Backtalk Is Sassy In Sanford

With a bit of horse racing luck I have become a Backtalk fan. Back in mid-June when we mentioned Backtalk (photo) shortly after he broke his maiden at Churchill Downs, we mentioned he had become the first winner of his class for sire Smarty Jones.

Thursday at Saratoga the 2-year-old colt trained by Tom Amoss solidified his early popularity by remaining undefeated in winning the $150,000 Sanford Stakes (gr. 2) over the Steve Asmussen trained Enumerate.

At the top of the stretch Enumerate and Louisvilleluminary locked up and looked to be battling for the win. In the meantime, Backtalk had raced from off the pace while going six-wide around the turn and wore down the two leaders for the win.

It was the second consecutive graded stakes win for Backtalk, whose damn Apasionata Sonata is the daughter of 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed. After stumbling at the start, Backtalk won the grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs Jul. 3. And again he impressed his trainer with his determination.

“ I’m very excited," Amoss said in bloodhorse.com.

"I think the ability to come from that far off the pace on a day like today when it looked, to me, as the day went on that speed was a good commodity (and) the wide trip he had … I think those things were very exciting. And, I would say, a will to win. The race was not decided until very late.”

Backtalk was purchased for $250,000 as a yearling and has now won $180,0985 for GoldMark Farm owner Paul Buhlman.


The largest and perhaps the most important thoroughbred auction of the year will feature a catalogue of 5,189 yearlings at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky September 14-28. The first few days of the sale are always the most exciting as last year 12 yearlings sold for $1 million or more including an A.P. Indy filly that had the gavel drop on her at the $3.1 million mark. During the first day of the 15-day sale in 2008, 154 yearlings sold for an average of more than $363,000 and the second day saw the average climb to nearly $400,000 each. The median was $300,000 each day if your playing along on Excel at home.

Of the horses cataloged, 2,662 are colts, 2,524 are fillies, and three are geldings.

Keeneland recently announced that the commission rate on horses which fail to meet their reserve (RNAs) will be reduced from 4.5% to 2.5% for the upcoming sales season, beginning with the September sale. The fee reduction is one of several new enhancements Keeneland will debut in September.

Superstars such as Zenyatta and perhaps the nation's top turf horse so far this year, Gio Ponti, American Oaks starlet Gozzip Girl, Pioneerof The Nile, Stardom Bound and the very fast but directionaly challenged Thorn Song are among the 85 graded stakes winners this year that are all graduates of the Keeneland September yearling sale.

NYRA Photo

$1,250,000 Haskell Invitational

To be run Sunday, August 2
1 - Duke of Mischief, Eiboar Coa, 15-1
2 - Summer Bird, Kent Desormeaux, 7-2
3 - Papa Clem, Elvis Trujillo, 12-1
4 - Munnings, John Velazquez, 3-1
5 - Atomic Rain, Joe Bravo, 10-1
6 - Rachel Alexandra Calvin Borel, 4-5
7 - Bunker Hill, K. Carmouche, 30-1



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$750,000 West Virginia Derby

To be run Saturday, August 1 at Mountaineer Park
1 (1) - Soul Warrior, Marcos Mena, Steve Asmussen, 15-1
1A(4) - Sunday Sunrise, Corey Lanerie, Steve Asmussen, 15-1
2 (2) - Mine That Bird, Mike Smith M E Chip Woolley Jr., 3-5
3 (3) - Awesome Rhythm, McAleney, John Ross, 12-1
4 (5) - Big Drama Eibar Coa, David Fawkes, 8-5
5 (6) - Monty's Best, E.R. Da Silva, Reade Baker, 10-1

A Preview of The Graveyard of Champions

The opening of Saratoga is indeed a hallowed day for racing enthusiasts for two most contrasting reasons. We anticipate the 36 days of great races run by some of the best horses in some of the most prestigious races. We also somehow can not surpress our facination that the Spa is also known as the Graveyard of Champions or the Graveyard of Favorites.

For it is Saratoga that gave us one of the great sports terms of all-time as Upset became the only horse to ever defeat Man O' War in the 1919 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. Man O' War owner Samuel D. Riddle did not collect the winner's share of the $4,900 purse for the only time in the big red colt's 21 career starts.

Another big red colt suffered one of his only defeats at Saratoga when Onion defeated Secretariat in the 1973 Whitney Handicap at .10-1 odds at Saratoga and Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox lost to Jim Dandy in the 1930 Travers Stakes at odds of .50-1.

Jim Dandy is the namesake of Saturday's grade 2 stake that will act as a local prep race for the $1 million Travers Stakes on Aug. 27. The $500,000, 1-1/8 race will feature the top three finishers from the Dwyer Stakes in Kensei, Convocation, and Warrior's Reward, pllus Peter Pan winner Charitable Man and perhaps the return of Saratoga Sinner, who is making his first start since winning the grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January.

Although the Jim Dandy comes up light against the $1.25 Haskell at Monmouth Park this weekend with Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont winner Summer Bird, it will in all likely hood provide a possible "upset" in the Travers should all three Triple Crown race winners meet in the Travers as expected. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is also running this weekend in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby in preperation for the Travers.

Should all three run, it will be the first time since 1982 that the three winners of the American Classics have run in the Travers. That year longshot Runaway Groom defeated Preakness winner Aloma's Ruler and Belmont winner Conquistador Cielo who were second and third. Derby winner Gato Del Sol was fifth.

A Closer Look At Summer Bird

It's not often a Belmont Stakes winner gets overlooked. (2008 winner Sarava excluded) With it's Triple Crown prestige and the 1-1/2 mile distance, the Belmont Stakes (gr. 1) is often truly the test of champions as evidenced by it's many 3-year-old year-end award winners. Winners such as Point Given, A.P. Indy and Risen Star have been named champions without a Derby victory. However, with the arrival of Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra on the scene for the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational Sunday, Belmont winner Summer Bird is having to take a bit of a back seat.

But's that's not uncharted territory for Summer Bird and his trainer Tim Ice. Summer Bird was overlooked at 11-1 odds before winning the Belmont; went off at 43-1 odds before finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby (gr. 1) and was let go at 26-1 before his solid third-place finish behind fellow Haskell contender Papa Clem in the Arkansas Derby (gr. 2). Not that there was something the betting public missed at Belmont, Churchill or Oaklawn Park. Prior to those races, Summer Bird had only a maiden victory in two starts to his credit.

The highlight section in each media guide under Tim Ice is a bit sparse as well below the Belmont mention. The 35-year-old Ohio native has only managed his own training operation since 2008 after serving as an assistant for 15 years under trainers Morris Nicks, Cole Norman and Keith Desormeaux.

Summer Bird also has no lucrative auction history as he is a homebred (meaning the current owners also bred and raised the colt) for Drs. Kalarikkal and Vilasini Jayaraman, both retired physicians. They first had a farm in Arkansas but now are based in Ocala, Fla., though the colt was foaled in Kentucky. The natives of India own Tiffany Farms and about 20 broodmares. The Jayaramans have been breeding horses for more than 20 years while racing primarily in Texas, Arkansas and Louisisana.

But there are some things to like about Summer Bird. His Belmont Stakes victory was impressive as he wore down front runner Dunkirk on a speed favoring track, (although Dunkirk went through very rapid early fractions for a 1-1/2 miles) and Mine That Bird who had the advantage of racing further back early like Summer Bird. In the Kentucky Derby, Summer Bird made a good run late while wide and closed ground to finish sixth, beaten 13 lengths by Mine That Bird but only some six lengths behind second-place finisher Pioneerof The Nile.

Summer Bird will also get the return riding services of jockey Kent Desormeaux, who has been on a winning tear since taking the Belmont this year. He won the grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park with Gozzip Girl, the Dixie Stakes at Belmont with Parading and the grade 2 Firecracker S. at Churchill with Mr. Sidney - not to mention his Hall of Fame credentials.

In order for Summer Bird to have a chance to catch Rachel Alexandra, he will benefit if somebody is able to challenge the speedy filly early in the race. If she is allowed to gallop along comfortably on the lead in the early stages of the race, it will be difficult for the late running Summer Bird to muster a rally. But he has been training up to the race well with two solid works at Monmouth Park since arriving from his home at Louisiana Downs July 3 and Ice has been quoted as saying he is training perfect. The added time at Monmouth should also be a benefit over Haskell contenders such as Rachel Alexandra who ship this week to Monmouth Park.

One more thing about Summer Bird that may help. According to Ice, he love's the mud and handled a sloppy Monmouth Park track well during his July 26 work. The surface was muddy and sealed after overnight rains swept through the area before the half-mile work in :49 with a first quarter in :26.

“He had a good strong work and he galloped out strong,” said Tim Ice. "Everything was great. I couldn’t be happier.”

Wacky Read Highlights Good Opening Week At Del Mar

The grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar this weekend had plenty to offer looking back at the important 1-1/8 turf race, including an upset at the wire and a quick right turn during an expected left turn.

As expected Thorn Song and jockey Mike Smith went to the lead early with heavy favorite Monterey Jazz stalking in second. As the field raced around the clubhouse turn, Thorn Song suddenly and unexpectedly bolted to the outside, nearly dismounting Smith. Jockey Tyler Baze just aboard Monterey Jazz just barely missed the erractic leader then suddenly began sprinting away from the field while jockey Corey Nakatani placed eventual winner Global Hunter into a comfortable and eventually stocking position.

No reason was given for Thorn Song's sudden departure from the race by trainer Mike Mitchell only to say that Randy Moss reported on the ESPN2 telecast that the grey had a history of sudden directional changes during morning trainer under previous trainer Dale Romans.

Awesome Gem got up to run second and Whatsthescript finished third in the Read.

Del Mar racing this weekend also featured the emergence of a highly anticapted 2-year-old in Tiny Woods. In Saturday's seventh race Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert unleashed Tiny Woods to win a $53,000 Maiden race in his first try. It was the first win for the ownership team of Thoroughbred Legends who also have horses with trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito. Tiny Woods is the eighth winner of his freshman Sire Roman Ruler and was purchased for $180,000 at Keeneland September as a yearling. He shot right to the lead and held off a late challenge of second-place finisher Sidney's Candy.

Sire Medaglia d'Oro, who has had a banner year with is daughter Rachel Alexandra, finished off yet another a big week. The 10-year-old stallion started the week on a high note with his yearlings bringing top prices at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling sale including the sale including a sale topping $425,000 filly.

The on Saturday another 3-year-old daughter, Tasty Temptation, won the $232,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine near Toronto to give the Jonabell Farm resident his 10th stakes winner of the year.

Medaglia d'Oro is the leading second-crop sire in North America, meaning it is his second oldest crop that is now racing as 2-year-olds. So far this year his progeny have earned $5,851,043 from 50 winners.

That has already been an important statistic in the yearling market this year and will be something to look for in the upcoming auctions at Saratoga and Keeneland.

The remaining top 10 second crop sires and their 2009 progeny earnings are:
2. Tapit - $5,764,899
3. Birdstone - $3,982,081
4. Lion Heart - $3,954,033
5. Speightstown - $3,948,752
6. Candy Ride (ARG) - $3,875,537
7. Chapel Royal - $2,936,461
8. Even the Score - $2,081,621
9. Peace Rules - $2,034,492
10.Congaree - $1,981,928
(Through 7-25. Source Bloodhorse.com)

Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird had his final serious morning work at Monmouth Park Sunday morning as he and jockey Kent Desormeaux went five furlongs (5/8 mile) in 1:01.80 over a muddy track.

Although the work was not the fastest of the morning breezes at that distance, trainer Tim Ice was pleased with the effort. "Everything went great," Ice said. "It was a good strong work and he galloped out strong. I couldn't be happier."

Summer Bird will face Blackberry Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and five other confirmed starters in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Aug. 2 including Arkansas Derby winner and Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Papa Clem, local hero Atomic Rain and Iowa Derby winner Duke of Mishchief.

Big Drama, who is headed to the West Virginia Derby to take on Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird on Saturday, also worked Sunday at Monmouth. He was caught in 49 seconds, the fastest of seven half-mile breezes.

A Special Tweet For Racing Fans

One of the spotlight races this weekend is the grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar. The $350,000 Read is 1-1/8 miles on the turf and is the premier turf race for older horses at the meeting.

But this weekend, I thought I would introduce some of you to perhaps a new way to learn about a horse race.

As most of you know, I Tweet. That is I have a Twitter account - user name: thebrocktalk. Yes, I send and read those 140-character messages throughout the day. And I fully admit that it took me awhile to appreciate it but I was compelled to give it try. Even now I know I don't fully understand all of it's benefits. But the benefits I have found I think are well worth the learning curve of a then 49-year-old maiden claimer in the tweeting ranks.

So let me introduce you to the tweets of Randy Moss (photo), the ESPN analyst who just began tweeting from Del Mar. He can be found at www.twitter.com/randy_moss_tv. These were Friday tweets:

-Joe Talamo replaces injured Rafael Bejarano on Artiste Royal in Eddie Read
about 1 pm PDT

-Still mixing racing & NFL at Del Mar. Mike Tice yesterday and ran into Norv Turner this morning. He's racing fan and headed to track today
about noon PDT

-Bob Baffert bought Richard's Kid for synthetic/turf, entered Eddie Read after good grass work. Blinkers added to "keep him a little closer"
about noon PDT

-For what it's worth: trainer John Sadler told us Whatsthescript is coming up to Sat "just as good and maybe a little better" than last year
about noon PDT

-Sounds like a good old-fashioned barn burner to me. Which would seem to be a perfect scenario for Whatsthescript's stretch-running style
2:31 pm July 23rd

-Mike Mitchell on Thorn Song sitting "length and a half" off pace. He said, "We're not giving ( Jazz) that much. Maybe a half length. Maybe."
2:31 pm July 23rd

-Craig Dollase, trainer of Monterey Jazz: "He's a very fast horse and he's on his game. If anyone wants to go with him early, good luck."
2:27 pm Jul 23rd

-Speed duel in Eddie Read between Monterey Jazz and Thorn Song? Made barn rounds this morning and talked to both trainers of both horses.
12:26 pm Jul 23rd

So now we know a little more about how Moss feels about the Eddie Read and a little more about how he prepares for a telecast as the Read will be shown on ESPN2 Saturday at 8pm Eastern. That was also tweeted earlier by Moss. During the day, Moss also gave his thoughts on the opening day crowd (without any references to attendance figures I might add), Brett Favre, other NFL topics including somebody that thought he was the "other" Randy Moss, and updated jockey Rafael Bejarano's condition.

Other tweeters I like to follow are of course Blood-Horse (BloodHorse) and Thoroughbred Times (TTimes) who both tweet updates throughout the day on news that has just crossed their desks. They were also both fun to follow during the recent Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling auction as they tweeted top sellers just moments after the gavel fell as well as information about under-bidders, trainers in attendance, weanling sale prices and more.

Another tweet from Blood-Horse looked like this at around 6 pm eastern Friday.
Mine That Bird Arrives at Mountaineer http://bit.ly/OqAiB.

Both publications also provide stallion news, maiden race developments, stakes previews and a whole host of other racing topics throughout the day.

Another great tweeter is Alex Brown (photo) who tweets under AlexBrownRacing and tweets about everything from his activity as a Woodbine exercise rider to his cause against horse slaughter to jockey Ramon Dominguez getting his record 93rd winner of the Belmont meet. Brown is a prominent voice in the blogging, tweeting, facebooking world of thoroughbred racing and is a good model for those newcommers to the next information level.

Following Ray Paulick on Twitter can also be quite interesting. Not only does he provide updates to his excellent blog The Paulick Report, but Paulick also tweets live from major horse racing events and functions throughout the year. His tweets during the Kentucky Derby trainers' dinner were fun and interesting as he provided followers with the quips being traded back and forth between Bob Baffert and Master of Ceremonies Chris Lincoln and others.

So before you completely dismiss the idea of ever being on Twitter, just think about what you may be missing about horse racing. And if you're anywhere near within the realm of the typical horse racing fan psychographics, you don't like it when somebody knows more than you.