Not a great start to the new year. Headache 2yo’s of last year have moved on to be headache 3yo’s.
Our sole winner was the successfully claimed [color=blue]Quaelor (3yo, Spock) who won by 3 lengths. He’s out of gold-rated Question Authority by Who Says, making him a half-brother to stud-qualified NCh. Quarren. Given his lineage, we’re hoping Quaelor will be a late bloomer.
[color=green]Paris Office (4yo, Mr. Townsend) ran 2nd/6 in his claimer and stays home.
[color=blue]Stressful Reality (3yo, Stressed) finished 2nd/6 in his OA and 3yo debut.
Four horses finished off the board.
Only 5 runners sent out today. Good performances all around with all 5 finishing either first or second.
5(3)-2(2)-3(1)-0-0 $208,000
Wins
[color=red]Ch. DashingCoronaRose, (4yo, Worth My While x By By Birdie) 1st in the G3 Affectionately Handicap at Aqueduct.
[color=red]Ch. Crystal Warrior, (3yo, Black Warrior x Magic Crystal) 1st in the G3 Mr. Prospector Handicap at Gulfstream. Her second consecutive SW and fourth overall, she earned her “Ch” title with this win. She is another Starfish contender for the US & Canadian Classics this year.
Seconds
[color=red]Ch. Ancient Fire, (4yo, Turn n’Burn x Ancient Honour) 2nd in the G2 Memsie Stakes in Australia. Failed by a neck to emulate her stable-companion Hogwarts who won this race last year.
[color=red]Bandita, (3yo, Spock x Bandia an Gealach) 2nd in an NW2 at Gulfstream. Her first time OTB in five races.
[color=red]Flying High, (3yo, What’s Debatable x Big Bet) 2nd in an NW2 at Aqueduct.
Six out, everybody 4th or better.
[color=blue]Quarren (5yo Sadlers Wells) won the Ungraded Sensational Star Handicap.
[color=blue]Devilish Style (3yo Devil His Due) won his OA.
[color=red]Bound For Glory (3yo Harvard Bound) was 2nd in her NW1 after a long break at the farm.
[color=red]Danzintothetop (4yo Strider) was 3rd in the Grade 3 Affectionately Handicap
[color=red]Flora MacDonald (4yo Point Given) and [color=red]High Expectations (5yo Double Cross) finished 3rd and 4th in their OA.
Two fillies.
4yo [color=red]Ch. Akasha was 2nd/6 in a starter allowance.
3yo [color=red]Ch. Iyaiyai finished 3rd/8 in open allowance.
Well, for my first raceday, I suppose it could have been worse.
[color=green]Sunset Gold, my starter racehorse, finished 5th in his 6f Dirt race. I suppose that’s not too bad considering I don’t know his racing preferences.
[color=blue]Champion’s Glory finished 7/8 in his 5f Dirt race. He’s only 3, and was very lightly raced as a 2-year-old, so I won’t give up on him yet. Perhaps he’ll do better over longer distances.
[color=red]Drumroll Please was the horse we claimed. She took second in her 5f Dirt race. I’m quite happy and I think she can do very well.
[color=red]Asteria finished dead last in her 9f Dirt race. Gah. It looks like she hasn’t been “home” since March of last year, so her natural energy may be low? Is right? I shipped her to my stable anyway.
Quite possibly re: natural energy. Shipping her home is probably a good idea 
Yes, definitely. My rule of thumb is farm time after 2 months and/ 2-4 races, so that horses only need to be there a couple of weeks before they’re rejuvenated.
Decent day in my neck of the woods - one win, one third, and one sign of of possible hate for Gulfstream.
[color=blue]A Charming Man continues the trend of “RC Bee horses prefer SoCal tracks to everything else, thus dooming them to only run for the first half of the year” by winning a 9.5f NW2 on dirt for 4YO+. Not even kidding - he only ever finished in the money when running at Santa Anita and Del Mar.
[color=blue]Outfromthenight, a Color War-won 2YO who only started to show something in his last race of last year, placed third in a 6f NW1 on dirt for 3YO+. Perhaps he’ll improve in his next start if I ran him in 3YO only races.
[color=red]Th
6-3-0-0-0 $57,000
3 wins, 3 6ths.
[color=blue]Sir Barton’s Fate (4yo, Tryst of Fate) won an NW1. A good start for his first race ever!
[color=blue]Satan’s Secretary (3yo, Worth My While) won an NW2.
[color=red]Whinny Pearl (4yo, Octogonal) won a Starter Allowance over jumps.
I only sent out 7:
WINS
[color=red]Ch. Allnighter II (3yo, All Jazzed Up x Klondike Nights) won the G3 Santa Ysabel Stakes, making her a MSW and earning her title.
[color=blue]GCh. Mimic (4yo, I’m Your Angel x Slew Copy) won the G2 Memsie Stakes, his 4th stakes win. He needs 3 more stakes wins of any level to reach studhood, so I’m hoping he has another strong year.
PLACES
[color=red]Ch. Brianza (3yo, Bellagio x Sovereign Song) was 2nd in her OA.
[color=blue]Copycat (3yo, Mr. Prospective x Slew Copy) was 2nd in the G3 Mr. Prospector Handicap, which seems fitting. He’s MSP now thanks to this race, so I’m curious how his year will go.
SHOWS
[color=red]Art of Love (3yo, High On Love x Art of Zen) was 3rd in her NW2. She’s been a frustrating girl who might find a new home in the future, though I really hate to pass on a HOL filly this early on…
FOURTHS
[color=red]Hawaiian Ice (6yo, Bold Ruler x Casino Maid) was 4th in her OA. She needs only 4 points to earn her title (and her retirement). Maybe next time!
OFF THE BOARD
Demurely (3yo, Highland Magic x Grama’s Prize) was 5th in her NW2. That’s uncharacteristic of her…