400!!!

Welcome to post number 400 on THOROUGHBLOG, a site started in March 2006. Whew, it's been a long haul but fun to talk to the horsepeople and fans. Hopefully T'blog can continue on, perhaps with sponsorship or advertising helping to pave the way.
The Blog offers some news, more views and opinions and lists some of the top Canadian-bred horses of the year who are still in action. Links to my fellow members of the THOROUGHBRED BLOGGERS ALLIANCE are also available, plus Links and a list of the TBA's top horses, sponsored by various groups who donate money to charity.
I also toss in my latest book list and sometimes have a Poll, but that license has currently expired!
My brother's excellent program for displaying pictures on your computer - PHOTOCAFE - is also available on my links list. If you ever want to look up a horse or subject - use the Search button up top.

THANKS for reading, keep on posting your views and questions and help the 'Blog with through advertising on the site or donations.

Answers to some questions - the pedigree question regarding 'crosses' , e.g. 3x3x4x4 illustrates in-breeding in a pedigree. For example, if Northern Dancer appears in the third generation of a horse's sire, grandsire, etc, and then in the 3rd generation of the sire's damsire,etc. and then in the 4th generation of the of dam's sire etc. and 4th generation of the dam's damsire..etc.

As far as the question regarding Sam-Son fillies - yes, they were loaded to begin the year but many have fallen by the wayside. One filly, considered the best of the bunch, broke down in a workout at Fair Grounds and was euthanized. Others have been sidelines including Quiet Jungle.

THURSDAY AT WOODBINE

82 TANGO

Yesterday’s first race was about as confusing as it gets in racing.

The public continues to bet (and overbet) horses that continues to burn money. I thought for sure that the public would give up on True Resurgence, finally. Wrong! He was pounded down again - even money - in his 7th attempt at the maiden score (3 to 1 morning line), raced wide and outward, cleared and then was caught.

He lost again.

Meanwhile, NARZAN a Cozzene first timer from the rail (dam is A turf winner by Kingmambo) was apparently the “next sure thing”, despite the grass breeding.

The horse, who had never raced before and whose workout times on the Polytrack were average, was touted all over the place, was 5 to 2 on the board but finished “absolutely”.

Incredibly, the winner, TAKESTWOTOTANGO, owned by high profile owner Zayat Stables (Ahmad Zayat, paid $4.6 million for Maimonides, perhaps the most hyped 2yo at Saratoga in years) and trained by debut whiz Reade Baker, was 8 to 1 – starting at 4 to 1 in the program. His workout times? Not strong.

Unfortunately, the colt was vanned off after the win.

Kentucky bred Takestwototango is a full brother to the classy MOBIL, now at stud in Ontario.

How wonderful is JACKNOWS? A 5-year-old horse (not a gelding) by Skip Trial, the Florida bred won for the 4th time in his 5 starts this year – yesterday for $16,000. The Jam Jar dude never wins by much, 2 of his wins came by necks as did his win yesterday.

Stallion ONE WAY LOVE had yet another 2yo debut winner yesterday when MARIA IZ LOVE became the sire’s 7th such winner when she took her debut for $25,000. The HJT Racing filly is out of the With Approval mare Dutch Approval. The filly was a $3,570 yearling (US) at the local sale and was bred by Clarry and Jordan Lay.

Classy 6yo FOREVER RUSH (Wild Rush-Forever Land),an Ontario-bred, won for the 3rd time in his 6th start this year yesterday when back down to the bottom level of $12,500. Over the fast Polytrack surface, Forever Rush won by more than 7 lengths in 1:22 4/5 – an 89 Beyer Figure.

Trainer Abraham Katryan won 2 on the day when longshot WALTZIN TO T MUSIC loved stretching her legs to 1 1/16 miles after 2 sprints to start her career and won

her maiden for $15,000 for owner/breeder Bruno Schickedanz. The Ontario-bred is by Outflanker out of Beautiful Belle, by Bold n’ Flashy.

TODAY AT WOODBINE

A light card today heading into a full weekend of sizy fields and decent racing.

The feature today is a, gulp, 5 horse field, race 2, for older guys at the allowance/optional claiming level of non-winners of 3 other than or claiming $80,000.

A wide open race with classy old POWERFUL TOUCH a contender, as is up and comer BOLD FINISH, a winner of 3 of his last 4 and front runner BEAR’S KID all with the best chances of winning the 1 1/16 mile race.

In race 4, two-year-old fillies for $50,000 feature a filly from the first crop of TRUST N LUCK (Montbrook) out of the same mare that produced the red-hot sprinter Lake Secret. The chestnut filly worked in 47 1/5 on July 9 for trainer Jody Hammett.

TOUCH OF JAZZ, the first foal of the lovely mare Touch of Ginger (Alphabet Soup), is making her debut in the race too. She’s by Golden Missile and has good workout times for trainer Ralph Biamonte, whose 2yos have been deadly this summer.

The late double is on the grass with a split of Ontario-sired allowance race for fillies and mares kicking things off as race 8.

Impressive debut winner OPENING REMARK, by Crown Attorney – Opening Line by Bet Big, a half-sister to stakes winner Swamp Line, has a big edge with her 75 Beyer Figure in her debut on turf.

The second half of the split, race 9, will have SEPTIEME VAGUE, a maiden winner 2 starts ago on Polytrack, looking to overcome that scary incident last time when she ran loose after losing her rider David Clark. The ones to beat are SPANISH COLONY, sixth in the Passing Mood Stakes last time, and turf maiden winner AIN’T NO SURE, by the hot Compadre.

WE WANT MONASHEE!

Hastings notes from Dennis Feser are below. The local super-mare MONASHEE can’t find any competition at her home track so she’s at Northlands in Alberta tonight. The 5yo Wolf Power mare has yet to come to Ontario to race but, boy, there’s not much going on here in her division.

A two-time graded stakes winning Kentucky-bred, Monashee has Beyer Figures in the mid to high 80s. She’s won 13 of 18 starts.

Here’s the news from Hastings..

Monashee goes for 8th straight at Northlands

Dennis Feser, Vancouver Sun

Local fans will finally get a chance to see Monashee run again. But they will have to stay up a little later to do it.

Monashee, the top mare in B.C. in 2006, will go for her eighth stakes win in succession tonight in the $50,000 Mademoiselle at Northlands Park in Edmonton. Unbeaten in five starts at the 11/16-mile distance, she will face six others.

Owned by Ole Nielsen's Canmor Farms and trained by Tracy McCarthy, Monashee will be making her first start since June 23. After the Vancouver Sun scheduled for Hastings Racecourse was cancelled in mid-July when only two entered to face her, Monashee's connections opted for the Alberta race over a defence of her B.C. Cup Distaff title last Monday. The Mademoiselle is seen as a preview for the $100,000 Edmonton Distaff on Aug. 25.

Hastings returns to live weekend action with a matinee card today beginning at 2:25 p.m. The full day of simulcast racing will include the card from Northlands Park, with the Mademoiselle scheduled for an 8 p.m. (PT) off.

B.C. CUP FOLLOW

Upon further review, that $81.30 payoff by Bellevue Oaks' Shacane in the B.C. Cup Redekop Classic was the highest $2 win mutuel in the 13 years of the B.C. Cup. Lukin Awesome, the 2005 Nursery winner, held the previous mark of $72.10 ... Millennium Allstar (deceased) was the only sire to record a pair of winners, Ookashada and Star Prospector, on the B.C. Cup. Vying Victor, with Suva on Monday, is the all-time leader with nine B.C. Cup winners.

CALL HIM SIR

Almost lost in the shuffle of the B.C. holiday weekend was a captivating debut by Sir Gallovic for owners Glenn Todd and Patrick Kinsella and trainer Troy Taylor. Sir Gallovic, a Kentucky-bred son of Victory Gallop who broke his maiden in his seventh start in New York on June 1, drew off by 71/2 lengths in getting 11/16 mile in 1:43.59 over five others.

MILE WATCH

Four horses with Vancouver connections were nominated to the 72nd Longacres Mile to be run Aug. 19 at Emerald Downs. Todd and Kinsella named Sir Gallovic and Act of God (third in the B.C. Cup Classic), Ross McLeod and Charles Ming put up Gotaghostofachance (running in Southern California) and Bob Cheema nominated 2006 B.C. horse of the year True Metropolitan for the Grade III Mile. With the purse boosted to $400,000 this year, the Seattle track had hoped to attract top quality runners intending to use the event as a stepping stone to the Breeders' Cup Mile on the dirt Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. But after Buzzards Bay, a Grade I winner based in southern California, and True Metropolitan and 2006 Mile winner Flamethrowintexan, the talent drops off among the 27 nominated.

ON THE SHELF

Apprentice Jason Pang had his season end abruptly in the eighth race Sunday at Hastings when Fat Mullet jumped a shadow. Pang came off and hit the rail, suffering a fractured orbital bone and a broken thumb.

SALE SET

Catalogues are out for the 2007 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (B.C. division) yearling and mixed sale to be held Sept. 11 at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley at 11 a.m. A yearling preview is scheduled for the previous day at 1 p.m.

SIMULWATCH

Only eight will contest the Arlington Million on Saturday at Arlington Park, including the ageless nine-year-old defending champion The Tin Man. Trainer Patrick Biancone will try for a third straight Beverly D title, sending out Lady of Venice ... The $500,000 Sword Dancer at Saratoga will match English Channel and Better Talk Now ... Funny Cide, the 2004 Kentucky Derby winner, will be retired today at Saratoga.

MAGNA NEWS ON THE BLOOD-HORSE

Track in Ocala no longer, etc.

Magna Entertainment Ready to Take 'Drastic Action'

by Ryan Conley

Magna Entertainment Co. announced "disappointing" second-quarter earnings Aug. 9 that included a $23.4-million loss during the financial period and outlined new initiatives to help reduce mounting debt that has haunted the racetrack operator.

Included in what MEC chairman Frank Stronach called "drastic action" are the planned shuttering of racing operations at the company’s Magna Racino facility in Austria and the halt of plans for racetrack development of Michigan Downs in Michigan and Dixon Downs in California.

"We are extremely disappointed with the second-quarter results. We recognize that immediate and drastic action is required, and we have commissioned a strategic review of the company," Stronach, who is also Magna Entertainment’s interim CEO, said in a news release.

Stronach said in the release the review would be led by a company headed by Tom Hodgson, who is one of several CEOs Magna Entertainment has employed since the company went public in 2000.

"MEC is a company with tremendous assets, including world-class racetracks and valuable real estate," Hodgson was quoted as saying in the release. "However, MEC has an inadequate level of EBITDA and remains burdened with far too much debt and interest expense."

Hodgson is a senior partner with Greenbrook Capital Partners, which is expected to make its first report to Magna Entertainment's board of directors in September.

The release noted that MEC will give up its Michigan racing license secured for Michigan Downs near Romulus, Mich., and sell its Dixon Downs property in northern California. Residents of Dixon, Calif., voted against a referendum in April that would have approved the area for a racetrack and other commercial uses.

"MEC remains very much committed to horse racing in the state of California, where it owns both Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles and Golden Gate Fields near San Francisco, and is in the process of installing new synthetic racing surfaces at both facilities," the release said. "However, MEC also believes that the operating and regulatory environment in California needs to be improved and will continue to work with other stakeholders to ensure the long-term viability of horse racing in the state.”

Magna Entertainment also plans to sell land it owns in Ocala, Fla., and Porter, N.Y. The release said all the land it plans to sell in the new initiative package carries a book value of $71 million.

The Ocala property, which consists of about 450 acres at the Interstate 75 and U.S. 27 interchange, was once targeted by Stronach for a racing/entertainment complex. The concept, which was announced by Stronach in 2002, faced many legal and legislative obstacles, including state-authorized pari-mutuel licensing rights held by Ocala Breeders' Sales Co., which operates an off-track simulcast wagering facility.

The Ocala and Porter lands were not included among other potential sale properties deemed "non-strategic" at MEC's annual shareholders meeting in May. That set of properties, which included the Dixon Downs land, among others, carried a market price between $400 million and $700 million, company officials estimated at the time.

MEC also announced Aug. 9 that Dennis Mills resigned from his position as director and vice chairman of the company, and that Ron Charles has been appointed to the board of directors. Charles is currently executive director, MEC California Operations, which includes Santa Anita Park.

It is expected that the initiatives will be a hot topic in an Aug. 10 conference call with analysts to discuss second-quarter earnings.--Ryan Conley