STYLIN

112 CURLIN

( AP PHOTO at right)

It was a little more workmanlike than most thought (who WAS that horse that was 2nd) but CURLIN ran fast in his measured win in the Woodward yesterday at Saratoga.

His Beyere Figure from Daily Racing Form was a good 112.

The past set by Past the Point was very fast and Curlin had a good trip. It took him a lot longer to get by the speedster in deep stretch but that rival was not slowing down.

Jockey Club Gold Cup next it seems for Curlin...maybe the Breeders' Cup or maybe a race overseas?





HONEY HONEY 90 Beyer for Sugar

SUGAR BAY has come to life in one-turn races and now, on the grass.
George Strawbridge's Syncline-Otra Vez homebred won the Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine yesterday going away, far away from her rivals in the one mile grass race for 2yo fillies.

Jono Jones picked up the mount on the filly from Chantal Sutherland whose mount Northern Kraze had to be scratched when she came up with a mild illness.

Mac Benson trains the chestnut filly, who won the Duchess Stakes in her last start. She has won 4 of 10 races now and over $365,000.

Benson, "She's matured and she's settled down. Every time she comes over here (from the backstretch to race), she comes over more professional. She just looked around and said, 'This is a little new.' "




MARLANG AT THE SPA

Breeders' Stakes winner MARLANG (Langfuhr) will attempt to do what fellow canadian turf star Jambalaya did a few years ago - win the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga, the next-to-last Spa day for 2008.

Rick Dos Ramos rides for Gus Schickedanz and trainer Debbie England.

Marlang, a son of Langfuhr out of the stakes-placed Conquistador Cielo mare Marienburg, was an easy winner of the $106,800 Charlie Barley Stakes at Woodbine in mid-June while making his turf debut going a mile. Top Canadian rider Richard Dos Ramos – Marlang’s regular pilot - makes the trip to upstate New York for the mount.

His rivals include:

European shipper Schopenhauer, a maiden who has made three starts in England

Thou Swell, owned by Sugartown Stable, finished 2nd in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes in his last start.

His style conflicts with that of Marlang.

Saranac Stakes (gr. IIIT), 3-year-olds, 1 3/16 miles, turf, $100,000, to be run Sunday, Aug. 31; approximate post 5:22 p.m.

Post – Horse – Wgt – Jockey

1 – Vacation – 117 – Edgar Prado
2 – Mr Maccool – 121 – Eibar Coa
3 – Nistle’s Crunch – 117 – Robby Albarado
4 – Schopenhauer – 117 – Alan Garcia
5 – Ready’s Echo – 117 – John Velazquez
6 – Marlang – 123 – Richard Anthony Dos Ramos
7 – Shive’s Success – 117 – Javier Castellano
8 – Thou Swell – 117 – Ramon Dominguez


Dance to Destiny sires first winner
(with files from Thoroughbred Times)

Me the Sea and G T rallied from off the pace, took the lead in the stretch, and held on to win by a head on Saturday in the fourth race at Woodbine and become the first winner for freshman sire Dance to Destiny (Mr. Prospector).


Dance to Destiny, a nine-year-old by Mr. Prospector out of 1991 Canadian Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award winner Dance Smartly, stood the 2008 season for $5,000 Canadian at Colebrook Farms Stallion Station in Uxbridge, Ontario. He has 34 two-year-olds in his first crop.

GLIDE

THOROUGHBLOG BLOGGERS ALLIANCE would like to thank Trainer Magazine for taking the trip from across the pond to America.

They have taken over the sponsorship of our 3yo category currently being run away with by Big Brown (635) who is also the favorite for TBA horse of the year.

They join Twinspires.com our Older Horse sponsor who has a horse running this weekend. Don't know if you heard of him, Curlin.

Anyway, the TBA blogs will continue to be an independent voice in horse racing media. And we'll try and continue providing you all w/ the best info out there.

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IT'S CURLIN DAY!

Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, was on hand to receive the key to the city by the mayor Scott Johnson in anticipation of CURLIN DAY today at Saratoga.

The marketing of the race has been decent, ads at least in the industry papers, and there should be a good crowd at the Spa.

(photo is of Curlin getting a bath at historic Saratoga last week by WENDYU on ww.flickr.com)


The son of Canadian-bred Hall of Famer Smart Strike looks like a lock 'on paper' for his Saratoga debut - most of his 8 rivals are overmatched:

A.P. ARROW - Loves Saratoga, but was blasted in the Whitney. He has been sluggish and uninterested lately.

LOOSE LEAF 0 Won a stake at this distance at Saratoga last year..just came off a long long layoff to win his saratoga return with a career best beyer Figure by a nose; bounce, bounce, bounce.

PAST THE POINT - Like Loose Leaf, he came off a layoff and ran a career best race. He was 2nd to Loose Leaf in a Spa stake win last year.

DIVINE PARK - He's a good one and out of an ASCOT KNIGHT mare. Has not been seen since May, has never been past 1 mile, 70 yardsw, but if he could ever come off the shelf with that 112 Beyer monster, he would be scary.

DR.D.F.C. He has won every-other-outing in his last few. A New York bred who has never run higher than 92 on the Beyer scale.

OUT OF CONTROL - Grass horse? Lately anyway. He has a win and a 3rd on Santa Anita dirt. he has not won since October.

WANDERIN BOY - Tough old guy had a freshening time and won a sprint at the Spa with a 109 Beyer last time; he is the speed threat sent out by tthis year's upset artist, Nick Zito.

Looks like CURLIN, DIVINE PARK and WANDERIN BOY mix.


Send in your comments and e-mails before or after Curlin's race!


ONTARIO COLLEEN TODAY AT WOODBINE


One mile on the grass for 3yo fillies and the $150,000 Ontario Colleen is a wide open event.
It is the 30th running of the race.

The favourite will be Wonder Where staks winner NORTHERN KRAZE (Aljabr) who ran the race of her life to win the 1 1/4 WW after a hard stretch drive.

Some may think she will regress a bit off that peak effort - if she does a little bit, there will be many gals around her to steal away the prize.

FORESTRY'S MAGIC has something to prove at the distance but was super-strong 2 strats ago in a turf sprint win.
VERDANA BOLD has trie dgrass once and she was cooked on the pace so look for her to come from off the pace; Tyler Pizarro seeks his first stakes win as a jockey.
SUGAR BAY is well bred for the grass but also has something to prove at the distance.
LIKETY LEMON may be all set to put things together as she returns to her home grass course.
CREATIVE DESIGN is the best of the 2 shippers, coming in with some super turf outings and an 88 Beyer Figure.



WOODBINE YEARLING SALE
STAKES ON MONDAY, SALE ON TUESDAY (and next Saturday)

Six stakes for sales graduates will line the pockets of those who buy at the local sale, many of th same local faces but DAILY RACING FORM (and Thoroughblog) report that Steve Asmussen is planning a trip up to the sale for Tuesday so check out the cabadian-bred babies.

"It will be mostly a look and see to get a feel for the horses up there, but I could be buying," said Asmussen. "[Ontario-breds] are totally lacking from our stable.

"Something that I learned is that there a very big difference [in purse money for Ontario-bred versus non-Ontario-breds]."

Certainly the 10% bonus for Ontario breds that was launched this year, is a great incentive. That amount will be 20% in the years to come.

The select session offers a wide range of stallions that should appeal to all buyers.



YESTERDAY AT WOODBINE

Some notes from yesterday's card - outside ralliers still have a teeny weeny edge.

Just in time for the YEARLING SALE, some sales graduates turned heads yesterday. STRANGER THINGS (Domasca Dan), bred by Gardiner Farms, won her maiden by 7 lengths in her 2nd start with a 79 BEYER.

The $5,000 purchase by Mark Casse was recently purchased by K K Sanngara and Lorne Richards.

DASH IT DARLING piled another $38,000 into her saddle bags with an allowance win. The Harlequin Ranches filly, a $35K purchase trained by Reade Baker, has won over $160,000 in 12 races (3 wins).

Homebreds who won yesterday include Rood Woods' KING EDDIE (Raj Waki) who was up in the last strides to beat out 83 to 1 shot Clarkstoncharm (bred for grass, making turf debut).
Wayne Gillis' MOONSHINE TALKER (Talkin Man) is a delicate sort but won his 3rd race off the layoff and 5th career start at the age of 5 dfor $32,000 in race 4. Scott Fairlie trains.
And Audre Cappuccitti homebred ZAP IT (Cat's at Home-St. Noras) won his debut fotr $23,500 in race 1 with a last furlong zap tho the wire.

BIG NAMES

HALL OF FAME NAMES

Robert Tiller, Lou Cauz and the Sam-Son gang honoured


The 32nd annual CANANDIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME dinner and ceremony took place last night in Mississauga, Ontario and the night was a lavish one, complete with fancy silent and live auctions, a superb meal of filet mignon and stuff chicken breast and some moving acceptance speeches by the eight inductees - some of whom spoke on behalf of their beautiful racehorses.

Trainer ROBERT TILLER, LOU CAUZ, journalist and historian and top racehorses SMART STRIKE and WILDERNESS SONG were the thoroughbred inductees.

Some quotes from the night:

Tiller said: "I believe respect is the best thing a person can receive and that is what i am receiving today. I love horse racing, I love my job. This is a great honour tonight. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Mark Samuel on behalf of Smart Strike said ""He gave us many thrills on the racetrack, and now he continues to thrill us with his many foals including Curlin."

Rick Balaz owner of Wilderness Song -

"Ernie Samuel was an incredible patriot, and to be able to compete with her outside of Canada was a fantastic thing. We are very grateful for this honour."

Lou Cauz was very emotional...
"If my lips begin to tremble it's only because I'm so honoured," said Cauz. "I never sought this honour, but when I heard I was elected I was in tears. When I was told the news I was sobbing. I had been romanced by this sport for a long time.


The auctions had some pretty cool stuff including halters for CURLIN and BEAR NOW, hockey trips and a diamond from the Ekati mine of Charles Fipke.

A halter from harness star SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE was a big sellers - $2,100 and it was bought by jockey EMMA-JAYNE WILSON.





SATURDAY'S WOODWARD - CURLIN

EXCERPT from the Schenectady Gazette

Curlin 3-5 favorite for Woodward
By Phil Janack (Contact)
Gazette Reporter


SARATOGA SPRINGS — Retired jockey Angel Cordero Jr. won the Woodward six times in his Hall of Fame career, including a record five straight from 1981-85.

Seattle Slew. Pleasant Colony. Island Whirl. Slew o’ Gold twice. Track Barron.

“I had the pleasure to win the Woodward five years in a row. It takes a good horse to win it,” Cordero said during Thursday’s post-position draw. “It’s always been a good race, and it’s always won by a good horse. I’d say this year will probably be the same.

“No doubt about it. Not only is Curlin the best horse going in the race, he’s probably one of the best horses I’ve seen in the last 15 years.”

The 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin makes his return to the track in his Saratoga Race Course debut, headlining Saturday’s Grade I Woodward.

It is the 55th edition of the 11⁄8-mile race, and the third since being moved from Belmont Park in 2006. Carded as the 10th of 11 races with a post time of 5:45 p.m., it will be televised live on MSG from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Trained by Steve Asmussen for majority owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stable, Curlin drew post five and was made the 3-5 program favorite in a surprisingly large eight-horse field.



EXCERPT
WELLAND TRIBUNE, HARLAN ABBEY

A story about English bred CENTAURUS..


Injury reduces all-star horse to house-league races
Posted By For The Tribune


It might be comparable to seeing a teenage son of Wayne Gretzky playing in a hockey house league instead of on an all-star travel team.

Because Centaurus, a six-year-old trained by Brian Ross at Fort Erie Race Track, certainly has the bloodlines and the looks to be running in stakes races instead of for a $7,500 claiming price.

Centaurus was bred in England by Newgate Stud, one of the many thoroughbred racing and breeding entities of the absurdly wealthy Maktoum family of Dubai. His sire is Daylami, whose 11 wins in 19 starts and $4.6 million in earnings included the Breeders Cup Turf in 1999, when he was named Eclipse Champion (of North America) Turf Runner. And Daylami is just one of 141 Grade I winners for Godolphin (the shieks’ top racing stable) in 11 countries since bursting onto the world-wide racing horizon in 1992.

Although Godolphin does not have a “big name” horse in North America at present, the stable is ranked 26th with 14 wins (22 winning percentage.), 12 seconds and 11 thirds (57 per cent in-the-money finishes) and $1.4 million.

Only Big Brown’s owners (four wins in five starts) and Peter Vesgo, 50 starts, have fewer starts – and more money won – than Godolphin.

Getting back to Centaurus, a handsome dapple gray with a black mane and tail, Ross said “I heard that he was one of Godolphin’s top prospects for the English Derby as a three-year-old and set a track record at a mile and a half, but then he bowed a tendon.”

That’s an injury that often ends a horse’s racing career; if he comes back after a long, long rest, he’s rarely the same and obviously Centaurus isn’t.

He had one third in four starts, at the $60,000 claiming level at Belmont Park, earning $7,692 for all of 2007. He then was sent to race at Tampa, where he was acquired by John Ross, Brian’s brother.

“Mother Nature hasn’t helped us," Brian Ross said. “His first race here, on the grass, he wasn’t quite ready for that. The only time I tried him on the dirt, he was beaten by 17 lengths.

“He’s still a stallion – the Maktoum’s never ‘cut’ (geld) their colts – and is a perfect gentleman. I want him to get a good home."



MORE GOODIES

Andy Beyer on JESS JACKSON...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082703401.html


at THE BLOOD-HORSE
DEIDRE BILES..

Retired Horse Saved from Return to Track


When Mighty Mecke broke his foot in February, his co-owners Jeff Puglisi of Puglisi Racing and trainer Steve Klesaris, decided it was time to retire the 6-year-old colt from racing and find him a new career. Through a bloodstock agent, they discovered Stillfork Farm in Ohio, and they said they were told Mighty Mecke would stand there as a stallion.

But soon after the stakes-winning bay horse was delivered to the nursery in early July, Puglisi heard from a man who said Mighty Mecke had been sold to him to race in Antigua. Puglisi and Klesaris located the horse in Florida, hired a lawyer, and launched a frantic effort to get him back. The two men succeeded, but want other owners to know the story so their retired racehorses won’t end up in a similar situation.

"I’m in shock," Klesaris said. "I still can’t believe it happened. It completely blows me away that there are people out there like this."

Klesaris, as agent for Puglisi Stables, purchased Mighty Mecke for $130,000 at the 2004 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. April sale of 2-year-olds in training. The horse captured nine races, including the Nick Shuk Memorial Stakes and the male division of the OBS Championship Stakes in 2005, and earned $271,670. But when Mighty Mecke fractured his foot, after undergoing two knee surgeries earlier in his career, Klesaris and Puglisi didn’t
believe he should ever race again.

http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/46799.htm

RINGS OF FAME

VERY SMART

Smart Strike, world class sire, Canadian-bred, Hall of Fame

Tonight's the night for the 2008 CANADIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES, a dinner and ceremony in Mississauga this evening.
In thoroughbred racing, ROBERT TILLER, LOUIS CAUZ, SMART STRIKE and WILDERNESS SONG got in this year.

Tiller has won over 1,400 races, 110 stakes winners and 3 Sovereign Awards.
Cauz has covered racing for newspapers, published a book on the Queen's Plate and runs the Hall of Fame.
Wilderness Song was over $1 million and was a Grade 1 winner for Sam-Son farms.
Smart Strike is currently one of the leading sires in the world.

At $150,000 a pop, you can breed to Smart Strike.
Or you can go to the Woodbine yearling sale on Tuesday and buy hip no, 31, a colt by Smart Strike out of Orangeberry by Cryptoclearance.

Certainly Smart Strike's son CURLIN has helped put the stallion among the names of Northern Dancer and other great Canadian breds.

Here are his leading earners:


Name Earnings

Curlin $9,496,800

English Channel $5,319,028

Soaring Free $2,110,371

Fleetstreet Dancer $1,704,806

Tenpins $1,133,449

Shadow Cast $923,751

Shoal Water $832,579

Strike a Deal $790,061

Eye of the Sphynx $688,340

Strike Softly $683,309



MEOW!

Authenicat crushes, leader for Sovereign Award


Vinery and Fog City's AUTHENICAT simply coasted to victory in the $125,000 Eternal Search Stakes last night at Woodbin, romping by more than 3 lengths under light handling from Rob Landry. Trained by Josie Carroll, who has had to deal with the 3yo filly's allergies (presumably to Polytrack!) and has fixed her up so nicely that she appears to be unstoppable.

She earned an 81 Beyer Figure last night from the easy win at 1 1/16 miles.

The victory, the filly's 2nd straight stakes score, actually puts AUTHENICAT at the top of the list for the SOVEREIGN AWARD for champion 3yo filly.

GINGER BREW, the Woodbine Oaks winner, is currently not eligible for the Sovereign with only 2 races in Canada this year.

Authenicat is by D'Wildcat out of Authentic Deed by Alydeed. She was bred by Gail Wood in Ontario.

She was a $67,000 weanling purchase by RGH Bloodstock (Richard Hogan) and then a $150,000 yeearling purchase by Vinery.







I'M YOUR HUCKLEBEAR....Life is goooooood!

He won just once in 17 races, made $19,000 but look at him now. HUCKLEBEAR (Cryptoclearance-Amynteon) is an ace polo pony for Don and Carol Pennycook, who adopted the horse from agent Mike Luider - who got the gelding from trainer Julia Carey.

Life after Woodbine! Make sure you do the SAME FOR YOUR HORSE.

(thanks to RK for the photos)
















JONES, BAHEN end streaks

MORE STUFF LAST NIGHT at 'Bine

Race 1 - Trainer MALCOLM PIERCE prepared ADVISABLE perfectly - the 3yo Deputy Commander filly won her maiden off a ONE YEAR LAYOFF, with a wild rally from starting 12th in the 14 horse field on turf. Pin Oak owns the filly.

Race 2- Speaking of coming from last place, FAVORITE FANTASY pulled off a 35 to 1 upset in race 2 on the grass at 1 mile. The Richter Scale filly, a 3yo, recently shipped to Woodbine for her owners Rick and Nancy Kaster and was 7th in her local debut on Polytrack.
Never a winner from 5 previous grass races, the filly was taken back to last by jockey Jono Jones, and then she rallied in time to win by a tiny nose in the $40,000 claiming event.
It was Jones' first turf win of the meeting after some 50 attempts.

Greg de Gannes, the trainer, was not in town for the win as he is in California readying SOUTHERN EXCHANGE for the Del Mar Futurity.


Race 3..

"She does everything bad in the mornings...but I never worry about her (in the afternoon)," said jockey Carl DeFreitas, who celebrated his one-year wedding anniversary last night with a fourth consecutive win aboard his favourite problem child, BAYWOODS.
A Florida-bred daughter of the late Ontario sired Archers Bay, Baywoods was claimed in December for $10,000 from Melynk Stables and trainer Mark Casse.
Lorne Richards, who trains the filly now "didn't claim her" he said on THE SCORE last night and said he probably would not have since the filly, well know as a bit of a wacky filly, has to go to the gate with one pony on either side of her.
Meanwhile, Richards is happy, she is winning for $23,500 claiming now.

Race 5 - Speedy HEY NOW was odds-on to win and did so for $32,00 claiming for Cam Allard and trainer Mike DePaulo.The Forestry colt won by more than 5 lengths on the class drop.

How about THUNDER WOLF, the long, plain bay by Awesome Again who is 7-years-old but was racing for just the 6th time last night in race 6.
The Stronach Stables gelding is quite interesting - he debuted at 5 and won for trainer Nick Gonzalez, raced here and there a few times over 2 years for Justin Nixon and Dale Romans and now is 2 for 2 in claimers for Sean Smullen.
He rallied from last for $20K last evening.

Race 7 was decimated by scratches leaving favoured KISSMYCHEEKS as an easy winner in the maiden $30,000 claimer. The Florida bred is by Diligence and is owned by Lewis Bronfman and trained by Dan Vella. She wa smaking her 8th career start.

Race 8 was a wild one as several horses got into trouble.
But it was also the first win for GO IN PEACE and Suzanne and Tim Drake's Silver Duck Racing Stable for 2008 and the purse of $66,000 was a nice payday.

Go In Peace, a Northern Strike-Host of Royalty homebred gelding, was maing his 6th start and was making that all important switch from turf to Polytrack.

Jockey Steve Bahen ended a long winless streak with his winning ride.




MATT IS BROKEN

Double Derby winner out for the year, "nothing I want to talk about"

The EDMONTON SUN'S CURTIS STOCK reports:


Canadian Derby winner needs surgery
Matt's Broken Vow injures pastern bone
Curtis Stock, The Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON -- Canadian Derby winner Matt's Broken Vow will be operated on this morning following an injury incurred during the running of Saturday's $300,000 race -- the country's richest horse race west of Toronto.

While several sources said Matt's Broken Vow broke a pastern bone in his left foreleg, trainer Josie Carroll would only say "It is a minor injury. There is nothing I want to talk about."

Just 36 hours before the 13/8-mile Derby, Matt's Broken Vow injured his left front foot when a shoe became dislodged during the flight to Edmonton from Toronto.

Carroll flew in her own blacksmith, John Staples, from Toronto. Staples changed the horse's front shoes and put a pad between the horse's left front foot and his new shoes.

"It has nothing to do with his foot," said Carroll.

Given that a horse's pastern bones -- horses have two in each leg -- are just above the foot, that would technically be correct.

Vital for shock absorption, the pasterns are located between the fetlock (ankle) joint and the hoof.

In human terms they are equivalent to the two longest finger bones.

"I assure you it has nothing to do with his foot," repeated Carroll.

Matt's Broken Vow has been sent to Moore and Co. veterinarian clinic in Balzac, just north of Calgary.

Other sources said that Matt's Broken Vow's jockey, Emile Ramsammy, told Carroll that he could tell something was wrong when he pulled the horse up following the race.

The injury is not life-threatening, but it will keep Matt's Broken Vow on the sidelines for an extended period of time.

(cstock@thejournal.canwest.com)




CURLIN'S CORNER

Hey, visit the world's top racehorse at his website (s)...so to the NYRA site and you will also find Curlin's personal site there too..

http://www.nyra.com/Curlin/CurlinCorner.htm

SPEAK UP

Thoroughblog ommitted some important information about yesterday's posts regarding the horses LINDROS (Windreach Farm), REFUSE TO BEND and EXPLOSIVE LAD (Creekside)...those horses were adopted by those farms through the
LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION.




CORRECTIONS - EQUIBASE STANDINGS
The standings I ran yesterday were only through last Saturday....
here are the updated ones from equibase.com...


TRAINERS

It's Mark ahead of Reade and Reade in a logjam for 2nd...

ROBERT TILLER (at left in photo, is going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame tomorrow)

Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings

Mark E. Casse 257 35 40 37 $2,728,304

Reade Baker 179 29 19 25 $1,570,169

Scott H. Fairlie 131 28 23 15 $1,088,487

Sid C. Attard 171 27 25 25 $1,590,700

Roger L. Attfield 135 26 13 25 $2,205,902

Steven M. Asmussen 148 25 18 17 $1,561,161

Michael J. Doyle 161 21 13 19 $957,785

Nicholas Gonzalez 113 20 17 16 $1,542,645

Brian A. Lynch 58 19 9 8 $1,537,864

Robert P. Tiller 157 18 23 22 $1,123,571

Terry Jordan 48 18 10 2 $704,124

Ian Black 82 17 7 9 $1,050,142

Daniel J. Vella 119 16 17 14 $991,472



JOCKEYS
Jimmy Mac drawing away, good battle for 2nd, Emma-Jayne Wilson edgd past Sutherland.



James McAleney 430 87 61 58 $4,618,152

Patrick Husbands 387 69 63 55 $4,249,270

Eurico Rosa Da Silva 458 62 57 53 $3,412,099

Emile Ramsammy 484 60 66 64 $3,223,533

Emma-Jayne Wilson 493 60 59 76 $3,533,201

Chantal Sutherland 424 59 53 63 $3,233,043

Tyler Pizarro 391 54 50 44 $2,493,935

David Clark 305 40 35 34 $2,503,769

Jono C. Jones 322 37 35 37 $3,015,209

Justin Stein 342 34 46 29 $1,659,507

Robert C. Landry 217 30 29 36 $2,036,816

Slade Callaghan 237 29 21 21 $1,340,905

Constant Montpellier 250 23 30 25 $1,386,007

Jerry Baird 229 21 20 40 $1,394,770



WOODBINE MILE, SEPT. 7 Win and You're In Race

KIP DEVILLE had a big workout yesterday at Aqueduct, 1:14 2/5. on the turf with his last 3 furlongs in :35 1/5 according to the DAILY RACING FORM.

(at right, Kip Deville winnig the Poker Stakes over TAM LIN, who was unplaced in his Woodbine trip last weekend after some trouble, Vanessa Ng photo)


The continent's top turf miler has run twice this year - winning the Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and the Poker at Belmont in July.

KIP DEVILLE, 2nd in last year's Woodbine Mile, is trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer of Big Brown among others, and also trainer of Queen's Plate winner WILD DESERT, who snuck in and snuck out of Woodbine amind controversy (sketchy workout patterns, betting coup).

And Dutrow may also send FROST GIANT, winner of the Grade 1 Suburban, for the Northern Dancer Stakes on th same day as Mile. Frost Giant has won on grass too.

KIP DEVILLE figures to be a big, big favourite for the Woodbine Mile since the nominee list is light with graded stakes performers.



WOODBINE TONIGHT

THE CAT IS BACK

The Eternal Search Stakes is much like a lot of the other overnight stakes races to be run this summer, small field but with a bit of drama.

AUTHENICAT (D'Wildcat) has not proven herself at 1 1/16 miles - although she tends to move too soon at the trip - but should still be a big favourite for the race tonight against just 4 rivals.

KRZ EXEC is riding a winning streak of 3 races, one this year, and it is good she has had some time off since that gut-wrenching Ontario Damsel Stakes score on turf.

Should be a reasonably interesting race on what should be a nice, cool night.

Enter the SCORE 1-2-3 contest tonight...

http://thescore.123racing.ca/



HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS TOMORROW NIGHT

There are lots of places racing folks need to be in the next few weeks: Yearling Sales Stakes day next Monday, the yearling sale Tuesday, the Woodbine Mile on Sunday the 7th.

Another big event is tomorrow night's CANADIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME induction dinner at the Mississauga Convention Centre.

Champion trainer ROBERT TILLER is one of numerous inductees in the throughbred and standardbred divisions.

Join the hall of Fames folks for an evening of sharing memories in celebration of the other 2008 inductees - Peaceful Way, Real Desire, Smart Strike, Wilderness Song, Louis Cauz, Cliff Champman Jr., Pierre Levesque.


The Hall of Fame is located in the west entrance of Woodbine racetrack, as you enter the elevators to the dining rooms.

(Photo, from www.canadianhorseracing
halloffame.com, the best part of the Hall
- 'the way we were')

It was the early 1970s when racetrack folks such as John Ferguson, Pat McMahon and Bruce Walker presented the idea of a Hall of Fame to Racetracks Canada. A ring idea was also presented with a logo design developed by Elaine MacPherson.

It was 20 years before the Hall of Fame actually had a place to live - Woodbine racetrack.

According to Walker, an initial plan to have an actual building on the property for the Hall of Fame never came to fruition because of tensions between western and eastern racing lovers.

The current manager of the Hall of Fame is Louis Cauz who was voted to be inducted into the Hall this year.




IN THE CARDS...


Woodbine Entertainment, Roger Attffield Inc. and a litany of racing folks, farms, etc. chipped into make the 5th annual C.A.R.D. golf tournament yesterday a super day.

The charitable group is Community Riding for the Disabled, horses proving therapeutic comfort for special needs kids.

Jason Portuondo of Sportsnet was the Master of Ceremonies and the crowd of some 80 plus golfers included some of the notables of the racing biz.



FORT MALFUCTION

Several thousands of dollars, reported to be in the $60,000 range, was refunded from race 4 yesterday due to a tote malfunction. Horses in the $4,000 claiming race ran for purse money only.




WARNING - This story of a horse rescue is tough to read... and the picture on the site is even more gruesome.

THOROUGHBLOG NOTE: This mare KRISTIN ANN never raced but had many foals and her most recent were foaled/bred nu New York by MIKE PALENSCAR.


Secretariat's foal rescued by three local women
by Josh Weinfuss / News Herald Writer

If Secretariat could see one of his daughter's now, he probably wouldn't be the calm, nonchalant horse he was known to be off the track.

Secretariat entered horse racing history after winning the first Triple Crown of the 1970s, and remained among the kings of the Sports of Kings until his death in 1989.

He was pampered, loved, and taken care of better than most humans, which makes the condition of his daughter, Kristin Ann, even more startling.

One of 600 Secretariat foals, Kristin Ann stands comfortably these days in a pen off Britton Road in unincorporated Bay County near Lynn Haven. One look at her and signs of neglect are obvious. She's bony, slow moving and hasn't had a foal in 10 years.

But Kristin Ann, 23, still looks like her father, with a neck and head resembling the thoroughbred legend. She has the white sock on her right hind leg with a brown spot. Secretariat had a sock on his left hind leg with the same spot.

Even their markings are similar, with a star-like mark and a stripe on the head. Now cared for by Jamie Coughlin, Kathy Poffenberger and Pam Dowling - the self-proclaimed Kristin Ann Syndicate - her recovery isn't guaranteed, but one thing is for sure, Kristin Ann is in the hands of three women who care about her as much as Secretariat's handlers cared for him. A swift rescue Coughlin has rescued more than 200 animals during the past 20 years.

She already has a horse on three acres of land off Britton, and a goat meanders around, playing with the horse in a sight that draws immediate laughter. A harmless bulldog greets visitors who enter through the front gate.

Yet Coughlin wanted more. She was friends separately with Poffenberger and Dowling, and knew each wanted to rescue a horse. Poffenberger and Dowling grew up riding and caring for horses, but hadn't owned one for 25 years.

For both, it was time. Searching the Internet, Coughlin came across a daughter of Secretariat a few months ago, but the trio was outbid. It happened once more.. read the rest..

http://www.newsherald.com/sports/secretariat_67716___article.html/horse_ann.html

SKY'S THE LIMIT

A loooong weekend coming up with the ONTARIO COLLEEN STAKES, the VICE REGENT STAKES (which is expected to feature the return of Queen's Plate hero NOT BOURBON) AND then on Monday, SIX (6) YEARLING SALES STAKES.

The selected session of the sale is next Tuesday at 3 p.m.





TUESDAY MORNING SCOREBOARD WOODBINE TRAINERS
Mark Casse holdsjust a 6 win lead over arch-rival Reade Baker who has a litany of fellows right behind him.


Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Mark E. Casse 252 35 39 37 $2,708,805
Reade Baker 179 29 19 25 $1,570,169
Scott H. Fairlie 129 28 23 15 $1,086,419
Sid C. Attard 170 27 25 25 $1,590,300
Roger L. Attfield 132 26 13 25 $2,202,652
Steven M. Asmussen 147 25 18 17 $1,558,956
Michael J. Doyle 159 21 13 18 $945,285
Nicholas Gonzalez 111 20 17 15 $1,535,393
Robert P. Tiller 156 18 23 22 $1,121,498
Terry Jordan 48 18 10 2 $704,124
Brian A. Lynch 56 18 9 7 $1,483,450
Daniel J. Vella 117 16 15 14 $955,652
Ian Black 80 16 7 9 $987,142
Audre Cappuccitti 141 15 12 17 $494,280


JOCKEYS

It's still all Jimmy Mac as the rider seeks hsi first Sovereign Award. Patrick Husbands is not far behind in money.

In the fall, look for some new apprentice riders to pick things up in that division.


Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
James McAleney 424 87 60 58 $4,592,347
Patrick Husbands 382 69 62 54 $4,230,972
Eurico Rosa Da Silva 458 62 57 53 $3,412,099
Emile Ramsammy 478 59 65 61 $3,175,130
Emma-Jayne Wilson 485 58 59 75 $3,494,519
Chantal Sutherland 418 58 52 62 $3,158,353
Tyler Pizarro 385 54 49 42 $2,460,609
David Clark 297 39 35 34 $2,475,997
Jono C. Jones 317 36 35 35 $2,955,196
Justin Stein 338 34 46 29 $1,657,907
Robert C. Landry 215 30 29 36 $2,036,016
Slade Callaghan 237 29 21 21 $1,340,905
Constant Montpellier 246 22 28 24 $1,289,333


FORT ERIE TRAINERS
There is a super race going in in trainer-land at Fort Erie...Colebrook Farms' Ashlee Brnjas is in the hunt.

Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings
Nicholas Gonzalez 89 18 23 10 $240,845
Donald C. MacRae 53 16 11 5 $150,229
Michael Newell 116 15 12 14 $148,899
John Simms 80 13 19 15 $149,036
Lyle Morden 42 12 5 8 $100,248
Ashlee Brnjas 34 12 5 3 $86,859
Kevin Buttigieg 82 10 9 14 $108,089
Daniel Wills 50 10 7 8 $100,878
Paula Loescher 63 9 9 9 $106,966
Ralph J. Biamonte 37 8 9 5 $77,851


FORT ERIE JOCKEYS
Another title is beckoning Chad but good meets for Pimentel and Garcia.


Chad Beckon 315 59 64 44 $740,205
Rui M. Pimentel 189 38 30 28 $405,754
David Garcia 156 34 31 13 $347,329
Christopher Griffith 196 33 22 29 $374,554
Cory Clark 242 31 36 34 $386,794
Kristopher Robinson 171 22 21 24 $261,247
Eldridge K. Lindsay 177 17 15 22 $217,216
Daniel J. David 77 17 10 12 $175,065



REMEMBERING SKY DIAMOND

Ontario stakes horses ORGAN GRINDER, MOONSHINE JUSTICE added to TOP BUNK LIST....

There are only a handful of horses at major tracks in North America who are racing for bottom claiming and have won over $500,000.

This list is kept on the TOP BUNK LIST (see link below)...the lost lost its first horse when SKY DIAMOND tragically broke down at Monmouth Park on Saturday for $7,500 claiming.

There has been no issued statement from the interests of that horse or Monmouth Park regarding this breakdown.

Two Ontario stakes horses have just joined the list... ORGAN GRINDER and MOONSHINE JUSTICE, who have been picking up small cheques at Fort Erie lately.


(right) ORGAN GRINDER, stakes winner, is competing for low claiming at Fort Erie)
http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Sky_Diamond


http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Top_Bunk_List






SCORE ONE for WINDREACH..

Stakes placed LINDROS (fyi - hip 154 at next week's sale is closely related) is seen here with his friend KEITH BRETTELL at Windreach Farm north of Toronto.
Lindros was recently adopted by the farm and provides riding fun for specials needs folks.

Nickamed 'Bear', Lindros
is very gentle and is perfect for inexperienced riders.

(at right) Keith dismounts Bear.














BENDER and DUDE at CREEK SIDE FARM

(Saugeen Indian Reserve) and educating kids


Stakes winner REFUSE TO BEND (Izvestia Stakes) and winner EXPLOSIVE LAD have arrived at the Creek Side Farm just east of Toronto to enjoy life and help children.
Check out this booming new farm on its website.. hey Bender and Dude have an emial address, so write to them!

web.me.com/raymondauger!

WHIRLWIND

A wrap of the all the fun stuff from this weekend follows a very important story from Saturday.





SKY DIAMOND 2000-2008

ONTARIO-BRED

8-years-old, Sky Classic-Sometimesadiamond

47 starts
15 wins
3 seconds

Earnings $539,352



If you follow THOROUGHBLOG you know that fair and respectable treatment of the racehorse is a focus.

Thoroughblog tries to dedicate time and money to horse retirement groups.

Abuse of horses, for instance racing them into the ground when they are no longer competitive, sending horses to slaughter without even a through to find them homes and just plain and simple ill-respect for the horse and his or her after-racing life is unacceptable.

This summer, one horse who came up a lot was SKY DIAMOND, one of just half a dozen horses racing for bottoms claiming that had earned over $500,000 in a career.
(Stats were produced by DAILY RACING FORM and submitted to Alex Brown racing.)


Here is the day I realized SKY DIAMOND, stakes placed at Woodbine for years who was bred by Sam-Son Farms and raced for Roger Patten, Sid Attard, Paul Attard, Robert Tiller (once) and a litany of others, was still racing..
A write up I did a few months back...he made the:

THE TOP BUNK LIST (from earlier this summer)

Earners of $500,000 racing for $5,000 claiming or less..


From AlexBrownRacing.com

The Top Bunk List is a list of horses, still racing, that have made more than $500,000 and are running for $5,000 or less. We are tracking these horses, thanks to Daily Racing Form's horse watch program. We are trying to retire these horses before they get into a more serious situation. At any given time, there are anywhere between 6 - 10 horses on this list. Current list:

Ask The Lord: Retired Ask the Lord gets new life on farm DRF, excerpt: A few months ago, Brown compiled a list of 10 horses who have earned $500,000 or more and are running for a claiming price of $5,000 or less. His goal is retirement for all of them, and so far two of them are off the track, Ask the Lord and Top Bunk.

Frazee's Folly

Judge's Case Retired (was retired off site!)

Lights on Broadway - raced 4th at Anthony Downs on weekend!! (Update - retired!)

Out of My Way

Pay Attention

Rudirudy

Sky Diamond -

YIKES - Canadian bred from Sam-Son Farms, currently owned by Leo-Sag Stables, trained by Bobby DiBona.
Sky Diamond has been claimed 5 times since Jan. of last year and he's only raced 12 times in that span.
He was recently claimed for $5,000 and raced July 8 for $7,500 and was 2nd. He is 8-years-old.

Spicy Stuff

Witt Ante - 7th for $4,000 claiming at Evangeline on Friday!!




So, on Saturday at MONMOUTH PARK, in the 1st race, SKY DIAMOND's life came to an end.

The gallant fellow broke front sesamoids but continued to run to the finish line.
He was euthanized on the track.

Leo -Sag Stable and Bobby DiBona were his current owner and trainer.


How many times have we seen this this year? Horses collapse at very old ages at the track - perhaps because of just too much stress, too many drugs, what have you.

Horses break down on the track ate ages of 8, 9 or 10 or more.

And SKY DIAMOND met his fate at at high profile track like Monmouth.

Good grief..what is going on at other little tracks around North America?

With the banning of horse slaughter finally being considered in all aspects of the media, let's pull up our shorts and try to stop the needless deaths of horses on the track too.

Yes, SKY DIAMOND was a galant soldier who rarely ran a bad race. He won 3 starts ago too.
But why was he racing for $5K claiming and $7,500? Because he is simply old? Or did him have any infirmities over the years of his racing?

Only those who trained him, groomed him and loved him will know.



LOCAL WEEKEND STARS

JUST RUSHING - 101 BEYER winning PLAY THE KING STAKES-GRADE 2

MATT'S BROKEN VOW - Canadian Derby, Beyer n/a

GLITTER ROX - Belle Geste Stakes - 78 Beyer

KOONUNGA HILL - Ice water Stakes - 71 Beyer

MINE THAT BIRD - Silver Deputy Stakes - 78



The Grade 2 PLAY THE KING STAKES was easily the highlight of the Woodbine weekend action, a race that set up perfectly for the speed and stalkers (the first 2 furlongs for these hard hitting sprinters was slower than 23!) and resulted in a fast, fast finish with the fresh JUST RUSHING getting the jump on WOLLEMI PINE in his 3rd race off the layoff.

Hey, Just Rushing lost his 2nd race of the year to Wollemi Pine by a nose, a tiny, tiny nose.
It was revenge time for the 7yo white-faced fellow who had a slightly better trip but more importantly, was very fresh and ready to peak.

The locals cleaned up the top 2 positions - OFF DUTY was in the pace duel with DISFUNCTION for a while and was 3rd to do best of the shippers.

Godolphin runners EMIRATES TO DUBAI and TAM LIN were not too good.

JUST RUSHING, a remarkable fellow for the Tucci Stables who claimed him from the Stronach Stables years ago. The Wild Rush guy has won 12 of 27 races and over $730,000.

What does the PLAY THE KING mean for the Woodbine Mile?

The 7 furlong race used to be a prep for the Mile but with that $1 million race in 2 weeks, it would be surprising to see anyone come out of it to run right back.

Of course most connections said 'no way' on Saturday after the race, but do we believe it?

Right now, KIP DEVILLE, the Breeders' Cup Mile winner last year and Grade 1 winning mare VENTURA are miles in front of any other runner who may compete in the race.



A look at the NOMINEES for the Woodbine Mile...


ASTRONOMER ROYAL»
b.c.4 by Danzig(Northern Dancer) - Sheepscot(Easy Goer)
Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier Aidan P. O'Brien

AWESOME ACTION»
dk b/.g.8 by Awesome Again(Deputy Minister) - Opinionated Lady(Known Fact)
C. and N. Joseph, D. Meehan and S. Leslie Sue Leslie

DARK ISLANDER (IRE)
*Scratched from Del Mar Mile on weekend, useful horse

b.h.5 by Singspiel (IRE)(In the Wings (GB)) - Lamanka Lass(Woodman)
Donald M. Kerr Neil D. Drysdale

ELUSIVE FORT (SAF)
dk b/.h.6 by Fort Wood(Sadler's Wells) - Ever Seeking (SAF)(Secret Prospector)
Vintage Thoroughbreds, Inc. Raja Malek

ICE BEAR»
gr/ro.g.4 by Maria's Mon(Wavering Monarch) - Bristol Pistol(Regal Classic)
Augustin Stable MacDonald Benson

JUNGLE FIGHTER»
b.g.7 by Wild Rush(Wild Again) - Joustabout(Apalachee)
Stronach Stables Justin J. Nixon

JUST RUSHING»
dk b/.g.7 by Wild Rush(Wild Again) - Daybydaybyday(Shananie)
Tucci Stables Sid C. Attard

KIP DEVILLE
gr/ro.h.5 by Kipling(Gulch) - Klondike Kaytie(Encino)
IEAH Stables, Pegasus Holding Group Stables, Roberts, J. and Cohen, A. and S. Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.

LOVELACE (GB)
b.c.4 by Royal Applause (GB)(Waajib (IRE)) - Loveleaves (GB)(Polar Falcon)
Hamad Suhail Mark Steven Johnston

MORADA KEY»
dk b/.g.4 by Carson City(Mr. Prospector) - Dhaka(Icecapade)
OFER Stables LLC Mark E. Casse

MULMUR»
ch.g.5 by Smart Strike(Mr. Prospector) - Wilderness Storm(Storm Cat)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad

ONE UNION»
dk b/.h.5 by Dixie Union(Dixieland Band) - Onceinabluemamoon(Al Mamoon)
Herman Sarkowsky Richard E. Mandella

PALLADIO»
b.h.6 by Lycius(Mr. Prospector) - Gioia(Mari's Book)
Haras Santa Maria de Araras Roger L. Attfield

PRECIOUS KITTEN»
dk b/.m.5 by Catienus(Storm Cat) - Kitten's First(Lear Fan)
Lael Stables Robert J. Frankel

PRESSING (IRE)
dk b/.h.5 by Soviet Star(Nureyev) - Rafif(Riverman)
Gary A. Tanaka Michael A. Jarvis

PRINCE WOODMAN
dk b/.g.5 by Woodman(Mr. Prospector) - Queen Mama(Seattle Slew)
Earle I. Mack Richard A. Violette, Jr.

RAHY'S ATTORNEY
b.g.4 by Crown Attorney(Silver Deputy) - Rahy's Hope(Rahy)
Ellie Boje Farm, Peters, Read, Jean and Jim MacLellan Ian Black

RAVEN'S PASS»

*WON CELEBRATION MILE SATURDAY...

ch.c.3 by Elusive Quality(Gone West) - Ascutney(Lord At War (ARG))
Stonerside Stable LLC and Sheikh Mohammed John H. M. Gosden

SABANA PERDIDA (IRE)
b.m.5 by Cape Cross (IRE)(Green Desert) - Capriola(Mr. Prospector)
Scuderia Zaro Alain De Royer-Dupre

SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN
b.h.5 by Not Impossible (IRE)(Sadler's Wells) - Athena's Smile(Olympio)
Charles E. Fipke and George Waud Roger L. Attfield

STAR PLUS (ARG)
b.h.5 by Alpha Plus(Mr. Prospector) - Nannar (ARG)(Big Play)
Earle I. Mack Kenneth G. McPeek

VENTURA»
dk b/.f.4 by Chester House(Mr. Prospector) - Estala (GB)(Be My Guest)
Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Robert J. Frankel

WAR MONGER»
*just raced on Saturday at Saratoga
b.c.4 by War Chant(Danzig) - Carnival Delight(Half a Year)
Peter Vegso William I. Mott

WOLLEMI PINE»
gr/ro.g.4 by Aljabr(Storm Cat) - Toogie Pine(Pine Bluff)
Kinghaven Farms, Harvey Clarke and Greg Thompson Ian Black


The NORTHERN DANCER STAKES could be a better race and the Canadian, for fillies & mares, could lure multiple Grade 1 winner PRECIOUS KITTEN, so the long weekend should feature some good grass racing at Woodbine.



WOODBINE WEEKEND WRAP


The track played fairly from Friday through yesterday, the rail is still not great but speed and stalkers won fairly.
The TURF COURSE is rattling right now...

The 2yo filly divsion is currently being led by sprint stakes winners KOONUNGA HILL, who became the first STAKES WINNER for the stallion WONNEBERG with his Ice Water Stakes score yesterday.

The Empress Stable homebred is another good runner for the owner/trainer Steve Owens lovely mare Easy to Praise.
Not a fast race, the Ice Water, with a 71 Beyer Figure but the filly was gritty.

Two firsters from the Mark Casse stable got a lot of press before tehe race but were non-factors.

GLITTER ROX won her first stakes race for the partnership of Elle Boje (Rahy's Attorney) and partners.

Let's hope the The Ellie Boje's go shopping at next week's yearling sale since they have cleaned up over the last 2 years.
Glitter Rox, a homebred by Glitterman, has won 5 of 15 and over $270,000. Ian Black trains.

Trainers that had good weekends (inc. Friday)- JOHN CARDELLA, JOSIE CARROLL and IAN BLACK.



THE SHOE NEEDS TO FIT!!! - CANADIAN DERBY WRAP UP



EDMONTON SUN
BY JONATHAN HUNTINGTON


Robert Mitchell had a very simple motto for the Canadian Derby: Go hard or go home.

That explains why he paid the bill to bring a blacksmith from Toronto's Woodbine racetrack on last-minute notice on Friday to repair Matt's Broken Vow's injured foot.

The cost of the flight to Edmonton and John Staples's services were definitely worth it because Matt's Broken Vow is the 79th Derby champion after a gutsy stretch-drive battle with Texas Wildcatter yesterday at Northlands Park.

Owned by Mitchell, the Ontario-based three-year-old thoroughbred lost the lead by a nose at the top of the stretch, but somehow found more in the tank to not only pass Texas Wildcatter but beat him by two and a quarter lengths.

"We were fortunate that (Staples) was able to come and help us out," said winning trainer Josie Carroll, who requested the special blacksmith service after Matt's Broken Vow was limping around the barn on Friday.

"The shoe (on the foot) had shifted, he had a bit of a hot heel (Friday morning).

"We brought John Staples; he knows the horse. The horse has a funny shaped foot. For $300,000 you bring the best guy you know."

The $300,000 Canadian Derby is the richest race in Western Canada. The winner's share of the purse is $180,000.

When the foot problem was noticed on Friday morning, the shoe was taken off the foot and the call made to Staples.

He was able to place the same shoe back on Matt's Broken Vow's foot and make it comfortable enough so he could win Edmonton's most prestigious race.

Making the victory even sweeter for Mitchell is the fact the colt is named after his nine-year-old son Matt.

"It is so exciting. It is just a thrill," said Mitchell, with his son and daughter Laurie at his side after the winner's circle pictures. "It is indescribable (from there). Having the kids with me it is something they will remember for the rest of their lives."

Matt will be able to tell some entertaining stories when he returns to school in Saskatoon this fall considering the Kentucky-bred colt has now captured back-to-back Derby titles after winning in Manitoba on Aug. 4.

And Matt's Broken Vow could be heading for a Western Derby hat trick if he enters the B.C. Derby on Sept. 21 in Vancouver.

But in the Canadian Derby, plenty of the credit goes to jockey Emile Ramsammy, who stalked the early pacesetters - One Only and Bears Tiger - before grabbing the lead in the final turn.

"It was an outstanding ride," said Mitchell. "We were in a good position the whole race."

Matt's Broken Vow didn't have the lead for very long in the final turn in the one-mile and three-eighths marathon before Texas Wildcatter passed him for a few fleeting seconds.

But Ramsammy knew what he was doing under intense pressure.

"I hit the lead in cruise and then I realized he was waiting for (Texas Wildcatter)," said Ramsammy. "I thought if (Texas Wildcatter) comes and runs by him, I still had enough horse to go on and persevere."




COLONEL JOHN'S TRAVERS

BEYER 106

Jockey Robby Albarado is as good as judging photos as I am.
Anyway, the guy was beaten on the wise-guy pick in the Travers, Mambo in Seattle, while COLONEL JOHN won with a Beyer Figure that matched Harlem Rocker's number in the Withers.

A good bunch, not great.

HARLEM ROCKER was one of several dudes in the race that had a wide, bumping or just a plain old rocky trip but he was 4th and that was okay for the Canadian-bred.

The NEW YORK DAILY NEWS' SHERRY ROSS has an opinion..

EXCERPT: Travers makes for Bigger Brown

BY SHERRY ROSS
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS


SARATOGA SPRINGS - As exciting as it was, the head-bob victory by Colonel John over Mambo in Seattle in Saturday's Travers did little other than underscore the fact that behind divisional leader Big Brown is just a bunch of nice horses.

"It was one of those Travers where you could shuffle the deck and run them back next week and have a different outcome," said trainer Todd Pletcher, whose Harlem Rocker had a rough trip in the field of 12 and finished fourth, ahead of favored Pyro. "I think it's still Big Brown's division and everybody else is trying to catch up."

Winning trainer Eoin Harty can't be blamed for holding a different opinion. "Right now, Colonel John has to be among the top tier," said Harty, who left Saratoga early Sunday morning to fly to California, where he saddled Well Armed in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar. "He has to be right up there with Big Brown, but that's for the experts to decide."

A meeting with Big Brown in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 25 could settle that issue.



SOME OTHER BIG WINNERS ON THE WEEKEND:


HASTINGS PARK
Sunday

The sensational 2yo colt EL SINALOENSE (Mud Route) won in a romp on Sunday in the New Westminster Stakes for his 4th win in 5 races...

DEL MAR...
Rancho Bernardo Handicap
Grade III, 6 1 / 2 furlongs
Polytrack

DEAREST TRICKSKI earned a berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita with a front running score in track record time...winning trainer John Sadler.
The PROUDEST ROMAN FILLY was a $10,000 claiming runner at one time.


Pat O'Brien Handicap
Grade II, 7 furlongs
Polytrack

LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) earns a berth for the Breeders' Cup Sprint on Oct. 25
and set a track record.
MIDNIGHT LUTE broke awkwardly and was dull.

Winning trainer/jockey: Wayne Catalano/Rene Douglass

What they said: "Oh, no, no. It wasn't my horse. My horse was swerving; that other horse was coming out." ---- Douglas

"That was what we came for (from Chicago), right there. Everything went perfect, the whole plan. It's great when a plan comes together." ---- Catalano


Del Mar Mile
Grade II, One mile
Grass

WHATSTHESCRIPT (Royal Academy) - Trainer John Sadler does it again and this fellow earned a trip to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

"He's one of the true horses that I've ever had that I think is a Grade I horse." ---- Sadler



AND LOCAL RUNNERS:


SUGAR SWIRL did not have a great trip in the Grade 1 Ballerina. The Canadian-bred Touch Gold mare was in the pace duel, steadied, altered course, made a bid and then understandably stalled.
She was 3rd and earned a 92 Beyer Figure.

The pair from trainer READE BAKER'S barn in stakes at Charles Town on Saturday night both broke slowly in 4 1/2 furlong races and were not threats. Ring of Greatness, a big maiden winner and Broadway Ellie were unplaced in $100,000 stakes for 2yo colts and fillies respectively.

HANDICAP THIS!

(Ginger Punch wins a close photo over Lemon Drop Mom in the Personal Ensign, photo by Vanessa Ng)





EVERYONE LOVES THE ROCKER!

Stronach Stables could have a very, very good weekend.

GINGER PUNCH was heroic in the Personal Ensign win yesterday, although to these eyes it sure looked like she had lost.

Anyway, the Travers is a wid open collections of the lesser 3yos who run in the 100-106 Beyer Figure range but maybe there is room for improvement for some.

HARLEM ROCKER, the grey Canadian-bred by Macho Uno (did you read about the only other Canadian bred to win the race that was also grey in yesterday's post?), is a popular pick based on the cycling up of his form. He looked a like a freak in the spring and looked like a colt who has more learning to do in the Prince of Wales.

THOROUGHBLOG has it on good authority that TRES BORRACHOS, trained by Beau Greely, is coming into the race is super shape. The colt os out of the Canadian bred mare PETE'S FANCY.

Here is one noted scribe's pick...

from ESPN.COM

TRAVERS STAKES PICK BY BILL FINLEY..

11th Saratoga -- Travers Stakes

With Big Brown taking a pass on this one, the 139th Travers has become a battle among the best of the rest. The race drew a large and competitive field of 12 with no standouts. HARLEM ROCKER has been a difficult horse to figure out. He looked brilliant winning the Withers over the fleet J Be K, but then flopped in the Queen's Plate Trial and earned a slow figure in the Prince of Wales. He probably didn't like the Polytrack at Woodbine and his win in the Prince of Wales is better than it looks on paper. He looked like he was going to blow the field away and then he put the breaks on. When the field came to him and passed him, he came on again and spurted away from the bunch to win going away. It looked like a classic case of a horse waiting on other horses. I'm expecting him to finally run back to his Withers figure. The last three Jim Dandy winners have won the Travers and it might happen again. MACHO AGAIN overcame some traffic trouble to win the Jim Dandy and then showed some courage to hold off a surging Pyro. A repeat of that effort might be enough. MAMBO IN SEATTLE is a danger. Neil Howard has been extra patient with the son of Kingmambo and has managed to get some improvement out of him in every race, He has never before met the big boys, but he might be ready for this difficult assignment.


CHECK!
KING'S BISHOP

These are the better 3yo's it appears.
Rockets lik J BE K, GOLDEN SPIKES, DESERT KEY and last year's
Canadian champion 2yo KODIAK KOWBOY are contenders in the King's Bishop at 7 furlongs.

What about I'M SO LUCKY as a longshot pick, the colt is by Langfuhr?


GINGER PUNCH ekes it out, she was in heat!
FROM HORSE-RACES.NET

Bobby Frankel quotes from www.horse-races.net..

"I thought we got beat. She got the perfect bob. Today and in her last race, she had to overcome a lot of things. She's in heat and I was a nervous wreck. When I saw her in the paddock, she was (acting) as if she was ready to be bred. By the way Rafael was putting her in a drive, I thought she had a lot to do. As soon as she got to the 1/4 pole, I knew she had a chance. We're thinking about the Beldame. We want to see how she comes out of this race."


IN THE BLACK

While Stronach Stables could be super strong in New York, how about trainer IAN BLACK and KINGHAVEN FARMS at Woodbine this weekend?

Sniffs of the old days when Kinghaven won stakes every weekend.

Today, its WOLLEMI PINE, owned in part by Harvey Clarke and Greg Thompson, in the Grade 2 Play the King (named in honour of Kinghaven's late, great Horse of the Year).

He'll be one of the favourites but it won't be easy, there are 2 from Godolphin in there that both look very good.

EMIRATES OF DUBAI, watch his videos of his last three races, all super (with some trouble in mixed in too).

Tomorrow, trainer IAN BLACK has 2 in the Belle Geste Stakes including Kinghaven's PROPEHTICALLY.


YESTERDAY AT WOODBINE

Freaky, and frantic friday saw many form reversals, horses getting very hot and 7 of the 9 races were won by Ontario breds, two were bred by Minshall Farms.

Old timer RAW POWER was an exciting winner of the finale, a 6 1/2 furlong claiming turf sprint with tough, tough guys in it. The Rahy gelding rallied outside and clear of some rivals who had horrible trips.

ZETETIC, the favourite, was locked in a diabolical sped duel early and lasted for 2nd while CANADIAN MUSIC, who will get lucky one of these days, was trapped, blocked, checked and, well, it was ugly. He finished 6th beaten like 2 1/2 lengths.



RING OF GREATNESS
$40K claim races at Charles Town tonight

Reade Baker's claim, Ring of Greatnss, the 2yo that won by 10 lengths first time out, was bet down like he was a good thing in the claiming event and ran a 92 Beyer Figure, makes his 2nd career start tonight at Charles Town.
The story is below:

From the Martinsburg Journal...

Charles Town Races to feature 2-year-old action

CHARLES TOWN - Charles Town Races and Slots will hold its inaugural Juvenile Showcase tonight.

The two co-feature races are the $100,000 Charles Town Juvenile, a 4 furlong sprint for 2-year-olds, and the $100,000 Miss Shenandoah for 2-year-old fillies.

Ring of Greatness, shipping down from Canada for trainer Reade Baker, figures to be one of the post-time favorites in the Charles Town Juvenile. Ring of Greatness will be making his first start for Baker following an impressive 10-length win at Woodbine in his career debut.

Also vying for consideration will be Essenceofthemoon from the barn of Bobbie McAlister. Essenceofthemoon has been knocking heads with some of the country's top juveniles in stakes at Churchill and Belmont, and recently returned to the winner's circle in an allowance race at Delaware Park.

Rounding out the list of favorites is Adger, trained by Steve Asmussen. Adger's stakes debut comes on the heels of his front-running maiden victory at Monmouth Park on Aug. 8

The Miss Shenandoah for two-year-old fillies should see an evenly matched field of eight horse.

Padua Stables' homebred Vindy, a daughter of 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vindication, ships to Charles Town after a second-place finish in a July allowance at Presque Isle Downs. The Asmussen trainee looks to follow in the footsteps of Red Legend Stakes winner Devereux and provide Padua with its second stakes win at Charles Town this year.

The undefeated Onearmedbandit, a perfect 3 for 3 in her career, should attract some attention for owner-trainer John Robb. A difficult horse to figure in the wagering could be Broadway Ellie, also from the barn of Reade Baker. This will be the first career start for the daughter of Street Cry.

In addition, West Virginia-accredited 2-year old fillies will be on display in the $50,000, 4furlong Rachel's Turn. Rounding out the stakes will be the $50,000 Frank Gall Memorial for West Virginia-accredited horses going 7 furlongs.

Memorial will be run as the 5th and 8thraces, respectively with the other two in between.

Post time for the first race for the Charles Town Juvenile Showcase is 7:15. All four stakes will be part of an all-takes Pick Four comprised of races 5 through 8, with the Charles Town Juvenile scheduled to be the seventh race with a projected post time of 9:33 p.m.

-Staff reports


GOOD STORY ON SOME FORT ERIE FOLKS..

by Harlan Abbey of the Welland Tribune

Busy trainers become familiar faces in Fort Erie winner's circle
Posted By Welland Tribune
Posted 9 hours ago


Two of the busiest, and most successful, trainers at Fort Erie Race Track are Mike Newell and Lyle (Butch) Morden.

Three times this season Newell has saddled two winners in one day; he currently stands third with 15 wins.

Morden is fifth, with 12 wins, and had two wins from four starts during a recent 10-day period and two wins the last three days of the current meet, along with Paula Loescher, who has nine wins, and Nick Gonzalez, who leads all trainers with 18 trips to the winner’s circle and was second in the 2007 standings with 34 winners.

Last season, when he had only 12 wins, Newell’s stable was evenly split between Fort Erie and Thistledowns, outside Cleveland. This year, he has 36 horses on the Fort Erie backstretch and only six in Ohio.

“You need a different type of horse for Fort Erie as compared to Ohio or Mountaineer Park in West Virginia, where I’ll start shipping to late in the season,” Newell explained. “I can use old class horses who need more medication to be racing fit. At those tracks, medication is allowed closer to the day the horse races.

“I’ll claim or buy horses for specific tracks. A lot of Woodbine trainers ship a horse down to (Fort Erie) to race, and then don’t particularly want them back. I’ve bought several from (trainer) Mike Mattine. You’re always trying to get good young horses, to upgrade your stock.

“Then there are some horses that cost a lot originally and turn out to be too slow for a track like Woodbine. The owners would rather sell them and have them run at another track, so they aren’t reminded (for instance) when a horse that cost $100,000 breaks his maiden at the $5,000 claiming level. Out of sight, out of mind!”

Morden admits he’s on somewhat of a merry-go-round with 16 horses at Fort Erie, 22 at Woodbine and 20 on his farm.

“I go from one place to another in a circle every day,” he said, “and when I get back to Fort Erie on a race day I’m often too tired to saddle my horses before a race.”

One of Morden’s best Fort Erie runners is the sprinter Glendawe, whose only weakness is the occasional slow break from the starting gate – and his temperament.

Explained Morden: “The last time he ran, the grooms had braided his mane and put bandages on his hind legs. He didn’t like the change and ran poorly.”

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1169122

RUN!

CANADIAN MEMORIES OF THE TRAVERS...

HARLEM ROCKER could be only the 2nd Canadian bred to win the Travers...the first was a grey colt too..(VOTE ON MY NEW POLL AT RIGHT!!)
Harvey Pack introduces the 1982 Travers, Marshall Cassidy calls it...this is considered one of the most famous TRAVERS STAKES OF ALL.
For more on the Travers see below...













GENTLEMEN, LADIES..
SHARPEN YOUR PENCILS!


ORC collecting information and submissions on use of the whip


Toronto, ON – In preparation for an industry working session exploring the use of the whip in Ontario horse racing, the Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) is inviting submissions from interested individuals or associations. The deadline to submit your opinions, information or contributions is September 2, 2008.

As announced in July by ORC Executive Director John Blakney, the special working session will assess current practice, policy and rules to determine what improvements need to be made. Invited representatives of the horse racing community will meet in mid September and will include current and retired jockeys and drivers, horsepeople associations, racetracks, animal welfare agencies and the equine veterinarian community.

The ORC staff is currently collecting information pieces, articles, Letters To The Editor, statistics, and existing rules from other jurisdictions to provide background material for the working session discussions. Submissions received from interested people or associations will be included in this material. All submissions and material will eventually be made available to the public through the ORC website.

Submissions can include such things as your personal opinion on the direction the industry should take, or suggestions for changes to the rules and/or practices within the industry. If you are aware of specific studies conducted on the topic, or actions taken in other jurisdictions to address the issue, you are encouraged to provide this information.

The ORC recognizes that there are varying degrees of opinion on the subject of whip use, both within horse racing and the community at large.
It also believes this close examination of the degree of acceptability of the practice is both appropriate and timely, within the framework of social responsibility and concern for the welfare of the horse.

To be included in the discussions, submissions must be received by September 2, 2008 by mail, fax or email (sandy.anthony@ontarioracingcommission.ca) to the attention of Wendy Hoogeveen, Director of Industry Development and Support.


BOLD ELISE, a Bold Executive yearling filly out of a Regal Classic mare, is one of the super offerings at the upcoming Alberta Yearling sale.
Elaine MacPherson owns the filly.











WOODBINE THURSDAY WRAP

SPICE ROUTE ARRIVES - 91 BEYER


Sneaking on to the Woodbine scene yesterday was the 4yo English-bred gelding SPICE ROUTE who came to Toronto via a last place finish in the HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP in June behind Mast Trick (2nd place finisher Go Between is the fave for the Pacific Classic this weekend).

The King's Best fellow had raced 11 times in England, winning 2 and finishing 3rd in a Group 3.

Despite the Gold Cup debacle, fans welcomed the Harlequin ranches fellow, trained by Roger Attfield, with open arms for a 12 furlong allowance/optional claiming race yesterday on turf and he did not disappoint.

Pressing the pace of a headstrong YOUNG DOM, Spice Route edged clear in the stretch to win by 2 lengths in his Canadian debut in 2:26.29.

Jim McAleney rode the chestnut.


Trainer MARK CASSE and rider PATRICK HUSBANDS combined to win a pair on the day with class dropping, maiden claimers who were taking big edges.

GOLD AMI dropped from $50K claiming to $32K for Ivan Dalos, who bred the Malabar Gold miss in Ontario, and she won big by 4 3/4 l engths and was claimed by Norm DeSouza.

SEASIDE VIEW, an Ontario bred by Sky Mesa-National Treasure bed by Shyman Farms, won for $16K claiming by 3 1/2 lengths in the slow time of 1:48. She was not claimed.



SPEED TRACK FOLKS - OTHER WINNERS

GEORGIA SONG, in her 4th start, won her maiden by 6 1/2 lengths with a 73 Beyer in the first race for maiden 2yo fillies, allowance. She is a Songandaprayer gal owned by Donver Stable.

SAN GEMINIANO battled Carla Dee and then drew off to win for the 2nd time in 3 races for $19K claiming, non-winners of 3. He is a Bruno Bros. 3yo gelding by Trippi, trained by Radlie Loney.

The Montreal red 2yo filly DIAMOND ELA was very strong to win her maiden for $25,000 for 2yo fillies on the pace in race 4. Norm DeSouza owns and trains the filly.

COBRA CLASSIC led all the way at 9 to 2 to win his maiden in race 5 for trainer Abraham Katryan. The California bred by Cobra King began his career in Vancouver was claimd in May from Terry Joran for $16K. he won for $12,500 yesterday.

THE REAL ME is a super little money maker for Bill Sorokolit Jr. The Real Quiet homebred has won 5 of 20 races now - took yesterday's $16K claimer by more than 6 lengths in 1:10.89.


KRAZE BROTHER

The 2yo half brother to Wonder Where Stakes winnr NORTHERN KRAZE won his maiden at Northlands this week. DUBAI OF THE NORTH, by E. Dubai out of Baraha, by Dayjur won in his 3rd career start. He was bred by Anderson Farms.


TRAVERS STUFF..

REMEMBERING THE ONLY CANADIAN BRED TO WIN


The Travers was first run in 1864. The only Canadian bred to win is also hailed as one of the most exciting winners of the famous race.

Some of us remember the 1982 edition (video at top)

From WIKIPEDIA...

RUNAWAY GROOM the Champion Canadian Three year old, trained by John DiMairo, arrived at the Saratoga backstretch after a grueling season competing in the Canadian Triple Crown, winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, the Breeders' Stakes, and finishing second in the Queen's Plate. At the Travers that year, Runaway Groom became the only horse in racing history to beat the Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol, the Preakness Stakes winner Aloma's Ruler, and the Belmont Stakes winner Conquistador Cielo in the same race.
Al Coppola owned the grey colt.



WHO IS THE TRAVERS STAKES NAMED FOR?

William Travers, the first president of old Saratoga. His horse Kentucky won the 1st Travers.


WHAT GETS PAINTED AFTER THE TRAVERS?

The infield canoe, in the colours of the winner.



OKAY, THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING

this weekend, races, races, races


TODAY, GINGER PUNCH!


Personal Ensign S. (G1)
August 22, $400,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 11⁄4m, Saratoga Race Course, 5:30 PM ET

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. So Glitzy Gilded Time Cornelio H. Velasquez 116 H. Allen Jerkens
2. Lemon Drop Mom Lemon Drop Kid Jose C. Caraballo 116 Timothy F. Ritchey
3. Indescribable Pleasant Tap Kent Desormeaux 116 William I. Mott
4. Unbridled Belle Broken Vow Ramon A. Dominguez 118 Todd A. Pletcher
5. Ginger Punch Awesome Again Rafael Bejarano 122 Robert J. Frankel
6. Golden Velvet Seeking the Gold E. Coa 116 Kiaran P. McLaughlin
7. Spring Waltz Silver Charm Javier Castellano 118 Robert J. Frankel


Travers Stakes, Saturday

1 Tale of Ekati (KY) Edgar S. Prado Fipke, Charles 20-1
2 Colonel John (KY) Garrett K. Gomez WinStar Farm 8-1
3 Da' Tara (KY) Alan Garcia LaPenta, Robert, V. 8-1
4 Tizbig (KY) Cornelio H. Velasquez Long Bay Stable LLC 30-1
5 Macho Again (FL) Julien R. Leparoux West Point Thoroughbreds 6-1
6 Cool Coal Man (KY) John R. Velazquez LaPenta, Robert, V. 15-1
7 Amped (KY) Jorge F. Chavez LaPenta, Robert, V. 30-1
8 Harlem Rocker (ON) Eibar Coa Stronach Stables 4-1
9 Mambo in Seattle (KY) Robby Albarado Kilroy, Mrs. William, S., Farish, W.S. 5-1
10 Tres Borrachos (KY) Tyler Baze Greely, C., Beau, Greely, IV, John, J., Houchens, Phil, Scott, Brad 15-1
11 Pyro (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan Winchell, Ron 7-2
12 Court Vision (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux IEAH Stables, WinStar Farm 12-1




Play the King S. (Can-G2)
August 23, $200,000, 3yo & up, 7fT, Woodbine, 3:46 PM ET

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer Odds
1. Emirates to Dubai Storm Cat Jono C. Jones 115 Saeed bin Suroor 12-to-1
2. Last Gran Standing Distorted Humor iSD David Clark 115 Brian Williamson 15-to-1
3. Disfunction Vying Victor Chantal Sutherland 121 Julia Carey 10-to-1
4. Off Duty Yes It’s True Larry Melancon 119 Lynn S. Whiting 12-to-1
5. Just Rushing Wild Rush James McAleney 119 Sid C. Attard 6-to-1
6. Wollemi Pine Aljabr Emma-Jayne Wilson 115 Ian Black 5-to-1
7. Tam Lin (GB) Selkirk Patrick Husbands 115 Saeed bin Suroor 2-to-1
8. Le Cinquieme Essai Fastness (Ire) Steven Ronald Bahen 121 Paul Nielsen 10-to-1
9. Awesome Action Awesome Again iRobert C. Landry 115 Sue Leslie 20-to-1
10. Mulmur Smart Strike Eurico Rosa Da Silva 117 Mark R. Frostad 8-to-1
11. Morada Key Carson City Corey Fraser 115 Mark E. Casse 20-to-1

Canadian Derby (Can-G3)
August 23, $300,000, 3yo, 13⁄8m, Northlands Park, 4:42 PM MT

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer Odds

1. One Only Cape TowniSD Stephan Heiler 126 Robertino Diodoro 6-to-1
2. Royal Hudson Monarchos Richard Harvey Hamel 126 David Forster 20-to-1
3. Bears Tiger Hold That TigeriSD Quincy Welch 126 Dale Greenwood 12-to-1
4. Matt’s Broken Vow Broken VowiSD Emile Ramsammy 126 Josie Carroll 9-to-5
5. Reel Prime VolponiiSD Pedro V. Alvarado 126 Alan May 5-to-1
6. Cool Ventura Seattle Syn Real E. Simard 126 Cody Anderson 25-to-1
7. Papa Time Gilded TimeiSD Jake Barton 126 Ron Grieves 8-to-1
8. Saratoga Avenue Hold That TigeriSD Mario Gutierrez 126 Malcolm Beveridge 25-to-1
9. Texas Wildcatter Monarchos Chad Hoverson 126 Malcolm Beveridge 5-to-2
10. Discreet Commander Deputy Commander Constant Montpellier 126 Arthur Silvera 10-to-1


August 23, $200,000, 3yo & up, 51⁄2fT, Arlington Park, 4:56 PM CT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer Odds

1. Starticus Atticus Junior Alvarado 122 Ralph J. Biamonte 9-to-2
2. Fort Prado El Prado (Ire) Rene R. Douglas 118 Chris M. Block 8-to-1
3. Native Ruler Elusive Quality Eusebio Razo Jr. 122 Chris Richard 20-to-1
4. Prince Woodman Woodman Richard Migliore 118 Richard Violette Jr. 6-to-1
5. Mighty Rule Gilded Time Christopher A. Emigh 120 Christine K. Janks 12-to-1
6. Lovango Capote Dean P. Butler 118 Hugh H. Robertson 12-to-1
7. Dhanyata (Ire) =Danetime (Ire) Jose C. Ferrer 113 Eddie Kenneally 10-to-1
8. Mr. Nightlinger Indian Charlie Jamie Theriot 124 W. Bret Calhoun 8-to-5
9. Base Commander Officer Jesse M. Campbell 118 Todd A. Pletcher 10-to-1
10. John’s Road Runaway Groom James Graham 118 Thomas M. Amoss 15-to-1

Sunday, Saratoga Race Course

BALLERINA S.-GI, $250,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f

PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Intangaroo Orientate Quinonez 122
2 Sugar Swirl Touch Gold Castellano 119
3 Leah's Secret Tiger Ridge Velazquez 117
4 Baroness Thatcher Johannesburg Desormeaux 117
5 Mistical Plan Game Plan Velasquez 122
6 Jibboom Mizzen Mast Prado 117
7 Miraculous Miss Mr. Greeley Dominguez 115
8 Bayou's Lassie Outflanker Leparoux 117


Pacific Classic S. (G1)
August 24, $1,000,000, 3yo & up, 11⁄4m, Del Mar, 6:30 PM PT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Awesome Gem Awesome Again Tyler Baze 124 Craig Dollase
2. Mostacolli Mort Hold for Gold Victor Espinoza 124 Julio C. Canani
3. Zappa Afternoon Deelites Aln Garcia 124 John W. Sadler
4. Surf Cat Sir Cat David Romero Flores 124 Bruce Headley
5. Barcola Old Trieste Corey S. Nakatani 124 Mark A. Hennig
6. Go Between Point Given Garrett K. Gomez 124 William I. Mott
7. Well Armed Tiznow Aaron T. Gryder 124 Eoin G. Harty
8. Mast Track Mizzen Mast Rafael Bejarano 124 Robert J. Frankel
9. Delosvientos Siphon (Brz) Joel Rosario 124 Giuseppe Iadisernia
10. Student Council Kingmambo Shaun Bridgmohan 124 Steven Asmussen
11. McCann’s Mojave Memo (Chi) Julio A. Garcia 124 Steven Specht


CURTIS STOCK'S EDMONTON JOURNAL BLOG..

Multiple Sovereign Award winner picks the Canadian Derby tomorrow..


I'm looking forward to Saturday's Canadian Derby at Northlands. It's a great field but even better I know who the winner is going to be. In fact, I'll even give you the exactor.

Texas Wildcatter wins. Look, this was a horse that just missed in the Gotham stakes which is a major New York prep for the Kentucky Derby. Missed by a nose.

They tried him in the Wood Memorial and the Louisiana Derby where he never fired. But it's not like he was one and done because two weeks ago he just missed in the B.C. Cup Classic against Spaghetti Mouse who is B.C.'s all-time home bred.

And that was after Spaghetti Mouse took him to the middle of the track around the last turn.

When Texas Wildcatter runs in the Canadian Derby, Visionaire, who beat him by a zap in the Gotham will run in the King's Bishop stakes on the Travers undercard.

Speaking of the Travers, Pyro, who couldn't match strides with Texas Wildcatter in the early going in the Northern Dancer, is the favorite in the Travers.

read the rest...

http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/youbet/default.aspx



AND FROM THE... WHAT THE??? FILE

Trainer Patrick Mouton came into the barn the other morning and his 2yo filly TIGER EYE had just given birth...

read it here...

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/columnists/gary_west/story/852078.html