News

“How do you beat Commentator in the Whitney?” The question is as simple as it is complex in today’s $750,000 feature. And it’s still unanswered.

Danielle Hodsdon and Jonathan Sheppard had a very good week – in public. The jockey and trainer put the finishing touches on Forever Together;the Eclipse Award winner promptly went out and won her second DianaHandicap. Two days later, Sheppard ran a jumper in a mile-and-a-halfturf race and put up a jump rider; Sermon Of Love and Hodsdon did therest. Three days later, the real big horse of the barn stepped up againto win the A.P. Smithwick Memorial, the first Grade I steeplechase ofthe meet. That’s a good week.

Ideally, a man provides for his family while living with his family. But sometimes it’s not an ideal world. What if a man can’t do both? What if home is here and work is there?

They call this a prep race?

A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase has long been the traditional launching pad to the Grade I New York Turf Writers Cup later in the meet. Apparently the seven runners in today’s $100,000 Grade I didn’t get the memo, as the race shapes up as the most competitive hurdle race of the season.

Like saying goodbye to old friends.

My Stable Mail account, the one that e-mails entries and results, reached the top of the can again; 200 horses clogged the system as I tried to file number 201. Periodically, this happens. Time to clean house.

They call this a prep race?

A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase has long been the traditional launching pad to the Grade I New York Turf Writers Cup later in the meet. Apparently the seven runners in today’s $100,000 Grade I didn’t get the memo, as the race shapes up as the most competitive hurdle race of the season.

The top two lights – 2 and 3 – blinked. Cocoa Beach returned, her saddle inched back behind her withers, and blowing hard. Simon Harris unfastened the overgirth. Adam Coglianese asked Ramon Dominguez to stay on Cocoa Beach for the photo. Dominguez hopped down, hesitated and then make his case to the stewards first. Jimmy Bell and Rick Mettee simply watched, not sure how to react.

Through a driving rain, Edgar Prado saw the light. The Hall of Fame jockey cut the corner with Spritely and sprinted past a fading Color Me Up in the Grade I Go For Wand Sunday. The race was carved and on the table.

Kiaran McLaughlin shook hands with jockey Alan Garcia, owner’s representative Jimmy Bell and a host of others after Justenuffhumor won Sunday’s Fourstardave Handicap. But the trainer made sure he didn’t miss Roy Williamson.

Morning hasn’t really come yet. Brisk. Puddles glisten at the Oklahoma Annex. Tom Voss complains about the traffic because of a 5K in town, it took half an hour to get to the barn. Danielle Hodsdon walks Forever Together around the trees in front of Jonathan Sheppard’s barn. A girl and her pony. Sheppard stands under the awning of his shedrow and follows his champion; hat pulled down nearly over his eyes, a jacket bracing the cold and his mind wrestling instinct and fact.
Hodsdon puts Forever Together in her stall and Sheppard takes the shank.