Atomic Rain and Saratoga Steve were scratched, leaving a field of 5 to take on the sloppy track. The experienced one, Silent Valor, and Trusting Heart scampered away from the rest (for a large part of the race, they were the only horses visible on the screen). Rapid Redux kept plugging away and slowly gained on the top pair. He passed a tiring Trusting Heart to take second, but was no threat to Silent Valor. Still, a promising beginning for a first-time starter especially since the track was sloppy, hard to predict how horses will react to that kind of surface. Overall, a nice debut for Pleasantly Perfect as a sire.

Equibase Chart

Bowman's Band

Even though he's not one of our stallions, I wanted to mention that Bowman's Band's first starter, Just Humm, won the 4th race at Pimlico on May 15. Just Humm is a colt out of the stakes winning Scarlet Ibis mare, Jubilees Galore who has produced 4 winners from 4 to race.

2-Year Old Works
Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

May 16

Alexabella (filly; Congaree - Diane's Birthday by With Approval) - Keeneland, 4 furlongs, :50.40.

Becky's Express (colt; Congaree - Becky Virtue by Strodes Creek) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs, :48.20.

Mimsa (filly; Congaree - Majestic Report by Corporate Report) - Louisiana Downs, 3 furlongs, :37.20.

Wear Blush (filly; Congaree - Tifonica (ARG) by Equalize) - Hollywood Park, 5 furlongs, 1:00.60.

C. S. Silk (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Remember the Day by Settlement Day) - Elloree Training Center, 3 furlongs, :37.40.

Saar Treaty (filly; Saarland - Top of the Noggin by Chief's Crown) - Fair Hill, 4 furlongs, :50.00.

Sargon (colt; Saarland - Cherished Jewel by Private Account) - Woodbine, 5 furlongs; 1:02.80.

Keefer (colt; Smarty Jones - Shootforthestars by Seattle Slew) - Keeneland, 4 furlongs, :50.60.

New to this blog

The Birdstone colt, Breakwithtradition, was on track at Woodbine where he worked 2 furlongs in :26.00.  Breakwithtradition is the first foal of the unraced Joyeux Danseur mare, Princess Penny. Princess Penny is a half-sister to Palmiche who was a group III winner in Panama and who was 2 for 2 as a 2-year old.

Da Bear Facts (colt; Congaree - Impending Bear by Farma Way) worked 3 furlongs in :37.00 at Thistledown. Impending Bear was a stakes winner who earned $255,751. She has produced one winner, Honey Gold, who broke her maiden in her 2-year old debut.

Also at Thistledown, Dance the Cha Cha (colt; Congaree - Garden Dance by El Prado (IRE)) worked 4 furlongs in :50.00. Dance the Cha Cha's is the first foal out of the stakes-placed mare, Garden Dance, who earned 147,894.

At Calder, Power Rules (colt; Peace Rules - World Storm by Summer Squall) worked 3 furlongs out of the gate recording a time of :37.20. Power Rules is a half-brother to one winner, Tanyard Hill, who earned $36,327.

Like many twinspires.com customers, I was shut out of the Derby.  In fact, I tried to login so many times that I disabled my login.  I called immediately after the race, not to complain about the service, but to reinstate my account.  "I need to bet the 12th at Arlington."  Luckily, this was easily done. 

If you didn't have a chance to watch Curly's race live or via replay, I would encourage you to take a look.  It was a very enjoyable race. As in his first start, Curly was severely lacking early speed.  In fact, for much of the race, he wasn't in the picture.  Instead, his old buddy, Stirrup Excitment set the early pace. Finally, he started coming as they came into the final turn ("now here comes Curly"). But, he was pushed wide, wide, wider than Big Brown in the Derby (officially 7 wide).  Amazingly, Curly kept coming and coming.  Meanwhile Four to Go was closing too, but he had the rail and less distance to travel.  At the wire, it was Four to Go by a head.  Sure it was a very fast pace that set up for a closer, but Curly looked like a real racehorse out there. By the way, I did have the exacta in Curly's race, hopefully I wasn't the only one.

Result: May 3, 2008 
Arlington Race 12

Equibase Chart

2-Year Old Works 

Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

May 1

Our Golden Dream (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Adorahy by Rahy) - Belmont, 3 furlongs; :38.44.

Prime Time (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Sioux City by Carson City) - Woodbine, 3 furlongs; :36.20.

At Fenway (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Dancey Kate by Danzig) - San Luis Rey, 3 furlongs :35.00.

One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) - Santa Anita, 4 furlongs; :48.20.

Persian (colt; Peace Rules - Lady Cheryl by Williamstown) - The Thoroughbred Center; 3f (gate); :34.80.

Collegiate (filly; Saarland - La Sorbonne (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Belmont, 4 furlongs, :49.90.

Mullins Beach (filly; Speightstown - Treasure Beach by Silver Deputy) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3f, :40.40.

Gemswick Park (filly; Speightstown - Queen's Park by Relaunch) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3f, :40.40.

The Red Seat (colt; Speightstown - Luna Real (ARG) by Mutakddim) - San Luis Rey, 2 furlongs, :23.20.

May 2

Aerin She Lovely (filly; Birdstone - Strawberrydaiquiri by Cherokee Run) - Calder, 3 furlongs (gate), :36.60.

Alexabella (filly; Congaree - Diane's Birthday by With Approval) - Keeneland, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

Ambraw (colt; Congaree - Fabulous Flight by Flying Continental) - Silverton Hill Farm, 4 furlongs; :51.10.

King Congo (colt; Congaree - Hansels' Star by Hansel) - Emerald Downs, 3 furlongs; :39.40.

May 3

Stone Legacy (filly; Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch) - Belmont Park, 3 furlongs, :36.45.

Zigaree (colt; Congaree - Zigabout by Danzig) - Evangeline Training Center, 3 furlongs (gate), :35.60.

Peace Conference (colt; Peace Rules - In Conference by Dayjur) - Vinery Stable, 3 furlongs, :37.80. 

First Magnitude (colt; Saarland - Fapindy by A. P. Indy) - Arlington, 2 furlongs, :25.40.

In Speight of It (colt; Speightstown - Honest Deceiver by Is It True) - Belmont, 3f, :37.65.

Mighty Pleasing (filly; Speightstown - Pleasing by Falstaff) - Santa Anita, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

Pick's Express (colt; Speightstown - Program Pick by Peterhof) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :37.40.

May 4

River Treck  (colt; Congaree - Gem Treck by Java Gold) - Churchill, 4 furlongs, :50.80.

Cradle of Peace (colt; Peace Rules - Cat's Cradle by Flying Paster) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs, :48.60.

Mostly Peace (filly; Peace Rules - Ms. Mostly by Copelan) - Arlington, 4 furlongs, :52.20.

Red Bird Rules (filly; Peace Rules - Twirling Angel by Saint Ballado) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :35.60.

May 5 

Cozy Bird (filly; Birdstone - Cozy Island by Cozzene) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.60. 

Shoe Strap (colt; Birdstone - Boot Strap by Storm Boot) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.80.

Belfast (colt; Congaree - Southerncomfortgal by Hermitage) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :50.00; Belfast was previously known as Darkin Color.

Karanka (filly; Congaree - Casual Rendezvous by High Brite) - Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 1:00.80.

Oconee (colt; Congaree - Chenoa by Wild Again) -  Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 1:00.40.

Gabby's Golden Gal (filly; Medaglia d’Oro – Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) - Hollywood, 4 furlongs, :46.80.

Danceyoursocksoff (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Come Dancing by Two Punch) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :39.00.

Gatwick (colt; Speightstown - Beauty Halo (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Hastings, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

New to this blog

May 1

Royal Treaty (colt; Saarland - Itama by Tabasco Cat) went 3 furlongs in :39.36 at Hunter Farm Training Center. Royal Treaty's dam, Itama, is a half-sister to My Boston Gal, a grade III winner who was 3 for 3 as a 2-year old including a victory in the Golden Rod (gr. II). 

At Churchill Downs, the Saarland filly, Indemand, worked 4 furlongs in :49.60.  Indemand is out of the Mountain Cat mare, One Bad Cat, which means that she is a half-sister to El Gato Malo, winner of the San Rafael (gr. III) and scheduled to start next in the Preakness. El Gato Malo was also 2 for 2 as a 2-year old.

Also working 4 furlongs in :49.60 was Rachel Alexandra (filly, Medaglia d'Oro - Lotta Kim by Roar) who recorded her workout at Diamond D Ranch. Lotta Kim was a stakes winner who broke her maiden in her first start as a 2-year old and also finished second in the Golden Rod (gr. II) that year. Rachel Alexandra is her first foal.

May 2

Birdcaper (colt; Birdstone - Sweet Caper by Cape Town) worked at Calder, recording a time of :38.00 for 3 furlongs. Birdcaper's dam was a winner who is a half-sister to 5 winners including the stakes winner, Leslie's Lady. Leslie's Lady won the Hoosier Debutante Stakes as a 2-year old.

At Calder, the Peace Rules filly, Noble Rule, went 3 furlongs in :37.40.  Noble Rule is out of the Noble Saint mare, Vienna Knickers. Vienna Knickers is the dam of 3 winners including the grade III winner, Mr. Livingston who finished 3rd in the Rhythm Stakes as a 2-year old.

Working 4 furlongs from the gate in a time of :53.00 at New Episode Training Center was Pleasant Flight (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Heather's Flight by Seattle Dancer). Pleasant Flight is a half-brother to 4 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old.

Paid Preview (colt; Speightstown - Starring Monique by Risen Star) went 3 furlongs in :37.60 at Keeneland. Starring Monique is the dam of 5 winners, including Blushing Indian who finished 2nd in the Sanford (gr. II) and third in the Iroquois (gr. III) as a 2-year old.

May 3

At Louisiana Downs, Mimsa (filly; Congaree - Majestic Report by Corporate Report) worked 3 furlongs in :38.80. 5 out of 6 of Majestic Report's runners have been winners, 4 of them won at 2.

Gold Aly (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Bangled by Alysheba) worked 3 furlongs at Hollywood in :38.20. Gold Aly is a half-brother to 5 winners including the grade III winner, Anklet who earned $486,451 and broke her maiden in her 2nd start as a 2-year old. 

Working 3 furlongs at Belmont in :39.47 was Saarlanddisourland (filly; Saarland - Crypto Kate by Tabasco Cat). Saarlanddisourland is a half-sister to one winner.   

May 4

Birdseye (filly; Birdstone - Trail Guide by Our Native) worked at Lone Star Park recording a time of :37.80 for 3 furlongs. Birdseye is a half-sister to 9 winners, 3 of which won as 2-year old.

Another Birdstone offspring who worked 3 furlongs was the colt, Heir to the Stone (colt; Birdstone - Mi Mariposa by Two Punch) who recorded a time of :38.56 at Aqueduct. Mi Mariposa has produced 3 winners.

Becky's Express (colt; Congaree - Becky Virtue by Strodes Creek) worked 3 furlongs at Arlington Park in :37.00. Becky Virtue was a stakes winner who earned $101,990. 

At Woodbine, the Saarland colt, Regent Street, went 3 furlongs in :38.20. Regent Street is out of the winning Commemorate mare, Regents Signet who has produced 5 winners.

May 5

Perfect for a Run (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Unbridled Ashley by Unbridled) worked 3 furlongs in :38.40 at Monmouth. Perfect for a Run's dam is a half-sister to Elusive Warning who has earned $384,800 through 2008.

At Belmont, the Speightstown filly, Mother Ruth, worked 3 furlongs in :39.12. Mother Ruth is out of the stakes winning Colonial Affair mare, Seven Four Seven who earned $403,681 in her career.