Derby Launched Into Orb-it

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Lise from Maine — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:14:35 GMT

Hi!

Love that photo of "the kiss" on Orb.

Respect and love of the horse is what is needed in this industry.

Look what happened to Dyna King. It is such a tragic story.

Your stories are always so wonderful and full of history, and

especially love the photos.

Thank you!

Lise from Maine

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Mike Relva — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:23:46 GMT

Alex'sBigFan

Hey! Recently read your comments about Elan. Glad she's hanging in. Please tell the gang hello for me.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Coldfacts — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:23:53 GMT

Zarona,

"Freedom Child: Hopefully, toward a racing career, he might make a good ‘miler’ type in ‘claiming’ fields, possibly even allowance races"

Well, Well he won a G2 race and is being directed to the Belmont.

It appears he has exceeded your expectation.

How can a colt that caused Orb to be fully intended to break his maiden and who finished ahead of Revolutionary in their only meeting can be summarized in such a negative way?

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:38:13 GMT

I will mention once again that Orb and Revolutionary only ran in maiden races as 2yos.

I still believe colts that race only as 2yos will win the Derby.Colts that are put through the grind as 2yos havent done well in the Derby for at least several years.All of the top 4 finishers in the 2013 Derby were had light schedules as 2yos.Normady Invasion was managed very well as opposed to Overanalyzed who nosed him out in the Remsen.Ill Have Another stopped racing as a 2yo at Saratoga.

The trainers are slowly adjusting to this and I think ther will ultimately be two seasons for a colt his 2yo campaign and his 3yo campaign NOT BOTH(I dont believe in whatever the term is that is used for colts that race as 2yos)see I have such a strong opinion that my memory dosent even remember what the term is.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Soldier Course — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:23:37 GMT

Alex'sBigFan:

Thanks for helping me save face, and also for pointing out how the number 3 has popped up several times in connection with Orb. Maybe there'll be more instances as we get closer.

Steve:

I agree with your observation about the karma of last year's Triple Crown debacle giving rise to Orb's day. As much as I love racing, my heart never got into the 2012 TC hoopla. I always felt like something was going to derail it before they opened the starting gate at Belmont Park. And I'll always be skeptical about those last few days.

I'd like to mention how happy I am for the Pons family of Country Life Farm and Merryland for the part they have in Orb's history, as Malibu Moon once stood at Country Life before moving to Castleton-Lyons and then Spendthrift. I saw him a few years ago at C-L.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Bobert — Sat, 11 May 2013 01:43:55 GMT

Steve...Great article.I am glad for Shug that he won the Derby and with a AP Indy line colt.He looked very impressive down the streatch he could win the next 2 if he stays healthy.I bet him accross the board and it worked out very well.Goldencents messsed up my Trifecta I had Orb and Revolutionary.He is a big horse with stamina and most importantly can run.I like Orb's chances

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:10:46 GMT

Soldier Course,

Not to worry. Both stalls being #3 of the dams of each Derby winner is good enough whatever farm they were at. And there are 3 letters in Orb's name, 3 legs of the Triple Crown, and 3 weeks between the Preakness and Belmont. Interesting what post position Orb will draw for the Preakness and hopefully the Belmont.

Needler,

Good points. Glad you are back. I know Linda in Texas was asking about you too recently. Great idea about putting the thoroughbreds first in the equation. So much more needs to be done for "horse first" mentality. If they act up or are too aggressive early on they get gelded to fit into the trainer's or human agendas, they can't seem to get gate school right, either reconfigure the gate and make it less intimidating and less metal to bang their heads on or more schooling as others have suggested in Steve's article after this one. There's not enough patience, the animal has to be fit into the racing agenda on human time and terms. And the meds, I don't even want to go there, cobra venom, anticoagulant rodenticides, bute, gabba, what's next. I agree, new does not always mean better. I like Shug's old school mentality.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Soldier Course — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:49:55 GMT

Well, I wish there was an Orb on my face instead of Egg.

I wish I had an Orb on my face instead of an Egg.

My post about Stall #3 and Somethingroyal and Lady Liberty should have dwelled in the gate. Because in the middle of last night it hit me. Somethingroyal's stall was #3, but she of course was at The Meadow in Doswell, Virginia, not at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky.

As embarrassing as this is, perhaps the fact that both stalls are #3 will save me from being an overlay.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Needler in Virginia — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:52:17 GMT

Mike, Paula, Terri, Robin...I knew we'd all agree on, at least, this! And Mike, as an aside, I do NOT miss the ex host, either!! It's good to know that there's a teeny chance the thugs just might not win the war...battles, sure....but maybe not the entire war! Do just a few constitute a revolution? I gotta go find that in one of my history books........

I hope you all have a grand weekend at the windows and everywhere else. Me? I'm agonizing over TVG's lack of actual racing "news", wishing we could get HRTV without actually going over to Dish, and checking in with BloodHorse every 30 minutes or so. Meanwhile, I'm riveted by the Cleveland stories and the pop-tart Arizona cluster****.

And to Steve, HUGE compliments on this article; I loved every word and all the pix. Orb seems to be practicing his "look of eagles" for the photo ops or is that my wishful thinking? And, I'd like apologize to you for going off track with my posts; I really, really, really try to keep on point but sometimes just one comment sends me spiraling out there........you already knew that, though. So apologies again and I hope you have a grand weekend, too.

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Mike Relva — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:33:04 GMT

Solider Course

How's everything going? Good comments from you as usual.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

robinm — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:31:48 GMT

Needler in Virginia; great response to Playfriskyforme's tasteless post.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Mike Relva — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:35:30 GMT

Needler in VA

Thanks,and appreciate the kind words. You see that's why I fought tooth and nail with an ex host on BloodHorse that only thought of horses as machines,also his constant slams of a trainer of morals. He only defended trainer's/owners if they were thugs.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Alex'sBigFan — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:23:36 GMT

Soldier Course,

Great observation about the 3 on the doors. How cute they put the article about Orb's Derby win on his dam's stall door! Perhaps it's an omen of what is to come. Orb looks worthy of wearing the crown and Belmont being his home track, only time will tell. It would be amazing, and I'll be standing right there if it happens!

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Paula Higgins — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:56:48 GMT

Thank you Needler In Virginia for your compliment. You are so right: it is HORSE racing. Playfriskyforme, like you, I love to see the little guy win as in the case of Funny Cide. It was a heartwarming story and gladdened my heart. Loved that horse. But the other side of that is the horse owner who has been in the sport for years and loves his horses as much or more, to the point they only do what is best for the horse and nothing else. So they skip the "bling" races if necessary and race the horse only when the horse is ready. That is what I love about John Shirreffs. That man will not run a horse unless he thinks they are absolutely ready, which is why Zenyatta never raced earlier. We all know there are trainers that train towards a race and unless the horse is in significantly bad straights, they race them. Let's face it, no one who owns a race horse is hurting for money. It is a huge financial commitment.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Soldier Course — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:59:23 GMT

I saw a photo on Twitter of Lady Liberty, Orb's dam. This was taken inside the broodmare barn at Claiborne Farm. Lady Liberty was standing in her stall, and there was a newspaper article about Orb's Derby win tacked to her stall door.

I noticed that her stall had the number 3 on the door. According to Bill Nack's biography of Secretariat, Somethingroyal's stall number at Claiborne was 3.

Wouldn't this be "Something ..."!

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Coldfacts — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:11:00 GMT

Orb and his connections' are deserving winner of Kentucky Derby 139.

Orb overcame some major Derby trends en rout to victory.

First Derby winner for a son of A P Indy. With the obvious stamina influence of A P Indy this victory has been long in coming. The Late Development Syndrome theory cited for A P Indy sire line by a regular contributor can now be put rest.

Derby winners have not been very successful as Derby winning broodmare sires. The last Derby winner produced from a broodmare sired by a Derby winner occurred 40 plus year ago. Orb victory represent the second in the last 45 years. Derby Unbridle is the dam sire of Orb.

It is note mentioning that Derby winning broodmare sire Unbridle only needs a Belmont victory by one of his broodmares to complete what might be an unprecedented Triple, Triple.

He sired a winner of each leg of the Triple Crown. With Orb's Derby victory, his broodmares have now produced a Derby and a Preakness winner.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

slee — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:07:27 GMT

As always, Steve, thanks for your wonderful perspective.

Any word on how Black Onyx is doing?

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Needler in Virginia — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:55:01 GMT

Thanks, TerriZ. I know I sounded a bit of a fuddy duddy, and I probably am....there are worse things I could be!

In light of the Udall bill being presented to Congress this week, maybe a couple thousand notes to the Jockey Club might be in order. The gorilla in the room is getting ready to flex his muscles and racing won't like it. Maybe the

Phipps/Janney/McGaughey "old fashioned ways"

would be worth examining. It certainly appears that Orb got to the Derby in more than good order and that's down to his owner/trainer partnership. Even if Orb doesn't win the Triple Crown, he and his connections have shown racing that what makes sense is listening to the horse rather than checking the travel schedule of the owners. Last time I looked, the sport is still called "horse racing" which would imply that the horses are a fairly important part of the equation. We probably should remember that............I know you and Mike Relva and Slew and PaulaHiggins and a lot of others do.

Cheers and safe trips.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Johnny — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:44:31 GMT

Thanks JimF

As far as a Money Management book, I took some of the winnings and bet the Heat last night.

Next weekend I am taking my wife to Key West for a well deserved relaxing weekend.

Life is Good and a gift enjoy it to all.

Again TY to all as I truly enjoy learning.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

TerriZ — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:12:39 GMT

Great comments Needler in Virginia. I think it would be good to write to Stuart Janney at the Jockey Club after the Triple Crown and show our support for the Old School way of doing things. I know I will be writing to him.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

TerriZ — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:05:53 GMT

Regarding Orb running at the Belmont, that is his home track. D. Wayne Lukas said that he only has to come out of his stall at the Belmont.

Shug was reluctant to run Orb at Gulfstream as that is a speed favoring track that favors front runners and not closers.

Just look at the races he ran at Gulfstream. And in each race he has run he has run better than the race before. And he makes it look easy.

I think that's why so many people question the efforts of great horses because it just looks like they are floating down the track.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Needler in Virginia — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:43:03 GMT

Mike Relva and PaulaHiggins...well said. And playfriskyforme, get over yourself. Yes, Funny's win was wonderful and I wish he HAD won the TC; Smarty, too, and the beat goes on. I'll Have Another?? Nah. Considering how those last three days played out, I'll always be suspicious of the circumstances. But Orb? His breeder/owners (the very best combo I can imagine) are not at fault for having inherited money. Wish I could have. Along with the money, though, came a devotion to horses that you do NOT see in the Wall Street racers or water hucksters or the dot.com millionaires....the "new" owners and trainers seem to be all about 9 second splits at 2 YO in training sales, get 'em to the track, run their asses off and then retire 'em fast to cash in on the breeding shed bucks....that's before everyone figures out that they ran 4 races in OK times, then "retired" early with a slab fracture or bowed tendon or cracked sesamoid (probably begun by the 9 second splits). Nah, all the Orb connections have shown is a willingness to follow the horse's lead, run him as and when, train for stamina and soundness, train the horse to be the best he can be and then allow him to do his job as well as possible. I think it's a bit disingenuous of you to say the Orb win was not "embraceable" and that you "might" go to the Belmont if Orb wins the first two legs. ME? If Orb wins the 2/3, I'll start walkin' on May 21 to make sure I arrive on time..... and considering I'm an old poop, it would take me at LEAST that long.

I celebrate the presence of the Janneys and Phipps and McGaugheys of racing. There are so few left with that kind of care and attention to the horses and traditions of racing. Old fashioned? Maybe. Of value? CERTAINLY. To be emulated? ABSOLUTELY! We might learn something from the way these folks breed and raise and train their horses....we just might learn that new is not always better, that changing something because it's traditional is not always a good idea, and that horses raised on hay, oats, water and sound training, rather than PED's and steroids, just might be the direction racing should be going.

Just a couple of thoughts to ponder..........

Cheers.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Cassandra.Says — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:41:13 GMT

If we just add up all the adjectives here, it sounds like the Phipps-Janneys were the kind of people who would have put the breed first and gelded Bold Ruler.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

Cassandra.Says — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:39:26 GMT

[QUOTE]"Every year it seemed like they had a horse who was destined to win the Derby, but then when the races got longer, they all seemed to not want the distance. It seemed like Bold Ruler was getting a reputation for siring sprinters... until a little horse named Secretariat came along!" [OLD TIMER]

It was the irresistible force meeting the immoveable object. Bold Ruler couldn't sire a stayer. This was quickly evident and was countered with a harem of the most amazing classic mares of all time, who could not fail to produce a stayer or two if you bred them to Ultimus. Misty Morn, for instance, was champion 3-yr-old and champion handicap mare by Princequillo. North Broadway was out of an Epsom Oaks winner by Ribot. Top Command was out of a Prince Bio daughter. Somethingroyal, of course, was by Princequillo and had chaser blood on the bottom line. I would wager that never before and rarely since was there such an international flow of classic and champion mares to American shores.

re: Derby Launched Into Orb-it

SoCalRacer — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:06:00 GMT

Kentucky Derby..Good Article on ORB congratulations to his connection.. Don't forget to thanks the connections of Palice Malice if is not for his suicidal Pace the outcome will be way different just say Orb got his way this time.. next stop Preakness Stakes If you think Orb will win again place your bet.. Orb might out run them again this time.. Maybe?..Not too fast Rosario..