Tag Archives: Clay Brinson

Belle Works on Sunday

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Brilliant Belle had her first work since arriving at Canterbury Park on Sunday morning.  Trainer Nevada Litfin sent her out for a three furlong breeze which she completed in a reported 41 seconds flat.

Generally speaking you would like to see a horse work in about :12 seconds per furlong, more of less or, in this case, 36 seconds or so.  That said, Belle finished up her work well and reportedly galloped out strong.  There is a chance that the work time was misreported.  She didn’t appear to be moving that slowly and there is a lot going on in the mornings with horses coming on and off the track, breaking off at different points to work at different distances and sometimes there is confusion that results in a misreported time.

She came off the track well and cooled down fine.  In the immortal words of our favorite track announcer Paul Allen, “time only matters in prison”.

We’ll talk more about workouts during the tours – or at breakfast if you’d like.

In other news, Belle came up a bit snotty this morning which is unsurprising given the extremes in weather that she’s been subjected to over the past week or so.  In a nutshell, she has a cold.  She’ll be treated and it certainly does not appear serious enough to interrupt her training.  She would walk a day or two after her work anyway and then head back to the track to gallop.  We’ll plan on working her again next weekend and, as long as all is well, look for that first race!

We looked to privately purchase a horse at Hawthorne but were unable to complete the deal.  There was some concern over the ability to get races for the horse here for a low level route dirt horse, a risk we could mitigate by purchasing at a favorable price point.  However, not given that price point we will come start the meet with one horse while looking to claim a second early in the meet with Clay Brinson.

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Okay…Now What?

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Thanks to you all that have signed up and re-upped to join us in 2016. There are still a few “checks in the mail” so while we work through that (should be completed by the end of this week) here is where we go from here.

It looks like we are going to have approximately 160 or so members. This is slightly higher than where we were last year but still far from the record 202 we had two years back. That means we will have about $40,000 to spend so we will try and get a pair of horses that we can run through the season.

I am submitted our applications to Arkansas for licensing. Like the state of Minnesota, Arkansas only licenses owners that have more than 5% interest in the group so I will be the license holder for the group. Arkansas requires that we register as a stable name as well as a partnership and those licenses are $30 each.

Clay Brinson, our trainer, is at Oaklawn and will be looking to claim us a horse or two. Claiming activity there is hot and heavy so it may take a while to get our first horse. I will outline the claiming process and what we are looking for in a post later this week/weekend.

We should be ready as soon as possibly this weekend to start shopping. In the past we have been fortunate and been able to get a horse right away and we have also struggled a bit and not been able to get a horse until we returned to Shakopee, so it’s hard to say how soon we will have a horse in the barn. However, we start looking now!

Welcome aboard and thanks for joining us!

2016 Club Sign Up Time!

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If you’ve been a member in the past you already know this information but if you’ve been following along wondering when you would get a chance to join up – this is for you.

Members will pay $250 to join the Club. There are no additional fees and the only additional expense will be if we are fortunate enough to get into the Winners’ Circle, there will be small charge for a photo.

The Club ends at the end of 2016 or when we have sold off our horses. As an example, in 2013 we closed in November because our last horse was claimed then and it made no sense to claim a horse for only a few weeks. Last year, however, we raced straight until December 30th before we had our horse claimed away.

Members get admission to Canterbury Park for the season as well as, if available, a special location to watch the races, rotating paddock access and – again, if we’re lucky – access to the Winners’ Circle. We will conduct a few backstretch tours during the season as well so we can visit the barns and get a glimpse at life on the backside.

You get to follow YOUR horse(s) during the year!

Members can only get back as much money as they put in. This is a not for profit venture and is used as an educational experience to get people familiar with all the ins and outs of race horse ownership and “pull back the curtain”, if you will, and de-mystify the game.

We’re launching our “open enrollment” period, if you will. We’ll be looking to close out by February 28, 2016. Admittedly this is a bit later than previous years, but that is a function of racing so late in the year last year and having time to close out 2015. Clay Brinson will once again be our trainer. Clay is operating this winter season at Oaklawn Park so we have a little bit of a twist this season as in past years we tried to claim out of Hawthorne Race Course.

I will be posting again once we close out 2015 and will have the rollover form available at that time as well. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later!

Sign up forms are at the bottom of this post. Please let us know if you have any questions either by leaving a comment here or contacting us directly at ted@grevelisracing.com or jmaday@canterburypark.com.

2016 Horse_ Ownership_Club_Membership_Agreement w email

 

Close On A Winning Note!

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Under the rail at the wire. Photo courtesy FOUR FOOTED FOTOS

Under the rail at the wire. Photo courtesy FOUR FOOTED FOTOS

Congratulations, 2015 Clubbers!

What a great way to end the season. TENS WILD wins going away under very confident handling by Julio Felix. He stalked the longshot through the first turn and down the backside just on his outside flank. When the leader began to tire, Julio let him go and TENS drew off to win by 6 over the muddy track.

Tens was also claimed out of the race for $8,000 by trainer John Haran. It worked out well for the Club. We did have a deal in place to sell Tens for $5,000 after the race but this worked out better for as we got $8,000 for him. He leaves us in good form and sound.

Much thanks to Clay, Juan, our grooms, exercise riders and jockeys for another great year! While we won’t break even, we’re going to be close again! Hopefully we’ll be closed out by 1/15 and let you all know what the roll over for the 2016 Club is going to be.

To order winners’ circle photos from Four Footed Fotos, please go to their website at: www.fourfootedfotos.com.

KID Goes Tonight; Spot in Silks

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The CITRON KID makes his debut for the Club this evening and we’ll take a look at the field.

I did want to touch base on the Winners’ Circle, should we be fortunate enough to reach there again. Club members and immediate family are welcome, it’s part of the experience! However in the last photo (which I am trying to no avail so far to put up as our header) there are quite a few folks that I know are not Clubbers (or family) or are former Clubbers that have chosen not to participate this year that were in the photo. If you are amongst this group, please do not ruin the experience for the people that have decided to participate this year. When we are lucky enough to win, the WC is a VERY crowded and potentially dangerous place to be. I do not want to have to limit access for actual members because the photo is being crashed by folks that are not.

Heather and I will stand in front of the horse (if anyone is going to get trampled it may as well be us and not you!) and everyone needs to be to our right, away from where the horse stands (marked by horseshoe prints on the ground). This is to make sure that everyone is out of the way of the animal. Safety is of utmost importance and while I know we all want to be visible, I want us all to be safe.
On to the race!

1 CITRON KID (BRINSON/BUTLER)

2 Bernie the Jet (Ledgess/Goncalves) – early speedster that just won at $20,000 stepping down to $16,000.

3 Ragged Edge (Rhone/Escobar) – Minnesota bred had some trouble at the higher levels but has certainly not embarrassed himself in open company either. Drops down to try and fit in here. Will be coming off the pace.

4 Sound Effect (Diodoro/Vegara) – Beat both Dr Action and Tens Wild last time out. Should be fresh and has a nice come from off the pace style which should suit this race nicely.

5 Affirmed Cure (Peters/Eikleberry) – Another Minnesotan that hasn’t been able to break through yet.

6 Wildcat Moon (Lavanway/Becerra) – Won the 2 furling Dash in a Flash on extreme day but needs to run in a “real” race today. Should have some speed and won at $10,000 before dudding in an allowance. Next logical step was this level.

7 Gentle As A Breeze (Brendt/Velazquez) – A very sharp claim by Joel Berndt at $7500 has gone on to win at $10,000 and finish 2nd in an optional and, last out, behind Tens. He should be close early as well.

8 Why Frank (Oliver/Richard) – Was able to win at $20,000 sitting off the pace and has a second at that level (and this one) earlier in the meet. Last out he was clearly overmatched but back where he belongs in here.

9 Callinghardten (Chambers/Franco) – Owner of a two race winning streak at $10,000 this spot was the next logical step up. Another who is going to come from off the pace.

I won’t lie to you, this is going to be a tough one to win. CITRON’s running style, early speed, matches several in here that are good, competitive horses at this level. You combine that with the likes of Why Frank and Sound Effect that have won at this level or higher recently by coming off the pace and Dean has his work cut out for him.

Clay’s barn has been red hot lately, even winning the Mantioba Derby at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg on Monday, so that can’t be underestimated. Additionally we have the leading rider again who seems to have a pace clock installed in his head, so that helps tremendously.

I can’t see us getting out to an easy lead and when this horse has tried to stalk he doesn’t seem to be able to get there late, however, if anyone can get the Kid to relax and sit a bit behind the other speedsters, it would be Dean Butler.

It’s a full field and a difficult race but those are always the most fun to win – it means you’ve really earned one!

Best of luck everyone. We should have a spot in Silks and we will see you tonight!

CONGRATULATIONS!

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Nice win by our boy TENS WILD today under Dean Butler. Though we trailed the field early it was a closely bunched group and Dean knew exactly what he had underneath him.

As the field moved through the far turn and Dean steered TENS from 6th to 3rd while getting him in the best position to make a run to the wire, I felt confident that we had it. Very exciting to get that first win and congratulations to everyone.

Big thank you to Clay, Juan, Felix and Dean for getting him ready and getting him home in front.

PHOTOS

We will run pictures the same way we did last year: they can be picked up in the gift shop and will be $10 each. I placed an order for an initial run of 50. Last year we did 40 and then needed reorders for 10 twice. We have less people this year so I thought I’d give it a shot at 50 and see what we can do. If we end up needing more, we will reorder.

The photos should be ready for Thursday night, but most definitely by next weekend.

It looks like we’re going to look to give TENS about 3 weeks off and bring him back right at this level. CITRON KID is doing well and we’ll be looking to enter him the weekend of August 8-9.

We’ll have another post up this week and add some pictures that Heather was able to take of our boy out on the track.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

TENS WILD Race; Pod in Silks

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We will have a pod reserved in Silks tomorrow for the Canterbury Racing Club as TENS WILD heads to post in the 6th race. The race is a $16,000 claiming race over the grass going 7 1/2 furlongs.

Here is a rundown on the field:

1 – TENS WILD (Brinson/Butler)

2 – Gentle as a Breeze (Berndt/Escobar): Lots of speed in this guy who had a tremendous race two back demolishing a $10,000 claiming field by 11 1/4 in an off the turf mile event. Just missed a few times over the Phoenix turf but the make up here is much different (see MUNDY 2-years ago). He tended to rate a bit better at Turf Paradise but that was also for his former barn.

3 – Mr. Mischief (Granitz/Goncalves): Solid turfer likes to go a bit quick early as well. Finished ahead of us 2-starts back but that’s when TENS was getting a bit worked up in the paddock.

4 – Hunterwood (Biehler/Velazquez): Steady runner finished well in both Canterbury turf appearances but finished behind TENS in his last.

5 – Go Gold (Westermann/Sanchez): Likes to come off the pace and should have plenty of pace to run at. Tries turf for the second time in his career and going perhaps a bit longer than he likes.

6 – Unsaddled Glory (Donlin/Richard): Pulled up and vanned off last out, it’s amazing how many of these type come back to win. Finished a solid 3rd two back in a $20,000 claimer and like to flash early speed.

It’s small field and we have a new pilot on board, leading rider Dean Butler. For a 7 1/2 furlong race there is an awful lot of early speed in there. You’d almost think that we were part of it – and we can be (see last race) – but I don’t think we have to be. The shape of the race looks like it is going to set up like TENS win when we claimed him – tuck in behind the speed and then a solid run to the finish. If it works out this way, I think we have a very good chance of winning this one.

Clay has schooled TENS the paddock a few times again this week and with the heat and humidity forecasted tomorrow, it’s important that he’s nice and relaxed. Clay has done all he can and our boy is ready.

We’ll see you in Silks and paddock group 3 will lead the way to victory!

TENS WILD 4th

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Certainly not the result we were looking for and, as I heard multiple times wandering the facility, “The wrong Brinson horse won!”

Of course from our point of view that was true, but congratulations to the Brinson barn on a very tough race by Dr Action. The early pace was quick but Mr Mischief wasn’t under any pressure cutting the fractions, yet Dr Action was still able to get past him late.

Now our guy didn’t break very sharply. Leandro Goncalves said he was acting up a bit in the gate and they had to grab his tail to keep him in line. He was also very sweaty heading to the track which had Clay a bit concerned. He was hosed off early but still wasn’t able to dry out. Clay mentioned that he’s going to bring him up to track before his next start to school him a little bit to hopefully make him more comfortable.

Because of his acting up he didn’t break very sharply. The leaders were out like they were shot from a cannon and, with no pressure on the leader, he was able to run comfortably leaving him plenty in the tank for the stretch run. Leandro said Tens was coming at the end but they got too loose too early and there was no way he could make up all that ground.

We’ll fight another day!

TERICE Tries to Extend Streak(s)

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TERICE takes the track today at Hawthorne about 2:55 PM CT in the 5th race, a $5000 claiming affair going a mile and 70 yards over the main track.

This looks like a stouter group than in her last and while I was hoping that coming right back at this level would get us the claim that we are looking for, there are others in here that seem a bit more likely.

Here is the field:

1 Nikaluk (Reavis/Colvin) – Your morning line favorite. Has a pattern I HATE to see when betting a race: a steep class drop after a claim. No one likes to lose money and claiming for $12,500 and running back after a poor effort and 6 week layoff at $5,000 raises too many red flags for me to count. Could be a tweaked ankle and a ploy by the trainer to try and get a quick win before we figure out we were duped, but I’m very suspicious.

2 Cash in a Shoebox (Holder/Thornton) – She hasn’t graduated from the conditioned claiming ranks yet and now steps in against multiple winners.

3 Sweet Jess (Block/Felix) – Won at higher on the turf and also broke her maiden over this racetrack on the dirt. She’s shown good early speed as well as the flexibility to try and close. She would have been my choice for favoritism.

4 Geneva Lake (Rivelli/Sanjur) – An off the pace type whose class level fits very well in here. Beat $10,000 claimers two starts back though faltered at $8,000 in a pace scenario that I would have thought would have been right for her, though it could have been the extra distance. A heated battle up front and she will be dangerous late.

5 TERICE (BRINSON/ESQUIVEL)

6 Jardenia (Cox/MontalvoCosme) – Won her last in much the same way Terice did, though we came from slightly further back. They bring her right back at this level after the win. She really wasn’t competitive in her races leading up to the win so we’ll have to see if it was a fluke or a turning of the corner.

7 Wildcat Devil (Cristel/Lantz) – While she was second to us last out, it “wasn’t as close as the score indicated,” though it wasn’t a bad effort. Her early speed cold be a real asset for her since the race has scarily little.

8 Wild Luna (Turco/Emigh) – An old friend from Canterbury this summer, she has been thrashed soundly in her last few including by Terice in her last.

Our girl won’t be too far off the pace this race, where she does her best running. We’ve seen throughout this streak that Esquivel will put her in the best spot so we know that we’re going to have a chance. I have concerns about the lack of speed in the race. I guess that Sweet Jess could make a go of it early and perhaps Wildcat Devil will go as well, ensuring an honest pace, but that’s an iffy proposition. The upside to me is that there aren’t any in here that are monsters and the couple that may like to run in front aren’t really speedballs.

The race could come down to the stalkers that have the best trip that are able to lay closer to an anticipated slower pace and being bale to run late. With Emmanuel, I like our chances but she will have to dig deep to hold off a big class dropper like Sweet Jess. The last two races I felt very confident that we could win ’em pretty easily. For this race, I think we can do it, but it will be anything but easy.

Good luck!!