Handicapper's Edge: Weekend stakes previews

[two gun sid]

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/full_edition.cgi

Proud Spell faces three others in The Mother Goose. AP Arrow and Rising Moon battle in the Suburban.(Keep an eye out for Argentinean import Solar Flare!). Heatseeker, Tiago and Perfect Drift in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Go Drifty!

Enjoy your racing. I'm going to a 'Barak the House' Party tomorrow.

[two gun sid]

1. Oops. Heatseeker scratches out of the Gold Cup.

[Justpat]

2. I hope Perfect Drift wins.

What a grand old man. He and Evening Attire are two of my favorites.

Did you ever watch EA break out of the gate? The gate opens and he sort of
watches everyone go out first. He stands there absolutely flat footed, then he
strolls out and canters around until he gets in gear. What a riot.
There was a great shot of him on some other site standing there while everyone
else hauls ass out of the gate.

[two gun sid]

3. EA ain't no dummy....

let them other horses bang and bump each other. He'll catch 'em at the wire.

Your description of him made me laugh. What a wonderful individual he is. He's fun to watch and I try not to miss his races. I actually got to see him in person in Chicago when he was a much younger guy. He didn't win that day but he made a race of it.

Ain't it funny how some horses just know how to take care of themselves?

[aaronbees]

5. Tiago or Go Between in the Gold Cup ....

Of course it would be sweet to see Drifty get it.

[two gun sid]

4. ORC suspends trainer for 10 years

The Ontario Racing Commission has suspended harness racing trainer William Elliott for 10 years and fined him $40,000 after a long-lasting form of the banned substance EPO was found in the system of Michelles Power, voted top 3-year-old filly pacer in Canada last year.

Earlier this week, the board of Standardbred Canada voted to revoke the O”Brien Award for the filly, and instead award it to the filly that earned the next highest number of votes: Hana Hanover.

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080626.wspt-suspension26/GSStory/GlobeSportsOther/home

He got off light in my opinion. EPO is dangerous.

[two gun sid]

6. Music Note wins Mother Goose by 3

Proud Spell had to check up in the stretch and finishes 2nd. Judges let the result stand.

[Justpat]

7. No, Proud Spell was disqualified and placed third.

This jock rides like a maniac. Coming out to the turn he got himself in tight, then swung way out, the
back in, then out again and bumped the other filly and carried her over several paths.

I wouldn't put this kid on the pony.

[two gun sid]

9. Really? My video is not working on YouBet. I've got audio

but no picture. They never announced that Proud Spell got set back. Sorry for the bad info.

The Suburban sounded like a good one. AP Arrow jumps in the air at the start and Frost Giant and Solar Flare battle it out in the stretch. IEAH and Dutrow win at 40-1. Huh.

[Justpat]

10. It wasn't announced right away.

But they were right to take him down. He rode like a drunken sailor.

[two gun sid]

12. As I listened to it I thought Proud Spell was the one that...

was impeded. They need to get this video back up, damn them.

[Justpat]

14. Watch the head on shot of the run from the quarter pole to the wire. n/t

[Justpat]

8. SOB Dutrow wins the Suburban at 40-1.

Damn it.

Larry Jones horse second.

[two gun sid]

11. I actually liked the Argentinean horse here....

then I looked at Dutrow and IEAH and thought shit how do ya bet against those assholes? I didn't bet.

[Justpat]

13. Dutrow's horse paid $82.00

Obviously the horse prefers dirt and liked the distance.

But what a joke of a handicap. The highweight was 119.

[two gun sid]

15. In the old days trainers used to darken a horses form...

and then cash some tickets when they ran them where they belonged. I'm not saying all trainers do that because they don't. It was mostly guys struggling with cheap platers and hell, it was part of the game to be honest. Small time guys at small time venues. And really, what were you gonna say about it. If you wanted to gamble you had to go to the track to do it. Today is different. Lot's of other places to go if you get disgusted at the track.

This jerk darkens the form of GI stakes horses. They ought to be investigating this asshole and his asshole owners. Belmont holds a nice weekend card with a good product and Dutrow and his owners could care less how it looks as long as they can cash a nice mutuel.

[Justpat]

16. The owners of BB say that if little Dickie screws up again

he is history.

[two gun sid]

17. Well, trainers in NY should start getting some extra stalls ready

'cause no way he doesn't screw up in the next month. He can't help himself. If he wasn't such a liability to the sport it would be sad.

Team Valor's Barry Irwin has been putting pressure on IEAH and Jackson to make a change.

[two gun sid]

19. Dutrow gives credit to jockey after 40-1 upset

"This was mostly Rudy," Dutrow said. "I mean I directed it - how far and how fast - but Rudy did an unbelievable job not only riding him this afternoon but in the mornings, which made me go to a race like this because you could see he changed and had gotten better."

Dutrow always remembers the little people in this game. Rick's a fucking team player ain't he?

[two gun sid]

18. Mast Track wins Hollywood Gold Cup for Frankel

Great. Sets new cushion track record for 1 1/4 miles.

[aaronbees]

26. LOL

Dutrow/Frankel get the big ones this weekend. All in all kind of lame weekend for racing, eh? Tiago needs dirt to run best, I think. Not that he's a world beater, just wonder how he'd fare out East or on a conventional surface.

[two gun sid]

20. A positive story about horse racing

Boy's Wish Granted to Meet Smarty Jones

The Kentucky region of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Three Chimneys Farm recently teamed up to grant a young boy’s wish of meeting Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (both gr. I) winner Smarty Jones. His experience will be chronicled June 30 during SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series at 6:00 on ESPN.

Nine-year-old Patrick Munro of Greenlawn, N.Y. is one of five kids from the Make-A-Wish Foundation whose sports-related wish will be highlighted on the SportsCenter series.

Through the help of John Greely, a strong supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, experiences were arranged for Munro and his family aimed at giving him a unique and memorable experience in Kentucky and hands-on involvement with horses, which are his passion.

Patrick, who suffers from hydrocephalus and, as a result, is blind and hearing impaired, spent several days in Central Kentucky in April. On the first day of his visit, Munro and his family were invited to Three Chimneys Farm to fulfill the boy’s wish to meet Smarty Jones.



http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/45903.htm

People love the horses. It's just that simple.

[TZ]

21. Aww what a great story

And even nicer that involves my favorite, Smarty Jones....Indeed people love the horses.
One of these days I should dig up an old picture of me on top of my personal favorite a retired old racer named "Friar Tuck". By far the sweetest horse I have ever encountered.

[two gun sid]

22. Post them pictures.

After the last couple of weeks we needs something to feel good about. I'm tired of Dutrow stories and I am going to stop posting about him.

[aaronbees]

25. How wonderful!

Really touching story. I hope to see Smarty someday.

[two gun sid]

23. Napoleon wins Yonkers Trot

Napoleon edged Make It Happen in a photo finish Saturday night in the $605,854 Yonkers Trot, the first leg of the trotting Triple Crown.

Driven by Stephane Bouchard, Napoleon raced to his third victory in five starts this year and eighth in 12 lifetime starts. The 3-year-old bay colt finished the mile in 1:57.1 at Yonkers Raceway.

Make It Happen, with Ray Schnittker in the sulky, was followed by Big Apple Deli, who was driven John Campbell.

Napoleon, who had times of 28.1, 58.2 and 1:27 through the first three-quarters, returned $6, $3.70 and $3. He earned $302,927 to increase his career total to $533,695.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-06-28-3602471034_x.htm

[aaronbees]

24. Frozen Fire wins Irish Derby

Third in a row for Aidan O'Brien. It was a wild and thrilling stretch run. New Approach was scratched. Replay here (in French): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIMM5f8_g8Y.

O'Brien Wins Third Straight Irish Derby
by The Associated Press
Date Posted: June 29, 2008
Last Updated: June 29, 2008

Frozen Fire pulled off an upset in the Irish Derby (Ire-I) June 29, defeating Casual Conquest by two lengths and giving trainer Aidan O’Brien his third straight win in the race at The Curragh.

Frozen Fire, ridden by Seamus Heffernan for owner Michael Tabor, was sent off at 16-1 odds in the 11-horse field. Frozen Fire dwelt at the start of the 1 1/2-mile event and was last as the field reached the straight. He was hard-ridden to reach contention on the far outside with a furlong left to run and got the lead 100 yards from the wire.

Tabor's Alessandro Volta led the field narrowly nearing the furlong marker, veered left after that and appeared to interfere with several horses before being headed the winner. Alessandro Volta finished third, but was dropped to fourth after a steward’s inquiry. Tartan Bearer, the favorite, was moved up to third.

O’Brien won the 2006 Irish Derby with Dylan Thomas and took last year’s edition with Soldier of Fortune. Heffernan is a two-time winner, having won aboard Soldier of Fortune.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/45928.htm

[jakefrep]

27. That race was a mess...

...I'm not sure Alessandro Volta shouldn't have been placed behind Curtain Call also - he got demoted to fourth as it was (behind Tartan Bearer).

[two gun sid]

28. Good on Aidan

I'm glad somebody won a big race this weekend that isn't a total asshole.