4/26: Derby Works & Notes
 

Quick notes...

Excellent drill for Hold Me Back this morning under Kent D. Coming up to race very nicely and Mott told me yesterday he expects a big run. His lone concern is the track coming up loose-deep-cuppy as he says the Giant's Causeway colt likes firm footing and struggles grabbing 'breakaway' soil.

Square Eddie was the featured worker after the break, and while the :50.1 half won't look like much on paper, was quite OK and came between the quarter and seven-eighths poles. He started slow and picked up under (regular a.m. rider) Tony Romero, going faster as work went on. Galloped out particularly well on past the three quarter mark. As I said the other day, he's a well made and compact colt that has a great look that ends with his palomino tail. I watched with O'Neill's assistant who was thrilled with how he went.

Win Willy jogged twice around and worked up a sweat on the warm morning.... Friesan Fire galloped as well but I was watching Square Eddie.

Spent time with Rachel Alexandra and Hal Wiggins. She's spectacular. Huge. And as docile as a kitten. She works at 8:30 Monday under Borel.

Waiting for news from New York regarding Quality Road's a.m. and California where Mr. Hot Stuff was to work.

Jealous of your time with RA

Well, at least he already has his excuse down. :rolleyes:

As far as Rachel.. She is truely amazing and really is a special filly. I really think she is going to be one we look back on one day and say "Wow! I remember when she ran...." akin to the ones that can remember Ruffian.

Leave it to Bill Mott to work him in company with just about the worst horse in his barn.

Bummer... going to keep fingers crossed, but not sounding to hopeful at this point... too bad.. :(

Thanks for the update Steve.

I thought I saw the long range forecast was for rain later in the week (Fri/Sat). Any trainers have thoughts if this will help or hurt their chances (other than Larry Jones)?

small amount of blood from QR while galloping 1 3/4 at Belmont. Looked good galloping and McKinlay wasn't worried about the blood... but Jerkins was.

5F breeze still on for tomorrow.

Get him to the Gate!
 

If he isn't sound I don't want him running, but if he doesn't run, my horses will all lose value.

me too. i think she's awesome.

how did chuck work...

LOL. And whats the chance that the track will be deep and cuppy on Derby day...

He’s got 24 hours to get better,” said Jerkens. “I would have liked to have seen no blood, but it didn’t surprise me because he was still tender. He’s sound, he galloped the way he usually does, but I would have been more optimistic without blood.”

This really sounds like a sub par effort if they run QR.

I wish you could have reported on Friesan Fire.

CtC,

I only saw him jog by with Jones standing up on him. We were all concentrating on Square Eddie.

Be there or be square,
I swear.

I want you to bed by 10:00 pm tonight, lights off.
Light breakfast, get the eye drops in.
I would expect you to be at the track at 5 am
just in case she works in the dark. (Mobile lighting)

Since she wins the Oaks under a light jog I expect
you convince connections to go Preakness.
ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

made me laugh

I would like to confidently toss Friesan Fire, but I need a reason other than his lack of racing. He is going to have 60 pounds less on his back than he is used to.

Just do it, you dont like him and that should be enough, regardless if it rains and the track is to his liking. The 7 weeks between races is exactly what his connections said they were planning on, so that is a big minus. The horse needs to move forward abit to win this race and that would make anybody not use him. He's won his last 3 races and is proven on dirt,,,, another big minus. Theres more but we can see that there's not much to like.:zz: