Aidan and a Bettin'

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Linda in Texas — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:05:39 GMT

Hors D'oeuvres - this is the correct spelling in case you need to use it and not have to look it up.

Disposablepleasure fell darn near on her beautiful face as the gate opened. She was last most of the way. She gathered herself and won anyway. I think that is so telling when a horse has that kind of heart to win. That is facing adversity straight on for starters then was stopped again during the race. Race 6 at Aqueduct. You need to watch it if you missed it. A photo finish. She is gray and 2 years old.

Musketier - 9 years old won at Calder, Race 10 on Turf. Amazing win. Big German Bred fella. Owner advised trainer, "if he is happy, run him at 10." Amen. That is the spirit i like to hear. His stablemate Simmard was right behind him coming in second. That is togetherness in my book, just like Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty in their last race.

Daisy Devine - daisies were my dad's favorite flowers, mine also. So i find her win special and follow her races. Fair Grounds on Saturday, race 9.

Awesome Feather and O'Prado Again.

Good for her on her return to win the race and O'Prado Again, i am prejudiced for 2 reasons, his sire and his color and his racing prowess is not too shabby either. Watch Race 7 at Aqueduct. Didn't look like he was going to make it but he did with almost a length to spare. I love all the races and all the tracks. They each and every one are special to me for the slightest of reasons. I look for the positive in all of them and never cease to be disappointed.

And Buena Vista winning today in Japan after last year's DQ. She put her little right hoof out in front at the right time. She is 5 years old. Good for you Buena Vista.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:21:34 GMT

Linda - Good phonetic try. FYI 'hors-d'oeuvres'. 'Hors' meaning 'outside of' and 'oeuvre' meaning the work or production, so food outside of a main meal. French is a bizarre language when it comes to spelling, almost as bizarre as English. Also, we English speakers have a tradition of reversing the 'vr' construction, in pronunciation, as how 'Favre' became 'Farve.'

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Smoking Baby — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:48:08 GMT

Thank you Linda in Texas. What an intriguing story with this gelding named Rapid Redux. I have nothing to back this up but something tells me that he's a joy to be around at the barn.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Linda in Texas — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:31:41 GMT

We all love you Steve Haskin and are so thankful you pulled through your little setback earlier. I am thankful for a lot of things but we all are thankful you made it through a rough time in good shape.

Smoking Baby - July 26, 2008, "Rapid Redux made his stakes debut in the tyro at Monmouth after breaking his maiden there."

"Rapid Redux was bred in Kentucky by Fortress Pacific Equine and is out of the Storm Cat mare Thiscatsforcaryl. He was an $85.000 purchase for the original owners, K & G Stables at The Keeneland September 2007 yearling sale. He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent.

"He was claimed for $6,250 October 2010, according to his owner, Mr. Robert Cole, Jr. David Wells his trainer said he improved to 25-1-1 in 39 lifetime starts and earnings of $332,544." "During his streak he has run at 7 different racetracks and distances from 5 furlongs to a mile and 1/8th.

Mr. Cole said "he has owned over one thousand horses, and you dream about horses like Rapid Redux." He also stated that "Rapid Redux has a big heart and wants to win," frankly Mr. Cole, i think you have pretty good heart yourself. You know it takes on to know one. And I love Rapid Redux.

Smoking Baby, i believe i am correct in stating that Rapid Redux has an invitation from The Kentucky Horse Park to spend his life there. I believe i read that in an article here lately beside the one i just quoted from. I hope i got the name of the farm who has invited him right.

Got to start cooking tomorrow, going to San Antonio to break a turkey leg with my sister in law.

She doesn't cook turkey and dressing,can only make salads and ordeuerves (sp?) big fancy word for my vocabulary.So if i want to eat i have to cook. No rabbit food, as my dad called them, salads on Thanksgiving! :)

Happy Turkey day everyone. Drive safely if you are traveling. We need everyone back at their posts.

Thanks Steve, and best wishes to your family also.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Steve Haskin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:37:48 GMT

Linda in Texas and Dr. D., thank you and Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the other members of our little family. I can't thank you all enough for your participation and support.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

JAJ — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:53:30 GMT

Sorry, much as I love Goldikova, she should have come down. To not was dishonest and does little for the integrity of the sport. Would you be so forgiving if one of the horses she bowled over had fallen and a horse or jockey injured or killed? Bad, bad call by the stewards.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Dr Drunkinbum — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:49:53 GMT

The Deacon

Thanks for the Happy Thanksgiving wishes, same to you, and Steve and family, and to all of the rest of the Haskinites and other assorted loyal subjects and families. We've been grounded alright but hoping the next Triple Crown run will have us soaring to great heights. Bah Humbug, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, a partridge in a pear tree, Derby Fever takes over and all that jazz.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Karen in Texas — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:38:14 GMT

I haven't commented on this particular blog thread so far because I don't really have a strong opinion on trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Eclipse award, but....

I do want to join LiT in congratulating Rapid Redux and his team on last night's 20th victory at Mountaineer! Apparently the field started at 11 and dwindled rapidly throughout the day--was it the wet track? The few times I have seen him run he appears very professional. I wish him and his group future success as he continues to race (according to the HRTV people).

Also, hello to Zookeeper, and a happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone!

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Smoking Baby — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:15:53 GMT

Linda in Texas, do you know whether Rapid Redux has been in the same barn this whole time. Many of these $5,000 horses change hands often. I was thinking earlier today if he's accomplished this under several different shedrows it's even that much more impressive.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Pedigree Ann — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:57:40 GMT

All you folks out, Rapid Redux is now 18 for 18 in 2011. This is the sort of campaign that our best horses used to have. Citation won 19 of 20 at 3. Equipoise won 10 of 14 at 4. Stymie averaged 23 races a year from 2 to 6 on his way to the Hall of Fame. Kelso averaged 11 races a year from 3 to 7. Affirmed and Alydar each averaged 10/year at 2 and 3, and so did 'Bid; the sounder Affirmed and Bid had similar campaigns at 4. Even just a decade or so ago, a proper campaign for any age was 8-10 races. Anything can and often does happen in a single race; that is why it is the body of work, not a single race, that should determine champions. And that is why no horse who makes a single start in the US deserves a championship. That is why I still consider Tuscan Evening champion turf mare of 2010, Eclipse voters not withstanding.

Racing is not like pro football or college basketball (and every other sport team but football) with a tournament set up. It is more like golf, tennis, motor racing, etc.: there are some events that are more important than others (The Masters, The Open, The Daytona 500, Indy 500, etc.) but it is body of work throughout the year that determines the champions.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Wendy.lou — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:52:32 GMT

20 wins, 12 months, over every surface and length imaginable. David Wells and Rapid Redux, period!Just cause they don't have the "big" bucks, doesn't mean they shouldn't at least be considered, think about it.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Linda in Texas — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:14:47 GMT

I failed to mention Needler in Virginia, i hope things are easing for you Needler. Please let us know you are okay.

And a ditto to Deacon's well wishes

for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

And thanks a million Steve. I have never enjoyed anything more than i have in reading your wonderful articles and meeting so many super folks on your blog.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Linda in Texas — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:32:31 GMT

Rapid Redux victorious in his quest to win 20 without a loss. i cannot think of a nicer horse to have reached that goal. Nor a nicer owner and trainer and Deshawn Parker, great ride. And to his groom, walker and caregivers, take a bow.

What a nice way to start the week of Thanksgiving.

Rapid Redux has been very special to keep up with and watch. I think it is simply grand as i am an old claimer myself and i respect not only him, but those who had faith in him. Wire to wire was simply icing on the cake.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

The Deacon — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:56:17 GMT

Steve: Want to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. It has been an honor to be part of all these blogs the past few years. With all the ups and downs, ins and out of this great sport we all manage to naintain our sense of humor and stay grounded. A Happy Thanksgiving as well to all your loyal subjects. May 2012 bring peace to all.......

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Paula Higgins — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:20:40 GMT

smarie, we agree :). Zookeeper, I understand the conflicting feelings. When my heart and head don't agree, I often go with my heart. It would have broken many hearts to see Goldikova DQ'd, mine included. She deserved better than to go out like that. Yes, I know money was involved with the betting public, but when you bet, you better be prepared to lose because that is often what happens. I am not going to shed one tear for anyone who lost money over her not being DQ'd. This was a very special case in the annals of racing and required people to lead with their hearts. The stewards made the right decision. To DQ her would have been a very poor call respective to her connections as well. They did a gutsy thing to bring her here 4 times in a row. No way would I slap them in the face with a DQ.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Matthew Martini — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:01:13 GMT

Thank you for discussing the track conditions at Churchill over BC weekend. Although the weather was beautiful on the Saturday that I was there, you could see the moisture in the main track up close, at least on the stretch going into the clubhouse turn, which was where I was located. That section of the track never dried.

I think that they also should have let the Europeans train over the turf on that prior Thursday. It was a time for compromise, whether it was running on the outer-most portion of the course or whatever.

If I remember correctly, I think that Strong Suit (trained by Richard Hannon) was one of the horses that was scheduled to work out on that Thursday. His previous race at Newmarket was a 7f straight. I think a workout over the Churchill turf (and a turn) may have helped him on that Saturday. He came a long way for the race, but I did not think that he was in a position in terms of training where we were going to see his best, without a brief workout over that track.

I'm hoping for good weather at Santa Anita next year. I'm hoping that European trainers come back with their horses. The Breeders' Cup races are special.

And Aidan O’Brien is most worthy of an Eclipse this year. It would be great to see.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Slew — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:13:37 GMT

Dr. D: he feeds them....penguins! Makes them klutzes on land, but bewitching rockets in the water. Oh wait..they really don't run that well in the slop. I guess we'll just never know. Hand me another Guinness please...and pass one over to my buddy, Drill too.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

smarie — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:12:02 GMT

You are right, Paula Higgins. Northern or Southern - it is all relative. We had a pastor from Kentucky once while living in Indiana. He prided himself on being Southern. I certainly meant no offense to Southerners. They are wonderful folks.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

calico cat — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:02:10 GMT

Hi Linda in Texas! Glad you enjoyed the penguin video.

Paula Higgins, my heart agrees with you on Goldikova's non-DQ but my head says she should have been taken down. "Mixed feelings" is a condition I often suffer from, especially in horse racing. :)

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:15:52 GMT

Part of the purse money at all tracks should to go to the steward's optometry fund so they can have free vision care and get new glasses.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Coldfacts — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:20:19 GMT

Mr. O’Brien certainly deserves the award. However, I have serious doubts this will based on what might be perceived as him having an advantage. It can be argued that all Mr. Obrien victories were achieved on turf. This is a surface on which the Europeans have dominated their US counterparts. If Mr. Obrien’s victories were achieved on dirt the playing field would be considered level as the majority of graded races in the US are contested on dirt. It has been proven repeatedly that even second stringers from Europe can beat the best the US have to offer on the surface. The fact that these European horses have to ship in is not seen as enough of an equalizer.

Since Mr. Obrien will not receive the eclipse award he should at least be given one for exemplary achievements. There have been many such achievements as highlighted by the moderator. There was special mentioned Cape Blanco’s three trips that resulted in three victories and the seven days between starts associated with Together’s Queen Elizabeth II victory. I happen to think that those feats are superseded by what was achieved feat with Master Of Hound although he did not secure a win.

Master Of Hound contested the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on (11/06/2010). He made his 3YO debut four months and 20 days later (03/26/2011) in Dubai on a synthetic track in the Gll UAE Derby and lost by a nose. His next start six week later was in the Kentucky Derby (Dirt) and as highlighted finished a creditable 5th. There is no US based trainer that I can think of that would ship a quality colt to a foreign country to contest a 9 1/2 race that represented its first start in almost 5 months. I can think of no US based trainer in the modern era that would be prepared to start a horse in the Kentucky Derby with only one start in 6 1/2 months. Master Of Hound was an undeserving looser of the UAE Derby and his5th place finish in the Derby was remarkable considering it was his second start as a 3YO start in 6 1/2 months.

US based trainers can state with some justification that in Mr. Obrien’s seven Gl victories he had a surface advantage. However, no US based trainer can deny that he has eclipsed them all with what was achieved with Master Of Hounds in two start in 6 ½ months in two different countries and on two different surfaces. Trainers that have eclipsed their counterparts deserve eclipse awards.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 04:59:14 GMT

What's Baffert feeding his horses? Peanut butter and horseshoe sandwiches? Euroears, The Factor, Drill, etc etc. Yikes !!! I mean Game On Dude can handle eating that stuff. He's tough as nails, but Baffert better soften up the diet for the other guys. Got Derby fever? I saw the penguins in the stands at Delta Downs. You're right they're everywhere. It's strange I never noticed before.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Paula Higgins — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:29:50 GMT

Slew, let me tell you about the time my father brought out both of my great great grandfather's civil war discharge papers, which were framed, and hung them on the wall -in Atlanta. I told him he was being a little insensitive LOL. But there they hung. Personally, I love penguins. Well said Jennifer in Columbia. A horse should be able to get out of a trap. We could litigate the Goldi thing forever. Lets not and just be grateful that she came here people.

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Swale1984 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:04:22 GMT

Perhaps the stewards weren't giving a gift to Goldikova......if you look of footage from the steward's room, you see another reason for the no-call.....they were watching COLLEGE FOOTBALL! (no joke....one of the screens was tuned to a football game!)

re: Aidan and a Bettin'

Linda in Texas — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:14:49 GMT

There you are Zookeeper, doing what you do best, bringing special thoughts and in this case a precious video of an animal that i have always been in awe of. Their antics, their unique markings and most of all their ability to survive in such a frozen environment mystifies me.

What a wonderful sense of humor their creator must have had. Cannot forget that with all things if truth be told.

Thanks Zookeeper that was a treat.