The Pamplemousse Is Shining
rayphil
Senior Member
DRF.COM
The Pamplemousse sparkles in workout
By Jay Privman
ARCADIA, Calif. - The deluge that struck Santa Anita earlier this week left a few soggy spots on the main track on Wednesday morning, and though many trainers decided to hold off on workouts for a second straight day, trainer Julio Canani put his top 3-year-old The Pamplemousse through a critical six-furlong drill for next week's Sham Stakes, and he could not have been more impressive.
With his regular jockey, Alex Solis, aboard, The Pamplemousse effortlessly cruised through six furlongs on a gorgeous morning here. His official final time was 1:12.40 - Canani had him slightly faster - but the time was not nearly as important as the way in which The Pamplemousse did it. Canani, excitable when he wakes up, was dazzled, so much so that as soon as the work ended, he started spewing off a series of unprintable expletives, not in disgust, but in admiration.
"Did you see that?" is the G-rated version of what Canani said. "Look at him. He was just galloping. Thank God I don't got the fever."
He repeated "I don't got the fever" as he walked animatedly along the apron and past Clocker's Corner, where several fellow trainers pointed out that, indeed, he was getting the fever. Canani then waited near the top of the stretch, where The Pamplemousse walked by on his way back to the barn, never taking a deep breath.
"Everybody says the track is deep. Look at this horse," he said. "Look at this horse."
The Pamplemousse is coming off a front-running win last month in the San Rafael Stakes. He will be seeking his third straight victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Sham on Feb. 28, which will be his first race at 1 1/8 miles.
Solis said The Pamplemousse "felt like he was walking around there."
"He's getting stronger," Solis said. "I like what Julio is doing. He's letting him catch up with himself rather than forcing it. All his works, he does it in hand."
Keeping off the track
Only 17 horses recorded works at Santa Anita on Tuesday, and just 41 on Wednesday, as the main track, a Pro-Ride all-weather surface, continued to dry out following the heavy rain of last weekend.
"There's a wet spot at the three-eighths pole, and management has been very open about saying they needed one more day," said trainer Eoin Harty, who postponed scheduled works of Colonel John and Well Armed until Thursday. "I'm going to defer to their better judgment."
Richard Mandella was another trainer who decided to gallop and jog most of his horses.
"The track is still drying out," Mandella said. "I'll wait until [Thursday]. It took a pretty good beating."
There was no racing at Santa Anita on Wednesday, with the track taking two scheduled dark days following Monday's holiday card. After training hours were over on Wednesday, track maintenance crews were seen using heavy equipment to work on the surface between the three-eighths pole and five-sixteenths pole.
The Pamplemousse sparkles in workout
By Jay Privman
ARCADIA, Calif. - The deluge that struck Santa Anita earlier this week left a few soggy spots on the main track on Wednesday morning, and though many trainers decided to hold off on workouts for a second straight day, trainer Julio Canani put his top 3-year-old The Pamplemousse through a critical six-furlong drill for next week's Sham Stakes, and he could not have been more impressive.
With his regular jockey, Alex Solis, aboard, The Pamplemousse effortlessly cruised through six furlongs on a gorgeous morning here. His official final time was 1:12.40 - Canani had him slightly faster - but the time was not nearly as important as the way in which The Pamplemousse did it. Canani, excitable when he wakes up, was dazzled, so much so that as soon as the work ended, he started spewing off a series of unprintable expletives, not in disgust, but in admiration.
"Did you see that?" is the G-rated version of what Canani said. "Look at him. He was just galloping. Thank God I don't got the fever."
He repeated "I don't got the fever" as he walked animatedly along the apron and past Clocker's Corner, where several fellow trainers pointed out that, indeed, he was getting the fever. Canani then waited near the top of the stretch, where The Pamplemousse walked by on his way back to the barn, never taking a deep breath.
"Everybody says the track is deep. Look at this horse," he said. "Look at this horse."
The Pamplemousse is coming off a front-running win last month in the San Rafael Stakes. He will be seeking his third straight victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Sham on Feb. 28, which will be his first race at 1 1/8 miles.
Solis said The Pamplemousse "felt like he was walking around there."
"He's getting stronger," Solis said. "I like what Julio is doing. He's letting him catch up with himself rather than forcing it. All his works, he does it in hand."
Keeping off the track
Only 17 horses recorded works at Santa Anita on Tuesday, and just 41 on Wednesday, as the main track, a Pro-Ride all-weather surface, continued to dry out following the heavy rain of last weekend.
"There's a wet spot at the three-eighths pole, and management has been very open about saying they needed one more day," said trainer Eoin Harty, who postponed scheduled works of Colonel John and Well Armed until Thursday. "I'm going to defer to their better judgment."
Richard Mandella was another trainer who decided to gallop and jog most of his horses.
"The track is still drying out," Mandella said. "I'll wait until [Thursday]. It took a pretty good beating."
There was no racing at Santa Anita on Wednesday, with the track taking two scheduled dark days following Monday's holiday card. After training hours were over on Wednesday, track maintenance crews were seen using heavy equipment to work on the surface between the three-eighths pole and five-sixteenths pole.
Comments
Go Pamplemousse!
You are one interesting man Dunco. I don't think I even understand 80% of your posts :x-huh:
That a boy Pamplemousse!
DC, who is he looking to be up against in the Sham? Mr Hot Stuff headed there? Any other big names from CA?
There sending Mr. Hot Stuff to cali to run the sticky stuff? DC
Mr. Hot Stuff is C.J. half brother, I get them mixed up. Sorry.
FB
ah alright, so following the NY trail. Maybe he'll be 6/5 if he faces Haynesfield :thumbup:
Incidentally, Pamplemousse was flattered again last weekend as his maiden victim Mayor Marv won the Turf Paradise Derby by open lengths.
Free Country targets Louisiana Derby
Trainer Ken McPeek said he is simply going to dismiss Free Country's disappointing fourth-place effort as the favorite in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The setback was the first in three starts for the promising 3-year-old, who won an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles in his 2009 debut here earlier in the meet.
"He really struggled with that deep racetrack at Tampa - he just didn't handle it at all," McPeek said. "He drank a bucket and a quarter of water coming off the track and was a very tired horse after the race."
McPeek said Free Country would likely make his next start in the Louisiana Derby.
It's a shame the Fountain of Youth isn't two turns, we'd learn more about these horses as potential Derby prospects.
:laugh: I just posted something about this in your other Pamplemousse thread before I got to this one.
I can't wait for Saturday, it'd be great to have a HRT fan favorite run a monster race. I haven't seen the race on paper, but visually from the races it seems like a 2-horse race to me. Ventana seems like a lost cause to me. Pamplemousse/Mr Hot Stuff exacta.