ACTION!

STERWINS (Runaway Groom) is in the Colonel Bradley at Fair Grounds today. The Canadian-bred could be the leading Canadian-bred of 2008 with a win...
(From www.horse-races.net and TERENCE DULAY)

IT’S FUN TO HANDICAP!

Lots of stakes action, many of them graded, for today.

Here are some thoughts…

AFFECTIONATELY HANDICAP (AQU) – 5 of the gals won their last races and there are several up-and-comers in the field. A wet track boosts the chances of the Brazilian mare ALIYSA but THOROUGHBLOG will lean to the hot stable of trainer Tom Albertrani and the lightly raced starter STAGE LUCK.

PELICAN STAKES (TAMPA) – Ontario-bred ARCHERS ALYANCER goes for Sharon and John Simms. The 6yo gelding suddenly got very good at the end of Woodbine with a 2^nd in the Bunty Lawless on turf and a 2^nd in the Sir Barton on Polyrack. He has never raced at Tampa and he has to cut back to 6 furlongs with some real tough ones in the field. DARK CHEETAH invades from New York for the Dutrow Jr. barn and he has not raced since May but has some back class. There is also the very fast Jump Start colt HE’S SO CHIC coming in from New Jersey for Jason Servis.

COLONEL BRADLEY (FAIR GROUNDS) – Canadian-bred STERWINS just won the Dilberto Memorial on the Fair Grounds grass with a 95 Beyer and he can run faster than that. The Eugene Melynk homebred 5yo gelding meets a slightly tougher field in this race but is a solid contender. Sam-Son Farms’ FRENCH BERET, a 2-time winner who is not the easiest guy in the world to figure out (what is his best distance) is a contender under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

LOUISIANA HANDICAP – A nice field of improving 4yo’s (plus the 9yo SANDBURR, who still has lots of fire in him) and the speed may hold, Watch out for STEVE’S DOUBLE, one of the favourites.

LEGGIO MEMORIAL – Trainer Malcolm Pierce has 2 in the race – DANCEROFTHEREALM, who just won an allowance at the distance on the Fair Grounds turf and SAORISE CAT, who will enjoy returning to grass.

TIFFANY LASS – The Fair Grounds stakes extravaganza continues with 3yo fillies in this first stepping stone to Oaks races. How good is the maiden winner TIZAQUEENA, the Stonerside homebred? Probably good enough for this field.

LECOMTE – There is bound to be a good pace duel in this race and that should help BLACKBERRY ROAD. But, I never like to bet a deep, closing type off the layoff so the pick is MACHO AGAIN this time.

SAN RAFAEL (SANTA ANITA) It’s a small field with some promising types. How about EL GATO MALO to remain undefeated?

SAN PASQUAL HANDICAP - RACKATEER from Stronach Stables, is the pick in a good field.

SAN FERNANDO – Have to bet against TIAGO off the layoff, although for sure his jock will be giving him the customary whip-fest as he has before. The pick is a longshot choice – GREAT HUNTER!

OTHER STUFF

FAIR GROUNDS 1^ST RACE – Ontario –bred D’WILD RIDE makes her 2^nd career start off the claim in a maiden allowance. The D’Wildcat filly (originally a $170,000 2yo purchase) was third in her debut. She was bred by Sophian Stable.

Also in the race is the firster SATIN SASH for Woodford Racing and trainer Mark Casse with Pat Husbands riding. The Silver Deputy filly is a half sister to champion LEONNATUS ANTEAS (out of the mare South Sea Blues). She was bred by Josham Farms.

FAIR GROUNDS 4^TH RACE – The exciting LANGFUHR 4yo colt EUROEARS (what kind of name is that?) is 3 for 3 with Beyer Figures of 91, 96 and 95 in his last race. He is in the Gaudin Memorial Stakes today. The Kentucky bred is out of Unky and Ally by Heff.

FAIR GROUNDS 10^TH – WON AWESOME DUDE, a Canadian-bred by Awesome Again – Lil Punkindo, Maria’s Mon meets up with WRITTEN IN STONE, from Sam-Son Farms. The latter had a stinker on the grass in his last start but is a better dirt/Poly runner perhaps.

AT TURFWAY – Canadian-bred ITUNA is in the Wishing Well Stakes. The Boston Harbor – Goodeve, Pleasant Colony 7yo mare (10 wins in 46 starts) was 3^rd in an allowance race in her last outing.

AT GULFSTREAM – The quick JAZZ NATION, a Canadian-bred who was 2^nd in the Favorite Trick Stakes at Monmuth on Breeders’ Cup weekend is in a 5 ½ furlong turf dash as race 2. Also in the race – remember ONE HOT WISH, that sizzling debut winning filly at Keeneland last spring? She was blasted in 2 subsequent races in the summer.

SIGH……..HORSE DEBUTS AT AGE 10!

SOVEREIGN SIGH debuted at Hawthorne yesterday for $5,000 claiming and finished last. Read about the horse’s arrival to racing in the DAILY RACING FORM, online in yesterday’s news.

HEATIN' UP

At AQUEDUCT yesterday, EXPLOSIVE HEAT won for the 6th time in just 10 starts in an allowance race in the mud. The 6yo by Touch Gold-Skipping Around, Skip Trial is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Sugar Shake and he's owned by Stronach Stables.