Sunday

RR still dragging. Now with a case of flu. But our bottom feeder hearts get a boost as we watch several stakes over the weekend where the ridiculously expensive are just unable to catch the cheap stud fees running at the front. One of the better weekends for that. There's still room to maneuver before the money gets smart.

I especially enjoyed wins by Jack O' Lantern and Johnny Eves. What a race and horse in the case of Johnny, a gelding--why?--, and out of Skimming that stands for $7500.00.

Jack O'Lantern was purchased for $10,500.00 out of the same sale as my Rolling Rodney. I got outbid, undoubtedly, since I had but $9,000.00. And, as icing on the cake, Wishful Tom Cat takes the Discovery. He's out of Tactical Cat standing somewhere in Edmond Oklahoma for a price to be announced, lol.

Azul Leon trained by Doug O'Neill looked very decent. I plan to take a closer look when I get time.

For the person asking about riderless training--the paddock I generally use--though I do have the 2f that Bill mentioned, is 1f around with very short straightaways. I also use the Astride weighted saddle before tack work begins, but only in the bigger paddock.

Training:
Sat: 11/22: Art gets the day off after yesterday's riderless mile at speed.
Rod is Ooops suddenly 16 hands. On the theory that growth spurts happen when they lay down a lot, it's dry suddenly sans flies, and my horses of late spend a good part of every morning in the prone position.

Riderless speed and tack for Rod called off. Due to the growth we settle for a riderless two miles with one 1f fast spurt.
Sun: 11/23: Rod is off due to his growing.
Art's 1 1/4 mile trot-gallop aborted at .8 mile when Nob reports, due to an open wound on his shin rubbing against the leathers he's unable to control the horse in the zoo out there--15 mph winds with deer, pheasant, ducks scurrying all over the place near dusk. Art does 1.5 mile riderless easy. Speed work tomorrow.