Rants and Raves

▼ Was it the idea of owners Dave Kenney, Mark Leib and Gary Margolis to name their Peace Rules’ filly Trifecta King? I mean, honestly, aren’t you ashamed now to have a stakes winner possess a lame-ass claiming horse name, and one that is gender-incorrect to boot?

▲ Truly, I’m in awe of Jean-Luc Samyn on the turf—you can almost never discount any grass horse he rides. On Saturday, he rode 0 for 7 maiden Halation to victory in Race 5 at Belmont—at 72-1, the 4-year-old Lycius colt paid $146.00, $54.50, and $21.20. It was the first win (in his first attempt) for trainer David Prine whose poignant story you can read here. Unfortunately, Prine wasn’t as lucky with Halation’s 3-year-old half-sister Volmoose who finished last (of 9) in Race 2 on Sunday (with Jorge Chavez up).

▼ Honestly, what happened to Pyro? How does a horse go from being G1-placed at 2, two graded-stakes victories at Fair Grounds this spring, and one of the most promising Kentucky Derby contenders, to now running in the G3 Northern Dancer Stakes? Seriously, did it all start with that 10th place finish in the G1 Blue Grass, or was his best just the cream of a pathethically-sour crop? And doesn’t Darley feel foolish buying his breeding rights back in early March—before he really proved anything? Who thinks he’ll make it to the Breeders’ Cup this year? Ditto War Pass.

▲ Chicks rule! In what was arguably the best performance of the weekend, Precious Kitten impressively won the G1 Gamely at Hollywood—her third G1 win. In France, Princesse D’Anjou also won her third G1 race and her second Grand Steeplechase de Paris—over 2 other mares and 13 geldings, traveling 3-1/2 miles. An excellent post over at The Rail by Gina Rarick on this 7-year-old mare, including a video of the race (she’s number 15, in the orange and black silks near the lead the entire race).