2015 Otsego Farms Report Card

Here are the 2015 race records and grades for the horses of Otsego Farms:

Refractor  A

7-5-1-0  $3,165,000  He's strictly a 2-miler so that limits his opportunities somewhat.  An ill-advised start on short rest was the only real blemish on his record.  His second place finish in the Breeders Cup Endurance may have cost him Eclipse votes for best older male; an award won by a very deserving Gradient.

Methy Bus  A

8-5-2-0  $2,005,000  Another fine season by this 10F-12F specialist.  He is showing no signs of slowing down and therefore another banner season is expected in 2016.  His consistency and high production has secured him a spot as a stallion upon his retirement from racing.

Ettore Fieramosca  A

5-4-1-0  $169,500  He's not a headliner, but as a Stakes racer, he's deadly.  He missed going undefeated in his time at Otsego Farms by a nose, getting edged by star sprinter Reining Money in a GR3 affair.  Picked up for $1000 in mid-season; he has morphed into a stable favorite.

Warp Factor Ten  A-

8-4-1-1  $250,800  He was a threat to win virtually every race he entered, but didn't impress the trainers enough to enter him in graded races.  He's not quite fast enough to sprint and not strong enough to stay, so we're a little concerned where he'll compete in 2016. 

Jack the Ripper  A-

4-2-1-0  $297,500  Only his skimpy race schedule prevented him from getting an A.  He has shown steady progression; winning his final 2015 race in the GR1 Racing Post Trophy.  At the moment, he is our most highly regarded home-grown youngster.  Should compete at 10F in 2016.

Shatterstar  B+

9-3-3-1  $241,500  This old veteran turned in a stellar campaign and punched his ticket to return as a racer in 2016.  He will become the first Otsego Farms horse to race as a 7yo.  Strictly a Stakes racer these days, he is a valuable commodity nevertheless.

House of M  B+

8-2-4-1  $900,000  We expected a little better from the her, but overall her performance was strong.  She exceeded 100 PSR in every race and failed to cash a check just once; in an experimental foray into the Breeders Cup Mile.  She'll race in 2016 then it'll be off to the breeding shed.

You Know My Name  B

9-2-2-1  $690,000  It was an up and down season.  She got a couple early wins and put up some nice PSR's, then spiraled downward as the season progressed.  She's looking more and more like a GR2 or GR3 option, but she still competes and will be back for one more season.

Mocha Milkshake  B

5-1-0-2  $90,000  He was immature as a 3yo and may not fully mature until age 5, so we were fairly impressed with what he accomplished in his first racing season.  He'll get a full workload to show what he can do next year and should stretch out to 10F to 12F.

Azrael B

9-2-1-2  $252,500  Has shown good stamina and done well in races from 10F to 12F.  His PSR's have hovered around 100, but he may not have enough speed for the 10F circuit.  He'll concentrate on 11F+ in 2016.

Xtra Run  B-

9-0-3-3  $218,750  Even though she hasn't won yet, we remain confident that she will be a successful racer.  Her speed is top-notch; her ability to get out of the gate and into the fray early needs work.  We predict she'll break her maiden in 2016.

Nebula C+

9-1-3-2  $133,000  Her last season as a racer was solid but uninspiring.  She has the tools, but has never put them together on the track.  We think she'll be a tremendous asset in the breeding shed, where she is scheduled to match initially with War Machine.

Kit Fisto  C

8-0-3-1  $76,825  He has a couple good outings, but overall his performance was barely acceptable.  He'll get a handful of races in 2016 to show his stuff.  If no improvement is seen by June, he'll be gone.

Crossbones  C-

8-2-0-1  $300,000  Wha' happened?  We had very high hopes coming into the season, but it all went sour starting with a last place finish in the Dubai World Cup.  He's talented, his inherent racing stats are good, and he's projected with a very long racing career, so we'll be patient well into 2016.

Things looking up as season winds down...

Weeks 47-48 on the calendar provided plenty of fodder for discussion at Otsego Farms.

First, a landmark deal has been reached with Australian stable Glenmore Park.  Owner Bruce MacGillivray has agreed to sell his star 2yo filly Xtra Gold to Otsego Farms for a cool $4,000,000.  With her win this weekend, Xtra Gold has a record of 8-5-3-0 with earnings of $866,750.

"We needed to spend some cash.  This grand opportunity came up.  We're extremely happy with the acquisition", Otsego owner Jim Webber responded in a brief statement from Inglewood, California, after watching Xtra Gold win the Hollywood Preview Stakes.

Second, even though 3yo filly You Know My Name and 2yo colt Samurai Jack produced lackluster results this weekend, there was plenty of good racing news to go around.

Newcomer Phelan Ready went off at 20-1, but still managed a 4th in the GR3 Winter Stakes.  It was a solid performance for the 3yo filly, but in the end she may succumb to the numbers game.  "With the acquisition of Xtra Gold, we may not have a spot for Phelan Ready", Webber commented via Twitter during his flight back to Michigan.  This provoked countless responses from his 2.7 million worldwide followers who had not yet heard this news.

Another new racer, 3yo colt Fossett who was acquired from Bally Doyle, made his sprinting debut and triumphed at the 6F Thanksgiving Handicap.  Webber explained, "I thought he might have the makings of a sprinter, so we were determined to try him at 6F-7F.  This win proves we are on the right track".

Stable stars Methy Bus and Refractor also picked up wins.  The win by Refractor in the Brisbane Cup was especially gratifying because it evened the score to some small degree with the 3yo stayer Alphabet, who upset Refractor in the Breeders Cup Endurance a month ago.

"What can I say about these horses?  They are two of the best, most consistent racers in the world at the moment and I am very fortunate to own them", Webber concluded.

Top Ten Assets of Otsego Farms for 2016 and beyond...

These are the assets that will pay the bills for Otsego Farms, next year and further into the future.  They are listed by order of importance, counting down from 10 to 1.

10 - Mocha Milkshake
He's a 3yo colt by Memcay out of Gourmet Girl.  He is maturing very slowly; AR says 4-5 years old before I can expect peak performance.  He has done well in his four career starts and we expect great improvement next year.

9 - Azrael
This son of Nightwing is starting to put together some nice efforts.  He's hit 100+ PSR's in three of his last 6 races and the other three have been in the 90's.  His speed and stamina combination bode well at 10-12 furlongs.

8 - You Know My Name
She hasn't turned into the star we hoped for, but she's a consistent money maker who will race for another year, then will no doubt have a distinguished career as a broodmare.

7 - Union Jack
This stallion seems to have the magic touch.  He's got a flawless AR and cranks out good racers like a Pez dispenser.  He'll take over as the primary Otsego stallion as of 2016, and when you've got War Machine and Nightwing, that's saying something.

6 - Astrapios
This 2yo was purchased from Circle F in hopes that he can become a dominant 2-miler.  He'll try to avoid Refractor next season as much as possible.  He's got uncanny stamina and showed marked improvement in his second race.  He's on the fast track and hopefully he'll have some success at 12F as well as 16F.

5 - Warp Factor Ten
Run Missy Run x Nova says it all.  He has been in the money in 5 of 6 career races.  His speed is improving and we expect him to be a major player on the sprinting circuit in 2016.

4 - House of M
Fifteen of her last 17 races have been over 100 PSR.  She is ultra-consistent and combines speed and stamina very well.  She'll race next year, then go on to a career in the breeding shed.  We expect her to become our top broodmare very quickly.

3 - Jack the Ripper
This 2yo son of Union Jack is the nicest looking 2yo we've had in a while.  He has a record of 4-2-1-0 and won his first GR1 race this past weekend, putting up a 101 PSR in the process.  With his long peak period, he projects as a very valuable commodity for Otsego Farms.

2 - Methy Bus
This horse is an incredible talent.  Can beat almost anyone at 10-12F on any given night.  In the money in 21 of 23 career races.  Also has a long peak, so he could easily be around for another couple of seasons, hence his great value.

1 - Refractor
The top 2-miler in Photo Finish at this time without question.  With adequate rest, he is virtually unbeatable at his pet distance.  As of this writing he is preparing to defend his Breeders Cup Endurance crown.  Should have enough in the tank to compete at the highest levels for at least one more season.  Then he'll join Otsego stud as a resident stallion.

Accountants say "BUY"

My accountants have insisted that I spend up to $4,000,000 before the end of the year.  I've put out some feelers, made a couple offers and have had a couple offers sent my way, but so far I haven't been able to swing a deal to bring in a high-profile racer. 

I did pick up the 3yo colt Fossett (Parisian Sheikh x Fly So High) from Bally Doyle recently for $750,000, but that didn't get the bean-counters off my back.  Amanda has run Fossett almost exclusively at 8-9F, but we see him as more of a sprinter and he'll concentrate at 6-7F in the future.

Anyway, that $750k didn't meet the fiscal goals set by my accounting division, so I'm still in the market.

Send me an offer or suggestion.

Ettore Fieramosca makes bid to stay on in 2016

I bought Ettore Fieramosca on a whim. 

He had won a couple recent races and was on the sales page with no reserve.  Bidding was non-existent.  Perhaps it was because his AR stated that he matured early and has a very short peak time.  Since he was already in the middle of his 4yo season, he obviously didn't have much pull at auction.

However, looking over his performance history, it seemed to me that he did not peak early.  He didn't start getting over 100 PSR consistently until the middle of his 3yo season.  Based on what I observed in his record, and the ridiculously low price (with 10 minutes to go in the auction, I made the winning bid at $1000), I felt he would be a good investment for the remainder of the 2015 season.

However, his performance has made me think that I might keep him for another season.  He has put together a record of 3-2-1-0 $97,500 with an average PSR of 104 since I acquired him.  The race he lost was by a half-head to Reining Money.

I like him.  He's winning races.  That is the formula for keeping a stall at Otsego Farms.

2016 Outlook for Otsego Farms

As 2015 winds down, I've been making plans on who will be racing for Otsego Farms in 2016.  The following horses are assured a spot on the roster for next season:

Shatterstar - He'll be 7 next season and I've never raced a 7yo.  We'll make an exception in his case though.  He's no superstar, but he projects with a very long career peak and he fashioned a 8-3-3-1 record with earnings of $238,750 so far in 2015.  He's earned another season.

Crossbones - He also has a very long career peak so he'll be back as a 5yo in 2016.  He has quite a bit of ability, but bouts of inconsistancy have plagued him. 

House of M - All she does is hit the board and put up 100+ PSR's.  Her record in 2015 is 7-2-3-2 with earnings of $900,000.  She'll race next year, then retire to a career as a broodmare.

Methy Bus - This horse has become a stable favorite since his acquisition from Smokey's Stable.  His long projected career length means he'll race for at least 1-2 more seasons.  In 2015, he has been 7-4-2-0 with earnings of $1,705,000.  He is a force to be reckoned with at 10-12 furlongs against even the stoutest competition.

Refractor -  He is perhaps the greatest 2-miler in the history of Photo Finish.  Throw out the ill-conceived entry in the Gold Cup and he has a record of 7-6-1-0 with an average PSR of 119 at 16F.  He was a tad slow to mature and coupling that with his average length career peak means that he should have at least one more year to wreak havoc on the 16F circuit.

Azrael - He has shown signs that he's ready to bust out and make a name for himself.  He'll be back in 2016.

Kit Fisto - Has not found the winners circle in 11 career starts, but has finished 2nd five times, so he has been in the hunt.  He is less talented than Azrael, so he'll be on a short leash in 2016.

Mocha Milkshake - He should finally be mature as a 4yo in 2016.  He has definite potential and he'll have all of 2016 to show us what he's got.

You Know My Name - She's a consistent producer who will definitely have a spot on the racing roster in 2016.  She usually hovers around the 100 PSR mark and is always a threat in races that are just below the top tier.

Astrapios - We are hoping this colt will be Refractor's successor at 16F.  We think he'll have the raw ability to win at 2 miles when he is mature.  He made remarkable strides in his second race, finishing 2nd and cutting 14 seconds off his time at 16F.  We think only Refractor and Alphabet stand in his way.

Jack the Ripper - He's a chip off the old Union Jack block.  Has looked very competitive in  his three career starts with a record of 3-1-1-0.  He's better on turf, but he might be a Derby comtender anyway.

Warp Factor Ten - His speed is coming around and he's got the genes to make a splash.  So far as a 2yo he has a record of 6-2-1-1.  He should be a sprinter of note in 2016.

These horses have the rest of this season and perhaps a bit of next season to secure a stall:

Charlemagne, Crackerjack, Juggernaut, Samurai Jack, and Trebuchet - Their bodies of work are very limited so I'm trying not to make any rash decisions.  Hopefully, all five 2yo colts will be back in 2016.  It's possible though that one or more of these fellows will go by year-end or at the auction.

Xtra Run - This filly has raw speed, but has a couple holes in her abilities as well.  She'll be a 4yo in 2016 and doesn't have a lot of time to get straightened out.

Boudica - She is an ultra-immature filly and it showed in a disastrous debut.  I hope I have the patience to see how she does next year.

Miscellaneous stuff that has crossed my mind in the last 24 hours

Who is the best two-year old out there right now? Hands down it's Rogue Day (Lager Beer x Scream Day) from Firstholme Racing. This horse is a equine wrecking ball. As Qui-Gon Jinn would say, his midi-chlorians are off the charts. Expect BIG things from this fellow. He is the chosen one.

I bought a horse today.  I'm not sure why; just one of those knee-jerk reactions.  I saw something I liked and the price was right at $20,000 so... KA-BAM...Buy Now Baby!  In her comments on the sales page, Waikato mentioned that it would be a good horse for a newer stable.  Yup.  It sure would have been.  Anyway, 3yo filly Phelan Ready is now a member of Otsego Farms.

That win by Methy Bus in the 12F Canadian International over the legendary Capro Espiatorio was very satisfying.  I'm a big fan of Capro and his owner Ettore over al Olmo Dorato, and I generally root for both of them, but obviously not this time.  I had a feeling that Methy Bus would pull this one out, even though the oddsmakers made Capro a prohibitive favorite at 1/3.  Methy Bus has another year of racing in him, perhaps two, after which I am eyeing him very seriously as a stallion at Otsego Farms Stud.

Warp Factor Ten won this weekend, showing a nice spark in the last furlong to beat the KRF colt Express, who experienced an injury that may have played a part as well.  Express has a slightly higher top speed at the moment, but WFT's higher stamina and kick began to tell in that last furlong.  With a record of 6-2-1-1, WFT has been the most successful 2yo this season for Otsego Farms.

Year end house cleaning started this week at Otsego Farms.  Veterans Kayson and Machine Gun both hit the sales page and met reserve so they will be sold.  Additionally, 3yo's Captain Britain and School Boy Heart went as well and joining them on the way out was 2yo Darkhawk.  I still need to clear a couple spots, so production in the last 6 weeks of the season will be paramount for the horses that are on the bubble.

Astrapios begins to build legacy

It was just an allowance race at Shenandoah Downs, but 2yo colt Astrapios made a strong statement last weekend with a solid 2nd place finish at 16F.

"We paid big money for this fella based on his physical tools.  Frankly, we're relieved that he showed us that our confidence was not misplaced", Otsego Farms owner Jim Webber stated after the race.  Webber paused, then continued, "Relieved, but not surprised."

Astrapios finished 5 lengths behind filly phenom Cynic (Spartan Racing Stables), who now has a perfect record with three wins in three starts.

When asked if he envisioned Cynic being a roadblock on Astrapios' path to success, Webber said, "No.  She's a great filly, but I don't see her as a 16F horse down the road.  I think she'll settle in at 10-12F.  In the long-run, Astrapios will have her number at 2 miles."

He continued, "Machete's offspring are notorious for their quick maturation.  She's ahead of Astrapios physically at the moment.  It'll be a completely different story next season."

Crop Circles, Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, and Quake.

Mysteries.  Unexplained phenomenon. 

Does the Loch Ness Monster really exist?  Can anyone explain the composition of Dark Matter?  And most perplexingly, why does KRF keep running the 4yo filly Quake at 16 furlongs?

Admittedly, Quake got her career off to a bang when she finished 4th at 16F in her debut.  Thus encouraged, KRF entered her in two more 2-mile races and Quake rattled off back-to-back wins, with impressive times of 3:20 and 3:19, no less.

Since then, Quake has come to earth.  She's had five more races, all at 16F, and finished 8,5,3,3,8.  To make matters worse, her times have regressed.  Quake has been unable to recapture her early magic, making me wonder why KRF insists on running her exclusively at 16F.

The simple truth is... this filly isn't a 16F horse.

Look at her running style.  I've watched several of her races and it's always the same.  She breaks well, takes an early lead, fades in the last 4-5 furlongs.  Wash.  Rinse.  Repeat.

Her HRF fantasy numbers don't support the theory that she is a stayer either.  Yes, she has an above-average Kick rating of 992, but her Stamina rating of 70 screams 9-11 furlongs.  She's got good speed, much better than most long distance horses.  Combine that with her front-running tendancies and you might even have some success at 8F.

I tried to make an offer on Quake a while ago, but never received a reply from Karie.  I even approached Ryan, trying to make an end run into KRF.  He said she'd never sell, so I quit trying.

It kills me to see this horse languish at 16F against the likes of Refractor, Pluto, Alphabet, and all the other real stayers.  She simply cannot beat the top tier horses at 2 miles.  Not gonna happen.  Ever.

My advice?  In this order...

1. Sell her to me, or
2. Run her at 8-11 furlongs, or
3. If she must be run at 16F, do it in Stakes races.

Horses at the crossroads...

As year-end beckons, the urge to clear out the stable becomes stronger and stronger.  There are a couple racers in particular who are very close to being sold...

3yo colt Schoolboy Heart was a impulse buy from Sunshine Stables a few months ago.  He has some decent tools, and is a later maturing type, so I thought he might be worth a chance.  His PSR's have been climbing in the last four races, 36, 71, 78, 89; but I'm thinking that he may have very limited potential.  Perhaps that stall would be more valuable if it was vacant?

3yo colt Art of Seduction was purchased last year as a long-term prospect.  His AR says sprinter, but his low speed / high stamina ratings scream stayer.  He has generally been more productive at longer distances, but he's not showing enough to keep me interested in this experiment.

Both of these colts are racing this weekend and their performances will dictate whether they are on the sales board or not by Sunday afternoon.

Additionally, I am contemplating making some kind of change with my broodmares.  I'd like to introduce some new blood, but it will require moving a mare or two to accommodate the prospective newcomers.  I've got Nebula joining the ranks at the end of the season, giving me 10 broodmares, which is exactly where I want to be numerically.

False Demon, Second Strike, and Shattered Record are mares that could potentially be sold or traded.  FD and SS were both acquired specifically to breed with stable icon War Machine, but the results have been less than expected so far.

I have scoured the available mares at Endless Vista, and I can only say that the pickings are mighty slim.  Prices on mares have gone through the roof in the past couple years, so a straight-up purchase may be out of the question as well.  A broodmare trade may be a possibility.  If anyone has any suggestions or offers, I'm willing to listen.

Inconceivable!

Is it possible that Otsego Farms could consider selling stable icon Nightwing?

It has been discussed recently at the highest levels because there just isn't enough room for five stallions, and that's the road I'm heading down.

Currently we have three excellent distance stallions; Nightwing 14, War Machine 12, and Union Jack 10.  Additionally, we have two current racers who beg to stay on after they retire; Refractor, and Methy Bus.

Refractor is a no-brainer as a stallion prospect.  He has shown world-class ability at 16F, stringing together an eye-popping list of times and PSR's.  He may be the best 16F horse that Photo-Finish has seen.  His unique abilities guarantee him a spot as a stallion at Otsego Farms.

Methy Bus was not originally in my plans as a breeder.  His continued excellence however, has caught my attention.  He has exceeded 100 PSR in 15 of 21 career races and has proven to be a GR1 threat at distances from 8F to 12F.  His ability, consistancy and potential length of career make him a prime stallion prospect.  This sets up a dilemma for Otsego Farms.

As stated above, I am not inclined to keep five stallions.  My stable stall limit of 60 is inviolate and the plan calls for three stallions.  Four would be a stretch, which would cause an annual alteration of my plan, but would be workable.  Five is out of the question.

Given my current inclination to keep Refractor and Methy Bus after they retire, something has to give, and that something may be Nightwing's spot as an Otsego stallion.

It would be a very tough business decision, since Nightwing was the cornerstone that built Otsego Farms.  In my first year of operation, he earned $3.6M, putting me on the map and giving me instant success.  It would be very hard to reward Nightwing's contribution with a ticket out of town, especially since my longtime goal was to keep him forever.

However, the ultimate decision will be put off for at least one more season.  Both Refractor and Methy Bus will race at least one more year.  In fact, Methy Bus, with his long career peak may race two or three more seasons.

I'm thinking about it now though, and it's not pleasant to contemplate my stable without Nightwing...

Ummm.... Okay, you talked me into it.

He may not have a lot of gas left in the tank.  In fact, this will probably be his last year as a racer.  But I just couldn't resist Ettore Fieramosca at such a bargain price.

This horse set a World Record and has won almost $70,000 in his last three races; and I get him for a measly $1000?  Jeez, I bought a pair of alligator-skin boots last week that cost more than that!

He has a career record of 31-8-9-3 with earnings of $1,533,200 and I'll wager that he still has enough speed left in him to win a few bucks.

Refractor to Gold Cup on short rest?

On the heels of his easy victory at the GR2 Perth Cup, the connections at Otsego Farms are seriously considering sending Refractor to the GR1 Gold Cup on just 17 days rest.

There is precedent for this quick back up.  In 2006, Otsego Farms sent Nightwing to both races.  He finished 2nd in the Perth Cup behind the legendary 2-miler Promised Land, then got his revenge by beating her to win the Gold Cup two weeks later.

"The thought has crossed my mind," Otsego owner Jim Webber quipped when asked if he would enter Refractor for the race on June 16th.  "He was fairly fresh after the easy win on the 31st, so I am definitely giving it some thought."

Top prospects for 2016

One the whole, it looks like the crop of racers coming up in 2017 will be a superior batch, but we have a few racers that are currently in training for 2016 that should make some waves.  Listed below are the top four 2yo prospects for next season.  

French Twist (colt) - Deux Francais x Nova

Trainers insist he will be a distance horse, but parentage suggests otherwise.  He's showing great speed to go along with above-average stamina, which makes me think he'll me a miler-type who won't let up.  Looks like a stalker and he's good on dirt or turf.  A big, strong fellow who should top out at 17.3 hands when fully mature.

Vinyasa (colt) - Union Jack x Arctic Fox

What he lacks in speed, he makes up with courage and gut-wrenching stamina.  He's strictly a turfer, which is good given the plenitude of distance races on grass.  He is also very large and muscular, projecting at 17.3 hands fully grown.  He's a 16F horse if there ever was one.

Zombieslayer (colt) - War Machine x Affirm Gal

He's a compact racer, but full of heart.  Equally comfortable on grass or dirt and has the stamina for classic distances.  A propensity for come-from-behind theatrics makes his races edge-of-the-seat affairs.  Looks quite a bit like the old man, even as far as height and weight are concerned.

Brick House (filly) - Machete x Domino

A charmer who is very popular in the stable.  Working very well out of the gates and has good speed.  She looks like a sprinting prospect who'll work primarily on dirt with maybe an occasional foray on turf.  We're very high on this filly, and her  progress and potential is the main reason dam Domino will stay on as an Otsego Farms broodmare.

Looks like I made the news again!

Otsego welcomes Astrapios

Graphic courtesy of Circle F Farms

At the podium for his weekly press conference, eyes blinking as the camera's  flashed incessantly, Otsego Farms owner Jim Webber cleared his throat and answered the question that had been shouted out by more than a dozen reporters; "Yes, we have acquired the 2yo colt Astrapios from Circle F for $1.75 million."

In a groundbreaking transaction that saw the normally tight-fisted owner fling open the vault, Otsego Farms picked up the stayer prospect for a sum normally reserved only for well established racers.

"The connections at Circle F were initially reluctant to part with Astrapios.  Eventually, I had to meet with Tia (Circle F owner Tia Francisco) herself to hammer out the deal", an amimated Webber continued.  There were some other considerations in addition to the cash, but nothing unusual."

The training staff at Otsego Farms envisions Astrapios as a 12-16F racer, which is why he was coveted so much.  "I have a fondness for stayers, that's no secret.  This is a gamble, but I feel that Astrapios has unlimited potential", Webber said as he left the podium.

A busy five minutes in the office of Jim Webber

Otsego Farms owner Jim Webber is sitting at his desk going over potential pairings for the next breeding season...

JW (thinking to himself):  I think I'd like Union Jack and Shattered Record together again.  You Know My Name has worked out pretty well so far...

Secretary (on intercom):  Mr. Webber?  You have a call on line one.

JW:  Who is it Celeste?

Secretary:  It's Amanda.  She wants you to come to London next week.

JW:  Thanks.  (picks up call)  Mandy?  How are you?

A:  Just smashing Jim.  Thanks for taking my call.

JW:  No problem.  What can I do for you?

A:  Any chance you can pop over to Bally Doyle next week?

JW:  Business or pleasure?

A:  Business of course!

JW:  I'd love to Amanda but I'm going to be in Dubai all next week.

A:  Dubai?  This time of year?  Whatever for?

JW:  Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has asked me to be his child's Godfather.

A:  Really?  Does the Muslim faith allow for that?

JW:  I think they are making a special allowance in my case.

A:  Well, tell the Sheik I said hello.  I met him at the UAE Derby a couple years ago.

JW:  Will do.  Listen Amanda, I'm sorry to cut you off, but I really have to run.

A:  OK.  Give me a ring when you get back.

JW:  I will.  Cya!

A:  Toodles!

JW (into intercom):  Celeste?  Can you hold my calls for the next hour or so?  

Secretary:  Sure, except you've got an urgent call on line two right now.  He's been holding.

JW:  Who?

Secretary:  It's Ryan Okerstom of Spartan.

JW (as he pushes the button for line 2):  Dammit!  What in the Hell does that.... Ryan!  Buddy!  What's up?

R:  I just wanted to know if you're going to the Belmont this year?

JW:  I sure am.  I might even drop in Azrael as a late entry, but either way I'll be there.

R:  Sweet!  We've shipped Theorist already.  Umm.... how are you getting there.

JW:  The jet.  How else?  Ahhh... you're looking for a lift huh?

R:  You're a mindreader bud.

JW:  Yeah right.  OK no problemo, I can pick you and Karie up at Metro Airport easily enough.  Can I transfer you to my secretary to make the arrangements?  I'm kinda busy at the moment.

R:  Sure.  Thanks alot Jim.  We'll see you in a couple weeks.

JW:  Allrighty.  See ya Ryan.  Hang on a sec... (transfers call back to Celeste)  Celeste?  Can you figure out the logistics of picking up Ryan at Metro when I fly to the Belmont?  He's still on the line.  Thanks.

JW (thinking to himself again): Jeez.  Where was I?  Oh yeah, Union Jack and Shattered Record.  All I need to do now is find a stud for Domino and I'll be all set...

Otsego Farms - Home of Worthless Horses?

Captain Britain - Worthless?

I've tried to sell two horses in the past week and have had zero success.  Even extracting a bid from the Photo-Finish populace has proven elusive in the case of these two horses.

Captain Britain is a lightly raced 3yo, sired by Union Jack, and yet could garner only a single bid; and just $1000 to boot.  He has not burned up the tracks yet, but has had some success and currently sports a 7-1-0-2 record with earnings of $92,500.  This seems like a horse that would attract some attention, especially given how Union Jack has become a very desirable stud.  After getting just the one bid, I decided to keep him.

A nice young broodmare was also up for sale.  6yo Domino who is by War Machine out of Sharp Cat, received just one bid for $1000.  With a decent track record and superlative breeding, I thought this mare would certainly be worth the $50,000 reserve.  I've seen some mares used in breeding that are clearly inferior to Domino and yet, no one saw fit to pick this girl up.

Perhaps I am overstating Domino's value.  There are dozens of mares that retire every year, many of them becoming broodmares.  So, because there is such a ready supply available, any mare who was not a superstar is commonplace and valueless.

However Domino has a unique set of traits that lead me to believe she may in fact be a valuable commodity.  She is very strong on dirt surfaces, 5-5-5.  With a 92 top speed she is capable of producing sprinters and with a 69 stamina she is also capable of producing miler-to-classic racers.  I like her versatility and since I no longer have an issue with stalls for breeders, I'm gonna keep her.

Highs and Lows in Weeks 19-20

Results caused a full spectrum of emotions this weekend; from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

DISAPPOINTING: 

Crossbones was injured right out of the gate and was 15 lengths back in the blink of an eye.  On pure guts, he rallied late, but still finished 7th and well out of the money.  We are awaiting work from our Vets as to the severity of the injury.

Warp Factor Ten had stable hope running high with a Win and a Place in his first two races.  A 9th place finish this weekend though was like getting a bucket of ice water dumped on our heads.  With just under a month of rest, he looked sluggish right from the start.  He'll get at least 6 weeks off before his next race.

ACCEPTABLE:

Captain Britain was a hair's width from being sold a couple weeks ago.  He gave himself some breathing room with a gutsy 3rd place finish.

Mocha Milkshake is still a baby at heart.  He won't be mature for another year at least.  However, we couldn't pass on the opportunity to give him some experience in a miniscule 3-horse field.  Predictably, he finished 3rd, but didn't look out of place in the race.

Xtra Run is fast.  I'm still trying to figure out what her maximum distance may be.  Obviously 8F is a bit too far.  Her gate speed is improving a little bit, so I feel confident shortening her races to 6-7 furlongs.  I think she'll win her next race.

EXCELLENT:

You Know My Name raced for the first time against colts this weekend and fared very well.  She carried more weight than the winner, colt Zig Zag, but finished a strong 2nd in the Illinois Derby.  This Union Jack filly now has a career record of 8-4-1-0.

Jack the Ripper had a smashing debut in the 7.5F Christmas Stakes.  Going off as a prohibitive favorite at 1/2 odds, Rip ran away from the field, winning by 6 lengths. 

A slight miscalculation...

I don't really know what I was thinking.

I thought I had to choose between Nebula and Domino for my 10th and final broodmare spot.  I chose Nebula, and put Domino up for sale. Looking at my stable today, I counted my broodmares over and over, and even with the introduction of Nebula next year, I'll have just nine.  Hmmm.  Now where did that 10th broodmare go?

Looks like I could have kept Domino after all.

But after thinking about it, I've decided to sell her anyway.  I'm really looking for some fresh blood, and Domino herself being a product of War Machine, is anything but fresh blood.

She is currently listed on the sales page, but there is no guarantee she'll reach her reserve (she should, she's definitely worth a measly $50,000).  If she comes back due to an insufficient bid, I'll find her a home somewhere.

Since I do need a 10th broodmare, I'll have to start beating the bushes for something suitable.