Notes - May 25

- Lauren Stitch in the Form discusses some of the new players that will try and use the Peter Pan as a springboard for the Belmont. Some interesting pedigrees here, such as Chekov (Pulpit) - a half-brother to the dam of Albert the Great; and Reverberate (Thunder Gulch) - from the distaff family of Devil’s Bag, Glorious Song and champion Soaring Softly. Read on for more.

- You didn’t think Wilko wouldn’t have an excuse for his Preakness, did you? [DRF]

- Latest word on our still unnamed Tactical Cat colt: “BT thinks he's the real deal. Much to look forward to here.” I’m going Saturday morning to check him out. Still trying to figure out why our Vicar filly who breezed in: 10 4/5 and vetted out fine failed to attract more than $35,000. Who knows, really? Maybe potential bidders were in the bathroom. Some feel that it’s perhaps because of her first dam, Birthright, who was unraced and who has produced only one winner with her first three foals. I’ve seen her winner, Fame Game (Numerous), race for a $5000 tag up at Woodbine. We think she’s a nice filly who will hopefully prove those who passed on her wrong. And I’m intrigued by the result of this breeding of Birthright, who is from the Northern Dancer/Nearctic sire line and who descends directly from Nearctic’s dam, to the Nearctic line sire Vicar.

- The CHRB has found that the Jockey Guild was not at fault in the cases of jockey’s who have not been reimbursed for medical costs. "There are specific procedures to be followed by individuals making claims and by their medical service providers, and if they do not follow those procedures, any resulting delays are not the fault of the Jockeys' Guild."[Bloodhorse]

- Louisiana Downs is benefiting big time from the shutdown at Evangeline.

Prior to the recent turn of events, Louisiana Downs had roughly 1,400 horses stabled on the back side and about 2,000 foal papers in the office. Add the new numbers to those and what you get is roughly a 50 percent increase in the population of eligible runners.
…….
Likewise, the size of the local jockey colony has risen almost proportionately. [Shreveport Times, via Albany Law School]

As you know if you've been visiting here, I was right on top of this story from the beginning. Leave it to me to have handicapped and attempted to bet the very first race after the jockeys walked and racing was cancelled. At least I didn't lose.

- Don’t Get Mad’s training schedule has been disrupted by the herpes quarantine at Churchill, so his status for the Belmont is questionable. Ron Ellis said: "The Belmont would have been a bigger consideration if we didn't have this problem with the quarantine….Making the Belmont probably isn't feasible, but we'll see what happens over the next week and a half or so." [DRF] He’s being pointed instead to a stakes at Churchill on June 18. Damn, I was looking forward to him attracting a lot of money. Meanwhile, Giacomo is reportedly doing great, and John Sheriffs is looking forward to the Belmont: "He's a big, long-striding colt….It should suit him pretty well . . . they can run through the turns. I wouldn't discount my horse's chances." [DRF]