A Stormy Crossing

I’ve written previously about Foolish Pleasure’s relative success as a turf sire, particularly through his daughters such as Idyllic whose son (by Sadler's Wells) Scenic is in the bloodline of three 2009 champions in Australia and a host of other stakes winners. The recent turf success of Get Stormy and Stormy Rush suggests another potent Foolish Pleasure damside turf influence, when crossed with Stormy Atlantic.

Four-year-old Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic-Foolish Gal, by Kiri’s Clown) is finally coming into his own as a graded-stakes competitor, establishing himself in the past year as a turf miler who can stretch out for trainer Tom Bush, with victories in the 8.5 furlong G2 Fourstardave Handicap (in near record time) and 9 furlong G2 Bernard Baruch Stakes most recently. His dam Foolish Gal never placed in four races at 2 and 3, including one on turf. His 3/4 brother Foolish Tiger (Hold That Tiger) has been working at Belmont for Barclay Tagg, and is entered in a 7 furlong turf MSW at Belmont next Wednesday (September 29), with Get Stormy’s regular jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

Two-year-old colt Stormy Rush (Stormy Atlantic-Willow Rush, by Wild Rush) broke his maiden on turf at Woodbine in late July by 4 1/2 lengths, and followed that up with a 3-length allowance win over the Polytrack for trainer Roger Attfield. Most recently he finished a troubled third in the 8 furlong turf G3 Summer Stakes, but looks to have a bright future, with his next target the October 6 G3 Grey Stakes at Woodbine. His stakes-winning dam Willow Rush is out of the G3 winning Reet Petite, a daughter of Foolish Pleasure’s son Maudlin.

These two aren’t the first with this particular cross to enjoy turf success. New Edition (Stormy Atlantic-Sashay Away, by Farma Way) was a decent grass runner, winning the 2007 Denise Rhudy Memorial at Delaware Park before finishing second, a mere 1/2 length behind Dreaming of Anna in the Virginia Oaks, and then followed that up with a runner-up performance to Sharp Susan in the G2 Lake Placid Stakes.

Not all have won on turf either. At age 6, Miss Atlantic (Stormy Atlantic-Gan’s Girl, by Prospector’s Music) may be toiling in the claiming ranks these days, but as a 2-year-old she broke her maiden first out, going 5.5 furlongs son dirt at Remington Park, and was twice stakes-placed on dirt at Prairie Meadows (Wild Rose, Iowa Distaff). Her second dam How Pleasant is by Foolish Pleasure. Her 3-year-old full sister Atlantic Breeze has yet to hit the board in two starts on dirt, but is entered in a 7.5 furlong maiden special weight on turf at Calder on Saturday (race 3) so if you are looking for a favorable betting angle for her, this may be it.

The Ultimate Hunch Bet

Bravo to trainer Linda Rice and Karakorum Farm for continuing to buck the trend in America and run 6-year-old mare Karakorum Elektra in open company races against males. With Edgar Prado aboard, she won an optional claiming race on Wednesday at Belmont, a field of ten that included one-time G1-placed Desert Key making his first turf start for Jimmy Jerkens, as well as Affirmatif and Dubai Rainbow, both G3-placed on turf. Godolphin’s woes, at least in the U.S. this year, continued with eighth-place finisher Pulpit Point—a winner of three races in France last year, this 4-year-old is unplaced in three U.S. starts. His dam is a half-sister to champion Point Given.

On Thursday, race 2 at Belmont features maiden 2-year-olds going 6 furlongs on dirt for a $50k tag, conditions that don’t exactly inspire confidence in a number of runners here with strong turf breeding, including $115k Keeneland purchase Majestic Hope, a half-brother to G1-placed turf star Communique. Asmussen-trained No More Words also reeks of turf, with his dam Maitre Dee out of G1-turf placed Gastronomical who also produced turf stakes winner Hippogator; this is also the family of G2 turf marathoner Black Astor and grassy Oceanside Stakes winner Knockout Artist, not to mention English G3-placed true turf marathoner (2 miles) Spanish John. What is it about trainers and/or connections forcing dirt rather than naturally go with turf?

While Pretend and Extend finished well back in his first turf outing, this son of grass sprint stakes winner Conectis will surely take some money since the winner of that last race, Pluck, came back to win the G3 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last weekend—back on dirt, with blinkers added and for a tag, he may be tough to beat. Pletcher-trained Brahman will also get backing based on his form (as bad as it is) against G1 Hopeful victor Boys at Tosconova, but the one that really interests me here for a price is first-timer Pike Place whose dam Blues In Seattle won at first-asking at 2; he too could have a future on turf, being from the family of G3 Virginia Oaks-placed In The Rough, but Smarty Jones progeny hit pretty well first out.

For those who love the proverbial “dirty” hunch bet, your exacta box should be last out Monmouth claimer Wesley Major, who might like good ol' New York soil better—he’s a half-brother to NY-bred stakeswinner Stud Muffin —and Rick Dutrow-trained firster Labor Harmony, whose dam is a full sister to G2 stakes victress Bodacious Tatas.

Takeover Off Target?

News out of Australia that 11-year-old gelding Takeover Target may return to racing is sure to stir up controversy. The much-travelled sprinter—winner of 21 of 41 races including eight Group 1 events on three continents, and with earnings of over A$6 million—was retired in July 2009 after suffering a cracked cannon bone while running in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket. It looked like a heartbreaking end to the Cinderella story of taxi driver Joe Janiak and his A$1,250 horse—a story that was being shopped around Hollywood, with a planned climax at the Breeders’ Cup all for naught. Now with the possibility that he may reenter the racing fray, will Janiak’s quest for the “perfect” fairy tale ending lead to an unfortunately conceived comeback? Stay tuned...

Glass Half-Full, Not Half-Empty

Jay Hovdey’s provocative Daily Racing Form article “Troubling Trend Among Derby Winners” lit up horse racing forums this past weekend, with its criticism of the apparent lack of quality when comparing 21st century Kentucky Derby winners with those of the recent past. While he makes some valid points about the unnecessarily-large Derby field and how some connections unfortunately get caught up in Derby fever, the underlying suggestion is the winners themselves leave much to be desired as race horses. Of course, if this is true, it begs the question as to which non-Derby winners deserved to win and didn’t—if such a horse exists. Sorry, but it sure wasn’t Pioneerof the Nile. His criticism is also patently unfair to Smarty Jones who was undefeated before and after the Derby, and to Street Sense, Hard Spun and Curlin, the first three finishers in 2007 who went on to complete fine 3-year-old campaigns—not to mention Curlin winning four G1 races at four, including the Dubai World Cup.

While these things go in cycles, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that American breeding practices have changed in the past few decades, as precocious speed not stamina (or soundness) is in vogue, and young horses are being rushed to the more profitable breeding shed rather than remaining on the race track. Many of the best horses are also trained by the same small number of corporate-style trainers who maneuver through condition books like an investor examining a prospectus, so the best horses aren’t often matched up enough to hone their competitive skills. Still, there is no way the best horses are going to skip the Kentucky Derby in favor of the Preakness, regardless of the bonus money Stronach is proposing to promote his own tracks.

The bigger issue that begs to be raised—highlighted by its absence in Hovdey’s lament—is the continuing and unjustifiably subservient position 3-year-old fillies hold relative to 3-year-old males in American racing. We are disproportionately obsessed with 3-year-old males on their quest for the Triple Crown, yet fail to appreciate the fine performances of fillies that, in some cases, are not entered in the Kentucky Derby because of old-fashioned notions about mixed-company racing that are regularly proven incorrect throughout the rest of the racing world where the best run against the best, regardless. Less than a hundred years ago, when the Kentucky Oaks and Derby were spaced a week or so apart, the best fillies from the Oaks took on the boys in Derby, like 1918 Oaks winner Viva America who finished third behind Exterminator, or 1921 Oaks runner-up Prudery finished third behind Behave Yourself.

So, while grieving for the perceived lack of quality in our Derby victors since 2000, how about a big shout-out for the likes of Kentucky Oaks winners such as Rachel Alexandra, Proud Spell, Rags to Riches, Ashado, and Farda Amiga, as well as place-getters Pure Clan, Octave, Ermine, Wait a While, and Madcap Escapade who enjoyed success beyond their classic achievements. Call it the glass half-full, rather than half-empty syndrome.

Just How Dumb Do They Think We Are?

Other than gratuitously emphasizing the subservient nature of horse racing to their gaming operations, what possible reason is there to change the name of Philadelphia Park to “Parx Racing at Philadelphia Park”?

Actually, on their website, Philadelphia Park isn’t mention at all, just “Parx (big print) racing (small print)”. Will perpetuating the “hip” fad of misspelling words draw in a younger crowd? What a brilliant advertising move! Not. Honestly, some lame (and doubtlessly overpaid) advertising firm came up with this pathetic idea because they know nothing about the sport of horse racing. Or, they just don't care, which is probably more true.

Are racing fans naturally mindless slots players who will flock to the new gaudy Parx Casino, or will said slots players bother to venture out of the windowless tomb of flashing lights and dinging machines to watch horses run? Hardly. So, I don’t understand what possible benefit it is to change the name except for ignoble self-aggrandizing purposes that basically spits on the spirit and letter of Pennsylvania gaming law which is intended to support the horse racing industry first and foremost.

According to House Bill 2330 (also known as the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act):

“The authorization of limited gaming by the installation and operation of slot machines as authorized in this part is intended to enhance live horse racing, breeding programs, entertainment and employment in this Commonwealth.”

Notice it doesn't say "to enhance gaming in this Commonwealth." It continues:

“The authorization of limited gaming is intended to positively assist the Commonwealth’s horse racing industry, support programs intended to foster and promote horse breeding and improve the living and working conditions of personnel who work and reside in and around the stable and backside areas of racetracks.”

In addition to a myriad of deficiencies at Pennsylvania tracks in terms of the physical plants and facilities for workers, horses and fans, how does something as simple as a name change that eliminates or degrades historical terminology or even “racing” itself reflect something “positive”?

Looking down the list of tracks for which Equibase provides official entries, only two other "racinos" have reverted to including their casino operations in their official title: "Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races" and "Mountaineer Casino Ractrack & Resort." Somehow, that doesn't surprise me, considering the entities involved. Regardless, it’s an ugly trend, and I despise the owners of Parx for it. As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, I also—unfortunately—feel the state Gaming Control Board couldn’t care less about this issue, the sport of horse racing in general, or even upholding the actual law enacted to permit gaming.