*Note - If you turn on your sound and speakers, you should hear pleasant Stick News Music in this article !*

9/12/06 - NOTEBOOK REPORTS ON SARATOGA AND DEL MAR BOUTIQUE MEETINGS SUMMER OF '06

*DEL MAR NOTEBOOK REPORT SUMMER '06 MEETING*

*HORSES*
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Many of the Top horses at Del Mar this season all completed 2 victories apiece. One of the top Money earner's was Irish Bred, Aragorn.

Notable horse to watch were Horse Greely and Point Ashley. Yodel lady two also appears to be turning into a top distaffer.

During these short meeting, we sometimes find that horses tend to really love the surface and excel at that track. The true test of a great horses, is one that can win at multiple tracks.

*JOCKEYS*
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VICTOR ESPINOZA BLOWS THEM AWAY !
In what has to be viewed as a crushing display of power and skill, jockey Victor Espinoza amassed an almost 30 win margin over his next rival at the short Del Mar Meeting. 64 victories from 261 mounts shows Victor was really riding as many races as he possible could. However, he certainly made the most out of those mounts. A Big Wave of The Stick to Victor for his accomplishment. Im sure his agent had a lot to do with his getting the top mounts also. Kudos to him also.

Highly touted new jock, Martin Garcia finished second with 35 wins from 234 mounts. This young rider looks to be the next "jeffe" in the near future. Congratulations to Martin for a wonderful meeting. How many young riders can accomplish a 2nd place finish in the jockey standings against the top quality in So.Cal ?

Corey Nakatani made the absolute most out of his limited mounts this meet. From only 167 starts, Corey brought home 33 winners and more then $3,000,000 in purses. The money won is only second to the top rider with nearly 100 less starters, shows Corey is still on of the top 10 riders in the country. Corey always a fan favorite anda Stick favorite rider really put on a clinic with masterful rides and victories in most of the top stakes races.

*notable mention goes to Alex Solis who rode 30 winners from only 142 mounts.

Jon Court, Tyler Baze, David Cohen(no relation), and Aaron Gryder all put forth valliant efforts with the mounts they had to ride. Sometimes we can see superior efforts among the jockeys who have more challenging stock to ride in the face of stronger competition. For my part, I would gladly accept the opportunity to have Tyler, David or Aaron riding on one of my horses if I were to ever become an owner.

*TRAINERS*
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Doug O'Neil brought home a narrow victory of 19 victories from 127 mounts. Congratulations to O'Neil who really put forth a determined effort to take home this title. The 127 mounts is far above the rest of the trainer's, but a win is a win, and you have to give yourself as many opportunities to earn them as possible when your a trainer.

Jeff Mullins was a second with 16 wins from 80 mounts.

Longtime fan favorite and another Stick favorite, Bob Baffert, "Double B" was 3rd in the standings with 15 wins from 67 starts. Will we see Baffert in the Breeders Cup hunt this year and the Triple Crown events next year ? We certainly hope so !

John Sadler showed signs of strength with 13 wins from 76 starts and an impressive $1 Million + in purse earnings.

This years Trainer race was very close all meeting long, and we congratulate the many trainers who saddled horses at Del Mar this Summer, they really worked hard for their victories.

*SARATOGA NOTEBOOK REPORT SUMMER '06 MEETING*

*HORSES*
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Everyone and their brother was talking about Bernadini. It mus have given them a break in talking about how they cant wait for Slot Machines to save the industry from itself(hah). However, how can you get too excited about a horse who beats up on Bluegrass Cat ? While Bernadini has defeated everyone he has faced in his last 6, we think that he just does not stack up to the many great horses who have won the races he has. The simple fact is that, Bernadini would have made Barbero look like a great horses. However, without any real competition to speak of, Bernadini is winning grade one stakes races with black type allw horses running against him. Lets see him race against some seasoned older horses and then see him win by 6 before his jockey points his finger down at him after the finish. The true measure of a great horse is who he defeats. Bernadini is the Fio Rito of his generation, and while he could win every race he is entered into, he has not accomplished anything great. "SO SAYS THE STICK !"

War Front and Gimmie Credit pulled off the most money earned after Bernadini, but as with Del Mar's short meeting, we did not have enough races run to let anyone win a large number of races this meeting. I suppose even 3 starts in top competition in 6 weeks is asking a lot from any horse.

Im sorry to sound so jaded about Bernadini, he is a nice horse. I guess I just cant stand to hear the annoying tone of the voices of people who keep pushing him as the greatest horse they have ever seen. Cigar would have eaten Bernadini for lunch. Affirmed would have left Bernadini 20 lengths behind. Spectacular Bid would have toyed with Bernadini before blowing him out through the length of the stretch. Bernadini is winning because this is one of the weakest group of 3 yr olds that we have ever with the exception of Barbero.

*JOCKEYS*
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Edgar Prado and Garret Gomez squared off in a fierce battle that really did show a champion rider and a champion runner-up. Prado pulled out a solid meeting victory with 46 victories from 216 mounts. Gomez was 2nd with 42 victories from 192 mounts.

We are very biased fans of John Velasquez, and although he had to recover from a serious injury earlier in the year, he showed an impressive 30 wins from 192 starts, with 4th overall in the money won from purses.

Cornelio Velasquez was another rider we have mentioned in the past and he really pleased us with some smashing victories and also 30 victories from 220 mounts.

Julien Leparoux, the young face from Kentucky, was impressive with 29 wins from 208 starts. Eibar Coa rode his heart out and proved that he is World Class with 27 wins from 190 starts.

The surprise jockey this year was Javiar Castellano. With only 158 starts, and just 22 wins, this young rider earned almost $2.5 million in purse money, and was 2nd in money won overall. I guess those Florida riders can really blossom into great riders. Just ask, Cornelio, Eibar and Javiar !

*TRAINERS*
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Todd Pletcher did the same thing Doug O'Neil did, win with superior numbers. From a total of 116 starters, Pletcher earned 24 victories. This was double the number of wins of the next trainer. However, he also ran double the number of starters.

Richard Dutrow was 2nd in the standings with 12 wins from 57 starters. However, his purses won was only 1/5th of what Pletcher earned with all those stakes wins.

Bill Mott fielded a ultra respectable 3rd place in the standings with 10 wins from 76 starters. Mott's money earned was 2nd highest overall, and we have to point out Bill Mott as most important trainer to watch in the nation. We think this man has the talent, and old school style that will earn him top honors at racing meets in the future.

Scott Blasi was a welcome surprise to the trainer ranks. Where did you come from Scott ? Delaware ? Laurel ? Where ? Scott's 10 wins put him tied with Mot for total victories with about 30 less starters, and his $600+ purse earnings put him above Dutrow. Way to go Blasi, I think you have a future at this game ! Best Regards - MC

Nick Zito had a respectable meeting also with 10 wins from 58 starts and $700K+ in purse earnings. Zito a seasoned and respected trainer is one to watch in the future for a big rebound of victories. If Zito trains them, then they are going to run big ! "So Says The Stick !"

Kiaran McLaughlin deserves more respect then I give his stable leader, Bernadini. McLaughlin is a great trainer and he is doing his job well. Im sorry I have to slam his top horse, but the other media outlets have made him into something he is not. Kiaran, go prove me wrong and win big in the Breeders Cup Classic. Then Bernadini is a great horse.

Best Regards and Racing,
MC_Excelsior

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Best Regards and Racing, MC_Excelsior