Mar 12

By  Liz Lundberg

Saturday, March 12, 2005

 6:30 AM

Despite having come down with a really nasty flu, I am still on my feet and have managed to make it to work.  So far this year is turning out well, and I hate missing a day.

I want to refer us back to Feb. 9, when I wrote about a number of my regular horses:

Lazy:  ..... best in the outfit: Lazy, level headed, slow to get moving until it’s time to perform. Only then the tail flip and head tossing and stubborn pokiness disappears. From half a dozen lifetime starts, maybe once out of the money.

A couple of weeks ago, they put Benny Marcial on Lazy for a workout, and she dug her toes in and refused. I've had her do this to me as well. I really think it has something to do with her cycle because a couple days later she went ahead. She always acts as if her  ovaries bother her.  Fillies sometimes get cysts on their ovaries. Lazy kicks upwards with her hind end when she's aggravated, and since there is no visible sign of aggravation, it would seem to be something inside of her that she is trying to tell me about. Anyway, Benny got a bit ticked. He could have ridden her, but he wound up for that reason among others, feeling as though he wasn't profiting from his efforts in the Hardhead outfit. So Benny didn't ride her, and, well, here you go: this is reprinted from the results at Equibase:

MARIA'S PRIDE was well rated early, saved ground on the turn, split foes near the 1/4 pole, angled in midstretch, surged near the wire and got up in time. WADENA broke alert and came out shortly after the start causing WILD MEETING to angle out and bump FAST AND FLUID, continued on to set all the pace racing off the rail, held a clear lead on the turn while being confidently ridden, started to falter near the 1/16 pole, was shaken up late but got run down in last jumps. FABULOUS PASSION hustled and raced up close early, chased mid turn, was under a drive into the lane racing off the rail, tired in upper stretch, bested rest...(etc.)         Owners: 2 - Mahan, Theresa and Dimaculangan, Lucian, 5 - T. C. Stable LLC, 3 -Dave Basler, 4 - J G Racing Stables, 7 - Bailey Racing Stable, 6 -Dale Baird, 1 -S. Matthew Kintz         Trainers: 2 -Joseph P. Mahan, 5 -D. Kelly Ackerman, 3 -Bill Beamer, 4 -Dante Zanelli, 7 -Charles E. Bailey, 6 -Dale Baird, 1 -S. Matthew Kintz

2 Maria's Pride 13.00 3.40 2.60

5 Wadena 2.40 2.20

3 Fabulous Passion 3.00

$2 Perfecta 2-5 40.80 37,283

$2 Trifecta 2-5-3 123.80 39,563

Instead Benny rode the last place finisher, Rockin On . This is one of the vicissitudes of being a race rider that's really tough to take. The public knows nothing about these personal trials, but just as in any walk of life there are a multitude of dissapointments for each success. He could have done worse, though. The trainer of his mount, Matt Kintz, is probably the best person to work for on the whole backside, and about as high integrity of an individual as you would find in any business. Matt and Benny have an excellent working relationship, and Benny wins a lot of races for Matt.

I should also mention that Hurricane Charlie won his second out this year.  He got stopped in mid -strech the first out and lost all chance. His second effort wound up paying 31.00. And I should have been there betting on him. (this is one of the vicissitudes of being in the business in general - you knew that horse was gonna run good when he ran, but you didn;t pay attention ebnough to see when he was IN. So he raced without your knowledge and the next day you say' "Is Charlie goin' to the track today?"

..............and everyone looks at you funny and replies 'He just RAN last night! He WIN!....... paid 31 dollars, too.'

You know you blew your best shot, because Charlie isn't going to be that good and predictable again for the remainder of the year.

Sometimes you just know they are going to run a winning race. They may not win, but they are at their best. We racetrackers miss more than you apron- buffing handicappers will ever cash in your entire life,  dear reader, but unless we enjoy gambling ourselves, we don't hang around the races unless we have to. We spend enough time there as it is.

Later, about 4 PM

Here's a photo of Lazy (it was feed time).

And I'm not positive about this one, but I ain't gonna miss it: I'm headed to the Races right now to put $10.00 on Black Bitch, Doc's horse. First time out. Catch you'ns later....

9 PM:

I'm a day late and ten bucks short.  She's ready to win next time though. Mo said she was a little curious and was taking the whole experience in. She had a decent trip and we plenty fit, just hadn't put all the pieces together, so this time a story, next time no excuses.

 

Result:

CONCERTOVILLE broke alertly to go on the early pace, pressed inside of rivals through the turn, shook clear at the head of the lane, kept to a stiff drive holding firm late. SILVER ROSES was never far back, tracked close up on the turn, bid abreast rivals 4 wide into the lane, angled inside under the whip saving place. FOREVER EVE hustled close up, stalked rivals saving ground through the turn, kept along the inside for drive, bid evenly to wire. SULTRY DEVIL a step slow early, varied little near the back racing to the lane, had a minor gain in drive remaining no factor.  .......(Black Bitch,)  outrun early, saved ground on the turn, had enough to outbid others late.