BALLOTING

PRE ENTRY DAY FOR BREEDERS' CUP

The human forces are being assembled as racetrack folks from all over settle in to sift through entries for the 2 days of Breeders' Cup races later this month.
It's pre-entry day for the biggest days of racing on the year.

It seems as if Canada's best chance for a CUP win is FATAL BULLET (photo at right by Amber Chalfin) on Saturday in the Sprint for Danny Dion's Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker.
(when I say Canada I mean Woodbine based)

The Bear folks also have BEAR NOW in the Distaff.

GRAND ADVENTURE is a contender in the Juvenile Turf for Sam-Son Farms and trainer Mark Frostad.
SKIPADATE is also in that race for Woodbine based trainer Mark Casse.
VAN LEAR ROSE is in the Juvenile Fillies for Kingview Farms' Richard Day and his sister/trainer Catherine Day Phillips.
and Canadian-bred SQUARE EDDIE is the favourite for the JUVENILE - he was bred by Kinghaven Farms.

Here is MIKE WATCHMAKER'S top 10 for each divsion (Van Lear Rose surprisingly does not make the list although her Mazarine win was fast enough).

http://www.drf.com/bc/2008/watchmaker/Watchmaker100908.pdf


RACING OVER FOR BIG BROWN
from AP wire

Big Brown's racing career ended yesterday when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner injured his right front foot during a workout at Aqueduct Race Course in New York.

Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables, co-owners of Big Brown, said the three-year-old colt tore a three-inch piece of flesh off the foot after it collided with his right rear foot while working over Aqueduct's turf course with stablemate Kip Deville.

"This was a complete fluke," Iavarone said. "He hadn't had issues with his feet for awhile and to have him come up just like this was a shock to all of us."

lavarone said the injury would take around two months to heal, making it impossible for Big Brown to run in The Breeders' Cup Classic Oct. 25 at Santa Anita


IT'S EASY BEING GREEN

MEAN GREEN won his 2nd consecutive stakes race yesterday at Woodbine and is headed to the Frost King Stakes to try and make it 3.
The $28,000 yearling purchase, bought by Tony Mattine, races for Norseman Racing Stable of Howard Walton.
Sid Attard trains the son of Trajectory.
The colt is the 6th foal of winner Emerald Afternoon, who has the winning Piece of the Pie racing at Fort Erie.
MEAN GREEN held off a charging WILDCAT FASHION to win by a neck with a 75 Beyer Figure (1:10.14 for 6 furlongs)

"I think this horse would rather go a little farther,
seven-eighths," offered Attard. "I'll tell you the truth, I was
a little worried when you try to change this style of horse. But he was
right there. He's a nice, honest horse."


MORE WINNERS FROM YESTERDAY AT WOODBINE..
Pat Husbands and B.C.-breds rule!

PATRICK HUSBANDS won 4 races, 2 on the grass, and horses from out west did well.

VEGAS WEEKEND is a handsome looking 2yo by Orchid's Devil who is owned by Les Maisey. The 2yo won his maiden for $50,000 claiming in race 1 and he is trained by John MacKenzie. The colt was bred in British Columbia.

RONALDINO picked up yet another win when the B.C.-bred battle on the pace and then held sway to win the 6th race for $32K claiming. A classy guy, he earned an 85 Beyer Figure and was claimed by trainer Scott Fairlie. The son of Katahaula County was originally a $5,000 yearling buy-back.

Sam-Son Farms' filly STROKE THE TIGER was one of many favouried winners yesterday and the Smart Strike gal won the allowance race on turf but then was vanned off, presumably as a pre-caution and she looked fine after the race. It was very warm yesterday and some horses were getting heat stroke.

The VERY DRY STABLE took a win in race 9 with MORNING PRAYERS who was extremely gritty to win the $47,000 claiming race on turf as the 4th winner for Husbands. The Ontario bred is trained by Robert Tiller.


Over at www.flickr.com, VAMPIRE BLACK CAT put up some shots of Woodbine on the weekend. Here is the very tough ANDALUSIAN winning on the turf over Omaggio











A THING OF BEAUTY
Curlin works effortlessly
(and it looks like a lot of sheep gave up their coats for Curlin's get-up he was wearing)

If you didn't see it, you can watch it below...
FROM BRISNET.COM

Horse of the Year CURLIN (Smart Strike) took to the track midway through Monday's Columbus Day card at Santa Anita and posted his first serious drill on the Pro-Ride surface, breezing five furlongs in a sharp :59.12. Principal owner Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen were present for the work. Both want to make sure that their star is comfortable on the surface before committing him to a title defense in the October 25 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which would be his debut on a synthetic track.