Horse Racing questions and answers

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Munny Problem Race Recap



Munny Problem ran a much-improved second with a very rough trip this afternoon in his first start as a gelding and first start turf sprinting.

Click for the result chart.

Your son of Munnings broke slowly, as he typically does, and trailed early on. He worked his way up the inside down the backstretch as he picked off foes. Around the far turn jockey Mychel Sanchez opted to get him outside in the clear, at which point he really began to pick up his stride as they turned for home. Into the stretch Mychel angled him back inside and tried to split, but he had to check out of a tight hole before angling back into the clear and closing well for place honors.

Though he had a bit of a troubled journey, this run was certainly encouraging. It was Munny Problem’s his best effort yet, and he appeared to appreciate the cutback in distance. Additionally, he seemed to be much more focused on the task at hand—which was one of the key reasons why we elected to geld him.

As always, we will see how Munny Problem exits this effort before regrouping with trainer Michael Trombetta and deciding on next steps.

A handicapper will see the blinkers ON and the gonads OFF now and then. I have always said that when you see that combination, you can NEVER dismiss it , as the horse is now almost certainly going to be more focused on winning and less worried about what he was previously experiencing. It is an angle with results that demand you carefully weigh it not just for that 1st race back, but for the next 2-3 races as well. After that, everyone can see it on paper.
Great to hear he is back on track and Mike T. will get the most out of him. I have such respect for the horseman Mike has become. It was really great to get a chance to say hi and speak with him a couple months ago at Laurel. He's a great guy and always has been. I'm so happy for his success.

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Elevated Owner Update

2 days ago

Elevated: Entered



Elevated was in good order this morning following her paddock scratch yesterday, and has been entered for a second go at her debut on Saturday, July 25 in the first race at Saratoga (post time 12:35 p.m ET). Your daughter of Flightline will break from post 7 in a field of 9 with Hall of Famer Bill Mott’s first-call rider Junior Alvarado once again named. We will be back in the coming days with a closer look at the race.

Awesome news !!

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Black Tie Optional Workout Report



Black Tie Optional breezed five furlongs in :59.40 from the gate while on the inside of Truth Or Dare (Quality Road--Gamine) this morning at Del Mar. Your son of Not This Time broke extremely well and accomplished this quick clocking fairly easily. He was professional from the get-go under rider Erick Garcia and accomplished this work all under his own power. As we have previously mentioned, our race target is on August 2nd, which will give him one more breeze in preparation. We would expect this frequent workmate Truth Or Dare to also be in that spot.

Wish I was able to post the video's....

Hang on Batt. This ride is about to get interesting. Love this horse !

[str]

Black Tie Optional Workout Report



Black Tie Optional breezed five furlongs in :59.40 from the gate while on the inside of Truth Or Dare (Quality Road--Gamine) this morning at Del Mar. Your son of Not This Time broke extremely well and accomplished this quick clocking fairly easily. He was professional from the get-go under rider Erick Garcia and accomplished this work all under his own power. As we have previously mentioned, our race target is on August 2nd, which will give him one more breeze in preparation. We would expect this frequent workmate Truth Or Dare to also be in that spot.

Wish I was able to post the video's....

One other observation. Do you all see how this horses neck is bowed and his mental energy is in what he is doing ? Everything is forward, and alert mentally.
This is a CLASSIC example of a horse that was being a playful dummy in the beginning and all the sudden, gets it. It's like when Rocky was going to fight Creed the first time. Clueless street fighter and happy go lucky.
Well, the script has flipped. He is open for business and focused on competition. If that rider got any closer to the inside fence, he would lay down an 11 and change in a heartbeat. This guy is lookin for a street fight. Most of the baby fat is gone. Dudes getting chiseled.
I'm so glad to see this. I knew when I first saw him, he was my favorite. Can't always articulate what it was or is, but it is IT. He has IT !

Will he win?? Man, I don't know. Secretariat lost the first time.

But Sure , why not. I doubt ability gets in the way but every firster is different mentally. If he can overcome ALL THE LITTLE THINGS, this guy is for real. Good Luck Batt ! You've got my blood pumping on this one. I appreciate that Batt !!

[batt33]

One other observation. Do you all see how this horses neck is bowed and his mental energy is in what he is doing ? Everything is forward, and alert mentally.
This is a CLASSIC example of a horse that was being a playful dummy in the beginning and all the sudden, gets it. It's like when Rocky was going to fight Creed the first time. Clueless street fighter and happy go lucky.
Well, the script has flipped. He is open for business and focused on competition. If that rider got any closer to the inside fence, he would lay down an 11 and change in a heartbeat. This guy is lookin for a street fight. Most of the baby fat is gone. Dudes getting chiseled.
I'm so glad to see this. I knew when I first saw him, he was my favorite. Can't always articulate what it was or is, but it is IT. He has IT !

Will he win?? Man, I don't know. Secretariat lost the first time.

But Sure , why not. I doubt ability gets in the way but every firster is different mentally. If he can overcome ALL THE LITTLE THINGS, this guy is for real. Good Luck Batt ! You've got my blood pumping on this one. I appreciate that Batt !!

watching up....
Thanks STR! Slowly catching up!

[str]

Journalism was retired. That's a shame he couldn't finish out the year. They have not disclosed the nature of the injury but said it happened in the gate prior to him running and winning his last race.
If I had to guess, it sounds like it could be a hind leg tendon that was injured. Those would take probably 6-9 months and this was most likely his last year to race anyway. Man, what a tough business. At least the injury is not life threatening at all. (I assume and hope).

[JBEX]

Journalism was retired. That's a shame he couldn't finish out the year. They have not disclosed the nature of the injury but said it happened in the gate prior to him running and winning his last race.
If I had to guess, it sounds like it could be a hind leg tendon that was injured. Those would take probably 6-9 months and this was most likely his last year to race anyway. Man, what a tough business. At least the injury is not life threatening at all. (I assume and hope).

yes it's a shame he couldn't finish out the year.. faced absolute killers in the classic last year and while it's never easy , would've certainly liked his chances this time .. has all the credentials to be a great stallion though being by curlin and out of an into mischief mare .. doesn't get much better than that

[batt33]

Elevated going off race one at Saratoga #7...

[BOA12]

Elevated going off race one at Saratoga #7...

U around playing pony's ?

[batt33]

U around playing pony's ?

I am now for a little bit... what's up?

[batt33]

Elevated going off race one at Saratoga #7...

ran fourth got a little tired at the end... the one thing I heard about Mott is he likes to race his horses into condition ... so if that's true she should gain a lot of of the race!

[BOA12]

I am now for a little bit... what's up?

Interested in any exotic wagers you are or may play at Saratog if any.

[batt33]

Interested in any exotic wagers you are or may play at Saratog if any.

after my P-5 went down in flames I backed it up with a p-4

R2: 2,3 R3: 1,6,9 R4: 5,7 R5: 9,10

[batt33]

I'll move over to your thread with some more plays!

[batt33]

Better behaved this time, she broke cleanly and easily out-footed the rest of the field to take command early by about a length. The bay posted splits of :22.62 and :46.54, and fended off one challenge to her inside at the top of the lane, but couldn’t hold off the second-time-starting winner and then tired in the final sixteenth.

While we maybe would have liked to see slightly more finish from the filly, considering last week’s events, we’ll take this as a positive first outing--she did just have the one 3/8 breeze between July 9 and today because her schedule was thrown off. It’s also important to keep in mind that trainer Bill Mott is not known for having his summer 2-year-olds 100% fit first out.

Rider Junior Alvarado’s biggest piece of feedback is something we’ve talked about before—that she’s a very aggressive filly who always wants to go. He said he felt like he was riding a stick of dynamite and she just never settled or relaxed as she tried to maintain her early advantage on the competition.

The key moving forward will be to continue working with Elevated to relax early and ration out her speed a bit better—if anyone can teach her that lesson, it’s Mr. Mott. It’s pretty clear Elevated has significant talent, and once she figures out how dole it out more efficiently, she’ll be very dangerous.

[batt33]

levated Flattered in Race 3



Elevated was flattered in Saratoga’s third race when her past workmate Belzoni (Gun Runner) ran a huge second in a strong-looking maiden special weight for colts.

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Better behaved this time, she broke cleanly and easily out-footed the rest of the field to take command early by about a length. The bay posted splits of :22.62 and :46.54, and fended off one challenge to her inside at the top of the lane, but couldn’t hold off the second-time-starting winner and then tired in the final sixteenth.

While we maybe would have liked to see slightly more finish from the filly, considering last week’s events, we’ll take this as a positive first outing--she did just have the one 3/8 breeze between July 9 and today because her schedule was thrown off. It’s also important to keep in mind that trainer Bill Mott is not known for having his summer 2-year-olds 100% fit first out.

Rider Junior Alvarado’s biggest piece of feedback is something we’ve talked about before—that she’s a very aggressive filly who always wants to go. He said he felt like he was riding a stick of dynamite and she just never settled or relaxed as she tried to maintain her early advantage on the competition.

The key moving forward will be to continue working with Elevated to relax early and ration out her speed a bit better—if anyone can teach her that lesson, it’s Mr. Mott. It’s pretty clear Elevated has significant talent, and once she figures out how dole it out more efficiently, she’ll be very dangerous.

Absolutely Batt ! She will chill out especially with that team working with her. The ability is clearly there.

[str]

levated Flattered in Race 3



Elevated was flattered in Saratoga’s third race when her past workmate Belzoni (Gun Runner) ran a huge second in a strong-looking maiden special weight for colts.

The things that are NOT in the form that certainly matter. Regulars here should follow this one.