DerbyTrail
01-30-2005, 09:01 AM
(From a piece I wrote last night.. 85 year old Harry Aleo will make great copy if Lost in the Fog moves forward on the stretch out... Note the red highlighted paragraphs.. Staunch Republican, true San Fran institution in Noe Valley, WWII vet, ex-Brooklyn Dodger... You can't make up guys like this... Or horses like Fog...)
'FOG' KEEPS 'EM SMILING AND GUESSING
The Sunshine Millions provided plenty of fireworks at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Saturday, as outlandish longshots lit the boards in Arcadia and Hallandale throughout the eight race series. But the big story of the day remained focused on one of the afternoons' lowest priced winners, the record-breaking San Francisco treat, LOST IN THE FOG.
Lost in the Fog left little doubt Saturday that he is the top sprinter in this year's three year old class with a facile score in the Sunshine Millions Dash. Greg Gilchrist's dark bay Lost Soldier colt cruised to his third straight win on the lead over a solid group of California and Florida-breds, earning a third triple digit Beyer (102) in the process.
In gaining his second ungraded stakes victory, Lost in the Fog pushed his earning to just below $200,000 and opened the door to speculation that Gilchrist now needs to chart a course to Louisville for the sensationally speedy soph. Gilchrist has spread 'Fog's' races out carefully, providing 5 week breaks to allow the colt time to recover between starts. But jockey Russell Baze, aboard for all three of Fog's wins, has yet to put him to a drive, as he has effortlessly dismissed a total of 24 challengers.
NBC's Bob Neumeier said Saturday that Lost is still 'green', and has plenty of room for growth. It looks true, as the winner was 'all ears', joyously jogging down the Gulfstream stretch without concern. He also ran out well past the wire, indicating that at least another 2f would not be a problem.
Conjecturing Saturday in his analysis of the Dash, Thoro-Graph honcho Jerry Browne said 85-year old owner Harry Aleo has already turned down $2 million for the colt, privately purchased by Gilchrist from Greg and Karen Dodd (Southern Chase Farms) who pinhooked him for $48,000 at last summer's
Ocala Breeder's Sale.
This effort will only drive the price up if there is a price tag on the horse at all. Browne, who has speed figged every horse for the last 20-25 years, likened the handsome colt with the wide blaze to Cuvee. That might make him too fast for his own good, and Fog did spend time on the shelf last fall with shin problems.
Aleo operates Twin Peaks Properties, a realty firm in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, and appears to be a character straight out of the famed David Lynch TV series with the same name. The octogenarian is a staunch Republican who has decorated his office storefront windows with American flags and anti-Liberal cartoons for years, and has earned admiration, as well as disdain, from area residents for decades.
Aleo is a WWII veteran who fought throughout Europe with the 87th Infantry including at the Battle of the Bulge. He was also a Brooklyn Dodger farmhand whose career was cut short by an arm injury. As a long-time racing aficionado, he doesn't seem like the kind who would "take the money and run".
After yesterday's race, Gilchrist told the Form's Jay Privman that decisions regarding Lost's future would be made this week. Gilchrist said if he and Aleo decide to try for the Derby, a race like the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct would be a goal. Otherwise, Lost in the Fog could return to Gulfstream from his northern California base for the Swale Stakes. "I think he can stretch out," Gilchrist said. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what he can't do at this point."
The Gotham is a logical choice as a move from 6f to a mile. Aqueduct is also course that will suit his front end style. The Gotham is March 19, offering Lost in the Fog a perfect 50 day break to prepare for a three race skein through the Derby. Choices after the Gotham, last used as part of a Derby campaign by Secretariat, include the Wood, SA or IL Derby (April 9, 21 days after Gotham with 28 to the Derby) or the Blue Grass/AK Derby (April 16, 28 days from Gotham with 21 to the Derby). The Blue Grass is probably the 'right' choice. Again, Keeneland is an oval course that suits his style. It would make sense to stay away from the AK derby where it looks like you'll have a glut of star colts including Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex.
The biggest accomplishment made by Lost in the Fog yesterday was proving he could ship and win off the plane; no small matter when it comes to young horses. The cross country voyage answered that important question Saturday, but next comes the more intriguing query: How far can Lost in the Fog run at the speed he has been demonstrating?
The good news about Lost in the Fog is that racing fans are already well aware of his early exploits and seem eager to see him begin to map a trip to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Racing-oriented web sites' message boards were lit up Saturday night with plaudits for the colt and urgings for Aleo and Gilchrist to see him through to the Derby. In just 1:09.4 Saturday, Lost in the Fog further advanced what has quickly become the 2005 Derby Trail's most interesting story.
'FOG' KEEPS 'EM SMILING AND GUESSING
The Sunshine Millions provided plenty of fireworks at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Saturday, as outlandish longshots lit the boards in Arcadia and Hallandale throughout the eight race series. But the big story of the day remained focused on one of the afternoons' lowest priced winners, the record-breaking San Francisco treat, LOST IN THE FOG.
Lost in the Fog left little doubt Saturday that he is the top sprinter in this year's three year old class with a facile score in the Sunshine Millions Dash. Greg Gilchrist's dark bay Lost Soldier colt cruised to his third straight win on the lead over a solid group of California and Florida-breds, earning a third triple digit Beyer (102) in the process.
In gaining his second ungraded stakes victory, Lost in the Fog pushed his earning to just below $200,000 and opened the door to speculation that Gilchrist now needs to chart a course to Louisville for the sensationally speedy soph. Gilchrist has spread 'Fog's' races out carefully, providing 5 week breaks to allow the colt time to recover between starts. But jockey Russell Baze, aboard for all three of Fog's wins, has yet to put him to a drive, as he has effortlessly dismissed a total of 24 challengers.
NBC's Bob Neumeier said Saturday that Lost is still 'green', and has plenty of room for growth. It looks true, as the winner was 'all ears', joyously jogging down the Gulfstream stretch without concern. He also ran out well past the wire, indicating that at least another 2f would not be a problem.
Conjecturing Saturday in his analysis of the Dash, Thoro-Graph honcho Jerry Browne said 85-year old owner Harry Aleo has already turned down $2 million for the colt, privately purchased by Gilchrist from Greg and Karen Dodd (Southern Chase Farms) who pinhooked him for $48,000 at last summer's
Ocala Breeder's Sale.
This effort will only drive the price up if there is a price tag on the horse at all. Browne, who has speed figged every horse for the last 20-25 years, likened the handsome colt with the wide blaze to Cuvee. That might make him too fast for his own good, and Fog did spend time on the shelf last fall with shin problems.
Aleo operates Twin Peaks Properties, a realty firm in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood, and appears to be a character straight out of the famed David Lynch TV series with the same name. The octogenarian is a staunch Republican who has decorated his office storefront windows with American flags and anti-Liberal cartoons for years, and has earned admiration, as well as disdain, from area residents for decades.
Aleo is a WWII veteran who fought throughout Europe with the 87th Infantry including at the Battle of the Bulge. He was also a Brooklyn Dodger farmhand whose career was cut short by an arm injury. As a long-time racing aficionado, he doesn't seem like the kind who would "take the money and run".
After yesterday's race, Gilchrist told the Form's Jay Privman that decisions regarding Lost's future would be made this week. Gilchrist said if he and Aleo decide to try for the Derby, a race like the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct would be a goal. Otherwise, Lost in the Fog could return to Gulfstream from his northern California base for the Swale Stakes. "I think he can stretch out," Gilchrist said. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure what he can't do at this point."
The Gotham is a logical choice as a move from 6f to a mile. Aqueduct is also course that will suit his front end style. The Gotham is March 19, offering Lost in the Fog a perfect 50 day break to prepare for a three race skein through the Derby. Choices after the Gotham, last used as part of a Derby campaign by Secretariat, include the Wood, SA or IL Derby (April 9, 21 days after Gotham with 28 to the Derby) or the Blue Grass/AK Derby (April 16, 28 days from Gotham with 21 to the Derby). The Blue Grass is probably the 'right' choice. Again, Keeneland is an oval course that suits his style. It would make sense to stay away from the AK derby where it looks like you'll have a glut of star colts including Rockport Harbor and Afleet Alex.
The biggest accomplishment made by Lost in the Fog yesterday was proving he could ship and win off the plane; no small matter when it comes to young horses. The cross country voyage answered that important question Saturday, but next comes the more intriguing query: How far can Lost in the Fog run at the speed he has been demonstrating?
The good news about Lost in the Fog is that racing fans are already well aware of his early exploits and seem eager to see him begin to map a trip to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May. Racing-oriented web sites' message boards were lit up Saturday night with plaudits for the colt and urgings for Aleo and Gilchrist to see him through to the Derby. In just 1:09.4 Saturday, Lost in the Fog further advanced what has quickly become the 2005 Derby Trail's most interesting story.