CLASS ACT

Gritty LIKE A GEM won her 3rd straight race on Saturday in the MAPLE LEAF STAKES at 1 1/4 miles for owner/breeder Garland Williamson and his wife Marie. Thanks to www.horse-races.net for the photo.

GEM AND TUNE COULD RACE AGAIN

The one thing about this time of year in Ontario is that folks have no trouble racing their horses over and over again in a short span.

Maple Leaf winner LIKE A GEM (89) may race again, but perhaps out of town, while DANCE TO MY TUNE (78) could start in the Bessarabian.

Disappointments on the weekend surely included MONASHEE - 8th in the Maple Leaf behind Gem.

The Daily Racing Form reports that MONASHEE came out of her race strongly and trainer Tracy McCarthy said what most keen race-watchers thought – the trip was terrible for the free-running mare who was buried on the rail the entire trip..(one of those cases of ____ or get off the pot!)

From BILL TALLON..

"We were very disappointed," said trainer Tracy McCarthy. "It was not how we envisioned the race unfolding. She should have been on the lead, with those fractions."

McCarthy added that no physical excuse for Monashee's performance was immediately evident.

"She came out of the race phenomenally," said McCarthy. "She's a very frustrated horse.

"We're just chalking this up as an unfortunate experience. She had an unfortunate race two years ago, in the British Columbia Derby, and she came back to win the Ballerina."

Monashee, a Kentucky-bred 6-year-old, was scheduled to be back in Vancouver on Wednesday morning.

"We're definitely planning to go to California this month," said McCarthy. "I'd like to try her on grass."

McCarthy mentioned the Grade 2, $150,000 Dahlia, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park on Dec. 16, as a possibility for Monashee's turf debut.

The Grade 2, $150,000 Bayakoa, at 1 1/16-mile race on the main track there Dec. 1, is another option.

Canadians still busy at Keeneland

Sunday, Canadian-bred IT’S A DANZIG, once a Queen’s Plate prospect, was sold for $45,000 by Stan Fulton to new owner Joe Davis. The Gus Schickedanz-bred is by Danzig out of Dake.

Minshall Farms, Shyman Farms, Bear Stables, Anderson Farms and Roger Fortier (Jus Luk Stable) bought breeding stock at the Keeneland sale yesterday.

METEOR IN CALIFORNIA

Multiple stakes victor TWILIGHT METEOR (Smart Strike) worked four furlongs in :49 3/5 yesterday at Hollywood Park. A near-miss runner-up in the Kent Breeders' Cup S. (G3) and Hawthorne Derby (G3) in his past two, the Pletcher pupil is aiming for the November 25 Hollywood Derby (G1).

COMING UP

Just four racing weeks left in the season but it's not going out with a squeak, rather a roar. Big fields and some interesting stakes contests on the horizon.

Tomorrow night in the Ontario-sired FROST KING STAKES, the Not Impossible colt NOT BOURBON has a huge Beyer Figure (84) going in and he has the speedy STUCK IN TRAFFIC to beat. The pair of colts have beaten each other once.

On Dec. 1, the CTHS holds its winter Mixed sale and on Dec.14, the Sovereign Awards will be handed out.

REGAL CLASSIC RETIRED FROM STUD

Canadian champion REGAL CLASSIC has been pensioned from stud duty at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in Saratoga Springs, New York.
The McMahon website said this...
"Regal Classic has earned his retirement. He will live out his years at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds. We are grateful to have enjoyed the last part of his long and successful career at stud."

Regal Classic (1985) by Vice Regent-No Class comes from the Sam-Son Farms' foundation family that includes stars like Grey Classic, Sky Classic, Classy 'n Smart etc.
He was a champion 2yo and won the Prince of Wales Stakes at 3.

Read more on Regal Classic at stud....
http://www.mcmahonthoroughbreds.com/regal-classic.shtml


His leading earners...

Name	Earnings
Regal Roller (AUS)	$1,096,208
Inish Glora	$977,618
One Way Love	$962,518
Classic Stamp	$933,588
Stephanotis	$843,294
Parental Pressure	$756,416
River Boat	$718,547
Regal Discovery	$652,845
Ice Water	$652,287
Great Glen (AUS)	$584,798

ONE WAY LOVE has done his daddy proud as he is a solid Ontario sire while STEPHANOTIS has been siring winners in western Canada.
Regal Classic's top earner at Woodbine this year is the route mare BARONESS.

DOWN MEMORY LANE..
WOODBINE AND RICK'S NATURAL STAR - GREAT STUFF