ROYAL RACING

ROYALLY EXCITING
PRINCE OF WALES 73
today at Fort Erie 4:49 p.m. THE SCORE, HPI TV


The field is going to shrink it seems since TOOK THE TIME will be scratched if both Not Bourbon and Harlem Rocker stay in the race.
That, according to Mark Casse, who said there is a "better spot" for Earle Mack's fellow.
But there is intrigue for sure despite the small group. A wet track could make things interesting.
A front running tour-de-force by Pronger may make others rush.
Pewter may join the fray too.
A fast pace could develop, does Not Bourbon (PHOTO, ABOVE, by www.horse-races.net) get caught up in the chase.

Trainer Casse had a super quote ysterday about
NOT BOURBON.

"That horse is as tough a horse as I have ever seen, I see him training in the morning and he's so strong."

(PHOTO - HARLEM ROCKER after his WITHERS WIN...20% of the colt is owned by various folks from around the world as part of Adena Racing Venture II) Photo courtey NYRA

FROM THE TORONTO STAR..
PRINCE OF WALES STAKES TheStar.com | Horse Racing | New challenge for Not Bourbon New challenge for Not Bourbon


Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon goes for the second jewel of Canada's Triple Crown today in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie racetrack. The Prince of Wales is the only race of the Triple Crown that is held on a traditional dirt track and it will be the first such race on that surface of Not Bourbon's career. The threat of rain and a sloppy track would also be something new for Charles Fipke's strong 3-year-old colt. "I don't know what will happen (if the track is wet)," said trainer Roger Attfield, who won his record-tying eighth Queen's Plate with Not Bourbon. "And I don't really want to find out. The track there is gorgeous right now. I hope it stays that way." Not Bourbon, shipped to Fort Erie on Thursday, was schooled in the paddock yesterday and did a little sightseeing around the backstretch area.
read more plus see my picks..
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/HorseRacing/article/459361



from yesterday...SECRET GETAWAY wins
another stake at Woodbine.
read more about him below
(photo by www.horse-races.net)










SWEEP!
CURLIN NOT QUITE THERE IN MAN O' WAR

It was like an astute horseperson said yesterday before the turf debut of Curlin.
'These are different horses he's meeting,a whole new breed, perhaps some real horses'

And with that Curlin closed mildly and then just held 2nd to land between 2 Breeders Cup Turf winners in the Man o'ar at Belmont yesterday.

Canadian J. PAUL REDDAM owns RED ROCKS, the 5yo Galilieo horse who had been an in and outer since his Breeders Up win 2 years ago.

Other than CURLIN'S LOSS, the story of the race was JOHN VELAZQUEZ (Sudan) and DAVID COHEN (Mission Approved, just won a stake at Woodbine) who went 22.69 and 47 and change on the pace.

You just have to wonder what in the world that was about (watch the video below).



FROM NEWSDAY.COM Curlin beaten at Belmont in his turf debut
BY ED McNAMARA | ed.mcnamara@newsday.com July 13, 2008

He didn't look bad, but he didn't look great.

Finishing second making your turf debut in a Grade I would be a triumph for most horses. For Curlin, it was a disappointment, and his proposed trip to France is on hold.

The defending Horse of the Year never looked like a winner in the Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park yesterday, when he lost by two lengths to Red Rocks, winner of the 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Better Talk Now, who took the 2004 Turf, was third, a half-length farther back. "Obviously, he didn't grab me like he normally does," jockey Robby Albarado said. "His acceleration was a little different.

It wasn't an awful race, and he was up against it with two Breeders' Cup winners. I'd like to see him get another shot on the turf. It was like a first race for him, a new chapter. He felt comfortable over it. But to say that he loves it?

Maybe next time will be his show-up race." Curlin didn't have the best of trips, breaking a step slowly after hitting the gate and being four-wide down the backstretch and into the stretch. The 2-5 favorite stalked Red Rocks from fourth while Mission Approved and Sudan set a foolishly fast pace, with a quarter in 22.69 seconds and a half-mile in 47.62. Sudan and Mission Approved were still 1-2 after a mile in 1:35.9, but the battle clearly would be between Red Rocks and Curlin.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/horseracing/ny-sphoss135762654jul13,0,2742330.story


TOM DURKIN
too funny in describing the pace in the Man o'War..






QUEEN IS A WONDER -
SECRET GETS A WAY

Elite Racing syndicate's THE NIAGARA QUEEN
led all the way on grass that was more yielding than the listed
'good' and won the Grade 2
Dance Smartly Stakes worth a whopping $333,205.
It was a weak field and the winner, bred
by Adena Springs in Ontario, set fractions of 25 4/5 and 49 and change.
Once she got away with that pace under Jim McAleney, the 5yo Langfuhe mare was impossible to pass.
Sprung and Quiet Jungle tried hard to pass her in the stretch but theey came up 1 1/2 lengths and a neck short.
The dam of The Niagara Queen is Inspirational, a Lord at War whose other winner this year is the claimer CHAPLAIN.

The Niagara Queen's lifetime record is 24-5-6-2, $576,696. She was bought by Elite Racing last fall at auction for $280,000.


SECRET GETAWAY is 2 for 2 at Woodbine and has won stakes on Polytrack on turf. Yesterday he slogged his way through 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.59 to win the Toronto Cup over 6 rivals for Sand and Cee Stables and trainer Mike Stidham.
The Skip Away 3yo colt was 3 wide in the pace duel and edged clear.
Favoured MARLANG broke badly from the gate, rushed up, dueled and faded to 3rd.

More on yesterday's winners in tomrorow news..



OTHER STUFF

DANCING ALLSTAR was 3rd beaten 10 3/4 lengths behind the unbeaten INDYANNE in the Azalea Stakes at Calder - a race on the Summit of Speed card.
Indyanne (Indian Charlie) ran in 1:10.82, faster than BENNY THE BULL's win on the card.

Trainer MARK CASSE reports that MINER'S CLAIM, the promsiing stakes horse who suffered a severe bout of colic is doing well now and should make a full recovery.
Casse also said CLEARLY FOXY, a troubled 3rd in the American Oaks last weekend at Hollywood park has stayed in California for a Del Mar stakes race.

TRES BORRACHOS, the winner of yesterdays Grade 2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood at 11 to 1, is out of caandian-bred mare PETE'S FANCY, by Peteski.

At PHILADELPHIA PARK, in a 1 1/16 mile turf allowance, Ontario bred NO ACRONYMS, B. f. 3, Milwaukee Brew —Last Supper, by De Niro won for the 3rd time in 10 races.