Cadet’s Navel Assault on Rainy Baltimore (written by Cadet)
So a crazy thought hit me the other morning and as any horse-loving American gambler does I figured why not act on it. I lack the talent needed to make a full out assault on a major race day like Dubai World Cup day, or Breeders Cup, but heck I live close to Pimlico and it would be fun to try and dominate one weekend. If you decide to continue your read, you will find out I really don’t have the talent to do this eitherJ.Contained below is my effort to get my animals in the races, and hopefully ableto hit the board a couple times.
I have no proven training techniques, only some ideas thatare in the experimental phase. So join me on this test, but do so at your own risk. (Insert legal verbiage here)
Part #2; Original article was identifying horses to point towards each race. This second paper will discuss early changes to the plan and how certain training methods are working so far.
The Gallery Handicap- Grade 3- Purse 100,000 3yr and OlderFillies and Mares 8.5f turf
Cadets Causeway has already run a 109 at this distance and was an easy selection (I don’t own many horses that can be counted on to run over a 100). After a winter rest her first start of 2013 was very poor on an off track, but Zeus god of rain has favored cadet on my adventure giving me a firm turf course on Friday before a rain soaked Middle Jewel day. My original plan was to run her in the Easy Jumper listed then wheel her back 5 weeks later into the 8f listed Mango Code listed all within the same region. This plan keeps her in region 5 with limited travel, and also gives her the option of running in an 8f race prior to her 8.5f effort in The Gallery. This was the same distance two-step that led to her impressive 109 as a 3 year old. So far the plan has turned out okay. She is entered in the Gallery, but she needs the 6 weeks rest and hopefully will fire fresh!
The Billy Donald-Grade 3- Purse $100,000 3yr and older 9f dirt
Originally I had Deputy Cadet slated for this event; however I called my first audible and moved Deputy Cadet into plan “B”. He is going to back to Kentucky in late April fort he CEO Classic. I was pleased enough with his dirt effort, but worry the 9f distance is too short. If I have to run him, I do like the 12f Turf to 9f dirt move in three weeks. As a battle-proven veteran he will have no problem withthe quick turn-around if needed. The main reason for the switcheroo is the emergence of my AP Indy colt, Indy Cadet . After his breakthrough open allowance win, I sent him to Charlestown, WV for a listed event. A solid stake placing effort when he sat too far off an easy pace gives me hopes he can improve. He is entered in an alw try this weekend to help boost his confidence.
Black Middle Flower- Grade 2 Purse $250,000 3 yr. old filly 9f dirt
Cadet You Bet was my original selection to this race, but when testing her truetalent she faltered against better.
MD Distaff- Grade2 Purse $200,000 3yr and older fillies 8.5f dirt
Storm Cadet was selected for this event, but also identified Project Cadet. Storm Cadet didn’t improve with her 5 month break and is being retrained for sprints before getting sent to the breeding shed. Project Cadet came off her 3 month break in MONSTER fashion, winning going away. I’m not a big fan of the drastic cutback, but don’t have many other options. Project is getting re-routed to a 9f alw n2y race in Maryland to get her familiar with the track, and give me a better idea about her ability at distance of the MD Distaff. Assuming Project runs strong it will be onto the Distaff.
Confederate Stakes- Grade 2 Purse $250,000 3yrs and older 9f Turf
Christmas Cadet is coming up to the Confederate in prime form. The Arcadia Mile prep where he sped out early and held on for a solid 6th was a perfectmove. Moving back up to 9f distance along with a more comfortable trip Christmas Cadet is poised for a top effort.
Jacob Hirsch-Grade 3 Purse $100,000 3 yr. old 6f dirt
Long Island Cadet with any lack of speed in the mile race, I had to change plans and let him do his thing on the front end. While I didn’t learn anything about pace setting, I did realize this guy is cut out for sprinting. He is entered in a 7f listed race (good) to keep his stamina at a peak level before dropping down to the 6f ofthe Jacob Hirsch. I’m still banking on him running back to his graded place class. Delphi Cadet, named after the fictional colt in “Luck” (notice the DDS of Alydar), jumped up and ran a very solid race then went for it all in a grade 2.Weakening at the half mile pole shows he might not be cut out for routes. Delphi is entered into an allowance race with 65% off track. I would like to run both if they can get in.
MD Breeders Bowl-Grade 3 Purse $200,000 3yr+ 6f dirt
Oops, got a little frustrated when Stone Cadet didn’t run well in the ESR resident race and I entered him into the auction. So now Dubawi Cadet is the star sprinter of my stables. Only problem is Dubawi Cadet hasn’t proven to be a star nor proven to be a sprinter or proven to be dirthorse. This very versatile horse has however ran big in almost every race at any distance on many surfaces. Currently Dubawi is entered in a Grade 3 7f event in OT to see if he has the talent and can draw into this type of race. Selling Stone Cadet hasn’t left a lot of options so I also went to the auction block to try and purchase a sprinter. Native Baa Baa was a multi-million dollar auction purchase as a back-up plan/broodmare prospect. Her first race was her best stakes effort, and will be wheeled back into a grade two event this week to see if she can cut the mustard at a top level before trying boys. Will be interesting to see how this works itself out. But for now I have my fingers crossed!!
Middle Jewel Stakes- Grade 1 Purse $1,000,000 3 yr. old 9.5f dirt
Trappe Cadet prepped beautifully on a good track for his Derby Lock adventure in Dubai, but failed to hit the board and lacks graded points. The pace was very hot and I think given another opportunity he can run better. I have him entered in a grade 3 in Brazil, but IF he wins, he would have to be entered with just two weeks rest. However just as in real life, top 3 yr olds can emerge fromanywhere at any time. Enter Recondite Cadet, named after a word association with my first name and alluding to my deep mysterious personality (just go with it, this is a fantasy game afterall). I was checking on my horse conditions the week of 3/24 and found a verylight grade two event and Recondite just happened to be sharp (although was training for another week). After his big run (against a mostly suspect field)I figured I had to give him a derby lock chance after Trappe Cadet failed to hit the board. Making the Middle Jewel will no longer be a problem
Thanks for reading. Drop by the chat to wish me luck, give me suggestions, or tell me how nuts I am. This will be the last update, but will do a quick write up for the races I actually get into!
Cheers–Cadet