"It's been a long time since I rock and rolled, It's been a long time since I did the stroll." The first line from this classic Led Zeppelin song reminds me of the long, overdue obstacles that the stable I'm involved with (Dee Tee Stables) finally overcame one week ago. It had been since October 30. 2010 exactly 18 months to the day since one of our flag bearers graced the winner's circle. There had been a lot of "strolls" down the stretches of racetracks since that last win, some close calls like on New Year's Day this year at Aqueduct with Ausable Chasm and other bitter disappointments with some strange twists. A year ago, I gave my annual update on Dee Tee Stables right before the start of the Saratoga season. To be honest, not much changed since then.......until the 3rd race a week ago at Belmont Park.
Since we last discuss the partnership that I've been involved with for over five years, the gelding I had a share in; Lloydobler has been retired. He made his last start almost a year ago, opening weekend at Saratoga. Last Fall he was switched to trainer Chuck Simon, but was unable to make it back to the track because of chronic leg issues. It was very bitter sweet, since he showed so much promise in his first few starts. But in thoroughbred racing, things can go wrong very quickly. The filly we won with at the Spa, late in the meet in 2010; Ausable Chasm, returned later in the meet last year and making her first appearance on the turf. She ran some decent efforts over the winter on the Aqueduct Inner-track at a nice price, finishing 2nd and 3rd. But, has been a "in and outer" since that glorious August Sunday in 2010. On closing day last year in the rain and sloppy track; My Pal of Pals, made his racing debut in a off-the-turf event. He really doesn't care for the dirt or sloppy track and has showed speed on the weeds. He'll be pointed toward N.Y. bred maiden races on the grass during the Saratoga meet and may have Maylan Studart in the irons.
But, last Saturday we got to see the long awaited 2nd start of the namesake of legendary Houston Astros slugger; Jim Wynn and his name is Toy Cannon. I talked about him a year ago, before he actually had a published workout. This N.Y. bred son of Thunder Gulch is 50% co-owned with Paul Pompa (of Big Brown fame) and trained by our 4th different trainer; Bill Mott. He made his debut last Fall on a sloppy, off-the-turf event at Belmont, also like My Pal of Pals did at Saratoga. After that debut, small problems cropped up with him and went to the sidelines. He was back on the workout tab this winter at Belmont and later in the spring at Saratoga when the training track opened. His workouts weren't that impressive, but steady toward his return to the races and back on the grass. He was entered in 25k maiden claimer on the weeds, going a mile on the widener turf course. Set off at 9-1 under Junior Alvarado, he settled down mid pack in the running and when asked, rallied on the outside driving under brisk urging to win by 4 lengths. It was quite an impressive effort coming off the layoff and switching to a different surface. He went off at a nice square price and best of all, he WASN'T claimed for 25,000. He raced under Paul Pompa's silks this time and hopefully will be in the lime green & slate blue silks next time out! This victory may signal big things for this runner and our stable this summer at Saratoga. As well as Toy Cannon at Saratoga; we'll try to get both Spondulix (Rockport Harbor) and Corybant (Johannesburg) make their belated debuts, trained by Gary Sciacca. Excitement is gaining as we get closer to Saratoga and it's also in the Dee Tee Stables barn!
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