Tag: Forte

Mage Drills Six Furlongs For Travers

OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH's GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage (Good Magic) turned in his penultimate breeze ahead of his anticipated appearance in the Aug. 26, GI Travers S., going six furlongs in 1:12.98 over the Saratoga main track Friday morning under exercise rider J. J. Delgado. According to Daily Racing Form, Mage galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.31 and was up the mile in 1:40.66.

It was a stiffer breeze than last week, when he covered five furlongs in 1:01.03 over a track with a high moisture content following significant rainfall over the days prior to the work.

“He did pretty good. He was a little more in the bridle today,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., son and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, of Friday's move. “His exercise rider was happy about it and the best thing is how he came back. He took a couple rounds [cooling out] and that was it. It's always good to see that.”

Delgado, Jr. said the plan is for the $235,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $290,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile to have one last maintenance work ahead of the Travers.

“It will depend on the weather, but hopefully Friday on the main track again,” said Delgado, Jr.

Mage is expected to face a field that includes 'TDN Rising Star' and reigning Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old Forte (Violence)–to whom he was runner-up in the GI Curlin Florida Derby–and GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road). Mage was third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths at Old Hilltop and has since finished a bang-up second in the GI Haskell S. July 22. Arcangelo (Arrogate), last-out winner of the GI Belmont S., is also among the probable starters.

Mage will be ridden by Luis Saez in the Travers.

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Forte And Tapit Trice Breeze Together Towards Travers; Nest To Personal Ensign

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) and Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's Tapit Trice (Tapit), both 'TDN Rising Stars', worked in company over the main track Thursday in preparation for the GI Travers S. August 26 at Saratoga.

Forte, with regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, worked without blinkers to the outside of Tapit Trice, who was guided through the half-mile breeze by exercise rider Fernando Rivera. Both workmates stopped the clock in :48.33.

“I thought both horses worked extremely well–both were moving really well and good gallop outs,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. “They came back and cooled out quickly. We got what we were hoping for.”

It was the first breeze back for both horses after Forte's narrow score in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 29 at the Spa and Tapit Trice's fifth-place effort in the GI Haskell S. July 22 at Monmouth Park.

Pletcher said he would like to see Tapit Trice be more involved early in his races.

“He reacts well to the doors opening, but he just doesn't get away from the gate real quickly and I think that's compromised his chances in a couple of races,” Pletcher said.

 

With Luis Saez committed to ride Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) in the Travers, Pletcher said it is likely either Jose Ortiz or Flavien Prat would pick up the mount aboard Tapit Trice.

Meanwhile, Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House's reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest (Curlin) worked a half-mile in :49.44 in company with sophomore maiden filly Sister Maha (American Pharoah).

“I thought she was impressive. I had her coming home in 23 and a couple and just galloped out really strongly,” said Pletcher of the work.

Nest made a triumphant return from an eight-month layoff to best MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) in the GII Shuvee S. July 23 at the Spa.

“She seems to thrive on racing,” Pletcher said. “I was little concerned running her a mile and an eighth off the layoff from the Breeders' Cup and it seems like the race moved her forward. Everything does seem to come easily to her and I'm amazed the way she maintains her fitness and comes out of her races,” Pletcher continued. “We noticed it last year in the Belmont. It was a concern running a filly against colts at a mile and a half and is there some risk it could knock her out a little bit, but it did just the opposite. It moved her forward.”

Nest is targeting the GI Personal Ensign S. August 25 at Saratoga Race Course.

Pletcher said Harrel Ventures and Starlight Racing's maiden winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Pirate (Omaha Beach), who earned a 77 Beyer for his debut win July 15, will train up to the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4 at the Spa.

“I don't know that he needed more time, but I felt with the Grade I status of the Hopeful that we'd be taking our best shot at it by not running in between the maiden race and there,” Pletcher said.

Also targeting the Personal Ensign is Rigney Racing's GISW Played Hard (Into Mischief), who scratched from the Shuevee with a fever days before the race. She logged a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.05 in company with the stakes-placed 4-year-old gelding Warrior Johny [1:01.14] over the Saratoga main track Thursday.

“When I'm looking for a strong work, I like to give a horse a target,” said trainer Phil Bauer. “We knew the horse in front of her is a quality individual, so we were going to get the work we wanted.”

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HOF Rider Jerry Bailey Talks Jim Dandy And More On Writers’ Room

It was a good week to have a Hall of Fame jockey on the TDN Writers' Room, presented by Keeneland, as the Green Group Guest of the Week and especially to have that jockey be Jerry Bailey, who knows a thing or two about analyzing a race for an audience. Bailey pulled no punches when asked about whether or not he felt Forte (Violence) should have been disqualified in the Jim Dandy Saturday at Saratoga.

“I thought it was a bad call,” said Bailey. “I thought he was the best horse in the race, but I thought he should have come down. The rules of racing state that even if you are not clear of somebody and you change paths and you interfere with their progress, which you clearly did, then you should be disqualified. I mean, if you look at the chart, even the chart says he forced his way out. I'm paraphrasing here, `repeatedly bumping with the outside horse.' And then he came back in and it was negligent. So, yeah, I thought he should have come down.”

Bailey said that the danger went beyond this one race. “Look, you want a safer product out on the track as you can possibly get for both horse and rider. And I'll tell you from experience, I went through it myself. I won't name the riders, but there were two or three in New York that the stewards let get carried away and go over the line repeatedly, and then the line gets farther and farther away and it gets more severe. And what happens is the riders take it into their own hands. If the stewards are not policing the riders and enforcing the rules, then the riders are left to police themselves. And that is not a good situation.”

Bailey also relived his exploits on Cigar, his Derby wins on Sea Hero and Grindstone, and told tales about his days in the jocks' room.

Elsewhere on the Writers' Room, also sponsored by Stonestreet, NYRA Bets, Lane's End Farm, XBTV, WinStar Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders, Randy Moss, Zoe Cadman and T.D. Thornton discussed (what else?) the Jim Dandy non-DQ, and the other big races of the weekend, previewed the upcoming Test, Whitney, and Saratoga Derby at Saratoga as well as the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar, and discussed the top news stories. Those included Jason Servis's four-year prison sentence, Santa Anita's decisions on improvement expenditures in light of the closing of Golden Gate, and HISA's policy change on provisional suspensions.

To watch the Writers' Room, click here. To view the show as a podcast, click here.

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Is AI About to Steal My Job? Not So Fast

We've been told that artificial intelligence is going to take over the world while also taking over the jobs currently being done by humans. I would imagine that would include the press coverage of horse races. I might have 35-years experience on the job, but that doesn't mean I match up to computers or machines being able to simulate human intelligence to perform tasks or solve problems. They say that within our lifetimes, artificial intelligence (AI) will have altered our world more significantly and faster than any other technology since the discovery of electricity.
But can AI do a better job writing a story for the Thoroughbred Daily News than I can and wouldn't that make me expendable? It turns out I have nothing to fear.

Perhaps some day this will change, but when it comes to horse racing coverage AI isn't ready for prime time. I have turned to ChatGPT, which is a large language model-based chatbot developed by OpenAI and launched on November 30, 2022. It is notable for enabling users to refine and steer a conversation towards a desired length, format, style, level of detail, and language used.

I've asked ChatGPT to write several stories based on recent occurrences in racing. Every time, the result is nothing sort of gibberish and nonsense and factual errors. Let's take this example, when I asked ChatGPT to “write a story about Forte winning the Jim Dandy.”

Here's what the computer came up with:

“Once upon a time in the world of horse racing, there was a magnificent thoroughbred named Forte. He was a striking chestnut stallion with a strong and muscular build, and his eyes gleamed with a fiery determination. Forte was known for his incredible speed and relentless spirit on the racetrack, and he had captured the hearts of racing enthusiasts around the world.

“The Jim Dandy Stakes was one of the most prestigious horse racing events of the year. Held at the historic Saratoga Race Course, it attracted the finest three-year-old horses in the country. The anticipation was electric as the day of the race approached, and Forte's name was on everyone's lips.

“Forte was owned by Mr. Richard Anderson, a passionate horse lover who had invested his heart and soul into raising and training Forte to be the champion he was. He had a team of skilled trainers and jockeys who worked tirelessly to prepare Forte for the big race.

“As the morning of the Jim Dandy Stakes dawned, the Saratoga Race Course was buzzing with excitement. The grandstands were packed with cheering spectators, and the atmosphere was charged with anticipation. Forte's presence was captivating, and whispers of his victories from previous races circulated among the crowd.

“The gates opened, and the horses thundered down the track. Forte's jockey, a talented and experienced rider named Mike, guided him skillfully through the pack. As they rounded the first turn, Forte's stride was powerful, and he surged ahead, taking the lead.

“But the Jim Dandy Stakes was no ordinary race, and the competition was fierce. Other top-class horses were vying for the win, and they were not willing to let Forte have an easy victory. The race intensified as they entered the backstretch, and Forte faced the challenge of maintaining his lead.

“In the final turn, two formidable opponents closed in, and the race became a neck-and-neck battle. The spectators held their breath as the horses charged toward the finish line. Forte's heart pounded, and he could feel the determination of his jockey urging him forward.

“In a display of pure grit and determination, Forte found another burst of energy. With every ounce of strength in his powerful legs, he surged ahead, crossing the finish line in a triumphant burst of speed. The cheers from the crowd were deafening as Forte was declared the winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes!

“Mr. Anderson, tears of joy streaming down his face, rushed to embrace his beloved stallion. The victory was not just a testament to Forte's exceptional talent but also a celebration of the incredible bond between a horse and his owner. Forte had earned his place in racing history as one of the greatest champions of all time.

“The Jim Dandy Stakes victory was a turning point in Forte's career. He went on to win many more prestigious races, solidifying his status as a legendary racehorse. His story inspired generations of racing enthusiasts, and his name became synonymous with greatness.

“As the sun set on the day of the Jim Dandy Stakes, Forte stood proudly in his stable, bathed in the golden light of his accomplishments. He had proven that with courage, dedication, and a heart of a champion, any dream could be realized – a true testament to the spirit of horse racing and the indomitable Forte.”

So he is owned by Mr. Richard Anderson and his jockey is an experienced rider named Mike. Okay. And where was Todd Pletcher, Mike Repole, Irtad Ortiz Jr. and the DQ that was not? But I'm sure Repole and Pletcher will be pleased to know that Forte's “story inspired generations of racing enthusiasts, and his name became synonymous with greatness.”

Secretariat wins the Belmont. But where is Henry? | Bob Coglianese photo

Okay, so maybe ChaptGPT just had a bad day. I decided to give it another chance, asking it to write a story explaining why Secretariat was such a great horse. Bet you didn't know that much of Secretariat's success was due to his unmistakable bond with his caretaker Henry. Who?

“But it wasn't just his physical attributes that set him apart; it was his unique relationship with his caretaker, Henry, a wise and gentle stable hand,” the AI-generated story read. “Henry had spent his entire life working with horses, and he had a special connection with these noble creatures. He treated them with respect and love, understanding that their greatness came not just from their physical abilities but from the bond they formed with those who cared for them. With Secretariat, he saw something extraordinary—an intelligence and understanding that went beyond the ordinary.”

Two stories, both ridiculous. I'm here to stay. In fact, maybe it's time to ask for a raise.

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