Turf: Compliance Officer steps up
Bruce Brown ran sideways, snapping his fingers, yelling, winding up a mile from the clubhouse big screen. Jennie Brown stood her ground and shrieked.
Ladies’ Classic: It’s Tricky comes through
Kiaran McLaughlin leaned over the back of a chair and stared at the TV, he could have been watching the 6 o’clock news. In a clubhouse box at the top of the stairs, one square over from Todd Pletcher and just down from his old boss Wayne Lukas, McLaughlin simply stared at the TV while bedlam rained around him.
Arthur Coontz: the man behind Giant Oak
Just a man and his horse. Traveling the world. Arthur Coontz and Giant Oak have been together for nearly three years, the Thoroughbred version of Lewis and Clark.
Meeting Donnie von Hemel
Euphony, Going Ballistic and Brownie Points are among his recent Oaklawn stars. He had a great run from 2000-02 with stakes winners Mr. Ross, See How They Run and Bedanken.
Ladies’ Classic: Ask The Moon upsets Ruffian
Jockeys and agents study form, line up morning works, talk to trainers and carefully choose mounts. And sometimes they just answer the phone.
Mile: Sidney’s Candy sweet in Fourstardave
Elliott Walden laughed at the difference between Sidney’s Candy in the morning and Sidney’s Candy in the afternoon. “He worked faster than he ran,” Walden said. “He went three quarters in 1:14, he went in 1:09 the other day.”
Dirt Mile: Caleb’s Posse opens with Amsterdam
Donnie Von Hemel thought long and hard. “Good question,” he said, finally looking up from his cowboy hat. “I don’t know if I would have made the move or not.”
Classic: Flat Out gets ready for Whitney
Charles “Scooter” Dickey made a plan to come to the Whitney about the time Flat Out ran past the eighth pole in the Grade II Suburban at Belmont Park July 2. Preston Stable’s 5-year-old son of Flatter drew off to a huge score that day, taking his first stakes since winning the Smarty Jones back in January 2009.
The Todd and Mike Show
Todd Pletcher liked winning the John Morrissey. For one, it was a stakes at Saratoga. For two, it was with one of his favorite horses, Ibboyee. For three, and perhaps most importantly or at least entertainingly, he beat Mike Repole.
Filly/Mare Sprint: Turbulent Descent aces Test
Mike Puype uttered three simple words from under a pair of quaking binoculars as the field swept past the three-eighths pole in the Test, Saturday’s Grade I companion to the Whitney.
