FLIPPIN
UPDATE UPDATE...Chantal Sutherland has picked up the mount on BREEDERS' STAKES contender SLIGOVITZ tomorrow. The colt is the 2nd choic in the morning line odds.
THOROUGHBLOG has learned that champion jockey TODD KABEL is not expected to ride again in 2008. Kabel had ridden for a couple of months after getting a late start to the season. He is one of Woodbine's all-time leading jockeys.
FRIDAY FUN at WOODBINE
98 Beyer for Wollemi Pine
The PLAY THE KING PREP was an exciting race even with the small field and it will lead some to wonder what the winner WOLLEMI PINE (maybe even JUST RUSHING, the close 2nd place finisher) will ldo.
Certainly, these 2 had a hot pace to run at in the 6 1/2 furlong turf dash.
The streaking STARTICUS was relaxed as he sped through 22/60 (an easy 2 furlongs for him), 44.40 and 1:08.00.
But this was the toughest group he had faced yet and in the last furlong, he starting to slip.
Just Rushing had a tiny jump snout in front of the grey WOLLEMI PINE (Aljbar) strides before the wire but Wollemi won the bob.
The Play the King (rather than the Woodbine Mile in 4 weeks) should be the next step for both of this geldings.
The former, owned by Kinghaven Farns, Greg Thompson and Harvey Clarke and trained by Ian Black, is a top notch turf sprinter and getting better.
His stallion Aljabr now stands in Ontario (see ad above).
JUST RISHING is back in hot form as a 7yo and he will adorre the 7 furlongs of the Play the King.
The time of 1:14.43 was only half a scond off the course record.
This photo and write up from CHICKEN MUM'S SITE over at FLICKR.COM...
"The Wollemi Pine was discovered in 1994 and there are only about 40 of them in the wild (some accounts say 80 adult pine). Up to its discovery it was known only from fossils records and it was thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago. It only occurs in one deep sandstone gorge in the Wollemi National Park. The gorge's exact location is being kept secret.
Other interesting performances on yesterday;s 8-race card was the smart debut win by BOOMERANG STAR, a 5-year-old by Mecke, bred in Ontario by Castle Peak Stables.
Boomerang Star, out of a Cozzene mare, has the breeding for longer race and grass but there he was, striding away to a 2 3/4 length win at 5 furlongs in :58.34 for trainer Tom Marino.
He was the only big priced winner on a card full of heavy favourites that won - he was 14 to 1.
GRAZETTES LANDING was the most obvious winner of the day and almost everyone's selection to win. The PAYNES BAY-GRAZETTES gelding strolled to a 2 1/4 length win in silly-easy fasion over allowance runners, non-winners of 2, Ontario sired in 1:16.39.Eugene Melnyk's gelding is coming to hand quickly now and he had run a 94 Beyer Figure in his maiden score.
His Beyer yesterday was 86.
K.K. SANGARA'S fast A Fleets Dancer gelding DANCINGALLTHEWAY won by more than 5 lengths in an allowance race on the card - a split of Grazettes Landing. He won in 1:16.58 at odds on as well.
ADENA SPRINGS 2YO SALE CANCELLED...
farm changes to yearling program
According to the THOROUGHBRED TIMES news this morning, Adena Springs has cancelled its 2009 2yo sale and likely has cancelled it all together.
The sale began 6 years ago and has given racing lots of stakes runners,most notably the Canadian bred BUFFALO MAN (other big names failed to meet their reserve).
Citing the fact that the 2yos only gallop and not breeze - which leads to lower prices overall, Mike Recio told the TDN that Adena Springs South will now be open to outside clients and that some 200 yearlings will be offered through Keeneland September and other sales.
TODAY ALL OVER..
ROYAL NORTH STAKES - Grade 3 - Woodbine, 6 furlongs turf.
Very intriguing dash that is often won by shippers and, thanks to the Woodbine turf course again, we have a few shippers in today's edition of the race - the 20th running.
Speed is plentiful in the race - MARINA BALLERINA won the prep for the Royal North on yielding turf and led all the way. The 4yo Outflanker filly, bred in Florida, has speed to her outisde today as she will start from the rail.
SEA THE JOY (Stormy Atlantic) is a 5 1/2 furlong specialist and very quick for trainer Kelly Ackerman. She is a stakes winnerand ran a 93 Beyer Figure last time.
AKRONISM, from Tim Ritchey's barn, is also a stakes winner who was 3rd in her grass debut last time at Delaware in a 5 furlong race.
And two locals are the closers, HALF SISTER,EENY MEENY plus another shipper, GREEN DOOR,making her 3rd start off thelayoff for Rebecca Maker. She is by Danzig.
The race strictly will go to what horse has the smoothest,least hectic trip. Who sends, who gets loose on the lead. That will be it.
HALF SISTER is the pick to hit the top three at big odds today, The half-sister to champion WANDO had an intimidating trip in her latest.
THE FIELD
August 2, $150,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 6fT, Woodbine, 3:35 PM ET
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Marina Ballerina Outflanker Justin Stein 117 Sam Di Pasquale
2. Sea the Joy Stormy Atlantic iSD Slade Callaghan 115 D. Kelly Ackerman
3. Akronism Not For Love Eurico Rosa Da Silva 119 Timothy F. Ritchey
4. Becky Sharp Favorite Trick Robert C. Landry 117 Andrew Smith
5. Half Sister More Than Ready iSD Emile Ramsammy 115 Michael Keogh
6. Eeny Meeny Chester House David Clark 115 Roger L. Attfield
7. Green Door Danzig James McAleney 115 Rebecca Maker SCRATCHED
Race 5 is an intriguing maiden allowance for 2yo fillies with the high prioced TRIPLE FLIP, ownd by John Fielding, making her debut. The Cherokee Run gal, a half-sister to a Group 1 winning 2yo, was a $335,000 yearling pruchase and she has worked well. Reade Baker trains.
There is a Speightsotwn 1ster in the race for trainer Malcom Pierce and owner Eugene Melnyk - MULLINS BEACH plus some raced youngsters including Vineryand Singer's AUSTRALIAN POSSE (Posse).
And 2yo's hit the grass for the first time this year on the circuit in the 8th race, a maiden allowance for colts.
Lots of good stuff here - PERFECT SHOWER, (Perfect Soul) debuts for breeder Charles Fipke, the colt was a buy-back from the sale. ACTIVE DUTY looks like a good one for Woodford Racing - he's by Deputy Commander and is out of that super Adena Springs mare Punchbowl and A P BEAR looked so good in a workout in March in Ocala (read today's Daily Racing Form Closer Look comments for more) that he cost $240,000 and this Dynaformer fellow debuts for the Bear Stable.
ALSO TODAY
Clement Hirsch Stakes - Del Mar
featuring the freaky undefeated gal ZENYATTA...
Grade 2, $300,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 11⁄16m, Del Mar, 6 PM PT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Placid Lake Greenwood Lake Alonso Quinonez 113 Vladimir Cerin
2. Model Giant’s Causeway iSD Michael C. Baze 112 Neil D. Drysdale
3. Romance Is Diane In Excess (Ire) iSD Rafael Bejarano 115 Mike R. Mitchell
4. West Coast Swing Gone West Tyler Baze 113 Shannon Ritter
5. Silver Z Cee’s Tizzy Joseph Talamo 112 Brian J. Koriner
6. Tough Tiz’s Sis Tiznow iSD Aaron T. Gryder 119 Bob Baffert
7. Silver Swallow Alphabet Soup iSD David Romero Flores 113 Bruce Headley
8. Zenyatta Street Cry (Ire) iSD Mike E. Smith 124 John A. Shirreffs
9. Dawn After Dawn Successful Appeal iSD Victor Espinoza 114 John W. Sadler
BROWN-NOSIN'
Haskell tomorrow goes off at 6:14 p.m.
EXCERPT
SHERRY ROSS, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Six others will be taking shot at Big Brown in the Haskell at Monmouth.
'The Battle of Saratoga'
SARATOGA SPRINGS - As Big Brown's connections learned in this year's Belmont Stakes, anything can happen in horse racing. The trainers of the six other horses ready to line up against him in Sunday's $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park are hoping history repeats itself.
Big Brown drew the No.4 post and was installed as the 1-2 morning-line favorite by track oddsmaker Brad Thomas as he tries to make amends for easing home last in his Triple Crown bid on June7. His rivals appear to be an undistinguished bunch, but that was the same assessment of the Belmont field before Da'Tara posted the 38-1 upset.
"Look, it's his race to lose," said trainer Nick Zito, who will saddle Cool Coal Man (post 2, the 4-1 second betting choice) and Coal Play (post 6, 8-1). "There's no pressure again on us and we're not worried about anything.
"We've got two horses that are ready. If something crazy happens again, we'll have fun," Zito said. "If not, Big Brown will get his status back, I guess. I always said he was a top horse."
Todd Pletcher, who has won the last two Haskells with Bluegrass Cat and Any Given Saturday, knows that his attempt at a hat trick this year with Atoned is a longshot.
"This is a tall order for any horse if Big Brown shows up and runs his 'A' game," Pletcher said. Atoned, who drew the outside post in the field of seven, is the 6-1 third betting choice. He will add blinkers and will be ridden by Edgar Prado.
Big Brown may be oblivious to the pressure as he tries to revive his reputation, but trainer Rick Dutrow is not. Brash and cocky in the days leading up to the Belmont, Dutrow has been far more quietly confident as Big Brown worked sharply for his return...
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/07/31/2008-07-31_six_aim_to_cut_down_big_brown_in_haskell.html
NO STEROIDS AT BREEDERS CUP OR ELSE..
Breeders' Cup announces steroid penalties: Trainers of horses that test positive for anabolic steroids at the Breeders' Cup in October will face a one-year suspension from the event, and three-time violators will be banned for life.
The Breeders' Cup will be held at Santa Anita in California on Oct. 24-25, and the track will also host the event in 2009.
The top four finishers in all 14 Cup races and at least one horse selected at random from each race, will be tested. Violations will result in forfeited purse money and suspensions. There will also be out-of-competition testing for EPO (blood doping) 10 days before this year's event.
IS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA??
From the Thoroughbred Times Today news...
Trainers will receive a $500 bonus for each horse they start on
the undercard of the suburban Chicago track’s Arlington’s International
Festival of Racing on August 9.
The undercard races must have at least ten horses start for trainers
to receive the bonus.
THOROUGHBLOG has learned that champion jockey TODD KABEL is not expected to ride again in 2008. Kabel had ridden for a couple of months after getting a late start to the season. He is one of Woodbine's all-time leading jockeys.
FRIDAY FUN at WOODBINE
98 Beyer for Wollemi Pine
The PLAY THE KING PREP was an exciting race even with the small field and it will lead some to wonder what the winner WOLLEMI PINE (maybe even JUST RUSHING, the close 2nd place finisher) will ldo.
Certainly, these 2 had a hot pace to run at in the 6 1/2 furlong turf dash.
The streaking STARTICUS was relaxed as he sped through 22/60 (an easy 2 furlongs for him), 44.40 and 1:08.00.
But this was the toughest group he had faced yet and in the last furlong, he starting to slip.
Just Rushing had a tiny jump snout in front of the grey WOLLEMI PINE (Aljbar) strides before the wire but Wollemi won the bob.
The Play the King (rather than the Woodbine Mile in 4 weeks) should be the next step for both of this geldings.
The former, owned by Kinghaven Farns, Greg Thompson and Harvey Clarke and trained by Ian Black, is a top notch turf sprinter and getting better.
His stallion Aljabr now stands in Ontario (see ad above).
JUST RISHING is back in hot form as a 7yo and he will adorre the 7 furlongs of the Play the King.
The time of 1:14.43 was only half a scond off the course record.
This photo and write up from CHICKEN MUM'S SITE over at FLICKR.COM...
"The Wollemi Pine was discovered in 1994 and there are only about 40 of them in the wild (some accounts say 80 adult pine). Up to its discovery it was known only from fossils records and it was thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago. It only occurs in one deep sandstone gorge in the Wollemi National Park. The gorge's exact location is being kept secret.
Other interesting performances on yesterday;s 8-race card was the smart debut win by BOOMERANG STAR, a 5-year-old by Mecke, bred in Ontario by Castle Peak Stables.
Boomerang Star, out of a Cozzene mare, has the breeding for longer race and grass but there he was, striding away to a 2 3/4 length win at 5 furlongs in :58.34 for trainer Tom Marino.
He was the only big priced winner on a card full of heavy favourites that won - he was 14 to 1.
GRAZETTES LANDING was the most obvious winner of the day and almost everyone's selection to win. The PAYNES BAY-GRAZETTES gelding strolled to a 2 1/4 length win in silly-easy fasion over allowance runners, non-winners of 2, Ontario sired in 1:16.39.Eugene Melnyk's gelding is coming to hand quickly now and he had run a 94 Beyer Figure in his maiden score.
His Beyer yesterday was 86.
K.K. SANGARA'S fast A Fleets Dancer gelding DANCINGALLTHEWAY won by more than 5 lengths in an allowance race on the card - a split of Grazettes Landing. He won in 1:16.58 at odds on as well.
ADENA SPRINGS 2YO SALE CANCELLED...
farm changes to yearling program
According to the THOROUGHBRED TIMES news this morning, Adena Springs has cancelled its 2009 2yo sale and likely has cancelled it all together.
The sale began 6 years ago and has given racing lots of stakes runners,most notably the Canadian bred BUFFALO MAN (other big names failed to meet their reserve).
Citing the fact that the 2yos only gallop and not breeze - which leads to lower prices overall, Mike Recio told the TDN that Adena Springs South will now be open to outside clients and that some 200 yearlings will be offered through Keeneland September and other sales.
TODAY ALL OVER..
ROYAL NORTH STAKES - Grade 3 - Woodbine, 6 furlongs turf.
Very intriguing dash that is often won by shippers and, thanks to the Woodbine turf course again, we have a few shippers in today's edition of the race - the 20th running.
Speed is plentiful in the race - MARINA BALLERINA won the prep for the Royal North on yielding turf and led all the way. The 4yo Outflanker filly, bred in Florida, has speed to her outisde today as she will start from the rail.
SEA THE JOY (Stormy Atlantic) is a 5 1/2 furlong specialist and very quick for trainer Kelly Ackerman. She is a stakes winnerand ran a 93 Beyer Figure last time.
AKRONISM, from Tim Ritchey's barn, is also a stakes winner who was 3rd in her grass debut last time at Delaware in a 5 furlong race.
And two locals are the closers, HALF SISTER,EENY MEENY plus another shipper, GREEN DOOR,making her 3rd start off thelayoff for Rebecca Maker. She is by Danzig.
The race strictly will go to what horse has the smoothest,least hectic trip. Who sends, who gets loose on the lead. That will be it.
HALF SISTER is the pick to hit the top three at big odds today, The half-sister to champion WANDO had an intimidating trip in her latest.
THE FIELD
August 2, $150,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 6fT, Woodbine, 3:35 PM ET
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Marina Ballerina Outflanker Justin Stein 117 Sam Di Pasquale
2. Sea the Joy Stormy Atlantic iSD Slade Callaghan 115 D. Kelly Ackerman
3. Akronism Not For Love Eurico Rosa Da Silva 119 Timothy F. Ritchey
4. Becky Sharp Favorite Trick Robert C. Landry 117 Andrew Smith
5. Half Sister More Than Ready iSD Emile Ramsammy 115 Michael Keogh
6. Eeny Meeny Chester House David Clark 115 Roger L. Attfield
7. Green Door Danzig James McAleney 115 Rebecca Maker SCRATCHED
Race 5 is an intriguing maiden allowance for 2yo fillies with the high prioced TRIPLE FLIP, ownd by John Fielding, making her debut. The Cherokee Run gal, a half-sister to a Group 1 winning 2yo, was a $335,000 yearling pruchase and she has worked well. Reade Baker trains.
There is a Speightsotwn 1ster in the race for trainer Malcom Pierce and owner Eugene Melnyk - MULLINS BEACH plus some raced youngsters including Vineryand Singer's AUSTRALIAN POSSE (Posse).
And 2yo's hit the grass for the first time this year on the circuit in the 8th race, a maiden allowance for colts.
Lots of good stuff here - PERFECT SHOWER, (Perfect Soul) debuts for breeder Charles Fipke, the colt was a buy-back from the sale. ACTIVE DUTY looks like a good one for Woodford Racing - he's by Deputy Commander and is out of that super Adena Springs mare Punchbowl and A P BEAR looked so good in a workout in March in Ocala (read today's Daily Racing Form Closer Look comments for more) that he cost $240,000 and this Dynaformer fellow debuts for the Bear Stable.
ALSO TODAY
Clement Hirsch Stakes - Del Mar
featuring the freaky undefeated gal ZENYATTA...
Grade 2, $300,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 11⁄16m, Del Mar, 6 PM PT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Placid Lake Greenwood Lake Alonso Quinonez 113 Vladimir Cerin
2. Model Giant’s Causeway iSD Michael C. Baze 112 Neil D. Drysdale
3. Romance Is Diane In Excess (Ire) iSD Rafael Bejarano 115 Mike R. Mitchell
4. West Coast Swing Gone West Tyler Baze 113 Shannon Ritter
5. Silver Z Cee’s Tizzy Joseph Talamo 112 Brian J. Koriner
6. Tough Tiz’s Sis Tiznow iSD Aaron T. Gryder 119 Bob Baffert
7. Silver Swallow Alphabet Soup iSD David Romero Flores 113 Bruce Headley
8. Zenyatta Street Cry (Ire) iSD Mike E. Smith 124 John A. Shirreffs
9. Dawn After Dawn Successful Appeal iSD Victor Espinoza 114 John W. Sadler
BROWN-NOSIN'
Haskell tomorrow goes off at 6:14 p.m.
EXCERPT
SHERRY ROSS, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Six others will be taking shot at Big Brown in the Haskell at Monmouth.
'The Battle of Saratoga'
SARATOGA SPRINGS - As Big Brown's connections learned in this year's Belmont Stakes, anything can happen in horse racing. The trainers of the six other horses ready to line up against him in Sunday's $1 million Haskell at Monmouth Park are hoping history repeats itself.
Big Brown drew the No.4 post and was installed as the 1-2 morning-line favorite by track oddsmaker Brad Thomas as he tries to make amends for easing home last in his Triple Crown bid on June7. His rivals appear to be an undistinguished bunch, but that was the same assessment of the Belmont field before Da'Tara posted the 38-1 upset.
"Look, it's his race to lose," said trainer Nick Zito, who will saddle Cool Coal Man (post 2, the 4-1 second betting choice) and Coal Play (post 6, 8-1). "There's no pressure again on us and we're not worried about anything.
"We've got two horses that are ready. If something crazy happens again, we'll have fun," Zito said. "If not, Big Brown will get his status back, I guess. I always said he was a top horse."
Todd Pletcher, who has won the last two Haskells with Bluegrass Cat and Any Given Saturday, knows that his attempt at a hat trick this year with Atoned is a longshot.
"This is a tall order for any horse if Big Brown shows up and runs his 'A' game," Pletcher said. Atoned, who drew the outside post in the field of seven, is the 6-1 third betting choice. He will add blinkers and will be ridden by Edgar Prado.
Big Brown may be oblivious to the pressure as he tries to revive his reputation, but trainer Rick Dutrow is not. Brash and cocky in the days leading up to the Belmont, Dutrow has been far more quietly confident as Big Brown worked sharply for his return...
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2008/07/31/2008-07-31_six_aim_to_cut_down_big_brown_in_haskell.html
NO STEROIDS AT BREEDERS CUP OR ELSE..
Breeders' Cup announces steroid penalties: Trainers of horses that test positive for anabolic steroids at the Breeders' Cup in October will face a one-year suspension from the event, and three-time violators will be banned for life.
The Breeders' Cup will be held at Santa Anita in California on Oct. 24-25, and the track will also host the event in 2009.
The top four finishers in all 14 Cup races and at least one horse selected at random from each race, will be tested. Violations will result in forfeited purse money and suspensions. There will also be out-of-competition testing for EPO (blood doping) 10 days before this year's event.
IS THIS IS A GOOD IDEA??
From the Thoroughbred Times Today news...
Trainers will receive a $500 bonus for each horse they start on
the undercard of the suburban Chicago track’s Arlington’s International
Festival of Racing on August 9.
The undercard races must have at least ten horses start for trainers
to receive the bonus.
posted by Jen Morrison @ 8:06 AM
1 Comments:
At 11:52 AM,
Anonymous said…
i think that idea at arlington is excellent...ten horse fields make for better racing...betting and watching...
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