Jen's Thorough-blog

MOVIN ON UP

2009-04-01T06:57:00.004-05:00

OOPS - THOROUGHBLOG HAS MOVED!!

http://www.horse-canada.com/?cat=53)

CHANGE YOUR BOOKMARKS!!!

http://www.horse-canada.com/?cat=53)

THOROUGHBLOG on the MOVE

(it’s not an April Fool’s joke!)

This is post number 957!

Just days past its 3 year anniversary, THOROUGHBLOG is now moving to the home of Canadian Thoroughbred magazine – at www.Horse-Canada.com, the site of Horse Publications Group and its stable of magazines.

Thoroughblog’s official new web address is http://www.horse-canada.com/?cat=53) so please change your bookmarks.

I would like to thank the hundreds of readers and friends who have helped advance Thoroughblog to this point and my own stable of advertisers who have supported me.

Thank you for the donations you have made to help keep Thoroughblog going.

This web address will remain for archival purposes.

Thoroughblog will continue in its same capacity, updated most mornings during the week and occasionally on the weekends.

For stories and notes, you can continue to email me. To comment on the new site or any news, Horse-Canada offers a comment section at the bottom of each day’s posts.

For advertising, contact Horse-Canada or call Horse Publications Group at 1-800-505-7428.

Please follow Thoroughblog to its new home --http://www.horse-canada.com/?cat=53 – to keep up to date on the news and issues and notes of the Canadian racing industry.

Jen

ON TRACK

2009-03-30T08:04:00.006-05:00

Na na, na-na na! QUALITY ROAD is on a roll on his way to the Kentucky Derby. He zooms to the top of the DERBY TOP TEN on Thoroughblog.
Photo after the Florida Derby shot by AMBER CHALFIN, courtesy www.-horse-races.net.

WOODBINE - WEDNESDAY IS THE FIRST DAY FOR ENTRIES

The LA VOYAGEUSE STAKES heads Saturday's opening card at Woodbine and there are 16 nominations for the race.
Entries for the first of 167 racing cards at Woodbine in 2009 will be taken on Wednesday.
Racing will be held this weekend and then 3 days a week for a month, followed by four days a week for a month and then a 5-day schedule begins.

If her workout on Friday morning
was any indication, Empress Stables'
KOONUNGA HILL (photo at right from www.horse-races.net) looks ready to go should she be entered in the La Voyageuse.

Under EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, Koonunga Hill, winner of the Ice Water Stakes last year, worked a solid and steady 5 furlongs from the gate over a super-fast Polytrack surface on Friday in 1:03 while not being asked.

The Wonneberg filly will be travelling 5 furlongs in the La Voyageuse.

The next stakes race at Woodbine will be the April 11 Achievement Stakes which has just 10 nominations.

MORE WOODBINE STUFF

VERNE'S BABY, track record setter and stakes winner who has not raced since June 2007, is now trained by Vito Armata and had a workout Saturday morning.
Working on his own, the Whiskey Wisdom 7-year-old went in 1:00 flat breezing on a very fast Polytrack.

MAIN EXECUTIVE looked razor sharp on SATURDAY. He worked from the gate in 46. 60 and tow-roped a workmate.

JUST RUSHING, stakes winner for Tucci Stable, had a quick 3 furlong work yesterday at Woodbine in 35 flat on on the Polytrack. He is 8-years-old now.

(Photo at right) VLADiMIR CERIN, a top trainer from California, is setting up shop at Woodbine reports DAILY RACING FORM - see yesterday's post on Thoroughblog. He is one of several new trainers at Woodbine this season.

Trainer LES FROST won a race at Mountaineer Park yesterday with Ontario bred PORTERS COURT who honoured his even-money backing to win the $5,000 claiming event by 2 3/4 lengths.
Albert Sanges is the owner of Porters Court, a son of Graeme Hall.

PATENA, who was well beaten in his first start for trainer Rick Dutrow Jr in the Louisiana Derby in the slop, is regrouping and had a workout at Keeneland on Saturday in 51.80. The Seeking the Gold colt, co-owned by a group of Canadians, is scheduled to race in the BLUE GRASS STAKES.

QUALITY GROUP FOR KENTUCKY DERBY
and still more to come Saturday!

There are a litany of really good American 3-year-olds currently on the trail to the Kentucky Derby but at this point QUALITY ROAD stands out far in front.

He already has a 113 Beyer Figure and he predictably regressed a bit in the Florida Derby but his effort was strong nonetheless and this Elusive Quality colt could explode again in 5 weeks.

(Photo of the Florida Derby
romp by Quality Road shot
by Amber Chalfin)

On Saturday, THE PAMPLEMOUSSE and PIONEER OF THE NILE are in the Santa Anita Derby (on synthetic dirt however) and others waiting in the wings are FRIESAN FIRE, I WANT REVENGE etc.

DUNKIRK, the expensive yearling who was a solid 2nd in the Florida Derby, showed a nice dimension in his running style as he came from well back to make a bid on the turn before Quality Road took off.

Trainer TODD PLETCHER told ESPN he was not happy with the condition of the track, which did appear to be speed favouring to some extent:

"They obviously sped the racetrack up today. It's been speed-favoring all day... I told Bill Murphy [Gulfstream prez/GM] if I'd have known the track was going to be like this I would went to Aqueduct. It's frustrating that the surface has been so good, fair, safe the whole meet that they want to change it..."

FROM LOUISVILLE-COURIER JOURNAL

Offer made on Quality Road

By Jennie Rees • jrees@courier-journal.com • March 28, 2009

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Owner Edward P. Evans said he was offered $2.5 million by a bloodstock agent for Quality Road after the colt won a 6-1/2-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct Nov. 29.

"They said the buyer wanted to win the Derby," Evans recalled after his homebred colt captured today's $750,000 Florida Derby by 1 3/4 lengths over favored Dunkirk. "I thought about it and said, 'The owner would like to win the Derby, too.'"

Evans - who has never had a starter in a Triple Crown race but is the son of the late Thomas Evans, whose Pleasant Colony won the 1981 Derby - took an important step toward that goal as Quality Road set a Gulfstream Park record by powering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.72.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090328/SPORTS08/90328016

GINGER BREW THIRD

Making just her 2nd start on traditional dirt, GINGER BREW finished third beeaten 8 1/2 lengths at Gulfstream yesterday in the Grade 2 Rampart Stakes.
The Milwaukee Brew 4yo Ontario bred, Canada's champion 3yo filly of 2008, has had some bad luck kicking off her American campaign with two thirds and a fifth place finish in her last 3 starts.
The winner of the Rampart was the undefeated monster filly ONE CAROLINE, at 17 hands high. The Unbridled's Song gal is 5 for 5 in her career.

Another Canadian champion MINE THAT BIRD, the 2yo colt/gelding champ last year, WAS 4TH BEATEN 3 LENGTHS and a neck in the Sunland Derby last night at Sunland Park.

LOVE-IN

The maiden score by HARD KISSES on Saturday at Santa Anita puts the Canadian-bred filly on the path to the Woodbine Oaks - although the filly is also a Queen's Plate eligible.
A Toccet filly out of Hutning Jade, Hard kisses won her 2nd career start on Saturday for trainer Bob Baffert.

She earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

HARD KISSES, bred by the Everatt family of Shanondoe Farm in Ontario, has been a well traveled miss in her 3 years. She has been entered in and/or gone through SEVEN auctions.

She was initially entered in the Keeneland November Breeding sale as a weanling in 2006 but was withdrawm. She was sold the next January at Keeneland for $50,000 to RLH Thoroughbreds by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

In September at Keeneland, the filly sold for $100,000 to MSTS.

Hard Kisses was then entered in 2yo sales at Barretts in 2008 and Keeneland before she found her way to Florida and was sold for $210,000 to Hal Earnhardt at the April Ocala sale.
She had been withdrawn from a sale at Barretts in May to go through the Ocala sale.

HARD KISSES' 3rd dam is Midlemarch, the dam of top class Woodbine stakes winner PENNYHILL PARK.

SO GOOD

2009-03-29T08:48:00.003-05:00

OOZING WITH QUALITY

QUALITY ROAD shrugged off DUNKIRK off the turn and powered to a track record setting Florida Derby win yesterday at Gulfstream.
Edward Evans' homebred by Elusive Quality - Kobla ran in 1:47 for 9 furlongs and earned a 103 Beyer Figure over the sizzling fast Gulfstream strip.
The colt seemingly is poised to bounce back to his 113 Beyer from his Fountain of Youth win when Kentucky Derby day arrives and that would make him tough to beat.

(above right photo from last year by SARAH K. ANDREW)

In fact, it's possible the colt could have won by more had he - rather his rider John Velazquez - been aware that Dunkirk had made a huge, quick, mobe from far back around the turn to join him. Valezquez was just sitting in his colt and looked to his inside while riding confidently whule Dunkirk almost blew past.

DUBAI RE-CAP

“This is an unbelievable experience - I’m so blessed and I love this game.” - Aaron Gryder

PLENTY OF AMMUNITION
Well Armed wins by 14!

It was a night of some wild results in Dubai and in the big daddy of the all, the $6 million DUBAI WORLD CUP, the American shipper WELL ARMED tow-roped his field to win the big race by about a dozen lengths in a super shocker.
A 6yo gelded son of Tiznow, Well Armed was no factor behind Curlin and Asiatic Boy last year but he just loped along on the lead and no one challenged him. It was thought there would be a lot of speed but there was not.
The winner is a homebred from Winstar Farm LLC and is trained by Eoin Harty.
It was easily the biggest win longtime veteran rider AARON GRYDER.

WELL ARMED, photo by Vanessa Ng

"It would be the chance of a lifetime" - Frankie Dettori about riding in Kentucky Derby

UAE DERBY
Ransom Crashes Party, both headed to Kentucky Derby

DESERT PARTY, trying to make a bid for the Kentucky Derby with a win in the UAE Derby, could not catch stablemate REGAL RANSOM through the long stretch and lost by just over half a length.
The pair were miles ahead of the 3rd place finisher which suggests that these two might be good enough to get a shot at the Derby.
Desert Party was a stunning 1 to 5 in the betting in North America but his stablemate led all the way and stole the show under Alan Garcia.
The winning pair were 13 to 1.
REGAL RANSOM is by Distorted Humor - Kelli's Ransom by Red Ransom.
Both Regal Ransom and Desert Party, who raced flat throughout (perhaps reacting a bit off the 2 big efforts to start his season) are headed to Churchill Downs.
With Gary Stevens on the TVG telecast, Desert Party's rider Frankie Dettori said:
"We were disappointed the horse got beat, he didn't produce the turn of foot he usuaally has, i think the Derby is primary target and I wouldn't mind going..
It would be the chance of a lifetime."

MORE DUBAI....
BIG DEAL

BIG CITY MAN, who romped through some sprint preps in Dubai this winter, had a minor letdown in his last race, exploded to win the Golden Shaheen on the card, holding off INDIAN BLESSING, the fast filly from United States but was caught a bit flat-footed at the start.
The winner, ridden by Jose Verenzuela is by Northern Afleet out of Mini Appeal, by Valid Appeal.

The winner was a stakes winner at Calder as a 2yo two years ago and was owned by Mr. T Stables previously.

GLAD, HAPPY

Trainer MUBARAK BIN SHAFYA won consecutive races on the card - the DUBAI DUTY FREE worth $5 million and the Sheema Classic, also worth $5 million.
Jockey Ahmed Ajtebi rode both winners.

GLADIATORUS, a Silic colt that cost just $8,000 as a FASIG TIPTON YEARLING, led all the way in the Duty Free to win the 1 1/8 mile race by a long margin while his jock stood straight up in the irons at the wire.
The winner was 2 for 2 off the long layoff - he missed all of 2008 at the races but is 9 for 12 in his career and he was a budding Italian star before he went on hiatus.

EASTERN ANTHEM, bred in Ireland and by Singspiel, chugged down the middle of the turf course to win a 3-way photo in the SHEEMA CLASSIC, beating Spanish Moon and Purple Moon. The 5yo horse seemed to be lugging in quite well through the stretcha nd crowding the pair of Moons but he won the bob and piled another winner's share of $5 million into the pockets of his trainer and rider.
This horse was also 2 for 2 off a layoff but he had raced in England last year for Saeed Bin Suroor and, like Gladiatorus, had been ridden by Frankie Dettori in the past.
He is 5 for 10 in his career now.

TWO STEP MILE

from Press Association

Two Step Salsa led home stablemate Gayego to give Saeed bin Suroor a 1-2 in the Godolphin Mile on World Cup day at Nad Al Sheba.

The 2-1 favourite was always up with the pace under Frankie Dettori and put distance between himself and his rivals soon after turning for home.

The result was in little doubt from that moment, with Ted Durcan's mount, Gayego, coming out of the chasing pack to fill the runner-up spot, two and a quarter lengths in arrears.

Dettori said: "It's a long straight here and I was running out of petrol, but he had enough to win the race. I was lucky no-one was really close to me so I was able to relax in front."

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: "They both came here with good form from America and we expected a 1-2. It was never going to be easy, but they did it well."

A delighted Suroor said: "I'm really happy with Frankie and I told him to ride him like that. We'll now take Two Step Salsa back to New York and try to find a race for him there."
TWO STEP SALSA is by Petionville out of Two to Waltz, by Seattle Slew.

VLADMIR CERIN AT WOODBINE

The DAILY RACING FORM has reported that well known California trainer VLADIMIR CERIN is setting up a stable at Woodbine.
The 55-year-old Croatianr lived in Canada when he was a teenager and later studied sports science in California.
He once worked with tennis star Tracy Austin and, since he grew up with animals, he turned to training racehorses in the late 1970s.
He has trained dozens of top class horses and last fall won his first Breeders' Cup race when Albertus Maximus won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year at Santa Anita.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

Sunday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:14 p.m. EDT
RAMPART S.-GII, $150,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Ginger Brew Milwaukee Brew Lynch 3-1
2 So Glitzy Gilded Time H Jerkens 15-1
3 One Caroline Unbridled’s Song Arnold 5-2
4 Hamsa Fusaichi Pegasus Tagg 4-1
5 Sea Chanter War Chant Pletcher 5-1
6 Striking Tomisue Smart Strike Zito 4-1
7 African Violet Lemon Drop Kid Motion 10-1

Sunday, Sunland Park, post time: 7:45 p.m. EDT
SUNLAND DERBY, $800,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Valid Stripes Valid Expectations Ja mison 15-1
2 Santamonicacanyon Soto Vienna 12-1
3 Advice Chapel Royal Pletcher 6-1
4 Dumar Maria=s Mon Asmussen 12-1
5 Mayor Marv Distorted Humor Baffert 7-2
6 Scorewithcater Even the Score O'Neill 6-1
7 Mythical Power Congaree Baffert 10-1
8 Kelly Leak Runaway Groom Machowsky 4-1
9 Mine That Bird Birdstone Woolley Jr 8-1
10 Infernal Sir Cherokee Hone 20-1
11 Mark S the Cooler Johar O'Neill 12-1
12 Smokin' Legend Smoke Glacken Grissom 20-1

QUEEN'S PLATE ELIGIBLE, a filly, HARD KISSES, won her maiden at Santa Anita yesterday in her 2nd career start for Parri and Hal Earnhardt III.
The Toccet - Hunting Jade filly was a $50,000 and $100,000 yearling purchase. She was bred by James A & Janeane Everatt & J Arika Everatt-Meeuse in Ontario.
Bob Baffert trains.

FRIDAY - Ontario bred GHETTO SUPERSTAR won a $15,000 claimer for Maggi Moss and trainer Steve Asmussen and was claimed by trainer Keith Bourgeois.
The 5yo is by Touch Gold out of Punchbowl by Two Punch.

PIECE OF THE PIE, by Domasca Dan - Emerald Afternoon by Cabrini Green, won at 7 to 1 at Mountaineer for $5,000 claiming for the red-hot combo of Mike Newell and Mike Barkowski.
She is a 5yo mare bred by Gardiner Farms.

GREY MIRAGE won on Friday at Mountaineer for $5,000 claiming by a nose at 5 to 2. The You and I gelding is a 6yo owned by Doncaster Farm and trained by Paula Loescher.

ONTARIO'S HORSE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
H.I.P.

The Ontario Racing Commission March 25 approved $47.1 million Canadian for the 2009 Horse Improvement Program, which funds stakes, breed development, and equine research for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing.

The Thoroughbred program will get $20.9 million, and the Standardbred program $26.2 million, according to an ORC release.

The Thoroughbred program will offer about $6.1 million for Ontario-bred bonuses, $3 million in breeders’ awards, $400,000 in stallion awards, and $5.8 million in purse supplements for Canadian- and Ontario-bred horses and Canadian graded stakes.

THREE YEARS

2009-03-28T09:53:00.003-05:00

ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Thoroughblog just celebrated its 3rd year anniversary on MARCH 27 - check back for news on today's DUBAI RACES..

for now..here is a stunning update from KENTUCKY...

1987 Kentucky Derby Winner Alysheba Euthanized After Fall
http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=10087471&nav=menu203_2

1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Alysheba was euthanized at the Kentucky Horse Park Friday night, Horse Park officials confirm.

Alysheba fell in his stall on Friday afternoon and was not able to get up. Dr. Nathan Slovis was immediately called to the Kentucky Horse Park, and an equine ambulance transported Alysheba to the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute directly across the road from the park. Dr. Slovis and his team treated Alysheba and evaluated his condition. By evening, it was clear that he had sustained an insurmountable injury.

"Due to a chronic degenerative spinal condition that led to ataxia and instability, Alysheba fell in his stall yesterday injuring his right hind femur," said Kathy Hopkins, Kentucky Horse Park Director of Equine Operations. "Complicated by his advanced age, this trauma resulted in severe pain that did not respond to analgesic therapy. The resulting pain and suffering, and the inability to stand unaided, led to a joint decision for euthanasia. This very difficult decision was made by the veterinary staff of Hagyard Medical, the veterinary staff of His Majesty King Abdullah, and those who loved and cared for him at the Kentucky Horse Park."

read the rest at link above.

ACCOMPLISH

2009-03-26T07:38:00.005-05:00

REFLECTING - Dubai World Cup favourite ALBERTUS MAXIMUS checks out some friends on the track yesterday morning - here he's watching the grey butt of KIP DEVILLE jog away from him. Kip Deville competes in the DUBAI DUTY FREE on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.

Vanessa Ng photo and see more and read a lot of cool notes at www.horse-races.net.

(At right, GODOLPHIN MILE favourite TWO STEP SALSA is pumped up for his run against stablemate GAYEGO.
Vanessa Ng photo)

WORLD CUP CARD - Watch and wager on HPI TV beginning at 9:40 a.m. on SATURDAY.

If you are a racing fan, then Saturday morning will be a whirlwind.

There are numerous storylines during the DUBAI WORLD CUP CARD at Nad al Sheba - the UAE Derby: does DESERT PARTY earn a trip to the Kentucky Derby? The Golden Shaeen, can fleet American filly INDIAN BLESSING win the straightaway race?

Does Canadian International winner MARSH SIDE get his stuff together for the Sheema Classic?

Saturday, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
DUBAI WORLD CUP-G1, $6,000,000, 4yo/up, 2000m
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER

1 Muhannak (Ire) Chester House Beckett
2 Arson Squad Brahms Dutrow Jr
3 Snaafy Kingmambo al Muhairi
4 Asiatic Boy (Arg) Not for Sale (Arg) de Kock
5 Happy Boy (Brz) Ski Champ bin Shafya
6 Gloria de Campaeo (Brz) Impression (Arg) Bary
7 Well Armed Tiznow Harty
8 Casino Drive Mineshaft Fujisawa
9 Joe Louis (Arg) Lode Barton
10 Albertus Maximus Albert the Great McLaughlin
11 Muller (Arg) El Compinche (Arg) Bruss
12 Anak Nakal Victory Gallop Zito
13 Paris Perfect (SAf) Muhtafal Bruss
14 My Indy (Arg) Indygo Shiner bin Suroor
All carry 126 pounds.

(Photo at right, the draw for the WORLD CUP card is held at
the Madinat Jumeirah Resort which is "a gorgeous castle like building in a complex that includes the resort, shopping, and meeting facilities. Part of the facilities is the Burj Al Arab hotel, the world's tallest all suite hotel which resembles a sailboat and has any luxury you can imagine." Vanessa Ng photo.

(For fields of all races see www.drf.com)

FLORIDA DERBY
BEETHOVEN INJURED, LIKELY OUT UNTIL SUMMER

Beethoven was not entered in Saturday's Florida Derby and may be out of the Kentucky Derby picture as well.
Trainer John Ward said the Sky Mesa colt has some heat in a left front tendon.

FLORIDA DERBY-GI, $750,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY

1 Toby the Coal Man Mineshaft Leparoux
2 Quality Road Elusive Quality Velazquez
3 Casey's On Call Gimmeawink Baird
4 Dunkirk Unbridled's Song Gomez
5 Sincero Repent Trujillo
6 Theregoesjojo Brahms Desormeaux
7 Danger to Society Harlan's Holiday Madrid
8 Europe Unbridled's Song DeCarlo
9 Stately Character Pleasant Tap Douglas

FROM LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL
STRAPPED FOR CASH, DUNKIRK NEEDS WIN
Ky. Derby hopes ride on Fla. Derby purse

By Jennie Rees • jrees@courier-journal.comThe Courier-Journal • March 26, 2009

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Gambling on a horse is nothing new for thoroughbred owners Michael Tabor, John Magnier and Derrick Smith, who together paid a world-record $16.2 million for a 2-year-old -- The Green Monkey -- who never won a race.

So coughing up $3.7 million to purchase Dunkirk, the 9-5 favorite for Saturday's Florida Derby, as a yearling in 2007 was more or less chump change.

But now those partners and trainer Todd Pletcher are taking what in some ways is a more imposing gamble.

The 11/8-mile, Grade I Florida Derby will be Dunkirk's only chance to collect enough graded-stakes earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field if more than 20 horses are entered.

Dunkirk, the top price at Keeneland's 2007 September yearling sale, has raced only twice, winning a Jan. 24 maiden race by 53/4 lengths after breaking slowly and encountering traffic, and a 11/8-mile allowance race by 43/4 Feb. 19 after being extremely wide on the first turn.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090326/SPORTS08/903260447

Kentucky Derby Graded Stakes Earnings
Compiled by Churchill's Ben Huffman (Through Mar. 24)

Horse Trainer Graded $

Square Eddie (Smart Strike) O'Neill $774,981
Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker) Baffert $743,250
Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy) Jones $570,465
Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace {Chi}) bin Suroor $417,500
Terrain (Sky Mesa) Stall $410,830
Old Fashioned (Unbridled’s Song) Jones $330,000
I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even) Mullins $324,000
Hold Me Back (Giant’s Causeway) Mott $288,000
Desert Party (Street Cry {Ire}) bin Suroor $241,667
West Side Bernie (Bernstein) Breen $235,160
Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}) Hollendorfer $220,000
Bittel Road (Stormy Atlantic) Pletcher $211,000
*Musket Man (Yonaguska) Ryan $200,000
Crowded House (GB) (Rainbow Quest) Meehan $195,020
The Pamplemousse (Kafwain) Canani $180,000
*Win Willy (Monarchos) Robertson $180,000
Papa Clem (Smart Strike) G Stute $160,000
Charitable Man (Lemon Drop Kid) McGlaughlin $150,000
*Quality Road (Elusive Quality) J Jerkens $150,000
Mine That Bird (Birdstone) Woolley $138,705
*Not nominated to Kentucky Derby.

ORC makes changes to Triactor and Superfecta Wagering

from press release

The Board of the Ontario Racing Commission has approved new directives dealing with triactor and superfecta wagering, reducing the number of betting interests required for the featured bet types to be permitted.
For triactor wagering, the required number of separate betting interests has been reduced from six to five. For superfecta wagering the required number of separate betting interests has been reduced from eight to seven for all races other than stakes races. No change was made to the number required for stakes races, as the required number remains seven

SMART IDEA FOR BREYER HORSES

A racing fan is trying to get a Dance Smartly model made in the Breyer horse collection which currently has a Horses of the World set theme.

And Rebecca Mottin wants to help.
"Breyer has created many models of racehorses including Cigar, Seabiscuit, Ruffian, Rags to Riches, and Afleet Alex. They also have a “Horses of the World” theme going on right now, so why not a Canadian superstar? "

At least 50 signatures would help get this idea passed.

If anyone here thinks they’d likely buy a Dance Smartly model could you please forward your name and state or province to REBECCA at rebeccamottin@hotmail.com and Rebecca will forward your support.

COVER UP

2009-03-25T07:24:00.004-05:00

Hundreds of horses, trainers, exercise riders and grooms are busy on the Woodbine backstretch - only 11 days until opening day!
Here is IAN BLACK leading out one of his charges yesterday morning. DAVE LANDRY PHOTO.

DUBAI WORLD CUP AND UNDERCARD NEWS

Watch and wager on the huge Dubai card Saturday morning, HPI TV, 9:40 a.m.

SPORTING LIFE:
DETTORI IN THE GROOVE WITH SALSA

By Andrew Mullen, PA Sport, Dubai
Godolphin Mile: Two Step Salsa 9/4

Frankie Dettori is hoping his decision to opt for Two Step Salsa over stablemate Gayego will pay off in Saturday's Godolphin Mile at Nad Al Sheba.

Twelve months ago the flamboyant Italian trudged away from the World Cup meeting without a win from six starts as Godolphin drew a blank for a second consecutive year.

This time around Dettori is confident of making a successful start with Two Step Salsa, who won last month's six-furlong Etisalat Wasel Trophy on his seasonal debut.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/09/03/25/RACING_Dubai_Godolphin.html

(Photo at right, former claimer INFORMED, trained by Doug O'Neill, goes bananas in Dubai. He is a contender for the Godolphin Mile. Vanessa Ng photo from www.horse-races.net)

DUBAI RACING CLUB WEBSITE

ASIATIC BOY TACKLES ALBERT

Last year’s Dubai World Cup runner-up Asiatic Boy was in action on the Tapeta training track at Nad Al Sheba on Tuesday morning.
Second to Curlin in the US$6m race last year, having won the UAE Derby in 2007, the horse returns for a third run at the Dubai World Cup meeting.
The five-year-old enters the race on the back of a victory in the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 3, over the same 2000m dirt course and distance as the showpiece race under regular partner Johnny Murtagh.
Trainer Mike De Kock said: “That was a big run last year and Curlin (the winner) was exceptional so we had to be happy with second.
“His preparation has gone well this time and all been based around Saturday night. We have to hope he will go very close.”
His second intended runner, Honour Devil will miss the race with a trapped epiglottis and will undergo surgery.
Asiatic Boy will re-oppose Well Armed, who was a neck away in third. The American raider walked the shed row Tuesday following his half-mile work in :49.00 on Monday. He is scheduled to return to the track on Wednesday.
Fellow American challenger, Anak Nakal galloped Tuesday over the main dirt track as he continues his preparations for the Emirates-sponsored contest.

DUBAI RACING CLUB WEBSITE

1-2 FINISHERS IN BIG SOUTH AFRICA RACE READY

Bruss confident of big Dubai World Cup run

Saudi Arabian-based Neil Bruss has high hopes that his first runners in the UAE could win the sport’s biggest prize, the Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.

Zimbabwe-born Bruss only moved to the Middle East this season but the trainer - who is a familiar name in Africa - has enjoyed a fairytale start to his Saudi experience.

Last month, he saddled Muller and Paris Perfect to finish first and second in the country’s most prestigious race, the King’s Cup, and now the duo line up for the UAE’s showpiece event, worth US$6m.

”I think they both have an equal chance,” said Bruss, who was champion trainer eight times in his homeland before moving to South Africa in 2003.

“Paris Perfect won 10 of his 17 starts in South Africa and then won his first start in Saudi Arabia before running fourth in the prep race for the King’s Cup.

“The mile and a half was probably too far for him when he was second in the King’s Cup, and he came around the field too, so it was a pretty good run all in all.

“Muller was a champion in Peru, where he won the Triple Crown and won eight or nine in a row. He has top form in Saudi, having come second in the Crown Prince Cup, before winning the King’s Cup.”

Bruss is arguably best-known for his exploits with Zebra Crossing who won the J&B Met at Kenilworth in 2006. The horse was bred by his brother Robin and carried the green and white colours that originally belonged to his father Les.

DESERT PARTY - FROM DESERT TO DERBY?

GODOLPHIN'S Kentucky Derby hopeful DESERT PARTY (Street Cry) is the big favourite in the UAE DERBY and should he impress again, he will be headed to the Kentucky Derby.

from the SPORTING LIFE:

GODOLPHIN READY TO PARTY
By Andrew Mullen, PA Sport, Dubai

Kentucky Derby hopeful Desert Party has no excuse not to follow up his UAE 2000 Guineas win with victory in Saturday's UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

The three-year-old son of Street Cry easily beat stablemate Regal Ransom last time out and, along with Godolphin Mile candidates Two Step Salsa and Gayego, is rated by Bin Suroor as his best chance of ending a two-year winless streak on World Cup night.

"He (Desert Party) is a horse that reminds me of his dad, Street Cry," said Bin Suroor.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=racing/09/03/25/RACING_Derby.html

FLORIDA DERBY ON SATURDAY

Gulfstream Park's highlight race of the meeting and the last big Kentucky Derby prep in the south is Saturday's Florida Derby at 9 furlongs.

Strong Derby hopefuls like QUALITY ROAD (photo at right by EquisportPhotos.com/Z. Laskowski at www.horse-races.net) and DUNKIRK will square off. The latter, a multi-million dollar yearling purchase who is unbeaten in 2 races is by Unbridled's Song. His trainer Todd Pletcher has never won the Kentucky Derby.
Pletcher could run $2.3 million yearling purchase and maiden EUROPE (also by Unbridled's Song) in the Florida Dervy as a rabbit for Dunkirk.

Florida Derby and Todd Pletcher story:
http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/737746.html

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

MAGIC AL JACK, a British Columbia bred 4yo gelding, won his 3rd of his last 4 starts last night at Mountaineer for his red-hot owner/trainer BOBBY PION. The gelding, by Alfaari, won for $5,000 claiming for the 3rd time in those last 4 starts (the other race was a 68 length loss for $15K claiming).
Magic Al Jack had won his maiden four starts ago by 23 lengths.

HURRY HARD, owned by Rachelle Morden and trained by Lyle Morden, won a $5,000 claiming race at Mountaineer last evening as the odds-on favourite. The 7yo gelding is by Bold Executve out of Whose to Know.

STUCK IN TRAFFIC BACK

Multiple stakes winner STUCK IN TRAFFIC, who gave Queen's Plate winner NOT BOURBON all he could handle last spring before he went on the sidelines, sizzled 4 furlongs on the Woodbine Polytrack yesterday morning in 47.60, the 6th fastest of the morning for the distance.
Owned by Martha Gonzalez and MAD Racing and trained by Nick Gonzalez, Stuck in Traffic wintered at Dr. Lea Guitard's farm north of Woodbine.

MAD Racing's champion runner WHOLELOTTABOURBON is also back as he worked the same distance in 48.20. He is a 7yo.

Stakes winners DANCER'S BAJAN and SHADOWLESS were also on fire yesterday. The sprinters worked 5 furlongs in 59.40 and 59.00 respectively for trainers Robert Tiller and David Bell.

The Bajan and Shadowless could join Legal Move and Main Executive in one of the early stakes events of the 2009 season which begins April 4.

FAIR

2009-03-24T06:51:00.008-05:00

ALBERT TO THE MAX

Get ready for tons of racing action this Saturday, just over one week out from the start of WOODBINE'S 2009 season.
SATURDAY MORNING is the DUBAI WORLD CUP CARD with 97 pre-entries for its blockbuster card.
The big favourite for the DUBAI WORLD CUP (see pre-entries below) is DONN HANDICAP winner ALBERTUS MAXIMUS, see galloping in Dubai yesterday morning (photos by Vanessa Ng, courtesy www.-horse-races.net)

You can watch and wager on the DUBAI CARD through the Woodbine network beginning at 9:40 a.m. SATURDAY MORNING.

Later in the day, a large GUlfstream Park card will include the FLORIDA DERBY.

Saturday, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai
DUBAI WORLD CUP-G1, $6,000,000, 4yo/up, 2000m
HORSE SIRE JOCKEY

Albertus Maximus Albert the Great Garcia
Anak Nakal Victory Gallop Bravo
Arson Squad Brahms Prado
Asiatic Boy (Arg) Not for Sale (Arg) Murtagh
Casino Drive Mineshaft Ando
Gloria de Campaeo (Brz) Impression (Arg) Leme
Happy Boy (Brz) Ski Champ Ajtebi
Joe Louis (Arg) Lode Ramos
Muhannak (Ire) Chester House Moore
Muller (Arg) El Compinche (Arg) Marwing
My Indy (Arg) Indygo Shiner Dettori
Paris Perfect (SAf) Muhtafal Faydherbe
Snaafy Kingmambo Hills
Well Armed Tiznow Gryder

(Photo at right) INDIAN BLESSING worked in 33 and change for 3 furlongs in Dubai for her Sprint outing on Saturday...the fleet American filly should be favoured.

ALL PRE ENTRIES CAN BE VIEWED HERE:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/pdf/DWC20090328_PreEntries.pdf

THE LONGEST SHOT
Kentucky Derby winner Lil E. Tee dies at age of 20

The following excerpt is from USA Today but referred to LIL E. TEE as a chestnut...that part has not been included (he is a bay)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Lil E. Tee, who upset heavily favored Arazi to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, has died. He was 20.

The horse was euthanized at Old Frankfort Stud on March 18. Farm owner Jim Plemmons said the horse fell ill last month following an operation to repair an obstructed bowel and struggled to recover.

"He was losing his equilibrium and we didn't want him to suffer," Plemmons said. "Up to that point he had been fabulous. He looked like he was 10 years old."

from WIKIPEDIA..

As a weanling, Lil E. Tee had nearly died but was saved by emergency stomach surgery. Considered to have little racing potential, he was sold for $2,000 as a yearling, and at age two his owner tried to sell him again but was rejected by an auction company who deemed the horse unsaleable. Lil E. Tee finally ended up in the hands of a Florida owner and was stabled at Calder Race Course in Miami, Florida where he showed some promise, winning a 7 furlong maiden race.

PEEK A BOO!

This precious little girl was foaled Feb. 20 at Woodlands and is by Bold 'n Flashy out of Psychedelia.
Photo courtesy Woodlands.

JUST DESSERTS

JUST LE FACTS RETIRED

from alexbrownracing.com:

To all who have been following this tough little guy's racing journey, thought you might like to know that Just Le Facts has been retired!

His trainer recently sought out the Turning for Home program. Many of the folks involved with that program have been following Just Le Facts for a long, long time. One of them has adopted Just Le Facts - and Just Le Facts and his new owner couldn't be happier!

(Photo at right is of JUST LE FACTS ENJOYING RETIREMENT...thanks to the Alex brown Forum for the photo.)

HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT JUST LE FACTS...

(previous posts about him from Thoroughblog)

9-year-old JUST LE FACTS, written about on this site many times, was 7th at Penn National last night in a $4,000 claimer. He won the Red Bank Handicap years ago and has earned over $259,000 from 48 races.
He is a horse that has been pulled up in races and has been written about in many major publications including the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS (JERRY BOSSERT) FEBRUARY - 2008

TRIPPED UP: The quality of racing at Aqueduct during the winter isn't the best but it may have hit a new low today. Entered in the fifth is Just Le Facts, a 9-year-old gelding who "broke down" at Philadelphia Park in his last start according to the comment issued in the Daily Racing Form on Jan. 19. In his previous start, Just Le Facts was eased at Aqueduct on Dec. 27. Since breaking down, the gelding allegedly worked twice, including a bullet workout on Feb.16 over the Belmont training track.

Anyway, now we can celebrate JUST LE FACTS RETIREMENT FROM THE GAME. Good Luck JUSTIN!

(Missed previous posts on THOROUGHBLOG? They are all listed on the right and also under the archives, or you can do a search up top. IUf you missed recent, you missed this OLD FORRESTER colt foaled at Longview Farm)

BETFAIR
The Future of horse racing in North America?

This is a super interview in the THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS TODAY...

Betfair is the pioneer in the field of betting exchanges.
In a betting exchange, customers bet against one
another. In horse racing, for example, a customer posts
odds on a horse and the amount of money he or she is
willing to accept in wagers on that horse. If another
customer wants to bet the horse at the posted price, the
bets are matched, much as buyers and sellers are
matched in traditional stock markets. Betfair accepts
wagering on a number of sports and events, everything
from horse racing, soccer games, and political elections
to whether or not it will snow on Christmas Day in
London...

http://pdfs.thoroughbreddailynews.com/generic_upload/pdf/3-23i%20BetfairQandA.pdf

REVVING UP

2009-03-23T07:31:00.003-05:00

He's a beauty - HOLD ME BACK, grandson of Canadian champion AVOWAL, won the Lane's End Stakes on Saturday. Cindy Pierson Dulay photo.

ANOTHER NEW FACE ON DERBY TRAIL

Avowal remembered

HOLD ME BACK came from 12th out of the gate and 11th early on and mowed down his field to win the Lane's End Stakes on Saturday.

His rally, long, smooth stride and 97 Beyer Figure surely puts him on the edges of Kentucky Derby hopefuls, another new face in the picture for the world's most famous horse race.

It was the Bill Mott trainee's first race of the year. WinStar owns the colt and co-bred him with Haras Santa Maria de Araras.

(At right, HOLD ME BACK before the Lane's End, Cindy Pierson Dulay photo)

Jockey Kent Desormeaux said:

"I thought I was hopelessly beaten the second the doors opened. He just stood there and it worked out really well in the end because closers perform so much better on (Polytrack). After a fearful start he carried me around the racetrack in great fashion, strong, in the bridle, continued to move forward, and I allowed him to do that passing the 1/2 mile pole and just collected the frontrunners continually until we made the lead. Bittel Road was struggling down the backside so I just peeled out from behind him and just went about my own business. He just powered for the wire, full of energy."

HOLD ME BACK is by Giant's Causeway out of a mare named Restraint, an Unbridled's Song mare who did not race.

Restraint's dam is Canadian champion AVOWAL, the brilliant 3yo filly of 1982 who won the Canadian Oaks and 13 races from 30 starts for Rick Kennedy.

Avowal is by L'Enjoleur.

Did HOLD ME BACK make it onto Thoroughblog's top 10 Derby list? Check the SIDEBAR at the RIGHT!

SPICE ROUTE'S PAN AM WASHED OUT

Heavy rain in Florida on Saturday resulted in Canadian owned and trained Spice Route being scratched from the Grade 3 Pan American Handicap as the race was moved to the sloppy main track.

The card at Gulfstream actually featured a 2 horse race that was originally scheduled for the grass.

Canadian-bred SLIGOVITZ stayed in the Pan Am and was third behind Buddy's Humor, a son of Distored Humor who won the 1 1/4 mile race by 3/4 of a length.

HEAD START

Ontario-bred HEAD START won Saturday's Sportsman's Paraside Stakes at Delta Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen and Gold Mark Farms and collected his 3rd win in 7 races.

The 3yo colt was bred by Ron Clarkson and is a son of Jump Start out of Opening Line, the dam of stakes winner SWAMP LINE.

(Swamp Line is a featured chapter story in the new book SECOND CHANCE HORSES, set to be released next week by Eclipse Press over at bloodhorse.com).

Headstart was 12 to 1 for the mile race and didn't have a head start - he came from almost last place with a big rally to win in 1:39.42.

His previous best Beyer Figure was a 76 from his win in a race before the Delta Stakes. A Beyer Figure was not available from Daily Racing Form yet this morning.

Headstart is not currently a Queen's Plate eligible.
He was a $200,000 Kentucky summer yearling purchase by Gold Mark 2 years ago.

EDDIE'S BACK ON TRACK

Canadian-bred SQUARE EDDIE, who was made the big 5 to 2 favourite for the June 21 Queen's Playe, is still headed to the Kentucky according to trainer Doug O'Neill in the news this morning.

Brisnet.com and other sites reported that the colt could still make the Derby following a workout on Saturday.

He worked three furlongs in :37 2/5, breezing, on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track.

No plans for a trip to Woodbine for the Queen's Plate are currently apparent.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

MARASCHINO RED landed on top in a maiden allowance at Gulfstream Park yesterday. The Ontario bred 3yo filly is by Medaglia D'oro out of Irish Cherry by Irish OPen and was making her 5th career start. A $900,000 2yo purchase by lael Stable the Barlcay Tagg trainee was bred by Yvonne and Doagmar Schwabe.
The filly is a half sister to the fleet graded stakes winner DAAHER.

At Fair Grounds yesterday, WOODBOURNE (h, 5, Danzig--Checker Hall, by Seeking
the Gold) won a turf allowance for his 3rd win in 10 starts. He was bred by Eugene Melnyk and is trained by Mark Casse.

At Oaklawn, GARBURETOR ( 4, Petionville--Miss Prado (MSP-PR), by
El Prado (Ire).) won his maiden at 6 furlongs. He was bred by James
& Janeane A Everatt & J Arika Everatt-Meeuse in Ontario and he was a $42,000 yearling urchase.

LAHAINA LADY won at Mountaineer yesterday for Kevin Buttigieg, owner/trainer. The Souvenir Copy - Rainbow Stakes filly won the non-winners of 3 lifetime race for $5,000 claiming as the even-money favourite.

EMMA-JAYNE WILSON WEBSITE UPDATES!

Emma-Jayne Wilson, a champion Canadian jockey, recounts some memories of 2008 on her website and statistics on Wilson's riding have also been updated.

Read about her her Hong Kong trip, her 2008 season and plans for the future here:

http://www.ejwilson.com/media.shtml

FORT ERIE UPDATE
HORSES, PEOPLE FILLING BACKSTRETCH

There is reportedly more than 500 horses already moved into the Fort Erie backstretch now that the 2009 season has been saved.

Many dedicated people played a role in helping a deal be worked out for the track including the Ontario division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

In the NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW, this story appears today:

New owner, new hope at track
JOBS: Horse owners, trainers excited by possibilities to promote live racing
Posted By RAY SPITERI REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Posted 36 mins ago

As horse owners and trainers prepare for a 112th season at Fort Erie Race Track - a season some thought wouldn't arrive at all - they're already casting one eye to the future.

With new ownership preparing to take over the venue, they say suddenly there are more possibilities.

"We need to promote a lot more if this track is to have long-term success," said horse owner Richard Hurst, who spent Sunday morning at the Catherine Street facility getting stalls ready in the backstretch.

"There are a lot of people with a lot of good ideas, and it's important we listen and improve upon the entertainment options here."

The 2009 racing season, slated for 78 days, will run from May 2 to Oct. 27. Post time for the scheduled three-day weeks -Sunday, Monday and Tuesday -will be 1:05 p. m. as usual.

It once looked as though the track might not open for another season. But an 11th-hour deal struck between track owner Nordic Gaming and the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. changed all that.

The EDTC, an agency of the Town of Fort Erie, is trying to buy the facility for $35 million and set it up as a not-for-profit entity. The parties continue to negotiate terms of the sale, work out financing and develop a business plan.

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1490225

MEANS TO AN END

2009-03-21T09:16:00.003-05:00

The first day of spring arrived yesterday at 7:44 a.m. and on the Woodbine backstretch, indeed the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky.

But we sure were bundled up!

It was a frigid morning to kick off spring 2009 but the mercury starts to go up again this weekend.

On the track, well over a hundred horses zipped by in workouts, alone or in compnay. The times were normal to fast and there were some recognizable names on thetab including stakes winners MAIN EXECUTIVE and LEGAL MOVE, both guys getting ready for the sprint stakes to start the season.

Everyone is happy at this time of the season, talkative, funny and eager to get going.

The Woodbine season starts April 4.

So, while we have some time to wait, there is some interesting stuff to watch today..

BIG DAY FOR BERNIE

It's a big day for some fringe Kentucky Derby prospects - in particular WEST SIDE BERNIE (PHOTO AT RIGHT BY AMBER CHALFIN), who made a wild, full throttle-while-widest rally in the Holy Bull Stakes against an inside, speed bias.
He's at Turfway today for the Lane's End Stakes.
It will hbe interesting to see how bad that Polytrack surface is this weekend, it has had a lot of kick back this winter.
Bernie's main rival appears to be PARADE CLOWN, a son of Distorted Humor.

Saturday, Turfway Park, post time: 5:43 p.m. EDT
LANE'S END S.-GII, $500,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT)
PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY ODDS

(FIELD BOX COURTESY THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS)

1 Hold Me Back WinStar Farm LLC Haras Santa Maria de Araras/WinStar-KY Mott 6-1
(c, Giant’s Causeway--Restraint, by Unbridled’s Song) Desormeaux

2 Bittel Road James T Scatuorchio & John Iracane John Iracane-KY Pletcher 5-2
(c, Stormy Atlantic--Sultry Sal, by Sultry Song) Gomez

3 A. P. Cardinal Ol Memorial Stable Adena Springs Farm-KY McLaughlin 10-1
(c, A.P. Indy--Smok’n Frolic, by Smoke Glacken) Velasquez

4 West Side Bernie Lori & George Hall Polo Green Stable/Andrew Savas-KY Breen 3-1
(c, Bernstein--Time Honored, by Gilded Time) Prado

5 Jack Spratt Sand Dollar/Skychai/Conway et al Nikolaus Bock/Lee McMillin-KY Maker 8-1
(c, Candy Ride {Arg}--Mayapple, by Miner’s Mark) Leparoux

6 Parade Clown Donamire Farm Mira Ball-KY Ball 10-1
(c, Distorted Humor--Twilight Parade, by El Prado {Ire}) Coa

7 Bruce N Autumn Zayat Stables LLC Arthur Hancock-KY Romans 20-1
(c, Lemon Drop Kid--Loose Park, by Stop the Music) Lebron

8 Orthodox Kim & John Glenney Mr & Mrs John Glenney Jr-KY Glenney 10-1
(r, Pulpit--Dominique’s Joy, by Strawberry Road {Aus}) Castanon

9 Loch Dubh Texas Toyco LLC The Answer LLC-KY Talley 20-1
(c, Friends Lake--Star Landing, by Caller I.D.) Borel

10 Flying Private Grand Slam Farm LLC John & Martha Jane Mulholland-KY Lukas 12-1
(c, Fusaichi Pegasus--Beautiful Treasure, by Unbridled) Ocampo

11 Dynamite Bob Bobby R Rankin Bobby Rankin-KY Lopez 50-1
(c, Malabar Gold--Morning Roar, by Roar) Guzman

12 Proceed Bee William Stiritz Hunter Valley Farm/H & W T’breds/Wade-KY Gestes 12-1
(g, Bernstein--Procession, by Private Terms) Prescott
859-873-

SPICE IS HOT

Hmmm, Thoroughblog is going to scrape up some coins here and there and put it all on SPICE ROUTE today in the PAN AMERICAN HANDICAP, a Grade 3 at Gulfstream.
The flashy 5yo gelding, owned by Harlequin Ranches, Ralph Johnson and Roger Attfield will be ridden by Jim McAleney and he looks poised to win his first North American stakes race after a 3rd place finish in the MacDiarmida in his season debut.
Spice Route is in post 2 for the 1 1/2 mile turf test and he is a son of King's Best.

JIM MCALENEY goes for a big win in this race and he would be the first Woodbine jockey to win this event since DONNY SEYMOUR guided superstar mare CAROTENE to win the 1980 Pan Am.

The Pan Am has been good to Canadian horses as JAMBALAYA has won it as has Canadian bred FLAG DOWN.

SPICE ROUTE'S main competiton is SLIGOVITZ, a Canadian-bred by Sligo Bay (who now stands in Ontario) and is owned by Stronach Stables (who recently hired Roger Attfield to train some horses).
Sligovitz, trained by Brian Lynch, ran a 100 Beyer Figure in the Gulfstream Turf Handicap when 3rd to Kip Deville. He was 2nd in the 12 furlong Breeders Stakes at Woodbine but has to prove he is a 12 furlong horse still.

Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:45 p.m. EDT
PAN AMERICAN S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Sligovitz Sligo Bay (Ire) Lynch 5-1
2 Spice Route (GB) King=s Best Attfield 5-2
3 South Handyman (Arg) Southern Halo Garoffalo 12-1
4 Quasicobra Wild Rush Romans 4-1
5 Presious Passion Royal Anthem Hartmann 3-1
6 Buddy's Humor Distorted Humor Levine 6-1
7 Nergal (Fr) Simon du Desert (Fr) Clement 6-1

Other stuff -
The 11-year-old millionaire TOUR OF THE CAT races for just $7,500 claiming again today at Aqueduct. He is 2 for 4 this year.
In the next race, the red-hot Canandian-bred claimer THREE IN THE BAG is off the claim again and the Silver Deputy 7yo has won 2 of his last 3 races.

Queen's Plate contenders are in the finale at Gulfstream - D'ORO DIABLO (Medaglia D'Oro) from owner/breeder Bob Harvey, COUNT FLOYD (Aldebaran) and CARCILLO (Perfect Soul), the latter who is not yet nominated to the Plate.

BLACK MINK WINS

She stole the race up the rail

Michael Byrne's homebred filly BLACK MINK, bred in Ontario at Byrne's PARK STUD, won a $50,000 claiming race on the grass at Gulfstream thanks in part to a lovely trip tucked in behind the speed on the rail.
Ridden by Edgar Prado, Black Mink, by Black Minnaloushe - Miss American Mink by Quiet American, zoomed to a 2 1/2 length win at 5 to 1 win in the 1 mile grass race.
MIKE DEPAULO trains the 4yo filly.

SPRING FLING

2009-03-20T06:38:00.004-05:00

QUEEN'S PLATE WINTERBOOK ODDS

123 nominations released

Square Eddie (at left, by www.horse-races.net) the fave, but will he come?

GET READY FOR PLATE NO. 150!

There will be lots of celebrations and special events around the historic 150th running of the Queen's Plate this year, North America's longest, continously run horse race.

The 1 1/4 mile classic has currently 123 nominations but supplements to stakes races at Woodbine can be made now so other faces could show up in the picture between now and the June 21 race.

As expected SQUARE EDDIE is the big favourite - the American owned, trained and raced colt was foaled in Ontario but has never raced here but he is by far the most accomplished colt on the list.

The bad news is, Square Eddie has been sidelined by a shin injury and it is possible that the J. Paul Reddam- owned, Doug O'Neill-trained colt does not have a trip to Toronto in his plans.

UTTERLY COOL, the second favourite, IS RECOVERING FROM ANKLE SURGERY and will be babied along until he is ready to go. The brilliant gelding was a monster in the Cup & Saucer last year but has never raced on Polytrack.

ACTIVE DUTY, trained by Mark Casse, has been in California and has raced twice but has not seemingly progressed much from his 2yo form that saw him win the Coronation Futurity. He does like Woodbine's surface, however, and trainer Casse is confident of the colt's ability to get the distance.

EL BRUJO is ready to run after many good preps in New Orleans for trainer Malcolm Pierce. He may race at Woodbine for his season debut. VAN LEAR ROSE, the champion 2yo filly, has just started working again and is one of the better sophomores on the list (of those who have raced.).

PARABOLA, a stakes winner for owner/breeder Janet Jeanpierre, is training in Ontario and has matured according to trainer Barb Minshall.

Stay tuned for many possibilities racing at Keeneland this spring and sharpen your pencils, the QUEEN'S PLATE FANTASY CHALLENGE starts again in a few days, so get your team together!
Check the Woodbine web site for more details.

The full list is below.

FAVOURITES

SQUARE EDDIE 5-2
UTTERLY COOL 6
ACTIVE DUTY 10
EL BRUJO 12
VAN LEAR ROSE 12
PARABOLA 15
KEINO WEST 15
MEAN GREEN 20
STARDUST ZIGGY 20
FLIP FOR THE COIN 20

Horse/Breeding Odds
Owner

ABSOLUTELYSTRIKING (Smart Strike – Hummingbird Red) 100
Owner: Sam-Son Farms
ACTIVE DUTY (Deputy Commander-Punchbowl) 10
Woodford Racing LLC
AGAIN PLEASE (Toccet – Patience Please) 100
Bull Market Stable & Jim Aston
AIR STRIKE (Smart Strike - I Beat the Tornado) 40
Woodford Racing LLC.
ALLEYNES BAY (Forestry – Alleynedale) 75
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
ALWAYS PRINCE (Dixie Union – Princess Ruckus) 100
G.Schickedanz
AMA SOUL MAN (Perfect Soul – Seeking the Blue) 50
Charles E.Fipke
AMONG GIANTS (Giant’s Causeway – Alexis) 50
Firestone Farms Inc.
ANNA'S SOUL (f) (Perfect Soul – Star de Lady Anne) 100
Charles E.Fipke
AXMINSTER (Tomahawk – Very Popular) 150
Karen & Mickey Taylor LLC.
BACCHAUS (Forest Wildcat – Piano) 100
Laurel Byrne
BATTLE AT SEA (Smart Strike – Sails Unfurled) 40
Sam-Son Farms
BIG HURT (Grand Slam – Nashwan Rose) 100
Chiefswood Stables Ltd.
BREAK AND ENTER (Perfect Soul – Old Moda Vor) 100
Firestone Farms Inc.
BRU BORU (Gone West - Inish Glora) 100
Robert J. Costigan
BUCEPHALUS (Cape Canaveral – May Time) 75
Knob Hill Stable
BUCK THE TREND (Sligo Bay – The Lady Is Silver) 200
C.E.C.Farms
CAREER HIGH (Strong Hope – Ahead by a Century) 75
W. S. Farish
CHAMPAGNE FLIGHT (Fusaichi Pegasus – Go First Class) 75
Sam-Son Farms
CLEARVIEW HEIGHTS (Graeme Hall – Bright Stars) 150
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc. CLOVER CREST (Graeme Hall – Coverly) 150
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
COLLEROSA (Tomahawk – Vinona) 75
Frank Romano
CONSENSUS (Langfuhr – Colorful T) 100
G.Schickedanz
COSTALIVIN (Tomahawk – Sylky Market) 50
Jam Jar Racing Stable
COUNT FLOYD (Aldebaran – Fairy West) 50
S. and D. Fitzhenry
D'ORO DIABLO (Medaglia d’Oro – Dancehall Floozy) 75
Robert Harvey
D'WILD MAN (D’Wildcat – Gleaming Field) 75
Gil Rowntree Racing Stable and Ed Lang
DANCE INTO HEAVEN (Dance to Destiny – Keys to Heaven) 40
Sam-Son Farms
DIAMOND QUEST (Katahaula County – Rock Creek Redhead) 100
Jim and Linda Sentes, SV Atwall Ent.
DON VALENTINO (El Prado (Ire) – Speed to Burn) 50
Stronach Stables Inc.
DR. FUNKENSTEIN (Proud Citizen – Parlour Maid) 40
Kingview Farms
DRUMBLARE (Smart Strike – Marimba Belle) 75
Anderson Farms and L. Silvera
DUKES ALLEY (Speightstown – Mount Hillaby) 100
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
EL BRUJO (Candy Ride – Enchanted Spell) 12
Windways Farm
EXECUTIVE DREAM (Trajectory – Found Treasure) 150
3 Sons Racing Stable
EYE OF THE LEOPARD (A.P. Indy – Eye of the Sphynx) 40
Sam-Son Farms
FIRST NATIONAL (Captain Bodgit – Little Oyster) 150
Ross Gyori & Aleatha McGill Gyori
FLIP FOR THE COIN (Compadre – Social Knight) 20
Molinaro Stable
FOREST UPROAR-f (Forest Wildcat – Split the Arrow) 100
Sam-Son Farm
FROZEN TREASURE (Seeking the Gold - Wilderness Song) 100
Sam-Son Farms
FULL THROTTLE (Dixie Union – Full Sister) 40
G.Schickedanz
GALL HILL (El Prado – Eden Lodge) 75
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
GRAEME WAFER (Graeme Hall – Bar U Mokwa) 200
C.E.C.Farms
GREEN BACK WILDCAT (D’Wildcat – Blue Sky Lady) 200
John S. Terdik
GUIPAGO (My Way Only – Cherokee Chick) 75
Fieldstone Farms
HAPPY VALLEY VOW (Broken Vow – Mountain Hideaway) 75
Glenn and Dolores Bryant
HARD KISSES-f (Toccet – Hunting Jade) 40
Hal and Patti Earnhardt
HARRIER (Tomahawk – Oh Dear) 150
C. N.Harris and D.Ross
HI HO CIANO (Ciano Cat – Hi De Ho Miss) 150
Molinaro Stable
HISAKI (Compadre – Cupid’s Executrix) 150
Fieldstone Farms
HUDSON BAY (Tomahawk – Katebryne) 100
Firestone Farms Inc.
I'M THE MANAGER (Tempolake – Promise the Banker) 200
Molinaro Stable
IMA SOUL MISS-f (Perfect Soul – Rahfee) 150
Charles E. Fipke
INDIGO NORTH-f (Grand Slam – Turned On) 100
Chiefswood Stables Ltd.
INTHESCHEMEOFTHINGS (Trajectory – Pick Ten) 150
Gardiner Farms Limited
KEEP SIX (Perigee Moon – Cousin Charlotte) 100
W.Lawrence and M.Gardiner
KEINO WEST (Kissin Kris – Vanetta Hill) 15
Track West Racing and Susan Foreman
KELLHAM (Distorted Humor – Appleby Gardens) 50
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
KING KYLE (Alphabet Soup – Madame Pietra) 75
Stronach Stables Inc.
KINNAIRD (Milwaukee Brew – Too Late Now) 150
John Fielding
UNNAMED(Dance to Destiny – Somebody Else) 200
120011 Ontario Inc.
LAST CENTURY (Tomahawk – Hollywood Ending) 100
Firestone Farms Inc.
LEOPARD STRIKE (Tactical Cat – Noble Strike) 75
Arosa Farms
LITTLE AFLEETS (A Fleets Dancer – Little Storm) 200
H. W. Chambers
LONG PANTS (Tomahawk – Hot Pants) 150
Kingfield Racing Stable & D.Anderson
LOVER’S LAKE (One Way Love – Cathy Super) 150
Lisa A. Guaraldi
LUIGI’S HONOR (Sky Classic – Irish Toby) 100
Centennial Farms (Niagara)
MARCY’S WOODS (Point Given – Sea Dragoness) 100
Weila Ye
MEAN GREEN (Trajectory – Emerald Afternoon) 20
Norseman Racing Stable
MEGA RUSH (Megas Vukefalos – Solina) 150
T.V. Stables
MENSCH (Compadre – Edirne) 150
Fieldstone Farms
MERKABAH (Theatrical – Chopinina) 100
Knob Hill Stable
MONSIEUR PHILLIPE (Whiskey Wisdom – Victoria Princess) 75
G. B. Stable
MOONDRIFTER (Golden Missile – Curiosity) 75
J. M. Stritzl Stable
MORE THAN CONQUERORS (Piccilo Pete – Shark Attack) 150
Silver Duck Racing Stable
MR. FORICOS TWO U (Porto Foricos – Song Spring) 75
Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Ltd.
NAJRAN’S PICK (Majran – Pick’s Change) 200
Connie Patton
NAVY BAND (Dixieland Band – South Sea Blues) 50
Woodford Racing LLC
NO MORE TEARS (Gilded Time – Heavenly Tears) 100
Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd.
NUMEROUS EXECUTIVE (Bold Executive – Crown’s Shadow) 100
J. M. Stritzl Stable
OLIVER’S STRIKE (Smart Strike – Oliva) 100
G.Schickedanz
PARABOLA (Trajectory – Flying Tabriz) 15
Janet A. Jeanpierre
PERFECT SHOWER (Perfect Soul – Showering) 50
Charles E.Fipke
POLTERER (Awesome Again – Instore) 100
Stronach Stables Inc.
POWASSAN (Candy Ride – Papoose) 75
Victura Farm
PRETTY KATHERINE-f (Vindication - Indigene) 50
J.Sikura, W.DeBurgh, J.Hollendorfer
PRIME TIME (Medaglia d’Oro – Sioux City) 50
W. Werner and R. Attfield
QUEEN OF THE RINGS (Empire Maker – Seeking the Ring) 100
Sam-Son Farms
QUIET APPROVAL (Quiet American – Agolo) 40
Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd.
QUIETDETERMINATION (El Prado – Quiet Cleo) 50
Sam-Son Farms
RAPID RELEASE (Action This Day – Bail Money) 50
David and Paula Mueller
SARGENT PARK (Fusaichi Pegasus – Prior Park) 75
Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.
SEBCOE WEST (Milwaukee Brew – Awesome Touch) 150
Track West Racing
SECRET WISH (Street Cry – Awesome Lass) 50
Cudney Stables
SHUT IT DOWN (Porto Foricos – Bar U Raphael) 50
K. K. Sangara
SIBELIUS (Friends Lake – Madiera) 75
Earle I. Mack
SIOUX LOOKOUT (Action This Day – Arablue) 100
R. Woods
SLEWLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic – Sashaying Slew) 100
Karen & Mickey Taylor LLC
SOUL OF NATAKA-f (Perfect Soul – Nataka) 150
Charles E.Fipke
SOUTHDALE (Street Cry – Pinafore’s Pride) 40
Rod Ferguson
SOUTHERN BUDDY (Annihilate – Southern Sweet) 75
Sherri-Lee Hawley and S. and F. Laing
SPARTACUS (Pulpit – Wheedle) 50
Woodford Racing LLC
SQUARE EDDIE (Smart Strike – Forty Gran) 5-2
J. Paul Reddam
STARDUST ZIGGY (Holy Bull – Rare Vision) 20
UN Stable
STEPONTHEWILDSIDE (Giant’s Causeway – Song of the Wild) 75
Sam-Son Farms
STORM WIND (Awesome Again – Brook’s Approval) 75
Stronach Stables Inc.
SUCCESSFUL KNIGHT (Porto Foricos – Devil’s Pledge) 100
ASG Stable, B.Petrick and E.Tannenbaum
TAKAMOSA (Peaks and Valleys – Unique Sky) 200
Ed Lang
THE WORLD TO ME (Domasca Dan – La Gazelle) 200
Binmar Farm
THOR’S PIPER (Thunder Gulch – Lone Piper) 100
Chiefswood Stables Ltd.
TIMBER WOLF (Tomahawk – My Date) 75
W. Werner and R. Attfield
TORREADORA-f (El Prado – Fleet of Foot) 100
Sam-Son Farms
UTTERLY COOL (Smoke Glacken – Destroy) 6
Jim Dandy Stable
VAN LEAR ROSE-f (Stroll – Devaluation) 12
Kingview Farm
VENABLO (Porto Foricos – La Gran Raquel) 200
Fieldstone Farms
VIABLE (Vindication – Belle Breesing) 100
Karen & Mickey Taylor LLC
WHERS THE JUICE (Where’s the Ring – Juicey) 100
Jam Jar Racing Stable
WHISPERED HOPE (Porto Foricos – Whispered Secret) 50
Sam-Son Farms
WIN AND REIGN (Tomahawk – It’s a Ruby) 40
Hillsbrook Farms
WOLF MOUNTAIN (Awesome Again – Petrina Above) 75
Stronach Stables Inc.
WOODMAN’S SOUL (Perfect Soul – Forest Flora) 75
Charles E. Fipke
YORKVILLE (Rahy – Prospector’s Band) 75
Chiefswood Stables Ltd.
YOU DON’T PASS (Pikepass – Silver and Bronze 100
3 Sons Racing Stable

CENTRE OF THE RING

2009-03-19T07:52:00.009-05:00

Today's post dedicated to my friend SHIRLEY GILL

Whether it was working on films, working on a story, snapping a zillion photos, handicapping a race for her next bet or simply just meeting and greeting folks at the big functions of the the business, SHIRLEY GILL was passionate about life and racing.

Shirley owned racehorses, loved to bet on them, and was fascinated by every aspect of the business. Each year she would spend hours calculating her team for the Queen's Plate Fantasy Challenge contest, and she often did well.

In her retirement, Shirley never slowed down, writing stories on the Hall of Fame inductions, yearling sales and proofreading and editing statstics for Canadian Thoroughbred magazine.

And Shirley would do anything for anyone - she was gracious and fun and so very keen and always happy.

From Nassau, Bahamas, her hometown, to Vancouver to Toronto, Shirley made an impression of so many, many folks.

Shirley passed away after a brief illness on March 17, 2009 in Newmarket, Ontario. She leaves her wonderful daughter Linda and dozens of friends.

She will be missed.

WHO SPILLED THE PAINT?

This young boy, photographed by Doris Carey at T.C. Westmeath Stud in Shelburne, apears to already have his bridle in place.

The Old Forester - Regent's Signet colt has cornered the market on white markings (there is even a white part of his body shown in one of these phtoos that we can't show!)

Thanks to the Carey family and Lois Keays for sending these pictures.

ATTFIELD TO TRAIN FOR STRONACH

Hall of Fame trainer ROGER ATTFIELD will train about 20 horses for Frank Stronach and family's Stronach Stables in 2009.
Attfield has trained for Stronach before.
Interestingly, Attfield could beat the Stronach team Saturday in the Pan American...read more below.

(Photo of Attfield, far right, taken after he won the Plate with Not Bourbon by www.horse-races.net)

MAC TAKES A PAN-AM ROUTE

JIM MCALENEY, who came close to being the champion jockey of 2008, has been riding in Florida this winter and Saturday gets a chance to win one of the biggest races of his career.
McAleney is reunited with his buddy SPICE ROUTE, the British bred gelding from Harlequin ranches and trainer Roger Attfield in the PAN AMERICAN HANDICAP at Gulfstream Park.

Spice Route was 2nd in the Grade 1 Canadian International last year and is clearly sitting on a big race.
In his 2009 debut, he was 3rd beaten 1 1/2 lengths after being checked on the last turn in the MacDiarmida Stakes under Edgar Prado.
That day, the gelding was some 22 lengths off the leader, Presious Passion, during the race and he meets that one again.
Another one to beat is Canadian-bred SLIGOVITZ, from Stronach Stables.

(In the photo below right from www.-horse-races.net), Spice Route is the white faced fellow in the middle)

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
PAN AMERICAN S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Sligovitz Sligo Bay (Ire) Velazquez 114
2 Spice Route (GB) King=s Best McAleney 122
3 South Handyman (Arg) Southern Halo Bravo 122
4 Quasicobra Wild Rush Garcia 118
5 Presious Passion Royal Anthem Trujillo 122
6 Buddy's Humor Distorted Humor Lezcano 120
7 Nergal (Fr) Simon du Desert (Fr) Douglas 120

CANADIAN BRED BEGINNERS IN FINALE SATURDAY

There are a trio of 3yo Canadian bred colts in the last race at Gulfstream on Saturday and any ability shown y them would surely put them in the Queen's Plate picture for June.

D'ORO DIABLO, owned and and bred by Bob Harvey, is in post 2 for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The Medaglia D'oro - Dancehall Floozy colt has worked in bullets in Florida.

COUNT FLOYD goes for Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry, from post 11. The Fitzhenry's bred the Aldebaran - Fairy West colt who is training smartly for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.

In post 12 is Mario Forgione's CARCILLO, a homebred Ontario bred son of Perfect Soul out of Miss A Fleet. He is trained by Mike DePaulo.

KENTUCKY DERBY STUFF
LANE'S END STAKES ON SATURDAY

The race looks like a 2 horse event with WEST SIDE BERNIE likely a big favourite and PARADE CLOWN as his main rival.

Saturday, Turfway Park
LANE'S END S.-GII, $500,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY

1 Hold Me Back Giant's Causeway Desormeaux
2 Bittel Road Stormy Atlantic Gomez
3 A. P. Cardinal A.P. Indy Velasquez
4 West Side Bernie Bernstein Prado
5 Jack Spratt Candy Ride (Arg) Leparoux
6 Parade Clown Distorted Humor Coa
7 Bruce N Autumn Lemon Drop Kid Lebron
8 Orthodox Pulpit Castanon
9 Loch Dubh Friends Lake Borel
10 Flying Private Fusaichi Pegasus Ocampo
11 Dynamite Bob Malabar Gold Guzman
12 Proceed Bee Bernstein Prescott

QUEEN'S PLATE CONTENDERS prep at Ocala

A bunch of Catherina Day Phillips trainees, all 3yos that could become Queen's Plate hopefuls, had some quick preps at the Ocala Training Centre yesterday morning.

Note: EQUIBASE now lists the age and sex of the horse in its workout pages.

Dr. Funkenstein (ON) Gelding 3 59.60 b 2/10
Long Pants (ON) Gelding 3 59.40 b 1/10
Mr. Foricos Two U (ON) Gelding 3 1:01.40 b 7/10
No More Tears (ON) Gelding 3 1:00.20 b 5/10
Quiet Approval (ON) Gelding 3 59.80 b 3/10

ORDER SECOND CHANCE HORSES TODAY!!

For about $17 get this 200 page plus hardcover book with stories of racehorses who made it after racing.
Included in the book is Cansdians SWAMP LINE, LINDROS and IMPROPRIETY.

Order here today!
http://www.exclusivelyequine.com/

WIN AND YOU'RE IN KENTUCKY DERBY RACE
"Arrogant and tough" colt headed to Kentucky

Trainer John Gosen has confirmed that MAFAAZ, who was adding blinkers yesterday, is going to try Kentucky, perhaps the Blue Grass Stakes, after the colt won the Challenge Stakes on an all weather track at Kempton yesterday, a 'win and you're in' type event.
Gosden called the colt is press releases "arrogant and tough".

KENTUCKY DERBY CHALLENGE S. (COND), ,80,000,
Kempton Park, 3-18, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:55.13,

Result from Thoroughbred Daily News:

1--MAFAAZ (GB), 129, c, 3, by Medicean (GB)
1st Dam: Complimentary Pass (GB), by Danehill
2nd Dam: Capo di Monte (Ire), by Final Straw (GB)
3rd Dam: Burghclere (GB), by Busted (GB)
(230,000gns wnlg >06 TATDEC; 400,000gns yrl >07
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum;
B-The Complimentary Pass Partnership; T-John
Gosden;

OCALA 2YO SALE WRAPS UP

Trainer SID ATTARD bought one juvenile (an Officer filly) on a very light day for Canadians at the OBS 2yo sale yesterday.

Gross sales at the auction dropped $13 million from last year.

Although the number of horses sold - 215 - was down only slightly from 2008, when 233 sold, salesy totaled just $20,681,000, compared to more than $33 million for last year's sale.

The average price dropped from $143,262, compared to just $96,191 this year.

WEIRD STORY
Former Woodbine runner wins Horse of the Year, after initially losing

Previously trained by Greg de Gannes at Woodbine, Storm Street has come to life in the Caribbean:

from Trinidad Express
Storm Street confirmed as new Horse of the Year
Thursday, March 19th 2009

IT'S OFFICIAL, Storm Street is the new 2008 Horse of the Year winner, replacing Chief Commander.

An unsigned press release from the Arima Race Club (ARC) sent on Tuesday confirmed the change which reversed the annoumcement of Chief Commander as the award winner on the night of the 26th edition of the Jetsam Awards ceremony on March 2 at the Century Ballroom, Queen's Park Oval.

Tuesday's release stated: "The ARC has completed an investigation into the selection of the Horse-of-the-Year award 2008. Having concluded that there were deficiencies in the process adopted by the Selection Committee in selecting the Horse-of-the-Year, the ARC wrote to the five members requesting them to convene a meeting to resolve the present controversy with respect to the Horse-of-the-Year selection".

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161453930

CHECK UP

2009-03-18T06:45:00.003-05:00

LOOK OUT! Here's a filly from the first crop of Manitoba Derby winner WEATHER WARNING, born March 5 and from the mare Promise Ring by Broken Vow. Photo taken at 10 days. Weather Warning stands at Norse Ridge Farm near King Ontario. Thanks to Bernard McCormack for the photo.

OBS 2YO MARCH
Numbers down, few Canadians buy

Not a lot to report locally from the OBS sale yesterday - SID ATTARD and JOHN PASTOREK bought a chestnut filly Smart Strike out of stakes winner Adam's Time for $42,000 and Attard bought a State City colt for $30,000.

MIKE DOYLE bought an Ontario bred colt by Sky Mesa out of graded stakes winner Flashy N Smart, dam of stakes placed Flashy Thunder for $85,000.

CANADIAN WINNERS

At Tampa Bay Downs yesterday, ALABAMA GRACE won her maiden at age 4 in a 1/18 mil grass event (about distance). The daughter of Vindication--Indigene, by Deputy Minister had been fourth in consecutive starts while trying 8 1/2 panels over this course, the most recent of those Jan. 23, before coming home a narrowly beaten
second here Feb. 26.

She was a $245,000 KEENOV weanling and $400,000 FTSAUG yearling
purchase and was bred by Hill 'n' Dale Farm.

FOLLOW-UP
(from yesterday's post)

BEULAH RACE 8 MONDAY:

From Race Office at Beaulah Park:

The stewards fined jockey Louis Stokes $100 for misuse of the whip. It was a first offense but they gave him a stern reprimand and warning that any further offenses will result in heavier fines and possible suspension.

HORSE RACING COVERAGE SHRINKS
from Press Democrat.com

Contributed by Bill Nichols - Posted: March 18, 2009 12:00:00 AM

ESPN has dropped its coverage of the Kentucky Oaks card, the counterpart to the May 2 Kentucky Derby. The coverage will be shown on another network's weak-sister station, the NBC-owned cable network Bravo.

http://blogs.pressdemocrat.com/default.asp?item=2350318

And The Blood-Horse's Dan Liebman blogs about ESPN's decision:

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/wgoh/archive/2009/03/17/Bravo.aspx

And noted TBA Bogger HANDRIDE says this:

"... the perception of horse racing is what holds this sport back."

http://handride.blogspot.com/2009/03/no-kudos-for-bravo.html

TRINIDAD EXPRESS FEATURE STORY
"SIR LAURIE VISITS HIS HOME

Silvera's saga
From Brown Bomber to 'outrunning' Bolt...
Glen Mohammed

HIS mother's wish was for him to become a veterinary surgeon, but this walking lexicon on equine athletes instead became a champion racehorse trainer.

In 1959, at age 29, Laurie Silvera began training horses with his father Owen, trainer of the famous Brown Bomber who had many memorable encounters in Trinidad with Jetsam during the 1940s.

So it was fitting that Silvera was the guest speaker at the 26th edition of the Jetsam Awards ceremony, at the Century Ballroom, Queen's Park Oval on March 2.

Jamaica-born Silvera, who now resides and trains at Woodbine racecourse in Toronto, Canada, immediately captured the audience's attention when he started without mentioning the enormity of last year's speaker (Lord Michael Taylor) and at the same time warned that he would not be speaking for long (as Lord Taylor did last year).

"I wish to thank the Arima Race Club for a wonderful weekend. I am not that famous, but if you ask around for me at Woodbine, I am referred to as 'Sir Laurie'."

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_sports?id=161453245

IRISH IT WAS SPRING

2009-03-17T08:12:00.004-05:00

POPULAR ADENA SPRINGS SALE
Did the next Fatal Bullet go through the ring?

The numbers were down at the Adena Springs 2-year-old sale in Ocala yesterday (the median was up by 28%) but one thing is likely, a good horse came out of that auction.
The very popular sale has spawned many top class runners including last year's Canadian Horse of the Year FATAL BULLET, a $27,000 purchase a couple of years ago by Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker.

There were no Bear sightings this year and very few Candian buyers at the sale but MIKE DOYLE, as agent, bought 2 horses.

Doyle signed the ticket for $50,000 for a bay filly, an Ontario bred, by Tiznow out of Calico Flower, an unraced half sister to stakes winners Pirate's Revenge and Sweet, the latter who is the dam of current graded stakes star LIFE IS SWEET.

And Doyle paid $30,000 for an Ontario bred filly by Touch Gold out of Relicon, by Prized.

CASTLE PEAK Farm and Construction, located near Ottawa, bought 3 youngsters.
A Florida bred colt by Milwaukee Brew sold for $30,000 was the first purchase and then the farm paid $50,000 for an Ontario bred colt by Olmodavor out of stakes placed Tipperary Melody, by Rahy.
Later, it paid $72,000 for a Ghostzapper colt (his first crop) out of Woodbine Oaks winner Touch Dial.

READE BAKER paid $40,000 as agent for a Florida bred filly by Milwaukee Brew out of Unincumbered by Unbridled from the family of champion EASY GOER.

LAURIE SILVERA paid $43,000 for a Florida bred filly by Milwaukee Brew out of Ms. Deep Pockets by Buckaroo, a half sister to Sligovitz.

MURRAY STROUD, a local owner, paid $37,000 for a filly by Red Bullet out of No Kings by Tabasco Cat, a Florida bred.

ROGER ATTFIELD doled out $15,000 for a colt by North Light (Ire) out of Polka Queen. The Ontario bred is out o fthe first crop by the Epsom Derby winning sire.

ONTARIO-BRED WINS BY 14 UNDER 'HEAVY PRESSURE'

At Beulah Park, MANDAKINI, a 5yo by Perigee Moon-Palmasarra, Regal Classic, won a $2,500 claiming race by 14 1/2 lengths lengths yesterday at 6 furlongs.

The bizarre part of this story is that not only does it say in the Equibase chart that she drew off "under heavy pressure" but the video of the race is shocking.

At least a dozen, above-the-shoulder blows were delivered to the mare as he led by a dozen lengths in the stretch.
Go to www.calracing.com and check out the Beulah replays from yesterday.

Other winners:

BUDDHA N' SMART won a non-winners of 2 for $5,000 claiming at Mountaineer yesterday for owner BILL THARRENOS and trainer PAULA LOESCHER. The Buddha gelding is out of Flashy n Smart. He won by 6 lengths at 7 to 2.

MONSOON RAIN HORSE OF THE YEAR
ASSINIBOIA DOWNS RELEASE

Assiniboia Downs blew out the final candle on its 50th anniversary with the crowning of Horse of the Year and Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year in the annual Horse of the Year Banquet held Saturday evening.

Monsoon Rain, owned by Larry Carter and trained by Marty Drexler, washed away his competition for Horse of the Year, presented by the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, as easy as he did on the track in 2008. Winning five in a row including the $30,000 Wheat City Stakes, the $30,000 R. J. Speers Memorial, and the $75,000 Gold Cup, he captured the triple crown of stakes for older horses at Assiniboia Downs.

Winnipeg based Starfield Stables’s Queen Tina, trained by Harry Kube, garnered her final jewel in her crown taking Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year honours. “The Queen” won two stakes in 2008 including the $50,000 R. C. Anderson Memorial and the $50,000 Distaff Stakes. She also finished a respectable third to Champion 3-year-old filly Miss Missile in the Chantilly Stakes. Manitoba-bred Horse of the Year is presented by the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society, Manitoba Chapter.

Rock’n USA, owned by Tanya and Shirley Lindsay and Marvin Burnett, rocked the competition as Champion Sprinter for 2008. The 5-year-old gelding went five for five facing some of the fastest horses at Assiniboia Downs before facing Monsoon Rain in the R. J. Speers and the Gold Cup. Rock’n USA is trained by Tanya Lindsay.

Here are the winners of the other year-end categories:

Best 2-year-old filly
Adventcia (owner: Dr. Ross McKague, trainer: Carl Anderson), winner of the 2008 Buffalo Stakes.

Best 2-year-old colt or gelding
Prayforthesoldiers (owner: Play 2 Win, trainer: Aaron Sayler), winner of the 2008 Winnipeg Futurity

Best 3-year-old filly
Miss Missile (owner/trainer: Charlie Smith), winner of the 2008 Chantilly Stakes, Winnipeg Sun Stakes, Canada Day Stakes and Jack Hardy Memorial.

Best 3-year-old colt of gelding
Mr. Exspeedient (owner/trainer: Clint Willson), winner of the 2008 Derby Trial.

Best Older Mare
Polynesian Kitty (owner: Bradley Butcher, trainer: Jamie Ness), winner of the LaVerendrye Stakes and Winnipeg Sun Stakes

Best Older Horse
Monsoon Rain (owner: Larry Carter, trainer: Marty Drexler) – see above

Claimer of the Year
Time to Act (owner: Off 2 Win, trainer: Ardell Sayler)

Leading Trainer
Ardell Sayler (41 wins)

Percentage Trainer of the Year
Jim Tracy (25.49%)

Jockey of the Year
Alan Cuthbertson (107 wins)

Owner of the Year
Off 2 Win

The CTHS presented awards to all of the 2008 stakes winners bred in Manitoba as well as the following awards:

Breeder of the Year
Cam Ziprick

Stallion of the Year
Battle Cat owned by Cam Ziprick

Broodmare Award of Excellence
High Grades owned by Cam Ziprick

U.S. INVADERS GET READY FOR DUBAI TRIP
from Dubai Racing Club press

After watching Albertus Maximus turn in his most significant workout for the US$6 million Dubai World Cup (Gr.1), trainer Kiaran McLaughlin knew he had witnessed something special.

The five-year-old son of Albert the Great covered six furlongs at Palm Meadows Training Center on Saturday morning in 1:11.80, a time good enough to win many races. And he did it easily.

“He was just flying out there. He couldn’t be doing any better,” McLaughlin said of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Stable colorbearer. “We’re so excited.”

As the trainer of 2007 Dubai World Cup winner Invasor, McLaughlin knows what it takes to win the world’s richest race—and the thinks he just might have it in the form of Albertus Maximus.

“I wouldn’t trade places with anybody. I feel like he’s the horse to beat,” said the four-time United Arab Emirates champion trainer. “This is a very professional racehorse. We might get beaten, but they’ll have to run a tremendous race to beat this horse. He’s just doing fabulous.”

Although there were some questions when Shadwell acquired Albertus Maximus last year regarding whether he could run as well on dirt tracks as he had on synthetic surfaces and at distances longer than a mile, McLaughlin said the horse has grown stronger.

“There wasn’t anything wrong with him, but we feel like he’s doing better in our program, especially in the last month,” he said.

Albertus Maximus benefited from his winning race in the Donn Handicap (Gr.1) at Gulfstream Park on January 31, his first victory at 1 1/8 miles and on a dirt surface, and has trained robustly since then, reeling off four impressive breezes, including three at six furlongs.

Always a consistent performer when competing in California for breeders and former owners Brandon and Marianne Chase, Albertus Maximus has won six of 16 career starts while placing five times and earning $1,208,230. He has tactical speed and can be close to the pace or come from behind.

“We think he can get the mile and a quarter,” McLaughlin said, referring to the virtually equivalent distance to the World Cup's 2,000 meters.

in other news trainer Bob Baffert had a good Saturday. In the morning, his Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1) contender Indian Blessing flashed through five furlongs in a sizzling :59 at Santa Anita Park and in the afternoon, his Kentucky Derby (Gr.1) contender Pioneerof the Nile won the San Felipe Stakes (Gr.2) at the track.

Even before the San Felipe, Indian Blessing had done enough to make Baffert smile.

“I’m happy with her,” he said. “She worked very well; so far, so good. She’s ready.”

America’s champion female sprinter last year, Indian Blessing has been working brilliantly over the last month, recording two bullet moves in addition to two other breezes that have been near bullets. Saturday’s move was the third fastest of 69 workouts over five furlongs at Santa Anita.

“That was her major workout,” Baffert said. “Once (our horses) get over to Dubai, we don’t do too much with them over there (prior to racing).”

California trio strong in works prior to Dubai journey
Dubai Racing Club

A quarter of the 12-horse American contingent that is scheduled to be shipped on Tuesday to the United Arab Emirates for the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) program recorded their final workouts at their California bases on Sunday.

WinStar Farm’s homebred Well Armed, who has visited Dubai twice previously and has a win from the 2006 Dubai International Racing Carnival and a third-place in last year’s World Cup to his credit, sparkled in a seven-furlong drill at Santa Anita Park. Trainer Eoin Harty said he caught the six-year-old Tiznow gelding in 1:25.80 and that he galloped out a mile in 1:39. The official Equibase time for the seven furlongs was 1:26.40, which was still fastest of three at the distance.

“He worked very well,” Harty said. “He’s fit and ready.”

Well Armed will make his second start in the World Cup with two preps at Santa Anita this winter on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface. He encountered some traffic issues while fourth in the San Pasqual Handicap (Gr.2) on January 10 and then was second in the San Antonio Handicap (Gr.2) on February 8.

Harty said Well Armed is showing him he is ready for the World Cup.

“It takes a very good horse to win—that race is always won by the best horse on the night,” he noted. “I’m confident my horse can compete. He’s still in top form and there’s no Curlin in there like last year. I don’t know if he’ll win, but I think he’ll run very respectably.”

Well Armed has won six of 22 starts and has placed five times while earning US$1,579,803.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Los Angeles, Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) contender Marsh Side delighted trainer Neil Drydale with yet another strong workout. The six-year-old son of Gone West, who races for breeder Robert S. Evans, powered through six furlongs in 1:12.80 over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track, second quickest of ten drills at the distance.

“I’m very pleased with him,” Drysdale said. “He’s all set to travel.”

Marsh Side’s three previous works were all bullets. He covered seven furlongs at Hollywood in 1:25.80 on both March 8 and March 1 following a February 22 drill over the Santa Anita turf in 1:31.

Winner of last year’s Canadian International Stakes (Gr.1) at Woodbine, Marsh Side has earned $1,439,706.

Also at Hollywood, Godolphin Mile (Gr.2) contender Informed turned in a six-furlong workout that pleased his connections, including trainer and co-owner Doug O’Neill. The five-year-old son of Tiznow stopped the clock in 1:13, fourth fastest of ten at the distance.
http://www.thoroughbrednews.co.nz/international/default.aspx?id=39568

KENTUCKY DERBY CHALLENGE STAKES
at Kempton, England

Associated Press
Europe-trained colts eye place in Kentucky Derby

KEMPTON PARK, England (AP) — Fourteen European-trained 3-year-olds will chase a place in the Kentucky Derby as well as a $112,800 purse at Kempton Park on Wednesday.

In a linkup by Churchill Downs and British horse racing, the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes offers a place in the May 2 race along with the top U.S.-trained 3-year-olds.

The field announced Monday includes Akhenaten, son of English Derby winner High Chaparral.

John Gosden, who trained in the U.S. for many years and had two winners at last year's Breeders Cup, has two entries.

Close Alliance is owned by the Aga Khan and won its only race as a 2-year-old. Mafaaz won one of its two starts and finished fifth at Newmarket behind Donativum, which went on to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

This is cool:

Introducing Thoro-Graph UK

Beginning with the $150,000 Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes from Kempton, to be run, Wednesday, March 18, Thoro-Graph will be publishing data for UK Racing.

To introduce Thoro-Graph UK data to our customers, beginning with the races of Saturday, March 21, all UK data will be free through the end of April. The Full Sheets and Thoro-Quicks will be available from our regular ordering menus. (UK track codes will be listed in a separate column on our Main ordering page.)

The Challenge Stakes, "A Win and You're In" prep for the Kentucky Derby, is available free as
Introductory materials are included with the data. They are always available from our website in our Introduction section.
http://www.thorograph.com

BLOOD- HORSE'S DEIDRE BILES TALKS TO STRONACH

Some of our guys should have been a little more disciplined because normally I have no debt. My other companies have got lots of cash.” - Frank Stronach

An interview on The Blood-Horse website yesterday with Frank Stronach:

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49694/frankly-speaking-stronach-on-magna?id=49694

TAKE A BREAK

2009-03-16T07:26:00.004-05:00

PACE MAKES THE RACE

The Kentucky Derby preps on the weekend were illustrations on how different races can be run and how that affects the results.

Jockeys guzzled and pulled back their mounts early in the Louisiana Derby and Tampa Bay Derby but the pace was so hot in the Rebel Stakes that favoured OLD FASHIONED was fried in his hot pursuit.

(PHOTO, TOPPING THE THOROUGHBLOG DERBY RANKINGS is PIONEER OF THE NILE, who is improving and won the San Felipe Stakes on Saturday. He was a Zayat Stable buy-back at auction. Charles Pravata photo, at alydar_ 1978 photostream at flickr.com)

Some summaries:

SIZZLING

While Canadian-owned PATENA sank in the slop at Fair Grounds on Saturday in the prestigious Lousiiana Derby (and it's hard to be too hard on the colt in his first run over such a messy surface) the Kentucky Derby journey of the impeccably bred FRIESAN FIRE continues smoothly.

The A.P. Indy dude won all 3 Derby prep races for 3yos at Fair Grounds and his La. Derby romp was so easy it was silly.He stalked a slow pace under a strong hold and then took off.

He ran a 104 Beyer Figure and won by 7 1/2 lengths.
He was a $725,000 buy-back.

And it is fitting that the colt is a leader on the way to the Derby - his owner/trainer (Rick Porter, co-owns with Vinery - Larry Jones) suffered heartbreak at the Derby last year with the filly Eight Belles when she broke down after a 2nd place finish.

FRIESAN FIRE is the 2nd foal of Aussie-bred stakes winner BOLLINGER, who was trained by Gai Waterhouse.
A Group 1 winner of the Coolmore Classic in 2003, Bollinger was bred by Roselands Stud and raced by Vinery to win the G1 Coolmore Classic.
She was exported to the US in June of that year to take up stud duties.

Bollinger is by DEHERE.

What of Patena? Well some out there thought the colt would surge from the Lecomte Stakes a while back and be a big factor but the sharpies wanted to watch him once off the trainer change and off the layoff.

Was it the slop or the transition in barns?
We're waiting for the news.

SHARP - TAMPA BAY DERBY

MUSKET MAN is 4 for 5 in his career and his last 3 Beyer Figues have been about the same - 92, 91 and then a 90 in yesterday's TAMPA BAY DERBY, that he won with a late rally to score by a neck.
The colt stayed farther off the slow pace this time (he was 3rd in the Sam Davis behind General Quarters when that one won with a 100 Beyer) and timed his move well.

MUSKET MAN was a $15,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase and a $35,000 2yo buy-back. Vic Carlson, a co-owner, was listed as the buyer of him as a yearling.
The Yonaguska - Fortuesque, Fortune Prospect colt has 5 winning siblings including a couple who won $484,000 and $205,000 respectively.

Bear Stables' BEAR'S ROCKET faded and ran an 80 Beyer Figure, down from his 97 Beyer in his previous start.

ALL HE DOES IS WIN!

OLD FASHIONED had been poo-poo-ed by some onlookers who had watched him work or the Rebel Stakes at Oakalwn in the past week but he sure looked good enough on Saturday - expect that he lost at 1 to 5.

The grey colt chased a hot pace of 22 and change, 46 and change while 50 to 1 shot WIN WILLY (Monarchos) trailed by at least 12 lengths.

You could tell Old Fashioned was in trouble on the turn when he took the lead as his rider was already going to the stick and Win Willy came from the clouds, on the wrong lead, switched back to his right lead and drew off.

Win Willy, a $25,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by owner Jer-Mar Stables, is trained by Robertson MacLean.

The colt has NEVER LOST in 3 dirt races (he bombed in one turf race) and he ran a 102 Beyer Figure on Saturday.

His dam CITY FAIR won the Correction Handicap for Overbrook Stable and she is by Carson City.

Out in California, PIONEER OF THE NILE, who tops Thoroughblog's DERBY CONTENDERS list, was workmanlike in the Sam Felipe but the race went a bit different than his previsou outing when he won the Robert Lewis.
The pace was slow and the colt dragged Garret Gomez to battle for the lead on the backstretch.

It likely was not the preferred manner of running for the Empire Maker colt but he grabbed the lead and held on to win. His Beyer Figure of 90 dipped down from his 95 Lewis effort which came off the layoff.

Winning jockey Garrett Gomez said, "When we turned down the backstretch, I moved him out, hoping that maybe the others would pick it up. But they didn't, so I just went on with it. You can see that when I do get into him, he lengthens his stride. He can handle any scenario, but if we had a legitimate pace to sit behind, he's more effective." Trainer Bob Baffert added, "He's becoming very professional. He was a May foal, so he's not even three yet. I like what I saw today. I was a little bit nervous because it looked too easy on paper and that's usually when things go wrong."

2009 KENTUCKY DERBY
FUTURE WAGER POOL 2 - Mar. 12-15
No. Horse Sire Final Odds

1 *Bear’s Rocket Lion Heart 99-1
2 Beethoven Sky Mesa 23-1
3 Big Drama Montbrook Suspended
4 Chocolate Candy Candy Ride (Arg) 29-1
5 *Desert Party Street Cry (Ire) 17-1
6 *Dunkirk Unbridled’s Song 7-1
7 Flying Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus 65-1
8 Friesan Fire A.P. Indy 8-1
9 *General Quarters Sky Mesa 80-1
10 Giant Oak Giant’s Causeway 42-1
11 Hello Broadway Broken Vow 69-1
12 I Want Revenge Stephen Got Even 10-1
13 *Imperial Council Empire Maker 20-1
14 Old Fashioned Unbridled’s Song 8-1
15 Papa Clem Smart Strike 65-1
16 Patena Seeking the Gold 71-1
17 Pioneerof the Nile Empire Maker 12-1
18 *Quality Road (N) Elusive Quality 14-1
19 Silver City Unbridled’s Song 99-1
20 *Take the Points Even the Score 77-1
21 The Pamplemousse Kafwain 9-1
22 *Theregoesjojo Brahms 19-1
23 West Side Bernie Bernstein 43-1
24 Mutuel Field (“All Others”) 9-2

*New Wagering Interest. (N) - Not Triple Crown nominated

FORT ERIE LIVES FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Before a Thoroughblog break last week, the biggest story in Canadian racing was the deal made to keep racing going at Fort Erie for at least 2009.

The new not-for-profit Fort Erie Thoroughbred Racing Consortium has put a down pyament on the track but needs to find more money - and what kind of racing will the track get this year, the season starts in less than 2 months.

read more from the BUFFALO NEWS...

Odds still unclear for Fort Erie Race Track survival
Potential new owner is racing against time
By Robert J. Summers
NEWS SPORTS REPORTER

FORT ERIE, Ont. — While the Fort Erie Race Track has been saved for the 2009 season, the long-term future of the 111-year-old thoroughbred oval is no sure thing.

Officials of a new not-for-profit company that plans to buy the track still have to figure out how to raise $32.75 million (Canadian) to complete the deal that was announced Thursday.

The new company has already paid a nonrefundable $2.25 million down payment (raised from the horsemen’s association and several government sources) to owner Nordic Gaming Corp.

In turn, Nordic agrees to run a 78- day racing season from May 2 to late October and give the potential buyer a 90-day period –until June 10 — of exclusive rights to negotiate the purchase of the track and its 338 acres of property.

“We’re getting some breathing room,” said Herb McGirr, director of operations. “We’re definitely not over the hump. We can just be thankful that the patient is getting out of the emergency room. Now it still needs a lot of treatment.”

The not-for-profit firm—officially called the Fort Erie Thoroughbred Racing Consortium — will explore several options to raise the rest of the money.

James Thibert, just named pro tem chief executive of the new firm, said possible sources include the Ontario government, Woodbine Entertainment Group (parent of the Woodbine track in Toronto), private investors and community or employee ownership. The company also will explore selling or leasing some of its 338 acres of property.

“We aren’t ruling out anything . . . We will be looking at all sorts of models,” Thibert told a Thursday news conference that attracted several hundred horsemen and employees to the nearby Bridgewater Country Club. Thibert is also general manager of the Town of Fort Erie’s Economic Development & Tourism Corp.

Thibert said a not-for-profit firm will have more flexibility than a for-profit company, especially in seeking government financial support.

“In the past, the theory has been ‘Well, let’s just go to the government.’ . . . But they’re not ready to do that, given the circumstance,” Thibert said. “But at some point we’re confident the government will play a very significant role in this.”

Meanwhile, horsemen were encouraged to do all they can to build up the horse population when the track opens for training in a few weeks.

“We need your help to get the horses to come back so we can have a strong, viable meet,” Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin said.

“Call your friends, your neighbors, your acquaintances, the friends you met in the States . . . [urge them] to fill out a stall application and bring your horses to Fort Erie,” said Sue Leslie, president of the Ontario Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, who spoke by phone from Florida.

rsummers@buffnews.com

AAAAAAH, retirement!

At Sam-Son Farms in Ocala, Florida, HORSE OF THE YEAR SOARING FREE (right) hangs out with his buddy, stakes winner SHOAL WATER in their retirement digs.

Thanks to Tracy Smith for the photo.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

It was not a fruitful weekend for manylocal runners: from PATENA in the Lousisiana Derby to Good and Lucky in the New Orleans Handicap (last) and FRENCH BERET in the Mervin Muniz (13th).

But here are some winners;

TALE OF THE FOX won an allowance race at Philadelphia Park yesterday for Richard Malouf. She was bred by Forest Ridge Racing and is 6 for 26 in her career and a daughter of Tale of the Cat.

March 15 PHILADELPHIA PARK, TWISTED WIT was placed 1st from 2nd in a $12,500 claiming race at 1 mile and 70 yards for owner Jack Armstrong and trainer Robert Mosco. The 8yo Ontario bred is a multiple stakes winner.

March 14 GULFSTREAM PARK, RADIO RELAY, owned and trained by TINO ATTARD, won a $20,000 claiming race as the 5 to 2 favourite. He is an Ontario bred by Kafwain bred by Ormonde Farm.
Ontario bred POACHERS MOON, trained by Barb Pirie, was 2nd.

March 13, CHARLES TOWN, Ontario-bred VIOLET CIRCLE won by 16 3/4 lengths for Eugene Melnyk and trainer Layne Giliforte in a $5,000 maiden claimer The filly is a 4yo by Graeme Hall out of That'll Be Fine by Strike Gold.

March 14 CHARLES TOWN, Ontario-bred PRIZED CONQUEST won a $4,000 claiming race at even money and is by prized out of Heavenly Ballerina.

March 15 CHARLES TOWN, BORN IN PARADISE (an Ontario bed by Cat's at Home - Ethoria by Demaloot Demashoot) won a $4,000 claiming race at 4 1/2 furlongs at even money. He was by by Windfields Farm and Bob Craig.

Other winners - former Woodbine runner HIGH VOLT JOLT is a 9yo Kentucky bred out of Bold Blast by Bold Ruckus - he won for $7,500 claiming at Philly Park on March 14 for Repole Stable, trainer Scott Lake.

DAVE COTEY, a Woodbine owner/trainer, won a race at Philly Park yesterday with the Pennsylvania bred filly RING BLING, who won a starter allowance ($40,000) at one-mile. She is by Luhuk.

LEADING FAIR GROUNDS TRAINERS

Steven M. Asmussen 386 80 64 58 $2,685,295
W. Bret Calhoun 187 47 25 19 $1,138,311
Cody Autrey 154 43 29 18 $758,962
Thomas M. Amoss 142 28 22 20 $778,675
Morris G. Nicks 108 26 12 16 $648,790
Michael Stidham 129 20 24 14 $738,355
Patrick Mouton 194 19 18 30 $792,712
Albert M. Stall, Jr. 118 18 14 18 $763,620
Alvin Sider 144 16 9 15 $349,314
J. Larry Jones 89 15 15 11 $1,139,090
Steve Margolis 68 13 13 12 $511,910
Sturges J. Ducoing 65 13 11 6 $460,112
Malcolm Pierce 69 12 9 11 $479,970
Keith G. Bourgeois 59 12 8 10 $295,907
Merrill R. Scherer 83 12 7 6 $373,801
Gregory D. Foley 49 11 4 5 $219,440
Samuel Breaux 77 10 11 17 $303,072
Mark E. Casse 84 10 7 6 $331,590

LEADING MOUNTAINEER TRAINERS

Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings

Douglas E. Shanyfelt 32 11 3 3 $93,128
Bart Baird 72 10 6 9 $93,478
J. Michael Baird 24 10 1 3 $102,735
Robert J.W. Johnston 31 7 4 5 $60,394
Chris J. Englehart 23 7 4 4 $59,518
Stacey Cooper 22 7 2 3 $55,841
Albert Dodge 20 6 2 1 $42,549
Robert A. Pion 18 6 2 0 $42,107Jay P. Bernardini 43 5 8 8 $75,331
Michael Newell 51 5 6 5 $61,238
Kevin Buttigieg 18 5 5 1 $47,401

IN THE WORKS

In the last week at Ocala Training Centre...

MARCH 11

Ace in My Pocket (ON) Colt 3 47.80 b 2/6
Race the Breeze (ON) Filly 3 48.00 b 3/6
Selembao (ON) Filly 3 46.80 b 1/6
Sportley (ON) Filly 3 48.20 b 4/6
Stand Strong (ON) Gelding 5 48.80 b 5/6

Distance: Five Furlongs
Breed Type: Thoroughbred
Surface: All Weather Track
Track: Fast
Horse Name Sex Age Time Notes Rank

Dr. Funkenstein (ON) Gelding 3 1:01.00 b 6/12
Long Pants (ON) Gelding 3 1:00.20 b 4/12
Mr. Foricos Two U (ON) Gelding 3 1:00.40 b 5/12
No More Tears (ON) Gelding 3 1:00.00 b 2/12
Quiet Approval (ON) Gelding 3 1:01.40 b 7/12
Short Shorts (ON) Filly 4 1:00.00 b 2/12
True Jean (ON) Filly 4 1:05.40 b 12/12

PAYSON PARK
Queen's Plate hopefuls prep....March 14

Costalivin (ON) Colt 3 49.40 b 2/24
Silver Rocket (ON) Colt 3 52.00 b 15/24

March 13
Bucephalus (ON) Colt 3 50.20 b 10/30

ONTARIO BREDS IN ADENA SPRINGS 2YO SALE TODAY...

CANADA (Ontario)

Two Year Old

HIP COLOR YEAR
NO. NAME SEX FOALED SIRE DAM

1 .........................CH C.........07 Touch Gold...............A Bit Special (GB)
6 .........................DkB/Br C.....07 Touch Gold...............Blondaway
8 .........................CH F.........07 Ghostzapper..............Buy The Sport
9 .........................B F..........07 Tiznow...................Calico Flower
10 .........................B C..........07 Awesome Again............Caprice Miss
11 .........................B F..........07 Montjeu (Ire)............Champagne Cocktail
13 .........................DkB/Br F.....07 Ghostzapper..............Cozy Star
18 .........................CH C.........07 Singspiel (Ire...........Exact
22 .........................Gr/Ro F......07 Awesome Again............Good As Her Word
37 .........................B C..........07 Awesome Again............Marina Light
38 .........................Gr/Ro F......07 El Prado (Ire)...........Mary Goodnight
44 .........................DkB/Br F.....07 Ghostzapper..............Petrina Above
45 .........................Gr/Ro F......07 Awesome Again............Phil's Pill
47 .........................CH C.........07 North Light (I...........Polka Queen
49 .........................B F..........07 Touch Gold...............Relicon
54 .........................B F..........07 Awesome Again............Siphonette
60 .........................Gr/Ro F......07 El Prado (Ire)...........Tina Dynamite
61 .........................B C..........07 Olmodavor................Tipperary Melody
63 .........................DkB/Br C.....07 Ghostzapper..............Touch Dial

LETTER FROM UNITED THOROUGHBREDS
(see ad at right)

Hey Jenn, Everything is looking good for us at this end and I HAVE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU GOES OUT TO YOU AND THE THOROUGHBLOG! The first day I placed my ad on your site I had a traffic count of 52. The first day on and after my article in the NATIONAL POST.........23!!

With only 2 weeks remaining we still need to secure a few more shares and I have offered up the following: There are only a few shares remaining and out of those I would like to offer half shares!! Basically $500 will get you 2.5% and ALL the thrills of ownership. Your monthly dues will be less than $100 per month before tax!! If you've ever wanted to be an owner, this is a GREAT opportunity!!

Remember our partnership will be 100% sold by April 1st.

CONTACT US NOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN OUR INAUGURAL PARTNERSHIP!

DEAL?

2009-03-11T19:44:00.002-05:00

(Editor's note, THOROUGHBLOG will be away for a couple of days, beginning Thurs. Mar. 12)

UPDATE.....WEDNESDAY EVENING..

FROM BOB SUMMERS, BUFFALO NEWS...

Fort Erie has deal to save season

By Robert J. Summers

News Sports Reporter

The Fort Erie Race Track's long winter of discontent is expected to take a turn for the better Thursday with the announcement that a deal has been reached to keep the track open for its 112th season of thoroughbred racing and beyond.

Details of an agreement between horsemen, track owner Nordic Gaming Corp. and the Town of Fort Erie's economic development arm are scheduled to be announced at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. at Bridgewater Country Club.

Officials were mum on Wednesday, but a person close to the negotiations told The Buffalo News that the financially troubled Ontario track — which has been on the verge of permanent shutdown since the end of the 2008 season — will open May 2, Kentucky Derby Day, for a 78-date season, mostly on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday schedule until late October.

The 11th-hour deal comes just four days before the March 16 "drop-dead" deadline set by the Ontario Racing Commission for track management to decide whether to apply for renewal of its racing license.

More than 220 employees who work on the racing side of the facility were scheduled to face permanent layoff at the end of March. The facility's 350 employees on the casino side were not given layoff notices but officials for the horsemen's group insisted the law requires that the casino — run by the Province of Ontario — must be shut down if the track surrenders its racing license.

The last-minute deal still does not ensure a successful season since many of the Fort's regular horsemen have already made plans to race elsewhere or leave the business entirely.

"The challenge now will be to get enough horses," the person familiar with the situation said.

rsummers@buffnews.com

BOMBS

2009-03-10T07:34:00.004-05:00

BIG CARD AT FAIR GROUNDS SATURDAY

Canadian-owned PATENA takes a Derby step

PATENA (Seeking the Gold - Handpainted) has spent lots of time getting accustomed to his new surroundings in the barn of Rick Dutrow Jr. and after his new conditioner has spent time working with the colt, the apir are ready to go on the stage.
Co-owned by John and Glen Sikura and Dominic Dilalla, PATENA is the 7 to 2 second favourite for the Louisiana Derby amd he had a sharp 59.40 workout 2 days ago.

Photo- FRIESAN FIRE, by A.P, INDY, a big fave in the Louisiana Derby on Saturday.
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo

Saturday, Fair Grounds
LOUISIANA DERBY-GII, $600,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY

1 Free Country Big Country Desormeaux
2 Soul Warrior Lion Heart S Bridgmohan
3 Patena Seeking the Gold Albarado
4 Terrain Sky Mesa Leparoux
5 Flying Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus Velazquez
6 Giant Oak Giant’s Causeway Graham
7 Uno Mas Macho Uno Hernandez Jr
8 Papa Clem Smart Strike Bejarano
9 Friesan Fire A.P. Indy Saez
10 Nowhere to Hide Vindication Lanerie
All carry 122 pounds.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
MERVYN MUNIZ JR MEMORIAL H.-GII, $500,000,
4yo/up, 1 1/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Brass Hat Prized Borel 113
2 My Happiness (Arg) Festin (Arg) S Bridgmohan 115
3 Golden Yank Yankee Gentleman Theriot 116
4 Wesley El Prado (Ire) Velazquez 115
5 Windward Islands Cozzene Lanerie 118
6 Soldier's Dancer Lost Soldier Bejarano 119
7 Sir Whimsey Jump Start Saez 114
8 Corrupt Belong to Me Albarado 118
9 El Caballo El Corredor Leparoux 114
10 Nownownow Whywhywhy Prado 116
11 Demarcation Gulch Castanon 116
12 Transduction Gold Formal Gold Mena 116
13 French Beret Broad Brush Graham 117
14 Proudinsky (Ger) Silvano (Ger) Espinoza 119

Saturday, Fair Grounds
NEW ORLEANS H.-GII, $500,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 It's a Bird Birdonthewire Leparoux 120
2 Golden Yank Yankee Gentleman Theriot 118
3 Secret Getaway Skip Away Desormeaux 116
4 Dry Martini Slew Gin Fizz Prado 117
5 Brothers Nicholas Smart Strike Graham 116
6 Wishful Tomcat Tactical Cat Espinoza 117
7 El Caballo El Corredor Lanerie 115
8 Good and Lucky Wild Rush Valenzuela 118
9 Slew's Tiznow Tiznow Bejarano 116
10 Honest Man Unbridled’s Song Saez 121
11 Macho Again Macho Uno Albarado 116
12 Richard's Kid Lemon Drop Kid Napravnik 116
13 Star Guitar Quiet American Bourque 116
14 My Pal Charlie Indian Charlie Velazquez 119

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

MOONSHINE JUSTICE, a stakes winner of over $522,000 and 7-years-old, won a $7,500 claiming race at Mountaineer on the weekend by 9 lengths for owner/trainer LOREN COX. The gelding is by Whiskey Wisdom.

IZKRA, an Ontario bred by Iskandar Elakbar out of Volterra by Cool Victor won a $5,000 claiming race at Mountaineer yesterday for owner/trainer Loren Cox (see Moonshine Justice above). Izkra won the 5 1/2 furlong race by 1 1/4 lengths at 5 to 1.

HE'S THE REAL DEAL, a 4yo by Bold Executive - Mrs. Fisher by Alydeed, won at Mountaineer yesterday for MIKE NEWELL and MIKE BARKOWSKI. The gelding won for $5,000 maiden dlaiming by 4 1/2 lengths.

LOOKOFANEAGLE battled through heavy fog to win at Mountaineer on Sunday at even-money. The Ontario bred by Birdonthewire won for $5000 claiming for Ed Shilling.

ANOTHER DOUBLE FOR PION

Owner/trainer BOBBY PION has had a big meeting at Mountaineer and took another two wins yesterday - with Kentucky bred LOST IN THE FOREST and British Columbia bred MAGIC AL JACK.

LOST IN THE FOREST - The 4yo Forest Camp gelding won a $15,000 maiden claimer at 3 to 1.
A few races later, MAGIC AL JACK, by Alfaari, won a $5,000 claimer by 3 lengths as the 2 to 1 favourite.

ORDER SECOND CHANCE HORSES NOW!

Free shipping for this beautiful, 224 page book covering some poignant stories on racehorses and their lives on and off the track.
EXCLUSIVELY EQUINE will release the book in the next couple of weeks, so get your order in!

http://www.exclusivelyequine.com/ViewProduct.aspx?productID=B11-1551(BHP)

BLUE EXIT TRIBUTE

The tragic breakdown of BLUE EXIT (Pulpit) in the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday had a prfound affect on so many, certainly his set of Canadian owners Jim and Susan Hill, Dick Bonnycastle and Warren Byrne, who brought the colt over from overseas.

Cal-Poly Pomona journalism student Marcie Heacox befirended Blue Exit for a class project and had videos and photos and stories about the gorgeous colt as he prepared for his big race.

Read her tribute:

The Worst Possible Ending

March 7, 2009.

Days like this make me question my love for horse racing.

This week I have been following Blue Exit as he trained for the Big Cap. Those who have checked the blog often have had the chance to follow along, too.

On Saturday, I went to morning workouts. An Eoin Harty horse reportedly broke down at the end of its workout. It would not surprise me if that had something to do with Colonel John (a Harty trainee) being scratched from the Big ‘Cap. Also, three horses got loose on the tracks and tore trough the barn area during the time that I was there.

There just seemed to be an odd feeling in the air.

I went to the Hollendorfer barn to get a photo of the detention stall sign in front of Blue Exit’s stall. While I was there, I was pleasantly surprised to see his owners come in to visit him. It was a great photo opportunity, as Blue happily reveled in the attention.

Not surprisingly, Blue Exit was tough to handle in the paddock, repeatedly lunging forward. His good looks brought his odds down to 6-1 by post time. His connections have always been high on him, and now the public was starting to agree.

read the rest:

http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/race/?p=113

WALLY WOOD from the Toronto Star

WOOD, Walter K. - With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our darling Daddy on March 8th, 2009 at Bridgepoint Hospital in his 77th year. Cherished father of Julia (Paul), Kimberley (Jason) and Kristen (Trevor). Beloved "Boopy" to Alexander and Jillian. Predeceased by his father Walter and mother Kate Lillian. Wally was born in Portland, Oregon in 1932 and raised in Nottingham, England. He attended Worksop College for Boys. After a few years in the British Army he came to Montreal in the early fifties and attended McGill University. His love of thoroughbred racing brought him to the Daily Racing Form in Toronto 1968. His daily columns appeared for over three decades. Affectionately named "Wally Woodbine" by his peers and fans he was well known and admired in the thoroughbred racing community. He was passionate about many things and enjoyed tennis, squash, rugby, running and jazz music. Although he loved everything about life in general his first love was his girls. They had many wonderful adventures together. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at Bridgepoint Hospital for being so attentive, loving and kind to Daddy. A heartfelt thank you to his friends who visited over these last few months. At Wally's request there will be no visitation or funeral. Cremation will take place and a gathering to celebrate his lovely life will happen at a later date.

PASSAGES

2009-03-09T13:38:00.003-05:00

WALLY WOOD PASSES AWAY

Longtime Daily Racing Form Canadian writer WALLY WOOD has passed away - yesterday in Toronto.
Wood was well know for his charaterization of folks at the racetrack plus his yearly trips overseas to watch horse racing in Europe.
He loved to bet on the races and he seemed to get a kick out of interviewing all the different personalities the game had to offer.

EXCERPT

Wood, formerly of DRF, dies at 76

By Bill Tallon

Wally Wood, a longtime writer and columnist for Daily Racing Form, died in Toronto's Bridgepoint Hospital last Sunday at age 76.

Wood joined Daily Racing Form's Toronto office in 1968 and covered Ontario's Woodbine, Fort Erie, and Greenwood racetracks plus other major Canadian racing news.

He also was a frequent contributor to The Thoroughbred Diges and Canadian Thoroughbred, as well as other periodicals in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In addition, Wood hosted annual racing tours to international locales including the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and the Far East.

Born in Portland, Ore., but raised in Nottingham, England, Wood served in the British Army before moving to Canada and attending Montreal's McGill University in the 1950s.

CAPPED

2009-03-08T09:39:00.007-05:00

Another Kentucky Derby monster..

I WANT REVENGE - 113 Beyer

(http://www.horse-races.net/) photo

GENIUS WINS and FIRST WOMAN TRAINER IN BIG CAP
but CANADIAN OWNED BLUE EXIT LOSES HIS LIFE

(some files from ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Running for the first time on a synthetic surface, the Brazilian-bred EINSTEIN turned in a virtually picture-perfect performance to win Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.
Benefitting from stalking a slow pace in the classic event, Einstein held off a big run from the closers who were handcuffed by the dawdling pace, CHAMPS ELYSEE and COURT VISION were two of those, to win for trainer Helen Pitts-Blasi.
Pitts-Blasi, who trained Curlin before he went on to glory, became the first woman to win the prestigious Big Cap.
"He's a good horse on the turf. He's a good horse on the dirt. He's a good horse on anything," jockey Julien Leparoux said. "We didn't really know about this track, but we were pretty sure he as going to handle it.
"And he did."
Helen Pitts-Blasi, Einstein's trainer, said, "He rode him beautifully. It's an unbelievable feeling, just means the world to me. Einstein was very comfortable with this track from the time he got here."
The 7-year-old son of 1985 Kentucky Derby champion Spend a Buck held off Champs Elysees down the stretch to win by one length. Pacesetter Matto Mondo finished third, another neck behind.
Einstein, who had won on both dirt and grass in his 23 previous races, carried high weight of 121 pounds and covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.93.
His Beyer Figure was 100.
The Santa Anita main track woes continued however. BLUE EXIT, a promising Pulpit colt owned by Canadians Jim and Susan Hill and Harlequin Ranches along with the Blue Exit partnership, broke down on the backstrtech and was put down after the race.

With probable favorite Colonel John scratched from the Big 'Cap,' Einstein went off at 5-1 in the wide-open, 13-horse field. The winner paid $12, $7 and $4.60. Champs Elysees returned $19.40 and $11.60, and Matto Mondo paid $5.20.

Leparoux had Einstein relaxed and in good position in the early going, keeping him third or fourth behind the front-running Matto Mondo before urging him into the lead early in the stretch.

Striding easily, Einstein gamely held off Champs Elyees.

"The winner had a real good trip," said Jose Valdivia Jr., who rode Champs Elysees. "Even though I had a great trip, I think if the pace had been a little hotter, we would have had a better chance at the end.

From Mary Forney's Blog... a tribute to BLUE EXIT

GOOD FILLIES
STARDOM BOUND and VENTURE impress

One won, the other didn't, in teeny weeny photo finishes in Grade 1 races yesterday at Santa Anita.And both possibly could have won by a clear margin had it not been for downright awful journeys.

Giving away 4 to 7 paths on the last turn of a 2 turn race when trying to make a rally does not usually work but when the horse is exceptional, then it could work.

STARDOM BOUND (Tapit) is always exciting because she is slow early and then rallies.
But she is not fast, overall, and even though it was a thrilling score with the bad trip, her 87 BEYER SPEED FIGURE does not put her anywhere in range of the colts headed to the Kentucky Derby in 2 months.

"It seemed like she got lost out there early," rider Mike Smith said. "We had a terrible trip. When I moved out with her turning for home, everybody else went out at the same time and we got caught really wide.

"At the wire, though, she put her ears up. Maybe this is the kind of race she needed."

Part owner Mike Iavarone, asked if the Santa Anita Derby might be next for Stardom Bound, said, "I think she worked pretty hard today against the girls. She's going to have to really prove herself to handle horses like Pioneer of the Nile.

(PHOTO FROM YAUSSER AT FLICKR.COM)

Track announcer Trevor Denman somehow knew VENTURA had been beaten by the boys by a tiny nose in the Frank Kilroe Mile later in the card.

The mare, 2nd in the Woodbine Mile last year, made her move to the lead in early stretch but was nabbed late - she too made a full throttle while widest move and that cost her.

GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) was the 5 to 1 winner.

I WANT REVENGE - 113 BEYER SPEED FIGURE

Wow, a bunch of smacks with the whip and I WANT REVENGE left Mr. Fantasy in his dust in the Gotham Mile yesterday and posted a 113 Beyer Figure, the same as Quality Road's Beyer when he won the Fountain of Youth last weekend.

The pace in this race was slow and the winner, a homebred for David Lanzman (a $95,000 buy-back at auction) dueled with Mr. Fantasy to the top of the stretch before turning on the jets.This colt, by Stephen Got Even out of an Argentine family and a mare by Roy, had been chasing Pioneer of the Nile in California recently.

He has to be considered a top Derby candidate now based on his apparent love for real dirt.
Jockey Joe Talamo said: "I had so much horse the whole way around. Me and Alan (Garcia aboard Mr. Fantasy) were going pretty slow, but at the 1/4 pole, my horse just took off. There is no comparison between real dirt and synthetic – he really took to it. I had so much horse, I was smiling once he inherited the lead. Just an unbelievable animal. When we went past the 3/16 pole, I was smiling. We'll be back in four weeks. (Wood Memorial)"

BIG CANADIAN ACTION TODAY...
Champion, a Canadian-bred and a Canadian-trained gal

At Oaklawn today for the Grade 3 Azeri Stajes, Canadian champion BEAR NOW, sold by Bear Stables last fall, is meeting Canadian-bred 4yo Maren's Meadow and Josie Carroll trainee SMART SURPRISE in the 1 1/16 mile race.

Sunday, Oaklawn Park, post time: 5:11 p.m. CDT

AZERI S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m

PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Acoma Empire Maker Carroll 2-1

2 Devil House Chester House Whiting 8-1

3 Bear Now Tiznow Stall Jr. 5-2

4 Smart Surprise Smart Strike Carroll 3-1

5 French Kiss Hussonet Hartlage 10-1

6 Color Me Up Aptitude Lukas 12-1

7 Initforthekandy Kandaly Talley 12-1

8 Maren’s Meadow Meadowlake Jones 10-1

BARBADOS GOLD CUP

Virgina-bred wins by Daylight

DAYLIGHT EXPRESS, bred by Edward Evans in Virginia, was up to win the Sandy Lane Gold Cup at Garrison Savannah yesterday in Barbados.The Seeking Daylight colt was ridden by Anderson Ward.
Woodbine jockey JONO JONES was unplaced aboard PURE TEMPTATION.

SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP S.-Listed,Bds$210,375, Garrison Savannah, 3-7, 3yo/up,1800mT, 1:51.20, gd/fm.

RESULT CHART FROM THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS

1--DAYLIGHT EXPRESS, 125, c, 4, Seeking Daylight--Ransom Dance, by Red Ransom. ($1,000 yrl >06FTMOCT). O-Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing;B-E P Evans (VA); T-R Peirce; J-A Ward; Bds$120,375.Lifetime Record: 11-6-2-0. *1/2 to Hidden Ransom(Silver Ghost), MSW, $182,307; Diamond Spirit (HolyBull), MGSP, $173,292; and Ghost Dancing (SilverGhost), SW, $163,897. Werk Nick Rating: B.Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.

2--Bouncebak (Bar), 117, m, 5, Janak--Rebound (Bar),by Boomerang (Fr). Bds$40,000.

3--Preach To Me, 125, c, 4, Pulpit--Tajannub, by DixielandBand. ($235,000 wnlg >05 KEENOV; $35,0002yo >07 OBSMAR). Bds$20,000.

SANTA ANITA HANDICAP REVIEW...

COLUMNIST BILL DWYRE

on Coincidence, commerce, tragedy

Bill Dwyre

March 8, 2009

Like the floor surrounding a giant Christmas tree, the Santa Anita Handicap had something for everybody Saturday.

There was history made.

The winning horse, a brainy Brazilian-bred named Einstein, gave the 72nd running of the race its first winning female trainer. Helen Pitts-Blasi, at 34 a relative newcomer, brought her 7-year-old turf specialist from the East because she liked Santa Anita's synthetic surface.

"I wanted to see if he could become one of the first to win graded stakes races on three surfaces (grass, dirt and synthetics)," she said.
And so he did, finishing in front by a length with a strong stretch drive under jockey Julien Leparoux.
"Julien couldn't have ridden him better," Pitts-Blasi said.
There was coincidence.

On the same synthetic surface that never seemed to feel quite right for the two-time horse of the year, Curlin, when he made his quest last fall to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita and failed, Pitts-Blasi's second-best horse won nicely.

Her best horse had been Curlin, whom she had nursed to health and trained to the day he broke his maiden early in 2007 at Gulfstream Park. When he won by more than 12 lengths that day, the wealthy suitors came calling and Curlin was soon owned in the majority by Jess Jackson of Kendall-Jackson Winery.
More coincidence.

Back in February of '07, Pitts-Blasi was somewhat more willing to open her stable to the Jackson bid because Jackson's trainer, Steve Asmussen, is assisted by Scott Blasi, whose brother, Greg, is Helen's husband.
And more coincidence.

The owners of Einstein are lawyers Bill Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. of Lexington and Midnight Cry Stables, who sold the majority of Curlin to Jackson and are currently involved in a court case over how much their portion of Curlin is worth.

read the rest....
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-santa-anita8-2009mar08,1,2899847.column

11, 175 AND LOSE ONE

2009-03-06T09:45:00.003-05:00

On the eve of the Big 'Cap and a huge card of racing at Santa Anita racetrack, the news is everywhere that its owner filed for backruptcy (see report yesterday from Thoroughbred Times Link).

Today's title addresses Chapter 11 and Magna but also TORONTO'S 175th Birthday and the fact that we are going LOSE ONE HOUR of sleep this weekend!

Curses!

THE BIG 'CAP has BIG FIELD

Canadian-owned BLUE EXIT (see above right) is an appealing 12 to 1 in the morning line for the SANTA ANITA HANDICAP on saturday - which does not go to post until 7:30 at night Eastern time.
BLUE EXIT, co-owned by Jim and Susan Hill and Dick Bonnycastle's Harlequin Ranches, is a 4yo colt by Pulpit.

Santa Anita H. (G1)
March 7, $1,000,000, 4yo & up, 11/4m, Santa Anita Park, 4:37 PM

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer Odds
1. Matto Mondo (Chi) Sir Cat Rafael Bejarano 116 Richard E. Mandella 6-to-1

2. Cowboy Cal Giant’s Causeway John R. Velazquez 120 Todd A. Pletcher 5-to-1

3. Heroi Do Bafra (Brz) Royal Academy Michael C. Baze 111 Peter Miller 30-to-1

4. Monba Maria’s Mon Edgar S. Prado 114 Todd A. Pletcher 15-to-1

5. Colonel John Tiznow Garrett K. Gomez 119 Eoin G. Harty 9-to-2

6. Magnum (Arg) =El Compinche (Arg) Joel Rosario 116 Darrell Vienna 12-to-1

7. Blue Exit Pulpit Robby Albarado 115 Jerry Hollendorfer 12-to-1

8. Einstein (Brz) Spend a Buck Julien R. Leparoux 121 Helen Pitts 6-to-1

9. Dansant (GB) Dansili (GB) Tyler Baze 116 Gerard A. Butler 20-to-1

10. Cause Giant’s Causeway Jon Kenton Court 110 Myung Kwon Cho 30-to-1

11. Court Vision Gulch Ramon A. Dominguez 119 William I. Mott 6-to-1

12. Zambezi Sun (GB) Dansili (GB) Victor Espinoza 116 Robert J. Frankel 12-to-1

13. Champs Elysees (GB) Danehill Jose Valdivia Jr. 118 Robert J. Frankel 12-to-1

14. Stream Cat Black Minnaloushe Alex O. Solis 114 Patrick L. Biancone 20-to-1

Santa Anita Oaks (G1)March 7, $300,000, f, 3yo, 11/16m, Santa Anita Park, 3:07 PM

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Stardom Bound Tapit SD Mike E. Smith 122 Robert J. Frankel

2. Burg Berg Johannesburg SD Tyler Baze 122 J. Paco Gonzalez

3. Miss Silver Brook Cozzene Alex O. Solis 122 Julio C. Canani

4. Hooh Why Cloud Hopping Robby Albarado 122 Carla Gaines

5. Stormy Slew Hennessy John R. Velazquez 122 Doug F. O’Neill

6. Nan High Yield Corey S. Nakatani 122 Craig Dollase

7. Will O Way Broken Vow SD Russell A. Baze 122 Vladimir Cerin

8. Beltene Unusual Heat SD Joel Rosario 122 Jack Carava

9. Third Dawn Sky Mesa SD Rafael Bejarano 122 John W. Sadler

10. Acronym Empire Maker SD David Romero Flores 122 Robert J. Frankel

MAGNA UPDATE..

from TORONTO STAR.COM

Magna racing unit pulls up lame

Stronach company files for bankruptcy protection in U.S. court

BY Brett PopplewellBusiness Reporter

After a 10-year ride that was about as smooth as a trip on the back of a bucking bronco, Frank Stronach's dreams of rekindling North America's pre-World War II fascination with horse racing have fallen of the track.
Stronach's Magna Entertainment, North America's biggest racetrack owner, filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday in Delaware and has sought court recognition of that status in Canada.
The company, which operates 10 thoroughbred and standardbred racetracks in the United States, listed assets of more than $1 billion (U.S.) and debt of as much as $1 billion in its Chapter 11 filing.
The news comes just two days after the TSX announced the company would be delisted from the stock exchange on April 1 due to a failure to meet listing requirements.
Magna Entertainment was carved out of Stronach's auto parts giant Magna International in late 1999 and later went public after shareholders voiced concerns about the company's expensive foray away from auto parts.
Stronach was a successful breeder before Magna purchased the famed Santa Anita Park near Los Angeles in 1998.
At the time Stronach, who grew up in Austria before moving to Toronto where he turned a garage on Dupont St. into the global auto parts giant, urged investors to stick by him on his venture into racetracks, betting channels and theme parks.
"I think one or two years from now people will say `what a great idea that was,'" he predicted.
The spin-off company produced profits after it went public in 2000. But it became heavily leveraged from its purchase and redevelopment efforts at American racetracks, including Santa Anita Park in California, Gulfstream Park in Florida and the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore – home of the Preakness Stakes, one of the jewels in the Triple Crown of U.S. thoroughbred racing in the U.S.
Debts mounted as the company tried to turn Gulfstream into a massive casino-style racetrack and hotel. The company also built a racetrack near Vienna, where Stronach was born.

READ THE REST...
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/597407

OH BOY!

Asiatic Boy romps in World Cup prep, City Style wins again

CITY STYLE, a 3yo Godolphin geling, is 2 for 2 this year in Dubai on the grass and is sure making his dam, BRATTOTHECORE, a canadian bred by Katahalua County look good.The chestnut romped again last night in a nice event on Super Thursday and has lots of up-side for the remainder of the year. He is a son of City Zip.
The Grade 2 Maktouwm Challenge the final big prep for the DUBAI WORLD CUP (March 28), went to ASIATIC BOY, a hard knocker from Mike de Kock's barn:

from http://www.virginiamedia.com/:

With regular pilot Johnny Murtagh in the saddle, he ran on too strongly for Happy Boy under the floodlights at Nad Al Sheba.
A delighted De Kock said: "He is improving fitness-wise on a daily basis and we thought he had to go close tonight. The World Cup has always been his target and that is where he is heading."
De Kock had earlier saddled Front House to win the 12-furlong Dubai City of Gold on the turf with Kevin Shea never far off the pace on the filly.
She will now go for the Sheema Classic on World Cup night and Shea said: "We knew the extra trip would suit her and she has done it well. She is a nice filly with a touch of class."

MISSOURI SENATORS: BRING BACK HORSE SLAUGHTERING

JEFFERSON CITY Missouri senators have voiced their support for the renewal of horse slaughtering in the United States.
Rural senators say old horses can make good meat for animals and are considered delicacies by some people in other countries.
Since the last of the U.S. slaughterhouses closed in 2007, thousands of horses have been trucked to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. Legislation in Congress would prohibit the export of horses for slaughter.
Missouri senators passed a resolution today encouraging the federal government to offer incentives for horse slaughtering plants to open in the United States. They say it’s cruel to force old horses to wait for a natural death
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/17497

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

ONTARIO BRED 3-YEAR-OLD WELL POSITIONED, owned by Paul Pompa, will try and get back on track today at Gulfstream in a 9 furlong allowance race. Trained by pat Reynolds, the Awesome Again colt, a 91 Beyer Figuer winner of his maiden last year but blasted in his 2009 debut, is no. 8 in an 8-horse field at 5 to 1 today (race 8).

Canadian bred 4-year-olds SOLITAIRE and COOL GATOR, are in a turf allowance race earlier on the card for Will Clifton and Garland Williamson respectively.

D'WILD RIDE, a 3yo Ontario bred filly by D'Wildcat out of Summer Storm by Peace for Peace won an allowance race at Gulfstream yesterday. The 12 to 1 shot beat odds on Choragus despite stumbling at the start by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:23 for 7 furlongs on the dirt.The filly was bred by Sophian Stables and she is trained by Joe Orseno for Silly Goose Stable.

IN THE WORKS

Yesterday was the first BIG DAY of prepping at Woodbine on the training track as 155 HORSES WORKED UP TO 4 FURLONGS.
Some of the stakes winners who worked included::

DANCER'S BAJAN 37.40

SHADOWLESS 35.00

Woodbine based runners at the Ocala Training Centre yesterday had some big moves. TRUE JEAN worked 4 furlongs in 46.60 for trainer Catherine Day Phillips while Queen's Plate hopefuls for that barn, Dr. FUNKENSTEIN and QUIET APPROVAL worked in 47.80 and 48.20 respectively.

SHOWDOWN!B.C.BREDS VS. WASHINGTON BREDS
From Emerald Downs.com
WASHINGTON CUP/BC CUP MERGE“PACIFIC CHALLENGE” DEBUTS IN 2009

For the first time, Washington-breds and British Columbia-breds will compete against each other in the BC Cup at Hastings Racecourse and the Washington Cup at Emerald Downs. Three races at each track have been opened to include both Washington and BC-breds.

The events – the inaugural Pacific Challenge – will be held at Hastings Racecourse on Monday, Aug. 3, and at Emerald Downs on Sunday, Sept. 13. The races at each venue include a sprint for older horses and distance events for both older horses and older fillies and mares.
Up until now, only BC-breds or BC-owned horses raced in the BC Cup and only Washington-breds competed in the Washington Cup.

“This will make those two days collectively stronger and create a healthy spirit of competition between Washington and British Columbia,” said Emerald Downs Vice President Jack Hodge Jr. “It also provides horsemen with greater opportunities for significant purses.”
Hodge said a point system would be used to determine a winner in the state vs. province rivalry, but added the main objective is to strengthen the breeding industry in the region. “The strength of the region is good for the overall,” Hodge said.
Twelve horses maximum – six BC-bred and six Washington-bred – will be allowed in each race. However, if less than six Washington-breds are entered in one of the races at Hastings, for example, the field may be rounded out by BC-breds.

Paul Ryneveld, Director of Racing at Hastings Racecourse, sees the introduction of the 2009 Pacific Challenge as an important step to the creation of ongoing regional racing in the future.

“Basically, throughout modern history, the Washington-breds and BC-breds have been comparable breeding industries,” Ryneveld said. “This is a start to creating regional competition in the Pacific Northwest. The point system pits Emerald Downs against Hastings in a healthy, competitive spirit that will develop an ongoing rivalry.
“Also, it gives horsemen two opportunities to run in restricted races.”

2009 Pacific Challenge
@Hastings RacecourseAug. 3 $50,000 BC Cup Sprint, 3 & UP, 6.5 F$50,000 BC Cup Distaff, 3 & UP FM, 1 1/8 M$100,000 BC Cup Classic, 3 & UP, 1 1/8 M
@Emerald DownsSept. 13 $50,000 Chinook Pass Sprint, 3 & UP, 6 F$50,000 Belle Roberts, 3 & UP FM, 1 1/16 M$50,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, 3 & UP, 1 1/16 M

APPRENTICE SIHOTA HEADED TO WOODBINE

Tom Wolski in The Province newspaper today reports that apprentice rider NATASHA SIHOTA, currently out of action with a broken leg, will ride at Woodbine in 2009 for trainer Terry Jordan.Sihota rode 11 races last year and had 4 wins and 3 second place plus one 3rd place finishes.

IDES

2009-03-04T08:30:00.006-05:00

THURSDAY UPDATE:

Magna Entertainment files for bankruptcy

Magna Entertainment Corp., owner of Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park, and other well-known racetracks, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware on Thursday. Read the story on the Thoroughbred Times website at:

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/March/05/Magna-files-for-bankruptcy.aspx

HEY GIRL... This Bold Executive filly was foaled on Feb. 5 at Ballycroy Equestrian Centre and is a daughter of the stakes winning Great Gladiator mare RING STAR. This little ggirl is a half sister to classic-placed SOLITAIRE (3rd in the Queen's Plate). The owner/breeder is Bill Hicks, who proudly sent this photo to Thoroughblog.

FASIG TIPTON 2YO SALE

There were lots of big-bucks babies at the Calder 2yo sale yesterday but the average price, gross and median were all down for the 2nd juvenile sale of the 2009 season.
Buy-backs were down and that was good news.
Sheik Mohammed spent almost $5 million on some youngsters while Canadians were generally quiet.
Both Ontario bred 2yo's were withdrawn from the sale.
The only Canadian purchase reported was Jim and Alice Sapara's Winsong Farms which bought a Purge colt out of Dream Job for $225,000 from Sequel Bloodstock.

In the mail yesterday came the Adena Springs 2yo sale catalogue (you could have bought Horse of the Year FATAL BULLET from that sale 2 years ago for...$27,000.
Also, the March OBS 2yo sale and Keeneland 2yo sale catalogues arrived and there are lots of opportunitites to get yourself an Ontario bred for the 2009 season.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

Trainer JOHN SIMMS won the 9th race at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday with the tough 9-year-old mare CLASSY FLOWER. The Florida bred mare won the $10,000 claiming event by 4 3/4 lengths with a wide rally from last place.
The owner is Tom Grimes.

DUBAI PREVIEW FOR TOMORROW
SUPER THURSDAY

(with some files from Brisnet.com)

The Dubai International Racing Carnival comes to a close Thursday evening at Nad al Sheba with the Super Thursday program, offering preps for the March 28 World Cup night.

The races on the card are:

The $250,000 Al Bastakiya for three-year-olds, the final prep for the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2), features JOSE ADAN (Crypto Star), disqualified from first and placed second in last fall's Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3), will attempt to rebound from a poor showing in a February 12 conditions event on the turf

The $200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-G3), a prep for the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1), is a 6 furlong sprint which has lured Grade 2 winner GAYEGO (Gilded Time), last seen taking a November 30 allowance/optional claimer at Hollywood Park; Grade 2 hero DIABOLICAL (Artax), a narrowly beaten second in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint went last seen; and BIG CITY MAN (Northern Afleet), a dual stakes winner as a juvenile at Calder back in 2007, is another logical threat having won his first two starts in Dubai.

The $200,000 Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3), a stepping stone to the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) and the $250,000 Dubai City of Gold (UAE-G2) is a prep for the Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) at 1 1/2 miles on turf.
There are 20 entered in the City of Gold.

The feature is the $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G2) over about 1 1/4 miles) should feature several potential Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) entrants. MUHANNAK (Ire) (Chester House), upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Marathon at Santa Anita, will square off against Group 2 winner ASIATIC BOY (Not for Sale), runner-up behind Curlin in the 2008 World Cup and third in a Group 3 prep on February 5.

Potential candidates for the Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) will line up in the final race on the card, the $250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) including Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka.

Watch and wager on the DUBAI RACES through HPI TV in Canada.

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED RATINGS RELEASED

The Jockey Club of Canada yesterday released the 2008 Canadian Thoroughbred
Ratings compiled by Steve Lym, Director of Thoroughbred Racing and Racing Secretary at Woodbine Racetrack.
Any horse that finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in a stakes race in Canada was eligible to be rated on their best performance at any distance.
Canadian Thoroughbred Ratings are determined by applying a criteria similar to that used by World Thoroughbreds Rankings panel to rate horses using the following distance categories: Sprint – Mile – Intermediate – Long – Extended.

Sprint ratings cover races up to 7 ½ furlongs. Mile distances include those greater than 7 ½ furlongs and less than 1 3/16 miles. Intermediate distances range from 1 3/16 miles to 1 5/16 miles.

The Long and Extended categories are combined and cover any distance longer than 1 5/16 miles.
Weight concessions and a beaten lengths formula are also factored into the ratings.

Fatal Bullet, Canada’s 2008 Horse of the Year and 2008 Champion Sprinter received the best overall ranking at 119, due to his 2nd place finished at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Two fillies tied for 2nd place at a ranking of 118; Ventura for her win in the 2008
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint and Forever Together for her win in the 2008
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
In the Mile category, Harlem Rocker was ranked at 116 for his performance in the Hill’n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap, while Canada’s 2008 Champion Male Turf Horse, Rahy’s Attorney ranked 115 for his win in the 2008 Woodbine Mile.
In the Long/Extended category, German bred 6 year old Quijano ranked 118 for his 2nd place finish in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine.
2 year-old filly C Karma earned a rating of 106 for her win in the Natalma Stakes G3 and 2 year-old colt Southern Exchange earned a rating of 106 for his victory in the Colin Stakes at Woodbine.
For the entire reports and lists visit www.jockeyclubcanada.com

FEVER

2009-03-03T08:11:00.007-05:00

THOROUGHBLOG'S KENTUCKY DERBY TOP TEN

As Thoroughblog nears its 3RD YEAR ANNIVERSARY later this month, it is time to try a Kentucky Derby top ten list for the first time.

(The Pamplemousse is AT RIGHT, an image from CHARLES PRAVATA)

TOP TEN CONTENDERS
with sire and best Beyer Figure

1. PIONEER OF THE NILE (Empire Maker) 95
2. QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) 113
3. FRIESAN FIRE (A.P. Indy) 96
4. OLD FASHIONED (Unbridled's Song) 100
5. THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Kafwain) 103
6. DESERT PARTY (Street Cry) Dubai
7. PATENA (Seeking the Gold) 90
8. GIANT OAK (Giant's Causeway) 90
9 GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) 100
10. WARRIOR'S REWARD (Medaglia D'Oro) 91

This list will move to the sidebar at the right this week.

Super coverage for the Kentucky Derby at:
http://www.courier-journal.com/kentucky-derby-racing

WARLOCK is asleep in the straw at Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge, Ontario.

The chesntut colt was born Feb. 13 and is by Strut the Stage out of Lady Mulligan.

Thanks to Gayle Bosscher for the photo.

CHURCHILL DOWNS INC. ANNOUNCES SAFETY MEASURES -

IN EFFECT FOR KENTUCKY DERBY 135

Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) (“CDI” or “Company”) has announced a series of groundbreaking new rules and policies designed to enhance the safety and welfare of jockeys and horses.

These measures will be in place at Churchill Downs racetrack in advance of the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 2, and will include unprecedented standardized third-party testing of track surfaces and comprehensive testing of all winning horses for more than 100 prohibited drugs.

The safety initiatives will be implemented at Churchill Downs effective opening day of its 2009 Spring Meet on Saturday, April 25, and will be phased in at all other Company racetracks – Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill.; Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens, Fla.; and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans – by the start of their respective 2010 race meets.

In development for nearly a year, the “Safety from Start to Finish” initiative is designed to incorporate new health and wellness measures, as well as long-standing safety policies and standards, under a single formalized initiative to serve as a blueprint for all CDI facilities.

The key safety initiatives that will be in place at Churchill Downs prior to Kentucky Derby 135 are as follows:

* Independent, standardized third-party testing and monitoring of track surfaces;
* “Supertesting” of all winning horses for more than 100 performance-enhancing drugs;
* Age restrictions requiring Thoroughbreds to be at least 24 calendar months of age before becoming eligible to race;
* The freezing and storage of equine blood and urine samples to allow for retrospective testing;
* The banning of steroids;
* Limits on the number of horses allowed to compete in certain races;
* The prohibition of “milkshaking”, which results in excessive levels of total carbon dioxide in Thoroughbred racehorses;
* Prohibiting the transport of horses from CDI facilities for slaughter;
* The banning of unsafe horseshoes, including front shoe toe grabs longer than two millimeters;
* The use of low-impact riding whips with limited usage rules;
* The presence of on-site medical personnel, equipment, and state-of-the-art equine ambulances;
* Immediate online access to jockey medical histories for emergency medical personnel;
* $1 million in catastrophic injury insurance coverage for jockeys;
* Mandatory and uniform reporting of equine injuries to the Equine Injury Database System, thereby assisting in the compilation of statistics and trends to improve safety conditions around the country;
* A professionally designed and installed safety rail on the inside of the dirt course;
* Mandatory usage by all jockeys, exercise riders and other on-track personnel of safety vests and safety helmets that meet internationally acknowledged quality standards;
* 3/8-inch foam padding on all parts of the starting gates;
* Significant financial support for equine retirement programs;
* Inspection of all horses by regulatory veterinarians prior to and following all races;
* Review of security procedures around barns and other racetrack backstretch areas;
* Continued maintenance of protocols for the treatment of horses that have been injured during racing or training, to ensure the most humane treatment possible; and
* Mandatory, independent, and complete necropsies of any horse that dies as a result of an injury sustained while racing or training at Churchill Downs.

Read more at www.churchilldowns.com

EXCERPT DAILY RACING FORM

CANANI CHARGED WITH DUI

By Brad Free

ARCADIA, Calif. -- A day after his 3-year-old colt The Pamplemousse scored a dazzling six-length victory in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, trainer Julio Canani was pulled over while driving, arrested, and charged with driving under the influence.

Canani confirmed the incident at his Santa Anita stable early Monday, only hours after he was released from jail. Canani, who said he's 71, was on his way home Sunday evening after leaving Cafe 322 in Sierra Madre, about five miles northwest of Santa Anita. Sierra Madre police pulled over Canani for an unspecified driving infraction. They asked Canani if he had been drinking; he subsequently failed a field sobriety test and was arrested.

The "notice to appear" citation issued by Sierra Madre police did not specify his blood-alcohol content. It is unlawful in California to drive with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or higher. Canani admitted he consumed alcohol during the races Sunday at Santa Anita, but disputes that his driving ability was impaired.

Linda Halsey, co-owner of Canani-trained Fastongrass, was with the trainer at Cafe 322. She said Canani declined an offer of a drink.

"He had a big glass of water, we congratulated him on his win with The Pamplemousse, he picked up his food and left," she said.

READ THE REST at www.drf.com

(According to the Sign on San Diego website today, Canani is due in court on May 6.)

UNITED THOROUGHBREDS GETS OWNERS/FANS INVOLVED!

From United Thoroughbreds...(see ad on right too):

With the start of the Woodbine season quickly approaching and the April 1st start of our inaugural partnership, United Thoroughbreds is buzzing with excitement!! We still have a few shares remaining and I encourage you to act know if you would like to join us! We have some great coverage in this months issues of "Down the Stretch" newspaper and "The Game" and we also have an upcoming story in the National Post!

There have been quite a few updates to the website including new photos, a new video and on our news page we have daily RSS feeds from Jennifer Morrison's Thoroughblog and the Bloodhorse. We also have a group trip out to the farm in the works and would like to hear from YOU as to the best time to hold this event.

You can stay up to date with United Thoroughbreds by joining our Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18329946452&ref=ts and feel free to join in on discussions regarding the upcoming season at Woodbine and the Kentucky Derby.

Our Youtube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/UnitedThoroughbreds

Whether you are contemplating joining United as a Shareholder or taking part in our groups we encourage you to help promote this great sport of Horse Racing. The experience of the Sport of Kings is next to none and we look forward to sharing it with you. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding United Thoroughbreds.

WEATHERED

2009-03-02T09:11:00.008-05:00

Meteor..right? Canadian-bred TWILIGHT METEOR wins the Canadian Turf Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream. It was 18 years ago that his breeder, David Willmot's Kinghaven Farms' won the same race with Canadian-bred IZVESTIA.
(photo courtesy of EquiSporPhotos.com/Z. Laskowski)

Whether you are on top of it or under it, the WEATHER is always the big news story at this time of year.

(Yours truly...under it, waaaaay under it)

A deep freeze has hit Toronto...but Canadians are still hot and the Derby trail is heating up!

QUALITY, better than quantity?

Fountain of Youth winner needs to be supplemented

It will be all about who is ready to explode with one of these huge efforts 2 months from now on Kentucky Derby day.

But for now, it's quite pretty fun to watch some serious efforts by 3-year-olds, as they power away from their rivals in the stretch and run so very fast.

Now that the races are getting longer, the efforts and Beyer Figures mean a bit more too. No more flash from This Ones For Phil or Notonthesamepage, who did not show speed in the Founta in of Youth and was never involved.

QUALITY ROAD'S 113 BEYER SPEED FIGURE in the one-mile FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES on Saturday is a monster effort for this colt's 3rd CAREER START and further illustrates the power of LASIX.

(photo of QUALITY ROAD from EquiSport Photos/Z. Laskowski...courtesy horseraces.net)

The colt won his debut at Aqueduct in November for owner/breeder Edward Evans and trainer James Jerkens with a 101 Beyer Figure, bounced in his Gulfstream debut (and/or bled) and posted a 90 before his big run on Saturday with 1st time Lasix.

Bought back for $110,000 as a yearling Quality Road is from the immediate family of Breeders' Cup Distaff winner AJINA.

Elusive Quality sired Derby winner SMARTY JONES.

Over at Santa Anita, that dark grey blur was THE PAMPLEMOUSSE (Grapefruit in French), who went right to the lead and just took off from his field in the Sham Stakes.

The son of KAFWAIN earned a 103 Beyer Figure, a career best.

His race was 2 turns at 1 1/8 miles but was on a synthetic surface while Quality Road has been racing on the dirt.

METEOR FLIES
Canadian-bred wins Canadian Turf!

Top Canadian-bred colt TWILIGHT METEOR, (now # 2 on Hot Canadian-bred List!) bred by David Willmot's Kinghaven Farms, streaked to victory in the 1 1/16 mile Canadian Turf Handicap on Saturday at Gulfstream, the first graded stakes win for the Smart Strike colt.

Twilight Meteor, owned by John Fort's Peachtree Stable, was many people's pick to do well on the Queen's Plate trail two years ago but the chesnut was 7th in the Plate and has shown so much more ability on the grass. He led late in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine that year before finishing 2nd to Marchfield.

After one prep race this year, however, and just 2 starts in 2008, Twilight Meteor put it all together on his favourite course at his best distance and rana 94 Beyer Figure to win the Grade3 race by a length.

Canadian-bred BUFFALO MAN was third.

Trainer Tidd Pletcher said the colt had some aches and pains last year and thus had the light season.

Sporting a career mark of 17-4-4-3, $575,291, Twilight Meteor might reappear in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland on April 10, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Twilight Meteor was produced by One Over Prime (With Approval), a half-sister to Canadian champion juvenile fillies Primaly (Alydeed) and Poetically (Silver Deputy), Grade 1 winner Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid) and Grade 3 hero Whiskey Wisdom (Wild Again). He sold for $150,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling.

PATENA CONTINUES ON ROAD TO DERBY (LOUISIANA)

IEAH and Canadian owned colt soon headed to New Orleans

The THOROUGHBRED TIMES reports that PATENA (Seeking the Gold) is ready to go to New Orleans for the March 14 Louisiana Derby for new owners IEAH, who bought a portion of the colt from John and Glenn Sikura and Domici DiLalla.

From the Thoroughbred Times:

"Mario told me that he pulled him to every pole this morning," Dutrow said. "He was very happy with him. We've got one more breeze to go here and then we will fly to New Orleans on [March 12]. I'm under the impression we are right on target."

Patena has two wins and two seconds in five starts, including a victory in the 2008 Display Stakes at Woodbine ... He has not raced since rallying from off the pace to finish second to Friesan Fire in the Lecomte on January 10 at Fair Grounds.

"When we got him [to Florida] we wanted to go to work on some hind-end issues and try to help him put some weight on," Dutrow said.

"He had been coughing for about ten days. Today was the first day he scoped completely clean. We've been clearing different issues, and it seems to all be coming together."

BIRD OUTNODDED IN 2009 DEBUT

Canadian champion head bobbed for the lead all the way down the Sunland Park stretch on Saturday but lost the bob at the wire for the Borderland Derby. It was the 3yo's 2009 debut for new trainer Chip Wooley.

Mine That Bird was a multiple stakes winner at Woodbine in 2008 and had been off since his Breeders' Cup Juvenile 12th place finish.

The Beyer Figure for the race was 84. The winner is by Even the Score and is trained by Doug O'Neill, who trains Canadian-bred Derby hopeful Square Eddie.

Other Derby news:

MIDSHIPMAN, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, was supposed to make his 3yo debut on Thursday in Dubai for the sheikhs but instead will beon his way back to the United States with a tendon injury. He's off the Triple Crown trail.

IN THE WORKS - WORKOUTS!

The first recorded workouts at Woodbine for 2009 are in the books. The track starting timing moves on Friday on the sloppy training track:

3 fur

ACCURATE SHOT (ON) 36.60 b 1/5
CHALK EYED CAT (KY) 36.60 b 1/5
GONE TRAJECTORY (ON) 36.60 b 1/5
OURANIA (FL) 36.60 b 1/5
SEVENTEEN RED (ON) 37.20 b 5/5

4fur

SON SARRIA (ON) 50.60 bg 1/1

Four horses worked on Saturday and 17 worked yesterday.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

FAIR GROUNDS TRAINERS
Steve Asmussen leads with 71 winners (from 348 starters)

Malcolm Pierce 59 11 6 10 $414,650
Samuel Breaux 68 10 8 16 $272,392
Mike Burgess 49 10 5 5 $330,491
William I. Mott 54 9 8 13 $440,665
Mark E. Casse 77 9 7 6 $299,010

AT MOUNTAINEER...

Bart Baird 49 8 5 6 $71,454
Douglas E. Shanyfelt 20 6 2 3 $52,415
J. Michael Baird 18 6 1 3 $63,460
Robert J.W. Johnston 20 5 3 3 $39,938
Stacey Cooper 17 5 1 3 $41,489
Jay P. Bernardini 32 4 7 6 $60,052
Chris J. Englehart 15 4 3 1 $35,762
Clayton C. Hurt 19 4 2 1 $43,164
Robert A. Pion 13 4 1 0 $26,331
John W. Baird 28 3 5 0 $33,147
Michael Newell 29 3 3 4 $36,678

AT GULFSTREAM...

Kenneth G. McPeek 65 20 8 6 $518,890
Todd A. Pletcher 88 16 8 15 $600,480
William I. Mott 69 11 8 6 $397,820
Peter R. Walder 33 11 6 5 $143,290
Nicholas P. Zito 58 10 8 5 $266,010
Kiaran P. McLaughlin 42 10 5 7 $640,360
Martin D. Wolfson 45 9 10 6 $1,037,410
Wesley A. Ward 34 9 6 5 $211,595
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 41 8 7 6 $508,800
Dale L. Romans 59 8 6 3 $257,420
Edward Plesa, Jr. 73 8 4 10 $226,475
H. Allen Jerkens 46 7 8 7 $280,350
Michael J. Maker 33 7 6 1 $213,080
Joseph F. Orseno 45 7 2 3 $145,285
Eddie Kenneally 39 6 7 4 $257,440
H. Graham Motion 37 6 5 5 $184,710
Ian R. Wilkes 43 6 4 6 $227,565
Brian A. Lynch 27 6 2 3 $197,520

FASIG TIPTON 2YO SALE TOMORROW

Only 2 Ontario breds in the Calder 2yo sale held by Fasig Tipton tomorrow.

One is a Cherokee Run out of Get It Straight and the other is a filly by Ghostzapper out of Madame Pietra.

THIS ONES FOR...

2009-02-28T09:04:00.005-05:00

(at right, THIS ONES FOR PHIL, by Untuttable, goes where after his 116 Beyer Fig last time?, read more below)

In memory of Ontario horseman GORDON COWIE, 44, who passed away last week in Fort Erie.

FROM TORONTO STAR:

E-mail death notice to friends and family

COWIE, Gordon Raymond - Unexpectedly in Etobicoke, Ontario on Thursday, February 26, 2009, in his 44th year. Loving fiancé and best friend of Ashley Palmer.
Cherished son of Elizabeth and Donald Page and brother of Tom (Kim) Cowie. Also survived by his extended family and friends in Nova Scotia. Predeceased by grandparents George and Bridget Turnbull. Gordon was a respected and successful owner/trainer at both Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetracks. He will be fondly remembered by his extended family and many friends with whom he worked and competed.
Benner Funeral Services, 1105 Benner Ave., Fort Erie entrusted with arrangements. The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 5 - 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m.
If so desired, donations to the S.P.C.A. would be appreciated by the family.

Published in Toronto Star on 02/28/2009

LAST CAT?
This colt out of graded SW HALO AMERICA may be the last Thoroughbred colt ever born to the legendary sire STORM CAT.
The photo of the 3 hour-old colt was provided by Hill 'n' Dale Farm.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PREVIEW
Since it was shortened to a one-turn mile this year, the race has attracted a solid field but the horses who may have success won't necessarily be 1 1/4 mile winners on the first Saturday in May.

As written in my last post, the big three speedballs in the race have huge Beyer Figures - NOTONTHESAMEPAGE, THIS ONES FOR PHIL and TAQUARAB HAVE 116 114, AND 103 Beyers.
CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN is son of the mare STORMY WAY, who raced with success at Woodbine for Vizier Bloodstock and trainer Shelly Fitzgerald.

Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. (G2) February 28,

$250,000, 3yo, 1m, Gulfstream Park, 5:14 PM ET P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Bee Cee Cee Songandaprayer Cornelio H. Velasquez 120 Edward Plesa Jr.
2. Theregoesjojo Brahms Kent J. Desormeaux 116 Kenneth G. McPeek
3. Notonthesamepage Catienus Elvis Trujillo 120 Wesley A. Ward
4. Take the Points Even the Score Christopher P. DeCarlo 116 Todd A. Pletcher
5. Jack Spratt Candy Ride (Arg) Rene R. Douglas 120 Michael J. Maker
6. Rocketing Returns Gone West Jose Lezcano 116 Nicholas P. Zito
7. Beethoven Sky Mesa Calvin H. Borel 122 John T. Ward Jr.
8. Break Water Edison Lemon Drop Kid Eibar Coa 122 John C. Kimmel
9. Capt. Candyman Can Candy Ride (Arg) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Ian R. Wilkes
10. Taqarub Aldebaran Alan Garcia 120 Kiaran P. McLaughlin
11. Quality Road Elusive Quality John R. Velazquez 114 James A. Jerkens
12. This Ones for Phil Untuttable Edgar S. Prado 120 Richard E. Dutrow Jr.

The Miami Herald previews the race - the pick here is BEETHOVEN.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/925896.html

Gulfstream's Fountain of Youth Stakes features plenty of horsepower

BY JIM FREER Miami Herald Writer

The winner of Saturday's $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes will gain star status among Gulfstream Park's 3-year-olds and probably take a big step up on this year's list of Kentucky Derby contenders. Picking that winner could be one of the biggest handicapping challenges of Gulfstream's 2009 meet.

The Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, at one mile on the dirt, has 12 entrants -- with no prohibitive favorite. Three have won sprint stakes races at Gulfstream this year: Capt. Candyman Can, This Ones for Phil and Notonthesamepage. Beethoven and Break Water Edison won graded stakes races in Kentucky and New York, respectively, in 2008.

Theregoesjojo was impressive in winning an allowance race at Gulfstream, and Taqarub has won two 2008 races at Aqueduct. Those horses have been on racing publications' lists of top 20 contenders for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 -- but none is in the top five.

''Every year, Gulfstream is where the best group of 3-year-olds race, and this is the time when a horse usually jumps out,'' said Ken McPeek, who trains Theregoesjojo. The Fountain of Youth is the day's ninth race, with post time at 5:14. The eighth race is the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (Grade 3) at one mile on turf for males 4 years old and up. Vanquisher, Hey Byrn and Delightful Kiss are prominent names in the 11-horse field.

Click on the link above to read the rest of the story..

SHAM STAKES preview
FROM SAN DIEGO TRIBUNE
Pamplemousse seeking a Kentucky reservation By Hank Wesch (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer 2:00 a.m. February 28, 2009

The Pamplemousse, which translates from French as “grapefruit,” takes on 11 rivals in today's Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

And if it's not a sour experience, the San Diego-connected colt will have completed two steps on what figures to be a three-step program aimed at getting him to the Kentucky Derby on May 2 with major contender status.

Picked out of a sale a year ago by Alex Solis II, son of the Hall of Fame-nominated jockey who rides him, and purchased for $150,000, the Kafwain colt is owned by a group led by the young Solis that includes Jeffrey and Bill Strauss of Del Mar.

The Pamplemousse is named for the Strausses' restaurant, across the street from the stable area of the Del Mar track and frequented by many racetrack people during the summer meeting. The Pamplemousse, the horse, didn't make the races until October at Santa Anita and didn't win until his third outing, in December at Hollywood Park.

The first two starts being at six and 6½ furlongs established that sprinting might not be The Pamplemousse's game. The maiden victory at Hollywood Park, at 1 1/16 miles, and a victory in the one-mile San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 17, are being taken as indicators that distance racing could be. The Sham, a $200,000, Grade III event, is at 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the April 5 Santa Anita Derby, which determines the West's best hope for Louisville.

The Pamplemousse could be the first Kentucky Derby starter for trainer Julio Canani, a 70-year-old Peruvian who can be personable and perplexing at the same time when discussing a horse with the media.

“I don't got the (Kentucky Derby) fever,” Canani told the Daily Racing Form after The Pamplemousse worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 on Feb. 18. But then came the excitement in his voice and his next words:

“Did you see that? Look at him. He was just galloping. Thank God I don't got the fever,” delivered a mixed message. Alex Solis Sr., who has no wins and three seconds in 15 Kentucky Derby starts, easily warmed to the subject when he hopped off The Pamplemousse after a 2-length victory in 1:35 1/5 in the San Rafael.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/feb/28/1s28horsecol22460-pamplemousse-seeking-kentucky-re/?zIndex=59942

Sham S. (G3) February 28, $200,000, 3yo, 11⁄8m, Santa Anita Park, 4:38 PM PT

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Hi Flyin Indy A.P. Indy Alonso Quinonez 116 Eoin G. Harty
2. Smart Bid Smart Strike Rafael Bejarano 118 H. Graham Motion
3. Tiz True Tiznow Aaron T. Gryder 116 David E. Hofmans
4. Lifeline Pulpit Tyler Baze 116 Myung Kwon Cho
5. The Pamplemousse Kafwain SD Alex O. Solis 118 Julio C. Canani
6. Balfour Park Mutakddim Brice Blanc 116 Craig Anthony Lewis
7. Mr. Hot Stuff Tiznow Corey S. Nakatani 116 Eoin G. Harty
8. Bourbon Bay Sligo Bay (Ire) Joel Rosario 116 Neil D. Drysdale
9. Ventana Toccet Jesus M. Rios 116 Bob Baffert
10. Mark S the Cooler Johar Joseph Talamo 116 Doug F. O’Neill
11. Unbridled Roman Roman Dancer Mike E. Smith 116 Christopher S. Paasch

CANADIAN CHAMPION MINE THAT BIRD is back

Borderland Derby February 28, $100,000, 3yo, 11⁄16m, Sunland Park, 4:55 PM MT

PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer
1. Hoya Cat Thief Ken S. Tohill 122 Chris A. Hartman
2. Tiz Believing Tiznow Joe A. Martinez 118 H. Ray Ashford Jr.
3. Mine That Bird Birdstone Casey T. Lambert 122 Bennie L. Woolley Jr. 4. Hornung Speightstown Alejandro Medellin 116 Steven M. Asmussen
5. Scorewithcater Even the Score Alonso Quinonez 120 Doug F. O’Neill
6. Lefty Who Quinton’s Gold Carlos D. Madeira 122 Joel H. Marr
7. Smokin’ Legend Smoke Glacken Jorge Espitia 118 O. Dwain Grissom
8. Dumar Maria’s Mon Luis Contreras 118 Steven M. Asmussen
9. Infernal Sir Cherokee Mark Anthony Villa 116 Bart G. Hone

CANADIAN BREDS ELSEWHERE

ACTIVE DUTY, a top contender for the 150th Queen's Plate was last beaten about 7 lengths in an allowance race at Santa Anita on Thursday. The dark bay gelding was off to a messy strat, lacked speed behind a slow pace of 49/07 for half a mile and then could not fire.
Trainer Mark Casse said the gelding is likely headed to Keeneland and will have one Woodbine start before the Plate if the 3yo continues on the trail.

Casse and WOODFORD RACING won a race yesterday at Santa Anita with Kentucky bred CLOSING SPEED, a filly by Cherokee Run. She won a $100,000 maiden claimer by 2 lengths as the favourite.

MUSTFUHR, a full brother to Grade 1 winner Jambalaya, won a $20,000 claiming race at Gulfstreamthe grass on Thursday for Frank Calabrese. The gelding was bred by Dr. Brian Van Arem, who owns the mare Muskrat Suzie.

DONVER STABLES (Donna and Verne Dubinsky) claimed 19 to 1 longshot DAZZLER for $20,000 from a race at Gulfstream yesterday. Their trainer is Josie Carroll.
The Dubinskys have TRUE RESURGENCE in the STYMIE Handicap today at Aqueduct.

SHE'S A WINNER!

BARBARA SOCHA and EQUIWINNER PATCHES have joined the Thoroughblog family. Socha, seen here with her TB named Hapsburg, has a successful 5yo business at www.signal-health.com featuring her Equiwinner Patches:

Equiwinner is a signaling device using Smart Cell Signal™, which restores the normal metabolism of the horse by communication with the body cell signaling system. In other words, the horse's body can sense the electrolytes in the patches and responds to them. There are no ingredients as such, since nothing passes into the body of the horse except the signals. There are no side effects.

Please click on Barbara's ad on the sidebar on the right to check out this super product.

HASTINGS PARK PREVIEW (The 'Bear' arrives!)

Excerpt from THE PROVINCE Hastings beating economic blues
Race track keeps thinking positive
By Kent Gilchrist, The Province

There's a new director of racing (Paul Ryneveld), new and improved B.C. Derby purse ($300,000 minimum), a return to midweek racing (two Wednesdays during the PNE) and more Friday nights.

Amid the economic downturn, Hastings Racecourse is attempting to keep things positive and the result seems to be working.
Applications for stall space numbers total 1,420, which is about 400 more than available stalls. Big Alberta outfit Bear Stables has already moved in and is using more than 20 stalls.

"I was on the backside this morning and walked through their barn," said Ryneveld, who was recruited from Fairplex in southern California. "Dale [trainer Greenwood] has some nice-looking racehorses."
Greenwood is training for Bear Stables owner Danny Dion, the kind of big owner Ryneveld figures Hastings needs to attract to get the thoroughbred industry back on its feet. Dion has a string at Gulfstream in Florida, likely headed to Woodbine in Toronto and more in Edmonton.
Read the rest at..

http://www.theprovince.com/Hastings+beating+economic+blues/1334311/story.html
hkgilchrist@yahoo.com

QUALITY

2009-02-26T11:26:00.004-05:00

ON DUTY
Queen's Plate contender active today

ACTIVE DUTY, who rates as the local favourite for the QUEEN'S PLATE, makes his 2nd start of 2009 today at Santa Anita (where the Pick 6 could zoom up to $3 million!).
The Deputy Commander gelding, bred by Adena Springs, is owned by Woodford Racing LLC and trained by Mark Casse.
The gelding was 3rd in his season debut on Jan 29.
He won the prestigious CORONATION FUTURITY last year.

Santa Anita today 4th (2:34)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 3 Year Olds Allowance | Purse: $52,000

Prg. #	PP	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Wt.	Equip.	Med.	ML
1	1	Herr Mozart	Gomez G K	Baffert Bob	118		L	7-2
2	2	Unbridled Roman	Smith M E	Paasch Christopher S	118		L	5-2
3	3	Jeranimo	Blanc B	Pender Michael	118		L	8-1
4	4	Major Rock Star	Bejarano R	Mitchell Mike	118		L	6-1
5	5	Advice	Rosario J	Pletcher Todd A	118		L	6-1
6	6	Active Duty	Husbands P	Casse Mark	122		L	5-1
7	7	African Gray	Baze M C	West Ted H	118		L	12-1
8	8	Balfour Park	Quinonez A	Lewis Craig A	118	Blk-On	L	15-1
9	9	African Diamond	Gryder A T	Harty Eoin	118		L	15-1

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta / $2 Parlay $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 4-5-6) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.

Launch pad - BEAR'S ROCKET gearing up for the Tampa Bay Derby next week. Jim McAleney is working in Florida this winter and is on board the Bear Stables colt.

WEEKEND PREVIEW

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH - Gulfstream
Big Beyer Figures, big speed

The big three in the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH - THIS ONE'S FOR PHIL,

NOTONTHESAMEPAGE and TAQUARAB are fast and have big Beyer Figures.

The three posted 116, 114, and 104 Beyer Figures respectively in their last starts.

But the once-classic, class prep is now just aone0turn mile race and may not have an

impact on the Kentucky Derby 2 months from now.

But it is a supercard at Gulfstream on Saturday and the 'Youth is a fascinating race.

THE PICKS FROM THIS CORNER: Beethoven, Quality Road

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
FASIG-TIPTON FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH S.-GII,
$250,000, 3yo, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Bee Cee Cee Songandaprayer Velasquez 120
2 Theregoesjojo Brahms Desormeaux 116
3 Notonthesamepage Catienus Trujillo 120
4 Take the Points Even the Score DeCarlo 116
5 Jack Spratt Candy Ride (Arg) Douglas 120
6 Rocketing Returns Gone West Lezcano 116
7 Beethoven Sky Mesa Borel 122
8 Break Water Edison Lemon Drop Kid Coa 122
9 Capt. Candyman Can Candy Ride (Arg) Leparoux 122
10 Taqarub Aldebaran Garcia 120
11 Quality Road Elusive Quality Velazquez 114
12 This Ones for Phil Untuttable Prado 120

Read this preview from Jennie Rees:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090226/COLUMNISTS03/902260479/10

02/SPORTS

SANTA ANITA - GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE
SHAM STAKES for 3yo's,

THE PAMPLEMOUSSE CAN PUT SOLIS CLOSER TO DERBY AIM IN

SHAM

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2009) – Aiming for his first Kentucky Derby

victory after three seconds in 15 career rides, 44-year-old Alex Solis attempts to

move a notch closer on Saturday in Santa Anita’s Grade III, $200,000 Sham Stakes

while riding heavily favored The Pamplemousse, a 3-year-old co-owned and selected

at sale by his son, Alex II.

The Kentucky-bred son of Kafwain, purchased last March by a partnership

for $150,000, will face eleven other 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles, the same distance

as the April 5 Santa Anita Derby and one that would seem well suited for the gray

colt, whose name translates to “grapefruit” in French.

After losing his first two starts while sprinting, The Pamplemousse broke his

maiden with an impressive victory at

1 1/16 miles while timed in a rapid 1:41 2/5 over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track

synthetic surface. He subsequently sizzled in taking the Grade III San Rafael Stakes

while covering one mile in 1:35 1/5 over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface on Jan. 17.

“I’m speechless, I really am,” Solis said immediately following his two-length

triumph in the San Rafael. “It feels like he’s walking, he does everything so

effortlessly.” Referring to the Kentucky Derby, Solis added, “I better start going to

church and hoping he stays sound.”

The Pamplemousse could provide the first Kentucky Derby starter for his

trainer, 70-year-old Julio Canani, who has saddled three Breeders’ Cup winners

during a 37-year career that has seen his runners earn over $40 million.

“I don’t got the (Kentucky Derby) fever,” the Peruvian-born Canani excitedly

told the Daily Racing Form after The Pamplemousse effortlessly worked six furlongs

in 1:12 2/5 on a recent morning. “Did you see that?” he exclaimed. “Look at him. He

was just galloping. Thank God I don’t got the fever.”

The Pamplemousse, who has earned $89,280 from his four starts and ranks

among the leading contenders for the Santa Anita Derby, drew post position No. 5

for the Sham, named for the winner of the 1973 Santa Anita Derby and which will be

contested for the ninth time. Giacomo ran third in the 2005 Sham in route to his

dramatic Kentucky Derby upset.

Todd Pletcher, the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer who gained his

first Triple Crown victory with Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont Stakes, has

shipped Take the Points to Santa Anita to take on The Pamplemousse on Saturday.

Take the Points, who broke his maiden in the mud at Belmont Park last

September before winning an allowance event at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31, will be

racing over a synthetic surface for the first time with Garrett Gomez named to ride.

“He trains like he’ll handle it,” Pletcher said of the gray colt owned by

Starlight Partners and sired in Kentucky by Even the Score. “If he runs well, he can

come back in the Santa Anita Derby.”

THE PICKS FROM THIS CORNER: The Pamplemousse, Ventana

SHAM S.-GIII, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Hi Flyin Indy A.P. Indy Quinonez 116
2 Smart Bid Smart Strike Bejarano 118
3 Tiz True Tiznow Gryder 116
4 Lifeline Pulpit T Baze 116
5 The Pamplemousse Kafwain Solis 118
6 Balfour Park Mutakddim Blanc 116
7 Mr. Hot Stuff Tiznow Nakatani 116
8 Bourbon Bay Sligo Bay (Ire) Rosario 116
9 Ventana Toccet Rios 116
10 Mark S the Cooler Johar Talamo 116
11 Unbridled Roman Roman Dancer Smith 116
12 Take the Points Even the Score Gomez 118

CANADIAN-BREDS IN CANADIAN TURF

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
CANADIAN TURF S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 1mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Rogue Victory Victory Gallop Douglas 116
2 Sporting Art Doneraile Court Desormeaux 122
3 Hey Byrn Put It Back Velasquez 122
4 Buffalo Man El Prado (Ire) Coa 122
5 Delightful Kiss Kissin Kris Borel 122
6 Passager (Fr) Anabaa Prado 120
7 Vanquisher Gulch Garcia 120
8 Just As Well A.P. Indy Leparoux 118
9 Twilight Meteor Smart Strike Velazquez 120
10 Bujagali Johannesburg Trujillo 116
11 Buddy's Humor Distorted Humor Lezcano 120

STYMIE HANDICAP
Canadian owned True Resurgence a contender

Donna and Verne Dubinsky's TRUE RESURGENCE is surging into a top older

horse in New York right now. Back at Aqueduct after a failed run in the Hal's Hope

at Gulfstream, the colt is trained by John Terranova.

The Dubinsky's own DONVER STABLE and they are from western Canada.

Canadian champion JUDITH'S WILD RUSH, who seemingly has been racing

forever, is also in the field.

FROM BLOOD-HORSE
FIVE-CROSS FILES BLOG
by Scot Gillier

Ascot Stud Offer Motivates Breeders

I enjoyed a nice phone chat late last week with Chris Blake of Ascot Stud in Ontario,

Canada. I had called him to discuss the farm's unusual incentive plan for breeders, as

part of my research for an upcoming issue of MarketWatch. He chatted with me for

several minutes about the program, which actually pays the owners of "solid,

hard-knocking mares" to be bred by the farm's Clifton Park (pedigree), a stallion

entering stud service in 2009.

Blake told me that the stallion's owner committed to "thinking outside the box" to

introduce Clifton Park in his first year at stud. "We asked ourselves what can we do

to maximize his strength and get the best book possible," Blake remembers. Ascot

Stud researched "what the big markets are doing as far as incentives" and tried to

emulate the innovations seen elsewhere. Blake liked the idea of offering cash rewards

to breeders who patronized a stallion in his first year, and was committed to improving

on that type of offering. The answer was: offer a "guaranteed incentive" to the owners

of broodmares that would likely improve Clifton Park's success as a first-year sire.

Instead of offering a cash payout to the breeder of the first Clifton Park foal to break

his maiden or to win a stakes, the owners of all mares accepted to the stallion's book

will receive a "reverse stud fee" of $1,000 to $5,000 (once the foal has been

vet-certified as "stands and nurses"). Read about Ascot Stud's Breeders' Incentive

Program for Clifton Park.

Blake admits that the current economic climate has "put a dent into how well the

program could've done," but he is certain that the net effect has been a larger and

much higher-class book than Clifton Park might otherwise have attracted as a

first-year stud in Ontario. The stallion's book is already halfway to the goals set by

the farm and the stud's owner.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/scot/archive/2009/02/23/ascot-stud-clifton-park-offer

-motivates-breeders.aspx

FORT ERIE - SITTING, WAITING
Province of Ontario holds the key...

story from Niagara Falls Review...

Fewer owners willing to commit to Fort Erie Race Track
Posted By RAY SPITERI, REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Posted 44 mins ago

As the clock keeps ticking on the Fort Erie Race Track's future, the number of

horsemen willing to work there is shrinking, says the president of the Ontario

Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

"We're losing horses every day, so every day we lose we have one less trainer, one

less owner, one less horse to ... make a competitive meet that the public is going to

accept as being viable to wager on," said Sue Leslie.

"Every day we wait, we jeopardize the quality of the meet and ... income that the

horsemen and the race track are going to realize in terms of wagering dollars."

The fate of the Fort Erie Race Track is mired in limbo.

read the rest...
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1452483

QUICK SCAN

2009-02-25T08:17:00.005-05:00

The YOUTH movement will begin today when the field is drawn for the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES on Saturday at GUlfstream.

Get the gang together and head out to your favourite teletheatre (WEGZ is a good one in Toronto) to watch some good racing on Saturday.

For more on the race, see yesterday's post.

FUN STUFF

Testing out the new scanner (and some old memories) at THOROUGHBLOG....

Favourite photos -

Top: That's yours truly mauling a Queen's Plate winner only hours after he won it - MARKET CONTROL (Pudgy) owned by David and 'Bud' Willmot.
(1987!)

Right - A loving moment, Brad Nicholds and Play the King at Churchill Downs, 1988

REMEMBER when the GLOBE & MAIL had selections?
This was my first day on the job, April, 1987

CANADIAN BREDS ELSEWHERE

COLEBROOK FARMS and trainer ASHLEE BRNJAS celebrated another win at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday when KING'S HIGHWAY won his maiden for $50,000 claiming at 1 1/16 miles. The Kentucky bred by Mizzen Mast was up to win by a neck at 5 to 2.

HERO OF THE NORTH is an Ontario bred by Minstrel Dancer our of I Am Amazing by Fast Play, foaled 5 years ago at Bruno Schickedanz's farm. The horse won for $5,000 claiming by 11 1/2 lengths on Monday at 17 to 1. He is owned by Ed Govang and Anthony Ralph.

On that same night ESKIMO KISS won for $15,000 claiming for Adam Sobczak. The Ontario bred by Ascot Knight - Key Brokerette, Key to the Mint won by 11 lengths as well - at 14 to 1.

Yesterday at Mountaineer, STELLARTON, Randy Regent-Amy's Falcon by Maria's Mon, won a $5,000 claiming by 3 3/4 lengths for Outlaws and Angels Inc. The Ontario bred 4yo filly was born at Colebrook Farms.

In race 8 , NO GRUMBLING (Compadre-Sleek Prospector, Geiger Counter) won a non-winners of 3 for $10,000 claiming by 1/2 a length at 9 to 2.
The 5yo gelding is owned by MIKE NEWELL and JIM VETERE.

SELVA WINS

Canadian stakes winner SELVA won the Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds yesterday. A Kentucky bred 3yo filly with 3 wins in 5 strats, Selva won the Glorious Song Stakes last year at Woodbine.
She has a Canadian-bred 2yo half-brother named STYNER, who was a $90,000 yearling purchase by Terry Hamilton from the Woodbine sale last year.

H.B.P.A. CLARIFIES
and is still fighting each day to work out a Fort Erie solution

As posted yesterday on its website and on THOROUGHBLOG, the Ontario division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has clarified the events in recent days in which Nordic Gaming's release about Fort Erie racetrack featured "misleading" information.

Local papers have erroneously reported that the town of Fort Erie's offer was "withdrawn" - not the case.

Read below from the H.B.P.A.

For Clarification:

* The HBPA has been fully apprised and engaged in all negotiations.
* The HBPA fully supports the steps and position taken by the EDTC.
* The rhetoric coming out of Nordic is at best, misleading.
* The EDTC did NOT withdraw the offer. The offer made to Nordic had an 11am on Monday February 23rd deadline. Nordic failed to respond by that deadline.
* The Province is the key to the ongoing success at Fort Erie. The Province & our regulator, the ORC, are fully apprised of the developments.
* Negotiations among all parties will continue and are ongoing as we speak

We, the horsepeople, and particularly, right now, the Fort Erie horsepeople are amazingly committed. You are resilient, proud and dedicated to both our industry and especially to the horses. Now, you have also demonstrated incredible patience.

We can’t promise the final outcome of Fort Erie, but we can promise the effort to save Fort Erie will be fought to the bitter end. I personally, will not be deterred or intimidated by criticism, public posturing, or set backs such as yesterdays.

Please continue to refer to our website.

Respectfully yours,

Sue Leslie
President

DUBAI TOMORROW MORNING

Only a week before SUPER THURSDAY and a month until WORLD CUP night and tomorrow, some horses are back to prep for big engagements.

ARCHIPENKO, a troubled 2nd in the Arlington Million last year, is in the Zabeel Mile against Kelso Stakes winner TAM LIN.

In the listed $250,000 UAE Oaks at 1 1/8 miles, So Shiny will face most of the same fillies she beat in the Guineas three weeks ago including the Dance Brightly filly SOS BRILLANT.

MINE THAT BIRD IS BACK
New trainer, New Mexico for Canadian champion

Borderland Derby
February 28, $100,000, 3yo, 11⁄16m, Sunland Park, 4:55 PM MT
PP Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Hoya Cat Thief Ken S. Tohill 122 Chris A. Hartman
2. Tiz Believing Tiznow Joe A. Martinez 118 H. Ray Ashford Jr.
3. Mine That Bird Birdstone Casey T. Lambert 122 Bennie L. Woolley Jr.
4. Hornung Speightstown Alejandro Medellin 116 Steven M. Asmussen
5. Scorewithcater Even the Score Alonso Quinonez 120 Doug F. O’Neill
6. Lefty Who Quinton’s Gold Carlos D. Madeira 122 Joel H. Marr
7. Smokin’ Legend Smoke Glacken Jorge Espitia 118 O. Dwain Grissom
8. Dumar Maria’s Mon Luis Contreras 118 Steven M. Asmussen
9. Infernal Sir Cherokee Mark Anthony Villa 116 Bart G. Hone

TRACKMASTER LINK

Get solid information on betting from Trackmaster ( see link on my sidebar at the right)

Here's a recent post about BETTING THE PICK 6

Can a Minnow beat the Whales? - Trackmaster

Since there have been quite a few large Pick Six carryover days at tracks across the country in recent months, I wanted to revisit some tips from an article Trackmaster published years ago. This is an updated version that will hopefully help you successfully tackle the Pick Six and other multi-leg wagers.

Why? Why Not!

How can a small time player beat the big syndicates at the Pick Six game? The answer is that it's very tough, but on certain days it is definitely worth the risk. The syndicates have a big bankroll, the ability to "buy" a race and in some cases large rebates to aid their cause. Us little guys have to use savvy handicapping and intelligent strategies to cash in for all of the marbles. Let's face it; a big Pick Six score is really the only way the average bettor is going to make a killing at the track in a single year. So why not give it a shot, especially when there are big carryover days like there have been in recent months.

Two (or more) Heads Are Better Than One

As I am sure you have heard before, it is better to have part of a larger ticket than to play a ticket on your own. Even if you can't play tickets as large as the "big boys," it is a good idea to pool your money together with other players. The more combinations played, the better the chance of cashing.

One of the drawbacks to betting together is that there may be races where different handicappers have varied opinions and covering all of the possibilities is just too costly. The solution is to have one person in charge of taking everyone's opinion and constructing the Pick Six ticket. Most groups have a "chief" handicapper that everyone else respects to handle this job. Trust me, it's not an easy task, so make sure to choose someone who can handle the pressure. If you don't like the idea of being bothered with the choices of others, get friends or family who know nothing about the races to go in on the Pick Six with you. Selling them on the hopes of a big score can make it hard for them to resist the desire to invest along with you.

One of the benefits to having a handicapping group is that the brainstorming that goes on can lead to some inspired selections. Stating the case for certain choices and making the case against others, strengthens the process of putting tickets together. It's a tough chore for one person to come up with all six winners. Many times a horse that was playable by someone else is the key to having that last winner that you missed by playing on your own.

If you still insist on betting by yourself on your own, then it is a good idea to take a look at a reputable selection service. Purchasing one of the TrackMaster Selections products is a great way to shore up your own handicapping or possibly even gain insight to a contender that you would have otherwise overlooked.

Check out the rest at Trackmaster (see link on my sidebar)

FLAP, JACK

2009-02-24T07:51:00.004-05:00

Today...Pancake Tuesday! Fountain of Youth Stakes coming up...but more unsettling FORT ERIE NEWS...

UPDATE - 2:35 P.M.
from the Ontario H.B.P.A....

The breakdown of negotiations yesterday regarding the purchase of Fort Erie Racetrack from Nordic was disappointing, but not entirely a surprise to all of us involved in the process.

For Clarification:

The HBPA has been fully apprised and engaged in all negotiations.
The HBPA fully supports the steps and position taken by the EDTC.
The rhetoric coming out of Nordic is at best, misleading.
The EDTC did NOT withdraw the offer. The offer made to Nordic had an 11am on Monday February 23rd deadline. Nordic failed to respond by that deadline.
The Province is the key to the ongoing success at Fort Erie. The Province & our regulator, the ORC, are fully apprised of the developments.
Negotiations among all parties will continue and are ongoing as we speak

We, the horsepeople, and particularly, right now, the Fort Erie horsepeople are amazingly committed. You are resilient, proud and dedicated to both our industry and especially to the horses. Now, you have also demonstrated incredible patience.

We can’t promise the final outcome of Fort Erie, but we can promise the effort to save Fort Erie will be fought to the bitter end. I personally, will not be deterred or intimidated by criticism, public posturing, or set backs such as yesterdays.

Please continue to refer to our website.

Respectfully yours,

Sue Leslie
President

THE CURIOUS CASE OF FORT ERIE RACETRACK

In another bizarre turn in the story of the fate of Fort Erie racetrack, Nordic Gaming put out a press release yesterday making the city of Fort Erie look like the bad guys this time.

The press release said the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. had "withdrawn" its offer to buy the track. The city says that is not the case - a deadline has expired.

(On Feb. 13, the Ontario Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said a plan was presented to Nordic to offer a non-refundable down payment for the purchase of Fort Erie racetrack from Nordic Gaming, $2.25 million, along with EDTC.)

First up, yesterday's NORDIC RELEASE....

Nordic Gaming Corporation / Elad Canada, the owner and operator of the Fort Erie Race Track, has been working with both the Town of Fort Erie and the Province of Ontario, as well as other stakeholders, for the past several years to move forward with a proposal to revitalize the Town of Fort Erie as a major tourist destination and in so doing, generate sufficient population to operate a profitable racetrack.

More recently, Elad has been working with the Town of Fort Erie , in addition to the Province and other stakeholders, to ensure that live racing would continue in Fort Erie for the 2009 racing season. It was within this context that a proposal was made by the local Economic Development and Tourism Corporation (EDTC) to work with the Province to purchase the Fort Erie Race Track.

On Friday, February 20, 2009 the EDTC presented Elad with a very lengthy offer that contained a myriad of conditions that from both an economic and performance perspective were non achievable and unacceptable. In addition, the only condition that Elad had previously placed on an offer, which would have ensured live racing for 2009, was not fully satisfied. While Elad was prepared to continue negotiating with the EDTC to arrive at an agreement on both the shortfall and the conditions that the EDTC attached to the offer that it presented on Friday afternoon, on Monday, February 23, 2009, Elad Canada was informed by email that in fact, the EDTC was withdrawing its offer to purchase the Race Track.

While it is unfortunate that there will be no agreement to purchase between the EDTC and Elad, Elad and Nordic continue to believe in the importance of the Fort Erie Race Track both to the local community and the Province as a whole. In that regard, the Company will continue to work diligently to try and find a commercially viable solution to ensure the Race Track’s long-term survival.

In today's ST. CATHERINES STANDARD....

EXCERPT:

Owners won't sell to EDTC
Posted By JOHN ROBBINS, SUN MEDIA
Posted 44 mins ago

The fate of the Fort Erie Race Track is up in the air once again.

In a surprising development Monday, Nordic Gaming/El-Ad Canada Inc., owner and operator of the track, issued a statement saying an offer to buy the 111-year-old border oval by the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp. had been withdrawn and that "there will be no agreement to purchase."

The statement contained few clues as to what had happened between the parties, other than to say a revised offer submitted by the EDTC Friday "contained a myriad of conditions that from both an economic and performance perspective were non-achievable and unacceptable."

A spokesman for the company could not be reached for comment Monday evening.

However, EDTC general manager Jim Thibert said his agency did not withdraw its offer to buy the track for $35 million.

"I can tell you, we're not too pleased," said Thibert.

"First of all, the word withdrawn is not a correct connotation. We provided an offer with a response time ... and they failed to meet it, so the offer expired."

Read the rest...

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1448835

BIG TALK FOR PATENA
in tomorrow's DAILY RACING FORM

Patena is scheduled to make his first start for Dutrow in the Louisiana Derby. A son of Seeking the Gold, he was purchased privately by IEAH Stables after his second-place finish behind Friesan Fire in the Fair Grounds' Grade 3 LeComte.

"He's been improving from the day he got here right up to today," said Dutrow. "I didn't ask a lot of him in his first couple of works, but we asked him today and he showed up. He passed the test. And if he keeps passing the tests, there's no reason why he shouldn't run big in the Louisiana Derby."

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH STAKES

Do you have a favourite race?

Some folks have a favourite race - an event they never miss (other than the big ones like the Derby, Preakness etc.).
It could be the Santa Anita Handicap, the Travers Stakes...anything.

Yours truly has been a FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH fan for years.

My first one I attended - 1984 when DARN THAT ALARM went wire-to-wire to win. In just a few years, I was working at the racetrack for KINGHAVEN FARMS, thanks to Darn That Alarm.

It has been 15 years since Thunder Gulch parlayed a Fountain of Youth win into a Kentucky Derby win (1995) and Mike Smith rode that day for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Some good horses have won the 1 1 /16 - 1 1/8 mile race over the years - Pulpit, Forty Niner, Bet Twice - but now that the race is a ONE-TURN MILE, is may not have any impact on the 10 furlong, two-turn Derby in May.

But the field is expected to be interesting esepcially since the leading names have HUGE BEYER SPEED FIGURES.

THIS ONE'S FOR PHIL, the subject of an Andy Beyer story in the DRF/Washington Post based on his miraculos 116 Beyer win in the Sunshine Millions, his first start for Rick Dutrow Jr; NOTONTHESAMEPAGE ran like a wild horse when he won the Spectacular Bid Stakes with a 114 BEYER SPEED FIGURE and New York invader TAQARUB, who has a 103 Beyer Figure form his latest,

All 3 are fast, fast, fast.

Also expected is BREAK WATER EDISON, CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN, BEETHOVEN and JACK SPRAT.

FORTY NINER IN 1988 - from Bryan3229 at YouTube.com

SLUMMIN

2009-02-23T08:25:00.003-05:00

UPDATE...FORT ERIE NEWS..

Courtesy Daryl Wells Jr./Fort Erie racetrack

Economic Development and Tourism Corporation - Fort Erie (EDTC) -

WITHDRAWS OFFER to Purchase the Fort Erie Racetrack:

Nordic Gaming Corporation / Elad Canada, the owner and operator of the Fort Erie Race Track, has been working with both the Town of Fort Erie and the Province of Ontario, as well as other stakeholders, for the past several years to move forward with a proposal to revitalize the Town of Fort Erie as a major tourist destination and in so doing, generate sufficient population to operate a profitable racetrack.

More recently, Elad has been working with the Town of Fort Erie , in addition to the Province and other stakeholders, to ensure that live racing would continue in Fort Erie for the 2009 racing season. It was within this context that a proposal was made by the local Economic Development and Tourism Corporation (EDTC) to work with the Province to purchase the Fort Erie Race Track.

On Friday, February 20, 2009 the EDTC presented Elad with a very lengthy offer that contained a myriad of conditions that from both an economic and performance perspective were non achievable and unacceptable. In addition, the only condition that Elad had previously placed on an offer, which would have ensured live racing for 2009, was not fully satisfied. While Elad was prepared to continue negotiating with the EDTC to arrive at an agreement on both the shortfall and the conditions that the EDTC attached to the offer that it presented on Friday afternoon, on Monday, February 23, 2009, Elad Canada was informed by email that in fact, the EDTC was withdrawing its offer to purchase the Race Track.

While it is unfortunate that there will be no agreement to purchase between the EDTC and Elad, Elad and Nordic continue to believe in the importance of the Fort Erie Race Track both to the local community and the Province as a whole. In that regard, the Company will continue to work diligently to try and find a commercially viable solution to ensure the Race Track’s long-term survival.

TROUBLED ROUTE

Florida was not the place to be for Canadians on the weekend with several suffering bad trips.

SPICE ROUTE, the stakes winner owned by Harlequin Ranches and trained by Roger Attfield, was trapped and steadied at a crucial part of the MacDiarmida Stakes and closed too late to be 3rd behind a very game winner, PRESIOUS PASSION.

Earlier on the card, the Catherine Day Phillips trainee ALTONA ROAD, 10 to 1 in a maiden allowance race on the grass, stumbled and checked and had little chance to make an impact.

The Gulfstream turf course, which has come under scrutiny lately, claimed another horse on Saturday - odds- on favourite REV IT UP RHONDA broke down on the backstretch during race 5, a starter allowance.

On Sunday at Gulfstream, Attfield and Harlequin Ranches had more bad luck as champion turf mare in Canada of 2008, CALLWOOD DANCER, was eased when last in the The Very One Stakes.

At Tampa, Attfield=trainee SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN, had the lead late again but once again, was caught. This time it was in the Tampa Bay Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The 6yo Not Impossible stakes winner was nabbed by a neck and a nose by 30 to 1 shot Victory Alled and 3 to 1 Classic Campaign, both of whom came from farther back off the pace.
Robert Landry rode Society's Chairman.

JAMBALAYA, VAN LEAR ROSE UPDATE
from Gulfstream barn notes

Kingfield Racing Stable’s Grade 1-winner Jambalaya has seen the timetable for his return from his 16-month-long injury pushed back again and will not be ready in time for the $150,000 Canadian Turf Stakes (G3) next Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Trainer Catherine Day-Phillips said the 7-year-old, winner of the 2007 Gulfstream Park Turf (G1) and Arlington Million (G1), has not progressed enough in his training this winter in South Florida.

“Unfortunately, we’re forced to go by his schedule,” said Day-Phillips Saturday. “He’s just not coming together as quickly as I would have hoped.”

Jambalaya, a gelded son of 9LANGFUHR (PRESS RELEASE SAYS Dynaformer) emerged from his win in the Arlington Million with a deep bone bruise. He was working toward a return last winter in Florida, but was hampered by a pulled muscle in his hind end. He had been working steadily until the last two weeks this winter and was not nominated to the Canadian Turf last Saturday.

Day-Phillips also pointed out her family’s 3-year-old filly Van Lear Rose, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Oct. 24 at Santa Anita, is back in training.

“She’s just getting back going,” she said. “I’m not sure she can be ready for anything at this meet … maybe something at the tail end. If not, we’ll get her back (to Woodbine) and go from there.”

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

PATENA MAKES WORKTAB

The process of training Canadian-owned PATENA for the Louisiana Derby has been slow and steady but the Seeking the Gold colt posted a faster workout yesterday at Gulfstream - 1:14.40 for 6 furlongs.

Now trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., Patena is a Kentucky Derby hopeful recently sold (70%) to IEAH by John and Glenn Sikura and Dominic Dilalla.

The colt had been working very slowly in recent weeks in his first few preps for his new trainer.

BEAR'S ROCKET readies for Tampa Bay Derby with a 1:01/60 work at Palm Meadows training centre yesterday. Second in the Holy BUll Stakes with a 97 Beyer Figure, Bear's Rocket is owned by Bear Stable and trained by Reade Baker. He is a Kentucky bred by Lion Heart.

PRETTY KATHERINE (Vindication) is a Canadian-bred who was nominated for stakes at Woodbine last year and there is stilla chance she can hit the Toronto track in 2009.
The filly just won on Friday at GOLDEN GATE FIELDS in a 6 furlong allowance race with a 71 Beyer Figure for co-owner, breeder John Sikura.
Her trainer JERRY HOLLENDORFER apparently has been granted stalls at Woodbine.

UTMOST RESPECT should be getting a lot of that these days - he won his 5th consecutive race at Charles Town yesterday, with an 82 Beyer Figure. The 7yo by Numerous-Buxton Spice by Bold Ruckus was bred by Monshall Farms.
Today, the gelding races for $8,000 claiming.He loves to win too - he has 14 victoris from 56 career races and 12 other top three placings.

NOFUNATHOME won a non-winners of 4 lifetime at Mountaineer yesterday for owner/trainer MIKE NEWELL. The 4yo filly is by Cat's at Home out of Runaway Babe by Blushing John. She won for $5,000 claiming by 5 3/4 lengths.

In race 3 at the Mountain yesterday, WALL STREET DAVE, an Ontario-bred by Kinshasa - Simply Wild, by Wild Again won for $5,000 claiming by 9 lengths at 9 to 2.

Ontario-bred MOLLI DAY (Harlan's Holidau-Mollywaki, by Miswaki) repelled Ontario bred SPICEY DISH to win a $5,000claiming race at Mountaineer on Saturday. Owned by Six Brothers Stable and trained by Robert Johnston, Molli Day was 3 to 1 for the one mile race.

CREASE INFRACTION, at age 11, raced for trainer Anthony Adamo on Friday and was third for $14,000 claiming with a 77 Beyer Figure.

LANE'S END STAKES NOMINEES
includes many local horses

ACTIVE DUTY (Ontario bred g. by Deputy Commander)
BEAR'S PROSPECTOR - owned by Bear Stables, trained by Reade Baker
BEAR'S CONDUCTOR - owned by Bear Stable, trained by Reade Baker
BEAR'S ROCKET - owned by Bear Stable, trained by Reade Baker
PATENA - co-owned by John and Glenn Sikura, Centenntial Farms
SHAFTED - trained by Mark Casse

LET LOOSE

2009-02-21T11:03:00.004-05:00

SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN at Tampa

Canadian-bred SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN (Not Impossible) should be very tough to beat at Tampa today for the Tampa Bay Stakes, worth $150,000. Owned by Charles Fipke, the 6yo horse comes off a near miss in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream when he led late.
He meets tough ones like Atoned and Classic Campaign today.
Canadian-bred ARCHERS ALYANCER is also in the race for trainer John Simms.

AT GULFSTREAM, Harlequin Ranches' Spice Route has been within two lengths of the winner in every one of his five North American turf starts, and enters this off a game nose score over Soldier's Dancer (Lost Soldier) in the Dec. 6 GIII Tropical Turf H. at Calder. The chestnut gelding was also second in the GI Canadian International S. going a mile and a half and third in the GII Sky Classic S. at the Mac Diarmida trip at Woodbine last October. Edgar Prado gets the mount.

(photo, Spice Route at Woodbine from www.-horse-races.net)

February 21, $150,000, 4yo & up, 13⁄8mT, Gulfstream Park, 5:14 PM ET
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Finallymadeit Concerto SD Eduardo O. Nunez 120 Javier Negrete
2. Silver Mountain Victory Gallop Pascacio Lopez 116 Thomas F. Proctor
3. Spice Route (GB) King’s Best Edgar S. Prado 120 Roger L. Attfield
4. Summer Patriot Unbridled’s Song SD Eibar Coa 120 Barclay Tagg
5. Quasicobra Wild Rush Julien R. Leparoux 118 Dale L. Romans
6. Always First (GB) Barathea (Ire) Rene R. Douglas 122 Thomas H. Voss
7. Slambino Grand Slam SD Cornelio H. Velasquez 116 Frank A. Alexander
8. Imawildandcrazyguy Wild Event Manoel R. Cruz 120 William A. Kaplan
9. Baltimore Bob Malibu Moon Jose Lezcano 118 Helen Pitts
10. Mr. Sidney Storm Cat Kent J. Desormeaux 118 William I. Mott
11. Phil the Power Red Bullet SD Eibar Coa 120 Joseph F. Orseno
12. Presious Passion Royal Anthem Elvis Trujillo 122 Mary Hartmann

CANADIAN-OWNED YANKEE BRAVO back

Saturday, Santa Anita, post time: 2:03 p.m. PT
SAN CARLOS H.-GII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 7f
PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY ODDS

1 Star Nicholas King Max Farms/Mostero Family Trust P Cristofi & B Nugent (Ca) Eurton/ 12-1
(g, 6, Poteen--Viznaga, by Royal Roberto) M Baze

2 Halo Najib Zayat Stables LLC John S Scott (Fl) Mitchell/ 5-1
(c, 4, Halo’s Image--Najibe’s Wish, by Sword Dance {Ire}) Bejarano

3 Yankee Bravo Bienstock/Winner/Harlequin Racing T Burberry & B Hay (Ky) Gallagher/ 15-1
(c, 4, Yankee Gentleman--Vickey Jane, by Royal Academy) Solis

4 Past the Point Darley Stable Sequel 2001 (Ky) Harty/ 4-1

(r, 5, Indian Charlie--Bit of the Bubbly, by A.P. Indy) Rosario

5 Georgie Boy George Schwary George Schwary (Ca) Walsh/ 3-5
(g, 4, Tribal Rule--Ippodamia, by Peterhof) Gomez

6 Mutadda Andrena Van Doren Andrena Van Doren (Ky) Amoss/ 6-1
(h, 5, Mutakddim--Carita Tostada {Chi}, by Gallantsky) Talamo

STERWINS HAS GOOD COMEBACK
top Canadian-bred from 2008

Canadian-bred STERWINS, owned by Eugene Melnyk finished 2nd in a tough allowance race on the grass at Fair Grounds yesterday in what may be a prep for the upcoming Mervin Muniz Stakes.

Sterwins hadn't raced since finishing second in the Grade III Eclipse in June at Woodbine.

"That's a good comeback race for sure,'' trainer Malcolm Pierce said of Sterwins' performance to the TIMES PICAYUNE newspaper.

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

BAHIA GIRL, an Ontario bred by new ONtario sire SLIGO BAY, won an allowance race yesterday at Gulfstream at 7 to 1 for Stronach Stables and trainer Brian Lynch.
The 4yo is out of a Quest for Fame mare and she led most of the way to win the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:41.93.

CLASSIC FRANCESCO, a 7yo Ontario bred by Bold 'n Flashy out of She's Impressive by Regal Classic won a $16,000 claiming race at Charles Town yesterday. He is owned by Webb Stable.

(Former Woodbine runner PANTS N KISSES also won on the card - he is a 9yo now with tons of back class. He was winning for $4,000 claiming at odds-on yesterday.)

HOTTEST SIRE IN THE WORLD?
UNBRIDLED'S SONG is one of them

ONE CAROLINE is 4 for 4 in her career after her win in the Sabin Stakes yesterday at Gulfstream and the 4yo became the 76th STAKES WINNER for Unbridled's Song, wh stands at Taylor Made in Kentucky.

Unbridled's Song has 2 grey 3yo's on the Derby trail in Old Fashioned and Dunkirk (see yesterday's post) plus the Breeders' Cup champ MIDSHIPMAN.

(then and now...this first photo is Unbridled's Song when he first entered stud...)

This year's stakes winners are:

Horse Age/Sex/Stakes Broodmare Sire Stakes Race (Grade if Applicable; Date of Race)

OLD FASHIONED 3yo, C, 2009 SW Meadowlake Remsen S. (g. II; 11/29/2008)
Southwest S. (g. III; 2/16/2009)

(and Now....this is what he looks like today, oh yes, he stands for $125,000)

HONEST MAN 5yo, H, 2009 SW Known Fact Philip H. Iselin S. (g. III; 8/16/2008)
Mineshaft H. (g. III; 2/7/2009)

ONE CAROLINE 4yo, F, 2009 SW Broad Brush Sabin S. (g. III; 2/20/2009)

CLASSIFY 5yo, M, 2009 SW Olympio Dr. A. B. Leggio Memorial S. (1/10/2009)
Tellike S. (5/3/2008)

SILVER CITY 3yo, C, 2009 SW Mt. Livermore Dixieland S. (1/16/2009)
2nd Southwest S. (g. III; 2/16/2009)

AWESOME ASHLEY 5yo, M, 2009 SW Lyphard Plankton S. (1/9/2009)
3rd Get Lucky S. (2/4/2009)

INSPIRATIONAL

2009-02-20T08:03:00.003-05:00

(don't listen to the audio with the video, it doesn't match by the halfway mark!, found on YouTube.com)

LET THE CROWNING BEGIN
DUNKIRK ROMPS, 98 BEYER FIGURE

In just his 2nd career start, Dunkirk won an allowance race at Gulfstream even though he raced at least a quarter of a mile farther than any other 3yo colt in the field.

The $3.7 million yearling purchase, a grey by Unbridled's Song out of Secret Status earned a 98 Beyer Figure following his 78 Beyer from his debut win.

Ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez - who flew in from California to ride him - Dunkirk was in the 6 path around the first turn of the 1 1/8 mile race and lost an incredible amount of ground.

The colt never saw the inside but edged up 3 and 4 wide the rest of the way before drawing off into the stretch to score by 4 3/4 lengths.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has said the next start for the Smith, Magnier, Tabor colt would be the March 28 Florida Derby, making it his third and final start before the Kentucky Derby.

On forums and in chats last night, there were people who were exclaiming that Dunkirk was the Derby winner.

Let the discussions begin.

CANADIAN-BRED WELL POSITIONED works

One of the much talked about 3yo's to start the Gulfstream meet was Canadian-bred WELL POSITIONED.

A smart winner of his maiden in New York with a 91 Beyer Figure.

The Awesome Again colt, however, was blasted in his 3yo debut at Gulfstream.

From DAILY RACING FORM...

"In retrospect, I probably should have taken another few weeks before starting him," Reynolds said. "Sometimes, Awesome Agains need a little longer to get to the bottom, and he still needs a little extra tweaking. But there's too much horse there to give up on. The way he broke his maiden wasn't a mirage. You'll see him here again before the end of the meet."

WELL POSITIONED is not, however, currently eligible for the QUEEN'S PLATE.

WHO HATH MY FOOD?

One of the first babies by Woodbine Mile (Gr1) winner SHAKESPEARE is this smart colt, born Feb. 4 at Norse Ridge Farm in King, Ontario.

The colt is owned by Frank Justice and is out of the Gone West mare Violent Beauty.

MORE TRACK PROBLEMS
TURFWAY CANCELS

EXCERPT FROM THOROUGHBRED TIMES...

by Frank Angst

Citing cold weather and wind, Turfway Park canceled its final six races on Thursday after a breakdown in the third race that sent jockey Erin Wilkinson to the hospital.

The Northern Kentucky track cited wind chill temperatures in its decision to cancel the remainder of the card. According to weather.com, the temperature for Thursday afternoon was 24 degrees but there was a steady wind of 24 miles per hour with 32 mile per hour gusts for a wind chill of 9 degrees.

The cancellation decision followed the third race breakdown of Kays Kitty Cat. The five-year-old mare fell while turning for home in the six-furlong maiden claiming race. The state veterinarian reports Kays Kitty Cat was euthanized on the track.

Turfway said Erin Wilkinson, who was riding Kays Kitty Cat, was taken to a hospital by ambulance. Wilkinson’s agent was not immediately available for an update on her condition.

Turfway saw eight breakdowns on its Polytrack surface during its 21-day holiday meeting, which ended on December 31. But from January 10 to February 10, there was not a breakdown during racing.

READ THE REST AT WWW.THOROUGHBREDTIMES.COM

COMING UP TOMORROW/SUNDAY

SPICE ROUTE, a Canadian stakes winner trained by Roger Attfield, is in the MacDiarmida Stakes at Gulfstream.

Woodbine owners Rocco D'Alimonte and Frank Annecchini will have their maiden colt ALTONA ROAD (a road near Uxbridge, Ont.) in a one mile turf race today at Gulfstream.
Altona Road is trained by Catherine Day Phillips

In a dirt maiden allowance, Ontario bred MUFASA CAT goes for Bru-Mel Stable and trainer Alison Crook. Jim McAleney will ride.

Sunday, Gulfstream Park
THE VERY ONE S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 3/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Snow Cone Cryptoclearance Bravo 120
2 Dress Rehearsal (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Desormeaux 120
3 Lamentation (GB) Singpsiel (Ire) Douglas 116
4 Callwood Dancer (Ire) Danehill Dancer (Ire) Garcia 122
5 Lady Carlock Chester House J Bridgmohan 122
6 Sea Chanter War Chant Velazquez 122
7 Backseat Rhythm El Corredor Coa 122
8 Leap in the Sun Anees Trujillo 116
9 Criticism (GB) Machiavellian Prado 122
10 High Heel Sneakers (GB) Dansili (GB) Velasquez 120
11 Long Approach Broad Brush Leparoux 116
12 Lookalike Dynaformer Lezcano 116
13 Avie=s Tale Tale of the Cat Marquez 118
14 Laguna Plateada (Chi) Sir Cat Baird 120

ALEX BROWN FEATURED IN ARKANSAS PAPER

Anti-horse slaughter advocate, excerise rider and all-round funny guy ALEX BROWN has been the subject of hundreds of stories from Toronto to the south.
Yesterday he was featured in an Arkansas paper.
Brown is headed back to Woodbine for gallop horses for Steve Asmussen again in 2009.

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/252896/

VISIT

2009-02-19T08:01:00.004-05:00

The next SUPERMAN? At right is DUNKIRK, the $3.7 million yearling from 2 years ago who make shis 2nd career start today at Gulstream Read more below (photo from www.thehorse.com)

CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

Trainer/owner SCOTT FAIRLIE won a race a Philadelphia Park yesterday with Ontario bred TALE OF THE FOX who won y 6 1/2 lengths under Woodbine jockey NA SOMSANITH.
Former Woodbine trainer MAGGIE COUSE put the saddle on the filly by Tale of the Cat-Foxy Connection.
The filly was claimed from the $20,000 claimer by trainer Scott Lake.

IN THE WORKS

Back in action at Fair Grounds are stakes winners for trainer JOSIE CARROLL - AUTHENICAT worked a sharp 5 furlongs in 1:00 3/5 yesterday and SERENADING went in 1:01. Also DANCE TO MY TUNE worked in 1:01.

AT OCALA TRAINING CENTRE, trainer CATHERINE DAY PHILLIPS was busy working a litany of Canadian breds:

ACE IN MY POCKET (ON) 34.80 b 3/13
DR. FUNKENSTEIN (ON) 34.00 b 1/13
LONG PANTS (ON) 37.00 b 10/13
MR. FORICOS TWO U (ON) 37.20 b 11/13
NO MORE TEARS (ON) 35.80 b 7/13
QUIET APPROVAL (ON) 34.00 b 1/13
RACE THE BREEZE (ON) 36.40 b 8/13
SELEMBAO (ON) 35.60 b 5/13
SHORT SHORTS (ON) 37.20 b 11/13
SPORTLEY (ON) 34.80 b 3/13
STAND STRONG (ON) 35.60 b 5/13
TRUE JEAN (ON) 37.60 b 13/13

ALL EYES ON DUNKIRK
today at Gulftream, Gomez flies in to ride colt!

DUNKIRK, yet another Kentucky Derby grey prospect by Unbridled's Song, makes his 2nd career start in a 9 furlong allowance at Gulfstream today, a loaded field of lightly raced 3yo prospects.

Dunkirk, the $3.7-million saletopper at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale, will face winners for the first time in a 11⁄8-mile allowance event, carded as
the eighth race. Post time is scheduled for 4:42 p.m. EST.

Garrett Gomez will fly in from Southern California to pilot Dunkirk, who cruised to a 53⁄4-length win under Edgar Prado in his debut on January 24 at Gulfstream Park.

He earned a 78 BEYER SPEED FIGURE.

Gomez picked up the mount on the colt out of 2000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Status, by A.P. Indy, when Prado opted to stick with Alma d’Oro for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.
Alma d’Oro, by Medaglia d’Oro, scored by five lengths in a one-mile
maiden special weight race on January 15 at Gulfstream.

Handicapping the race - there are a number of possibilities in the race.
Impressive debut winner WARRIOR'S REWARD, from all reports, is an imposing equine and he was 30 to 1 for his debut that he won with an 81 Beyer Figure.
He adds Lasix off the debut win and is a son of Medaglia D'oro.

ALMA D'ORO received a 90 BEYER SPEED FIGURE for his maiden score at 1 mile at Gulfstream.

AMERICAN DANCE, by A.P. Indy, has not raced since he was 3rd in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last fall behind Old Fashioned. He is an Edward Evans homebred with an 84 Beyer from his last outing.

And in the outside post is canadian owned SAINT READE, by Pulpit, who is turf to dirt for his 2nd race of the meeting. The promising colt was 5th in the ultra-key Display Stakes last fall at Woodbine. Whos is owned by Jus Luk Stable and trainer by Reade Baker. JIM MCALENEY will ride.

FAIR GROUNDS STATS through yesterday

Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings

Steven M. Asmussen 295 58 54 40 $2,046,345
Cody Autrey 125 37 26 14 $656,204
W. Bret Calhoun 152 37 18 13 $908,601
Thomas M. Amoss 119 23 19 16 $614,650
Morris G. Nicks 89 23 7 12 $527,840
Michael Stidham 108 18 21 14 $578,595
Patrick Mouton 160 17 13 26 $705,182
J. Larry Jones 70 13 11 8 $689,730
Albert M. Stall, Jr. 90 12 11 14 $512,760
Sturges J. Ducoing 56 12 10 6 $440,112
Alvin Sider 110 11 7 13 $249,854
Merrill R. Scherer 69 11 6 6 $350,261
Steve Margolis 47 10 10 7 $372,940
William I. Mott 49 9 8 12 $429,410
Mark E. Casse 70 9 7 6 $297,750
Malcolm Pierce 51 9 5 9 $357,140

MOUNTAINEER STATS
Pion batting 50%

Douglas E. Shanyfelt 16 5 1 2 $41,649
J. Michael Baird 11 5 1 1 $52,277
Bart Baird 31 4 3 2 $36,995
Chris J. Englehart 10 4 2 0 $31,792
Robert J.W. Johnston 12 4 1 3 $28,367
Stacey Cooper 14 4 1 2 $31,856
Robert A. Pion 8 4 1 0 $25,234

DUBAI PREVIEW THIS MORNING
South Africans go for Group 2 score again

from Dubai Racing Club

Thursday’s seventh meeting of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, kindly sponsored by the Commercial Bank Of Dubai, is a nine race card featuring the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort.

Seven have been declared for the 1600m turf feature in which South African trainers are seeking a sixth win in seven years and jockey Kevin Shea is bidding to win it for a fourth consecutive year.

The South African partners Imbongi for compatriot Mike De Kock who has won the race three times, twice with Shea and saddles two this year and the jockey, says:

“It is certainly a race I have enjoyed a lot of success in and it was our win with Ipi Tombe in 2003 which really put Mike (De Kock) and I on the map here in Dubai. Imbongi ran a really nice race on his first start here and hopefully we can go close.”

De Kock also saddles Hunting Tower, the mount of Frankie Dettori, and the trainer added: “He won well first time but then only had a week between races which, in hindsight, was not long enough. I expect both to run well.”

Shea combined with Herman Brown to win this in both 2006 and 2007 with Linngari but it is John Egan in the saddle on the trainer’s Traffic Guard this year.

Runner-up to Epsom Derby winner New Approach in last year’s Irish Champion Stakes, he has had a run this carnival and Brown expects a big run: “We knew he would need his comeback and he has been going well since. These races are never easy to win but he should give a good account.”

Johnny Murtagh partners Summit Surge, a carnival winner already this year for fellow Irishman Ger Lyons and he appears the main danger to the South Africans in a race the internationals have dominated since 2002.

De Kock’s 2008 UAE Derby winner Honour Devil reappears in the Al Dana Investment Plate, a 1600m dirt conditions race with Murtagh resuming his partnership with the four-year-old who also landed the UAE 2000 Guineas last year.

COMING UP SATURDAY

Mac Diarmida S. (G2)
February 21, $150,000, 4yo & up, 13⁄8mT, Gulfstream Park, 5:14 PM ET
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Finallymadeit Concerto SD Eduardo O. Nunez 120 Javier Negrete
2. Silver Mountain Victory Gallop Pascacio Lopez 116 Thomas F. Proctor
3. Spice Route (GB) King’s Best Edgar S. Prado 120 Roger L. Attfield
4. Summer Patriot Unbridled’s Song SD Eibar Coa 120 Barclay Tagg
5. Quasicobra Wild Rush Julien R. Leparoux 118 Dale L. Romans
6. Always First (GB) Barathea (Ire) Rene R. Douglas 122 Thomas H. Voss
7. Slambino Grand Slam SD Cornelio H. Velasquez 116 Frank A. Alexander
8. Imawildandcrazyguy Wild Event Manoel R. Cruz 120 William A. Kaplan
9. Baltimore Bob Malibu Moon Jose Lezcano 118 Helen Pitts
10. Mr. Sidney Storm Cat Kent J. Desormeaux 118 William I. Mott
11. Phil the Power Red Bullet SD Eibar Coa 120 Joseph F. Orseno
12. Presious Passion Royal Anthem Elvis Trujillo 122 Mary Hartmann

NOW THIS IS A CHANNEL!

THE BLOOD-HORSE introduced the AUCTION CHANNEL yesterday and it is a super resource for looking up any horse that went through a sale in recent years.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/thoroughbred-sales

COMMENT ON POST FROM LAST SUMMER

Once in a while I get a comment on a post from a long time ago.
This note came today from a woman who saved a mare named Kristin, related to Secretariat (see the post called Speak Up last August) - not her full name, however.

Hi Jen, I was one of Kristin's "moms" and we thank you for helping publicize her plight (and by extension that of so many other forgotten horses). We miss Kristin SO much but we don't regret a moment we spent with her!

We would love to track down her foals and find out what happened to them. If anyone knows of one please email me at summerhorse.geo@yahoo.com

FAITH

2009-02-18T08:34:00.004-05:00

TERRY VELTRI, 52

On his birthday, Feb. 10, former jockey and Woodbine exercise rider TERRY VELTRI passed away.

Veltri lived his life on the track, and began his horse career as a jockey.

Once he retired from riding (he made a comeback a few years back at Fort Erie when he rode one race) he became known as one of the top exercise riders at Woodbine.

Veltri was intrumental in developing graded stakes winner THUNDER REGENT for trainer Vince Tesoro and dozens of other top runners.

His expertise was getting headstrong horses to train in controlled fashion in the mornings.

Godspeed Terry.

OCALA 2YO SALE

The most active Canadian stable at yesterday's Ocala 2yo sale was Syd Cooper's RMC STABLE, which has not been very active at sales or in racing for a few years but appears to be jumping in again.

Cooper paid $42,000 for the Canadian-bred, Ontario sired filly by Where's the Ring out of Hippicritical and $50,000 for a Kentucky bred filly by Vindication out of Chocolate Brown.

SID ATTARD paid $50,000 for a D'Wildcat Florida-bred filly out of Magic Merger

A Canadian-bred Eurosilver filly out of Basta Barbara solf for $105,000 to LRK RACING INC.

Note: The Canadian-bred Pulpit colt that was listed as sold to Centennial Farms (Niagara) for $190,000 was later sold to Centennial for $150,000.
The colt is out of Magna Cum Laude by Pleasant Tap.

The average price for the sale went from $157,000 down to $104,000.

PLANS FOR SMART SURPRISE, GOOD AND LUCKY

Trainer JOSIE CARROLL has had a whirlwind winter - a good colt in Patena sold and taken from her stable, wins in New Orleans and Florida including stakes scores and some bad news with the death of first-time starter Meli.

SMART SURPRISE and GOOD AND LUCKY, the current stars in the stable, are headed to big events according to DAILY RACING FORM:

SMART SURPRISE, a Kentucky bred, is headed to the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn and GOOD AND LUCKY, a Florida bred, could race in the Feb. 28 Gulf Coast Classic at Delta Downs and will be nominated for the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap on March 14.

CANADIAN BREDS ELSEWHERE

On the comeback trail is NIAGARA THUNDER (Hussonet), a Canadian-bred who returns to racing today for Centennial Farms (Niagara) in a turf allowance at GUlfstream.
Listed at 12 to 1 in the morning line, the colt is trained by Dom MacRae.
Also in the race is Ontario bred SOUL SPIRIT, from the Stronach Stables.

SNEAKY DEE, a grey 5yo mare by Cat's at Home out of Gray Aries by Same Direction, was a winner last night at Mountaineer for Bert Cline. The filly won for $5,000 claiming and was bred by Ontario's Buckaroo Stable (Steve Owens).

GOLD CHRYSANTHEMUM (Solomon's Decree-Calveeta by Tejano) won at Beulah Park yesterday for $4,000 claiming. She was odds-on and was bred by Bruno Schickedanz.

YOUNG GUNS

2009-02-17T08:57:00.007-05:00

OCALA RACING FESTIVAL.
sponsored by Darley.

Tons of Canadians were in attendance for the races yesterday at the Ocala Training Centre (no betting!). Thanks for the photos, Randy Speck.

Canadian horsepeople did not fare well, however (see below)

WATCH ME STRUT - Here is a colt born Feb. 9 by STRUT THE STAGE (Theatrical) out of the Twining mare TWINEFLIES.
The boy is owned by Anthony Coombes' UNSTABLE. Thank you to LINDA SHANTZ for letting me use the photos.
Check out Linda's art and blog at: http://lindashantz.blogspot.com
http://www.lindashantz.com
Online store hosted by Etsy:
http://LindaShantz.etsy.com

MODERN LOVE...everyone loves OLD FASHIONED

The Kentucky Derby has a big favourite - OLD FASHIONED - who stayed unbeaten with his strong win in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawm yesterday.
He got a 93 Beyer Figure.
The grey Unbridled's Song-Collect Call colt is owned and trained by the same folks who had the grey filly Eight Belles in the Derby last year.
She ran a huge race to be 2nd but then broke down after the race.
Seems almost fateful that Larry Jones and and Rick Porter will head to the Derby again (they also have the very good colt Friesan Fire) with a big chance to win it.

OCALA SALES RACES
and the 2yo sale is today!

The track was fast at the Ocala Training Centre and speed horses were dominant in the 5 races sponsored by Darley in yesterday's fesitval of racing.
The featured event, the $150,000 Championship at 1 1/16 miles went to Cape Royal, a Chapel Royale colt bred in Kentucky and trained by Bill White.

Trainer Mark Casse had SKIPADATE in the race (5th) and DYNAMIC FORCE (13th), SOUTHERN EXCHANGE was 7th and locally trained AWESOME RHYTHM was 8th.

Earlier, BEDTIME STORY, ridden by Woodbine jockey COREY FRASER, was "roughed up at the start" and was 10th in the first race, the fillies sprint that went to the Exchange Rate filly R BROWN SUGAR in track record time of 1:09.80.

MONSTER FILLY!

EXCERPT - ASSOCIATED PRESS
Evita Argentina beats boys in San Vicente Stakes

By BETH HARRIS - AP Racing Writer

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Don't cry for this lady.

Evita Argentina became the first filly in 62 years to win the $150,000 San Vicente Stakes, beating the boys by one length Monday at Santa Anita.

Sent off as the 2-1 wagering favorite in the field of 10, Evita Argentina and jockey Garrett Gomez came flying down the middle of the track to hold off Leedstheway.

Evita Argentina ran 7 furlongs in 1:24.30, becoming just the third filly in the race's 68-year history to win the Kentucky Derby prep for 3-year-olds.

With several speed horses in the field, the Kentucky-bred filly had ample pace to set up her usual come-from-behind move. Evita Argentina, who was last in the early going and then went four horses wide in the stretch, paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80.

"The track is soggy all over, but at the three-eighths pole, it seemed a little deeper and she got off the bridle with me, so I really had to work on her to get her to running again," Gomez said. "She was able to wear them down, but I know she can run even better than that."

Gato Go Win was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third and returned $3.80. He and Leedstheway, who paid $6.40 and $5, are both trained by Jeff Mullins.

Trainer Bob Baffert's duo of Ventana and Wall Street Wonder, making his stakes debut, finished in a dead-heat for fourth.

Winning trainer John Sadler wasn't feeling well and stayed home, leaving assistant Larry Benavidez to saddle Evita Argentina, who earned her third career stakes win. She was coming off a second-place finish to stablemate Alpha Kitten in the Santa Ynez Stakes a month ago.

"I was pretty confident because this filly is going to give you her run no matter what," Benavidez said. "Garrett cut the corner perfect. It was a great ride by him."

He said the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 14 in New Orleans might be next for the filly.

The race went off under sunny skies during a temporary break in the rainy weather. Minutes after the winner's circle ceremony, heavy showers pelted the track but didn't noticeably affect its synthetic surface the way rain would have turned a dirt surface into a quagmire.

Hubble Bubble was the last filly to win the race in 1947, doing so by disqualification. Her victory came two years after Busher, who was named Horse of the Year as a 3-year-old, became the first filly to do so. Busher was owned by movie producer Louis B. Mayer, who co-founded Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.

Canadian-owned Congor Bay was eighth of nine.

SAN VICENTE S.-GII, $150,000, SA, 2-16, 3yo, 7f (AWT), 1:24 1/5, ft.
1--EVITA ARGENTINA, 117, f, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)1st Dam: Jealous Wildcat, by Forest Wildcat 2nd Dam: Jealous Sword, by Crusader Sword.
Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $324,900.

FABULOUS STRIKE, 127 pounds edged

GENERAL GEORGE H.-GII, $150,000, LRL, 2-16, 3yo/up, 7f, 1:22 1/5, ft.
1--@TRUE QUALITY, 117, c, 4, by Elusive Quality - Dam: Louve Mysterieuse (SW-Fr, $123,906), by Seeking the Gold.
Paraneck Stable.; T-John P Campo Jr;
Lifetime Record: .
2--Fabulous Strike, 127, g, 6, Smart Strike--Fabulous
Find, by Lost Code. O/B-Tea Party Stable Inc (PA);

THOROUGHBLOG'S TOP CANADIAN-BREDS

HARLEM ROCKER is at Adena Springs South in Ocala for some R & R. He is being pointed to a summer campaign after suffering an illness.
Friends of Harlem Rocker have a neat website at www.harlemrocker.com with photos and news and puzzles you can do on-line!

(Photo montage from harlemrocker.com)

FRENCH BERET has won a stake race already this year for Sam-Son Farms.

RAHY'S ATTORNEY is busy galloping with trainer Ian Black up at Kinghaven Farms in King City, Ontario.

SEALY HILL has been retired, NOT BOURBON is in Florida, and others like GINGER BREW (read about her terrible Tampa Bay journey in yesterday's news), MARCHFIELD and STERWINS are racing or in training.

JAMBALAYA is in training in Florida and is a month or so away from a race.

Hot Canadian-bred Runners
(based on Beyer, $, SW)

1 Harlem Rocker (106)
2 French Beret (100)
3 Rahy's Attorney (107)
4 *Sealy Hill -f (101)
5 Not Bourbon (98)
6 Sugar Swirl -f (100)
7 Society's Chairman (92)
8 Ginger Brew - f (93)
9 *Sterwins (103)
10 Marchfield (94)
http://harlemrocker.com/

OF FAMILY AND PRESIDENTS

2009-02-16T09:51:00.005-05:00

UPDATE... GULFSTREAM TURF COURSE under fire...

Thoroughblog has learned that the Gulfstream Park grass course is in need to some attention.
And. Woodbine trainer JOSIE CARROLL, who scored a nice win with a first-time starter on the GP grass with MELI, then watched that filly put down after the race. Rob Landry rode Meli.

Thank you to commenters who alerted everyone to the state of MELI when she crosed the finish line.

MELI is one of a litany of breakdowns in American race after just 6 weeks of 2009.

It's FAMILY DAY in ONTARIO - PRESIDENT'S DAY in the United States

That means lots more racing and some big events:

A Kentucky Derby prep, racing in Ocala, 2yo sales preview and lots of winners for locals.
Also, we re-visit horses breaking down - the incidents continue to occur a lot at SANTA ANITA, GULFSTREAM and at PORTLAND MEADOWS.

HAPPENING TODAY

KENTUCKY DERBY HOPEFULS AT OAKLAWN

Old Fashioned Seasonal Debut in Southwest on Monday

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Fox Hill Farms's Old Fashioned, generally considered the favorite for Triple Crowns races this year, will make his seasonal debut when he heads the field of 11 three-year-olds going one mile in the $250,000 Southwest Stakes, the feature race on one of the big days annually at Oaklawn, President's Day, Monday, February 16.

Coming off a three-race undefeated campaign under the tutelage of trainer Larry Jones, Old Fashioned is the highest-regarded three-year-old to ever go postward in the 43-year history of the Southwest. The race has produced some great names, including champions like Smoke Glacken, Smarty Jones and Lawyer Ron and Classic winners like Lil E. Tee and Pine Bluff, but none of those was a Triple Crown favorite at this stage of his campaign.

Old Fashioned reached superstar status with a dominating front-running win in the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in November. He had won a maiden race by a nose in his first start at Delaware Park, but followed that with a 15 1/2 lengths allowance win at one mile. That race was around two turns, so trainer Jones shipped him to Aqueduct to stretch out to a mile-and-an-eighth and see what he had.

Sent off as the 7-10 favorite, the gray son of Unbridled's Song led every jump of the way, finishing seven-and-a-quarter lengths in front. Jockey Ramon Dominguez, who was aboard in the Remsen win, will be at Oaklawn to re-unite with Old Fashioned in the Southwest and he will be solidly backed to continue on his way to the Classics of the Spring.

This may not be as easy a spot as he might have found, however. In Monday's race he will take on Dixieland winner Silver City, Smarty Jones winner Flat Out, Smarty Jones runnerup Silver Bayer, impressive allowance winner Poltergeist, Turfway Park stakes winner Loch Dubh and a handful of other prospects.

All eyes of American racing will be focused on Oaklawn for the Southwest on Monday and the size of the fields for the subsequent Rebel and Arkansas Derby are likely to be impacted by the performance of Old Fashioned.

Players of three-year-old racing will get the opportunity to participate in the Kentucky Derby Futures wager at Oaklawn this weekend. The Futures play begins at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, and close at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, one day ahead of the Southwest.

The complete field for the Southwest Stakes, plus jockeys and morning line odds, includes:

1) Retap (Luis Quinonez, 10-1)
2) Loch Dubh (Jon Court, 20-1)
3) Silver City (Miguel Mena, 7-2)
4) Gresham (Calvin Borel, 10-1)
5) Old Fashioned (Ramon Dominguez, 8-5)
6) Buzzin And Dreamin (Israel Ocampo, 20-1)
7) Flat Out (Julio Garcia, 6-1)
8) Professor Z (Chris Emigh, 12-1)
9) Poltergeist (Quincy Hamilton, 8-1)
10) Silver Bayer (Terry Thompson, 20-1)
11) Kick On (Ken Tohill, 12-1)

OBS RACING AND 2YO SALE

"I think it could be ugly" - Mark Casse on the 2yo sale tomorrow

The Darley Racing Festival takes place today at the Ocala Sales track over a synthetic surface.
The 2yo sale is tomorrow.

The feature race of the day is the $150,000 OBS Championship (Colts & Geldings Division).
Woodbine-based trainer Mark Casse has two horses in the race: Skipadate was beaten just eight lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf but was recently drubbed in the Delta Jackpot and Dynamic Force.

Todd Pletcher brings Swinging Bernie to the synthetic surface at OBS off three turf races.

The secondary feature is the $100,000 OBS Championship (Fillies Division). In addition to the purse, the winner receives either a 2009 or 2010 breeding season to Henny Hughes. Pletcher brings the promising La Rocca from South Florida for the race.

The day’s first race the $50,000 OBS Sprint (Fillies Division). Post time for the opening race is 1:30 p.m.
You can watch the races at www.obssales.com. There is no betting on the races.

DARLEY OCALA BREEDERS' SALE CHAMPIONSHIP S.
(Colts & Geldings), $150,000, 3yo, c/g, 1 1/16m
(AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER

1 Charles Pridgen Repent Straight McCarthy
2 Southern Exchange Exchange Rate Trujillo de Gannes
3 Swinging Bernie Bernstein Velazquez Pletcher
4 All Country Concerto Nunez Rosas-Canessa
5 Dynamic Force Dance Master Husbands Casse
6 Skipadate Skip Away S Bridgmohan Casse
7 Awesome Rhythm Toccet Garcia Ross
8 Zooming White Star Songandaprayer Montalvo O'Connell
9 Sabi Sabi Songandaprayer Lezcano Plesa Jr
10 Singingwithangels Omega Code Allen Jr Allen Sr
11 Cape Royale Chapel Royal Velasquez White
12 Mr No Socks Black Mambo Coa Amoss
13 Pressure Point Point Given Leparoux Maker
14 Miles and Miles Candy Ride (Arg) Lopez Plesa Jr

AND THE SALE...

Tracks records were set at the gallop show on the weekend

New rules that limit the amount of whipping at the two-year-old sales did not slow down the times at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s under-tack show on Friday.

Colts by Roman Ruler, Yes It’s True, and Forestry sped quarters in :20.40 to post the fastest works at the distance, and a filly by Dehere and two fillies by Consolidator worked one furlong in :9.60.

The OBSC February sale of selected two-year-olds in training is Tuesday.

ONTARIO BRED TWO-YEAR-OLDS at OBS sale:

HIP COLOR YEAR
NO. WORKOUT TIME SEX FOALED SIRE DAM

OUT OF SALE...42 .........................B F..........07 Bold Executive...........Operetta

44 ..:10 3/5 work.......................CH C.........07 Touch Gold...............Our Miss Jones

45 :10 1/5.........................DKB/BR C.....07 Pulpit...................Magna Cum Laude

126 :10 1/5.........................DKB/BR F.....07 Eurosilver...............Basta Barbara

200 ...........:10 1/5..............DKB/BR C.....07 Where's the Ring.........Hippicritical

EXCERPT FROM OCALA. COM

OBS auction to test how far market has fallen

By Fred Hiers
Staff writer

Thoroughbred sales throughout the country have been abysmal.

Sales averages have been down, sometimes by as much as half, and the rate at which owners are buying back their horses has nearly doubled rather than letting their animals go for as little as bidders want to pay.

Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. manager Tom Ventura is hoping his auction for 2-year-old thoroughbreds in training Tuesday will buck the trend of other sales.

"This is the upper end of the market," Ventura said from his office at OBS on Southwest 60th Avenue in Ocala. "These horses have been selected from a large group because of their pedigree and their conformation."

In a way, the auction is a line in the sand against a generally bad economy that has battered the horse industry as badly as any other business.

This auction consists of 200 horses, while most OBS sales involve more than 1,000 thoroughbreds going through the ring. It is held annually the day after the OBS Day of Champion races, OBS' sole race day for the year.

OBS oversees thoroughbred sales totaling more than $100 million annually, but its Mixed Winter Sale in January saw sales prices cut by more than half.

Ventura said Tuesday's sale is different than January's because it will offer horses that are about ready to begin their racing careers. Buyers are not looking to resell what they buy Tuesday anytime soon.

Statistically, OBS' February sale produces great horses.

A Blood Horse study released last month showed that nearly 80 percent of the horses from OBS' 2001-2005 February sales won races. The study also showed 13.4 percent won stakes races.

Graduates include such prestigious horses as Atoned, Behindatthebar, Icabad Crane, Macho Again, and Rollers.

The average sales price per horse last year for the February auction was $157,640, an OBS record, up 18 percent from the year before. Gross sales reached $14 million.

"If we can come close to that level again, we'll be satisfied," Ventura said.

Ventura said he has aggressively advertised the sale this year — and that based on buyer inquires, he is hopeful.

"But how it's going to end Tuesday at the end of the day, I can't tell you," Ventura said.

Trainer and buyer Mark Casse said the recent bad economy is bound to take its toll Tuesday.

Casse has three horses in Monday's OBS Darley Day of Champions races. He will also stay for the sale.

"I think it could be ugly," Casse said of the sale.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20090214/ARTICLES/902140980/1402/NEWS?Title=OBS_auction_to_test_how_far_market_has_fallen

OBS FEBRUARY FRESHMAN SIRES
compiled by Thoroughbred Daily News

Act of Duty (Mr. Prospector) HIP NO. 144
Bwana Charlie (Indian Charlie) 2
Closing Argument (Successful Appeal) 26, 53, 62 , 63,
76, 93, 147
Consolidator (Storm Cat) 9, 59, 86, 101,
119, 138
Eddington (Unbridled) 193
Eurosilver (Unbridled=s Song) 71, 81, 151,
162, 184, 186
Forest Danger (Forestry) 23, 30, 178,
190
Heckle (Hennessy) 78, 105
Indian Ocean (Stormy Atlantic) 15, 198
Limehouse (Grand Slam) 19, 90
Pico Central (Brz) (Spend a Buck) 29, 140
Proud Accolade (Yes It=s True) 77, 150, 153
Purge (Pulpit) 7, 38, 95, 128
Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus) 20, 41, 72, 143
Value Plus (Unbridled=s Song) 17, 64, 89, 113,
172, 187, 194
Wildcat Heir (Forest Wildcat) 10, 12, 51, 122,
134, 174, 180

MELNYK/ CASSE with Kentucky bred today:

Monday, Santa Anita, post time: 3:36 p.m.
SAN VICENTE S.-GII, $150,000, 3yo, 7f
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ODDS

1 Wall Street Wonder City Place Baffert 6-1
2 Cut the Check Sky Mesa Solis 15-1
3 Gato Go Win City Place Mullins 6-1
4 Evita Argentina Candy Ride (Arg) Sadler 5-1
5 Gallant Son Malabar Gold Lucarelli 15-1
6 Smokey Lonesome Teton Forest Sherman 8-1
7 Congor Bay Speightstown Casse 6-1
8 Point Attended Tale of the Cat Guillot 6-1
9 Ventana Toccet Baffert 7-2
10 Leedstheway Cape Canaveral Mullins 12-1

MORE CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

JOSIE CARROLL has been winning races in bunches lately. After a stake win with SMART SURPRISE and a debut win with MELI (readers have reported that she broke down but Thoroughblog has not been able to verify this), CARROLL sent out OCHOA for Canadian based DONVER STABLE to win a maiden allowance at Fair Grounds yesterday.
The Kentucky bred by Grand Slam was the favourite and led all the way through 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer MIKE DEPAULO won a $25,000 claiming race yesterday at Gulfstream with BLACK MINK, owned by Michael and Lauren Byrne, who brede the Black Minnaloushe filly in Ontario out of Miss American Mink.
The filly won the 1 1/16 mile grass race by a length at 4 to 1.

Owner/trainr DARYL EZRA won a race at Mountaineer yesterday with NIDAS who was odds-on to win a $5,000 claiming race. Trained at Mountaineer by Stacey Cooper, Nidas is a Florida bred by Wild Rush.

At TAMPA BAY DOWNS, Ontario based Colebrook Farms and trainer Ashlee Brnjas posted a big upset with ALKMENE, a Kentucky-bred by Slew City Slew out of a Strawberry Road mare. The 4to filly won the $6,250 claiming race by a neck at 23 to 1 at 1 1/16 miles.

FORT ERIE UPDATES at the HPBA website

The latest news on the HBPA's concerted efforts to save Fort Erie are on its website - a plan has been made and presented to Nordic Racing, which owns the track, to put a downpayment on the plant.

The news is here:

http://www.hbpa.on.ca/

GLORIOUSLY/VORHEES BALLAD
Courageous to the end

(Photo from JohnKC, Pat Husbands after Gloriously broke down on Saturday at Santa Anita)

Both the Canadian-bred GLORIOUSLY, who died on Saturday, and VORHEES BALLAD, a $164,000 earner, "won" races on Saturay.

At Santa Anita, Gloriously was on her way to a hard fought score in an allowance race before she broke a leg. She continued to race.

A series of photos can be found at this site (below) and at Alex Brown racing - warning, not nice photos)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12854925@N04/sets/72157613819851914

At Gulfstream on Saturday Vorhees Ballad broke down and continues to race.

Over at a THOROUGHBRED BLOGGERS ALLIANCE BLOG called GATHERING THE WIND
(http://blackwatchholdings.blogspot.com/2009/02/voorhees-ballad.html) - the author and his friend and daughter attended the races.

He wrote about this weekend:

Race one, 1 mile $40kClaiming, ten runners went to post. Juan liked the (3) Mr. Unstoppable and his daughter liked the (9) Voorhee's Ballad, I indicated I liked him a little too. A good break and we had ourselves a race. Down the backstretch, Brother Joey led them to the half mile pole; Alan Garcia looked to be moving on Voorhee's Ballad, five wide on the turn, when everything went wrong.

Voorhee's Ballad took a bad step and Garcia was thrown. Everybody else kept running, including, improbably, Voorhee's Ballad. Soul wrenchingly distanced, the dark bay or brown son of Mecke, out of a Saint Ballado mare, ran on.

His foreleg shattered, this claiming horse stumbled down the lane; at the top speed his broken body could manage; hugging the rail as he had surely been taught; straighter than many GI horses I have seen. His head, bobbing to the grim cadence of what was surely his death march; this poor son-of-a-bitch, ran on for three quarters of a mile; a self-orchestrated funeral procession for public testimony; beyond the mile pole, before a track attendant could collar him and put a merciful end to this tragic paean.

And I, standing at the finish line; watching the most noble thing I think I have ever seen; cursed and loved this damn game in the same, choked breath. I have seen horses break down before but it was always on the turn, or on the backstretch, mercifully removed from the gruesome truth revealed in proximity. The grisly procession of this gallant beast; chasing after his mates; running because that is all he knows how to do when the pain and fear set in; broke me inside, in a way I never conceived.

I don't know the owners. I may have heard of the trainer but I wouldn't sign an affidavit. Voorhee's Ballad was running for a tag, for only the second time in his career and maybe didn't mean much to anybody. He didn't win any black type but he was in the money in 50% of his starts. His career numbers, after today, read 38-4-9-6 and he banked $164,109. His last win, if you don't count the moral one he had today, came on May 3, 2008 at Calder; the same day Big Brown won the Derby.

A month from now, how many will remember this horse?

Ask me in thirty years and I will tell you of Voorhee's Ballad's last race.

AND..
Horse racing fatal breakdowns higher in Oregon

By ANNE SAKER | The Oregonian • Published February 16, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. — On a Sunday in late December, a 4-year-old mare fractured her left front knee while running the sixth race at Portland Meadows. The next day, a 5-year-old gelding fractured his shoulder in the third race. The horses had to be euthanized.

Joe Crispin, one of Portland Meadows’ most successful jockeys, was riding each horse in what turned out to be its last race. Even after a 30-year career, he said he has never become accustomed to the “terrible feeling” of an injured horse dropping underneath him.

Fatal breakdowns have become a sad routine at racetracks in Oregon and nationwide over the past three decades. This season at Portland Meadows is no exception, but the sport is ramping up its efforts to crack the mystery.

Out of 3,501 horses that have entered a Portland Meadows starting gate since the season began Oct. 5, nine horses have suffered injuries while racing that were serious enough to warrant euthanasia.

State officials who regulate horse racing and wagering in Oregon say that ratio is close to 50 percent higher than the estimated national average.
http://www.theolympian.com/sports/topstories/story/757282.html

FIRST ENTRY FOR ALEX BROWN/YOU TUBE VIDEO CONTEST:

The $1,000 You Tube video contest on the Alex Brown site is in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOKVhfVSjfs

BALANCE

2009-02-15T09:54:00.005-05:00

(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

CHERISH

2009-02-14T07:52:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

FORT ERIE UPDATE ON ONTARIO HBPA WEB SITE
http://www.hbpa.on.ca/
February 13, 2009

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