A trio of veteran geldings are entered to race over the next two days. They are Dubious Miss, winner of the 2010 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III); Quick Enough, a capable turf sprinter who has won or placed in six stakes races, including a victory in the 2010 Morvich Stakes (gr. III); and Cost of Freedom, a grade I winner in the past that has lost a few steps with old age but still shows good early speed even at the advanced age of nine.
Quick Enough and Cost of Freedom will head to post first, as they are both entered in the same race later this afternoon. The event is a six-furlong, $25,000-$22,500 claiming event on the all-weather track at Golden Gate Fields. Quick Enough has been competing well in similar events here at Golden Gate, the only difference in today's race being the claiming tag. Quick Enough has been competing in $20,000-$18,000 events, and is thus taking a bit of a step up in class today. Regardless, he is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line and should turn in a good effort.
Cost of Freedom won the Ancient Title Stakes (gr. I) back in 2008, and was beaten just a head when third in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I). Unfortunately, he is no longer the force that he once was, and his last three starts have come for a claiming price. He hasn't won a race in over a year, but this is the lowest-class race in which he has ever competed, and it's possible that this could lead to a much-improved effort.
On Saturday at Fair Grounds, Dubious Miss will head to post in the Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (gr. III). The eight-year-old gelding recently won his first race since the 2010 Ben Ali, taking a 7-1/2 furlong, $35,000-$30,000 claiming race by a length. This is a great big step up in class, and he will be facing several in-form stakes winners, but Dubious Miss has been a consistently good horse throughout his career. In addition, he did finish second in this race last year and has always run well here at Fair Grounds, so hopefully that will be enough to see Dubious Miss run another great race.
-Keelerman
Friday, January 20, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Presious Passion, Quick Enough Continue to Breeze
The remarkable old gelding Presious Passion, attempting a comeback at the age of nine, breezed for the third time since his return to training at Gulfstream Park yesterday afternoon. A three-time grade I winner and runner-up in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I), Presious Passion has become famous for his front-running style that has found him as many as 20 lengths in front of his rivals early on.
Breezing on the main dirt track, Presious Passion went five furlongs in 1:02.70, not a quick time, but he's never been one to breeze quickly. His previous two recent works were a half-mile in :51.90 on December 24th and five furlongs in 1:03.65 on December 18th.
Winless since taking the Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) in February 2010, Presious Passion seems to have lost a step or two with age, but nevertheless retains a competitive spirit that is enabling him to try a comeback. His last start came in January 2011, when he finished fifth after setting the pace in the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Santa Anita. It would be a truly amazing story if Presious Passion were to return and win one more time -- any race at all, a grade I stakes, an allowance event, it doesn't matter. It would be a fitting conclusion to a magnificent career if this gelding were able to go out with a victory.
Another Veteran Gelding busy on the worktab is Quick Enough, winner of the 2010 Morvich Handicap (gr. III). Now an eight-year-old, he has recently been competing well in claiming races and will probably be racing again soon. Earlier this morning at Golden Gate Fields, he breezed a half-mile in :50 4/5.
-Keelerman
Breezing on the main dirt track, Presious Passion went five furlongs in 1:02.70, not a quick time, but he's never been one to breeze quickly. His previous two recent works were a half-mile in :51.90 on December 24th and five furlongs in 1:03.65 on December 18th.
Winless since taking the Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. II) in February 2010, Presious Passion seems to have lost a step or two with age, but nevertheless retains a competitive spirit that is enabling him to try a comeback. His last start came in January 2011, when he finished fifth after setting the pace in the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Santa Anita. It would be a truly amazing story if Presious Passion were to return and win one more time -- any race at all, a grade I stakes, an allowance event, it doesn't matter. It would be a fitting conclusion to a magnificent career if this gelding were able to go out with a victory.
Another Veteran Gelding busy on the worktab is Quick Enough, winner of the 2010 Morvich Handicap (gr. III). Now an eight-year-old, he has recently been competing well in claiming races and will probably be racing again soon. Earlier this morning at Golden Gate Fields, he breezed a half-mile in :50 4/5.
-Keelerman
Friday, December 9, 2011
Welcome back to Veterans of the Turf!
First off, allow me to express my apologies for the lack of posts during the last several months. It's been a very busy summer and fall! But I feel ready to give this blog another shot and see how it goes.
One of the reasons I am posting this is because of some fabulous news from Gulfstream Park. Presious Passion, one of our oldest veterans of the turf at age eight, and certainly one of my favorites, is expected to breeze this week in preperation for a possible return to the races. A three-time grade I winner, he turned in one of the most remarkable performances I have ever seen when finishing second to Conduit in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I). Although he has not raced since January and will turn nine next year, Presious Passion is gearing up for another season and, hopefully, he will still have some of that old spark left that has carried him through so many races over so many years.
Here's an article about his return from DRF.com:
http://www.drf.com/news/gulfstream-presious-passion-back-track
In addition, let me quickly update the status of all our Veterans of the Turf members:
Awesome Gem: Ran second to Game On Dude in the Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita before a hind end problem ended his season. He is expected to return as a nine-year-old sometime next year.
California Flag: Got back on track with a victory in the Morvich Stakes (gr. III) before running twelfth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II), a race that he won in 2009. He has breezed three times since then and will probably return sometime during the Santa Anita meet.
Chamberlain Bridge: Finished eighth while attempting to defend his title in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II), then ran a deceptively good fourth in an allowance optional claiming race. It appears as though he may be rounding back into form.
Cost of Freedom: Unfortunately, he appears to be approaching the end of his long, successful career, and his last three starts have come for a claiming price. Sadder yet, he has not won a race all year. But he still tries hard every time and will hopefully end his career on a high note.
Dubious Miss: He has not won a race since the April 2010 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland, but he has turned in some good efforts since then and has most recently been competing in allowance optional claiming company.
Garden Dancer: Won a claiming race on the final day of July, but hasn't raced since September. But considering he has made fifteen starts this year, it's not surprising that he is being given a break. I expect him to be back next year as a ten-year-old.
Interpatation: Like Cost of Freedom, he appears to be nearing the end of his career as well. Winless since taking the 2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. I), he has been available for claiming in his last seven starts, and has not cracked the exacta in any of them. But at least he is still sound and still keeps on trying!
Quick Enough: Won his last race, a $20,000 claiming event, by a length in sharp fashion. Seven years of age, he was actually second to eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Amazombie in the Tizway Stakes earlier this year, so I think he still has the talent to be a force in lower-level sprint stakes events.
Silver Timber: Following three disappointing losses in stakes races, he has turned to allowance optional claiming races with some success, most recently finishing a strong third while racing for a $50,000 tag. He actually breezed a half-mile in :48.29 at Palm Meadows Training Center just this morning.
Brass Hat, Fabulous Strike, and Rahy's Attorney have all been retired, the latter after suffering a fairly minor leg injury while running second in the grade I Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap.
-Keelerman
One of the reasons I am posting this is because of some fabulous news from Gulfstream Park. Presious Passion, one of our oldest veterans of the turf at age eight, and certainly one of my favorites, is expected to breeze this week in preperation for a possible return to the races. A three-time grade I winner, he turned in one of the most remarkable performances I have ever seen when finishing second to Conduit in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I). Although he has not raced since January and will turn nine next year, Presious Passion is gearing up for another season and, hopefully, he will still have some of that old spark left that has carried him through so many races over so many years.
Here's an article about his return from DRF.com:
http://www.drf.com/news/gulfstream-presious-passion-back-track
In addition, let me quickly update the status of all our Veterans of the Turf members:
Awesome Gem: Ran second to Game On Dude in the Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita before a hind end problem ended his season. He is expected to return as a nine-year-old sometime next year.
California Flag: Got back on track with a victory in the Morvich Stakes (gr. III) before running twelfth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II), a race that he won in 2009. He has breezed three times since then and will probably return sometime during the Santa Anita meet.
Chamberlain Bridge: Finished eighth while attempting to defend his title in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II), then ran a deceptively good fourth in an allowance optional claiming race. It appears as though he may be rounding back into form.
Cost of Freedom: Unfortunately, he appears to be approaching the end of his long, successful career, and his last three starts have come for a claiming price. Sadder yet, he has not won a race all year. But he still tries hard every time and will hopefully end his career on a high note.
Dubious Miss: He has not won a race since the April 2010 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland, but he has turned in some good efforts since then and has most recently been competing in allowance optional claiming company.
Garden Dancer: Won a claiming race on the final day of July, but hasn't raced since September. But considering he has made fifteen starts this year, it's not surprising that he is being given a break. I expect him to be back next year as a ten-year-old.
Interpatation: Like Cost of Freedom, he appears to be nearing the end of his career as well. Winless since taking the 2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. I), he has been available for claiming in his last seven starts, and has not cracked the exacta in any of them. But at least he is still sound and still keeps on trying!
Quick Enough: Won his last race, a $20,000 claiming event, by a length in sharp fashion. Seven years of age, he was actually second to eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Amazombie in the Tizway Stakes earlier this year, so I think he still has the talent to be a force in lower-level sprint stakes events.
Silver Timber: Following three disappointing losses in stakes races, he has turned to allowance optional claiming races with some success, most recently finishing a strong third while racing for a $50,000 tag. He actually breezed a half-mile in :48.29 at Palm Meadows Training Center just this morning.
Brass Hat, Fabulous Strike, and Rahy's Attorney have all been retired, the latter after suffering a fairly minor leg injury while running second in the grade I Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap.
-Keelerman
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Of Interpatation and Rapid Redux
Nine-year-old gelding Interpatation is entered to race this afternoon in the third race at Hollywood Park.
A son of Langfuhr, the veteran of 65 races since 2004 secured his biggest victory in the 2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I), when he defeated three-time Eclipse champion Gio Ponti over a bog-like turf course. However, he has not won since then and hasn't been in great form as of late. In five starts this year, his best finish has been a runner-up performance in a ten furlong allowance optional claiming race. Last time out, he finished sixth in a $32,000 claiming race.
It will take a much improved effort to score in today's race, but maybe he'll return to form this afternoon.
Here are the entries:
His main competition will most like come from the two favorites, Power Series and Red Alert Day. The former has spent most of his career racing in Europe, and has only made two starts in the United States. In the first, a nine furlong allowance optional claiming race, he led passing the eighth pole before being out kicked to finish a close-up fifth. He was on the lead again passing the eighth pole in his most recent start, the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. II), but was out kicked yet again en route to a sixth-place finish, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths.
Red Alert Day also began his career in Europe, but has been in the United States since early 2009. Earlier this year, he had been competing in claiming races -- defeating Interpatation in one -- but after a strong victory in a $32,000 claiming event, he stepped up to compete in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. I). While he may have seemed completely outclassed on the surface, he actually ran fairly well in the race to finish fourth, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths for second.
Whoever wins, it should be a good race!
* * * * *
On a side note, there was an interesting article about Rapid Redux on DRF.com today. Here's a link to the piece:
http://www.drf.com/news/thirteen-row-good-any-level
-Keelerman
A son of Langfuhr, the veteran of 65 races since 2004 secured his biggest victory in the 2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I), when he defeated three-time Eclipse champion Gio Ponti over a bog-like turf course. However, he has not won since then and hasn't been in great form as of late. In five starts this year, his best finish has been a runner-up performance in a ten furlong allowance optional claiming race. Last time out, he finished sixth in a $32,000 claiming race.
It will take a much improved effort to score in today's race, but maybe he'll return to form this afternoon.
Here are the entries:
| Post Position | Horse | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Interpatation | 8-1 |
| 2 | Kingsville | Scratched |
| 3 | Power Series | 8-5 |
| 4 | Tippity Tap Tap | 4-1 |
| 5 | Volcanic Ice | 30-1 |
| 6 | They Call Him El | 6-1 |
| 7 | Red Alert Day | 2-1 |
His main competition will most like come from the two favorites, Power Series and Red Alert Day. The former has spent most of his career racing in Europe, and has only made two starts in the United States. In the first, a nine furlong allowance optional claiming race, he led passing the eighth pole before being out kicked to finish a close-up fifth. He was on the lead again passing the eighth pole in his most recent start, the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (gr. II), but was out kicked yet again en route to a sixth-place finish, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths.
Red Alert Day also began his career in Europe, but has been in the United States since early 2009. Earlier this year, he had been competing in claiming races -- defeating Interpatation in one -- but after a strong victory in a $32,000 claiming event, he stepped up to compete in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. I). While he may have seemed completely outclassed on the surface, he actually ran fairly well in the race to finish fourth, beaten just 2 1/4 lengths for second.
Whoever wins, it should be a good race!
* * * * *
On a side note, there was an interesting article about Rapid Redux on DRF.com today. Here's a link to the piece:
http://www.drf.com/news/thirteen-row-good-any-level
-Keelerman
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Rapid Redux goes for #13!
Tonight, in the seventh race at Penn National, the five-year-old gelding Rapid Redux will attempt to extend his amazing winning streak to thirteen consecutive victories.
10-for-10 this year alone, Rapid Redux has been dominating his opponents liks few horses can. He has won his last four races by an average of nearly 7 1/2 lengths. The comments on the Equibase results charts for those same four races have read "won geared down,easily", "sharp pace,much best", "rail, ridden out", and "pace 2path, handily".
Tonight's race is a one-mile and seventy yards starter allowance race. Eight horses, including Rapid Redux, where entered, but three scratches have left the field with only five runners. Here are the entries:
Rapid Redux is not facing much. Rascal Cat and No Brakes ran eighth and ninth, respectively, in their last races. Grinnell is entering off of a win, but it was in a $10,000 claiming race at six furlongs. Miles Heir probably has the best chance at upsetting Rapid Redux, seeing that he won a mile and a sixteenth starter allowance race last time out, but I don't think that he is good enough to defeat Rapid Redux.
Should Rapid Redux win tonight, it will move him one victory closer to breaking the modern-day record for consecutive victories in North America, held by the mares Zenyatta and Pepper's Pride, each of whom won nineteen straight races. As long as Rapid Redux stays in form, I believe that he is capable of doing it.
Go Rapid Redux!
-Keelerman
10-for-10 this year alone, Rapid Redux has been dominating his opponents liks few horses can. He has won his last four races by an average of nearly 7 1/2 lengths. The comments on the Equibase results charts for those same four races have read "won geared down,easily", "sharp pace,much best", "rail, ridden out", and "pace 2path, handily".
Tonight's race is a one-mile and seventy yards starter allowance race. Eight horses, including Rapid Redux, where entered, but three scratches have left the field with only five runners. Here are the entries:
| Post Position | Horse | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Darrell Van Horne | Scratched |
| 2 | Rascal Cat | 20-1 |
| 3 | No Brakes | 6-1 |
| 4 | Jake's Mission | Scratched |
| 5 | Grinnell | 8-1 |
| 6 | Rapid Redux | 4-5 |
| 7 | Gotta Believe Me | Scratched |
| 8 | Miles Heir | 6-1 |
Rapid Redux is not facing much. Rascal Cat and No Brakes ran eighth and ninth, respectively, in their last races. Grinnell is entering off of a win, but it was in a $10,000 claiming race at six furlongs. Miles Heir probably has the best chance at upsetting Rapid Redux, seeing that he won a mile and a sixteenth starter allowance race last time out, but I don't think that he is good enough to defeat Rapid Redux.
Should Rapid Redux win tonight, it will move him one victory closer to breaking the modern-day record for consecutive victories in North America, held by the mares Zenyatta and Pepper's Pride, each of whom won nineteen straight races. As long as Rapid Redux stays in form, I believe that he is capable of doing it.
Go Rapid Redux!
-Keelerman
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Garden Dancer entered to race! (Again!)
Garden Dancer was entered to race last week in the 8th race at River Downs. But after running the first seven races, the weather got so bad the track canceled the final race. Thus, Garden Dancer did not get to compete.
However, he has been re-entered against many of the same horses today at River Downs. In the fourth race on the card, Garden Dancer will head to post against five others going 5-1/2 furlongs on dirt in a $4,000 claiming race.
Here are the entries:
Post Position/Horse/Morning Line Odds
1 Quick American 9-2
2 Gold Album 2-1
3 Housebuilder 7-2
4 Cucina Nick (Scratched)
5 Garden Dancer 3-1
6 Kate's Trooper 20-1
7 Voodoo Gold 12-1
All of the seven horses entered are geldings, and all six years of age or older. Amazingly, Quick American is still a competive claimer, even at the advanced age of 11!
-Keelerman
However, he has been re-entered against many of the same horses today at River Downs. In the fourth race on the card, Garden Dancer will head to post against five others going 5-1/2 furlongs on dirt in a $4,000 claiming race.
Here are the entries:
Post Position/Horse/Morning Line Odds
1 Quick American 9-2
2 Gold Album 2-1
3 Housebuilder 7-2
4 Cucina Nick (Scratched)
5 Garden Dancer 3-1
6 Kate's Trooper 20-1
7 Voodoo Gold 12-1
All of the seven horses entered are geldings, and all six years of age or older. Amazingly, Quick American is still a competive claimer, even at the advanced age of 11!
-Keelerman
Friday, June 10, 2011
Garden Dancer entered to race!
Garden Dancer, the tough-as-nails nine-year-old gelding who can still compete successfully in claiming races, is entered to race later this afternoon in the 8th race at River Downs.
The event is a 5-1/2 furlong $4,000 claiming race. Here are the entries:
As you can see, Garden Dancer is among the favorites. He has been very busy this year, having already raced nine times with three victories to his credit. He is most effective coming from off the pace, so quick fractions up front would greatly increase his chances of victory.
Quick American, the 5-2 morning line favorite, is definitely the horse to beat. He has been very consistent as of late, never turning in a poor performance and always finishing right in the mix of things. Interestingly, he has confronted Garden Dancer on four occasions this year -- and finished ahead of 'Dancer in all of them.
Also interesting is the fact that four of the seven horses in this field are emerging from the same race, the 2nd at River Downs on May 26th, a 5-1/2 furlong $4,000 claiming event just like today's race. The results were:
Finishing Position/Horse/Margin over next horse
1 Del Mar Storm (2 lengths)
2 Gold Album (nose)
3 Quick American (2 1/4 lengths)
4 Garden Dancer (8 3/4 lengths)
5 Cucina Nick (3 1/4 lengths)
6 Rhode to Silence
So basically, Garden Dancer is going to have to improve 2 1/4 lengths -- or Gold Album and Quick American regress 2 1/4 lengths -- in order for Garden Dancer to win. Can he do it? I'll be cheering him on!
-Keelerman
The event is a 5-1/2 furlong $4,000 claiming race. Here are the entries:
| Post Position | Horse | A/S | Morning Line Odds |
| 1 | Cucina Nick | 8/G | 8-1 |
| 2 | Dynomightrunaway | 7/G | 15-1 |
| 3 | Kate's Trooper | 6/G | 10-1 |
| 4 | Garden Dancer | 9/G | 4-1 |
| 5 | Quick American | 11/G | 5-2 |
| 6 | Gold Album | 7/G | 2-1 |
| 7 | Iain'tmadatcha | 6/G | 6-1 |
As you can see, Garden Dancer is among the favorites. He has been very busy this year, having already raced nine times with three victories to his credit. He is most effective coming from off the pace, so quick fractions up front would greatly increase his chances of victory.
Quick American, the 5-2 morning line favorite, is definitely the horse to beat. He has been very consistent as of late, never turning in a poor performance and always finishing right in the mix of things. Interestingly, he has confronted Garden Dancer on four occasions this year -- and finished ahead of 'Dancer in all of them.
Also interesting is the fact that four of the seven horses in this field are emerging from the same race, the 2nd at River Downs on May 26th, a 5-1/2 furlong $4,000 claiming event just like today's race. The results were:
Finishing Position/Horse/Margin over next horse
1 Del Mar Storm (2 lengths)
2 Gold Album (nose)
3 Quick American (2 1/4 lengths)
4 Garden Dancer (8 3/4 lengths)
5 Cucina Nick (3 1/4 lengths)
6 Rhode to Silence
So basically, Garden Dancer is going to have to improve 2 1/4 lengths -- or Gold Album and Quick American regress 2 1/4 lengths -- in order for Garden Dancer to win. Can he do it? I'll be cheering him on!
-Keelerman
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