Odds and Ends - March 10

- I like Lauren Stitch’s columns in the Racing Form. They’re in the Breeding section, but they’re neither overly technical nor filled with extraneous information about half brothers to half brothers. She takes a look at races coming up and supplies interesting and useful information on contenders’ pedigrees in plain English that one can actually factor into his/her handicapping decisions. Today she takes a look at High Limit as well as the other contenders in the Louisiana Derby, and I think we’re all interested to learn much more about Frankel’s newcomer to the Derby prep season, for sure the wild card in this race on Saturday.

High Limit is by 1995 2-year-old champion Maria's Mon, the sire of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. The fascinating part of High Limit's pedigree is that his dam, Known Romance, is an RF (Rasmussen Factor). The Rasmussen Factor occurs when a horse is inbred to a superior female within five generations through different individuals. Known Romance is inbred 2x4 to Tamerett, an influential broodmare who produced champion Known Fact; multiple grade 1 winner Tentam; and Secrettame, the dam of Gone West. [Daily Racing Form]

- New Magna CEO Thomas Hodgson says that the company must establish a stronger balance sheet before it considers expansion or the acquisition of other racing and gaming properties, and painted a bleak picture for the first quarter of this year.

Gulfstream, currently operating with temporary facilities, will produce $10 million less in revenue than in the first quarter of 2003; Bay Meadows, no longer operated by MEC, won't produce the $5 million in provided for the bottom line last year; European operations will cost the company about $5 million; a shift in dates at Golden Gate Fields will mean $5 million less; and business at Laurel Park and Santa Anita Park since the first of the year has suffered because of poor weather. [Bloodhorse]

And how about New York?

When asked about a possible bid by MEC for the New York Racing Association franchise, McAlpine, too, mentioned the need for financial improvement.