Social Icons


Thursday, September 6, 2007

To Dubai and Beyond

It is almost to the point of ridiculous…another damn Darley purchase, and this one is not being retired. Instead, he’s being shipped to Dubai to race. Good-bye, Diabolical. We would have liked to have seen you run in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but, alas, it’s not to be. He’ll be joining Accountforthegold who was purchased last week by Sheikh Mohammed, also to be raced in the Dubai International Racing Carnival. Man, it’s like we are the Wal-mart of Dubai…one stop shopping for all the best horses, whether for racing or breeding. Paper or plastic?

We should find out today (Thursday) who may be running in the marquee event of the Presque Isle Downs’ meet, the $400,000 Masters Stakes, designed as a prep for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Nominations close today, and entries will be drawn on Wednesday, September 12.

Ohio and Iowa Derby winner Delightful Kiss is out for the rest of the year, according to the DRF. This makes me sad, if only because it was such a great story with his trainer Pete Anderson, but they have every intention of launching a four-year-old campaign, so here’s hoping the grey gelding enjoys his time down on the farm.

Well, it’s come to this…Southwestern Heat is entered as a MTO in race 9 at Laurel on Friday—a $28,000 allowance n2x race at 5-1/2 furlongs…but only if it’s taken off the turf. Probably what this speedball needs—a drop in class and a win to get his mojo back. I’d still like to see him at Presque Isle Downs…nominations close today for the $175,000 Karl Royes Memorial Northwestern PA Stakes at 5-1/2 furlongs, on September 15. If not there, then there’s a nice $50,000 allowance race at 6 furlongs on September 28 (race 1)…just saying :)

I'll take a stab at handicapping today's PID card during office hours later this morning.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aw, that's a disappointment. Let's hope he's like Thor's Echo and hates Dubai. On the one hand, I respect their love of racing and think that their *intentions* are good, however severely misguided. Still, leave us some ... please?! America's a nice place - come over here and watch 'em run! Or at least make it easy for us to see replays.

Remember Premium Tap? The awesome horse who went eye-to-eye with Invasor earlier this year?

Yeah, didn't think so :) (kidding)

Just the other day, I expressed regret that I wouldn't be able to visit Nad al-Sheba one day in the far, far future (um, money is a little bit of an issue right now and probably for quite some time!) what with the Meydan City project now under way. I'm sure that MC will be quite an experience, but NaS was kind of a legend.

dana said...

Ugh, Premium Tap was my first equine crush... I hope he comes back someday! I'm always extra happy for John Kimmel when he wins... it had to really suck to have him taken out of his training with little to no explanation.

And, I can't think of a better way to spend office hours!

allinfun said...

I was saddened by the Diabolical purchase too. I was all set to root for him in the Breeders' Cup. I'm also disappointed in the sale of interest of Distorted Humor to Darley. I respect their love of the game and they are big boosters of the sport but they can't have them all. Or maybe they can.