QPP - The QuikSand Ranch rides, yet again

[QuikSand]

Another Run with the QuikSand Ranch
A Quarterpole Plus dynasty, post-patch

With the recent hubbub over the triple crown races, and the Seabiscuit movie’s impending release, I got the jones to get back into horseracing. Since I have yet to really try out the Quarterpole Plus game after its recent “patch,” I have decided to give that game a shot, again. My first effort sort of flamed out… we’ll see if this one goes better.


I set up using the “punter” scenario – that’s $10,000 to start with, and an empty barn. I expect to dawdle around with low-level horses for a while, and eventually (if things go well) build up to be a player for stakes-level races. The “rags to riches” storyline is a tired one in sim games, I know -- but here we go again.

As for rules, I generally play by some pretty standard ones. I will only buy horses by way of claiming races or auctions – the “open market” simply provides too much opportunity for me, I have found. I also am not going to buy claiming horses who have raced for more than twice their current price tag in their last six (visible) races. I think that should help me keep from availing myself of too many “too good to be true” horses that this game provided pre-patch (and I have little hope that this has changed much).

I also will be realistic about my entries – my good horses will run no more than once a month, and probably not even that much. My lower-level horses will run into shape, but not much more than once every three or four weeks. I think that’s fair.

We’ll see if these rules are enough to keep it interesting.

[QuikSand]

January 2003

Okay, my first claiming race – I look through the field for this $6,000 claimer – a very low-level race. And not a single horse fits my restriction – every single one has recently raced for at least $12K – many for much more. Thus falls my first idea… I think that restriction might not work.

Okay, I make my first claim on Jan, 3rd – finding a gelding who showed a little something in his last effort:


2 : TWO RIGHT FEET RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Brown, 4, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 51 2 4 8 $57,676
Owner: Nugent J Life-Turf 5 0 0 0 $560
Jockey: Canady J 245-17-36-35 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Honey M 151-6-12-18 This Year 0 0 0 0 $0

28Dec01WP CL10 b3+ D ft 10f 46.0 1:41.0 2:09.1 4 5- 5-8 4-3 3-3½ 2-½ 92 116 2.40 Canad
21Dec01WP CL06 b3+ D ft 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 5 5- 4-6¾ 4-12 5-17½ 5-21 62 116 3.70 Hall
10Dec01WP CL08 b3+ D ft 10f 46.1 1:40.1 2:09.0 3 3-¾ 5-8 5-13¼ 5-15½ 5-17 72 116 4.50 Hall


That rally at a stretched-out distance suggests to me that he might be a money-maker at low levels, going over a mile. At least, he might be worth the $5,000 claiming price I put up.

In the race (one mile over the turf course), TWO RIGHT FEET saves ground early, stays in an inside position, and then gets running room inside out of the second turn. He advances nicely, but misses the early leader by about a length and settles for second place. Nice effort – I feel pretty good about the claim.


03Jan03OV CL06 b4+ T fm 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.1 5 6-4½ 5-7 3-7½ 3-7¼ 2-1½ 88 122 6.90 Canad
Lifetime: 52 2 5 8 $58,796



Now that I have a horse to train, I will need… a trainer. I go with Carl “Kewpie” Doll – he’s been a 21% winner the last year, with 53% in the money – pretty good results. I select my preferred jockey, Charlie Fisher – he’s not really used a lot, but I like his style, and he’ll get my first call for now.


I find a good spot for TWO RIGHT FEET, a 1 ¼ mile claimer for a $8,000 price tag in late January. I cannot afford to get too attached to these claimers – part of the game is buying low and selling high. This horse will do well by me if I can get him in for a well spotted race or two, and then sell him for twice what I paid for him. So, we’ll look for a spot where he might be able to win – and then look to really move up the ladder a bit.

Since I don’t have the funds to do more than manage this horse – we’ll go ahead to the next race.


In the January 29th race, he draws the inside post of a field of only four horses. (This sounds very familiar from my first run with this game) He looks to bee fairly well-spotted… we’ll see if he takes to the distance, and gets us a paycheck.

29Jan03OV CL08 b4+ D ft 10f 45.0 1:37.1 2:06.1 3 2-1¼ 2-6¾ 3-7¾ 3-7 2-2¼ 103 122 2.50 Fishe


A very similar result – he rallied fairly well again, but couldn’t quite reel in the early speed. He did look pretty resolute in the effort, and I think the 8-10f range is probably his proper distance. He can pay for himself with second place efforts… but we aren’t making any money.

[QuikSand]

February 2003

Okay, we move quickly to late February, to see TWO RIGHT FEET in his next effort. I want to see how he can do with a step up in class… so I have found an interesting spot. A $21,000 claiming race – this is a few levels over what he’s been running thus far. But I think that he fits fairly well – and the purse here is much better than that in the lower-level races.

Hmm – a four-horse field, and I have the rail. Familiar?

The field seems to have two speedy types – so maybe by the time 10f runs out, he might be in 2nd place by default. That’s what I’d hope for, at least. I make PAPER KING, the other rally-type, as the race favorite – I just want to run down the speed here to get my piece.

Early on, it’s as predicted – two charge to the lead. 2RF stays about three lengths back, with PAPER KING a few behind him. 2RF make a move to get right behind the speed on the second turn, and makes an inside move when things open up for him. This horse seems to like the rail – and he takes it to the lead here. He has trouble putting the speed away- they are tougher than expected, but PAPER KING’s charge is a little too late, and in a narrow margin finish, TWO RIGHT FEET comes away the winner!


8Feb03OV CL21 b4+ D gd 10f 45.1 1:39.1 2:08.0 1 3-4½ 3-6¾ 3-2 2-½ 1-nk 100 122 2.10 Fishe


A winner by a neck, and he captures back more than his purchase price right there! I will keep trying to move him up the ladder- our next try will be in another high-level claiming race. We have just over $10,000 on hand – I’d like to boost that just a bit more before we go pushing ahead to expand the stable to another horse. For now, we’ll continue to campaign with TWO RIGHT FEET.

[QuikSand]

March 2003

On March 19th, TWO RIGHT FEET is up again, racing in the 6th race – a $50,00 claiming race at 9 furlongs. This race has a $32,000 purse – a first or second here would make us some money enough to look around for a second charge in the stable.

On a bit of a tangent…

Incidentally, I notice that PAPER KING is also running today. Here’s a point of background – some criticism for how this game works. PAPER KING ran against my horse for $21K on February 8th. I haven’t kept track of PAPER KING since then, but here is his current past performance line:


2 : PAPER KING RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 5-2
Brown, 4, Male, 122 LifeTime 71 2 8 12 $57,758
Owner: Finley N Life-Turf 11 0 0 1 $4,616
Jockey: Aguilar H 291-52-43-40 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Carl F 252-40-37-37 This Year 20 0 3 3 $25,648

19Mar03OV CL30 b4+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.0 2 2- 4-8¼ 4-12¼ 4-12¾ 4-9¾ 88 122 2.60 Aguil
15Mar03OV CL10 b4+ D ft 10f 45.1 1:39.0 2:07.1 3 4- 4-10½ 3-2¾ 1-¾ 2-ns 100 122 2.60 Jacks
14Mar03OV CL06 b4+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.0 4 4- 4-12¾ 4-11¼ 4-8¼ 4-5¾ 85 122 2.60 Jacks
13Mar03OV CL25 b4+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.0 3 3- 4-6¾ 4-9¼ 4-7½ 2-½ 95 122 2.40 Aguil
12Mar03OV CL10 b4+ T fm 10f 45.0 1:39.0 2:08.1 3 4- 4-17½ 4-12¼ 4-7¾ 3-3½ 93 122 2.60 Aguil
10Mar03OV CL10 b4+ D ft 5f 21.1 0:45.0 0:58.0 4 4- 4-7 4-11½ 4-12¾ 4-9 88 122 3.20 Jacks


Including today’s race, PAPER KING has now run in six races during the last ten days. I’m doing my part to keep the game reasonable – I’m only running my horse every few weeks of so. This, as we see, is how the computer-managed horses are run. Idiotic – how is this supposed to resemble real racing in any way?

Okay, enough of that tangent…


We actually have a five horse field here, and my guy is #2 instead of the rail spot. 2RF gets the inside spot, as the rail horse is full of early run, getting well ahead. Nobody ever challenges the early leader INCIDENTAL, who goes on to win easily. My guy gets nipped for the second spot, and settles for a decent but slightly flat show position. Still, the third place paycheck covers more than our month’s expenses – not bad work for our tough little guy.


19Mar03OV CL50 b4+ D ft 9f 44.1 1:09.0 1:51.0 2 4-1¼ 3-10¼ 3-14¼ 2-14¼ 3-12¾ 83 122 2.60 Fishe



On the next day, I head out to the track, and have a look-see at the low-level claimers out there. I find a $4,000 filly to like – and put in the paperwork for the claim. NORAH BELL has some early foot, and properly spotted in short races (not the mile affair today) she might have a chance to excel – at least in lower-level races. I think she might be a money-maker.

She actually holds on to win this one, and comes to me with this record:


4 : NORAH BELL RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 2-1
Bay, 4, Female, 122 LifeTime 80 4 8 16 $106,918
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 19 0 2 3 $4,052
Jockey: Freeze M 378-64-48-46 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: MIllhiser D 171-37-32-28 This Year 20 2 5 4 $32,520

21Mar03OV CL04 b4+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:39.1 2 3-1½ 3-2½ 1-5 1-8¼ 1-2¼ 95 119 2.10 Freez


I’m ignoring the five races that she shows for the ten previous days – and will just pretend that she’s a normal horse on a normal racing pattern. (Curse these simpleminded sim games!)


So, we move into April with two in the barn – both with hopes of improving for us…

[SunDancer]

Quik,

Are we going to see a CM4 dynasty anytime soon? :)

[JeeberD]

Very nice, QS. Good to see the ponies running again...

[daedalus]

Good to see action at the QS Ranch again.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by SunDancer
Quik,

Are we going to see a CM4 dynasty anytime soon? :)

I don't know. I have sort of started up twice, but am daunted by the typing needed to build a suitable team report, as the game has dropped its print functions. I want to start the game, but as of yet, have not gotten past my initial roster screen.

Maybe...

[QuikSand]

April 2003

Overbrook Race Course had been pretty good for us, but now we shift to Blue Rock Downs, the site of springtime racing on the game.


On April 9, I have NORAH BELL in her first effort under my colors. She’ll run in a six furlong sprint, as the inside horse in a field of four. (ding!) This is a $21,000 claiming race – and I doubt she will go for that price, even after a good run in her last effort.

She jumps to the lead, controls the pace the whole way, and is only barely losing her margin as she waltzes home with the easy win.


09Apr03BR CL21 f4+ D gd 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:11.1 1 1- 1-3¾ 1-6¼ 1-8 1-6¾ 101 122 2.20 Fishe


The final time of 1:11.1 is pretty solid – I don’t know if she’s a stakes-caliber horse, but she certainly can do well at 5-6f running against low level company like this. This girl is a license to print money!

However, I’m not the only one who sees this. NORAH BELL has been claimed away, for the $21,000 price tag. That puts money in our pocket – but it eliminates the potential excitement of where we’d send her next. Off two wins, one would have to think her future looks bright. (However, in the hands of a computer owner, she might get sent out next to run a mile and a half – ouch)


So, we have $25,000 in cash on hand – that’s more than enough to keep rolling. We move ahead to the next race on our card – that’s the next outing for TWO RIGHT FEET, on April 17.

I couldn’t find a perfect spot, so he’s here in a one mile claiming race, tagged for $35,000. It’s possible he gets claimed, but that would just advance our cash position mightily.

Early on, there’s no major speedster, and 2RF sits just off the early pace running two wide. He presses the leader on the turn, then pulls up as they hit the stretch. My jockey Fisher slides him back down to the rail, where he’s right at home – and he gradually moves forward to collar the leader at the sixteenth pole. In the final stretches, TWO RIGHT FEET is running well, and takes the top spot comfortably. Good effort.


17Apr03BR CL35 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:39.1 3 3-4 2-3¾ 2-1¾ 2-1½ 1-1 97 122 2.20 Fishe


And, there are no claims – so he will stick with us. That pushes our bankroll to $49,000 – enough to think about any move we want, practically speaking.

I want to claim a young horse, but cannot find a real value in the middling claiming races involving three year-olds. Finally, I find a good one – he’s not a classic runner, but 3yo LIMESTONE ROAD looks like a quality sprinter to me. At a tag of $35,000 he might be a bit steep – but I like what I see from him in shorter races.

In the race, he shows early speed (that’s his game), and then extends nicely to win fairly easily at 6 furlongs. I suspect that’s about his limit in distance, but he handled this short field pretty cleanly. Here’s how he arrives to my care, including this race line:


2 : LIMESTONE ROAD RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 5-2
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 8 2 1 1 $43,592
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $3,000
Jockey: Jackson K 269-35-55-46 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Hillman M 176-39-34-28 This Year 7 1 1 1 $29,360

20Apr03BR CL35 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 2 2- 1-1¾ 1-2¾ 1-3½ 1-2¾ 97 110 2.60 Jacks


So, we will keep him on course, staying under a mile, and try him in allowance company next (the next level up, where there are no claims allowed).

[QuikSand]

May 2003


On May 9, we have our next race for TWO RIGHT FEET, our foundation earner. He’s in a 1 ¼ mile allowance race – his first try at this level. Curiously, we see a familiar face here – NORAH BELL will be among the early pacesetters, but I don’t expect her to be in the picture after 10 furlongs, even if she carries my top jockey, Charlie Fisher. I’m more worried about BIT OF BART, who has fared reasonably well at this level before.

Early on, it’s BIT OF BART on the lead, with NORAH BELL right behind. 2RF is sting about four lengths back, biding his time – he’s not running as quickly early as he did in his last effort, hopefully saving energy for a later run. Out of the turn, he is in perfect striking position, but it’s NORAH BELL he’ll have to catch – her trainer has succeeded in getting her to stretch out nicely here. Down the stretch, he has traffic troubles, but once again he gets onto the rail, and he sneaks through for the top spot. Another stirring effort, and a victory paycheck!


09May03BR AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 44.1 1:38.1 2:07.1 2 4-½ 4-9¾ 3-2¾ 3-1½ 1-1 103 122 3.70 Arche




In our next affair, I will send out my new sprinter, LIMESTONE ROAD in his first race for us. He was a pretty big investment at $35,000 – so I send him immediately into allowance company. If he can run well here, he might be good enough to front some stakes for his next effort. But we’ll see about that there’s an awful lot of class in this race, and he’ll have to improve to stay with them. The 5f distance should help, but it’s a tough group.

My guy has generally been on or near the lead in his races, but here he drops back early – not able to keep up with the blistering pace. The final time of 56.2 seconds is well past his reach, and he finishes a fairly uninspiring last place. Hmm… not his best effort, it looks like Charlie took it easy on him once the race got away from them.


12May03BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 21.0 0:44.0 0:56.0 1 1- 7-3½ 7-7½ 8-11¾ 8-13½ 89 110 6.40 Fishe


I’ll try to decide where to spot him next, and see if we can get another paycheck from him at that level. I think the older company was a real problem here –he was just outclassed against more developed horses.

[QuikSand]

June 2003

In the early June auctions, I pick up a third horse for $9,500. SCRUB JAY has nice, speed-inclined breeding, and we’ll see what we have on our hands for that money.


TWO RIGHT FEET is back on the track on June 4, in another Allowance race. It just seems like a good spot for him, and I want to see him run well again at this level.

He takes a nice stalking spot, about three lengths behind the wall of four early runners. His move on the backstretch gets him into third position, and Charlie brings him down to the rail again. He drives up to DRIFTY BURKE, and struggles a bit, but finally puts that one away, while holding off two late chargers who settle for third and fourth. Another solid win and paycheck for us.


3 : TWO RIGHT FEET RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-2
Brown, 4, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 58 6 6 9 $130,636
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 6 0 1 0 $1,680
Jockey: Fisher C 58-15-7-10 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Hohlt A 83-10-13-7 This Year 7 4 2 1 $72,960

04Jun03BR AL40 b3+ D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.0 1:54.1 2 5-¼ 5-7¼ 3-6½ 2-2½ 1-½ 89 122 3.50 Fishe
09May03BR AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 44.1 1:38.1 2:07.1 2 4-½ 4-9¾ 3-2¾ 3-1½ 1-1 103 122 3.70 Arche
17Apr03BR CL35 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:39.1 3 3-4 2-3¾ 2-1¾ 2-1½ 1-1 97 122 2.20 Fishe
19Mar03OV CL50 b4+ D ft 9f 44.1 1:09.0 1:51.0 2 4-1¼ 3-10¼ 3-14¼ 2-14¼ 3-12¾ 83 122 2.60 Fishe
28Feb03OV CL21 b4+ D gd 10f 45.1 1:39.1 2:08.0 1 3-4½ 3-6¾ 3-2 2-½ 1-nk 100 122 2.10 Fishe
29Jan03OV CL08 b4+ D ft 10f 45.0 1:37.1 2:06.1 3 2-1¼ 2-6¾ 3-7¾ 3-7 2-2¼ 103 122 2.50 Fishe


This horse is “moving up the ladder” very well, and next time out probably will get some stakes backing. We’ll shoot for some serious money with him.



LIMESTONE ROAD might have been looking for a somewhat softer claiming spot, but instead I have found him a potentially tougher spot. He’ll run in a stakes race – a five-furlong sprint against other 3yos. The limited age is the main attraction for me – I think that might constrict the field a bit more than it appears.

There are seven entries for the High Grade Handicap, and LIMESTONE ROAD is a tepid 6-1 betting choice. I’m very worried about FLYFACE, just to my inside, and the race favorite. But most of the others don’t seem to well-suited for the very short distance.

FLYFACE and CAT CAY battle on the lead, while my guy sits just behind in a good spot. Down the stretch, Charlie decides to go inside to the rail again, and finds a lane – but it’s not clear that he has enough horse to do anything. The two leaders tire a little, and the three finish almost under a blanket. CAT CAY leads, then gives it up to FLYFACE, and in the very last few paces, it’s LIMESTONE ROAD up by a nose. He gets his first win for us – and the barn’s first stakes victory!


Race #8 High Grade Handicap Purse $50,000 (Finished)
5 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 8 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 3/16 3/8 Str Fin
Limestone Road Fishe 119 5.20 3 1 3 3½ 3 4½ 3 2½ 1 ns
FlyFace Elmer 119 4.10 2 2 1 ½ 2 2 2 2½ 2 nk
Cat Cay Mayfl 119 5.20 6 4 2 ½ 1 1 1 ¾ 3 3
Bottoms Up Kerne 119 3.60 1 5 5 nk 4 ¾ 4 3½ 4 3¼
Bayside Fancy Forbe 119 5.90 4 7 4 ½ 5 1¾ 5 2 5 1½
Springtime Day Gregg 119 5.70 5 3 6 ¾ 6 1¼ 6 1 6 ¼
Royal Silver Howe 119 5.50 7 6 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.21.9 .45.8 .58.8

Win Place Show
1st Limestone Road 12.40 5.40 3.80
2nd FlyFace 5.20 3.60
3rd Cat Cay 3.80

Exacta (3-2) 55.40 Trifecta (3-2-6) 290.40



We now have about $64,000 on hand… our bankroll has exploded, and now we’re a serious player. We’ll see how our first venture into the unknown world of two-year-olds goes – that’s where things get pretty hot and heavy.


It’s a ten horse field for SCRUB JAY’s debut. The horse in here that looks sharp to me in GRENDELSBANE, but there are several untested horses in here as well – mysteries abound.

My gray colt breaks slowly, but doesn’t lose too much ground, and stay in decent position. He doesn’t have enough run to stay with this field, though, and ends up in mid-pack down the stretch.


20Jun03BR MD22 m2 D ft 5f 22.1 0:46.1 0:59.1 8 8- 8-4½ 6-7¾ 6-10 6-9¼ 76 120 6.50 Fishe


Nothing to get too excited about – this probably isn’t much of a horse.

[QuikSand]

July 2003

I hit the auction again, looking for an investment. I plunk down $12,500 for another colt, this one a mottled gray named SWAINSON’S SONG. I’ll give it another go, and will be prepared to watch another investment go right down the tubes.


On July 2, we have LIMESTONE ROAD up again, this time back down to Allowance company. It sounds like a drop, but without a 3yo restriction, this will probably be a tough race for him. He may have had his once chance to really shine.

He breaks out on top early, and pulls ahead of the #1 horse to grab the rail on the backstretch. 4yo BRIGHT DECISION is just to his outside, and running hard. The pack stays tight the whole way, but as I expected – this is a tough spot for him, as the older horses get up in the late stages.


02Jul03AB AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.1 0:59.0 1 1- 2-nk 2-½ 3-1 4-2 94 110 2.50 Fishe




On July 9, I have SCRUB JAY in a maiden claiming race, looking for an easy spot for a lousy horse. He gets up for second place, but it was honestly against some awful competition. Nothing to see here.


09Jul03AB MDCL b2 D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.0 0:59.0 4 4- 3-6¼ 3-10 3-11¾ 2-9½ 79 120 2.50 Fishe



I pick a similarly soft spot for my new charge, SWAINSON’S SONG. There are actually a few reasonable horses in this field – a bit tougher than yesterday’s race for SCRUB JAY. My horse breaks quickly, but then fades slowly to last, but not far back. He gains slightly in the late stages, but ends up with a pretty weak second place here.


10Jul03AB MDCL b2 D ft 6f 22.1 0:47.1 1:14.1 1 1- 4-2 4-5¾ 4-7¼ 2-5 75 120 2.30 Fishe


Looks like my 2yo crop is once again a washout – thus far, at least.


On July 19, we have our biggest ace yet – by far. I have put up $20,000 to enter TWO RIGHT FEET into the $250,000 Shakespeare Classic, a stakes race run at 1 ¼ miles –a perfect distance for him. The class might overwhelm him, I understand, but if not – this could be a great spot. He’ll be up against DRIFTY BURKE, a speedy horse who he nosed out in his last allowance race – but there are much tougher runners in this field, it seems. Big money on the line.

The rain is falling and the track is muddy for the race – I don’t know ho that will affect my guy. He falls back early, which is fine – but I’m worried that he might not cover the mud well. He falls to last place on the first turn, and I am worried – that’s worse than his usual stalking position. SAVE FUEL is rolling along on the lead, and looks very strong. Out of the turn, 2RF is still in last, but is finally moving forward. however, there is little suspense here- SAVE FUEL rolls on to an easy win, while my guy splits the field for fourth place.


Race #8 Shakespeare Classic Purse $250,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Muddy Rain: Medium Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $250,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Save Fuel Micha 120 3.30 6 4 3 1 1 1 1 14¾ 1 18¾ 1 13
IsleBeSoHappy Mazut 122 3.80 3 7 5 3¼ 4 1¾ 4 ¼ 2 nk 2 4
Heavy Water Airey 125 6.10 1 5 7 6 nk 6 1½ 7 3 ½
Two Right Feet Fishe 125 3.30 2 3 6 1 7 7 6 nk 4 2½
Whata Dude Gregg 113 7.50 5 2 4 1 5 5¼ 5 1 4 ¾ 5 1¼
Drifty Burke Addid 122 6.00 7 6 2 ns 3 1½ 3 nk 5 ¾ 6 3¼
Turner's Pete Konic 122 8.40 4 1 1 ½ 2 1 2 1¼ 3 nk 7

Time of Race: 0.46.1 1.39.6 2.08.7

Win Place Show
1st Save Fuel 8.60 4.20 2.80
2nd IsleBeSoHappy 4.60 3.00
3rd Heavy Water 3.40

Exacta (6-3) 36.40 Trifecta (6-3-1) 208.60


Good showing, I suppose – but it demonstrates that there are limits to the astronomical success we can reach with a $5,000 claimer. I think he might be competitive in lower-level stakes races, but this seemed out of his reach.


On July 24, I send out LIMESTONE ROAD again, trying again to beat allowance company of older horses. If he fails here again, I will probably drop him down to claiming company, and try for either a paycheck or a claim, or perhaps both.

He draws a nine horse field, and is quickly swallowed up by their overall speed. He tries to advance, but simply cannot catch this class- and settles for last place again.


24Jul03AB AL40 b3+ D ft 5f 21.1 0:45.0 0:57.1 2 2- 7-2½ 7-5 9-6¼ 9-5½ 93 110 5.60 Fishe

[Anrhydeddu]

Nice work, as usual. Despite the AI flaws, it appears that this game still emphasize the human-controlled decision making. And despite the sometimes short fields, it seems to give race results that are true to form.

[QuikSand]

But, of course, we can see where this is going. I start with 10 grand, and with practically no effort I immediately spot a high-quality horse in a $5,000 claiming race. In a few months, this guy is a multi-race winner in allowance company. It's just too damned easy to cruch this game like a tiny bug!

The only thing that's actually difficult in this game is to bring a horse from the auction to being a star - and doing that is purely a function of dumb luck, nothing else. Spend money at auction, and then see what he does. Over time, you will eventually stumble on a winner or two... maybe even a classic winner or two. But it has nothing to do with your strategy, your training, your skill at picking talent... it's just dumb luck.

Stupid game. So much potential, too. Ugh.

[condors]

Quicksand

I know you were not impressed by the demo but i really wish you would give horse race manager a try, i think you would like it, alot of people find it very difficult. And its deeper than hooves of thunder i don't know about qpp though as i don't have that. If you have any questions about the game i would be glad to try and answer them. If i had the writing skill i would do my own dynasty on it, which i may do down the road, you would do it much more justice or notice flaws in the game that i don't

[QuikSand]

August 2003


In the heat of the summertime, I’m going to get a bit deeper into the 2yo scene. Rather than painstakingly detailing my every move, I am going to make a note of a worthy performance instead. It should cut down on the clutter – which I think would serve this little thread well. But I will continue to detail the races of my established runners.

I decide to sell both SCRUB JAY and SWAINSON’S SONG, because there are two 2yo fillies I want to pick up, but it costs me dearly. The two are running against one another in a $35,000 claiming race – and I expect that they might be serious players. Both are unraced, but they don’t have much to beat here.

My two fillies, FREE EXPRESSION and ON THE CREST, make the early pace, and look sharp in this 5f affair. ON THE CREST cruises through a 22.2 quarter, and takes the win pretty well. She is all speed, so she won’t be worth a ton in more serious races. FREE EXPRESSION gasses after about three furlongs, and looks like she may not have been such a great buy after all.

Regardless, here are my two new youngsters:


1 : FREE EXPRESSION RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-2
Bay, 2, Female, 122 LifeTime 1 0 0 0 $1,120
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Bach P 303-53-49-55 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 199-42-38-31 This Year 1 0 0 0 $1,120

26Jul03AB MDCL b2 D ft 5f 22.0 0:45.1 0:58.1 8 8- 2-2 2-3½ 2-6½ 4-7½ 83 117 3.80 Bach

2 : ON THE CREST RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-2
Bay, 2, Female, 122 LifeTime 1 1 0 0 $8,400
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Hall J 530-82-85-75 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Jeuell A 199-42-38-31 This Year 1 1 0 0 $8,400

26Jul03AB MDCL b2 D ft 5f 22.0 0:45.1 0:58.1 3 3- 1-2 1-3½ 1-6½ 1-3¾ 96 117 3.70 Hall


I’m nearly broke now, with only $9,000 in cash – but now at least I have something slightly interesting to watch in the younger divisions.


On August 13, I send out FREE EXPRESSION again, in another maiden claiming race. Six furlongs might be too much for her, but I’m hoping the field is weak in this $15k claimer – I’m looking for a good effort. She runs in third early, but the leader is taking off, and it doesn’t look good here. She slides back to seventh place, and loses whatever was left of her luster in my eyes. Lost cause.


On the next race, for maidens also, I see two horses who ought to be far better than the field I don’t have lots of money, but I put down $2,000 in a boxed exacta – hoping my read on the race is correct. It looks good early – my two take the lead, and through 4f (out of 7f) they are in control. They are nose-to-nose at the wire, but still five ahead of the third place horse. Just as I read it, thanks. The exacta pays $17.80, and I pocket a $13,800 profit. Nice. (Time for a new house rule, too, it seems)


I have TWO RIGHT FEET entered in a nice high-level allowance race at 10 furlongs. A $32,000 purse – this is a level he has beaten before. I am to build him up here, and hopefully point him back to stakes races later in the fall.

He sites about two or three lengths behind the leader- right in the perfect spot. On the backstretch he is gaining ground, and moves just to the outside of the leader, P.T. FARNUM. He has trouble getting past that one, thought, and they hit the wire together in a photo finish.


15Aug03AB AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 46.0 1:40.0 2:09.1 2 3-5 2-3¼ 2-2 2-2 1-ns 90 122 2.30 Fishe


An awfully nice effort – he gutted this one out, and won by the tiniest or margins.



On August 17, I have ON THE CREST, my promising 2yo filly, in a 6f allowance race. She is a speed type, and I’m hoping she can get all 6 furlongs – if not, this might not be so promising after all. I expect her to get the lead against this bunch, but can she hold on?

Over the “good” track in the rain, she makes the lead, but has pressure inside from the rail horse. The rail horse pulls even, and they hit the wire nose to nose – another absolute photo finish.


17Aug03AB AL27 b2 D gd 6f 22.0 0:46.1 1:13.1 1 1- 1-1½ 1-¾ 1-nk 1-ns 91 119 6.20 Fishe


Well, we must be living right! That’s two wins by the narrowest of margins – we’re on a roll!


Now, we wrap up the month of August with LIMESTONE ROAD stepping down to take on high-level claiming company. It’s a $50k claimer – so if he goes, he’ll fetch a price tag. But I fear that he simply isn’t good enough to make us real money – our stakes win was just god fortune from an age-restricted field (part of the reason why good 3yos make so much money).

He cannot even make the lead here, never is up better than third, and ends up at the very back of the field. A shame, really- this guy looks like he’s lost whatever he might have had at one point.


29Aug03AB CL50 b3+ D ft 5f 21.0 0:44.0 0:57.0 2 2- 3-3½ 5-10¼ 6-12¾ 6-12½ 87 114 3.60 Fishe


I think I’ll drop him down another level or so, and see if we can get him claimed. Or at least pick up a cheap paycheck.

[QuikSand]

September 2003


I hit the auctions again – I have about $46k in hand, thanks to the wins last month – and would be willing to put some money down for another 2yo charge – particularly a colt. I pick up a new bay colt for $11,000 – TANAGER gets high marks for his current form, and has very nice breeding from his sire. We’ll see.

So now we’re up to five horses in the barn – the schedule is getting more full every time.


TWO RIGHT FEET is entered into the $90,000 Programmer Handicap – a decent spot for him, I think, in terms of class. It’s only a one mile race, which may not be quite enough ground for him, but I hope to see him stalk and stay in early position here. If he shows well, I think I will have found his correct class level – decent-sized stakes races.

After the initial jump, the rail horse runs ahead, and 2RF heads inside, where he’s most comfortable, to save ground. This horse loves the rail. Into the turn, he’s in fourth place, but only about two lengths back – good spot. Out of the turn, he’s a mover, and moves out side of the tiring leader to challenge PIECE OF EIGHT. Those two hit the wire pretty close, but this time we don’t need a photo – TWO RIGHT FEET is a stakes winner at last!


13Sep03AB Prog m3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:38.1 2 3-nk 4-4 3-1½ 2-nk 1-1¼ 103 125 5.30 Fishe


Another very solid effort from this hard-working gelding, and he’s showing signs of being the foundation of a very profitable stable for us.


LIMESTONE ROAD will get a shot to win here – at least that’s my hope and plan. He drops down to a $21,000 claiming race at 5f – he should do better against this level. Here, I get exactly what I wanted:


17Sep03AB CL21 b3+ D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.1 0:59.0 2 2- 2-1¼ 2-1½ 2-2½ 1-¼ 96 114 3.00 Fishe


And with that, LIMESTONE ROAD is claimed away, and leaves our barn. Yes, I made a little money on him, but he wasn’t a long-term investment, overall. One nice stakes win – that put us on the map, but he wasn’t a real money maker like TWO RIGHT FEET has turned out to be.


TANAGER will get his first run on Sept. 22, in a maiden claiming race. Here, I get a chance to see the field, and look for bargains as well. I’m not terribly optimistic about his prospects, but we’ll give him a chance.

He runs a fairly even fifth, splitting the sizable field, but not impressing me at all. I don’t see a long future for TANAGER in this barn – we’ll look for a buyer.


FREE EXPRESSION is probably getting her last race for us as well – we’re looking for a breakout performance for her to keep her slot here. However, by way of entering this $35,000 claiming race, I do spot a horse that I would like to pick up. EPIPHANY seems to b improving, and I like the gelding’s chances to win this race and be ready to move forward. For $35,000, I take the plunge.

Here’s the race outcome:


Race #10 Maiden Claiming $35000 Open Purse $14000 2YO (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 9 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 2 MPH Purse: $14,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
BermudaTriangle Delle 115 5.50 5 5 5 ns 9 9 3 3¼ 1 1¼
Ephiphany Garve 120 4.90 4 6 6 ns 6 nk 2 ½ 2 1¼ 2 1¼
Free Expression Fishe 117 6.10 2 9 9 1 1½ 1 2½ 1 1 3 4½
Money Iron Clayt 115 6.10 6 4 4 ns 8 1¾ 4 ¼ 4 1¼ 4 2
Pleasure Lover Celan 120 10.00 3 3 3 ns 2 nk 3 ½ 5 ¼ 5 ns
Namalu Dolbo 120 7.60 1 8 8 ns 5 nk 6 nk 6 2¼ 6 1½
Distant Sun Justi 120 6.90 9 1 1 ns 3 ½ 5 ¾ 7 nk 7 ¼
Folksong Melody Mcroe 117 7.00 7 2 2 ns 7 ¼ 8 ¼ 8 1¾ 8 2¼
Boston Rover Cushi 115 7.30 8 7 7 ns 4 nk 7 ½ 9 9

Time of Race: 0.22.6 .47.3 1.28.4

Win Place Show
1st BermudaTriangle 13.00 6.40 4.40
2nd Ephiphany 6.20 4.00
3rd Free Expression 4.00

Exacta (5-4) 78.20 Trifecta (5-4-2) 488.40


Well, EPIPHANY looked sharp, but let BERMUDA TRIANGLE get the best of him from the outside. FREE EXPRESSION actually ran well here, holding the lead well through 5f. Not a terrible showing, but I’d have preferred the win, of course.


The following day, ON THE CREST will go in her first stakes race – the 7f Plucky Liege Stakes for $80,000. I think the 7f distance might be beyond her grasp, but the money is pretty good, and we’ll see how well she develops here. This race ought to reveal some of the top fillies in competition for big 3yo honors next year.

The one to beat here is definitely BE MY EXOTIC, an easy winner in two of her three races, and a very solid-looking pace-stalker. TANGA RANGA ROO is also very promising, but only has one race under her belt – a nice come-from-behind win at 5f. I expect those two to look tough here, and probably move forward to the top ranks of juveniles. If my girl can hang with those two, she’ll have shown a lot.

She makes the early lead, as we hoped, but has the two heavy hitters just behind her. Coming out of the turn, it’s BE MY EXOTIC who blows by the field, and my girl starts to fade, sadly.


Race #8 Plucky Liege Stakes Purse $80,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old fillies base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Be My Exotic Hall 125 3.90 4 7 7 3 ¾ 1 4 1 13¼ 1 12¾
Tanga Ranga Roo Kandi 125 6.10 7 3 3 ns 2 ¾ 2 ¼ 2 3 2 1
Peru Forbe 125 6.00 6 4 4 ns 6 ½ 5 ¾ 5 nk 3 ¾
Political Hell Crisc 125 5.30 5 6 6 ns 7 6 ¾ 6 7¼ 4 2½
On The Crest Fishe 125 3.00 3 1 1 ns 1 ¾ 3 3¾ 3 3 5 2½
Bossy Helen Frase 125 6.20 2 2 2 ns 4 4 4 5 4 1½ 6 10
Speed Heiress Freez 125 6.10 1 5 5 ns 5 1 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.22.1 .45.7 1.24.9

Win Place Show
1st Be My Exotic 9.80 4.60 3.00
2nd Tanga Ranga Roo 5.80 4.00
3rd Peru 5.80

Exacta (4-7) 67.0 Trifecta (4-7-6) 420.80


Nothing surprised me except the margin of victory – I now make BE MY EXOTIC as my early favorite for the 3yo classics next season. ON THE CREST clearly cannot handle more than 6 furlongs – we will shoot for a shorter spot for her from now on.

[QuikSand]

November 2003


On Wynnefield Cup day, I’ve got two entries. Not too bad for starting with $5,000 at the beginning of the year.

In the one mile Wynnefield Promise stakes, we have EPIPHANY entered, for a purse of $100,000. This is a great shot for him – looks like the right distance, and the field might not be overpowering for him. The obvious one to beat is CICERO SISSY, winner of four of five lifetime, and bearer of great tactical speed. He’ll be the main worry here. We also see SWAINSON’S SONG entered (a former horse of mine) but I don’t see him as a worry.

CICERO SISSY takes the early lead, and looks strong – but never gets too far away from the field. Later on, EPIPHANY is one of a few making a forward move, and into the stretch it looks like he and LEFITTOBEAVER might get there. The other one takes the top spot, but my guy outduels a tiring CICERO SISSY for the second spot.


Race #2 Wynnefield Promise Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 7 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
LeftItToBeaver Forbe 125 4.00 3 5 3 1½ 3 2 3 1¾ 3 1½ 1 ¾
Ephiphany Fishe 125 4.90 5 6 4 ½ 4 1¼ 4 1½ 4 1 2 ¾
Cicero Sissy Hall 125 4.80 4 1 1 2½ 1 5¾ 1 6½ 1 4¾ 3 ¾
Swainson's Song Bach 125 5.00 6 2 6 ½ 7 6 1 6 2½ 4 ¾
Albatrix Justi 125 5.50 1 7 5 ¾ 5 nk 5 ¾ 5 1¼ 5 1¼
Miss Dorothy Cushi 120 4.50 2 3 2 2¾ 2 2½ 2 1½ 2 nk 6 2¾
Ringbearer Krape 125 6.40 7 4 7 6 1 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.46.2 1.12.8 1.42.5



In the big race of the day – the $400,000 Wynnfield Classic, CALL ME WILLIE takes the top spot. I thought about trying for this one with TWO RIGHT FEET, but felt he had a better shot in the mile race instead.


It’s the $100,000 Wynnfield Claiming Championship, a mile race that suits my guy pretty well. He will need a very good effort to win here – this is a very, very tough field. I make WITH WINGS the one to beat here, but it’s a very solid group all around.

2RF falls back early, but is among the forward movers on the turn. Charlie stays inside, trying to work through, but he’s never had traffic like this. Eventually, he swings way outside, going five or six wide to try to get up, and he gets right into contention behind WITH WINGS and FLASHOVER, who are neck and neck for the lead. In the final paces, he splits those two, and get up even with WITH WINGS at the wire.


Race #9 Wynnefield Claiming Championship Purse $100,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 8 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 7 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
With Wings Mcroe 122 5.50 2 1 6 1 6 1¼ 5 1¼ 3 nk 1 ns
Two Right Feet Fishe 125 4.60 3 6 7 5¾ 7 8¾ 6 ns 6 3¼ 2 ¼
Flashover Gregg 122 6.10 6 5 5 ¾ 5 1½ 3 nk 1 ns 3 3¼
Anniversary Two Fredk 125 6.50 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 1¼ 4 ½ 4 4¾
Clyde S'Dale Cuenc 125 5.00 8 7 1 ¾ 2 4 2 2¾ 5 1 5 ¼
Educated Pet Gorga 122 6.90 5 8 8 8 8 8 6 ½
Desquatar Alfak 117 6.60 7 2 2 nk 3 1 7 8¾ 7 3 7 2¾
One Man Show Haver 125 5.60 1 3 3 ¾ 1 1¼ 1 3½ 2 2¾ 8

Time of Race: 0.44.4 1.10.4 1.38.7


We lose this photo finish, but still have to be very pleased with the effort.



In the monthly auction, I make some more investments. Who knows? I pick up a colt named THUNDER PUMPER, who has nice breeding but doesn’t look that sharp in the shed. We’ll see if he’s worth the $12,000 investment. I also pay $12,000 for another colt, FISH CROW. We’ll see if this dark black beauty lives up to his impressive shedrow performances.

After a few weeks under my care, I’m ready to send them out. First is THUNDER PUMPER, in a $35k maiden claiming race. I’ll enter, and will also be looking for rivals to claim here. He faces two former horses of mine, SCRUB JAY and TANAGER.


20Nov03WP MDCL b2 D ft 9f 48.1 1:15.1 1:58.0 5 5- 5-4¼ 4-3½ 1-3¼ 1-3½ 67 120 3.20 Fishe


My colt gets the win, but I’m not getting too carried away. That time and speed figure suggests he just walked past a lame field. He’ll have to beat someone before we get too excited.


Two days later, on the undercard of EPIPHANY’s next race, we send out FISH CROW in a $35k maiden claimer of his own.


22Nov03WP MDCL b2 D ft 7f 22.1 0:47.0 1:28.1 10 10- 7-3¾ 6-4¾ 3-2¼ 2-1¾ 80 120 7.00 Fishe


A narrow loss, but by the speed figures and final time, a much better effort than TP’s. Plus, his rally style might suggest that he can improve given some more time and distance.


Well, we have EPIPHANY running again this month, in the $75,000 Young Winner Stakes. It’s a logical step – three weeks ago he was right there with some top colts running a mile. Here, he will go a mile again, and gets a seven horse field. Neither of the heavy hitters from his last race are here, either.

He leads the pack as they track down the early leader, but gets collared at the sixteenth pole, and has to hold off late runners to keep second place.


Race #8 Young Winner Stakes Purse $75,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $75,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Thelma Today Kenne 125 4.50 1 3 5 1¼ 5 1¾ 3 2½ 2 ½ 1 2¾
Ephiphany Fishe 125 4.10 2 7 3 ½ 3 1¼ 2 1¼ 1 ½ 2 ¼
Scrub Jay Brook 125 5.80 3 6 6 ½ 6 1¼ 6 2 4 nk 3 1½
Miz Got Bucks Keen 125 4.80 6 4 4 ½ 4 1 4 nk 5 2¾ 4 1½
Snow Wonder Lecom 122 5.00 4 1 7 7 7 6 1¼ 5 7
Bee Valiant Dolbo 125 6.40 7 2 2 1¼ 2 ¾ 5 ½ 7 6 3
H H Francis Merri 125 4.50 5 5 1 3½ 1 9¾ 1 6¼ 3 2¾ 7

Time of Race: 0.45.8 1.13.1 1.42.2


THELMA TODAY looked sharp, and was a pretty decisive winner. That horse might be worth watching down the road.


That wraps up the month for us. I don’t’ have a race for ON THE CREST, nor really a plan for her, either. I’ll try to get her another sprint or two, but the choices seem narrow. EPIPHANY will apparently be our main 2yo charge coming out of this year – we’ll see if he can really handle a distance, as I’m concerned about his fades in two recent mile races.

[John Galt]

I'm enjoying the read so far (the occasional width of the text being the only downside). I haven't had a chance to order QPP yet, but I think it sounds fun based on this thread. Of course, I also think Horse Racing Manager sounds pretty good after reading the Gonegold thread on it. I'm hoping the AI will improve as you get further along in the dynasty, but so far it seems to be "acceptable." I'll probably wait to see how the dynasty goes before I decide between QPP and HRM.

[QuikSand]

I htink I have fixed the most serious thread-width problem (my fault for mis-typing a coding key).


If you find the game's AI to be "acceptable" then I am glossing over things far too much. I understand that it's possible to overlook this sort of "background" - but I'll be candid - I am not making any effort to really develop my stable. I'm completely convinced that if I wanted to do so, I could turn $5,000 into a million within a year - very easily. It's not a house rule, but just a semblance of order that has kept my focused on a few horses, trying to develop their character a bit to keep the thread interesting.

If I really mucked around in the claiming races, I could easily have ten horses as good as 2RF on hand, and I'd be winning stakes races every week. The game is just pathetic in this regard - and I don't know what to do to keep it interesting, other than what I'm describing (basically, I don't even look for horses to claim except for one or two races a month).


I have put in an order for Horse Racing Manager and will give that a try before long. I'm hoping that it exceeds my low expectations.

[sterlingice]

I think you need to create a horse, this time or next, called "Glue Factory"

SI

[QuikSand]

December 2003

The cold months are upon us, and it’s time for many horses to get some rest. But not in this game – no, we’ll run ‘em all winter long!

TWO RIGHT FEET will take some time off, just because there’s not a great spot for him in December. He hasn’t run on four weeks, and will end up with at least nine or ten weeks off before he runs again as a five year old. My others will get a run this month, over the Wynnefield surface.


A six furlong Allwance race is my next spot for ON THE CREST, but she will have to deal again with super filly BE MY EXOTIC, as well as the very speedy CICERO SISSY. This turned into a very, very tough spot to run – I don’ think she has a prayer against those two. We’ll also watch SWEET LALIQUE, who ought to try to rally late for a piece of the pie. Interesting race, I think.

My filly actually keeps pace with CICERO SISSY early, but that one is just a demon on the front end, and she is rolling today. ON THE CREST stays tough, but CICERO SISSY can only be challenged by the big hitter, BE MY EXOTIC. Those two hit the wire within a foot, but the early speedster held on for the win this time. My gal made a nice effort to hold on for third, while the field was catching up.


Race #9 Allowance 2YO Winner $22500 Life time Open Purse $35000 (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 4 MPH Purse: $35,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Cicero Sissy Hall 122 6.50 8 1 1 2¼ 1 ¾ 1 nk 1 ns
Be My Exotic Celan 119 7.90 5 8 4 1¾ 2 4½ 2 7 2 1¼
On The Crest Fishe 119 7.00 2 3 2 1 3 2¼ 3 2 3 ¾
LifewatchVision Broha 119 8.30 3 2 3 ½ 4 3½ 4 1¼ 4 ¾
Percussion Krape 122 4.70 4 10 10 8 1¼ 7 1 5 1¾
Palace Gem Delle 114 8.40 1 6 9 ½ 5 1 5 2¼ 6 2
Best Vice Elmer 122 7.70 6 5 7 ¾ 6 nk 6 ½ 7 ¼
Davis Test Garve 122 9.80 10 4 5 ½ 7 ¼ 8 1½ 8 4¾
Sweet Lalique Buckl 119 8.20 7 7 8 nk 9 nk 9 2 9 4¼
Missy Hill Badoi 119 7.90 9 9 6 ¼ 10 10 10

Time of Race: 0.21.8 .45.6 1.12.7



EPIPHANY will run in the one mile American Dream Stakes, for $80,000. He seems to fit well here, but will face a good-looking foe from a previous race in THEMLA TODAY. That one was “much the best” last time over this track – we’ll try to turn the tables here on him. There are also three of my former horses in this field – but none that worry me at all.

My forecast for a two-horse race look solid, as both EPIPHANY and THELMA TODAY sit just off the laed, and look strong. THELMA passes m guy on the inside around the turn, and it looks like it’s over. After hanging tough the whole way, my guy finally gets caught as he tires in the late stages. He’s just a few lengths behind THELMA TODAY right now, and trying to keep pace left him spent.


14Dec03WP Amer m2 D ft 8f 48.0 1:14.1 1:42.1 4 2-nk 1-¼ 2-1¼ 2-4 4-6½ 67 125 4.00 Fishe




On December 19, I have FISH CROW in a maiden claiming race. He was an impressive loser his first time out, and I hope that he can put a little bit together. This is only a 6f race, but I’d like to see him keep getting better as he seasons. Most of the other horses here are just proven stiffs – I’d like to see him win, despite the short distance.


19Dec03WP MDCL b2 D gd 6f 23.0 0:48.0 1:16.0 4 4- 3-2¾ 2-3½ 2-1 1-nk 77 120 2.20 Fishe


Just the effort we wanted, though the speed figure is still not so impressive. A solid effort, and he can do better getting around traffic, too.



THUNDER PUMPER was a winner last time out, and now I’ll find out where he stands. This 2yo colt didn’t get much of a speed figure – maybe he just beat a bunch of fleabitten nags. He’s in post #5 out of nine, and I’m looking for a serious effort here.


22Dec03WP AL27 b2 D ft 7f 22.0 0:46.1 1:27.1 7 7-ns 9-7¼ 9-10¾ 8-10¼ 6-4¾ 79 122 5.00 Fishe


Oddly, the winner is TANAGER, one of my colts I gave up on quickly. He rallies strong to win, but against pretty weak company. This was a mediocre effort for THUNDER PUMPER, and I’m not so sure that he has a real future.


That wraps up the year. It seems worthwhile to cap it off with a snapshot at the figures for TWO RIGHT FEET, out foundation horse. Note in particular his record for the year:


Horse name: Two Right Feet
RACE ENTRY: No race
Record: Races 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Lifetime: 63 8 7 10 $329,756
Life-Turf: 6 0 1 0 $1,680
Life-Wet: 2 0 0 1 $45,520
This Year: 12 6 3 2 $272,080
Age: 4 Sex: Gelding Color: Brown

01Nov03WP Wynn b3+ D ft 8f 44.0 1:10.0 1:38.1 6 7-5¾ 7-11¾ 6-9 6-4¼ 2-ns 101 125 4.60 Fishe
12Oct03WP Prac b3+ D my 11f 45.0 1:41.1 2:27.0 5 9- 9-15 1-1½ 1-2¼ 3-9¼ 67 122 4.20 Fishe
13Sep03AB Prog m3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:38.1 2 3-nk 4-4 3-1½ 2-nk 1-1¼ 103 125 5.30 Fishe
15Aug03AB AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 46.0 1:40.0 2:09.1 2 3-5 2-3¼ 2-2 2-2 1-ns 90 122 2.30 Fishe
19Jul03AB Shak b3+ D my 10f 46.0 1:39.1 2:08.1 3 6-1 7-10½ 7-19 6-20¼ 4-17½ 68 125 3.30 Fishe
04Jun03BR AL40 b3+ D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.0 1:54.1 2 5-¼ 5-7¼ 3-6½ 2-2½ 1-½ 89 122 3.50 Fishe


Six wins in twelve races, and in the money in 11 out of 12. His only out-of-the-money finish was in the big money race, where he may have been shooting too high. Fabulous season – and he should be fit to do even better (at least in terms of money) next year as a five year old.

[QuikSand]

January 2004


On January 4, I have ON THE CREST out in a short filly sprint. There’s money to be made among the 3yo races, but she has to show me some ability to stay with the big girls (and boys) to earn much of it. Here’s a great shot – the 5f Nedcanrun Stakes, for $50,000. She’s awfully speedy, and should be placed well here. If she cannot compete here – she may not be of the right cloth for stakes racing, period.

My girl has some speed, but she is no match at all for the group here, and finishes a non-threatening fifth.


04Jan04OV Nedc b3 D gd 5f 21.1 0:44.1 0:57.0 3 3- 5-2¾ 5-8¼ 5-11½ 5-6¼ 97 116 4.30 Bach


By the numbers, this is a very nice race – but she simply wasn’t a factor at all. I also don’t trust the speed figures for the race – as every single horse put up a career best by some margin. (Unless this is a tip off of how horses “develop” in this game – they all go up a notch on Jan 1?)



On January 10, we have EPIPHANY in against a field of seven in the $100,000 Handsome Stakes. 7 furlong race – should be perfect for my guy. The big threat here, I think, is TIME TO STIKE, who has early speed but is tenacious. There seems to be a lot of early speed here – it might get crowded up front.

EPIPHANY stays in behind the leaders, moves slightly outside to get into position, and then moves far outside to get a lane to take the lead with a sixteenth to go – just like we planned it. We saw SHEEZA PRINCESS make a huge move to circle the field, but he then ran out of gas by the tiem my guy caught him, and faded. TIME TO STIKE was indeed tenacious, almost rallying back after being passed to get it back from me.


10Jan04OV Hand m3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 6 6-1½ 6-5¼ 5-3¾ 4-2¾ 1-1 91 122 5.50 Fishe


That was about as good a spot as I’ll get with that horse – I think 7f is probably his ideal distance.



TWO RIGHT FEET makes his return to the races with the $50,000 First State Handicap, a 1 1/4 mile event well suited for him. He has, however, all kinds of traffic troubles, and it takes him forever to get free of the last position. He is moving steadily forward as they finish up – I‘m convinced that he lost five, maybe ten lengths, to the bad trip.


11Jan04OV Firs b4+ D ft 10f 43.1 1:37.0 2:06.1 6 7-¼ 7-13¼ 9-13½ 9-11 6-3 100 122 5.20 Fishe




I have THUNDER PUMPER in a decent allowance race here – just looking to get another win and get eligible for some real money races, if he can hack that.


25Jan04OV AL30 b3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:12.0 1:55.1 7 7-1¼ 7-17¼ 6-13¼ 4-5½ 4-2¾ 77 119 2.50 Fishe


Decent effort – about what he’s worth. Not much upside here, I don’t think.

Later in the day, TIME TO STIKE beats out GOODNIGHT KISS and SHEEZE PRINCESS to win the $50,00 Vortex Stakes. TIME TO STRIKE is probably a fairly serious player for the bigger races down the road.



FISH CROW is my next up, also in a “testing” allowance race. I’d like to see him run a big effort here, and get himself into the real mix.


26Jan04OV AL30 b3 D ft 9f 46.1 1:13.1 1:56.0 4 3-nk 3-6¼ 4-3¾ 3-4¾ 1-¼ 80 119 1.40 Fishe


He looked like he had given up coming out of the turn, but then suddenly made a good move, got to the outside, and just got up to edge out HOT PURSUIT. Nice effort at the 9f distance – that’s a good sign. Not a huge speed figure, though – so he may still need to move forward to get anywhere.

[QuikSand]

February 2004


On February 1, I have a relative rarity: two of my own horses, racing against one another. It’s the 7f Cashmein Stakes, for $50,000 – and I have entered both FISH CROW and EPIPHANY. Obviously, I think EPIPHANY is the more serious player, but now that FISH CROW has a few dollars in his belt, he can get into some more serious races – and I’m hoping that keeping better company will help him develop. Seven furlongs may not be long enough for FISH CROW, but I’d like to see him moving forward at least. EPIPHANY, on the other hand, might have a shot to win this thing.

TIME TO STRIKE is on the outside, but a major threat nonetheless. He has early speed, and has been tough to put away in our past clashes.


Race #8 Cashmein Stakes Purse $50,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 7 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Time To Strike Aguil 122 4.50 7 1 1 ns 1 4¼ 1 7¼ 1 9¼ 1 8½
Epiphany Bach 122 6.60 3 5 5 ns 2 ½ 2 1¾ 2 1¾ 2 1¼
Fish Crow Fishe 122 2.30 2 6 6 ns 6 ¾ 5 1¾ 3 3¼ 3 2
Scrub Jay Brook 122 7.30 4 4 4 ns 7 7 5 nk 4 3½
Tanager Cuenc 122 4.20 5 3 3 ns 4 ¾ 4 ½ 4 nk 5 nk
Ringbearer Canad 122 7.00 6 2 2 ns 3 ½ 3 nk 6 3¼ 6 4½
Albatrix Justi 122 7.10 1 7 7 5 nk 6 ½ 7 7

Time of Race: 0.22.2 .46.1 1.25.9


Well, TIME TO STRIKE was just uncatchable this time out, but I am pleased that my two finished in second and third. The speed figures weren’t great (83 and 82) but the money finishes in a stakes race is enough to pay for the entry fees and then some.



ON THE CREST has been somewhat disappointing – here she will try for a 6f score, in the $50,000 Valentine Handicap. She seems to me to be among the top three contenders here, with REEF MAID and the rapidly improving WINDBREAK.

I’m right to a point. Those three are even on the front end, but in the stretch they all get passed by FIXED ASSETS who takes the win. My girl slides back to a modest fourth place.


07Feb04OV Vale f3 D ft 6f 21.1 0:46.0 1:12.1 3 3- 1-¼ 1-1 1-1 4-2½ 93 119 4.80 Fishe


It’s tough – I look at her and basically see a lost cause. However, her speed figures are consistently better than those of my “main contenders” – and that seems weird. She clearly has distance limitations, but still – putting up speed figs in the 90s ought to get her a paycheck from time to time.



I have entered THUNDER PUMPER into a high-level claiming race on the turf. If he gets purchased for $50K, that’s fine by me. But I also would like to see him run on the grass- he could improve here, I suppose. The heavy hitter here is probably LEFTITOBEAVER, but my former hose TANAGER is another serious player – he has really improved since we dumped him last fall.


Race #4 Claiming $50000 Open Purse $25000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Turf Total 8 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $25,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Tanager Cuenc 119 4.00 1 5 4 nk 4 ¾ 5 ns 5 ½ 1 ns
Miz Got Bucks Keen 119 8.60 7 3 5 nk 5 1 4 1¼ 2 ¼ 2 ½
Goodnight Kiss Larki 119 8.00 6 2 1 ¾ 3 4¼ 3 2½ 1 ¾ 3 ½
LeftItToBeaver Forbe 119 3.90 8 6 6 4 6 4½ 6 3¾ 6 1 4 ¼
With Thanks Dolbo 116 6.40 3 1 8 8 8 8 5 ¼
Thunder Pumper Fishe 119 3.90 2 7 7 nk 7 2½ 7 3¼ 7 1¾ 6 4¼
H H Francis Buckl 119 8.40 4 4 2 2¾ 1 1½ 2 ¾ 3 nk 7 1½
Sheeza Princess Fisch 119 7.70 5 8 3 ½ 2 nk 1 1½ 4 nk 8

Time of Race: 0.47.3 1.14.6 1.58.6


Sixth place sounds bad- but he was within a length and a half of the winner here, as a group of six hit the wire within a few tenths of a second. THUNDER PUMPER wasn’t rolling, but he was well placed and moving forward gradually- that’s not so bad in a high-level race like this, I suppose. The speed figures were awful for everyone (again, I suspect the number system there is just screwy sometimes – especially on off conditions).

I think he might merit another run on the turf, to see if he can step it up a bit there.

[QuikSand]

March 2004

The spring has sprung, and I’m back on the turf course – this time with EPIPHANY. It’s the one mile Planetarium Handicap, run for $50,000. This might be a stretch for him (7f seems best) but the grass is inviting. TIME TO STRIKE is in here, on the rail, and should show his early speed even on the grass course. HEAD OF STATE is a lightly raced colt who looks very tough too – but he is also unknown over the grass course. My guy is probably way out of his league with this very tough field.


Race #8 Planetarium Handicap Purse $50,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Turf Total 8 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 3 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Head Of State Merri 121 6.70 7 1 2 ¼ 1 1¾ 1 5¾ 1 6 1 1
Flying Class Hoy R 119 6.90 8 3 4 4 4 4½ 3 3½ 3 4¼ 2 ¾
Fair Strike Buckl 116 5.90 4 5 8 7 nk 6 1¼ 5 1½ 3 ¾
Pan Flash Kenne 119 4.00 6 2 1 1½ 2 4½ 2 1¾ 2 ns 4 1¾
Time To Strike Elmer 121 4.60 1 6 3 ½ 3 ¼ 4 2¾ 4 1½ 5 4½
Epiphany Fishe 119 6.30 2 7 7 ½ 6 1¼ 7 1¾ 7 1 6 1¼
In Our Time Culli 116 7.20 3 4 6 nk 8 8 8 7 2
Nifty Fifty Borla 121 5.90 5 8 5 ¼ 5 2½ 5 1 6 1 8

Time of Race: 0.45.9 1.12.2 1.41.7


HEAD OF STATE was just strong, getting out well ahead of TIME TO STIKE, and holding on. He may not be a long distance runner, but he held it up nicely here – he will be very tough at 6 or 7 furlongs. FLYING CLASS ran a very good race, and might be a serious threat at a longer distance. I was right – my guy EPIPHANY hardly had a chance against this quality field.



FISH CROW is back on the track – after his pretty solid effort in his stakes debut, I wheel him back in the March 13 Overbrook Colts Test, with a nice purse of $80,000. HEAD OF STATE is running here, and ought to be tough – though the 9f distance might be difficult for him to get. The rest of the field is a mixed bag – not as tough as EPIPHANY’s foes last time out.


Race #8 Overbrook Colts Test Purse $80,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 2 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Goodnight Kiss Curti 117 5.60 7 2 2 3½ 1 ½ 1 8 1 12 1 11¼
Head Of State Jodlb 117 4.20 2 1 1 1¼ 2 3¾ 2 5 2 9¾ 2 8½
Fish Crow Fishe 122 2.00 1 5 5 ½ 4 nk 4 ¾ 4 2¼ 3 2½
Ringbearer Canad 122 5.60 5 3 4 1¼ 5 1½ 5 1¾ 5 ¾ 4 nk
Scrub Jay Brook 122 7.50 3 4 6 3½ 6 6¾ 6 6¾ 6 7¼ 5 1
Sheeza Princess Aleth 122 7.50 6 7 3 1½ 3 7½ 3 7½ 3 1¼ 6 4
Best Burgandy Catal 122 7.90 4 6 7 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.45.3 1.09.5 1.50.8


I’m not surprised to see HEAD OF STATE gain the early lead, but I am surprised to see GOODNIGHT KISS roll past him on the backstretch and run away with the race easily. My guy got up for a non-threatening third behind those two, but wasn’t a factor. Decent effort, but that’s all we get from FISH CROW – he shows no signs of brilliance. Anyway, he has now earned over $52,000 – so he’s much more than paid for himself (and most of my 2yo auction crop from last year).



THUNDER PUMPER drops way down in class to stay on the turf. I think he might get a win here, but I wouldn’t mind it if he were claimed, either.


17Mar04OV CL15 b3 T fm 8f 47.0 1:14.0 1:43.0 7 7- 7-11½ 7-9¾ 5-7¾ 5-3½ 72 119 3.10 Fishe


Again, he is in the mix – but shows little heart. At the end of a real turf race, it’s the final push that gets it done, and he seems to lack it. Two decent finishes, but cannot get into the money either time. Maybe he’s not cut out for the grass after all.



TWO RIGHT FEET makes his return to the track in the $125,000 Overbrook Stakes. This is a 1 ¼ mile affair – should be fine for him, assuming he is in shape. I like his chances – and the price is right, after an uninspiring last race and some time off.


Race #8 Overbrook Stakes Purse $125,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 8 Horses
for 4 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 7 MPH Purse: $125,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Springtime Day Dolbo 125 6.10 4 7 8 5 ¼ 1 2½ 1 6 1 1¾
Two Right Feet Fishe 125 5.70 3 4 5 ½ 6 1¼ 3 1¼ 2 ¾ 2 6
Slicker Scooter Justi 125 7.10 7 2 6 ¼ 7 1¼ 6 1¼ 4 ns 3 ¾
Orbit The Sun Keen 125 7.00 8 5 7 ½ 8 7 3¾ 6 1 4 ¼
Gogo Countess Hoy R 122 5.50 2 8 4 nk 4 ¾ 4 ¼ 5 1 5 2
Stacked Call Crane 122 3.40 6 6 1 ½ 1 1 2 2½ 3 1¾ 6 2¾
Double Out Macle 125 7.60 1 1 2 ½ 2 1½ 5 ¼ 7 6½ 7 7¼
Headin' On Addid 125 5.80 5 3 3 4 3 4½ 8 8 8

Time of Race: 0.45.0 1.38.7 2.06.8


A good showing for my guy – he rallied nicely, and ground up most of the spaces to the leader, but not quite all of it. He’s definitely back in form, and ready to hit the middle distance stakes race circuit again this season. I’m optimistic he’ll have a good five year old campaign.



On March 22, we have ON THE CREST dropped in class in an obvious effort to pick up a paycheck. She will run 6f in a $15,000 claiming race – where she shouldn’t have the class problems she has been experiencing. There’s a solid chance she’ll get grabbed here, I understand.


22Mar04OV CL15 b3 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 2 2- 1-1 1-1½ 2-nk 2-¾ 98 116 3.30 Fishe


The filly who beat her, LADY LAURA BETH, ran her eyeballs out – so I’m not too upset. And the fact that she couldn’t even win at this level makes me not too upset that she did indeed get claimed. I think ON THE CREST might have a future in lower-level sprints, but she just never seemed to have much luck with me.



On March 28, we again have our two colts together on the track. It’s the one mile Moosehead Rambler Stakes, for $65,000. I expect EPIPHANY to be fairly forward, and to see FISH CROW try to grind out some room with a steady late move. One mile is probably between their best distances, honestly. Interestingly, we see ON THE CREST in here as well – she may have trouble with the mile, but it would be weird to see her beat my “best young hopes” head to head.


Race #8 Moosehead Rambler Handicap Purse $65,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 6 MPH Purse: $65,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Bossy Helen Celan 116 5.80 4 5 4 1½ 2 ¾ 2 3 1 nk 1 1¼
On The Crest Hall 116 6.30 7 3 1 nk 1 3 1 1¼ 2 3¼ 2 ¾
LifewatchVision Gore 116 8.70 6 4 3 ½ 3 2 3 4 3 2¼ 3 1
Epiphany Bach 119 4.60 2 6 6 1 6 1 5 nk 4 1¼ 4 ¾
Matrix Curti 114 7.10 5 2 5 2¾ 5 2¾ 6 ¾ 5 ¼ 5 1½
Fish Crow Fishe 119 1.90 1 7 7 7 7 6 ½ 6 4½
So Direct Crane 116 5.90 3 1 2 1 4 2¾ 4 ½ 7 7

Time of Race: 0.45.3 1.12.0 1.41.0


I am surprised that both my horses drooped back early, and tried to run late – I expected EPIPHANY to try to keep closer to the leaders. Interestingly, Charlie Fisher (my first call jockey) decided to run on FISH CROW – but he has some traffic trouble inside. EPIPHANY had a decent run on the outside, but couldn’t eat up the leaders, and then himself got grabbed by a late rallyer to lose the third spot. Oh, well – we also note that ON THE CREST held on to easily beat both of my colts – I guess that’s the sort of justice I deserve.

With about five weeks before the first Saturday in May and the $750,000 Blue Rock Derby – it’s nearly time to decide who is going to run in the big race ahead. My current inclination is to probably run both colts – I can afford the entry fees, and who knows what might happen. A lot of the real talent I’ve seen in the 2yo class has been speed-types… going over a mile might be too much for some of them.

My problem is that FISH CROW doesn’t have the necessary $75k in earnings to get into the race. So, I may need to run him in an allowance race, hope for a win – just to get him across for the big one. We’ll see what we have to do here. He might be my best shot, too – he might take well to a full route distance, more than most.

[QuikSand]

April 2004

While the 3yos are all abuzz about the Derby, my top money man has his eyes on another prize. He’ll run early this month in the 10f Cool Papa Bell Handicap, and if that goes well he will try out the big money again, and will run in the $250,000 Byerly Turk Stakes, also a 1 ¼ miles. This could be his best shot to get a score in a truly “big” race – and we’re working to have him ready and rolling.

In the Cool Papa Bell, we will be watching for an honest effort – I’d like to see him stay fairly close to STACKED CALL, whom I expect to make the early lead. Maybe three or four lengths back would be best for him – not eight or ten.


Race #8 Cool Papa Bell Handicap Purse $60,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 4 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 1 MPH Purse: $60,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Whata Dude Gregg 124 5.60 5 1 1 1½ 1 2¼ 1 3½ 1 2¾ 1 1
Stacked Call Crane 119 5.80 7 3 2 2½ 2 5¼ 2 7 2 6½ 2 ¾
Two Right Feet Fishe 122 5.20 3 4 5 1¼ 5 1¼ 4 ½ 4 ½ 3 2¾
Only Natural Adles 116 3.50 1 2 3 1¾ 3 2½ 3 1 3 nk 4 ¼
Springtime Day Dolbo 122 5.60 2 5 6 1¾ 6 3¼ 5 1¼ 5 1½ 5 nk
Beejaber Merri 119 5.60 4 7 7 7 7 7 6 ¼
Headin' On Bhadu 124 4.20 6 6 4 1 4 1¼ 6 1¾ 6 1¼ 7

Time of Race: 0.44.0 1.36.0 2.05.2


The early speed just held and held… we were surprised to see those two just stay in front. 2RF was at the front of the late movers, but couldn’t quite reel them in, settling for a solid charging third place. Good effort – we’ll we angling to come back strong late this month in the quarter million race. The speed figures for the race were very high – 2RF earned a 110, which I think is the highest he has ever merited. (voice cries out “bogus”)



It’s the one mile Scipio’s Legion Stakes, a $100,000 race for 3yos over the turf course. I have FISH CROW here on the rail, and this is his last chance to earn his way into the Derby. A first or second place ought to do it – that’s what he needs to do. I see familiar faces here – including THELMA TODAY and TIME TO STRIKE. My guy just needs to make a god move and pick up the money needed to go on from here.


Race #8 Scipio's Legion Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Turf Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 8 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Lively Messenge Cuenc 122 5.00 5 3 3 ns 2 2 1 3 1 5 1 2½
Time To Strike Aguil 122 4.60 2 2 2 ns 1 2 2 7¼ 2 7¾ 2 5
Fish Crow Fishe 122 3.00 1 7 7 4 nk 4 nk 4 1¾ 3 ¾
Whipstock Macle 122 6.00 4 4 4 ns 3 2¾ 3 3 3 1 4 ¼
Thelma Today Kenne 122 4.60 3 1 1 ns 6 1¾ 6 2 5 1 5 3¼
Darling Wave Jungl 122 7.00 6 6 6 ns 5 1 5 1¾ 6 2¾ 6 1¼
Scrub Jay Kandi 122 6.50 7 5 5 ns 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.22.2 .45.7 1.26.6


While it wasn’t that close, it is tough to lose this way. Third place again – that pushes his earnings to $72,760 – which by my count is just shy of the $75,00 needed for the Derby. It looks like he’ll have to sit it out this year, unless I can wheel him back into another race in a week or so (a stretch).


Well – we got good news! It appears that FISH CROW will be allowed to enter the Derby after all, as long as the field doesn’t fill up with bigger earners. So, I have a conditional entry in for him – we’ll send in both our colts, and see if we might be able to catch lightning in a bottle somehow.



THUNDER PUMPER will go in an allowance race here – over the turf, for 3yos who have never won two races. It’s a pretty soft spot – most of these horses aren’t any good (him included).


21Apr04BR AL30 b3 D ft 9f 46.0 1:12.1 1:56.0 7 6-½ 6-11¼ 6-10½ 4-8 3-3½ 74 119 2.50 Fishe


He gives us his usual effort – he simply is not a quality horse, and it’s time to let him go, I believe. A quick and painless private sale sends him out for $4,300. He’ll probably knock around in the lower levels for a while, but I’m convinced that I’m not missing out on anything there.



April 24 is the Byerly Turk Stakes – a quarter million on the line, and my horse TWO RIGHT FEET is looking to score against the “big boys.” He has yet to win this year, but his races have gotten better each time, and he looks to be in good form for this race. We have pointed him here all spring – this is our chance for some really serious money.

WHATA DUDE is back – he was the winner of the Cool Papa Bell Stakes, and figures to be on or very near the early pace. Last time, my guy couldn’t catch him – we’ll see about that here. Others in this field are very tough – including CAT CAY and HAPPY LOU. As expected – a big purse draws in top players. Last fall, my guy got rolled against this level of company – now we’ll see if he can step up to run with the big boys.


Race #8 Byerly Turk Stakes Purse $250,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 4 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 4 MPH Purse: $250,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Luv Apple Elmer 122 5.30 6 6 4 nk 5 3¾ 5 ¾ 5 1¼ 1 ns
Cat Cay Canad 125 2.70 4 5 5 3 4 ¾ 3 1½ 3 2¼ 2 1¼
Happy Lou Isako 117 5.80 3 1 1 ¾ 1 1 2 2½ 2 ½ 3 ½
Gogo Countess Hoy R 122 5.30 7 7 6 nk 6 ¾ 6 ¼ 4 nk 4 ¾
Two Right Feet Fishe 125 5.60 2 4 7 7 7 6 nk 5 ¾
Whata Dude Gregg 125 5.30 5 2 3 2½ 3 4 1 ¼ 1 ½ 6 3¼
Ba Bett Sharona Badoi 122 6.40 1 3 2 ¼ 2 1 4 ½ 7 7

Time of Race: 0.44.4 1.38.8 2.08.1


A fascinating race. Charlie dropped back off the hot pace, and 2RF stayed at the back of the pack into the backstretch. Things never really spread out, though, and when he moved up into the turn, the field of seven was within four lengths front to back. Charlie insists on taking this gelding inside, where he likes the rail spot – he saved ground on the turn, but found all sorts of traffic coming out. Into the final furlong, it was anyone’s race- 2RF made a move to get around the tiring WHATA DUDE, but then ran into a block from GOGO COUNTESS, who had gone outside when 2RF went inside. In the final stretches, he stayed blocked and settled in the finishing pack in fifth – despite being within a few lengths of the winner. It’s disappointing, as I thought he had a real shot to win here – and if we re-ran the race 100 times, I think he wins his share of them – maybe 20 or 25 out of 100. Alas. Another hard luck story – so far, that’s been his year.



That wraps up our month of April – now we move ahead to the May 1 Blue Rock Derby. I plan to have two entries, and probably a slim chance of getting anywhere near the winner’s circle.

[QuikSand]

2004 Blue Rock Derby Preview

We have a field of seven horses entered for the Blue Rock Derby. I have two of the entries, and would suggest that you kindly disregard the game’s idiotic representation of the “odds” for this race – they simply make no sense at all. That said, here are the past performances for the Derby field.


Blue Rock Downs. Race #8. Sat, May 1, 2004
Blue Rock Derby Purse $750,000. 10f on dirt


1 : FISH CROW RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 5-2
Chestnut, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 7 2 1 3 $72,760
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $20,400
Jockey: Fisher C 30-4-4-12 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 38-4-4-8 This Year 5 1 0 3 $61,560

17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 7 7- 4-6½ 4-13¼ 4-13½ 3-7½ 80 122 3.00 Fishe
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 7 7- 7-11¾ 7-9¾ 6-7¼ 6-4¾ 82 119 1.90 Fishe
13Mar04OV Over m3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:09.1 1:50.1 5 5-½ 4-11¾ 4-20¼ 4-23 3-19¾ 73 122 2.00 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 6 6-ns 6-6¼ 5-9½ 3-11 3-9½ 82 122 2.30 Fishe
26Jan04OV AL30 b3 D ft 9f 46.1 1:13.1 1:56.0 4 3-nk 3-6¼ 4-3¾ 3-4¾ 1-¼ 80 119 1.40 Fishe
19Dec03WP MDCL b2 D gd 6f 23.0 0:48.0 1:16.0 4 4- 3-2¾ 2-3½ 2-1 1-nk 77 120 2.20 Fishe

2 : LUCY KOSMOS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 9-1
Bay, 3, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 23 5 3 2 $153,400
Owner: Kramer M Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Kerner A 22-1-4-2 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Abdullal N 16-0-3-1 This Year 8 0 1 2 $10,800

22Apr04BR AL40 b3+ T fm 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:41.1 4 4-½ 4-8½ 5-12 5-13 6-11¾ 65 110 4.60 Kerne
14Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.1 0:59.1 4 4- 5-1¾ 3-2½ 3-2 5-1½ 90 110 5.10 Kerne
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 6 6- 7-3¾ 6-6¼ 7-7 7-4½ 90 110 8.40 Kerne
01Apr04BR CL30 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.0 1:39.1 7 2-¼ 2-8¼ 2-10¾ 2-11 3-8 84 110 6.80 Kerne
21Mar04OV CL50 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:42.1 2 2-½ 2-6¼ 3-9½ 3-8¼ 4-2½ 79 110 3.00 Kerne
10Mar04OV CL30 b3+ D gd 8f 45.1 1:12.1 1:42.0 8 7-½ 7-13 6-11½ 6-8¼ 2-½ 84 110 6.20 Mayfl

3 : EPIPHANY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Bay, 3, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 12 2 6 1 $208,360
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Ivory C 3-0-0-2 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 38-4-4-8 This Year 4 1 1 0 $122,240

28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 6 6-1 6-11 5-9 4-5½ 4-2¾ 85 119 4.60 Bach
06Mar04OV Plan b3 T sf 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:41.1 7 7-½ 6-13½ 7-16 7-14¼ 6-8¾ 72 119 6.30 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 5 5-ns 2-4¼ 2-7¼ 2-9¼ 2-8½ 83 122 6.60 Bach
10Jan04OV Hand m3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 6 6-1½ 6-5¼ 5-3¾ 4-2¾ 1-1 91 122 5.50 Fishe
14Dec03WP Amer m2 D ft 8f 48.0 1:14.1 1:42.1 4 2-nk 1-¼ 2-1¼ 2-4 4-6½ 67 125 4.00 Fishe
22Nov03WP Youn b2 D ft 8f 45.1 1:13.0 1:42.0 7 3-½ 3-10¾ 2-6¼ 1-½ 2-2¾ 80 125 4.10 Fishe

4 : BOSSY HELEN RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 8-1
Gray, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 18 4 2 0 $106,180
Owner: Bowres E Life-Turf 2 0 1 0 $5,000
Jockey: Dolbow W 179-26-29-27 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Dasgupta U 92-16-17-7 This Year 9 2 1 0 $71,680

24Apr04BR CL18 f3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 1 1- 1-5½ 1-7¾ 1-7¾ 1-3½ 98 110 2.30 Frog
18Apr04BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.1 1:54.1 2 4-2½ 4-5 4-5¼ 3-1½ 5-3¼ 83 122 5.70 Hall
09Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 2 2- 3-2 4-5½ 4-6¼ 6-7 90 107 6.40 Hall
03Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 12f 46.1 2:09.1 2:39.1 1 1-1 1-½ 3-16¾ 4-19¾ 4-22½ 67 107 2.50 Celan
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 5 4-1½ 2-3 2-1¼ 1-nk 1-1¼ 90 116 5.80 Celan
11Mar04OV CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 4 4- 2-1 2-1¾ 2-2 6-3¼ 91 107 5.50 Celan

5 : THELMA TODAY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 4-1
Gray, 3, Male, 117 LifeTime 22 4 1 5 $188,840
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Hannig W 26-4-7-5 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 40-10-10-7 This Year 6 1 0 1 $13,980

17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 1 1-ns 6-7¾ 6-15¼ 5-15¼ 5-8½ 78 122 4.60 Kenne
09Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 1 1- 8-8 8-14 8-15 7-12¾ 81 110 4.40 Kenne
03Apr04BR Dark b3+ D ft 6f 21.0 0:44.1 1:09.1 2 2- 7-10¾ 7-16¾ 7-17½ 6-17 83 113 3.50 Kenne
24Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:26.1 2 2-ns 6-7 6-10 4-8½ 3-2½ 89 119 3.00 Kenne
14Mar04OV CL35 b3 D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:41.1 1 4-nk 4-8¼ 4-4 4-2½ 1-nk 87 119 2.90 Kenne
03Jan04OV CL35 b3 D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.0 2 2- 9-9 9-16¼ 10-17 9-12¾ 80 119 7.50 Airey

6 : CICERO SISSY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 4-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 11 6 1 3 $190,440
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $3,840
Jockey: Kenneth M 66-20-14-9 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 40-10-10-7 This Year 3 1 1 1 $35,840

16Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 2-ns 4-1¾ 4-2¾ 3-2 1-nk 92 110 4.50 Canad
10Apr04BR AL32 b3+ T sf 5f 22.0 0:47.0 1:00.0 1 1- 1-nk 1-1 1-1¾ 3-¾ 90 110 4.50 Hall
04Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 2-4¼ 2-2¼ 2-1½ 1-nk 2-ns 90 110 2.30 Canad
19Dec03WP AL35 b2 D gd 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:13.0 3 3- 1-nk 2-5¼ 2-6½ 3-1¼ 89 122 6.60 Canad
13Dec03WP AL35 b2 D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 1 1- 1-2¼ 1-¾ 1-nk 1-ns 98 122 6.50 Hall
01Nov03WP Wynn m2 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:42.1 1 1-2½ 1-5¾ 1-6½ 1-4¾ 3-1½ 80 125 4.80 Hall

7 : TIMELY BARONESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Chestnut, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 20 4 3 3 $161,820
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Borland F 5-1-0-1 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 40-10-10-7 This Year 11 1 2 3 $51,220

18Apr04BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.1 1:54.1 4 7- 7-13 7-10¾ 7-3¼ 3-¼ 88 122 4.80 Kenne
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 1 1- 10-5 7-6¾ 4-5¾ 1-nk 97 107 7.10 Kenne
01Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 21.1 0:44.1 0:58.0 3 3- 6-5 6-11 6-14 7-12¼ 83 107 6.10 Kenne
25Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 5 7-2½ 7-9½ 7-10¼ 4-8¼ 4-1½ 87 116 6.00 Kenne
19Mar04OV CL35 b3 D gd 9f 46.0 1:13.0 1:57.0 2 6-1½ 6-11½ 6-11½ 6-5¾ 2-ns 75 116 4.70 Kenne
11Mar04OV CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 3 3- 9-6¾ 9-10¼ 9-10 9-4¼ 89 107 5.40 Kenne



I’ll leave this here for a while – if anyone’s reading the thread, you’re welcome to offer your thoughts.

For what it’s worth – the entries from “Black Tie Stables” are via my strawman – I have to go out and manually buy up decent horses with my own stable (a side outfit, started with $1 million) just to make sure that there’s a decent field for the big race. This way, we at least got a few quality horses into this race that would have otherwise just been running in random claimers on the day before or after.

[Anrhydeddu]

Looks like 10f will be a stretch for most of these horses. TIMELY BARONESS and THELMA have good closing speed at that distance though, but I suspect EPIPHANY will fade a bit.

[Airhog]

Isnt it kind of sad that this is one of the best offerings for Horse racing sims on the PC?

I think the randomness kills the fun factor here. Even though I dont watch horse racing, I enjoy playing the games. But I hate it when a company cannot make it realistic.

[Anrhydeddu]

Actually, I have no problems with the randomness or the perceived unrealisticness. It comes down our usual bogeyman of not having an AI that can manage properly. It's not so much from an opponent viewpoint but the fact that the competition for the same universe of horses is so one-sided.

[John Galt]

I agree that Timely Baroness is an interesting horse in this race. Still, it is hard to predict with the 10f distance. I think Fish Crow might take it while Ephiphany fades out of the money.

It is sad though, that you had to provide your only real competition in the race.

[QuikSand]

I, too, make TIMELY BARONESS the one to beat here. THELMA TODAY once impressed me, and he still has some closing kick - but his recent efforts have not been flattering. If the odds in this game were at all realistic, that horse might be worth a stab at a nice price - but as it is, probably not.

The odds routine, by the wy, just isn't much of my discussion - primarily because it absolutely stinks. You look at this field of horses, with their records and class and speed figures, and tell me any way that FISH CROW should be the race favorite. So, that's one more element of this game that might have been an interesting part of the game which is completely useless. The "betting system" works in the sense that you can win and lose money by wagering, but it carries no semblance of realism at all in setting the actual odds on the horses. Presumably there's some sort of method involved - but I'll be damned if I can figure out what makes the #1 horse the favorite here. That's just horseshit.

[QuikSand]

May 2004 – Derby and beyond

The Derby is ready to go. We’ve got two horses, including one who might be among the relative few who can handle the full 1 ¼ mile distance. I don’t think we’ll come away with a win, but it wouldn‘t shock me to see my guy clunk up for third or fourth place here, as others fade back.

It’s the speed-crazy CICERO SISSY on the early lead, but his margin doesn’t look to last too long. he pulls away by five lengths or so, ahead of BOSSY HELEN and a couple others including EPIPHANY, who is hanging in there. On the backstretch, a nice forward move by FISH CROW gets him into a decent position, while CICERO SISSY still leads. Through the turn, the pack starts to inch toward the pace setter, and coming out of the turn the race looks wide open. CICERO SISSY is running out of gas, but nobody is really steaming forward. Then, the two from the back of the pack break loose, and start bearing down on FISH CROW, who is at the front of the “pack.” At this point, EPIPHANY is lumbering along, but not making up any ground.

In the final paces, TIMELY BARONESS charges wide to get clear, and has the most momentum of all – it’s just a question of whether she gets there in time. FISH CROW catches CICERO SISSY, but at just about the same moment is matched by THELMA TODAY, who is moving up as well from the back of the pack early on. In the final ten paces or so, it’s TIMELY BARONESS who grabs the front position by about a foot or so, with THELMA TODAY in second, less then a length ahead of FISH CROW and the tiring CICERO SISSY.

A stirring race, and an exciting finish overall. Here’s the official chart:


Race #8 Blue Rock Derby Purse $750,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $750,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Timely Baroness Borla 119 5.20 7 4 6 nk 7 7 6 nk 1 nk
Thelma Today Hanni 117 4.40 5 1 7 6 ¼ 5 1¼ 4 ½ 2 ½
Fish Crow Fishe 122 2.60 1 7 5 ns 5 2¼ 3 1¼ 3 ¾ 3 nk
Cicero Sissy Kenne 122 4.00 6 3 1 2½ 1 5½ 1 6¼ 1 4¾ 4 1½
Epiphany Ivory 122 6.90 3 5 3 ¾ 3 nk 4 nk 5 1¾ 5 ¼
Lucy Kosmos Kerne 122 8.30 2 6 4 1 4 1 6 1½ 7 6 1
Bossy Helen Dolbo 119 7.70 4 2 2 3¾ 2 5¼ 2 1¼ 2 ½ 7

Time of Race: 0.45.8 1.40.6 2.10.6


The exacta, which I all but called, paid $63.00 and my fairly obvious trifecta (with my horse getting third) paid a decent $172.20. Alas… it was closer than I thought, and my horse really did have a shot to win it, after all.

With the third place here, FISH CROW’s winning swell to $225,000 on his career. He has now earned more than EPIPHANY on the career- but both are up over $200,000. TIMELY BARONESS is now approaching a million in earnings, and she is the one to catch in this division, for certain.

I think both horses are ready to go on to the Yellow Springs Stakes, the second leg in the game’s “triple crown” for three year olds. It’s five weeks away, giving them both time to be well rested. Hopefully, we will see some of the familiar rivals in there, too – and we will watch to see if TIMELY BARONESS can repeat as champion over the best and brightest in the division.



I head to the springtime auction- and will be looking to make some investments. $27,500 for the nicely bred filly CHICK BURR. $11,500 for a gray colt named SHARPTAIL. $8,500 for another colt named FALCON’S PREY. So, we drop a solid forth thousand – we’ll see if we come away with anything worth running for a while. I slot all three for maiden races at the end of the month.



TWO RIGHT FEET will go out next for us in the $80,000 J.D. Holmes Handicap (the game maker had a sense of humor, it seems, in addition to his baseball inclinations). One interesting thing is that the classy 3yo filly BE MY EXOTIC, who passed on the Derby, is in this field – trying older company. So is my horse’s semi-rival, WHATA DUDE, who will no doubt be near the early pace. The winner of the Byerly Turk, LUV APPLE, is in here, too.


Race #8 J.D. Holmes Handicap Purse $80,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 9 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Golden Hooves Hodas 112 6.00 6 9 7 nk 7 ½ 4 3¼ 2 ¼ 1 2
Two Right Feet Fishe 122 9.40 2 5 8 1 8 3¾ 6 2¼ 5 ¾ 2 3¾
Luv Apple Elmer 119 6.30 7 6 3 ¼ 4 1 5 ¼ 6 1¾ 3 ½
Whata Dude Gregg 122 7.60 5 3 1 ½ 1 ½ 2 3¼ 1 nk 4 ½
Be My Exotic Frog 107 6.10 4 8 6 ¾ 3 3½ 1 nk 3 2½ 5 ¾
Wild Fling Cushi 107 6.00 8 1 9 9 9 7 ¾ 6 nk
Ba Bett Sharona Mcroe 119 8.30 3 2 2 3 2 2¾ 3 ½ 4 2 7 ½
Pan Flash Micha 107 5.40 1 4 5 1¼ 6 2 7 1 8 1½ 8 4¾
Windbreak Badoi 109 5.90 9 7 4 ½ 5 nk 8 nk 9 9

Time of Race: 0.44.5 1.39.1 2.08.4


Another solid effort, and this time no excuses – he was simply second best. GOLDEN HOVES looked really tough, and my guy had no way to catch him. BE MY EXOTIC fared well, too – she had the lead at one point, before succumbing at the distance, it seemed. That’s a potentially very good horse in the making – hopefully she’ll get into the 3yo mix soon.


The maiden races for my young ones get cancelled, so we will target something in June instead.

[QuikSand]

June 2004

I’m having trouble getting any maiden races to fill up – so we’ll head straight into the second leg of the crown. Here’s the field – a lively group of ten entries this time.


Blue Rock Downs. Race #8. Sat, Jun 5, 2004
Yellow Springs Stakes Purse $500,000. 9f on dirt


1 : FISH CROW RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 4-1
Chestnut, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 8 2 1 4 $225,760
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $20,400
Jockey: Fisher C 39-7-5-15 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 54-6-8-12 This Year 6 1 0 4 $214,560

01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 7 5-ns 5-11¾ 3-7½ 3-5¼ 3-½ 81 122 2.60 Fishe
17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 7 7- 4-6½ 4-13¼ 4-13½ 3-7½ 80 122 3.00 Fishe
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 7 7- 7-11¾ 7-9¾ 6-7¼ 6-4¾ 82 119 1.90 Fishe
13Mar04OV Over m3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:09.1 1:50.1 5 5-½ 4-11¾ 4-20¼ 4-23 3-19¾ 73 122 2.00 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 6 6-ns 6-6¼ 5-9½ 3-11 3-9½ 82 122 2.30 Fishe
26Jan04OV AL30 b3 D ft 9f 46.1 1:13.1 1:56.0 4 3-nk 3-6¼ 4-3¾ 3-4¾ 1-¼ 80 119 1.40 Fishe

2 : EPIPHANY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 10-1
Bay, 3, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 13 2 6 1 $208,360
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Bach P 51-8-14-5 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 54-6-8-12 This Year 5 1 1 0 $122,240

01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 5 3-¾ 3-10¾ 4-8¾ 5-6½ 5-2 79 122 6.90 Ivory
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 6 6-1 6-11 5-9 4-5½ 4-2¾ 85 119 4.60 Bach
06Mar04OV Plan b3 T sf 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:41.1 7 7-½ 6-13½ 7-16 7-14¼ 6-8¾ 72 119 6.30 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 5 5-ns 2-4¼ 2-7¼ 2-9¼ 2-8½ 83 122 6.60 Bach
10Jan04OV Hand m3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 6 6-1½ 6-5¼ 5-3¾ 4-2¾ 1-1 91 122 5.50 Fishe
14Dec03WP Amer m2 D ft 8f 48.0 1:14.1 1:42.1 4 2-nk 1-¼ 2-1¼ 2-4 4-6½ 67 125 4.00 Fishe

3 : LEFTITTOBEAVER RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 9-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 19 6 1 2 $193,380
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $2,000
Jockey: Airey L 27-1-3-6 Life-Wet 1 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 50-12-11-10 This Year 8 3 0 1 $41,840

22Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 3-1 2-5 2-5¼ 3-4¾ 3-3½ 86 110 2.40 Forbe
14Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.1 0:59.1 7 7- 4-1¾ 5-3 4-2¾ 1-½ 93 110 4.80 Forbe
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 10 10- 6-3½ 5-6 5-6¾ 6-4¼ 90 110 6.70 Forbe
01Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.1 9 9- 9-5¼ 8-10¼ 7-12¾ 5-7½ 87 110 5.50 Forbe
24Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:26.1 4 4-ns 4-4½ 3-5½ 2-4¼ 1-¾ 94 119 4.00 Forbe
11Mar04OV CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 9 9- 5-5 6-7¼ 7-6½ 5-1¼ 94 110 6.40 Forbe

4 : THELMA TODAY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 8-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 23 4 2 5 $443,840
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Gorin B 19-3-4-2 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 50-12-11-10 This Year 7 1 1 1 $268,980

01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 1 7- 6-14 5-8¾ 4-5¾ 2-nk 82 117 4.40 Hanni
17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 1 1-ns 6-7¾ 6-15¼ 5-15¼ 5-8½ 78 122 4.60 Kenne
09Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 1 1- 8-8 8-14 8-15 7-12¾ 81 110 4.40 Kenne
03Apr04BR Dark b3+ D ft 6f 21.0 0:44.1 1:09.1 2 2- 7-10¾ 7-16¾ 7-17½ 6-17 83 113 3.50 Kenne
24Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:26.1 2 2-ns 6-7 6-10 4-8½ 3-2½ 89 119 3.00 Kenne
14Mar04OV CL35 b3 D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:41.1 1 4-nk 4-8¼ 4-4 4-2½ 1-nk 87 119 2.90 Kenne

5 : C FIELD RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 9-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 23 3 6 4 $115,440
Owner: Noetzel C Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Canady J 73-15-15-15 Life-Wet 1 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Jeuell A 102-29-22-19 This Year 13 1 4 1 $67,340

27May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.1 1:42.0 2 2-1 1-nk 2-nk 3-1¼ 8-7¾ 73 107 5.90 Canad
21May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 2-1 2-1½ 3-2¼ 3-2½ 5-4 83 107 2.60 Canad
15May04BR New f3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:44.1 1:24.0 2 2-ns 1-1¾ 2-2¼ 2-4 2-1¾ 99 122 4.70 Hall
08May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.0 0:44.0 1:09.0 3 3- 2-1¼ 2-1¾ 2-4 5-9 95 107 5.00 Hall
02May04BR Marv b3+ D ft 9f 44.1 1:10.1 1:53.1 1 3-¼ 3-6 5-5 6-7 6-6 83 107 5.40 Canad
23Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.0 1 1- 1-1¼ 1-2¼ 1-3½ 1-½ 99 107 3.30 Hall

6 : FAGINS DELIGHT RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 11-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 24 3 7 2 $112,800
Owner: Knight B Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Jungles S 117-17-20-13 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Gorko E 52-3-12-7 This Year 13 2 4 0 $50,500

26May04BR AL32 b3+ D gd 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:42.0 3 4-½ 5-7 6-9½ 6-8 5-3½ 79 110 6.30 Jungl
19May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.0 1:37.1 4 4-½ 6-7½ 5-11¼ 5-15¾ 2-13¾ 83 110 5.30 Jungl
12May04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.0 4 4- 4-2½ 3-4¼ 4-3¼ 7-5½ 92 110 8.50 Jungl
05May04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.1 4 2-¾ 2-7¾ 3-11¼ 3-11 2-7 81 110 7.60 Jungl
29Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D gd 9f 45.1 1:11.1 1:55.0 3 2-1¾ 2-9¼ 2-11½ 2-10½ 2-6¾ 75 110 4.60 Jungl
23Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.0 3 3- 3-2 3-4¾ 3-7¼ 4-3½ 93 110 3.50 Jungl

7 : BEST VICE RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 9-1
Chestnut, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 23 5 7 2 $98,400
Owner: Delaney D Life-Turf 1 1 0 0 $10,200
Jockey: Elmer T 82-18-7-9 Life-Wet 1 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Horsey B 150-34-18-19 This Year 10 3 3 0 $44,900

26May04BR CL30 b3+ D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:25.0 3 3-ns 3-4½ 2-4 2-7¾ 2-8½ 85 110 3.20 Aguil
20May04BR CL30 b3+ D ft 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:27.0 5 5-ns 3-2¾ 3-4 2-2 1-½ 92 110 5.80 Elmer
12May04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.0 5 5- 7-5½ 8-10 8-7¾ 8-8½ 87 110 7.00 Elmer
05May04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.1 3 6-nk 4-8¼ 4-12 7-15 9-16½ 65 110 6.40 Aguil
28Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 10f 44.1 1:38.1 2:08.0 4 7-¼ 7-11 4-13 4-9¾ 5-7½ 89 110 6.10 Elmer
21Apr04BR CL25 b3+ T fm 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:42.0 1 1-4¼ 1-13¼ 1-17½ 1-15¼ 1-11¾ 85 110 3.10 Aguil

8 : CICERO SISSY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 12 6 1 3 $292,440
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $3,840
Jockey: Kenneth M 79-21-14-13 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 50-12-11-10 This Year 4 1 1 1 $137,840

01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 3 1-2½ 1-5½ 1-6¼ 1-4¾ 4-¾ 81 122 4.00 Kenne
16Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 2-ns 4-1¾ 4-2¾ 3-2 1-nk 92 110 4.50 Canad
10Apr04BR AL32 b3+ T sf 5f 22.0 0:47.0 1:00.0 1 1- 1-nk 1-1 1-1¾ 3-¾ 90 110 4.50 Hall
04Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 2-4¼ 2-2¼ 2-1½ 1-nk 2-ns 90 110 2.30 Canad
19Dec03WP AL35 b2 D gd 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:13.0 3 3- 1-nk 2-5¼ 2-6½ 3-1¼ 89 122 6.60 Canad
13Dec03WP AL35 b2 D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 1 1- 1-2¼ 1-¾ 1-nk 1-ns 98 122 6.50 Hall

9 : TIMELY BARONESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Chestnut, 3, Female, 114 LifeTime 21 5 3 3 $926,820
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Hannig W 30-4-9-7 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 50-12-11-10 This Year 12 2 2 3 $816,220

01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 4 6-nk 7-14½ 7-11¾ 6-8 1-nk 82 119 5.20 Borla
18Apr04BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.1 1:54.1 4 7- 7-13 7-10¾ 7-3¼ 3-¼ 88 122 4.80 Kenne
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 1 1- 10-5 7-6¾ 4-5¾ 1-nk 97 107 7.10 Kenne
01Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 21.1 0:44.1 0:58.0 3 3- 6-5 6-11 6-14 7-12¼ 83 107 6.10 Kenne
25Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 5 7-2½ 7-9½ 7-10¼ 4-8¼ 4-1½ 87 116 6.00 Kenne
19Mar04OV CL35 b3 D gd 9f 46.0 1:13.0 1:57.0 2 6-1½ 6-11½ 6-11½ 6-5¾ 2-ns 75 116 4.70 Kenne

10 : SHEEZA PRINCESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 12-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 26 3 5 7 $110,440
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 2 0 0 1 $4,800
Jockey: Borland F 6-2-0-1 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 50-12-11-10 This Year 14 1 3 2 $25,140

28Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 45.1 1:40.0 2:09.1 6 3-ns 2-1 2-4 3-5 6-6¼ 77 110 3.70 Kenne
22Apr04BR AL40 b3+ T fm 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:41.1 5 2-nk 2-2½ 2-4¼ 2-5¾ 3-6¼ 74 110 4.10 Catal
16Apr04BR CL12 b3+ D gd 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.1 5 5- 2-3¾ 2-1¼ 2-¾ 2-nk 95 110 2.90 Dambr
10Apr04BR CL08 b3+ D gd 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:42.0 8 3-1¾ 1-4 1-7¾ 1-8 1-4¼ 84 110 3.70 Catal
04Apr04BR CL08 b3+ D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:43.0 9 3-¾ 1-5¼ 1-10¼ 1-7 2-ns 79 110 9.00 Dambr
28Mar04OV CL10 b3 D ft 9f 46.0 1:12.1 1:56.0 8 4-1 2-½ 1-2 3-1¼ 8-8 67 119 8.80 Fisch



Okay, the main question here, of course, is can TIMELY BARONESS take another one. The field is largely the same as before – we have many of the same faces. LEFTITTOBEAVER might be the most intriguing of the new faces – he’s got a rally style, and might factor in here with the rest of the logical contenders. Also, we’ll need to take CICERO SISSY seriously, as he nearly stole the last one- and here we run a furlong less. My two ought to have a shot again – I toss FISH CROW in the mix of four or five legitimate contenders for the top spots.


Kenneth, the rider on CICERO SISSY, surprises us as he pulls his horse off the early lead, and lets C FIELD and FAGINS DELIGHT set the early pace with SISSY right behind. The pack doesn’t fall back much, as the early pace was not that sizzling. My two stayed inside, with FISH CROW moving forward a bit on the early backstretch – a bit sooner than I might have expected, but he looked to be in very good position.

Through the turn, the leaders remained strong, and the rally types were going to have to dig in. CICERO SISSY moved to the outside on the late turn, and into the stretch started to move up. THELMA TODAY emerged from the pack, but had to fight through inside traffic, and had trouble doing so. TIMELY BARONESS had a little bit of run, but clearly not the huge move she had a few weeks ago. As the approached the end line, she is all but done.

Finishing up, it’s CICERO SISSY moving to the front, with the two early leaders just behind. All the while my horse EPIPHANY makes a nice inside move to pass FISH CROW. THELMA TODAY gets loose but too late, and she won’t catch the leading trio.


Race #8 Yellow Springs Stakes Purse $500,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 3 MPH Purse: $500,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Cicero Sissy Kenne 122 6.10 8 3 2 1¼ 2 ¾ 3 ½ 3 1 1 ns
Fagins Delight Jungl 122 10.20 6 5 3 2¼ 3 1¾ 2 nk 2 2¼ 2 1¼
C Field Canad 119 8.40 5 1 1 1 1 2½ 1 3 1 1½ 3 1¼
Epiphany Bach 122 9.10 2 8 7 1½ 5 ns 5 ½ 6 1 4 ¾
Thelma Today Gorin 122 7.90 4 4 10 9 ½ 9 1 8 1¼ 5 nk
Fish Crow Fishe 122 4.20 1 9 8 nk 6 nk 6 nk 4 1 6 nk
LeftItToBeaver Airey 122 8.60 3 7 6 ¾ 7 1¼ 7 2 5 ¼ 7 ½
Timely Baroness Hanni 114 5.30 9 2 9 ½ 10 10 10 8 3¼
Best Vice Elmer 122 8.70 7 6 5 ns 8 4¼ 8 1¾ 9 1 9 1½
Sheeza Princess Borla 122 11.00 10 10 4 ½ 4 3½ 4 2¾ 7 ¼ 10

Time of Race: 0.45.8 1.12.2 1.55.1



It just seemed like the cheap speed held on here, but strategically it was a nice ride on CICERO SISSY, staying slightly back and moving at the top of the stretch. That stalking ride won him his classic, and a mighty paycheck to go with it.

EPIPHANY gets enough winnings here to move back ahead of FISH CROW as my top 3yo money winner. And he’s actually in striking distance of TWO RIGHT FEET, believe it or not – that’s the power of the very rich 3yo campaign. He only trails 2RF by a bit over $100K in career earnings.



At this point, I simply cannot get my maiden races to fill – even if I enter all three of my 2yos into them. So, I guess we’ll just wait and see what happens next month.

[QuikSand]

July 2004

In an effort to get my 2yos into an actual race, I enter all three into the same affair. Heck, it makes it pretty likely that we’ll get a winner this way, as there are only four in the field. Charlie Fisher gets first call, of course, and he chooses to ride the filly, CHICK BURR. That’s probably wise – she has been working out well, and was the biggest investment of the threesome.


Race #4 Maiden Purse $22500 Open 2YO (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 4 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 6 MPH Purse: $22,500

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Chick Burr Fishe 117 2.60 1 2 1 2½ 1 6½ 1 10 1 11½
Falcon's Prey Bach 120 2.40 3 1 4 4 4 2 nk
Sharptail Ivory 120 2.90 2 3 3 ¾ 2 ¼ 2 1¼ 3 ¾
Hankypanky Deven 120 2.00 4 4 2 ¾ 3 2 3 ¾ 4

Time of Race: 0.22.7 .47.1 1.13.4


Not much of a race here, gang – CHICK BURR took the lead on the rail, and just flew away from everyone. I don’t know what to make of the other two, but we have something to watch with that one – though her final furlong time of 26.3 isn’t too impressive (if I can use that figure in this game with any reliability). Regardless – she’s clearly going to be the class of this trio.



Here is the field for the third leg of the triple crown – the Ashbourne takes. We’ve again got ten entries, and have a new face who should make a real difference.


Ashbourne Race Course. Race #8. Sat, Jul 3, 2004
Ashbourne Stakes Purse $750,000. 12f on dirt


1 : FISH CROW RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-2
Chestnut, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 9 2 1 4 $225,760
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $20,400
Jockey: Fisher C 44-8-6-15 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 65-7-11-15 This Year 7 1 0 4 $214,560

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 9 8-nk 6-8½ 6-7 4-4¾ 6-3½ 81 122 4.20 Fishe
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 7 5-ns 5-11¾ 3-7½ 3-5¼ 3-½ 81 122 2.60 Fishe
17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 7 7- 4-6½ 4-13¼ 4-13½ 3-7½ 80 122 3.00 Fishe
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 7 7- 7-11¾ 7-9¾ 6-7¼ 6-4¾ 82 119 1.90 Fishe
13Mar04OV Over m3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:09.1 1:50.1 5 5-½ 4-11¾ 4-20¼ 4-23 3-19¾ 73 122 2.00 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 6 6-ns 6-6¼ 5-9½ 3-11 3-9½ 82 122 2.30 Fishe

2 : SHEEZA PRINCESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 13-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 27 3 5 7 $110,440
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 2 0 0 1 $4,800
Jockey: Borland F 7-2-0-1 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 57-13-11-10 This Year 15 1 3 2 $25,140

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 10 4-½ 4-5 4-3¾ 7-7 10-8½ 73 122 11.00 Borla
28Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 10f 45.1 1:40.0 2:09.1 6 3-ns 2-1 2-4 3-5 6-6¼ 77 110 3.70 Kenne
22Apr04BR AL40 b3+ T fm 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:41.1 5 2-nk 2-2½ 2-4¼ 2-5¾ 3-6¼ 74 110 4.10 Catal
16Apr04BR CL12 b3+ D gd 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.1 5 5- 2-3¾ 2-1¼ 2-¾ 2-nk 95 110 2.90 Dambr
10Apr04BR CL08 b3+ D gd 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:42.0 8 3-1¾ 1-4 1-7¾ 1-8 1-4¼ 84 110 3.70 Catal
04Apr04BR CL08 b3+ D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.0 1:43.0 9 3-¾ 1-5¼ 1-10¼ 1-7 2-ns 79 110 9.00 Dambr

3 : EPIPHANY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 10-1
Bay, 3, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 14 2 6 1 $288,360
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Bach P 60-8-17-6 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 65-7-11-15 This Year 6 1 1 0 $202,240

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 8 7-1½ 5-8½ 5-6½ 6-6 4-2½ 83 122 9.10 Bach
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 5 3-¾ 3-10¾ 4-8¾ 5-6½ 5-2 79 122 6.90 Ivory
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 6 6-1 6-11 5-9 4-5½ 4-2¾ 85 119 4.60 Bach
06Mar04OV Plan b3 T sf 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:41.1 7 7-½ 6-13½ 7-16 7-14¼ 6-8¾ 72 119 6.30 Fishe
01Feb04OV Cash m3 D gd 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:25.1 5 5-ns 2-4¼ 2-7¼ 2-9¼ 2-8½ 83 122 6.60 Bach
10Jan04OV Hand m3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 6 6-1½ 6-5¼ 5-3¾ 4-2¾ 1-1 91 122 5.50 Fishe

4 : THELMA TODAY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 24 4 2 5 $443,840
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Gorin B 21-3-5-2 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 57-13-11-10 This Year 8 1 1 1 $268,980

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 4 10- 9-14 9-11 8-7¼ 5-3¼ 82 122 7.90 Gorin
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 1 7- 6-14 5-8¾ 4-5¾ 2-nk 82 117 4.40 Hanni
17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 1 1-ns 6-7¾ 6-15¼ 5-15¼ 5-8½ 78 122 4.60 Kenne
09Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 1 1- 8-8 8-14 8-15 7-12¾ 81 110 4.40 Kenne
03Apr04BR Dark b3+ D ft 6f 21.0 0:44.1 1:09.1 2 2- 7-10¾ 7-16¾ 7-17½ 6-17 83 113 3.50 Kenne
24Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:26.1 2 2-ns 6-7 6-10 4-8½ 3-2½ 89 119 3.00 Kenne

5 : C FIELD RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 11-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 27 4 7 5 $252,080
Owner: Backus M Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Mossel I 21-3-2-5 Life-Wet 1 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Jump R 92-20-16-16 This Year 17 2 5 2 $203,980

23Jun04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:12.0 1 1- 2-1½ 2-4¼ 2-4¼ 2-½ 98 107 4.40 Maste
17Jun04BR CL18 b3+ D ft 10f 45.1 1:38.1 2:07.1 1 1-2½ 1-5 1-18 1-21¾ 1-20¼ 101 107 6.40 Canad
11Jun04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 9f 46.0 1:12.1 1:56.0 1 1-½ 1-½ 3-1½ 3-3 4-5¾ 71 107 3.50 Canad
05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 1 1-1 1-2½ 1-3 1-1½ 3-1¼ 85 119 8.40 Canad
27May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.1 1:13.1 1:42.0 2 2-1 1-nk 2-nk 3-1¼ 8-7¾ 73 107 5.90 Canad
21May04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 2-1 2-1½ 3-2¼ 3-2½ 5-4 83 107 2.60 Canad

6 : CICERO SISSY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 13 7 1 3 $892,440
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 1 $3,840
Jockey: Kenneth M 86-23-15-13 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 57-13-11-10 This Year 5 2 1 1 $737,840

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 3 2-1¼ 2-2½ 3-3¼ 3-3½ 1-ns 88 122 6.10 Kenne
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 3 1-2½ 1-5½ 1-6¼ 1-4¾ 4-¾ 81 122 4.00 Kenne
16Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 2-ns 4-1¾ 4-2¾ 3-2 1-nk 92 110 4.50 Canad
10Apr04BR AL32 b3+ T sf 5f 22.0 0:47.0 1:00.0 1 1- 1-nk 1-1 1-1¾ 3-¾ 90 110 4.50 Hall
04Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 2-4¼ 2-2¼ 2-1½ 1-nk 2-ns 90 110 2.30 Canad
19Dec03WP AL35 b2 D gd 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:13.0 3 3- 1-nk 2-5¼ 2-6½ 3-1¼ 89 122 6.60 Canad

7 : TIMELY BARONESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Chestnut, 3, Female, 114 LifeTime 22 5 3 3 $926,820
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Hannig W 31-4-9-7 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 57-13-11-10 This Year 13 2 2 3 $816,220

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 2 9-½ 10-14½ 10-12 10-9½ 8-4 81 114 5.30 Hanni
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 4 6-nk 7-14½ 7-11¾ 6-8 1-nk 82 119 5.20 Borla
18Apr04BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.1 1:54.1 4 7- 7-13 7-10¾ 7-3¼ 3-¼ 88 122 4.80 Kenne
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 1 1- 10-5 7-6¾ 4-5¾ 1-nk 97 107 7.10 Kenne
01Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 21.1 0:44.1 0:58.0 3 3- 6-5 6-11 6-14 7-12¼ 83 107 6.10 Kenne
25Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 5 7-2½ 7-9½ 7-10¼ 4-8¼ 4-1½ 87 116 6.00 Kenne

8 : LEFTITTOBEAVER RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 10-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 20 6 1 2 $193,380
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $2,000
Jockey: Airey L 29-1-3-7 Life-Wet 1 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 57-13-11-10 This Year 9 3 0 1 $41,840

05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 7 6-¾ 7-8½ 7-7¼ 5-5¾ 7-3½ 81 122 8.60 Airey
22Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 3-1 2-5 2-5¼ 3-4¾ 3-3½ 86 110 2.40 Forbe
14Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 5f 22.0 0:46.1 0:59.1 7 7- 4-1¾ 5-3 4-2¾ 1-½ 93 110 4.80 Forbe
07Apr04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 10 10- 6-3½ 5-6 5-6¾ 6-4¼ 90 110 6.70 Forbe
01Apr04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.1 9 9- 9-5¼ 8-10¼ 7-12¾ 5-7½ 87 110 5.50 Forbe
24Mar04OV CL25 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:26.1 4 4-ns 4-4½ 3-5½ 2-4¼ 1-¾ 94 119 4.00 Forbe

9 : WAYWARD DAUGHTER RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 19-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 23 5 2 2 $75,540
Owner: Jodlbauers F Life-Turf 5 1 0 1 $8,860
Jockey: Dolbow W 271-41-43-45 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Fruit R 47-11-5-8 This Year 14 3 0 1 $32,360

23Jun04BR AL40 b3+ T fm 8f 46.0 1:13.0 1:41.0 4 3-1¾ 3-1½ 6-6 8-6¼ 10-11¾ 66 107 7.30 Dolbo
16Jun04BR CL30 b3+ D ft 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:27.0 3 3-ns 1-½ 1-2 1-2¼ 4-2 86 107 3.90 Dolbo
09Jun04BR CL12 f3+ T fm 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.1 1 1- 1-2¼ 1-4¾ 1-6½ 1-5½ 95 110 2.20 Cushi
02Jun04BR CL25 f3+ D ft 10f 46.0 1:41.0 2:09.1 4 1-¾ 1-1¾ 1-¾ 3-3 4-7½ 75 110 4.20 Cushi
26May04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 7f 21.1 0:45.0 1:23.1 4 4-ns 2-3½ 3-8½ 3-16¼ 4-19½ 75 107 9.60 Cushi
19May04BR AL40 b3+ T fm 6f 22.0 0:47.0 1:13.1 2 2- 1-½ 2-½ 5-4¼ 7-9¾ 73 107 7.70 Cushi

10 : LIVELY MESSENGER RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Brown, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 15 8 2 3 $312,940
Owner: Jurney R Life-Turf 3 2 1 0 $146,000
Jockey: Cuenca M 179-35-35-28 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Kamm D 106-20-16-21 This Year 10 4 2 2 $241,840

19Jun04BR King b3+ D gd 6f 22.0 0:45.0 1:11.0 4 4- 3-1 1-4 1-4½ 1-nk 100 113 7.50 Cuenc
12Jun04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 6f 21.0 0:44.1 1:09.1 4 4- 6-3¾ 4-1¾ 3-1¼ 3-3¾ 103 110 6.80 Cuenc
06Jun04BR AL32 b3+ D ft 8f 44.1 1:09.1 1:37.1 7 5-½ 5-3¼ 5-6½ 7-8½ 7-7¾ 92 110 8.00 Cuenc
26May04BR AL40 b3+ D gd 7f 21.1 0:45.0 1:23.1 3 3-ns 3-3¾ 2-2½ 2-5 2-8¼ 93 110 7.60 Cuenc
20May04BR AL40 b3+ D ft 10f 44.0 1:38.0 2:07.0 3 4-nk 2-½ 1-1½ 1-¼ 5-6¼ 95 110 5.70 Cuenc
14May04BR AL32 b3+ T fm 6f 22.0 0:45.0 1:11.1 4 4- 1-nk 1-6 1-7¼ 1-3 102 110 6.60 Cuenc



The #10 horse, LIVELY MESSENGER, is a fairly serious player here, I think. He’s got some solid early speed, and has won against older company. He ought to be part of the pace picture – and at Ashbourne, with its legendary speed-favoring bias, you almost have to throw out the distance altogether. TIMELY BARONESS is a later-rally type, and that works very much against her here. I think speedy horses like CICERY SISSY have a great shot here, and I’ll include LIVELY MESENGER in my hypothetical exacta. SHEEZA PRINCESS and C FIELD both figure as playable horses, too.

I’ll be surprised if my pair do anything better than battle for fourth or fifth – I don’t think either one’s style fits that well here. But, we’ll give them a chance.


…to be continued.

[QuikSand]

July 2004 - Ashbourne Stakes and beyond…

The race starts off as expected – it’s CICERO SISSY rolling to an early lead, with a couple others getting into stalking positions. Into the first turn, LIVELY MESSENGER moves up to challenge, and out of that turn takes the lead just to the outside of CICERO SISSY. Those two are well ahead of the pack on the backstretch, but the trailers are starting to separate, as a few are moving forward. EPIPHANY is moving a bit inside, but LEFITTOBEAVER is moving well on the outside, and TIMELY BARONESS is gaining steam coming toward the pack.

Into the second turn, the leaders are still well ahead, but there are movers clearly coming after them. LEFITTOBEAVER is ahead of the trailing pack now, and closing ground. TIMELY BARONESS has moved well outside, and is also in a good running position. Historically (in my previous pre-patch games) these sort of rally moves were almost unthinkable over this course – but it looks a little more fair now. CICERO SISSY is all but done, and is passed easily by the rallying pair. They also catch up with LIVELY MESSENGER, who continues to run strong, but won’t hold on for this one. It’s down to the two rallyers, and TIMELY BARONESS get just enough push to catch LEFITTOBEAVER in the final paces, and wins it by a half length or so.


Race #8 Ashbourne Stakes Purse $750,000 (Finished)
12 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $750,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 1/4 Str Fin
Timely Baroness Hanni 114 5.60 7 2 8 ½ 9 ¾ 4 4¾ 2 1½ 1 ½
LeftItToBeaver Airey 122 9.10 8 7 5 nk 6 1 3 1 3 1¼ 2 4½
Lively Messenger Cuenc 122 6.60 10 6 4 3½ 1 ns 1 5¾ 1 3¼ 3 ¼
Cicero Sissy Kenne 122 5.90 6 3 1 2¼ 2 6 2 1¾ 4 6½ 4 1¾
Epiphany Bach 122 9.10 3 8 7 1½ 7 2½ 7 1 6 1 5 4¾
Fish Crow Fishe 122 3.80 1 9 9 nk 8 nk 10 10 6 ½
Thelma Today Gorin 122 6.40 4 5 10 10 9 1¼ 8 ½ 7 2
C Field Mosse 119 10.30 5 1 3 ¾ 4 ½ 5 ½ 5 ¾ 8 4
Wayward Daughter Dolbo 119 18.90 9 4 2 nk 3 ¼ 8 ¼ 9 ½ 9 nk
Sheeza Princess Borla 122 12.10 2 10 6 ¾ 5 4¼ 6 1¼ 7 1¼ 10

Time of Race: 0.44.6 2.07.8 2.38.4



My two were never part of the race, really – just part of the “pack” that the winners either raced ahead of or ran around. FISH CROW did mount a bit of a rally, but it was mostly moving past the tired ones like C FIELD and WAYWARD DAUGHTER as they faded from their early run.

So, TIMELY BARONESS again looks like the top pick among the 3yo crop this season. He earnings are up over $1.8 million, and comfortably tower over everyone else. CICERO SISSY is a millionaire, but is a distant second best after this race.



I set up private sales of my two year olds who failed to impress – they fetch me about $16,000 total, a far cry from their purchase price initially, but I don’t expect either one to gain that much ground.

[QuikSand]

July 2004 addendum

Almost forgot – I enter CHICK BURR into an allowance race in late July, to see how well he stacks up against some tougher foes than in his debut.


29Jul04AB AL30 b2 D ft 5f 22.1 0:46.1 1:00.0 1 1- 2-nk 1-1½ 1-3¾ 2-1 88 119 1.50 Fishe


Not bad showing – just getting nipped at the end, but flashing some impressive early speed. He may be a sprinter, but I think he can make us some money along the way.

[QuikSand]

August 2004


I plunk down another $16,000 for a 2yo colt named DARK EAGLE. He’ll be another mystery – but my patience will be thinner than last season (as SHARPTAIL and FALCON’S PREY found out). I pick up BROADWING with $11,000 – another colt to try out later this month.



I have TWO RIGHT FEET in an allowance race here, for two reasons. First, I want to train him up to a fall campaign – which means running him into shape here. Second, I desperately need the cash. I’m trying to pay entry fees for my two 3yos, and getting through this month is very tough. A paycheck here in a $30k race would be very helpful.


04Aug04AB AL32 b3+ D ft 9f 46.0 1:12.0 1:55.1 3 1-¾ 2-3½ 3-3¾ 4-2¼ 1-ns 84 122 5.20 Fishe


He had to fight pretty hard here, and did not run as well as we might have hoped – but he does get the top spot after all. That will at least pay the bills this month.


Our next race is with EPIPHANY – he will run in the 6f Tuscany Handicap – a 3yo sprint race. I recognize HOT PURSUIT, but not any others in here. RACING FLARE looks like the one to beat – he’s very fast over the early going.


Race #8 Tuscany Handicap Purse $60,000 (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 3 MPH Purse: $60,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Racing Flare Curti 116 4.50 5 1 3 3½ 2 nk 2 ½ 1 ns
Jolly Coachman Merri 119 4.60 7 4 1 nk 3 5¼ 3 2¼ 2 nk
Explosive Mix Howe 119 4.50 6 2 2 ½ 1 1¾ 1 2½ 3 ½
Source Of Light Higgi 119 6.50 4 5 4 1½ 4 2¼ 4 3¼ 4 1¾
Hot Pursuit Mcroe 119 4.90 1 7 6 1¼ 6 3 5 nk 5 ns
Epiphany Fishe 119 5.60 3 6 5 1¼ 5 ½ 6 3¾ 6 3¾
Evening Rain Jodlb 114 4.50 2 3 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.21.8 .45.6 1.12.6


My guy was moving forward late, but didn’t have enough to get to the front in that short distance.



CHICK BURR is off in another 6f allowance race – a second win and he can start getting into the more serious affairs. I’d like to do that while we’re still at Ashbourne, which favors his forward style.


16Aug04AB AL27 b2 D ft 6f 22.1 0:46.1 1:13.1 2 2- 1-¾ 1-3¾ 1-5¾ 1-4¼ 92 119 1.70 Fishe


A good effort – just what we wanted. It earns us some more cash, and gets him a ticket into some more serious races, potentially.



In DARK EAGLE’s debut, he gets a narrow field of four, and manages to keep the lead early. He holds on for second, but it wasn’t a great showing – he was easily beaten.


18Aug04AB MD22 b2 D ft 6f 22.1 0:47.1 1:14.1 1 1- 1-¼ 1-1 2-¾ 2-4 77 120 1.60 Fishe



The next day, BROADWING tries his hand.


19Aug04AB MD22 b2 D ft 7f 22.1 0:47.0 1:28.1 4 4- 3-5 3-6½ 3-3½ 1-1¼ 83 120 2.70 Fishe


Different story. He wins, and that’s good – but that’s not the best thing here. He rallies from off the pace a little bit to do so—he was six or seven lengths back, and then moved forward to get the win here. That might indicate the signs of a serious young colt. Intriguing…




There is one more big time race for three year olds – it’s the Ashbourne Cup, run at 11 furlongs, for stakes of $750,000. (Think the Travers Stakes in real life – a while after the dust has settled from the Triple Crown)

With a heft entry fee an impediment, I have decided only to run my best distance horse, FISH CROW. He is in the field of eight horses here, and there are a number of familiar names, as well:


Race #8 Ashbourne Classic Purse $750,000
11 Furlongs on Dirt
Total 8 horses racing.
For 3-year-olds
Base weight: 125

Track: Fast
Rain: None
Wind: 0 MPH
Purse: $750,000

# NAME ODDS WIN PLACE SHOW OWNER JOCKEY TRAINER
1 Fish Crow 3-1 $39,054 $13,018 $13,018 QuikSand Fisher C Doll C
2 Sheeza Princess 8-1 $18,655 $6,121 $4,372 Black Tie Borland F Lytton B
3 Timely Baroness 9-2 $28,775 $9,282 $8,354 Black Tie Hannig W Lytton B
4 Thelma Today 8-1 $18,581 $6,101 $3,050 Black Tie Gorin B Lytton B
5 Cicero Sissy 9-2 $29,522 $9,687 $6,919 Black Tie Kenneth M Lytton B
6 On The Crest 7-1 $23,183 $7,607 $5,433 Noetzel C Canady J Jeuell A
7 LeftItToBeaver 9-1 $17,546 $6,226 $4,528 Black Tie Airey L Lytton B
8 Head Of State 8-1 $20,647 $7,420 $4,194 Nehru J Howe B Christine


At eth risk of putting too much emphasis on the game’s lousy handling of odds, here’s the field. TIMELY BARONESS ha already won two classics, and CICERO SISSY is again a main threat. LEFITTOBEAVER was rolling along last time, and the setup looks similar this time. ON THE CREST is a surprising entry – after she left my barn she has been running distances, so who knows?

I figure FISH CROW has, at best, an outside shot. He ought to be better suited to the distance then most, but I thin he’s a full notch or two below the best here in terms of class overall. I think the ‘Beav might have a shot to strike here.



Race #8 Ashbourne Classic Purse $750,000 (Finished)
11 Furlongs on Dirt Total 8 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $750,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Thelma Today Gorin 122 7.90 4 4 8 8 7 2 1 1¾ 1 3
LeftItToBeaver Airey 122 8.40 7 6 4 ½ 4 1 6 2 2 1 2 nk
Timely Baroness Hanni 114 4.80 3 2 5 ½ 7 1¾ 8 4 11¼ 3 10
Sheeza Princess Borla 122 7.80 2 8 7 nk 6 ½ 1 1¾ 3 3¾ 4 nk
On The Crest Canad 119 6.10 6 5 2 ¼ 3 8½ 4 1¼ 6 ¾ 5 1
Head Of State Howe 122 7.00 8 1 3 5¼ 2 ½ 3 1¼ 5 1¼ 6 1¾
Fish Crow Fishe 122 3.30 1 7 6 1 5 ¼ 5 1¼ 8 7 25¼
Cicero Sissy Kenne 122 4.60 5 3 1 3¼ 1 6¾ 2 1¼ 7 ¾ 8

Time of Race: 0.44.4 1.39.9 2.24.3



This was a race of waves. The first was the three early leaders jumping out ahead of everyone else. Then, SHEEZA PRINCESS bolted from the pack, and ran after the leaders, getting to the front on the early backstretch. Then, a big move by LEFTITTOBEAVER put him in the lead – while FISH CROW was moving forward but got pinned in awful traffic. Then, on the outside came THELMA TODAY and TIMELY BARONESS, in that order. THELMA got the lead, and TIMELY BARONESS was closing late, but couldn’t get up for the top spot.

Does this settle the debate about the top 3yo this year? No, it just mucks it up. Imagine if BEAV had held off BARONESS for the win in the last race – we’d have a total mess. TIMELY BARONESS still sits just shy of $2 million – so she’s the top dog. THELMA and CICERO are both millionaires, off their big wins. And BEAVER is an honest knocker, who has two seconds and $760,000 in the bank. Tough to say.



That wraps up our August – we have about $40,000 in the bank – enough for mid-level entries, but that’s it. I’m going to have to decide what to do with my three year olds – I don’t think either one is good enough to compete in open company at a meaningful level, honestly.

[Anrhydeddu]

Looked like CICERO pulled up lame.

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
Looked like CICERO pulled up lame.

That's how I'd read it, too, in real life. I don't know if there is such a thing in this game, to be honest.

It would be a good thing if the horse had to take a few months off after that race - to "get right again." Instead he'll probably be running in a $10,000 claiming race tomorrow afternoon.

[Anrhydeddu]

Originally posted by QuikSand
Instead he'll probably be running in a $10,000 claiming race tomorrow afternoon.

True dat, using a common vernacular.

[QuikSand]

I just got my copy of Horse racing manager, and will be out of town for a couple of days. When I return, I may continue with this - or might give a shot with the new game. Time will tell... as you may have gathered, I remain very frustrated with this game, even after the "patch" (which didn't change anything that I can spot, except I don't see the same horse running as the #1 and the #4 in the same race any longer - which I pointed out to the developers initially).

[QuikSand]

Well, my initial dabblings with Horse Racing Manager have left me with an endless series of crashes (possibly related to screen resolution), so instead I will pick this back up and see where it goes…

September 2004


Now that we are comfortably out of the three-year-old season, I decide it’s time to part ways with my two young ones who campaigned this year. In this respect, I will be basically like Wayne Lukas – churn ‘em and burn ‘em. Here are the two who leave our charge:


Name: Epiphany
Price: $24,900

Record: Races 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Lifetime: 16 2 6 1 $288,360
Life-Turf: 1 0 0 0 $0
Life-Wet: 0 0 0 0 $0
This Year: 8 1 1 0 $202,240
Age: 3 Sex: Gelding Color: Bay

15Aug04AB Tusc m3 D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.1 6 6- 5-5½ 5-9¼ 6-8½ 6-2½ 91 119 5.60 Fishe
03Jul04AB Ashb b3 D ft 12f 44.1 2:07.1 2:38.0 8 7-1½ 7-12 7-15 6-13¼ 5-7 75 122 9.10 Bach
05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 8 7-1½ 5-8½ 5-6½ 6-6 4-2½ 83 122 9.10 Bach
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 5 3-¾ 3-10¾ 4-8¾ 5-6½ 5-2 79 122 6.90 Ivory
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 6 6-1 6-11 5-9 4-5½ 4-2¾ 85 119 4.60 Bach
06Mar04OV Plan b3 T sf 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:41.1 7 7-½ 6-13½ 7-16 7-14¼ 6-8¾ 72 119 6.30 Fishe


Name: Fish Crow
Price: $15,000

Record: Races 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Lifetime: 11 2 1 4 $225,760
Life-Turf: 1 0 0 1 $20,400
Life-Wet: 0 0 0 0 $0
This Year: 9 1 0 4 $214,560
Age: 3 Sex: Male Color: Chestnut

21Aug04AB Ashb b3 D ft 11f 44.0 1:39.1 2:24.0 7 6-1 5-16¾ 5-5¾ 8-20 7-16¼ 67 122 3.30 Fishe
03Jul04AB Ashb b3 D ft 12f 44.1 2:07.1 2:38.0 9 9-nk 8-14¾ 10-17¾ 10-16½ 6-11¾ 68 122 3.80 Fishe
05Jun04BR Yell b3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:12.0 1:55.0 9 8-nk 6-8½ 6-7 4-4¾ 6-3½ 81 122 4.20 Fishe
01May04BR Blue b3 D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.1 2:10.1 7 5-ns 5-11¾ 3-7½ 3-5¼ 3-½ 81 122 2.60 Fishe
17Apr04BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.1 1:26.1 7 7- 4-6½ 4-13¼ 4-13½ 3-7½ 80 122 3.00 Fishe
28Mar04OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 45.0 1:12.0 1:41.0 7 7- 7-11¾ 7-9¾ 6-7¼ 6-4¾ 82 119 1.90 Fishe



So, that focuses our stable on the new crop of youngsters, along with the rainmaker TWO RIGHT FEET. I have three sophomores in the stable, and feel pretty optimistic about both sprinting allowance winner CHICK BURR and the one-for-one BROADWING.


And actually, though I have labeled this as “September” I have a race before we technically hit that month. CHICK BURR is ready to try a low-level stakes race for young fillies.

The Medford Stakes, for $100,000, is run at 6f for 2yo fillies – a perfect spot for CHICK BURR, who draws the rail – even better. Thing is, there is a potential monster in here – the brilliant filly BANK ON BILL. Wow – she looks sensational, and might not have a real distance limit in sight. She’ll be the one to beat, no doubt.


Race #8 Medford Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old fillies base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Maximus Addid 125 5.50 3 2 2 1¼ 2 5½ 2 6¼ 1 ¾
Bank On Bill Celan 125 5.20 6 1 1 2½ 1 1¼ 1 ¾ 2 4¼
Chick Burr Fishe 125 2.50 1 4 3 ¼ 3 2¼ 3 4 3 1¾
Key Race Keen 125 6.40 5 7 6 3 6 5¾ 6 6¼ 4 1¼
Bruce's Shadow Kearn 120 4.50 7 5 5 1¼ 5 ¾ 4 1 5 5½
Earner Burner Gorga 125 6.60 2 6 4 2 4 1½ 5 ¾ 6 2¼
Ol' Lady Bach 125 7.00 4 3 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.21.9 .45.8 1.12.2


MAXIMUS did a great job, sitting right behind BANK ON BOB and then pulling just up at the end of the race to beat the strong favorite. My girl CHICK BURR ran a steady run a few lengths behind that pair, and stayed in place for a solid show in her first stakes. I’m pleased – she earned a, 89 speed figure, which is just about right for he – and keeps her in the picture as a potential money-maker.


On September 2, we have a shot for our “other” two year old colt, DARK EAGLE. This is a $35,000 maiden claiming race – where I think he might have a shot to win. I think BELL COLLINS might be the one to beat here – but that’s only off one race (just like my guy). In fact, I like BELL COLLINS enough that I decide to put in a claim for him – he’s a solid runner, and made a bit of a later run in his debut. This 6f race may not be enough for him – but he might have a future.


Race #10 Maiden Claiming $35000 Open Purse $14000 2YO (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 4 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 1 MPH Purse: $14,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Dark Eagle Fishe 120 1.40 3 1 2 1¼ 2 nk 3 1¾ 1 nk
Bell Collins Bach 120 2.80 1 3 1 1½ 1 3¼ 1 2¼ 2 ½
She's Worthit Howe 120 3.10 2 2 3 3¼ 3 4¼ 2 1¼ 3 1
Starglo Dream Adles 115 3.10 4 4 4 4 4 4

Time of Race: 0.22.4 .47.0 1.14.3


Okay – we get the win with DARK EAGLE, but the disappointment is that BELL COLLINS faded in a 6 furlong race. That suggests that he was either not running his best, or else he’s not as good as I had hoped.



I decide to give BROADWING a try in a stakes race – he’ll run in the Coming of Age Stakes for $75,000. It’s a 7 furlong race, and he will need to do better than in his debut to contend here. MAXIMUS is in the field – and she looks like a tough one, after what we saw from her last time.


Race #8 Coming of Age Stakes Purse $75,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 10 MPH Purse: $75,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Earner Burner Gorga 122 5.80 5 5 5 ns 3 1¼ 3 2 3 1¾ 1 ¾
Maximus Addid 122 4.10 6 3 3 ns 2 1½ 1 4¾ 1 3½ 2 nk
Marvelous Matt Clayt 125 5.60 3 4 4 ns 4 ¼ 4 ½ 5 1¾ 3 ½
Sammio Brook 125 5.60 4 1 1 ns 1 nk 2 2 2 3½ 4 1
Hankypanky Benj 125 5.90 2 6 6 ns 6 2 5 nk 4 nk 5 3½
Broadwing Fishe 125 2.60 1 7 7 7 7 7 6 ¼
Bradash Portrai Bacin 125 7.70 7 2 2 ns 5 ns 6 2½ 6 nk 7

Time of Race: 0.22.3 .45.8 1.26.7


And, as we move from 6 furlongs to 7 furlongs, it’s apparently too much for MAXIMUS. Maybe EARNER BURNER just didn’t have enough running room in her last race – but now she looks tough. BROADWING looked outclassed – unable to really move forward much at all.


Okay – leaving the youngsters for right now, we have TWO RIGHT FEET running in a stakes race – looking for his first stakes win of the year. If my guy is in shape, he fits well here – and should have a shot to win it.


Race #8 Summer Solstice Handicap Purse $80,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 9 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Happy Lou Gregg 119 7.10 6 1 1 1½ 1 2 1 ½ 2 10¼ 1 ns
Whata Dude Maste 122 8.20 7 5 2 3 2 6½ 2 11 1 nk 2 3
Two Right Feet Arche 122 9.30 2 4 6 2¼ 6 5 5 ¾ 4 ½ 3 4
Reef Maid Buckl 113 5.50 3 2 3 ¼ 3 ns 3 nk 3 ½ 4 1
I Can Fly Fishe 114 6.30 5 8 5 1¼ 5 ¾ 6 4 6 2¼ 5 3¼
Time To Strike Celan 114 7.00 8 6 4 1 4 2¼ 4 1¼ 5 ¾ 6 1
Fixed Assets Cushi 113 3.90 1 3 7 ¾ 7 1¾ 7 2¾ 7 3½ 7 3¼
GreenfieldManor Adles 109 6.70 9 7 8 2¼ 8 3½ 8 3 8 2¼ 8 2½
Fair Strike Justi 111 8.40 4 9 9 9 9 9 9


A decent effort – traffic prevented a big late run, but my guy was the big mover in the final paces, and narrowed the gap behind the top two pretty considerably.

I’m a little bit miffed at my regular Charlie Fisher for deciding to ride I CAN FLY ahead of my horse – and that may have repercussions down the road. I want my horses to be his first choice… and perhaps we’ll need to look for someone more loyal.


We have another 7 furlong stakes race for sophomores, and I have CHICK BURR in here. It might be a little long for her – but we give her a shot. Both BANK ON BILL and EARNER BURNER are here, so we’ll be seeing some top players in the field.


Race #8 Plucky Liege Stakes Purse $80,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old fillies base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Bank On Bill Celan 125 4.80 2 1 1 ns 1 3 1 5¼ 1 8¼ 1 9¼
BostonTeaParty Brook 125 5.90 5 6 6 ns 6 2 5 ns 3 ¾ 2 ½
Chick Burr Fishe 125 2.80 3 5 5 ns 2 nk 2 2¼ 2 4 3 4
FameFame Or Shame Fisch 125 6.20 4 7 7 7 7 4 1½ 4 1½
Earner Burner Gorga 125 5.30 1 4 4 ns 3 1 3 1½ 5 3¼ 5 3¼
Jason's Friend Gregg 125 5.10 7 2 2 ns 5 1½ 6 nk 7 6 1¾
Jasons Bambie Justi 125 6.30 6 3 3 ns 4 ¾ 4 ¾ 6 nk 7

Time of Race: 0.22.0 .46.0 1.25.9


This time, BANK ON BILL runs away and hides on the front end, with no pressure at all. My girl gets nipped for second, after EARNER BURNER runs hard early and falls apart.


That wraps up September. I’m perhaps a bit disappointed, as it’s fairly clear that my youngsters aren’t top class. So, I need to spend more money, or perhaps keep these ones developing. I don’t have huge cash reserves around, so I’ll be pushing the latter more than the former.

[QuikSand]

October 2004

Okay, I don’t think I have the cash t hit the auctions – after paying for my entry fees for this month, my bankroll is at only about $53,000 – I spend half that on a new horse, and I’m in dire straits. So, we will try to keep along with our young fleet, and see what we can get from them. Plus, I am trying to train TWO RIGHT FEET up for a big run in the Wynnefield Cup day in early November.

We are at Wynnefield Park now, meaning that runners from off the pace might have some extra time to get up. That might be useful to some of my horses – we’ll see.



On October 7, we have two races. The first is a nice allowance spot for BROADWING, who disappointed in his last outing after such an impressive debut. Here he will get to stretch out to a mile – and I hope it suits him.


07Oct04WP AL30 b2 D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.1 6 6- 6-10¾ 5-10½ 4-8½ 3-1¾ 82 122 2.40 Fishe


Charlie holds him back at first, but then we get rolling – he is moving well late in the race, but cannot catch the front pair and accepts third. Decent speed figure, but we need ten more points on that to get serious.



In a later maiden claimer, I have BELL COLLINS running again for $35,000. I think I’d be quite happy to just see him claimed, and get back my investment here – I don’t think his upside is too great. One of the unraced foes here looks pretty promising, and I am tempted to make a claim – even though that would really stretch my funds out greatly. I decide to put in for the 2yo gray colt STERLING SILVER, in hopes that his conformation is borne out by his on-track efforts.


Race #10 Maiden Claiming $35000 Open Purse $14000 2YO (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 4 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $14,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Sterling Silver Jacks 120 2.00 4 1 1 1¾ 1 5½ 1 9 1 4¾
Tons The Best Hilla 120 3.00 2 4 4 4 4 2 nk
Rapunzel Kandi 120 2.00 3 2 3 4 3 3¾ 2 ¼ 3 6½
Bell Collins Fishe 120 3.00 1 3 2 ¾ 2 1¼ 3 1¾ 4

Time of Race: 0.22.1 .46.1 1.12.9


A good showing for the new claim, who is clearly better than our old claim. I arrange a private sale for BELL COLLINS – getting back $21,00 of my investment now, rather than stringing this out any longer.



On October 10, I have TWO RIGHT FEET in a race at 1 3/8 miles – maybe a little longer than he really wants to go. However, I think this is a good potential “tightener” for the big race ahead – the $400,000 Wynnefield Classic in about four weeks.


Race #8 Practicante Handicap Purse $60,000 (Finished)
11 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 10 MPH Purse: $60,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Crackpot Jodlb 114 10.90 10 4 6 ½ 7 ¾ 2 ¼ 2 35 1 1½
No Secrets Gregg 111 7.80 9 5 9 ¾ 9 nk 4 1¼ 1 1 2 32¼
Silo Marie Delle 124 6.30 5 10 3 2¼ 3 5¼ 5 1¼ 5 1¼ 3 1
Two Right Feet Fishe 122 5.50 3 7 10 10 7 1¼ 7 1¼ 4 ¼
Cheri Jan Howe 124 4.00 6 1 2 2¼ 2 2½ 3 nk 4 1¼ 5 ¾
Mighty Empress Justi 122 7.70 7 8 8 nk 8 1 10 10 6 2
Trotwood Pat Hoy R 119 17.30 8 3 4 nk 6 ¼ 8 4½ 8 1¼ 7 1
True Governess Bach 119 9.30 2 6 5 ½ 4 1¼ 6 1¼ 6 1¼ 8 9¼
Ghost Story Cuenc 111 7.60 4 9 7 nk 5 ¼ 9 1¼ 9 1¼ 9 40¼
Whata Dude Cushi 122 7.80 1 2 1 2¼ 1 3¾ 1 1 3 1¼ DNF

Time of Race: 0.43.9 1.40.4 2.24.6


He drops to the very back early, which might be good for him in this long a race – he should have plenty of time to kick later on. On the first turn, Charlie has him inside (of course) and we rally past the back of the pack to get into middle position, still way behind the sprinting leaders. There is an embarrassing traffic problem (highlighting the simple-minded race engine in the game) which catches up everyone in the field save two in one giant conga line behind the fading leader – and it’s CRACKPOT and NO SECRETS who avoid that and get the easy runaway win. (Yes, that is 32 lengths behind the second place horse to the third place horse, all because of that idiotic traffic jam) No idea how my guy might have done given a legitimate chance to run.



On October 16, CHICK BURR gets a nice spot – a 5 furlong stakes race. However, MAXIMUM is in here, and that probably keeps my girl from sneaking out her first stakes win.


Race #8 Mint Condition Stakes Purse $60,000 (Finished)
5 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 9 MPH Purse: $60,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 3/16 3/8 Str Fin
Chick Burr Fishe 119 2.70 5 6 4 1½ 4 2½ 3 ¼ 1 1
Dental Floss Cutle 119 5.20 6 4 2 1 3 2 4 4¾ 2 2¾
Marvelous Matt Clayt 122 5.90 4 7 6 ¾ 6 1¾ 6 2½ 3 1¼
Maximus Larki 119 4.40 1 5 3 ¾ 2 ¾ 1 ¼ 4 1¼
Home Cooking Cushi 122 5.10 3 3 1 ¼ 1 ½ 2 2 5 nk
Bradash Portrai Bacin 122 6.00 2 1 5 nk 5 ½ 5 ½ 6 2½
Provident Mcroe 122 8.10 7 2 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.22.3 .46.7 .59.7


I’m dead wrong. MAXIMUS presses and get the lead, but is tired late, and my girl sits just off the pace and is full of late run. Indeed, this was a very nice race for CHICK BURR, and we can definitely use the cash.



Two days later, we have DARK EAGLE up, in a 7f allowance race. He improved a lot last time out – maybe we’ll see what he’s really made of here.


18Oct04WP AL27 b2 D ft 7f 22.1 0:47.1 1:28.1 1 1-ns 1-2¼ 1-3 1-3¼ 1-2 84 122 2.80 Fishe


A solid effort, and good enough for the win here. He made the lead comfortably, which has not been his game before – but this was decent, and gets us another paycheck.



Finally, October 24 brings us another chance to run STERLING SILVER. He looked sharp last time out – we’ll run him again at 6f.


24Oct04WP AL27 b2 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:13.1 2 2- 1-1¾ 1-2¾ 1-1¼ 1-nk 91 122 2.60 Fishe


He gets the lead, and then comes up very tough in the stretch to hold off a fierce challenge from the early presser. A good effort – but this is probably a horse with distance limitations. Regardless, he now has two wins in two tries – not too bad.

[QuikSand]

November 2004

On Wynnefield Cup day, I go all out. I have five horse in the barn, and each and every one will be running on Cup day. That’s a good feeling – but also probably represents my overenthusiasm for their chances in their respective races.


First up on the day is the Wynnefield Lassie Stakes – the 2yo fillies race for $100,000. CHICK BURR draws the rail, which is good – but a mile is probably going to be tough for her. MAXIMUS and BANK ON BILL will both be early runners – but at this distance, I don’t know what to expect. I’d like to keep a bit behind the lead, and try to move at the top of the stretch, ideally.


Race #1 Wynnefield Lassie Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old fillies base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 2 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Chick Burr Fishe 125 2.50 1 4 4 4¾ 4 6½ 4 6 4 5¾ 1 1¼
Bank On Bill Hall 125 5.50 4 1 2 1½ 3 2½ 3 2 3 ¼ 2 ½
Maximus Addid 125 5.80 2 3 3 nk 2 2¼ 2 2¾ 2 1¼ 3 ¾
Key Race Keen 125 5.90 3 7 6 1¾ 6 1 5 nk 5 ¼ 4 nk
Receptor Aguil 125 5.30 7 2 1 1½ 1 3¼ 1 1¼ 1 ns 5 3
Bruce's Shadow Kearn 120 6.80 5 5 5 ¼ 5 ¼ 7 6 1½ 6 2½
FameFame Or Shame Mazut 125 5.10 6 6 7 7 6 nk 7 7

Time of Race: 0.45.6 1.12.5 1.41.7


I got exactly the race I wanted – she dropped back to fourth after staying close, then in the early stretch moved into position, advanced on the leaders, and then held off a late charge from BANK ON BILL to take the top spot. Wonderful effort!


In the Wynnefield Promise Stakes, we have the top 2 year old colts. I decide to let all three of mine run here – and we have three of the seven entries. BROADWING might be our best shot here – at least Charlie Fisher thinks so, as that one is geared to make a later run, which the mile distance might suit well.


Race #2 Wynnefield Promise Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)

8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses

for 2-year-old colts base weight: 125



Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $100,000



Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds



HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin

Broadwing Fishe 125 4.90 1 7 6 4¼ 5 ¾ 4 ns 6 2¼ 1 ns

Dark Eagle Ivory 125 2.60 4 2 4 2½ 4 2¾ 5 2 1 ¾ 2 nk

Frigate Buckl 125 5.60 2 6 3 2½ 3 4¼ 2 ns 2 ¾ 3 1

Bradash Portrai Bacin 125 9.50 5 3 5 ¼ 6 7 6 6¼ 4 ¾ 4 3½

Ski Patrol Krape 125 8.40 7 4 7 7 7 7 5 3½

Sterling Silver Arche 125 3.10 3 1 2 1 2 ¼ 3 1¼ 3 nk 6 7

Home Cooking Cushi 125 6.30 6 5 1 nk 1 2 1 1¼ 5 1¼ 7



Time of Race: 0.46.3 1.14.1 1.43.0


Tough to argue with that – we’re rolling now, hitting the full exacta here, as BROADWING rallies nicely to grab the top spot away from a hard-fighting DARK EAGLE. With the winners of both of the juvenile stakes races on cup day, we have to feel a bit like we’ve got it made here at the ranch.



There’s a ten horse field for the $400,000 Wynnefield Classic, and TWO RIGHT FEET is right in there, despite not having won a stakes race all year long. He’s suffered a variety of problems along the way – but now we can make the year all good, by getting back with a good effort here against the best of the best.

WAR DRUM is a serious player, as is the 5yo gelding INCIDENTAL. Several come in off impressive performance in their last race – while my guy got all bottled up and ran his career worst speed figure. We’ll see how it plays out – but I think my guy still has a good run in him here.


Race #7 Wynnefield Classic Purse $400,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 3 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $400,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
3 year olds allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
War Drum Gore 125 7.60 1 2 6 1½ 4 3 2 3 1 1 1 nk
Multi Colors Cutle 122 5.70 10 7 9 1½ 9 2¼ 6 ¼ 4 1¼ 2 ¼
Honor And Obey Hodas 125 6.80 7 10 10 10 8 2¼ 5 1½ 3 ¼
Two Right Feet Fishe 125 5.60 2 4 8 ¾ 8 2 7 1 6 ½ 4 3½
Incidental Jodlb 120 9.30 5 1 1 1¼ 2 1 1 1 2 5 5 3¼
Cheesecake Freez 125 8.40 9 3 7 1 7 3¼ 5 ½ 8 3½ 6 nk
Polar Moon Cuenc 125 9.00 3 8 2 ½ 3 1¼ 4 ½ 7 ½ 7 ¼
Devil Chaser Kise 125 6.80 4 5 3 ¾ 1 nk 3 5¼ 3 nk 8 2
Heart Of Gold Hoy R 125 8.90 8 6 4 nk 6 ns 9 1¾ 9 3¼ 9 4½
Kookaburra Haver 125 8.00 6 9 5 ¾ 5 1¼ 10 10 10

Time of Race: 0.44.4 1.37.4 2.07.5


* sigh * - traffic again. TWO RIGHT FEET had loads of trouble, and Charlie too the inside route on the backstretch, which certainly pinned him in going into the turn – probably a poor decision. He was full of run later on, but just didn’t have the room to get onto the board this time.



That was a very productive day for us – with two wins and another good showing, we know that ors can run with the best there are out there. Now, with a few open 2yo stakes coming up – we’ll have a chance to see how our stack up against one another. In late November, there’s a race that I’ll shoot my three best in.


On November 27, we have three entries in the $75,000 Young Winner Stakes – a great spot to see how everyone is doing. And, we have three well-regarded players in here: BROADWING, DARK EAGLE, and CHICK BURR. My top jockey, Charlie Fisher, decides to take the call on BROADWING, leaving the mount on the others to the best I can find elsewhere – Ivory and Archer are my usual fall-backs. BANK ON BILL is in here as well – the others are relatively new to me.


Race #8 Young Winner Stakes Purse $75,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 9 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 7 MPH Purse: $75,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Tennessee Tess Crane 125 11.70 5 4 9 9 4 nk 4 1¾ 1 1¾
Broadwing Fishe 125 4.30 1 8 7 ½ 7 ½ 3 1 1 ns 2 1
Super Trick Dolbo 125 10.40 7 5 8 ½ 8 ½ 7 nk 5 2¾ 3 ¼
Bradash Portrai Bacin 125 11.80 2 6 5 nk 6 1¾ 2 ¾ 2 nk 4 ½
Chick Burr Arche 122 3.80 4 7 4 ¼ 3 nk 1 ½ 3 ¼ 5 1¾
Dark Eagle Ivory 125 4.00 3 2 1 ¾ 4 ½ 6 ¾ 6 1¼ 6 4¼
Bank On Bill Hall 122 7.50 9 1 3 nk 5 ¾ 8 1 7 nk 7 5
Racing Fanny Bhadu 122 7.40 6 9 6 1½ 1 ¼ 5 1½ 8 3½ 8 2½
Soverign Grace Mcroe 125 8.40 8 3 2 nk 2 ½ 9 9 9

Time of Race: 0.47.4 1.14.8 1.43.2


A pretty solid effort all around – we end up with BRIADWING getting up to the lead with a quarter to go, but unable to hold off the rallying TENNESSEE TESS, who looked sharp. DARK EAGLE actually rallied a bit late, after yielding the lead on the turn. CHICK BURR ran well, but was never authoritative, and never got the lead. Pretty good all around – nothing to worry about here.

[Anrhydeddu]

How much cash you have now?

[QuikSand]

I'm up to about $284,000 after the two stakes wins - plenty to spread around as needed.

[QuikSand]

December 2004


My first decision is to let TWO RIGHT FEET rest this month, so his season ends. Here’s his career record to this point, including the final line for 2004:


Horse name: Two Right Feet
RACE ENTRY: No race
Record: Races 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Lifetime: 72 9 9 12 $521,476
Life-Turf: 6 0 1 0 $1,680
Life-Wet: 2 0 0 1 $45,520
This Year: 9 1 2 2 $191,720
Age: 5 Sex: Gelding Color: Brown


Nice horse, not a great year (only win was when we dropped him to allowance company) but earning nearly $200,000 for an “off year” ain’t all bad, really. We net that out against his entry fees, and I suspect we’re still ahead a good bit.



We head to the December auctions, feeling a bit flush with cash after two stakes wins last month. However, I don’t see much to like – and come away empty handed. So, we’ll head into the 3yo season with the foursome we have on hand. I feel like we have two pretty capable sprinters, and two horses who may or may not have the ability to really run a classic distance. Remains to be seen.


December 12 is the American Dream Stakes – a one mile affair for $80,000 – another nice, solid stakes race for developing two year olds. BROADWING and DARK EAGLE will square off yet again, but this time I don’t really recognize any of the rivals in the field. ELECTRICITY is 2 for 2 and trying top level foes for his first time, and SIZZLING SUN looks like a real player here as well. Those two are the ones I’ll be watching most closely.


Race #8 American Dream Stakes Purse $80,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 2-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 0 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Electricity Howe 125 6.10 3 6 3 1 3 2 2 ½ 2 ¼ 1 nk
Bradash Portrai Bacin 125 8.40 5 2 4 nk 4 nk 4 ¾ 3 1½ 2 ¾
Broadwing Fishe 125 2.60 1 7 5 2½ 5 2¾ 5 1¼ 5 ¾ 3 nk
Sizzling Sun Culpe 120 4.90 2 3 2 1¼ 2 1½ 1 2½ 1 2½ 4 ¼
Mi Suena Crane 125 7.90 7 5 6 2 6 4 6 4 4 1¼ 5 3
Ski Patrol Fredk 125 7.70 6 4 7 7 7 7 6 1¼
Dark Eagle Arche 125 2.90 4 1 1 1 1 ½ 3 ½ 6 2¾ 7

Time of Race: 0.47.5 1.14.3 1.42.9



The two foes I mention sit right behind DARK EAGLE in the early going, with BROWDWING right behind them – all in good spots. SIZZLING SUN takes the lead on the turn, and looks good heading for home. However, he fades in the final furlong, and BROADWING is among a few moving forward to get the top three spots.

It now looks like DARK EAGLE might just be a sizzler himself – maybe he needs to shorten up, as he has not demonstrated a whole lot at these more serious distances. Tough to say – he’s something of a ‘tweener, it seems.



On December 24, we have our two sprinters facing off in a 6f allowance race. Charlie Fisher takes the mount on the filly CHICK BURR, while my backup Carl Ivory takes the seat on STERLING SILVER. At six furlongs, I think SILVER might b the one to beat here, actually.


Race #5 Allowance 2YO Winner $13500 Life time Open Purse $30000 (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 4 Horses
for 2-year-olds base weight: 122

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 1 MPH Purse: $30,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Dental Floss Cutle 119 3.40 2 3 3 1¾ 2 nk 1 nk 1 nk
Soverign Grace Mcroe 122 2.50 4 2 2 1 4 4 2 1¼
Sterling Silver Ivory 122 2.30 3 1 1 nk 1 ½ 3 1¾ 3 ¾
Chick Burr Fishe 119 1.80 1 4 4 3 ½ 2 1½ 4

Time of Race: 0.22.3 .47.1 1.14.4


Not the best result here – as both my horses gained the lead only to fold up before the race ended.



That wraps up our season – not a stellar year, exactly, but not truly awful. We managed to stay competitive in a number of 3yo races with our colts, and we have managed to acquire a few youngsters with some promise. Looking ahead – it should be an interesting year for our soon-to-be three year olds, as we will certainly be trying to campaign on the lucrative trail toward the classics. Plus, we’ll gear up our stalwart gelding TWO RIGHT FEET for another run at some big route races, and will hope to bag him another winner soon.

[QuikSand]

January 2005

In January, we will be covering all four stakes races for three year olds, sending out my fleet in each race – one at a time. I’m going to try to avoid running my charges against one another unless I can’t help it.


STERLING SILVER tries first, in the 5 furlong Nedcanrun Stakes, for $50,000. He is speedy – and I hope this suits him well.


Race #8 Nedcanrun Handicap Purse $50,000 (Finished)
5 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 6 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 3/16 3/8 Str Fin
No Secrets Gregg 119 5.50 4 3 1 ½ 2 2 2 1¼ 1 2¼
Pound Sterling Kenne 122 6.80 2 2 3 1 1 ¾ 1 1¾ 2 nk
Wind Sailor Addid 122 5.40 1 5 6 3¼ 4 2¾ 3 2½ 3 1½
As Always Badoi 122 5.20 5 7 2 nk 3 ½ 4 4 4 5¾
Hasty Time Canad 119 5.50 7 4 4 ½ 5 ½ 5 1 5 2
Sterling Silver Fishe 119 2.00 6 1 5 ¼ 6 4¼ 6 3¼ 6 1¼
Lady Bettie Delle 122 10.30 3 6 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.21.6 .44.4 .56.3


They really fly here – the final time of 56.3 is very, very fast – my guy has not shot at running with that group. NO SECRETS rallied late to win it, and looks like he may be able to run farther than he was asked to here – this might be interesting. POUND STERLING – a half brother to mine, and a charge of the Black Tie stables, looked very fast – but couldn’t hold off the charging winner.

I am unhappy with Charlie Fisher’s ride on my colt – and am starting to think about that position.



BROADWING has the rail for the $100,000 handsome takes – in my judgment, the biggest race of the month. However, the game seems to have glitched – and the field is full of older horses. This will prove tough for the 3yos like my guy. Not really fair (boo!).


08Jan05OV Hand m3 D ft 8f 44.0 1:09.1 1:37.1 7 7- 5-16¾ 5-20 5-19 5-15¾ 80 122 2.30 Fishe


He runs a pretty good effort, but is well behind the senior winners here. Bad error – game bud hurt here.



In the Along In Time Stakes, DARK EAGLE will face the real crop of 3yo colts, including DENTAL FLOSS who looked sharp last time out. Unfortunately, it looks like this field also includes some 4 year olds – making this a real problem brewing. (I have yet to play out this far – maybe this becomes a regular bug, which would be a HUGE problem)


16Jan05OV Alon b3 D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:39.0 1 5-2½ 5-6¾ 5-9¼ 5-10¼ 5-10¾ 82 119 2.60 Fishe


Again, older horses get the top spots, but my guy is just behind DENTAL FLOSS among the youngsters. I hope this gets worked out.



Finally, CHICK BURR will run in the Vortex Stakes, a 6f sprint for $50,000. Fortunately, this field is all three year olds, including the tough MAXIMUS who has been inconsistent, but sometimes overpowering.


Race #8 Vortex Stakes Purse $50,000 (Finished)
6 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 6 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 Str Fin
Home Cooking Cushi 122 5.50 4 1 1 1¾ 1 3 1 3¼ 1 1
Chick Burr Fishe 119 2.50 2 6 3 1 3 3 3 5¼ 2 ¼
Maximus Isako 114 4.70 3 5 2 1 2 1¾ 2 1½ 3 3½
Marvelous Matt Clayt 122 5.20 6 7 5 1¾ 5 1¾ 5 1½ 4 1½
Pinetail Bay Harti 122 5.40 7 2 4 ¼ 4 nk 4 nk 5 2¾
Exotic Bonanza Brook 122 5.80 1 4 6 3¾ 6 7 6 8¼ 6 8¾
Ski Patrol Krape 122 9.50 5 3 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.22.1 .46.0 1.11.7


A very nice effort, CHICK BURR was moving forward and just missed the winner here, but got a solid second place. She looked the better of MAXIMUM this time, eyeing her before moving just past her in the stretch. I’m pleased.



That wraps up January – things keep moving forward, but we’d like to see our colts get a chance to run against fair company. That’s what we’re here for.

[QuikSand]

February 2005

The weather is foul, and we may keep TWO RIGHT FEET On the shelf this month again, but will want to get him up and running for the big spring races. I still think the big gelding has a top-level win in him, before he hangs it up for good (perhaps after this season). We’ll target him for the $250,000 Byerly Turk in late April, probably using an early April stakes race as a prep.

It’s hot times in the three-year-old land, as the prep races continue.


On February 5, we have a good spot for our filly CHICK BURR, running from the rail going 6f in the Valentine Handicap against all-female company. The $50,000 purse has attracted MAXIMUS and a few other relative unknowns. We’ll see if we might be able to grab a stakes purse here.


05Feb05OV Vale f3 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:13.0 4 4- 5-2 3-1½ 2-1¼ 3-¾ 92 119 2.60 Fishe


My girl fights on the rail pretty tough behind MAXIMUM most of the way, but then both of them get nipped at the end by a rallying filly RECEPTOR, who gets her first stakes win. Pretty good effort, but there aren’t going to be a whole lot more chances for easy money like this, and it’s too bad we couldn’t bring it in.



In the February 9 Cashmein Stakes, I have DARK EAGLE looking to compete at 7 furlongs – which ought to be a good spot for him, I think. This is a nice $50,000 race – and I’m hoping to see him contend for the top spot. HOME COOKING looks to be the one to beat, and will push the early pace.


Race #8 Cashmein Stakes Purse $50,000 (Finished)
7 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 6 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Home Cooking Cushi 122 4.70 1 4 4 ns 1 3 1 3½ 1 5¼ 1 4½
Pinetail Bay Harti 122 5.50 6 2 2 ns 3 1 3 1 3 3½ 2 2
Peace Tribute Haver 122 6.10 7 7 7 4 ns 2 3 2 3¼ 3 ¾
Exotic Bonanza Brook 122 5.80 4 5 5 ns 6 3¾ 6 6¼ 4 2½ 4 7¼
Marvelous Matt Clayt 122 5.10 2 6 6 ns 5 1 5 nk 5 1½ 5 ns
Ski Patrol Fredk 122 8.60 5 3 3 ns 7 7 7 6 2¾
Dark Eagle Fishe 122 2.40 3 1 1 ns 2 1 4 1½ 6 3 7

Time of Race: 0.22.0 .45.9 1.25.8


It seems I gravely misjudged his chances – DARK EAGLE gave chase a bit, but faded very badly and was no factor at all, against a seemingly ragtag field here. Very disappointing.



I have STERLING SILVER entered into a $50k claimer – I’d be fine if he got claimed away from us here. He doesn’t seem to have any distance in him – so if 6f if his limit, I might as well try to get some money from him. I send him 7f here – but am mostly looking to get paid one way or the other.


09Feb05OV CL50 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:27.0 2 2-ns 1-½ 1-¼ 2-nk 5-5¼ 86 119 2.30 Fishe


He gives me about what I expect – four or five furlongs of good effort, and then an empty gas tank. No purse money, and no claim. Dang.



On February 26, most of the top 3yos are ready to contend the $100,000 Will Jenkins Stakes, a 1 1/8 mile run. Here’s where we might start to see who can really go a distance, and who is better suited to the mile-and-under affairs we’ve been running. I’m hoping that BROADWING remains in the upper division there – he is our best hope for the Derby, I have concluded (no surprise).

MAXIMUS and HOME COOKING, winners of races earlier this month, are both in here and both will show early foot. SIR HENRY ought to be a pace factor, but I don’t see any obviously strong rally types – it might set up well for my guy to come from off the pace, barring traffic troubles again.


Race #8 Wil Jenkins Stakes Purse $100,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 9 MPH Purse: $100,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Maximus Addid 119 4.30 5 2 3 3¾ 2 ½ 2 1 1 nk 1 ¼
Exotic Bonanza Brook 122 6.20 6 4 6 ¼ 7 4 ¾ 4 1 2 nk
Bruce's Shadow Parik 114 6.10 3 6 5 ½ 6 1 7 6 ¾ 3 ½
Marvelous Matt Jeste 122 6.70 2 5 4 ¾ 4 1 5 ¼ 7 4 2
Broadwing Fishe 122 2.70 1 7 7 5 ½ 6 1 5 ½ 5 1¼
Sir Henry Kenne 122 6.10 4 1 1 ½ 1 1¼ 1 1¼ 2 2¼ 6 ½
Home Cooking Cushi 122 5.00 7 3 2 1½ 3 8¼ 3 6¼ 3 nk 7

Time of Race: 0.45.8 1.12.7 1.56.3


It’s a mess as the early speed mostly falls off, leaving most of the field to get around the tiring chasers to try to catch the still-rolling MAXIMUS. She holds on to win it, despite furious gains by several others in the field. My guy got stuck behind a few, lost some ground fiddling inside, and ended up in fifth – despite being better than that, I believe. Charlie Fisher, and his love for the “ground-saving trip” is killing me, and I’m close to looking elsewhere.

[QuikSand]

March 2005


DARK EAGLE is getting a chance to run on turf – why not? It’s a one mile race, the Planetarium Handicap, and this is probably his last shot at redemption. If he turns out to like the turf, fine. If not, he probably comes out of the picture for stakes races.


Race #8 Planetarium Handicap Purse $50,000 (Finished)
8 Furlongs on Turf Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Good Rain: Medium Wind: 5 MPH Purse: $50,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
ClarePearl Catal 118 5.10 2 2 1 2½ 1 3¾ 1 6¼ 1 7 1 4¾
Marvelous Matt Jeste 119 5.70 1 6 2 nk 2 2¼ 2 1¾ 2 ¼ 2 nk
Guzzler Delle 121 4.70 3 7 5 1 3 nk 4 1 4 1½ 3 nk
Maximus May G 118 5.00 6 4 4 ¼ 4 ½ 3 ½ 3 1¼ 4 nk
Dark Eagle Fishe 119 3.10 4 1 3 nk 5 1¾ 5 1¾ 5 1½ 5 4¼
Earner Burner Gorga 116 5.90 5 5 6 1¼ 6 2 6 2 6 2 6 2¼
Bradash Portrai Bacin 119 6.40 7 3 7 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.47.1 1.14.0 1.43.1


Across the muddy turf, nobody was closing ground much – not even MAXIMUS. The early speed holds on, despite my guy’s decent effort he settles for fifth.


Now, please suspend disbelief, and focus on the next race, a day later. We have CHICK BURR running out to a full 1 1/8 miles – probably well beyond her distance limit. But, I still recall he rolling from off the pace to win at one mile last year – so it’s not inconceivable she could be a factor here. This is the $80,000 Overbrook Fillies Test – and the purse was just too rich to pass up.


Race #8 Overbrook Fillies Test Purse $80,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old fillies base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 1 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Bank On Bill Mayhe 122 5.80 5 1 1 3¼ 1 6 1 8¾ 1 9¼ 1 8½
Chick Burr Fishe 122 2.50 1 3 4 ¾ 2 1 2 2 2 3¾ 2 4½
Maximus Isako 117 4.80 3 4 2 ¼ 3 ½ 3 2¼ 3 4½ 3 3
Bruce's Shadow Crisc 122 5.60 6 6 6 ½ 6 ¾ 6 3 7 4 ½
SheerBrilliance Cushi 122 6.50 7 5 5 2½ 5 4¾ 5 2 4 1 5 ¼
Key Race Keen 122 5.00 4 7 7 7 7 6 nk 6 3½
Earner Burner Gorga 122 7.10 2 2 3 nk 4 1½ 4 ½ 5 1¼ 7

Time of Race: 0.45.5 1.11.1 1.53.3


As usual, BANK ON BILL is just full of early run, and gets clear easily. CHICK BURR battles with MAXIMUS for the second spot, but it’s a tight trailing pack. Turns out, the early speed holds up here, too – my girl stays in second place, but really makes no move on the flying leader.


I send STERLING SILVER in another claimer, this time on the turf also. He turns in a stellar effort:


07Mar05OV CL25 b3 T fm 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.1 1 1- 1-2¼ 1-4½ 1-4½ 1-2½ 98 119 3.50 Fishe


This is easily his best race to date – and I’m thinking he might be worth something on the turf, but (again) only at very limited distances. There’s not a ton of money in turf sprints, but we’ll try to use him to find some of it.



On March 12, we have BROADWING in the Overbrook Colts Test – the male version of the race that CHICH BURR pushed second in a week ago. My guy is the top earner here, but talent wise, I don’t know. I think SHALLOON might be a rally-type factor here, and wouldn’t be surprised to see him take the top spot.


Race #8 Overbrook Colts Test Purse $80,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 7 Horses
for 3-year-old colts base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 2 MPH Purse: $80,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Frigate Jeste 122 4.90 4 6 2 3½ 2 7¾ 2 8¼ 2 8 1 nk
Road Service Forbe 122 5.40 5 7 1 3 1 6½ 1 6¾ 1 2 2 5½
Mime Whacker Nibbl 117 5.70 3 4 6 ¼ 6 1½ 6 1 5 ¾ 3 1
Shalloon Bacin 122 5.20 6 3 3 nk 5 ½ 3 1 4 ¼ 4 ¾
Broadwing Fishe 122 2.80 1 5 7 3 ¼ 4 ¼ 3 nk 5 1¼
Exotic Bonanza Brook 122 6.20 2 1 4 ½ 4 ½ 5 1 6 2¾ 6 2½
Sharptail Parik 117 6.00 7 2 5 nk 7 7 7 7

Time of Race: 0.44.8 1.10.8 1.54.5


A dull effort for my guy – never really a threat at all, as the early speed again holds on to dominate the race. That seems to be a disturbing trend here in these early-year races.

[QuikSand]

April 2005

We’re into the springtime, and ready for a change of scenery. Blue Rock Downs is the new site for racing – right into the heart of the classics.


First up is STERLING SILVER, looking for second straight win in a turf claiming race. He’s made a significant favorite after his win last time out – and I’m hoping he gets grabbed here for the $50k tag.


02Apr05BR CL50 b3+ T fm 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:12.1 1 1- 5-2½ 5-6½ 5-6½ 7-6 87 110 2.90 Fishe


Disappointing effort here – I thought we might have found his proper spot. Instead, he just seems inconsistent – wasn’t able to make the lead here, and never move forward. And no claim, either – rats.



Now, we have TWO RIGHT FEET coming out off his winter layoff – he’ll run in the 1 ¼ mile Cool Papa Bell Handicap (another indication that the original game writers were baseball fans). The field looks tough, better than I had expected for a $60,000 purse.


Race #8 Cool Papa Bell Handicap Purse $60,000 (Finished)
10 Furlongs on Dirt Total 10 Horses
for 4 year olds and up base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 3 MPH Purse: $60,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.
Winner of <18K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Winner of 18-30K Purses in last 12 months allowed lbs,
Has finished first or second in all of last 3 races +2 lbs

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 1 Str Fin
Two Right Feet Fishe 122 7.40 3 4 7 nk 8 ¼ 6 1¼ 8 ¾ 1 nk
Deedle Niswo 122 6.70 9 8 10 10 8 ½ 4 1¾ 2 nk
Lucy Kosmos Jeste 122 5.40 7 9 8 ¾ 9 4¼ 4 ½ 2 2 3 1¼
Fish Crow Macle 122 8.80 1 10 9 1½ 6 ½ 5 nk 3 ½ 4 1½
Miz Got Bucks Hoy R 122 7.30 5 5 5 ¼ 5 2¾ 1 1¼ 1 ¼ 5 3¾
Bee Valiant Culpe 117 7.90 6 2 3 nk 4 ½ 10 9 nk 6 nk
Tudor Pace Fredk 122 7.60 10 1 4 1½ 3 ¾ 9 ½ 10 7 nk
Stutz Bearcat Nisky 122 7.70 8 3 6 1¼ 7 nk 7 ½ 7 nk 8 4¼
Goodnight Kiss Mayfl 122 8.40 4 7 1 1 2 5¼ 3 ¾ 6 1 9 nk
H H Francis Cutle 122 8.30 2 6 2 1½ 1 ½ 2 nk 5 nk 10

Time of Race: 0.44.4 1.38.9 2.07.1


It was a thrilling finsh, after Charlie’s inside path kept 2RF in lots of traffic trouble until the very end. He finally got up, and then DEEDLE made a very tough play to hold on to the top spot. My guy wins it in a photo – great finish, and he is looking sharp. We’ll point him to the bigger races later this spring, and hope he can run this well again.



In the monthly auction, I am plagued again by the recurring bug—every auction in my game has featured horses by the same names. I have to rename the ones that I buy. At least I don’t see “Chappaqua” and “Stadium Girl” repeated 10 or 20 times across the game universe – but what is becoming of the horses from these auctions? (The first one is always named “Chappaqua”) This game has been patched?

Anyway, I decide to put in a big amount for a nearly perfectly-graded horse. He sets me back a full $164,000 – more than half of my current bankroll, but he looks great and the trainer loves him. Could be interesting. I name him LOGGERHEAD, and pick up another cheap colt I name DIVING DROP. We’ll get both onto the track probably next month.



The April 9 New Castle Stakes is a major prep – and will be my last for my two 3yo colts, BROADWING and DARK EAGLE. The former is going to the Derby for sure, the latter might need a good showing here to get my vote of confidence. RECEPTOR looks like a tough foe in here – and at 1 1/8 miles, this is a good setup for those angling for the Derby.


Race #8 New Castle Stakes Purse $200,000 (Finished)
9 Furlongs on Dirt Total 8 Horses
for 3-year-olds base weight: 125

Track: Fast Rain: None Wind: 10 MPH Purse: $200,000

Apprentice jockeys allowed 2 extra pounds
Females allowed 3 lbs.

HORSE JOCKEY WT. ODDS NUM ST. 1/4 1/2 3/4 Str Fin
Home Cooking Mazut 122 8.60 2 3 2 1¼ 3 2½ 2 ¾ 2 3¾ 1 ns
Soverign Grace Addid 122 5.30 5 1 1 2 1 2¾ 1 2 1 ¼ 2 1¾
Frigate Jeste 122 5.40 4 8 5 ¼ 2 nk 3 2¾ 3 ¾ 3 ½
Perfect Landing Gregg 122 6.80 7 5 3 nk 4 ¾ 4 3 4 2¼ 4 ¼
Dark Eagle Arche 122 7.10 3 2 7 3¾ 7 4¾ 7 3¾ 5 1½ 5 1¾
Receptor Elmer 119 4.90 8 6 4 nk 6 1 6 1½ 6 1¾ 6 4
Broadwing Fishe 122 3.40 1 7 8 8 8 8 7 3½
Silver Princess Cushi 122 7.70 6 4 6 1 5 1¾ 5 nk 7 ¼ 8

Time of Race: 0.45.2 1.11.0 1.53.6


Well, not the race I thought I’d be seeing. DARK EAGLE was the one bearing down on the leaders, while BROADWING looked pretty flat after a middling run from the very back. It may not be obvious from the chart, but this was a really nice effort by DARK EAGLE, who saved ground and stayed back, and then rallied late – the opposite of some of his earlier efforts where he tried to push early. He may have just gotten himself into the Derby after all.

HOME COOKING has to be among the serious picks for the Derby ahead – he has developed well, and seems to be okay even with the more serious distances.



CHICK BURR will race in the Rosie's Charm Stakes, for $100,000. It’s 1 1/8 miles – again, probably beyond her best, but she ran so well last time out I want to give her a shot here. I don’t think she has a real chance against the best of the best in the Derby, but she might contend here.





A nice, well-placed effort. She made up ground on the early leaders, edged in between them, but only could get third place. The early speed still seems to be prevailing here – which puts a peculiar spin on my plans for the Derby this year. Who should go from my trio of deserving three year olds? I had all but throws out CHICK BURR, but her good effort over a mile are persuading me otherwise. BROADWING was my top gun for the distance, but he looks terrible. DARK WING almost redeemed himself last time out, leaving me in a real quandary.

That gets us through April – on to May, and the big one.

[Bee]

QS,

Did you resolve your issues with Horse Racing Manager?

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Bee
QS,

Did you resolve your issues with Horse Racing Manager?

Not yet, but I think I am just about done with this career, and my next itinerary item of this sort is to see if I can get that game to work properly. I believe my problem arises from using Alt-Tab to exit HRM and go into my word processor to write about the game. I guess I'll need some sort of work-around... stay tuned, I guess.

[Anrhydeddu]

QS, you left out the results of CHICK BURR in the Rosie's Charm Stakes. I do hope you get to the Derby and some of the big stakes for 2RF, as well as see how LOGGERHEAD makes out. In other words, keep it going. :)

[QuikSand]

Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
In other words, keep it going. :)

Sorry about the omission(s).

I'm on the fence... I just don't feel like time spent with this game is well invested, even if it superficially makes a decent read. I need something on my end to make it worthwhile.

[sterlingice]

Aw, nuts. I get a horse named after me and don't find out about it until long after Kickstand has decided to kill off the dynasty. :(

SI

[QuikSand]

Just a reminder to myself... I mean to revive this when I get a chance. Seems like a good time of year to start thinking about the ponies again.

[QuikSand]

Well, I’ve been away quite a while, but we might try to get back on track.

If you haven’t been reading up to this point – here’s where we are with the QuikSand Ranch, in this incarnation:

TWO LEFT FEET, a 6yo gelding, was our first claim, and is a solid distance horse. After a somewhat disappointing 2004 campaign, he won his first effort back in a minor stakes races, and is being pointed toward some big races in the coming months. He has earned quite a lot of money for us – indeed, we probably ought to rename the stable for him, as it’s his earnings that have gotten us up and running so comfortably.

We have four three-year-olds of varying ability, as the season approaches the 3yo classics. CHICK BURR is a speedy filly, who has been trying to extend her speed out to longer distances with varying results. DARK EAGLE has a closer’s style, but not great talent, it seems. BROADWING hasn’t shows us much since December, and is almost ready to be written off. STERLING SILVER won a claiming race this year, but seems a notch or two below the real stakes contenders. I’m guessing that we’ll try to use CHICK BURR in the Derby, and go from there – DARK EAGLE may yet ear a chance to run in one of the big races, but I don’t think we’re much of a factor for the classics this year.

We have a couple of 2yos in the barn, but LOGGERHEAD and DIVING DROP are both unknown quantities. We’ll get a much better sense after a few months and their first races.

With that – we have only $23,277 in the bank – so we’re actually a bit pinched for cash. As of this evaluation, I’m thinking that we might look to spin off BROADWING and maybe STERLING SILVER, hoping to get them claimed for more than their current “sale price.”

But our first race coming up is, in fact, the Blue Rock Derby – and CHICK BURR’s entry has already been paid for, so the pressure for cash isn’t that bad at the moment. And any sort of money result would put us right back into the big bucks.

May 2005 to come…

[QuikSand]

2005 Blue Rock Derby Field

It’s a pretty solid field for the Derby this year – our filly is mid-gate, and a couple of the heavy hitters are in here as well. Here are the past performances of the ten-horse field, for your perusal:


Blue Rock Downs. Race #8. Sat, May 7, 2005
Blue Rock Derby Purse $750,000. 10f on dirt


1 : HANKYPANKY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Brown, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 36 8 6 9 $154,320
Owner: Bailey K Life-Turf 5 1 1 1 $14,300
Jockey: Bach P 78-15-11-21 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Nibouar D 117-25-22-22 This Year 19 5 3 5 $73,960

28Apr05BR CL30 b3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:42.0 4 4- 4-6¾ 3-7½ 2-4¾ 1-½ 85 110 1.90 Bach
27Apr05BR CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 22.1 0:46.1 1:12.1 3 3- 3-2½ 4-6¾ 4-10¾ 2-9¼ 81 110 2.20 Arche
25Apr05BR CL21 b3+ D ft 6f 22.1 0:47.0 1:13.1 3 3- 3-1¼ 3-3¼ 4-5 1-ns 92 110 2.10 Crane
24Apr05BR Goss b3+ T fm 7f 22.0 0:45.0 1:23.0 6 6-ns 7-6½ 7-15¾ 7-20¾ 7-24 69 113 4.80 Bach
16Apr05BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:46.1 1:27.0 8 8-ns 7-5 7-6 5-8¾ 5-6 82 122 6.50 Bach
10Apr05BR CL25 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:12.0 3 3- 4-4¾ 3-8½ 4-9½ 3-5¾ 87 110 2.20 Arche

2 : NEUROLOGICAL RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 8-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 13 6 3 1 $196,000
Owner: Black Tie Stables Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Kenneth M 144-31-19-16 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Lytton B 131-31-19-14 This Year 5 3 1 0 $121,100

17Apr05BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 44.1 1:10.1 1:54.1 2 2-1¾ 1-1½ 1-3½ 1-4 2-nk 88 122 7.70 Frog
08Apr05BR AL32 b3+ D gd 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:11.1 2 2- 2-¾ 1-5¾ 1-7¾ 1-6¼ 102 107 6.20 Celan
02Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D ft 10f 44.1 1:39.0 2:09.1 1 1-2 1-9 1-8¼ 1-4¾ 4-2 87 107 2.60 Celan
27Mar05OV Moos b3 D ft 8f 44.1 1:10.1 1:40.0 1 1-¾ 1-5¾ 1-9 1-6 1-2½ 96 116 4.80 Celan
02Mar05OV CL15 f3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:44.1 1:11.0 3 3- 1-1¼ 1-9 1-10¾ 1-6¼ 101 110 7.80 Frog
09Dec04WP AL35 b2 D gd 8f 45.1 1:12.1 1:42.1 1 1-2 1-7¼ 1-7½ 1-6 3-3 76 119 2.80 Frog

3 : HOME COOKING RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 6-1
Gray, 3, Gelding, 122 LifeTime 32 15 4 2 $518,800
Owner: Hellmut B Life-Turf 4 2 0 0 $27,300
Jockey: Adlesic L 202-34-29-25 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Kanaga E 96-12-19-11 This Year 15 9 2 0 $377,800


24Apr05BR CL50 b3 T fm 6f 22.0 0:46.1 1:12.0 1 1- 1-3½ 1-5 1-5½ 1-2¼ 97 119 1.90 Elmer
21Apr05BR CL18 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 3 1-4½ 1-8¼ 1-10½ 1-10¼ 1-4¼ 90 110 2.00 Elmer
20Apr05BR CL18 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:10.1 1 1- 1-4½ 1-7¾ 1-9¾ 1-10 104 110 2.30 Gregg
18Apr05BR CL30 b3+ T fm 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 1 1-4¾ 1-8 1-9¼ 1-8¾ 1-6½ 90 110 2.10 Gregg
16Apr05BR Scip m3 T fm 7f 22.0 0:46.1 1:27.0 4 4-ns 2-nk 3-½ 4-6¾ 7-10¼ 75 122 6.90 Gregg
09Apr05BR New b3 D ft 9f 45.0 1:11.0 1:53.1 3 2-1¼ 3-2¾ 2-2 2-¼ 1-ns 93 122 8.60 Mazut

4 : PRESIDENT ALAN RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 10-1
Brown, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 27 4 7 6 $104,756
Owner: Malusa A Life-Turf 4 1 2 0 $18,620
Jockey: Mayflower F 68-12-12-12 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Darwicki F 69-12-12-12 This Year 15 2 4 2 $40,856

24Apr05BR CL50 b3 T fm 6f 22.0 0:46.1 1:12.0 3 3- 2-3½ 2-5 2-5½ 2-2¼ 94 119 3.50 Mayfl
21Apr05BR CL18 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:41.0 4 4- 3-10 3-10½ 2-10¼ 2-4¼ 83 110 2.80 Mayfl
20Apr05BR CL18 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:45.1 1:10.1 4 4- 3-6¼ 3-10 3-11½ 3-10½ 88 110 2.90 Mayfl
16Apr05BR CL35 b3+ D ft 8f 45.0 1:11.0 1:38.1 4 4- 4-11¾ 4-13¼ 4-12¼ 4-9 86 110 1.40 Mayfl
14Apr05BR CL25 b3+ D gd 8f 47.1 1:15.0 1:43.0 4 3-1¼ 2-1 4-4 4-5¼ 4-5½ 67 110 2.10 Mayfl
13Apr05BR CL35 b3+ T fm 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:40.1 3 2-½ 3-5¾ 4-13¼ 4-13½ 4-14 67 110 2.20 Mayfl

5 : BANK ON BILL RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 8-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 29 11 7 3 $362,060
Owner: Jakotowics R Life-Turf 2 1 0 0 $12,300
Jockey: Haverfield J 93-10-16-18 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Dasaro M 87-6-17-18 This Year 15 7 2 3 $143,660

21Apr05BR CL30 f3+ T sf 6f 22.1 0:47.0 1:13.0 1 1- 1-4¼ 1-7½ 1-9 1-8½ 91 105 2.50 Isako
17Apr05BR CL30 f3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 1 1- 1-3 1-5¼ 1-6½ 1-4½ 101 110 2.40 Cuenc
15Apr05BR CL50 f3+ D ft 8f 46.0 1:13.1 1:41.1 3 2-6¼ 2-½ 3-1¼ 4-1¼ 3-4¼ 80 110 2.20 Cuenc
14Apr05BR CL12 f3+ D gd 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:11.1 1 1- 1-2¾ 1-5¼ 1-5¼ 1-2½ 101 110 2.80 Bach
13Apr05BR CL18 f3+ D ft 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:39.1 2 2-6 2-1¼ 3-1¾ 3-5½ 2-5¾ 87 110 2.90 Bach
11Apr05BR CL35 f3+ D gd 8f 45.1 1:12.0 1:40.1 1 2-6½ 2-3½ 2-4½ 2-4½ 3-4¼ 85 110 3.50 Bach

6 : CHICK BURR RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 4-1
Bay, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 13 4 3 4 $296,960
Owner: QuikSand Ranch Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Fisher C 31-4-4-3 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Doll C 69-11-8-14 This Year 4 0 2 2 $67,880

17Apr05BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 44.1 1:10.1 1:54.1 6 5-3 3-9¼ 3-11¾ 3-6 3-1 86 122 3.30 Fishe
06Mar05OV Over f3 D ft 9f 45.1 1:11.0 1:53.0 3 4-¾ 2-6 2-8¾ 2-9¼ 2-8½ 81 122 2.50 Fishe
05Feb05OV Vale f3 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:13.0 4 4- 5-2 3-1½ 2-1¼ 3-¾ 92 119 2.60 Fishe
23Jan05OV Vort b3 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:11.1 6 6- 3-2¾ 3-4¾ 3-4¾ 2-1 100 119 2.50 Fishe
24Dec04WP AL30 b2 D ft 6f 22.0 0:47.0 1:14.0 4 4- 4-3 3-½ 2-nk 4-2¼ 82 119 1.80 Fishe
27Nov04WP Youn b2 D ft 8f 47.0 1:14.1 1:43.0 7 4-¼ 3-¾ 1-½ 3-nk 5-3¼ 70 122 3.80 Arche

7 : DENTAL FLOSS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 15-1
Gray, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 20 3 2 3 $107,020
Owner: Liter G Life-Turf 2 0 0 1 $2,460
Jockey: Cutler C 48-10-9-8 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Ivy C 46-10-9-8 This Year 6 0 0 2 $11,420

24Apr05BR AL32 b3+ T fm 8f 46.1 1:13.1 1:42.1 5 2-1 2-3¾ 2-4¾ 4-4¼ 6-2½ 76 107 5.90 Cutle
17Apr05BR Rosi f3 D ft 9f 44.1 1:10.1 1:54.1 5 3-¾ 4-9½ 5-13¾ 5-9¾ 5-3½ 83 122 8.10 Cutle
30Mar05OV CL35 b3 T fm 6f 22.0 0:47.0 1:14.0 2 2- 2-1 2-½ 2-1 3-1 84 116 2.20 Cutle
19Mar05OV CL50 f3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.0 1:12.1 5 5- 4-2¼ 3-4¼ 3-4 3-nk 98 110 7.70 Cutle
05Feb05OV Vale f3 D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:13.0 2 2- 2-¼ 4-3½ 5-6 5-2 90 119 5.70 Cutle
16Jan05OV Alon b3 D ft 8f 45.1 1:11.1 1:39.0 4 1-2 1-½ 4-2¾ 4-6¼ 4-6¾ 88 116 4.70 Cutle

8 : DREAM GIRL RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 7-1
Bay, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 20 8 5 2 $273,600
Owner: Lou M Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Crane J 138-24-20-23 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Burk A 76-16-20-10 This Year 5 3 0 1 $65,400

14Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.1 9 4-1¼ 5-5¼ 5-9½ 6-10½ 6-11½ 73 110 4.30 Crane
08Apr05BR AL32 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.1 1:40.1 4 2-¾ 2-2¾ 2-2½ 2-2¼ 1-nk 92 110 2.70 Crane
01Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D ft 12f 44.1 2:08.0 2:37.1 9 6-1½ 5-7¼ 2-1 2-nk 1-nk 90 110 5.90 Amico
13Mar05OV CL50 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 7 7- 2-1¾ 2-2 2-2 1-nk 104 110 5.50 Marre
07Feb05OV CL50 b3 D ft 8f 46.0 1:13.1 1:42.0 4 2-nk 1-ns 1-1 2-¼ 3-2½ 80 119 2.80 Airey
22Dec04WP AL30 b2 D ft 7f 22.0 0:46.0 1:28.0 2 2-ns 2-2 2-5 2-8 3-2 82 117 2.00 Hanni

9 : TENNESSEE TESS RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 15-1
Gray, 3, Male, 122 LifeTime 18 4 1 1 $135,380
Owner: Furman J Life-Turf 1 0 0 0 $1,120
Jockey: Freeze M 51-10-7-9 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Berheide C 7-0-0-1 This Year 7 1 0 1 $14,180

21Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D gd 10f 45.1 1:40.0 2:09.0 3 5-½ 5-11¾ 6-13¼ 6-11½ 5-7¾ 79 110 4.00 Freez
13Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:44.1 1:10.0 4 4- 8-7¼ 9-14¼ 9-18 9-18 80 110 7.80 Freez
06Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 1 1- 2-4 2-6½ 2-7 3-4¼ 90 110 2.40 Freez
31Mar05OV CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 6 6- 8-6¾ 8-12½ 7-15¾ 7-14 80 110 7.70 Freez
13Mar05OV CL50 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 3 3- 5-6¼ 5-10½ 5-12¾ 4-10¾ 88 110 5.60 Freez
07Mar05OV CL25 b3 T fm 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.1 8 8- 9-6½ 8-10¾ 5-12 4-10¼ 80 119 8.40 Freez

10 : RACING FANNY RECORD RACES 1ST 2ND 3RD EARNINGS ODDS = 11-1
Gray, 3, Female, 119 LifeTime 16 5 4 1 $184,540
Owner: Jakotowics R Life-Turf 0 0 0 0 $0
Jockey: Bhaduri J 79-10-12-19 Life-Wet 0 0 0 0 $0
Trainer: Dasaro M 87-6-17-18 This Year 5 1 2 0 $37,040

14Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D gd 8f 46.0 1:12.0 1:40.1 7 2-½ 4-5 8-12¼ 8-14¾ 9-17¾ 63 107 7.90 Bhadu
06Apr05BR AL40 b3+ D ft 6f 22.0 0:46.0 1:12.0 4 4- 1-4 1-6½ 1-7 1-4¼ 96 107 2.30 Haver
31Mar05OV CL30 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 10 10- 3-3 3-5½ 3-8¾ 4-11¾ 84 107 7.70 Haver
13Mar05OV CL50 b3+ D ft 6f 21.1 0:45.1 1:11.0 8 8- 3-2¼ 3-2¾ 3-3¾ 2-nk 104 107 5.60 Bhadu
09Feb05OV CL50 b3 D ft 7f 21.1 0:45.1 1:27.0 5 5- 3-1¾ 2-¼ 3-¼ 2-1 94 116 4.00 Bhadu
17Dec04WP AL30 b2 D ft 8f 46.0 1:13.0 1:42.0 5 3-½ 2-2¾ 2-1¾ 1-nk 2-¼ 84 119 4.00 Bhadu


From the recent efforts, it’s fairly clear to me that HOME COOKING is the one to beat here. Set aside the absurd race schedule, and you’ll see excellent speed figures. Distance seems to be the main question, but he has done pretty well at reasonable routes – so I’d be putting my hypothetical money down on him, if on anyone. BANK ON BILL also might have class to contend here. I guess I can’t rule my own filly out of the picture entirely, but she by no means deserves single digit odds.

Again, as I have repeated through this dynasty, the game simply doesn’t use any kind of discernible rationality in setting race odds – so kindly disregard that element of the game, as I do.

Race will go off in a while…