Finite is a filly to keep an eye on as the year progresses. 
What a gusty run. Definitely will keep an eye on her.
Thank you.
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Looks like we’ll get to see plenty of turf mares back in action for 2020. 💖
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/238366/returning-stars-make-female-turf-division-a-powerhouse
I’m looking forward to seeing more of Venetian Harbor; second dam is 1990 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Safely Kept.
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Got Stormy is pretty much my favorite horse racing right now; I was bummed she didn’t fire this weekend. I hope she just needed a race.
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Hard Not to Love really is hard not to love.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/238549/one-eyed-hard-not-to-love-romps-in-santa-monica
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No kidding, her performance yesterday in the a Rachel Alexandra at the Fairgrounds was easily the most commanding of all the Oaks and Derby contenders at these three tracks. Didn’t miss the fact she’s another cute chestnut mare with blaze face either and from a barn with past success in the Oaks. May she stay sound for them.
Hard Not to Love was really special, did you catch her groom hand walking her all the way to the gate, which was at the top of the backstretch. This on top of walking from the barns at the opposite end of the track, around the walking ring and saddling paddock. He rated an interview from the TVG hosts and all he could say was he did it because she needed him and he lives her, he realky protects her on her blind side if she gets anxious.
What a ride from MS on her too, talk about patience. She takes a while to settle, he didn’t rush her, waited until she told him she was ready at top of the stretch then just lit the afterburners and outran them all, on her blind side, she loves to run once confident.
Anyway, enjoyed the telecast now that it’s found a home on my cable system. They cover a ton of information, including breeding, in a very short period of time and it’s fun to watch and try to keep up with which race and what horse they are talking about and which is on camera. Have to pay attention.
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I am not surprised that John Shirreffs, and anyone who works for him, would be that caring. I have a friend who is involved with the trainers association in California who has told me that he really is just that wonderful with his horses.
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Another mare in that Turf Mares 4 and up race, Santa Monica Stakes, caught my eye. Not the winner but ran honestly. Just liked something about her demeanor and overall impression, very well built and very nice mover, all business . Mother Mother, watched her gallop out and they mentioned her breeding. Daughter of Pioneer of the Nile, nice female side.
I’ll take two please.
Lauras Light wins.
Constitution sure has a nice group of progeny making waves right now.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/238558/lauras-light-prevails-in-sweet-life
Yes, very well named.
I notice that she wears a cover over the eye socket. Anyone know why? Is this to keep dirt out? Or to preserve the sensibilities of casual fans who might be distressed by seeing the eye socket?
Just going on an assumption, but since she wears a blinker for the right side it was probably easier to just keep the good solid on the left side.
I’m sure it also offers some protection from dirt/kickback.
Apparently it’s to protect the tissue in the socket as well as keep her from getting distracted by anything hitting her face on the blind side. Seems she is prone to anxiety, hence her groom leading her all the way to the gate instead of using a Pony or just riding her over as the Europeans do if she hates the Pony lead.
The SA track reporter pointed out her mask is hand made by the gal who makes the saddlecloths and when they held it up to the camera, you could see it is quite substantial and padded on the blind side compared to the usual thin blinker hood/ mask or even the right side of her mask.
The TVG announcer pointed out there was another one eyed horse running in another featured race, one of the Risen Star splits, without such a hood and that many other successful racers have not been too bothered by it, maybe just wore an eye patch. Fair observation for a handicapper considering all factors that can effect performance.
If you watch that race back, the first couple of furlongs she is hanging back, nose noticeably pointed hard left trying to look at what’ was inside her. Thanks to top notch training and that patient ride, she relaxed and settled. TVG does a great job pointing out all these little details despite very tight time constraints.
I watched the video. Wow, as if we didn’t already know it, Shirreffs is a class act.
Heartbreaking news…
In Jerry Bailey’s autobiography, he talks about the Gr. 1 winning filly Manistique, how nervous she was and how patient Shirreffs was with her. Manistique was anything but a “good doer”, and Shirreffs would sit in front of her stall for hours with a dog dish full of feed, essentially hand feeding his charge her entire meal a little at a time. That’s devotion to the job.
I am just heartsick about Taraz. Never had the chance to see how good she was 
Glad the owners/connections took the time to check her over and confirm surgery wasn’t really an option.
RIP Taraz.
Bast has been retired with a soft tissue injury.
Saw that, and I am wondering if they will breed her, sell her, or breed her, and then sell her this Spring…
