And…we’re off! I’ve finally committed to a fantasy stable (not that anything like considered deliberation of last weekend’s prep races factored seriously into my decisions), and the Road to the Roses: Brooklyn Backstretch Charity League is set to go for year #4. As in past years, the winner of our league will have a donation…
I adopted Giant Moon late. When he was a three-year-old, I was obsessed with Saratoga Russell; they raced against each other in the 2008 Gotham. Saratoga Russell finished next to last, Giant Moon right behind him. Undeterred, Giant Moon’s connections – owner Albert Fried, Jr. and trainer Rick Schosberg – brought the son of Giant’s…
Oaklawn Park: The Grade III, $250,000 Southwest at 1-mile #1 Caleb’s Posse (9-2 ML): Looked good winning the Smarty Jones, the local prep over the course and distance, so you know right off he can handle both the trip and the strip. Drew well here, too (he also broke from the rail in the Smarty…
A quick look at this afternoon’s San Vincente: Santa Anita: The Grade II, $150,000 San Vicente at 7 furlongs INDIAN WINTER (#5) impressed in taking a minor stakes in his main track debut over the track and should benefit from a pace that looks suicidal on paper; call to make the last run the winning…
The path to racing history doesn’t always run smoothly, as I unfortunately discovered earlier this week; technical difficulties at the Times website left me feeling like Tantalus, able to see the objects of my desire (articles on George Widener’s Rare Treat), but not able to touch them. Tantalus, though, didn’t have Facebook, so he couldn’t go…
Brian’s back with a look at tomorrow’s Derby prep, and over the weekend he’ll provide insights on Sunday’s and Monday’s races as well. We’ll launch the Brooklyn Backstretch charity league next week, after this weekend’s preps. The first scoring race is February 26th, and I’m waiting until the last possible moment to put my (inevitably…
Not exactly looking like the summer place to be these days, but it’s only 157 days until opening day…and it might just take every last one of them to get rid of the snow… As always, click to enlarge… The Oklahoma… And the main track… The lake…but no canoe… And maybe the saddest sight of…
In honor of the holiday, Brooklyn Backstretch is offering a little racing love this fine Monday morning: A quick check of Pedigree Query reveals that… …there have been five horses named Marry Me, three female, two male; a 1975 colt was by Bold Reason out of the The Bride; a 1996 GB-bred cold was by…
Travers Statue at the Wishing Well, decked out in Gainesway colors, for Afleet Express’s victory August 28, 2010 February 12, 2011
Santa Anita – The Grade II, $250,000 Robert B. Lewis at 1 1/8 miles #1 Wegner (ML unavailable): Recent MSW graduate goes out for Baffert, so you know he’s probably got some talent, but at this juncture it appears he’s biting off a bit more than he can chew; pace factor is worth remembering down…
Brooklyn Backstretch 