Tuesday update

Kickin n Screamin is ready for her race Thursday night at Turfway Park. She has post position number 4 out of 11 runners and is listed at 9/2 on the morning line. She will be ridden by apprentice Matt Straight who is a graduate of Chris McCarrons riding academy. PP's are here .

Makutus and Ship's Cabin are being entered today for opening days' card at Keeneland on Friday. Albin is going to be entered for Sundays card.

Today's Works

Albin worked in 105 this morning at Arlington Park on his last day in Chicago this year. It was an easy work and he scoped clean afterwards. After shipping on Saturday to Keeneland he will train hard all week and if he seems to be thriving we will enter in the Woodford Reserve stakes on Sunday. If Albin doesn't draw into the stake then we will enter him in a maiden special weight going 1 1/16th on the polytrack on Sunday.

Ship's Cabin worked a sharp half mile in 48 in preparation for his next race on opening day at Keeneland. Rene Douglas will ride him in the maiden claimer going 7 furlongs on the polytrack.

Kickin n Screamin worked an easy 53.80 at Arlington,a leg stretcher before shipping. She remains on course for next Thursday at Turfway Park.

Rampillion and Comeback worked a nice four furlongs out of the gate in 50.20 while in company at CDT. Both broke well and remained together throughout the work and galloped out fine.

Carl S. also worked in 50.20 though he went by himself from the pole. He continues to improve.

Makutus snapped off a 47.80 work this morning at CDT in his last work before his next scheduled race on October 3rd at Keeneland. He continues to do well in his training and if the track is playing fair he will have a good chance. Rene Douglas will ride him also.

Appoint worked an easy three furlongs at CDT in 38. She may work an easy four furlongs next week.

Work info

Albin, Kickin n Screamin, and Ship's Cabin are all scheduled to work tomorrow at AP before shipping to Keeneland on Saturday. Albin is going to go five furlongs and the other two will go four.

Rampillion is going another half mile tomorrow at CDT and will go in company with Comeback. They are going to go from the gate and hopefully get approved from there.

Carl S will also work tomorrow as well as Appoint and Makutus. Carl S is going to go four furlongs as is Makutus and Appoint is going to go three furlongs again. Inky Blandford is going to work three furlongs on Saturday and Richwood Silver and Graphite Halo are scheduled to go five furlongs on Sunday.

Cool Clue back

Cool Clue is back at the track and ready to go into full training mode. After almost killing me and considering breeding a two year old Quiet American filly that was traveling in the van with him, he strutted off the van screaming at the top of his lungs. First day back to the race track will be interesting. Also on the van returning to the track was Bubble Berry. She has been burning up the Aqua Pacer and we are looking at an October 12th race at Keeneland for her.

Fading Light had a legitimate excuse other than a wide trip when 5th the other day at Kentucky Downs. She was coughing afterwards and a scoping revealed a minor lung infection was hampering her.

Albin is scheduled to work at Arlington Park on Friday going 5 furlongs. He, as well as the remaining horses at Arlington, will be shipping to Keeneland on Saturday.

Operetta Italiano was a little too hyper to start back at the track and we sent her to Bluegrass Equine Center to go on the Aqua Pacer before returning to racetrack training.

Top Royelle also went to Bluegrass for a freshening from the torture chamber at Presque Isle/Mountaineer Park.

The Suit and the Quiet American filly arrived at Rea Quarter Horses today to begin the breaking process. It is a good thing the guys at Rea's are top horseman because these two are tough.

Campaneris is going back to full training after a brief break to grow up.

Monday work report

Graphite Halo worked well out of the gate this morning. She went in 49.60 and had no problems, breaking quick and straight. She will have a five furlong work next Sunday and reamins on course for her debut on October 8th at Keeneland.

Richwood Silver had one of the fastest five furlong works that was timed in 103 that I have ever seen. Cherie broke her off pretty slow from the pole but Richwood quickly picked up speed and finished up very fast and galloped out really strong. I am not sure where she will make her next start but it doesnt look like it will be too far away.

Comeback galloped out of the gate and did well, breaking fast and strong.

Weekend Update

Makutus continues to train well coming up to his next race on October 3rd at Keeneland. He went an easy five furlongs in 102.20 and galloped out in 115. He is going to be ridden in the allowance race by Rene Douglas.

Carl S. and Comeback worked well in company, going a half mile through the early morning darkness in 50.60 and 50.80 respectively. Neither was particularly winded after the work and will go another half out of the gate next week.

Appoint went an easy three furlongs in 39.20 under no pressure. She galloped out strong and is still learning the game and developing physically. We do look forward to those slot-fueled purses in Indiana next year with her being an Indiana bred. Indiana bred maiden purses are scheduled to be right around $42000 when the Indiana Downs meet starts in April.

Rampillion went an easy four furlongs in 50.60. This was her first work in two weeks because of a minor ankle issue.

Mercury Rising improved some when he ran at the Finger Lakes on Friday. He broke a tad slow again but did improve 7 lengths from his first start. He will be better when the races get longer.

Fading Light has been entered for Monday afternoon at Kentucky Downs. She is listed as the 7-2 morning line favorite in the 6th race, a one mile allowance race, obviously on the grass. Diego Rodriguez will ride her.

Today's works

Richwood Silver lit up the powerless Churchill Downs training center this morning going four furlongs in 46.80. She was under a tight hold during the work and was not really winded afterwards. We were originally thinking that Churchill would be the spot for her comeback but she may be ready before that meet begins.

Graphite Halo worked five furlongs in 102.20 on her own. The work was another step of progress in her training and was her best work to date. She was a little winded and we are still looking for a spot for her debut though there is a possibility that we may start her at Keeneland on the 8th of October to get a race under her belt before going to New York to run against New York breds. We will see how she progresses the next few weeks. Ideally there would be a NY bred 2 year old filly maiden race on the turf for her but the newest condition book at Belmont lacks one.

Mercury Rising has drawn into the 5th race on Friday at the Finger Lakes, a maiden special weight going 6 furlongs. He drew post position number 5 in a field of 11 and Elaine Castillo rides back. We are hoping for better racing luck for him this time out.

Aldebutante looks fine after her rough debut on Sunday. She is heading back to Kentucky and is being pointed to a 7 furlong maiden race at Keeneland over the polytrack on the 16th of October.

Albin has finally scoped clean and will work this weekend. We are going to take a shot and try him in the Woodford Reserve Stakes on the turf at Keeneland as a maiden. Though there is little chance we get in we are willing to take a shot at it. Our backup plan is probably a maiden race going 1 1/16th on the polytrack the same day or an allowance on the turf later in the meet.

Tough trips for weekend runners

Aldebutante suffered through a horrible trip in her first start at Belmont this afternoon. She broke a step slow, was checked not too far out of the gate, checked again going into the turn and slammed at the top of the stretch while in tight. Hopefully she will come out of the race ok and gt back to the races at Keeneland.

Ship's Cabin showed a bit of talent on Saturday at Arlington Park without any of his usual stunts. Equipped with blinkers and jockey Tim Thornton for the first time, he broke alertly and assumed the lead soon after the start. He tired a bit in the stretch and was hampered when the horse on the rail came out into his path forcing him to steady hard. He re-rallied to be 4th and the stewards disallowed the jockeys claim of foul against the third place finisher. Though it was a little frustrating to have some traffic trouble he displayed speed and determination and will probably run back on opening day at Keeneland, October 3rd.

Appoint, Normanruth, Carl S. and Comeback all worked 3 furlongs at CDT and may advance to four furlongs next weekend. Makutus worked a sharp 100.80 under no urging from Cherie and looks like he will also run on opening day at Keeneland. Richwood Silver is scheduled to work tomorrow morning.

Friday update

Aldebutante has drawn into the 5th race at Belmont on Sunday. The race is a six furlong maiden special weight going six furlongs on the turf though there is a lot of rain in the forecast. She will be ridden by Richard Migliore and John Fahy will be saddling her for us. Aldebutante drew post position number eleven and will run regardless of track surface as she needs racing experience and has handled everything we have thrown at her so far.

Mercury Rising will be working tomorrow, going 6 furlongs from the gate with jockey Elaine Castillo. Hopefully he breaks a little better than he did in his race a few weeks ago. We are pointing to a race on the 19th at the Finger Lakes for him.

Kickin n Screamin disappointed over a soft course yesterday but came out of the race fine and will be pointed to a 20000 nw3LT race at Turfway park on October 2nd.

Makutus has trained well since his maiden victory and is on course for October 3rd at Keeneland.

Richwood Silver has continued to train well and will work again Sunday morning, weather permitting.

Today's Race and other things

Kickin n Screamin is running today at Arlington park in the 7th race, a $25000 conditioned claimer on the turf. She is listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite under leading rider Rene Douglas.

Ship's Cabin has been entered in the 4th race at Arlington on Saturday. The race is a seven furlong maiden special weight on the polytrack and he will be ridden by Tim Thornton and will be equiped with blinkers for the first time.

Aldebutante has arrived in New York for her debut this Sunday going six furlongs on the turf.

Fading Light came out of her race in good shape and will run back at Kentucky Downs in an allowance race.

Monday work update

Aldebutante broke sharp from the gate this morning under Diego Rodriguez in her final work before her first start on Sunday. She was timed in 35 for three furlongs and galloped out very strong afterwards. After the work she cooled out quickly and we are working on transportation plans to get her to Belmont later this week. She is going to trainer John Fahy's barn at Belmont and will run in John's name as trainer and he will saddle her since I will be busy at the sales this weekend. We have reached out to Richard Migliore and he will definitely ride her if we wind up in the dirt race though my preference right now is to try her on the turf. They will let us know tomorrow if he can be freed up from any commitments in the turf race.

Graphite Halo went five furlongs in 105 early in the morning. Cherie started her off slow and she finished up really well. We are trying to get her to be tractable and run at the end of her works which will hopefully make her want to pass horses rather than stay aside them.

Appoint, Carl S. and Normanruth all went easy three furlongs in 39.80, 39.40, and 39.60 respectively. They will all go another three furlongs next week.

Makutus went very well, going 47.80 in his first work since breaking his maiden at Arlington a few weeks ago. He is being pointed to an allowance race going 1 1/8th on opening day, October 3rd at Keeneland.

Richwood Silver went great in her first work since the spring. After getting a brief freshening she has been training forwardly and her 48.40 work was a really nice move with Cherie never letting her really run.

Fading Light on Saturday

Fading Light has been entered in the 6th race on Arlington Park on Saturday. The race is an entry level allowance race going 1 1/16th on the turf and Fading Light who starts from post number five has leading rider Rene Douglas riding.

Mercury Rising came out of his race in good shape and will look to run back on September 19th at the Finger Lakes going 6 furlongs. We will probably have him work once out of the gate maybe on the 10th before the race.

We have officially moved back to the Churchill Training Center and will have stalls at Keeneland during the fall meeting in October.

Labor day works

Carl S. and Comeback went great this morning, going three furlongs in company in 37.20 under Ryan and Cherie. They worked much more professionally today, staying together, switching leads and finishing up well past the wire. They will move to four furlongs next week when we move back to the training center.

Appoint, Campaneris and Normanruth went 1/4 mile in 26 while in company. Appoint went nicely and Normanruth did fine but Campaneris may need a little more seasoning before progressing to three furlongs. Normanruth was on the inside of the three and held his ground well and Appoint did a good job while between horses but Campaneris wanted no part of the others and needs more schooling before we start going too fast and far with her.

Rampillion and Graphite Halo worked well this morning though the clockers apparently missed a lot of the work, giving them a 38.20 clocking despite their working four furlongs and galloping out fast enough to get credit for another eighth. Rampillion broke off outside of Graphite Halo and was going a a good clip passing the 1/2 mile pole. They stayed together through out the work and both galloped out strong. They will work another half mile out of the gate next week, probably on the 6th or 7th.

Sunday Update

We have been extremely busy this week and unfortunately have neglected the blog so lets get everybody updated on all the news around the barn.

Mercury Rising made his debut at Finger Lakes in the 7th race this afternoon. He broke in the air at the start which is not great anytime but really bad in a 5 1/2 furlong race. Mercury got way behind and was ducking and diving from the dirt being kicked in his face. Elaine Castillo whacked him a few times coming into the stretch and after he got over the shock of getting hit he actually started to run a bit. However the race was so short that by the time he got untracked they were at the wire. He will benefit from the experience and needs a little more ground to be at his best.

Galaxy Lady got her first win in over 3 years yesterday, winning a $4000 claimer at River Downs. Under Joe Johnson, she shot to the front and led every step of the way, easily winning by 11 lengths. It was my first trip to River Downs and found it a nice little track that was kind of a throwback to the days of racing before slot machines. Hopefully they can figure out the mess that is Ohio racing and keep it going.

Aldebutante worked really well on Friday, going in 102.40 in a really sharp effort. She finished up strong and galloped out super and looks to be over her thyroid issue and on pace for her debut on the 14th.

Rampillion and Graphite Halo are scheduled to work tomorrow morning at Churchill Downs. They will go another four furlongs and gallop out and extra eighth. Both fillies are progressing as expected.

Fading Light has been training great but her race that was scheduled for the 5th at AP didn't go and they have brought the race back for the 6th at 1 1/16th on the turf.

Colonel Klink worked six furlongs in 115.40 on the 27th which was his first work since sustaining a minor injury after his last work on August 2nd. He wasn't supposed to go that far but he was so fresh from his little layoff that he began the work too soon and galloped out a little too fast. He will work again on the 2nd and we are leaning toward a start on the turf on September 14th for his 1st start.

Albin has returned to training after a brief illness and is still a possibility for the 14th at AP or Kentucky Downs on the 22nd.

Rain Shower was sold privately as she had fulfilled her mission of winning a race at AP and does not look like she will ever improve enough to consider keeping long term.

Comeback and Carl S are both scheduled to work tomorrow after working well last week.

Appoint continues to train well and will have her first three furlong work tomorrow.

Campaneris is doing really well though I wish she would grow a little taller and have little less of an attitude.

Results from the weekend and some work reports

Makutus made his return to the races a winning one, leading from gate to wire to win the 2nd race at Arlington Park yesterday. Let off as fourth choice at 5-1 despite being the morning line favorite, Makutus broke well and made the lead going down the backstretch, setting fractions of 23, 47.1, 112.1, and 124.1 before finishing up in 136.3 winning by 1 1/4 lengths under Tim Thornton. Makutus shipped back to Louisville last night and arrived in good shape this morning. His next race may be at Keeneland in an allowance race. Chart



E Major and Hackercraft did not fare so well on Friday. Hackercraft showed very little on the drop to the lowest condition in his career, never kicking in and finishing last in a conditioned $5000 claimer. E Major broke very well in her first start on the turf. She settled in a good position, 4th on the rail over the soggy grass course but failed to rally in the stretch and never showed that spark that she displayed in her first race. She may be on her way to a career as a broodmare.



Comeback worked in 38.20 at Churchill this morning. He is still very green and doesn't pay much attention during his breezes. He will work another three furlongs next week. Carl S. worked three furlongs in 37.40 in his first official workout. He has a really big stride and is still developing physically and he will work another three furlongs next week. Normanruth worked a quarter mile in 26.30 and is also very green. He will work another quarter mile before we work him three furlongs in an official work.

Rampillion worked 50.60 out of the gate in company with Graphite Halo this morning at Churchill Downs. She broke alertly and went evenly with the other filly. She will work an easy 5 furlongs next week and looks like she will make the September 20th race at Turfway barring any unforeseen mishap. Graphite Halo broke a step slow, rallied to catch the other filly but would rather race beside her than pass her which is something that we will work to correct.

Sumwonlovesyou's foot continues to improve. We are flushing it with an iodine solution and she is walking normally without any soreness.

Kickin n Screamin is doing fine and looks like she is on target for the 11th. Rene Douglas has been booked to ride her in that race.

Mercury Rising worked four furlongs in 49 seconds which is good for him. We are trying to get him up to the Finger Lakes this week for a race next weekend.

Aldebutante came out of her work in good order and will remain on her normal training schedule.

Colonel Klink is back in full training after a minor injury knocked him to the sidelines for a week.

Makutus returns

Makutus has been entered in the 2nd race on Sunday at Arlington Park. The race is a one turn mile on the polytrack for three year olds and older horses in the maiden special weight condition. Makutus drew post three with Tim Thornton riding and were installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite.

Rain Shower 4th

Rain Shower was 4th today in the 6th at Arlington today. She broke a step slow and trailed through glacial fractions in 9th place before putting a mild rail rally to be 4th, beaten about 3 lengths. It wasnt a bad race but it gets frustrating having so many turf closers and so many races without any pace. Chart

Fading Light worked well this morning at Churchill Downs getting four furlongs in 49.20. We changed her shoes around and it seems to have helped her. She is being pointed to an allowance race at Arlington on September 5th.

Makutus blew out extremely fast this morning going 3 furlongs in 34 and being credited for his gallop out time of 46.40 as his official time. The race he was entered for at Arlington did not fill for Saturday and was brought back for Sunday's card which may be good for us as it gives him one more day to recover from such a fast work.

Todays works

Rampillion and Graphite Halo worked 4 furlongs this morning at Churchill Downs, covering the distance in 50.80. The work got a little messed up when a out of control horse from Dale Romans split our fillies going to the pole to start the work and Rampillion wound up about 5 lengths ahead of Graphite Halo. Cherie who was aboard Graphite made the best of the situation by tucking in behind the other filly and getting her used to getting dirt thrown in her face which she didn't seem to care for very much. Rampillion basically was on her own and did well though Ryan said she was pretty tired after galloping out.

Comeback had his first official work going in 39.60 for three furlongs while in company with a unraced two year old of Bob Holthus. They did fine, he changed his leads and galloped out nicely. He was on the inside during the work and had no problems with a horse outside of him. Comeback will go a bit quicker for three furlongs next week.

Carl S. and Normanruth 'two minute licked' from the half mile pole together in their first work other than galloping. Both were fine though Carl S. towers over Rampillion who had to work to keep up with him.

Albin 3rd in debut

Albin overcame a tough post and a wide trip to run a solid third in his first start today in Arlington's 5th race. Hampered by post 11 and a fairly short run to the turn, Albin broke alertly and put jockey Tim Thornton is a tough position going into the first turn. Forced to ease him back in the turn to avoid being fanned 10 wide, Albin lost some valuable positioning while still being fairly wide in that first turn. He settled nicely behind horses while in seventh down the backstretch. Thornton angled him out going into the turn where he showed a nice turn of foot while three wide , moving into second turning for home with the eventual winner lurking right behind him. He was a little late in switching leads in the stretch which may have cost him a bit of momentum but he ran through the wire and finished up third behind the two favorites. We were hoping for a nice safe trip in his debut and we got that despite the wide trip. Albin should benefit from the experience and get a fitness boost going into his next race which is looking like the same race on the 14th of September at Arlington. This was the first 2 year old start for owner Bob Gary's group of yearlings that he bought last fall and hopefully it is a sign of things to come. Chart of todays race here

E Major and Hackercraft have been entered at Arlington Park for Friday's twilight card. Hackercraft has been entered in the 6th race which is a $5000 nw3 claimer going 1 1/8th on the polytrack with apprentice Inez Karlsson and has been installed at 7-2 on the morning line. E Major is in the 10th race which is a maiden special weight on the turf going about 5 furlongs on the turf. Tim Thornton will ride and E Major drew post position number 3 out of 12 and will run with blinkers on. She is listed at 10-1 on the morning line.

Two year old number 1

Albin is running today in the 5th race at Arlington Park which is a maiden special weight on the turf going one mile. He is the first of our two year olds to make it to the races this year and we are hoping for a good run from him. He is coming out of post 11 which isn't great and has underrated turf jock Tim Thornton on board. Albin has never missed any training since he went into serious training in March and has shown increased interest lately which we hope translates to a good race today.

Rain Shower has been entered for Wednesdays card at Arlington. She is post position number 3 in a 9 horse field of $35000 filly claimers on the turf going 1 1/16th. Thornton will also ride her as Rene Douglas is serving a one week suspension and is off all mounts next week. She looks like she is very competitive with this group providing she gets a decent trip.

Makutus worked in 51.40 yesterday at Churchill which was a little slower than I wanted and we will probably blow him out on Wednesday in preparation for his comeback race on Saturday at Arlington.

E Major worked 47.60 yesterday at Arlington in her final move before her turf sprint debut on Friday at Arlington.

Ship's Cabin worked from the gate in blinkers yesterday morning at Arlington going 35.40 for 3 furlongs. He came out fast and straight and hopefully he is going to get over his in race antics with the blinkers on.

Mercury Rising was measured this morning by Cherie and has been found to have grown from 15.1 hands when he arrived in April to 16 hands. Hopefully his lack of enthusiasm for training has been due to this growing spurt as opposed to any lack of ability. His half brother won a NYB stakes race last week at Saratoga and was a late developer so hopefully Mercury is following those same lines.

Fading Light is pointing to a race September 5th at Arlington Park going 1 1/8th on the turf. She has been training very well since her last race.

Aldebutante has not been feeling so great the last few days and will not make her debut at Saratoga next weekend. She has had some stomach problems and has been a little lethargic which is not her. She has not had a temperature or developed a full blown sickness but pushing her while she is acting a little down is a bad idea.

Campaneris has been training well after having a respiratory issue and Comeback has been doing very well despite going through a growth spurt which can make horses look a little uncoordinated.

Graphite Halo and Rampillion are both doing fine and progressing nicely. Sumwonlovesyou is being treated with aggressive antibiotics to fight the foot infection that she has developed. Richwood Silver is doing great and looks really good. Carl S. is coming around and Cool Clue has started to be turned out as well as going on the Aqua Pacer. Basketwoman's leg injury is healing really well and she has started undergoing Aqua Pacer treatments. Bob's Bean and Bubble Berry are going into the second phase of their off track training, ponying with Hank on the track at BEC. They may make starts at Kentucky Downs in September.