Vuja De

'That bizarre feeling that you have never seen or experienced this before, usually occurring during finals.'

I interviewed trainer Greg Fox today-I know, I know, worlds colliding.

For those of you who don't know, he trains the probable post time favorite for the Secretariat GI, Tizdejavu. He also trained Slew's Tizzy during the Triple Crown run last year. It was very much a spur of the moment sort of thing and the man was extremely gracious with his time and answers.

Arlington had their semi-regular Breakfast at Arlington thing, where Liane Davis(trainer) and track announcer John (The favorite obliges) Dooley, host an informal meet and greet if you will. They usually mike-up jockey James Graham as he works a horse or two and they have guest trainers and track execs chat with the public. If today's attendance is any indication of tomorrows crowd, Arlington could set an attendance record. Picture perfect weather; high 70's and sunny tomorrow-no humidity.

Guests this morning included the aforementioned Greg Fox, Archipenko jockey Kevin Shea and local trainer Anthony Granitz. Michael de Kock was supposed to be in attendance but he was unable to make it. The ESPN crew was also present, Jerry Bailey, Randy Moss and Jeanine Edwards-who is definitely NOT too skinny but that is another forum altogether.


Bailey's head, I swear.








Pat Day was providing star power to the silent auction of memorabilia to support the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America (I was immedieately outbid on Dreaming of Anna's bridle).

Greg Fox was answering questions from the hosts when I showed up so I missed the bulk of his set but I did catch his closing remarks where he mentioned his use of high tech equipment in his training regimen. Being moderately obsessed with equine exercise physiology, that got me thinking. Bailey et al walked right by me several times-I even caught a whiff of Ms.(?) Edwards' perfume-as if to mock me and dare me to ask them a question but I refused....dumb ass.

By the time I got home I was looking for something to do so I decided to track down Greg Fox and see if I could con him into speaking for 30 seconds with me. I imagined that I would have no luck in getting his information since my recent attempts at obtaining trainer contact info has proved fruitless; Area 51 has easier security clearance. To my utter amazement, the racing office was quite prompt and efficient in providing me with his number with nary a question as to my mental state. Silly, silly fools.

Greg Fox was more than cordial and did not disparage my obvious lack of qualifications. I imagined, for whatever reason, that we would discuss the finer points of training philosophy and dietary requirements to maintain the proper level of ATP vs ADP glycogen conversion rates without affecting the Krebs cycle...I have no idea what the hell I just wrote there, just go with it.

When he stated, very early on, that he did not believe in interval training per se, it defenestrated my entire list of questions; I was forced to ad lib. I pushed the TBA and he was genuinely interested. I was shocked, shocked I say, to hear that he had never read my blog but I let it slide.

The piece of equipment that I heard him describe during the breakfast was the E-Trakka, created by Andrew Stewart from Australia and a man that could use the business. It incorporates GPS technology into a tracking device that gives a trainer an exceptional tool to analyze a horse's workout. Fox credits it with providing him the information to give Tizdejavu a try on the grass.

While I did record the conversation there was no actual question and answer phase and the call steered more toward the honest and mundane exchange of two people sharing a passion. We did not discuss Tizdejavu outside of me wishing him bon chance in the race tomorrow, I figure he has answered enough questions about his horse in the press. He very kindly offered to take me around his operation if ever I found myself in Lexington and did much to butress my confidence in humanity.

My humble thanks to Mr. Greg Fox.

I finally managed to get a trainer to call me back and agree to tolerate my ass on the backstretch. It's not the Brooklyn Backstretch but it will do; I start Thursday. Thank you Michele Boyce.

My daughter was climbing all over me and cooing at every single horse that came along so these were the only worthwhile pictures I could get of Saturday's GI entrants.










That horse I posted about earlier this week, the one I thought started with an "M"?

Yeah, that was Spirit One.











I will be at Arlington all day tomorrow so if you see a guy with a hat on, come by and say hi....