A lot of works today and yesterday to report (below). Diamond Play super quick at Monmouth Park, ready for her season debut now.  Easy work today for Vibrant Spirit at Gulfstream Park, doing nicely. Maintenance works for Red Shelby, Annie’s Candy in California as they approach their next starts.

More Ice excellent out of his close 3^rd in the California Derby on Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.  Next stop likely the $150,000 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita Park on grass June 2^nd.

Bullion doing fine out of his blowout maiden win by 9+ widening lengths in race 3 at Santa Anita on Friday. A hearty congratulations to all his owners! He’s a nice horse with heart, talent, pedigree and potential. Several people noted the ‘voided claim’ note on that official chart and asked about it. Briefly, it used to be a claim was a claim, you owned the horse after the race no matter what its physical condition. To discourage people from entering unsound horses in races looking to get them claimed many states, California the leader among them, instituted a rule whereby if a horse died on the track or was “vanned off” (taken off by van because they couldn’t walk off on their own power), the claim was voided. This was (at least in my personal opinion and that of most others who care about the welfare of racehorses), a very good thing. Since the spate of deaths at Santa Anita last winter, this has morphed into what most people consider total madness, i.e., when a horse shows up in test barn post race (as most horses and all horses claimed do) if they are deemed ‘off’ when they walk, the claim is voided. Not only is this subjective, it’s reached a point of being nuts, with Bullion perhaps being the poster child example of it. He won by 9+ lengths and galloped back to the winner’s circle in full stride, the race video speaks for itself. ANY athlete, human or equine, after a tough race walks ‘off’, i.e. a bit stiff compared to when they started (coincidently, I just read an article yesterday about how likely NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, as healthy a physical specimen as exists on the planet, stands in a bucket of ice the team has waiting for him after every game he plays to reduce soreness and swelling). In Bullion’s case, the horse was fine after the race, fine in our barn, and to quote Jerry Hollendorfer “you can tell the owners I’m glad to have him back. We knew he might be claimed and didn’t want to lose him, even less so the way he won. Tell them I’m going to get to win more races with him so it’s to our advantage”.  Of course anything can happen with any horse down the road, but suffice it to say neither Jerry nor Kenwood would sell the horse to anyone this morning for $50,000 (the claim price). Unsound horses don’t gallop off into the sunset, a widening 9 lengths ahead of the field folks. A LOT more could be written-said on this subject, and on horse welfare (there are many very important reforms desperately needed we among others have advocated for now for literally decades, we wrote a blog recently and will have others on that subject), but that’s a reasonably condensed answer to the question at hand.

Great win today you guys! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/hA6bnFKJAe

— Ernie Belmonte (@ErnieBPhoto93) April 27, 2019

Bullion and Heriberto Figueroa score in race 3 @santaanitapark. (Order - #1/5/3/4) pic.twitter.com/ICEasaYYbZ

— SA Press Box (@SAPublicity) April 26, 2019

Starring John Wain, Magic Musketier, and Exchanging Ember good out of their races last week(end) also.  

In entry news Blue Eyed Beth finally gets in at Gulfstream Park this Thursday in race 8. It’s a good spot for her; off her impressive maiden win last time and given how well she’s been training, we are expecting another solid race from her here.

Diamond Play and all three two year olds purchased at the OBS March sale have safely arrived at Monmouth Park and are bedded down in Kelly Breen’s barn. Life On the Edge (group #50 two year old Competitive Edge filly), Giuliana Vee (recently named two year old Into Mischief filly, group #51), Shakin It Up colt (group #49 two year old) arrived Friday morning, all doing excellent.  If you want to see them, our first morning training session for the season at Monmouth will be this Friday. Space limited, first come first served, so please reserve ASAP if you wish to attend and we’ll send you meeting details shortly.

Last call for our season kickoff party Friday (over 40 people have signed up) and opening day seating at Monmouth. Please RSVP if you haven’t already! Party will have Q&A on racing, Derby & Monmouth selections, and everyone who attends in person gets first shot at a very special opportunity!

Horse Workout Notification 
April 29, 2019

Vibrant Spirit (4-Year-Old Filly)

Your comments for this horse were: OBS MArch sale purchase

Date: April 29, 2019
Track: GULFSTREAM PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 52:70 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 4/5

Horse Workout Notification 
April 28, 2019

Diamond Play (6-Year-Old Mare)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse

Date: April 28, 2019
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 47:40 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 2/60

Red Shelby (5-Year-Old Mare)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse, claimed 12-3-18

Date: April 28, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 2/7

Annie's Candy (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse, claimed 10-28-18 at GGF

Date: April 28, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.02:40 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 13/22