Breaking News! Good Boy at Fairgrounds!

Pyro is a three year-old colt out of Pulpit and Wild Vision out of Wild Again. He was born February 19, 2005. Last year, he had a mixed record, with 4: 1-2-1. He ended up in second place behind War Pass for Eclipse Award Champion 2 year-old. So, he's been sort of resting since his last race this past October.

Over the winter, he gained weight and became more manly. He's been training at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and has had 5 published workouts since January 12th, including 2 with the fabulous Eclipse Horse of the Year, Curlin, who leaves for Dubai this coming Friday. He's had great workouts, but he disappointed his trainer this past Tuesday, by burning up way too much energy in his breezing workout. His trainer said he better not do that going into the Derby.

Didn't seem to matter today! He was in the Grade 3 $300,000 1 mile dirt race, the Risen Stakes, with 10 other horses just a few minutes ago! And he raced in back of the pack, dead last, for the entire race, UNTIL he came around the final turn. He waited until the track got good and straight and the horses floated out and then suddenly BOOM, it was like he was in his own personal race. He just sped past the other horses, relaxed, big, moving, gaining. He won! He won gaining speed. He won coming on. He won building, snaking, zooming. He won ready for more. It was truly amazing and inspiring.

And so surprising. I was watching that race, wondering what happened to him? Was he hurt? Was he intimidated? Was his trainer right and he had nothing left to give after a hard workout this week? Had he been hard bumped? What was going on with Pyro especially after his workout lessons with Horse of the Year, Curlin! Well, my heart just danced when I saw that he was ready to use his champion nature to keep on racing. Make a real race right at the end! I am so happy for him. This race happened just within the hour, so hopefully, he's still getting hugs and kisses and pets from his happy family, trainer, jockey, grooms, and fans. What a good boy!

Kentucky 2007: Secretariat's Stall and Pasture!

When I was a child, I always wanted to visit Secretariat. I imagined it as sort of like a pilgrimage to meet that handsome red man. And then when I was in graduate school, I thought I should go. But he passed away in 1989, being euthanised after foundering. So, I felt that visiting his home was bittersweet. I am glad that I went and glad that I met a woman who said that she did see Secretariat when she was a young girl, and that he was proud, snorting, and territorial! Which is not the way I imagined him at all, but it is still awfully nice!

Anyway, here is his stall which he now bequeathed to Eddington. And here is his pasture which he now bequeathed to Pulpit. You can see that several handsome important fellows besides Secretariat lived in that stall!

Kentucky 2007: Claiborne's Pulpit!

Here is a photo of Pulpit, a 1994 stallion standing at stud at Claiborne Farms and right in this photo showing off in Secretariat's old pasture!! Can you believe it? He was so fun to watch. He was standing way far up on a hill under a tree, but when we ladies stepped out of the stallion barn, he cantered playfully down to his water trough and splashed around like the stallion he is! He walked along the fence line to greet us. What was funny is that he seemed so friendly, but when a lady in our group was charmed by him and stepped forward to pet him, he stepped forward so aggressively that everyone could just *tell* that he was waiting to get his licks in! Such a stud! Such a nasty old sexy stud!!!

Anyway, to look at this pot-bellied sex kitten, you would never know that he is truly a living tapestry of good breeding. His relatives are truly the stars in the firmament of the equine world. Here are some of his A-List relatives: his own dad, A.P. Indy by Seattle Slew. He also has Secretariat, Blenheim, Buckpasser, Hail to Reason, Mr. Prospector, Honest Pleasure, Nijinsky, Knight's Daughter (bred by His Royal Majesty and the mom of Round Table, yet another horse in Pulpit's background). And he even has a dash of Busher, lucky ole sexy bastard! So, of course, my own girls are related to this specially bred Claiborne Farms fella. Some of their shared relatives include Princequillo, Count Fleet, Nasrullah, War Admiral, Baby League, Equipoise, Blue Larkspur, and Discovery. His total record was 6: 4-1-0 and $712,200. But his career ended early.