Would be interesting.

Two horses of interest comes to mind, a Dubai-based runner named League Champion, who runs for trainer Rashed Bouresly. Of course, no lasix used here, and if you bleed, you wouldn't be allowed to run anyway until clearing a vet. The competition in some of these races wasn't half bad.

20-Mar-09 JEB SHADWELL 1200 Good (d) 85-100 5/16
13-Mar-09 JEB JEBEL ALI SPRI.. 1000 Good (d) Listed 9/16
27-Feb-09 JEB JEBEL ALI SPRI.. 1000 Good (d) Cond 4/16
26-Feb-09 NAD MEYDAN BUSINES.. 1200 Gd/Fm (T) Cond 8/10
20-Feb-09 NAD ETISALAT BLACK.. 1300 Good (T) 95-110 5/10
12-Feb-09 NAD GNADS4U 1400 Fast (d) 95-110 6/10
05-Feb-09 NAD BAHRI 1400 Fast (d) 90-105 5/16
29-Jan-09 NAD DUBAL POWER DASH 1000 Fast (d) 90-105 5/16
23-Jan-09 JEB SHADWELL STABLES 1200 Good (d) 75-100 1/13
22-Jan-09 NAD AL SHINDAGHA S.. 1200 Fast (d) G3 4/12

Or another horse by the same trainer...Star Crowned

20-Feb-09 NAD ETISALAT WASEL.. 1200 Fast (d) 95+ 2/9
12-Feb-09 NAD INSIDEOUT TROPHY 1100 Fast (d) Cond 2/11
05-Feb-09 NAD MARJU TROPHY 1300 Good (T) 100+ 5/12
22-Jan-09 NAD AL SHINDAGHA S.. 1200 Fast (d) G3 2/12
05-Dec-08 JEB SHADWELL FARM 1600 Good (d) Cond 3/8
21-Nov-08 JEB DERRINSTOWN STUD 1000 Fast (d) Cond 1/12
29-Mar-08 NAD DUBAI GOLDEN S.. 1200 Fast (d) G1 3/15

Travis, I want to get an early start on my handicapping. With all the rain that we've been having, what are the chances that the turf stakes will remain on the green? Thanks.

I spoke with our turf crew yesterday... unless the course is unsafe we will be on the turf. Luckily, it looks as though the weather is moving out of here and only scattered stuff will stick around. We're due some good luck!

Are you live on HRTV now or was that taped? Posting while talking to TV....

Excellent. That course can handle a lot of rain. Thanks for the quick response.

I posted while on hold... it was live.

Kind of like walking and chewing gum.

You did well on there, gold star.

Almost! Haha. Thanks!

Red Lead has a good shot to be in the photo at the wire; with the odds and Red Bullett's decent wet track breeding, I'll win bet him.:$:

And Tuscan Chianti in the Happy Ticket

Yep, we will never see a horse like Easy Goer in '89 winning the Whitney, Travers, Woodward, and JCGC (at 1 1/2) and then running in the BCC three weeks later, or Slew O Gold in '84 winning the Whitney, Marlboro, Woodward, and JCGC (at 1 1/2) and then running in the BCC three weeks later.

There was a time in the not so distant past when there was a big race every weekend at Belmont. Now Belmont basically has two big days. This year it is Oct 3 and Oct 10. 8 G1s are run on two Saturdays. It is hard to maintain interest when everything is so spread out. The Woodward and Pac Classic were 2 weeks ago. We still have to wait another two weeks for any meaningful races. All these Grade 2 3 yo Derbies with inflated purses do nothing for me.

I hope everyone who joins us today has a wonderful time. I checked last night and all our premium seating options (suites, Harrah's Club, Skyroom) are sold-out.

And a quick look at the radar shows no "green blobs" ... enjoy!

Well said Travis!

Undercard off the turf

Minimal scratches, sun is around and the track is fast. Big crowd!

Exactly. And this was with the BC around so why people blame the BC for the change in training philosophies is beyond me.

Outside closers are winning almost everything today... off the pace is okay. Blame will be tough, Soul Warrior too now.

Why did Goldophin share the magic oats?

I'm going with Massone in here, hoping he will run them all down in the stretch.

Wow. Bonnie and Clyde couldn't have done it any better. 49.03? 1:13.11? Seriously? Nobody thought "hmm, I better go put some pressure on him"?

Glad for Godolphin but damn, I hate races like that.

Richie is making a LARGE COMEBACK. I beleive he is the regular rider of Flashing, Midshipman and now Regal Ransom.... I would not doubt if he got some of Garcias other Godolphin mounts, after the Kings Bishop DQ.... RM is working hard and he deserves this.

Hogwash. All of the riders are working hard and he doesn't deserve it more than any other.

Folks in case this is still a riddle...Godolphin has the secret to horses running off the screen. Sweet feed..lol

Thats not true.... Some of them party hard, some of them sell drugs... Some of them are flat out punks. This dude is a man, he's a hard worker and the nicest guy you will ever meet. I met him when I was like 13 and never forgot it. He deserves to be the rider for that stable.

He does have a very large nose... lol

I met Mig a few times as well and he seems very nice.

This thread took a turn down Castro.

I was just congragulating RM. Its not like Im guessing about him, I know for a fact he's a great guy, as for work... read the drf plus article. As for all riders work hard thats a joke, guys like Channing Hill spend the day on Facebook.... They dont all work hard...

how some spend their time away from work has no indication of how hard they work when on the clock.

In some cases thats true....

hey...
its the jockeys :rolleyes:

We had a great day Saturday... we had a big crowd, lots of excitement and there was a definite buzz in the air. I went into the dining room to get lunch and one of the beverage girls thought it was one of the best ever.

Regal Ransom a fitting winner while Blame is going places after the slow pace/wide trip/game effort.

We had a Super Derby Star contest... listen to this guys voice...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHFaKuAz4qo

should have got NTamm to sing

He called his first race...

Check it out... race 4 on Friday over at Youtube.com/louisianadowns

You are glad for Godolphin but think Mig doesnt deserve accolades?

All riders are hardly hard working or good guys. The Mig is both and I too am glad to see him get a shot in some bigger races. I suppose you root for Microsoft, Walmart and the IRS too?

The Mig is one of racing's class acts... I was very happy for him.

Who said he doesn't deserve accolades? I didn't say that. I think all of those riders put their lives on the line each time they go out there and I don't feel like any of them deserve it more than others.

And I love Walmart.

I like Regal Ransom, even considered him in the derby. But what were the other riders thinking in this race? If ever a race was presented on a platter, this was it. Sleepwalking fractions...and they all watched it unfold in front of them.

RM is one of the hardest working jocks out there. He's out on horses all morning most days. In fact, he's a bit of a throwback to the era of true "stable riders" when riders were contracted to one outfit. Unlike many riders, he's got some horsemanship skills and can get off a horse in the morning and really inform a trainer what the horse was doing and how he felt/went.
Because he's fairly tall Richie has always fought very hard against weight and it has taken a toll, but he's never given up. I've met him plenty and would never begrudge him a minute of success. Richie is all class.

Wow... super job!!!

I second that!