It’s always fun winning races and that’s exactly what Charlie A did on Sunday! Trained by Michelle Nihei, the four year old Curlin filly won for the second time in 6 races in allowance company. Congrats to Owner Breeder Casa Farms!
Elementofsurprise was ready to run so I sent her to NY to run at Belmont. Had put in some monster works at Churchill downs, several of them bullets. So exciting! Got off the van and Michelle Nihei noticed she had a little swelling on her left leg. Did a scan and nothing serious, but of course needs some time off…so back to KY she came. Getting some much deserved rest and relaxation and already putting on some weight. I know this is a good filly so she will get all that she needs. Planning to take her to FL with me and train her myself. Always wanted to get my license so no time better than now! Wish us luck!
Here is Elle breaking from the gate (center)at KEE last weekend. Even though she broke in the air, she rocketed past her workmates and got the 3/8ths in 36.40! Second fastest of the day for 29 at the distance..
Elle playing with her Nose It! horse ball. This toy has a small opening for some feed and the horse spends hours pushing and playing with it while small bits of feed are dispensed. AS you can see – she loves it!
Horse safe gardens and landscaping : 2w8Gmm
My beautiful colt by Mineshaft out of Sailing Minstrel has been sold and I wish him and his new connections the best of luck for the future! Though I wish I could have raced him myself, the offer was “too good to refuse”. May the racing spirits be with him and carry him home swiftly and safely with each outing!
On another note…my Discreet Cat two-year-old filly Elementofsurpise is coming along very nicely and may be on target for a first start at Keeneland! She is a big January baby who shows a lot of speed and is very precocious. Stay tuned…
My 3 year old colt named Eluvium by Mineshaft out of multiple graded producer Sailing Minstrel by The Minstrel is nearing his first start…finally! Should be ready to run in 6-8 weeks and hoping for a start at Aqueduct or Keeneland. This beautiful boy will be a route horse and will probably start in a one mile race, perhaps even on the grass as his pedigree supports both dirt and grass. He is a very talented horse with a stoic personality (except when his food is being served – look out!), gorgeous body, movement and everything going for him. I purchased this horse for a mere $5000 at the Keeneland 2011 Yearling sale because he was unprepped with a rubbed out mane, bot eggs all over him, a big shoe boil, completely untrimmed, unshod hooves and was skinny and had been beat up by other horses. His scope was an A+ and his radiographs were clean! But nobody liked him because of how he looked on the “outside”! I saw movement and grace and PEDIGREE! Here’s to knowing what to look for…..! Cheers!
Diva made her fifth start a winning one at Arlington Racecource on May 9th 2012. As per the DRF – “Devout Diva secured a forward placing attending a rival’s pace in the opening quarter, moved to press the issue racing through the turn to gain a clear advantage racing into upper stretch and was kept to steady encouragement to maintain the advantage.” She earned $9900 for the win and now has earnings of over $13000. Very proud of my girl!
Elluvium, my two-year-old Mine shaft colt is doing very well at Keeneland. His third day at the track he walked to the training track without a pony, jogged and then galloped alone one time around with out missing a beat! He has been to the track three days in a row and is now galloping like an old timer. This is a very intelligent, laid back colt. His confidence is amazing and is giving us hope that he truly will be the racehorse he was bred to be. Pictures and video coming tomorrow!!
My homebred filly two-year-old, Devout Diva (Holy Bull ex Criminal Princess) ran a game third in her first start yesterday at Hawthorne Racecource. I was there to see the race and so proud of my girl was barely beaten for second. The race was contested at a mile and one sixteenth – quite a lot for a first timer two-year-old. She broke very well and layed third until the 3/8ths pole where she challenged
Devout Diva in the paddock before her first race
the leader who drew off and won by 10 lengths. Diva dug in, trying to stay for second but was wore down at the wire and lost by a nose. She showed determination and grit so we were all very pleased (Diva is part of a partnership run by Dare to Dream Stable). Looks like we’ve got ourselves a race horse!!!
Last Saturday we ran Fortune Play in the Pink Ribbon Stakes at Charles Town races. She was picked to win but unfortunately did not run well. John Booker Jr, her trainer, thinks maybe the 8 hour ship was too much for her. Or perhaps the tiring track got to her as she was blowing pretty hard after the race. Next time we will ship in earlier to give her more time to adjust to the travel and the surface. Oh well, as I always say, if it was that easy – everyone would be doing it!
But two great memories came from the evening anyway. One is the picture I caught of an outrider loving on his pony. Great shot of these two dear friends in between races!
The other involves the horse that won the 11th race that night – an allowance race for West Virginia breds. Russell Road, a 5 year old gelding by Wheaton won for the 18th time in his life. It was his 30th lifetime start as well and with his winners share, his earning are now $900,443.20!!!!! What a warrior and one of the amazing unsung heroes in the sport of horse racing that should be applauded by all… Rock on Russell!!
"On The Rail" 