GREY DAYS

(Monashee is pictured after her loss in the Maple Leaf at Woodbine, regarded by many as a messy trip that spoiled the mare's chance to keep her win streak intact. Photo from www.horse-races.net)

Monashee, one of Canada's top older mares in the last two years and a Sovereign Award nominee the last 2 years for champion older mare, won the PASEANA STAKES at Santa Anita yesterday in front running fashion.

The 6yo mare returned to the winner's circle in her first outing since an 11-race winning streak came to an end in the Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine in which she did not have a tirp that suited her style.

Yesterday, under Mike Smith, the Wolf Power mare led all the way in the $80,0200 races and raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.17.

BRISNET.COM recap

Monashee posts 14th career stakes victory in Paseana

Ole A. Nielsen's MONASHEE (Wolf Power [SAf]) has been a veritable win machine in Western Canada, and the six-year-old gray mare showed why she is so difficult to beat when capturing her United States debut in Monday's $80,200 Paseana H. at Santa Anita. Displaying tactical speed, the ability to relax on the front end, and iron-hearted resolve, Monashee completed 1 1/16 miles on the Cushion Track in 1:42 to record her 14th career stakes victory.

Going straight to the early lead beneath new rider Mike Smith, Monashee reeled off fractions of :23 4/5, :47 1/5 and 1:10 3/5 and held a commanding position turning for home. When Sweet Belle (Deputy Commander) threw down a serious challenge and narrowed the gap, Monashee dug down deep and gave unstintingly to maintain a half-length margin at the wire.

The 7-2 third choice in the six-horse field, Monashee returned $9, $4.80 and $3.20 while spearheading $1 exotics worth $31.70 (exacta) and $107.10 (5-3-2 trifecta). Sweet Belle finished one length ahead of third-placer Foxysox (GB) (Foxhound), with 7-5 favorite Grain of Truth (GB) (Gulch) another 1 1/2 lengths adrift in fourth.

Monashee improved her sparkling record to 24-18-1-0 with $693,675 in earnings. Even more impressive than her overall mark, she had racked up an 11-race winning streak, all in stakes company in Western Canada. That skein was broken last time out when she made her Woodbine bow in the Maple Leaf S., fading to eighth in the 1 1/4-mile test. Trained throughout her exemplary Canadian career by Tracy McCarthy, Monashee was making her first start for Jason Orman in the Paseana.

The Kentucky-bred Monashee is out of the Wall Street Dancer mare Avide.

GOODIES FROM LAST WEEKEND














EUROEARS (TOP LEFT), undefeated Kentucky-bred by Canadian-bred LANGFUHR and Canadian-bred FRENCH BERET were winners at Fair Grounds on the weekend. Photos from www.-horse-races.net

From afp.google.com

Bo Derek launches Canadian campaign against horse meat

VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) — Veteran American actress, horse lover and onetime Playboy model Bo Derek launched a campaign Monday to stop horses from being slaughtered for meat in Canada.

Activists say a new ban on horse meat in all US states has led to animals from that country being sold at American auctions, then trucked across the borders to be slaughtered for meat which is exported mostly to Europe.

"A lot of the horses that would have gone to slaughter there are being shipped to Canada and Mexico," said Derek, who was invited to this west coast city to launch the Canadian campaign by the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition.

"Most people don't know what's going on," said the 51-year-old blue-eyed actress, who owns five horses.

"Horses are never bred to be eaten. They're not even beasts of burden anymore, those are the old days," she said. "They're beautiful animals, used in sport and as companion animals."

Derek, who has been active in the US campaign against horsemeat for six years, warned that the lack of US legislation against shipping horses for meat could lead to the slaughter of 100,000 the animals in Canada this year.

"It's very brutal," she said. "We've been breeding our livestock to be docile and manageable, and it's quite the opposite with horses. They're meant to be fast, and beautiful. They're simply not set up for the process of slaughter."

The Canadian Horse Defense Coalition campaign is also calling for tougher federal laws to protect animals in Canada, saying that current legislation allows horses to travel for as long as 36 hours without a stop for food or water.

From www.baltimoresun.com

Decision due on Barbaro's ashes

By Sandra McKee | Sun Reporter

January 15, 2008

Nearing the one-year anniversary of Barbaro's death, Gretchen Jackson -- who along with husband Roy owned the horse -- said yesterday they are close to announcing a decision about where the 2006 Kentucky Derby champion's ashes will be buried.

Barbaro was euthanized Jan. 29 after an eight-month battle to overcome a shattered right rear leg and the ensuing complication of laminitis in his rear left hoof. Almost miraculously, he recovered from the initial injury that occurred in the Preakness on May 20, 2006.

But he could not overcome the inflammation that eventually spread and left him with virtually no hoof to stand on. At that point, the decision was made to put him to rest.

At the time of his death, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., were among the places that offered burial sites. The Jacksons proposed the idea that a museum in Pennsylvania to honor the region's contribution to horse racing also might be appropriate.

Yesterday, Jackson said the museum idea had been put aside, but every outside offer of a resting place has been considered and she and her husband are "very close" to making a decision.

"It's taken us long enough," she said. "The No. 1 thing we've been doing is trying to decide who will do a statue of Barbaro. We've spent time looking at various artists' work, and we're now waiting on maquettes [small preliminary models] to see how each artist represents him. That's what we're waiting for. Once we see those, and I don't know how much longer that will take, everything should come together.

"He will be in a significant place where there is access to everyone who is interested in visiting him," she said. "It's an appropriate place in terms of how we like to think of him."

sandra.mckee@baltsun.com