CLOCKER-1

Since becoming one of you folks back in April, I try to get on here at least once a week to read what everyone has written.  As Mr. Plonk points out in his Tuesday comments, there's usually one or two cringe-worthy items of note that are completely off the wall.  Just not this week.  Not to me, anyway, and I find it really strange that Mr. Plonk would pick this week for such an important -- and IMO long overdue -- credibillity adviso.  Frankly, I didn't see anything this week that made me cringe.

Then it occurred to me that maybe he was talking about ME!  That maybe he saw where Alonzo Quinonez was riding at Ellis Park on Wednesday and Thursday, and that's how he KNEW what I had posted was wrong.  And since it was titled, "HORSEPLAYER EXCLUSIVE," I can sure see where a totally WRONG story of that magnitude would set-off the Editor-in-Chief.  Mind you, I'm not sure he was talking about me, and frankly that bothers me more than anything.  I just feel very strongly that in a matter of such criticality as "questioning one's credibility," the accuser has an obligation to name names.  Otherwise, the aspirsion instead falls on everyone.  It becomes the old "guilt by association" thing, you know?

Anyway, I stand by my story.  As everyone knows, a jockey is required to honor his previous commitments to keep from having his license suspended.  That said, you just might want to check today's entries @ Ellis Park.  You'll find a certain apprentice rider conspicuously absent!

Give the DRF a few more days.  Eventually, they'll get the story.

CLOCKER-1

"While most of the top jockeys at Churchill will pass up the Ellis Park meet that begins Wednesday in Henderson, Ky., the top apprentice rider at the current meet, Alonso Quinonez, is making it a point to skip the final week of Churchill to focus solely on Ellis.  "We'll be there every day," said Steve Elzey, Quinonez's agent."

Daily Racing Form  -  Sunday, July 1, 2007

****************************************************

NOT!!!

When Steve Elzey gave this interview to the DRF on Friday, he was under the impression his rising young star apprentice had taken the week off to visit a sick relative in California.  In fact, Quinonez was there to formalize a surreptitious arrangement with superstar agent Ron Anderson (Jerry Bailey, Garrett Gomez), and to move his tack permanently to the Left Coast.  (Elzey since has picked-up the book of another young apprentice, R. D. Williams, whom he unabashedly says, "will be the leading rider at Ellis Park's coming meet.")

With Quinonez's left-handed, back-door move, it means the two best apprentice riders in the country now will be appearing daily on the Left Coast.  That said, do not be surprised if the Eclipse Award for the nation's top apprentice, which most folks already have conceded to Joe Talamo, becomes a dog fight.  As fond as I am personally of my hometown Nu Awlyunz buddy "Gentleman Joey," and as common and unprofessionally as I think this situation was handled by Quinonez, the kid is a riding fool, and in my opinion a couple of years further along in his development than Joey T. 

Still, I know for whom I'll be rooting.  And remember, you hoid it here foist!

CLOCKER-1

Morning, gang.  I got a call yesterday from Scott Blasi asking if I could help-out this morning.  With Steve A. out of town (he arrived late Sunday, and apparently was on-track for the work, although I was unaware), and with 12 to work, including the BIG HORSE, I was more than happy.  Following was my impression:

Curlin (4.5 Stars)  -  5F ... breezing ... alone ... 1:03.20 [:14.0; :13.0; :12.0; :12.0; :12.1  -  Galloped-out 3/4 in 1:16.0]

Loved the gallop-out.  In the past on a short gallop-out, Carlos always had to restrain Curlin after the work in order to throttle him down.  This morning, he barely moved his hands, and Curlin understood to shut it down.  As much as he got out of his Derby experience, I believe his Preakness experience with the stumble, early hustle, and hard ride the whole way may turn-out to be even more significant in his development.

Coincidentally, STREET SENSE also was on track this morning to gallop at almost the same time as Curlin, and he DID NOT make a favorable impression.  He appeared a bit washy again, and was reluctant to get going.  In fact, he actually had to have the lead pony engage him in order to begin galloping!  Not good news for those of us hoping to see the "BIG 3" in the Belmont.

CLOCKER-1

Unfortunately, I will not be here tomorrow morning, so this will be my final report.  I want to thank Horseplayerdaily.com and its 12.5 million viewers for inviting me to share my observations here on The Big Blog Pages. 

I hope you folks enjoyed it half as much as I did. 

Remember, the coming week is critical.  I urge everyone to pay close attention to the observations published daily in the DRF by their on-track observers @ CD, particularly Mike Welch, who is exceptional.  It will be interesting to see how his musings match-up with those I've had the pleasure of sharing with you these past few weeks.

Finally, and to all, win or lose on Derby 133, it's still the greatest day in sport.  Until this time next year, here's the final Star Chart ranking, beginning with the first work, and ending with the most recent.

CLOCKER-1

Friday, April 27, 2007

Cobalt Blue (3.75 Stars)  -  6F ... breezing ... alone ... 1:11.3 [:12.1; :24.1; :36.2; :47.2; 1:11.3  -  No gallop-out]

Clocker's Comments:  "The ‘breezing' above, at best, is kind!  This was a full-out work, and when it was done, so was the horse.  His gallop-out wasn't even fast enough to put a watch on.  Anybody but Merv and I doubt this horse would be starting."

Great Hunter (4.0 Stars)  -  6F ... breezing ... alone ... 1:13.0 [:13.0; :24.0; :36.4; :48.3; 1:13.0  -  Galloped-out 7/8 in 1:26.2]

Clocker's Comments:  "Since I am East Coast-based, I had never seen this horse up-close before this week.  According to all the Left Coast guys in the box this week, GH does not appear to be the same horse he was as a 2YO, when all thought he was a monster.  Then again, their leader is Brad Free, the same guy who wrote a big article this week saying basically that the folks who provide these on-track observations pre-Derby and BC are know-nothings, and that those who follow them are morons!"

Liquidity (4.75 Stars)  -  6F ... breezing ... alone ... 1:11.3 [:12.0; :24.0; :35.2; :48.2; :59.3; 1:11.3  -  Galloped-out 7/8 in 1:24.0; 1M in 1.40.0]

Clocker's Comments:  "The only thing that kept this from being a 5-Star work was some mysterious padding around Liquidity's lower legs protecting his coronet bands (the part between the ankle and hoof wall), typically used to protect horses that strike the ground particularly hard.  That aside, a spectacular appearance and gallop-out reminiscent of Curlin's earlier this week.  Clearly a horse coming-up to the race firing on all cylinders."

By the way, I finally got a chance to watch CHELOKEE (the horse my brother has been so high on) up close and personal.  His gallop came during the only lull of the morning, and he had everyone in the booth OMG'ing, including the TVG boys who caught the whole thing on video.  Really disappointed I won't get to see him work tomorrow because he looks like a twofer: two of your strides to one of mine!

Final post to follow shortly.

CLOCKER-1