Jerry Crawford - 2017 Archive

Dear Partners and Friends, 

For those of you who didn't catch it live, IRISH FREEDOM didn't just WIN his comeback race last night at Del Mar, he was magnificent!!!

If you haven't seen the race, see below and be prepared to be dazzled. IRISH broke poorly (last) and had to be used hard five wide as he made his way to the leaders. IRISH continued to race widely around the first two turns and down the backstretch being asked to improve his position the whole time. Despite the rough start IRISH had caught up with all but the front runner as they approached the turn for home and then he inhaled the leader and drew off with nothing but hand urging.

Dear Partners and Friends,

For those of you who don't follow the Ragozin Sheets, a "4" puts IRISH in the KEEN ICE territory and ICE is third choice to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Also a 99 Beyer.  

Dear Partners and Friends, 

The Saratoga Select Sale was likely our best ever.

Our plan coming into the sale was to vet all of the classic distance colts but to also focus on fillies. Our hope this year for DDX was to buy about three fillies and we have now done that. Fillies by Malibu Moon, Bernardini and Ghostzapper. We are plenty excited about all three.

Dear Partners and Friends, 

Three races: Three second place finishes. 

Donegal earned over a quarter of a million dollars Saturday ($291,560 to be exact) and it still felt like losing.

Dear Partners and Friends, 

Some important race updates!
PUCA: Her race did not fill (only three entered), so we will look for a new spot.
BELTANY and ARKLOW both run on Friday.

Dear Partners and Friends,

KEEN ICE will run in the WHITNEY this coming Saturday, August 5. ICE will be trying to win back to back Graded Stakes here in New York as he returns to the scene of his greatest triumph.

Was it a tough call? Of course it was. But if we are going to beat Gun Runner (ranked second in then world on dirt) now is the time. ICE loves it here and Todd says he has never trained this well since he has had him.

Dear Partners and Friends, 
DONEGAL FILLIES GO THURSDAY
AIFE (Race 3) and FAHAN MURA (Race 10) go to the races here at Saratoga on Thursday. Both are training well and are aggressively placed, though AIFE'S race came up stronger than expected with a Chad Brown contender.
If you would like tickets for the races on Thursday please let me know TODAY and we will make it happen.

Dear Partners and Friends,

As is our custom we provide some algorithm input on which horses can get the distance in the Preakness.

Dear Partners and Friends,

I learned from Bob Baffert this a.m. that IRISH FREEDOM has gone back to the track as of yesterday! IRISH developed a serious infection immediately following the Santa Anita Derby (undoubtedly coming down with it during the Derby) and it took a long while to get his blood counts back to normal.

Dear Partners and Friends,

It's true, Donegal is truly a global operation this week.

First a quick look back:

DONEGAL MOON made a very solid return to the races and Todd Pletcher was quite happy with him. 86 Beyer sprinting was very encouraging.