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#1
08-23-2006, 05:08 PM
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Del Mar BC Mile
Looks like it'll be a nice (yet short) field.
From DM barn notes..... SIX APPEAR READY TO TEST ARAGORN IN DEL MAR B.C. MILE There are those who have said they don’t want anything to do with the very dominating 4-year-old grass specialist Aragorn. But that doesn’t apply to the half-dozen who are committed to test the son of Giant’s Causeway in Saturday’s 20th running of the Grade II, $400,000 Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Mile on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. Aragorn, trained by Neil Drysdale, has been super-dominant in his most recent two starts – victories in the Grade I Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile at Hollywood Park May 29 and the Grade I Eddie Read Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on July 23. Those two wins catapulted Aragorn to the top of the list of prospects for the Breeders’ Cup NetJets Mile division. Cory Nakatani retains the mount for Drysdale. Among those stepping up to tackle Aragorn, high-weighted at 123 pounds, will be Laura’s Lucky Boy, who will be making his first start for trainer Richard Mandella since October. “He’s a nice horse and he’s shown he likes this turf course,” Mandella said. “I want to get him started. He’s ready to run.” The 5-year-old son of Theatrical, owned by Mercedes Stable, ran twice over the Del Mar turf course last year, winning the Escondido Handicap by disqualification and losing by a nose to Leprechaun Kid in the Del Mar Handicap. As a 3-year-old, he was third in the Del Mar Derby on the grass. Laura’s Lucky Boy will have Norberto Arroyo, Jr., in the irons. Back from a second-place in the Read will be Sweet Return for trainer Ron McAnally and regular rider Alex Solis. Also taking a second shot at Aragorn are Hendrix, from the Craig Dollase barn, with David Flores aboard, and Julio Canani’s Quasimodo, with Victor Espinoza. Hendrix was sixth in the Read and Quasimodo was fifth. Wild Buddy, who has lost twice to T.H. Approval in his last three outs, will try a shorter distance in hopes of better results, and El Don, recent winner of Del Mar’s California Dreamin’ Handicap for Cal-breds will try open competition again. Jon Court has the call on Wild Buddy and Jose Valdivia, Jr. will handle the reins on El Don. 
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#2
08-24-2006, 07:58 PM
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Update from DRF.....
(Can anyone tell I'm excited about this one?) Aragorn stands out off last race By STEVE ANDERSEN DEL MAR, Calif. - Aragorn ran a nearly perfect race in the Grade 1 Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar on July 23. He stalked the pace, circled the front-runners, and won by four lengths in course-record time of 1:44.79 for 1 1/8 miles on turf. With that performance as his most recent outing, Aragorn will be heavily favored in Saturday's $400,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Mile on turf. What is even more frightening for the connections of his seven rivals is that Aragorn is thriving as the summer comes to a close, trainer Neil Drysdale said. "He continues to improve," Drysdale said this week. "He's quite flexible. It appears he can adapt to most situations." Aragorn has emerged as perhaps the nation's top turf miler this year. None of his rivals in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile have credentials like his this year. Owned by Ballygallon Stud, the Irish-bred Aragorn has won his last two starts, including the Grade 1 Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile on turf at Hollywood Park on May 29. Saturday's race puts Aragorn closer to the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. Following the Grade 2 Del Mar BC Mile, Drysdale envisions starting Aragorn in a prep race in October and then shipping to Kentucky. If Drysdale has a concern, it is the timing of Saturday's race. The five weeks between the Eddie Read and the Del Mar is a quick turnaround for a 4-year-old who has been given ample time between races. "I hope we've given him enough time," Drysdale said. "That's why we didn't go" to the Arlington Million on Aug. 12. Drysdale has no concern about the distance because Aragorn is proven at a mile and 1 1/8 miles. "I don't think it matters," he said. All of the eight entrants in the Del Mar Mile ran in stakes in their last start. The race marks the first start of 2006 for Laura's Lucky Boy, who was second by a nose in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf here last summer. Laura's Lucky Boy finished 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park last October. Three of the runners that finished behind Aragorn in the Eddie Read return in the Del Mar Mile - Sweet Return, who was second; Quasimodo, who was fourth; and Hendrix, who finished sixth. Sweet Return is the most accomplished of those three. Trained by Ron McAnally, Sweet Return has won six stakes in his 32-race career, most notably the Grade 2 Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in 2004 and two Grade 1 stakes last year - the Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park and the Eddie Read. Sweet Return is winless in six starts this year. McAnally said he was surprised that Aragorn has stayed in California for the Del Mar Mile. "I don't know why he didn't go in the Arlington Million," McAnally said. "We were hoping he would." McAnally is realistic about Sweet Return's chances against Aragorn. McAnally can take some comfort in race tactics - Sweet Return is likely to be in front of Aragorn midway through the race. He is hoping for a slow pace to help Sweet Return. "If they run three-quarters in 1:15, we might have a shot at it," McAnally said.
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#3
08-25-2006, 10:50 AM
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$400,000 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Mile Handicap
(gr. IIT, Race 8, 5:30 p.m.), 3 & Up (Turf) PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey 1. a-Laura's Lucky Boy (KY), 117, Norberto Arroyo, Jr. 2. Aragorn (IRE), 123, Corey S. Nakatani 3. El Don (CA), 115, Jose Valdivia, Jr. 4. a-Quasimodo (KY), 114, Victor Espinoza 5. Hendrix (KY), 116, David R. Flores 6. We All Love Aleyna (FL), 113, Martin A. Pedroza 7. Sweet Return (GB), 117, Alex O. Solis 8. Wild Buddy (FL), 114, Jon K. Court
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#4
08-26-2006, 02:12 PM
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WALA scratched.....
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#5
08-26-2006, 02:43 PM
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just when you think you've had a great racing wknd, the next one rolls around. what a day! great races at saratoga, and aragorn hopefully detonates again out west.
aragorn/lauras lucky boy ex, throw in sweet return to round out a tri...
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#6
08-26-2006, 07:53 PM
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Aragorn, Sweet Return, Quasimodo. You can bet on it.
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#12
08-26-2006, 08:25 PM
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a forty minute drive in any direction to get something to drink...
closest gambling is about 1 1/2 hours to casinos on the river, or about 2 or so hours to hot springs....
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#14
08-26-2006, 08:29 PM
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Aragorn / Hendrix..... not that i think there's a great chance of that but hey, I have a soft spot for Hendrix.
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#16
08-26-2006, 08:44 PM
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Aragorn looked awesome!
 Wild Buddy 2nd (come back, Rock Hard Ten fan!) and Hendrix 3rd.....
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#17
08-26-2006, 08:47 PM
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Quote:
we drive an hour for anything decent. i know a lot of times i knock this place. the people, the rules, the narrowmindedness, etc...etc.. but we actually like it here for the most part. you just have to accept that if you want to eat a decent meal, or go have some fun, you have to travel. we keep to ourselves much of the time, tony and i enjoy each others company, so we don't feel the lack. both have good jobs, etc. but we seem to get along better with other 'transplants'.
__________________
Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all. Abraham Lincoln
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#18
08-26-2006, 08:51 PM
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Quote:
You may just have to drive a bit!
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#19
08-26-2006, 08:52 PM
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Quote:
Ooops, sorry for interrupting!  Distracted. 
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