Back on September 30, I wrote in this blog about Big Man in Black; no, not myself, but rather a three year old bay colt by Southern Image out of Beartrack Cove. Big Man in Black was placed on our watch list after Race 2 at Santa Anita on September 29, a Maiden Claiming ($20k) in which he went off at final odds of 10.6-1 and finished eighth in a field of thirteen (as loyal readers of this blog are all too aware, I have a more than mild fascination with longshot claims that finish as would be expected by their final odds).
Big Man in Black's new owner Leonard M Friedman (on the claim, joined by Wexler Racing Stables for Sunday's entry) took him out of Southern California, where the colt was oh-for-four lifetime, and brought him to Hawthorne. Carla Gaines had been listed as the new trainer on the claim, but with the shift to Illinois Big Man in Black was placed in the care of Trainer Frank Kirby, with Jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr getting the mount for Sunday's Race 9 at Hawthorne.
As you can see, Sunday's race was an MSW restricted to Illinois bred horses, run over a distance of eight and a half furlongs on the turf. So with a change in distance, surface, and locale, going against the weaker state bred competition, it becomes clear what Friedman's plan was when he claimed Big Man in Black at long odds at Santa Anita. Practically defining the phrase "well intended" Big Man in Black did not disappoint, finishing first by a length and three-quarters, paying $10.60 / $5.60 / $3.60. Big Man in Black's Winner's Share of the purse was $19,800.00, just two hundred dollars shy of the $20k for which he had been claimed six weeks earlier.
For those interested, the Equibase chart of the race may be viewed here, while the DRF version of events is available here.
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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