пятница, 14 сентября 2012 г.

ALBERTS RAISES STAKES MAGIC WEISNER WILL BE PART OF BELMONT FIELD - The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)

NEW YORK - If this year's Preakness had been a little longer -say, the 1 1/4 miles of the Kentucky Derby instead of the mile andthree-16ths that it is - there would be no buzz about a Triple Crowntry in the Belmont Stakes Saturday because Magic Weisner would havebeaten Derby winner War Emblem.

A 45-1 shot who never had raced outside of Maryland, Magic Weisnerstaged such a furious rally under Richard Migliore that War Emblemwas saved by the wire as surely as a battered fighter is saved by thebell.

All the credit for bringing Magic Weisner to peak form goes toNancy Alberts. When you're the breeder, owner, trainer, and exerciserider, you don't have to share the glory.

'I wondered if we were going to catch up,' said Alberts, who willnot arrive in New York until Friday and spoke via conference callfrom Maryland. 'Richard said he closed relentlessly. Richard didn'thave any trouble with him. He went wherever he asked him to.'

Immediately after the Preakness, Alberts said she didn't want torun her horse in the Belmont, preferring to stay local. But that wasbefore the offers started pouring in.

'I don't make any decisions until I see how a horse comes out ofthe race,' said Alberts. 'I thought it would knock him out. He ranharder than he's ever run, but in two days he was fine. I've neverrun a horse in New York, but I don't think it will be a problem. Thebest thing I have going is that Richard rides up there and knows theracetrack. My life has only changed by being busy on the phone. It'sbeen a lot of fun.

'I've had quite a few offers, which is wonderful because he's agelding. I'm surprised at the offers. They've been at the level of $1million, and that's a lot for a gelding. I don't know what I'm goingto do, but I don't see any reason I can't keep him. Money can't buyyour health.'

A son of Ameri Valley, who stands for a stud fee of just $2,500,Magic Weisner is out of the dam Jazema, whose leg problems were suchthat Alberts originally purchased her for $1, just to keep it legal.But Jazema turned out to be a runner, winning 14 races over a five-year career, and her offspring can run, too. He won six of his first10 starts, with two seconds, and proved he is a serious racehorse inthe Preakness.

'The Preakness was a big effort from an honest little horse,' saidMigliore. 'I'm hoping he's got another one in him. I can't discountthe bounce theory [running a bad race after a very good one], but thething I like about him is that he's improved steadily with each race.The Preakness was a career-best effort, but he's a hardy horse.'

It appears that Magic Weisner remains in fine fettle. On Monday,he worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 at Laurel Park, his home base, underAlberts, and she was happy with the work.

Alberts will van Magic Weisner up to Belmont Friday, and while shedidn't sound averse to making her first trip to the Big Apple, she'snot going to play sightseer, either.

'The idea is not to let anybody bother you, just have fun,' shesaid. 'I plan to look around Belmont, but I'm not going to doanything else.'

Nice and breezy

War Emblem, who will attempt to become the first Triple Crownwinner since Affirmed in 1978, and the 12th in history, went 5furlongs in 1:01 at Churchill Downs yesterday in his final seriousmove for the 134th running of the Belmont. His splits were :12 1/5,:24 1/5, :36 1/5, and :48 1/5, and he galloped out 6 furlongs in1:14. 'He was just breezing,' said trainer Bob Baffert, who will shipWar Emblem to Belmont today. 'He's ready to roll. He looksexcellent.' . . . Trainer Bobby Frankel has named Kent Desormeaux toride Medaglia d'Oro in the Belmont, meaning the colt will have had adifferent rider in each leg of the Triple Crown. Medaglia d'Orofinished fourth in the Derby under Laffit Pincay and eighth in thePreakness with Jerry Bailey. 'Kent's got to let him do his ownthing,' said Frankel. 'I don't want to see him pushed along throughthe first part of the race. I want him to come out of the gate on hisown. We've won a few Grade I's together this year, so I'm having goodluck with Kent.'

Drawing a dozen

The draw for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont is at 11 a.m. today, and itlooks as if a field of 12 will be entered. The New York RacingAssociation does not use the made-for-TV selection draw, in which thehorse's connections ultimately pick the post, but employs thetraditional blind draw. In addition to War Emblem, Magic Weisner, andMedaglia d'Oro, those expected to be entered are: Artax Too, mostrecently an allowance winner at Belmont; Essence Of Dubai, ninth inthe Derby; Like A Hero, first in the Alydar Stakes at Hollywood;Perfect Drift, third in the Derby; Proud Citizen, third in thePreakness; Puzzlement, second in the Peter Pan at Belmont; Sarava,first in the Sir Barton at Pimlico; Sunday Break, first in the PeterPan; and Weisman's Ferry, first in the Lone Star Derby.

Комментариев нет:

Отправить комментарий