You Have to be Kidding!
That's the theme of a wide range of news and notes this morning after a wild day of racing action from east to west to south and up to the north. Brrrrr, it's -30 C with the wind chill this morning.
Super Bowl Sunday no. 41 will have everyone's attention today - Bears are the pick.
Anyway, INVASOR was simply stunning in his first start as the latest HORSE OF THE YEAR. It's easy to understand what his rider Fernando Jara was doing by keeping the big stallion stuck to the fence all the way through the Donn H. but what a disaster from the 1/4 pole to inside the 16th.
Lacking room on the last turn, Jara then had to check Invasor hard, the pair almost fell down and then after Hesanoldsalt scampered away to get the jump on the champ, Invasor turned it on when he was clear and blew past without feeling the whip. Yikes.
Jara looks like a cool customer and that's what you want in a rider but kid, it's time to get better with your English..okay?
Looked like an inside, speed bias at GP yesterday but you can't knock some performances. ADORE THE GOLD won the Swale with an inside speed style and he is a son of one of the all-time fastest Canadian-breds - FORMAL GOLD. Canadian-bred REATA'S ROCKET was a wide and even 4th in the Swale while American colt Cowtown Cat had little chance in a bounce situation especially since he was hard ridden all the way as if he was in a quarter horse race.
Speed has been tough on the GP turf too and the impressive-looking GIANT WRECKER was super game to win the Can. Turf 'Cap. Canadian star JAMBALAYA looked awesome pre-race, having filled out nicely over the winter and prancing right into the gate. The gelding ran very well in a hurried situation as he was asked to stay close all the way and he only stalled a bit late to land 3rd. Can't wait to see him back at Woodbine! (Eugene Melnyk's Host ran hard to rally for 2nd while turf champ of 2006, Miesque's Approval was a flat 5th).
Holy moly! NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ wasn't pretty but he held up his early favoritism (in some circles) to win the Holy Bull in front running fashion, getting away with a :47.00 half mile. The colt lugged in greenly throughout the stretch run but lasted over Drums of Thunder, who had an impressive rally.
In the 'Bounce Bin' is NOTTAWASAGA , a Kentucky-bred, Canadian-owned gal who was a creditable 4th in the Suwanee River Cap after a good trip. Look for this miss to be a major threat no matter where she runs next.
In the 10th at GP, Queen's Plate hopefuls had mixed results. Stronach Stables' HIGH ACT ran a green, but strong race in the 9 furlong event. The colt was between horses all the way in a chasing mode, slipped back 2-wide on the turn, angled out and then came on strong again to miss 3rd by a head. He galloped out in front. Such a good race at that distance in Feb. means this son of El Prado (same sire as top Can. 3yo Buffalo Man) from the mare Class (by Thunder Gulch) is a serious Plate threat.
Also in the race (which was won by a 135-1 shot by the way, oops) was Ontario-bred SEASIDE LINKS who was very rank much of the way and then out of gas by the last turn. Might be better on the grass.
When was the last time the famous turquoise and gold-dotted silks of the famed WINDFIELDS FARM were in the winner'c circle? Not sure - perhaps as far back as 1994 with Acadia. Well, UNTO THE HILLS won for Windfields' Noreen Taylor yesterday at Fair Grounds thanks to a beautiful ride by Emma Jayne Wilson. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, Unto the Hills is by Mt. Livermore and was a weanling purchase.
Too bad we can't end yesterday's news with just good-feeling stuff but... here we go again. Remember COTTONMOUTH, who had suspicious form before he broke a leg at GP last month?Well, yesterday's 5th race (and last as the card was cancelled) was sad. Pre-race, Jan Rushton (commentator) said [sic] "warning flags" were up with favoured CADILLAC CRUISER, a former Stronach-owned horse who had won 6 of 15 starts, had huge Beyer Figures but was suddenly dropping from starter allowances for $25,000 claiming and up to $7,500. Turning into the backstretch, the horse broke his leg. A horse who fell over him, JIMMY O, broke his neck and died. I assume the Cruiser died as well.
Oh ya, the races were not cancelled because of the horse breaking a leg, they were cancelled because the jockeys were mad at what hospital they were being sent to.
Canadian-bred old-timer COOL N COLLECTIVE also ran over the stricken horse but stayed on to be 3rd while his rider did not abuse the 10yo.
Sheesh, is someone going to tell us that Cadillac Cruiser 'didn't have a pimple on him"?
Later this morning, THOROUGHBLOG will check on what's happening today around the tracks.
Super Bowl Sunday no. 41 will have everyone's attention today - Bears are the pick.
Anyway, INVASOR was simply stunning in his first start as the latest HORSE OF THE YEAR. It's easy to understand what his rider Fernando Jara was doing by keeping the big stallion stuck to the fence all the way through the Donn H. but what a disaster from the 1/4 pole to inside the 16th.
Lacking room on the last turn, Jara then had to check Invasor hard, the pair almost fell down and then after Hesanoldsalt scampered away to get the jump on the champ, Invasor turned it on when he was clear and blew past without feeling the whip. Yikes.
Jara looks like a cool customer and that's what you want in a rider but kid, it's time to get better with your English..okay?
Looked like an inside, speed bias at GP yesterday but you can't knock some performances. ADORE THE GOLD won the Swale with an inside speed style and he is a son of one of the all-time fastest Canadian-breds - FORMAL GOLD. Canadian-bred REATA'S ROCKET was a wide and even 4th in the Swale while American colt Cowtown Cat had little chance in a bounce situation especially since he was hard ridden all the way as if he was in a quarter horse race.
Speed has been tough on the GP turf too and the impressive-looking GIANT WRECKER was super game to win the Can. Turf 'Cap. Canadian star JAMBALAYA looked awesome pre-race, having filled out nicely over the winter and prancing right into the gate. The gelding ran very well in a hurried situation as he was asked to stay close all the way and he only stalled a bit late to land 3rd. Can't wait to see him back at Woodbine! (Eugene Melnyk's Host ran hard to rally for 2nd while turf champ of 2006, Miesque's Approval was a flat 5th).
Holy moly! NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ wasn't pretty but he held up his early favoritism (in some circles) to win the Holy Bull in front running fashion, getting away with a :47.00 half mile. The colt lugged in greenly throughout the stretch run but lasted over Drums of Thunder, who had an impressive rally.
In the 'Bounce Bin' is NOTTAWASAGA , a Kentucky-bred, Canadian-owned gal who was a creditable 4th in the Suwanee River Cap after a good trip. Look for this miss to be a major threat no matter where she runs next.
In the 10th at GP, Queen's Plate hopefuls had mixed results. Stronach Stables' HIGH ACT ran a green, but strong race in the 9 furlong event. The colt was between horses all the way in a chasing mode, slipped back 2-wide on the turn, angled out and then came on strong again to miss 3rd by a head. He galloped out in front. Such a good race at that distance in Feb. means this son of El Prado (same sire as top Can. 3yo Buffalo Man) from the mare Class (by Thunder Gulch) is a serious Plate threat.
Also in the race (which was won by a 135-1 shot by the way, oops) was Ontario-bred SEASIDE LINKS who was very rank much of the way and then out of gas by the last turn. Might be better on the grass.
When was the last time the famous turquoise and gold-dotted silks of the famed WINDFIELDS FARM were in the winner'c circle? Not sure - perhaps as far back as 1994 with Acadia. Well, UNTO THE HILLS won for Windfields' Noreen Taylor yesterday at Fair Grounds thanks to a beautiful ride by Emma Jayne Wilson. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, Unto the Hills is by Mt. Livermore and was a weanling purchase.
Too bad we can't end yesterday's news with just good-feeling stuff but... here we go again. Remember COTTONMOUTH, who had suspicious form before he broke a leg at GP last month?Well, yesterday's 5th race (and last as the card was cancelled) was sad. Pre-race, Jan Rushton (commentator) said [sic] "warning flags" were up with favoured CADILLAC CRUISER, a former Stronach-owned horse who had won 6 of 15 starts, had huge Beyer Figures but was suddenly dropping from starter allowances for $25,000 claiming and up to $7,500. Turning into the backstretch, the horse broke his leg. A horse who fell over him, JIMMY O, broke his neck and died. I assume the Cruiser died as well.
Oh ya, the races were not cancelled because of the horse breaking a leg, they were cancelled because the jockeys were mad at what hospital they were being sent to.
Canadian-bred old-timer COOL N COLLECTIVE also ran over the stricken horse but stayed on to be 3rd while his rider did not abuse the 10yo.
Sheesh, is someone going to tell us that Cadillac Cruiser 'didn't have a pimple on him"?
Later this morning, THOROUGHBLOG will check on what's happening today around the tracks.
posted by Jen Morrison @ 6:32 AM
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