Union Rags

From facebook update:


Union Rags breezed 5 furlongs today in 1:02:60, with splits of 25.40, 37.80- afterwards he galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:15:40.  UR's debut in the Fountain of Youth Stakes is 3 and a half weeks away!


UR also had a special shout out to Hansen (also via Facebook) about never being ashamed of a second place finish...talk about sportsmanship

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Mucho Macho Man

This horse finished third in the 2011 Kentucky Derby won the 1 1/8, $400,000 Florida Millions Classic.  Mucho Macho Man, under Ramon Dominquez and trained by Kathy Ritvo won by 1 ½ lengths with a time of 1:47:91.  Ron the Greek was second, and Turbo Compressor was third. 

No word yet on where Mucho Macho Man will race next

Algorithms VS Union Rags

Algorithms to take on Union Rags next in the Fountain of Youth… or in the Florida Derby

Awesome Feather... Awesome As Always...

For the sport of kings, why is it always the Queens who we fans love so much?  Probably, because lately the ladies of racing have been giving it their all and winning, making us come back for more and more.  Over the past year, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, Blind Luck, Havre de Grace, and a majority of this year’s four year old fillies are all proving themselves to be champs on the racetrack.  Awesome Feather (I’m confident she will keep on the track she’s going on) is yet another name to add to that list.  The 2010 two year old champ won Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Distaff by 5 3/4s lengths.  She is a powerhouse horse, who is telling everyone that she is not letting her injury as a three year old bring her down.  According to her Facebook page her jockey, Jeffrey Sanchez said: “She broke so sharp I don’t fight her too much” … “I know when I sent her she kept going-she don’t stop” and well that is completely true.  This filly is not stopping for anyone.  In her article about her race on the Daily Racing Form, they report that her next start will most likely be the Rampart, at Gulfstream Park on March 31^st. 

I cannot wait for later on in this year when horses like AF, HdG, Royal Delta, It’s Tricky, Plum Pretty, Awesome Maria, etc. will all battle it out on the track…. Although, I may have to wait for Breeder’s Cup CLASSIC 2012 for those match ups!!

Holy Bull Stakes

I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to Sunday’s Holy Bull Stakes.  During the warm up, Hansen did not look that good to me.  Maybe it was just the shots that I was seeing, but if he was not the 2 year old champ, and I didn’t know who he was, by his warm up, I would not have bet any money on him.  In the gate, he also seemed fairly restless, which brings me to my question, was Ramon even trying to get the horse to settle down?  I’m not sure he was.  At the break, Hansen tripped a bit and it was pretty far from a clean start.  He was with the pack and then pulled himself together to get on a lead by about 2 lengths, setting very quick early fractions (probably a little too quick for Hansen’s first time out since a long layoff-here I blame Ramon for poor riding-he should of got him to slow down a little bit and RELAX).  Then at the turn, the other horses started to creep up on him, and BAM Algorithms looked like he wasn’t even trying as he flew down the stretch to win by 5 lengths.  Algorithms, is now 3-3 and I think he may be a horse we want to look out for on the Derby trail.  I have a lot of love for Hansen, but I was disappointed in his performance.  Yes, he got a bad break, and there was a sloppy track, but it very well can rain that first Saturday in May.  Look at last year’s Belmont Stakes- the track was very sloppy, and we had long shot Ruler on Ice win.  I don’t think we should write Hansen off of being a top Triple Crown contender, but now we have a clearer picture of what he’s working with.

Congratulations to Algorithms and his connections.  What will be next for this colt?

OMGBC!

Friday night, in Australia, Black Caviar went for her 17th straight victory in the G2 Australia S. at Moonee Valley.  This filly relaxed for the begining of the race, about 2 lengths off of the leaders, and then after the turn she turned up here gears and easy glided to the finish line four lengths ahead of the rest of the field.  The 1200 meter turf spring was finished in 1:09:44.  I can not wait to see whats to come for this filly.

Hansen and the Holy Bull

This Sunday, our 2 year old champ Hansen will make his 3 year old debut in the $400,000  Grade 3 Holy Bull at 1 mile, down in Florida at Gulfstream Park.  He's been working great.  I can not wait to see what he has to bring to the table.