Magic According to Coil

re: Magic According to Coil

Slew — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:12:51 GMT

Zookeeper....glad you have all the arrangements made. I still want to get to the spa but it's a spur of the moment thing for me...and I just haven't been able to get it done.

Linda, I've always liked Tar Heel Mom. I've been watching her for several years. I'm a fan of hers, and I've seen some misfires earlier this year and have been hoping to see her come back to form.

re: Magic According to Coil

Linda in Texas — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:13:28 GMT

Slew - you mention "thrilled my Tar Heel Mom is finally back" you know i watched her race at Gulf Stream several months back and i thought funny name, i wonder if she is a Nawth Carolina horse with a name like Tar Heel Mom. Then i saw her race at Philadelphia, Delaware and Belmont maybe not in that order and i said to self, why isn't anyone raving about her or just mentioning her? I then see her race at Saratoga. So i said to self, she has arrived! She has raced at The Spa and won. Now i read you obviously had your eyes on her also. No, she didn't come in first in all those races, and she came in 4th in one race this year. But she finished first or second in all the rest and her campaign started in January. Did not race in March or July, otherwise she raced 6 out of the last 8 months. She is a sport and i love her for it. Her trainer is Stanley Hough and owned by Mr. Alex Rankin. And she is SIX YEARS OLD. You go girl friend you have 2 faithful followers for sure who are watching everything you do.

re: Magic According to Coil

Linda in Texas — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:50:29 GMT

Steve, it has been 8 days since you posted the article about Smarty Jones being bred in Uruguay.

So much going on and some of us need the gift of your direction and perspective!

Hope you are 'horsing' around someplace fun, Steve, so you can tell us all about it. :)

re: Magic According to Coil

calico cat — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:19:22 GMT

Slew -- It wasn't easy but I'm all set. Now, all I need is nice weather!!! Can you help with that? :)

re: Magic According to Coil

Slew — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:50:49 GMT

Linda: you have nothing to apologize for. When you luv a horse, you luv a horse...and I have yet to see any horse I haven't liked this year.

Zookeeper: Hope your resevations for the Spa were made early...because finding available rooms and transportation is rough. I get the feeling they're booked a year ahead of time. (But I don't know.)

I'm looking forward to every race day at the Spa...it's such an exciting time. (Thrilled my Tar Heel Mom is finally back!) And always, in the back of my mind, is the Breeders' Cup.

re: Magic According to Coil

GoldenBroom — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:43:45 GMT

Poor Shack...Romans is running him back at a mile and a quarter again in the Travers. I think if he gets beat and ends up 3rd, he can't possibly win the division no matter what else he does. If he took on the elders at the shorter distance, he would have a shot...I think it's between Coil and probably Thirsty, AK and even Ruler on Ice may bite again at a longer distance...

re: Magic According to Coil

Pedigree Ann — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:24:58 GMT

TerriZ, Secretariat's best racing daughter was Horse of the Year Lady's Secret. She won 25 of 45 starts (and she ran a few times after it was clear she didn't want to be a racehorse any more; typical Lukas) and won 11 G1 races, including racing against the guys - her record includes a Whitney win and placings in the Met Mile and Woodward. And for best producing daughter, Weekend Surprise, Six Crowns, and Lady Winborne could give Terlingua a run for the money.

re: Magic According to Coil

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 22:30:32 GMT

Linda & Karen (2 Texas cuties),

Thanks. Karen, thanks for the Haras Quatro Piedras website, very nice. They seem to be thrilled to have Smarty there. Yep, Smarty's on vacation alright.

Markinsac,

I'm east coast but I have a huge respect for California racing, I LOVE it as I have mentioned in many blogs. They have had brilliant horses the past few years in Zenyatta, Lava Man, Blind Luck, Lookin' At Lucky, Plum Pretty, Colonel John, Coil, etc. I agree that Baffert and Garcia are veritable horse whisperers and respect what Garcia has accompished in such a short time. The CA horses do seem to have more of a versatility in adjusting to various surfaces and transitioning to dirt. I think CA racing is awesome and hope it continues to impress, east or west coast though, the sport is wonderful.

re: Magic According to Coil

GoldenBroom — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:13:38 GMT

Seems like Coil is still pretty green. His potential is still wide open. Reminded me of Curlin a little when watching the Haskell. If he "gets it" he's going to be tough to beat...sure with AK was still running this year. Maybe if Thirsty is coming into his own and Mo comes back, we may still look back at this year and say "oh yes there WERE some strong runners" after all!

re: Magic According to Coil

Fran Loszynski — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:59:57 GMT

Shackleford ran an awesome race, I will always see Secretariat in him. The Romans should be proud. I felt bad when I saw Shack's right eye droop down almost like saying "Oh No!" This racehorse has heart and hope he runs in the Travers and Breeder's Cup he deserves it. It was a great race for Coil and this year has just been every race has a different horse winning. Today Afleet Again runs his race in Saratoga. Yes it may be a tough race but Afleet Again runs with his heart and for the love of his owners. Your Dad is watching! Once again congrats Shack on an awesome race and run.

re: Magic According to Coil

Guiness — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:57:18 GMT

I bet Bob Baffert has Martin Garcia on his Speed Dial. lol

re: Magic According to Coil

Linda in Texas — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:46:22 GMT

And ABF, thanks for the tip on Shack arriving at Saratoga on NYRA. I finally found it. Just not long enough though, i could watch him all day. All of them for that matter.

re: Magic According to Coil

Linda in Texas — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:38:43 GMT

I felt wrong talking about Shack when the title of the article is Coil. Didn't mean to leave off so many Shack Supporters, please forgive me Slew Alex'sBigFan,Smoking Baby,Guiness and anyone else.

Good thing you speak Spanish Alex'sBigFan, as fast as the Uruguayans work Smarty gonna' be coming home speaking Spanish and

will need a translator.:) I am glad he has been accepted so nicely and more than anything truly appreciated.

re: Magic According to Coil

Karen in Texas — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:42:20 GMT

ABF----I think the name of the farm is Haras Cuatro Piedras. They have a nice picture of Smarty on their site. I'll try to link it.

http://www.cuatropiedras.com/

re: Magic According to Coil

Bill Two — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:27:53 GMT

Markinsac: Tell that to Graham Motion. He's got a plane that goes west. I do have to admit that Baffert and Hollendorfer have bragging rights and I sympathize with your point that not too many eastern horses come to California, but don't say nobody comes there from the east. Incidentally, thanks for sending Alex Solis to us. Love the guy on turf especially when he rides for Shug.

re: Magic According to Coil

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:10:04 GMT

Steve, is the name of the farm in Uruguay Cuatro Piedras or the mare's name, wasn't sure. Please let us know the senorita's name (mare) if that's not it. Either way, the names work!

re: Magic According to Coil

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Off topic Steve but thanks for the Smarty update! Heeeeere we go..........Chapter 1 of "Don Smarty & Las Senoritas!!!" Boy, they are wasting no time, he arrives and is bred to Quatro Piedras (4 Stones) 5 hours later!!! I'm naming the offspring already:

Four Times As Smart

Smartstone

Spanish Tryst

Corazon de Piedra (heart of the stone)

I am glad Steve is going to chronicle Smarty's adventures for us! Buena Suerte, Senor Smarty!

re: Magic According to Coil

Smoking Baby — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:15:12 GMT

Pedigree Ann....Shackleford did indeed stumble at the start. I was watching him and mentioned it to my girlfriend. It wasn't REAL bad but he certainly didn't break clean. What I missed while watching Shackleford is that Coil stumbled as well.

re: Magic According to Coil

Karen in Texas — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:27:02 GMT

Steve, this is off topic, but I wanted to thank you for your update on Smarty today. Sounds as though he cleared quarantine healthy and happy! It seems that Uruguay truly appreciates having him there as a stallion!

re: Magic According to Coil

GoldenBroom — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:12:23 GMT

Mo is still on track for the Bishop, any updates on The Factor making it there too? I'm blocking my calendar for Traver's day this year (to watch at home). Could have 2 showdowns to watch...

re: Magic According to Coil

calico cat — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:58:41 GMT

I'm planning a trip to Saratoga for the Travers, so I'll be there to see Coil run and maybe win! It should be a tremendous day. This will be my first time at Saratoga, so I'm very excited. Will you be there that day Mr. Haskin? If yes, maybe I'll get to shake your hand again and hopefully not be as tongue-tied as I was at Santa Anita when you were here for the 2009 BC. lol!

re: Magic According to Coil

Slew — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:54:20 GMT

Wow..2 of the best race horses in the past decade (I say that because I loved them both) have their colts carry their banners into history. Bernardini/Stay Thirsty victories in the Jim Dandy; Point Given/Coil victories in the Haskell. Wow. I no longer think ST is a grinder. He's maturing beautifully...and getting faster. And Coil seems to be the first PG colt to evince his sire's best attributes. Point Given made our jaws drop with his performances that earned him the Hall of Fame status; Coil seems to feel obliged to do the same.

I have never agreed that this is a mediocre crop of 3 year-olds; I feel that there is so much talent in this crop that it's a difficult year for one to stand out because we have so many that are really, really good. The UK has Frankel, Uncle Mo is on his way back, Goldie and Frankel may meet...It's a very exciting second half to the year.

Great writing, Steve. As usual you've got the back story with so much heart.

re: Magic According to Coil

Alex'sBigFan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:06:28 GMT

Just a little note to us Shack fans. There is a video of him arriving and getting a bath and in the barn at Saratoga on NYRA's Saratoga website. Haskell took nothing out of one of our favorite boys and he looks great. Coil has arrived as well. I so repect Coil for all he had to overcome to get the Haskell win and he seems an amazing athlete that can strike from far off the pace but I just love Shack and his grit, determination, and will.

So glad Uncle Mo is doing so well in Saratoga too. Does anyone know if Kiaran brought Soldat there, would be a great place to rest Soldat's feet at the Spa.

re: Magic According to Coil

markinsac — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:54:10 GMT

Baffert is on as big of a roll as he's ever been on. We all know Garrett Gomez is one of the top 5 jocks in the country. Well Baffert took off Gomez to let Martin Garcia be #1 jock in his barn. That shows that Baffert can pick out jock talent as well as horse talent. It's just so amazing to see how the young Garcia has matured in such a short period on time. Just a few years ago, he was making sandwiches in a Pleasanton, Ca deli and had never ridden a horse before.

Hey east coast, with Blind Luck and Coil going for Eclipse Awards this fall, it's time to recognize: Even though California horses always have to travel east if they want to match up with your best (eastern horses NEVER come out here), THEY KICK ASS!

Another thing to recognize: Horses that get experience on synthetic tracks are just plain tougher than dirt-only horses. And there are MANY big races run in North America as well as the world on synthetic tracks. Think $10 million Dubai Cup next Spring.

re: Magic According to Coil

Ascot_Doll_wins — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:31:09 GMT

Thank you for the backstory on Coil. I was not familiar with him until I was reading about him on your website on Friday. His pedigree caught my eye first as I have always been a big fan of his sire Point Given. He even looks like his sire a big beautiful chestnut with that distinctive star marking. I am thrilled to see his son doing well and I am honored to be added to Coil's growing list of fans.