BALANCE

(OLD FASHIONED - undefeated and racing tomorrow in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on President's day...photo by Spruceton Spook on www.flickr.com)



SO SMART
Trainer Carroll on a roll

SMART SURPRISE, a Woodbine stakes winner last fall, is undoubtably one of the best older mares in the south right now after a crushing, 6 1/4 length romp on the Chou Croute Stakes yesterday at Fair Grounds.
The Smart Strike 5yo, a Kentucky bred, trained by Woodbine's JOSIE CARROLL and owned by John Sikura, pressed and stalked the pace in the 1 1/16 mile race and then cruised away to beat Rolling Sea easily over a sloppy track.
As a frame of reference, Rolling Sea just won a stake at Fair Grounds over Canadian champion Bear Now.

Smart Surprise, trained by Josie Carroll, increased her career earnings to $239,294 with her fourth win in 15 lifetime starts. She accomplished the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.84 and paid $6.80, $3.60 and $2.80.

"She's just an honest filly who tries hard every time," said Carroll.

At Gulfstream earlier in the day, Carroll sent out 23 to 1 shot MELI to win a one-mile turf maiden allowance by 2 1/4 lengths for Laconian Racing Stable. It was the filly's first career start.

The Kentucky bred is by Mutakkdim out of the Ascot Knight mare Night Edition (frm the family of Lydia Star, dam of GST Blues) and was bred by Catesby Clay and Runnymede Stable in Kentucky.
And Woodbine jockey ROBERT LANDRY sweetened the deal as he rode the winner.


At Mountaineer, Ontario bred TIME TO ACCOUNT, a win shy guy for years at Woodbine, won a $5,000 claiming race for David Morden and trainer Lyle Morden. The 7-year-old is by Unaccounted For out of Honorarium by Matter of Honor.

Later on the Mountaineer card, owner/trainer BOBBY PION continued his roll as TEE KAY ODE won a second consecutive race at that track. The Omtario bred by Alydeed - Francesca Stallone by Brown Arc won by a head for $5,000 at 2 to 1.

In the next race at Mountaineer, LONG HAIR JENNY, an Ontario byred by Compadre-Comply with Me by Compliance won for $5,000 claiming as the odds on favourite. Six Brothers owns the 4yo filly and Rob Johnston trains.

Owner SCOTT FAIRLIE won a race at Philadelphia Park yesterday with GREAT BLUE, wo battle don the lead and edged away to win a $12,500 claiming rae. Lisa Aitchison trains for Fairlie at Philly Park. Great Blue has been in the Fairlie fold for some time and is a 6yo by Meadowlake.

HOLLY TIME, a 6yo Ontario bred by Gilded Time - Jingle Berry by Two Punch won for $7,500 claiming at Aqueduct yesterday. The gelding was bred by Yvonne Schwabe and was claimed from the race by trainer Greg DiPrima.



GLORIOUSLY BREAKS DOWN

Canadian-bred GLORIOUSLY, a stakes-placed filly last year for Woodford Racing and trainer Mark Casse (who had his 48th birthday yesterday), was on her way to winning an allowance race yesterday at Santa Anita when she broke down badly inside the eighth-pole.
Pat Husbands fell off.

The Indian Charlie-Glory's Story filly, bred by Royal Oak Farm, was coming off a layoff for the stable and she led around the turn, was swarmed by rivals but then dug in bravely under heavy pressure and was edging away before breaking a leg.

There was no word on her as of this morning.



TROUBLE BREWIN

GINGER BREW, the champion 3yo filly in Canada last year, got going too late after a crowded trip and was beaten a neck, nose, head and 1/2 a length in a 5th place finish in the Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday. The 1 1/16 mile turf race went to Ballymore Lady by War Chant.
Ginger Brew galloped out in front once she got clear.



KENTUCKY DERBY STUFF

GENERAL QUARTERS earned a super 100 BEYER FIGURE when he won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay yesterday.
The SKY MESA colt is out of an UNBRIDLED'S SONG mare (both are gresy so therefore the General is grey) and he put himself in the Kentucky Derby picture.
GENERAL QUARTERS is one of a litany of GREY HORSES that are contenders for the Derby.

GENERAL QUARTERS was claimed from his debut for just $20,000 from Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Wesley Ward.

At Golden Gate, CHOCOLATE CANDY (On Valentine's Day) won the El Camino Real Stakes for owner breeder Jenny Craig.
The Candy Ride-Crownette colt is from the family of AFFIRMED.

Southwest S. (G3)
February 16, $250,000, 3yo, 1m, Oaklawn Park, 5:02 PM CT
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Retap Tapit Luis S. Quinonez 117 Steven Asmussen
2. Loch Dubh Friends Lake Jon Kenton Court 117 Jeff Talley
3. Silver City Unbridled’s Song Miguel Mena 117 W. Bret Calhoun
4. Gresham Seeking the Gold Calvin H. Borel 117 James E. Baker
5. Old Fashioned Unbridled’s Song Ramon A. Dominguez 119 J. Larry Jones
6. Buzzin and Dreamin Five Star Day Israel Ocampo 115 D. Wayne Lukas
7. Flat Out Flatter Julio A. Garcia 119 Charles L. Dickey
8. Professor Z Grand Slam Christopher A. Emigh 117 Steven Asmussen
9. Poltergeist Tapit Quincy Hamilton 117 Donnie Von Hemel
10. Silver Bayer Smoke Glacken Terry J. Thompson 115 David R. Vance
11. Kick On Wiseman’s Ferry Ken S. Tohill 119 Joseph Petalino





FROM YESTERDAY -

HBPA working on solution for Fort Erie....


FORT ERIE UPDATE ON ONTARIO HBPA WEB SITE
http://www.hbpa.on.ca/

The H.B.P.A. of Ontario, the Town of Fort Erie, and the EDTC will be offering a non-refundable down payment for the purchase of Fort Erie racetrack from Nordic Gaming.

A brief outline of the offer is as follows:

The above named parties will make a non-refundable deposit for the purchase of Fort Erie Racetrack in the amount of $2,250,000.

In exchange, Nordic Gaming must agree to run 78 days of live horse racing in 2009 commencing the first Saturday in May. They must also allow the parties involved till August of 2009 to review with the Province of Ontario the formation of a not-for-profit corporation. This will allow all concerned to perform due diligence to secure a permanent solution for Fort Erie.

Several prior meetings with Nordic Gaming made them aware this offer could be forthcoming. We were awaiting approval from the Province to use EDTC funds.

This information is for horsemen's use only, please do not make it public as there is a long way to go yet.

We anticipate a timely response from Nordic Gaming. More details will follow.

Sue Leslie, President
HBPA of Ontario