Wow what a week! To date this has been my best week yet as I hit quite a few milestones. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the week, be forewarned that this post is a bit lengthier than usual.<\/p>\n
First, I\u2019ll point you to the weekly record as this was by far the best week I\u2019ve had in the game since I started some 8 months ago (see below). The great performance from this week bumped my overall win % up from 10.3% to 11.6% which is chipping away at that 20% mark I set for myself when I started. Secondly, I got my first local\/stakes winning champ from an unlikely hero. Third and the milestone I\u2019m most proud of, after roughly 800 races I earned a graded victory in the Grade 2 Royal Dodge. It truly was a feeling of vindication seeing a colt that I bred take down a field filled with some of the best turf 2 year-olds in the game.<\/p>\n
However, even with all of my successes this week there were quite a few let downs as well. A common pattern seems to occur for me whenever I have a horse debut with an amazing speed fig, next out the horse bounces with no explanation in sight. Because this pattern seems to occur so frequently for me I have dubbed myself the \u201cKing of the Bounce\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Weekly Record \u2013 44-12-4-4 <\/b><\/p>\n
Weekly Win % = 27.2%<\/b><\/p>\n
ITM % = 45.4%<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Last Weeks\u2019 Watch List:<\/b><\/p>\n
HONORED SOCIETY (CALIFORNIA CHROME x DUNKIRK x MACHIAVELLIAN) \u2013 <\/b>After showing improvement at 7.5 furlongs I stretched him out again to 8.5 furlongs this time to his detriment. He didn\u2019t have any type of kick in the stretch and faltered to 6th<\/sup> by 4 lengths. I\u2019ll probably bring him back to 8 furlongs to see how he handles it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n JESTER\u2019S DANCE (DAIWA MAJOR x DANEHILL DANCER x SMART STRIKE)<\/b> \u2013 At this point I think I may be the bounce king, ran an 81 in the debut against maidens, got a stretch to 8 furlongs against winners and didn\u2019t do any running at all. He\u2019d finish 7th<\/sup> by 10 lengths posting only a 72 speed fig. I suppose we will bring him back in to the 7-7.5 furlong range and see if that brings him back to life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHEST CANDY (CANDY RIDE x HENNESSY x SEEKING THE GOLD) <\/b>\u2013 Ran good enough for 2nd<\/sup> in the most recent posting a 71 speed fig and stretched out this week to 7 furlongs. She ran a bang up race closing from 11th<\/sup> place to break the maiden and post an 80 speed fig. I will more than likely stretch her out to a mile and see how she likes two turns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TURN EM\u2019 LOOSE (CARAVAGGIO x WRITTEN TYCOON x KINGMAMBO)<\/b> \u2013 Ahhh\u2026 my pride and joy. He won an NW2L allowance on the stretch out to 7.5 furlongs in his last so I figured we\u2019d give a mile a shot in the G2 Royal Dodge. As I\u2019ve become accustomed to watching he\u2019d break last and sit 10 lengths off the pace in 14th<\/sup> place before picking up the pieces and running away with the victory! In one race he managed to crush quite a few milestones. Up next I\u2019ll likely be sending him to the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Juvenile Turf\u00a0 Mile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Studs: <\/b><\/p>\n IMPULSE TO SWEAR (SWEAR (AUS) x FRAC DADDY x DYNAFORMER) \u2013<\/b> Based on the breeding she\u2019s been quite the surprise. This week was an impressive victory against NW2L 150K Claimers that saw her sit 6 off the pace before closing to a victory and posting an 81 speed fig. I will more than likely stretch her to a mile in the next and see what she can do against allowance horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n DITTYBOPPER (MIDSHIPMAN x ALYSHEBA x DEPUTY MINISTER) <\/b>\u2013 She didn\u2019t care for the off track or the distance in her last and as a result I cut her back to 5.5 furlongs this week. The adjustments proved to be very beneficial as she\u2019d go on to win a speed duel and hold off the late chargers for the victory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CALM AGGRESSION (VAR x INDIAN CHARLIE x DEHERE)<\/b> \u2013 He was a 1-2 favorite coming into the 5 furlong dirt sprint this week and, well, he ran like it. He ended up wiring the 6 horse field of NW1x allowance runners and scoring a whopping 69 speed fig. I\u2019m tempted to give him a whirl on turf to see if there is any improvement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n KILLER SHAKE (SHAKE IT UP x HUSSONET x PULPIT)<\/b> \u2013 This 4 year old gelding struggled at the allowance level so I brought him back to 75K claimers going 6.5 furlongs. He came back with a vengeance this week posting a 98 speed fig and getting the victory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WILD CAT TALE (TALE OF THE CAT x WILD AGAIN x TIZNOW)<\/b> \u2013 She came out swinging against winners in her first attempt and ended up wiring the 5 horse field posting a 74 speed fig. I don\u2019t think she\u2019s quite ready for stakes company yet but if the circumstances are right I may give her a shot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n WAR MAESTRO (WAR FRONT x SMART STRIKE x UNBRIDLED\u2019S SONG) <\/b>\u2013 Gave two turns a shot for the first time and improved the speed fig to 79 while earning the same 3rd<\/sup> place result as in the debut. I\u2019m tempted to stretch him to 8.5 furlongs again but not really sure he wants to go that far.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n COMBO BREAKER (CAPE BLANCO x KINGMAMBO x SUNDAY SILENCE)<\/b> \u2013 As some of the vets say I guess they only run as fast as they have to in order to win and he did just that this week posting a 61 speed fig in the four horse allowance field. He wired this field easily and will more than likely get a bump up in class for his next.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CURSED WORLD (IRONICUS x KITTEN\u2019S JOY x GIANT\u2019S CAUSEWAY)<\/b> \u2013 I paid 100K for this horse back in June and so far he hasn\u2019t lived up to the hype. Only reason he makes the Stud\u2019s list today is because he finally found the money in his 3rd<\/sup> start with me. He\u2019d end up finishing 2nd<\/sup> in a 19K NW2L allowance affair posting a 94 speed fig.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UNTAMED KINGDOM (ANIMAL KINGDOM x PLEASANT COLONY x SHARPEN UP<\/b>) \u2013 Against my better judgement I started her off on the dirt and it was obvious she didn\u2019t care for the surface posting up speed figs of 59 and 60. Fast forward to this week where we gave her distance and got her on the turf course and she was an entirely different filly. She\u2019d go on to wire the field of 12 and post a speed fig of 80 in the victory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n TEMPERANCE GOLD (BAYERN x MEAGLIA D\u2019ORO x KRIS S.)<\/b> \u2013 This one has a very interesting story as the original plan was to continue to build her up on the dirt. I claimed her back in March for 20K and switched her to dirt and got two races out of her before trainer Damascus<\/i><\/b> claimed her for 50K. I was a bit disappointed when I lost her and added her to my watch list. It wasn\u2019t until her 2nd<\/sup> race with the new trainer that I put a claim back in on her and retrieved her for 50K. Fast forward to this week and I continued my dirt project with her, sending her a mile on the dirt against 50K NW3L claimers. She\u2019d go on to run beautifully scoring the victory along with a 98 speed fig.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n NEW MEXICAN MORN (SLEEPLESS MORN x ARCH x AWESOME AGAIN)<\/b> \u2013 I actually take a lot of enjoyment out of this guy. As the story goes, he was a 3K claimer who\u2019s turned into an amazing runner for me. This week he actually helped me achieve my second milestone as he ran in a 9 furlong local stakes race on the turf. I was a little on edge about dropping him in on the turf as most of his success with me has come on the dirt, but the surface switch didn\u2019t phase him one bit. He\u2019d go on to wire the field and post up a 105 speed fig while earning that Local Champ & Stakes Winning badge. To put it in perspective just how great this guy has been for me, his record is 6-3-1-2 with earnings of 137 BPs and $122,420.\u00a0 Not bad for a 6 BP and 3K investment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Duds: <\/b><\/p>\n SAVAGE THUNDER (COMMISSIONER x THUNDER GULCH x DAMASCUS) – <\/b>\u00a0Well one thing is for sure he\u2019s quick out of the gate, unfortunately he hasn\u2019t proved he\u2019s able to sustain it throughout an entire race. Most recently he finished 8th<\/sup> by 5.5 lengths. Given that he\u2019s had 3 shots on dirt with little to no improvement I\u2019m going to see if he enjoys the turf in his next.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n FIVE FOR FIVER (NATHANIEL x ZAFONIC x TOM ROLFE)<\/b> \u2013 One of the first ever horses gifted to me and I\u2019m pretty sure I screwed her up from the onset. In 8 tries I was only ever able to get her in the money once and most recently ran her 6 furlongs against maiden 2k claimers that saw her finish 4th<\/sup> by 7 lengths. I would have liked to have given her a shot at turf sprinting before losing her to the claim but its probably for the best.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n SURFSIDE (AUSTRALIA x GONE WEST x KRIS)<\/b> \u2013 So the stretch out to 8.5 furlongs proved that he enjoyed more distance posting a 75 speed fig, but I don\u2019t think he cared for the dirt surface as he finished 7th<\/sup> by 13 lengths. He will get the switch back to turf going as far as I can find in his next.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CRIMSON GENIUS (SHOWCASING x DEEP IMPACT x FUTURE STORM) \u2013<\/b> Gave him a switch to dirt this week to see if that helped. It did not, and he finished 8th<\/sup> by 7 lengths. Its highly likely that I\u2019ll drop him into claimers in his next.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n FELONY (DORTMUND x SUNDAY SILENCE x WILD AGAIN) \u2013<\/b> She got a cut to 5.5 furlongs this week and it didn\u2019t work out the way I hoped as she finished 9th<\/sup> by 10 lengths. Not really sure on where I\u2019m going to go with her next. I could always try turf or drop her into claimers to see if the class relief helps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UNION LEGACY (DEN\u2019S LEGACY x UNION RAGS x READY\u2019S IMAGE)<\/b> \u2013 Slowly but sure the speed figs increase but he\u2019s not doing enough to continue running him with special weights. I\u2019ll drop him into claimers and probably cut the distance to 5 furlongs in his next.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n UNIVERSITY TB (STANFORD x CURLIN x DAMASCUS)<\/b> \u2013 I bought him out of the auction and gave him a crack at turf going 6 furlongs. He matched his top speed fig (64) but lost ground in the stretch in a 6th<\/sup> place finish. I\u2019m thinking routing is what he wants to do so I\u2019ll give him another chance on turf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CAT ON CLOUD NINE (RUNHAPPY x STORM CAT x PROUD BIRDIE)<\/b> \u2013 This week we tried 8 furlongs against 100K claimers and he was always outrun. He\u2019ll continue to move down the claiming ranks until he shows a little bit of form.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ZENNZ (ZENSATIONAL x DEPUTY MINISTER x RUBIANO)<\/b> \u2013 Despite the cut to 5 furlongs I wasn\u2019t able to get her over the hump this week as she\u2019d post a 66 in a 2.5 length 7th<\/sup> place finish on the dirt. I may drop her into claimers in her next and see how she looks there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CLEVAR GIRL (SUPER SAVER x UNBRIDLED x A.P. INDY)<\/b> \u2013 She probably needs to stick to the 7 \u2013 7.5 furlong distance as she couldn\u2019t find any extra late kick routing. She\u2019d finish 6th<\/sup> by 5.5 lengths against Allowance NW1x\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next Week’s Watch List: <\/b><\/p>\n ROBIX (HARD SPUN x ELUSIVE QUALITY x FOREST WILDCAT) \u2013 <\/b>Tried 7 furlongs in her first time against winners and didn\u2019t want any part of the distance. She gets a cut to 6 furlongs and remains on the dirt.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n GENUINE OUTLAW (CURLIN x HARLAN\u2019S HOLIDAY x UNBRIDLED\u2019S SONG)<\/b> \u2013 She just missed breaking her maiden by .5 lengths in her last. She comes back to run the mile again in hopes that she improves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAGNETIC MOON (MALIBU MOON x STREET CRY x STORM BIRD)<\/b> \u2013 He broke his maiden in the slop and comes back to run against winners for the first time going 6.5 furlongs on the dirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CHISELED INMATE (WAR CHANT x NUREYEV x ARCANGUES)<\/b> \u2013 She\u2019s getting the stretch to 8 furlongs after making a nice close going 7 on the turf in her last. Surface and conditions will remain the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n HOMEMADE SCOTCH (POINT OF ENTRY x EMPIRE MAKER x NUREYEV)<\/b> \u2013 I\u2019m banking on her not really caring for the good turf conditions in the debut. That being said she was given a stretch to 8.5 furlongs in hopes that the added distance will help her get that first victory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n THE MARVELOUS ONE (ITSMYLUCKYDAY x A.P. DELTA x STREET HERO) \u2013<\/b> He won for fun going 14 furlongs in his last. He gets a much tougher group this week as he\u2019ll run 13 furlongs against NW3L\u2019s 48K allowance foes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wow what a week! To date this has been my best week yet as I hit quite a few milestones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124228,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/124228"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46823"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46823\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46860,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46823\/revisions\/46860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}