The Green Monkey won't start at Saratoga after all [Archive]

Cammie

Aug. 7, 2006, 05:51 PM

I'll be very interested to see how his career turns out. This article about racing stride research was very interesting, and I'm curious to see if they will be right about The Green Monkey.....Sounds like he could end up being a disappointment. I've put the race horse excerpt below.

http://www.horseusa.com/horsehealth/...=63533&subsec=

From the Thoroughbred Times online, May 1, 2006-

Elite Thoroughbreds

Analysis of the extreme racing gait of an elite Thoroughbred is perhaps the area where the information provided by high-speed kinetics most seems to throw open a door to the previously unseen and unknown.

Jeff Seder of EQB Agents and Consultants in West Grove, Pennsylvania, began with a business and filmmaking background. He applied what he knew to getting good film of racehorses. He also began collecting data on elite equine athletes by attending Thoroughbred sales.

"Prior databases [mostly academic] included average athletes, and the information did not exist to describe the elite horse," Seder said. "So we became obsessive-compulsive about getting good data." Experts like Clayton agree.

"Mr. Seder has amassed a wealth of data and has been generous in providing that information for study," she said. Seder has published much of his data in a series of articles that evaluates the various detailed phases of gait in racing Thoroughbreds. Perhaps more controversially, he also wrote an article that relates racing performance to foreleg flight patterns among 900 unraced two-year-olds offered at major sales in the United States. Seder listed a group of 73 horses with "good" motion and a group of 77 horses with "bad" motion. The latter group showed extraneous foreleg motion, including hyper-rotation of the cannon bone (hoof hitting an elbow in extreme cases); winging, paddling, or wobbling; and other deviations from straight and correct motion.

"Good" movers were patterned more closely after the ideal. All horses compared were matched to have workouts of similar velocity.

The subsequent North American racing performances of these two groups were evaluated. Seder concluded what proponents of high-speed gait analysis had hoped for when the technology first began to be used. He wrote: "Extraneous foreleg motion was shown to be related to subsequent racing earnings and the level of competition attained. Horses with good foreleg motion (as defined and determined with high-speed film evaluation) earned more and had greater stakes-level success (83% higher earnings) than horses with bad foreleg motion."

Seder's data also has yielded information about high-leg-action horses and turf racing, about the lack of performance predictability when trying to use only velocity and length- of-stride measurements, and several other very technical facts about the vast differences and arrays of phases contained within the racing gait of the horse.

Seder pointed out that The Green Monkey, a Forestry colt recently purchased for $16-million at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training, had a fabulous 9.8-second workout, but high-speed film revealed that the entire work was done at a rotary gallop, a very quick gait that can produce fast times but costs more energy. In Seder's opinion, such a gait is unlikely to be maintained for longer distances. High-speed analysis of that horse's motion leaves questions in Seder's mind and puts tremendous, maybe excessive, expectations on the horse. "Really good horses have a number of ways to run fast," Seder said. "And if they are 'correct' in their motion, they will be able to generate more power and speed without tiring out or breaking down."

Seder did not set out to ruin the careers of those horses that were deemed to have bad motion in his study, and in a bit of kill-the-messenger mentality, he said he has sometimes not been well received within the racing industry.

"Roughly 80% of horses bred for the track will have some sort of problem and never make it to an elite status," Seder said. "The history of science is that innovation is met with skepticism. I'm just taking science and playing probabilities, looking for those horses that, based on our data of gait and motion analysis, have a higher chance of making it."

Whether you use the latest in cameras, high-speed analysis, and data evaluation, or you hang near the rail to find a way of going that pleases your eye, everyone is looking for the same thing--a horse that has a good chance to make it.

gubbyz

Aug. 7, 2006, 07:36 PM

Yep, there are no guarentees when it comes to horses. Lets see... how much did Slew cost, 17,000? Money cannot buy a champion.

Glimmerglass

Aug. 7, 2006, 07:55 PM

This article about racing stride research was very interesting, and I'm curious to see if they will be right about The Green Monkey...[snip] Seder pointed out that The Green Monkey, a Forestry colt recently purchased for $16-million at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training, had a fabulous 9.8-second workout, but high-speed film revealed that the entire work was done at a rotary gallop, a very quick gait that can produce fast times but costs more energy.
I'm not sure how many people would recall, but last year just before Lost In The Fog went off in the Breeders' Cup the producers did exactly what Cammie cited in the article: they pointed out the massive long stride and how efficient it was. Of course that was, and as people know I'm still a fan of his, just before he was utterly swallowed up by the field ;) So you just never know.

Slew I think was $17,500 and Spectacular Bid was bought for $37,000 as a yearling :D

caffeinated

Aug. 8, 2006, 06:46 AM

I just can't imagine how stressful it must be to be training the $16 million dollar horse.Talk about pressure! eek!

Glimmerglass

Aug. 8, 2006, 07:15 AM

I just can't imagine how stressful it must be to be training the $16 million dollar horse.Talk about pressure! eek!
Only relative pressure IMHO as Todd Pletcher is, right now, one of the few trainers that frankly if the horse is a failure his life goes on without any impact to reputation. This weekend his barn took a lot of big wins and July was a knockout. If the horse isn't ready and just needs some more time that is fine - no need for him to pushed. Although I suspect his connections are learning now he isn't exactly Secretariat in training.

horselips

Aug. 8, 2006, 11:15 AM

It would not surprise me at all if this colt never raced.

InVA

Aug. 8, 2006, 11:43 AM

I just can't imagine how stressful it must be to be training the $16 million dollar horse.Talk about pressure! eek!

TRAINING????!!!! How about hotwalking? grooming? exercise riding? feeding? mucking out?????

JER

Aug. 8, 2006, 12:22 PM

The GM generates headlines just for putting his head over a stall door. They can just ship him around and cause a stir.

This horse is about a $16 million dollar measuring contest. If you're going to spend that kind of money, you can't seriously care about whether he can run. I think the same could be said of naming the horse The Green Monkey.

He does, however, have a cute, recognizable face. Hopefully, he gets lots of treats and pats and thoroughly enjoys his life at the track. He made a couple of pinhookers very rich and should be treated well for it.

AC & Ty

Aug. 8, 2006, 12:48 PM

Can you say FLUKE????

Agree with some others...somehow I just don't think THIS ONE is earning his 16 million dollar price tag....

But I can hope to be wrong...it would be nice to see another superhorse!!!!

I wonder if they groom him and bathe him with rubber gloves on....

Glimmerglass

Aug. 8, 2006, 01:21 PM

.. you can't seriously care about whether he can run.
JER, I'm very serious :D

Hey at least they didn't name him (something) dancer as the ill-fated overpriced histories of Seattle Dance and Snaafi Dance would alone doom this horse.

At least the green monkey name has an ever so slight Indiana Jones suggestion of excitement ;) I'm very sure the horse is treated exceedingly well and given plenty of love.

Glimmerglass

Aug. 9, 2006, 11:41 AM

Additional ....

Times union 8-8-06 "Monkey likely out at Saratoga" (http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=506452&category=SARASEASON&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=8/9/2006)

Pletcher said The Green Monkey will be limited to jogging for another two to three weeks, so it's improbable he would be ready to race by the time the Spa meet ends on Sept. 4.

Pletcher said The Green Monkey will likely run his first race at the Belmont fall meet instead.

-- snip --

"I've never had so many people ask me about a horse," said retired Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who is The Green Monkey's exercise rider. "People that don't even know horses, they ask me about him."

Cordero said he had thought The Green Monkey might not run at Saratoga, regardless, because he has yet to earn his starting gate card.

"We have done a lot of gate (work) with him, but at the beginning, he didn't want to walk in there and at Churchill Downs (in the spring), we were having a little problem to get him in," Cordero said. "He goes from the gate now, and he's very quick out of there, but we haven't broke him with the door closed yet."

Bill Nader, NYRA senior vice president and chief operating officer, said it would be nice for The Green Monkey to run at the Spa, "but it's a want, not a need. A need would be (Travers contenders) Bernardini or Bluegrass Cat, horses that are proven, not just an expensive 2-year-old."

Davignport

Aug. 9, 2006, 03:31 PM

It is too bad that these babies are not given more time to develop and grow before having to race. Two years old is young to have to start racing. I wish we could start them later and have them running longer but then again you have the issue of the dollar factor regarding breeding. I sincerely hope the Green Monkey does not end up a sad story - not for the money paid for him but for the horse himself.

Spurt

Aug. 9, 2006, 03:36 PM

Sounds like he has a few more problems then a pulled muscle. If they've been working on him in the gate since spring and still can't close the doors...

Glimmerglass

Aug. 10, 2006, 09:36 AM

The Green Monkey off to Belmont
By TIM WILKIN, Staff writer -Times Union
Thursday, August 10, 2006

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- It didn't take long for The Green Monkey to get out of town.

The $16 million 2-year-old was vanned to Belmont Park to recover from a muscle pull that will prevent him from making his racing debut at Saratoga, said trainer Todd Pletcher.

"I figured it would give him some freedom and me as well," Pletcher said with a laugh Wednesday morning.

Pletcher, who announced the injury on Monday, said Coolmore Stud, owners of The Green Monkey, took the news well.

"They were disappointed not being able to run at Saratoga, but, like always, they are horse people and they understand," he said. "If there is a setback, the long-term best interest of the horse is the main priority."

Where'sMyWhite

Aug. 10, 2006, 01:37 PM

And why am I still suspicious that TGM won't ever break out of the gate in a race??? Having said that, he is definitely one good looking colt... if looks could run I think he'd have it made in the shade...

Glimmerglass

Sep. 19, 2006, 08:07 PM

Looks like those folks near Hollywood Park may get to see The Green Monkey ;)

With Todd setting up now a West Coast operation as well he will, per reports, be shipping the 2-yr old out west. DRF 9-19-06 "Pletcher planning California invasion" (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14908159/):

"The main reason is Polytrack is out there," Pletcher said. "We thought about going out there before, but one of the concerns was always how safe the surfaces are out there. Obviously, the purses are good. . . . Mister [Michael] Tabor wants his horses training on Polytrack when possible."

Tabor, one of Pletcher's major clients, owns such horses as leading 2-year-old Circular Quay and the unraced The Green Monkey, the $16 million 2-year-old in training purchase who has yet to debut. Pletcher said The Green Monkey "probably" will train in California.

Beezer

Sep. 19, 2006, 11:52 PM

Oh, lord ... another Hollywood wannabe!! :winkgrin:

Glimmerglass

Sep. 20, 2006, 10:58 AM

Oh, lord ... another Hollywood wannabe!! :winkgrin:

Ah, yes, but does that mean Todd will dare try to use the Lindsay Lohan excuse of "heat exhaustion" if The Green Monkey continues to not learn his gate manners? We all know how well that story worked for Ms. Lohan in LA :D

Graustark

Sep. 20, 2006, 11:04 AM

Who knows, maybe there will be a slim chance of some of us West-coasters seeing him...Pletcher is evidently going to bring a string to So. Cal due to the polytrack.

Doofy me, I have already seen him once, and my statement was, "Oh, isn't he cute!" :uhoh:

Glimmerglass

Oct. 3, 2006, 08:38 PM

The Green Monkey back to work

The Green Monkey, the $16 million 2-year-old in training purchase, worked three furlongs in 39.93 seconds Tuesday morning over Belmont's main track. It was his first breeze since Aug. 2, after which he was sidelined with a pulled gluteal muscle in his left hindquarters.

"We were just looking to stretch his legs a little bit first time back," trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Pletcher said The Green Monkey missed about three weeks of training following the muscle pull. He resumed training at the end of August. Pletcher said if all goes well, The Green Monkey could debut in mid-November.Source: Daily Racing Form 10-4-06 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/79243.html)

Glimmerglass

Jan. 5, 2007, 11:41 AM

A bit optimistic but The Green Monkey, despite never having raced or even broken from the gate even in training, is listed with fairly decent future odds for the Kentucky Derby 2007 :D

2007 Jan Odds: The Green Monkey 75-1 (http://www.horsehats.com/DerbyContenders.html)

Worth pointing out: There hasn’t been a Kentucky Derby winner who didn’t run as a 2-year-old since Apollo in 1882. In fact, Apollo is the only Derby winner who didn’t race at 2.

Sure Barbaro bucked the odds of the naysayers with the huge layoff which hadn't been done since Needles in the 1950's, but I doubt it.

Jinx

Jan. 5, 2007, 12:56 PM

one question on those odds...who the heck is indian camp and how did he get the jump from 300 to 1 to being the only horse listed at 500 to 1....seriously...

summerhorse

Jan. 5, 2007, 01:03 PM

At this point I'd say TGM's odds of ever getting to the track, ANY track, to actually race are about 500 to 1...

Glimmerglass

Jan. 5, 2007, 01:04 PM

one question on those odds...who the heck is indian camp and how did he get the jump from 300 to 1 to being the only horse listed at 500 to 1....seriously...

At 500-1 I think the answer to who he/she is would be nobody ;)

Actually from DRF's Saratoga Journal of Aug 30, 2006:

Race 4: Violette firster Market Psychology ($4.90), fast-working Freud colt purchased in May for $80k, opens 3 1/2-length early lead, holds on by three-quarters over Biancone second-timer Indian Camp to win statebred juvenile race in 1:12.57.

Owner: Lewis G. Lakin
Trainer: Patrick L. Biancone
Jockey: Garrett Gomez
Breeder: A. Lakin & Sons, Inc.
Program Awards: Breeder's Award - $2,460

Won Sep 16, 2006: 5th Race - Belmont - Maiden Special Weight - New York State-bred Two-year-olds - 6 Furlongs -Purse $41,000

Glimmerglass

Jan. 25, 2007, 03:17 PM

An interesting remark from Steve Haskin (1-25-07) for the Q&A session "Talkin Horses" (http://www.bloodhorse.com/talkinhorses/SH012507.asp)

Q: Where is The Green Monkey?

A: Haskin: Pletcher is "unavailable" from Jan. 24-26, so I can't get any info until after that. I asked one of his assistants, and he hasn't a clue where the horse is.

:D

By the way, his odds of winning the Ky Derby went from 75-1 initially to 200 to 1 (http://www.horsehats.com/DerbyContenders.html) as of Jan 20, 2007.

Beezer

Jan. 26, 2007, 12:07 AM

Hm. Perhaps he's lost in the rough? ;)

Where'sMyWhite

Jan. 26, 2007, 07:30 AM

Hm. Perhaps he's lost in the rough? ;)

Snicker :lol:

But kinda sad that at that price the owners probably had a lot of hopes and dreams and it looks like they won't pan out.

Linny

Jan. 26, 2007, 08:28 AM

I'd be willing to book bets at 500-1 that the Monkey will not have run in a sanctioned race by the time the Derby starts. At last report he was at Ashford in KY, working out kinks in his backswing...I mean back end.

If Pletcher gets this beast to the races, I'll hand him a lifetime achievment award myself!:lol:

tradewind

Jan. 26, 2007, 08:53 AM

I'm guessing that The Green Monkey is going to end up being the perfect example of that saying that in racehorses you should not spend what you are not prepared to lose or something to that effect.

Glimmerglass

Jan. 26, 2007, 09:11 AM

If Pletcher gets this beast to the races, I'll hand him a lifetime achievment award myself!:lol:

Brilliant! Well, if he gets him into the Kentucky Derby I'll add to that and say I would hot walk TGM for free. Perhaps his connections should be reminded "you must have sufficient earnings to get into the Derby, not having been purchased with sufficient funds" ;)

At the end of the day he was purchased by Coolmore - one of the wealthiest buyers [and generally more shrewed ones at that] on the planet so they can easily take the loss of this horse being a non-starter. I wonder how much the training with Todd & company has added thus far to the $16M price tag? Oats and exercise rides by Cordero Jr. aren't cheap.

My guess is the effort (if you can call it that) of also-overpriced Ever Shifting in December was reason alone to park TGM "somewhere" in Kentucky.

ESPN/Bill Finley "Big ticket busts" (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=2695709)

Glimmerglass

Jan. 26, 2007, 10:28 AM

Well if the racing gig thing doesn't work out - and going to stud could happen by why pay even $5k for him at stud - there must be other means for him to earn his board.

He could ...

Become a spokesperson for Kiwi-based "Green Monkey" frozen baby food (http://www.greenmonkey.co.nz/)

Become bartender (although I suspect with those hooves he'd give too generous of a pour of Guinness) at The Green Monkey bar and grill in New Hampshire (http://www.thegreenmonkey.net/); that's why the great mare, Pebbles, resume wasn't provided either :D

Be golf's first moving hazzard at The Green Monkey gold course at Sandy Lane, Barbados (http://www.sandylane.com/golf/green_monkey_golf.html)

Become an art consultant in Santa Fe, NM at the Green Monkey Gallery as he'd be the resident expert on the subject of TGM (http://www.artonwalls.com/green_monkey_gallery.htm)

Or just join the internet revolution and become a web developer at Green Monkey Solutions (http://www.greenmonkeysolutions.com/) - although my guess he'd be a slacker and just surf all day long horse 'porn' of fillies and mares :D

summerhorse

Jan. 26, 2007, 10:29 AM

Last I read he was turned out at Ashford. I'd be amazed if he ever gets to a track too and if he does if he ever wins against even allowance company. But hey he's be a pretty hunter if they didn't totally ruin his hind end getting him to run so fast so early. =)

Jessi P

Jan. 26, 2007, 10:47 AM

I just simply cannot imagine being the person who has to call the owner and explain just WHY his $$$$$$$ racehorse isn't going to make it to the races... in 2006...or in time for the Derby..... or possibly at all. Having been purchased as a 2 yo in training (instead of as a yearling) makes it worse - because the horse was "this close" to an actual race instead of heading off to started under tack as a yearling turning 2. But that is what we can expect by forcing these critters to work that blazing fast 1/8 mile in :10.1 or 1/4 in :21 as 2 yo (meaning early spring) sale. Such a shame.

Frog

Jan. 26, 2007, 11:50 AM

He should have gone to some mixed QH races instead!

Or, I'll buy him for 2,500 and pretend like he's made out of gold.

Maybe they can quick get him to pony horses at Churchill Downs so he can make a Derby appearance.

Yes it would be painful to make the call... "we think maybe he can win for $12,500."

Is the gate really a problem for him? Maybe he can 'chase. But I really like the baby food advertisement idea from Glimmerglass, other than the fact that it might imply that your baby is going to end up worthless!! :)

Hey Jessi, it's me Chevy. Need a hotwalker again?

Jessi P

Jan. 26, 2007, 12:05 PM

CHEVY!!! Where ya been girlie!? You in law school now? We have a spot here for ya if you ever want one. :cool: Never Under is still running, and doing pretty well - Bob sends her down to us from Cleveland on raceday. I have a recent win pic around here somewhere I can scan. The Gulch filly you were grooming (Tasha) went to Cleveland to Bob then to a different trainer - they named her Galashey. Who was the third one you groomed...?

lizathenag

Jan. 26, 2007, 12:18 PM

I'd be willing to book bets at 500-1 that the Monkey will not have run in a sanctioned race by the time the Derby starts.

I'll take that bet. Who will hold my $2 until the first Saturday in May? My other $2 is going for Any Given Sat as soon as the future book opens. . .

Glimmerglass

Feb. 4, 2007, 12:18 AM

Well as the old lottery adage goes .."you've gotta be in it, to win it" .. hence its worth noting that a record 450 3-yr olds have been nominated to the Triple Crown (DRF 2-4-07) and no Green Money to be found (http://www.drf.com/news/article/82352.html).

Now he always can be nominated later - for extra fees - yet you know there are problems when they won't cough up the $600 fee on the $16M horse ;)

JER

Feb. 4, 2007, 07:51 AM

pokeyman

Feb. 4, 2007, 08:36 AM

The Green Monkey could try Arab racing. In the UK this year they're allowing JC TBs to enter Arab races, ostensibly as a way to ease into their TB season. Arab races look like a bunch of runaway wind-up toys -- I imagine a TB would look funny in this company.

Anyhow, I just want the Green Monkey's connections to consider all opportunities to get this expensive piece of horseflesh on a race track.

Oh, really. We race Arabians as well as thoroughbreds and I would NOT consider them a bunch of wind up toys. They are the original racehorse which all thoroughbreds trace too. They show the same heart, class, and talent that they passed on to the thoroughbreds. However, they are sounder, prettier, and generally show more stamina. They are ATHLETES and not "wind up toys".

Linny

Feb. 4, 2007, 09:55 AM

Since Coolmore and the arab interests are in a battle for racing dominance, I doubt that TGM will ever race in an arab country.

Linny

Feb. 4, 2007, 09:57 AM

I'll take that bet. Who will hold my $2 until the first Saturday in May? My other $2 is going for Any Given Sat as soon as the future book opens. . .

You can get down on "Saturday" in Vegas right now. The "Monkey bet, I'm still willing to book.

Glimmerglass

Feb. 4, 2007, 03:31 PM

His nomination or rather the absense of it as also noted by others ...

Courier Journal 2-4-07 "Record 450 nominated for Triple Crown races" (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/SPORTS08/702040645)

Pletcher had a record 38 nominations last year, the fourth straight year he topped the list. One Pletcher-trained colt who is not nominated is The Green Monkey, whose $16 million price last year is the most ever for a horse at auction. He is training in California and has yet to race.

Sure "in training" .. to become a lead pony at this stage in the game ;)

Glimmerglass

Mar. 13, 2007, 01:13 PM

He's back .... in training!

BloodHorse Mar 13, 2007 (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=37983)

The Green Monkey shattered the world record for a Thoroughbred sold at public auction when he brought $16 million at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training at Calder Race Course. But the son of Forestry hasn’t made much news since Irish agent Demi O’Byrne bought him on behalf of Coolmore Stud managing partner John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The Green Monkey joined the stable of multiple Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher in April, then went to Saratoga in late July. After the colt breezed five furlongs in 1:03 2⁄5 in early August at Saratoga, Pletcher reported the colt had pulled a gluteal muscle. He has not raced yet.

“He is at Ashford Stud (Coolmore’s Kentucky division) recovering from a muscle injury; we’re hoping he’ll go back in training with Todd Pletcher in a few weeks,” said a Coolmore spokesman.

Obviously the Kentucky Derby is not going to happen for his resume ...

kenwoodallpromos

Mar. 13, 2007, 03:08 PM

He's back .... in training!

BloodHorse Mar 13, 2007 (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=37983)

Obviously the Kentucky Derby is not going to happen for his resume ...
____________________
What is currently on his resume' other than his 1f auction work?

Linny

Mar. 13, 2007, 06:14 PM

I'm still booking that bet. :lol:

Glimmerglass

Mar. 13, 2007, 08:14 PM

What is currently on his resume' other than his 1f auction work?

On his resume is frequent flyer miles: he's gone from Belmont to Saratoga to Santa Anita to Kentucky and places in between. For a horse with no starts, no known gate permit, and a hefty tab to work off he's certainly been carted around to lot of top race tracks :)

I dare say that not since The Beautiful Jim Key (http://exhibits.slpl.org/lpe/data/lpe240023588.asp?Image=240037342) has there been a horse generating more interest who has never actually raced. Although you have to give Jim props: he could read, write, and count!

Hey wait a minute - "GM, what is 1 + 1?"

Linny

Mar. 13, 2007, 09:02 PM

Unles that horse can count to 16 million, he's not worth the time of day!

lizathenag

Mar. 14, 2007, 10:26 AM

I'm still booking that bet. :lol:

It's looking like a good bet for you!

Iride

Mar. 17, 2007, 07:27 PM

I wouldn't try hard to perform for my people either if they named me the Green Monkey :no:

Glimmerglass

May. 1, 2007, 07:57 AM

Dear Green Monkey,

Sorry you couldn't make it to Louisville on May 5th, perhaps we'll see you on the track some day. The world needs outrider horses too ...

Your friend,
(and likely Kentucky Derby starter bought for $9,000)
Teuflesburg

:D

The New York Times 5-1-07 "Money for Nothing on Triple Crown Trail " (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/sports/othersports/29score.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)

Excerpt:

These are the wealthy wannabe kings of the modern-day sport who each year spend hundreds of millions of dollars on yearlings and 2-year-olds trying to buy a horse capable of delivering the glory and return on investment that would come with owning the stallion that sweeps all three American classics. Of the 35 most expensive colts from this year’s 3-year-old crop purchased at public auction, only the $1.5 million Cowtown Cat is still on track for the quest. And his early odds are 20-1 in the Derby. This means the other $88.5 million spent on 34 others may be hard to recover.

Linny

May. 1, 2007, 06:32 PM

Too bad no one was sap enough to take that bet.:lol:

I guess "The Green Monkey's" Derby will be run with TGM in absentia. Tell Teuflesbeg that pony horses need strong hind quarters, so TGM better start doing some squats or something.

skatepixie

May. 3, 2007, 03:54 AM

Shall we remove "at saratoga" from the thread title?

Glimmerglass

May. 3, 2007, 07:50 AM

Dear Teuflesberg

Thank you for your note. Here at camp things are all good - I get to sleep, eat and do different exercises. Do you know what a breeze is? After two years of working on them I do them pretty well. Never seen a lead pony yet but that job seems kinda cool. Congratulations on going to the Derby and getting the 10th gate. My trainer says that was a pretty good pick.

Your pal,
The Green Money [sic]

:D

ESPN May 2, 2007 "Green with Derby envy?" (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown07/news/story?id=2854273)

So what could have been more shrewdly purchased with that $16 million in "Monkey" business?

All 20 of this year's Kentucky starters would cost much, much less. Based on actual auction prices and estimates on the homebreds, maybe about 13 million give or take a few bags of feed.

Linny

May. 3, 2007, 04:45 PM

Remember, The Green Money has a phobia about the gate. That appears to the origin of his ...difficulties.

Dazednconfused

May. 3, 2007, 04:54 PM

Remember, The Green Money has a phobia about the gate. That appears to the origin of his ...difficulties.

Freudian Slip? :winkgrin: :lol:

Cammie

May. 5, 2007, 10:53 AM

Pletcher's assistant trainer certainly doesn't like The Green Monkey. I'd love to see what The Green Monkey's full brother looks like. I wonder if his new owners even know who their horse is related to. :lol:

http://sports.yahoo.com/rah/news?slug=jo-greenmonkey050407&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Glimmerglass

Jun. 19, 2007, 12:16 PM

He has returned to training ...

The Green Monkey back on the worktab
BloodHorse June 18, 2007 (http://handicapping.bloodhorse.com/index.asp?source=http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi%3Fid=8223%26print=true%26header=bh)

THE GREEN MONKEY (Forestry), who was sold for a world-record $16 million as a two-year-old in training last year, returned to the worktab at Belmont Park on Sunday [JUNE 17]. Now an unraced three-year-old, the Todd Pletcher trainee strolled three furlongs in :38 3/5 on the fast track at Belmont Park. He was posting his first official move since last October, when he was sidelined by a gluteal muscle injury.

The Florida-bred bay made headlines around the world at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in February 2006, becoming the most expensive Thoroughbred ever sold at public auction. Demi O'Byrne made the winning bid on behalf of a Coolmore partnership comprising John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Named for a golf course in Barbados, The Green Monkey was sent to Pletcher. He recorded his first breeze last May at Belmont and continued to work until August. Returning to the worktab in October, The Green Monkey turned in four timed moves at Belmont before being shelved. He was given plenty of time to recover at Ashford Stud, Coolmore's American facility, near Versailles, Kentucky, and recently rejoined Pletcher's brigade.

The Green Monkey was produced by the winning Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2 queen Magicalmysterycat (Storm Cat). His second dam is multiple Grade 2 victress Nannerl (Valid Appeal).

Where'sMyWhite

Jun. 19, 2007, 03:15 PM

Glimmerglass... don't know quite enough about racing to know if :38 3/5 is a good time for a first official move in 8 months - I know it's not real fast in general but for his length of layoff is it still slow or pretty respectable (the comment from BH makes me think still pretty slow :) ).

Linny

Jun. 19, 2007, 03:25 PM

He's still slow. He was asked to work 3f last week but his time was so slow that it didn't get recorded as an official "work." Last week he went 41 flat. In order to be race ready at any significant level, a horse should be able to do 12 second furlongs. The 38+ is an OK starting point but it's not what would be expected from the world's most expensive racehorse.

Yes, I call him "The Green Money." I know it's MonKey but Money sounds better.

Glimmerglass

Jun. 19, 2007, 03:29 PM

I think the article I cited (which the BH themselves obtained from another source) used this rather operative word:

... the Todd Pletcher trainee strolled three furlongs ...

With all respect he must have a fair amount of rust on him from having been effectively on RR for so long.

Glimmerglass

Jun. 20, 2007, 11:34 AM

Another article on the saga ... as an aside I suspect Tristan Berry for having spoken a bit too openly may get a stern call from Todd.

Ireland's Independent June 16, 2007 "Money can't buy success in Monkey business" (http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/money-cant-buy-success-in-monkey-business-704126.html)

excerpts ..

Details of his status remain sketchy.

The owners have said little publicly about the horse some thought might be the odds-on favourite for last month's Kentucky Derby. Neither has Todd Pletcher, America's top trainer in each of the past three years. But Tristan Berry, an assistant trainer with Pletcher, said The Green Monkey's problems go beyond an aggravated glutteal muscle cited as the horse's most recent setback or any other physical ailments.

"For $16m, you'd expect a wow every time he'd breeze, and he never did it for me," Berry said recently. "And I don't know why that would be."

[Pletcher's] first work with The Green Monkey started in Kentucky, also site of the first glitch. During a morning gallop at Churchill Downs, the horse got spooked while workers set up tents for the 2006 Kentucky Derby and the exercise rider fell off as the horse bolted.

De Renzo said he talked to witnesses who said the horse fell on its neck. Not true, said Michael McCarthy, an assistant trainer with Pletcher who said the only thing that hit the ground was the rider.

But the horse failed to produce any remarkable work-outs and, after about a month of training in Kentucky, was shipped to New York. There, he ended up under the watch of Pletcher's assistant, Berry. He greeted the horse with enthusiasm tempered by scepticism.

"No horse is worth $16m," he said recently. Berry sounds even more convinced of that after watching The Green Monkey train in New York for almost three months before being sent to Ashford Stud, a farm in Kentucky owned by Coolmore. That's where the horse remains.

"The horse really didn't have any problems," Berry said. "He just didn't show to be fast enough to run in a maiden race where he was going to win. And if you were going to run him, that would have been the only result that would have been good enough."

Sanan, who bred the horse, said he regretted selling the horse when he heard about the $16m purchase price. But since then, his perspective has changed. Turns out The Green Monkey had a full brother bred by Sanan, who says he has no idea where that horse is now.

"Gave it to a lady who looks after a farm for retired horses," he said, adding of that horse and The Green Monkey, "Both turned out to be duds."

Retirement could be where The Green Monkey is headed before his once-promising career even begins.

"Even if he comes back and wins some races, he ain't going to be worth much," Sanan said. "He'll be lucky if he's worth $1m."

kenwoodallpromos

Jun. 20, 2007, 01:30 PM

I guess if he bolted because there was a human somewhere around the racetrack he is not a good lead pony prospect either.

Frog

Jun. 20, 2007, 06:12 PM

In 10 years this horse is going to find his way into a COTH member's backyard. Some of our friends on the message board have ex-racers that were very expensive at the sales, but the Green Monkey of course would take the cake!

Maythehorsebewithme

Jun. 21, 2007, 07:15 AM

Glimmerglass

Jun. 21, 2007, 08:00 AM

Texarkana

Jun. 21, 2007, 08:36 AM

I'm going to commit a racing sin... but I'm going to say what I think they should do...

Why don't they put him with another trainer? Obviously he's not working out in the Pletcher barn, and hasn't he been there his whole "career"?? While I'm sure his connections don't want to ruin their relationship with Pletcher, I doubt anyone in the barn would mind getting that monkey off their backs.

Maybe someone with a different training style will be able to get through to him. Cause obviously it's not clicking...

Glimmerglass

Jun. 21, 2007, 09:20 AM

At least the folks (Darley) who owned a slightly cheaper dud, Ever Shifting have taken him to post twice. Not that he's ever come close to hitting the boards but hey why not let the $5.2 million purchase try and win one :D

If they are lucky his debut will be burried in the sports coverage like Ever Shifting's effort was in December 2006 (http://www.nypost.com/seven/12072006/sports/martin_still_one_win_away_sports_ed_fountaine.htm)

SIXTH RACE: Kiaran McLaughlin entry of Dr. Rhythm, Shaun Bridgmohan up, and Casey's Joy, under Fernando Jara, favored at 8-5, dueled for early lead, pressed outside by 11-1 The Red Prince, Eddie Martin Jr. up, who swept to front turning for home, looked on way to victory. But 11-1 Mass Charles rallied outside under Robert Messina, collared The Red Prince mid-stretch, outkicked him in final sixteenth. Ever Shifting, $5.2M Tale of the Cat colt making belated debut as 3-year-old for Tom Albertrani/Darley Stable, broke slowly under Eibar Coa, rushed up rail to chase leaders into turn, faded to finish far back. True Perception backed up badly to trail field mid-stretch when he tripped and fell; neither horse nor rider, C.C. Lopez, was injured.

Yes, he finished 2nd to last - beating True Perception who fell.

Linny

Jun. 21, 2007, 10:34 AM

Although technically he's been w/Todd through his career, he's spent more time at Ashford in KY than in training since being purchased. He did work fast at the sales and maybe that hurt him. Maybe he just "freaked" that day. He's never shown any inclination to train quickly and as far as the starting gate...well...:eek: he really hates that.

Tabor does use other trainers, like Pat Biancone so I suppose that a change "could" be made but at this point, with his reputation, I'm not sure if ay trainer woulod want him.

Texarkana

Jun. 21, 2007, 02:27 PM

holmes

Jun. 21, 2007, 02:41 PM

horselips

Jun. 21, 2007, 06:57 PM

I seem to remember that he was bought at a two year olds in training sale, and that he had posted a really, really fast time for 2 furlongs. Is that right?
So if he is so slow now, what happened? Did an injury damage him? Is he sour? Burned out? Just out of shape?
Anyone know or care to speculate?

A wild guess? A wild off-the-wall guess?

If it was true that (when he ran the 9.4 second furlong for the sale) he ran with a rotary style gallop (LH, RH, RF, LF) as opposed to the normal way horses gallop, and then maybe IF he was taught/made to run "the normal way", perhaps it didn't suit him physically or mentally to run fast that way.

Linny

Jun. 21, 2007, 07:08 PM

I do not think it is the expectations, but some horses need to develop a personality and get a bit more one on one attention - I certainly do not think it would be a bad choice to point him towards a trainer who can provide that!

Though Todd's operation is HUGE, his staff matches the # of horses and each horse gets no less time with their immediate handlers than they would at another barn, possibly more. I do think that maybe a different program could help him though I'm not sure what's wrong.
His antics at the gate last summer at Saratoga were the talk of the town, I'm not sure he ever got his gate card.

Glimmerglass

Jul. 12, 2007, 12:19 PM

On a somber but related note ...

BloodHorse July 12 2007 "Seattle Dancer, Record-Priced Yearling, Dead" (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=39735)

excerpt

Seattle Dancer, who set the racing world abuzz when he commanded a world-record $13.1 as a yearling, died of a heart attack in June. The 23-year-old son of Nijinsky II stood at Gestut Auenquelle in Germany.

The price bettered the $10.2 million paid at the 1983 Keeneland July sale for Snaafi Dancer, a son of Northern Dancer who was unraced. Ironically, Sangster was the underbidder.

Campaigned in Niarchos' colors, Seattle Dancer failed to start at 2, but developed into group II winner at 3. He captured the Windfields Farm Gallinule (Ire-II) and Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Ire-II) and ran second in the Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I). He retired with two wins from five starts and earnings of $152,423.

Not an utter flop, he did sire 37 stakes winners including 1996's Kentucky Oaks and California Derby winner, Pike Place Dancer.

lizathenag

Jul. 12, 2007, 03:13 PM

23 years old!

seems like it was yesterday.

Sandbarhorse

Jul. 12, 2007, 04:13 PM

Personally, I think they should change his name. If somebody named me that, I'd give them minimal effort too.:D Was he named that when he worked fast?

Just out of curiousity, could his name be changed since he hasn't even run yet?

Glimmerglass

Jul. 14, 2007, 04:50 PM

Better change the headline ... looks like The Green Monkey WILL start in 2007 at Saratoga .. or so they say ... I wouldn't bet on it. Far too public of a forum with a horse having that much in expectations placed on him

Courier-Journal July 14, 2007 "The Green Monkey nearing debut" (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS08/707140511/1037)

The immediate goal for the owners of The Green Monkey is a maiden special weight race this summer at Saratoga, where a victory would mean $37,200.

That would still leave them $15,962,800 in the hole -- but you have to start somewhere.

The world's most expensive racehorse might not be a lost cause after all. The Green Monkey, purchased by Coolmore Stud for a record $16 million in February 2006 at a 2-year-old sale, is finally nearing his debut. Unable to run for the past year because of problems with a gluteal muscle, the colt has had four workouts since mid-June, and trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday that the colt should be ready to race in about a month.

"The next two or three works will really tell me where I am with his fitness and ability level," Pletcher said. "The horse looks fantastic. I think the time off did him well, not just to allow the injury to heal up, but overall."

With no horse having earned more than $9.99 million on the track, the only way The Green Monkey can pay for himself is at stud, where he could earn hundreds of millions of dollars if he can establish himself as one of the world's top sires. But most good sires were good racehorses first, so The Green Monkey needs to perform well on the racetrack.

"Given one industry yardstick, that an entering stallion's value is 300 times his initial stud fee, The Green Monkey would have to be able to stand for $50,000 to recoup his purchase price," breeding expert Bill Oppenheim said. "In order to justify that stud fee, and considering that his pedigree is OK but not mouth-watering, I'd say he'd need to be a good Grade I stakes winner to be able to stand for that price."

Pletcher understands that The Green Monkey's first race will be watched throughout the sport and that it is important that he win. His only promise is that The Green Monkey will be primed for his best the day he makes it to the starting gate.

"When you step out and pay a record price for a horse or you're training a horse someone paid a record price for, the expectations are extremely high," Pletcher said. "I will do everything I can to have him as ready as I can first time out, and sometimes you can only do so much."

Drvmb1ggl3

Jul. 14, 2007, 08:34 PM

With no horse having earned more than $9.99 million on the track..

So much for accurate reporting. At least four, maybe more, have gone over the $10m mark, in the case of T.M Opera O, $7m over.

skatepixie

Jul. 14, 2007, 09:02 PM

interesting...we shall see if he will start or not.

Glimmerglass

Jul. 14, 2007, 10:30 PM

So much for accurate reporting. At least four, maybe more, have gone over the $10m mark, in the case of T.M Opera O, $7m over.

I'm certain the intent was to say no US-based horse has exceeded the $9.9M mark ...

In terms of reporting accuracy I take greater issue in the fact that a race with a purse of $37,200 does NOT mean if you win you get a check for that amount ;) The winner likely is to take home just 60% or less.

For T.M. Opera O (who isn't exactly considered the best horse to ever have run despite the fat bankroll - not unlike Smarty Jones and his highly skewed "earnings") it was a total of 1,835,189,000 yen; which is US$14,100,000 at $1 = 130 yen

Glimmerglass

Jul. 18, 2007, 12:54 PM

Todd seems to be perhaps backing off from the New York Times article that suggested a race was almost picked out - an allowance for maidens - during the Spa meet:

A year later, the Monkey still hasn't run, but he is getting closer, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

"He could possibly run up there; he is doing well," Pletcher said. "He is training more forwardly now than he was last year."

The Green Monkey was all the buzz last year with his first start being hyped on a daily basis until he got hurt early in the meet.

"I don't know if it will be quite as much this time," Pletcher said of the buzz, "but I am sure people would come out to see him, see if he could make some headlines."

Pletcher has not yet picked a race for The Green Monkey.

Source: Albany Times Union July 18, 2007 (http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=606939&newsdate=7/18/2007&TextPage=1)

Glimmerglass

Jul. 24, 2007, 11:08 AM

Maybe, maybe not .. although Todd knows that every eye in racing both hardcore and casual fan will be watching that poor horse if he does run.

AP July 24, 2007 The Green Monkey Could Swing Into Action at Saratoga" (http://news.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=39875)

The much anticipated debut of the Pletcher-trained The Green Monkey -- purchased as a 2-year-old last year for a record $16 million -- could come sometime after Aug. 13.

"I'm sure there will be more stories written about him running first time out then any other maiden I've been around," says Pletcher. "We'll try to put him in the best position to run well his first time out."

Pletcher says Saratoga is a mixed blessing for him.

"I look forward to it," he said, "and I look forward to it being over as well."

Texarkana

Jul. 24, 2007, 12:42 PM

I wouldn't want to be in Todd Pletcher's shoes trying to pick a race for the Green Monkey, that's for sure! It's not like he can drop him into a cheap 'n easy maiden claiming race to get some mileage and confidence in him, which you could do with just about any other "dud" who didn't cost his owners $16 million.

Glimmerglass

Jul. 25, 2007, 08:12 AM

So who is going wear this shirt to Saratoga (http://www.spreadshirt.com/shop.php?op=article&article_id=2015612)? I just don't suggest asking Todd to sign it :D

Glimmerglass

Aug. 13, 2007, 12:01 PM

As, onthefarm, directed to this news update from July 12, 2007 (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40197):

Also working at Belmont for Pletcher was The Green Monkey, who went five furlongs in 1:00.62, breezing. Pletcher said “it will be close” whether the $16-million colt will run by the end of the Saratoga meet.

Again: here is the aforenamed The Green Monkey sand trap in Barbados (http://www.iagto.com/Images/Public/Awards/2007/res-row-sandylane-other1-lg.jpg)

solargal

Aug. 13, 2007, 01:05 PM

First the shirt is great.:lol:

Secondly, get on with it Pletcher. You've worked him 4 5/8's all ready. If you don't want to run him at the spa, take him to an easier track and run him MSW there.

If the owners want the horse to run(which obviously they do) run him, or tell them to send him to another trainer to run him. This is getting ridiculous. Take him to River Downs.:D

Glimmerglass

Aug. 20, 2007, 08:49 AM

He officially worked out yet again on Saturday at his base of Belmont Park

I still wonder if he's obtained a passing grade for entering the gate.

The Green Monkey

Date: August 18, 2007
Track: BELMONT PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 59:98 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 3/13

source: equibase.com

pinkdiamondracing

Aug. 20, 2007, 06:45 PM

OMG!! :lol::lol: How funny (pathetic) would it be if that ended up being where TGM was destined to run?? It sure would boost the attendance at the Riveria-- bet lots of people would come out to see the 16 million dollar mistake

Glimmerglass

Aug. 21, 2007, 06:25 AM

This thread title looks to be right - good for yet another year :)

Times Union (8-16) "Pletcher's options are open and shut" (http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=614432&category=SPORTS&newsdate=8/16/2007)

No Green Monkey

It looks like it will be another Saratoga summer without The Green Monkey. The intriguing 3-year-old, who was bought for a record $16 million last year, has yet to run.

Pletcher had hoped he would have a race for him by the end of the Spa meet, but it appears that is not going to happen.

The Green Monkey is at Belmont Park and in training.

"I don't think we'll see him unless a race comes up in the last week," Pletcher said.

He said the colt has not had any major setbacks but is not ready to run.

When asked if The Green Monkey would ever make it to the races, Pletcher nodded.

"Oh yeah, he will," he said. "He'll run at Belmont."

Glimmerglass

Aug. 21, 2007, 06:42 AM

From the UK's Independent regardin Magnier's terrific "Myboycharlie" (http://sport.independent.co.uk/general/article2878743.ece)

Even Magnier can get horses wrong, of course, and it is difficult to imagine how his partnership's decision to spend a record $16 million (£8m) on a Forestry colt at the breeze-up sales in Florida 18 months ago can now pay any kind of dividend.

Christened The Green Monkey, the hapless creature is still unraced – but there are finally signs of life. He worked five furlongs from the gate at Belmont on Saturday morning, in the third fastest time of the day. Todd Pletcher, his trainer, seems unlikely to give him a debut before the end of the big meeting at Saratoga, but the autumn meeting at Belmont now beckons. Magnier will soon learn what, if anything, can be salvaged from his investment. In the case of My-boycharlie, however, he seems guaranteed an instant dividend

Texarkana

Aug. 21, 2007, 06:52 AM

"I don't think we'll see him unless a race comes up in the last week," Pletcher said.

What exactly Pletcher expecting to "come up" at this point?

Maybe he's twisting someone's arm into writing:

Maiden Special Weight- For thoroughbred three year old non-starters who were purchased for over $10 million- 220 yards on the the dirt

Zephyr

Aug. 21, 2007, 07:53 AM

What exactly Pletcher expecting to "come up" at this point?

Maybe he's twisting someone's arm into writing:

Maiden Special Weight- For thoroughbred three year old non-starters who were purchased for over $10 million- 220 yards on the the dirt

:lol:

It's not like the condition book hasn't been out for a while.

NMK

Aug. 21, 2007, 08:04 AM

Maybe he'll head for the opening debut of Presque Isle. I'd bet they'd write one in for him there.

Where'sMyWhite

Aug. 24, 2007, 02:01 PM

ravenclaw

Aug. 24, 2007, 02:47 PM

Gee, seems like just over a year ago I started this thread with close to the same headline...

The Green Monkey won't start at Saratoga (yet again)...

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40421

I still think he's an eye-catching colt at least :lol:
Same sh*t, different year. :D

He IS a pretty horse. Maybe he wants to be a hunter or eventer instead of a racehorse.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 4, 2007, 07:55 AM

On Saturday - far away from the noise of Saratoga - The Green Monkey finally got his fastest at the distance award :)

Date: September 1, 2007
Track: BELMONT PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.00:10 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/9
Source: Equibase.com (www.equibase.com)

I'm reminded of Cake's (http://www.cakemusic.com/) Going The Distance more and more ...

No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine,
Hes haunted by something he cannot define.
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse,
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force.
In his mind, hes still driving,still making the grade.
Shes hoping in time that her memories will fade.
Cause hes racing and pacing and plotting the course,
Hes fighting and biting and riding on his horse.
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
And long ago somebody left with the cup.
But hes striving and driving and hugging the turns.
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns

Iride

Sep. 4, 2007, 02:41 PM

Cake's (http://www.cakemusic.com/) Going The Distance more and more ...

No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine,
Hes haunted by something he cannot define.
Bowel-shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse,
Assail him, impale him with monster-truck force.
In his mind, hes still driving,still making the grade.
Shes hoping in time that her memories will fade.
Cause hes racing and pacing and plotting the course,
Hes fighting and biting and riding on his horse.
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,
And long ago somebody left with the cup.
But hes striving and driving and hugging the turns.
And thinking of someone for whom he still burns

Wow, I found that poem/lyrics to be very moving. It brings to mind so many horses - always trying, not necessarily meeting 'our' expectations.
Thanks for posting.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 4, 2007, 02:57 PM

Iride, I take no credit for the lyrics whatsoever and I thought a lot of people equated that well-known song to horse racing already :D Its been used in a lot of personal videos as the backdrop music.

Live performance (09/08/06) of "Going the Distance" by Cake in their native San Fran (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKax7euEM5Q)

They did a great show last year here in Chicago at one of the neighborhood street festivals.

Iride

Sep. 4, 2007, 03:14 PM

Glimmerglass - that's it - I'm officially old and out of the loop!! :winkgrin:

EponaRoan

Sep. 6, 2007, 04:15 PM

Just in from the NTRA:

"ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT TO FEATURE THE GREEN MONKEY THIS EVENING
ABC World News Tonight will air a special feature on tonight's newscast (6:30-7:00 p.m. ET in many markets, check local listings) about The Green Monkey, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt that sold for a record $16 million last year as a two-year-old in training, but has yet to make his racing debut."

findeight

Sep. 6, 2007, 04:18 PM

Thanx...will watch in an hour.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 6, 2007, 04:47 PM

Great, ABC News giving coverage of horse racing .. oh TGM .... why, oh why!

Here is the ABC segment (link) in advance (http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3566913&page=1): Racing's Most Expensive Dud?

It reminds me of the movie Arthur (Warner Bros. 1981) (http://www.filmsite.org/afi400quotes.html) and the quote nominated as the 24th greatest in film between the unaccomplished but wealthy heir - Arthur and his butler - Hobson:

ARTHUR BACH (Dudley Moore): "I'm going to take a bath."
HOBSON (John Gielgud): "I'll alert the media."

At what point is the fixation on celeb (in this case TGM) really worthy of tv coverage? True enough I've fed this thread happily but there is a difference between a racing forum and the "World News Tonight".

findeight

Sep. 6, 2007, 05:25 PM

Slow news day?

Think it's not so bad when a healthy horse is depicted. Maybe puts a spin on the finding something for nothing view of obtaining racehorses...finding nothing for a whole lot of somethings:lol:

pinkdiamondracing

Sep. 6, 2007, 06:01 PM

Is this not the most pathetic excuse for media exposure??? I mean give me a freakin break Pletcher-- you not gettin enough attention from the press these days with Rags having a temperature-- you gotta call ABC World News Tonight and have them come to your barn and report on your 16 million dollar future stable pony???? This is absolutely ridiculous and I for one am ROFLMAO !!:lol::lol:

Glimmerglass

Sep. 6, 2007, 06:05 PM

Ok, this I don't get

Charlie Gibson (anchor) signs off the segment live by remarking "they are talking about racing him Saturday, if he's ready or not is uncertain"

Nope - entries have already been taken at Belmont for Sat the 8th (http://www.drf.com/entries/08/eBEL08.html?rn=784298) and no Green Monkey to be found

At least they pointed out in the news peice that Kentucky Derby winners War Emblem cost just 20,000 at auction and Funny Cide $22,000 :)

JER

Sep. 6, 2007, 06:09 PM

But the real question is: can we keep this thread going a 3rd Saratoga meeting?

I don't believe the Monkey's summer excursions are ever going to be any more than a trip to the Spa.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 6, 2007, 06:20 PM

But the real question is: can we keep this thread going a 3rd Saratoga meeting?

Well 2008 could be the charm although on the Chinese Zodiac it is year of the rat so not so good.

By the way a fellow alumnus of the same Fasig Tipton Calder sale has been doing well at Emerald Downs - Song of Pirates albeit lightly raced. Although his 3rd lifetime start just this past Monday (Labor Day) netted a 3rd place in the $100,000 Emerald Downs Derby.

Prviously Song of Pirates had won his two career starts by a combined 11 3/4 lengths and was originally sold for $900,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old sale at Calder, the same auction that produced the $16 million record-priced The Green Monkey.

pinkdiamondracing

Sep. 6, 2007, 06:48 PM

I think it could be the year of the green monkey in todd pletcher's barn and he still wouldn't run at Saratoga-- this might be an endless thread title LOL

Welkin007

Sep. 6, 2007, 10:04 PM

As a owner of a fabulous Forestry colt myself, I'd like to say a few things:

My darling Forestry colt (Redwood Creek) is absolutely the greatest, most amazing, incredible,

PET I've ever had.

He's a puppy dog, he loves attention, he loves being around people, he's laid-back (so much so his barn name is Reggae) and is a total love bug.

Hardcore racing horse? Uh, no. He wasn't raced until he was 3 either, apparantly Forestry offspring are slow maturing? Also timing and some pasture accidents delayed his training. It seems like Forestry's children are accident-prone. He DID win his first race by quite a bit, although he ran at Fairmont Park, woop-de-doo. Then he just decided it wasn't his thing and not worth the effort, and pretty much became the barn pet until I bought him. Trainer absolutely loved him, as a pet, not as a race horse.

He's got the best mind I've ever come across in a horse, tries really hard, very pretty to look at, but doesn't really have that "edge" ya know?

I hope TGM ends up doing better than his half-sibling. Mine only cost $37,000 though, not 16 $mill.

If I'm lucky, a couple years down the road, he'll be on CANTER, and I can get a matching pair!!

I actually seriously *hope* he's a fabulous racer.

ravenclaw

Sep. 7, 2007, 07:31 AM

Ok, this I don't get

Charlie Gibson (anchor) signs off the segment live by remarking "they are talking about racing him Saturday, if he's ready or not is uncertain"

Nope - entries have already been taken at Belmont for Sat the 8th (http://www.drf.com/entries/08/eBEL08.html?rn=784298) and no Green Monkey to be found
Yeah, that was weird. If TGM was running this Saturday, it would be more definite and racing fans would have heard about it.

I also thought it was strange that they talked to one of Pletcher's assistants instead of Pletcher himself. Maybe Todd was hiding. :lol:

Dispatcher

Sep. 7, 2007, 11:06 AM

But, TGM sure is a nice looking horse--great for the show ring dontcha think?

Glimmerglass

Sep. 7, 2007, 11:24 AM

On a related note, has Ever Shifting been retired or does he continue to remain in training for Darley? Two unplaced starts is all that can be found on him. Any recorded workouts in the last 6-months?

Linny

Sep. 7, 2007, 12:54 PM

DRF has no works for Ever Shifting. He bombed in his 2 starts last spring.

Xctrygirl

Sep. 7, 2007, 01:46 PM

I am not sure where Saturday came up but here's what I do know...

There are 2 MSW's for 3yr olds and up that aren't on the turf. One is on SATURDAY September 15, and the other is Sept 17th (I think. Just closed that window, darnit)

There were no extras written for MSW's 3 and up for Saturday or anytime this weekend. So I am not sure what they were saying unless they're gonna run him over at Presque Isle (LOL) or somewhere less obvious than Belmont.

~Emily

PS: Assistants can be on camera a lot in Todd's barn. It's not that strange.

Texarkana

Sep. 7, 2007, 02:32 PM

So I am not sure what they were saying unless they're gonna run him over at Presque Isle (LOL)

Wouldn't that be something for their inaugural meet? :lol:

findeight

Sep. 7, 2007, 03:18 PM

Maybe The Green Monkey is just too embarassed to hear his God Awful name called over the PA.

What were they thinking. That's one stupid name worthy of inclusion on the dumb name thread on H/J..

Xctrygirl

Sep. 7, 2007, 03:32 PM

Wouldn't that be something for their inaugural meet? :lol:

Yep I can see the headlines,

"2 breakdowns in the first two inaugural days and next up, the Green Monkey's first race !!!" :eek:

Hmmmm

~Emily

IveGotRhythm

Sep. 7, 2007, 06:39 PM

I hope TGM ends up doing better than his half-sibling. Mine only cost $37,000 though, not 16 $mill.

If I'm lucky, a couple years down the road, he'll be on CANTER, and I can get a matching pair!!

My Forestry baby was only $500.00 (New Vocations).:D

DLee

Sep. 7, 2007, 07:27 PM

Did anyone else get the red cooler giveaway on Sunday? It's now my prize possession! :yes:

Welkin007

Sep. 8, 2007, 12:24 AM

My Forestry baby was only $500.00 (New Vocations).:D

I sure as heck didn't pay $37K for mine either!!!!

ravenclaw

Sep. 10, 2007, 08:44 AM

Maybe The Green Monkey is just too embarassed to hear his God Awful name called over the PA.

What were they thinking. That's one stupid name worthy of inclusion on the dumb name thread on H/J..

It is a pretty bad name. He was named after a golf course in Barbados.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 10, 2007, 11:14 AM

The name origins and the photo of the course have been posted on this thread several times actually ;)

I don't have any issues with the name and in terms of exclusivity just try being able to play a round at that course. 11th most expensive course in the world (http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/08/courses-expensive-rounds-forbeslife-cx_mw_0611courses_slide_11.html?thisSpeed=15000) (at $300 per round) which is actually misleading as you need to stay at the hotel to play.

Cheapest room: $950 per night in the off season (summer) (http://www.sandylane.com/ratesreservations/rates.html) and that becomes $3,000 per night in the peak season.

Maybe he'll get retired to Barbados to become a caddy :)

Iride

Sep. 10, 2007, 11:30 AM

Maybe he'll get retired to Barbados to become a caddy :)

More likely a pony :D

Reynard Ridge

Sep. 10, 2007, 11:38 AM

Or perhaps he'll just race in Barbados.

http://www.barbadosturfclub.com/default.aspx

Alas, since I have not read every post in this thread, I am sure this idea has been bounced around before, but it did tickle my fancy.

findeight

Sep. 11, 2007, 08:42 AM

Actually been to Barbados and well aware of the origin of that stupid name. 99% of those watching the races are unaware of the obscure rational behind that name and just think it's an ugly name for a pretty horse.

Alibhai's Alibar

Sep. 12, 2007, 10:51 PM

Rags To Riches and The Green Monkey in one day? I can hardly wait! :D

http://www.drf.com/news/article/88458.html

The Green Monkey may finally run

In addition to watching Rags to Riches run on Saturday, it is possible that Tabor will also get to see The Green Monkey finally make it to the races. Tabor and his partners shelled out $16 million at the Fasig-Tipton 2-year-olds in training sale at Calder in February 2006 for the son of Forestry-Magical Masquerade, but that horse has had his setbacks and has yet to make it to the races. That could finally come to fruition on Saturday.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 12, 2007, 11:12 PM

Wait Rags to Riches - and - The Green Monkey running on the same day? Todd Pletcher's two most bubble wrapped runners going to ... run?

Isn't this one of the signs of the apocalypse :D

I loved this blaise comment from his owner:

Tabor said he hasn't been preoccupied thinking about when and if The Green Monkey would make it to the races.

"Frankly, I've got plenty of other things to keep me occupied," Tabor said. "It's something you put on the back burner. It's not something you drive yourself crackers with, is it?"

Source: Daily Racing Form Sep 12, 2007 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88458.html)

Glimmerglass

Sep. 13, 2007, 01:48 PM

So five other horses will take on The Green Monkey (or rather is it him taking them on?) (http://www.drf.com/entries/15/eBEL15.html?rn=384289#4) should he indeed run in the 4th race at Belmont Saturday Sep 15th.

I'll have my DVR recording TVG for this one :)

What is interesting is the distance is 6 furlongs of which I've never seen a workout of that distance for him.

Going off at 3:23 pm Eastern
Distance: 6 Furlongs
Age: 3 Year Olds And Up Maiden Special
Weight: 119 lbs all
Purse: $52,000

No claiming tag for TGM :D

PP Horse - Jockey - Med*
1 Sixthirteen - Migliore R - L
2 Bujagali - Coa E M 119 L
3 Roi Maudit - Desormeaux K J - L
4 The Green Monkey - Velazquez J R - FTL
5 Holla Bend - Chavez J F
6 Secret Design - Gomez G K - L

Medications: L for Lasix

Interestingly both Roi Maudt and Baujagali were to have raced in the 9th on Wed (http://www.drf.com/results/12/rBEL12.html?rn=964956#9) but were scratched. Roi Maudt was expected to be the favorite as he's already earned a speed fig in a prior outting of 85.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 13, 2007, 02:17 PM

The blog for ABC News associate producer, Catherine Cole, who did the segment on TGM (http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2007/09/me-and-the-gree.html):

People around the barn take his personality with good humor. Anna Seitz, the barn manager for Todd Pletcher Racing Stables, told correspondent Ryan Owens, "He's very smart and he likes to have fun. He's not a mean horse. He just has a lot of personality, and he's real feisty all the time."

ABC's still photos of other horses and their purchase prices (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/popup?id=3567306)

Calico

Sep. 13, 2007, 04:39 PM

I hope John Valezquez and Javier Castellano are ok after that terrible wreck at Belmont this afternoon. The Monkey may have another jockey Saturday.

Texarkana

Sep. 13, 2007, 05:19 PM

Glimmerglass

Sep. 14, 2007, 07:51 AM

I hope John Valezquez and Javier Castellano are ok after that terrible wreck at Belmont this afternoon. The Monkey may have another jockey Saturday.

Both horses they were riding respectively were euthanized. John and Javier each went to the hospital but it's being called minor injuries. Although John has been taken off all mounts for Friday and per Angel Cordero Jr. (his agent and also part-time TGM's exercise rider) JV will still ride TGM on Saturday.

Perhaps a bad omen is that JV's euthanized mount "Gruffles" (owned by Dogwood Stable) last worked in company with The Green Monkey Sept. 8th.

Todd's comments on The Green Monkey running from the DRF (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88506.html):

"I think the most important change this year is that the horse is physically very healthy," Pletcher said Thursday by phone from the Keeneland yearling sales. "Any time you have a horse that's had minor aches and pains like he had as 2-year-old - it never allowed him to show his true ability. We've been able to train him accordingly this year because he's been healthy. Because of that, he's gotten better and performed better in the morning."

Pletcher said he understands it will be hard for The Green Monkey to live up to expectations.

"The Green Monkey has been a horse that's highly visible and followed closely," Pletcher said. "It would be difficult for any horse to meet expectations that have been laid on him. At the end of the day, he's ready to run, so we'll get started and hope he runs well."

All of the other 5 horses in the field have run before and have been knocking on the door of their first maiden:

> Sixthirteen, trained by Mike Hushion, has finished third in both of his starts and appears to have the most early speed.

> Secret Design finished right behind Sixthirteen in his last start and has finished second in three of his six starts.

I doubt TGM will finish in the top three - not that I'm wishing that but rather unless there is something amazing we haven't seen yet (aside from the workout sale effort) it will be hard to get his "sea legs" against such company.

Calico

Sep. 14, 2007, 12:12 PM

So glad John and Javier are ok. Whew.

I'm already excited about tomorrow with such a variety of competitions and venues!

Glimmerglass

Sep. 15, 2007, 01:06 AM

Washington Post 9-15-07 "Time to See If Mean 'Green' Is Worth the Money" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402143.html)

Asked if The Green Monkey stands a chance to be remembered for anything other than his staggering cost, Pletcher said, "That's what we're getting ready to find out."

Good luck, Monkey!

Glimmerglass

Sep. 15, 2007, 05:08 PM

As said post race by the DRF - and long known in this thread: .. much ado about nothing ...

So five other horses will take on The Green Monkey (or rather is it him taking them on?) should he indeed run in the 4th race at Belmont Saturday Sep 15th.

Interestingly both Roi Maudt and Baujagali were to have raced in the 9th on Wed (http://www.drf.com/results/12/rBEL12.html?rn=964956#9) but were scratched. Roi Maudt was expected to be the favorite as he's already earned a speed fig in a prior outting of 85.

Amazing how foolish the general betting public at Belmont could be on this one!

We've all followed this horse for many reasons including the poor-luck befallen him despite the mega price tag. Never - ever - a truly fast horse in any official workouts! I don't think anyone thought he'd win - I wrote him off from hitting the boards - and as cited (above) Roi Maudt had all the reason in the world comming into this race to win it ... as he did and very convincingly!

Yet the public at Belmont bet the Monkey down to 2-5! WTF :D

For those who followed the past performances they were richly rewarded:

Roi Maudt paid: $22.80 $8.80 $3.10

While The Green Monkey paid the manated minimum that has to be paid out on a $2 wager: $2.10

Indeed this is Ever Shifting Part Deux!

Glimmerglass

Sep. 15, 2007, 09:06 PM

Considering he wasn't getting his gate certificate of passing for quite some time this comment doesn't seem that unusual:

"He's not very quick from the gate," said jockey John Velazquez. "He did everything good, it's just that he is not that fast from the gate."
Source: Times Union (http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=622306&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=9/15/2007)

Per Todd:

"He was outfooted a little bit the first part, then got some decent position and after that they kind of spurted away from him at the top of the stretch. From the eighth pole to the wire, he showed a little interest and galloped out well."

Don't hold your breath for his 2nd attempt at the maiden win as Todd Pletcher said " he was not sure when the colt would start next." ;)

miss_critic

Sep. 15, 2007, 09:33 PM

It's got to be tough though-so much pressure on his first race. I'm not even going to pass judgment on this 1st race.

Glimmerglass

Sep. 17, 2007, 08:31 AM

Perhaps the last word for now ...

[trainer Todd Pletcher] "I kind of knew where I was with him. If you asked me before the race if they run 1:09.10, can he win? I would probably say he's not ready for that. For a first-timer to run faster than 1:09.10 would be hard to do."

At least it sounded like good business for Belmont:

People pressed four and five deep along the fences around the Belmont Park paddock on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon. They craned their necks for a better look, they pointed their cameras to get a shot at racing's biggest mystery.

...article "Green Monkey fizzles" continues (http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=622362&category=SPORTS&newsdate=9/16/2007) ..

youtube.com: Special maiden effort 4th race at Belmont Park 9-15-07 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=9Zw6Wg-n9yA)

What people don't see in that clip but was on TVG the significant problems the Belmont crew had with loading the first two horses (1 & 2)

Glimmerglass

Sep. 24, 2007, 04:48 PM

If you look at it this way ... Billionaire, Stanley Ho just paid almost $9M for (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/21/asia/AS-GEN-China-Stolen-Relic.php) just a horse's head - no, get the Godfather image out of your mind - made of Bronze. By comparison TGM at least looks nice running along and who knows maybe he will sire the next 'wow' horse :)

Glimmerglass

Oct. 12, 2007, 10:54 AM

The Green Monkey will race again!

As alerted by Equibase.com

The Green Monkey is entered to run on October 13, 2007 at BELMONT PARK
Race: 3 Distance: Seven Furlongs Surface: Dirt Age: 3 Sex: Colt
Race Type: Maiden Special Weight Purse: $52000
Jockey: John R. Velazquez
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Race conditions: (UP TO $9,880 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 120 lbs.; Older, 122 lbs

Texarkana

Oct. 12, 2007, 11:26 AM

...and going off as the ML favorite, no less, in a field of 10.

I'd be kinda impressed if he pulled off a win.

Glimmerglass

Oct. 12, 2007, 12:29 PM

Some odd comments - Turftrax (UK) Oct 12, 2007 "The Green Monkey back at Belmont" (http://www.turftrax.com/html/news/shownews.asp?id=217984)

Pletcher said: "He's been entered in a maiden at Belmont on Saturday, although I'm not yet sure what he'll be up against as I haven't seen the other entries."

He added: "I'm pleased with him. He's been galloping pretty well. It goes without saying that he's going to get a lot of attention and be followed pretty closely.

"He should improve and the added distance will help. We're going over seven furlongs and since he is out of an Unbridled mare, you've got to think that he'll be better over further."

Per the Daily Racing Form: "Feastorfamine, Giant Deputy, and Joppa Flat's look to be the main competition for The Green Monkey."

Glimmerglass

Oct. 13, 2007, 01:44 PM

Nowhere to be found at the finish ... sputtering far back in 4th place after being outclassed by a nice 30-1 shot horses. I'm amazed how dumb the punters are sending TGM off at even money! Almost as dumb as paying $16M for any horse ...

Linny

Oct. 13, 2007, 06:25 PM

The horse that won was quite legit but because The Green Money burned not only Mssrs. Tabor and Magnier but also the betting public, he was a generous 12-1. The winner is a son of Giant's Causeway and won handily, going away. Even while running last up the backstretch Giant Deputy looked like he'd win for fun.
Note also that Giant Deputy was ridden by Jermaine Bridgmohan, brother of Shaun. Jermaine was having a HUGE meet at Calder last fall and looked to be on his way to breaking into the big time at Gulfstream but he had a nasty spill. He returned in the spring and had another. Now he's back and based in New Jersey and doing very well. It was obviously worth his time to "ship in" for the day.

Maythehorsebewithme

Oct. 13, 2007, 07:11 PM

Well, he finished fourth and so got a piece of the purse. So he is cutting into his cost, although perhaps not at the rate his owners would wish. :winkgrin:

Glimmerglass

Oct. 13, 2007, 09:14 PM

The horse that won was quite legit but because The Green Money burned not only Mssrs. Tabor and Magnier but also the betting public, he was a generous 12-1

Thanks Linny for the correct odds - when I stated 30-1 that was for Putnam County who was holding his own up for what looked to be a show piece but actually was nipped by TGM and Feastorfamine ;)

Giant Deputy was cited by the DRF in advance of the race to be a key contender as was Joppa Flat's, who took 2nd. Again no idea why the betting public is so smitten with TGM in thinking he'll be suddenly the next Seattle Slew and make him even money. The exacta - which smart money would've seen as a credible two some - paid a handsome $71.50

Linny

Oct. 13, 2007, 10:30 PM

The place horse, Joppa Flat's has now run 2nd SIX times without winning. At least he's consistent. I just call him "Ol' Backwheel." I was at an OTB branch on Sat and saw several ladies bet on The Green Money because of his name. They had no idea that he was famous or expensive or newsworthy in any way.

Glimmerglass

Oct. 15, 2007, 08:59 PM

For those who didn't see the second start, behold the benefits of youtube.com ;)

Belmont Park Race 3, Oct 13, 2007 (video length 3 min 41 sec) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOAcwjAwvA)

Glimmerglass

Oct. 31, 2007, 10:08 AM

From the land of "I paid how much for that?" ....

BloodHorse 10-30-07 "Mr. Sekiguchi, Worth $8M as a Yearling, Retires to Hill 'n' Dale" (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41769)

Lifetime record: 4 starts 2-2-0

Quote from Hill 'n' Dale: "He is a really fast son of Storm Cat and was an $8 million yearling from the immediate family of A.P. Indy. It doesn't get any better than that."

I love that PR spin on things :D

ravenclaw

Oct. 31, 2007, 10:13 AM

Lifetime record: 2 starts 0-2-0
Hey Glimmerglass -- the article says he won twice and was second twice in four starts. If that is correct, he's way ahead of The Green Monkey. ;)

Glimmerglass

Oct. 31, 2007, 10:27 AM

Hey Glimmerglass -- the article says he won twice and was second twice in four starts. If that is correct, he's way ahead of The Green Monkey. ;)

You are correct - and I corrected my error ;)

Video: Santa Anita Park on April 8, 2006 (paddock) broke his maiden (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvw1l2TmuFo&mode=related&search=)

Glimmerglass

Nov. 7, 2007, 09:30 PM

TGM will go to Hollywood - but not as a union breaking writter ;)

Per The Daily Racing Form for Nov 7 - Todd Pletcher's winter crew shipping to Cali will include TGM (http://www.drf.com/news/article/90156.html= ): "The Green Monkey finished third and fourth in two starts at Belmont Park this fall, and will start at Hollywood Park later this month."

He'll be joined - however not expected to start at Hollywood Park - as part of the stable with Rags to Riches.

Maybe cushion track will suit The Green Monkey's less then swift style?

Glimmerglass

Nov. 20, 2007, 04:04 PM

Let's see how TGM does on [scratch that] .. TURF!!

"Shut up, I'm rich! I'm richer than all this new Hollywood trash! I've got a million dollars."
- Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd., Paramount Pictures, 1950 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043014/quotes)

The Green Monkey is entered to run on November 21, 2007 at HOLLYWOOD PARK

Race: 4 Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles Surface: Turf Age: 3 Sex: Colt
Race Type: Maiden Special Weight Purse: $44000
Jockey: Garrett K. Gomez
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher
Race conditions: FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD. Three Year Olds, 121 lbs.; Older, 124 lbs. (Horses Which Have Started For $40,000 Or Less In Their Last 3 Starts Least Preferred). (Rail at 15 feet).

Source: Equibase.co, (www.equibase.com)

Drvmb1ggl3

Nov. 20, 2007, 04:24 PM

Let's see how TGM does on polytrack!!

Glimmer, he's running of Grass!
Besides you can't run on Poly in LA, both main tracks out their are Cushion.

Glimmerglass

Nov. 20, 2007, 04:40 PM

Glimmer, he's running of Grass!

Holly schmolies - I didn't even see the surface. Well since he was named for a turf course of sorts he should be right at home ;)

His recent official workouts:

11/15/2007-HOLLYWOOD PARK-Five Furlongs-All Weather Track Fast-1.00:00 Handily
11/08/2007-HOLLYWOOD PARK-Four Furlongs-All Weather Track Fast-48:00 Handily
10/21/2007-BELMONT PARK-Four Furlongs-Inner turf Soft-50:88 Breezing

Where'sMyWhite

Nov. 21, 2007, 04:53 PM

Sigh... I'm still thinking he'd make a really fancy gelding... finished 4th (no race commentary up yet...).

Barnfairy

Nov. 21, 2007, 05:11 PM

Chart says he had a short lead in the second turn before weakening in the stretch -- that isn't so terrible really considering it was over a mile & 16th his first time on turf.

He managed to pick up $2640 for the effort...so that brings him to, what - $10,440 total earnings now? If you can look past his ridiculous sale price that's not bad for 3 starts.

ravenclaw

Nov. 21, 2007, 07:05 PM

He went off as the favorite (again!). I don't understand why so many people bet on him. Are losing tickets for The Green Monkey worth something on eBay? :confused:

Texarkana

Nov. 21, 2007, 07:08 PM

He managed to pick up $2640 for the effort...so that brings him to, what - $10,440 total earnings now? If you can look past his ridiculous sale price that's not bad for 3 starts.

It's not really good, either. :lol:

miss_critic

Nov. 21, 2007, 07:37 PM

You can see the race on calracing.com for free. I don't know anything about those that passed him but I thought he looked better than he has in the past.

texang73

Nov. 21, 2007, 07:54 PM

It's not really good, either. :lol:

Agreed! My guy ran only 4 times total and won almost $20000 (1 win, 1 third)... :yes:

Barnfairy

Nov. 21, 2007, 08:52 PM

Geez, guys. At least he isn't three starts and $0. That's all I meant. :rolleyes:

Blueshadow

Nov. 22, 2007, 10:45 PM

Funny, many very successful race horses take many starts before they hit their peak. Obvious ones - like Seabiscuit - their stories are well known and rather rare. But consider a truly great west coast sprinter of the past couple of years, Greg's Gold, who admittedly ran well below his potential at the Breeders Cup this year. Did not even begin to fire in his first race - horrible, in fact, he beat one horse by a narrow margin, a horse that never raced again. Three more MSW starts before he won - he may have won a little more money than TGM by that time but, nonetheless...I certainly won't write off many horses that run consistently in their first few races without winning.
Forget the price tag, if you can.

Impatience...may get the better of the owners of TGM. Incidentally, I hear from my SO (who currently has a job in the receiving barn at Hollywood Park) that TGM really is a pain to deal with...not just gates he has an issue with! He joked that he'd make a nice gelding. Hmm, not likely...me thinks.

ravenclaw

Jan. 30, 2008, 09:33 AM

It's been a little over 2 months since TGM's last race. Has anyone heard anything about him since then? Is he on the worktab anywhere?

Glimmerglass

Jan. 30, 2008, 09:46 AM

It's been a little over 2 months since TGM's last race. Has anyone heard anything about him since then? Is he on the worktab anywhere?

Last recorded workout was Hollywood Park Dec 9, 2007 (http://www.drf.com/workoutsForHorseAction.do?rNo=04001847)

5F in 0:58.60 on their all-weather track

Since then nothing ....

Texarkana

Jan. 30, 2008, 09:51 AM

Oh no, did Pletcher lose him again? Those $16 million horses can be so hard to keep tabs on. :lol:

He probably entered himself in the witness protection program.

Slewdledo

Feb. 11, 2008, 06:47 PM

Retired.....

to stud :eek: :confused:

Laurierace

Feb. 11, 2008, 06:48 PM

Retired.....

to stud :eek: :confused:

Is that a guess, or did they really retire him? Just curious since it is so late in the season to start a new stallion. Most mares already have contracts.

Slewdledo

Feb. 11, 2008, 06:51 PM

Nope. He's retired - but won't cover mares till 2009.

And to top it all off, he's going to the farm that sold him for the $16 million.

http://drf.com/news/article/92215.html

None of this makes sense. Why not get him a win at a lesser track? (Hell, he could be a SW at some tracks.) Why not breed their own mares to him THIS year? If he's so unsound that he can't run any longer, why breed him?

Laurierace

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:05 PM

Wow, that is amazing. They should breed him to quarter horses.

Glimmerglass

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:12 PM

He's got quite a hefty bar bill to pay off ... add in the training costs, oats and other feed, vet bills, farrier costs, shipping fees to Spa and California ...

The Green Monkey only raced three times, all last year at age 3, and finished third once and fourth twice, earning just $10,240.

miss_critic

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:18 PM

:eek::eek::eek:
What an embarrassment but I guess not a huge suprise.

Texarkana

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:34 PM

Methinks we'll be seeing him standing in the midwest or on a plane to South America in the not-so-distant future... (2010?) Being overpriced isn't enough to cut it even in Florida.

And since when is 4 days before the sheds open "too late" to cover any mares?

Glimmerglass

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:44 PM

Although worth pointing out that while Storm Cat was a G1 winner it's not like his performance on the track was really worthy of more then a paragraph in the DRF, let alone a chapter or [when he was a stud leader] an entire book about ;)

So I'm sure it will be sold something to the song and dance number that "TGM has brilliant bloodlines and had it not been for a training accident (the pulled glutes) he would've been a very fine runner. So now is your chance to get your mare bred to a son of Forestry and whose dam sire was Unbridled at a fantastic discount ..."

miss_critic

Feb. 11, 2008, 07:46 PM

What's the guess on his stud fee?

Linny

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:09 PM

the Green Money has average breeding at best. His dam has thrown nothing and sire Forestry has had a couuple of nice horses but nothing "elite" by any standard. They are also notoriously unsound.
I am not at all shocked. This colt was a disaster from the start. Goodbye The Green Money, we hardly knew ye...

Texarkana

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:15 PM

What's the guess on his stud fee?

How about they pay you $100 and give you a week's time share at their condo in Barbados?

vineyridge

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:38 PM

Wasn't his great work supposed to have come by way of rotary galloping?

Who would want to breed to that?

miss_critic

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:40 PM

How about they pay you $100 and give you a week's time share at their condo in Barbados?

HaHaHaHa. You should also get a pony ride on him so you can feel 16 million between your legs!

Glimmerglass

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:42 PM

I think the folks at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds [Ocala, FL] are looking to get into a quasi PT Barnum sideshow attraction:

"Here, ye, here, ye ... come one, come all to see the most expensive race horse ever .. just come right up it will only cost ya $25"

Hartley and De Renzo plan to build The Green Monkey his own barn at the farm, and they are considering allowing special tours of the farm that will allow visitors to see The Green Monkey.

But if he does well in the shed then he moves up the chain to Ashford Stud.

BloodHorse 2-11-08 "The Green Monkey Retired" (http://breeding.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43609)

JER

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:54 PM

Glimmerglass

Feb. 11, 2008, 08:58 PM

Actually the rest of the quotes from that BloodHorse article are amusing as well and worth sharing:

"To me, he was an incredible, incredible horse," De Renzo said. "He had the feeling of a champion; he thinks he’s a champion. He was a tremendously fast horse, as we all know."

"I think people would like to see him," De Renzo said. "He’s a pretty special horse. His price was the most expensive in history, and he is a part of Thoroughbred history."

Yep - "special because he's special". A wonderful bit of circular logic there!

Seriously folks this is something out of the 19thCentury traveling sideshow. "You too can see the man who was paid an astounding and unbelievable one million dollars just to do nothing for a year .. ooooh .. ahhhhh ..."

Glimmerglass

Feb. 11, 2008, 09:53 PM

My wife made this remark to me when I said The Green Monkey was retired and might be on display for tourists: "isn't that what they're doing with Wildfire on that tv show?" :D

Linny

Feb. 11, 2008, 10:00 PM

HaHaHaHa. You should also get a pony ride on him so you can feel 16 million between your legs!

I simply dont know how to respond to this post. THAT is a first.;):eek::winkgrin:

ravenclaw

Feb. 12, 2008, 07:40 AM

How about they pay you $100 and give you a week's time share at their condo in Barbados?
:lol:

My first thought when I heard he was retired: "And he's going to stud WHY?"

I'm sure Pletcher is glad to be rid of him.

Texarkana

Feb. 12, 2008, 08:49 AM

:lol:

My first thought when I heard he was retired: "And he's going to stud WHY?"

I'm sure Pletcher is glad to be rid of him.

Even with cash in hand, a tropical vacation, and $16 million between my legs (:winkgrin:), you still probably couldn't get me to breed to him. :lol:

As far as other great sires with ho-hum race records (Storm Cat, et. al.)-- at least they BROKE THEIR MAIDEN!!!

I guarantee I can go claim me a Forestry colt with a more impressive race record for peanuts.

harvestmoon

Feb. 12, 2008, 10:16 AM

Poor Monkey. It's not his fault someone paid $16 million for him. ;)

But, seriously, how is he any different from other horses currently at stud? Horses with very meager race resumes? People apparently breed to these horses, so why not Monkey? ;)

ravenclaw

Feb. 12, 2008, 10:41 AM

People apparently breed to these horses, so why not Monkey? ;)
Yeah, there were people who bet on him...I think he went off as the favorite in all of his races. So I'm sure people will breed to him. I'm really curious to know what his stud fee will be. Any guesses? I don't know how stud fees are determined, but I wouldn't think they could charge any more than $5,000. If that much.

JER

Feb. 12, 2008, 10:50 AM

I'm hoping TGM gets a race named after him, preferably on the card for Calder Extreme Day. Call it The Green Monkey Stakes, open it only to horses that cost $1 million + who haven't broken their maiden.

If enough bribes were paid (this is a race that's all about money, so it's fair game), it could be run as a Gr. 1 and then at least one horse would be able to justify his price.

summerhorse

Feb. 12, 2008, 12:58 PM

:lol:

My first thought when I heard he was retired: "And he's going to stud WHY?"

I'm sure Pletcher is glad to be rid of him.

Yeah really. On the other hand I've seen horses at stud with even LESS to recommend them. A least he is pretty (hunters?) and well bred (hey miracles sometimes happen, he may pass on THOSE genes instead of the ones he ran on...) I am thinking the fee needs to be pretty cheap to get much action. On the other hand I've seen a lot of foals by stallions who are really really overpriced so maybe they can make a killing again. Somehow I doubt he'll ever get to KY, he might get to India or Korea though... 8-D

But seriously if EVER a horse has earned the right (from these people) to a long happy unproductive retirement this one has...

summerhorse

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:00 PM

Those two should build him a barn and more -- the Green Monkey made them very rich.

Considering TGM was never going to win back his purchase price, it's a wonder they even bothered to send him to the track. Holy Roman Emperor was retired before his three year-old campaign started, amid rumors that he wasn't performing to expectations.

HRE was ONLY retired because George Washington flopped in the stud barn. They needed him to take George's place so he went to work doing something he MAY be successful at and missed the chance to become possibly a great racehorse.

summerhorse

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:01 PM

ravenclaw

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:20 PM

At least he is pretty (hunters?)
He is a pretty, fancy-looking horse so maybe he could do well as a sport horse sire. But didn't someone earlier on this thread say that TGM is a jerk to deal with? Maybe he will mellow now that he is at the farm. Or maybe not. :D

harvestmoon

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:27 PM

He is a pretty, fancy-looking horse so maybe he could do well as a sport horse sire. But didn't someone earlier on this thread say that TGM is a jerk to deal with? Maybe he will mellow now that he is at the farm. Or maybe not. :D

I don't know, he looks pretty sweet here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/216359550/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/216359549/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockandracehorses/216350731/

'Course, photos can be deceiving. ;) :)

harvestmoon

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:28 PM

Yeah, there were people who bet on him...I think he went off as the favorite in all of his races. So I'm sure people will breed to him. I'm really curious to know what his stud fee will be. Any guesses? I don't know how stud fees are determined, but I wouldn't think they could charge any more than $5,000. If that much.

I'm not an expert, but I'm sure it wouldn't be over $5,000. Who knows, he just might produce some amazing babies. ;)

JER

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:47 PM

Well, he is a sabino. Don't they pay more for that in racing?

Texarkana

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:48 PM

I'm not an expert, but I'm sure it wouldn't be over $5,000. Who knows, he just might produce some amazing babies. ;)

For less than $5K you can have your mare covered by any number of well-bred G1 winners. Heck, you can even breed to Kentucky Derby winners for under $5K. For example, Go For Gin stands for only $4K. The Green Monkey didn't even break his maiden!! And his pedigree isn't anything spectacular.

I'm not saying he's not cute. But cute and overpriced aren't the first things I look for in a stallion.

Texarkana

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:48 PM

Well, he is a sabino. Don't they pay more for that in racing?

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

So far that's the most impressive thing on his resume!

harvestmoon

Feb. 12, 2008, 01:50 PM

For less than $5K you can have your mare covered by any number of well-bred G1 winners. Heck, you can even breed to Kentucky Derby winners for under $5K. For example, Go For Gin stands for only $4K. The Green Monkey didn't even break his maiden!! And his pedigree isn't anything spectacular.

I'm not saying he's not cute. But cute and overpriced aren't the first things I look for in a stallion.

Which is, like I said, why I doubt his stud fee would be over $5,000. ;)

Barnfairy

Feb. 12, 2008, 02:50 PM

"To me, he was an incredible, incredible horse," De Renzo said. "He had the feeling of a champion; he thinks he’s a champion. He was a tremendously fast horse, as we all know."Any tours of the Hartley / De Renzo Farm will require teleportation in order to get to the dream world they are living in.

Beam me up.

head*desk*head*desk*head*desk

dressagetraks

Feb. 12, 2008, 02:55 PM

Unbelievable. The quotes from the stallion managers, I mean, although I guess they've got to say something positive, even if alternate reality.

Any guesses for appropriate names for TGM future offspring?

Too Much Green.
Green Monkey Business.
Monkeying Around.

Ah yes, and the perfect one harkening back to the story behind his name:

Far from Par

Barnfairy

Feb. 12, 2008, 03:18 PM

Any guesses for appropriate names for TGM future offspring?

Spanked.

Glimmerglass

Feb. 12, 2008, 03:35 PM

Any tours of the Hartley / De Renzo Farm will require teleportation in order to get to the dream world they are living in.

Well there are rumours that Jacko's Neverland Ranch in California (http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8207752) could be up for auction due to tax debts. It seems so fitting in many ways. So maybe they'll open a CA outpost just for The Green Monkey ;)

JER

Feb. 12, 2008, 03:48 PM

HRE was ONLY retired because George Washington flopped in the stud barn.

This was the PR from Coolmore.

The alternative opinion was HRE's empire was dwindling and he wasn't likely to win the spring classics. It's not like sons of Danehill are in short supply at Coolmore.

TrueColours

Feb. 12, 2008, 06:58 PM

Years ago I bought a 4 year old Affirmed gelding, who they paid 4.1 million for at the yearling sales and I am going back about 20 years ago so it was a heck of a sum back then!
He could run but didnt want to - he'd plain stop in the stretch and that was that, and they decided that gelding him might keep his mind on running, so they now had a 4.1M gelding that still didnt want to run either ...

I picked him up for $1000.00 and sold him to a show home which suited him a whole lot better ...

Another 17.3hh 3 year old they had paid just over $500,000.00 for as a yearling but he was so big and so long, he couldnt fit comfortably in the starting gate so when everyone else broke, he kind of scrambled around a bit before he could get his legs under him and they were long gone before he even thought about running ... I picked him up for $2000.00 and he turned out to be a wonderful event horse ...

So I guess the moral of the stories are, that just because someone is wealthy and pays lots of money for you AND you are by a hot sire and get the best trainer in the world and the best jockey and hot walker too, and all the publicity money and fame can buy, it all means *0* in the end if a) you cant run b) you dont WANT to run and c) you are not sound enough to run ... ;)

ravenclaw

Feb. 13, 2008, 09:34 AM

Any guesses for appropriate names for TGM future offspring?

Monkey Wrench
Brass Monkey
Grease Monkey
Monkey See Monkey Do
Green Means Go

Artful

Feb. 13, 2008, 03:30 PM

although in this case, green didn't mean go. At least, not quickly.

Glimmerglass

Feb. 19, 2008, 02:38 PM

The TB Times of Feb 12, 2008 (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2008/February/12/The-Green-Monkey-retired-will-stand-at-Hartley/De%20Renzo.aspx) had a few bit more of nuggets of info regarding his stud prospects ...

A stud fee has not been set, but Hartley said a fee of around $5,000 might be set. Hartley said it was too late to line up enough mares in 2008.

“We already had a few new stallions in, and we didn’t want to get him started late,” he said. “We want to get the same bunch of mares to him that we got to City Place. Those mares are grouped up to The Green Monkey next year, about 20 to 25 of our own mares. We’ll get 125 to 150 mares to him his first season. We’re already getting calls.

“People want to breed to the most expensive horse in the world. We’re gonna try to make something work. He was too talented for something not to work out of this horse.”

Linny

Feb. 19, 2008, 04:58 PM

If I were so foolish as to own an offspring of this critter, I'd think the only appropriate name would be "Monkey on my back."

JER

Feb. 19, 2008, 05:41 PM

“People want to breed to the most expensive horse in the world. We’re gonna try to make something work. He was too talented for something not to work out of this horse.”

Since we've ruled out racing, does anyone know exactly what this horse was talented at?

LaurieB

Feb. 19, 2008, 05:44 PM

I hope they own 100+ mares themselves because that's got to be the only way they'll get those kinds of numbers.

Regardless of the spin provided by the owners, why would anyone want to breed to "the most expensive horse in the world" unless he had the performance to go with his price tag?

LaurieB

Feb. 19, 2008, 05:46 PM

Since we've ruled out racing, does anyone know exactly what this horse was talented at?

Well he was very fast at a furlong. And I gather he looked good in the ring. :D

Glimmerglass

Mar. 5, 2008, 03:08 PM

BloodHorse 3-5-08 "'Green Monkey' Sister Seeks First Win " (http://news.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=43921)

Out of the Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade, who is also the dam of the $16-million 2-year-old purchase The Green Monkey, the Florida-bred Vindication filly - Coat the Cubes - will go postward in the second race at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Pennsylvania March 6.

Good luck to her :)

LaurieB

Mar. 5, 2008, 03:25 PM

I am astounded that anyone would think this filly's accomplishments--or lack thereof--are worthy of a news story in the BloodHorse. In 5 tries, most recently at Penn National, she has yet to break her maiden. All that story does is make me think that she's about as talented as her half brother.

I can't imagine that the owners of either the dam or the Monkey would be happy to see her inadequacies publicized like that. :no:

pinkdiamondracing

Mar. 5, 2008, 03:32 PM

I personally agree that getting mares to TGM will be a challenge-- you couldn't give me a mare that was in foal to him for free. As far as expensive horses that are flops as race horses go, I have one standing in my pasture-- by Grand Slam out of a Gr1 stakes producing mare that sold for $1 million as a yearling who only managed to break his maiden at Saratoga, win his non-two at Churchill, and then promptly became a work horse in Patrick the Butcher's stable-- since he lost his desire to run. He ended up at the barn I work for, and after four dissapointing starts with us, was given that's right given to me to make a riding horse out of. Granted, he is gorgeous, and I think he has a lot of promise as a possible eventer, but let's face it, great bloodlines don't mean squat.

Beezer

Mar. 5, 2008, 03:39 PM

I have just one thing to say: Who the hell is coming up with these names?!?!? :eek:

I mean, I thought The Green Monkey was downright dumb, but I got where it came from. But Coat the Cubes??

Texarkana

Mar. 5, 2008, 09:17 PM

Wow, that's one talented family. Sure makes me want to pay $5000 to breed my own. :rolleyes:

ravenclaw

Mar. 6, 2008, 10:21 AM

Wow, that's one talented family. Sure makes me want to pay $5000 to breed my own.

Didn't the mare have another colt (besides TGM) that was a dud, too?

I can't imagine why anyone would want to breed to him. For $5,000 you could breed to Repent. He was a graded stakes winner of over $1 million and he has a few graded stakes winners/performers in his first crop. OR...you could breed to The Green Monkey!!! Such a tough choice :lol:

Cammie

Sep. 12, 2008, 10:57 AM

From The Bloodhorse.com- They've officially set the price at $5,000.

The Green Monkey, whose $16 million price is the highest ever for a horse sold at public auction, will begin his stallion career for a fee of $5,000 in 2009. He will stand at Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo’s Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds near Ocala, Fla.

“We think the fee represents good value, and we’ve had a lot of requests,” said Dan Rapp, the farm’s bloodstock consultant and stallion director. “We price our stallions so the breeders can make a profit. As for The Green Monkey, he’s in remarkable shape.”

Bred in Florida by Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables, The Green Monkey was bought for $16 million by Demi O’Byrne of Irish-based Coolmore Stud from Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Florida February sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The Green Monkey raced three times, finishing third once and fourth twice, for Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. He was retired from racing this year.

A 4-year-old son of Forestry, The Green Money is out of the winning Unbridled mare Magical Masquerade.