Bad Bad Elroybrown debut's, Psycho Sister ships to Del Mar & Action at the Spa!
Updates:
On Sunday, Jul 24, Bad Bad Elroybrown made his first career appearance on the racetrack at Emerald Downs, finishing a respectable fifth. It's always a treat when a promising two-year old withstands the rigors of training to make that critical first start during their juvenile year. While I don't have the stats offhand, I estimate fewer than half of these babies get the chance to race as 2 -years olds. To reach this point, Bad Bad Elroybrown endured nine breezes between May 2 and July 24, starting at 2 furlongs or 1/4 mile and ultimately reaching 6 furlongs or 3/4 of a mile.
The first career race is a solid gauge to evaluate the performance of the racehorse and determine which adjustments should be made in preparation for the next race. In his debut, Bad Bad Elroybrown broke sharply from the gate but fell back to 7th and 12 lengths behind the leader midway through the race. He managed to pass a few horses to capture fifth (out of 10) and shaved a few lengths to finish 9 lengths behind the winner. While he was never a threat to win this race, he gained valuable experience and closed well down the stretch. As a first time starter, he was green and perhaps a little distracted. To improve his focus and manage his weight, he will be gelded before his next race around the end of August. I expect he'll show improvement and compete for his first win next out
Stablemate, Pyscho Sister has moved on from Emerald Downs in search of greener pastures literally! After running 3rd in three of four maiden allowance races in the Northwest, we decided to test her talent on a turf surface and thus she arrived at Del Mar on Jul 21. She arrived in good form and is pointing towards a maiden mile route on the grass in early August. She is by Freud, ranked #26 nationally as a turf sire and out of a broodmare by Cahill Road, which suggest she should perform well on grass. This is reinforced by her conformation (looks) which further suggest her best effort will be routing (1 mile or longer) on the turf. I'm hopeful that she will take well to the grass and graduate into the winners circle where the Surf meets the Turf at old Del Mar!
He's Bad Bad Elroybrown entering paddock
Racing at historic Saratoga Racecourse is now underway and Super Buddy has taken residence close by in upstate New York as he continues to enjoy some important time off. Speaking of Saratoga, I am very excited to be part owner of a well bred three year old NY gelding named Stormin Stephen, whom we claimed in late June. He is by the premier stallion Malibu Moon and out of the stakes winning mare, Beebe Lake, who earned $195k over her career. Stormin Stephen broke his maiden at Belmont in that race we claimed him and returned to run a solid 6th for his new silks in an allowance race at Belmont in July. He has since travelled north to Saratoga and is pointing towards an allowance race at the Spa in early August. I have travelled nearly every summer over the past 30 years to Saratoga with the same group that claimed this horse and am thrilled I may get that chance to see him race live upon my next visit in early August. Such an event will be very special indeed. I'll take lots of pictures and look forward to sharing my experience of running a horse at Saratoga in my next update!