Super Derby!

[aaronbees]

Being run Saturday at Louisiana Downs. If I play my cards right I'll actually be able to see this one in person. Lawyer Ron, Point Determined, and Strong Contender (whom I like for this race) are in this 1 1/8 mile race. Nice to see LR back in some serious stakes action.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35402

Lawyer Ron Tops Eight-Horse Super Derby Field
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 9/21/2006 8:23:10 AM
Last Updated: 9/21/2006 1:31:29 PM

Lawyer Ron, whose only defeat in his last eight starts came in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), was installed the 8-5 morning line favorite when eight 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday's $500,000 Super Derby (gr. II) at Louisiana Downs.

Trained by Bob Holthus, Lawyer Ron will be ridden by regular jockey John McKee as the Langfuhr colt seeks his second win since a break following the Derby. On Aug. 26, the colt won the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park.

...

1 -- Strong Contender, Robby Albarado, 5-2
2 -- Lawyer Ron, John McKee, 8-5
3 -- Follow the Storm, Kerwin D. Clark, 30-1
4 -- Majestic Stream, Donnie Meche, 30-1
5 -- His Eyes, Carlos Gonzalez, 15-1
6 -- Point Determined, Victor Espinoza, 2-1
7 -- Louisborg, Lonnie Meche, 12-1
8 -- Costa Rising, Mario Jose Reyes, 10-1

[aaronbees]

1. Strong Contender

Just got back! Only saw the last of the stretch run from my finish line spot but a thrilling finish it was. Strong Contender looks massively tall; don't think he's quite top tier in the division but a horse coming into his own and I think he'll improve off this. I'd take him to the BC Classic -- don't think he'd win but might get a paycheck, so why not? Ron looked good but I had a feeling he'd get caught when he made the lead five furlongs out. Just don't think he's as sharp as he was in the spring. Say what you will about his ability to rate, he almost always makes the race exciting. I put Louisborg was in my superfecta for a reason: he's just a gorgeous gray and improving. Point Determined .... well, looked sleepy and low-key; I shoulda left him out of the bet. Fun to see Baffert getting him ready. Didn't see Beverly Lewis around though.

This was my first trip to Louisiana Downs. Nice place - doesn't have the charm of Oaklawn but getting around is eassy and I like the paddock outside and being right by the finish line and winner's circle. It's a little roomier too, and the casino stuff was easy to avoid. All my exacta boxes ended up third and fourth, so my betting misery continues. I'm still pretty ticked at PD blowing my superfecta. ;) Still, a fun day at the races!

Mary Rampellini's recap: http://www.drf.com/news/article/78968.html

[two gun sid]

2. Sounds like you had a good time...

Too bad about Lawyer Ron. He's a nice horse and I'd like to see him win some more races.

Reading your post made me realize I need to get to a TB track and enjoy a day of racing. I need to get out of this funk I'm in.

[aaronbees]

5. Get yourself to a track, Sid

It'll help what ails ya. I think Ron will be back -- let's just hope he races next year.

[two gun sid]

3. Mr Feelgood captures fastest Little Brown Jug

http://www.ustrotting.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=17935&z=1


Results for MI Sires Stakes Million Dollar Night at Hazel Park Raceway

http://racing.ustrotting.com/card_results.cfm?track_code=HP&race_date=2006-09-23&race_type=6

[two gun sid]

4. Countdown to the Cup: No Doubting Thomas

From The Bloodhorse:
The wheels have been turning at Ballydoyle. The decision to send group I Irish Derby and Irish Champion winner Dylan Thomas to Belmont for the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) is a departure from their normal strategy. But they have done it before, and it is understandable why they would want to try a different approach.

Their reasoning can be summed up in three words –- Galileo, Hawk Wing, and Oratorio, all top-class colts who ran in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) without a prep on dirt and made little or no impact on the race. This time, it is apparent that Coolmore does not want to play Russian roulette on the world stage. They want to know if their barrel is loaded or not.

They almost pulled it off in 2000 with Giant's Causeway, who ran a sensational race in the Classic, just getting beat a neck by Tiznow. Coolmore also was successful right off the plane with Johannesburg, who beat a strong field of 2-year-olds in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), so they've seen the successes and failures of trying the dirt for the first time without knowing how their horse is going to handle it.

However, it must be noted that both Giant's Causeway and Johannesburg were bred more for the dirt than the turf. In addition, Giant's Causeway was a miler who was able stretch out to a mile and a quarter and use his speed effectively, while the other three were 10-furlong and 12-furlong horses, just as Dylan Thomas is. They, unlike Giant's Causeway, either did not handle the dirt or simply did not have his kind of speed to be competitive against the Americans.

http://bc.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35468

[aaronbees]

6. RIP, Second of June

This is very upsetting. One gutsy racehorse with heart. Glad I got to see him last year in the Oaklawn Handicap.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35500

Second of June Euthanized After Suffering Fracture
by Steve Haskin
Date Posted: 9/27/2006 4:20:18 PM
Last Updated: 9/27/2006 4:20:18 PM

Barbara Cesare's Second of June, who had been pointing for the Oct. 7 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), was euthanized Wednesday morning after suffering a fracture of his right hind ankle while working at Churchill Downs.

Second of June, one of the leading Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prospects of 2004 before fracturing his left leg, was making his third comeback and recently finished a game second - beaten a half-length - in the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

"Dr. (Steve) Allday looked at him yesterday, and he couldn't have looked better," said trainer Bill Cesare, son of the owner. "His injury was similar to Barbaro's. Dr. Allday X-rayed him afterward and said he didn't have a shot.

"This horse was part of our family. My wife and kids are all upset, and my mom is upset. But life goes on. It's just sad he didn't have the opportunity to run in the Gold Cup and Breeders' Cup (Classic) and become a stallion. But these are the cards we've been dealt. There was nothing wrong with the racetrack, and he really wasn't going fast. It's just one of those things that happen. I have six 2-year-olds, and I have to keep plugging."

** rest at link **

[two gun sid]

8. A very good horse...

I remember his FOY and the battle down the stretch with Read The Footnotes. He was also out of a Spectacular Bid mare so you know I always pulled for him.

[two gun sid]

7. Carl Putnam, Jr Captures 6,000th Lifetime Driving Win

From Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association:

Carl Putnam Jr. won five races at the Hillsdale County Fair on Tuesday, September 26, 2006, becoming only the 32nd driver in harness racing history to notch 6,000 career victories.


http://www.ambersystems.com/mhha/news/news.htm

Congrats to "Cagey" Carl. He is the best driver on a 1/2 mile Fair track I've ever seen.

[two gun sid]

9. The Tin Man 'Gold' in Clement Hirsch Repeat

From The Bloodhorse:
he 8-year-old veteran The Tin Man did just enough to win Saturday's $250,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (gr. IT), a race he also won in 2002 on the lawn at Santa Anita Park.

Coming off a front-running one-length win in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), The Tin Man figured to have Saturday's short field in the Hirsch at his mercy. But after leading through soft fractions, the Affirmed gelding, sent off at odds of 1-2, had to dig in late under Victor Espinoza to register a head victory over the multiple grade II winner T.H. Approval.

"At the three-eighths pole, I decided to let him go a little bit," Espinoza said. "I know it ended up being pretty close, but he was kind of waiting for the other horses. For his age (eight), he's the best. He's a trier. Of all the horses I've ridden, nobody tries harder. This isn't just 'The Tin Man,' this is 'The Gold Man."

The final time was 2:00, three ticks slower than the 3-year-old filly Wait a While ran in romping to victory in the Yellow Ribbon (gr. IT) at the same 1 1/4-mile distance a race earlier. The Tin Man became the oldest to win the Clement Hirsch. John Henry won the race at 7 when it was the Oak Tree Invitational in 1982.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=35564


Hurray for The Tin Man and his connections!