Long on Turf, Short on Dirt

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you've read all of the superlatives that I use when describing my Little Mike. Impressive is today's superlative. The only turf race where Little Mike didn't hit the board was last year's mile and one-eighth Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. Mikey finished sixth only two and half back. That was the only turf race that Little Mike finished worse than second. Was the distance too much for him? In watching today's $150,000 Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes, the announcers on HRTV were skeptical that Little Mike's front-running style made him suited for the nine furlongs. What do they know!

As usual, Little Mike broke quickly and went to the front. After a 24.41 second quarter, and hitting the first half mile in 48.01, Little Mike ran each successive quarter faster! With quarters of 23.70 and 22.80, he ran through a mile in 1:34.51. Little Mike finished up the final eighth in 11.43 to stop the clock in an IMPRESSIVE 1:45.94 for the win! Wow! In 11 turf starts, Little Mike has 9 wins and a second for $485,8000 in earnings. After the win the HRTV announcers commented on the breeding to a "lesser known" stallion, and to a "$2,000 stallion." Excuse me, I'm a $3,000 stallion and worth more than that in the Indiana program! What do they know!

Ok, they know a little bit, like Little Mike's goal for 2012 is the Breeder's Cup Turf Mile at Santa Anita. Yes, impressive. If you didn't see it, you can catch the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/GP/2012/1/28/9/florida-sunshine-millions-turf-s


That was the long on turf, now for the short on dirt. Now a three-year old, Ill Conceived, finished 3rd in today's $75,000 Dancing Count Stakes at Laurel Park. After winning an allowance race at a mile on dirt at Penn National in late December, the connections of Ill Conceived decided to cut back to six furlongs in this stakes. At the top of the stretch, Ill Conceived was in tight and had to go six wide. He just missed second by a nose. A great effort for a horse that might be looking for a little more ground to cover. You can see the race at http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/USA/LRL/2012/1/28/8/dancing-count-s

Now, what other stallion in Indiana has stakes performers that are going long on turf and short on dirt? If you're not thinking about breeding a mare to me, then what are you thinking? Long on turf, short on dirt, long on dirt, check my record, my kids can do it all. Isn't that what you need when participating in the Indiana program?