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Good Sunday morning. Are you surprised that Art Official yesterday paced the fastest mile in the 604-year history of Freehold Raceway? I am not. I knew that the horse's world-record in the Meadowlands Pace was no fluke. And just as Somebeachsomewhere has gone on from his crushing defeat that night to set world records of his own Art Official now is proving just how good he is. I hope the two race again this year-- so long as STD isn't in the race.

Speaking of STD, he raced really well last night in Saratoga. He finished second to Riggins in one of the New York Sire Stakes divisions but flew home and almost won. It was a much better performance than the one we saw from him a week ago and it brings us one step closer to a decision about what to do about entering in the Little Brown Jug (no Art Official and so far no Somebeachsomewhere).

Comments

Aaron Waxman said...

I believe that if Art Official wins the cane he will have the opportunity to supplement to the jug. So maybe we will be meeting up with Art Official in the Jug.

posted at 2:33 PM on Aug 25th 2008

DeanT said...

Boy I had a weird deja vu thing happening there. I did not remember writing the post about the 604 year old Freehold Raceway. Glad to see it was another Dean. I thought I was going crazy. Ok, crazier than I already am. Time to change my name!

SBSW's connections are certainly getting some press for their decisions. But I guess it goes with the territory when you have a horse like that.

I think it is fairly straightforward. They paid into the Jug in case they wanted to go. They paid into a lot of things. If the horse came up sick, or got hurt, or whatever and there was a change of plans they have an option. To me that is simply great planning.

They have managed that horse amazingly well. They had a setback early with the injury, yet he does not miss a beat. He will race at many different tracks, heats, and probably will win 15 races this year. This is all by a group of connections that have never had a horse like this, ever. There were many a quiet rumbling from the peanut galleries in the business that this horse should have been with a 'big name' trainer this year, because these small timers would screw him up. Bollocks to that. They have done a super job and deserve to head to Lexington with a shot at a world record mile, and more accolades for this fine horse.

Let's all hope Art meets him a time or two in Lexington!

Dean

posted at 2:03 PM on Aug 25th 2008

Danny Plasky said...

Is SBSW staked to the Jug?
Why would an owner make payments to the LB and then
refuse to race the greatest horse of all time there?
I guess all the other owners and trainers are horse abusers for entering their horse.

From Andrew: I don't begrudge SBSW's connection any choice they make. They (and the horse) have earned the right to call their shots.

posted at 10:16 AM on Aug 25th 2008

Dean said...

"Good Sunday morning. Are you surprised that Art Official yesterday paced the fastest mile in the 604-year history of Freehold Raceway?"

Not surprised at the horse, he's awesome. Pretty surprised that Freehold is already 604 years old though. Wow, time does fly

From Andrew: Ha. Dean, I just wrote that as a joke because people are always saying how old Freehold is. It was not a typo!

posted at 9:45 AM on Aug 25th 2008

tim mansfield said...

Not my money and totally respect your decision either way, but I echo Allan's sentiments below. Additionally, since STD's dad won in 2001 four of the next six champs could be all classified as upset winners. Without SBSW and possibly Art Official? Tough call.......

posted at 2:15 PM on Aug 24th 2008

Allan said...

I know it is a business decision, but from what I am told, being able to experience the LBJ is something you won't forget. Racing in front of 45,000 people is something you will not be able to do elsewhere. This could be your one chance.

posted at 10:13 AM on Aug 24th 2008

Five Weeks Later, M-Pace Setters Still Setting Pace

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