The real tragedy, however, was Bobby Frankel’s Indian Flare, who led most of the way with quick fractions (:22.27 and :44.57) before fading to last in the stretch. Apparently, she ran the entire race with a fractured pelvis, and collapsed and died near the winner’s circle, after suffering cardiovascular shock from blood loss. Just typing this brings me to tears…what amazingly courageous animals horses are! Ironic that Indian Flare was out of a Capote mare, since that sire died just this past Friday. Indian Flare posted a lifetime record of 7 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds in 20 races, earning $443,236. Probably the highlight of her career was winning the June 17 G2 Vagancy Handicap at Belmont by 1/2 length over Oprah Whinney, but Indian Flare also won on dirt, turf and polytrack. What a terrible loss!
Teuflesberg’s full-sister, Phi Beta Mom, made her debut Sunday at Saratoga, in race 5—a maiden special weight for two-year-old fillies. She’s under the tutelage of Todd Pletcher who hasn’t exactly been hot with two-year-old maidens here, and, although she went off as the odds-on favorite, the Toddster’s woes continued as she finished dead last in the 12-horse field. What a bummer!
Another update on Presque Isle horses. Today’s workouts included trainer Niall O’Callaghan’s Dancing Band who last out won a 1-1/16 mile $40,000 turf allowance race at Monmouth (race 7, August 8). She posted an impressive 3f work in 35.40 over the nearly installed Tapeta surface. Miss Briteness has shipped in from Thistledown; apparently, (according to notation on Pedigree Query) she gave birth to a foal (by Risk and Reward) on May 13. Fascinating association with another PI workout horse, Anasazi Moon…don’t remember the name? Well, turns out Anasazi Moon finished third in the 7th race at Delaware on October 4, 2005…still doesn’t ring a bell? That was the race a two-year-old called Barbaro broke his maiden. While Barbaro went on the win the Kentucky Derby, Anasazi Moon has been beating out a living as claimer at Mountaineer, under trainer Ricardo Hernandez (last race: August 7, where he finished 8th in 10 horse field). Another claimer training here is Away Down South, who last won at Hollywood Park (race 6, on June 17) for trainer Jeff Mullins. Cyber City Slew is a Mountaineer horse (trained by Wayne McDonnell) who has run well this year, with 2 wins and 2 second place finishes in 4 races. Another Mountaineer transfer is Waco Rue (trained by Mark Maddox).
For more insight on Presque Isle, there’s some interesting reading in the Talkin’ Horses transcript this past week, with Rose Mary Williams from Mountaineer Gaming (who also owns PI). Check it out here.
1 comments:
Also running in the fifth at Saratoga today was Blowing Kisses, a half sister to Pussycat Doll, who finished third. The only other sibling that I have listed running today was a half to Asi Siempre, Siempre Distante in an allowance optional at Del Mar (race 3). He finished fifth... Yesterday T.H. Approval's 4 year old brother [T.H. Praise] finally broke his maiden (race 5 at Del Mar), and Ermine's 2 year old half brother [Trippin Up] ran 5th in a MSW at Monmouth (race 4).
Interestingly, regarding Presque Isle Downs, I was in Pony Club with the son of one of the trainers, Larry Antus (his horses Teenage Distress and [I believe this is still his] Work It worked today). Unfortunately, I can't really remember Brandon, but it hasn't kept me from following his father's horses!
Post a Comment