MARCH MADNESS

Welcome to March 1, 2007 - we're getting ready for another southern Ontario storm later today...woo hoo...

DISCREET CAT was scratched with a temperature from the Dubai race this morning, we'll have to wait until World Cup night (Mar. 31) to see him...

WHERE IS MY LUNCH??

Thanks to Randy and Debbie Speck who, in their travels around Florida this week, snapped this shot (left) of Grade 1 winner JAMBALAYA just yesterday morning at Catherine Day Phillips’ training barn in Ocala. The Specks work for Chiefswood Stable in Ontario. The Langfuhr - Muskrat Suzie, by Vice Regent gelding is to race next in the Pan American 'Cap at Gulfstream in 4 weeks.

CHAMPION ‘LEO’ READY TO ROAR

Canada’s champion 2-year-old colt of 2006, LEONNATUS ANTEAS, an early favourite for the June 24 Queen’s Plate, should be joined trainer Kevin Attard’s training barn at Payson Park this weekend after a month of swimming in Ocala at Harris Training Centre.
Attard, who trains the son of Stormy Atlantic – South Sea Blues, by Cure the Blues for the late Steve Stavro’s Knob Hill Stable’s, said the colt was turned out after his undefeated 2-year-old campaign (3 stakes wins on 3 different surfaces) and began swimming on Feb. 1.
“I saw him two weeks ago, he’s doing well,” said Attard. “He has always been a big boy and he looks about the same. He's always had that look of a good horse."
Attard also trains Plate hopeful SERGEI, who has already had a couple of workouts at Payson.

PLATE HOPEFULS IN ACTION SATURDAY AT ‘GULF’

The exciting Smart Strike colt EASTERMAN is expected to be in action on Saturday at Gulfstream for Frank Romano and trainer Mike DePaulo. The son of stakes winning grass mare Green Noble won his only race last year at Woodbine with a 73 Beyer Figure.

Trainer Brian Lynch of Stronach Stable’s told THOROUGHBLOG yesterday that HIGH ACT (El Prado – Class, by Thunder Gulch) will be entered in a 9-furlong allowance race today for Saturday. Lynch said he has high hopes for the colt and said this is his last race before he returns to Woodbine at the end of March. Lynch is also encouraged by MOUNTAIN WOLF, who is still very green, but should not be a maiden much longer.

CANADIAN-BRED IN BARBADOS GOLD CUP

Saturday's Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah is the highlight of the Barbados Festival, an experience everyone should enjoy if you are a racing and island lover.
STRAVINSKYS SECRET, who races in Barbados, is in the big race and is a canadian-bred by Stravinsky out of the placed mare Donttellmichelle, by Regal Classic. The mare was owned by Anderson Farms in Ontario and she is a 1/2 sister to Breeders' Stakes winner LODGE HILL.
Here's the field..

March 3
Race # 9
THE XXVI SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR.1. - INT. - BAR)
Distance 1800M (Turf)

NO APPRENTICE ALLOWANCE
Class 3-YEAR-OLDS & OVER (WEIGHT-FOR-AGE)
Purse:$200,000 (Plus subscriptions totaling $21,000.00)

Post # Horses Owner Trainer
1 DUC D FER(USA) AYSHA SYNDICATE Mis EDeane
2 LIGHTNING PILOT(USA) SANTANA SYNDICATE RParravicino JP
3 DON ANGLESONNY LORD MICHAEL TAYLOR - CLIFTON RACING
WClarke
4 ATUL(USA) MR. YUSUF MONGROO ECGreenidge
5 FAVORITE PLAYER(USA) SIR DAVID SEALE ECGreenidge
6 SOUTH SEA(USA) SIR DAVID SEALE Mis EDeane
7 WHO'S WAVERING(USA) AYSHA SYNDICATE Mis EDeane
8 WHISKEY FOR ME(USA) AYSHA SYNDICATE Mis EDeane
9 CHINASABRE(FRA) MR. A KHADDAM DFares
10 INLUCK(USA) MR. MARTIN RAIZMAN RParravicino JP
11 KENTUCKY CHILL(USA)(Res 1) LORD MICHAEL TAYLOR - CLIFTON RACING
WClarke
12 STRAVINSKYS SECRET(CAN) MAHARAJ & SONS STABLES MMaharaj
13 SALUTE THE COLOURS(USA) MR. ALLAN MADOO CArneaud

TODAY’S RUNNERS

Some interesting entrants, from a Canadian-bred standpoint, today. VIBANK, bred by Gus Schickedanz, makes his first start since last May in the 1st race at Fair Grounds today. Emma-Jayne Wilson (20 for 200 at FG this winter – way to go Emma!) is on board.
A two-time stakes winner at 2 in 2005, the Silver Deputy – Princess Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus colt has the fast sharp shooter BROTHER BEAN to deal with in the 5 ½ furlong turf dash.

Wilson rides a Sam-Son Farms 'Kentucky bred gelding in race 5: Song of the Desert is the 2 to 1 favourite in that allowance race at 5 ½ furlongs.

At Gulfstream, CAMBRIDGE BELLE (Dixie Union – Brittan Lee, by Forty Niner) is in a maiden special weight at 1 1/8 miles on grass. The filly was bred by Bill Diament, co-breeder of Queen’s Plate winner Edenwold. It is the 5th start for ‘Belle’ who has shown promise on turf and Polytrack for owner G. Watts Humphrey and trainer Victoria Oliver.

In race 5, Stronach Stables’ FEISTY WOMAN (El Prado – Joustabout, by Apalachee) who is on the THOROUGHBLOG HOT CANADIAN-BRED LIST, tries for her second consecutive win in a 12 furlong grass allowance. She is trained by Brian Lynch. Also in the race is the Kinghaven Farms-bred JIVE, who is also owned by Humphrey and trained by Oliver (Cambridge Belle). Jive (Dynaformer – Dance Gaily, by Nureyev) has won 2 of 8 career starts including a 1 ½ mile grass race at Keeneland last fall.

In the 8th race, former Woodbine based gelding LUKE IN MY POCKET (Whiskey Wisdom) is in American hands and he competes for a $25,000 claiming price. The gelding, a 9-time winner, has been claimed 4 times from his last 5 starts.