I Am Woman had no excuse at Tioga today. Certainly not regarding the trip she had. maybe she was still feeling the effects of her illness? She was parked a bit away from the gate but settled into fourth along the rail. She had cover once over but by the time she made the stretch, she was gapping her cover and fading badly. She may have actually finished last - at that point it had become too painful to watch. Not being able to win a level up at Maywood should have prepped us to the fact that this would be over her head, but you always hope and try and look for the positive signs. It's hard to get one out of this effort.
I don't know what the next step for her will be, but my vote would be to stop Late Closing entry fees and shipping costs, keep her in one spot and see if she can improve in the lower levels. I wouldn't be opposed to a private sale, either, at this point. The important thing at this point is to realize what we have right now, stop throwing good money after bad and race her where she can be competitive. With horses, losing can be a habit and it's a habit I'd prefer she'd break out of sooner - because it may never happen later.
Showing posts with label Maywood Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maywood Park. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2009
From Chicago Claimer to Stakes Winner?
After a brief bought with a springtime cold, I Am Woman is moving on up. Nominated for some Late Closers that she didn't attend, she's making it to the party this weekend at Tioga Downs. The race is the 10th and it's the second leg of the cleverly named PACE 3-YEAR OLD FILLIES (no kidding, took it directly off the condition sheet). I'm not sure why there couldn't be a clever name attached to this Late Closer Series. Most other tracks offer the "Full House Late Closer" or the "The Oil Burner" - something to jazz up the race a bit and be able to market to. Apparently not so much at Tioga. But I digress.
This is quite the jump for our gal. She's going to need to step up her game considerably in here to be competitive. Her lifetime best win is a 1:58.1 that I attended back in March. The fastest race she's ever been a part of was paced in 1:56.1 and she only finished half a length back. The Morning Line favorite in this one, Kentucky Charm, qualified in 1:58 and finished second in the first leg of this series last week in 1:55.4. Of course time isn't everything and trip has a lot to do with how good or poor the race was. I tough trip overcome in 1:57 means more than an also ran in 1:54 while skimming the cones. I Am Woman is 10-1 in the morning line and taking quite a class leap in this one. I take comfort in the fact that she went off at 11-1 in her 2009 debut and scored as well.
Here is the field:
1 Pinnacle Portia - Second in a leg last week and grabs the rail. A Late Closer regular at Yonkers and hits the board half the time.
2 Four Starz Molly - A soundly beaten favorite in a leg last week, she hasn't been the same horse at 3 as she was at 2.
3 Pay Tribute - She worked her way up the cones last week for a fourth place finish.
4 Delightful Dancer - The only other filly in the race with as many as three lifetime wins (same as I Am Woman), she meets the NW $25,000 LT condition to be here. Just missed last week and was a hard closing second.
5 Smooth Finish - Her best races have been her last two where she finally crack the board. Still a maiden.
6 Kentucky Charm - A solid second last week in her first race back as a three year old. Eligible to improve off of that effort, she'll be tough to beat here. A certified pace setter, she could be gone before anyone realizes it and puts this thing to bed early.
7 I AM WOMAN
8 Calico Moon - Another maiden in the field, she hasn't hit the board in her two lifetime starts.
What does I Am Woman have going for her? She's got experience. She and only two others have had as many as 10 starts this year. She has three wins from those starts and has already faced some adversity in some rough and tumble Chicagoland racing and still come out in the money - and event on top. She's come from off the pace and on the engine and this time she has the early speed righ inside of her. It's not inconceivable that she could head out right behind Kentucky Charm and be able to sit in the pocket around the track setting up for a stretch run.
We'll see around 4:30 Eastern Time if she has the stuff to make the jump from Chicagoland Claimer to Tioga Late Closer winner.
This is quite the jump for our gal. She's going to need to step up her game considerably in here to be competitive. Her lifetime best win is a 1:58.1 that I attended back in March. The fastest race she's ever been a part of was paced in 1:56.1 and she only finished half a length back. The Morning Line favorite in this one, Kentucky Charm, qualified in 1:58 and finished second in the first leg of this series last week in 1:55.4. Of course time isn't everything and trip has a lot to do with how good or poor the race was. I tough trip overcome in 1:57 means more than an also ran in 1:54 while skimming the cones. I Am Woman is 10-1 in the morning line and taking quite a class leap in this one. I take comfort in the fact that she went off at 11-1 in her 2009 debut and scored as well.
Here is the field:
1 Pinnacle Portia - Second in a leg last week and grabs the rail. A Late Closer regular at Yonkers and hits the board half the time.
2 Four Starz Molly - A soundly beaten favorite in a leg last week, she hasn't been the same horse at 3 as she was at 2.
3 Pay Tribute - She worked her way up the cones last week for a fourth place finish.
4 Delightful Dancer - The only other filly in the race with as many as three lifetime wins (same as I Am Woman), she meets the NW $25,000 LT condition to be here. Just missed last week and was a hard closing second.
5 Smooth Finish - Her best races have been her last two where she finally crack the board. Still a maiden.
6 Kentucky Charm - A solid second last week in her first race back as a three year old. Eligible to improve off of that effort, she'll be tough to beat here. A certified pace setter, she could be gone before anyone realizes it and puts this thing to bed early.
7 I AM WOMAN
8 Calico Moon - Another maiden in the field, she hasn't hit the board in her two lifetime starts.
What does I Am Woman have going for her? She's got experience. She and only two others have had as many as 10 starts this year. She has three wins from those starts and has already faced some adversity in some rough and tumble Chicagoland racing and still come out in the money - and event on top. She's come from off the pace and on the engine and this time she has the early speed righ inside of her. It's not inconceivable that she could head out right behind Kentucky Charm and be able to sit in the pocket around the track setting up for a stretch run.
We'll see around 4:30 Eastern Time if she has the stuff to make the jump from Chicagoland Claimer to Tioga Late Closer winner.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Farewell Chicago!
It's official. Balmoral and Maywood are both part of I Am Woman's past. While looking forward to what Tioga and, possibly later on Pennsylvania, may bring, there will be a fond spot for Chicago - Balmoral in particular, that will remain in my heart.
As she ships off for Tioga, the memory of her three straight wins to lead off 2009 still brings a smile to my face. I was fortunate enough to be at one of those wins. In fact it remains her lifetime best mark. I wish I had a chance to get to Maywood. The experience at Balmoral, the swirling snow notwithstanding, was excellent. The physical plant was large and comfortable and the place had a welcoming racing 'feel' to it. It would have been nice to get a sense of Maywood.
It also would have been nice to get to know the Thoroughbred side of Chicago. A friend of mine runs there and loves it. So, I teed it up with trainer at the ready (Tammy Domenosky - tearing things up at Hawthorne at the moment: 24 starts - 30% winners and 19 in the money finishes), but the bottom dropped out of the economy and partners were tough to come by. It happens. I don't know if Tammy is going to come back to Canterbury or stay for Arlington, but I think that's the plan for the summer and we'll touch base again to see if she'd be willing to train for us in the Fall back at Hawthorne.
I'd like to race in Chicago and would love to have an excuse to visit more often. Those of you folks that jumped on for the ride here, thanks for your support and I hope you continue to follow our progress. Anyone that wants to get more involved - drop me a line, we'd love to have you on board.
Thanks for the memories and here's to the future: Cheers!
As she ships off for Tioga, the memory of her three straight wins to lead off 2009 still brings a smile to my face. I was fortunate enough to be at one of those wins. In fact it remains her lifetime best mark. I wish I had a chance to get to Maywood. The experience at Balmoral, the swirling snow notwithstanding, was excellent. The physical plant was large and comfortable and the place had a welcoming racing 'feel' to it. It would have been nice to get a sense of Maywood.
It also would have been nice to get to know the Thoroughbred side of Chicago. A friend of mine runs there and loves it. So, I teed it up with trainer at the ready (Tammy Domenosky - tearing things up at Hawthorne at the moment: 24 starts - 30% winners and 19 in the money finishes), but the bottom dropped out of the economy and partners were tough to come by. It happens. I don't know if Tammy is going to come back to Canterbury or stay for Arlington, but I think that's the plan for the summer and we'll touch base again to see if she'd be willing to train for us in the Fall back at Hawthorne.
I'd like to race in Chicago and would love to have an excuse to visit more often. Those of you folks that jumped on for the ride here, thanks for your support and I hope you continue to follow our progress. Anyone that wants to get more involved - drop me a line, we'd love to have you on board.
Thanks for the memories and here's to the future: Cheers!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Ebb and Flow
I was reading other posts about how fellow bloggers are having a hard time getting into the Kentucky Derby this year and thought - 'hey, that's me, too'. I started to think about the reasons. Looking at it, the potential Derby field seems to be pretty deep and the three year old crop in general (Quality Road, Dunkirk, The Pamplemousse, Musket Man, Pioneerof the Nile, and on and on) seems to be pretty deep, though it remains to be seen if it's a deep quality crop or just simply full of parity. What’s not to like, right?
Yet, I sit and watch apathetically for the first time since I was living in Guam, a lifetime ago and thousands of miles from the nearest racetrack (which was either in Hong Kong or Singapore – I actually spent the day at the track in Singapore, but that’s a completely different story!). So I pondered and it all comes back to one thing – Miss Belle Express’ breakdown.
It was shattering at the time in many ways. For the first time I suffered real loss in this business, one that couldn’t be analyzed away or fixed with some rest. Complete strangers (and some friends) bought into Missy – fully knowing the risks, of course – but they still suffered financial loss. Her breeder was devastated and even with the birth of a new foal hasn’t acknowledged me since the tragedy. The ripples have run deep and the ramifications of one bad step have been harsh both in reality and in the psyche. I have to admit that I thought it would pass more quickly. Maybe there needs to be more time, but it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to clear. Fizzy came back and ran poorly in his last and I Am Woman can’t seem to catch a break at Maywood.
Life ebbs and flows. Folks come in and out of your life and events that give you great joy and great sorrow pass through it and give our lives texture and richness. Racing is that way as well. Sometimes it's the people, but most of the time - if you really love what you're doing - it's the horses. Until a few weeks ago I've never experienced a real loss racing. Sure, we lost races, be it as GRS or under Star of the North or under VIP Stables, but that's not real loss. That's a temporary loss where the sting fades in an hour or so and you can look back and analyze what happened.
I get frustrated and really steamed up after a loss at the track, I can admit it. I'm a very competitive person and while the realist in me knows we can't win 'em all, the ex-jock in me wants that very thing. Fortunately after a bit of brooding time (usually no more than an hour or so), I can look back with a critical eye and work with the team to make adjustments.I look back to the beginning of the season as I Am Woman reeled off three consecutive victories at Balmoral, Fizzy Pop came back with a strong second after four months off and Miss Belle Express was finally training forwardly and how high that was. The future seemed as bright then as it does dark now. The lesson I’m learning through experience: steer yourself on a middle course. The highs will be high and the lows can be very, very low but you have to stay even to survive. The funny thing is, I knew this intellectually, but until going through it, it’s not real.
Now the lesson is very real. But I know that there are highs ahead again. I Am Woman will leave Chicago and give Tioga a try in some higher level racing. Fizzy Pop will be back next weekend at Tampa Bay before coming north to Canterbury. The memory of Missy will drive me to do better and I hope that time will heal the wounds that the tragedy opened.
Yet, I sit and watch apathetically for the first time since I was living in Guam, a lifetime ago and thousands of miles from the nearest racetrack (which was either in Hong Kong or Singapore – I actually spent the day at the track in Singapore, but that’s a completely different story!). So I pondered and it all comes back to one thing – Miss Belle Express’ breakdown.
It was shattering at the time in many ways. For the first time I suffered real loss in this business, one that couldn’t be analyzed away or fixed with some rest. Complete strangers (and some friends) bought into Missy – fully knowing the risks, of course – but they still suffered financial loss. Her breeder was devastated and even with the birth of a new foal hasn’t acknowledged me since the tragedy. The ripples have run deep and the ramifications of one bad step have been harsh both in reality and in the psyche. I have to admit that I thought it would pass more quickly. Maybe there needs to be more time, but it doesn’t feel like it’s ever going to clear. Fizzy came back and ran poorly in his last and I Am Woman can’t seem to catch a break at Maywood.
Life ebbs and flows. Folks come in and out of your life and events that give you great joy and great sorrow pass through it and give our lives texture and richness. Racing is that way as well. Sometimes it's the people, but most of the time - if you really love what you're doing - it's the horses. Until a few weeks ago I've never experienced a real loss racing. Sure, we lost races, be it as GRS or under Star of the North or under VIP Stables, but that's not real loss. That's a temporary loss where the sting fades in an hour or so and you can look back and analyze what happened.
I get frustrated and really steamed up after a loss at the track, I can admit it. I'm a very competitive person and while the realist in me knows we can't win 'em all, the ex-jock in me wants that very thing. Fortunately after a bit of brooding time (usually no more than an hour or so), I can look back with a critical eye and work with the team to make adjustments.I look back to the beginning of the season as I Am Woman reeled off three consecutive victories at Balmoral, Fizzy Pop came back with a strong second after four months off and Miss Belle Express was finally training forwardly and how high that was. The future seemed as bright then as it does dark now. The lesson I’m learning through experience: steer yourself on a middle course. The highs will be high and the lows can be very, very low but you have to stay even to survive. The funny thing is, I knew this intellectually, but until going through it, it’s not real.
Now the lesson is very real. But I know that there are highs ahead again. I Am Woman will leave Chicago and give Tioga a try in some higher level racing. Fizzy Pop will be back next weekend at Tampa Bay before coming north to Canterbury. The memory of Missy will drive me to do better and I hope that time will heal the wounds that the tragedy opened.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
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...
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...
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Spring is FINALLY Right Around the Corner
It's been a while, I know. I've had a long week of driving around the Southwest and a trade show bookended by a couple of too short weekends with the boys. It turned out to be a pretty good week and a half to be away racing-wise. All was quiet, which after the events of the previous week or so was quite welcome.
Over at Maywood, I Am Woman only made the Also Eligible list on Thursday night and will be entered again this week. She's training well and is even nominated to a Late Closer series at Tioga in May. She'll need to show a bit more, but hopefully she continues to improve and take those steps forward that she needs in order to compete at the higher levels.
At Tampa Bay Downs, Fizzy did indeed come back from his race just fine. He actually came back better than fine which is a bit frustrating as there is no real excuse for his flat performance. The upside is the effort (or lack thereof) didn’t take much out of him and he’ll be entered back for one more try at the Florida bred money before he comes north. So while the world turns it's eye to Churchill Downs the first weekend in May, our eyes will turn a bit further south and see if Fizzy can knock one day before coming north.
Finally, at Canterbury Park, the backside is receiving horses and the track will be open for training next week. After a winter that seemed like it would never end, Spring is finally around the corner.
Over at Maywood, I Am Woman only made the Also Eligible list on Thursday night and will be entered again this week. She's training well and is even nominated to a Late Closer series at Tioga in May. She'll need to show a bit more, but hopefully she continues to improve and take those steps forward that she needs in order to compete at the higher levels.
At Tampa Bay Downs, Fizzy did indeed come back from his race just fine. He actually came back better than fine which is a bit frustrating as there is no real excuse for his flat performance. The upside is the effort (or lack thereof) didn’t take much out of him and he’ll be entered back for one more try at the Florida bred money before he comes north. So while the world turns it's eye to Churchill Downs the first weekend in May, our eyes will turn a bit further south and see if Fizzy can knock one day before coming north.
Finally, at Canterbury Park, the backside is receiving horses and the track will be open for training next week. After a winter that seemed like it would never end, Spring is finally around the corner.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Maywood Anyone?
We're hoping that a change of venue can spice up I Am Woman a bit this week. She's heads across Chicago to take on $8,000 claimers that are non-winners of 3 races or $9,000 lifetime at Maywood Park Thursday night. We're heading out of town Saturday morning for a week of family visits and trade shows or I would have taken the ride down to check out the place and the race. I absolutely love going to venues for the first time and checking out all the nooks and crannies, trying the food and just generally taking in the ambiance of a new racetrack (or ballpark...football stadium...you get the picture). Travel Channel take note - you need someone to travel around and report on sporting venues around the country and the world? I am SO your guy!
I have a bit of trepidation as she heads across town. She seems to handle the mile tracks pretty well. Her 2009 has been split between the Meadowlands and Balmoral Park, both nice wide mile ovals. As a two year old she started her career at the Historic Track at Goshen which is a half mile track like Maywood in a non-wagering event. She blew the turns. Hated the tight cornering. She finished up the track behind 32 lengths. Her first pari-mutuel effort wasn't much better on the 5/8 of a mile Pocono Downs track. Last by 28. As I've mentioned before, she was an immature and smallish two year old and had some trouble starting her career. After her layoff and birthday, she came west to Balmoral and reeled off three straight wins, third by a half length (scoping sick afterwards) and then second after a horrendous trip. Her last outing, up one level (same as this group) she finished a very flat 6th. She seemed to be well positioned, but had no kick in the stretch. No real excuses.
Now she's at Maywood, Brandon Simpson is back in the bike and we're trying the half mile. As a more mature, but still smallish filly she figures to handle it much better this time around. Horses, like people, can't always be their best and now it's time to find out if our filly's last was a fluke or a pattern.
Here's how the field shapes up:
1. OG's Tonya P - She's been smoked in every qualifier and in her '09 debut here. Doesn't really figure.
2. So Stylish - 3-1 second choice in the ML, she'll be on the engine tonight. She scratched sick last week but is back in now. She could take this field all the way around.
3. Mattjestic Help - Just qualifying back after some breaking issues, she hasn't shown much at all in '09 but is dropping in class here.
4. Cole By A Nose - 2009 started out well with 2 consecutive seconds, but since then it's been up the track.
5. Rosedale Jenny - 5/2 ML favorite she comes off a sharp win that moved her into NW3 company and seems to prefer the tighter turns of Maywood to Balmoral. If So Stylish falters, Rosedale Jenny will be the one trying to pick up the pieces.
6. Crimes of Passion - Hasn't shown much since dropping into this class and she gets shifted to an outside post. Unlikely.
7. I AM WOMAN
8. Cole Cutta - A legitimate threat from the inside, she hasn't shown much from the far outside.
Our gal has her work cut out for her in this one. Starting from the 7 hole is tough on a half miler and the stretch isn't near as long for a rally like she's had in her three victories. We'll see how she handles the turns and the denser traffic. She's capable of winning it - and it's turning point time - but she'll have some obstacles to overcome.
I have a bit of trepidation as she heads across town. She seems to handle the mile tracks pretty well. Her 2009 has been split between the Meadowlands and Balmoral Park, both nice wide mile ovals. As a two year old she started her career at the Historic Track at Goshen which is a half mile track like Maywood in a non-wagering event. She blew the turns. Hated the tight cornering. She finished up the track behind 32 lengths. Her first pari-mutuel effort wasn't much better on the 5/8 of a mile Pocono Downs track. Last by 28. As I've mentioned before, she was an immature and smallish two year old and had some trouble starting her career. After her layoff and birthday, she came west to Balmoral and reeled off three straight wins, third by a half length (scoping sick afterwards) and then second after a horrendous trip. Her last outing, up one level (same as this group) she finished a very flat 6th. She seemed to be well positioned, but had no kick in the stretch. No real excuses.
Now she's at Maywood, Brandon Simpson is back in the bike and we're trying the half mile. As a more mature, but still smallish filly she figures to handle it much better this time around. Horses, like people, can't always be their best and now it's time to find out if our filly's last was a fluke or a pattern.
Here's how the field shapes up:
1. OG's Tonya P - She's been smoked in every qualifier and in her '09 debut here. Doesn't really figure.
2. So Stylish - 3-1 second choice in the ML, she'll be on the engine tonight. She scratched sick last week but is back in now. She could take this field all the way around.
3. Mattjestic Help - Just qualifying back after some breaking issues, she hasn't shown much at all in '09 but is dropping in class here.
4. Cole By A Nose - 2009 started out well with 2 consecutive seconds, but since then it's been up the track.
5. Rosedale Jenny - 5/2 ML favorite she comes off a sharp win that moved her into NW3 company and seems to prefer the tighter turns of Maywood to Balmoral. If So Stylish falters, Rosedale Jenny will be the one trying to pick up the pieces.
6. Crimes of Passion - Hasn't shown much since dropping into this class and she gets shifted to an outside post. Unlikely.
7. I AM WOMAN
8. Cole Cutta - A legitimate threat from the inside, she hasn't shown much from the far outside.
Our gal has her work cut out for her in this one. Starting from the 7 hole is tough on a half miler and the stretch isn't near as long for a rally like she's had in her three victories. We'll see how she handles the turns and the denser traffic. She's capable of winning it - and it's turning point time - but she'll have some obstacles to overcome.
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