Horse racing

Purse cuts

The reaction among horsemen this morning at Lone Star Park to the announced cut in purses ran the gamut from stoic disappointment to indignation. Perhaps, though, trainer Ralph Rampellini said it best: “I don’t know why horsemen and racetracks can’t be united for the good of the sport.”

Lone Star has announced that it will cut overnight purses 10 percent, effective May 8. The cut is “in response,” according to a press release, “to the recent decision of the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, in conjunction with the recently formed Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, to withhold the Lone Star signal to all Account Deposit Wagering (ADW) companies in an ongoing dispute regarding the percentage of simulcast wagering that goes to the horsemen.”

The horsemen’s withholding approval hurts only themselves and the fans. On the other hand, Lone Star’s handle is down across the board, and the loss of ADW money accounts for very little of it.

The real problem at Lone Star is declining quality. The last two years, the racing has been, for the most part, mediocre, but with some shining moments. This year, in my view, the quality has taken another step south.

With a declining foal crop in the state, the Texas-bred races rarely attract full fields. Three of the track’s most powerful stables – those of trainers Steve Asmussen, Bret Calhoun and Cody Autrey – have sent many, if not most, of their better horses elsewhere. Asmussen, of course, has operated stables on several fronts simultaneously for years. But this year, he said, he probably has the thinnest group at Lone Star that he has had here in several seasons.

That’s the problem. And cutting purses 10 percent, just as Louisiana Downs prepares to open, can only exacerbate it.

Sing Baby Sing looks sharp

Sing Baby Sing is ready to run. The stakes winner had the best work of the morning at Lone Star Park, going five furlongs in 59.80. I didn’t have him on my watch, but Rick Lee, the assistant clocker, said he caught Sing Baby Sing going the final quarter-mile in 23.87.

Salt Mine flashed some speed out of the gate, going 35.52 for the opening three-eighths and 48.07 after a half-mile, for trainer Gilbert Ciavaglia. And that was against a strong wind.

Sound Stage might be OK after all. The son of Dynaformer has raced twice on turf and hasn’t shown much. But his trainer, Donnie Von Hemel, is a model of patience, and I suspect he’ll bring the colt around. Sound Stage worked an easy half-mile this morning in 50.20 while well off the rail, and he ran the final quarter-mile in 24.52.

Works and purses

Brownie Points, the multiple stakes winning filly from Donnie Von Hemel’s barn, turned in a sharp workout this morning in preparation for the Ouija Board on May 26 here at Lone Star. She worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.45, a solid but unspectacular clocking, but she ran the final quarter-mile in 23.85 and then galloped out strongly. In her last outing, of course, she finished second in the Apple Blossom Stakes.

I was mildly impressed with a 3-year-old filly from Steve Asmussen’s stable who worked six furlongs this morning. The filly, Surfboard, worked in company with Twindian, a 3-year-old colt – or perhaps a gelding -- who ran fourth here opening weekend, and although they finished together, I thought the filly looked stronger. The went evenly and willingly, without any encouragement, and stopped my watch at 1:15.24, but they covered the final quarter-mile 24.73. Surfboard galloped out more strongly than her workmate. That’s an unusual move for Asmussen, who rarely works his horses beyond five furlongs.

King Dan was best of three going a half-mile for trainer Dallas Keen. King Dan drew clear late, with Larry Taylor riding, in 47.46, a couple lengths ahead of Mirage, who was a length in front of Taco Road.

I expect Lone Star to reduce its purses soon, which in my view could be a very ominous indicator for horse racing in the state. When racetracks start “adjusting” purses, or cutting costs by reducing services, to compensate for a downturn in profits or revenue, they invariably exacerbate their problems. It’s hard to stop the mud once it starts to slide.

Anyway, the track no doubt will rationalize any purse cut by suggesting it’s a result of the ongoing dispute with horsemen’s groups over fees derived from exporting the simulcast signal. But handle is just down. The crowds have been good, for the most part, but folks aren’t betting much on Lone Star ‘s races. More money is frequently bet at Lone Star on races run elsewhere than on races run here. And, at the risk of oversimplifying a complex situation, the only way to change that is to improve the quality of racing by increasing purses, not decreasing them.

The turf and the Five

The rain fell last night, and Lone Star’s Pick Five should fall today.

The carryover in the Pick Five is more than $5,000, which makes the investment particularly attractive, despite the overnight rains that left the racetrack muddy. As of right this moment, the turf races are still on the grass. That, of course, could change.

Fifth race: Will Kitty Kitty has put in two good workouts here, the most recent being the most impressive. On April 19, he worked a half-mile in 47.60, with a strong final quarter-mile, and then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.68, which was faster than Going Ballistic’s bullet for the distance (1:00.80). And that was just before the track closed for training, at 10 o’clock, when the surface is at its slowest. On paper, Wild Kitty Kitty doesn’t look like he should win this race, but he’s making his first start for trainer Dallas Barton, who apparently has turned the horse in the right direction. And, by the way, Wild Kitty Kitty also has worked well in the mud. Next Punch, though, is the one to beat.

Sixth race: Like Wild Kitty Kitty, Storm Mesa is a possible single for the Pick Five. He’s got all the positives. Conventional thinking can, and no doubt will, employ all the usual clichés in explaining why he should win, and he should. But his talent edge is only slight. And a few horses in here who seem to be improving could surprise him, horses such as Comely Grace, Uno Red Bird and Brilliancy. And so while Storm Mesa is a possible single, he’s also the sort of horse that could create a very large payoff if beaten.

Seventh race: If Scaramouche returns to the turf, he has a decisive advantage. P F Don D is an intriguing horse; he ran the best race of his career on this turf course, and he has the speed to control the pace. If the race moves to the main track, then Slew by Slew, Chameleon and Secret Woods become equally possible winners.

Eighth race: For you numbers guys, if you make a speed figure based on the six-furlong splits in the longer races of Ferdinand’s Flyer, he’s the horse to beat. And he never has lost at this distance. But Bullfight is training well; Settler’s Hawk is consistently solid; We Sang Dixie will win with his best effort; and K. B. Alex has a shot, based on the splits in his last two outings. In other words, this looks like a good place to spread out.

Ninth race: Charley B Gold looks very solid on turf. But if the race is moved Sweet Retta Brown and David’s Surprise become the top contenders. 

Lone Star Derby

Golden Spikes, the runner-up in the $500,000 Illinois Derby, will probably make his next start at Lone Star Park.

“I was looking at the Peter Pan at Belmont,” said Golden Spikes’ trainer, Marty Wolfson, explaining why he’s looking instead to the Lone Star Derby on May 10, “but I think that race might come up a little tougher with Keep Laughing and some others in there.”

Keep Laughing, the winner of the recent Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland, is indeed expected for the Peter Pan, also run May 10. Another intriguing possibility for the Peter Pan is Casino Drive, who’s due to arrive in New York next week from Japan. He’s a half-brother to Rags To Riches.

Golden Spikes has won two of his seven starts and earned $153,745. A son of Seeking the Gold, he finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth and fourth in the Hutcheson Stakes, both at Gulfstream Park, of course.

Fast track and works

If I can judge from this morning’s workouts at Lone Star, the track is faster than it has been this season. And crews are working on it at this very moment. In today’s Texas Mile, if he gives his best effort, Monterey Jazz could approach, or even break, the track record of 1:34.44, set by Isitingood in 1997.

Shortly after the track closed for training this morning, out on the turf, the grass was cut and the course rolled. That last time that happened, the turf course became a superhighway.

Anyway, there was considerable activity this morning. Fort Apache worked a half-mile in :48 in preparation for the Lone Star Derby. That’s an aggressive move for a horse who has won but once, but he looks as if he could be nice colt.

Bruce Jackson has a 2-year-old that looks to have some ability: Laguna Amiga worked a half-mile in :48, and he did it the right way, with a final quarter-mile in 24.08, galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.49.

Lil Pink Cadillac could improve in her next start. In her debut, on April 18, she broke poorly, ducked in and dropped back. And so this morning, trainer Misty Cansler sent Lil Pink Cadillac back to the starting gate. She broke sharply, raced a little green through the lane and went a half-mile in 48.40, finishing about three lengths ahead of Calvary’s Brother.

Etesaal looks as if he could be a nice horse. He worked five furlongs in 1:01.86, but he did it very easily. In fact, I was stunned when I looked at my watch because I was expecting a much slower clocking. He has long, easy stride that covers considerable ground.

For trainer Donnie Von Hemel, Stormy B was best in a set of three out of the gate. He scooted away from the gate sharply and led through three furlongs in 36.11 and then steadily drew away, with a  half-mile in 48.67 and five furlongs in 1:01.61, to finish five lengths ahead of Lucky Striker, who was a length ahead of Cole Bear.

FYI

The races scheduled for the turf tonight have been moved to the main track.

Muddy works

Lone Star’s track was muddy this morning, but not so muddy that it can’t be fast by tonight’s races. If the sun makes a vivid appearance, the track should indeed be fast, or at least “good.” Hard to say, though, about the turf, which probably needed the water it received during the overnight shower.

Despite the mud, 30 or so horses worked this morning, but with only a few worth noting. Rare Flyer, The Cat Who and Truly And Proper all worked together for a half-mile. They began quickly, with an opening quarter-mile in 22.84 and then tired down the stretch. Near the wire, Rare Flyer, who was closest to the rail, got clear to complete the work in 48.21, a length ahead of his stablemates. But here, as the radio man would say, is the rest of the story: Rare Flyer is a 3-year-old; The Cat Who is a 2-year-old. I don’t know about the bay, Truly And Proper, but he’s probably a 2-year-old, too. They all came from  trainer Brent Davidson’s barn, and he, it seems, always wins a race or two here with his 2-year-olds.

Gambling Wolfe and Valentine Gamble worked five furlongs together, starting at the half-mile pole and continuing past the wire to the seven-furlong marker. They stayed together throughout, to finish in 1:01.60, with a final quarter in about 25. They both looked strong. Eddie Martin, by the way, was on Gambling Wolfe.

Sheza Texnnow proved much better than her stablemate, Krisie Miss Whiz, when they worked a half-mile together out of the gate. Sheza Texnnow went 24.05 for the opening quarter and just about duplicated that to finish in 48.60, three lengths ahead of her workmate. Sheza Texnnow galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.21.

Jacks New Cat, I thought, looked strong while going a slow half-mile in 51.60.

Lone Star Derby

The Lone Star Derby should benefit from the overflow in Kentucky. In fact, it already has.

My Pal Charlie, the Louisiana Derby runner-up, ranks 28th in graded earnings among the horses queuing up for the Kentucky Derby, and so his trainer, Al Stall Jr., said today that he’s now looking to Texas. In other words, My Pal Charlie will make his next start May 10 in the Lone Star Derby.

I first saw the handsome colt in the paddock at Fair Grounds prior to the Louisiana Derby. I was there primarily to see Pyro and Tale of Ekati and Majestic Warrior. Frankly, I hadn’t given My Pal Charlie a moment’s consideration. After all, he never had run in a stakes race and had just scored his maiden victory six weeks earlier. And if I had given him even a moment’s thought, I must have quickly forgotten him, because when he strolled into the paddock, poised and balanced and glimmering, I looked over at Bob Fortus, the terrific turf writer for the Times-Picayune, and said, “Who is that?”

He told me. But a few moments later I supplied the answer myself. When My Pal Charlie finished second, I said, “That’s that good-looking Indian Charlie colt.”

Anyway, Stall told me the colt’s even better looking now, having put on a little weight and matured somewhat. In his last outing, the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, My Pal Charlie finished fifth, 7 3/4 lengths behind Gayego.

“It wasn’t a bad race,” Stall said about the colt’s effort in Arkansas, “but I thought he would run better than that. He just didn’t step forward like we needed him to.”

But he could be ready to step forward soon, Stall said, because My Pal Charlie has trained well since his sojourn to Arkansas. Lone Star and its Derby should suit him perfectly, Stall said. A New Orleans native, Stall has raced frequently at Lone Star over the years. He said he’ll be very happy to return to Texas and take the road less traveled, which could prove to be very lucrative and rewarding for a horse such as My Pal Charlie.    

Stakes and works

Elliecat, who can be so mean that her nickname is Elliegator, worked a half-mile this morning in preparation for Saturday’s Irving Distaff. She looked a little washy, but she ran the final quarter in 24.46 on her way to stopping the watch at 49.40, and she galloped out five furlongs in 1:03. In February, at 78-1, she won the Chou Croute Stakes at Fair Grounds, and except for a poor effort there in the slop, she hasn’t given anything but solid performances since joining trainer Dallas Keen’s barn last year.

Also among those possible for the Irving are Barbette, Hartfelt, Miss Peachtree, My Three Sisters and New Edition.

But Lone Star’s big race Saturday will be the $300,000 Texas Mile, and as it’s shaping up, it could be one of the better editions. Monterey Jazz is due to arrive here Thursday from California, his trainer, Craig Dollase, said. Monterey Jazz, of course, won the Strub before disappointing as the favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Dollase didn’t want to be critical of Russell Baze, but it looked to me that the rider just let Monterey Jazz get away from him in the Santa Anita Handicap. Baze never had been on the horse, and before he realized what kind of locomotive he sat atop they had opened up a 12-length lead. They took the field through three-quarters in 1:10 and a mile in 1:34.2 before capitulating and fading to 12th.

David Flores, the horse’s regular rider, was on stablemate Awesome Gem for the Big ‘Cap. But he’ll be here to ride Monterey Jazz in the Texas Mile.

Also aimed at the Texas Mile are Zanjero, who won two Derbies last year and is already a millionaire, and Going Ballistic, who won the Super Derby last year and will soon be a millionaire, as well as Beta Capo, a multiple stakes winner. Steve Asmussen trains both Zanjero and Beta Capo, while Donnie Von Hemel has Going Ballistic.

Reporting For Duty, another stakes winner from the Asmussen barn, also worked half-mile this morning, in 51.60. He’s also nominated to the Texas Mile.