Heading home after an emotional 2 days in Kentucky, where Cody Dorman got the send off he so richly deserved. Couldn’t leave town without paying a visit to the magnificent horse who made it all possible.
I met
@jmpaquette
many years ago at Suffolk Downs. It has been a thrill to see her advance in horse racing. Today, at Parx, Jess will become the first woman in the U.S. to call a Grade 1 race. And there was nowhere else I was going to be. The absolute best.
In 2013, I covered Swampscott-Marblehead and met Mikey Simmons, who has autism. He got in with 2 min. left and made a tackle, causing fans to erupt. Today, Mikey was working the gate. “Hi, Paul," he greeted me. Mikey works at CVS and is in Special Olympics. Highlight of my day.
The 2023 Saratoga Meet had many well-documented negatives. One overwhelming positive was the tremendous performance of
@FrankMirahmadi
, who delivered Grade 1 work from gate to wire. Highest-pressure meet there is and Frank was a star. Buy him a pizza if you see him!
Now that
@OutrunTheOdds
run on Talkin Horses at Saratoga has presumably come to an end for this meet, it’s hard to overstate what a tremendous job she did. When you work with Andy, you had better be, above all, informed and prepared. ✅✅ Sara is a rising star in the game.
Heading home after celebrating what would have been Cody’s 18th birthday. 4th trip to KY in ‘23 thanks to the Dormans entrusting me to tell story of the magical connection between Cody, and a champion racehorse named for him. Honored to have the opportunity and responsibility.
Just thinking of random lovely moments...
Deputy Storm (left) and Bullsbay visiting early one morning at Northview Stallion Station, Chesapeake City, MD, in 2010.
@JuniorandKellyA
The perfect ending to the racing part of this story would not have occurred without a masterful ride by Junior, a tremendous jockey and better human being, supported by a rock-solid wife and partner.
Tremendous turnout in Swampscott tonight to pay tribute to the best coach ever in a town that has had some good ones. Great work by Steve Bulpett and Joe Caponigro coordinating the effort to name the baseball field Frank DeFelice Diamond, which will be dedicated this spring.
Owner Mark Schwartz just confirmed that Umberto Rispoli will ride
@realBKLYNSTRONG
in the Derby. Rispoli won SA Derby with Rock Your World, but John Sadler gave Derby mount to
@JRosarioJockey
.
#KentuckyDerby
Owner Mark Schwartz confirms
@realBKLYNSTRONG
is heading to the
@KentuckyDerby
after solid workout at Parx this morning. 5F in 1:00.92. Van leaves for Louisville at 6 p.m. Schwartz bought horse for $5K at 2020 OBS Spring Sale. Do you believe in miracles?
@SaratogaTL
@nytbreeders
@BonnieBernstein
Poor take, Bonnie. It’s poor sportsmanship and classless behavior, whether guys on a playground or women on a court. It is possible to win with class but it can only get harder when a well-respected observer defends the behavior simply because it was a female who exhibited it.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the single most dominant performance in the history of American sport with Kate Tweedy, the daughter of Secretatiat’s owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy.
Cody Dorman and Aidan O'Brien appearing on the same racing podcast, separate shows? That's some Grade 1 content. Looking forward to speaking with Cody and family tonight.
I have on high authority, from Trainer Aidan O’Brien himself, that talented 2yo Opera Singer is NOT entered into the
@BreedersCup
! How do I know? Look for a special pod. on our YT Channel tonight after the Cody Dorman interview!
@FanDuel
#Horseracing
Back from 4 days in Saratoga. It was brutally hot and did plenty of work -- 10 stories for
@saratogaspecial
-- but there is simply no better place to be at this time of year. Love the opportunity to tell the stories of especially the lesser-known connections. Be back in 17 days!
Kentucky Derby hopeful Independence Hall completes a sharp workout at TBD for Mike Trombetta, Sarah Shaffer up. :13, :12.2, :12.1, :11 fro :48.3. Out 5F in 1:00.4. All systems go for Sam F. Davis next Saturday.
#TampaBayDowns
@Creighton
@TheAndyKatz
A deliberative, thoughtful, reasonable, non-knee-jerk response to an important issue, taking into account the person's life's work, as opposed to solely a snapshot of it, as disturbing as that glance may be. Congrats,
@Creighton
on getting it right.
I have done the math and figured out that
@DRFLivingston
could post 27 spectacular photos every day and would not run out unless the stay-at-home order lasts until 2093.
It’s been a great week for HHH Racing Podcast and there is a ton of excellent Breeders’ Cup content to come. Team effort, but extra credit to founder and our fearless leader,
@hkravets
. He has built this to an informative, entertaining, respected podcast and no one works harder.
Coming off mediocre work last Saturday,
@realBKLYNSTRONG
didn’t show
@DVracing611
what he was looking for this week. Decision made to skip today’s work and point for another race. “I don’t want to break his spirit just to make a race,” Velazquez said.
I can’t overstate how proud I am to call this amazing woman a friend. She served Suffolk Downs with distinction and has predictably gone on to bigger and better endeavors. The racing industry needs more of
@jmpaquette
#MyPresident
Outstanding tournament to honor an officiating giant and all-around great guy who is missed, especially at this time of year. Games Sunday and Monday at Marblehead High.
If you're looking for a feel-good story in this year's
@KentuckyDerby
here you go. Easy to root for people like Cheryl Prudhomme and Michael Gallivan, the breeders of
@realBKLYNSTRONG
@1Naj
There's over 800mi between Fort Edward & Louisville & only .1% of the 2018 crop made the
#KYDerby
field. Breeders Cheryl Prudhomme & Michael Gallivan will be on hand to watch
#NYbred
@realBKLYNSTRONG
take his, "Unbelievable," spot in the gate. Full story:
Perhaps at some point, hopefully soon, it will be determined that Chateau, a $5500 purchase who has earned almost $740,000 and won graded stakes in a 53-race career, has done enough at age 8 and maybe could be retired, as opposed to being offered for $25K in a claiming race.
Maximum Security has been placed behind Omaha Beach and Haikal. He breathed on Omaha and stepped on Haikal’s foot. CD stewards said so.
@brooklyncowboy1
@jasonblewitt30
Nice to see the spry and eminently competent Dr. Fauci give a verbal beat-down to the pompous Sen. Rand Paul today. "You're not listening, Senator."
#ProudCrusader
Just spoke with Cheryl Prudhomme, who bred
@realBKLYNSTRONG
with her husband, Dr. Michael Gallivan. They are understandably very excited and hoping to make the trip. Very much a part of this Cinderella story. Hard-working people, mom-and-pop operation. Good for them.
Regal Glory goes for some glory in the Fourstardave. Saturday's big
@saratogaspecial
edition is out thanks to
@EclipseTBP
. Previews, recaps, picks, Phil Serpe Stable Tour & scads more. Read it here.
Had a chance to speak with
@FerrinPeterson
for the first time and she was predictably pleasant, well-spoken and enthusiastic about her success at
@MonmouthPark
. Now trying to make it on
@TheNYRA
circuit and I wouldn’t bet vs. her and
@JulieKrone1
.
@CoachKristenMcD
As an assigner of 3 leagues, could not agree with you more,
@CoachKristenMcD
and thank you for acknowledging. We have had many opt not to work and obviously respect their decision. Huge props to those who are sticking it out under very trying circumstances.
#weareallinthistogether
Based on watching him train this morning, Forte seems to have recovered from the grim prognosis offered last night by the Twitter veterinarians. Let's hope it stays that way.
@hkravets
@pvisco28
@APRoscoeK
For all the sports personalities who abdicate their responsibility to answer questions from the media, especially when something goes wrong — that’s you, under-.500-without-Brady Belichick—
@jenaantonucci
just gave a master class in how to do it with honesty, humility and grace.
Curious what our publishing schedule looks like in 2023?
We'll again be publishing twice a week for much of the meet, except when we give you six consecutive editions during the
@FasigTiptonCo
Saratoga Sale for 20 issues in all with the first coming out in just over two weeks.
@brooklyncowboy1
@brooklyncowboy1
I’m so old I remember when Siro’s was somewhat relevant. Or maybe not. Anyway, how about I bring my own steak (and one for you) and beer and we donate the $87 to Old Friends?!
Just a public service announcement that if you want to see the absolute worst side of humans, head to the airport. The gate agents, TSA, etc. are vastly underpaid.
50 pages wrapping up 40 days. Titles for TAP and Irad. Final weekend Stakes coverage. Columns. Little Guys Stable Tour. It’s all here.
#SaratogaSpecial
One more time. The final Saratoga Special of 2020 is out. Racing, sales, jockey & trainer titles,
@FasigTiptonCo
Stable Tour with the Little Guys and lots more. Read it here, presented by
@EclipseTBP
. And thanks everybody.
@Pick4win
@larrycollmus
Congratulations: You have won the Worst X (Twitter) Take of the Day. Make that the Month. Hell, it's the Worst Take of the Year. Prize is ... nothing. Well deserved.
@CoachKristenMcD
@FennisDembo87
As I said in the tunnel at Tsongas Arena after the state final, you represent everything that is good about high school sports. Congrats and continued success.
@raypaulick
@washingtonpost
I’m just shocked it took him until the second paragraph to use the first-person pronoun for the first time, because we know this is about him and not the horses.
Not a dry eye in the house as Kylie Dorman, sister of Cody Dorman, announces Cody’s Wish as Horse of the Year.
In the end, this just might be remembered as “the Cody’s Wish year” at the
#EclipseAwards
. This night and this horse’s legacy will always, of course, be tied to the…
September? How did we get here? Wednesday Saratoga Special FULL of stuff from the weekend plus an epic
@FasigTiptonCo
Stable Tour with Bill Mott and all kinds of other stuff. Read it here, presented by
@EclipseTBP
.
It wasn't Brooklyn Strong's day in the Wood Memorial Saturday, but we will be hearing from the 2020 champion NY-bred 2-year-old again -- perhaps in Baltimore in May.
Happy to tell the story of a jockey who may not be a household name nationwide, but has put together an impressive career and joined an exclusive club today.
Have to think the four equine fatalities over the last 2 weeks played a major role in this. Everyone is hypersensitive, understandably, with the world watching. But curious to see what Todd feels. He absolutely would not run horse at less than 100%. Sad story all around.
Trainer
@DVracing611
confirms he has secured Manny Franco to ride Brooklyn Strong in the Wood Memorial April 3. Will be fifth different jockey in 5 races, but great get for the connections. Franco has good track record on NY breds in big races.
@SaratogaTL
@nytbreeders
@1Naj
It’s Belmont Stakes Week and we kick it off with a look back to Woody Stephens winning 5 straight Belmonts. Legendary jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who rode 3 of those winners, joins us tonight at 8, along with Phil Gleaves, an asst. to Stephens.
@hkravets