Fourth of five days at Royal Ascot. Twenty-five fillies walk in the starting gate for the Albany Stakes. The opener. Billy Loughnane, the Opie Taylor and Lester Piggott of the British jocks’ room, winning another, a slap on the neck of Libertango, a touch upon her ear, a wave to the crowd. A teenage sensation. Some sport.
Trawlerman and Scandinavia put on a show for the ages yesterday. Two and a half miles, a British-based 8-year-old making his first start of the season, an Irish-bred 4-year-old riding a five-race win streak. Down to inches after four minutes and 19 seconds. ‘Son, I watched that.’
Six more to go at Royal Ascot and decent action domestically as well.
Riverdee unveils V Inspired for her stable debut at Laurel Park. The 5-year-old mare caught our eye last year when winning a maiden claimer going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Colonial Downs. A below-the-radar purchase. We’ll see. This will serve as a prep for jumping or prop for flat racing. Apprentice Taylor Kingsley, fresh off a win at Delaware Park yesterday, making her Riverdee debut (training flat races at Winterthur don’t count). Big price. Post time 2:52 p.m.
I’ll be watching from the couch today. Farm chores. My hands smell like cocoa butter. A prize if you can tell me why.
On the road Sunday to watch Serifos and Jhirsch in jump races at Laurel Sunday. Let’s roll.
