MAKE IT STOP

Buried under another heavy blanket of snow this morning but warmed by the fact that...

1- there is some awesome racing this weekend including a good Kentucky Derby prep at Fair Grounds (Risen Star Stakes)

2- Readers of this space have been sending in their freshman sire teams with a Stallion Star with great frequency. Closing date is March 1. Updates will come every couple of weeks throughout the year. (Statistics will be provided by either Brisnet.com or THOROUGHBRED TIMES or BLOOD-HORSE.

3-And...THOROUGHBLOG will be off on Sunday Feb. 10-Feb. 17 for parts very much southern.

COMMENTS

Just a note regarding comments from readers. THOROUGHBLOG will attempt to print as many as possible. Those that offer opinions with personal attacks or are simply nasty, will not be published.

Yesterday's post about STEVE ASMUSSEN coming to Woodbine with a string of horses received mixed reviews. Only a couple of were printed but thank you to those who did submit opinions.

76 BEYER FOR ‘THUNDER’

NIAGARA THUNDER ran a super race in his 3yo debut yesterday at Gulfstream for Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. and trainer Alec Fehr. The 3yo Canadian-bred colt, who was 2^nd to the highly regarded GIQUERE in his debut last year at Woodbine, was a close 3^rd and striding out well in the late stages of the 1 1/16 mile turf race.

Sold by Richard Hogan, agent for $90,730 (U.S.). for breeders Hope Stock Farm and Karen and Mickey Taylor, Niagara Thunder is by Hussonet out of winning Seatlle Slew mare Terrigal. The mare’s other 2 foals are winner Val Gardena and the unplaced Glory and Faith.

Whether a grass race leads this one to the Queen’s Plate is another question but certainly the Breeders’ Stakes could be an option.

Woodbine trainer MIKE DEPAULO sent out CAM ALLARD’S 7yo CUBA to win the 6^th race at Gulfstream yesterday, a $16,000 claiming race. The gelding was claimed by Leo-Sag Stable.

NURSE BETTY (Dr. Adagio) won a $5,000 claiming race yesterday at Laurel as odds-on. The filly was bred by Nancy Mitchell in Ontario and is out of the Matter of Honour mare Mrs. Alimony. The filly races for Home Team Stable, trainer Scott Lake.

(There was a filly in this race at odds of 222 to 1!! – finished 6^th)

SANTA ANITA COULD LAND 2009 CUP TOO

By Art Wilson, Staff Writer

From www.sbsun.com

ARCADIA - Oak Tree Racing Association officials are optimistic they will learn sometime today that Santa Anita has been selected to host an unprecedented second consecutive Breeders' Cup in 2009.

The Breeders' Cup host track selection committee will meet with the event's board of directors today in Palm Beach, Fla., and a decision on next year's site is expected to be announced after the meeting at about 11 a.m., PST.

It's believed to be a two-horse race between Santa Anita and Churchill Downs, the latter of which has hosted a record six Breeders' Cups. Santa Anita will host its fourth this year on Oct. 24-25.

"We're one of the very top-tier leading contenders," Santa Anita marketing director Allen Gutterman said Wednesday. "We're very hopeful that it will be us for the second year in a row."

Track president Ron Charles, who recently said he does not believe the recent track woes at Santa Anita adversely will affect the track's Breeders' Cup chances for 2009, also is optimistic about the outcome.

"We're certainly excited and hoping that again Santa Anita is chosen and Oak Tree will host it," he said.

Oak Tree executive vice-president Sherwood Chillingworth said a third racetrack had entered the bidding at the last minute.

"It was Santa Anita versus Churchill Downs for a while, and I understand another track has inserted an offer, but it's very unlikely that track will get it," said Chillingworth, who would not confirm the third track involved.

Said Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau: "The scuttlebutt I heard a long time ago was that they were going to have it at Oak Tree for 2009, too."

Breeders' Cup official Jim Gluckson would only confirm a meeting will take place and site selection is one of the items on the agenda. He said a decision may or may not be announced today.

"I'd rather not speculate," he said. "If there is a decision that will come out of the meeting, we don't know. If there is a decision, we'll put out an announcement."

Gluckson, asked if 2009 was between Santa Anita and Churchill Downs, said, "I can't say that. I can't discuss the number of tracks that are involved."

FRIDAY RACING IN LIMBO

Charles said late Wednesday afternoon a decision about Friday's card at Santa Anita probably will be made sometime today.

"I think we'll know late tonight or certainly first thing in the morning (about Friday)," he said. "The key will be how far we get tonight."

Track superintendent Richard Tedesco and his crew have been at work since Monday reformulating Cushion Track with Pro-Ride's polymers and fibers in an effort to fix the drainage problem the synthetic surface has encountered virtually since it was installed in August.

The rain that caused a cancellation of Sunday's nine-race card also has slowed a project that was expected to take four days. Crews have been working from about 7 a.m. until 1 a.m.

art.wilson@sgvn.com

DUBAI PREVIEW FOR THIS MORNING..

From www.gulfnews.com

By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor

Dubai: Trainer Saeed Bin Surour has a strong hand in today's second round of the Maktoum Challenge with Boscobel, Eu Tambem and Imperial Star expected to dictate proceedings in the Group 3 contest.

The Godolphin handler will be looking for his sixth success in the race and first since Moon Ballad in 2004.

Overseas runners have triumphed in recent years and last year's winner Kandidate will be bidding to become the third horse to win in consecutive years after Godolphin's Best of The Bests (2001-'02) and Jack Sullivan (2005-'06).

Boscobel, fourth in last year's Irish Derby, and Eu Tambem, winner of Maktoum Challenge Round 3 at last year's Carnival, merit plenty of respect.

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Assessing the chances of his runners, Bin Surour, on the stable's website, said: "Boscobel is working well and I am happy with his progress. I think racing on dirt will be fine for him and he has won three times on Polytrack in England.

"Eu Tambem is in good form and I am happy with him. It looks like it will be a tough race, but he is ready and I am looking forward to a good run from him.

"Imperial Star has been working well and is another who is ready to run. I'm happy with his progress and hopeful for a good race."

The Godolphin runners take on a strong field including Kandidate, Jack Sullivan and recent Invasor Stakes winner Lucky Find from the Mike de Kock stable.

Step up in class

Ex-Godolphin horse Rampallion, now trained by Erwan Charpy, looks to have a big chance provided he can cope with the step up in class. A five-year-old by Daylami, Rampallion caught the eye when producing a late burst to win a competitive handicap over course and distance last month.

British trainer Clive Brittain is hoping Kandidate will be able to "emulate what he did last year' when winning the Group 2 by 5 lengths from Mullins Bay.

"The plan is to get him invited to run in the Dubai World Cup again but it obviously depends on his performance in the Maktoum Challenge," the trainer told the Dubai Racing Club.

"We hope to take our chance, but realise the Carnival is getting tougher each year. We felt that in last year's World Cup when he broke he stumbled and that hampered him from the off.

"I'm not saying that he would have won but he would have been a lot closer to the fourth placed horse Vermilion."

Today's card features some strong handicap races with powerful South African trainer De Kock holding most of the aces.

Selections

First race: 1. Al Jalfane 2. Santhal

Second: 1. Drift Ice 2. Mariol

Third: 1. Happy Runner 2. Frosty Secret

Fourth: 1. African Appeal 2. Big Timer

Fifth: 1. Many Colours 2. Sun Classique

Sixth: 1. Eu Tambem 2. Rampallion

Seventh: 1. Engrupido 2. Malahem

KENTUCKY BEAR TO FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley) could make his next start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Canadian-owned 3yo colt won his debut outing with a 93 Beyer Figure and could be headed to the Kentucky Derby.

In order to get consideration for the Derby, the colt has to start accumulating points.

The colt is owned by Dany Dion’s Bear Stables and trained by Reade Baker.

EMMA-JAYNE, SATURDAY AT SHA TIN

(You can watch and wager on these races through the Woodbine teletheatre network or on HPI TV if you can stay up that late!)

Race 1 – CHALLENGER

Race 3- NASA PEARL

Race 4- WHATAFANTASY (Class 1, Daffodil Stakes)

Race 5- COME HO CHOI

Race 6- WIN MORE

Race 7 –MAINLAND MASTER

Race 8 – SUPER TRAVELLER, Class 1 Chinese New Year Cup $1.6 million

Race 10- DIAMOND ERA

ONTARIO STALLION AWARDS FROM THE C.T.H.S

Rexdale, ON - February 6, 2008 - The Ontario CTHS is pleased to announce the leading recipients of its Stallion Awards program, representing the 35 stallions who received awards totaling $400,000 based on the successes of their Ontario-sired progeny in the 2007 racing season.

Each year, through the Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP), Stallion Awards totaling $400,000 are distributed to stallion owners for their successful eligible progeny. This program is made up of two categories: Stallion Year End Points Awards, wherein $250,000 is distributed on the basis of points earned by the progeny of the stallion during the 2007 calendar year; and Year End Top Stallions Awards, wherein $150,000 is distributed to stallions whose progeny achieved the highest in North American earnings last year.

The 2007 Top Ontario Sires Award recipients are as follows:
1st - Bold Executive; 2nd - Bold n' Flashy; 3rd - Tethra.

The Top First Crop Sire by North American Earnings of Eligible Progeny: 1st - Ciano Cat.

Topping the list is Canada's leading sire, Bold Executive, who earned $106,857 in Stallion Awards representing top sire and year end points awarded in 2007. Last year, Bold Executive, the leading Polytrack sire in North America, sired 77 winners from 133 starters with his progeny earning over $4.3 million. Among his leading runners for 2007 were stakes winners Legal Move, Main Executive, and Krz Exec. Bold Executive stands at Gardiner Farms Ltd. in Caledon East, Ontario.

Bold n' Flashy was awarded $57,343 in Stallion Awards, having sired 56 winners from 97 starters in 2007, with progeny earnings of over $2.2 million. Among his leading runners were stakes winners Flashy Pink, Red Raffles, and Marco Be Good. Bold n' Flashy stands at Park Stud in Orangeville, Ontario.

Multiple stakes winner Tethra received $33,020 in Stallion Awards. In 2007, he produced 45 winners from 83 starters with progeny earnings of more than $1.7 million from leading runners such as Don's Folly, Orna, and Brockport. Tethra stands at Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge, Ontario.

Ciano Cat was awarded $53,906 in Stallion Awards as Top First Crop Sire. Last year, the son of Storm Cat produced 14 winners from 38 starters with two-year-old progeny earnings of $361,993. His leading 2007 runners include Five and Off, Ciano Nights, and Gato Loco. Ciano Cat also stands at Gardiner Farms Ltd.

"On behalf of the CTHS, we would like to congratulate our Ontario stallions on their breeding and racing success," said Julie Coulter, General Manager of the Ontario CTHS. "Through our Stallion Awards program, it allows us another means to reward our stallions and reaffirm the confidence we have in our Ontario breeders."