It’s been sometime since I spoke about my thoroughbred racing partnership; Dee Tee Stables. Created almost two years ago; by Steve Byk from DerbyTrail.com and At the Races Sirius satellite radio and trainer; Chuck Simon they assembled a small group of people that were interested in owning a part of a thoroughbred racehorse. Our first runner; Sumonelovesyou, raced six times for our group in 2007 with three 2nd place finishes. She’s been on the sidelines since her last start on closing weekend of the Spa last year. She has contended with foot problems since last Fall and is on the road to recovery with the hope of returning to the races in the near future. Last October our group claimed our second horse; Kickin N Screamin at Churchill Downs on Breeder’s Cup weekend. After a successful winter run at Tampa Bay Downs with this five year old mare (a 2nd & 3rd in four starts), we shipped to Arlington Park for the spring / summer meet. There we had a victory and 2nd place finish on the “polytrack” and returned to the grass last Thursday, but ran a disappointing 8th. It’s on to Turfway Park for the Fall and winter months with “KNS” which our group lovingly calls her. She’ll return to the races on October 2nd there and back on the “polytrack” surface going two turns. But, the big news from the Dee Tee Stable last weekend was the unveiling of Aldebutante; one of our two year old runners. She made her maiden debut last Sunday in the 5th race at Belmont Park and I got to see the event first hand in person.
A group of about 25 Dee Tee Stable members as well as friends and fellow DerbyTrail followers made the trip to Belmont Park on a very hot Sunday afternoon in September. The daughter of Aldebaran out of an El Gran Senor mare; Donna Gatto was scheduled to race six furlongs on the grass. But, overnight rains caused a switch to the main track and the loss of her named jockey; Richard Migliore because of his commitment first call on another horse that drew into the body of the race. The replacement was Cornelio Velasquez for her first career start. Breaking from post 6 after scratches, she was forced to steady after the start and was pinched back shortly after when trying to get through a hole that closed. She was fanned wide coming into the Belmont stretch, but did show a little life by passing tired horses near the finish. She ended up 7th of nine runners and closed at nearly 12-1 odds. A troubled trip for her maiden voyage, but got the experience of racing between horses and getting dirt kicked in her face (which the jockey said she didn’t care for). Her next start will be at Keeneland racetrack on October 16th going seven furlongs on the polytrack. Even though she wasn’t successful first time out, it was a very enjoyable afternoon in New York and nice to be at Belmont Park when it wasn’t cold like the four previous times I was there for Breeder’s Cup day events. Our fourth runner; Rampillion, another two year old filly was scheduled to race today at Turfway Park for her career debut, but was slightly injured during a workout a week ago and will miss a few weeks of training. She may make her first start at Hoosier Park in Indiana when she is fit to race. It’s been an exciting first 17 months for Dee Tee Stables with our four girls and with the youngsters making their debuts this Fall, 2009 could be a big year for the group.
A group of about 25 Dee Tee Stable members as well as friends and fellow DerbyTrail followers made the trip to Belmont Park on a very hot Sunday afternoon in September. The daughter of Aldebaran out of an El Gran Senor mare; Donna Gatto was scheduled to race six furlongs on the grass. But, overnight rains caused a switch to the main track and the loss of her named jockey; Richard Migliore because of his commitment first call on another horse that drew into the body of the race. The replacement was Cornelio Velasquez for her first career start. Breaking from post 6 after scratches, she was forced to steady after the start and was pinched back shortly after when trying to get through a hole that closed. She was fanned wide coming into the Belmont stretch, but did show a little life by passing tired horses near the finish. She ended up 7th of nine runners and closed at nearly 12-1 odds. A troubled trip for her maiden voyage, but got the experience of racing between horses and getting dirt kicked in her face (which the jockey said she didn’t care for). Her next start will be at Keeneland racetrack on October 16th going seven furlongs on the polytrack. Even though she wasn’t successful first time out, it was a very enjoyable afternoon in New York and nice to be at Belmont Park when it wasn’t cold like the four previous times I was there for Breeder’s Cup day events. Our fourth runner; Rampillion, another two year old filly was scheduled to race today at Turfway Park for her career debut, but was slightly injured during a workout a week ago and will miss a few weeks of training. She may make her first start at Hoosier Park in Indiana when she is fit to race. It’s been an exciting first 17 months for Dee Tee Stables with our four girls and with the youngsters making their debuts this Fall, 2009 could be a big year for the group.
