Monthly Archives: October 2012

Another Victory for Great Bam

Posted on by
12

Great Bam did it again this past weekend cruising to a 4 and 1/4 length victory as a heavy 1/2 wagering favorite at Hawthorne Race Course in Chicago. Chart of the race.

The race unfolded in a similar manner to his last. He didn’t get out of the gate extremely well, but ranged up to the outside of the pace-setters around the turn and then put them all away under Seth Martinez in late stretch. You can watch a replay of the race here.

The race was completed in a relatively fast time of 1:10.84, it is one of the quicker six furlong times of the meet to date. As a result, Great Bam earned a career-best preliminary 81 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort (11 points better than his previous career-best number earned in mid-2011). For comparison, there were two six and one half furlong allowance races contested last week and the six furlong times in those two races were in the 1:11.40 neighborhood.

Initial reports are that Bam came out of the race in good shape. Obviously, we’ll continue to monitor his condition; however, if he continues to do well, he’s probably earned the chance to run against allowance competition.

Looking ahead in the condition book, the next allowance race that is in the book (which would fit his conditions) would come up at six and one half furlongs on November 7. That is likely too quick to come back and the current Condition Book ends on November 17. Therefore, Clay will be looking to find where the next race may be, keeping in mind that it could come up as an extra. We’ll let him find the right spot as he has Bam at the top of his game right now.

Again, the best way to get a picture would be for anyone interested to give the office a call at Hawthorne and order on your own. They accept credit cards. Make sure you are clear that you are ordering a picture from Race 4 at Hawthorne Race Course on Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Great Bam.

Four Footed Fotos
425-271-9424 main office
708-780-3700 (x3654) on race days

Congratulations on another victory, hope that you are all still enjoying the ride!

Advertisement

Bam Entered in $10k N3L for Saturday at Hawthorne

Posted on by
14

Clay entered Great Bam for Saturday’s $10,000 claiming race for four-year-olds and upward which have never won three races lifetime or three-year-olds. The race went with seven horses and Great Bam has been named the 5/2 morning line favorite. Jockey Seth Martinez will again have the call. Post time is scheduled for 3:40 p.m.

Here’s a look at the field:

#1 Wild Party (10-1) – The lone three-year-old in the race to make the race with the three-year-old condition, Wild Party hasn’t seen the winner’s circle since early May at Assiniboia Downs. Finished a well-beaten 8th at this level two weeks ago.

#2 Strong Luck (6-1) – Drops out of a $25,000 claimer to a more realistic level, but will need to wake up with that class drop. Defeated by a combined 30 lengths in his last three starts.

#3 Lightning Fir (12-1) – This Iowa-bred has never defeated open company and this doesn’t seem like a place to start. Hasn’t threatened since a victory in early May.

#4 Commando Kat (6-1) – This one has some speed and seems to have some ability on dirt. Trainer has started out on fire early on in this Hawthorne meet and the class drop back down to a realistic level should help. Can be an early speed factor at the very least.

#5 Great Bam (5/2) – You all know him quite well. Has run the same type of race both times out for the group, taking over the lead around the turn. Last time he proved he was more fit running off to win by a dominant eight lengths. He has caught a very reasonable group for the jump up in class and he can be right there yet again with a good trip. A horse’s third start off a layoff can often provide their best effort as they reach peak form. Let’s hope that is the case on Saturday.

#6 Clout (9/2) – Another one dropping in class (notice a theme?) to face easier company. He has run much better over synthetic surfaces than he has on real dirt and has never excelled at today’s distance. Figures to be a closer in this type of sprint and their may not be enough early speed for him to get home.

#7 Aikman (3-1) – A familiar name, Aikman won a $5,000 N3L last time out for Clay but was subsequently disqualified for interference in the stretch. Aikman was claimed that day by a solid claiming trainer, Michael Revis, and runs right back one level up the class ladder. Showed solid speed that day and can be a nuisance having drawn to Bam’s outside. Will be interesting to see where jockey Alex Canchari places this guy early in the race.

On paper, it looks like Bam and Aikman could be set for a nice duel down the stretch. Bam owns the best last out Beyer Speed Figure and is certainly capable of winning this race. As it turns out, the jump up in class yielded an easier field that was expected.

That being said, we are facing four horses dropping in class and a couple of others that ran their last race at this level. We are definitely moving up the ladder and you never know how a horse will respond when facing tougher competition. Additionally, having Aikman drawn to our outside will force Seth to decide where he wants to be so that he doesn’t get pinned in. It should be a good one!

The $5,000 N3L that provided the other option will be run as the fifth race on the card on Saturday and Bam would have been a very heavy favorite against that group. Good to know there are other options available.

Best of luck on Saturday! Hope to see you out here to cheer on Bam. Don’t forget, the 2012 Breeders Cup is next weekend! This is your final chance to win your Breeders’ Cup Bankroll by playing in our Free to Enter Countdown to the Cup Tournament. Check it out at www.canterburypark.com.

Bam Posts Another Workout, Will Enter for Saturday

Posted on by
7

Great Bam put up a solid workout this morning in preparation for a race next Saturday. He covered four furlongs in 49 seconds flat which was ranked the 3rd fastest of 14 at the distance. He worked behind two nice allowance horses, Mavericking and Hope for Today trained by Chicago-based trainer Chris Block.

Clay intends to enter him on Wednesday for Saturday but he still isn’t certain which race he will run in. (Both a $10k N3L and a $5k N3L are offered for Saturday). At this point, he’s leaning toward the $10k N3L as he is pretty happy with Great Bam’s fitness level and overall physical condition.

Stay tuned for more information on Wednesday! We’ll provide more information after entries close.

Post Race Update and Plans Moving Forward

Posted on by
3

Jeff spoke with Clay yesterday and all reports have been positive about Great Bam following his victory just over one week ago. Clay reported that he came out of the race just fine and that he plans to move forward and run him again within the next couple of weeks or so.

That being said, the most logical races coming up in the Condition Book for Great Bam fall on Saturday, October 27. Currently, the Condition Book has both a $5,000 and $10,000 claiming race listed for non-winners of three races lifetime. One of these races will be the most likely spot to find Bam.

The $5,000 race will be contested at six and one half furlongs while the $10,000 race will be contested at six furlongs. There aren’t substantial differences in purse levels as the $5,000 race carries an $11,000 purse and the $10,000 race carries a $12,500 purse.

The $10,000 race was last contested on October 10 and featured a few horses dropping out of tougher competition. Four of the 10 horses entered in the race had previously run against either $16,000 claimers or against allowance foes. It would certainly be a step up for Bam who didn’t beat much last time out.

The $5,000 N3L race was contested a couple of times this past weekend. Clay won that race this past Saturday when Already There stalked a quick pace and took over to win by a little over a length. Already There shipped up to the Brinson barn this summer from Southern California notching one victory, one second-place finish and one sixth-place finish at Canterbury before going down to Hawthorne.

On Sunday, Clay sent out Aikman in another $5,000 N3L at a distance of six furlongs. Unfortunately, Aikman was disqualified for interference in late stretch and placed second. Additionally, Aikman was claimed by new owner/trainer Michael Revis.

Best guess is you see Bam resurface in a $5,000 N3L race on October 27 (assuming it fills). However, we’ll leave the final decision-making to Clay as he’s best able to determine where the horse fits.

Bam Wins Easily on Saturday

Posted on by
12

As was predicted here, Bam went off at below the 2-1 morning line… way below at 3/5. Luckily, he didn’t disappoint running off to win by a widening 8 and 1/4 lengths despite having the horse immediately to his inside, Jack’s Big Fella, break out and cut him off in the opening stages of the race.

You can visit Hawthorne’s website for the race replay (or click here). It isn’t the highest qualify video, but it was nice of track announcer Peter Galassi to work in the Shakopee reference as Bam drew off in late stretch.

If you haven’t seen the chart of the race, you can view it here. Seth did a great job letting him relax just enough to go grab the lead and run away in the stretch.

Great Bam earned a 67 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort on Saturday. It’s his best Beyer Figure since March 28 when he won but was disqualified for interference. It puts him back in about the same company he was keeping at the time he was claimed.

Jeff spoke with the track photographer at Hawthorne and determined that the best way to get a picture would be for anyone interested to give the office a call and order on their own. They accept credit cards. Make sure you are clear that you are ordering a picture from Race 4 at Hawthorne Race Course on Saturday, October 6, 2012 – Great Bam.

Four Footed Fotos
425-271-9424 main office
708-780-3700 (x3654) on race days

We’ll pass along updates as to how he came out of the race and what the next step may be after we speak with Clay later on this week. Congratulations on Victory #3!

Racing Club Financial Update

Posted on by
5

Here’s an update to where the clubs stands financially as we kick off the Hawthorne Meet. This updated account of our financial position includes Great Bam’s September earnings in addition to September training expenses and August and September vet bills.

Here’s a closer look at the numbers:

Racing Club Balance 8/31 – $19,959.22

Earnings:

Great Bam Second Place Finish (9/3) – $2,340

Total Racing Club Earnings – $2,340

Expenses:

Great Bam Day Rate (30 days at $60 per Day) – $1,800

Great Bam Pony to Post – $25

Trainer Fee to Clay Brinson for Great Bam (9/3) – $234

Jockey Fee to Nik Goodwin for Great Bam (9/3) – $117

Equine Retirement Fees – $2

Great Bam Dentistry (9/5) – $85

Great Bam Shipping Bill to Illinois – $350

Illinois Racing License – $25

August Veterinarian Expenses:

Great Bam

Raceday Medication – $95

Electrolytes, Vitamins and Enzymes – $147

Thyroid Medication, Joint Lubricants and Supplements – $195.32

Lovely Tak

Raceday Medication – $40

Electrolytes, Vitamins and Enzymes – $110

Thyroid Medication, Joint Lubricants and Supplements – $382.26

High Spirit

Raceday Medication – $115

Electrolytes, Vitamins and Enzymes – $120

Thyroid Medication, Joint Lubricants and Supplements – $381.66

September Veterinarian Expenses:

Great Bam

Electrolytes, Vitamins and Enzymes – $27.45

Thyroid Medication, Joint Lubricants and Supplements – $88

Total September Training and August and September Vet Bills – $4,339.69

Total Remaining Balance – $17,959.53

Best of luck in the race on Saturday! Let’s hope for a win.

Great Bam Saturday Race Preview

Posted on by
3

Back by popular demand, here’s a preview of Great Bam’s race on Saturday. As was mentioned in the previous post, he’s been installed as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line.

#1 Anthony’s Prayer (12-1) – Has been toiling at this level for quite a while and is winless since 2012. Has been beaten handily by lower competition in his most recent efforts. One the outside looking in. At most, a pace factor.

#2 Exchange Legend (20-1) – Broke his maiden at the very bottom this summer at Fairmont Park. Has not done well against winners in two subsequent efforts. He is lightly raced and only three so he is eligible to get better.

#3 Old Low Down (5-1) – A competitive sort that has been in the mix. Expect him to be close to the lead, potentially stalking the pace. Spent the summer on Arlington’s Polytrack and now returns to dirt where he has never finished worse than third in four career starts. Trainer hasn’t done well this year… 0 for 2012.

#4 Trust More (9/2) – Narrowly missed last out at Fairmont. Hadn’t really been close since breaking the maiden in January at Oaklawn Park. Finally showed a little speed last time out and have to expect they try to do the same again on Saturday. Pace player.

#5 Gracies Brudder (12-1) – Dropping in class and returning to the dirt where his only previous career start was a complete disaster. Hard to figure out what he’ll do, but have to think he goes for the lead. Interesting on the class drop, not on present form.

#6 Taxes (15-1) – Has been soundly defeated by easier competition in his last two. Wouldn’t expect a major reversal today. Definite outsider.

#7 Abaco Storm (4-1) – Has been running against tougher, has absolutely no early speed which means he’ll be coming from way off the pace. That running style isn’t as bad at Hawthorne but traffic can still be an issue. Bam defeated him twice back in March when the two ran heads up. Likely to be a late threat.

#8 Cherokeechallenger (20-1) – Has never raced on real dirt and has not defeated a single horse in three starts in 2012.

#9 Jack’s Big Fella (30-1) – Just broke the maiden against much softer competition. May have a little early speed but shouldn’t be anything too dangerous. Just need him to break cleanly so that Bam can get away in good order.

#10 Great Bam (2-1) – He’s probably going to go off at just below this morning line price if the race is bet as I expect. Shouldn’t be too much speed to deal with but needs to secure a good position. Hopefully he’s a little more fit this time around and he’ll be able to sit just off the pace before finishing with authority. Striking the lead too early in the race may not necessarily be good for him as he may need something to run at. If he runs his best, it’s his race to lose.

Without going into too much detail, it appears that High Spirit is well-spotted in his Hawthorne debut. His late-running style will be much better suited for that track than for Canterbury’s. Wouldn’t be at all surprising should he happen to win. At 6-1 on the morning line… may need to make sure to get out here so you can bet both of the runners!

Great Bam Entered for Saturday

Posted on by
3

As was the plan, Great Bam has been entered for Saturday’s races at Hawthorne Race Course. Seth Martinez was named as the rider and Bam drew post 10 (of 10 entries) in Race 4. He has been installed as a rather heavy favorite on the morning line at just 2-1 which is a little surprising for a horse that is 1 for 31 lifetime. However, on paper, he certainly does fit with this group.

There is some other speed in the race so he may be best suited to sit just off the leaders and try to make a closing move in deep stretch. It’s historically been difficult to win at Hawthorne in wire-to-wire fashion, so that would be the ideal trip. The big key will likely be whether he decides to settle down early in the race or if he becomes tough to handle.

According to the Daily Racing Form, the race is scheduled to go off at 3:40pm. Hopefully many of you will be able to make it out to Canterbury to watch him run!

Also, High Spirit has been entered on the card in Race 2. It appears that Clay has been retained to train him once again for his new owner Jill Houston. You can check out full entries for the Hawthorne Card here.