Bon Voyage

This might be my last post for a while. The reason is several months ago I decided to start looking elsewhere outside of the Los Angeles area for a full time position. As much as I have tried, given the current state of the economy, there just isn't enough work available. My searches lead me to Northern California where there are currently more opportunities because the housing market wasn't as badly hit there.

For the last sixteen months I had been working part time with my current employer with the intent to move to full time. After a lot of unpaid overtime and Sundays I was informed that being hired full time would not happen in the foreseeable future. This situation made staying in Southern California no longer worthwhile. So in October I did a working interview at a public health clinic in Northern California. A week ago I learned that I have gotten the job.

Since then I have been spending most of my time cleaning and packing in preparation for the move. While it’s difficult to leave the heart of horse racing in California, I am glad to finally have a full time position. Fortunately I have found someone to take over the Ambassador Program. Barbara Bowley is a professor at Woodbury University and has brought both students and faculty out to Santa Anita on several occasions to experience a day at the races. In addition she is a former assistant trainer back in the day when Garden State Park and Keystone Park were around. Keystone is now Philadelphia Park. She too has a similar story, unable to find work in thoroughbred racing she stepped away from the game and took up teaching as her profession. Barbara has both the knowledge of the sport and a passion for the game. She's the perfect replacement.

I will stay on with the Ambassador Program mainly as a technician to manage the online Meetup.com portion. The "at the track" part will be up to Barbara who has decided to wait until February before hosting the next program. I've been informed that sometime in the future the NTRA will host the Ambassador Program on their website and I will move to assist there where possible.

As for my future in racing, it’s definitely going to be reeled in. My new job is about three hours drive to the nearest race track which is Sacramento. As you may well know racing only occurs there a few weeks out of the year. Golden Gate Fields is about four hours away, if traffic is good. Consequently going to the races will be infrequent now. I will continue my stable at HorseRacingPark.com, though I am going to start reducing its size because I'll have less time to spend with it. As for Regal Heart, it will remain my main inlet to the sport, albeit one sided. Right now it’s on pause as I am finishing up my entry for the 2010 Thoroughbred Times Fiction Contest.

I do have a foal due in March and I am looking forward to that. In May I hope to attend the Kentucky Derby, if I can get the time off. My racing partner also has a yearling that will start racing in the middle of 2010 so I'll try to make a race or two there. Also my partner and I are also considering purchasing a yearling or two in September 2011 at Keeneland after we have both saved up a decent amount of money for a quality horse or two.

As for being the Commissioner of horse racing, that is still a dream. Dreams are what the sport is made of. In the mean time I'll keep hammering away at Regal Heart, making it the best it can be as well as training my virtual thoroughbreds. Future posts will be infrequent and likely upon the state of the novel's progress.

Until then thank you for reading and as always: Perseverance!

ISTJ: This Explains Everything

So I took a fifty question personality profiling test and the result were four little letters: ISTJ. Only one vowel? Surely I'm complex enough that you'd have to buy two vowels to solve the puzzle? Maybe not. Regardless the summary provided post test seems to explain a lot, maybe even too much? At least I know why I want to storm the ramparts for horse racing.

The Duty Fulfiller

As an ISTJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in via your five senses in a literal, concrete fashion. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things rationally and logically.

ISTJs are quiet and reserved individuals who are interested in security and peaceful living. They have a strongly-felt internal sense of duty, which lends them a serious air and the motivation to follow through on tasks. Organized and methodical in their approach, they can generally succeed at any task which they undertake.

ISTJs are very loyal, faithful, and dependable. They place great importance on honesty and integrity. They are "good citizens" who can be depended on to do the right thing for their families and communities. While they generally take things very seriously, they also usually have an offbeat sense of humor and can be a lot of fun - especially at family or work-related gatherings.

ISTJs tend to believe in laws and traditions, and expect the same from others. They're not comfortable with breaking laws or going against the rules. If they are able to see a good reason for stepping outside of the established mode of doing things, the ISTJ will support that effort. However, ISTJs more often tend to believe that things should be done according to procedures and plans. If an ISTJ has not developed their Intuitive side sufficiently, they may become overly obsessed with structure, and insist on doing everything "by the book".

The ISTJ is extremely dependable on following through with things which he or she has promised. For this reason, they sometimes get more and more work piled on them. Because the ISTJ has such a strong sense of duty, they may have a difficult time saying "no" when they are given more work than they can reasonably handle. For this reason, the ISTJ often works long hours, and may be unwittingly taken advantage of.

The ISTJ will work for long periods of time and put tremendous amounts of energy into doing any task which they see as important to fulfilling a goal. However, they will resist putting energy into things which don't make sense to them, or for which they can't see a practical application. They prefer to work alone, but work well in teams when the situation demands it. They like to be accountable for their actions, and enjoy being in positions of authority. The ISTJ has little use for theory or abstract thinking, unless the practical application is clear.

ISTJs have tremendous respect for facts. They hold a tremendous store of facts within themselves, which they have gathered through their Sensing preference. They may have difficulty understanding a theory or idea which is different from their own perspective. However, if they are shown the importance or relevance of the idea to someone who they respect or care about, the idea becomes a fact, which the ISTJ will internalize and support. Once the ISTJ supports a cause or idea, he or she will stop at no lengths to ensure that they are doing their duty of giving support where support is needed.

The ISTJ is not naturally in tune with their own feelings and the feelings of others. They may have difficulty picking up on emotional needs immediately, as they are presented. Being perfectionists themselves, they have a tendency to take other people's efforts for granted, like they take their own efforts for granted. They need to remember to pat people on the back once in a while.

ISTJs are likely to be uncomfortable expressing affection and emotion to others. However, their strong sense of duty and the ability to see what needs to be done in any situation usually allows them to overcome their natural reservations, and they are usually quite supporting and caring individuals with the people that they love. Once the ISTJ realizes the emotional needs of those who are close to them, they put forth effort to meet those needs.

The ISTJ is extremely faithful and loyal. Traditional and family-minded, they will put forth great amounts of effort at making their homes and families running smoothly. They are responsible parents, taking their parenting roles seriously. They are usually good and generous providers to their families. They care deeply about those close to them, although they usually are not comfortable with expressing their love. The ISTJ is likely to express their affection through actions, rather than through words.

ISTJs have an excellent ability to take any task and define it, organize it, plan it, and implement it through to completion. They are very hard workers, who do not allow obstacles to get in the way of performing their duties. They do not usually give themselves enough credit for their achievements, seeing their accomplishments simply as the natural fulfillment of their obligations.

ISTJs usually have a great sense of space and function, and artistic appreciation. Their homes are likely to be tastefully furnished and immaculately maintained. They are acutely aware of their senses, and want to be in surroundings which fit their need for structure, order, and beauty.

Under stress, ISTJs may fall into "catastrophe mode", where they see nothing but all of the possibilities of what could go wrong. They will berate themselves for things which they should have done differently, or duties which they failed to perform. They will lose their ability to see things calmly and reasonably, and will depress themselves with their visions of doom.

In general, the ISTJ has a tremendous amount of potential. Capable, logical, reasonable, and effective individuals with a deeply driven desire to promote security and peaceful living, the ISTJ has what it takes to be highly effective at achieving their chosen goals - whatever they may be.

Alex and Keith, does this explain everything?

Perseverance!

Bled and Eased

Horse racing deals highs and it deals lows. There can only be one winner in each race regardless of the size of the field. Consequently in this weekend's Breeder's Cup races there will be 14 winners and, unfortunately, 178 losers. On Friday there were some monumental wins. In the BC Marathon a stable that had never started in a Breeder's Cup event ran away and won with a horse claimed for just $10.50, a return of 2800%. Of course for every fantastic story there are plenty of disheartening ones.

For Princess Azula (V) her Breeder's Cup was a dismal performance summed up simply by the race results single line: 6w, 5w, bled badly, eased in stretch. She finished 13th at odds of 3.90 to 1.

For those unfamiliar, horses can bleed when tiny capillaries rupture in their lungs because of extreme exertion during a race. The bleeding enters the airway and prevents air flow. In severe cases the blood can be spotted as it’s discharged from the nose. To prevent bleeding trainers often prescribe lasix, a diuretic which lowers blood pressure, therefore lowering the amount of pressure within the capillaries, reducing the chance of rupture. Horses have to be proven bleeders in order to race with lasix. Azula has never bled before and therefore was not placed on the medication prior to today's event.

Azula will receive a scoping to determine the extent of the bleeding and somewhere between 45 to 60 days rest depending upon the severity of the damage. The original plan was to send her to Barrett's to be sold for maximum value after winning the Breeder's Cup, however with such a poor performance her value is now severely crippled. Instead she will remain with the stable with the hope that she can start again, perhaps in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, should her luck improve.

Perseverance!

BC Filly & Mares Turf: The Biggest Challenge Yet

The field was drawn yesterday for the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. I) with Princess Azula (V) receiving the number eight hole. While not the best position, it's much better than being on the far outside where Azula would have to cross over thirteen other horses when she tries to make the lead. Because the race begins on the last furlong of the downhill turf course this does give her a half mile run up to seize the rail before the first turn. Of course the odd turf/dirt/turf transition can be difficult for some horses to handle so shortly after the post draw Azula made her final prep, posting a 1:361(g) turf mile with Garret Gomez aboard. The work was rated as handily.

While not her speediest time, Garret pointed out that Azula seemed a little awkward crossing the transition from turf to dirt and back. This was a little expected as she's never raced down the hill before. I think the experience could pay dividends on Friday because the race will likely end in a photo. Even one lost step or the slightest hesitation could be the difference between first and fifth.

The definite favorite for the F&M Turf, whose case is made even stronger by her spot in the four position, is Liz Miz (V) who strung together two crushing efforts until barely missing in the Flower Bowl (gr. I) because of distance lost. Had Azula been the two and Liz Miz the one, the race would have likely finished the other way around. The Miz is all about speed so look for her on the front.

The second choice will likely go to Market Reversal (V) who after being picked up for a claim of $40 won the Yellow Ribbon (gr. I) on October the 10th. A lot of punters are going to give her extra attention because the Ribbon was the same conditions as will be Friday. In addition the stable has an outstanding 23% win percentage in graded events.

That puts Azula as 3rd choice which is fine by me since it seems that when my horses are strongly favored they turn a dull effort. It’s said that favorites win 33% of the time; however for me it’s more like 10%. Besides who doesn't enjoy rooting for the underdog? Azula's solid speed should put her in a good position on or near the lead while her finishing kick will make it difficult for the closers to slip through traffic and catch her. If she does lose it’s going to be decided on the first turn and how wide she runs. There’s a lot of inside speed which is concerning.

At this point everything is done on my end; all the preparations are complete. This will definitely be Azula's biggest challenge to date. Can she handle it? I’m running with the big dogs now. The Princess has had a huge year and this is just the cherry on the top. So there are no expectations, just simply enjoyment of the moment in being in my first Breeder's Cup.

Here is the SRF's preview of the race and concerning the Princess they write:

"What a race horse this fine filly is - six wins and four placings from her ten starts. She's won on dirt, turf, inner turf - six furlongs to a mile and a quarter. You have to believe they could run this one around the shed-row and she'd be right in the middle of things. That was a very nice score in the Flower Bowl (GI), where I seriously doubted that she could get the distance - per usual, I was wrong. Note that G Gomez has been on her back in four of her starts - as a team, they've never lost a race."

The SRF pegged Princess Azula to win with odds of 3-1. Let's hope they're right.

Perseverance!

BC Marathon: Anything Can Happen

The saying goes in racing, "You have to be in it to win it," and that's what I'm doing with Light Green (V) in the BC Marathon. It’s definitely a stab of sorts but he had the points with second place finishes in the All American Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate and the Premiers (gr. III) at Hastings. Besides being Breeder's Cup nominated resulted in no further entry fees, so why not take a shot? Anyone else would.

While not exactly the same caliber of claimer such as Liz Miz (V) and Market Reversal (V) both of whom are running against Princess Azula (V) in the Filly and Mare Turf, Light Green has done pretty well since I decided to switch him from sprinting to routing. He did exceptionally well in the All American, but goofed in the Premiers moving too early and giving about 90 feet to the winner because he traveled wide the entire way.

The BC Marathon is comprised of a lot of second string horses since the best went for the Classic. The favorite will likely be Pumpillian (V) who has won his last six in a row. He's familiar with the mile and a half from the Fall Championship (gr. III) at Turfway which was in a "Win and You're in" for the division.

Raindancing (V) would make a suitable second choice and rightfully so after his Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia back in July. It was a divisional "Win and You're in" as well and the final time was respectable enough. Raindancing came back for the Pacific Classic (gr. I) and finished a well beaten fourth but he was going up the very best. Since this is a second string crew he should have a much easier time of it.

Shoulder Wheel (V) finishes out the top three with his win in the Premiers (gr. III) but he did have a huge weight advantage which disappears now and is replaced with 121 pounds. Last time Shoulder Wheel carried that much weight he finished the last of seven in the $50 Horizon Stakes at River Downs. With this in mind I think Light Green can turn the tables on him this time and could very well finish a respectable third in the Marathon. Anything better will just be luck. But then again consider Giacomo and Mine That Bird. Neither shied away from their races, even when 50-1.

Perseverance!

Oak Tree Ends with a Bird

On Sunday the Ambassador Program had the opportunity to host a group of twenty-five college age students from the Cal Poly Pomona Horse Show Team. The morning started off with a bang, each participant receiving a welcome package to the Sport of Kings that included a personal welcome letter, Santa Anita Post Times, a $5 mystery voucher for Breeder's Cup Friday, and either a copy of Paddock or Horseplayer’s Magazine. In addition they received a chance few ever get, a one on one session with a Kentucky Derby winner.

In this case that winner was Mine That Bird and Chip Woolley, the 50-1 pair who shocked the world in the Derby and two weeks later nearly upset Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Besides a Q&A with Chip, the group had a moment to see "The Bird" in person. Chip was very personable and giving of his time, sharing with the group the highs of winning such a prestigious race. By the smiles one thing was certain; the group was impressed by all the stops pulled by Santa Anita's sharp marketing department that was able to arrange the meeting on short notice.

Afterwards the group spent a moment with racing steward Scott Chaney who spoke about his part in the sport, better insuring honesty and helping arbitrate conflicts between personas on the backside. Allen Gutterman, head of marketing, played a surprise visit to the group and was impressed at the turnout. By his smile and his upbeat tone it seems that the program made him a believer in what it is trying to accomplish. If only more executives and administration could see the Ambassador Program at work, I'm certain that it would quickly take to multiple tracks across the nation.

HRTV also had a part to our morning by hosting an informal chat with Scott Hazelton about what goes on behind the scenes. Scott took a moment to make a real emphasis on how major the Breeder's Cup is and what it means to the sport. Many of the students decided on the spot to return for the Cup. The $5 vouchers they had received earlier only helped sweeten the deal.

Afterwards the group headed up to their front row private boxes at the 1/16th pole. Most of the students stayed throughout the day, even after the program's conclusion with the paddock tour. There were smiles a plenty and even some winners with a group of friends in one box doing fairly well by picking the most "angry" horse as their selection for each race.

In all it was a great way to close out the Ambassador Program for Oak Tree as well as for 2009 since Hollywood Park is a very long drive for many. Again I would like to thank Chip and Mine That Bird for taking time out of their morning as well as Nate and Michael from Santa Anita's marketing department for helping assemble a great day. Finally thanks to Barbara for her ties with HRTV as well as her photography.

Perseverance!

Princess a Rose in Flower Bowl

Princess Azula (V) proved that her scintillating win in the John C Mabee Handicap-G1 was no fluke in yesterday's Flower Bowl-G1 where she clashed hooves with multiple graded winner Miz Liz (V) in a two horse duel that ended with the Princess coming up a neck ahead of her outside rival. Liz Miz, winner of the Diana-G1 and the Ballston Handicap-G2, was the strong even money favorite, and rightfully so after her dominating performance in the Diana where she bested some of the top turf females in the country in a resounding stakes record of 1:46.63. She paid $2.60 and $2.30 respectfully. With Princess Azula coming off a surprising loss at Presque Isle in the Masters Stakes-G3 and losing her weight advantage she held in the Mabee, there were definite concerns.

"Liz Miz was coming into the Flower Bowl with few questions to answer other than the extra furlong. On the other hand Princess Azula is something of a late comer to the division. It was a shock to see her in the John C Mabee after her performance in the Princess Rooney. You just don't see a horse instantly jump from dirt sprints to turf routes. She's essentially making a three sixty," stated professional handicapper Jimmy "the Hat", from his table at Santa Anita's Frontrunner Restaurant. Concerning the race, "It was a real slug fest all the way. Either of these fillies could win the Filly and Mare turf. Had Liz Miz been on the inside, she'd likely have won. The Breeder's Cup will determine who comes out with the Eclipse."

Princess Azula, breaking from the one post, took charge early in the event, with Liz Miz quickly taking to her outside. Garret Gomez aboard Azula kept a mild pace and briefly allowed Liz Miz to take the lead. "The Princess likes a fight; she's got lots of heart. I gave the three horse just little ground so she had something to run at. Then bam!" Run they did, with the final quarter in :23 flat.

"The Princess is a real lady. She goes after whatever we throw at her with everything she has," said owner-trainer Troy Racki. "I don't know what happened in the Masters but the track was wet that day and she got a lot of dirt in her face. She's not used to that and I think it really threw her off."

Concerning Princess Azula's next start Racki said, "It really depends on how she comes back in the next couple of days. This was her toughest test yet. She fought fought fought all the way. I'd like to run in the Taylor in two weeks but it’s really up to her." As to the Breeder's Cup in which Princess Azula is both guaranteed a berth in the Filly Sprint and Filly Turf, "Her race today is evidence that she belongs on the turf. Without a doubt. She set a stakes record and bested the top horse of the division."

Indeed the final time for the Flower Bowl-G1 was 1:59.71 and stamps Princess Azula as the likely favorite for the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf, barring any significant events in the E. P. Taylor scheduled to be run on October 17th. Princess Azula returned $7.60, $2.90, and $2.50 while Valibert (v) finished third and paid $9.40 to show.