STEAMY

Today's post in honour of Mary Elinor Barbour
(1927-2008)



FOOT LOOSE
Wednesday night at Woodbine

BIG BIG big upset in the Deputy Minister, trainer Mike Doyle wins 3



The Poly was typical as it is on a Wednesday night - recently dug up and slow to begin the evening (it got faster as the night progressed)

Jockey Jim McAleney commented that the surface was "looser than usual" and it seemed that ralliers had a tad of an edge over the speed horses in the early part of the card.

STUCK IN TRAFFIC was 2 to 5 in the 4-horse Deputy Minister Stakes and was well rated to go 22 4/5 and 45 4/5 early in the 7 furlong race and he led until very late by ultimately lost by a short head in a typically good big effort.

While Stuck in Traffic carried 128 pounds (a 1,000 pound horse going a sprint distance likely does not have much of a disadvantage) it was the distance that appeared to be the main reason the colt by Kiridashi was narrowly edged.

But the winner was PIPER IN THE GLEN (Trajectory-Early Delivery by Steady Growth) , the 9 to 1 rank longshot in the race who was ridden by Chad Beckon (his 1st Woodbine stakes win).

The colt, who made THOROUGHBLOG back in May when he won his maiden at Presque Isle Downs on synthetic dirt with a whopping 82 Beyer Figure, was bred by Bonnie Rowntree.
He was a $4,909 yearling purchase by Mary Self. Willow Ridge Farm, agent, sold the colt.

The colt's half-sister ORILLIA GOLD was last in a grass race earlier in the card.

Zelko Krcmar (4 for 19 this year at Woodbine and Fort Erie) was the happy trainer for owner Jess Self. Krcmar got his wish when Beckon rode the colt just off the pace and outside. The colt, who had shown improving Beyer Figures in 2 races since his big maiden score, got up in the last two jumps.

Delaforce made a bid off the turn but stalled to be 3rd and Kiinshasa's Paradis, the lowest Beyer Figure horse in the field, was a distant last.


OTHER WINNERS

It was a SPECIAL MOMENT for Tricia Greer and Natural Eight Stable and trainer Bill Tharrenos as their first-time starter SPECIAL MOMENT won her debut in the last race of the night for Ontario-sired maiden allowance gals.
The Kinshasa filly was a $2,678 BUY BACK from the sale 2 years ago. She was bred by Tricia Greer and Mervyn Kirby. The mare Jovial Zone (Wild Zone) was unplaced in 3 races and she has one other foal who is unplaced.

Special Moment was always within 2 1/2 lengths of the lead and powered away to a nice win over front running 1ster Lucy's Dolly.


Race 1- HEDGE ON GOLD doubled up with a win for $16,000 claiming after winning for $9,500 in June. Tje 5yo horse, owned and bred by Doug Tufts, stalked 4 lengths off the pace and drove 3 wide to the win in his first attempt at 1 1/8 miles.John Ross trains.

Trainer SYLVESTER OLIVERRE won his first race at Woodbine when DEPUTY BROAD, a Florida bred by Deputy Commander, won the 2nd race after a late battle to the wire with Crafty Breeze in the maiden $25,000 claimer.

Oliverre, who is the latest trainer for owner Herbert Chambers, was at Fort Erie fofr a spell last year and won four stakes races at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg last year.

He said on THE SCORE show that Deputy Broad, who earned a 51 Beyer for maiden callowance in his debut but was 10th twice beaten more than 52 lengths combined in his last 2 starts has "always trained well" but had been suffering from a virus.
He also had blinkers on again for last night's race.

The Florida bred was originally a $3,000 yearling purchase.

Race 3

First split of a $50,000 claiming maiden race for 3yo fillies and up, 1 mile, turf, and MISS OLIE was a predictable winner for Windhaven and Olbert Farm and trainer Mike Doyle.

The well bred Fusaichi Pegasus- Ing Ing (Bering) 3yo had been third once in 7 previous races. Her time was 1:34 1/5.

The Randy Regent filly Randy's Puppy, a 4yo, led all the way, was erratic in the stretch run, and stayed on for 2nd for Colebrook Farms.

Race 4

Second split of the maiden race went in slower time by about 3/5 of a second but the manner of victory by CLASSY LANDLADY was super. The Sky Classic-Stage View 4yo, owned by Dura Racing and Mike Doyle, trained by Mike Doyle stayed far back off an honest pace and blew by the leaders to win her maiden in her 8th start.
The filly is a full sister to grass stakes winner STAGE CLASSIC and she was bred by Hill 'n' Dales Farms in Ontario.

Race 5 - BOMARC went too fast on the pace in the $25,000 claimer for 3yos and staggered home while "Mr. Wednesday Night" IGOTTOGOJOE, stormed down the deep Polytrack to win easily under Pat Husbands.
Sais Singh and Alex McPherson are owner and trainer.
McPherson said on THE SCORE show.."We claimed him for $20,000 and he was very impressive that night (also a Wed. night). I was flabbergasted when he ran for $40,000 (and flopped with a 9th place finish)."
The team found out something about the Bold Executive - Great Explosion Ontario bred, foaled by Joe Panza, and he has been 2nd and 1st since then.
The late was slowing fast so Ogygian's Storm's rally for 2nd also looked a bit better than it was.

Race 7 - an allowance race, non-winners of 1 'other than' for fillies and mares and CRITICAL PATH was the 3rd winner for the night for trainer Mike Doyle as that longshot, a Hendrie Stable daughter of Trajectory was up to win by a nose just as jockey Slade Callaghan had the whip knocked out of his hand.
The very little Ascot Knight gal QUITE A KNIGHTMARE was up with the pace and chasing the front running Favorite Fantasy and led very late in just her 2nd race of the year.

The filly was coming off a win in slow time (60 Beyer) but is improving now.

"It's nice when things work out, the maiden $50K claimer split and I had horses in separate divisions."
Doyle had another filly in Critical Path's race, California invader Mademoisellewhaki who was 6th while the A.P.Indy filly Dance With Doves was very dull in 8th.


TODAY AT WOODBINE

Only eight races on a light card of racing and the featured race is essentially a $20,000 caiming event with just 7 horses entered.
Look for EL GRAN JAKE (Compadre) to pull the upset for Fieldstone Farms.



(photo at right) This CALIFORNIA
STAKES WINNER has a new home
after breaking down 2
weeks ago - read more below..






WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT
APPROVED FOR TAX BREAK
from Standardbred Canada

"(Woodbine Live!) is going to be a mini Walt Disney World in Rexdale," councillor Rob Ford said after it was announced that Toronto City Council approved a $120 million tax break over a 20-year span for the Woodbine Entertainment Group.

The tax breaks are trumpeted to transform the Woodbine Entertainment Group's Woodbine Racetrack into part of a billion dollar entertainment centre, and Toronto City Council is hoping the move will benefit three neighborhoods close to the facility.

"It's going to attract people from all over the world when they come to Toronto," Ford continued while in conversation with reporters from CBC.ca.

The report indicates that the multi-million dollar project is expected to create almost 10,000 jobs, many of which will be for local residents.

"It's a chance to build great neighbourhoods and to make sure that the people who live in those neighbourhoods get the benefit of this billion-dollar investment by training people for the jobs," said Toronto mayor David Miller.



OWNERSHIP OF HORSE OFFERED IN GIFT BAG

At last nights ESPY AWARDS in Los Angeles, a 2% share in
a West Point Thoroughbred plus a trip to the Breeders' Cup
where the horse may be racing, was offered in the VIP gift bag for presenters at the awards.
The owners of the 2%?
Hollywood funnyman WILL FERRELL and soccer star DAVID BECKHAM and racecar driver DANICA PATRICK.

West Point Thoroughbreds (www.westpointtb.com) has possible Breeders' Cup starters such as AWESOME GEM, TROPIC STORM, MACHO AGAIN and 2yo's such as debut winner PHOSPHORESCENT.




MAGNA NEWS - SELLS GREAT LAKES, HIRES HOPMANS JR.

EXCERPT - from mlive, 'everything Michigan'
ROBERT C. BURNS, Muskegon Chronicle

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians now owns Great Lakes Downs, though what the tribe will ultimately make of it, and when, is anybody's guess.

"Nothing's been ruled out yet -- anything's possible," Robert Memberto, the tribe's director of commerce, said during a news conference at the track clubhouse near the junction of I-96 and U.S. 31 Wednesday afternoon.

Having said that, Memberto made it clear the tribe's primary goal is to build a Class 3 casino, augmenting one it operates just outside Manistee. But there is no specific timetable for getting it built. A final decision will hinge on a study of the gaming market in the Muskegon area; even horse racing remains a possibility, he said.

Memberto said that whatever form it eventually takes, overall investment is figured at about $1 million. When completed, the facility would employ 800-1,000 people, generate $30 million a year in payroll and benefits, and pay out up to $10 million to local vendors.

The tribe's Manistee casino, which opened in 1999, has since gone through two major expansions and today is the largest employer in Manistee County with more than 1,000 full-time jobs.

The tribe will need the approval of the Interior Department's Bureau of Indian Affairs, and is seeking resolutions of support from local governments. Muskegon County's Board of Commissioners is expected to vote for such a resulution tonight.

"We've been working on this for more than a year," county board chairman Jim Derezinski said of his quiet talks with Memberto, a former student of his, about the possibility of locating a second casino somewhere in Muskegon County. The GLD site only entered the picture five or six weeks ago, he said.

Marve Engel, who represents the Fruitport area on the county board, said he would to take the matter to the township board for a similar expression of support, and said he was excited about the prospect of all that investment and employment coming to the area.

Tim Tubergen, the township's deputy supervisor, said he expected the board would support Little River's plans, but probably not without "some expressions of concern."

Memberto said he did not expect federal approval of a Muskegon casino would be much of a hurdle.

"It may not require anything more than getting second site language adopted into the existing compact," he said.

No purchase price was disclosed although the asking price as of this spring was $6 million. The tribe is in negotiations to purchase some property around the 87-acre GLD site, but they were not specified.

http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/07/little_river_band_of_ottawa_in.html


in other MAGNA news, former trainer and horsemen's liaison for Woodbine CLIFF HOPMANS JR. has been hired by Magna in the position of horsemen's relations and will work out of Adena Springs in Aurora, Ontario.
Hopmans recently had been leasing a training centre in Ocala, Florida.



GOOD NEWS-BAD NEWS from scrollsequus.com, the Racehorse memorial


Happy day! Mananan Mclir saved!


California, July 13, 2008 ~ Back on July 4, 2008, 9-year-old veteran racehorse Mananan Mclir (photo) (by Royal Academy) broke down at Hollywood Park in a 1-1/16 mile $12,500-$10,500 claiming race, pulled up and was vanned off. News of the outcome was not forthcoming.

On July 12, we learned from Caroline Betts of Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue that Mananan Mclir is alive ... has been standing injured in his stall, his racing days over and his fate uncertain.

Yet Mananan Mclir's angels were looking out for him; a friend of Caroline's saw the gelding in need and, not yet knowing the horse's name, got the rescue ball rolling. Then he discovered who the horse is, a horse with a following and admired by many, making this rescue all the sweeter.

Read the forum thread where the rescue unfolds (includes Mananan Mclir's race record) at Alex Brown Racing.

On July 13, Mananan Mclir safely arrived at his new home, Tranquility Farm, where he will get the rest and care he needs and deserves.

On July 14, X-rays revealed that he's blown his suspensories but there are no fractures, and he should be pasture sound! Please pray for healing, and protection from laminitis, so that he can spend his remaining years in happy, peaceful retirement.

Posted by EquusEditorial at 10:45 PM 3 comments



UREQUITED

Bay gelding, 2003 - 7/1/2008
Not for Love (Mr. Prospector) Salubria by Cure the Blues
Trainer: Rick Dutrow / Owner: Jay Em Ess Stable
Claiming $30K, 6f dirt, Monmouth 7, on 6/29/2008

Unrequited was pulled up in distress on the backstretch and vanned off. According to the New Jersey State Vet, on Tuesday, July 1, it was determined that Unrequited had suffered a fractured pelvis and was therefore euthanized.

Please note that Unrequited also raced just TWO DAYS prior, while in the care of his trainer, Rick Dutrow, trainer for 2008 Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.(In a phone call, the vet who attended to Unrequited said he was aware that Unrequited had raced two days ago but that, unfortunately, there was no state rule against it.)

Unrequited's penultimate race:
Claiming $35K, 6f dirt, Belmont 1, on 6/27/2008
Equibase reports he had a wide trip then displayed a mild rally in the stretch, finishing 4th in a field of 7.

In addition, these were Unrequited's first two races coming off a
one-year layoff. May he rest in peace.
(personal communication, Equibase, Paulick Report)
Contributed by For Inesperado Track Watch

Posted by EquusEditorial at 7:20 PM