they have on 2012 but Class President is a colt to jot down and follow. The first few times I watched the replay of the sixth at the Fairgrounds on December 3rd nothing really caught the eye. The fifth time we looked at the stretch run Steve Asmussen’s Kingmambo colt caught our attention. Last early on Class President was 10th midway on the second turn. For what ever reason Class President was steadied by Rosie Napravnik on the inside once he got into the stretch. (more…)
