19 Days!

Today was a wonderful spring day at the stable. The barn doors were open, the horses were happy, and everyone had a job! I groomed both Hailee and Violet. I checked Hailee over. She's got a great deal of softening in her croup. Her tail just flops around. Her udders became much larger overnight. She's been fussy and "kicky" with her back legs. And Nitro has just been kicking up a storm! Both Stephanie and I felt Nitro letting us know what s/he thinks about mama and his baby sitters! I was so excited because today was the first day when I for sure knew that I was feeling baby kickin' around!

I practiced lunging Violet over ground poles and then over a hay bale jump. She liked the task, but was worried about doing well! And then, in the nice dusk part of the day, Mr. Hintz came out to the barn and he and I had a chat about good things in life, as we watched V and H have their dinners. We decided that Hailee would outsmart us and have Jr. on the sly! There is not much better in this world than listening to horses chew hay and talk with a friend.

Pink Star -- 1907 Kentucky Derby Winner

Pink Star was the 1907 Kentucky Derby winner with a final race record of 16: 3-1-2. His owner was J. Hal Woodford and his trainer was W.H. Fizer! Like both my girls, he has a little Hindoo in him!

Here's a statue horse in Lexington. The photo is by Melissa Wayt of Hawkdigital.com. Lexington is filled with colorful horses, much like Chicago was with the cows! This Pink Star is designed to support cancer awareness!

20 Days!

Today I went to the stable and groomed both my girls. They are beginning to shed their winter coats, in anticipation of spring! Hailee is now 20 days off her predicted due date of April 17th! Tony, Stephanie and I laid bets. Tony picked April 11th, Steph April 12th, and I am sticking with her due date! She is getting bigger and crankier, but more compliant by the second. Let's hope she has an easy delivery!



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Breaking News! Curlin and Sugar Swirl's Big Weekend!

Here are photos of Curlin, winning the $6 million Dubai World Cup yesterday, taken by AFP. And here's a picture of Sugar Swirl taken by Bob Coglianese for the Thoroughbred Times. Both these wonderful horses has a very big weekend.

Curlin has been in Dubai for several weeks, preparing for this big race, which he won, according to the Daily Racing Form as a "Romp by Record Margin!" His jockey said that the stretch unfolded "in a blur." He won by 7 3/4 lengths, which is the largest in the 13 year history of this race. His trainer, Steve Asmussen, had his wife, three boys, and parents there to witness this major achievement. And he is excited to be training this number one horse in the world, as well as to have Pyro in his stable, aimed at the Kentucky Derby!

Curlin didn't even have froth on himself at the post parade and was cool as a suave American cucumber! Robby Albarado said of the race, "I couldn't even get him tired during this. I knew when I was going to ask him. As soon as he got into the stretch, straightened out, and switched leads, that's when I let him go." And when you watch the race, with him among 11 other horses, you can see that moment easily. He is wide on the track, he is moving calmly, and then suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, he is running his own private race, just gliding past the other horses -- he seems to be superimposed at another speed over a slow field of horses which included Jalil by the way! In fact, it was fun to hear the announcer, during that race, because when Curlin won, he said into the desert air, "And for the Red, White and Blue corner, it's a victory by TKO!" That was cool!

Curlin flys home to Keeneland on April 6th!

Sugar Swirl ran at Gulfstream Park, in the G2 $170,000 Shirley Jones Handicap. In this victory by 5 1/2 lengths, she won the entire sweep in the sprint series for fillies and mares at Gulfstream, and posted her 4th victory in a row! She carried the highest weight at 124 pounds, which makes the achievement even more impressive. She's going to be headed to the Breeders' Cup Sprint for Fillies and Mares.

Her jockey, Jorge Castellano, said, "She was on her toes today. She broke well and settled behind the leaders. The three horses went to the lead and they looked like they wanted to kill each other. I had a lot of horse turning for home, so I swung out alongside of them to get out of their way because they went so fast early that sooner or later, I knew they would come back to me. I rode her with a lot of patience and a lot of confidence!"

What a good day for these fine horses -- safe travels to them as they continue their adventures this year!

Quite a Bride and My Girls!

Here is a photo of Quite A Bride taken by Vanessa Ng in 2006 when QB was a young thing. She is a Florida-bred thoroughbred, just like Violet and was born a handful of days after Violet, on March 12, 2003. They are very closely related, as you can tell in this photo.

QB is a turf girl. She has a solid career with a 18: 10-1-4 record, and setting a new Churchill Downs track record on turf at 8.5 furlongs timed at 1:40.70. In late January of this year, her 5th year of racing, she won easily against Nashoba'sKey who was a finalist for the 2007 Eclipse Award for Turf. In this race, the $500,000 Sunshine Million Filly and Mare Turf race at Santa Anita track, she stalked behind the pacesetter SomethinaboutLaura until she was ready to let it roll. NB never really was a contender. She now has $878,881 in earnings!

As her jockey Garret Gomez said, "She placed herself well, like she does in all her races. In the middle of the turn, she hit another gear and I said, 'Let's go.'"

Her parents are Stormy Atlantic and Wise Bride by Blushing Groom. So, Blushing Groom is QB's grandsire on her dam's side and is V's great-grandsire on her sire's side. What's also cool about QB is that because of the Stormy Atlantic parentage, she also has Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer, and Moccasin in her. What a powerful girl!

Little Mama! March 28, 2008!

These photos were taken on Friday, March 28th, 22 days before the expected delivery date. Hailee is looking well and happy. She is getting quiet and ready to be a mom. I had just returned from my Spring NIH trip, and now today have to drive up to Detroit to return my parents' dog and to attend Aunt Judy's funeral. I am looking forward to cleaning my house, getting back on track with work, and learning how to say no to any more activities over the next 3 weeks. Too much to do!

Oddball Beauties

Here we are! Even when we look goofy and off-the-cuff, we are attractive, engimatic, delightful sorts of gals!

War Admiral Winning the Preakness!

Here is a photo of Man o' War's kid, War Admiral, busy winning the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in the Triple Crown! Remember that this great horse is a direct relation to my lovely Violet and indirect to Hailee through his sire! Now here's what I think is important. He was a smaller fella. The movie Seabiscuit made it seem like he was a giant meanie in order to make the tiny Seabiscuit seem like even more of an underground. But truth is, WA was a smaller guy too -- but big on heart!

Hailee Trottin' Out Her Stuff!

Photos of my girl taken around December 8, 2007 when she was a lean girl still in her second trimester. What a lively, lovely girl. Now she can barely stand on three feet to have her hooves trimmed! She's in her last trimester, making a beautiful foal!

Breaking News! Rags to Riches Retires!

Today's Daily Racing Form reports mixed news. Rags to Riches was formally retired, after reinjuring her right front pastern as she was going back to training this spring. They are not sure when exactly, but she received a hairline fracture last Fall, either as part of her great champion effort to avoid a spill in the Belmont or later in the summer in the G1 Gazelle Stakes. Anyway, she took a break instead of running in the Breeders Cup and then after a winter off, posted two 3 furlong workouts at Palm Beach Downs.

They've decided to retire her rather than nurse her from this second injury and attempt to race her in late fall. Her owners, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, intend to breed her to Giant's Causeway, a champion thoroughbred who stood as a sire in both Ireland and Australia and who now lives in Versaille, Kentucky at Asford Stud. His race record is 13: 9(8), 4(4), and 0, with earnings of $3,078,989. He ran for two years. He was born Valentine's Day in 1997 and his parents were Storm Cat out of Mariah's Storm by Rahy. His stud fee is $125,000.

Her trainer told the Daily Racing Form, "She will go down in the history books as one of the best fillies ever to run. With the tremendous family that she comes from, she should make a terrific broodmare. We are excited for her and the prospects that lie ahead." I hope she successfully becomes a mom this year!

The photos for this entry are by Getty Images for the Belmont photo and from the Ashford Stud site for Giant's Causeway.

Birthday Girls

Here are my beautiful nieces, enjoying a birthday party. They are perfectly lovely girls!

My Violet (Rocks and) Rolls!

This video was taken on January 26, 2007 when I first got my little camcorder. Today I am going to purchase a Flip Ultra, so that I have a slim little camera to film the birth of baby!

Mom and Dad Visit My Girls on March 20th!

My mom and dad came to visit this past week before Easter. We went to the stable to visit my horses. Dad stayed for a day and mom went up to see the girls! We had a lovely birthday party for Clara and a great Easter celebration!

Better Talk Now

Better Talk Now is a 9 year-old gelding who is still racing and giving his best! Last year, at the age of 8, he won the Manhattan Handicap which is a Grade 1 Turf race, and at age 7, he came in second in the Breeders Cup Turf race. He was born February 25, 1999, and has a career record so far of 41: 14-6-3 with over $4 million in earnings.

He's a good boy with a big heart. He likes to settle down behind the pack and keep a quiet pace and then come from behind in a furious burst to catch up and pass! His owners and trainers think that he's a hoot! They even made his own Myspace page where they write about his views in the first person!

Just this past week, he flew to Dubai where he will run in the Dubai World Cup undercard race on March 29th! I hope he has lots of wonderful racing memories when he finally earns his retirement and years of green pastures and fun!

These beautiful photos of this handsome hardworking beauty are by Cindy Pierson Dulay and Terence Dulay!

Hystericalady and My Girls!

At the head of this strong running pack is Hystericalady who is busy as a 5 year-old mare winning the Azeri Stakes this spring. She's had 2 starts this year in 2008. The photo is by Will Kenser/Coady Photography.

Her parents are Distorted Humor and Sacramentada by Northair and she was born April 2, 2003 and purchased for $125,000 in the 2003 Keeneland September sales. She's got a record of 17: 8-3-1, and has run on 11 different surfaces and in 9 graded stakes, including the G3 Azeri Stakes on March 9, 2008. Another achievement is the Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks, among her stellar works! I have a feeling that right now, my little Violet wishes she were Hystericalady, so that she too could run around, kick up a fuss, and get lots of attention!

Little Mama! A Day Early on Good Friday!

Today is Good Friday when I am writing this entry. I spent the morning with Violet and Hailee. They are both well and lovely. Violet and I practiced ground poles and lunging up and down the arena. She was so responsive. She loves a challenge. Hailee is looking like a little mama, and getting sweeter every day. Today she was quiet as a mouse while we worked on our foal introductions! Namaste!

A Good Sign

On Saturday, when Hailee was experiencing cramps and discomfort, I gave her banamine. After about an hour, she popped up and began eating hay which is a good sign! Then she drank a nice big bucket of water and passed gas, pooped, and in all respects showed that she knew that the baby was just moving around, getting ready for a peaceful delivery!

Breaking News! Nicanor in Race Training!

Okay, I couldn't find any photos of him as a two-year-old, but here are photos of Nicanor as a weanling and yearling (as of May 2007). He's just recently been shipped to Stephens Thoroughbreds in Morriston, Florida where he is beginning to practice 1 1/4 mile gallops. He was scheduled to begin breezing in mid-February, so it'll be interesting to see whether he has any of his full-brother, Barbaro's, talent.

When he shows that he's ready, he'll go into training with Michael Matz.


Barbaro and Nicanor have another full-sibling, a yearling brother.

My Little Stoners

I'd forgotten that I had planted lots of catnip this year and then dried and bagged it. So, in late February, I am looking in my pantry and find this fragrant bag. I pull it out, crumble the leaves for my cats, and they engage in a little feline Woodstock. You could practically hear the 60s music down the block. Arcangelo is the worst one. He just covers himself in catnip and radiates his goofy sexiness.

Such little stoners! And they even taught Rory how to party on!

leisurely swirlys

These days are long gone already. Earlier this winter, Violet and Hailee made friends by engaging in this massaging grooming behavior. They'd run their lips and teeth along each other and give each other swirlys. On some days, you would see these big flowered tulips of swirled hair all along H's neck and back.

But as I said, those days are gone. Hailee is so big and uncomfortable that she can't even stand the sight of Violet, let alone the thought of her touching her. Violet is heartbroken, poor thing!

Transition Day

Though I am sure Hailee would not like these posted, here are some more photos from our Saturday transition day morning. She just laid so stiff and uncomfortable. But she was brave, quiet, and patient. She is getting ready to be a good dam.

Country Star and My Girls!

Country Star is a Feb. 7, 2005 filly born in beautiful Paris, Kentucky at Stonerside Stable to Empire Maker out of Rings a Chime by Metfield. She has an impressive pedigree, including a little taste of Citation!

Her trainer is Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, and she's been nominated for consideration for the Kentucky Derby this spring! She'll also likely have a chance to opt for the Oaks instead!

Her current record is a slim, but impressive 3: 2-1-0.

She won the Alcibiades Stakes and then set a flaming track record at Hollywood Park at the Hollywood Starlet Stakes. I haven't recieved very many workout notices or race results for her this spring, so I am hoping that she is training well, getting to be a big strong fast girl, and that she has a good year.

Little Mama! March 15, 2008!

Today was a transitional day for me and my little mama! I went to the stable early in the morning because I had to attend a Grad Recruitment weekend event for our department. I wanted to spend some time with Hailee. I knew that she'd been laying down more, but hadn't really given it much thought. Today, she seemed uncomfortable, understandably, but was glad to have me groom her. She leaned into me when I picked her front feet, and kept putting her back right leg out and stretching like a goofy ballerina. I still didn't put it all together.

Until I brought her out into the ring for her Saturday morning photograph and a light lunge. She laid down immediately. She laid like a horse passed out. She groaned and grunted. She scared me. I called the vet and he said that this behavior was normal. And especially normal for a maiden mare. This moment (5 weeks out) was the time when the baby would start moving around to get in position. That Hailee was feeling pain because of cramps in her uterus and to give her banamine or bute. So, I did. I gave her banamine. She laid down 5 separate times in this flat out, glazed-over pained way, and then suddenly 30 minutes into the banamine, she got up, ate hay, got bright-eared, drank water, passed gas, pooped -- in short, did all the things of a healthy non-colicked horse! I was so relieved!

We're now in the rock 'n roll stages of her pregnancy. The we're locked in, put on your seat belts, get ready for a bumpy ride stage. I went to see her later in the day and she was just fine and had drank a full bucket of water. And then later Stephanie emailed and said that she was tucked into bed and all was well. So, we are blessed. We are getting ready for baby.

The Sweetest Girls Ever!

Here is a photo taken of us in June 2007. We are just relaxing and enjoying the beauty in life. This cold grey morning, a day when the snow will finally melt away and spring will begin to assert herself, I am thinking about how wonderful it will be this beautiful blue summer to have my lovely sweet gorgeaus Violet. My darling sweet dark girl Hailee and the cutest foal ever.

This summer will be one for the record books of my life!!!

My Darling Wilbur

Here is my darling Wilbur, the barn cat who follows me around like a dear companion when I visit my girls. He purrs like a little fire truck and he is the sweetest man on earth. This past summer, he disappeared for a few months and we despaired that he had died.

But then one day, he showed up again, rail thin, and with the wounds of war all over him. He is going to be bald in a patch on his side, and he will never be full of weight, I don't think, but he is my kind sweet boy. My darling, darling Wilbur.

The day he returned, I gave him the biggest greeting and lots of careful petting and words of praise for his bravery and loyalty.

Breaking News! Busy Girls

Yesterday, March 11, Rags to Riches returned to work at Palm Beach Downs by breezing 3 furlongs at 38:40.

Indian Blessing will take a break to freshen up for the summer and fall season. She won't enter the Oaks. She was undefeated in 5 races, but just recently came in second to Proud Spell in the Louisiana Downs. Her trainer says that she fought with the jockey the entire time for the right to just speed bump the whole race. She's a rocket and wants to flat out run without patience in any way for an endurance. So, they don't think that she's ready to muck about at the long distance of the Oaks. They want to rest her and get her laser sharp for shorter sprint races.

Proud Spell, though, is going to pack up her things and leave the Fairgrounds for Keeneland sometime soon. She is going to prepare for an early April race with her eyes set for the May running of the Kentucky Oaks!

Good luck and good health to these good girls.

Breaking News! March Vet Check Results!

Today was a big day. I got up early and went to the stable by 7:30am to greet my girls and groom them before their 8:30am vet appointment. They were happy to see me.

They both behaved beautifully for the vet. I was very proud. They stood quietly. They were friendly. They took their three shots apiece like brave young girls. Such good girls.

The vet says that Hailee looks perfect. She's in good flesh and has a glow! He said that he can really tell that we've been working with her to get her ready for the foal because she was the best she'd ever been with him. He then told me about how to handle the delivery and how many times to put iodine on the baby's belly button and how to give the baby enemas to get rid of the meconium.

As for Violet, she's in perfect radiant slick health. She's going to have her teeth floated next month, but other than that, she is super!

So, we're ready! The straw is here. They had their spring shots. The foaling kit is finished. Hailee's gone through nursing training. We've got nothing to do but enjoy this month and wait for baby! We won't see Dr. Z again until Jr. enters the world! Here's a little video taken shortly after this auspicious vet visit!

Muddy Curlin!

Here's our muddy good boy, winning his Breeders Cup race. It's a good thing he doesn't mind dirt thrown into this face. What a good strong boy. I hope he wins the Dubai World Cup later this month and that he returns home, back to the states, as soon as possible! I don't like him over there *at all*.

NTRA "Moment of the Year" 2007!

Okay, so get this, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association picked Rags to Riches' stunning historic macho victory over Curlin in the Belmont Stakes as the 2007 "Moment of the Year!"

I want to emphasize this point. Our girl, Rags, breaks from the gate, stumbles practically to her knees, drags her athletic self up and pounds out a victory over Curlin to be the first filly in 105 years to win the Belmont and gets the "Moment of the Year."

So, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. How can she hammer out and beat old Curlin, the Preakness Stakes winner, and HE gets the Eclipse Horse of the Year Award? He deserves that Eclipse. But in my heart, he shares the honor with his lovely red sister!