ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING!!

BRAG IN THE CORNER!

THOROUGBLOG has added the BRAGGING CORNER to celebrate its 1-year anniversary today!
The ‘Corner’ is for anyone who wants to send a picture of their horse to be on the site for a week (or more) and all that is required is any donation (with a portion of proceeds to go to LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION).
People can view the picture each day on the sidebar (at right) and click on it to see a larger image. There will be a cutline and a photo credit under the shot.

As THOROUGHBLOG reached its one-year anniversary today (how time flies!), I appreciate everyone who has commented and participated and hope to be able to continue to provide somewhat useful news, tidbits or opinions on Canadian-breds and the industry on a regular basis throughout 2007.
Currently, the BLOG is updated each morning but that could change to the evenings once Woodbine moves to a full schedule.

HINDMARSH, BEAR AND BAKER AT ADENA

Average price for juveniles dropped at Frank Stronach’s annual Adena Springs 2-year-old sale yesterday and Canadians came away with a bunch of new faces for the Woodbine meeting.
LYNNE HINDMARSH, owner of Hindmarsh Farm that was started by her late husband Harry, picked up two youngsters: a Canadian-bred filly from the first crop of two-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew out of Slene Stakes (Gr1) winner Roaring Twenties and a Canadian-bred filly from the first crop of Hollywood Turf Cup winner Sligo Bay out of winner Polka Queen (the mare’s half-sister Candy Box is now a stakes winner).
Danny Dion’s BEAR STABLES continues to collect runners and picked up 6 yesterday including one Canadian-bred, a colt by Macho Uno (his first crop) out of the graded stakes placed mare Blushing Deed.
Reade Baker’s clients Jim and Susan Hill paid $130,000 for GIANT GAMBIT, a Canadian-bred colt by Touch Gold out of the stakes winning mare Global and Baker also bought for American owner/breeder Craig Singer – a Canadian-bred filly called WIND IN MY WINGS, by Slip Bay out of the stakes winning pulpit mare Sly Butterfly.
Former Stronach trainer Danny Vella plus agent Richard Hogan bought Canadian breds by Milwaukee Brew ($30,000 colt named Canadian Brew) and Awesome Again ($75,000) respectively.

SUDDEN DEATH OF THE CAT

Canada’s leading freshman sire of last year, CAT’S AT HOME died suddenly last Saturday at Windfields Farm in Oshawa as reported in the BLOOD-HORSE yesterday.
No further information on the circumstances are know at this time.
The 10-year-old Tabasco Cat stallion was one of the province’s promising young studs not only on pedigree but on appearance and his first crop last season were exciting youngsters.
Windfields also lost ARCHERS BAY several years ago soon after a promising start at stud and that was a severe blow to the local industry.
Among the Cat’s first crop was stakes winner SPREAD THE NEWS.

FIRST FOAL FOR ‘GLORA’

Windfields had better news on Saturday when champion mare INISH GLORA, owned by Bob Costigan, had her first foal, a bay filly by Elusive Quality.Costigan credits Inish Glora for helping him purchase ARRAVALE at auction and that filly went on to be named last year’s HORSE OF THE YEAR in Canada.

DOMINICAN’S CHANGE MADE ‘PUBLIC’

In Turfway Park programs, DOMINICAN was listed as a first-time gelding and presto! The colt won the Rushaway Stakes as one of the favourites. EQUIDAILY comments on the first-time gelding issue (as has THOROUGBLOG) in recent weeks, citing the fines for trainers and even Santa Anita for not reporting first-time geldings.
As BUCKIE noted in a recent comment to this site, the ORC needs to get on board with several issues – bar shoes are reported on overnight entries seemingly most of the time but yes, horses should run for purse only if one-half of an entry is scratched.
First-time gelding must be addressed at all tracks!!

SCORCHING KEENELAND WORKS

Canadian-breds have landed at KEENELAND for stables such as Chiefswood, Bill Sorokolit, Reade Baker and Sam-Son.
Yesterday, the Polytrack remained fast there as Chiefswood’s Kentucky-bred miss HONEY HARBOUR worked 5 furlongs in :58.
Sorkolit’s Queen’s Plate eligible NORTHERN CRUISER (Mutakkdim) worked 4 furlongs from the gate in :46 2/5 (which wasn’t the bullet!).

At the races yesterday, DRAGOONER (Siphone – Dance on Fire) won for the second consecutive time at Will Rogers Downs yesterday against $20,000 allowance company. The 5-year-old gelding ran 5 furlongs in :57.