December 21, 2024 Fellow Partners: First and foremost, I want to wish you all a Merry, Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a very Happy and Healthy New Year to all. Eastern Star continues to train well, she just had an excellent breeze from the gate yesterday going 4 furlongs in 49 seconds. We are looking at a race to be run January 12th at Aqueduct. It's a MSW going 7 furlongs. David would prefer her going 6 furlongs, but we can only run in the races they card. I will let you know more on that as we get closer to when they draw for the race (Jan 8). They seem to be carding less races, so the fields should be larger than what we have seen the last few years. Although, I do prefer smaller fields.Emoji Finally, a little financial snapshot of where we stand at the end of the year. We had a good year ( it would have been better if Eastern Star had not gotten hurt). We currently have $11,700 in the checking account and $9,950 in our NYRA account. So we are in good shape financially for now. We should report a profit for the year, somewhere around $19,000 (unofficial) and we have no current debt. I will be sending the info to our accountant in early January. I will update you as we get closer to our race. Again, Happy Holidays!! Regards, Jeff
December 8, 2024 Hi All: Eastern Star is getting very close. One or 2 more works and she will be ready for a race. Just a quick note about the upcoming racing schedule. There is racing this week through Sunday, December 15. Then they are off until December 26. Once the new book comes out, we will start looking for a race and we'll have a better idea of when she runs. Below is a video of Eastern Star's breeze this morning. She breezed in company with another horse in the barn. New video by Jeff Pearl Regards, Jeff
November 20, 2024 Jeff's video of today's breeze: New video by Jeff Pearl
November 16, 2024 Hi all: Eastern Star had her first unofficial official work today LOL. She breezed 2 furlongs in 24 and 3 and then galloped out in 38.2 which was an excellent move. David said she is moving very nicely and we hope that there will be a race for her by the end of December. A video of her work is below. Later on this week, I may have a form for you to fill out. My accountant says we should know by the end of the week if a BOI form will be needed this year. New video by Jeff Pearl Regards, Jeff
November 2, 2024 Hi all: Eastern Star is doing very well. She may even be ahead of schedule. David thinks he will breeze her in a week or 2. She is galloping very strongly and I am hopeful that she will come back better than when she left (with lots of Win photos ) The below link is her galloping this morning. Link to Eastern Star galloping Regards, Jeff
October 5, 2024 Fellow Partners: Eastern Star will be heading back to David Donk's barn on Tuesday and start training Wednesday. If everything goes well, she should be ready around Mid December. Just in time for the Winter racing season. I will keep you abreast of her progress. Regards, Jeff
August 18, 2024 Fellow Partners: We x-rayed Eastern Star on Friday and sent them to Dr. Hogan to examine. She got back to me and said: These have improved but not ready yet - the LF still is visible but much improved. Continue large paddock turnout and take some pics in another 6 weeks - should be good by then - So, figure she should be back in training around the beginning of October. The time off will do her good and she should have a very competitive Fall/Winter campaign. Regards, Jeff
July 7, 2024 Hi All: I took a ride up to the Farm this morning to see our horses. One of them (Eastern Star, photo attached) is doing well and is 1/3rd through her recuperation. Hopefully she will be ready for the return to Aqueduct. Regards, Jeff
June 21, 2024 Fellow Partners: Just a quick update on our stable: Eastern Star is up at the farm in Hudson, NY (Rockridge Stud) and will be there for a minimum of 90 days. I'm hoping the 3 months off will have the same effect they had on her sister Frannie Lew. Frannie Lew came back rested and filled out and put together a very nice Winter and Spring season for us. Eastern Star just needs a minimum improvement and she should be a force when she returns in the Fall. Frannie Lew who got claimed from us, makes her first start tomorrow (Saturday) in the 9th race. They raised her in company into a Starter Allowance. We will follow her progress and should the right situation occur would look to reacquire her. I will let you know of any future developments as they happen. Regards, Jeff
May 30, 2024 Fellow Partners: Here is an update on our Stable. Eastern Star has a small Ankle Problem and was sent to Dr. Patty Hogan in NJ. The good news is that she will not need surgery, but will need 90 days off. We were going to try her on the turf for her next start, but that will have to wait. Thoroughbreds, while they are big and strong, have fragile legs, and it's better to be safe than sorry. She will ship to Rockridge next week. Frannie Lew got claimed from her last race. She was turning the corner into a very useful horse and will be missed. If there is a silver lining, it's that the Outfit that claimed her is not good (winless this year), and there is a good chance that if we want (we will wait and see) we could probably claim her back for the same price or less in the coming month or 2. This year has been a good one for us financially. Below is our monetary position before any May bills (probably around 6 or $7,000 depending on the Vet bills). I am hoping to keep the $25,000 in the NYRA account in case we will claim something. (It would have to be an unbelievable opportunity). We were able to payoff what was owed on Frannie Lew and Trevor Bardette and just owe $5000 on your 50% interest of Eastern Star. I will let you know more about Eastern Star when I find out. Regards, Jeff envirotoy@cs.com
May 17, 2024 Fellow Partners: Just a quick note that Frannie Lew got claimed today. She was a very sweet horse and was having a very good year for us. The good news is that the trainer who claimed her, is not that good, and there is a very good chance that we might be able to claim her back in the future for a lower price than she was claimed for today. I will talk with David and see what the best way to go is. Regards, Jeff
May 11, 2024 Fellow Partners: Frannie Lew is entered in the 4th race on Friday (Post Time is 2:38) The race is a $25,000 claimer NW2L going 6 1/2 F with Jose Gomez riding. This looks to be a very good spot for her and she looks to be one of the favorites in the race. While there is not much speed in the race, I think we again might prefer to rate a bit with her, but I will discuss with David first. Dress nice for those coming to the race, it might be picture time.Emoji I have attached the form. I hope to send out our financial's at the end of the month. I hope to see you Friday. Regards, Jeff
May 8, 2024 Eastern Star is entered in the 8th Race Saturday (Post Time 4:10). The race is a 6F MSW, with Eastern Star breaking from the 8 Post and Jose Gomez rides again. As I have written earlier, the races will start getting a little tougher with all the 3 year olds. I think David wants to try to rate a bit and with a number of speed horses signed on to this race, she may have a chance to do just that. Her next race will probably be on the turf. Frannie Lew may run next Thursday. I have attached the form. See you at the race. Regards, Jeff
April 10, 2024 Fellow Partners: Eastern Star is entered in the 2nd Race on Saturday (1:51 Post Time). As I wrote before her last race, all of her future races will now be 3 and up. There are some tough 3 YO first time starters in here including Mulkey who sold for $450,000 at auction. With 4 first time starters in the race, it's hard to handicap the race. She will have to be on her best here. The good news is that the race is only 6 Furlongs. Jose Gomez is back aboard after missing the last race. I have attached the form. Frannie Lew came out of her last race a little gimpy but should not miss her next start. We will probably drop her in company, into a $25,000 NW2L race, that she should be able to compete well in. That race is April 20, if she can't make that one, we will run her for $40,000. Finally, Those of you who are licensed, should have gotten a survey from NYTHA. A copy of the email is below. David and I would like you to take the survey (only 3 questions) and let them know that we want to run on the Limestone base. For the question regarding running in the Winter on the Synthetic, just mark the choice leaning not to. We will run on whatever they have but with the Limestone base, it will give us more choices to run in the winter.
April 7, 2024 Dear NYTHA Members, As you are well aware, Belmont Park is in the midst of a major redevelopment, and we are very excited about the future of our beautiful home track. The next couple of years will be a challenge, and we look forward to working with NYRA to make sure that the new Belmont Park is the very best it can be. To that end, we have been in discussion with NYRA as to the best plan for the Belmont main track. Currently, the track has been taken up, and there is an opportunity to replace the base in its entirety. A brand new base will enhance safety for the horses and the riders. But the question has come up – should Belmont have a clay base, or should it be limestone? Historically, Belmont has had a clay base, and we have had feedback that would advocate for keeping the clay base for the future. But there are also arguments in favor of making the change to limestone. Having a limestone base would create consistency between the NYRA tracks. The training track at Belmont has a limestone base; at Saratoga, the main track and Oklahoma have limestone bases with thin clay pads. According to experts such as Dr. Mick Peterson, consistency between racetracks is a key factor in mitigating the risk of injury to the horses. Maintaining a clay base would also have an impact on winter racing, as a clay base cannot be treated to winterize it. Winter racing at Belmont Park will be conducted solely on the synthetic track if the base of the main track is clay. The return to dirt racing will be delayed even further, as the main track will have to be open for 30 days for training before we can start racing on it again in the spring. There are other factors, such as the shadow from the grandstand that will still fall on the main track even after the new facility is built, that could reduce the ability to race on the main track in the winter. But a limestone base provides more flexibility and expands the ability to offer dirt racing for the majority of the racing calendar. We want to know what our members think. Please take a moment to respond to the brief three-question survey and submit your feedback on the base of the Belmont main track. If you have additional comments, please send them to our Executive Director, Andy Belfiore, at abelfiore@nytha.com. Thank you, NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond Take survey https://nytha.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ba2287c0ccea8583f37283499&id=7900e463de&e=f41b6d3615 Regards, Jeff
April 4, 2024 Fellow Partners: Frannie Lew is entered in the 2nd race on Sunday at Aqueduct (Post Time 1:51). The race is a 6F Starter Allowance with Jose Gomez back aboard. We got a nice compact field of 6 and Frannie draws the 6 post (right outside the speed). She will have to improve her numbers a bit, but I think she can. She should get a good stalking trip and MOST OF ALL, A FAST TRACK!! She had a good workout Monday and continues to be in fine fettle. I hope to see you at the race. I have attached the form. Regards, Jeff
March 16, 2024: Fellow Partners: Eastern Star is entered in the 2nd race on Friday (Post Time 1:50) at Aqueduct. Eastern Star breaks from the 4 post and has Luis Rivera Jr. riding (Jose Gomez is on suspension). The race is 7 Furlongs (it was supposed to be 6, but they could not fill it, so they made it 7) and is a short field of 6 horses. It looks like another good spot for Star, although I would have preferred 6 furlongs. This will probably be her last race in the 4 and up condition, as all the future races will be 3 and up (that means bigger fields and possibly tougher competition. There doesn't seem to be much speed in the race, so hopefully she can control the pace. I have enclosed the form. I hope to see you at the race. I will talk with David to see if he wants to run Frannie Lew back for Next Saturday, it might be too quick of a turnaround for her. Regards, Jeff
March 1, 2024: Fellow Partners: Frannie Lew is entered next Thursday in the 2nd Race, a Starter Allowance (where she can not be claimed) going 6 Furlongs with a purse of $55,000. Post Time is 1:50 and Jose Gomez rides her again. She draws the outside #8 post and looks to be nicely positioned. This is a big step up in class but she is training and running very well in her last 2 starts, so she deserves the chance. She should get a good stalking trip here as there is some speed to her inside. And just to keep things status quo, it should rain again!!! Frannie has never raced on a fast track. I have attached the form. We are looking at a race for Eastern Star that will run March 17 (Hopefully, she will get the GREEN!!) Regards, Jeff
February 19, 2024 Fellow Partners: Eastern Star is entered in the 1st Race on Saturday at Aqueduct. Post Time is 1:20 and Eastern Star starts from the 3 post in this 7F, NYB MSW with Jose Gomez once again riding (I love that kid!!!) I feel very confident that she will run well as like her sister Frannie Lew, she is training very well. She has raced against all of these before and looks to be the speed of the race. The 7th Furlong is the only thing that might beat her. I hope you can make it as there is nothing like rooting your horse on when she comes down the stretch. And it's always nice to have a crowded Winners circle photo. I have attached the form. WELL WE'RE MOVING ON UP, TO THE EAST SIDE..... Frannie Lew, fresh off of a Lifetime High Beyer #, will be moving up in company. She will either go in a $40,000 claimer NW2L on March10 or a Starter Allowance on March 7. She is in excellent form right now and deserves a confident boost up in class. I will let you know. I hope to see you all Saturday. Regards, Jeff