Jockey & Trainer News 2023

[stark]

I met a few members of the Del Mar FF back around 2005 or so and they were all good company. I don't think Stark was one of them, though!

Out in the blistering sun at several tables on the Del Mar apron? I forget too, but I do remember speaking with JoelB that day because he was putting together a group P6 ticket and we had a horse running that day and I told him he could leave him off the ticket at 5/2 . Maybe I was sitting with the guy in the extreme wheelchair, Doc? I get confused with those who I met at the Orleans handicapping contests in Vegas about that same time. Jean from Kentucky was there, Juliet too, they were together. Good group for sure!

p.s. I was "lurker" back then, long story but I got the name from the DM website administrator MaryS who banned me several times after bantering with Lester, lol.

[Diver52]

I think Jean was catthiefofkentucky or something like that? Was Juliet General Challenge?

[stark]

I think Jean was catthiefofkentucky or something like that? Was Juliet General Challenge?

Yep, and Jean was one of the nicest most generous people you'll ever meet if you take her up on an offer to visit Kentucky farms

[CoronadosQuest]

Back in the day when Bobby Frankel, Charlie Whittingham and others would generate great arguments about weight, I recall one of 'em making the case that they'd rather have Pincay at 117 or even +2 than a 100 pound jock with 17 pounds of dead weight in his saddle bags. It made sense to me, but not sure it was ever important.

I remember when Shoe would get days and Whittingham needed a jock to ride one of his top horses in a stake, he would resurrect Howard Grant who was a terrific rider but tacked around 123. Charlie’s horses would always have 125 or more so Grant’s weight didn’t matter. If it were a prep, like the San Antonio, Bel Air, etc., Grant was perfect because he’d look good stiffing the horse to just win or run 2nd and he was happy to get a good horse to ride. I remember inn1974, Whittingham needed to find a jock to ride Quack in an allowance prep for the Big ‘Cap. Pierce had been given days and because it was an allowance race Quack was getting a weight break. So Charlie puts Valdez on Quack with detailed instructions as to how to stiff him—let him lag, keep him inside, only hit him once at the 3/16, etc. Valdez rode Quack perfect and they got up for 3rd about 1.5 lengths back. Steve told me that if he swung him out and hit him twice, they win by 4. Valdez looked a little disappointed after the race and Charlie said he rode him perfect. “You win that race for fun and we get 134 for the Big ‘Cap!” Quack got 126 and ran 5th in the mud. Charlie couldn’t control the weather.

To those forum members reading along here, just a personal note to share.....
I recently had the pleasure of having lunch with Curtis at Santa Anita's Frontrunner and it was like sitting with a talking set of encyclopedias. The man has an incredible memory and it was really a pleasure to sit and listen in person. With that said, I'd like to encourage any of you, if you have an opportunity to meet somebody from behind the keyboard, I can almost guarantee you'll like it. I still have fond memories of meeting forumites from Del Mar 20 years ago! Maybe at the Derby or at a Breeders Cup or a Thursday at Belmont, whatever, wherever, go for it.

I agree! I have met some absolutely wonderful people through these forums/Final Turn, including a few of my closest friends (met them in real life I mean)!

[HB1994]

In other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.

HIWU: Trainer David Jacobson Has Pending TCO2 Positive

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... 2-positive

[Squeaky]

delete

[stark]

Some saying Bob and his wife have lost a lot of weight like maybe taking Ozempic/ Wegovy? Face looks a bit haggard. Hope he is ok. https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/ ... ss_win_123

Bob's just getting old, doesn't look bad for 71.

As for Jill, well, if you've ever seen her eat breakfast at Santa Anita's clockers corner.....nuff said.

Just kidding of course.

[Curtis]

Some saying Bob and his wife have lost a lot of weight like maybe taking Ozempic/ Wegovy? Face looks a bit haggard. Hope he is ok. https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/ ... ss_win_123

The comments—always worth the price of admission—sounds like National Enquirer stuff. Isn’t Baffert in his ‘70’s? I’m at least 10 years younger than he is and when I fly over to visit my daughter, nobody is itching to sign me up to be a runway model shortly after I’ve landed. Maybe his MD advised he and his wife to drop a few……..who knows?

[Curtis]

Some saying Bob and his wife have lost a lot of weight like maybe taking Ozempic/ Wegovy? Face looks a bit haggard. Hope he is ok. https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/ ... ss_win_123

Bob's just getting old, doesn't look bad for 71.

As for Jill, well, if you've ever seen her eat breakfast at Santa Anita's clockers corner.....nuff said.

Just kidding of course.

Now I’m miffed. We went to Frontrunner and instead I coulda watched Jill Baffert eat breakfast at Clocker’s Corner?

[stark]

Some saying Bob and his wife have lost a lot of weight like maybe taking Ozempic/ Wegovy? Face looks a bit haggard. Hope he is ok. https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/ ... ss_win_123

Bob's just getting old, doesn't look bad for 71.

As for Jill, well, if you've ever seen her eat breakfast at Santa Anita's clockers corner.....nuff said.

Just kidding of course.

Now I’m miffed. We went to Frontrunner and instead I coulda watched Jill Baffert eat breakfast at Clocker’s Corner?

Every day, breakfast runs 'em about $15 and Bob leaves $60 on the counter for the waitress, and the coffee is free for everybody.

[Curtis]

Bob's just getting old, doesn't look bad for 71.

As for Jill, well, if you've ever seen her eat breakfast at Santa Anita's clockers corner.....nuff said.

Just kidding of course.

Now I’m miffed. We went to Frontrunner and instead I coulda watched Jill Baffert eat breakfast at Clocker’s Corner?

Every day, breakfast runs 'em about $15 and Bob leaves $60 on the counter for the waitress, and the coffee is free for everybody.

And I perseverate between a 10 or 12% tip at the local Taco joint. Maybe I have to rethink this whole gelding caretaker after they’ve made their money for somebody else thing?

[stark]

Now I’m miffed. We went to Frontrunner and instead I coulda watched Jill Baffert eat breakfast at Clocker’s Corner?

Every day, breakfast runs 'em about $15 and Bob leaves $60 on the counter for the waitress, and the coffee is free for everybody.

And I perseverate between a 10 or 12% tip at the local Taco joint. Maybe I have to rethink this whole gelding caretaker after they’ve made their money for somebody else thing?

Little wonder why Jill gets more bacon in her burrito than I do.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Seems silly-but-typical for 'fans' to make judgements based on looks.
Iirc, Bob has a bad heart, so sudden weight loss via certain drugs doesn't seem like something a doctor would advise.
As mentioned, he is a senior citizen, so maybe he just looks his age?
Whether you think it was all self-inflicted or not, the last couple of years have probably been pretty stressful for Baffert. I'm not surprised that he might be showing signs of that.

[Curtis]

Whether you think it was all self-inflicted or not, the last couple of years have probably been pretty stressful for Baffert. I'm not surprised that he might be showing signs of that.

Especially if he peruses the interweb.

[Tessablue]

In other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.

HIWU: Trainer David Jacobson Has Pending TCO2 Positive

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... 2-positive

Milkshaking? In this economy? Did his clenbuterol shipment come in late, or something?

Especially if he peruses the interweb.

I think we all know that's Jill's domain

[Curtis]

Especially if he peruses the interweb.

I think we all know that's Jill's domain

I guess she needs something to do between breakfast and lunch.

[Squeaky]

Joe Talamo returning to CA to ride full time. Unclear if will return to KY again at some point. Has been struggling to ride winners of late. Maybe just not getting the mounts.

https://www.drf.com/news/talamo-return- ... california

[Izvestia]

In other breaking news, the sun rises in the east.

HIWU: Trainer David Jacobson Has Pending TCO2 Positive

https://paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/ ... 2-positive

This guy. Just find something else to do. Horseracing doesn’t want you.

[stark]

If you were able to, how would you like to change places with this guy?

30,176 Starts
4,930 Wins
4,233 Places
3,781 Shows
$296,805,765 Money won!!!

88 years old still getting on his horse every morning, congrats!

1st Preakness S. - 2024 - Seize the Grey

1st Preakness S. - 2013 - Oxbow

1st Belmont S. - 2000 - Commendable

1st Preakness S. - 1999 - Charismatic

1st Kentucky Derby - 1999 - Charismatic

1st Belmont S. - 1996 - Editor's Note

1st Kentucky Derby - 1996 - Grindstone

1st Belmont S. - 1995 - Thunder Gulch

1st Preakness S. - 1995 - Timber Country

1st Kentucky Derby - 1995 - Thunder Gulch

1st Belmont S. - 1994 - Tabasco Cat

1st Preakness S. - 1994 - Tabasco Cat

1st Kentucky Derby - 1988 - Winning Colors

1st Preakness S. - 1985 - Tank's Prospect

1st Preakness S. - 1980 - Codex

1st 14 Hands Winery Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 2014 - Take Charge Brandi

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint - 2012 - Hightail

1st Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 2005 - Folklore

1st NAPA Breeders' Cup Sprint - 2002 - Orientate

1st Breeders' Cup Distaff - 2000 - Spain

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 1999 - Cash Run

1st Breeders' Cup Classic - 1999 - Cat Thief

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile - 1996 - Boston Harbor

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 1994 - Flanders

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile - 1994 - Timber Country

1st Breeders' Cup Mile - 1989 - Steinlen (GB)

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 1988 - Open Mind

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile - 1988 - Is It True

1st Breeders' Cup Sprint - 1988 - Gulch

1st Breeders' Cup Distaff - 1987 - Sacahuista

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. - 1987 - Success Express

1st Breeders' Cup Distaff - 1986 - Lady's Secret

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile S. - 1986 - Capote

1st Breeders' Cup Distaff - 1985 - Life's Magic

1st Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies - 1985 - Twilight Ridge

[Squeaky]

TVG just ran a segment on Coach where he read a poem that he wrote called Running out of time. It was touching. https://x.com/fanduel_racing/status/179 ... 44705?s=46