After 263 days on the shelf, my Little Mike returned to the turf at Gulfstream today in an allowance optional $100,000 claimer at a mile. True to his running style, he led every step of the way against a field that included four stakes winners, two of which were graded stakes winners and included Grade 1 winner, Telling. This win was Mikey's 8th win in his last 10 starts with now just under $400,000 in lifetime earnings.
This was a great effort after his lay-off, and a great prep for the upcoming graded stakes schedule at Gulfstream. Way to go, Mikey!! Good luck in 2012!!
Here's the article on Little Mike's return to the races. His jock, Joe Bravo, had some nice things to say about him: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66700/little-mike-wins-by-nose-in-gulfstream-return
If you'd like to check out the video of the race, you can through our good friends at Blood-Horse.com at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/GP/2011/12/22/7/race-7.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Ill Conceived? I Think Not!
We've all seen crazy thoroughbred names that just make us scratch our heads. My favorite of all-time is Hoof Hearted. (Say it fast four times and you'll know why its my favorite.) My least favorite name is actually one my kids, a two-year old colt name Ill Conceived. Ill Conceived? Really? From time to time, I get asked about names for my kids, but no one asked me about this one.
Of course, we know that Ill Conceived was not ill conceived because I'm no slouch and his racing career is off to a nice start. In five starts as a two-year old he has one win, two seconds, and a third. On Saturday, Ill Conceived finished third in the $75,000 Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx Racing at 7 furlongs on dirt becoming my sixth stakes-placed horse for the year. He's won over $50,000 so far in his career. He should actually be named Smartly Conceived or Intelligentily Conceived. OK, that last one is too many letters, but you get my point.
Here's why. Ill Conceived is out of the Sir Cat mare Catsuit. Sir Cat is, of course, by all-time great Storm Cat. This particular 'nick', me over a Storm Cat line mare really works. This is an A+ nick according to the folks at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants and has produced graded-stakes winners Buddha (G1), Magnificent Song (G1), Half Ours (G2), Noonmark (G3), and Neversaidiwassweet (G3). If you look at a few of my recent winners, you'll see this nick in action with Ifoundmy Mojo out of a Crown Ambassador mare and Spanish Comedy out of a Tabasco Cat mare.
Now I know there are quite a few Crown Ambassador mares and other Storm Cat line mares running around in Indiana that need to come see me. So make sure you touch base with my main man Eddie or Gale Bess at Lake Shore Farms to book a season to me. Naming rights will be optional. (Just kidding.)
By the way, how much is it to change a name with The Jockey Club? Ill Conceived, too funny. I think not!
Of course, we know that Ill Conceived was not ill conceived because I'm no slouch and his racing career is off to a nice start. In five starts as a two-year old he has one win, two seconds, and a third. On Saturday, Ill Conceived finished third in the $75,000 Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx Racing at 7 furlongs on dirt becoming my sixth stakes-placed horse for the year. He's won over $50,000 so far in his career. He should actually be named Smartly Conceived or Intelligentily Conceived. OK, that last one is too many letters, but you get my point.
Here's why. Ill Conceived is out of the Sir Cat mare Catsuit. Sir Cat is, of course, by all-time great Storm Cat. This particular 'nick', me over a Storm Cat line mare really works. This is an A+ nick according to the folks at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants and has produced graded-stakes winners Buddha (G1), Magnificent Song (G1), Half Ours (G2), Noonmark (G3), and Neversaidiwassweet (G3). If you look at a few of my recent winners, you'll see this nick in action with Ifoundmy Mojo out of a Crown Ambassador mare and Spanish Comedy out of a Tabasco Cat mare.
Now I know there are quite a few Crown Ambassador mares and other Storm Cat line mares running around in Indiana that need to come see me. So make sure you touch base with my main man Eddie or Gale Bess at Lake Shore Farms to book a season to me. Naming rights will be optional. (Just kidding.)
By the way, how much is it to change a name with The Jockey Club? Ill Conceived, too funny. I think not!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Open House Update
With just having moved to Lake Shore Farms, I've been seeing some strange new things. There's been a lot of construction going on, barns being built, stalls being put up, and automatic waterers being put into some the paddocks. Now, that's not the strange part. The strange part is seeing these men who are building the barns. I've got a picture below. These guys arrive and leave in a small, what looks like, a school bus, they wear funny hats and clothes, and most of them have a beards, but only under their chins. When they talk, I hear stranges names like Graber, Schwartz, and Neuenschwander. These are really good builders, but I've never seen anyone like this before. I had to sneak taking pictures of them because it seemed they were afraid of my camera. I'm a horse and I know not to be afraid of a camera. Ha!
Also, having just moved, I wasn't sure about how many people would show up to see me yesterday. There were about 40 to 50 people at the My Open House. OK, maybe not "My Open House" per se, but everyone did come by to check me out. Quite a few people grabbed my main man Eddie and signed some papers. Many times I could overhear them talking about the mares I am going to get to meet in 2012.
However, the big talk that I overheard was about the breed development committee making recommendations to make the stakes program longer. Evidently, the two-year old stakes, the Indiana Futurity and the Miss Indiana, are going to be moved from six furlongs to a mile. Plus, the three-year old sprint stakes, the Snack and the Ellen's Lucky Star (I'd really like to meet her), are being moved to a mile too. What people were saying is that these longer stakes races at the younger ages would be perfect for my kids. I agree. Just check out what one of my two-year old fillies did in the $100,000 Brave Raj Stakes at a mile and 70 yards. A route of ground at two and three, no problem.
Also, having just moved, I wasn't sure about how many people would show up to see me yesterday. There were about 40 to 50 people at the My Open House. OK, maybe not "My Open House" per se, but everyone did come by to check me out. Quite a few people grabbed my main man Eddie and signed some papers. Many times I could overhear them talking about the mares I am going to get to meet in 2012.
However, the big talk that I overheard was about the breed development committee making recommendations to make the stakes program longer. Evidently, the two-year old stakes, the Indiana Futurity and the Miss Indiana, are going to be moved from six furlongs to a mile. Plus, the three-year old sprint stakes, the Snack and the Ellen's Lucky Star (I'd really like to meet her), are being moved to a mile too. What people were saying is that these longer stakes races at the younger ages would be perfect for my kids. I agree. Just check out what one of my two-year old fillies did in the $100,000 Brave Raj Stakes at a mile and 70 yards. A route of ground at two and three, no problem.
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