Midwest Paddock Report

I had teased a few posts back about a new venture we were working on and now we're ready to unveil it.

The Midwest Paddock Report is a combined effort of my photographer better half, Heather Frisbie, and I to bring a spotlight on racing here in the Heartland.  I can't guarantee a lot of things in life, but one thing I can guarantee is that we will have growing pains.  As painstaking as it was for two non-techies to build this site, I can absolutely guarantee that once we get rolling we're going to find all kinds of things we wished we would have done differently.

Ideally we would launch with comprehensive coverage of the entire Midwest from Ohio to the Dakotas and down to Oklahoma.  Ideally.  However since we are a two-person operation working on a limited (read: "no") budget, we are starting with a still ambitious, but much more doable, agenda of covering Minnesota and Iowa. 

While our focus in owning and breeding has been in Thoroughbreds, we are going to try and include our Standardbred cousins as well.  I don't know if that's going work but we'll see.  My roots in harness racing go back to college and trips to now defunct Lewiston Raceway in Maine which was my first continuous exposure to live horse racing (after an amazing Preakness experience in 1985) with college classmate and lifelong friend Paul Mooney.  I really enjoyed harness racing, have owned small pieces of pacers in the past and have included Scarborough, Dover and Pocono Downs, the Meadowlands and Pompano Park in my travels over the decades.  Admittedly the popularity isn't the same as Thoroughbreds and if the interest isn't there we will pare back to "the Flats", but we're going to give it a go.  Where we have dual meets going we will also cover the major stories in regional Quarter Horse racing with the same caveat.

We have a section that we call "Around the Region" where we will preview and recap stakes races around the Midwest and performances that should be highlighted.  We're hoping to rely on readers to pass along story ideas and horses to watch to help us bring those stories to the people.

Speaking of people, we will be spotlighting folks in racing from time to time in our "In the Paddock" section.  We'll take movers, shakers and all around interesting people and ask them 5 questions.  A quick look at what they do and how they affect the game.

We'll also touch base on the bigger picture in our "National Scene" section.  Admittedly I'm not altogether sure how we're going to do that and it's really not going to be our focus, but it's important to give some regional perspective to the Triple Crown Trail and the Breeders' Cup.

Currently we're relatively advertising free with the exception of a couple of spots for Google AdSense, but that will change - mostly as I get adept at creating advertising and working with the widgets to be able to place the ads where I want to so they look good and deliver value without detracting from the site.  While we may be a labor of love right now, we don't intend on it being that way forever so feel free to inquire since this will get some priority in our development queue.

We're going to be looking to inject personality into our coverage.  We'd like to be a place where you come for your Midwest racing news as if you'd be sitting down with coffee with your neighbor and discussing the last night's race.  We'd like to entertain as well as inform and generate discussion.

Before I wrap, I'd like to thank family and friends that have reviewed and critiqued the birth process.  You've all be indispensable.  Truly indispensable was Frank Vespe, founder of the wonderful Mid-Atlantic on-line magazine, The Racing Biz, who provided us with advice and continues to be an inspiration.

We invite you take a look and let us know what you think.  While you're there, follow the Midwest Paddock Report on Twitter and you'll soon be able to "like" our Facebook page as well. We look forward to hearing from you!

Drive Him Yourself Racing

How much fun would this be?  Of course you have to be properly trained and certified, but I would LOVE this!

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2011


PRESS RELEASE

SIXTH ANNUAL EAST VS WEST AMATEUR DRIVING CHALLENGE STARTS FRIDAY – FREE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Contact: David Siegel (dsiegel@trackmaster.com)

With March Madness in the rear view mirror, the eyes of the world will be on Sacramento, California for the two-day, East versus West, Amateur Driving Challenge. This weekend was specifically chosen so these races would not take away from the attendance at AT&T Park, as the World Champion Giants are out of town. The Giants did send along their thanks for thinking of them when scheduling the event.

Still, the event will have the attention of the eight participants, and the horsemen and wagering fans in California and in the simulcast world.

Team East will be represented by first-timers Laura Macnamara, Simeon Hunsdon, and Jamie Marra who will be joining teammate Steve Oldford who competed in the East’s only win in five tries in 2008. The Eastern contingent will try to avenge recent defeats and get back on the winning track.

Team West will be a repeat of last year’s squad. Leading the team is 2010 Faut’s Champion Rick Bertrand. Rounding out the squad of amateur reinsmen are Robert Stepien, David Siegel and Chris Hernandez.

Four races will be contested on each of Friday and Saturday nights. Free programs and TrackMaster Greg selections for the Challenge races and all other races on the Cal-Expo cards on both nights can be accessed at trackmaster.com/calx

Alan Kirschenbaum, California Harness Horseman’s Association President remarked, “"Amateur racing is what makes harness racing unique among sports. It provides the opportunity for everyone to experience the adrenaline rush of competition, the way so many kids experienced it while growing up and playing sports. It is a crucial component of growing the sport's popularity in these challenging days.”

He went on to say, "Amateur driving competitions are popular all over the harness racing world, and we believe the California amateurs are as good as anyone, and this will be an exciting chance to prove it. We're so far away from the other harness racing venues that we rarely get to participate in the major competitions like the Billings Series and the one-day all-amateur card at Monticello, so the East-West is a very big deal to us."

Gregg Pistochini, the Cal-Expo on-air handicapper had this to say: “As much as we try to vary the races, nothing shakes things up here the way the East-West Challenge does. The races provide some of the best wagering opportunities we have here and in the past have been some of our larger pools.”

Cal-Expo’s successful pick-fours will include some of the Challenge races resulting in what are hoped to be higher the usual payoffs given the twists of the new drivers appearing at the oval.

For information about the California Amateur Driving Club, the Challenge or Amateur Driving in general, please visit www.thecadc.com.

I Am Woman - 4th Again

I Am Woman had a bit of a difficult trip yesterday afternoon and finished fourth in her non-winner of three conditioned pace at Monticello. As feared, she was shuffled back to fourth early and at each opportunity to pull and make a run she was blocked on the outside by a fading horse or by a stalling filly to her front. Heading into the stretch she finally popped free but was too far back to rally.

In a punch to the gut, while she passed several in the lane, she was nosed out by a hard closing SK Stu Peru for 3rd. Sure, it's only a 4% difference in purse money, but it would have got her close to breaking even for the month. Hopefully she gets back in Monday and we get one last shot at August.

It's hard to evaluate a race like this one, but our gal seems to get the worst of it every time out. I don't know what level the folks at VIP are looking at next, but she may be OK in here one more time. A second and a fourth is not being totally outclassed, but it would not break my heart to drop her into a claiming race either.

Finally - I Am Woman Back in Action

I Am Woman hasn't raced since August 3rd, a victim of a racing office error that had her entered in a race she was ineligible for, though she's be training well the entire time. Sadly, that was followed up by the inability to get into a field the following week and here we are, three weeks later, finally starting again. This is way too much time for a Standardbred trying to build off a nice second place finish after some dismal performances prior.

Monday afternoon's race at Monticello, the first, is a Non-Winners of 3 PM Races Lifetime with an earnings condition which is where she fits here. Six of the eight starters are three year olds so I Am Woman will be facing mostly her own age for the first time in a long time. Interestingly enough she will also be facing two half sisters (sired by Blissful Hall) from the same foal crop in the race.

Here is a rundown of the field:

1. Four Starz Dylan (Merton) - Dropping way down from her last race to really the next logical level for her after being trounced in a Freehold Stake. Prior to that her starts were consistent and on the engine - something the one hole should help with this time.

2. Magical-Flash (Bouchard) - Last two have been rough, but was trying from the outside. Moving inside will help, but has not won for a while.

3. Maverick Benka (Marohn, Jr.) - First over this track was a just-miss. She may be able to settle behind Four Starz Dylan and get the garden trip.

4. I AM WOMAN (Hough)

5. Powerful Al (Marohn, Sr.) - Has been treading water at this level for months now with an occasional piece of the pie in slower races.

6. Sk Stu Peru (Aldrich, Jr.) - Parked wide in last two but had valiant efforts to hit the board. Still has not broken a two minute mile, however.

7. Cardinal Bliss (Parker, Jr.) - First half sister in the field and has been racing very professionally since correcting her breaking issues in July. Likes the front, but may find it tough to get there from the seven spot.

8. Bella Paradisa (McAllef) - Other half sister who also likes being on the lead. Her problem is that she's even further outside! Throw out her Yonkers effort and she's won 4 in a row including her first here.

So what are our girl's chances in this one? Her morning line is 10-1. Admittedly she had not shown much prior to her second place finish on the 3rd. That being said, that second was finally a pretty nice effort - she actually gained a length on the leader in the stretch rather than give up distance! But I worry about the three weeks off and her level of sharpness. There is not a ton of speed on her inside and she may be shuffled back early or worse, parked wide. Although it's only an eight horse field, that's still plenty of traffic to negotiate on a half mile oval. Another solid effort here and I think she's back on track, but we'll need more racing luck than usual to get the win.

Can You Have Too Much Racing in One Day?

Nope. I tried yesterday. I really did. I set out for Canterbury Park yesterday morning at 10:00 AM in order to check on Fizzy and talk to Bernell about our next move. I arrived at lunch time and it was hysterical. I didn't notice anything different entering the barn, but one row over was a different story. Row 1 was already eating. Fizzy row wasn't. The site down the row of 20 horses with their heads out of their stalls eagerly anticipating lunch was a hoot. All the heads were bobbing outside the stalls and were cocked to the north end of the barn watching the grooms making their way down the shed row with the feed. As they moved along heads would disappear as horses dug into lunch.

Fizzy looked good. He's been holding weight well and really looks strong. Bernell said he came back well, but that he just wasn't himself for a few days afterward. He was eating well, no fever, nothing in particular, just not himself so the decision was made to wait an additional week before looking for a start. Now he's in fine fettle again and we'll look forward to seeing him again soon.

From there it was over to the front side to finish up handicapping the day's card. When I got to the gate I realized that I didn't have my racing ID so I had to reach into my betting money for the $5 admission. Not a big deal, but I was afraid that it might be a bad omen to start the day!

It was about 2 hours to first post, so I grabbed a water and sat down. I had already nailed down most of the card the day before, but I gave it a once over and then took a peak at the past performances for Running Aces Harness Park that evening. I had to clear my head because handicapping styles are very different and bouncing between cards has always meant bad news for me.

It was an absolutely glorious swan song for spring here: eighty-five degrees and very sunny. I spent the card going back and forth from my seat just past the finish line, the paddock and the windows. I hit a nice exacta with a short priced winner ( a Rhone trainee as it turns out - no inside info, he just really figured) in the second race of the card, but it was steadily downhill from there. Plenty of close followed by the inevitable no cigar. I lost fifty cents on the penultimate thoroughbred race and ended up plus $5.50 on a second place finish in the 7th. I ended the Thoroughbred card up $5. But wait...I knew that $5 admission was going to come back to haunt me!

Seven Thoroughbred races down and eight Standardbred races to go so I hopped into the car and headed up I-35W toward Columbus. For those of you not familiar with Twin Cities geography, Shakopee is about 15 minutes south of the cities while Columbus is about 15 minutes north of the cities. All totaled it should take about a half hour to move between tracks. I completely forgot about construction though and it was about an hour door to door. I still was there about an hour and ten minutes before post time.

It had been about a year since I had been up to Running Aces and there have been some changes. The biggest change is that the card room is opened up. There are 50 tables and about 30 were open and all were busy - a good sign for the long term viability of the track. Another change was the amount of seating that was added. The Park was built with no grandstand (in my opinion a bet on using the racing to get slot machines, but again that's my opinion), only an apron with some benches and picnic tables. Seats have been added throughout the apron and inside the betting area which are much appreciated.

There was also a new track announcer. Peter Galassi has taken the place of Briton Craig Braddick. Braddick was fun and engaging, but Galassi brings a smoothness and professionalism of delivery that seems to make sense in Aces second season. It's as if Braddick was the party starter and Galassi was brought in now to keep the show on an even keel as it grows up. Galassi is in his 8th year as the voice of Hawthorne Park and even brought an educational piece to his duties last night as there were a couple of two year old qualifiers prior to the main card. He took us through the process of qualifiers and the unique situation of the two year olds receiving extra schooling behind the gate. He was hit and miss with his picks, but then aren't we all - and we don't have to sit on TV and announce them to the world. I like them both, but I prefer Galassi.

The biggest change was the crowd (pictured above). Unlike the DRF charts, there is no data available on the crowd size and I am not close to being an expert in crowd estimation but I would say that the crowd had tripled from my visit last season - also on a Saturday night. The betting still wasn't what I would call robust as the odds would fluctuate considerably with each flash of the tote board owing to the small pool sizes, but I would think that handle has increased nicely year over year as well.

The first couple of races went off OK with no real winning going on and then it was as if God reached down and touched me with the gift of second sight. These days don't come along very often, but when they do you gotta jump. Two races in a row I hit the winner on a straight win bet; the perfecta straight and the tri with my first two keyed in order with a couple of others in the show position. It was as if I knew what was going to happen. The tally for the night was two tris, three perfectas, two daily doubles and five wins. It was a good night.

I pulled into my garage at 10:30, almost exactly twelve hours after I left. I was tired, but happy and contented with the outcome of the day. That said, I would have been content anyway because after two racetracks, 15 races, 100 miles and tired legs, I was a little bummed that there couldn't be one more racetrack on the day's card.

Maybe Next Year?

It's been an interesting couple of days talking Standardbreds with a man with some horses to sell. Well, they are not all his horses, but he's trying to broker a few deals and get these horses into the hands of new owners. We haven't met yet, but I'm looking forward to it. This gentleman is obviously knowledgeable, honest and a real straight shooter. I like that a lot. The stock he owns personally isn't high class, nor has he priced them that way. The prices his client's want...well, that's another matter entirely.

Without getting in to specific details, one example: a four year old pacer with a lifetime best mark of around 1:57; races at short season Running Aces/Iowa Fairs/Prairie Meadows (combined average purses per race about $3500); has two wins in '09 - for races with purses well under the average. Asking price: $18,000.

This illustrates something I have found trying to buy a Standardbred for a group up here. If there is even the slightest hint of talent, the asking price is through the roof. It is as if once a track was built the value of a horse jumped exponentially. I can understand the value increasing now that there is going to be more than just the local Fairs to race at, but $18,000 for a horse that would have to be dominating to make it's purchase price plus training fees back over a couple of years?

Here is how I break it down: Even at the highest levels in this area it would need to win almost 9 races to earn back her price - but that doesn't include training, shoeing, vet care, etc. That's a bit of a moving target, but add on 8 more wins over two years to cover these costs plus turn out fees over the winter. That's 17 wins over two years only to just about break even. That's one helluva horse. Breeding potential? Probably not this one and not my gig anyhow.

Now folks will say that this isn't something you get into to make money. In a way, I agree. You can't expect to make a profit, it's just too hard. But you have to at least try. It has to be a goal. A successful group, in my opinion, is if folks can have some fun, take some win pictures, feed some carrots, watch some training and stay around even. Earning money on top of that is the icing on the cake. When you run a partnership, you have a responsibility to the folks that spend their money with you. You need to treat that money as if it were your own. Digging yourself a hole too deep to climb out of right out of the gate just doesn't make any sense to me and would be an abrogation of that responsibility. Looking at the above example, winning half that many races would be a successful couple of years and a win percentage of about 25% - but at the current asking price we would have lost roughly $9,000 over two years. That doesn't meet my criteria for success.

I'm going to keep trying to get something done, though it'll have to be quickly as the season ends August 9. Unless you own and train your own stock, if we are going to be in harness racing, it looks like we are better off racing at a distance and stay back East for now. There is more of a Middle Class there, if you will. You can have a goal of staying around even - there are enough tracks, money and horses to shop around. At this moment, you just can't do that here. I don't think that bodes well for the sport here long term, but right now it's the way it is.

Looking for a Win/Out of the Blue

Looking For A Win

I Am Woman drops deep tonight looking to get off the snide and back into the winning column. She's going in the 4th tonight at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. As always it's a mile pace but she's dropping way down to the $5,000 claiming level. She's never been that low and it is rock bottom at Pocono. At least she's racing for $4400 as opposed to only $3200 at the $8000 level in Chicago. She may get claimed down here, but if she does, she does. While she's been perfectly placed two races in a row, she's completely failed to fire and finished at the back of the pack. She was competitive in Chicago, but so far she's been a disappointment in NY/PA.

I appreciate that the folks at VIP are shooting for the win and willing to cut our losses if she does get claimed. Yes, she's a career money loser for us even if she wins and gets claimed, but at some point you have to cut your losses and move on. She's healthy and can be competitive at a certain level - but Late Closing company is not that level. Before she develops a habit of losing, she needs to get back where she can win and then she can try to be brought up the ladder from there.

Here is the run down of the field:

1 Fire Me: after breaking two back, came back weakly in last.

2 Lilly Valle N: Been flat since dropping into this level.

3 I AM WOMAN

4 Outten Front: Showed nothing against lesser.

5 Cajun Angel: Has not shown anything since return.

6 Commissioned N: Sharp at this level, but from more inner posts.

7 Jovial Charm: Been a bit flat at this level, but has posted some quick miles.

8 Intimate Hall: Two nice efforts at this level, but from much closer to the rail.

9 Corky's Baylor: Posted a nice second here two starts back.

I Am Woman is the second choice in the morning line behind Commissioned N. It makes sense to me, though I am concerned that she hasn't traveled as quickly as many of these. She's coming down in class pretty steeply and her speed rating is in line with these. She should get some money here and has a good chance at winning. Anything can happen, which is why they run the race, but she should do pretty well in with these.

Out of the Blue

Sometimes I go a few days and just feel like I have nothing to blog about. I hit a block or nothing really strikes my fancy. Today we have I Am Woman racing and last night a potential opportunity fell into my lap. That's why we have a two-fer today!

To back-up a bit, earlier this year I tried to get folks together to perhaps race at Running Aces Harness Park here in Minnesota. There were really no takers and I could not get a trainer dialed in to save my life. I didn't even put this on the back burner, I dismissed it altogether!

Out of the blue last night I received an e-mail from a long time harness racing fan/promoter asking me simply: have you thought of racing at Running Aces? I responded with my standard: Yes, but not a lot of interest and I can't get a trainer's attention. Turns out this fellow is connected to a trainer at Running Aces and there is some mid-range stock for sale: complete with trainer (who is winning at a 20% clip no less!). The idea is to buy into the horses with two separate groups (two horses each) and race them at Running Aces through the summer, Prairie Meadows in the fall and sell them off at the sale in Ohio in November. Short term, plenty of action and an end date. There are some kinks to work out, but there has been some response to the rough outline already.

It may not come to fruition, but it's amazing what comes your way when you're not looking for it!

Writer's Frustration

This is kind of like writer's block except that you get so frustrated that you don't know what to write. When I started this blog, though, I promised to share all aspects of horse ownership and frustration sure is a part of it.

This year she came out of the blocks on fire, but after those first three wins, she's been average at best. Today unfolded pretty much like I thought it might - though with a decidedly different result. Marg's Ideal raced out to a quick lead as she is wont to do and I Am Woman followed. Unfortunately, Fancy Creek Queen kept I Am Woman parked through the turn until she finally made the pocket when they straightened out. I had a hunch it was over for her then...I was right.

As they made their second pass on the half mile oval at Maywood Park, Real Peachy made a bid for the lead and locked our gal in. The sad thing - Peachy didn't stand a chance in this one but pretty much sealed our fate. Nothing opened up until they straightened for home and when driver Brandon Simpson asked her she had nothing and faded to fourth. In the interim, Maggies' Dream, three wide throughout the last quarter, dropped in class and smoked the field in a very impressive performance.

We got beat by a better mare tonight - I just hope now we stop spending money on Late Closer's that I Am Woman clearly cannot compete in yet...and may never. Nothing wrong with being a low level claimer but at least know it and adjust accordingly.

The again, maybe it's the writer's frustration talking...maybe that's all it is...

A Very Disappointing Second

If it's possible to be bitterly disappointed in finishing second in a race, last night was it.

I Am Woman broke from the 1 hole at Balmoral last night and settled into third. As the race developed down the backside, only bad things were happening. She was in tight with a dead pacer on her outside, keeping her from going once over. She was in danger of getting shuffled back a couple of times and once had to back off on the far turn when she came up too fast on the horse in front of her. She fell back a few spots, lost momentum and had to get re-revved.

As they turned for home, Brandon Simpson had a choice to make: stay on the rail or tip out and try to roll around the field. Simpson tilted out, longshot Go Get Satin drifted out and Claudie took advantage right up the rail. Now she had to contend with a fading Go Get Satin right where Simpson thought he'd be. Wider she went to get around. She had pace, but she had to wait to get around Go Get Satin because Free Parking Behind wasn't moving much at all. Another momentum killer. By the time she was clear, there was no catching the winner and I Am Woman stayed in the money in every race in 2009. It's hard to be upset over the filly - how many times can you have your momentum killed and still get up for second, never mind actually winning?

She's paying the bills, but there really isn't a whole lot of possibility for her to recoup the investment running for $3000 purses. It's time to either poop or get off the pot as my mother used to say. Push her up here at Balmoral or move her to Pennsylvania where she is eligible for Pennsylvania Sire Stakes. Worst case scenario she drops back into claiming company. At Pocono she can run for a $7000 tag and a $6,000 purse. At $10,000 CL she's running for $8500. Here at Balmoral she's running for half of that. The economics are plain. It's time to move up or move on. We'll find out the next few days what the answer will be.

I Am Woman Tries to Make it Three for March

Hopefully March will come in like a lion and go out like a lion for I Am Woman at Balmoral park tonight. The little lady is once again entered in the non-winners of two lifetime OR $5,000 lifetime. It's the 4th race on your card and again she has drawn the one hole.

A brief rundown of the field:

1. I AM WOMAN

2. Bad Boy's Toy - Already beaten twice by our gal.

3. Claudie - Finally got her first win last out under an absolutely perfect pocket trip leaving from the rail. She won't leave from the rail this time and may be shuffled back early.

4. Miss Violet - A nice second last out in a game trip.

5. Johns Lil Sis - Anther gamer who closed well last out. Simpson forgoes this drive to drive I Am Woman. I hope he's right!

6. Go Get Satin - Hasn't shown much and can't believe she will here either.

7. Free Parking Behind - After an impressive start to 2009, she has finished well behind our girl twice more recently.

8. Life of Reilly - She missed her last start due to illness and before that was beaten by I Am Woman by 5.5. Still stuck outside, I can't see her as a factor.

9. So Not Funny - Also sick last out, the closest she's been in her career is 12 lengths behind the winner. the 20-1 morning line seems generous.

Interestingly, no one but Miss Violet and I Am Woman in this group has shown any inclination to go to the front. Another partner has mentioned that he believes she will wire this field tonight. I admire his optimism! Looking at the Past Performances, I think that's the style she'll have to adopt tonight against these. It looks as though the rest of the contenders want to come from off the pace and coming from the rail, she may have to either lead them around or tuck in behind Miss Violet and beat them in the stretch.

I know we initially were surprised at I Am Woman faltering in the stretch last out 10-days ago, but she scoped a bit sick the next day. She was given some treatment and rest and looks to be 100% going into the race tonight. In my opinion, this is kind of a make it or break it race for her. If she can show enough improvement since her first to lower her lifetime best as well as easily handle this field, it could be time for bigger and better things. If she can't...well, I don't really want to think about that right now!

Filed Under: "You Can't Win Them All"

It was bound to happen. In this game you can't win every race. In fact, like baseball, if you can bat .300 you're doing pretty well. With her sweeping from behind style she was bound to get in some trouble and not be able to get out in time and sure enough, it happened tonight. I Am Woman is now a beaten favorite. She finished a solid third in the opener at Balmoral Park tonight. I feel a bit badly at all the money she burned going down as a 1-2 favorite, but I did write that her odds would be too low for me to bet her the other day, so there was some warning. I don't care HOW much I own of a horse, 1-2 is not for me.

She got away well enough and trailed nemesis Fox Valley Hooray through fractions of :28.2 and :57 flat sitting right in the garden spot. Lil Lexi Lu tipped to the outside after the half, but could not get to Foxy and that left Brandon Simpson in a tough spot: behind the horse he needed to catch, but stuck inside by a stalled horse on his outside. He did all that he could do - wait. When a hole finally opened up on the cones, I Am Woman moved, but it there was too much ground to overcome in too little time. Jokers Lil Alibi, who had the momentum from rolling up clear on the outside even managed to nip us for second. She still hit the board and picked up a check.

The money earned from this trip still was not enough to get her out of this class and she's still eligible for the "Less than $5,000 Lifetime" condition of this race. We'll see if she gets a week off before tackling this class again.

It was frustrating to not win, but there are times when the trip dictates how you finish. This was one of those times. She still finished a half length out of first in a race that was run in 1:56.1. Like friend and reader Mike said to me in a consoling e-mail "She's growing up in front of your eyes".

You're right, Mike. She sure is.

Here She Goes Again

I feel badly about my consipicous lack of Thoroughbred blogging lately. However, all the news has been about Standardbred I Am Woman. She does have some things in her favor, not the least of which is she has the ability to race every week or so. Pacing is a much gentler gait to a horse than galloping is and is much less stressful on joints, so your Standardbred can pile up three or four starts to every one for your Thoroughbred. Racing at Balmoral, she is racing for considerably less purse money than her Thoroughbred cousins and even her own kind racing back East at Meadowlands and Yokers, so she has to win more in order to make herself profitable.


That leads me to the other thing she has in her favor: she wins.


If you've been following here, she's been winning like a maniac. Three for three in parimutuel starts in 2009 so far. Three winner's circle photos in a row. Money earned aside, she has completely squewed the statistics on the website for GRS connected horses. It's been crazy, but certainly a fun crazy. This Sunday we'll be at it again.


I Am Woman will leave from the four hole this week, just inside rival Fox Valley Hooray who has completed the exacta in the last two of Woman's wins being outfinished in both. There are a few nwecomers, but for the most part the field consists of fillies and mares that she has beaten one or more times already this year. The morning line odds are not out yet, but I have to think that at post time, our little lady will be under even money.


While she won't have the odds to play as a win bet this Sunday, I'll be rooting her on to make it four for four - even if she only pays $2.10!

Ah Chicago...

"That toddlin' town. City of the broad sholders. Hog butcher to the world. Home of the pig-sicle."

- Hawkeye Pierce, M*A*S*H*, "Adam's Ribs" (November 26, 1964)

Chicago and I have been flirting now for a few months. We're up, we're down. We're together, we're not.

Before the economy really went south last fall, I had touched based with Tammy Domenosky, an accomplished thoroughbred race trainer to see if she would be interested in training for a group I was trying to put together to run at Hawthorne and then here at Canterbury over the summer. I had met Tammy here at Canterbury a few times and I really liked her commitment, style and skill with horses. She had done right by several folks I know already and was really starting to make a name for herself. A young trainer on the rise. It was a great opportunity.

As the fall turned to winter and the market kept a tumbling and folks' 401(k)s became 201(k)s, our core group of potential partners whittled down to next to nothing. There is no question that disposable income was hard to come by. We all know that this business is not for the faint of heart. You don't get in to make a fortune, you get in to have some fun, watch your horse run and be a part of one of the greatest games on the planet. We've all heard all the marketing angles:"Own your own sports franchise"; "Be a part of the sport of kings", etc. I've even used some of the trite expressions in my own advertising. The bottom line is, though, you're in it for the love of the game, the beauty of the animal, the thrill of the race. Ask my wife, I'm a nervous wreck before a race, but it takes me back to the same kind of nervousness I used to have before I ran in a race or before a game - and I'm addicted to it. I want to bring that kind of thrill to as many people as I can and, yes, our goal is to make money for our partners. It's hard to be successful, but it has to be your goal. Know the risks but do what you can to make money.

I digress. As Chicago and I flirted through the winter, we never quite got close enough to consumate the deal. In the interim, we purchased a controlling share in Minnesota-bred Thoroughbred Miss Belle Express and a small (12.5%) stake in Standardbred I Am Woman through VIP Stables. In addition, we continued to watch Fizzy Pop's progress back to the races. Missy and Fizzy were in Florida and I Am Woman was back East prepping for what we thought would be a season of racing at the Meadowlands or Yonkers. As for the Hawthorne partnership, I pulled the plug about a month ago and took down the offering from the website. "Nice try", I thought, "but bad timing." It happens.

As you've read here, I Am Woman qualified at the Big M, but it was thought that she may not have what it takes to compete there just yet. She's a smallish filly and she looked like she needed some seasoning and time to mature - if that was to come at all. So where does she get shipped off to? Chicago! And what does the little lady do when she gets out here? She reels off three straight wins and garners a good deal of attention - mostly thanks to Janine Starykowicz and the exposure she has given this blog over at Chicago Barn to Wire the last few weeks. I am extrememely grateful for the readership and welcome to those of you following thanks to the links. Readers unfamiliar with Barn to Wire may want to click and take a look - you will not find finer or more complete coverage of Illinois racing as you will there.

After a tough fall meet at Hawthorne, what does Tammy do the first weekend back racing? She goes three for three including winning the Merry Colleen Stakes with Mongoose Gold at nearly 7-1, sits near the top of the trainer standings and has compiled over $53,000 in earnings. Not a bad weekend of work and a testament to her ability to get horses ready to race.

Now I'm torn. Do I start beating the drum for Hawthorne/Canterbury again or just leave it alone? The business has to grow, but are we just spinning our wheels at a time when folks just don't have the money to get involved, even if they really want to? I don't want to just throw spaghetti against the wall and see what sticks, but if there is truly an opportunity here, I don't want it to pass by. After removing all mention of Hawthorne and a new claiming group there from the website just a month ago, is it just flaky for me to put it back up again? That is a real concern, too. I don't want us to be seen as a group that is running around everywhere with no real plan. But when opportunity knocks, can we afford to ignore it and not change up the plan a bit?

Oh, Chicago - you are SUCH a flirt!

Qualified, but Meet the Gavel

She'll be Hip # 209 on Monday morning at the Tattersall's January Select Mix Sale at the Meadowlands. I Am Woman (Blissful Hall - Wild Proposition), my last Standardbred, is being sold by the folks at VIP Stables. I can't say that I blame them, really. She was a good buy at the Pennsylvania sale last year where they bought her and the market has been OK for racing age Standardbreds this past year (not great by any means, don’t get me wrong). There is a very good chance that she'll bring a decent chunk more than what was paid and we'll all walk away with a couple of shekels more than what we've put in over the little under a year that we've had her.

She did qualify today. The race went in 1:58 flat which was a bit faster than the 3yo colt and gelding race earlier in the cold morning air of New Jersey. (As an aside, waking up this morning we were 40 degrees colder in the Twin Cities than the 21 that was the official reading at the Meadowlands.) She finished 4th against that pace which wasn't bad considering she was beaten by three fillies that have already won races, some of which were stakes, and have placed in races with over $100,000 in purse money. In fact, one of the fillies had won an event at the Red Mile in 1:55 last year. All in all, I think it was a nice showing and should bode well for her prospects on Monday morning.

It's really hard to tell not being there how good the race was or how she carried herself. Unlike Thoroughbred racing, the Standardbred 'charts' contain little or no info and the 'charts' for the qualifying races are even sparser. It would be great to see that change, but it certainly doesn't make fiscal sense to hire the manpower to get that done. In any event, I am saddened by her imminent departure as I have always felt that she has a lot of potential. I can understand the decision to sell and I'll continue to follow her career closely.

I also think that this will get me out of the Standardbred business for a while. I think I'll take my 12.5% share of whatever she sells for and set it aside to give me a bit of flexibility on the Thoroughbred side. What I wouldn't mind doing is finding a harness trainer that will have a string at Running Aces this summer and maybe buy a pacer later this Spring that'll run close to home. The money won't be great, but it sure would be fun. That, though, would probably be a solo venture. Even though purses are expected to increase by about 25% there this summer, they weren't too great to start with (Class A pacer races for $4000; $2000 claiming for $2,000) so syndicating may not really be attractive. Though I guess for the right price, folks could buy into a local pacer for a couple of hundred bucks so it may make some sense. However the first thing to do is to find a trainer and that has not been easy.

I'm not sure why it's been hard to find a trainer. Maybe I'm comparing it too much to their Thoroughbred cousins: plenty of trainers, find one, claim a horse, you're in business. They move their string from track to track (turn-outs not-with-standing) and your horse goes along. However, a lot of the folks outside the major harness racing centers back East and in Canada, own, train and drive their own stock. Grabbing outside clients is just not something they seem to be interested in doing. If you're training in Chicago and racing for mid-range purses of $7500, why would you pack up stakes and come to Minnesota? Maybe you’d make the trip from Ohio, but if purses are roughly comparable (though they may be a little higher here next year), why would you pay to move your string? I think the meet here becomes more of an opportunity for the Fair circuit folks in the upper Midwest to have a racetrack for a few months. This is great, but it certainly doesn’t help someone buy a horse or two who doesn’t want to train and drive their own.

Another drawback for a guy like me is what happens when racing is over? I certainly can’t afford to race for a few $3000 pots over the summer and then turn the horse out for eight and a half months. The Fair circuit at $1000 a race doesn’t make a whole lot of fiscal sense either. The only thing that makes sense is to be able to move the horse to Chicago, Ohio, Pennsylvania, NY or NJ for the winter. The vicious circle? A horse competitive in those circuits is ‘too’ competitive for here. In other words, if I have a horse that can do really well here, wouldn't I just keep it racing elsewhere over the summer where the pots are bigger? For argument's sake, let's say I want to race here for less because it's home (a home town discount, if you will). I'll need to pick up a horse that I feel will be competitive somewhere. My guess would be Chicago because of it's proximity to the Cities. If a Chicago trainer is not moving his string up here (unlikely) then I would need to race with him until I ship to Minnesota. But what do I do when I get up here? I'll need to find another trainer (see above: not easily done) and when we're done up here, arrange to ship back to Chicago. Ugh.

So I’ll be out of the harness game when the gavel falls Monday morning. I think someone is going to get themselves a nice young filly. I know that I’ll miss the game. Racing every 10-days or so is fun and engaging. Maybe I’ll join VIP again sometime as a small percentage holder (though I like owning bigger pieces myself or running the partnership) but for the time being I’ll focus on my r three thoroughbreds and the business and see what I can do there.

TED'S NOTE: I Am Woman finished 5 lengths off the lead in a very good time of 1:59 flat. She even took a quarter two wide under cover and finished her final quarter in :29.1. Not bad for a qualifier. I hope buyers take notice - she's already staked up nice and ready to roll!

Qualifying

I Am Woman (no, that is not her above) heads postward at the Meadowlands tomorrow to qualify for the races. It's a turning point for her. Five months ago she made her debut at the Historic Track in Goshen, NY and was dismal. She just blew the tight turns at the old oval and fished 20 lengths out of it. She made one pari-mutuel attempt after that at Chester Downs and just could not stay with the pace.

She was always a smallish filly and though well bred (Blissful Hall-Wild Proposition) definitely lagged a bit behind her peers in development. I've held out high hopes for her and she's been staked to Late Closing events at the Meadowlands in February, but first she had to grow a bit and show she could pace with the big girls. She's been able to do that so far and has been working her way down to the magical 2:00 mark through the winter. On Thursday night we'll see how much progress has been made.

Qualifying is a unique event in horse racing and is the exclusive purview of Standardbreds. Qualifying races are usually held in the afternoons and are designed to determine if a horse is ready for the bright lights of prime time racing. In some instances horses that have a tendency to break stride during races are qualified to make sure they can stay on gait. In others, like our girl, they are filled with horses that have been away from the races for a while and need to show that they can mind their manners, stay on gait and are fast enough to race at the this particular racetrack. Sometimes it's not even the horse, but the driver who needs to prove that he/she belongs in the sulky. Generally speaking, you just need to qualify - you don't need to break the track record to do it. Qualifying races are usually a few ticks slower than pari-mutuel races. However, I would like to see I Am Woman hit two minutes in her attempt. I think it would send a nice message to all of us if she can qualify cleanly, well within herself and in a nice time to boot to show she's ready to pace under the bright lights at the Big M.

When I bought into her last year (12.5% through VIP Stable - great outfit I've learned a lot from) I did so with some research and education, but I also bought with a gut feeling that I Am Woman was going to be something special. Tomorrow night we'll start to see if I was right.