Getting Desperate

- With Highland Cat’s never-in-it sixth in yesterday’s maiden claimer, the fortunes of my partnership, which started out on such a high note when the first of our yearlings, a colt by Deputy Minister, was sold for a healthy profit right of the bat (EZ game!), have reached its nadir. Despite being gelded, the horse is just not competitive, at least at these levels and on a dirt track. He will try the turf next time; but it’s one of those cases where it’s more out of desperation than anything else. If he fails – and he’ll only be given one shot to prove he can compete on grass here – he’ll likely be finding himself a new home, perhaps in Delaware with its slots-laden purses and softer competition.

Meanwhile, with Highland Cat floundering and our filly Christening (Vicar) yet to start, the expenses are piling up. Christening has been impressive in workouts, but the partnership is wary of the idea of possibly having to carry the cost of two horses not paying their way should she not replicate her morning speed in races. She’s been trained with an eye towards popping her first time out so that she could be sold, and that’s not characteristic for our trainer Bill Turner. And now, they’re getting scared to start her at all, lest a poor debut preclude the possibility of her ever being marketable. So, her debut is being put off until at least April 19, and, in fact, we’re told that she may instead be sent to Delaware to work out for interested buyers there.

And just to rub it in, on the same morning that Highland Cat performed dismally once again, Mum’s The Word, the Real Quiet filly that we did manage to sell last year, blazed a half mile in 47.27 seconds, the second fastest of 46 at the distance.

- Edgar Prado will ride Keyed Entry later today, but regardless of the outcome, he won’t be making his decision on who he’ll ride in the Kentucky Derby just yet. Having ridden Barbaro last week and chosen Strong Contender over First Samurai in next week’s Blue Grass, Prado and his agent Bob Frieze will have to decide amongst the three, and will wait as long as possible to do so. But Bill Finley reports in the NY Times that Michael Matz, based on past experience, will likely press him for a decision soon.

Matz believed he had a commitment from Prado to ride Kicken Kris in the 2004 Arlington Million. Instead, Prado informed him a few days before the race that he would be riding Magistretti for trainer Patrick Biancone.

Forced to scramble, Matz called upon Kent Desormeaux. It worked out fine for Matz. Kicken Kris won through disqualification, while Magistretti finished third.

"That made me look silly to my owner," Matz said, referring to Elizabeth Moran. "I told her we had Edgar lined up, and then they told me they never gave me a call on the horse. It's over and done with, but I don't want to get myself in the same position. I told Bob Frieze not to wait until the last minute to let me know what they're doing." [NY Times]

- Over 18,000 greeted the opening of the three week spring meeting at Keeneland, and they saw mutuel fireworks in the opening stake of the meet. The Grade 3 Central Bank Transylvania turned out to be very scary for chalk players. Frankel’s To Sender was the 4-5 favorite off of his win in the Pasadena at Santa Anita, but he was finished after six furlongs. Instead it was Chin High (Smart Strike), at a whopping 68-1, who rallied for the win, and when 24-1 Le Plaix got up for the place, it completed an exacta payoff of $1239.20. Chin High was coming off a couple of nice dirt efforts at Evangeline, but his one prior turf effort was poor.

Wanderin Boy (Seeking the Gold) got back on track for Zito with a ten length win after a couple of disappointing efforts.