POST # 700!

This is the 700th posting on THOROUGHBLOG (started March 2006)



QUEEN'S PLATE BARBEQUE MONDAY....

The long-time and unique tradition of the parading of the Queen's Plate entrants for media and horsepeople continues Monday at noon at Woodbine.

(at right is jockey JONO JONES, who was mad he lost the Plate a few years back on A BIT O'GOLD - he has another chance this year with NOT BOURBON)


The Queen's Plate barbeque was started years ago by BRUCE WALKER of the Woodbine media department.
Walker sent THOROUGHBLOG a funny story from a barbeque years ago..


Read on your web-site that the Queen's Plate B-BQ is tomorrow.
It brought back memories.
When I first started the Plate BBQs, to bring the media to meet the horses and their handlers, we held it on the backstretch, close to the sales arena.
At one of the first affairs Frankie Merrill brought along Donald (The KO Kid) Gilkey as a "guest".
The food was set up in a tent with clear plastic roll-up sides.
The clear plastic was down this day because of the threat of a sudden thunderstorm.
Anyway, Gilkey got into the grog and, in an urgent need to relieve himself, dashed around the side of the tent. In his inebriated state he didn't realize that the side of the tent was clear plastic. Yep, old KoKid whizzed in clear view of the assembled.
I thought Merrill was going to piss his pants laughing.
I didn't.


QUEEN'S PLATE NEWS

GINGER BREW - A QUEEN'S PLATE SUPPLEMENT! (FOR $25,000)?

The report from the Stronach Stables camp is that HARLEM ROCKER, who had a messy workout on Saturday morning, will NOT race in Sunday's Plate.
As mentioned in this space on Saturday morning, the colt's workout on the Polytrack saw him speed early and then get very tired in a 5 furlong prep.
Owner Frank Stronach wanted to view the workout tape before deciding on whether to race the colt.
"As it stands now, it is Ginger Brew and Jungle Brew," said Mike Rogers.

GINGER BREW would be in the Plate just 2 weeks after a big Oaks win.

The Milwaukee Brew filly, off an 88 Beyer in the Oaks and who has posted a 93 this year, would have to be supplemented for $25,000 since she was not kept nominated.
(Last year DAAHER was supplemented to the Plate but he was not a factor)
Stronach will also be represented by JUNGLE BREW, one of 5 maidens considered entrants in the 15 horse field.
Jungle Brew will be ridden by HARLEM ROCKER'S JOCKEY, EIBAR COA.
Brian Lynch trains both horses.

There are several American-based riders in the Plate:


PLATE CONTENDERS horse-owner-trainer-jock-current form

D. Flutie/Gus Schickedanz/Mike Keogh/Emile Ramsammy MAIDEN

Deputiformer/David James/Mike DePaulo/Jerry Baird SW AT 2

Dylan's Choice/Winter Road Racing Corporation/Desmond Maynard/Chantal
Sutherland CLAIMING WINNER

East End Tap/Sheik Yobuti Racing Stable Inc./Reade Baker/Tyler Pizarro WINNER

Ginger Brew/Stronach Stables/Brian Lynch/Javier Castellano SW

Harvest Home/Sam-Son Farm/Mark Frostad/Corey Fraser MAIDEN

Jungle Brew/Stronach Stables/Brian Lynch/Eibar Coa MAIDEN

Mamma's Knight/Mike Kowalski/Sam DiPasquale/Justin Stein WINNER

Not Bourbon/Charles Fipke/Roger Attfield/Jono Jones SW

Palmers/Melynk Racing Stables Inc./Mark Casse/Patrick Husbands WINNER

Sebastian's Song/Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc./Alec Fehr/David Clark STAKES PLACED

Shadowless/Heather Takahashi/David Bell/Emma-Jayne Wilson STAKES PLACED

Silver Jag/Earl Daynes/Josie Carroll/Slade Callaghan MAIDEN

Solitaire/William Clifton/James Bond/Robert Landry MAIDEN

Took the Time/Earle I. Mack/Mark Casse/Ramon Dominguez WINNER


Centennial Farms' SEBASTIAN'S SONG, who will go it along in the Plate after his mate Niagara Thunder was injured last week, had a big workout on Sunday morning.

The colt reportedly started three lengths behind Colorful Judgement and Dubai Gold, both top runners for trainer Alec Fehr,and beat that pair to stop the clock in 1:12 3/5.

David Clark will ride.



BECKY IS SHARP

DEGANNES WINS FIRST STAKE

Woodbine Sunday

Patricia Martin's homebred BECKY SHARP was a stunning winnerof the Zadracarta Stakes after lulling everyone to sleep on the pace and the gutting it out to win the 6 furlong turf dash by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:08.81.
The 6yo Favorite trick-Lucny Minster, Bold Ruckus mare was 2nd in the race last year in her season debut and did not win in 7 races in 2007.
A regular nibbling type, she got away with a big steal in the event and was well prepared by trainer Andrew Smith.
Rob Landry rode.

Bill and Vicki Poston's SOUTHERN EXCHANGE remained undefeated to win the Victoria Stakes for 2yo's overe just 4 rivals but the grey Exchange Rate colt looked good doing it.
A Florida bred out of the Woodman mare Miss Madeleine, Southern Exchange was always in range of the leader Yo Joe, took a quick lead on the tyrn and was gone, wining by 4 3/4 lengths.

"Buzz Chace bought him for me as a yearling ($32,000) and I was going to re-sell him the next year but I liked him more than anybody else I guess, " said Poston, an Atlanta builder.

Trainer Greg de Gannes was winninng his first stake as a trainer.
"I liked this colt the moment I saw him get off the van," said De Gannes. "Mr. Chace is one of the most celebrated bloodstick agents anwyehere and this is a very atheltic colt."



OTHER WINNERS

ARMORED,an Ontario bred by Malibu Moon-Arm Charm, Gold Fever won his maiden in race 1 for Woodford Racing and trainer Mark Casse.
bred by Shyman Farms, the colt was making his 3yo debut and won by 2 lengths at odds on inder a hand ride by TYLER PIZARRO, who won 3 races on the card.

Front running WISHART won as the 3rd favourite in race 2 for Alpine Stable and Francesca Armata. The Bold Executive-Set Destiny mare, bred by William Gierkink, won for $20,000 claiming.

CRITICAL PATH is an honest daughter of Trajectory. A surprising loser last time out, she stayed close to the slow pace this time and made an early move to the lead and won by almost 4 lengths. She is owned by Hendrie Stable and trained by Mike Doyle. The filly, a 3yo, won the allowance race for Ontario sired gals at 3 to 1 and she was bred by Gardiner Farms.
There were a couple of foul claims in the race,both against the grey horse ANGELS LUCKY DAY apparently, but both were disallowed.

GDS and Lorna Perkins' PLEASANT MIX, trained by Lorna Perkins and ridden by Jerry Baird, was a 15 to 1 winner of the 5th race on the grass for allowances. Bred for grass and one who could have been considered a longshotpossibility in the race, she came from far back to beat Palace Pier. She was bred in Ontario by Joe Stritzl.

Trainer STEVE ROBERTS got his first winner of the year with HOURS APART, a generous 2 to 1 winner of the 6th who lasted over a closing Forbidden Bite. the filly was winning for $10,000 claiming and is by ONE WAY LOVE out of Pat's My Sister.

J and K Stable's VOLCANO ALLEY, making her 2nd start of the year, won her maiden in an allowance race for trainer Pat Parente. She wore down GOLD AMI in the late stages for her first win in her 4th race, She was bred by James Terdik in Ontario.

Florida-bred ZOUNDS,owned by Bob Cheema and trained by Terry Jordan won for the 2nd time at the meetin as he led all the way in a turf sprint as the favourite.

And DESIRE AND FIRE romped by 11 lengths and was claimed from the finale when dropping in for $20,000 claiming. The Ontario bred by D'wildcat is out of an Alleged mare and was owned by Larry Deakins and trained by John Ross.