Sean's Blog

Easy Saturday

Seems strange to not be looking for my binoculars, checking car passes, tying a tie and scrambling out the door. The Foxfield Fall Races run on Sunday. I guess to avoid college football. I won’t be watching college football today. An easy Saturday, followed by a frenetic Sunday. Miles baseball … Read More

Shopping Spree

We bought one. After a lot of looking, shopping, chasing, we finally got our hand up and the gavel down for a filly at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale at Timonium Tuesday. Hip 7. A daughter of Great Notion and Lemon Drop Kiss. Maryland-bred, soon-to-be Virginia certified. The bay filly … Read More

Super sunday

Riverdee doubled at Shawan Downs Saturday. There is nothing like a good Saturday to make a good Sunday. Free days. Ethics won his hurdle debut for trainer Jack Fisher and jockey Freddie Procter. The son of Hard Spun settled off the pace on the inside, jumped fluently, split horses coming … Read More

Super Saturday

It’s bustling in Butler. Race morning. Ride morning. The Saturday fanatics are out in force. Bicycles in every direction, in pairs, singles and pelotons. Horse vans in one direction, up and over the hill to Shawan Downs. Velloccino Bicicletta e Caffe feels like Times Square. Pedals and pastries. Coffee and … Read More

Fall season

For better or worse (I think better), the American steeplechase schedule has four distinct seasons. Spring, summer, fall, winter. Each has their own intricacies. The fall season kicks off Saturday. Looking ahead to the weekend, Riverdee entered five horses at Shawan Downs. Four drew in and one waits as the … Read More

No love

Disappointing day at Laurel Park Sunday. Pietrelcina did what he does best, lagging way back, making a bit of a run, picking up a small check and making us wonder why. The Maryland-bred is now 0-for-18. Time for another job. Four races later, Jhirsch looked poised in the 1 1/2-mile … Read More

Tough beat

So close. And yet so far. Welshman nearly secured another Grade 1 stakes win for Riverdee Thursday. The 7-year-old pulled hard throughout the 2 1/2 miles of the Aqueduct hurdle stakes. Despite all the early energy expenditure, the son of Flintshire still reached the lead over the last hurdle, opened … Read More

Grade 1

Welshman aims at the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory at Aqueduct today. Post time 1:10. Fresh off a win on the flat at Fair Hill, the son of Flintshire takes on seven rivals (Evie’s Prince is scratched) in the $150,000 stakes. Trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, the … Read More

Swinging

Back at it today for the second session of Book 4 at Keeneland. The sale has broken all the records and continues to break them. We probably looked at 200 fillies, narrowed it down to 10 on a short list, vetted six and bid on one yesterday. Hip 2211. Underbidder. … Read More

Yearling Time

“Can I see her walk please?” “That’s good, thanks.” “Great eye.” “Nice walk.” “I like him.” “Should we vet her?” “Next.” Off to the Keeneland Sales today. Start to look at horses tomorrow. Bidding and buying (hopefully) Monday. Book 4 starts Monday at 10 with 420 horses. Hips 2002-2421. Book … Read More