RESPECT

WANDERIN BOY -2001-2008

Sarah K. Andrew photo, taken minutes before he was euthanized yesterday

SOVEREIGN AWARDS - VOTE GETTERS

Voting closes tomorrow for the Sovereign Awards and horses such as SPRINGSIDE (photo at right by Sarah K. Andrew) and SECRET GETAWAY made some noise that should earn them respect in the voting.
SPRINGSIDE is not on the ballot however and will have be written in.
The Awesome Again filly is at New Bolton Centre with multiple fractures in her pastern following a huge win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct yesterday.
She earned an 87 Beyer Figure and should probably be the champion 2yo filly in Canada - if voters are paying attention.

SECRET GETAWAY likely cannot win champion 3yo colt over Not Bourbon or Fatal Bullet but he did some good things yesterday too (see more below)


ROCKED!

Canadian-bred HARLEM ROCKER ran super to win the Grade 1 CIGAR MILE and and move up to the top CANADIAN BRED on the THOROUGBLOG LIST (at right).
Bad news is, he was disqualified in a controversial call and Canadian owned TALE OF EKATI (Charles Fipke bred) was placed first)
Great photo by Sarah K. Andrew









WOODBINE YESTERDAY

LEARNING CURVE - Parabola upsets Kingarvie,
McAleney wins only mount to stay in front...

JANET JEANPIERRE'S homebred colt PARABOLA, cleverly named by Trajectory out of Flying Tabriz (Turkoman), won the 34th Kingarvie Stakes with a rally from far back yesterday. The 2yo had raced for $25,000 claiming 2 starts ago, won his maiden last time for allowance and then improved his maiden Beyer of 63 into a 72 for the stake win yesterday.

Parabola was bought back from the local sale for $9,009.


OTHER STUFF

PATRICK HUSBANDS did more winning yesterday in the midst of a wild weel by he is still 1 WINNER behind Jim McAleney, who somehow managed to get the win-shy MORO MOO to win the last race in his only ride of the day.

HUSBANDS won on Eugene Melnyk's PARRIS HILL in race 4, a grey A.P. Indy miss, and talked to SUN TV after about trying to win the title with 6 cards of racing left:
"It's been what it's all about, I'm going after it," said Husbands. "It's been another top season for myself and Mark."

Trainer Mark Casse, who has a sizy lead in the trainer's standings said PARRIS HILL is now retired and will be bred next year:
"It has been interesting this year, a lot of ups and downs, probably the most difficult I have had.
A month ago (Patrick) said he was going to catch (McAleney),I said I didn't know but he's a very determined man."


Race 3- The field of maiden 2-year-olds was very strung out early in the race and perhaps that said volumes about the runners in the allowance. One of the favourites, COSTA BLANCA (Porto Foricos) had a bad start for the 2nd consecutive race, rearing up, and the big favourite, MONSTROSE AVENUE (Endeavour) tried to lead all the way.
But the winner was D'WILD MAN (D'Wildcat-Gleaming) the last colt to move and the first winner of the season for Hall of Fame trainer GIL ROWNTREE.
Bred by Norm and Mark Casse in Ontario, the colt was making his 6th start.

"He'll be a better horse when the races get farther, I was just running him because the races kept coming up," said Rowntree, who heads to Florida for the winter.


TODAY AT WOODBINE

Pat Husbands
race 3 Come On Love 2-1
race 4 Garzon 6-1
race 6 Pure Attitude 10-1
race 7 Igootgojoe 9-2
race 8 Retraceable 9-5
race 9 Grazettes Landing 2-1
race 10 Guipago 3-1
race 11 Lady Loreli 6-1

Jim McAleney

race 2 Jemerra 7-2
race 6 hydro handshake 20-1
race 8 Moonlit Beauty 15-1
race 9 Seismic Force 8-1
race 10 Little Reuben 12-1


SECRET GETAWAY JUMPS INTO SOVEREIGN PICTURE

SECRET GETAWAY, a two-time stakes winner at Woodbine on turf and Polytrack won over older horses on traditional dirt yesterday at Fair Grounds....
He should get votes for champion 3yo in Canada.

Secret Getaway wins on sloppy dirt track at Fair Grounds
Posted by Bob Fortus, The Times-Picayune November 29, 2008 10:03PM

Racing on dirt for the first time in more than a year, Secret Getaway found a sloppy Fair Grounds track to his liking and rolled to a 2 3/4-length victory over Good and Lucky on Saturday in the Tenacious Handicap.

Ridden by James Graham for trainer Mike Stidham and Carmen Wilson's Sand and Cee Stables, Secret Getaway stalked front-runners Stonehouse and Good and Lucky much of the way before mounting a challenge entering the stretch. He pulled away powerfully.

Mambo in Seattle, the favorite, finished third, three lengths behind Good and Lucky in a field of eight older horses.

Secret Getaway's first six races this year were on synthetic surfaces or turf.

"He just keeps improving, " Stidham said of the 3-year-old colt, whose first two stakes victories were on turf at Woodbine in Canada. "The amazing thing is the horse actually looked better doing it on the mud than he did on the turf or Poly(track). He just traveled better. He did it more the right way today."

Graham said: "He's a good horse. I've never seen a horse transfer from turf to dirt that easy."

Neil Howard, trainer of Mambo in Seattle, offered no excuses for him saying, "He just didn't run any good. It's as simple as that. He's had a hard year."

Secret Getaway ran a mile-and-a-sixteenth in 1:45.06 and paid $9 to win.


WINTER MIXED SALE SUFFERS GIANT DECLINES

Broodmares, yearlings and Horses of racing age were all down in average price at a very rocky winter mixed sale yesterday at Woodbine.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society's auction had a lot of horses that did not receive a bid.
The broodmare average was down almost 50% from $6,380 last year to $3,363 this year for more mares sold.

Yearlings were down a bit from $3,655 last year to $3,200 and horses of racing age went from $4,250 to just $1,609.

Weanlings were up from $4,166 to $4,280.

One of the leading buyers, interestingly, was ZAYAT STABLES, which sold most of its bloodstock at the Keeneland November sale and is an American-based farm.

Zayat bought the top priced mare JOANNE JUBILATION from Hill'n' Dale for $34,000. The unraced Monarchos 5yo is in foal to Bold Executive.



OLEX - DOZENS OF HORSES EACH WEEK LAND THERE FROM THE TRACK..

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

The video shows Olex, the auction in London, Ontario that everyone should know about.
Many a racehorse ends up there waiting to be sold for meat every week.

Most are standardbreds but there are lots of thoroughbreds too.
(Just do a search on THOROUGHBLOG and you will see how many horses who raced this year ended up there)

ELLIE ROSS is doing her part....you should too, help LONGRUN or the ONTARIO STANDARBRED ADOPTION SOCIETY today!


http://news.therecord.com/videogallery/451314

LEGENDS OF RACING

UPDATE...CARNAGE AT AQUEDUCT..


WANDERIN BOY, SPRINGSIDE BREAK DOWN

Wanderin Boy euthanized

It was a tough day for horse racing on Saturday in particular Canadian racing fans. SPRINGSIDE, a Kentucky bred owned by Alberta's Jim and Alice Sapara, fractured a pastern while galloping out after a stunning 9 3/4 length win in the GRADE 2 DEMOISELLE STAKES at Aqueduct. She was sent to NEW BOLTON CENTRE immediately after the race according to NYRA.

Photo Wanderin Boy (Cindy Pierson Dulay)

The Awesome Again-Folly Dollar 2yo filly was winning her 3rd straight race and her first stakes for trainer Josie Carroll. Her two wins at Woodbine and the Demoiselle certainly give her a big chance as champion 2-year-old filly for the Sovereign Awards, voting closes Monday.
Results of x-rays on her anke were not know as of 4:31 p.m.

WANDERIN BOY's breakdown in the Cigar Mile was very bad and the old timer was vanned off.
The gelding was out of contention off the turn of the one-mile race as he had been chasing a hot pace and there was some crowding on him when he appeared to break a front leg.
He was nearing the end of his racing career for Stone Farm and trainer Nick Zito.

Later the DAILY RACING FORM was the first to report the horse had been euthanized after fracturing sesamoids in his left front leg.

HARLEM ROCKER, the Canadian-bred son of Macho Uno from Stronach Stables and Adena Racing Venture I, won theGRADE ONE race but was disqualified and placed 2nd.


REMEMBER WANDERIN BOY through STEVE HASIN'S story about the old guy
BLOOD HORSE EXCERPT

Wanderin Wonder

01 Oct 2008 12:26 PM

Many horses like Wanderin Boy go through their entire career overlooked by the fans and media. They’re always dependable, showing up in many of the grade I stakes, and while they turn in huge efforts at times, they’re just not able to get to the finish line first and make that leap into the big-time.

At age 7, Wanderin Boy has made only 24 career starts, winning nine, with six seconds and three thirds for earnings of $1.2 million. Talk about not choosing one’s company wisely, he has finished second in grade I stakes to Curlin (Jockey Club Gold Cup), Invasor (Pimlico Special), Bernardini (Jockey Club Gold Cup), and Lawyer Ron (Whitney). He has, however, managed to win the grade II Brooklyn Handicap and the grade III Ben Ali, Alysheba, and Mineshaft.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, ‘OK, so what’s the point?’

The point is, a horse like Wanderin Boy – and I emphasize the word “horse” rather than gelding – often goes unnoticed because he’s never done anything that would cause people to pay a whole lot of attention to him, other than to say something like, “It was another good effort by Wanderin Boy, but he was no match for….”

But there often is much more to a horse than his record. In Wanderin Boy’s case, this is a horse who should be admired by all those fortunate enough to see him run his heart out race after race.

His owner and breeder, Arthur Hancock III of Stone Farm, had bought a season in Seeking the Gold, to whom he would breed his Pleasant Colony mare Vid Kid, a stakes winner of almost $300,000.

Vid Kid produced a beautiful foal on April 4, 2001, but on May 3, the one-month-old colt somehow fractured his sesamoid while out in the field.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2008/10/01/wanderin-wonder.aspx








EINSTEIN looked smart winning the Clark at Churchill yesterday over big fave Commentator...read more below. Photo by Vanessa Ng.













**DANCE SMARTLY JACKET AUCTION

closes NOON today.

Last bid, last night $350.00, fr om R. D.




Oops!
Erroneous statistics from EQUIBASE.COM let the standings in a shanbles for top jockey.
The actual number is 2 heading into today...

AND THEN IT WAS 1

Husbands could tie McAleney today - Tiller could get 1500 wins today!

PATRICK HUSBANDS won 2 more races yesterday (that's 7 in two days for those paying attention) to get within 1 of leading race winning jockey JIM MCALENEY.
McAleney won one yesterday.

And speaking of the NUMBERs trainer ROBERT TILLER IS TWO WINS away from 1,500 career wins.

Now, these milestones that have started to pop up lately - 1,000 for Mark Casse etc. - are not an easy thing to determine unless the information is confirmed bt database calculations according to Daily Racing Form.

And unless the person himself or someone else is paying attention to everyone's records, some can go past with notice.

Roger Attfield passed 1500 wins last fall.

So TILLER, who has a nice first-timer in RACE ONE today (Three Hour Tour) and then big favourite SPRINT MASTER in race 6, could get his mark today.



YESTERDAY WRAP

more longshots on a freaky friday...

But first SPUNKY, well named, won her 4th race of the year and she's just a 2yo filly. That was race 1 for $40K claiming. The Concerto filly, bred in Florida, is owned and was bred by Roger Laurin and trained by Greg de Gannes,
The filly is miraculous and was not claimed yesterday. She has raced 9 times now and her favourite rider seems to be apprentice Krista Carignan.

Tiller's win came with first time starter CACTUS PARK, who was also incredible. The 2yo by young sire Cactus Ridge, was buried down on the rail off the turn and off the pace but she rallied between fillies in the 2 path to win in the last jump under Pat Husbands. Linmac Farms own $18,000 yearling purchase.

BEAR LAHAINA won race 3 as the big favourite and was the pick of most. She was plunging in class from a 3rd place finish in a stakes race to $50K claiming, won handily and went back to Bear Stables and Reade Baker. Eurico da Silva rode.

DON MACRAE won another race - the trainer has had a productive fall - this time with LARRY'S GETAWAY, an Outofthebox geldig owned and bred by Darrly Jackson in Florida. The gelding won a close photo over Renier.

How about Tony and Mary Jane Lamb? The owner.breeders had a longshot winner in Junior Attorney last week and then had another bomber yesterday with BLACK RAPID who got up at 40 to 1 to beat 24 to 1 Quinner's Circle.
Black Rapid, by local sire Paynes Bay out of Sahara Samba, won his maiden for $10,000 in 1:24.79.
It was the first of 2 wins for jockey SUNNY SINGH.

Mark and Tina Casse unleashed a nice 2yo in AWAKENED. The Tethra fellow started from the rail in 12 horse field - all first timers - but won as much the best at a shocking 6 to 5. He was bred by SPIRIT WIND FARMS INC. in Ontario and is out of a stakes placed mare called Nikiniki Ninedoors.

SENOR won race 7o for Frank Huarte, owner/trainer, and Corey Fraser. The gelding, another one by Cactus Ridge, was taking his 2nd win in 13 races this year.

GOTAGHOSTOFACHANCE was Husbands' 2nd winner and another victor for Scott Fairlie, who has won races at a rapid rate in recent weeks. The classy 7yo gelding ran 7 furlongs in the $11,500 claimer in a fast 1:23.29 and was not claimed.

He has won 9 races in 32 starters and 3 of 13 this year.

SPIDER ROCK won the 9th race for Stronach Stables for $10K claiming at 4 to 1 and the finale went to 15 to 1 shot EL GRAN BRETT for owner/trainer Gord Cowie and jockey Sunny Singh.



JUST WHO WAS KINGARVIE??
(he won the King's Plate!)


The 34th Kingarvie Stakes, for Ontario-sired 2yo's is today's feature at Woodbine. Perhaps you could make a case for a 2yo in the race for Sovereign Award voting should the performance be big.

SHUT IT DOWN has the 11 post (ACCURATE SHOT was scratched) and a big Beyer Figure of 80 from a recent stakes win.
The champion 2yo Sovereign is totally up for grabs with EL SINALOENSE from western Canada up against Southern Exchange and Mine That Bird.

The last Kingarvie winner to win the QUEEN'S PLATE the next year was REGAL INTENTION in 1987.

from Wikipedia...(photo of Kingarvie from Cdn. Horse Racing Hall of Fame)

Kingarvie (foaled 1943) was a Canadian Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by the renowned automobile pioneer, Col. Sam McLaughlin, he was out of the mare, Forsworn. He was sired by Teddy Wrack who was a son of Bull Dog, a Champion American sire whose progeny included the very important Bull Lea.

Trained by Arthur Brent, in his first two races at age two Kingarvie was beaten by fellow future Hall of Fame inductee, Windfields. He then went on a ten-race winning streak that extended into 1946 which included the 87th running of the King's Plate, Canada's most prestigious race.

A gelding, Kingarvie continued racing until 1953 when he was retired at age ten. In 1976 Kingarvie was part of the inaugural class inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.






SMART

EINSTEIN won the Clark Handicap in an upset over Commentator yesterday at Churchill.
Anyhone watching the race certainly would have thought old timer Commentator was going to jog based on the slow pace he set:

(Photo from VANESSA NG and quotes from www.-horse-races.net)

His jockey John Velazquez said,

"He struggled with the track. He was good the first part of the race, but he got to the 1/2 mile pole and I tried to encourage him, but it seemed like he was skipping, he was slipping and sliding a little bit. That's the first time he ever felt that he was not getting hold of the track, and he's been everywhere. But today he just struggled with it. I got after him, but he just went through the motions. He didn't do like he can." His trainer Nick Zito said, "It could just be the effect of a long year for him, the way he is. He puts everything into everything he does. You know, Helen (Pitts) did a good job with Einstein coming off a 3 month layoff. He's a nice horse that finished second to Curlin. But John (Velazquez) said Commentator was just skipping. He wasn't getting a good hold (of the track). When he left there I was happy, but down the backside he just couldn't accelerate and get away, and I knew something was wrong. He just wasn't himself."



JAPAN CUP PREVIEW
from japan times:
Strong competition lined up for 28th running of Japan Cup

By BARBARA BAYER
Staff writer

Japan Cup weekend is upon us, but this year's is not the double G1 combo of the past eight years. It's the turf version only, Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.

The Japan Cup Dirt, normally run on the Saturday before the turf version, has been relocated west to Hanshin Racecourse, cut down 300 meters to 1,800, switched from counter-clockwise to clockwise and moved to Dec. 7.

The single race this Sunday makes for a rather lonely weekend, coupled with the fact that only four horses (three from the United Kingdom, one from the United States) have made the trip to Japan from abroad and only two countries other than Japan are represented.

It's a far cry from earlier years, such as the second running of the Japan Cup in 1982, when nine horses from six foreign countries participated alongside the Japanese runners in what was truly an international event, a racing festival of some of the world's best horses and riders.

Nonetheless, the competition Sunday may be some of the hottest in the Japan Cup's 28-year history, with nine top-level winners, including three Nippon Derby winners — Meisho Samson, Vodka and Deep Sky. The field of 18 vies for a first-place prize of ¥250 million.

The Derby trio — Deep Sky won this year, Vodka last year and Meisho Samson in 2006 — is expected to emerge as the top three choices for the race. Meisho Samson has drawn the No. 2 post position, Vodka No. 4, and Deep Sky the No. 9 slot, though the mid-stretch start of the 2,400-meter long race means the draw is not as crucial as in a shorter race or one starting closer to a turn.

Vodka is likely to be chosen the race favorite, despite her just having come off a grueling 2-cm win of the fall Emperor's Cup. Only four weeks later and with an added 400 meters in mixed company, a win for the 4-year-old filly would be a stupendous feat, the kind Vodka is known for. Her regular jockey of late, Yutaka Take, was to ride Meisho Samson, but will actually be sitting the Japan Cup out entirely, after suffering a fall and broken arm last Sunday.

Vodka will be paired with Yasunari Iwata, who rode her to victory in the mile Yasuda Kinen in June. A difficult filly, there is concern that she will not settle well enough in the race's early stages to save what's needed for the latter stages, especially at the longer distance. The stretch at Tokyo is some 530 meters long, with a slope the undoing of many a runner.

Deep Sky sat out the final leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, the Kikkasho, giving him a Japan Cup-friendly rotation, but 3 is still considered a young age with which to capture the JC. The past decade has seen only Jungle Pocket do so in 2001.

Meisho Samson looks to have returned to form in time to put in a good performance. Sixth in last year's race, Samson is winless this year, though he was a close second in both the spring Emperor's Cup and the Takarazuka Kinen. He traveled to France for the Arc, but disappointed with a 10th-place finish. He will be paired with Mamoru Ishibashi, who rode Samson for his first 18 starts.

Others to watch are Asakusa Kings, last year's Kikkasho winner, and Matsurida Gogh. Asakusa Kings finished eighth in the Emperor's Cup but it was the White Muzzle colt's first race in over four months and he was ridden by an inexperienced rider, not the case on Sunday.
read the rest in the JAPAN TIMES here:


http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sp20081129a1.html


EXCERPT FROM USA TODAY
horse racing in new orleans

Horse racing a Thanksgiving tradition in New Orleans

By Rick Jervis, USA TODAY
NEW ORLEANS — Thanksgiving in New Orleans isn't just about turkeys. It's also about horses and the traditional races at Fair Grounds.

No, the horses aren't for eating. They're for racing, which for some is as much a tradition here as the turkey dinner on the table.


Thanksgiving at the Fair Grounds Race Course stretches back to the 1920s. Spectators stream in by the thousands in their best holiday attire: bright silk dresses, dark suits and Fedoras, tuxedos and fashion sunglasses.

This year was no different. Some people placed bets, but most just socialized while sipping a Bloody Mary, beer or mimosa. The event is as much about style and people-watching as equestrian competition.


"This is My Fair Lady goes to Mardi Gras," says Gary Granata, 48, a local entrepreneur, dressed in a blue blazer, black bowler hat and white sunglasses and holding a cane with a golden handle, as he watched the third race. "It's just a great New Orleans tradition."

Thanksgiving typically marks opening day at the Fair Grounds. This year, however, opening day of the track's 137th racing season was held two weeks earlier to fit in more races, says Austin Miller, track president. That didn't deter fans coming out and reveling in the carnival atmosphere.

"Today's an important day," Miller notes. "We get to expose the sport to a lot of people who wouldn't otherwise come out. Racing has deep roots in New Orleans."

The track first opened in 1872, making it the third oldest thoroughbred racing facility in the USA, says Lenny Vangilder, a track spokesman. The Thanksgiving tradition began in the 1920s, he says.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/2008-11-27-notrack_N.htm

IN THE BLACK

**Only ONE DAY LEFT in the auction for the DANCE SMARTLY JACKET. The last bid was $300.00 FROM C.L.
See a photo of the jacket on the last 3 posts.
All monies go to LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT.

Thank you to Bruce Walker for donating the beautiful jacket.

**Auction closes at Noon tomorrow!



PAT-TRICK

5 winners gets Husbands within 3 to title


James McAleney 795 155 108 115 $8,276,836
Patrick Husbands 754 152 128 103 $8,842,885



PATRICK HUSBANDS won 5 of the 10 races at Woodbine yesterday and has now closed the lead for top jockey (by wins) to just 3 with 8 cards of racing left in the season.

McAleney is the leader for the SOVEREIGN AWARD for top rider but this race sure makes the last few cards of action fun to watch.


Here are today's mounts:

Husbands

1-Step Lightly 4-1
2 Cactus Park 6-1
3 - Talk Fast 7-2
4 - Radio Relay 8-1
5 - Not an Easy Road 20-1
6 - Awakened 3-1
7 Doneraile Gem 15-1
8 - Gotaghostofachance 8-1
9 - Battle Zone 3-1

McAleney

2- Sparkling Micayla 3-1
3 Gladys Irene 8-1
4 - Larry's Getaway 12-1
6 - Numerous Executive 6-1
7 Theboyscanswim 4-1
8 - Fromajack to Aking 5-2


Husbands' was certainly on some serious hot runners yesterday but did manage to motivate a couple of them to get to the wire in front,
He was 2nd on 2 others and 3rd on another.

The DAILY DOUBLE kicked things off for Husbands, who will ride at Fair Grounds this winter.

His main client, Mark Casse, had the 2yo filly MISS REBOUBLED (Alphabet Soup) ready to win her maiden in her third career start and first around 2 turns.
The race was a strangely run one - the pace was very slow early in the 1 mile and 70 yard event and then suddenly GREENAPPLE MARTINI, who had been steadying and checking into the bakcstretch in the back, blew past the field to take a clear lead into the last turn.
That excitement made everyone have to move soon and while the catylst to that action faded, Miss Reboubled edged clear to beat favourite Cuvecious.
Centaaur Farms in Florida own and bred the filly.

Husbands is trainer ROBERT TILLER'S latest favourite rider. Tiuller won 2 races on the card, the other ridden by Corey Fraser.
Race 2 went to the now-streaking QUEEN BAMBI, a $10,000 purchase who won her 2nd staright as a 2yo in the $25K sprint. A daughter of hot, young sire Flatter, Queen Bambi won by 4 1/2 lengths for Tiller and co-owner E. Sanderson.

CHEMISTRY FLASH is one fast filly. The Bold n' Flashy - Paula P, Bucksplasher gal had a miscue in her 3rd race of her life last time when she ducked into the gap from the rail post but she led from start to finish over 5 furlongs yesterday.
She won the $23,500 claiming for older maidens by 6 1/2 lengths for S A Racing, trainer Ross Armata and jockey Anthony Stephen.

Husbands was back at it in race 4 when SEASIDE VIEW, trained by Willie Armata for the Rainbow and All Day Stables, overcame a slow start and just edged out a stubborn La Bonita Uno to win the $12,500 claimer for fillies., The winner is by Sky Mesa out of National Treasure and she was winning her 3rd race in 10 starts. She was bred by Shyman Farms.

Tiller's 2nd winner was a LONGSHOT, the 2yo filly RED WITH GUILT who was dropped from a $50K maiden race to $20,000 yesterday for her 3rd career start. She rallied inside to win at 24 to 1 and is a Cartwright filly, bred in Illinois, owned by 3 Sons Racing.

More Husbands in race 6 - CREEKSIDE CAFE led from start to finish over a Polytrack that was playing quite fairling. The Trajectory Ontario bred is owned by Osprey Stable and trained by Scott Fairlie.

Husbands' ride on INTUITION MAGIC, to get up from the back of the pack to win the 5 furlong 7th race, was wild. The gelding needed every inch of the stretch to get past Whatwillbewillbe to win the allowance in 57.56.
The Ontario bred by Awesome Again was invading for trainer Mike Pino, who also won a race earlier in the week.

The red-hot WILDMAN led all the way at a surprising 13 to 1 to win the 8th race. The Doneraile Court gelding was winning his 3rd race in succession (his latest came at 80 to 1) and he is now 4 for 12 for Beclawat and Steve Attard this year. Husbands' mount Ballen Isle was less than a length back in 2nd.


INCLUDE US won his maiden in race 9 with flair. The Include gelding, a 4yo, was 5th in last year's Queen's Plate but missed a lot of time before he raced twice on the grass this fall. Back on Polytrack, he won by 9 3/4 lengths in 1:51.80 for 9 furlongs in a stunning display. He is owned by Mickey and Phyllis Canino and Bill Werner and trainer Roger Attfield.

And from the back of the pack, FREE TO FLY flew through the stretch to win the finale for $10,000 claiming, non-winners of 2 for trainer John Cardella and owner T D Racing and partners.
The handsome chestnut by Horse Chestnut is 2 for 9 in his career. Slade Callaghan rode the 3yo.

The PICK 6 CARRYOVER for today is, according to EQUIBASE, just over $11,000 but on the Woodbine TV yesterday it was $13,000.



LISTER, WILSON, SMITH
3rd at Churchill...

TELL IT AS IT IS, the Maple Leaf Stakes winner, was a super 3rd in the Grade 2 Falls City Handicap yesterday at Churchill Downs. The Chester House mare was beaten 2 lengths.
Richard Lister owns the gal and Jim Smith Trainers.
Here are quotes from www.horse-races.net website and the photo is by Vanessa Ng:


Tell It as It Is heads out to the race before the race. Her jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson said,
"At every point in the race I thought I had a shot to get it done. Until we hit the wire and I was third I thought I could win. She brought her game face today and coming around the turn she was making her typical move and handling the dirt really well, and I thought if we were good enough we'd get there. We ran third and it was a good effort. I thought she really ran well coming off those races on Polytrack and the grass. She's always trained on the dirt (training) track at Woodbine and she loves it out there."



FABULOUS

The Smart Strike gelding FABULOUS STRIKE carried 136 pounds to victory in the Fall Highweight Handicap yesterdat Aqueduct. He carried 9 pounds more than the 2nd place finisher.

from Thoroughbred Daily News...

FALL HIGHWEIGHT H., $111,200, AQU, 11-27,
3yo/up, 6f, 1:09, ft.
1--FABULOUS STRIKE, 136, g, 5, Smart Strike--
Fabulous Find, by Lost Code. O-Walter Downey;
B-Tea Party Stable Inc (PA); T-Todd M Beattie;
J-Ramon A Dominguez; $66,720.
Lifetime Record:
18-11-2-0, $874,552.


BIG TALKER
Commentator is 7 and he's one of the best

Enjoy lots of great racing action everywhere today (including a huge card at Woodbine with some 130 horses entered).
The fleet COMMENTATOR, still going strong at age 7, heads the Grade 2 Clark at Churchill.

Friday, Churchill Downs, post time: 4:29 p.m. EST

CLARK H.-GII, $400,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Delightful Kiss Kissin Kris Anderson 15-1
2 Magna Graduate Honor Grades Asmussen 4-1
3 Einstein (Brz) Spend a Buck Pitts 3-1
4 Commentator Distorted Humor Zito Even
5 Anak Nakal Victory Gallop Zito 12-1
6 Timber Reserve Forest Camp Kimmel 15-1
7 Wayzata Bay Roar Hicklin 15-1
8 Dominican El Corredor Miller 15-1



CANADIAN-BRED PRETTY KATHERINE
at Hollywood


Friday, Hollywood Park, post time: 6:04 p.m. EST
MIESQUE S.-GIII, $100,000, 2yo, f, 1mT

PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Dreamalong Rahy Hendricks 20-1
2 Internallyflawless Giant=s Causeway Baffert 3-1
3 Atka Swiss Yodeler Harrington 10-1
4 Platinum Stiletto Mr. Livingston Green 30-1
5 Pretty Katherine Vindication Conlon 20-1
6 Emmy Darling Graeme Hall Sadler 7-2
7 Kinesiology Dixie Union C Dollase 10-1
8 Habaya Storm Cat McLaughlin 5-2
9 Eloquently (GB) Dansili (GB) Sadler 10-1
10 Century Park General Meeting Baffert 15-1
11 Grace Gryder Decarchy Stein 30-1
12 Ms. Lively Mr. Livingston Green 30-1


TOMORROW...
ROCKIN AT AQUEDUCT

Saturday, Aqueduct
HILL 'N' DALE CIGAR MILE H.-GI, $300,000, 3yo/up,
1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Visionaire Grand Slam A Garcia 116
2 Arson Squad Brahms Gomez 119
3 Harlem Rocker Macho Uno Coa 115
4 Bribon (Fr) Mark of Esteem (Ire) Maragh 114
5 Tale of Ekati Tale of the Cat Prado 116
6 Monterey Jazz Thunderello Flores 118
7 Storm Play Smart Strike Velasquez 114
8 Wanderin Boy Seeking the Gold Velazquez 118
9 Kodiak Kowboy Posse Dominguez 116

SUNDAY

Sunday, Tokyo Racecourse, Japan
JAPAN CUP-G1, -481,520,000, 3yo/up, 2400mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Oken Bruce Lee (Jpn) Jungle Pocket (Jpn) Uchida 121
2 Meisho Samson (Jpn) Opera House (GB) Ishibashi 126
3 Tosen Captain (Jpn) Jungle Pocket (Jpn) Peslier 126
4 Vodka (Jpn) Tanino Gimlet (Jpn) Iwata 121
5 Daiwa Wild Boar (Jpn) Agnes Tachyon (Jpn) Kitamura 121
6 Purple Moon (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Spencer 126
7 Never Bouchon (Jpn) Marvelous Sunday (Jpn) Yokoyama 126
8 Toho Alan (Jpn) Dance in the Dark (Jpn) Fujita 126
9 Deep Sky (Jpn) Agnes Tachyon (Jpn) Shii 121
10 Osumi Grass One (Jpn) Grass Wonder Kawada 126
11 Sixties Icon (GB) Galileo (Ire) Murtagh 126
12 Marsh Side Gone West Castellano 126
13 Matsurida Gogh (Jpn) Sunday Silence Ebina 126
14 Papal Bull (GB) Montjeu (Ire) Moore 126
15 Asakusa Kings (Jpn) White Muzzle (GB) Lemaire 126
16 Screen Hero (Jpn) Grass Wonder Demuro 126
17 Admire Monarch (Jpn) Dream Well (Fr) Ando 126
18 Cosmo Bulk (Jpn) Zagreb Matsuoka 126

HOLIDAY THANKS

UPDATED..SOME
ERRORS WERE FIXED, 1:09

for everyone in the United States

DANCE SMARTLY JACKET AUCTION
on Thoroughblog - all monies to LONGRUN THBRED RETIREMENT!!

(check the COMMENTS SECTION FOR THE LATEST BIDS)


UPDATE

Wed. night - latest bid $300 - C.L.

AUCTION CLOSES SATURDAY AT NOON, sent a Comment or an email today to bid on the jacket.



THE POLLS ARE OPEN!!

Some 60+ voters across Canada received their passwords etc. for their on-line ballots today for voting for the SOVEREIGN AWARDS to be held Friday Dec. 12.

The Sovereigns, which have come under tremendous scrutiny in recent years with regards to eligibility rules and other factors, remain the top honour in Canada for horses and horsepeople despite the controversy.

The arguments for numerous categories are sure to be testy - HORSE OF THE YEAR is the big one that - according to THOROUGHBLOG'S POLL (see the poll at right on the sidebar) could go in 2 different directions.

From 38 VOTES cast on Thoroughblog, 15 are for RAHY'S ATTORNEY and 14 are for FATAL BULLET.

Now that's a horse race!


Here are some thoughts on the divisions (votes have to be by Monday at 5 p.m. AND racing this weekend CAN supposed to count for voting).


2-YEAR-OLD FILLY - Crap shoot - LARAGH? VAN LEAR ROSE? C KARMA? CAWAJA BEACH? RETRACEABLE? HIGH MIST?

2-YEAR-OLD COLT - Another headache - UTTERLY COOL, who raced on grass, MINE THAT BIRD, SOUTHERN EXCHANGE, ACTIVE DUTY?

3-YEAR-OLD COLT - NOT BOURBON may win this but some may vote for the sprinter FATAL BULLET.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY - GINGER BREW won stakes in Florida and Toronto on turf, Poly, sprinting and going long...

OLDER MALE - Ugly category, PALLADIO? SPAGHETTI MOUSE? TRUE METROPOLITAN? Ugly.

OLDER FEMALE - BEAR NOW...nuff said.

TURF MALE -RAHY'S ATTORNEY won the Woodbine Mile.

TURF FEMALE - CALLWOOD DANCER maybe? SUGAR BAY? Very wide open.

SPRINTER - FATAL BULLET a cinch to win.

JOCKEY - JIM MCALENEY should win but PAT HUSBANDS could make it close. EURICO DA SILVA, JONO JONES, EMMA WILSON all deserve mention.

APPRENTICE JOCKEY - Weak, weak , weak.

TRAINER - Take your pick - some folks did some great work this year - ROGER ATTFIELD tied a record for Plate wins and had a big year, MARK CASSE won a lot of races, READE BAKER won tons out of town, SID ATTARD did some magic too.

BREEDER - ADENA SPRINGS looks strong since FATAL BULLET, HARLEM ROCKER and GINGER BREW won big races everywhere.

OWNER - How about the Bear? The BEAR won races south of the border and will have 2 CHAMPION RUNNERS THIS YEAR. You could also consider Tucci Stables, Charles Fipke (as breeder too perhaps), Stronach Stables.

These are only thoughts and do not reflect which way any votes will be cast.
Good luck to everyone!



WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT


What we saw was a sizzling fast Polytrack that was a bit kinder to closers although speed horses picked up a lot of 2nds and 3rds.

The feature of the night was an Ontario sired allowance for fillies and mares that went to stakes winner TENJECTORY (Trajectoyr-Pick Ten by Ten Gold Pots).
The 3yo filly rallied from off the slow pace but clearly loved the 9 furlong distance and won for the 3rd time in her 12th race. Eurico Da Silva won THREE RACES last night.
T V Stables own Trajectory who won the La Prevoyante Stakes on the grass in Sept.


A notable race on the card was the $8,00 claiming event, race 6 that almost went in TRACK RECORD TIME. The claimers scorched 5 furlongs in 56.94 and the winner was David Ross' invading PEACE ROCK (Slew City Slew), an 8yo gelding winning for the 14th time in his 52nd start.
Mike Pino trains and Pat Husbands picked up the win.
Peace Rock is 6 for 9 in 2008 and he was CLAIMED for the first time in FOUR YEARS and now the old guy will be with Willie Armata.

OTHER STUFF


Race 1 was the top half of a SEAN AND DORTHY FITZHENRY SANDWICH! Ontario bred CINEMA SHOW rallied wide off the 2nd turn and charged past front runner Battle Dance to win the 2yo maiden race for $40K claiming at 1 mile and 70 yards.
The Gulch-Falling Snow, Deputy Minister gal was making her 5th career start for breeders the Fitzhenrys and trainer Greg de Gannes. David Garcia rode.

The Fitzhenrys were back for race 8, the finale when favoured BAG OF HAMMERS won for $12,500 against 3yo's for his 3rd win in his 16th race. The Langfuhr gelding is trained by Jim Smith.

WHITE SPOT didn't corner very well in the 6 1/2 furlong 2nd race for 3yo's for $40K claiming but once straightened out in the stretch, he stormed from last place and blew past to win for 2nd career race in his 6th start.
The white-faced Trippi colt is owned by Jim and Alice Sapara and trained by Josie Carroll. He was 6 to 5 with Eurico Da Silva up.

It had been a long time since CRIMINAL POWER had done much of anything - he's so well bred for grass but had 7 chances on that surface and he had never won at 1 1/16 miles and, well that all changed last night when he was dropped in for $40,000 claiming, non-winners of 3.
Boasting an 83 Beyer from his latest when 5th in the prep for the Valedictory Stakes, the colt rallied 3 wide off the turn and held off Ghetto Superstar to win by 1/2 a length at 16 to 1.
The Signal Tap 4yo colt is now 22 for 22 in his career with both wins coming on Polytrack.
He is trained by Arthur Silvera for Jeff Moldofsky and Aubrey Bowman. Con Montpelier rode.

Race 4 - The Pick 4 kicked off with 2nd favourite ELUSIVE HOPE, 5yo mare, winning her maiden for Punch and Anne Kent's Hope Stock Farm which bred the Elusive Quality mare.
Trained by Alec Fehr, the mare had the highest last-race Beyer Figure inthe field but had to work hard in her rally to edge Divorsky. Jono Jones rode.

Trainer SCOTT FAIRLIE didn't need long to get DREAM'N DESIRE back in the winner's circle.
The 5yo mare by River Keen, had not won since early in 2007, had numerous trainers since then and had been racing in turf routes and at tracks in the U.S. Back at home on synthetic (she was 8-1-4-1 on the surface before yesterday) she rallied and edged LEGAL LOVE to win at 18 to 1 in the $9,500 claiming race at 6 furlongs. The owner is Robert Schiffhauer and Na Somsanith rode.



U.S. HOLIDAY RACING
EMMA IS IN KENTUCKY!
Riding Richard Lister's Tell It As It Is

Lots of stuff to watch today, tomorrow and Saturday south of the border...Canadian bred HARLEM ROCKER starts in the GRADE 1 CIGAR MILE on Saturday at Aqueduct. (Photo at right by Rob Bluey at www.flickr.com)

FALLS CITY HANDICAP

November 27, $150,000, f&m, 3yo & up, 11⁄8m, Churchill Downs, 4:24 PM ET
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Brownie Points Forest WildcaLuis S. Quinonez 119 Donnie K. Von Hemel
2. Tiz to Dream Tiznow E. T. Baird 112 Ian R. Wilkes
3. Tell It as It Is Chester House Emma-Jayne Wilson 115 James J. Smith
4. Miss Isella Silver Charm Calvin H. Borel 111 Ian R. Wilkes
5. Swift Temper Giant’s Causeway Kent J. Desormeaux 116 Dale L. Romans
6. Skylighter Sky Mesa Julien R. Leparoux 115 Robert J. Frankel
7. Stop a Train Devil His Due Perry Compton 117 Christine K. Janks
8. Spring Waltz Silver Charm Robby Albarado 120 Robert J. Frankel
9. Devil House Chester House Jesus Lopez Castanon 115 George R. Arnold II
10. Initforthekandy Kandaly John McKee 114 Jeff Talley
11. Unforgotten Northern Afleet Miguel Mena 117 Dallas Stewart
12. Copper State Jump StartShaun Bridgmohan 116 Steven M. Asmussen



OFF TOPIC ( a bit)

While immersed in writing a chapter for a book on racehorses and how wonderful they can be for THERAPEUTIC RIDING. I could resist linking up this CBC REPORT on the awful people in CALEDON, ONTARIO.
No tonly did a neighbour(s) complain about this pony, but the city is actually considering removing the pony!

Go to CALEDON FOR A TOWN MEETING on DECEMBER 10 AND pray this little boy gets to keep his pony...

http://www.cbc.ca/video/popup_nlp.html?http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/news/features/lopez-pony-081125.wmv

NUMBERS

1
DANCE SMARTLY JACKET STILL UP FOR GRABS - Auction closes Saturday...see below.

SEE comments section for current bids!



AND THEN THERE WERE 2 (two)

Only 2 WEDNESDAY nights left in the Woodbine season folks and then we pack it up for a very long wait until we starts again in early April.

The fields are officially giant now - Friday has 133 horses entered for 10 races - and the betting opportunities are scrumptious.

Tonight there is a pick 4 TO PLAY AROUND WITH and is wraps up with an allowance race for Ontario sired fillies and mares.

Lots of storylines for this race actually:

SAN NICOLA WHISKEY just won at this non-winners of 3 level but is still eligible since her win 2 starts ago was taken away as she tested postive of ketoprofen, a Class 4 drug.

Her trainer Earl Barnett has been suspended 15 days.
Her rider from her last race, Emma-Jayne Wilson is on suspension this week so Slade Callaghan is her 3rd diferent rider in succession.
She just ran a career top Beyer Figure of 73.
So the filly tried to keep the winning streak going in the 9 furlong race.

Two others won their most recent starts - in fact they dead-heated. MIA D'COUGAR is very game and tied with SIX ROSES last time after 9 furlongs in a non-winners of 2 race.
The latter ran her career top Beyer Figure of 71 that day.

TENJECTORY is a stakes winner on the grass who has some class but a dicey Polytrack record.

PAULIFF'S PRIDE almost caught up to San Nicola Whiskey last time and has red-hot rider Justin Stein on board.

REGAN LODGE trashed Mia d'Cougar in an allowance race 2 starts ago but then declined off that top 76 Beyer Figure last time.

BOARDROOM BEAUTY has won 2 straight nine-furlong races - for low claiming.

It will be a tactically interesting race for sure.


7th (9:46)

1 1/8 Miles (All Weather Track) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Allowance | Purse: $73,500

Prg. # Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML

1 Six Roses McAleney J S Nosowenko N L 3-1
2 Tenjectory Da Silva E R DePaulo Michael PL 6-1
3 Pauliff's Pride Stein J Katryan Abraham R L 8-1
4 Regan Lodge Husbands P Casse MarkL 4-1
5 Boardroom Beauty Ramsammy E Silvera ArthurL 8-1
6 San Nicola Whiskey Callaghan S Cox Greg DL 6-1
7 Mia d'Cougar Stephen A Attard Tino 121 L 5-2


UPDATED 5:49 P.M. wED.
$275 - the current bid for the DANCE SMARTLY JACKET, money to go to LONGRUN
Email me today!! Auction closes Saturday!!



7th - speaking of LongRun, a beautiful calendar from the HBPA and LongRun will be given out on the last day of racing at Woodbine - DEC. 7




9
MCALENEY LEADS HUSBANDS WITH 10 RACING DAYS LEFT

The jockeys race is still competitive although Jim McAleney, who has led all season long, is still in the driver's seat.

But there is a report that MCALENEY is no longer riding for the STEVE ASMUSSEN barn at Woodbine after riding 34 winners for that team in 2008.

Still, both him and Husbands have lots of mounts for the next 3 cards and both are on very live runners.

Should be fun to watch!


27th
COMMENTATOR AND OTHERS
Holiday racing in the U.S. this week

There are tons of big stakes races for fans to gobble up on the Thanksgiving cards this week south of the border.
Many big stars are in action in New York and California.

On Friday, Canadian-Bred PRETTY KATHERINE (Vindication) has been entered in the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood, a one-mile grass race. The filly had been considered a possibility for the Ontario Lassie Stakes

Miesque S. (G3)
November 28, $100,000, f, 2yo, 1mT, Hollywood Park, 3:04 PM PT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Dreamalong Rahy Alex O. Solis 115 Dan L. Hendricks
2. Internallyflawless Giant’s CausewayGarrett K. Gomez 117 Bob Baffert
3. Atka Swiss Yodeler Chantal Sutherland 117 Mike Harrington
4. Platinum Stiletto Mr. Livingston Jon Kenton Court 115 Jennie Christine Green
5. Pretty Katherine Vindication Clinton L. Potts 117 Melody Conlon
6. Emmy Darling Graeme Hall Rafael Bejarano 117 John W. Sadler
7. Kinesiology Dixie Union David Romero Flores 117 Craig Dollase
8. Habaya Storm Cat Richard Migliore 117 Kiaran P. McLaughlin
9. Eloquently (GB) Dansili (GB) Joel Rosario 117 John W. Sadler
10. Century Park General Meeting Mike E. Smith 117 Bob Baffert
11. Grace Gryder Decarchy Martin Garcia 115 Roger M. Stein
12. Ms. Lively Mr. Livingstonayla Stra 117 Jennie Christine Green


HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT AQUEDUCT
EXCERPT FROM THE SARATOGIAN

By MICHAEL VEITCH, Saratogian horse racing columnist

The Grade I Cigar Mile, the last such event on the New York Racing Association calendar for 2008, tops a big holiday weekend of racing at Aqueduct.

The $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap, to be run for the 95th time, is the feature on Thanksgiving Day. Probable runners in the 6-furlong event include last year’s winner Grand Champion, plus graded stakes winners Idiot Proof and Songster.

At one time, the Fall Highweight was a popular and respected event, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. During that period it was captured by the champion filly Ta Wee in 1969 and 1970, carrying 140 pounds in the latter victory.

Filly winners continued with Chou Croute in 1972, Honorable Miss in 1975-76, and What A Summer in 1977-78. Those three each carried more than 130 pounds, and Chou Croute and What A Summer cemented Eclipse Awards with their wins.

The Grade II Top Flight Handicap, worth $150,000 at one mile for fillies and mares, tops the action Friday. Graded stakes winners Altesse, Leah’s Secret and Rite Moment are the leading probables.

The $300,000 Cigar Mile, along with the Demoiselle and Remsen, highlight the Saturday program. Grade I winners Tale of Ekati and Visionaire headline the Cigar Mile.

Tale of Ekati won the Grade I Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last spring, while Visionaire won the Grade I King’s Bishop last summer at Saratoga. Their opponents in the Cigar Mile could include Wanderin Boy, Arson Squad, Harlem Rocker and Kodiak Kowboy.

The Demoiselle, a Grade II event worth $200,000 at 1Þ miles for 2-year-old fillies, is shaping up as a strong contest. Heading the probables is Sky Diva, winner of the Grade I Frizette Stakes and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Another Breeders’ Cup participant, Renda, may run in the Demoiselle, along with Ain’t Love Grand, Bluegrass Princess and Subprime, all of whom ran at Saratoga.

The Remsen, with the same conditions as the Demoiselle, is for 2-year-old males. Hello Broadway, who is a half-brother to Grade I winner Nobiz Like Shobiz, is one of the top contenders in the Remsen. Also listed by NYRA as probable are American Dance, Hold Me Back, Old Fashioned, Rip Rap and Viscount.


3
RECENT CANADIAN-BRED WINNERS ELSEWHERE
Ontario night at Mountaineer last night

LAHAINA LADY won the first race at Mountaineer last night under Chad Beckon for owner/trainer Kevin Buttigieg. The Ontario bred by Souvenir Copy-Rainbow Stage by Lear Fan led all the way to win her maiden for $5,000 claiming and raced 6 furlongs in 1:16.94.

Race 4 last night went to APPALACHEE BAY (Tethra) who won for $5,000 at 1 1/16 miles in a non-winners of 2 for Manette Brown. Dale Hemsley rode.

Chad Beckon rode Ontario bred THUNDER FOX to win race 5 for Geri Summers and trainer Stacey Cooper. The 7-year-old by Awesome Again-Astas Foxy Lady was winning for $5,000 claiming.



$450 - starting bids on eBay for MONEIGHS, paintings done by horses! This one at right was done by ZENYATTA.







LEADING ONTARIO SIRES OF ONTARIO -BRED RUNNERS

6 stakes winners for 2 Ontario sires in 2008


SIRE STARTERS WINNERS STAKES WINNERS PROG. EARNINGS

Bold Executive 134 67 6 $4,241,789
Trajectory 89 47 6 2,722,916
Peaks and Valleys 92 43 1 1,485,413
Crown Attorney 25 13 1 1,474,991
Bold n’ Flashy 82 38 0 1,462,953
One Way Love 72 33 1 1,460,963
Tejano Run 67 37 2 1,449,118
Tethra 77 38 1 1,428,401
Perigee Moon 65 35 0 1,368,286
†Not Impossible (Ire) 19 9 2 1,335,679
†Ascot Knight 57 27 0 1,270,579
Whiskey Wisdom 59 24 1 1,255,770
+Cat’s At Home 64 34 0 981,833
Compadre 52 21 0 902,173
Kinshasa 43 19 0 894,926
Rock and Roll 36 19 0 $722,288
Paynes Bay 38 14 0 706,000
†A Fleets Dancer 38 19 0 576,995
Foxtrail 50 22 0 570,004
Best of the Bests (Ire) 73 23 1 533,934
*Tomahawk 25 7 1 519,783
Ciano Cat 37 16 0 470,439
Wonneberg 11 6 1 434,986
*Where’s the Ring 22 5 2 413,343
Impeachment 38 15 1 406,924
Domasca Dan 22 8 0 391,572
†Elajjud 19 7 2 383,592
Randy Regent 31 17 0 374,735
*Dance to Destiny 9 3 0 222,737

*1st crop sire
+ deceased



45
BLOGGERS ON BLOOD-HORSE

In case you have not visited the BLOG STABLE at Blood-Horse, the THOROUGHBRED BLOGGERS ALLIANCE are on there every week with a guest columnist.

This week Sue Dalebroux of POST PARADE has a super write-up on the confusion regarding a woman finding a racehorse at the kill-pen...

SIDENOTE...

The horse that was ultimately saved in this story appears on pedigreequery.com with this info:

Owner: Faith R. Taylor
Breeder: John Franzone, Jr., Racing, Inc.
State Bred: MD
Winnings: 49 Starts: 5 - 17 - 9, $159,710

3rd: Maryland Million Starter Hcp, Murmur Farm Starter Hcp. (neither is black-type)
Foaled April 2000
updated Dec'07. Saved from slaughter auction and now a riding horse.

Read SUE DALEBROUX'S POST HERE:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/thoroughbred-bloggers-alliance/archive/2008/11/25/a-horse-of-the-same-color.aspx

PAY IT FORWARD

SILENT AUCTION ON THOROUGHBLOG!!


DANCE SMARTLY JACKET

Buy it and give LONGRUN a Christmas present


Thanks to BRUCE WALKER, formerly of Woodbine Entertainment, THOROUGHBLOG is able to auction off this gorgeous DANCE SMARTLY jacket, made for a selected few people in 1991 after the Canadian-bred filly won the Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Canadian Triple Crown.
The jacket, size large/extra large, is nylon and has NEVER BEEN WORN.

All monies will be donated to LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION.

THOROUGHBLOG will take bids, in $5 increments, starting at $50.00 beginning today through Saturday at Noon.


Bids should be submitted by email so that there is a time stamp and I will update the bid process as the bids come in (or soon after).
If you send a bid using the COMMENT SECTION, that is okay too, I will update the same as those will also be time-stamped.

So buy this jacket and help the racehorses of Ontario!

AUCTION CLOSES SATURDAY AT NOON!!



KENNEDY ROAD BEYER FIGURE CHANGED

101 for Shadowless (not 78)

The first stakes win for the 3yo SHADOWLESS turned out to be one of the bfastest performanaces of the year at Woodbine.
The Stormy Atlantic fellow, who upset the Kennedy Road Stakes on Saturday in 1:09.12 for 6 furlongs was originally assigned a 78 Beyer Figure for the win by DAILY RACING FORM but it was changed yesterday to 101.
Shadowless, owned and bred by Heather Takahashi, will winter at Buttigieg Farm this winter according to trainer David Bell.




FABULOUS!
Horses will carry some weight for a change in FALL HIGHWEIGHT


THURSDAY AT AQUEDUCT...

Aqueduct - November 27th, 2008 - Race 8
Fall Highweight H. - Grade:
Estimated Local Post Time: 2:42 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Purse: $100,000
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name

1 Fabulous Strike (PA) 5 Gelding 136 RDominguez
2 Ferocious Fires (NY) 5 Horse 131 C'lio H. Velasquez
3 Grand Champion (MD) 5 Gelding 131 Eibar Coa
4 Stormin Normandy (NY) 4 Colt 131 Richard Migliore
5 Songster (FL) 5 Horse 131 Edgar S. Prado
6 He's So Chic (KY) 4 Colt 127 J Lezcano
7 Gold Trippi (FL) 4 Gelding 128 JCastellno
8 Nakayama Arashi (FL) 4 Colt 126 Eddie Castro
9 Idiot Proof (CA) 4 Colt 132 JVelazquz
10 Silver Stetson Man (KY) 4 Colt 128 Alan Garcia



CANADIAN-BRED HARLEM ROCKER SET TO SMOKE

The Cigar Mile, the LAST GRADE 1 in New York this season, is on Friday as the holiday week begins in the United States - actually it begins Thursday.
But on Friday, the big race in New York is named in honour of one of the greatest racehorses of all time and Canadian-bred HARLEM ROCKER has been pointed to the race for a long time.

The Prince of Wales winner will face about seven rivals including Arson Squad, Bribon, Kodiak Kowboy, Storm Play, Tale of Ekati, Visionaire, and Wanderin Boy. Past the Point is a possible starter.

Harlem Rocker is owned by Adena Racing Venture and trained by Todd Pletcher.



TUESDAY MORNING SCOREBOARD

Just two, five-day weeks left in the 2008 Woodbine meeting...
(stats from equibase.com)


WOODBINE TRAINERS
Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings

Mark E. Casse 455 71 70 66 $5,437,023
Sid C. Attard 307 54 47 39 $3,224,031
Reade Baker 293 45 41 38 $2,595,284
Roger L. Attfield 230 44 28 35 $4,091,385
Scott H. Fairlie 219 40 36 26 $1,683,723
Steven M. Asmussen 249 39 27 34 $2,232,943
Robert P. Tiller 265 32 36 36 $1,746,857
Nicholas Gonzalez 184 31 30 30 $2,258,782
Daniel J. Vella 216 30 38 23 $1,724,617
Brian A. Lynch 106 30 17 12 $2,249,204
Terry Jordan 80 30 16 7 $1,111,284
Audre Cappuccitti 228 30 15 24 $904,468
Michael J. Doyle 282 27 28 28 $1,405,740
Malcolm Pierce 187 27 27 22 $1,893,077
Josie Carroll 193 26 33 22 $2,133,508
Michael P. De Paulo 182 25 28 27 $1,567,974
Laurie Silvera 213 22 24 37 $1,031,554
Abraham R. Katryan 186 21 19 21 $773,025
Ian Black 126 21 19 13 $2,026,396
Mark R. Frostad 99 20 19 14 $1,762,038


WOODBINE JOCKEYS


Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings

James McAleney 781 155 105 112 $8,235,609
Patrick Husbands 741 146 126 102 $8,706,593
Emma-Jayne Wilson 846 108 107 131 $6,423,412
Emile Ramsammy 801 99 100 112 $5,034,529
Eurico Rosa Da Silva 677 95 91 73 $5,503,514
Chantal Sutherland 589 89 69 85 $4,944,030
Tyler Pizarro 636 87 92 71 $4,499,221
Justin Stein 612 75 81 59 $3,288,196
Jono C. Jones 565 75 67 69 $5,365,785
Robert C. Landry 410 51 54 63 $3,345,458
David Clark 464 51 53 55 $3,321,096
Constant Montpellier 460 42 50 45 $2,266,022
Slade Callaghan 413 41 40 33 $2,676,443
Corey Fraser 359 36 42 52 $2,379,706
Richard Dos Ramos 281 30 21 35 $1,845,805



THOROUGHBRED BLOGGERS ALLIANCE
FREE PP'S FOR EVERYONE!

The bloggers group TBA has a cool link now that allows you to pick a track, any track and quickly get free pps from Brisnet with lots of cool stats etc.

The TBA also offers tabs and quick links for U.S. racing needs and videos and international news, all available in a newsfeed format.

To get a taste of all the news and blogs, visit the TBA today!
http://www.thoroughbredbloggersalliance.blogspot.com/

HARD HITTING

SURPRISE! Longtime maiden now a stakes winner


John Sikura privately bought SMART SURPRISE after she bled through Lasix in her 9th try in a maiden race when racing at Monmouth.

A regally bred Smart Strike 4yo out of Weekend Storm (dam of graded SW Court Vision and SW Lord Snowden and from the family of A.P. Indy etc) began her career in 2006 and was 2nd and 3rd a lot for DAVID HOWE and WILLIAM PARSONS JR. who had bought her for $235,000 at the 2005 Keeneland Sept. sale.

Since being turned over to trainer JOSIE CARROLL, Smart Surprise has won 3 of 4 races and she got into a ton of trouble in the other one when 2nd.

Yesterday she upset the BESSARABIAN STAKES at 11 to 1 under new rider Rob Landry and increased her value one-zillion fold.

The win was sharp since the filly darted up the rail, which was not playing all that well yesterday but had been earlier in the week.

She out-battled SASKAWEA who always looked like a winner in the race.

SMART SURPRISE earned a career best Beyer Figure of 93 for the 1:22 flat clocking for 7 furlongs.

Stakes winner EXECUTIVE FLIGHT was scratched at the gate.

TIDBIT - SMART SURPRISE was born in Kentucky on 04/04/04 (April 4, '04)
MORE SUNDAY STUFF

Only 2 Sundays remain in the 2008 Woodbine season.
The JOCKEYS RACE is still interesting - Pat Husbands is still chasing JIM MCALENEY and both guys are on live horses every day it seems.
Husbands won 2 yesterday and McAleney won 1 so the lead is 9 for McAleney heading into Wed. night.

There was a nice mixture of LONGSHOTS and FAVOURITES yesterday.

Race 1 kicked off a huge PICK 3 payoff of $2600. FORTUNE OR FOLLY (King Cugat) dropped from allowance to $40,000 claiming and cruised to a 6 1/2 length win for James Justiss and trainer Gary Aimonetti.
Race 2 was a head scratcher - the 2yo JUNIOR ATTORNEY ralleid to win at 45 to 1 in the $25,000 claiming race for Tony and Mary Jane Lamb, who stand his sire Crown Attorney. Junior Attorney was only 6 to 1 first time out in his life but he finished last for $20,000 claiming.
He woke up big-time yesterday without much warning.
Race 3 went to TIGER BUD, a recent claim for Terry Hamilton. The Ontario bred by Hold that Tiger pressed the pace and then drove clear to win at 11 to 1.

Trainer GLENN MAGNUSSON and Gary Vasey and John Murphy celebrated with KENNISIS RIVER in the 4th race for 2yos. The grey Alphabet Soup gelding was the 2nd winner for jockey Steve Bahen on the card and he rallied to win the $50,000 claimer at 1 mile and 70 yards for his 2nd career win.
A homebred for Murphy, the gelding was claimed by California Stable and its new trainer Dan Vella.

That race was messed up by the unfair start of Edge, who reared up and pushed the gate open early and then lost jockey Jono Jones.
It was one of several refunds for unfair starts in the last 2 weeks at Woodbine.

Audre Cappuccitti has a quick 2yo in DANCE TO MY BEAT, a Pennsylvania bred by Stravinsky. He led all the way to win a 6 furlong maiden allowance - race 5. The youngster has tons of grass breeding as well.

Invading ABSOULUTE HEAVEN (yes that is how her name is spelled) won on the lead all the way in an allowance, race 7 in her first Polytrack outing.
The New York bred is trained by Graham Motion.

BENT ATTORNEY has won 2 consecutive races for Centennial Farms and trainer Don MacRae since she was claimed for $50,000. The Crown Attorney filly won a non-winners of 2 'other than' from just off the pace under Justin Stein.

The Robert Tiller barn picked up its 32nd win with INCREDIBLE SPIRIT for the fun folks at Very Dry Stable. Tiller said in a pre-race interview that the filly was his best chance of winning on the day and summed up his year with "I am a good coach but had a lot of bad players"

RED RIVAL, a Canadian-bred by Albert the Great won his maiden for $16,00 for Robert Adams and trainer Mike Keogh in race 10 and the finale was won in a romp by another invader - AGGRESSIVE JOE, who inhaled a ridiculously fast pace to win for $10,000 for Florida breeder Harold Plumley.


PORT OF CALL, MEADOW PRINCESS INJURED YESTERDAY

Only 2 days ago, the 2yo CARIBE broke down during a race at Woodbine and yesterday another 2yo died when PORT OF CALL appeared to break a hing led on the turn of a $25,000 claiming race. The Ontario bred by Porto Foricos was one of the favourites.

MEADOW PRINCESS, who sank on the rail path yesterday as her 3 race winning streak came to an end, was vanned off following the 6th race.

The filly is to be checked later this morning and is not in any danger.



BITS FROM OTHER PLACES

Just some observsations from watching races around the map yesterday...
It seems as if New York is not implementing any kind of whip rules there, there was some horrific instances on the card yesterday. Race 3- jockey Pablo Morales went to town on BROTHER OF GOLD in a crazy finish of that claiming race. The gelding was staggering and swerving and finally, under a few more heavy blows, went right and smack into a rival. He won, but was disqualified.

ROGUE VICTORY, race 9, was under frantic whipping in early stretch by Alan Garcia, and he rallied up the rail under this pressure but then the hole closed and he was checked badly and finshed 9th.
A HORSE TO WATCH for next time.

CONGOR BAY - 2 for 2 at Woodbine at age 2, was last in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes yesterday.



8-YEAR-OLD SHAKIS BREAKS DOWN

(photo by Cindy Pierson Dulay)

Graded stakes winning turfer SHAKIS broke down in a workout at Hollywood Park on the main track and was euthanized. The Shadwell Farm old timer was getting ready for a Grade 1 race this Friday.

After he won the Bernard Baruch this year trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said..

"He's very sound and he trains good. We just wish they ran the Bernard Baruch twice a year. He's really been unlucky. His first race back, he was 10-wide at Keeneland. Then, we went to Pimlico and he had a rough trip. He ran back in three weeks on short rest going 10 furlongs. (But) this is what he wants to do. Alan did a great job. I didn't think we had any chance at the top of the stretch. I was afraid that they weren't going fast enough up front; I was looking for a faster pace. This just worked out great. Sheikh Hamdan is a great owner and it is nice to win for people who are so good to you."



WELL POSITIONED - OFFERS FLY FOR CAN. BRED

As discussed on this site yesterday, the smashing maiden win by Canadian-bred WELL POSITIONED (Awesome Again) at Aqueduct on Saturday was impressive in all aspects - he earned a 90 Beyer Figure.
Now owner Paul Pompa Jr. (of Big Brown fame) is getting calls for the colt, who is certainly a Queen's Plate favourite too:
Steve Haskin writes about the colt...BELOW

http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/48169.htm




TOP BEYER FIGURES FOR 2008 FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS
FROM DAILY RACING FORM
through 11/23/2008


VOTING for the SOVEREIGN AWARDS starts on Thursday - on-line - and races up to yesterday are the only ones that qualify.

It should be a wild process since some of the categories are bizarre and wide open.

THOROUGHBLOG has a HORSE OF THE YEAR Poll going, send an email or a Comment if you have an opinion to voice.

Below is the chart of top BEYER FIGURES for 3yos and grass runners this year according to DAILY RACING FORM.



HORSE TRK DATE DIST BEYER FIGURE

Conduit (IRE) OSA 25 Oct 1 1/2M 116
Zaftig (f) BEL 07 Jun 1M 113
Motovato CRC 25 Apr 7F 111
Indian Blessing (f) BEL 05 Jul 6F 110
Indian Blessing (f) SAR 02 Aug 7F 110
Raven's Pass OSA 25 Oct 1 1/4M 110
Big Brown CD 03 May 1 1/4M 109
Bob Black Jack SA 26 Jan 6F 109
Storm Play AQU 29 Oct 1 1/8M 109
Desert Key SAR 28 Jul 6 1/2F 108
Fatal Bullet TP 27 Sep 6F 108
Indyanne (f) CRC 12 Jul 6F 108
J Be K BEL 07 Jun 7F 108
Kodiak Kowboy SAR 28 Jul 6 1/2F 108
Storm Mesa (f) LS 26 May 7F 108
Driven by Success SAR 25 Aug 6 1/2F 107
Fatal Bullet OSA 25 Oct 6F 107
Goldikova (IRE) (f) OSA 25 Oct 1M 107
Henrythenavigator OSA 25 Oct 1 1/4M 107

GRASS

Conduit (IRE) OSA 25 Oct 1 1/2M 116
Eagle Mountain (GB) OSA 25 Oct 1 1/2M 113
Grand Couturier (GB) BEL 27 Sep 1 1/2M 112
Out of Control (BRZ) OSA 27 Sep 1 1/4M 112
Red Giant OSA 27 Sep 1 1/4M 112
Dancing Forever OSA 25 Oct 1 1/2M 109
Kip Deville BEL 13 Jul 1M 109
Soldier of Fortune (IRE) OSA 25 Oct 1 1/2M 109
Daytona (IRE) HOL 26 May 1M 108
Pays to Dream PIM 17 May 1 1/8M 108
Precious Kitten (f) HOL 26 May 1 1/8M 108
Red Rocks (IRE) BEL 12 Jul 1 3/8M 108
True to Tradition PHA 01 Sep 5F 108
Goldikova (IRE) (f) OSA 25 Oct 1M 107
Mr. Nightlinger AP 26 Jul 5F 107
Rahy's Attorney WO 07 Sep 1M 107
Whatsthescript (IRE) DMR 24 Aug 1M 107



NBC NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS

Finger Lakes trainer another one saving horses