That’s the number. Today’s number. Twenty horses under the Riverdee banner for 2025. We will add more and unfortunately/inevitably subtract a few along the way. I like the team – our team.
As always, you need depth, you need talent and you need variety. We are lacking in a few divisions – filly/mare hurdle horses and novice stakes horses – and will try to fill those voids. Several horses could step into the novice ranks.
Looking at the roster, there is a definite push to flat racing, especially the Belmont Racing Festival and the proper Saratoga meet. Hey Steve Byk…
Awakened, Cool Jet and Zabeel Champion anchor the open stakes division. They’re probably a notch below the best but with the right conditions and right timing, they could get involved at the top level. Cool Jet could use a class relief. Awakened needs firm ground and has done his best work at the flat track. Zabeel improves on soft ground. We’ll see where they fit and how the cards are dealt.
King Tsunami and Palio, winners over hurdles last year, return for conditioned races. Both should improve after a year of seasoning. Palio probably needed a bigger break after his fall at Shawan Downs and hopefully he’ll return to his best. Potential there.
Snow Geese, a runner-up twice in strong maiden races, missed the summer and fall but could improve on those 2024 efforts.
Pietrelcina, Roja Redemption and American War Hero should make their hurdle debuts in the spring. Decent form on the flat, they’ve had jumping on their radars for a while.
Vintage Year comes back after a year layoff. He’ll need things to drop right.
Lorraine, Cyber Ninja, Jhirsch and Koru could get to Saratoga. Dual-purpose horses with options and potential. That’s our style.
Queens Empire, Include It and Potus return to the timber sphere. The former two to stakes, the latter still searching for his timber diploma after solid efforts last year. Hurdle winner Penicillin Success switches codes. Of course, point-to-point runs will factor into all their plans.
Imarajan and Sherminator buoy the international squad. We’ll try to grow that team and point at major festivals. Check your passports and book your tickets.
Yes, it’s another snow today and I’m dreaming about spring.
Lorraine after her winter break.
