Highland Cat

- You don't really think we named our Tactical Cat-Highland Tide 2 yo colt something as bland and unoriginal as that, do you?

Well, you're wrong. That's the name, and I'm frankly embarrassed that it took all these weeks to come up with something that simplistic. There were some decent contenders such as Turn Back the Tide, and Scotch n Rocks, but the partnership went with the most obvious possible name. I think I would have preferred Tactical Tide if we were just going to use a combination of the sire and dam names. Oh well. I just haven't had much luck with elections the past few years. His full pedigree is now up on Pedigree Query.

Boring name aside and far more importantly, the colt is doing pretty great, knock knock. He's been working steadily for patient trainer Billy Turner, and is being pointed to a debut at Saratoga, and how cool is that!?!? His latest workout on Thursday was 4f in 49.73 breezing (though our guys had him in :49 1/5), the 10th fastest of 32 recorded at that distance, with a gallop out in 1:01 and change. His next work may be from the gate. Reports from the track have it that he "has a smooth stride and is learning his lessons well." So this is pretty exciting indeed! On the down side, we're still carrying two juveniles that didn't sell, the Real Quiet filly recuperating for having a chip removed, and the Vicar filly who I actually don't know what the heck is going on with, but she's supposed to go to a trainer down in Philly or Delaware to try and sell off workouts or a race, we'll see.

- As the northeast gets drenched by Cindy, Hurricane Dennis promises to have Calder a sea of slop for the Summit of Speed card tomorrow, and what a shame that is. Belmont and Monmouth are sloppy and no turf today and I doubt things will be too much better tomorrow, so for fast track action we'll probably have to look to Churchill and the Hollywood Gold Cup card at Hollywood Park.

- Many of the contenders for the Hambletonian will splish-splash over the Meadowlands track tonight in the elimination heats of the Stanley Dancer Memorial Trot, the last major prep for the Hambo elimns on July 30. There are three heats tonight, and the 2 yo champ Ken Warkentin is just the 7-2 third choice from the rail in the first heat (second race) after his most disappointing third in his last race to New York Yank, who he'll face again tonight. For those interested, his trainer Jimmy Takter talks about the $26,000 yearling here.