GREEN

UPDATE: LIZA SAMUEL PASSES

It is with deep sadness that the Samuel Family announces the passing of Elizabeth June Samuel. All are welcome at the visitation which will take place at Glen Oaks Memorial Chapel, 3164 9^th Line, Oakville, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesday March 18th, and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 19^th. There will be a private family funeral on Thursday March 20th at 11:00 a.m.

The complete announcement is below.

SAMUEL, Elizabeth (Liza) June (nee Chadburn). Elizabeth passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, March 16, 2008, with her family by her side, after a long, heroic battle with cancer and emphysema. She was the first love, beloved wife and best friend of Canadian Industrialist Ernest L (Ernie) Samuel, OC (Deceased). Loving and proud Mom of Kim Samuel-Johnson, Tammy Samuel-Balaz, (Deceased), and Mark Chadburn Samuel. Beloved daughter of the late William Roy and Constance Chadburn of Toronto, Ontario. Elizabeth was the devoted and loving Grandmother to five amazing Grandchildren, Caitlin Samuel-Johnson, Lisa and Michael Balaz and Emma and Griffin Samuel who loved their Gramma very much. Elizabeth was a graduate of Trinity College, University of Toronto. She loved her family, her company, her sailing, her Museum, her gardens and her dogs. She cherished her friendships and always had kindness and humour to share in abundance. Elizabeth was a director and former chairman of the 153 year old family steel service centre business, Samuel, Son & Co., Limited and was a director and former chairman of the publicly-traded industrial products company, Samuel Manu-Tech Inc. Elizabeth shared her love of horses with her children and along with her husband, Ernie, founded Sam-Son Farm, one of North America’s leading thoroughbred breeding and racing operations. A strong believer in giving back to her community and her country, she was a significant philanthropist through the Samuel Family Foundation to the health care, cultural and academic sectors. In 2002, she was the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. Elizabeth was a former Chairman of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Board of Trustees and former Co-chair of the ROM Foundation Board of Governors. Elizabeth will be missed by a wealth of friends but her energy, enthusiasm, tenacity and loving nature will live on in all who knew her. Visitation will take place at Glen Oaks Memorial Chapel, 3164 9th Line, Oakville from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Tuesday March 18th and from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19th. All are welcome. There will be a private family funeral on Thursday March 20th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to her beloved Royal Ontario Museum or to the cancer care organization of your choice would be appreciated.

If you missed THOROUGHBLOG this weekend, you missed my write up on the old horses who were racing on Friday plus the retirement of DANTHEBLUEGRASSMAN and the death of BRAVE MINER. You also missed news of Canadian-breds around the tracks, the QUEEN’S PLATE WINTERBOOK , a video of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and lots of Kentucky Derby news.

Read recent posts below to catch up!

More babies! ASCOT STUD presents a full brother to California stakes mare FLEET CAROLINE.. a Tejano Run-Wynona fellow born March 12.

YESTERDAY’S NEWS - SKY CONQUEROR UPDATE

I found out that Grade 1 winner SKY CONQUEROR is training steadily in Ocala, Florida and is getting ready for another campaign for Bill Sorkolit and trainer Darwin Banach. His rival JAMBALAYA is also returning to training in Florida.

Gil Rowntree’s NIKEY MISSILE won for the 2^nd consecutive time at Gulfstream under trainer Paul Maxwell. The Mt. Livermore-Girl On a Mission gelding paid $30 for his win for $18,000 claiming. Hill ‘n’ Dale bred the gelding.

Woodbine runner Gurkhas Band was claimed from the race from trainer Tino Attard.

Six-year-old POP ROCKET (Golden Missile-Poopsie) won for Stronach Stables and Justin Nixon at Laurel yesterday for $20,000 claiming.

ULTRA REGENT (Kiridashi-Regent’s Fancy) won for $30,000 claiming at Mountaineer for owner/trainer Rob Johnston. The gelding was bred by Royal Oak Farm.

One race later SWEET AFTON (Bold Executive-Cuddly Chops, Caveat) won a starter allowance for JR Racing.

Canadian-bred SALOMEA, owned by Lynne Hindmarsh and trained by Dave Cross Jr., finished last in the Honeybee Stakes at Oaklwn Park. The Milwaukee Brew filly had been 3^rd in an allowance race in her previous start.

(at right) On March 9, this colt by

PARISIANPROSPECTOR

- TUMBLING ACT (Kiridashi) arrived in the world of owner and breeder Lois Keays.

PYRO now No. 1 for Kentucky Derby

War Pass drops after last-place finish

Published on Monday, Mar 17, 2008

From Beacon Journal wire services (www.ohio.com)

Smiling and signing autographs as he left the winner's circle, Barclay Tagg attempted to explain the remarkable turn of events at the Tampa Bay Derby in Oldsmar, Fla.

''Anything's possible, or impossible, in racing,'' the trainer said.

His colt, Big Truck, won Saturday's race while overwhelming favorite War Pass finished last in the first loss of his up-to-now brilliant career.

The astonishing outcome shook the road to the Kentucky Derby, with Louisiana Derby winner Pyro replacing War Pass at No. 1 in this week's Run to the Roses' Top 10. War Pass, the 2-year-old champion who won his first five races in front-running style, dropped to No. 7, just behind new arrival Big Truck.

Circumstances might have prevented War Pass from running his best. He had a fever early in the week, was too eager in the gate and was pinched between horses at the start. Still, don't count out trainer Nick Zito's speed demon. War Pass could run in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, then end up in the Derby on May 3.

Zito said Sunday that War Pass came out of the race in fine shape, although there were several cuts on his legs from being jostled at the start by Make Me Zach and Gentleman James.

''Everything is working good mechanically,'' Zito said by phone from Gulfstream Park in South Florida. ''We'll do more X-rays tomorrow, but, thank God, he looks fine. That certainly wasn't the War Pass we know. Hopefully, we'll look to go forward in the Wood.''

Pyro, meanwhile, is now the prime Derby contender. The colt trained by Steve Asmussen is 2-for-2 this year, with both wins punctuated by explosive finishing kicks.

Big Truck, a New York-bred colt owned by Eric Fein, won his first stakes race and improved his record to 3-for-7. After earning $180,000, Big Truck now has nearly $200,000 in graded stakes earnings — all but guaranteeing a spot in the Derby if more than the maximum of 20 horses are entered.

POLL RESULTS

I wanted to know who was out there taking a little peek at my ramblings on THOROUGHBLOG and the results are very interesting.

Firstly, thanks for all the emails from folks saying ‘hi’ and, as you can see, I get a lot of baby pictures too, keep ‘em coming!

I had 98 folks vote on the poll and this is what I found out..

Owners/Want to be an owner – 30 votes (31%)

Trainer – 12 votes (12%)

Work in Industry – 20 (20%)

Serious bettor – 4 (4%)

Recreational bettor/fan – 32 (33%)

AIKEN TRIALS held last Saturday

Peruse this story to get some hints on horses that will soon be racing at Keeneland and other locations....

from the WWW.aikenstandard.com

By BEN BAUGH Staff writer

Questions about the weather for the 66th running of the Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track were answered emphatically by the horses outstanding performances on Saturday, and for the seventh time in eight years, Nekia Farm won the City of Aiken Trophy.
Three strong entries composed the field for the Sixth Trial, and for the second consecutive year, Nekia Farm's Cyberflash won in impressive style, wiring the field, increasing his lead with each stride to win by a devastating eight lengths. Steve Epley Jr. conditions the 8-year-old son of Cyberspace. Ricardo Chiappe was in the irons on the bay gelding.
"He'll be going back to Delaware Park, and we'll run him on the turf," said Epley Jr. "He has a lot of class. He's only had a couple of breezes since we took him out of training. He needed a break, which he never really had. The break did him a world of good, He looks better than he ever has."
At first glance Stonerside Stable's Truly Lucky looked like the horse to beat in the day's First Trial, the 1/4-mile Gaver Trophy, and the bay filly failed to disappoint, drawing away, and than courageously fighting off the challenge of W.C. Freeman's Buck Sign, a locally bred, foaled, broken and trained horse in the day's first race.
A full sister to Stonerside Stable's multiple stakes winner General Charley, the juvenile filly was broken and is trained in Aiken by Tim Jones. Jockey Jason Caudle was up for the victory. The winner's sire Truluck is a Grade 3 winner, having captured the 1999 Salvator Mile. The accredited Texas-bred will be going to the barn of Mike Stidham, said John Adger, Stonerside Stable bloodstock and racing manager.
"We're just pleased to win a trial down here, it's been difficult to win one, we haven't won one in a while," said Adger. "We're pleased with Truly Lucky, whose sire Truluck stands at Lane's End Texas. Truluck is named after one of Janice McNair's (owner of Stonerside Stable) dearest friends, who's from Truluck, South Carolina. We're excited."
The day's Second Trial, The Coward Trophy proved to be a confidence boost for Dogwood Stable's Kickapoo as the son of Grade One winner Indian Charlie held off the late move of Scooter Rat to capture the second trial. The Ron Stevens charge was handled confidently by Jessica Schultz.
"When we broke Kickapoo last year, he was probably the spookiest horse in the barn, and I would've never have guessed he would be running in the trials," said Stevens. "He's headed to Keeneland, and will go to Todd Pletcher. He has good breeding, being sired by Indian Charlie, and we think he's a nice horse. He showed quickness, and courage holding off the horse Scooter Rat, who will be going to Anthony Dutrow. Screen Your Friend is a real nice horse, he's going to be good going two turns for sure, maybe 7/8's (of a mile). I really liked him a lot. He's a really big horse, and I thought it was a good performance for going a quarter of a mile."
A strong pace paid dividends for New York-bred colt Dagnabit, a son of Freud, who collared front runner Wrightster to win the Third Trial, The Post Trophy, by a nose. The Lansdon Robbins, III homebred made a powerful move to take an appreciable lead away from the front runner and prevail at the wire. Dagnabit was conditioned by Brad Stauffer and had jockey Victor Sambrano in the irons. Robbins' Azalea Stable's graded stakes winner Drilling For Oil, who was broken and trained in Aiken by Ron Stevens, will race with another Stevens' broken and trained horse, Pleasant Strike in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Handicap today at Gulfstream Park.
"I brought the mare (Cool Ghoul) in 2000, this is her second foal, her first foal won over $100,000, he's a full brother to Bad Boy Rising, who was named for (trainer) Rick Dutrow. Rick's going to get this horse to, and he's about twice the size of Bad Boy Rising, so, hopefully his size will carry a little bit more, and we'll have some fun with him."
Jammin Syd survived a five-way battle coming from off the pace to secure the victory in the 3-furlong Stable Pony Race, The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy. The son of multiple Grade I winner Siphon (BRZ), was ridden to victory by Alejandro Campos. The 7 year-old gelding held off the ferocious late charge of Cowboy, a 5 year-old chestnut gelding by Rodeo, with Stonerside Stable's Tim Jones in the irons.
Suzy Haslup on Stephen Jones and Ron Stevens up on Duke set the early fractions in the heated contest.
"He's a nice horse, the race was a lot of fun for the riders and the trainers," said Campos.
Nekia Farms' Perfect Nekia overcame a slow start to open up to win by daylight in capturing the Fifth Trial, The Von Stade Trophy, winning by three lengths under confident handling by jockey Ricardo Chiappe. The Steve Epley, Jr. charge is by Perfect Mandate and is being pointed toward his next start which will be at Delaware Park, said Bruce Snipes Nekia Farms' owner.
"He's ready to go," said Snipes. "We knew he'd be doing his running late. He's not the fastest out of the gate, but when he gets in gear. He's got a great dam (Nifty Slew), she's produced two open stakes winners, including Hostility. She's got a nice baby by More Than Ready.

"Results:

The First Trial: The Gaver Trophy 2 Year-Old Maiden Fillies1/4-mile1. Truly Lucky, Stonerside Stable, Tim Jones, Jason Caudle, :23 4/5.2. Buck Sign, W.C. Freeman, W.C. Freeman, James “Bo” Burns.3. Whistlin’ Along, Bill Carl, Brad Stauffer, Jessica Schultz.

Second Trial: The Coward Trophy 2 Year-Old Maiden Colts and Geldings1/4-mile1. Kickapoo. Dogwood Stable, Ron Stevens, Jessica Schultz, :23 2/5.2. Scooter Rat, Lansdon Robbins, III, Alberto Negrete, Victor Sambrano.3. Screen Your Friend, Bill Carl, Brad Stauffer, Salvadore Torres.

Third Trial: The Post Trophy 2 Year-Old Maiden Open1/4-mile1. Dagnabit, Lansdon Robbins, III, Brad Stauffer, Victor Sambrano, :24.2. Wrightster, Nekia Farms, Steve Epley, Jr., Ricardo Chiappe.3. Oconee, Stonerside Stable, Tim Jones, Jason Caudle.

Fourth Trial: The Stable Pony Race The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy3-Furlongs1. Jammin Syd, Equestrian Farm, Anthony Marrone, Alejandro Campos.2. Cowboy, Tim Jones, Tim Jones, Tim Jones.3. Duke, Ron Stevens, Ron Stevens, Ron Stevens.

Fifth Trial: 3 Year-Old and Up Maiden OpenThe Von Stade Trophy4 1/2-furlongs1. Perfect Nekia, Nekia Farm, Steve Epley, Jr., Ricardo Chiappe. :55 2/5.2. Free Agency, Manchester Farm, Ron Stevens, Salvador Torres.3. Wolf Warrior, Roger Brown, Tom Bentley, Caroline Sankey.

Sixth Trial: Horses who have won a race, 3 years-old and up, The City of Aiken Trophy4 1/2-furlongs1. Cyberflash, Nekia Farms, Steve Epley, Jr., Ricardo Chiappe, :54. 2. Blotto, Dogwood Stable, Ron Stevens, Victor Sambrano.3. Golden Ballad, Helen Andrews, Anne Mitchell, John Hamilton.

CURLIN WORKS IN DUBAI

From www.drcnewswire.com

Curlin impressed connections at Nad Al Sheba this morning in what was his most important work-out prior to the Dubai World Cup (copyright Dubai Racing Club/Monica Pinheiro)

If ever a racehorse met all expectations in a major workout, it was American Horse of the Year Curlin in his Monday drill at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai.

Sent out around 7:30am on a cool, breezy morning for what was described as his most significant exercise prior to the US$6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), sponsored by Emirates Airline, Curlin did exactly what trainer Steve Asmussen wanted.

Travelling easily under exercise rider Carmen “Carlos” Rosas, the robust son of Smart Strike worked six furlongs (about 1,200 meters) in 1:13.54, with his first eighth mile (about 200 meters) in :13.40 and his final furlong in :12.19.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi said Curlin “is just in a really good rhythm right now.

“It was exactly what we had in mind, and he galloped out strong,” he added. “That was his major move for the Dubai World Cup, and I couldn’t be happier with how he went and the rhythm he is in.”

Curlin is being honed for the Dubai World Cup in much the same pattern Asmussen used in the colt’s preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1) last October, a race he won with ease over America’s best runners.

Blasi said Asmussen’s primary goal with Monday’s workout was that Curlin get the first furlong in :13 and change and the last in :12 and change, noting “that’s exactly what he did.”

Although Blasi said Rosas “is a man of few words,” the rider “is very excited about how strong (Curlin) is; he says he feels as strong as he ever has.”

Despite that power, Curlin has learned how to focus his energy and has a keen sense of what will be asked of him and how he should perform.

“He’s a very intelligent horse. It’s almost as if he knows what we’re going to do with him every day,” Blasi said.

“And as good as Curlin can feel at the barn or when he is walking, when he is on the racetrack with a rider on his back, he’s as professional a racehorse as I’ve ever seen.

"When he steps on the track, he goes to work. That’s been a blessing in working with him, how professional he is.”

Curlin has grown from this three-year-old season, filling out what already was an impressively sculpted physique.

“He’s just a stronger, more mature horse,” said Blasi, who has worked with Curlin since he arrived in Asmussen’s barn last winter and who is overseeing his training in Dubai for primary owner Jess Jackson and his Stonestreet Stable and his minority partner, the Midnight Cry Stable.

“He’s thicker—and he’s put on weight in all the right places. He was a big horse as a three-year-old, but he’s a lot bigger now.”

Curlin will have one more timed workout before the Dubai World Cup, but it will not be as demanding as Monday’s six-furlong drill, Blasi said.

Meanwhile, five other American-trained horses worked on Sunday in the United States prior to their scheduled flights to Dubai on Tuesday.

Dubai World Cup contenders A. P. Arrow and Great Hunter worked on opposite coasts, with the former turning in a five-furlong breeze at Palm Beach Downs in Florida in 1:00.40 and the latter an easy six furlongs in 1:15, handily, at Hollywood Park in California.

The most sensational workout in terms of time was posted by Bushwacker, who fired a bullet :45 for a half-mile at Hollywood, fastest of 28 moves at the distance. Bushwacker is set to run in the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1), sponsored by Gulf News.

Spring House, a candidate for the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1), sponsored by Nakheel, worked five furlongs at Santa Anita Park in 1:00.40.

NO JOCKEYS? NO TROUBLE!

The famous horse race in Siena, Italy, the Paolio...horses running wild on the streets in a race without jockeys..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K-g8ZIfXGg

EDMONTON ARABIANS

Okay, this is not racehorse news but I wanted to update horse lovers on the plight of the animals rescued from the Arabian horse farm in Edmonton, Alberta…

Here is a link and it also offers other links (on the right side of the page) related to the story.

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/TopStories/ContentPosting.aspx?feedname=CTV-TOPSTORIES_V2&showbyline=True&newsitemid=CTVNews%2f20080316%2fhorse_rescue_080316