Monthly Archives: August 2006

Del Mar jockey race

I am surprised. I was fairly certain that Martin Garcia would win the Del Mar riding title, but it looks like the talented Victor Espinoza is going to prove me wrong by backing up his Hollywood Park title with one … Continue reading

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Amazing seventh race on Sunday

If you haven’t already seen Sunday’s seventh race at Del Mar, when Phar to Win almost got carried up into the clubhouse terrace restaurant on the first turn, you need to check it out on TVG replays or, better yet, … Continue reading

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Some horses for today

Take a look at these horses running today at Del Mar. I think they have a big shot.

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Breeders’ Cup Classic

Right now, you’d have to put Bernardini on top of the Breeders’ Cup Classic hopefuls list the way he easily won Saturday’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga. I thought Bluegrass Cat had a shot to beat him heading into the race, … Continue reading

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Travers a two-horse race?

While Bernardini looks to be at the head of the class in this year’s 3-year-old division, don’t discount Bluegrass Cat in today’s $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

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Try these horses on for Sise

A very capable trainer, Clifford Sise, has been eerily quiet so far this Del Mar meeting. Sise, who has won with 18 percent of his 173 starters this year, is 0 for 15 at the beach and overdue to make … Continue reading

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Which jockey would you choose?

I was thinking (OK, sort of dreaming, too) about if I owned a talented 2-year-old colt. What would I name it? How often would I race it as a 2-year-old? And, perhaps most importantly, who would I get to train … Continue reading

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Cut Murray Johnson some slack

Trainer Murray Johnson’s rip job on Del Mar officials and fellow trainer Doug O’Neill following Sunday’s Pacific Classic was out of line. But give the veteran trainer credit. He apologized the following day and also called O’Neill to offer a … Continue reading

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Kornier making self at home

Doug O’Neill may be atop the trainer standings, but former NoCal mainstay Brian Kornier is showing the folks here in SoCal that he knows how to train.

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Where does Lava Man rank?

Now that Lava Man has proved he’s as adept at winning Grade I races on both dirt and the grass like the great John Henry, where does he rank in terms of all-time great horses we’ve seen here in California?

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