In just one week is the biggest racing event of the year; the Breeder's Cup World Championships, this year at Santa Anita Park. We've been watching all the prep races leading up to the 15 stake races next Friday and Saturday, with the 180 horses pre-entered announced this past Wednesday. It is the biggest two days in thoroughbred racing, but there are also other "big" days in the sport and this past Monday was a personal one for myself and a little partnership I know.
Last Thursday, just before I wrote my weekly column, I was notified via my Equibase Virtual Stable e-mail that Ausable Chasm would be racing at Finger Lakes Racetrack in western New York on Monday afternoon. It was her first start outside the NYRA race circuit and one that I've been waiting for several months. Our Dee Tee Stable color bearer had not seen the winner's circle since her 2nd career start over two years ago at Saratoga Race Course. Although she would show flashes of life last Fall and winter at Aqueduct on their Inner-track, she was way off form and desperately needed a change of scenery and class relief.
It looked like she would be shipping to Finger Lakes just before this summer's Saratoga meet. But, it wasn't until a few week's ago that she made the trip upstate and westward to the Farmington racetrack, twenty miles south east of Rochester New York. With her trip upstate, she would be conditioned by trainer; Michael LeCesse, currently the 4th leading at Finger Lakes in 2012.
Class wise, she was dropping from 20k claimer - non-winners of two races lifetime, to a 4,500 claimer same condition. Plus, she was going from turf to dirt and turning back a panel, sprinting (7 to 6 furlongs). Her last "decent" effort was on New Year's Day of this year, where she just missed underneath Jackie Davis on the Aqueduct Inner-track. That was 11 starts ago and in that time, was only once under double digit odds.
So, it was only natural off her form that the Finger Lakes odds maker had her at 20-1 morning line odds. But, I thought otherwise and knew that she fit with this group and at this track. So, Karen and I made the trip late Sunday night to Victor N.Y. only 15 minutes from the track. It was a beautiful Fall day in western New York , warm and sunny and I was quite confident that Ausable Chasm would improve in her new surroundings.
I met up with one of the partners of the group and a friend of his and the four of us made it toward the paddock and little winners circle near the finish line. The first "flash" on the tote board she was at 3-2 odds, dropping from the high 20-1 morning line. The horses at Finger Lakes make their way to the paddock, coming down the track and up by the finish line. That's where I saw her and knew that she was sharp and "on her toes". Going off at final odds of 7-2 (3rd choice in a 8 horse field), she broke sharply just off the "speed" of the race; the even money favorite; Miss Directed.
On the far turn, she blew past the leader and drew off to a two & a half length victory. She finally found the winner's circle for her 2nd career victory in 27 lifetime starts. It took a LONG time, but was well worth it. The class relief was needed and also the change of sceneray under new connections. It was a happy winner's circle photo with me, Karen, Dave, Bill and trainer/ jockey. It was so nice that this little filly, found herself back to good form and a victory. It's something I thought could happen and I was right about it (for once!). Picking "winners" and cashing tickets, is a great feeling. But, getting that "winner's circle" photo is even better!
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