Scat Daddy was a great sire, gone way too soon. Once considered a one-dimensional patriarch of sprinters on grass, his last few crops have featured a Triple Crown winner, Justify, able to get a distance on dirt, clearly. Not to mention many others, on turf, dirt and synthetic surfaces, at any distance, most recently the winner of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, Anothertwistafate, running off by seven lengths on the Tapeta surface.
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Track Breakdowns – Are Ten Ton Tractors Compressing The Problem?
In light of the Santa Anita breakdowns, a Thoroughbred People fan has ventured that “Vehicular traffic (tractor and ambulance) is highly destructive to the cushion. Horse drawn harrows and gate have great advantages.” Watching the tractors tow the harrows between races, I have also wondered how the compression of narrow lanes of the track by a multi-ton John Deere tractor vehicle effects the track. Whether it adds to the track inconsistency or not, what a nice sight it would be for racing fans to see the harrows towed by plough horses instead.
Fountain Of Youth Card Produces Record Handle, Up Nine Percent Over 2018
Saturday March 2nd’s 14-race program at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by Code of Honor’s victory in the 73rd running of the Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth (G2), produced a record total handle on Fountain of Youth Day of $31,230,535, a 9-percent increase over last year’s 14-race program.
Kentucky Derby & Oaks Picture Hazier After Fountain of Youth Day At Gulfstream
Fountain of Youth day at Gulfstream turned out to be not so much a coronation, but a confusion. Just when one hoped that the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks picture would be clarified, speed duels and disappointment ruled the day.
Irishman David Egan Rides First North American Winner At Laurel Park
Jockey David Egan, England’s champion apprentice of 2017, registered his first North American victory when Mohan Stable’s Bobby G galloped to a 5 ½-length win in Friday’s fourth race at Laurel Park. Making his 12th career start and first since being claimed for $5,000 off a 13 ½-length win Feb. 2 by trainer Jose Corrales, Bobby G ($8.20) ran about 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.42 over a fast main track in the $25,000 starter optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up.
The Times They Are A-Changing
The latest list of leading sires, as of the end of February, 2019, couldn’t be more telling. The changing of the millennium has marked a tidal shift in leading stallions, except for grand old Malibu Moon (1997), a perennial leading sire and cranky old man. When you go to see him at Spendthrift Farm, you are warned about his lack of patience and bad temper, but he is still magnificent, with his huge hind end, glorious shoulder, and sturdy, strong-boned look of his sire, A.P. Indy.
Crestwood Farm Introduces ‘Breed Risk Free’ Incentive Program
Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm has announced a new “Breed Risk Free” breeders’ incentive plan. “Breed Risk Free” rewards breeders by allowing contracted stud fees to be paid out of sales proceeds and waived entirely if the resultant yearling does not sell for $20,000 plus contract price.
Historical Racing Machines Supercharge Churchill Downs Spring Meet Purses
Record prize money for horsemen will be distributed at Churchill Downs’ 145th Spring Meet thanks to early returns from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming. The first condition book, which covers the first half of the 38-day Spring Meet at the Louisville, Ky., track, was released Wednesday, and purses for the 189 offered races total $20.1 million – an unprecedented 46 percent increase from last spring’s $13.7 million. The daily average is $1,056,842 compared to $722,579 in 2018, or $106,243 per race versus $72,640.
Thoroughbred People: Trainer Ed Coletti
Name: Edward Coletti Jr.
Occupation: Trainer
Location: Maple Shade, New Jersey
What are your earliest memories of big races or/and horses?
Secretariat winning the triple crown was my earliest memory of horse racing.
How did you get involved in horse racing and how did you get started as a trainer?
Jerry Hollendorfer’s Top Colt Instagrand On The Comeback Trail!
As elusive as a snow leopard, as mythic as a unicorn, the colt that many consider the most promising and thrilling Kentucky Derby prospect, who disappeared after destroying competition last summer at two -years-old, Instagrand, has reappeared. After winning the August 11, 2018 running of the Grade 2 Best Pal S. at Del Mar, Instagrand went into hiding, with Jerry Hollendorfer, his trainer, being as closed-mouthed as usual about when he would next start, and his whereabouts. We may never know what transpired to make this stunning colt vanish so completely.