Hammer Time - All Comments

re: An Investor's Perspective on Shanghai Bobby and the Juvenile

tcc — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 20:37:11 GMT

His possible race schedule. From DRF.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Shanghai Bobby, the undefeated winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and likely champion 2-year-old colt, is being pointed to the Grade 3, $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26 for his 3-year-old debut, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday.

By starting him in the Holy Bull, Pletcher has the option of running Shanghai Bobby back in the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 23 or, preferably, waiting for the Florida Derby on March 30 should he stick with the south Florida route to the May 4 Kentucky Derby for Shanghai Bobby. Pletcher said he would prefer just a two-race pre-Derby campaign for Shanghai Bobby, who twice this year won off a 69-day layoff.

“He’s had five races, but he’s also had good spacing in between,” Pletcher said. “Right now, I’d say the Holy Bull and Florida Derby put him on a steady campaign of races and we’d still have a fresh horse that’s had a lot of spacing in between his races.”

Pletcher added, “If you target the Fountain of Youth as your first start back and have any hiccups along the way and you miss the Fountain of Youth it puts you behind schedule.”

re: An Investor's Perspective on Shanghai Bobby and the Juvenile

All the Kings Horses — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:13:27 GMT

Steve from St.Louis is very correct in that statement. When I read that I thought I wrote it & Pletcher as well as Baffert have million dollar babies in wait most people dont even know of yet if you dont follow the game closely....Stay tuned

re: An Investor's Perspective on Shanghai Bobby and the Juvenile

Bill Rinker — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:43:27 GMT

Words of wisdom.

re: An Investor's Perspective on Shanghai Bobby and the Juvenile

steve from st louis — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:42:33 GMT

Coolmore and Pletcher obviously believe there is the chance SB can outrun his pedigree. With a dosage profile of 5-2-5-0-0, a dosage index of 3.80 and a Center of Distribution of 1.00, he'll have to. His Breeders' Cup win showed his has the heart to outlast that bunch, I just didn't see a Derby winner in that field.

On paper, Fortify is bred for the 10 furlongs as is Monument, but they don't run the race on paper. Recent history says the 2013 Derby winner will make his first start in January at Gulfstream. I'll be watching.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

Layton Register — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:26:53 GMT

It's hard for me to describe my reaction to drugs as knee-jerk and superficial when I consider the vet bills I've paid for my horses in training in Europe over the years compared to what I've paid for the horses I've had in training in North America. There is no doubt in my mind that the dependence North American trainers have on race-day medication has affected the class and quality of horses being bred in North America, and thus significantly decreasing their value.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

Dooquila — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:38:30 GMT

Only the in the US will you find the chemical racehorse. Therein lie your answer. The grandsons and granddaughters of Northern Dancer who were bred clean in Europe have thrived, the same bloodlines have collapsed in the US due to all the stimulants and painkillers getting pumped through the barns. No one else races or trains on syringes. Its all down to a perspective. The Rest of the World simply doesnt believe in a level playing field and what is best for the horse. Frog Juice.... you couldnt make it up.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

Dooquila — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:34:34 GMT

Sceptre... wrong again. American thoroughbreds are the chemical racehorse. The Europeans bred clean the Northern Dancers they brought at auction, the result the grandsons and granddaughters based outside the US have thrived, the US racehorse has become a fragile junkie. Sunlight is the best disinfectant to flush those out into the open who support racing horses on drugs when they should not be in the game at all. America is the only global jurisdiction who trains and races horses on drugs. Frog Juice. You couldnt make it up. No one in UK or France even trains on the garbage Americans put in their horses. Its just some people such as Sceptre project their own intentions on others.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

sceptre — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:26:02 GMT

At the higher end, the quality of our breeding stock, and consequently our racing stock has fallen off. It's causes are unrelated to the "drug culture" which is, in reality, essentially world-wide.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

sceptre — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:22:13 GMT

Mr. Register:

I beg to differ. The main reason why the Europeans, and to some degree, the Arabs, are less smitten with our yearlings is the shift (through the years) in relative pedigree strength from here to Europe. In decades past, our sheer "pedigree power" was often enough to defeat them at their own game-turf (often at distances), despite the fact that even then ours were primarily bred for dirt/shorter. The erosion of our pedigree power (stallions/broodmares) came about through the decades long cherry-picking by foreign interests of many of our best broodmares and yearlings, the demise of a majority of our most elite breeding-racing operations, and perhaps to a lesser degree, the increased commercial mentality in the US. Our more recent emphasis on lucrative state-bred breeding programs also contributes to a dilution of genetic strength. Now that our decreased competitiveness has become more apparent, some have chosen to mistakenly focus on an area in which we also somewhat differ with the "rest of the world"-race-day meds-,jumping to the knee-jerk, superficial cause/effect conclusion.

re: More September Yearling Profits, But A Lot Still Don't Make Money

Layton Register — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 10:58:06 GMT

Mr. Tony Morris writes in the April 2012 issue of the Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder, "Have America’s owners and breeders not noticed that Europeans do not flock to Stateside sales in great numbers any more? Are they unaware that the rest of the world is suspicious about the value of the form in Graded events conducted under a permissive drug regime?" The peak of the select yearling market in the U.S. was arguably 1984 when the top 26 highest priced yearlings in the U.S. grossed $85,800,000. This was likely driven by 11 of Timeform’s 27 highest rated three-year-old horses in 1984 being North American-bred. Of Timeform’s 25 highest rated three-year-olds last year that raced primarily in Europe, only four of the horses were bred in North America. Of the four, Dream Ahead was sired by Diktat, a European-based stallion. Last year in the U.S., the top 28 highest priced yearlings grossed $24,500,000. In 1984, Keeneland’s sales yearlings grossed $240,411,300. In 2011, they grossed $223,487,800. The yearlings that sold at England’s Tattersalls in 1984 grossed 36,545,600 guineas. In 2011, they grossed 78,783,000 guineas. The reasons North American-bred horses have lost value may have a little to do with general economic conditions, casino gaming, the tax treatment of horses, and the political climate in Washington, D.C., but it has much to do with how North American Thoroughbred racing is organized and conducted, especially in regard to race-day medication.

re: He May Be Old Fashioned, But He's In Style

DawnStorm — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:40:59 GMT

Couldn't have said it better myself Minnesota Kid.

re: He May Be Old Fashioned, But He's In Style

Minnesota Kid — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:10:50 GMT

Just what the American breeding industry needs--another injury-plagued sire, sired by an injury-plagued sire.

Good luck to those purchasing yearlings sired by Old Fashioned, they will need it.

re: Naming the Priciest Juveniles

DanC — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:20:26 GMT

Thanks for the update. I really am interested in how all of these new horses end up, even the failures; speaking of which, wasn't Take Control supposed to be racing again?

re: The I'll Have Another, Seattle Slew Auction Connection

Blind Luck — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:30:48 GMT

Another great possible stud that could bring back the endurance to racing in America goes to Japan! Overseas, again! Everytime this happens I feel that the chance of a triple crown winner is further away. Thanks to the owners of Curlin and such, we still have a chance. I will watch that colt from Rachael Alexdra & Curlin and hope for great things from him. Lets bring back the stamina in our breeding sheds!

re: The I'll Have Another, Seattle Slew Auction Connection

Slew — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 13:03:02 GMT

Alas and alack...foiled again.

No Triple Crown...maybe next year?

At least Lava Man will still prance like a Dandy.

re: The I'll Have Another, Seattle Slew Auction Connection

Slew — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:05:37 GMT

My hero is, will be, and always was the incredible Slew.

I started following I'll Have Another, not because I ever thought he would be reaching for a Triple Crown, but because I knew he would always be led to the track by the impetuous Lava Man, grandson of Slew.

It's very odd how, after 35 years, my worlds have collided. Ain't it Great?

re: The I'll Have Another, Seattle Slew Auction Connection

mz — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:31:24 GMT

Small horses: Northern Dancer, Hyperion.

I'd take either of them.

re: Buying I'll Have Another and a Bodemeister Update

deb — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:27:25 GMT

Bode will always be one of my favorites. He is a beautiful horse to look at and watch run and so sensible! He is a treasure.

re: Buying I'll Have Another and a Bodemeister Update

kincsem — Thu, 31 May 2012 17:45:02 GMT

Bodemeister really accelerated right past the 16th pole in a breathtaking manner. He is an exceptional horse & would be the Triple Crown prospect, except for one other extremely talented 3 yr old. I hope his future is as brilliant as he is!

re: Buying I'll Have Another and a Bodemeister Update

Wrensflight — Thu, 31 May 2012 16:25:20 GMT

A horse that runs and fights that hard to win has the heart of a champion, whether he wins or loses. Best to Bodemeister in his future campaign.

re: Buying I'll Have Another and a Bodemeister Update

ksweatman9 — Wed, 30 May 2012 21:41:37 GMT

Bodemeister is a wonderful horse, you gotta love him. We'll see how special I'll Have Another proves to be, but it's possible Bode came along in the wrong year, like Sham did.

re: Kentucky Derby Horses and Their Auction Prices

GoGoldfinder — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:50:30 GMT

jI2572,

You can always get the PPs for big races... if you know where to go.

re: Kentucky Derby Horses and Their Auction Prices

jl2572 — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:54:40 GMT

The quality this year, despite the lack of even one high sales figure, is well above average, possibly better than the 2004 or 2001 crops, we'll see. After reviewing the PP's, which are not free this year (unlike years before), it's obvious that the talent level is strong

re: Big Sale Yearlings of 2011 Get Their Names

Grande Fan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:33:04 GMT

Encode and Pianoso. Ah yes, Mr. V could have taught a class - we DO miss him.

re: Big Sale Yearlings of 2011 Get Their Names

Blondie — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:35:04 GMT

It makes it easier for us novices when owners us parts of the dam and sire names! Easier to trace pedigree!