HAPPY EASTER!

Whew, tons of racing action to pay attention too and then that wild game downtown where the Leafs somehow beat Montreal. Not in the playoffs yet, but maybe if New Jersey can beat the Isles later today...maybe?

MAYBE LIKE HIS DAD TOO

Easily the most impressive performance at Woodbine yesterday was that of LIKE MOM LIKE SONS, the brazenly fast 3yo colt who toyed with winter-raced older horses in the 6th race yesterday to stay undefeated in 3 starts. It was the first race of the year for the Carson City – Mycupoftea, Wiliamstown colt, owned and co-bred by Howard Walton and trained by Sid Attard, The Kentucky-bred was a bit rank early in the 6 ½ furlong race, was pressed by Carrington and Bold Thing on the turn and them took off from his older, fit rivals to speed the distance is 1:17 1/5.
His Beyer was a smart 95.
Co-breeder Happy Alter claimed Mycupoftea for $62,500 in Florida in 1999 and Walton bought into the mare a few races later. The mare won over $182,000 and was stakes placed.
You could have bought Like Mom Like Sons for $70,000 as a yearling at Keeneland two years ago.

Another quick race yesterday was that of ROCKERFELLER (Maria’s Mon-Lienholder, Deputy Minister), a Florida bred from Live Oak and trainer Malcolm Pierce. The 3yo colt won his maiden in the last race with Emma-Jayne Wilson and earned an 88 Beyer Figure. He was up to beat True Resurgence, the race favourite, by a neck while another American-bred Muskwa, (from the Bear Stable) was a brave 3rd after cutting out the pace fractions.

KENTUCKY DERBY BIZ

He was all biz, well, sort of. Elizabeth Valando’s NOBIZ LIKE SHOIZ (Albert the Great) ran a 99 Beyer Figure in that hairy Wood Memorial yesterday where the blinkers, cotton-stuffed eared fellow would not let anyone past throughout the race. Tough trip for him for sure and he is progressing, Trainer Barclay Tagg knows the Derby secret already. Thought Sightseeing raced fairly well in what was overall, a bit of a modest race.
Speaking of Derby secret’s – The Moss family and John Sherriffs decided to throw TIAGO (Pleasant Tap half brother to Derby winner Giacomo) into the Santa Anita Derby yesterday off an initial stakes attempt that was dull following his maiden score and presto! He rallied to win over a weak field, no Beyer was available this morning. Mike Smith rode.
COWTOWN CAT, hmmmm, well, I didn’t see the race but he had a 97 and 96 coming in and led all the way in the Illinois Derby yesterday while Cobalt Blue inexplicably stopped. Another Derby contender for Pletcher. He’s loaded for sure and don’t think ANY GIVEN SATURDAY is off the mark since he was expected to bounce a little in the Wood yesterday anyway.
Pletcher, sheesh, he won the Oaklawn Handicap yesterday with LAWYER RON, a Derby contender last year and a son of Canadian champ Langfuhr. Pletcher trainee ICY ATLANTIC won the Arcadia at Santa Anita and MAGNA GRADUATE won the Excelsior. Wow.

He’s not a Derby contender but DIVINE PARK, a Kentucky-bred by Chester House, stayed undefeated yesterday with his 2nd win in as many starts. The colt, who won at Keeneland, is out of an Ascot Knight mare, High in the Park, whose half-sister, Moonland Princess, produced Queen’s Plate winner T J’s Lucky Moon.
The Ascot Knight mares have had a super 2007 so far.

SATURDAY: CANADIAN-BRED WRAP-UP

(Some of these horses were mentioned in yesterday’s post)
Donna McCullough’s FAIRWELL MADRID (Sefapiano-I’m Selective, Mi Selecto) won the Jersey Lily Stakes last night at Sam Houston. The 5yo mare was winning for the 4th time at Sam Houston since she went there from the Fort Erie meeting last fall.
The $50,000 stakes score was the 9th win in 28 starts for the mare who has now earned over $102,000.
It appears as if McCullough got Fairwell Madrid from breeder Mervyn Kirby and Tricia Greer in the summer of 2005. The mare had previously raced for Goldmart Farm and trainer Mike Wright.
HOMESTEADER, whose 96 Beyer Figure from a win in allowance company at Laurel in Feb. has her on the HOT CANADIAN BRED LIST on THOROUGHBLOG (at right), was 2nd beaten 4 lengths yesterday in the Primonetta Stakes at Laurel. The filly declined a bit in her form and ran an 80 Beyer Figure. Would have been nice to see this Canadian-bred Pioneering miss in next weekend’s Whimsical Stakes, maybe she’ll still come?
INSPIRED DANCER (Inspired Prospect-Georgia Dancer,Fiddle Dancer Boy) won an allowance race at Sam Houston Friday night. The mare was bred by Goldmart Farms and raced for that farm until last June when claimed for $10,000. She raced for Daryl Ezra and Bruno Schickedanz before going to Sam Houston with Schickedanz’s trainer Mark Fournier. The team lost the mare for $5,000 claiming and she’s won consecutive races now.
SLAM BAMMY was an even fourth in a stakes event on a big card at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday. The sprinting gelding is trained by Joe Orseno and has been below his good form when a stakes winner last year in New Jersey…WITNESS THIS (Gold Fever) was beaten a nose and a head in a fast 6 ½ furlong turf dash for $32,000 claiming yesterday at Santa Anita. The gelding finished third and was claimed by trainer Bill Spawr…JIMMY G was a non-threatening fourth in a maiden race at Aqueduct yesterday.
That 13yo gelding PROVEN CURE (not Canadian-bred) did not make his season debut last night at Sam Houston – he was scratched.

Just to catch up on some Beyer Figures for Friday – Queen’s Plate eligibles for ROGER ATTFIELD did okay, OURTIMETODANCE got a 74 for his effort in the much faster split of a maiden race and INCLUDE US had a 64 in the slower split…COBRADOR (third favourite for the Plate) slipped a bit past his best form with a 76 in the grassy Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland..ILLUSIVE GUY (bred by Tony and Mary Jane Lamb) won an allowance race at Laurel with a 77 Beyer Figure.

Workout watch – Knob Hill Stables’ SERGEI worked at Payson Park but no sign of a prep from LEONNATUS ANTEAS the second favourite for the Plate.
MARCH TO VICTORY (to read more on this Plate hopeful, do a ‘search’ up top and find a picture of him) continues to train at Payson for trainer Christophe Clement.

‘OOPS’ AT WOODBINE TODAY
Race preview

It’s possible that the heavy favourite from today’s featured race at Woodbine will have to be scratched. ONE QUIET CAT, owned by Ben Hutzel, Sylon Stable and trainer Mike DePaulo may be scratched because the filly is apparently supposed to be coupled as an entry with KNOCKER, owned by the Very Dry Stable, of which Hutzel is a part. The race office missed this entry. Either filly may have to be scratched.
Certainly the most interesting race on the card is the maiden race – race 8 – with SERENADING showing up for John and Glenn Sikura. A daughter of red-hot A.P. Indy out of the Sikura’s prized mare DAIJIN, this is a full sister to Handpainted. She was a closing 2nd in her Fair Grounds debut.
The filly to beat will be Crafty Role (Officer) a fast miss who ran an 80 Beyer Figure at Santa Anita last time.
Very quiet day today with no Keeneland, Aqueduct. Canadian-bred UPJUMPDABOOGIEMAN, a Triple Crown nominee but not a Canadian Triple Crown nominee, debuts on the grass at Santa Anita today, He’s by Touch Gold out of that flashy filly Tipperary Melody (Rahy) and was bed by Adena Springs.
EDWARD FREEMAN races Ontario-bred JIMMY THE LINK (Kiridashi) at Bay Meadows today for $20,000 maiden claiming. Russell Baze rides.

READERS QUESTIONS

One reader asked me yesterday (see comments below somewhere) about the 5th race at WOODBINE yesterday when jockey Michelle Rainford claimed foul on winner Johnny Hollywood. I watched the head-on yesterday and it was indeed a frivolous claim of foul as her horse, Put Upon, merely shied oh-so slightly when Johnny came in a bit. The jockey may be fined for the claim of foul.
As for Jody Hammett, who claimed a horse last year, PRAISE FROM DIXIE, just to retire the old guy for a riding horse for his family because he was looking like he was ready to break down, yes, he’s a good horseman who runs horses where they can win. He has won three races in 2 days and while right now, he is racing horses below what they had been racing for, he is getting them ready and he’s winning.
Thank you to Ed S. who informs us that fans can get the TRAKUS information of its website. The distance each horse travels in a race can be helpful to trip handicappers. Registration is free.