First Time Starts / Bringing Runners Along

[Knightmare]

What do you look for with first time starters?

Do you run the runner "All Out" or use a lower setting?

Do speed figures mean anything?

Does the surface (turf or dirt) matter?

Do you have a philosophy on bringing a two year old along in say their first 3 - 5 starts?

At what point or how quickly do you give up on a runner being worth keeping in the stable?

[Knightmare]

1. I look for a little something, flashes speed, maybe closes some ground, or maintains a pace passing tiring runners. I just want to see a little life. Worst thing is to see your runner drop to the back and continue to lose ground the second is to go to the lead and stop badly going from first to last.

2. In my early days I never ran a two year old on all out until their third start. Now I run everything on all out. I cannot really tell if there is was a difference. I am thinking of running on lower efforts this year though.

3. Yes and no. Assuming it is not February, March or even early April if my two year old debuts with a speed figure less than 50 they just never seem to add up to anything. A couple of exceptions would be if the runner came back injured or the surface was not to their liking maybe it was off or they preferred the other surface ultimately.

Ideally my two year old would debut in the 60's speed figure wise. Of course if you breed a horse with stamina I would lower that to above 50.

4. I do not think it has much of an impact but a couple of my really good turf horses have debuted on dirt. I felt like I would breed these heavy turf pedigree runners debut them on turf and they would all end up dirt runners. So a lot of times now when a breed a runner heavy on turf I start them on dirt. Weird superstition I guess. I do look for a fast or firm surface for a debut I am not sure you can get a good read on a runner on an off surface although hard to get any kind of read on one start.

5. I do not race two year olds as much as other players. I rarely start a two year old before May 1, most of my two year olds will not hit the track until after July 1. I only have 13 two year olds in my 17 stables now, I bred 5 last week. only 9 have raced so far. I do not like to race two year olds much. I typically breed with route runners in mind, and would rather get more starts from my runners as three, four, five, or six year olds than using up those starts as two year olds.

I think 3-5 races are ideal for my two year olds. I try to get a maiden win and shut them down. If they win in their first couple of starts and can run in stakes I will run them a full five races and maybe a race or two more.

No matter the pedigree I like to start them off in 5f or less races move them to 6-7f race and move them up over a mile. I like a steady progression in distance. I am not a fan of racing back at the same distance in the first few starts.

6. If a runner debuts below 50 I usually give them another start or two and for sure a surface switch but if there is no improvement, they are on their way out.

[axeracing]

What do you look for with first time starters?

Yep, pretty much the same as you.

Do you run the runner "All Out" or use a lower setting?

I never run 2yos all out unless I forget to change it on a "newborn". The setting only works for horses that have no chance in the race, so why beat a dead horse, so to speak. I set 2yos on 97 for fillies and 98 for colts. I realize it's only a small difference from 97 to 100, but at least it makes me feel like i'm not being as hard on the youngins as I would older horses. I use the lower settings for coming back from layoffs/injuries.

Do speed figures mean anything?

What you said.

Does the surface (turf or dirt) matter?

I try to start them in their home state/country and will debut on whatever surface has a race available. If there is a choice, i'll usually go with what I think the horse is bred for.

Do you have a philosophy on bringing a two year old along in say their first 3 - 5 starts?

I let their condition after the race determine how far apart the races are spaced. 2yos usually come back worse than older horses, so that works for me. A 2yo that comes back ready to go or sharp will race just as much as an older horse. I do agree with you on starting as short as possible and working up in distance, especially since we have no idea how the horses look in training.

At what point or how quickly do you give up on a runner being worth keeping in the stable?

It depends. A bargain bred with no sentimental value will drop in class much faster than that blueblood I just spent 500+ bps/credits on. Ultimately, each horse usually gets at least 2 or 3 tries at bottom level claimers before I reluctantly breed over it.

[lebowski00]

A lot of my tatic's depend on the breeding of the horse. For instance, I just debuted a horse that should want 16 furlongs eventually and started it at eight furlongs (3 year old). It won first time out, so that is good.

A lot of times with two year olds I make a judgement on the longterm potential of the horse. If I believe the horse is going to be a flash in the pan and not likely improve at three then I will run more aggressively, or at least that is my plan for this season. I don't mind starting a horse on an off track second start in if it has the pedigree for it. I try and start bargin's in lower purse races.