Sunday, July 22, 2007

Book Publishing - Down to the Wire - Horseracing

As noted below, my 13-year-old daughter published a book last month, "Down to the Wire." We have applied for an ISBN# for the book to be listed in directories worldwide and then it can be sold on Amazon, B&N, Borders, etc. We are very excited about this.

If you are interested in self-publishing, then check out lulu.com. It is an awesome site. There are no start-up fees, and it is a very easy process.

For more information on "Down to the Wire," here is the link:

http://www.lulu.com/browse/book_view.php?fCID=957449

Monday, July 2, 2007

Down to the Wire

My 13-year-old daughter just published her first book. She absolutely loves horses and horse racing. The name of her book is called "Down to the Wire." It is about a horse on his way to being a Triple Crown winner. It is an awesome book, so if you enjoy horse racing, you would enjoy this book.

Here is a description of the book:

I'm Not Evil is the fastest horse that Marvin and his dad, Nick, have ever seen. When Evil is on the track, it seems like he could run all day. The black colt is just as big as he is fast. Evil's desire to run burns so strongly-no rider on his back or bit in his mouth can ever tame it. Can Evil win the Triple Crown and other big races? Will any other horse ever catch him?

Check it out here:

http://www.lulu.com/browse/book_view.php?fCID=957449

Thursday, June 7, 2007

I'm back

I have been on sick and on vacation. Will be back shortly to update. Thanks!

Friday, May 4, 2007

Kentucky Derby Horses!!!

1.) Street Sense
Jockey – Calvin Borel
Trainer – Carl Nafzger
Owner – Jim Tafel LLC
Pedigree – Sire: Street Cry; Dam: Bedazzle

Dark bay almost black colt seems to get better with age. Street Sense won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by ten lengths, the largest winning margin in the history of the race and second longest margin of victory in the Breeders’ Cup altogether. As a two year old, Street Sense was still very immature. When he turned three, Carl Nafzger, his trainer, said Street Sense had grown into a man and was no longer an immature boy. Street Sense has never finished worse than third in his life. A good thing that will help him in the Derby is that Churchill Downs is his home and favorite racetrack. Sired by the Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry and out of the mare Bedazzle, he was bred to go a mile and a quarter.








2.) Curlin
Jockey – Robby Albarado
Trainer – Steven Asmussen
Owner – Stonestreet Stables, Padua
Stables, George Bolton
Pedigree – Sire: Smart Strike; Dam:
Sherriff’s Deputy

Undefeated chestnut colt has been very impressive in every start of his career, including a win in the Arkansas Derby by 10½ lengths. If he can just get by Street Sense in the Derby, he can sweep the Triple Crown. Curlin likes to sit slightly off the pace, but the question is out the window how he’ll beat Street Sense at the rival’s home track. Curlin is also trying to become the first horse since 1882 to win the Derby having not raced at two.










3.) Nobiz Like Shobiz
Jockey – Cornelio Velasquez
Trainer – Barclay Tagg
Owner – Elizabeth Valando
Pedigree – Sire: Albert the Great; Dam:
Nightstorm

Nobiz Like Shobiz possesses the kind of pure talent that excites fans of the game. Since the addition of blinkers, he has been rank, fighting his rider for the whole race. That is something he can’t do in the Derby. In the Wood Memorial, his last race, he had to dig down deep to hold off Sightseeing, who was closing fast. He wore himself out by fighting the rider in that race. He needs to relax a little if he’s going to have a good chance of withstanding the mile and a quarter.









4.) Scat Daddy
Jockey – Edgar Prado
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – James Scatuorchio, Michael
Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Johannesburg; Dam: Love
Style

Florida Derby winner figures to follow in the great Barbaro’s footsteps. Scat Daddy is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is the Eclipse Award winning trainer for the third straight year, but has never won a Kentucky Derby (0 for 14). The first stakes winner sired by Johannesburg, Scat Daddy has never finished worse than fourth in his career. The handsome dark bay colt is ridden by Edgar Prado, who just won his second straight Florida Derby and his looking for his second consecutive Kentucky Derby (he rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Derby).







5.) Circular Quay
Jockey – John Velazquez
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Michael and Doreen Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Thunder Gulch; Dam:
Circle of Life

This beautiful chestnut colt is another Todd Pletcher horse who is trying to become the first horse in a VERY long time to win the Derby off of an eight-week layoff or longer. He has a tendency to find trouble in his races, and comes from very far behind. When he’s in the clear, he can really run. His sire, Thunder Gulch, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1995, nearly sweeping the Triple Crown.









6.) Cowtown Cat
Jockey – Fernando Jara
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Winstar Farm Bill Casner, et al
and Gulf Coast Farm
Pedigree – Sire: Distorted Humor; Dam:
Tom’s Cat

Impressive winner of the Illinois Derby gets better with every race. ANOTHER Todd Pletcher horse with tons of talent.
















7.) Hard Spun
Jockey: Mario Pino
Trainer: Larry Jones
Owner: Fox Hill Farms; Inc.
Pedigree: Sire – Danzig; Dam – Turkish
Tryst

Extremely talented colt has only been beaten once in his career, but that was because he did not like the track. He seems to like Churchill Downs, which is a plus. Hard Spun has posted a bullet fast work at Churchill, and that should help him.












8.) Tiago
Jockey: Mike Smith
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss
Pedigree: N/A

The Santa Anita Derby winner shows talent, but has only won once against G1 company, and that G1 field was extremely soft. Tiago is a half-brother to Giacomo, the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner. Both horses have a similar running style.













9.) Great Hunter
Jockey: Corey Nakatani
Trainer: Doug O’ Neill
Owner: J. Paul Reddam
Pedigree: N/A

Robert B. Lewis winner had a bad trip in the Blue Gass Stakes last time out, when Teuflesberg drifted out widely in the stretch, forcing Corey to check him sharply. Was third to Street Sense in the BC Juvenile, and has been shown to approve of Churchill Downs. He will a threat if he gets a lane.











10.) Any Given Saturday
Jockey: Garrett Gomez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owner: Winstar Farm; Padua Stables
Pedigree: N/A

This horse may be a little tired going into the Derby. He lost a hard battle with Street Sense in the Tampa Bay Derby, then Nobiz Like Shobiz ran him ino the ground in the Wood Memorial. He has great talent, but he might be too exhausted in the Derby. If he’s not, he has a great chance.












Other horses entered in the Derby with jockeys:

Dominican – Rafael Bejarano
Storm in May – Juan Leyva
Teuflesberg – Stewart Elliott
Liquidity – David Flores
Bwana Bull – Javier Castellano
Imawildandcrazyguy – Mark Guidry
Zanjero – Shaun Bridgmohan
Sam P. – Ramon Dominguez
Stormello – Kent Desormeaux
Sedgefield – Julien Leparoux

133rd Kentucky Derby Field

133rd Kentucky Derby Field

Post Horse Jockey trainer M/L

1.) Sedgefield Julien Leparoux Darrin Miller 50-1

2.) Curlin Robby Albarado Steven Asmussen 7-2

3.) Zanjero Shaun Bridgmohan Steven Asmussen 30-1

4.) Storm In May Juan Leyva William Kaplan 30-1

5.) Imawildandcrazyguy Mark Guidry William Kaplan 50-1

6.) Cowtown Cat Fernando Jara Todd Pletcher 20-1

7.) Street Sense Calvin Borel Carl Nafzger 4-1

8.) Hard Spun Mario Pino Larry Jones 15-1

9.) Liquidity David Flores Doug O’ Neill 30-1

10.) Teuflesberg Stewart Elliott Jamie Sanders 30-1

11.) Bwana Bull Javier Castellano Jerry Hollendorfer 50-1

12.) Nobiz Like Shobiz Cornelio Velasquez Barclay Tagg 8-1

13.) Sam P. Ramon Dominguez Todd Pletcher 20-1

14.) Scat Daddy Edgar Prado Todd Pletcher 10-1

15.) Tiago Mike Smith John Shirreffs 15-1
16.) Circular Quay John Velazquez Todd Pletcher 8-1

17.) Stormello Kent Desormeaux Bill Currin 30-1

18.) Any Given Saturday Garrett Gomez Todd Pletcher 12-1

19.) Dominican Rafael Bejarano Darrin Miller 20-1

20.) Great Hunter Corey Nakatani Doug O’ Neill 15-1






From a handicapping view - - -

Horses with best posts: Street Sense, Hard Spun,
Nobiz Like Shobiz, Cowtown Cat

Horses with worst posts: Sedgefield, Curlin, Great Hunter,
Dominican



Predicted winner – Street Sense

Monday, April 23, 2007

Kentucky Derby - in 12 days!!!!

I am working on some Kentucky Derby prospects and here is a description of the first six:

1.) Street Sense
Jockey – Calvin Borel
Trainer – Carl Nafzger
Owner – Jim Tafel LLC
Pedigree – Sire: Street Cry; Dam: Bedazzle

Dark bay almost black colt seems to get better with age. Street Sense won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by ten lengths, the largest winning margin in the history of the race and second longest margin of victory in the Breeders’ Cup altogether. As a two year old, Street Sense was still very immature. When he turned three, Carl Nafzger, his trainer, said Street Sense had grown into a man and was no longer an immature boy. Street Sense has never finished worse than third in his life. A good thing that will help him in the Derby is that Churchill Downs is his home and favorite racetrack. Sired by the Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry and out of the mare Bedazzle, he was bred to go a mile and a quarter.








2.) Curlin
Jockey – Robby Albarado
Trainer – Steven Asmussen
Owner – Stonestreet Stables, Padua
Stables, George Bolton
Pedigree – Sire: Smart Strike; Dam:
Sherriff’s Deputy

Undefeated chestnut colt has been very impressive in every start of his career, including a win in the Arkansas Derby by 10½ lengths. If he can just get by Street Sense in the Derby, he can sweep the Triple Crown. Curlin likes to sit slightly off the pace, but the question is out the window how he’ll beat Street Sense at the rival’s home track. Curlin is also trying to become the first horse since 1882 to win the Derby having not raced at two.










3.) Nobiz Like Shobiz
Jockey – Cornelio Velasquez
Trainer – Barclay Tagg
Owner – Elizabeth Valando
Pedigree – Sire: Albert the Great; Dam:
Nightstorm

Nobiz Like Shobiz possesses the kind of pure talent that excites fans of the game. Since the addition of blinkers, he has been rank, fighting his rider for the whole race. That is something he can’t do in the Derby. In the Wood Memorial, his last race, he had to dig down deep to hold off Sightseeing, who was closing fast. He wore himself out by fighting the rider in that race. He needs to relax a little if he’s going to have a good chance of withstanding the mile and a quarter.









4.) Scat Daddy
Jockey – Edgar Prado
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – James Scatuorchio, Michael
Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Johannesburg; Dam: Love
Style

Florida Derby winner figures to follow in the great Barbaro’s footsteps. Scat Daddy is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is the Eclipse Award winning trainer for the third straight year, but has never won a Kentucky Derby (0 for 14). The first stakes winner sired by Johannesburg, Scat Daddy has never finished worse than fourth in his career. The handsome dark bay colt is ridden by Edgar Prado, who just won his second straight Florida Derby and his looking for his second consecutive Kentucky Derby (he rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Derby).







5.) Circular Quay
Jockey – John Velazquez
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Michael and Doreen Tabor
Pedigree – Sire: Thunder Gulch; Dam:
Circle of Life

This beautiful chestnut colt is another Todd Pletcher horse who is trying to become the first horse in a VERY long time to win the Derby off of an eight-week layoff or longer. He has a tendency to find trouble in his races, and comes from very far behind. When he’s in the clear, he can really run. His sire, Thunder Gulch, won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in 1995, nearly sweeping the Triple Crown.









6.) Cowtown Cat
Jockey – Fernando Jara
Trainer – Todd Pletcher
Owner – Winstar Farm Bill Casner, et al
and Gulf Coast Farm
Pedigree – Sire: Distorted Humor; Dam:
Tom’s Cat

Impressive winner of the Illinois Derby gets better with every race. ANOTHER Todd Pletcher horse with tons of talent.

Will be adding more soon!

Friday, April 6, 2007

World Cup night wrap-up

The night of the Dubai World Cup was sure exciting. With great entertainment and even better races it was a memorable night. I will now run over the races and winners.

Godolphin Mile

The USA based Spring at Last ridden by Garrett Gomez romped home a winner in the Godolphin Mile. Second went to Parole Board. This win also gives Gomez and Doug O' Neill their very first World Cup night wins.

UAE Derby

We may never see a UAE Derby performance like this again. Asiatic Boy romped home by 9 1/2 lengths, thus sweeping the UAE Triple Crown. He may come to the U. S. for the Breeders' Cup Classic at year's end. He is too old for the American Triple Crown.

Golden Shaheen

It wouldn't be any fun without Frankie Dettori winning one, wouldn't it? Another reason for Kelly's Landing to win. Americans finished one-two-four in the sprint, with Friendly Island second.

Sheema Classic

Hong Kong racing had yet to win a World Cup race heading into March 31st. That all changed when Vengeance of Rain won the Sheema Classic by 1 1/4 lengths. Americans didn't do so well, all finishing near the back of the field.

Duty Free

Lava Man has never won outside of California, and now he never will because he will never leave. When the field broke for the Duty Free, Lava Man went out to the lead under jockey Corey Nakatani. He kept the lead past the half mile pole, but suddenly quit in the stretch. He faded back to last, where he would finish. Meanwhile, Admire Moon, the Japanese invader, was an easy winner.

Dubai World Cup

Going into the race, we all thought it was a two-horse race between reigning Horse of the Year Invasor and the undefeated Discreet Cat. That match race didn't occur between those two, but Invasor still would not be denied. Discreet Cat broke a small step slow, letting Invasor actually break in front of him. Invasor was quickly rated by Fernando Jara while Premium Tap went to the lead. Discreet Cat was having a problem, not showing as much speed as usual. Frankie Dettori was forced to take up the reins near the back of the pack, a place totally unfamiliar to Discreet Cat. Turning into the stretch, Premium Tap still led, but Invasor was gaining on him. He finally managed to pass the other U. S. invader and win by two lengths. Discreet Cat finished last, 23 lengths behind Invasor. It was later found out after the race that Discreet Cat had a throat obstruction, an infection in his respiratory tract. It restricted the air flow to his lungs and barely let him breathe. This is probably why he ran so poorly. I still think he showed gameness in still chasing after the other horses.