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 “…and now the News.”

Sept. 5, 2010 - Starliner is at Joe Orseno’s barn at Monmouth Park.  We’re hoping to get him to a race by late October. 

Sept. 2, 2010 - If this were a ‘Dear Diary’ entry, I’d open with “Dear Diary, I’ve been ignoring you and I’m so sorry.”  Seriously, no excuses for the lack of updates.  Laziness on my part, perhaps.  

Mirthful Flirt ran an uninspired fifth on Aug. 30 at Philadelphia Park.  We have never thought of her as “Personal Ensign,’ but her lack of performance is both discouraging and baffling.  Maybe she just lacks talent.

Silver Minted seems to be coming around and with luck will be ready to run by early/mid-October.  She sure is a pretty filly.  Long on the grass, I say

Lafin’ Place is steadily on the mend at Danny Lopez’ Joe Dan Farm in Medford, NJ.  Danny is a superb horsemen and we look forward to getting Laffin’ Place back to work just as soon as he’s ready.  With luck that could be by mid-December, but we won’t be rushing this nice colt.

Yankee Daddy, the horse that finished fifth behind us in our race on Aug.2, came back on Aug. 29th and impressively  won a $75,000 maiden special at Monmouth.  We think that moves Laffin’ Place up a bit.

Starliner will be joining Joe Orseno at Monmouth Park very soon.  If we don’t have a hiccup he should be ready by Late October.  He certainly is a big and beautiful colt.

In about a month we’ll start breaking the yearlings.  This is our biggest crop to date and I just know there’s a runner in the group.  Miss Waterford, Seven-Ten Split, Twylight Cocktails, and So Surprised.  I can’t wait to get started.

This years foals include colts by Alphabet Soup - Retroesque, Congrats - Toasttofriendship, and Aragorn - Wait ‘Til Midnight, and a filly by Full Mandate - Twyla.  Nice babies, all.  So far, so good.

More later.

Aug. 11, 2010 - Fifty-four years ago today I asked Barbara Allen Love to ‘go steady’ with me, and she said she would.  We were both fifteen and we’ve been ‘going steady’ ever since.  What does this have to do with horse racing?  Well, Barbie was a beautiful ‘filly’ then and she’s even more beautiful today - a Champion by any measure.  I love her so.       

Aug 10, 2010 - “Flirty” is on the AE for the last race of the day - Friday the thirteenth at Monmouth.  We don’t think she’ll draw in so we’re looking elsewhere.  BTW - Friday the thirteenth is a luck day for us. 

Silver Minted continues to train well, and Starliner will be coming north at the end of the month, after Philadelphia Park reopens.

Dr. Chris Cahill and his family enjoyed watching their two year-old colt “Prideofthechapter” smoke a field of maiden allowance horses at Ellis Park on Sunday.  ‘Pride’ is a half-brother to three stakes horses including Social Probation, a neat little sprinter that we raced with Chris and his son Kirt a few years ago.  “Social” was second in the Amsterdam (G-II) and the Kings Bishop (G-I), important sprint races for three years old colts at Saratoga.  Both ‘Social’ and ‘Pride’ race(d) in the colors of Old School Stable.  There’s every reason to believe that “Pride” could be ‘one of the ones’ and we know that the Cahill family is excited with the possibilities.  We wish them the very best.  

Aug. 5, 2010 - Barbie and I are in Saratoga with several All Play Stable Members.  It’s our annual one-week vacation.  Someday soon our All Play Stable horses will ‘earn’ their way here, and we and our Members will thrill to  the spectacle of winning a race (or two?  three?) at this historic mecca of Thoroughbred racing. 

Aug. 4, 2010 - As suspected, Laffin’ Place bucked shins in the race.  We’ll take a week or two to cool out the shins, after which he’ll be pin fired.  He’ll need four weeks before walking under tack, and after five weeks he might be up for some light jogging.  Six/seven weeks later (mid-October) he’ll be back galloping, and with luck he may be ready to run by mid-December.  As I said earlier, if your horse is going to have an injury and you get to choose what that injury is, you’d choose bucked shins every time.  I’ll be looking for a good boarding farm in NJ/MD/PA where he can convalesce.  He will get the best of care and this will affect the level of his talent.  We have a good colt here and I’m going to do everything in my power to ‘not screw him up.’  

My goal is to develop horses that as four year-olds are competing at the upper levels.  In order to achieve that goal we must do our best to keep them physically sound and mentally contented while at the same time training and racing them.  The bucked shins will not deter us from reaching that goal with Laffin’ Place.

Naturally I’m disappointed about the bucked shins, but if he had continued along without incident and we’d gotten two/three more starts into him, I would have stopped with him around mid-November and goven him sixty days off anyway.  So he’ll be getting a bit longer ’vacation’ than originally planned.  With a good convalesence he will be a real ‘bear’ when he comes back.

On another note, Starliner will ship to Philadelphia Park around August 20th.

Aug 3, 2010 - It appears as though LP may have bucked his shins yesterday.  We won’t know for sure for a day or three, but this is the way it looks today.

This is in no way career-threatening, but if it is the case we’ll need a week or two to cool out the shins, after which he’ll be pin-fired and laid up for six weeks.  After that he’ll go back to training, and without further incident will be ready to run six to nine weeks later.  If all goes really well the total time away from a race will be sixteen weeks and maybe a few more.   I’ll have definitive info by Thursday.

If there is to be bad news with Thoroughbreds, bucked  shins is the best bad news one can get.  There’s only one thing to say:  “That’s horse racing.”  

Aug. 3, 2010 - I neglected to tell you that a post-race scope revealed that LP bled “a five on a scale of ten” during yesterday’s race.  Race-induced pulmonary bleeding is not uncommon and is treated by using Lasix, which he did not have yesterday.  He will race on Lasix in the future.

Philly Park is closing for two/three weeks for strip improvement, so he was shipped to Monmouth Park this morning. More later.

Aug. 2, 2010 - Laffin’ Place ‘done good’ today.  He broke sharp and went with the leaders for the first part, then relaxed and let them go on.  He was four back going to the turn and a hole opened along the rail. 

I shouted “Be Calvin Borel” (I don’t think the rider heard me!), but the rider hesitated a bit and about the time he sent Laffin’ Place up in there the hole was closing on him.  After that he had to take LP up twice before finding running room, but he finally got out and finished a game third.  They went in 52.3.  He has talent.  I’m excited.

Hopefully he’ll come out of the race OK and we’ll be able to go on with him.  We’ll know that tomorrow or Wednesday.

He’s a nice colt.  If he can stay sound, and if we can keep him contented and happy, we’re going to have some fun with him.

I’m bringing Starliner up in three weeks.

July 31, 2010 - Laffin’ Place is entered to run in the fourth race at Philadelphia Park on Monday, Aug. 2, a msw going 4 1/2 furlongs.  He drew #5 in a field of nine two year-olds, eight of them first-time starters.

His last work was a smooth 35.4 from the gate, so we think he’s properly prepared for his debut.  We’re hoping for a fairly run race in which he closes ground and comes out of the race whole and saying, “That was just so cool.  I can’t wait to do it again!” 

Silver Minted has shown marked improvement in her training and with a little luck will be ready to run in about 35 days.  Long on the grass, I’d say.

Starliner has been doing very well and will be heading for the racetrack before the end of August.

Following her race on Tuesday a post-race scope revealed that Mirthful Flirt had a throat full of phlegm caused by a minor lung infection.  We’re treating with antibiotics and she should be OK in just a few days.

July 10, 2010 - To Our Big Orange Members - Today was ‘experience day’ for Laffin’ Place.  The plan was to work him from behind horses, starting at the half-mile pole, working to the wire, and galloping out 5/8ths to the 7/8ths pole.  He’s getting razor-sharp and this morning he showed it.  He was a handful in the stall before being tacked up. 

 

So – the three horses started off at the finish line, and as they slow-galloped thru the first turn, Loriano took Laffin’ Place back about five lengths and out into the eight or nine path.  The idea was to separate him from the other horses so he a). would learn to relax, then run at horses, and b). would not be competing ‘eye-to-eye’ from the git-go.   

 

They picked up speed at the 3/4-pole, and when they broke away at the half-mile pole the other two had 2 ½-to three lengths on Laffin’ Place, who was still out in the middle of the track.  They went the first eighth in 12.60 and the quarter in 24.88.  Half-way thru the turn LP was in the three or four path and still two behind the ‘leader.’ One of the horses was excusing itself from the fray. 

 

They went the next eighth in just under twelve, and the leader finished the half-mile in 48.02 (3rd best of 58 for the day).  Laffin’ Place went in 48.31 (8th best), meaning he was ‘beaten’ 1 ½ lengths after making up at least one length on the ‘winner’ from the half-mile pole to the wire.  He galloped out 5/8ths in 1:02.1.  Loriano said, “He gave me everything he had and was trying right to the end.”  He also said LP was ‘gurgling’ a little bit and that he might need to have his tongue tied. 

 

He came back fine and cooled out quickly.  We decided to scope him ‘just in case.’  He scoped clean, meaning no breathing problems.  We’ll tie his tongue before his next work.  Note: Member David Alfred has volunteered to help Marty tie Laffin’ Place’s tongue.  LOL!!!

 

I’m very pleased with this work, only his second at the distance.  His full work tab (from The Daily Racing Form) is below, but please note: today’s work was not from the gate.  He started from behind and the leader was never challenged.  Had Laffin’ Place been challenging the leader from the start, it may have resulted in LP being the intimidator and ‘winning’ the heat – we’ll never know, and besides, that wasn’t the goal. 

 

He finished strong, he never quit, and he galloped out well.  

 

Interesting side-fact:  Another two year-old colt, Serendipper Moon, worked a half this morning in 48.12, fifth best of the day.  He’s already started once, running second on June 26th,  beaten 1 ¼ lengths in 52.4 for  4 ½ f. To me, this makes our work look even better.  (I think it’s likely that this colt will be part of the field when Laffin’Place makes his first start, which we think will be on August second. 

      

Horse Name	Date	Track	Dist	Time	Surf	Cond.	B/H
Laffin’ Place	07/10/2010	PHA	4F	:48.31	Dirt	Fast	B	G
	07/03/2010	PHA	4F	:48.61	Dirt	Fast	B	G
	06/23/2010	PHA	3F	:38.00	Dirt	Fast	B
	06/19/2010	PHA	3F	:39.58	Dirt	Fast	B
	06/11/2010	PHA	3F	:37.00	Dirt	Fast	B	G

 *Source - Daily Racing Form - printed without permission.

July 8, 2010 - This, from our “In Racing You Have To Learn To Play It By Ear” Department.

As you know, in the condition book there’s a race for Laffin’ Place on July 16th, then another one on Aug. 2nd.  The July 16th date is a bit too early for LP ( he’ll be ready about a week later).  The Racing Secretary has put this race up four or five times in the last several weeks, but it has only filled once because there are not a lot of two year-olds that are ready to run.

If the 7/16 race doesn’t fill, the Racing Sec’y may follow precedent and use it again as an ‘extra’ a few days later, and if that extra doesn’t fill he may put it up another time, each of the ‘extras’ being before the race that’s already in the book for Aug. 2.

If Laffin’ Place continues to train forwardly and is ready to run we would enter him in one of those ‘extras,’ and if that race filled (seven entries?) we would run, meaning that he could run sooner than the Aug. 2nd date we’ve been focusing on.  Hey, ya gotta be agile to keep up.  LOL       

In preparation for his first start he’s scheduled to work 5/8ths in company Saturday morning.  I hope to see you there.  

July 4, 2010 - If you’re looking to get to the races soon, with  a horse whose value could increase rapidly, this is  your opportunity.

There’s a share available in our Big Orange Partnership, priced at $7,500.  This is a 6% ownership interest in the Partnership that owns a pair of two year-old colts, one of which, Laffin’ Place, is almost ready to run.  Laffin’ Place is showing great potential and he comes from a very ‘live’ family.  Starliner should be ready for racing in the fall.

Please read the posts dated July 2 and July 3, 2010 (below), then if you are interested, email Paul Rothfuss @ paul@allplaystable.com, or call Paul - 407 697-1741.  

July 3, 2010.  To Our Big Orange Members - Your chestnut colt raised his hand this morning, and when the teacher called on him, he responded by saying, “I have talent.”

Laffin’ Place had his first half-mile work this morning, in the chute, from the gate, with the bell, in company.  He was the outside horse of three, all two year-olds, the other two of which had broken from the gate at least twice before.  ‘Twas his first time with the gates closed and with the bell.  The instructions given to Loriano Flores were as follows:  “Break good and go with the others, but remember, this is a work, not a race.”

The two horse on his inside broke outward and bumped him at the start.  He came right back and bumped the two horse as they left the latch together.  The one horse broke with them but had a hard time keeping up right from the start.  By the time they crossed the main track, Laffin’ Place was just cruising, the two horse was being asked to keep up (which he did), but the one wanted nothing to do with the proceedings.  When they reached the three-eighths pole they had gone three of the four furlongs and Laffin’ Place, doing everything on his own, began to draw away from the two horse.  He  reached the quarter pole in 48.3, the fourth best of thirty-three at the distance, and the fastest half-mile by any two year-old that worked the distance @ Philly Park this morning.

Laffin’ Place galloped out five-eighths in 1:03 and change, and I caught him at the wire, galloping out three-quarters in sixteen and change.  Flores allowed him to pull himself up, which he did after galloping almost back to the far turn.  He came back blowing a bit (expected), but he cooled out nicely.  Loriano said, “I never once asked him, he did all of this on his own.  He is very competitive.”  Marty said, matter-of-factly, “I told you he was fast.”

On the heels of the fine showing yesterday by Boys At Tosconova (see yesterday’s message), my conclusion is that this family produces good horses. 

We’ll know more about our situation tomorrow and Monday, after we see how he comes back from this work.  There’s a race in the book for him on July 16th (probably too soon), and another on August 2nd  (might be just right).

I could not be more pleased with this move. 

Thrilled, actually!

July 4 Update - He came out of the work beautifully.

July 2, 2010 - Good horses come from good families.  The second race at Belmont today revealed a star in the making as “Boys At Tosconova” trounced a field of really nice two year-old maiden colts, literally flying the five eighths in 56.1.  You saw that right - fifty-six and one fifth.  He won by twelve and the rider never raised the stick and hardly moved his hands.   

 

We’re excited because we have horses from this family.  The dam of ‘Boys’ is a half-sister to our good mare “Retroesque,” and Retro’s two year-old colt, “Laffin’ Place,” is training beautifully toward his debut, which could come as soon as three weeks hence.  Laffin’ Place is owned by our Big Orange Racing Partnership. 

How cool would it be if Laffin’ Place was also a good one, and these two ‘first cousins’ could meet in a big race someday?  Hey, we can dream can’t we?  

‘Retro’ is also the dam of ‘Seven-Ten Split,’ who is part of our Dynamic Duo Racing Partnership, which is organizing now. 

“Mirthful Flirt” came back from her race in great shape.  We’re thinking that she’ll improve a lot off that performance, and we look to run her back sometime around the end of July.  She and “Silver Minted” comprise our Fancy-Free Fillies Racing Partnership.

“Silver Minted” is training well at Monmouth Park and we hope she’ll be ready to run by the end of August.  And “Starliner,” also owned by Big Orange, is moving forward at Ben D Farm - we’d love a mid-September start from him, definitely on the grass.

That’s it for now.

June 30,2010 - Here’s the re-cap of Mirthful Flirt’s first start at Philadelphia Park:

To: Our Fancy-Free Fillies Members

‘Twas an adventure to be sure.

Flirty was behaving beautifully in the paddock until they went to put the rider up.  At that precise moment she buck-jumped sideways, deposited the rider on the ground, and roamed free in the paddock area for two or three minutes, with all hands trying to catch her.  Thankfully she did not make it out the gap to the main track, and our rider, the agless and still talented Tony Black, finally caught her and remounted.

She was a lady in the post parade and to the gate, and she went in the gate like a veteran.

She broke with the field, and according to Black, “…was going a bit greenly in the early part and took herself back.  I tapped her a couple of times to get her mind back on business, and she proceeded down the backside, but toward the back of the pack and taking lots of dirt in her face.  Because of that it took her a while to settle in and start to run for me.

When she caught the main flight going thru the turn, I found myself behind a wall of five horses with no place to go.  I said to myself, ‘The rail is dead so I can’t go down there - I’ll get running room, but she won’t handle the surface, so no advantage there.  And I can’t get through outside.  How dumb were you to put yourself in this position?’  We were stuck in behind these horses and I was looking for someplace to go. 

Just inside the eighth pole it opened up a bit outside and I took her out there for running room.  She closed willingly for sixth place and she galloped out really well.  The wall of horses probably cost me four or five lengths, and her ‘greenness’ maybe another length or two, and perhaps third place.  She’s a better filly than she showed today and I’d like to ride her back.  She should break her maiden in her next two starts, and probably could use a bit more ground.  She’ll be a lot better for her experience today.”

Flirty looked good after cooling out, which she did quickly.  When we left about an hour after her race she was tearing the barn down.

Incidentally, they ran this very same race last week - $12.5 maiden fillies and mares going 5 ½ furlongs.  The race was run in 1:07:1.  Our race today went in 1:05:3, eight lengths faster.

Pre-race, I was hoping she’d be running faster at the end than she was at the beginning, and she did that.  I didn’t think she was necessarily a sprinter, and I’m inclined to believe I was right – she’s a middle-distance horse.  Naturally I would have liked her to finish third or better, but all things considered, not a bad first start.

More to come.

Paul 

June 27, 2010 - Mirthful Flirt is entered to make her first start in Tuesday’s second race at Philadelphia Park, a five-and-one-half furlong event for maiden fillies and mares three years old and up.  She drew #7 of twelve entrants.  I think the race came up tough but hopefully she’ll run well and come back safe and sound.  Anthony Black will ride.

 

Last night was All Play Stable Night at Penn National Race Course.  We had a great evening in one of Penn National’s Club Rooms - wonderful food, great service, a fabulous place to view the races - all this, plus participation in some of the whackiest horse betting games ever contrived.  Among our attendees were All Play Members David and Barbara Alfred, Sandy Dunham, Bill and Sis Fish, Diane Kozel, Greg Marsh, and Roger Witkin, as well as All Play Partners Robin Fiester, Jerry Gates, and yours truly.  Plus a plethora of guests.  From comments received, a good time was had by all. 

Race #4 was The All Play Stable at 5 frlongs on the Penn National Turf.  The race was won by Flavor Of The Day, a mighty fast filly owned by Herbert Hogg.  She came up the rail and drew away in .56.4.  Quitr a performance.Wrewe winner R.

June 23, 2010 - A potpurri of today’s news:

This morning Silver Minted left Ocala for Monmouth Park and Joe Orseno’s barn.  She’s been training decently, and we’re hopeful that she’ll be ready to run in about sixty days.  My bet is that she’ll want ‘long, and grass.’   We’ll see.

Saturday night is All Play Stable Night at Penn National Race Course.  The fourth race will be ‘our’ race, and we’ll get to present the trophy and some other stuff (a surprise!).  We expect about thirty Members and guests for an evening of horsin’ around.  Fun?  You bet!  (No pun intended.)

Sunday we’ll enter Mirthful Flirt for a race on Tuesday at Philadelphia Park.  It’s her first start, so other than the fun we know we’ll be having with our Members on a day at the races, we have no idea what to expect.  Exciting, though, and our Flirty will have a rooting section. 

Laffin’ Place continues to progress nicely and we hope he’ll be ready to run toward late July.  This is good because  racing secretaries will be writing two year-old races at 6 furlongs, a much better place for a first start than those four and a half furlong heats that tend to make the youngsters ’speed-crazy.’  And Starliner is back in training after 75 days off ‘to grow.’  We’re looking for him to run in October.  Another grass horse, I bet.  

That’s it for today.  Have a good ‘un.

June 18, 2010 - The foaling/breeding season has ended and I wanted to give you an update on our mares and babies.

On Feb. 19th, Retroesque (”Retro”) foaled a grey colt by Alphabet Soup.  This little fella was about thirty days premature and he looked really bad.  It took him ten hours and many, many tries to find breakfast, and every time he’d find it he’d latch on for about three seconds and fall down.  I nicknamed him “Spider,” and the truth is I wished he’d looked as good as a spider.  On that day he was by far the worst foal that I have ever bred.

 

Flash forward to today and you’d never believe there was ever a problem.  He’s husky, sturdy and correct, and he’s full of energy - a normal four-month-old colt in every way.  He’ll be a bit smaller than average, but neither his sire nor his dam are above average in size, so this is to be expected.

He’s the fourth foal and fourth colt from Retro.  You can see Laffin’ Place by visiting Big Orange, and Seven-Ten Split at Dynamic Duo.

Retroesque is back in foal to Full Mandate, a good son of A P Indy.  A filly this time, Retro?

On March 11th, Twyla foaled a chestnut filly by Full Mandate.  Physically the filly has the same lines as her older half-sister Twylight Cocktails, but she will be a bigger horse.  Her hind legs feature beautiful white ‘bobby-sox’ clear up to her hocks, and she has an attractive white blaze on her muzzle.  She’s bred on the A P Indy - Dixieland Band (Citidancer) cross that produced Suave, By The Light, and many other good horses.  Here’s hoping!

This is our second foal and second filly from Twyla.  Please click Ladies First to see Twylight Cocktails, her first filly.

Twyla is back in foal to Indy Wind, another good son of A P Indy.

On March 17th, Toasttofriendship (”Toasty”) presented us with a sturdy brown colt by Congrats.  Last year’s fetal sexing indicated that this was to be a filly.  ‘Tweren’t!

Congrats, a son of A P Indy, won nearly a million dollars while racing against the best horses in training.  His first babies are two year-olds this year, and he’s already had several winners.  He’s a full brother to Flatter, a successful KY-based sire, so I look for Congrats to be a very successful sire of racehorses, one of which could easily be our colt, who is going to be a substantial horse, just like Congrats.  

Hmmm, lemme see here.  By Congrats, out of Toasttofriendship and foaled on St. Patrick’s Day.  We should have a wonderful time naming this boy!

This is our second foal and first colt from Toasty.  Please click Ladies First to see Miss Waterford, her yearling filly. 

Toasty has been pronounced in foal to leading Florida sire, Wildcat Heir.

On April 23, Wait ‘Til Midnight delivered a chestnut colt by Aragorn.  With a pretty ’star’ between his eyes, no white anywhere else, and a lanky athletic body, he looks just like his daddy.  To my eye he’s about as good a Thoroughbred foal as I have ever seen, and he’s 5×4 to Secretariat. 

Aragorn is a multiple Grade-I Stakes Winning son of world-leading sire Giant’s Causeway.  He ran a mile and an eighth on the Santa Anita turf in 1:44.4, and won three graded turf stakes at a mile, shading 1:33 in each of those contests.  Aragorn was a top ‘miler,’ and in every way a certified racehorse. 

Our colt is Wait ‘Til Midnight’s third foal, and each one has been a crackerjack!  Starliner and So Surprised are her other babies.  You can see Starliner @ Big Orange, and So Surprised @ Dynamic Duo. 

Wait ‘Til Midnight has been pronounced in foal to leading Florida sire, Wildcat Heir.

If all goes well and our 2010 foals develop properly, we will offer them as racing prospects in our 2011 partnerships.  We’ll have some photographs fairly soon. 

June 16, 2010 - Robin and I went to Philly Park yesterday morning.  My brother Guy joined us.
 
Flirty strong-galloped a mile in 1:48 travelling the last half in .50, a very nice move. 

This type of exercise will definitely test the relative fitness of a horse, and Flirty passed the test.  She cooled out really well and ate up her feed.  Lots of long gallops and one more work out of the gate and she should be ready to run on June 29.  I wish she’d shown us a turn of speed, but she hasn’t.  Maybe that’s next.

Mark the 29th in pencil and start getting ready.  (Ink can be employed on the day we enter).  LOL
 
I spoke with Joe Orseno re: when to bring Silver Minted north.  He likes to get them when they’re 3/8ths fit, which should be in about two weeks for her.  I’m going to go ahead and make arrangements for mid-July.  Joe will decide whether it’s Monmouth or Philly Park.
 
That’s it for now.  I’m looking forward to the 29th when we run a Flirty Filly at Philly.  Y’all come!
 
June 12, 2010 - Barry said Silver Minted had a little ¼ mile breeze this morning and handled it great.  He said she’s doing well and “…if you want her at the track in two weeks that would be OK.  Or if you want to leave her here for another three weeks so I can get her 3/8ths fit, that’s also fine with me.  Keep her here as long as you like.  She’ll breeze a more serious quarter next week.”

I’m going to keep her there until she’s 3/8ths fit, then it’s off to the races – probably to Joe Orseno (he trained her mother).  Joe likes to get them when they are 3/8ths fit, so…..

Needless to say, I was very pleased with this report.  Let’s hope she continues to progress.

June 11, ‘10 - Laffin’ Place had his first work today, and it was from the gate (without the bell).  They sent him out of there with another horse and he covered the 3/8ths in .37, looking the opposition in the eye every step of the way.  He then galloped out a mile and they had a bit of a time getting him to pull up ‘cause he wanted more.  This is a very nice move, trust me.

Starliner is back in training at Ben D.  Andy says he looks great.  I’ll have new pictures for you very soon. 

June 8, 2010 - Flirty worked from the gate this morning with two other horses.  I spoke with Joe Orseno who watched the work, and said that overall he liked what he saw.  He didn’t like the fact that the gate man who  was on her head didn’t release her at the instant the gate opened, with the result that she broke a bit sideways and awkwardly and didn’t get away cleanly with the other two horses.  Joe said she recovered OK and went on to work and gallop out 6 f in 1:16 and change.  I really like the 6-furlong aspect of today’s effort. 

Joe suggested that we run Flirty on June 29 going 5 1/2 furlongs @ Philly Park.  I asked if he thought she was a sprinter and he said, “Maybe not, but I wouldn’t run her long first-time out anyway.”  Nor would I.  

I want to check the Condition Book for a $20K maiden filly race before committing to the June 29th race.   Overmatching horses has many consequences, all of which are negative.

We’re getting closer.

June 5, 2010 - We’re starting back with Starliner on Monday.  Andy says he’s been tearing up his paddock daily, and he’s afraid Starliner is going to get really bored with life.

He sure is a grand looking colt.  “Long on the grass,” I say.

June 5, 2010 - Barry Berkelhammer is in a Gainesville hospital recovering from a bout with pneumonia.  He’s been there since Tuesday but he’ll go home tomorrow.  Good news, and we wish Barry a speedy recovery.  

He reports that Silver Minted is doing well.  She’s jogging a half and  galloping a mile and a quarter daily, and she’ll ready for a little breeze in ten to fifteen days.  A short but satisfying report.

Have a great Belmont Day.  Use First Dude as your ‘key’ horse!

June 5, 2010 - Murray Rojas reports:  “Sabrejet worked a nice easy 3/8ths in company this morning – just what I wanted.  They went in .38 and he came back perfect and cooled out quickly.  We’re on the right track.”

The trainer can’t be happy unless the horse is happy, so when the trainer’s happy, everybody is happy.  I’m happy!

June 1, 2010 - Marty sometimes chooses to work his horses through the wire to the 7/8ths pole.  He does this because he doesn’t want them to learn that they should expect to stop when they reach the wire.  (Horses are creatures of habit, and repeatedly standing up on them at the wire could, over time, ‘teach’ them that they can expect to slow down when they reach the wire.) 

Marty worked Flirty 5/8ths yesterday, from the half-mile pole, thru the wire, to the 7/8ths pole. 

The clockers caught Flirty at the wire, working a half in .50.  Marty caught her in 1:02.2 for 5/8ths, meaning that she went the last eighth in 12.2.  Marty was very pleased, not only with her work, but also with her demeanor before and after the work, and the way she came out of the work this morning.

To me, this is a nice work for a ‘first-time at 5/8ths.’  She’ll have a couple more of these and then she’ll be ready to run.  Stand by!

May 30, 2010 - Marty reports that Flirty is doing great.  “She’s scheduled to work a half, probably Tuesday.   Three more works and a gate card and she’ll be ready to run.”

Member Greg Marsh visited yesterday.  He hadn’t seen her since March and was amazed at the (positive) change in her physical condition.   “She’s really grown a lot, and she’s all muscled up.”  Y’all need to go see her.

I’ll talk with Barry Berkelhammer on Tuesday and will have a report on Silver Minted at that time.  Thru Friday the 28th she was reportedly doing well.

May 30, 2010 - Laffin’ Place had his first ‘gate encounter.’  He walked in there like a pro, stood like a statue, walked out, and then galloped a mile and a half, switching leads just like he’s supposed to.  He is a smart and confident colt. 

Marty reports:  “He’s a real handful around the barn – curious about everything new and wanting to mess around and play all the time.  And he CAN play rough.  But the second the tack goes on – BAM! – all business.  I really like this colt.”  He should have a little ‘work’ sometime ‘round  June 8 – 10.

Starliner is doing well and will return to training on June 21.

Don’t forget – by tomorrow afternoon we’ll be in Eagles Mere, where the deer and the black bars play, but where cel phones do not.  If you call me please start by using my land line.  If there’s no answer you can then try the cel.

Reminder:  All Play Stable Night is Saturday, June 26 @ Penn National Race Course.  Post time for the first race is 6:30 PM.  Details to follow, but please plan to attend.  We’re going to have a blast, and some of your bets are on us!

May 29, 2010 - Last evening Robin represented All Play Stable at the PHBA Annual Meeting, held at Penn National.  This morning she visited Sabrejet at Murray Rojas’ barn.

I’ll have more info when I talk w Murray around 10:30, but Robin reports that Sabre galloped a strong mile and  finished with a ‘little’ 3/8ths breeze in .38.  Robin said Murray was pleased with this, his first ‘work’ since embarking on the comeback trail.  Weather permitting he’ll probably work again next Saturday.  Y’all should try to attend.

May 28, 2010 - This, from our “The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same” Department.

On and off for the past three weeks we’ve been trying to get the folks at the Penn National Race Track to talk with us about setting up an All Play Stable Night at the track.  It was becoming a struggle, so we kind of gave up on ‘em.  

Today we heard from the PN people, anxious to help us set up ‘our night’ at Penn National.  Saturday June 26 is All Play Stable Night at Penn National.  Post time for the first race is 6:30 PM.  Tickets will cost $10 per-attendee, but you’ll get you way more than that in value.  Everyone will enjoy plenty of good food and receive a $2 bet “on us.”  In addition, we’ll have rolling ‘cold’ Exacta, Trifecta, SuperFecta, Pick Three, Pick Four, and Daily Double Games, all at no cost to you.  Other stuff, too.

Details are in process of  being worked out, but this is your invitation to attend.  If you have friends who either enjoy Thoroughbred racing, or think they might enjoy it, you’ll be invited to bring them, as well.  Stand by for more information.

Penn National is just off I-81 in Grantville, PA (Harrisburg).   This is going to be fun.  We’re excited! 

May 27, 2010 - I spoke with Murray Rojas this morning.  She said Sabrejet is doing well – no more tying up, training super, and so far - no sign of trouble in the ankle.  He’s scheduled to work a ‘soft’ three-eighths on Saturday morning.  Y’all are licensed in PA and can get onto the Penn National backstretch, so if you’re ‘of a mind,’ by all means go watch him.  While you’re there, be sure to go by the licensing office and get your owners badge.

As they say in South Carolina, “We’re fixin’ to get ready to race.”

May 22, 2010 - I took a couple pics of Starliner today, and I measured him.  He’s right at sixteen hands!
After the ‘photo shoot’ he put on quite a show in his paddock.  Very impressive!  Wish you could have seen it.

We’ve decided to start back with him on June 21. He sure is a looker!

May 17, 2010 - Laffin’ Place arrived safely at Philadelphia Park this morning.  Marty said he was a bit tired but quite curious about his new surroundings.  He’ll gallop a bit tomorrow.

Also, we’re going to start back with Starliner soon.  Assuming that he ‘allows’ us to do it, our goal is to make a maiden race by, say, mid/late -October.  ‘Where’ will be determined by how he trains and how much he shows us.

May 17, 2010 - This morning Marty let Flirty work a ‘soft’ half from the pole to the wire.  Marty said, “The rider went a bit softer than I wanted for the first 3/8ths (.40), but he finished strong (12.2), which I liked.  She came back happy and cooled out quickly.”  Marty also told me that she’s tending toward becoming a kind of ‘nervous’  individual, and that she needs to be ‘eased into’ the additional gate work she’ll need before she runs.  He also assured me that this was not a ‘worry’ but something that needed his attention.   Nevertheless, he says we’re solidly on track to her first start.

With that in mind, it’s “License, License, License.”  If you have not done so previously, please let me know that you are on track to getting your licenses by responding to this email, and that you will call me for help if you are confused or off-track.  Again, this is important because if every partner’s “i’s” are not dotted and “t’s” crossed, Flirty will not be allowed to start. 

I’ll talk with Barry tomorrow re: Silver Minted.  She looked and acted fabulous on Saturday, and I came away concluding that in our (proper) abundance of caution we’ve reached a stage where we’re not doing enough with her.  I’m no veterinarian, nor can I see below the surface, but outwardly she looks and acts better than she ever has. 

It appears as tho’ we’re sittin’ on ‘go’ with Flirty, so it’s a good day!

May 11, 2010 - Flirty worked a soft 3/8ths from the gate this morning.  She went in .37, which to me is a very nice move for a ‘first work.’  Marty said she’s taking a little while to get accustomed to being around and in the gate, but that he did not see this as a problem.

I assume that you’ve all received the fingerprint cards, license application forms, etc., from the National Racing Compact.  If this is not the case please let me know right away.  Be sure to proceed with the completion and submission of these forms.  If you have any problems please call me or the NRC.

May 8, 2010 - This morning’s message from one of our Members really lifted my spirits.

 ”Hi Paul,

Barbara and I went to Phila Park to see Flirty train this morning.  It was the first I’d seen her since late Dec.  WOW, what a good looking horse she is, all muscle.  Her groom said she’s a sweetheart, and the exercise boy said, “she’s my favorite to gallop.”  Our trainer said that she’s doing everything asked of her, and she wants more.

This morning she jogged 1/2 mile and galloped 1 1/2 mile and came off the track not out of breath and not even sweating.  It was like she’d only walked around the the shedrow.  Marty said that he popped her out of the gate she did fine, and Tuesday if the weather is good he’ll breeze her out of  the gate, and go an easy 3/8.  I know you know all of this, it’s just  that we are all excited.

It was exciting to actually see her change leads around the turns. It looks she will soon be ready for the Winnera Circle.

Your very happy owners,

David and Barbara”

Many thanks to David and Barbara! 

Also this morning I saw Silver Minted at AbraCadabra Farm.  She jogged a half and galloped three-quarters, and she looks a million.  She is a three year-old filly ‘in full bloom.’   She’s grown quite a lot and she’s beautifully dappled out.

She walked to the track with purpose and pulled the rider when she jogged - even kicked up her heels; she bucked and played while galloping, trying to do more all the time; and she walked back in no distress.  As she was cooling out I noticed that, for the first time since we’ve had her, she is actually over-striding a little bit.  Sam (her groom) says she’s eating up everything that’s put in front of her (always remember the old racetrack adage ‘you train out of the feed tub’), and she just about tore off my shirtsleeve when she heard the crinkling of the paper from the mints that I always bring for her.

I’m a ‘high-hopes but reasonable expectations’ kind of guy, and on this day we simply do not know how this will all turn out.  However, if you put a gun to my head and forced me to make a prediction based upon what I saw this morning, I’d risk the potential ridicule that future reality may bring and predict that she will make it to the races.  We’re going on with her, and I’m encouraged.

May 8, 2010 - Starliner continues to grow, and I believe that this time off will be helpful to us in the long run.  My plan is to start back with him around June 15 and see how he trains.  If he shows that he’s not yet ready we’ll give him a bit more time off, and perhaps we’ll have a nice three year-old.  If his body will let him co-operate we’ll go along with him and see if we can have him ready to run sometime in October. 

A maiden race on the grass at Keeneland (October) would nice, don’t you think?  Of course he’d have to ’show us something’ for that to happen, but heck, we can dream, can’t we?

If that plan doesn’t work I look for him to run later this year or early next, probably in Florida.  As it is in every case with horses - We’ll see!

Laffin’ Place jogged a half and galloped a mile this morning.  The track at Ben D was a little wet, but Susie wanted to let him roll down the backstretch a bit, and when Felipe’ clucked to him he shot away from the 3/8ths pole ‘with a purpose,’ going somewhat faster than she wanted/expected.   He cooled out really well.  Pics are: one of him coming
off the track and two of him getting a shower.

Early next week we’ll organize his health papers and make arrangements to ship him to Marty @ Philadelphia Park, and I’m expecting that he’ll be up there between the 17th and the 20th.  Assuming no setbacks, he’s probably sixty/seventy-five days from a race, but if we don’t get him up there soon he’s going to get bored from not moving forward, both physically and mentally.  It’s time.  He’s mature for a two year-old, and way past ready to take this next forward step.

You’ll absolutely love your colt when you see him.  He’s powerfully built, but ’cute,’ and he does like to play around. (At 750 to 800 lbs., he plays pretty rough!).  Don’t be shy about going to visit your very nice colt.  But be alert because he will nip you!

May 8, 2010 - Chasing Dreams Racing’s ‘Noble’s Promise’ ran a terrific fifth in the Kentucky Derby, and the $60,000 he earned pushed his total to $883,500.  This colt was bought for $11,000 at seven months of age and syndicated to twenty-four people for $1,000 per-share.  People just like you and I.  People with a dream.  And now, People who are watching as their dream comes true!

This has boosted the already high-confidence we have in the correctness and viability of our All Play Stable business plan.  Syndicating horses when they are young allows us to provide you with race horse ownership in a way that is relatively inexpensive and that spreads expenses around so that no one ‘gets killed’ financially.  

True, you won’t get to the races quite as quickly.  But in return for the wait you will pay a lot less and you will have a much richer experience.   

We believe we’re ’sittin’ on go’  -  That somewhere in our group of young horses there’s one that may be really good.  Maybe even as good as  Noble’s Promise.  Or as good as ‘By The Light,’ a recently-retired filly we bred and who won nine stakes and $865,623. 

We’ve been doing it this way for three years because we simply don’t think that ownership of a good horse should be reserved only for ‘people of means.’  Mind you, we’re delighted when anyone gets a good horse.  It’s just that we believe you should own one, too. 

Our two-horse Partnerships are priced to make racehorse ownership possible for nearly everybody, and we’re organizing as you read this.  We’d be tickled if you’d decide to join us in this most-exciting endeavor. 

Now is a great time for you to check out our Current Offerings. 

You said you wanted to own a race horse.    OK.    Now You Can!

May 7, 2010 - Mirthful Flirt  is happily ensconced in Joe Orseno’s barn at Philly Park.  (I remember when it was called Liberty Bell Race Course!)  This week she’s been visited by several of her Owners, our Fancy-Free Fillies Members.  All have remarked about how she’s grown and filled out, and how good she looks.

This week she’ll break from the gate and work a ’soft’ three-eighths.  We’re hoping she’ll be ready to run very soon.

Silver Minted continues to train well at AbraCadabra Farm in Ocala.  She is a real ‘feelin’-good’ filly.  

Sabrejet is training with Murry Rojas at Penn National Race Course.  We’re hoping for a June start. 

Our Big Orange Members are excited to learn that Laffin’ Place will shipping to Philly Park around May 20th.  Pinned on the lapel of this stout fellow are the hopes of a large group of Owners, so when he runs, he will be well-supported.

I love being around this colt.  He’s totally ’human-focussed,’ and he’s a bit of a clown - smart enough to be a Circus horse - after he’s won some races for us!

OK, everybody.  Sing along!  “Ev-re-body’s got a Laffin’ Place, a Laffin’ Place to go, Ho Ho.  Take your frown and turn it upside down, and you’ll find yours I know, Ho Ho.”   (Thanks and an All Play Salute to Walt Disney, to composers Ray Gilbert and Allie Wrubel, and to Br’er Rabbit for providing the inspiration!)

Starliner continues to grow like a weed.  Our plan is for our big chestnut colt to have another 45-days off, after which we’ll start to train him with an October debut in mind.  A mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass sounds pretty good to us.  We’ll see if he’ll allow that to happen.

April 28, 2010 - Sabrejet is en route to Penn National race Course.   Yaaaay!

The Kentucky Derby Draw is now posted in our blog.  Please give it a look.

April 27, 2010 - Sabrejet leaves tomorrow morning to join trainer Murray Rojas at Penn National.  Our Painted Ponies Members have been waiting for this day for quite awhile.  ‘C’mon Sabrejet!’

Also, Twyla was examined 16-days in foal to Indy Wind, a beautifully-bred and very flashy chestnut son of A. P. Indy. Indy Wind stands at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, FL.  

April 25, 2010 - Mirthful Flirt arrived safely at Joe Orseno’s barn - Philadelphia Park, at 11:30 this morning.  She was alert and very hungry.

April 24, 2010 - Mirthful Flirt left Ben D Farm for Philadelphia Park at 10 A.M.  She’s travelling ‘first class’ in a snazzy Brook Ledge van.  

April 23, 2010 - About 6 this morning Wait ‘Til Midnight foaled an outstanding chestnut colt by Aragorn, son of Leading Sire Giant’s Causeway.  Aragorn is a track-record setting multiple Graded Stakes Winner of $1.5 million whose first foals are two year-olds this year.  

That’s it for our 2010 foaling season.  We have three colts and a filly and last year we had three fillies and a colt.  Go figure!  

April 18, 2010 - The grooms at Ben D Farm now call our grey colt “El Arana Macho,” the Mighty Spider.

April 15, 2010 - The ’spider’ is amazing.  When he stands next to Toasty’s colt, well, they are about the same size.  And he is straightening up!

April 8, 2010 - Retroesque was examined 16-days in foal to Full Mandate, son of A P Indy that stands at Hartley-DeRenzo in Ocala, FL.  He can sire you a runner.

April 5, 2010 - Mirthful Flirt returned to training today.  Yaaaay!

March 27, 2010 - We’re getting excited about the progress of ‘the spider.’ 

March 20, 2010 - Sabrejet is training very well and we’re hoping for a return to the races about the middle/end of April.  His two year-old half-brother Laffin’ Place is also coming along, so if we don’t stumble he should be ready by mid-June.

We’re going to stop with Starliner and turn him out for eight or ten weeks.  He’s a growthy youngster and we think the time will do him a lot of good. 

March 17, 2010 - Toasttofriendship foaled a dandy dark-brown colt around 7 this morning - right on time.  This terrific little fella is by Congrats, son of A P Indy that stands at Vinery - Florida.  Congrats won almost $1-million!

This is also the real ‘due date’ for Retroesque, whose colt (’the spider’) was born prematurely on Feb. 19.  If you look at ’spider’ today, he is about the size of a newborn foal.  He is improving some, but he has a ways to go.  Andy says, “No worries.”   

March 11, 2010 - Twyla foaled a pretty chestnut filly by Full Mandate about 11 PM.  White socks behind and all the way up to her knees.  And she’s really ‘leggy,’ as was her half-sister, Twylight Cocktails last year at this time.

March 5, 2010 - We’re waiting on Twyla again.  Last year she went 365 days, and today she’s at 340, the approximate gestation time for a horse.  She looks like she’ll be taking some more time.  Foals always come ‘when they’re ready.’ 

February 28, 2010 - We’re watching ’spider’ as he tries to cavort.  He’s still not much to look at.

February 21, 2010 - ‘Spider’ continues to amaze.  He’s about as big as a minute but he is a real trier.  The vet says he doubts if the colt will ever straighten up.  Andy Cant disagrees, saying ”Give him time and he’ll be allright.”

February 20, 2010 - We’re calling Retroesque’s colt ‘the spider’ because he’s about that big and he IS that spindly.  But he’s demonstrated by his actions that he really wants to live.  

February 19, 2010 - This morning ’round 7 AM Retroesque gave premature birth to a tiny grey colt by Alphabet Soup.  I really doubt that this little fella is going to make it thru the night.  It’s very sad. 

 

Below are some examples of the Newsletters and Updates that we send to our Members.

Fancy-Free Fillies  Dec. 4 thru Dec. 16, ‘09

Fancy-Free Fillies  Dec. 20 thru Dec. 31, ‘09

Fancy-Free Fillies  Jan. 4 thru Jan 10, ‘10

Fancy-Free Fillies  Jan. 13 thru Jan. 16, ’10

Fancy-Free Fillies  Jan. 19 thru Jan. 24, ’10

Fancy-Free Fillies  Jan 30 & 31, ‘10

Fancy-Free Fillies  Feb. 7, ‘10