LET'S GET IT STARTED
It is crunch time for Kentucky Derby hopefuls, with a couple of minor possible prep races this weekend, but simply 2 weeks of training and caring for the prized sophomores.
Crunch time somewhat too for Queen's Plate eligibles (if your horse is not eligible to the Canadian Triple Crown as of yet, May 1 is the date to supplement to the series as well as the Oaks). If a 3yo is not underway in its training or racing by now, the schedule gets tight to make the race. Notable on this list are the 2 champion 2yo's from last year, LEONNATUS ANTEAS and CATCH THE THRILL, both of whom had physical issues last year and are behind for 2007.
PLATE CONTENDERS IN ACTION SATURDAY
Trainer ROGER ATTFIELD’S Queen’s Plate hopefuls drew into separate splits of a 1 1/8 mile maiden allowance race at Keeneland on Saturday – the 6th race (INCLUDE US, by Include) and the 10th race (OURTIMETODANCE, by Mark of Esteem).
Attfield, who is quite high on the Include Us, said he was perplexed how the former’s race he exits was so slow compared to the race that Ourtimetodance exits. The latter’s race was run in a snowstorm.
Multiple stakes winner DANCER’S BAJAN (Trajectory) makes his 3yo debut in the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday for the 3 Sons Stable and trainer Robert Tiller. The only other Ontario-bred in the field, CARYSFORT LIGHT, is also a plate eligible.
In race 2 on Saturday, THOMPSON LAKE (Meadowlake), makes his 3yo debut in an allowance race at 6 ½ furlongs. The chestnut gelding is 2nd time Lasix for trainer Catherine Day Phillips. The jockey will be Corey Fraser as Jono Jones, a regular rider for Day Phillips is not riding on Saturday.
Baby Watch – Bill Farish’s $115,000 (Can.) yearling purchase from last year’s Woodbine yearling sale, SPIN MOVE, debuts in the 2yo race at Keeneland on Saturday. The chestnut filly is by Mutakkdim out of the stakes winning Bold Ruckus mare Body Moves and is a full sister to stakes placed 2yo Mutakinmove. She was bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.
LORD CARMEN (Ordway-Gregorian Winloc, Gregorian) is also in action on the card. The 6yo gelding was bred by Audrey Daniels in Ontario. Lord Carmen raced in the Breeders’ Stakes against A Bit O’Gold and was unplaced. Claimed last year for $25,000, he missed winning the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf last fall by a nose to Embossed.
Winner of the Rossi Gold Stakes, Lord Carmen has won 5 of 26 starts and $214,000. He has a 3yo half-sister racing at Woodbine named Gregoriana and a 2yo named D’wild Night.
In other Saturday races at KEENELAND, impressive former Woodbine runner BOOGIEMANBALL will compete in the Lexington Stakes with Corey Nakatani on board…Tough Canadian-bred mare ITUNA is in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes which, curiously, is a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares even if it’s named for a top colt…
REMINDER – How the Woodstock Stakes came by its name is this week’s question…the answer later today.
DERBY BRIEFS
The LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL is one of the best sources for news on the Kentucky Derby and it’s Derby Briefing Book gives you pictures and notes on each of the contenders for this year’s race. One major ‘prep’ remains – this weekend’s LEXINGTON STAKES at Keeneland.
Check out the courier-journal notes at..
http://courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=sports080101
READERS QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
I have received enquiries about Woodbine trainer KEN PARSLEY and his 10-year suspension from training (issued last year). I will attempt to find out more about the details of this suspension. In addition, rulings for the other outstanding decisions (as documented here) should be available soon.
THOROUGHBLOG is also hoping to get a photo of WANDO’S first foal, or one of his first foals, soon.
More news later today…
Crunch time somewhat too for Queen's Plate eligibles (if your horse is not eligible to the Canadian Triple Crown as of yet, May 1 is the date to supplement to the series as well as the Oaks). If a 3yo is not underway in its training or racing by now, the schedule gets tight to make the race. Notable on this list are the 2 champion 2yo's from last year, LEONNATUS ANTEAS and CATCH THE THRILL, both of whom had physical issues last year and are behind for 2007.
PLATE CONTENDERS IN ACTION SATURDAY
Trainer ROGER ATTFIELD’S Queen’s Plate hopefuls drew into separate splits of a 1 1/8 mile maiden allowance race at Keeneland on Saturday – the 6th race (INCLUDE US, by Include) and the 10th race (OURTIMETODANCE, by Mark of Esteem).
Attfield, who is quite high on the Include Us, said he was perplexed how the former’s race he exits was so slow compared to the race that Ourtimetodance exits. The latter’s race was run in a snowstorm.
Multiple stakes winner DANCER’S BAJAN (Trajectory) makes his 3yo debut in the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday for the 3 Sons Stable and trainer Robert Tiller. The only other Ontario-bred in the field, CARYSFORT LIGHT, is also a plate eligible.
In race 2 on Saturday, THOMPSON LAKE (Meadowlake), makes his 3yo debut in an allowance race at 6 ½ furlongs. The chestnut gelding is 2nd time Lasix for trainer Catherine Day Phillips. The jockey will be Corey Fraser as Jono Jones, a regular rider for Day Phillips is not riding on Saturday.
Baby Watch – Bill Farish’s $115,000 (Can.) yearling purchase from last year’s Woodbine yearling sale, SPIN MOVE, debuts in the 2yo race at Keeneland on Saturday. The chestnut filly is by Mutakkdim out of the stakes winning Bold Ruckus mare Body Moves and is a full sister to stakes placed 2yo Mutakinmove. She was bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm.
LORD CARMEN (Ordway-Gregorian Winloc, Gregorian) is also in action on the card. The 6yo gelding was bred by Audrey Daniels in Ontario. Lord Carmen raced in the Breeders’ Stakes against A Bit O’Gold and was unplaced. Claimed last year for $25,000, he missed winning the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf last fall by a nose to Embossed.
Winner of the Rossi Gold Stakes, Lord Carmen has won 5 of 26 starts and $214,000. He has a 3yo half-sister racing at Woodbine named Gregoriana and a 2yo named D’wild Night.
In other Saturday races at KEENELAND, impressive former Woodbine runner BOOGIEMANBALL will compete in the Lexington Stakes with Corey Nakatani on board…Tough Canadian-bred mare ITUNA is in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes which, curiously, is a 5 ½ furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares even if it’s named for a top colt…
REMINDER – How the Woodstock Stakes came by its name is this week’s question…the answer later today.
DERBY BRIEFS
The LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL is one of the best sources for news on the Kentucky Derby and it’s Derby Briefing Book gives you pictures and notes on each of the contenders for this year’s race. One major ‘prep’ remains – this weekend’s LEXINGTON STAKES at Keeneland.
Check out the courier-journal notes at..
http://courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=sports080101
READERS QUESTIONS, COMMENTS
I have received enquiries about Woodbine trainer KEN PARSLEY and his 10-year suspension from training (issued last year). I will attempt to find out more about the details of this suspension. In addition, rulings for the other outstanding decisions (as documented here) should be available soon.
THOROUGHBLOG is also hoping to get a photo of WANDO’S first foal, or one of his first foals, soon.
More news later today…
posted by Jen Morrison @ 6:37 AM
2 Comments:
At 8:59 AM,
Anonymous said…
Jen,
I think it's great that you have taken the trouble to make something like this available for racing here. I hope you get plenty of interaction between readers, regarding both the positive and negative aspects of racing at Woodbine.............and WEG take the trouble to read it.
I have a question if I may.
With the change of racing surface to Polytrack, do you think there will be an increase to take races off the turf, knowing/expecting that much of the race will remain full?
Nigel Griffiths.
At 12:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
Most of the comments on announcers have merit, no ,ention of thr 12year old Choir boy who call,s at Bay Meadows. AT least that what he sounds like to me.
Post a Comment