HANDICAP THIS!
Day two of the HANDICAPPING CHALLENGE at Woodbine and the if the main contest is as contentious as the media division, it should be a wild day of racing and picks.
Today's news: Brave, brave, competitive horses. STREET SENSE (right) and LE CINQUIEME ESSAI and FOOTPRINT but don't forget GRASSHOPPER and JUST RUSHING. Awesome finishes in graded races yesterday.
Oh yes, MONASHEE, one of Canada's top older mares, won for the 9th straight time in a stake at Northlands yesterday.
And IMPERIAL EYES may be the bravest of them all, he kept going when his legs were giving way (see article below)
And a big thank you to people who love to promote this great game - unselfishly. Cindy Pierson Dulay (www.horse-races.net) and Terence Dulay always supply THOROUGHBLOG with beautiful photos. Readers who go to their site are not disappointed.
Baze questioned in whip incident
By CHUCK DYBDAL
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockey Russell Baze met with Bay Meadows stewards for 2 1/2 hours Saturday to answer charges against him arising from Thursday's first race, when Baze struck Imperial Eyes twice with his whip after the horse broke down. Steward Darrell McHargue said Saturday afternoon that he and the other stewards were "in the process of deliberating their decison."
Stewards viewed films of the incident with Baze and his attorney, Brian Pitnick, a trainer in Northern California. Also testifying at the hearing were investigators from the California Horse Racing Board, assistant trainer Steve Sherman, who saddled the ill-fated Imperial Eyes, and his veterinarian, Dr. William Grantham.
"I really don't want to comment until the ruling, but we were able to present our side," Baze said.
The stewards have charged Baze, a 49-year-old Hall of Fame rider, with misuse of his whip, conduct detrimental to horse racing, and animal cruelty.
Imperial Eyes, the 3-5 favorite in an $8,000 maiden claiming race at one mile, had opened a seven-length lead in the lane before breaking down inside the sixteenth pole. After taking a bad step, Imperial Eyes seemed to right himself. He switched leads and then broke down just as Baze hit him with his whip. Baze then hit him a second time. Despite the injury, Imperial Eyes held on to finish second.
Imperial Eyes suffered a condylar fracture of the cannon bone above the ankle in his left front leg. He walked into the van that took him to the receiving barn. Sherman and Dr. Grantham were discussing the possibility of surgery when Imperial Eyes went into distress and was euthanized.
The case has attracted national attention. Jerry Lynn Hunter, Bay Meadows stable superintendent, said the track began receiving e-mails expressing outrage immediately after the race.
Sherman, who saddled Imperial Eyes for his father, Art, said neither he nor his father faulted Baze.
"I think Russell's getting a really bad rap," Steve Sherman said. "In my opinion and my dad's opinion, he did nothing wrong."
Other trainers and jockeys, though, have been critical of Baze's whipping the horse after he appeared to be injured.
Sherman recommended that critics of Baze's ride view the entire incident and not merely the clip of Baze applying the whip as Imperial Eyes broke down.
"When he took a bad step, Russell pulled up, but then he seemed to re-gather himself. When he took off again, Russell hit him with his whip just as he broke down," Sherman said.
SKY’S THE LIMIT
Cloudy’s Knight, who ran one of the bravest races you’ll ever see in his last start at Arlington, is a formidable rival but everyone else seems to be in line for a minor share.
There are several races for young horses on today’s card although the 2nd race, the Summer Stakes prep is not likely going to be on the turf.
A maiden allowance race for 2yo’s – race 5 – brings back NOT BOURBON, a very handsome and flashy colt by Not Impossible, back to the maiden ranks from a stakes placing.
HE’S ALL TRY
LE CINQUIEME ESSAI simply would not let anyone pass.
An incredible edition of the Play the King (Grade 2) yesterday over a very giving grass course. The time of 1:26 1/5 was the slowest in the history of the race by several seconds.
But thatdidn’t take away from a brave performance by 8yo Le Cinquieme Essai, Bill scott’s homedbre Fastness gelding who jockey Steve Bahen said “is as good as ever”.
Bahen had the gelding bent in half early in the race through 24, 47 4/5 splits. It was pouring rain at the time and had been raining off and on for more than two days.
Just Rushing was the inside speed despite a sluggish start from the gate and Leonnatus Anteas was stalking in third.
Turning for home,Le Cinquieme Essia was already in front with Just Rushing trying very hard to get past him
Leonnatus Anteas could not stay and in fact,switched leads several times in the stretch, while invading Purim sank in the bog and longshot Estevan tried to rally between horses.
But no one was getting past “the Fifth Try” (translated).
It was the 12 win in 29 starts for the gelding, who has now earned over $1.4 million.
BEAR HOLIDAY is the real deal and so far, he’s needing all of the sprint distances to get to win these stakes races. The grey Harlan’s Holiday Kentucky bred out of the Maria’s Mon mare Milagra got up in the last couple of strides to beat Stuck in Traffic in the $100,000 Silver Deputy Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs in 1:17 1/5.
The Bear Stables, Reade Baker trainee rallied 4 wide from well off a very rapid pace (wind-aided) set by ‘Traffic, who was pushed along by San Geminiano, who broke slowly and then was sent up into the mad duel.
A $250,000 yearling purchase, Bear Holiday was ridden again by Jerry Baird.
The colt has classic breeding and should only get better as the distances get longer.
Bear Holiday, incidentally, was supplemented to the stakes for $2,000 as he was not originally nominated.
He’s now 3 for 3 and $170,000 plus in earnings.
Stuck in Traffic, ridden by David Clark, ran bravely to be second, well clear of Doneraile Gold who was third.
“He made me worried,” said Baird. “But he times his move for himself,”
Baker, whose barn is heating up after a slow start to 2007, said the colt could go next in the Swynford and then the Grey Stakes.
“He’s perfect, he doesn’t make mistakes,” said Baker. “But that’s what you’re supposed to get for $250,000. He could be a good horse.”
ESSENTIAL EDGE stood out on class and Beyer Figures and won as expected in the BELLE GESTE, a restricted 7 furlong turf stake. The 4yo by Storm Cat – Rose of Tara is a Chiefswood Farm homebred who had already won a stakes races so she didn’t add much to her value in the win but it put the winner’s share
Robert Krembil spoke after the race on SUN TV…
“Her head isn’t into going a lot longer (she’s bred to go a lot longer) so we hoped the cut back would work.
“Our breeding program is a long term proposition for us, it’s a more reliable way of going, so we’ll see how we do.”
Essential Edge has won 3 of 12 now and just over $270,000 in earnings.
On the SUN TV show, SID ATTARD wished the 5th race was 5 furlongs for 2yo fillies, maiden allowance as his trainee PLANET RED (Perigree Moon) was in the big field.
That filly never figured as LADY D’WILDCAT, a firster by D’Wildcat (now 2 for 16 with debut winners from starter) pressed the pace, battled on the turn while drifting out, and then took off to her debut win.
It was the first Woodbine win for STUART HYMAN’S SHYMAN FARMS, which has been cleaning up at Assiniboia Downs with stakes and allowance wins.
Young trainer Steve Roberts was winning just his 2nd race as a trainer.
“Mike Keogh didn’t have enough stalls for (Hyman), he mentioned my name,” said Roberts, about the reason Hyman gave the filly to him to train instead of Keogh.
“It took her a while to get settled it, we were took our time. She was head to head all the way around in a workout with Wootz Steel (a maiden winner first time out in fast time against older horses) so that was encouraging.”
Roberts said the filly came from a 2yo sale, however, Hyman bred the filly in Ontario.
Sentimentalists would have been all over ONEMOREBOURBON in the 7th race. The chestnut gelding’s trainer Dave MacLean passed away last week and the gelding went out and honoured his friend with a front running win at 11 to 1 in the $20,000 claiming race.
EMOTIONS RUN HIGH AT NORTHLANDS AS FOOTPRINT JOGS
Has to be considered best 3yo male in Canada
Storybook endings do come true at the racetrack.
Footprint has become the latest Edmonton racing hero with a stunning win in yesterday's $300,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.
Taking an aging - but immensely popular - jockey and relatively unheralded trainer to the winner's circle with him, the local thoroughbred has become one for the ages.
WILDLY ENTERTAINING
The three-year-old gelding survived a wildly entertaining head-to-head five-furlong battle with Gandolf to win by a length in front of nearly 12,000 fans.
"I feel like the grandstand has come off my back," said winning jockey Real Simard."Everybody is kind of cheering for me. I could see all the crowd: 'Go Real.'
"And (I had) lots of relatives here - maybe 80.
"And I put a little pressure on myself because I knew I had the horse but I had to give him a good ride."
That is exactly what happened.
Making the winning move around the second turn - with a full lap left - Simard shot up along the rail to take the lead from Weather Warning.
Suddenly the 7-5 favourite was in front - and he never looked back.
"(Weather Warning) was kind of breathing funny beside me," said Simard. "And when we got to the second turn he came right off the rail.
"I don't know if (the) horse was in distress or what.I said: 'I'm not going to stay here in case something happens.'
"If I stay there (behind Weather Warning) what if that horse starts wobbling in front of me and I'm screwed."
The win gives Simard his second Canadian Derby title in his 22-year career.
Calling it the best race day in his career, the 42-year-old Peace River native and Calgary resident also shares the spotlight with winning trainer Joan Petrowski.
Training since 1975, she becomes just the fourth female trainer to win Edmonton's most prestigious race.
"It means everything to me," said Petrowski, who also owns the steed with Derek Milen and Elwin Page.
"It feels wonderful."
Footprint is the first locally- owned horse to win the Derby since Raylene in 2003.
But that's only because the Kentucky-bred runner has the heart of a champion.
Coming off two easy wins by 12 lengths total, Footprint earned every cent of his $180,000 paycheque late yesterday afternoon by refusing to let Gandolf put a nose in front.
The 11-1 longshot from California ran the race of his life only to finish second by an official one and one-quarter lengths.
"I thought that I maybe had a shot at that Footprint when I got head and head with him at the head of the lane - but he proved what a champion is," said jockey Jake Barton.
REVENGE
Footprint also got revenge on Amazin Blue - another California import - who finished fourth.
Amazin Blue won the Alberta Derby in Calgary in June by half of a length over Footprint.
But as almost any trainer will tell you in Alberta, the race that matters most in this province is the Canadian Derby - and it seemed like the entire track applauded Footprint's win.
"I gave (Petrowski) a kiss (in the winner's circle)," said Northlands VP Les Butler.
"We told each other that we love each other.
"At that moment at that time I don't think I have ever felt more joy for a horse trainer who has toiled so hard for so many years to finally have that kind of success."
What's in a name?
Footprint has a winning predecessor
There is just something special about the name Footprint.
Proving lightning can strike twice in thoroughbred racing, Footprint became the second champion with the same name after winning yesterday's Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.
Co-owner Derek Milen named the horse after another Footprint he had witnessed many years ago in Regina.
"I saw another Footprint at the track (in Regina) in about 1966," said Milen, a Regina native who is now a lawyer in Lloydminster.
"Whenever Alberta horses came to Saskatchewan you had to pay attention to them.
"He was the favourite. He set a track record. He won by open lengths. I was so impressed with that name and the victory that I never forgot it."
So, when he bought the latest Canadian Derby champion a few years ago, he named him Footprint in its honour.
It's a feel-good story that would have never been written if Milen and his two ownership partners - trainer Joan Petrowski and Elwin Page - had taken the offers to sell the gelding.
After buying him for just $12,000 at an Alberta yearling sale in 2005, they could have sold to Vancouver investors.
"But it is not about the money. It is about the passion for the sport," continued Milen. "Fortunately all of us are in a position that money is secondary in this industry. It is about owning horses and winning championship races."
Footprint's career bankroll is now at a staggering $360,000.
But he might be finished for 2007. Although he could start in at least one more six-figure race this fall - either the $100,000 Speed to Spare in Edmonton or the $250,000 B.C. Derby in Vancouver - the owners are considering sending Footprint home for a rest.
"I don't think we have any real interest in going to B.C.," said Milen, after Footprint won yesterday's Derby by a length. "I don't think we have any real interest in hooking the older horses (in the Speed to Spare). I think we would say that this horse has met, surpassed all of our expectations. He has done everything for us we could possibly dream and why can't we now take him home and give him a rest.
BACKSTRETCH BANTER: Milen hopes this race will bring Petrowski the recognition he believes she deserves.
The trainer of Footprint rarely gets any attention outside of the track compared to conditioner Red Smith or the usually powerful Ron Grieves' stable.
"Joan is an excellent trainer who puts the love and compassion for the horses first," shot Milen.
"She is underrated. She is much more skilled than people give her credit for."
FINISH LINES: Ookashada - the highly-touted Vancouver import - finished third yesterday.
But he was the victim of a very wide trip at times during the one-mile and three-eighths marathon. He was four-wide during one turn and three-wide another time.
"He broke very sharp," said his rider Pedro Alvarado. "I was trying to slow him down the first part and he was getting too tough."
posted by Jen Morrison @ 9:17 AM
1 Comments:
At 7:48 AM,
Anonymous said…
Hey Jen!
How do you come up with the morning line? Do you follow a set of rules, and are the same rules followed throughout North America?
Thanks
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