Notes - Dec 13

- Barbaro has been at the New Bolton Center for seven months now, so you'd think his Christmas list would include an IPOD or some books; something to while away the time. But instead, all he'll be getting is a new shoe.

He's also picked up some more support for Eclipse honors, as Dean Arnold, writing on the NTRA site, opines: I think Barbaro should be both the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old and Horse of the Year, and I don't think I need to find fault in the other top runners to make my case. There's an unconfirmed report that a group of FOB's (Friends of Barbaro; apologies to Superfecta), are erecting a shrine to Arnold just south of NTRA headquarters.

Unfortunately, Arnold presents the same tired argument that the colt's courage and nobility during his recovery somehow qualify him for an award that's supposed to be based on performance on the track. It really is amazing the way he's still amongst us after being virtually written off when he developed the dreaded laminitis; it's certain that Ray Paulick was having someone on his staff work on the horse's obituary at the time. So I go along with Andy Beyer's suggestion to bestow the award upon his owners and/or trainer. And some kind of special achievement award for Dr. Richardson is in order as well. But not an Eclipse for Barbaro.

- Speaking of Superfecta, she discusses the win in Hong Kong by Collier Hill, and did that flatter Go Deputy, or what? There were some who actually disparaged the horse because he lost to the eight-year old at Woodbine, but now that line becomes most flattering. Forget the 7th place finish by Go Deputy in the Turf just two weeks later; this horse progressed to be right there with the best of the U.S. turf division as the year went on, and could be a major factor at the age of seven next year.

- The Mardi Gras Racetrack and Gaming Center, the fancy new name for Hollywood, Florida's old dog track, failed the first inspection of its racino, and it will have to try, try again, as did nearby Gulfstream, which also failed its first time around before passing muster.

Tests ranged from counterfeit currency detection (fake bills were passed), preventing handbag theft (an inspector swiped a purse), to having a valid compulsive-gambling prevention program in place (it is being fine-tuned).. [Miami Herald]

- Bill Finley on ESPN.com takes a look at the most expensive yearlings of 2005, and notes that though they cost a combined $42.5 million, they've earned a total of $172 on track.

The worst of the worst has been Jalil. He sold for $9.7 million last year, ran once, in England, finished a distant sixth and didn't earn a cent. At least he made it to the races. Of the top 10, only two have so much as started. The other starter is Sahara Heat, who cost $3.4 million, but did make the $172 when finishing eighth in his lone start, a maiden race at Aqueduct. Just $3,399,828 to go before Sheik Mohammed breaks even on this one. [ESPN.com]

Jalil is the son of Storm Cat out of Tranquility Lake; he's a full brother to Bill Mott's After Market, and his second dam is a half to the Belmont winner Cavaet. When the Sheikh (who else?) bought the colt, his agent John Ferguson said: "From the first moment he laid eyes on this horse....he felt it was very, very important that this horse race for his brothers." Very, very important indeed.

- And Excelsior Racing has a TV ad running in Albany to greet the legislators returning for this week's special session:



(Hat tip to Albany Law School's Racing and Gaming Today.)