Aug
15
Past the Halfway Mark
Filed Under Uncategorized
Time flies at Del Mar, where six-day racing can swallow you up if you’re not careful. The blog updates have become a bog, so it’s time to catch up on last week’s proceedings.
The biggest news of the week were the deaths of trainer Warren Stute and owner/entertainment mogul Merv Griffin. IÂ knew both only by reputation. Stute as the tough, old-school trainer who plied his craft for nearly 70 years, winning the first Del Mar Debutante, then another one 51 years later. Griffin as the effusive owner of Stevie Wonderboy, who broke into a rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home” after his pride and joy had won the BC Juvenile at Belmont Park in 2005. Stevie didn’t make it to Kentucky the following spring, and Griffin’s Cobalt Blue didn’t get there this year but Griffin never got discouraged and was a great ambassador for our sport. Both gentlemen will be missed.
On Saturday, THE TIN MAN ran his heart out but had to settle for second behind JAMBALAYA in his quest to win consecutive runnings of the Arlington Million. The 9-year-old was trying to match John Henry as the only two-time winner but perhaps he will be back to try again next year…SALUTE THE SARGE remained perfect in three starts when defeating GEORGIE BOY in the Best Pal Stakes…MEDICI CODE got the right trip and won smartly in the La Jolla. He ran a number of good races in a short period in his native England and will be a definite threat in the Del Mar Derby. Speaking of the DM Derby, Secretariat winner (at Arlington Park) SHAMDINAN is likely to ship West for Doug O’Neill…MAIMONIDES, the $4.6 million Zayat/Baffert colt who shipped out of Del Mar, turned heads at Saratoga with a huge debut win…liked the way TASHA’S MIRACLE won the Sorrento here last Wednesday. She acts like a major player in the 2-year-old filly division…Joe Talamo tied Michael Baze at the top of jockey standing mid-way through Saturday’s card but Baze spurted clear again and holds a 31-25 lead into Wednesday’s card…the O’Neill barn has picked up the pace and leads Jeff Mullins 12-10. As Yogi Berra said, it looks like deja vu all over again…there has been an absolute claiming frenzy through the first month of the meet. I haven’t counted up all the claims but many times there is a shake (multiple claims) for each tagged runner.
Quotes of the Week: Had to laugh when I read these two quotes. First, there was Kent Desormeaux after winning aboard Silver Tree at Saratoga: “If you can teach every horse to race like him, everyone would have a luxury of life.” I think it’s “life of luxury”, Kent. Then there was winning owner Marc Keller, who had owned horses in the 1980′s but got out of the game. After his GRAND COUTURIER won the Sword Dancer: “I married a wife who thought you’re supposed to keep money in a matress, so I got out. She passed away 1 1/2 years ago and I’m back in.”
Good night now.
To View Free Samples of last week’s Premium Play selections, click on the links below: Premium Plays for Aug. 8Â Â Â Premium Plays for Aug. 9Â Â Premium Plays for Aug. 10Â Premium Plays for Aug. 11Â Â Â Premium Plays for Aug. 12Â Â Â Premium Plays for Aug. 13
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