Cold As Ice

Tweet It seems like yesterday when Tim Ice and the Jayaramans were standing in the basement of Belmont Park at their winning press conference where Dr. KKJ was lavishing praise on his trainer. But in the theme of "what have you done for me lately" the Jayaramans relieved Ice of his training duties of 25 horses, rendering his barn practically empty (six horses remain). Five of these horses were nominated to the 2010 Triple Crown. While I'm sure you've already heard the news, I took a burn to this, mainly due to my affinity for Summer Bird and his terrific 3yo season wherein he won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. KKJ cited "communication issues" with Ice. From where I come from it takes two sides to communicate and I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't cut a guy who delivered him a Triple Crown race some slack. Ice did a fabulous job training the Bird during his Eclipse winning season (don't forget he was 6th in the Kentucky Derby and 4th in the BC Classic to boot), winning over $2.3M in the process for the Jayaramans. His move to put blinkers on Summer Bird before the Belmont was a terrific job of training. Not too shabby. But I guess his current Oaklawn meeting numbers (2 for 15) for the doctors just aren't cutting it so....thanks for coming.

Ice said during the Belmont press conference, "If my career goes nowhere from here, I've got a Belmont win. They can't take it away from me." Let's hope he can pick up the pieces and some new, more appreciative owners in the process. He's still has this fan in his corner.

Put the Lime in the Coconut

Tweet When you put the lime in the coconut, then you feel better.


Rachel's going to the beach and at least for now, for the first time since the 1996 Travers, we'll have two of the three Triple Crown race winners in the same race (where Preakness winner Louis Quatorze and Belmont Stakes winner Editor’s Note met). If we can get the New Mexicans into the picture we'd have the Grand Slam of Racing in our midst. Not since 1982 (!) have all three triple crown race winners clashed. The 1982 Travers featured Derby winner Gato Del Sol, Preakness winner Aloma’s Ruler, and Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo at the Spa. Looking at the condition book it doesn't appear that Rachel Alexandra will get a weight break like she did in the Preakness where she carried 121 lbs. to the colts' 126 lbs. The Condition Book reads as follows for the $1M Haskell Invitational:

Weight : 122 lbs. Non-winners of a triple crown race allowed 2 lbs; Non-winners of a Grade I at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 4 lbs. A bonus of $25,000 per race will be given to both the owner and trainer of any horse that has won a leg of the Triple Crown and starts in the Haskell.


So things are little more fair this time around and Summer Bird's trainer Tim Ice has already laid down some smack saying, "Good horses should meet. If we beat her, then Summer Bird is the best three year old." Rock on, Ice Man...let's get this party started.


Anyways, we got ourselves a horse race, and let's hope Munnings and Big Drama continue to point at this one, as it will make the race even more intriguing. Drama had an awful start to the Preakness, but still finished strong and can only be getting better as he matures. I hope he doesn't decide to pass on this one.


Still hoping she gives the Travers a shot so I get to see her....


I'll take my coconut with lime please...


Here's the 1982 Travers featuring all three triple crown winners all to be outdone by a longshot Canuck named Runaway Groom (courtesy cf1970)...

Ice Ice Baby

Tweet One man's defining moment can be another man's icing on the cake.

2009 Belmont Stakes champion trainer Tim Ice who described the feeling as "unexplainable" went on to say "If my career goes nowhere from here, I've got a Belmont win. They can't take it away from me." Yesterday's terrific come from behind win by Summer Bird topped off quite a day for the former assistant trainer at beautiful Belmont Park. Making an equipment change (blinkers on) for a major race like this can be a turn-off for a lot of handicappers, this trainer knew it was the right thing for the "other" Bird, "I think adding the blinkers let him focus. I think Kent Desormeaux helped a lot. With the blinkers and Kent, they put it together and won the third leg of the Triple Crown."

For HOF jockey Kent Dersormeaux, the victory solidified the completion of his personal triple crown, the icing on the cake. Eluded twice under Triple Crown threatening colts Real Quiet and Big Brown, KD completed his personal crown with a resounding fourth victory of the day. The media made sure they reminded Kent of his past Belmont disappointments in the post race press conference, particularly last year's race. Kent coolly answered all of the questions, but you could sense the relief in his voice, "I can't tell you how much I'm going inside, how well it feels to have that contentment and to be able to go home and rest at ease knowing I've won the three American classics."

For me, it was a special treat, bouncing around the vast expanse of Belmont Park yesterday. It made the over 20 hours or so of driving this weekend all worthwhile. My day started off on the right foot with a chance meeting of TRNY founder Ernie Munick and NYRA Director of Communications Dan Silver, where we chatted about the big race and exchanged pleasantries. After that, the highlight of my day was meeting Edgar Prado who was signing his book "My Guy Barbaro" outside of the NYRA store (I asked him if he read our blogs, he said he's not so good with the computer, so I gave him a pass). I met up with Robert at They're in the Gate and Alan of The Bug Boys, hopefully we'll catch up again at the Spa this summer. I spent a few races with my pal JB and his boys and the last three races by myself just taking the experience in. The roar of the crowd when they turn for home in the Belmont, is the best sound in all of sports.

The rest of the racing day has been covered elsewhere, but I'll leave you with the Day in Pictures for me (with my usual commentary)....

When you get to the track two hours before first post, why not get a quick trim for $10?

2006 Kentucky Derby winning jockey Edgar Prado (needs help with computer, can anyone help a brother out?)

Plenty of media folk on site, first HRTV's Laffit Pincay (chugged at least two Red Bulls while I was watching) with another guy I was too lazy to look up (cuz I don't get HRTV!!!!) (Update: It's Jeff Siegel...hat tip to Elizabeth)

ESPN's Jeannine Edwards in the paddock.

The other Toddster, from TVG, mouthing a few words of the National Anthem.

A little fly-by after the Anthem, I don't know about you, but it got me a bit unnerved, as I wasn't expecting it and it seemed a tad close...for NYC.

The always dapper Todd Pletcher. Do you think he was getting a text from Mrs. P? Honey, bring home two milks, toilet paper.....

Zito: "And get this, my horse, Da'Tara, no one goes with him and he wins the freakin' thing!"

2008 Belmont Stakes winning jock Alan Garcia.

Kieran was a very charitable man to give his time to pose with JB and the boys. I hung out with the handicapping crew under their Belmont tree in the backyard and got them off their two year Belmont Day show pool schneid with My Princess Jess.

Gio Ponti cruising home in the Manhattan.

And they're off in the Belmont!

Happy Connections: Champagne on Ice!

Note: special thanks to Dan Silver and Ashley Herriman of NYRA for making it a great day.