Just a few thoughts in between vacations (I got in today's great day of racing in between two week long vacations).

The Green Monkey

The unfortunately named The Green Monkey (Forestry-Magical Masquerade by Unbridled) has strained a muscle and will not debut at Saratoga as previously planned. TGM sold for a world record $16,000,000 at the Fasig-Tipton select 2yo in training sale after running a ridiculous 9.4 seconds for one furlong. His price eclipsed the $13.1 million paid for Seattle Dancer (Northern Dancer-My Charmer by Poker) in 1985. Twenty one years is a long time to hold a record, but TGM looked like a reckless gamble even before the injury issues. Seattle Dancer was a half brother of Seattle Slew out of the preeminent sire of sires Northern Dancer. TGM is out of a half sister of Magicalmysterycat (Grade II winner). Forestry is a top sire but has only sired one Grade I winner (Forest Danger) and his offspring appear to sprinter/milers (6.7f average winning distance). Forestry is by Storm Cat, who, despite his well deserved lofty reputation, has yet to establish himself as a sire of sires. All of the pedigree factors were realized when TGM was bought for $425,000 as a yearling last July. What changed? The speedy one furlong dash at the training sale. There must be something in the economics of the game that makes this a viable purchase for Coolmore, but I don't get it. Will 9.4 be enough to command a high stud fee and a huge assortment of mares? Has the game become so unwound that sire prospects are made by training sale times?

With his injury it is doubtful he will even make a start lest his prospects as a stallion be tarnished.  

I am willing to bet even money TGM never runs.  

Dave Johnson at Moutaineer

Why Mnr rolls this guy out every year to call the West Virginia Derby is beyond me. Dave Johnson called the Kentucky Derby for ABC sports from the mid-1980s to 2000 when their contract for the big event expired. He was fairly good in his prime and his Derby calls included his patented "And down the stretch they come". This was novel when I was a kid but no I find it downright annoying. His call on Sunday was completely disjointed and hapless, showing him to be out of practice and unprepared. Perhaps he was the draw for the 13,672 fans in attendance. Those who made it out for the Derby bet an average of only $20 on the live card so my guess is they have never heard of the guy.

As an aside, I am going to West Virginia in September and made reservations for a night at Moutaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort. I got the last room available and it cost nearly $200. I am looking forward to seeing the track and slot machine marriage the characterizes the future of our great sport.

Horse of the Year
As of right now, the contest for 2006 Horse of the Year is a match race between Invasor (Pimlico Special, Suburban, Whitney) and Lava Man (Big 'Cap, Hol Gold Cup, Whittingham). Both have three Grade I wins in open all ages races. Lava Man has won on both the turf and dirt.
The first and foremost criteria for Horse of the Year should be number of Grade I wins. Too often the Breeders' Cup trumps all and horses have been rewarded for titles based on one (often fluky) victory. Bernardini is the only horse who could unseat the top two but he must win the Travers and the Breeders' Cup Classic. Even if he does so that only ties the two others with three Grade I wins.

Previous Horse of the Year winners

2005 Saint Liam (4 open G1 wins: BC Classic, Woodward, S Foster, Donn)

2004 Ghostzapper (2 open G1 wins: BC Classic, Woodward)

2003 Mineshaft (4 open G1 wins: JC Gold Cup, Woodward, Suburban, Pimlico Special)

2002 Azeri (0 open G1 wins, 5 G1 wins in races restricted to F&M)

2001 Point Given (0 open G1 wins, 5 G1 wins in races restricted to 3yo)

2000 Tiznow (1 open G1 win: BC Classic, 1 G1 win in a race restricted to 3yo)