ESPN

MR. FANTASY, who could not quicken in his first class test while giving away much experience, tired late and was edged for second by IMPERIAL COUNCIL. Keep in mind that MR. FANTASY ran the distance in approximately 1:44 2/5, a time fast enough to win the past two Gothams and four lengths quicker than his allowance win that netted a 93 Beyer. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said they would have won by five if I WANT REVENGE didn't show up. He's probably right. The inexperienced prodigy remains a future star candidate, though he cast a serious cloud about any chance to be a 1 1/4 miles horse with only one more prep race. His light resume also showed when he was hot in the paddock, trickled some kidney sweat in the post parade and looked wet on the neck going into the starting gate. The Illinois Derby, dominated by speed horses historically, would be a positive building block next.

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Updates

Mr. Fantasy came out of his effort in the Gotham in good shape. Alan Garcia said Mr. Fantasy got a little skittish in the paddock and then again before he went into the starting gate. We were a little unlucky not to get 2nd, but he ran a good race and we are now graded-stakes placed. He received a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in the Gotham and considering he got a little worked up prior to the actual running of the race, that's a pretty impressive number. The winner ran a 113, the second fastest prep in the last decade. If you take that horse's effort out of the equation, we should not be discouraged.
Terry and Kiaran are discussing where his next start should be and are keeping all their options open. Mr. Fantasy has been nominated to all the major triple crown prep races. Two options they have discussed are the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 4th and the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne the same day.

Phosphorescent breezed in company with another of Dale's horses this morning. He went a half mile in 47.40. The work was 2nd of 26 at the distance. This was his best work since being in Florida. He really responded to working in company. Unfortunately, he has had a string of bad luck in terms of getting into a race. Dale entered him twice in allowance races that didn't go, so he has nominated him in the 6F Hansel Stakes at Turfway Park Saturday, March 21st ( LANES END DAY ). That is the same day as the allowance race at Gulfstream. Dale is not sure that race is going to fill, and Dale says the horse is ready to run. He will continue to talk to the jock's agents over the next couple days about the race at Gulfstream, but he's not going to sit around and wait for a race that may not go. We look like we will run somewhere on the 21st barring any late changes.

DRF

Wood or Illinois Derby for Mr. Fantasy
Mr. Fantasy, third in the Gotham after setting the pace, will run next in either the Wood or the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne the same day, said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, which owns the colt.
Finley said Mr. Fantasy would "have to run one-two in one of those spots to warrant taking the next step."
Both Finley and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin were slightly disappointed Mr. Fantasy didn't fare better. However, he was making just his third start and first outside of New York-bred company. He was beaten a neck for second by Imperial Council.

Gotham Fallout

If you have been reading blogs and racing press i am sure you have seen the not so good things written about Mr Fantasy after his run in the Gotham .. but i have to say i have seen some positive things written particularly by James Scully on the official Kentucky Derby website who puts him in his top 20 at # 18 and says he eligible to improve on his stakes debut .

Others have Beethoven on their lists stating although he washed out badly in the paddock for the FOY he still run a pretty good race. Didn`t Mr Fantasy just put in the same effort ? maybe it was an even bigger effort going fromm NYBred to open company for the first time and earning a 98 beyer .

Will he make it to Kentucky who knows would we like to see him there of course but at the same time have to consider what may be best for him in the long run . I have not heard where he intends to run next be it the Wood or Illinois Derby if he is still on the trail as soon i i know will update .. I just hope that he is in good health and whenever he comes out next runs a huge race and rubs in the face of those saying he should run in claimers .

As for Phosy he is still working well in Fla but having a hard time finding a race for him .

Gotham Day

What can we take from yesterday ? Did we achieve what we set out too?

We were looking for Mr Fantasy to run a good race and have a good showing with running him into the ground . Of course we want him to win but at this stage not win at all costs . We did not want to run our Big race ( did I Want Revenge just run his Big race today?) but something to improve on in his next race and again in the one after that on May 2nd .

It was a good day the Aqueduct the weather was great could not have been much worse than the beginning of the week there was some good racing with some close finishes . There were a lot of partners and friends there to watch Mr Fantasy as well as others involved in the breeding and selling of Mr Fantasy and it was great to meet Scott , Greg and Michael .

Let me give you my break down of the events . Mr Fantasy is still is young horse and is making only his 3rd career start and that is a Grade III Derby prep against horses that have run in stakes races . With his 2 outstanding wins we know he is well bred and has plenty of speed and despite what many may think is the best horse racing in NY .

Tina & I while going down to the saddling enclosure we we lucky enough to just see the horses walking down Mr Fantasy was bringing up the rear that was the first sight we had of him and how he was starting to sweat something we have not seen in him before . He looked alert in the saddling enclosure where there were a lot more people there that have been at his other races did that unsettle him ?

While in the gate he was very restless as in his allowance race he was backed out and re- loaded where Haynesfield next to him started acted up . he was out of the gate well and to the front then the race did not set up as i am sure many of us thought it would where was Haynesfield and Russell Road ? . Alan was forced to take the lead something he really did not want to do Alan said he was charging and was holding him back although the fractions were soft in the end he still run a second faster than his allowance race and being eased up towards the end ( there is no blame here for the way Alan handled him ) . This was the first time he has come eye to eye with another horse into the stretch again something new to him . He seemed to tire in the deep stretch was it due to making all the running or is the distance too much for him will he make a great miler?

In summary he was 2nd best on the day running a second faster over same distance and earning a 98 beyer coping with new experiences and hopefully he will learn from them .He cooled down well after the race and appears in good health will no more in the next few days .

http://www.drf.com/drfPDFChartRacesIndexAction.do?TRK=AQU&CTY=USA&DATE=20090307&RN=9

Gotham

THE GOTHAM
Grade III - $250,000
Purse $250,000 (Up to $37,500 NYSBFOA) One Mile And One Sixteenth (Inner Dirt)
FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
1 Naos(L) B.c.3 116 Luzzi, M Starlight Partners Pletcher, Todd
2 Russell Road(L) Ch.g.3 116 Dunkelberger, T Russell, M Casey, James
3 Masala(L) B.c.3 116 Coa, E Peachtree Stable Pletcher, Todd
4 Axel Foley(L) Dk B/ Br.c.3 116 Migliore, R Singer, J McLaughlin, Kiaran Blk-Off
5 Mr. Fantasy(L) B.c.3 116 Garcia, A West Point Thoroughbreds McLaughlin, Kiaran
6 Haynesfield(L) Ch.c.3 120 Lopez, C Turtle Bird Stable Asmussen, Steven
7 Imperial Council(L) Dk B/ Br.c.3 116 Maragh, R Sequoia Racing McGaughey III, Claude
8 I Want Revenge(L) Dk B/ Br.c.3 116 Talamo, J Lanzman, D Mullins, Jeff
9 Giant Ryan(L) B.c.3 116 Sanchez, J Parbhoo, S Parboo, Bisnath