Francua Chornicles: The Bounce is Real!

My trip to Vegas about a week and a half ago has me a bit behind leading to this update being a bit longer than usual. I had some of my more promising runners go these last two weeks with some very mixed results. I found out the hard way that the “bounce” is in fact real and just when you think you might have a special horse, the next race happens making you think twice. While this was a punch to the old beer keg, I enjoyed that something like this was in the game as it adds to the realism.  Not really a watch list of sorts to go off, but I’ll try to highlight the more interesting horses over the last two weeks.

 

MACGREGOR (MACLEAN’S MUSIC x HARLAN’S HOLIDAY x GALILEO (IRE)) – Ah… the aforementioned “bounce”. This guy broke his maiden in impressive fashion going 6 furlongs with maiden 50K’s wiring the field and posting a 78 speed fig. I was very enthused about his chances going into this week’s race and had a conversation with another trainer about this guy’s future plans. However, MACGREGOR had other ideas deciding that he’d rather do a 4 furlong workout instead of racing. He’d go on to finish 14^th by 15 lengths and run a 60 speed fig leaving me at a loss.

 

SOUPTAILS (MOSLER x ALPHABET SOUP x TALE OF THE CAT) – The 2nd of my bounce victims. He ran a surprsing 74 speed fig in a second place effort in his debut. So I brought him back with a bit more distance and it didn’t work out very well for me. He’d finish 8th by 6 lengths in his comeback and only post a speed fig of 61.

 

DECORATED CHIEF (PIONEEROF THE NILE x PULPIT x NUREYEV) – I’d like to believe he’s one of my better bred horses but through two races he hasn’t run like it. He’s run 6 furlongs on the dirt twice and has jumped out to the lead both times before fading in the stretch to finish 5^th in each of his races. A cut in distance is more than likely coming for this guy.

 

TWO STONES SALOON (NYQUIST x TAPIT x HARLAN’S HOLIDAY) – I claimed this filly for 30K and dropped her into an 8 furlong dirt route against Allowance Company. She didn’t win, but she did run admirably finishing 3^rd by 5 lengths and earning me $4,380 in cash along with 10 BPs.

 

ZAPP DADDY (GHOSTZAPPER x SCAT DADDY x TAPIT) – Based on the running lines he looks like he’ll take well to some additional distance. After sitting off the pace in his most recent he finished 4^th by about 2 lengths and showed some solid closing ability.

 

ALY’S SONG (MORE THAN READY x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x ALYSHEBA) – He ran a great first race outdueling another well bred horse and holding off the late charges to get the victory. He was brought back in his 2^nd race against NW2L Allowance horses going 6.5 furlongs. He’d try to pull the same strategy in this one as he’d duel with another horse but this time it was him who would fade to 4^th. I’m thinking he might do better cutting back to 6 furlongs where he might be able to sustain his front running style.

 

TURN EM’ LOOSE (CARAVAGGIO x WRITTEN TYCOON x KINGMAMBO) – He won his debut back in February, and his over enthused trainer got a bit ambitious sending him out to back to back stakes races that saw him finish 3^rd and 5^th. In his first 3 races he showed a late running style and I should’ve taken the hint a couple back that he wants more distance. I finally gave him more distance in the form of another furlong and he ran away from the field for a 1.5 furlong victory. Next up for him is a try at routing.

 

SKY DIVEN NAKED (MOSLER x FORTY NINER x TOPSIDER) – In the debut at 5 furlongs he didn’t have enough ground to do any damage as he could only grind away to a 5^th place finish and a 61 speed fig. However, in his most recent he’d get an extension to 6 furlongs and he improved dramatically finishing 2^nd and bumping the speed fig up to 75.

 

DABBIN (DABIRISIM x SADLER’S WELLS x SILVER DEPUTY) – Threw this guy on the turf to start his career and he wanted none of it finishing 6^th by 8 lengths going 5.5 furlongs and posting a 61 speed fig. Given the lack luster performance on the turf we made the switch to dirt and cut him back to 5 furlongs that saw him improve to a 68 speed fig and a third place finish in which he only lost by a neck.

 

KNOBBS (MANY RIVERS x DANZIG x JUST IN TIME) – First shot back in May saw him finish 5^th by .5 lengths going 5.5 furlongs. Naturally I decided additional distance would help him out and I was right. Gave him an extra .5 furlongs and he’d go on to win by .5 lengths to bust the maiden.

 

GUN D’ORO (GUN RUNNER x SCAT DADDY x MEDAGLIA D’ORO) – This one cuts me deep. After a disappointing run on the dirt that only produced a 50 speed fig I gave her a shot on the turf where she was even worse kicking out a 44 speed fig in a 9^th place finish. Thinking of sending her to the barn for the rest of the 2 year old season and hoping she wakes up a 3.

 

LEMONNY JONES (BIG BROWN x SMARTY JONES x LEMON DROP KID) – One of the first I bred and she’s been great. She’d run 6 furlongs against local allowance NW2L’s in her most recent and win easy running away from the field. In 7 races she’s posted a record of 2-2-0.

 

ALPHA SENSE (ALPHA x STREET SENSE x AWESOME AGAIN) – I claimed her back in April of this year and she’s run twice for me. Her first run was a 6.5 furlong dirt sprint that saw her grinding away late as she’d finish 6^th by 4 lengths. Her most recent and second race with me saw her get some added distance on the dirt that resulted in her finishing a good 2^nd place and post up a 71 speed fig which is good enough for her best performance of her young career. However, she came out of the race a little banged up.  Given that this was her 6^th race of the 2 year old season I decided to shut her down for the remainder of the year. I’ll bring her back as a 3 year old and hope that she continues to improve.

 

WILD CAT TALE (TALE OF THE CAT x WILD AGAIN x TIZNOW) – I love WILD AGAIN as a DS and probably use him more frequently than any other DS share in the game. This horse has proven to be an effective little speed ball as she’s 3-3 ITM in her first 3 races. After finishing 2^nd and 3^rd going 5.5 furlongs on the dirt I cut the distance to 5 and she’d win by a length posting a 70 speed fig. Next up she’ll get 8 weeks rest and come back against allowance foes.

 

Next Week’s Watch List:

SILENT MOTIVE (CREATIVE CAUSE x SUNDAY SILENCE x ECLIPTICAL) – Ran a 70 speed fig on the turf going 5.5 furlongs in the debut and finished 2^nd by .25 lengths. Gets a little room to stretch his legs moving to 6 furlongs under the same conditions.

 

CHEST CANDY (CANDY RIDE x HENNESSY x SEEKING THE GOLD) – Ran a good 73 speed fig in the debut but finished 4^th by a length. Hoping for some improvement under the same 6 furlongs dirt conditions.

 

CLEVAR GIRL (SUPER SAVER x UNBRIDLED x A.P. INDY) – After 4 straight finishes ITM she’s what I’d call a chronic hanger. She never seems to be able to do enough in the stretch to get over the hump but we will give 7 furlongs on the dirt another go with her.

 

NEW MEXICAN MORN (SLEEPLESS MORN x ARCH x AWESOME AGAIN) – After claiming him for 3K he’s been one of my better claims earning me 27K and 70 BPs in 3 races. His most recent saw him finish 2^nd place and he comes back again this week against allowance Local breds.

 

MAGNETIC MOON (MALIBU MOON x STREET CRY x STORM BIRD) – He finished 3^rd posting a 72 speed fig in the debut and he’s another coming back under the same conditions.

 

CALM AGGRESSION (VAR x INDIAN CHARLIE x DEHERE) – She broke her maiden at first asking with a 6 speed fig going 5.5 furlongs on the dirt. She’ll get some more room to stretch her legs at 6 furlongs against allowance runners.