Spring must be close...

The weather continues to be a thorn in the side of racing operations nationwide and we are not immune to whims of Mother Nature in either location. After another week of interrupted training (snow and cold temps at Philly and rain in Florida) we are holding our breath and hoping that Philadelphia's Sunday card goes on as scheduled with Richwood Silver in the second race. She is dropping hard in class after her bizarre behavior in her last race when she tried to bolt on the backstretch while on a clear lead. The snow late in the week eliminated a couple days of training and she will be quite fresh coming into this race. Hopefully that will translate into her normal effort (which includes making both turns) which should be enough to get the job done today. If they actually race...

Target Practice missed a key work because of the snow however his race did not even come close to filling so we will look down another more ambitious avenue with him. Three solid works will get him entered into the March 20th Private Terms stakes at Laurel going 1 mile. The jump from a maiden race to a stakes is a large one yet improving three year olds need to run in order to continuing progressing and allowance races have not been filling. Target Practice will work 5 furlongs on Monday, 6 furlongs next Monday and another 5 furlongs on the 15th. This schedule gives us a day leeway either way in case of continued inclement weather or poor track conditions.

Albin finally got the job done last Friday after many close calls and tough beats. His schedule moving forward includes a $50000 nw2 race at Tampa mid-March leading into a potential try at Keeneland or an early Arlington Park allowance spot. Spending the winter off track has helped him mature and the alternate training avenues we have at the Classic Mile really benefit horses like him.

Big Shake is another who should benefit from the Classic Mile but he hasn't yet made the leap to be a useful horse. We were hoping to work him on the turf this week but rain got in the way. He has coughed a couple times this past week and with his health history we are being cautious with his next spot especially considering he has the vaunted "special" date. March 10th for maiden 50k on the grass looks like the next logical spot.

Normandruth's training schedule has been affected by the mid-Atlantic region snow as well. He will also work tomorrow and we will keep our fingers crossed that his next scheduled race, an entry level allowance on the 8th at Philadelphia fills.

Rochelle Rochelle's skin issues are finally beginning to resolve themselves and we will start to ramp up her training this week. Hopefully we can get an late March /early April start (win!) for her that will set her up well for the beginning of the Arlington Park meet. I will go out on a limb and say she will be the most improved horse in the stable this spring

Colonel Klink came out of his tuneup race in good shape. We are pointing him to a 7 furlong allowance race at Keeneland over the polytrack on April 9th before he heads to Arlington and Illinois breds.

Missus Mayflower didn't break well and got tired yesterday in her final tuneup for a proposed March 4th start at Tampa. While a bit disappointed she will miss this date, I am glad that we didn't find these things out after a weak effort in the afternoon. Tampa's new condition book is due out this week and we will find a different spot for her in 2-3 weeks.

Mizz Liza is doing well while recovering from a strained suspensory.

Hippocrates Jones is still a project as he recovers from shin issues. He tends to not use himself properly (his front end "pulls" his back end along) and we have switched his equipment in an attempt to get him to travel in a better balanced fashion. He is ready to work and Thursday on the grass going 3 furlongs will be his first breeze back. He has displayed flashes of ability and hopefully with some maturity he can fulfill his potential.

Redboard King worked really well yesterday under jockey Diego Rodriguez at the Classic Mile. We had been hoping to get another work on the turf with him this week but the weather didn't cooperate. However with the track getting muddy we went ahead and worked him anyway and were surprised with how well he went. Diego said he handled the muddy surface great (better than the turf) and was impressed with the work. though the time was nothing special (50.20) the track was getting heavy and he went his last 1/8th in 12 with minimal urging. It has taken some time but he is finally starting to put things together and may be an interesting horse for Dee Tee stable this Summer.

Gondorf's foot issues continue to plague him though when he has been able to train this winter he has impressed. The latest malady is an abcess that is going to come out of the coronet band of his non-patched foot. While this is a setback, it is relatively minor and he should be able to get back up to full speed quickly.

While I was disappointed with Missus Mayflower at OBS yesterday, I was pleased with how well her workmate Appoint went. She broke alertly and worked alongside MM under wraps and galloped out well. She was clocked in 51.80 over the synthetic surface that was playing very slow. Afterward she recovered quickly and appeared fitter than Missus Mayflower who was winded, despite this only being Appoint's second work since last fall. A late March/early April tuneup at Tampa to prepare for the Indiana racing season is still on schedule.

Graphite Halo has been caught up in the rainy weather also. I was hoping to work her on the turf on Thursday but with the rain taking out training that day and subsequently Saturday as well we decided to wait it out and not work her over a heavy or muddy surface which she hates. We will work her on Monday over a dry dirt track and point for next Tuesday on the turf with a more serious move.

Cool Clue is now a winner with a boatload of conditions and options. The fact that he can handle both sprint and route distances gives him many possibilities but with his back bothering him a bit and us not being able to stretch him out with training we passed on the latest spot. There are so many options available in the coming weeks but the 20th at Philly sprinting is a possibility.

Kickin N Screamin is doing fine but i want to give her a little more time off of three closely spaced races in a row.

Ships's Cabin is entered for March 2nd at Philadelphia Park in a 25000 nw 3 race going 6 1/2 furlongs. It looks like a good spot and with any racing luck he will be right there at the finish.

Hemissesu and Slumber Smarty finally arrived in Florida after some weather delays. They are nicely mannered fillies and will be heading to the track this week after spending last week in a field learning about the Classic Mile and lead changes.

Angry Dragon and the unnamed Smarty Jones-No More Ironing colt have been galloping 1 1/8th daily and have progressed nicely.

2010!

This Winter we have split the stable into two divisions, one located at Philadelphia Park and the other at the Classic Mile Training Center in Ocala, FL. There were a few reasons besides high purses and good weather for these locations but those are two good reasons! Kentucky simply isn't a viable year-round location any longer as the purses at Turfway Park and Ellis Park are far too small to give the stable and its owners a reasonable chance of success.

Philadelphia Park is a track that boosted by slots revenue offers purse levels that give us an opportunity to make our horse ventures profitable. The fact that they run a year round circuit is a huge plus as we can set up shop there and not have to move. The Mid-Atlantic area also has many other tracks within a short van ride like Laurel, Penn National, Delaware Park and Monmouth, giving us a lot of flexibility when shopping for spots to run. Another reason that Philadelphia fits with our program is that with a dirt surface, we have an outlet for our horses that don't appreciate the polytrack surface.

The Classic Mile Training Center was chosen over a racetrack location in Florida for several reasons. The first and foremost is that being located at a training center allows us to train the horses in a different manner than being at a racetrack does. We have turnout paddocks where the horses can graze, a turf gallop with hills, two days a week of turf works, a mile training track with a starting gate and the ability to bring our two year olds in to get them prepared for the upcoming year. The quiet setting also is a welcome break for the horses and people used to the fast pace of the racetrack with training jammed into a short 4 hour window. The ship to Tampa is 90 minutes, about 5 hours (the same as Churchill to Arlington) to Gulfstream and close to 10 hours to the Fair Grounds. Ocala's weather is warm by Winter standards but the mornings are cool, almost ideal circumstances.

Arlington is our Summer destination and we will be expanding our numbers there this year. Our horses fit very well in the racing program there and the purse structure may be enhanced by money currently still in escrow as the casinos exhaust every delay tactic they can.

As for the horses.....

COOL CLUE is in today at Philly Park in the last race (number 10), breaking from post position 4 in a 10 horse field under Tony Black.

COLONEL KLINK continues to train well as he gets closer to his return to the races. He went a nice 5 furlongs on Thursday on the grass at Classic Mile in 102 under jockey Diego Rodriguez. Klink was still a little winded after the work but recovered faster than he had been previously which shows he is getting his fitness back. We will look for a turf sprint for his first race back since his maiden victory last summer.

SHIPS CABIN is being pointed for a starter allowance race on January 30th at Philadelphia Park going 6 1/2 furlongs. He will be looking for his third win in a row in that spot and will be ridden again by apprentice Jermain Burke.

ROCHELLE ROCHELLE is being aimed at a maiden special weight race on the turf at Tampa on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7th. She finished 2nd a few weeks back in an off the turf event and has trained well since that race.

ALBIN came out of his 4th place finish in an off the turf race last Sunday in great shape. We entered him back for a race on the 29th this morning with a race on the 4th being the backup plan.

RICHWOOD SILVER is being pointed to what we hope will be a winning spot on the 7th at Philadelphia Park.

APPOINT and GRAPHITE HALO are both progressing nicely in their training at CM coming off of short layoffs.

ROLLED UP came out of his recent start ok and we will be looking for spot for him in early February.

MIZZ LIZA has been training better lately after having some attitude issues.

GONDORF has had trouble with a persistent quarter crack that has finally grown out enough to allow us to patch it and get him back on track. He has really physically matured since last fall.

BIG SHAKE has been my biggest disappointment so far this year. I keep expecting to see him wake up and run to his potential but he keeps failing to live up to expectations. We will keep entering him on the grass and hoping for dry weather.

TARGET PRACTICE has been training great and we are keeping our fingers crossed that the MSW at Philadelphia will fill on February 13th.

NORMANRUTH is pointing to an allowance race at Philadelphia Park on the 30th.

HIPPOCRATES JONES had his shins flare up and we wound up re-firing them. He is being turned out in a sand round pen daily and will return to full training shortly.

REDBOARD KING had the ultimate equipment change a few weeks ago and he has traveled much better since. One of his testicles was twisted which was causing him some pain. He is currently jogging 2 miles and galloping a mile and should resume timed works in a few weeks.

MISSUS MAYFLOWER had a nice work on Thursday, going 37 for 3 furlongs and galloping out in 49 and change for the half. She really loves to go fast and once we get some more gate work into her she should be ready to run.

KICKIN N SCREAMIN continues to plug along and will run back in one of the 5000 claimers written for the 8th at Philadelphia Park.

Update!

Well quite a bit has happened since our last post. Fading Light won again at Arlington and has been retired and is being retrained by the girls to be a show horse. Kickin N Screamin also won another race at Arlington and was recently second at Kentucky Downs. Colonel Klink broke his maiden impressively but was sidelined after having surgery on his ankle and has just recently returned to training. Graphite Halo returned from New York and ran third last out at Turfway Park and will be pointed to a Spring campaign. Normanruth made a splashy debut at Keeneland last Friday, running a strong second in a madien special weight race going 7 furlongs. He earned an 84 Beyer for that effort. Cool Clue and Target Practice both had disappointing races on the polytrack but have trained well on the dirt and I am looking forward to racing them on that surface. Rochelle Rochelle has also been an underachiever but she has been running at distances short of her best and will make her turf debut November 1st at Churchill Downs. Mizz Liza hasnt been doing much since she got really sick after her first race. Big Shake ran a sneaky good 5th in his turf debut and will return on the 1st of November as well. Albin ran well all summer but never got over the hump in breaking his maiden.

More to come soon.

Friday update

It has been a long time since we last updated the blog and there are a few changes. First we have launched www.chucksimonracing.com and this blog can be found there as well as a bunch of new things. We have had a few horses leave the stable and have greeted some of our new 2 year olds and well as moving a division to Arlington Park for the summer.

Comeback is making his comeback race on Sunday at Churchill Downs. This will be his first race after the ultimate equipment change (gelding) and he has been training really well. Jon Court will ride him from post position number four in the 10th race which is a maiden $30000 race going seven furlongs.

Fading Light took a tough beat yesterday in the finale at Arlington Park. She moved to the lead turning for home but got nailed right at the wire by the 6/5 favorite. It was a good effort on short rest for her and she seemed to come out of the race in good shape.

Operetta Italiano worked well this morning at Arlington Park after her unusual debut where the jockey simply fell off in the first turn. She went a half mile in 48 under a strong hold and looks like she is fine after the strange incident.

Colonel Klink worked a strong six furlongs in 112 at AP this morning also. We have been working on getting him to relax in the races and come from off the pace and he seems to be responding to a different type of training.

Sugarland Star!

Yesterday morning Sugarland Star, Operetta Italiano and Shades of Hope all worked in company, going their first five eights. Sugarland Star was a few lengths behind the other two beginning the work. She moved up going into the far turn while taking dirt in her face. She angled in between the others when Shades of Hope who was on the outside drifted out a little and finished well to be on even terms with Operetta Italiano at the wire. Shades of Hope, who still acts a little green, was a length behind the others. All three galloped out well and cooled out in good order.

Carl S. worked as well as he ever has but took a bad step while galloping out and came out of the work with a fractured right cannon bone which will require surgery. This is a tough break as he seemed to be just coming into his own.

Allie Jane worked her first 1/4 and did great. She was timed in 25.4 and galloped out in 40. She looks really good while going fast.

Albin came out of his work on Friday in good shape and will have one more five furlong work on the 10th before his scheduled comeback race on the 15th at Keeneland.

Update

With all the rain the past two days we have postponed the works till the weekend. If the track doesn't dry out enough at CDT to work we may ship some of the horses to Keeneland to work.

Todays works

Albin worked well over the polytrack at Keeneland this morning. He went a half mile in 51 under a good hold and the exercise rider reported that he had a lot of horse at the end of the work.

Richwood Silver went very well as usual, getting her half in 47.60 at CDT, which was the bullet work for the distance. She looks ready for next Friday night at Turfway.

Carl S. went a strong five furlongs in 101.20 at CDT which was also a bullet work. He galloped out well and blinkers seem to have sharpened his speed. His next race may also be next Friday at Turfway March 27.

Sugarland Star, Operetta Italiano and Shades of Hope worked four furlongs in company with Cherie, Ryan and Pat Johnson riding. Shades of Hope was on the rail, Sugarland Star in the middle and Operetta Italiano on the outside starting out. Cherie on Sugarland Star got hit in the face with a clod of dirt in the turn and couldn't see very well coming into the stretch and didn't ride much on the filly down the stretch. Operetta did well despite losing the ground on the turn and galloped out well and Shades of Hope showed improvement from last weeks work. Next week we will try to get them a work out of the gate.

Too Muddy

We scratched the works today because of muddy conditions. Will work in the morning.

MIA

I have been very busy and simply haven't had time to keep up lately. We are going to work quite a few horses in the morning and I will have updates on everyone tomorrow.

Saturday Update

Richwood Silver ran a nice race last night at Turfway, finishing a good second in an allowance race to a 4/5 favorite. She broke a step slow, which is a old habit that hasn't been an issue in a long time, yet got to the lead without too much trouble and held well when passed in deep stretch.

Comeback is in to run in the 7th race at Turfway on Wednesday afternoon. He is number 8 in an 8 horse field going 1 mile on the polytrack. He has trained well, going a half mile in 50 under wraps on Wednesday, and should be tough on the 4th.

Appoint ran 9th today at Oaklawn after breaking out and bumping the filly outside of her at the start again. She doesn't have sprinting speed and again trailed before making up some ground in the stretch. We will look to stretch her out next time before heading over to Indiana Downs in April.

Graphite Halo ran a good third last Friday night at Turfway. She was hung a little wide on both turns but finished up well and the race was much better than what she had shown in New Orleans. She came out of the race in good shape and will run in a similar spot later in March.

Albin started galloping this weekend after proving to be too much to handle while just jogging. He has grown quite a bit the last three months and has filled out considerably. We are pointing to a polytrack race at Keeneland sometime in April for Albin.

Reports from the Fair Grounds have Colonel Klink training well and pointing to a maiden turf race on the 14th of March. He worked an easy half in 50.80 earlier this week.

Shades of Hope has done well since his arrival from Ocala. Bill Recio had been training him in blinkers which we have continued to do since he has been here. We will work him with some company on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Sugarland Star worked another good half mile in 50.40 this past week. Her progression has been slow but steady and she is starting to put things together.

Operetta Italiano worked a nice three furlongs in 37, galloping out in 50. She has also been a little slow to come around but has made a lot of good progress lately.

Carl S. is doing well since his third place finish at Turfway on the 18th. He will work on Monday if the weather cooperates.

Kickin n Screamin worked well again on Wednesday, covering five furlongs in 102.80 which is a good move for her. She is being pointed for a race on March 16th at Turfway.

Fading Light has also been training well in preparation for her return to the races on March 14th at Turfway.

Rampillion worked in sharp fashion on Wednesday, going a half mile in 48.40 in her first work since her disappointing last race. Her blood work came back today and showed her red counts to be back to normal levels. We will work her again next Tuesday or Wednesday and look for a spot afterwards.

Cool Clue continues to impress in his training. He worked five furlongs this past Wednesday at CDT going in 101.80 without much pressure. Being a late April foal still has some baby fat that we are working off of him but he is looking like a really nice prospect for the summer.

Inki Blandford worked really well yet came out of the work with a minor health issue and will miss a week of training.

Sumwonlovesyou and Posse Valley both continue to move forward while recovering from injuries that have had them off for a considerable amount of time.

Normanruth had a nice work on Wednesday but came out with a bruised foot which we are treating.

Campaneris is training along at BEC and is doing nicely.

Jacques Sparrow is doing great at BEC on the Aqua Pacer. His leg has healed very well and looks great.

Basketwoman is also doing very well and will return to the track soon.

We have some new faces around the barn. The first crop of two year olds have arrived. Big Shake, Chief Paleface and Mister Monsieur are all at CDT and are now 'officially' in full training.

Top Royelle sustained a suspensory injury and has been retired and will be bred to Dehere.

Wednesday Update

Louisville got a much needed rain shower last night which had the track in very good condition this afternoon for the many workers we had.

Richwood Silver worked very well under Pat Johnson. She went 5 furlongs in 100.80 under a good hold and galloped out strong. She will be entered to run in an entry level allowance race on the 27th of February.

Also working five furlongs was Kickin n Screamin who went in 102 with Cherie aboard. it was a very good move for the filly who is traditionally a poor work horse. She will be running sometime in early March at Turfway Park.

Cool Clue worked great once again, getting his half mile in 48 which was tied for the bullet work. He is very smooth for a big horse and very visually impressive to watch. Cool Clue still gets very hot after the works which tells me that he is still a ways from racing fit but has a lot of talent. There is a maiden race on the 21st of March going six furlongs at Turfway that is his current target.

Comeback went an easy half mile in 50.40 under Pat Johnson. We did not want to do too much with him coming off his slight sickness and Pat worked him perfectly. He is tentatively pointed to a maiden special weight race going one mile on the 27th at Turfway Park.

Fading Light went a nice half mile in 48.60 as son as the track opened at 11. It was a nice move and she continues to do well nearing her return to the races.

Amethyst Rose worked an easy half mile in 50.60 in her first work since her race. She went nicely and galloped out well.

Inki Blandford worked really good with Cherie going 48 seconds for a half mile. He is going to be entered for Sunday's races at Turfway.

Normanruth and Sugarland Star worked four furlongs in company going in 50.40. They stayed together throughout and continue to improve.

Italiano Operetta went three furlongs in 38.20 in her first work in a few weeks.

Love Dubai is getting some work done on his back and seems to be improving.

Posse Valley continues to jog 2 miles a day and is feeling great.

Colonel Klink came out of his race in good shape and we are awaiting the next condition book to see when his next race will be. He got a 75 Beyer number for his debut which is pretty solid for an early season turf race.

Appoint is going to work this week and is also awaiting the next condition book to see where she will run next.

Albin is doing great and feeling good. He was feeling so good today he kicked out and caught TC on the shoulder. TC not feeling so great anymore.

Campaneris is jogging at BEC and really going nicely.

Carl S. came out of his race in good shape and will be pointed for a similar spot in early March.

Rampillion's blood work came back slightly better but not quite where I want it and we chose to keep galloping her and didn't work her this week. Once her levels are back to normal we will start looking for a race.

Shades of Hope is on his way to KY and will work this weekend as we determine the course of action we will take with him.

Sumwonlovesyou is doing very well and will have her workload increased soon.

Graphite Halo has been entered for Friday's card at Turfway Park. She is in the 12th race which is a maiden 30000 claimer going one mile. Tommy Pompell will ride her in her first maiden claiming race.

Thursday update

Bad news as Comeback is running a slight fever and will have to be scratched from tomorrows 9th race. While it is disappointing I am glad that we caught it prior to him running and will be able to treat him before it becomes full blown sickness. He got an 11 on the Thorograph speed rating for his first start which is a very solid number for a first time starter.

The good news is that Shades of Hope has been training very well at Classic Mile. Our patience has served him well and he is finally set to arrive in Kentucky next week. We are sending a couple of two year olds down to Ocala on Sunday and Shades will be heading back on the return trip. Bill Recio remains high on the horse and says he is a few solid works away from being ready to run.

Cool Clue came out of his work on Tuesday in good shape. He went in 49.20 under a snug hold from Hector Rosario and is looking better with every work. He is another horse that appears to have has benefited from our patience with him.

Graphite Halo zipped around the track in 36.60 and returned full of energy. I dont know why she ran so poorly last time but I am going to remove the blinkers. I think that we should take a look at a maiden $30000 race at Turfway on the 20th going a mile on the polytrack.

Normanruth and Sugarland Star both came out of their easy works in good shape. Sugarland hates the mud. Normanruth has gotten a little chubby due to the recent inactivity.

Fading Light is quite pleased with herself at the moment and it shows in her training. She is not far from a return to the races.

Kickin N Screamin is also going well. She needs a few more works and she will be ready to roll also.

Richwood Silver is sharp and will be tough if the race on the 16th fills.

Update

Colonel Klink ran a decent race yesterday in his debut yesterday at the Fair Grounds. Showing a bit of unexpected speed out of the gate, Klink ran a bit green and tired a little in the stretch but only was beaten about 4 lengths at the wire.

Inki Blandford ran a game third on Saturday at Turfway Park. Despite missing a lot of training time the last few weeks, Inki was determined in the stretch and held on for the show position. He will improve with blinkers and steady training.

Makutus ran like crap on Thursday and was claimed thankfully.

Rampillion ran a dull race last Wednesday and came out of the race with low blood counts.

Comeback has been entered for Friday night's card at Turfway park. He is in the 9th race which is a maiden special weight race going 1 mile on the polytrack. He has been training well and I believe he has a great chance to run big if he gets a good trip.

Our newest horse, Rolled Up is also entered on Friday at Turfway. He is in the 10th race which is a $8000 claiming race going 6 furlongs.

Appoint came out of her eventful first race in good shape. We will look for something else for her the 1st week of march before heading to Indiana Downs with her.

We hope to get a bunch of workouts in tomorrow at CDT and will report about those works tomorrow.

Winter gets worse

Turfway Park has canceled today which means Makutus will have to wait before going after his first win of the year after a close defeat a few weeks ago. The weather in central KY has been miserable and has brought most of the horse business and most others to a standstill this week.

Comeback came out of his nice debut last Friday in good shape. He is being pointed to a maiden $50000 race going 1 mile on February 11th. Inki Blandford and Carl S. are ready to roll if Turfway can get a race to fill for them. Richwood Silver remains on course for the 16th at Turfway. Appoint is also waiting for a race to materialize at Oaklawn.
Colonel Klink worked well at the Fair Grounds yesterday and is close to a start which may come on the turf. Graphite Halo was disappointing on Monday and is scheduled to return to KY Friday to be reevaluated. 

Richwood Silver, Kickin n Screamin, Fading Light and Rampillion are heading to Turfway on Friday morning to work. Carl S., Inki, Cool Clue are scheduled for Saturday works at Turfway.

Wednesday Update

We shipped four horses to Turfway yesterday morning to work over the polytrack. Despite the cold temperatures and a bit of snow all went well and we may do it again this weekend with four others.

Amethyst Rose worked from the gate in 49.40 from the gate and received her gate card. She will be entered for Sundays card in a Maiden Special Weight race for fillies at Turfway going 5 1/2 furlongs.

Comeback worked three furlongs in rapid fashion but did not show up on the work tab. He is in the 10th race on Friday night at Turfway, drawing post 10 in a 12 horse field.

Inki Blandford worked a very good six furlongs in 115, finishing up well in the stretch.

Carl S. went 103.60 for five furlongs and remains on schedule to run on the 31st at Turfway.

Graphite Halo went well at the Fair Grounds on Monday going an easy half in 50.60. She is on target for the 26th on the turf at FG.

Appoint is scheduled to work on Thursday at Oaklawn and Colonel Klink will do something this weekend at the FG.

Richwood Silver managed to cut her head in her stall last night and needed stitches to close it up. We will give her a few easy days. Her next start is most likely a $30000 NW3 oon Febuary 16th at Turfway.

Cool Clue will work this weekend along with Kickin n Screamin, Sugarland Star, Top Royelle, Fading Light, and Normanruth.

Winter days

We haven't been able to do much training the last week or so due to the severe cold. Tomorrow Amethyst Rose, Carl S., Rampillion and Inki Blandford are shipping to Turfway to work. Entered Comeback again for Thursdays races. Appoint and Colonel Klink shipped out o Oaklawn and Fair Grounds this weekend. I hate winter!

Richwood wins!

Richwood Silver ran really well in scoring a wire to wire victory at Turfway park yesterday. It has been a long time since she was last in a winners circle and the drop in class along with a heady ride by Diego Rodriguez made the difference. She will probably return in a similar spot next month or maybe visit the scene of her last win, Oaklawn Park. Anyway it was great to win one for Bob Gary, a really good owner but a great guy.

Training was cancelled today due to a frozen track. Hopefully we can get some workouts in on Saturday or Sunday.

Weather sucks

Graphite Halo's race was rained off the turf today which killed our chances before we even hit the track. She came out of the race in good shape and will be legged up for the next grass maiden that comes up down at the Fair Grounds.

Hoping that the weather in KY clears enough to get Richwood Silver's race in Wednesday though the forecast is not promising. The moisture in the track will be a plus for her as long as it doesnt freeze and cause a cancellation of the races.

New target for Comeback is January 18 at Turfway.

First works of the year!

It looks as though we had the track to ourselves at CDT this afternoon as all eight horses that worked were ours. Richwood Silver tuned up for her drop into the claiming ranks next Wednesday at Turfway by working a half mile in 50.20. She is in the 8th race on the 7th which is a $30000 nw2Lt race going 1 mile over the polytrack. She drew post position number two in the eight horse field and Diego Rodriguez will be aboard.

Normanruth and Sugarland Star worked in company going three furlongs in 38.80. Neither horse is very far along and I am just happy they are up to breezing the right way at this point. They will go another easy three furlongs next weekend.

Amethyst Rose and Comeback worked out of the gate and went pretty good with Comeback besting the filly by a length getting a time of 50.60. He may be entered for the 8th or 9th depending on how he comes out of this work. Amethyest Rose broke pretty well but will need to do it again for her card.

Colonel Klink and Appoint both went five furlongs in company with Klink beating the filly to the wire by a good two lengths in 104. We tried blinkers on Appoint and she went well in them. Cherie did say Klink was a bit winded afterwards and we scoped him but he was clean.

Cool Clue went an easy half mile in 50.60 and showed improved focus during the work by himself.

Graphite Halo is in to run at the Fair Grounds for Monday's card. She is in the 5th race which is a maiden special weight race for fillies going 1 mile on the turf. Pat Valenzuela rides and the filly will run under the name of my friend Richie Scherrer as trainer since I cant get down there for the race. The DRF has me listed as the owner which is an obvious mistake but considering its Louisiana, it isnt really surprising.

This week's works

We have had a tough week weather wise as the week began with freezing temperatures, had a nice rainstorm in the middle and ended with 70 degree temperatures. Needless to say it has been a bit challenging trying to devise and implement training schedules especially with the track being closed 2 days for the Christmas break (did not know that Dec 24th is now considered a holiday but CD's world it is). We did get some galloping in and we were able to get most of our works in this weekend and in the end it wasn't so bad.

Carl S. had an easy half mile work today in 51.40 at CDT in preparation for his next start which is scheduled for the 31st at Turfway going 1 mile. This will be his first start around two turns and that style of race should suit him better than the sprints.

Appoint and Comeback went five furlongs in 104.80 in steady fashion, never being asked for speed over the muddy surface. Both appear ready to start with Comeback likely making his debut at Turfway on the 8th or 9th and Appoint being pointed for the 17th at FG.

Colonel Klink went in company with Amethyst Rose, getting the half mile in 51 and galloping out in 103.80. Both went in hand with the rider of Amethyst Rose having to work a little at the end to keep pace with the large strides of Colonel Klink. Both are getting fitter and are not far from being ready either.

Cool Clue went a really easy half mile in 52.80. This was his first work without company and he was a bit lost starting out but picked it up down the stretch. He was getting a little behind Colonel Klink and we need to get him to work properly instead of simply chasing the company.

Graphite Halo went in 104.20 in a maintenance move for her. She is being pointed to a grass race at the Fair Grounds on January 5th.

Rampillion went an easy half mile in 51.20 in preparation for her next race on January 2 at Turfway Park.

Richwood Silver worked her usual fast work going 48.40 for four furlongs. She is being pointed to a race at Turfway Park on the 4th.

Fading Light and Kickin n Screamin had their first strong gallops since returning to the track from BEC. They are fresh and should be ready to roll towards the end of January.

Inki Blandford galloped well and has come out of his third place finish in good shape. His next start may be on the 22nd.

Makutus is being pointed for a $7500 nw3 races on the 14th.

Normanruth galloped well and is about ready to start working once again.

Sugarland Star has been a little sick but has started galloping again.

Albin continues to be an aquatic star in the Aqua Pacer and will be returning to racetrack training next week.

Basketwoman has a lot of Aqua Pacer miles under her belt and will be returning to the track in February.

Campaneris will also start track training again shortly.

Jacques Sparrow has done well in the Aqua Pacer and is looking at a spring return to the track as has Posse Valley and Sumwonlovesyou.


Operetta Italiano is doing really well and will be returning to the track in mid-January. 

Shades of Hope is pointing to an early February start at Turfway Park.

The soon to be two year olds plans are becoming clearer also.
Hippocrates Jones, Reddington, and the Medallist colt are heading to Ocala on January 5th. Rochelle Rochelle, Mizz Lizz, Chief Pale Face, the Thunder Gulch and Big Shake are all at Rea's and will be heading down to Ocala afterwards. Gondorf, Hostillian, the other two Smarty Jones colts, the Northern Afleet filly, Probation Charlie and the other Medallist filly will soon be on training of some sort also.