Last Kentucky Derby Prep Races and Latest Point Standings

Omaha Beach won by a length over a sloppy track in yesterday's Arkansas Derby.  The final time for the 1 and 1/8 mile race was 1:49.91.  Jockey Mike Smith gave his usual masterful ride on the Dick Mandella trained colt to beat Improbable, who was 5 3/4 lengths ahead of third place Country House.  Laughing Fox followed a length behind Country House to finish fourth.
   Owendale surprised most folks by winning the Lexington Stakes in a time of 1:44.14 over the 1 and 1/16 miles race.  Owendale finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Anothertwistafate, who was 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Sueno.  Knicks Go crossed the finish line 5 lengths behind Sueno for fourth place.
  Then, too, the Ben Ali had a surprise winner in Bourbon Resolution, who bested Nun the Less by 4 1/2 lengths, covering the 1 1/8 mile course in 1:38.45.  Nun the Less was 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Third Day, who finished 3/4 length ahead of Just Whistle.

   Omaha Beach wins the Arkansas Derby:

Owendale wins the Lexington Stakes:

Bourbon Resolution wins the Ben Ali:

Depending on which owners and trainers decide to run in the Kentucky Derby, several jockeys will have to make difficult decisions.  A lot of jockeys are the regular riders of two or more of the colts who have qualified for the Run for the Roses on May 4.  It will interesting to see which jockeys pick which of their regular mounts to ride....

Yesterday's two races, the Lexington Stakes and the Arkansas Derby were the last two races in which horses could win points to enter, and run in, the Derby.  This is the order of point standings after those two races:

   1.   Tacitus

   2.   Omaha Beach

   3.   Vekoma

   4.   Plus Que Parfait

   5.   Roadster

   6.   By My Standards

   7.   Maximum Security

   8.   Game Winner

   9.   Code of Honor

  10.  Haikal

  11.  Improbable

  12.  War of Will

  13.  Long Range Toddy

  14.  Tax

  15.  Cutting Humor

  16.  Win Win Win

  17.  Country House

  18.  Gray Magician

  19.  Spinoff

  20.  Master Fencer (JPN)

  21.  Bodexpress

  22.  Signalman

  23.  Anothertwistafate

  24.  Sueno

  25.  Bourbon Way

  26.  Instagrand

  27.  Mucho Gusto

  28.  Knicks Go

  29.  Owendale

  30.  Outshine

 Remember that only 20 entries are allowed in the Kentucky Derby - as we draw closer to the first Saturday in May, trainers and owners will be watching their horses carefully, and deciding whether or not they believe their colts will be able to put in a good race over 10 furlongs, which none of them have done before.  May the gods of racing look kindly upon this bunch of young thoroughbreds!

Saturday's Last Two Kentucky Derby Prep Races & the Fourth Foal

The Kentucky derby will be run on May 4th, but the last two prep races for the Derby will be run Saturday.  Most eyes will be on the Arkansas Derby, which will have the greatest number of points to award, but the Lexington Stakes is also interesting for horses "on the bubble" to earn a few more points.
   First, though, Somelikeithotbrown is off the Derby trail with sesamoid chips in one of his hinds.  He was holding the number 20 spot in the points race when his injury was discovered and announced.

The post position draws for both the Arkansas Derby and the Lexington Stakes were held this morning.    Following is the race information, followed by post position, the entry's name, the weight the horse will carry in pounds, and the morning line odds.
The Arkansas Derby   1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs)   Purse: $1 million
   1.   Improbable           122       8 to 5
   2.   Six Shooter           122      30 to 1
   3.   Omaha Beach       122       2 to 1
   4.   Tikhvin Flew        118       30 to 1
   5.   Laughing Fox       118       20 to 1
   6.   Gray Attempt        122       8 to 1
   7.   Galilean                 122      10 to 1
   8.   Country House      118       12 to 1
   9.   One Flew South    118       50 to 1
  10.  Jersey Agenda       118       30 to 1
  11.  Long Range Toddy   122     5 to 1

The Lexington Stakes    1 1/16 miles  (8.5 furlongs)   Purse: $220,000
   1.   Shang                     120       15 to 1
   2.   Hawaiian Noises    118       15 to 1
   3.   Sueno                     118        7 to 2
   4.   Anothertwistafate    120      8 to 5
   5.   Harvey Wallbanger  123      8 to 1
   6.   Chase the Ghost      118       20 to 1
   7.   Knicks Go               123       12 to 1
   8.   Owendale                118       20 to 1
   9.   Zenden                    118        8 to 1
  10.  Roiland                    118       12 to 1

**************************************

And I think I've twisted some tails on Chincoteague, about the ponies and pedigrees.  I really didn't mean to upset anyone on the Facebook pages....   Several people were/are very excited about "the first Misty family baby" born in the wild on Assateague.  They are referring to the fourth foal that arrived on 8 April - a very cute pinto sired by Don Leonard Stud II and out of the donated mare Winter Moon.
  Back in March of 2018, it was announced that seven Chincoteague ponies had been returned to the CVFC by an anonymous donor.  All of the press release statements included this: "All the donated ponies have the Chincoteague bloodline and three are from Misty's bloodline."  One of the ponies, a cremello stallion named Winter, did not handle the transition well and was taken back to Pennsylvania.  The others, all female, have been integrated into the herds on Assateague. People have been doing research and have found the partial pedigrees of five of the six females - and all were sired by Walnut Hill Nightwind, a direct Misty descendant.  The one mare whose pedigree has not been found is Winter Moon...
  It might be reasonable to assume that since all the other donated ponies have WH Nighwind as their sire, that he is Moon's sire also.  But it is not proven.   One lady that I hold dear, the author and Chincoteague pony owner, Lois Szymanski, stated that the CVFD says that all of those ponies are Misty descendants.  But there is no proof.  Matt DesJardins, who tracked down most of the pedigrees, says that WH Nightwind is probably the sire.
   I guess I been burned too many times making assumptions.  And, from doing human genealogy, I know that saying isn't proof.   Until I see proof, in print, that Winter Moon is a Misty descendant, I'll say she "might be," but I won't say that she is.

Today's photos of the foal born to Winter Moon and Don Leonard Stud II.

Photos copyrighted by DSC Photography  (see www.dscphotography.net  to purchase)

Heavy Spring Snow; Creator Wins Arkansas Derby

Well, it started out as rain Friday morning; turned to snow Saturday morning, switched back to a snow-sleet-rain mix yesterday afternoon and evening, and became snow, once again.  The folks up the hill at NCAR, NOAA, and NWS say that Boulder has received 17.1 inches of snow as of 7 a.m. this morning.  That's not counting the rain that fell for 18 hours before the snow - and that's not counting the snow that is continuing to fall….  I've been out banging brooms against tree limbs and bushes, trying to keep the limbs from breaking.
   I took Donn's Touareg home to visit the cats this morning - and was very happy I did.  When I returned to Lynn's, I found that a very large tree limb had broken and was lying where the Touareg had been parked.  It would have easily taken out t he windshield, not to mention damaging the hood and motor….  Glad I took the VW home for a couple of hours!   Also, when I returned, the neighbor across the street was shoveling his walkway, and informed me that his power was off, as were two of the other neighbors'.  I have power at Lynn's - but I don't know if it's reserve from the solar power, or if we just weren't affected by the transformer blowing.
   Christine came home last night to shower and change clothes before leaving for her boyfriend's place again.  She asked me if I had the keys to the Lexus, and I told her that I hadn't seen them since I arrived.  she looked around, then went digging in her Mom's coat pockets and found the keys.  So she took the Lexus last night, and left the Prius.  But I'm really happy I took the car out of the drive to go home this morning.

    A grey colt sired by Tapit won the Arkansas Derby yesterday, but it wasn't Cupid, the betting favorite who is trained by Bob Baffert.  Steve Asmussen trained Creator, another grey son of Tapit into the winner's circle yesterday.  Gettysburg, the Pioneer of the Nile colt, blazed  the first mile's fractions.  Creator was last in the field of twelve, at one point almost 16 lengths behind the leaders.  But Creator ran from last up to first place, and won easily.  Suddenbreaking News and Whitmore, the two geldings in the race, finished second and third.  Creator was sent off at 11 to 1 in the betting.  Cupid, who had trailed Gettysburg through the first furious mile, tired and finished tenth in the field.  Eleven of the twelve starters finished, with Luna de Loco pulling up.

Just Stuff...

One of my clients was due to fly out of Denver International Airport this morning for a week in Mexico.  I contacted her Wednesday afternoon, asking for her flight time, and what I time needed to be ready for her pick-up, to return the car to her home.  I also commented that the weather for Saturday (today) looked interesting.  She responded that the flight left DIA at 8 a.m., and we'd need to be at the airport at 6 a.m., so how about a 5 a.m. meet time?  Then she asked about the weather.  I responded that there was a "four day rain-snow event" expected to begin Friday afternoon.  The client said we'd "play it by ear."  Thursday night, she informed me that she and her friend would stay at the newly opened DIA motel Friday night, so she'd pick me up after supper Friday.  Friday evening, she called and informed me her flight was cancelled.  (It had begun to rain at 11:45 that morning, and weather forecasters said DIA would be hugely impacted as the rain turned to snow.)  They couldn't get a flight down to Mexico until Sunday, or, probably, Monday.  The resort in Mexico could not extend their reservations.  They would try to get a flight out sooner, even if it meant hop-scotching around the country to get down to Mexico...  At 10 p.m., the client's daughter called and asked if I could arrive and stay at the house beginning early this morning - to which I responded, "Of course."  It seems that the client was able to book a flight from DIA last night to San Francisco, and then hop down to Mexico - arriving there so she could make use of her 7 day reservation...    (And, by the way, it started snowing in Boulder at 6:30 this morning, as I was on my way to the client's home.)
   It will be interesting to see just how much precipitation falls here.  We've had intermittent rain, varying from a drizzle to a quick downpour, for almost 20 hours, along with the wet snow that began two and a half hours ago....  I can see a build-up of white stuff on grassy areas, but our balcony (and lights) are just wet and dripping, as are road surfaces.  The forecasters said that Boulder could receive up to 15 inches of snow - we'll see,
   Today is one of the last major pre-Kentucky Derby races - the Arkansas Derby will take place at Oaklawn Park today.  Last year, trainer Bob Baffert had the betting favorite with American Pharoah, who went on to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.  This year, Bob Baffert again has the betting favorite, a grey colt named Cupid, a son of Tapit.  There are twelve scheduled runners in the Arkansas Derby - ten colts and two geldings.  Three of the colts are sired by Tapit - Cupid, Creator, and Gray Sky.  The colt breaking from post twelve, Gettysburg, was sired by Pioneer of the Nile, the sire of last year's winner, American Pharoah.   Today's race will probably decide the betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby  on May 7.

American Pharoah Rolls; Many Clouds Flies

American Pharoah opened some eyes today as he won the Arkansas Derby by eight lengths.  Far Right just edged past Mr. Z for second, while Madefromlucky finished in fourth place.  Victor Espinoza was in the irons of the son of Pioneerof the Nile, and they finished the 1 and1/8 miles slowing down on a fast track in 1:48:52.   Bridget's Big Luvy set the pace until the final turn, when American Pharoah  put himself in another gear and never looked back.  It was an impressive win for the former 2-year-old champion, If nothing happens to the colt, he's assured to be the betting favorite for the Kentucky Derby on 2 May.

American Pharoah winning the Arkansas Derby

   In the Lexington Stakes in Kentucky, Divining Rod won nicely; while Danworth nosed out Fame and Power for second place.
   The Grand National at Aintree, was, as usual, a wide open event.  Thirty-nine horses began the race that covers a course four and a half miles long, with 30 jumps on the course.  Nineteen horses finished the race; three lost their riders, eight horses fell, and nine were pulled up by their jockeys.  Balthazar King fell heavily, and was then run over by another horse; it's reported that he might have three fractured ribs, but, otherwise, all the jockeys and horses were unhurt. Many Clouds, an 8-year-old gelded son of Cloudings (Ire), won the race.  He was carrying one of the highest weights assigned - 11 stone 9 - or 163 pounds.  One British newspaper says that Many Clouds ran as a 33 to 1 shot, but another says he ran at 25 to 1...  I don't know which it was, but the horse is incredible.  Saint Re ran second at 25 to 1, Monbeg Dude finished third at 40 to 1, and Alvarado was fourth at 20 to 1.

Many Clouds crosses the Grand National at Aintree finish line

Arkansas Derby, Grand National Steeplechase

I'm running a bit late this morning, and need to get away to take care of three households full of loving animals, so I'll be quick.  There are two really good races being run today - the first to step onto the track will be the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, where there are 39 horses entered in the race.  For more information regarding these horses, their odds, trainers, owners, and jockeys, please see:  http://www.grand-national2015.co.uk/runners-odds/
  The second race is the Arkansas Derby, at Oaklawn Park, this afternoon.  There are eight entries, with the current betting favorite, American Pharoah, leaving the gate from the six post.  The other runners, from gate 1 on out, are:  (1) The Truth or Else, (2) Mr. Z, (3) Bridget's Big Luvy, (4) Madefromlucky, (5) Bold Conquest, (6) American Pharoah, (7) Far Right, and (8) Win the Space.  Quite a few jockeys have flown in to ride today - Calvin Borel, John R Velasquez, Victor Espinoza, Mike Smith, and Kent Desormeaux...   I'll post more late tonight, after the races, and after I've finally staggered back home!

Blood Moon and Other Things

Tonight, there will be a Blood Moon - the moon will be full, and there will be a total eclipse, causing the moon to look a coppery-red color.  This will be the first of four "Blood Moons" in the next 18 months, which makes the occurrence seem to happen frequently - but before the 1900s, there was a period when no Blood Moons happened for over 300 years.  During the eclipse, people on the earth will see reflections of all the sunrises and sunsets reflected back to our world by the moon - that's why the moon seems to be red in color.   Of course, there are many apocalyptic tales that gather around a Blood Moon - the moon appears to be slowly covered in red blood, which caused many tales of the end of the earth, the end of time, the beginnings of war and epidemics.  It depends on where you live, as to what time to look to see the Blood Moon - here in Colorado, the entire watch will be from midnight until almost 4 a.m.; or, if one just wants a quick peek, the time to look is about 1:20 a.m.
  The service dog next door will be moving, along with his owner, the cat and the parakeet, at the beginning of May.  The owner states that the move is good for her, as she will have more security in her new place, and that the dog will have his own yard - not a communal one.  The service dog still has six more weeks of training before he can be certified - and the owner acknowledges that the dog is not fully trained in obedience, either.  I am working with both of them in training the dog for much better social behavior and in obedience work.
  Yesterday's snow made for a dreary day - the temperature steadily decreased after midnight, and rain began about 3 a.m.  As the temperature continued to drop, the rain mixed with heavy wet snow, and early yesterday morning, it looked like snow cones had been thrown on the ground.  The mix of rain and snow continued throughout the day, but changed to all snow about 6 last night.  The snow ended about 4 this morning, when the temperature was 18 degrees.  Road surfaces are slick with ice, as are sidewalks - and accidents abound on local roads.  Plus, there is a large power outage here in Boulder, and most major intersections are without traffic lights....  I'm glad my power is on.
  The final two Kentucky Derby prep races were held Saturday - the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.  The Blue Grass was run on the Polytrack surface - neither dirt nor turf - and some horses like it and some don't.  (This is the last year the Blue Grass will be run on Polytrack - the track is changing to a dirt surface after this racing session.)  Dance With Fate won the Blue Grass by almost two lengths over Medal Count, who was three lengths ahead of Pablo Del Monte, and he was more than 5 lengths ahead of Big Bazinga.  The betting favorite of the race was Bobby's Kitten, at 7 to 2 odds.  He finished in twelfth position.
The Arkansas Derby was figured to be a race between unbeaten Bayern, Strong Mandate, Tapiture, Ride On Curlin, and Commissioner.  Joe Bravo and Danza supplied the upset, winning at odds of 41 to 1.  Ride On Curlin finished second, and Bayern was third, with Tapiture in fourth.  So, other than California Chrome, the eligible field for the Kentucky Derby looks to be wide open with possibilities...

Three Race Results

I was able to see three races today, and as I won't have Internet access tomorrow, I figured I'd go ahead and blog about the three races now.  The first was the Jenny Wiley at Keeneland - and I was cheering for Daisy Devine.  Centre Court wore down Daisy in the stretch and won by two lengths, Daisy Devine was second and Samitar ran third.  Also at Keeneland, the Blue Grass Stakes was run this afternoon - It was a very interesting mile and an eighth, as Java's War broke very slowly and trailed for the majority of the race.  The he seemed to wake up, and came charging down the center of the track, winning the race by a neck over Palace Malice, with a hard-running Charming Kitten taking third, another neck back.

  In the Arkansas Derby, Mike Smith was aboard the 2 to 1 betting favorite War Academy.  Everyone was puzzled to see Smith start pulling the colt up at the half-mile pole; he did not finish the race, but walked off the track under his own power.   The jockey said that War Academy "felt funny behind", that his rhythm of running wasn't the way it normally was.  He pulled the colt up to be certain there would not be a severe injury.  Overanalyze won the Arkansas Derby, with Frac Daddy running a good second, Carve was third, and Falling Sky ran fourth.

  I'll be with Boo tomorrow, but will blog again Monday...  Enjoy your Sunday!