Of Awesome Gem, Rapid Redux, and a horse named Helicopter

Memorial Day weekend is undoubtedly one of the best weekends of the year for horse racing, with a spectacular card on Monday at Lone Star Park and the Met Mile at Belmont Park. Numerous geldings are entered to race across the country, some of them members of our Veterans of the Turf Club, some of them not -- but those that aren't really should be.

But before we look at the upcoming racing action, let's take a look back at what some of our VOTTC members have done over the last few days:

Rapid Redux wins number 12!

Rapid Redux -- who is not yet a member of our VOTTC, but will be inducted as soon as he turns six -- brought his amazing winning streak to twelve consecutive victories on May 23rd, when he easily defeated a field of three others in a one-mile starter allowance race at Mountaineer.

Sent off as the 1-10 favorite, the five-year-old gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect broke well and went straight to the lead while running the opening quarter mile in a very slow :25.15. But he quickened up after that, running his second quarter in a blazing :23.42. This quarter mile put away Kaufman and Mandu Genius, who had been tracking him in second and third. Mr. Keeper then made a bold run at Rapid Redux, but the overwhelming favorite easily put him away and drew off entering the homestretch. He led by seven lengths passing the eighth pole, and ended up crossing the wire 4 1/4 lengths clear of Mr. Keeper while being eased at the finish. The final time was a 1:39.17.

The win was not only Rapid Redux's twelfth straight win, but his tenth of the year and eighteenth overall. The gelding has turned into a truly amazing horse. The longest modern-day American winning streak is 19 straight, held by Pepper's Pride and Zenyatta. If Rapid Redux stays in good form, I would not be surprised at all if he were to break it!

A good try from Garden Dancer

As mentioned in my last post, the eight-year-old gelding Garden Dancer was entered to race on May 26th at River Downs in a $4,000 claiming race. In the 5-1/2 furlong event, he was sent off as the 2.20-1 favorite in a field of six. Last early on behind a slow pace of :24.06 and :47.49, he made a run at the leaders while entering the homestretch, but failed to maintain it, tiring a bit to finish fourth behind Del Mar Storm. But it was not a bad performance by any means. He was trying to close into a slow pace, and the horses that ran 1-2 early on finished 1-2. It just didn't set up for Garden Dancer. He needs a bit more pace to run at, which he will hopefully get in his next start.

The eleven-year-old horse Quick American -- who I also mentioned on my last post -- finished third after a bit of a rough trip.

Mixed Results from Fabulous Strike

Fabulous Strike, a grade I winner and a member of our VOTTC, ran last night in the Changing Times Stakes at Penn National. He was sent off as the 1-2 favorite against seven opponents and figured to win easily.

Unfortunately, the front-running gelding broke poorly -- and ended up trying to close from off the pace. He actually ran admirably well, racing wide to get into contention before tiring late to finish fifth. The winner was Peppi Knows, who stopped the clock in the decent time of 1:10.10. Interestingly, Peppi Knows was decisively beaten by Fabulous Strike last month.

I believe that Fabulous Strike will rebound sharply off of this race, and I hope to see him at Saratoga later this summer. If all goes well, he might just try to win the Vosburgh Stakes, a race which he won in 2007 and finished second in 2008 and 2009.

Now for the entries. . .

As you might have guessed by the title of this post, Awesome Gem is entered to race this weekend -- on Monday, in the Lone Star Park Handicap to be precise. Although he will be facing just four rivals, they are good rivals, and Awesome Gem will have to be at his best in order to win.

Here are the entries for the grade III, mile and a sixteenth event:

Post Position	Horse	Morning Line Odds
1	Flat Out	15-1
2	Thiskyhasnolimit	2-1
3	Awesome Gem	5-2
4	Game On Dude	6-5
5	Lydia's Last Step	20-1

One of the reasons why Awesome Gem will have to be at his best is because Game On Dude is in the race. One of the leading older males in the country, the four-year-old colt won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) back in March and finished a strong second in the Charles Town Classic (gr. I). Game On Dude is also proven over the track, having won the Lone Star Derby here last year.

Thiskyhasnolimit is another one of the top contenders, based off of his fine victory in the grade III Texas Mile Stakes here last month. He was a fine colt at two and three, and may be prepared for his best year ever.
Flat Out's career has been plagued by long layoffs. After winning the Smarty Jones Stakes in 2009, he finished out of the top three in the Southwest Stakes and Arkansas Derby. He then didn't race again until December 2010, when he won an allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds. This will be his first start since then.

Lydia's Last Step is a Texas-bred trying to win one of Texas' biggest races, but the gelding has lost a pair of restricted stakes races this year and I doubt that he can win at this level of competition.

As for Awesome Gem, he didn't show too much in his first two starts of 2011 -- finishing third in an allowance race and off the board in the Charles Town Classic -- but he ran huge to finish fourth in the Alysheba Stakes last time out, being beaten only a half-length after a very traffic-filled trip. In that race, he finished ahead of Giant Oak, Caracortado, Mission Impazible, Wise Dan, and Demarcation. This performance signals that he may be ready to run a winning race on Monday.

A horse named Helicopter

I would like to tell you about a horse named Helicopter.

A five-year-old gelding, he won't be eligible to become a member of our VOTTC until next year. But because he is one of my favorite horses, I think that I should mention him here anyway.

During his long, 45-start career, Helicopter has been known to put together some good winning streaks. Five wins straight, three wins straight -- his victories typically come in groups. All together, he has visited the winners circle on seventeen occasions. He has risen from the claiming ranks to become a solid, stakes-placed allowance runner. Last time out, making his 2011 debut, he won a starter allowance race going nine furlongs at Arlington Park. Today, he is entered in the seventh race at Arlington Park.

The event is a nine furlong turf allowance optional claiming race, in which -- after scratches -- Helicopter is the co-favorite at 3-1. Eight rivals are scheduled to face him, but I believe that Helicopter can beat them all. He should be even sharper today than he was last time out, and with anything even resembling a fast pace, he should come flying in the final furlongs. Interestingly though, he has been entered for a tag and can be claimed for $40,000, should anyone choose to do so.

That's it for the moment! Enjoy the races everyone!

-Keelerman

Of Results and Various Birthdays

Good news! Our newest member of the Veterans of the Turf club, the eight-year-old grade I winner Fabulous Strike, succeeded in winning his comeback race last night at Penn National race course!

The race was a six furlong allowance race on the main track. Fabulous Strike was the odds-on favorite at 0.80-1. It was his first start since finishing second in the 2009 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I).

Under Dana Whitney, Fabulous Strike broke well and had the lead after an opening quarter mile in :22.08. Second choice Peppi Knows was sitting in second, while longshot Drake Passage was racing along in third.

The pace continued to stay hot through a half-mile in :44.58, after which Fabulous Strike began to pull away. He hit the wire victorious; two lengths clear of Peppi Knows. The final time over a sloppy track was 1:09.53.

Congratulations, Fabulous Strike! To read a more detailed recap of the race, please refer to the link below:

http://www.drf.com/news/penn-national-fabulous-strike-scores-return-18-month-layoff

On April 2^nd at Golden Gate Fields, another VOTTC member, Awesome Gem, made his first start since finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon last year at Churchill Downs. The race was a one-mile turf allowance race, in which Awesome Gem was the third choice at 5.40-1.

The gelding sat last in the early going, behind a moderate early pace set by second choice Hudson Landing. He showed no speed for much of the race, but began to rally on the far turn. However, there was no catching Hudson Landing, who kicked away in the stretch to win by a length. Awesome Gem closed well, but was forced to settle for third, beaten 2 ½ lengths. Still, he closed his final eighth in about twelve seconds and it was a good performance for his first start of the year.

However, the race was marred by the death of favored Meteore, who broke down on the first turn and was euthanized. He was a courageous horse, who always gave his best. He will be missed.

Various Birthdays

I would like to take a moment to wish a happy birthday to a quartet of our VOTTC members, all of whom celebrated birthdays over the last week.

·         Happy birthday to Dubious Miss, who turned seven years old on April 3^rd! A graded stakes winner, he won the 2010 Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) and has placed in a variety of other stakes events.

·         Happy birthday to our newest member Fabulous Strike, who turned eight years old on April 4^th! Apparently, he decided to celebrate this memorable occasion by returning to the races. . . :)

·         Furthest Land had a birthday recently too! The late-running gelding, who turned six on April 9^th, won the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) in a shocking upset. Happy birthday, Furthest Land! Relive his remarkable victory by watching the replay! Here’s the link: http://www.breederscup.com/greatestmoments.aspx?year=2009&divisionname=dirtmile

·         Last but not least, happy birthday to Silver Timber! The marvelous turf sprinter, who has twice won the grade III Woodford Stakes, turned eight years old on April 9^th. Thus, he shares a birthday with Furthest Land. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. II) later this year may be in this guy’s future!

-Keelerman

Welcome Fabulous Strike!

The results are in! According to our official voting poll which closed earlier this afternoon, Fabulous Strike is now the newest member of our Veterans of the Turf Club!

The eight-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike has not raced since finishing second in the grade I Vosburgh Stakes at Saratoga in September 2009. However, he has finally recovered from his various injuries and is scheduled to race tonight at Penn National in the eighth race, a six furlong allowance race.

Here is Fabulous Strike's record to date:

Starts	Wins	Seconds	Thirds	Earnings
24	14	5	0	$1,409,412

Fabulous Strike's biggest win thus far came in the 2007 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I), which he won by 5 3/4 lengths. He also ran second in the 2008 Vosburgh.

Although he is probably the best horse in tonight's race, he is facing some stiff competition tonight, and will likely have to work for victory. Peppi Knows, winner of a six furlong allowance optional claiming race last time out, has shown early speed and may be able to go with Fabulous Strike early. It should be an exciting race!

Here are the complete entries:

Post Position	Horse	Morning Line Odds
1	Peppi Knows	7-2
2	Peter's Creek	5-1
3	Fabulous Strike	6-5
4	Sure Start	12-1
5	Drake Passage	8-1
6	Wink At the Girls	9-2

Good luck, Fabulous Strike!

-Keelerman

The Return of Fabulous Strike!

Good news! Fabulous Strike, an eight-year-old, grade I-winning gelding, will be returning to the races for the first time since October 2009 on April 9th!

Here's an article about his return:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62303/fabulous-strike-set-for-return

I feel that Fabulous Strike should become a member of our Veterans of the Turf club. What do you think? For a little added fun, we shall officially vote on the prospect! I shall post a poll on the far right side of my blog, just below the header. If you think that Fabulous Strike should become a member of the VOTTC, then vote "yes"!

Good luck to Fabulous Strike!

-Keelerman