Godolphin "blue" is "red" hot!

There’s an old saying that getting “hot” at the right time of the season means more when heading into the championships. Well, that’s what exactly is going on with the powerful thoroughbred racing stable of the desert; Godolphin. After a rather weak start to their American campaign this past spring, the “royal blue” silks of his highness; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his well bred stable of runners have caught fire since the start of the Saratoga race meet. Head trainer; Saeed bin Suroor and his American assistant trainer; Rick Mettee have assembled the most well bred thoroughbred runners in the world and pointed them to many of the top stakes races this past summer and into the Fall. Many of these Godolphin runners had little racing time in the early part of 2009 and now are making impact in races the last few months with all pointing toward the Breeder’s Cup races this coming November at Santa Anita.

One of last year’s Kentucky Derby favorites; Pyro made a return to the races on the opening day card at Saratoga with a sharp 2nd place finish in the James Marvin Stakes at seven furlongs. After that overnight stake effort, Pyro would return in the grade I – Forego Stakes on the final Saturday of the meet and was victorious over a very large and tough field of older male sprinters. Look’s like he’ll remain sprinting and point toward the Breeder’s Cup Sprint with prep races most likely in New York .

The four year old filly; Seventh Street captured the Go For Wand Stakes on a slop track early in the Saratoga race meet. She returned at Belmont Park earlier this month and was 2nd in the Ruffian Handicap. Cocoa Beach who was a late season monster last year running 2nd in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff behind Zenyatta scratched from the Go For Wand Stakes to try the grass and was victorious in the De La Rose Stakes going a mile on the turf. Even though she hasn’t shown her good form from last season, Cocoa Beach showed she can handle either racing on dirt or grass.

Another sharp filly from the Godolphin barn is the three year old runner; Flashing who raced well at Belmont Park earlier in the summer and captured the grade I – Test Stakes at Saratoga going seven panels. Most recently she tried the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs and was third. One of the nice two year olds from last year that went on the shelf from racing returned at Saratoga early in the meet and showed his early two year old form. Girolamo, a son of AP Indy broke his maiden impressive last summer at the Spa. He came off a layoff from last Fall and won first out for his three year old campaign. After the seven furlong optional allowance win, he returned at Belmont Park and won a mile race in allowance company. The sky could be the limit for the good looking three year old colt down the road.

Another sharp three year old from last year; Gaygeo returned to the races at Saratoga and found the winner’s circle, after racing 2nd in the Godolphin Mile at Nad El Sheba back in March. On the Travers Stakes undercard, team Godolphin found the winner’s twice and also got a runner-up placement. Sara Louise; who was the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra, won the Victory Ride Stakes going six furlongs. Music Note turned back from route racing and went seven furlongs for the first time in over a year. The result was a victory in the Ballerina Stakes and later on,Vineyard Haven; who had not raced yet in the states as a three year old finished first in the King’s Bishop Stakes. But was disqualified and placed second for bearing out in the stretch drive. Just this past Friday, last year’s Breeder’s Cup Juvenile winner; Midshipman returned to the races for the first time in Godolphin “blue” and was triumphful at Belmont Park in an allowance test. My Kentucky Derby selection; Regal Ransom returned from his dull derby effort and won the Super Derby last Saturday at Louisiana Downs, which has topped off a very big recent winning streak for the Sheik and his connections.

It’s been an exciting two months for this racing group and all these named runners will be pointing to bigger races in the next few months. The Godolphin success has also played well for a very popular New York based jockey. Richard Migliore has been named of late on many of the Godolphin horses. There couldn’t be a better or nicer jockey than Rich and with the current “hook up” with Godolphin means many big mounts the next few months. When your hot, your hot and Godolphin "blue" and their contingent is “red hot”.