Thoroughbred Ink Home

January 10, 2009
Laura Ross

Note to Self - If Larry Jones doesn't retire, bet his horse in
the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at Louisiana Downs next
year. For the second time in three years, Larry Jones
stood in the winner's circle with a Derby hopeful. Two
years ago, Hard Spun won the LeComte, was a strong
second in the Derby and gave a good account of himself
for the rest of the year. Friesan Fire seems poised to do
the same.

Friesan Fire broke alertly, but settled nicely at the rail in
third, while Citizen and Au Moon, who also had a sharp
break, raced as a team on the lead. Citizen was relaxed
on the outside, but Au Moon, with bowed head, seemed
eager to go on. At :24 for the first quarter, it was an easy
pace.

With five furlongs to go, Julien Leparoux let out a notch on
Au Moon who, upon opening up a length on Citizen,
immediately relaxed, flicking his ears flickering back and
forth, wanting to do more. Hitting the half mile in :48, Au
Moon was still sitting pretty while Citizen came under a
ride and Friesan Fire was gearing up to make his move.
Around the turn, Friesan Fire kicked it into gear, passing
the lumbering Citizen as if he were standing still. Two
lengths back, Patena was making his move with Big
Push, true to his name, getting a big push from his
jockey.

At the very top of the lane having gone six furlongs in
1:13, the race was on, or so we thought. Friesan Fire
exploded past Au Moon, who felt the backdraft as he
slowed in second. Patena was flying down the middle of
the track as was Uno Mas, farther behind him, but it was
too late, as Friesan Fire flashed under the wire in 1:37.67,
less than a tenth of a second off the stakes record and
one and a half lengths in front of Patena. A very good
second, Patena made up a length in the stretch while Au
Moon ran evenly for third. Pretty gray Uno Mas, who was
wide most of the way, was a very unhappy fourth, flapping
his tail at a flailing Bridgmohan. Big Push was an average
fifth, as Indygo Mountain, getting off to a poor start, made
a half hearted move to finish sixth. Citizen tired to seventh
while Dynamic Force wanted no part of the race and spit
the bit after a half mile.

Friesan Fire is by stamina influence A.P. Indy out of a
Group 1 winning Australian mare who won up to about 7
� F and whose second dam was Champion Two Year Old
in Australia and also a sprinter. Friesan Fire was .07 off
the stakes record set by Dixieland Heat in 1993 and
trainer Larry Jones has commented that the horse is one
of the most talented he's trained, but a bit of a head case.
Friesan Fire is off to a good start on the Derby Trail if they
can get him figured out.

Patena gets a ton of stamina from his daddy, Seeking the
Gold and granddaddy, A.P. Indy. He sat farther back
today and made one big run, but he appears to be a
tractable horse that can be placed anywhere. A mile is
too short for this guy and he'll be dangerous in the
upcoming races.

So what is a "Waiver Claiming" race? It is the new
designation for a claiming race (maiden claiming included)
for horses that meet the requirements of California's new
Claiming Option Entry rule for those coming off of an
extended (180 day) layoff. The rule went into effect quietly
in September 2008 and has only had a handful who qualify
and a number where the owner chose not to use the
option. The requirements to use this claiming option are
twofold, the horse must be coming off of a layoff of 180
days or more and it must be entered in claiming race at
the same or greater price than their last claiming race.

Here is the actual rule, article 1634 of the Business and
Professions Code for the State of California:

1634. Claiming Option Entry.

(a) At the time of entry into a claiming race, the owner
may opt to declare a horse ineligible to be claimed
provided:

(1) The horse has been laid off and has not started for a
minimum of 180 days since its last race, and

(2) The horse is entered for a claiming price equal to or
greater than the price at which it last started.

(b) Failure to declare the horse ineligible at the time of
entry may not be remedied.

(c) Ineligibility shall apply only to the first start following
each such layoff.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 19420 and 19440,
Business and Professions Code. Reference:
Sections 19408.2 and 19562, Business and Professions
Code.

HISTORY:

1. New rule filed 8-21-08; effective 9-20-08.