Notes - Feb 1

- Latest reports on my Castle Village horses: Christening worked out this morning, though it doesn’t seem to have been recorded, big surprise. Our guy got her in :50.2 for a half, with a reported strong gallop out after the wire. Bill Turner feels that a late February debut is a possibility. Highland Cat galloped a mile and a half, and is a possibility for a mile and 70 yard maiden special on Feb 25.

- Couple of workouts by Derby Presented by Yum! Brands prospects (hey, if that’s the way they want their race referred to, I’m more than happy to comply – only makes them look more ridiculous): John Ward’s $800,000 two-year old purchase Strong Contender (Maria's Mon) continues his strong preparation for his 3 yo debut with five furlongs in a minute flat at Gulfstream (2/10) (outworked only by Ward’s stakes winning Miss Matched), and Achilles of Troy (Notebook), prepping for next weekend’s Whirlaway at the Big A, got five in 1:01.41 (3/9).

- Oops.

- Correction/clarification to my post on the Sunshine Millions. While Stormy Atlantic, the sire of Filly and Mare Sprint winner Hot Storm does currently stand in Kentucky, he used to stand in Florida, and did so when Hot Storm was foaled. He fetched only $3000 in his first year at stud, doubled that by 2002, and then moved to Kentucky, where he now stands for $20,000.