Thursday Recap - Good Claims and No Nukes

In the 3rd, Show Some Magic ($3.60) took the third for Asmussen (a half length over 7-1 Gombey Dancer, for Kenneally, a trainer going quite well as noted in the last post).  Two-year old son of Any Given Saturday was the big favorite off his second to Spurious Precision, who won the G2 Saratoga Special on Sunday.  He's out of a Real Quiet mare, and descends from the distaff family of multiple GSWs Behrens, Commentator, and Cowboy Cal.  Sire Any Given Saturday, stands at Darley for $15,000, as opposed to the $40,000 he commanded in 2008, his first year living the good life.  He and celebrated cropmates Hard Spun and Street Sense were a package deal for his Royal Sheikhness as you probably recall, and he hasn't lived up to those two at stud as he didn't on the racetrack.  Hard Spun stands for $40,000 (from $50K), Street Sense for the same (from $75,000).

In the 6th, Stoneless ($5.60) breezed in his debut as the well-bet - from 4-1 ML - favorite for trainer Bruce Levine, his second winner in two days.  This is a two-year old from the first crop of Bustin Stones, the trainer's undefeated (6 for 6) crack sprinter and G1 winner from 2007-8.  He stands for $2500 in New York.  Just 24 in the crop, and this was his second winner.  This horse walked to the lead in 47 and held by nearly five over No Nukes....who reminds me of.....No Nukes, the harness horse, a sensational 2 yo in particular, and an extremely successful stallion.  The only race of his I could find on You Tube was a losing one, but a spectacular effort.  Watch the monster move he makes down the backstretch in the 1982 Meadowlands Pace, a great race with a great call by Durkin.



Trainer Juan Carlos Guerrero showed no fear in claiming Dan and Sheila ($7.20) when Pletcher dropped them him in for 20k here on Aug 1.  Shortened him up to seven furlongs from nine, moved him up to 35k, took the 8th and lost him to Terri Pompay.  With purse winnings of $24,600 in addition to the claim proceeds, owner Rontos Racing Stable nearly tripled their money; well, not quite given expenses, but still not so shabby a return.   Though not quite as good as the connections of 9th race winner Plainview ($13.60).  That's three in a row since being claimed for 25K by trainer Greg DiPrima, earning a total return of $81,000.

In the 10th, the West Point, Lubash ($9.50) made a No Nukes (the harness horse)-like move in blowing wide past the field on the turn, but by the time Durkin picked up this one, the horse was practically already in front.  It's the first win for the Clement-trained 5yo son of Freud in 12 starts going back to November 2010 at the Big A.