No shutdown in Lexington

by Gordon Waterstone

The calendar may say October but with high temperatures here in the Bluegrass in the mid-80s — 10 degrees higher than normal — it sure still feels like summer out. Things haven’t come close to shutting down in Lexington and as we merrily roll along through all the fun of racing and the sale, things won’t be changing as the weather forecast through Kentucky Futurity day on Sunday is nothing short of real and spectacular.

Going against record numbers at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale it was expected to be a tough task to equal, and after the first couple sessions the numbers are down slightly. As Dave Briggs wrote in Tuesday’s HRU, the gross and average were both down just over seven per cent through the first two sessions. Congratulations to Tuesday’s sale-topping connections (Armitage Farm) of the Captain Corey colt who sold for $750,000 (to Ake Svanstedt).

Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Sales Agency — who I proudly and affectionately call my sponsors — remain at the top of the consignors list through the two sessions with 60 sold for $9.234 million. With Hunterton consigning a record 126 to the sale, they are only halfway done.

I decided to drive through the UK campus on Wednesday morning as I made my way to The Red Mile to try and find stories for this column. The route may not be the fastest, but it is absolutely the most scenic of any path I could take — even more so when I’m driving through at peak time for the students to try and make their 9 a.m. classes.

My first stop at the track was to the breakfast tent — which is sponsored daily by Hunterton Farm — but there was only coffee available. I told Chris Tully that I had heard a rumor that bagels would be on the menu Wednesday but he said that was false info.

Nick Salvi was standing nearby and after I told him about my morning travels through campus, he confirmed a rumor to me about himself. Nick said that in hopes of finding supplemental income since moving to Lexington earlier this year that he has been applying to be a “House Mom” at any of the more popular sororities. Nick said his resume includes cooking, cleaning and laundry, so how could he not be hired?

I then made my way over to Noel Daley’s barn. I was stopped first by Bob Stewart and Mitchel Skolnick, both of whom “skolded” me for not giving them any Backstretch attention. I apologized to Bob for leaving him out this year when I had stopped to talk to him the other morning. I told Mitchel that I indeed gave him a mention last year when he was on the backstretch with his son. Mitchel told me I had to prove it. Here’s a link to that column.

When I got to Noel’s barn, I found him sitting by himself, but we were soon joined for a few minutes by Chris Ryder. I congratulated Noel on his million-dollar trotting filly purchase Monday night, and then I found out the real story. It was a little different than the one written by Dave Briggs in Tuesday’s HRU, with the quotes coming from James Platz.

Dave wrote that Patty Key was sitting directly behind Noel during the bidding, and every time Patty wanted to continue on she would tap Noel on the shoulder. Noel admitted to me that he didn’t realize that when the number reached $400,000 that Patty got up and left the pavilion, but there was a steady water leak directly above his seat so in a constant rhythm he kept feeling a poke on his shoulder. But it was the water drops, not Patty!

All kidding aside, Noel said he was extremely happy with the purchase and the filly is already back at his home base at Magical Acres in New Jersey.

I knew Louprint, the top-ranked horse in North America, was on the track very early Wednesday morning, so I went over to see trainer Ron Burke. He and assistant PJ Fraley were going over the roster on the big board posted, and then when I had the chance to ask Ronnie about Louprint’s training session, he simply answered that “he was vicious.”

As I moved my way around the backstretch, Joe Tulino, who works for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, was heading to the track. I asked Joe if that was the “big guy,” referring to Prince Hal Hanover, and Joe said that it indeed was. I congratulated Joe on the Prince’s big win last weekend in a Bluegrass division.

Diane Lewis went by me on a golf cart and she stopped for a second. Diane earlier told me that she’d likely be taking a Joe Holloway-trained horse to Corbin for a race in a couple weeks, and I told her I might want to hitch a ride as I’ve never been to the new track. I checked again and that race is still on the schedule, so I might be making the trip south on I75 soon.

I started to make my way back to the track and as I went by Niki, who works for Andy and Julie Miller, said hello. I’m pretty sure Niki has said hello to me every morning I’ve seen her, but it was only today — after asking Andy — that I learned her name.

I made a quick stop in the judges’ office where I found Jeff James and Casey Larson. They were waiting for the draw for Saturday’s card to take place. Chris Tully had told me earlier that the draw for Sunday’s Kentucky Futurity will take place on The Deck at noon on Thursday, so I told Jeff and Casey and that I’d be present for that.

Speaking of The Deck, I went over to take a seat and rest for a few, and I found Nick Salvi there. A couple minutes later, Greg Wright Jr. and Norm Parker arrived. I told Norm he has already received his quota of Backstretch mentions and to quit following me around.

As I’ve noted before, Norm is the brother of my ex-Boss Kathy. Norm told me this morning that he has begun calling his sister Boss Kathy as she’s been giving him plenty of suggestions since he got to town. I told Norm that Trackman Dan — married to my ex-Boss Kathy — told me he was upset that Norm’s food was taking all the space in the refrigerator as he was staying at their home, and Norm confirmed that to me.

I took a different route home as I wanted to be in place for the Tigers vs. Guardians baseball game at 1 p.m. (no sale for me Wednesday and the Tigers got blown out), and when I arrived there was a package from Murray Brown sitting at my door. I got all excited that Murray sent me some cash after I wrote that he’d have to grease my palms for more mentions. Sorry Murray, a jar of bacon grease wasn’t exactly what I was referring to.

I didn’t see any gas station that wasn’t priced at $2.99 a gallon on my trip to and from The Red Mile on Wednesday morning. Once again, thank y’all for reading and I will be back with you on Friday.