Canadian stables have moved some horses and staff to the U.S. for the winter and in the first two weeks of December, they have had reasons to celebrate.
Trainer STEVEN CHIRCOP is off a sizzling start at Penn National in Grantville, PA, winning with his first three starters. Chircop, who has been at Penn National for several winters in succession, has done well at that meeting in the past. He comes off a Woodbine season he called ‘frustrating’ as his horses won nine races but finished second 18 times and third 18 times.
JOJOMAR, a British Columbia-bred gelding by Bakken, brought Chircop’s tally to 3-for-3 on the evening of Dec. 15. Jojomar won by 5 3/4 lengths as the odds-on favourite for Chircop and co-owner Bruno Schickedanz. The 3-year-old won the non-winners of 2 for $10,000 claiming and was scooped up by Bush Racing Stable.
KERICS BEAUTY won a maiden special weight at Penn National on Dec. 14 by 1 1/4 lengths as the 2-to-1 favourite. The Ontario-bred by Ami’s Holiday – Madam Inspector by Deputy Commander is a 3-year-old who had been second in her previous race at Woodbine on Dec. 2. Chircop trains for friend Eric Ross and the filly was bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds.
A few races later, Chircop struck again with his recent claim BETTER BOOGIE, who won a $10,000 claiming event by four lengths in 1:11.32 at 8-to-5. The son of Silent Name (Jpn) – Money Shaker by Tumblebrutus was claimed from this win for $10,000.
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BLONDE ATTITUDE won a claiming race at Mountaineer on Dec. 14 by a length at 7-to-2 for Fort Erie’s leading trainer JULIE MATHES. Trained by Mathes, Blonde Attitude is by Saffir – Blonde Wisdom by Whiskey Wisdom and she had been third in her previous race on Dec. 6.
BILLY THARRENOS is 2-for-3 with his Gulfstream starters as STRIKE THE TOP and RAIN were winners last week. Strike the Top won (and was claimed) for $10,000 in a Tapeta race at 1 mile and 70 yards, setting a track record on the new surface of 1:41. The 4-year-old by Medaglia D’Oro had been off since October. The winning owner was Apple Of Your Eye, LLC.
Rain, a filly by Brethren, won for $6,250 claiming and was claimed on Dec. 9. The winning owner was Fred Labo.
DANIEL WILLS, owner and trainer, sent out SUN FORESTER to win a maiden special weight at Mountaineer on Dec. 15 by three-quarters of a length at 2-to -5. The 3-year-old son of Old Forester was making his first start since Dec. 3 at Woodbine and had recently been purchased privately by Wills.
On Dec 12, TIESTO won an allowance race at Turfway Park for trainer Josie Carroll and owners LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing.
The Assiniboia Downs track insider news reports that trainer Marvin Buffalo and wife Deb have settled into Turf Paradise in Phoenix for the winter with four horses including Royal Frolic Overnight Stakes winner Lifesbeengoodsofar.
Deb Buffalo and Lifesbeengoodsofar at Turf Paradise – courtesy Assiniboia Downs Insider News
Based on the photo (left), and a recent third-place finish in a Starter Optional Claiming race on the turf at 23-1, the 5-year-old Ministers Wildcat gelding is really enjoying his new digs in sun country.
Continuing to build their operation, Marvin and Deb purchased two yearlings at the 2021 Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale and plan to claim a few more runners before heading back to Assiniboia Downs in the spring. The couple went on a roll this summer at ASD, winning with four starters in a row from August 17-23 and continuing to win at a strong 25% clip throughout the year, compiling a record of 13-8-6 from 53 starts.
Lifesbeengoodsofar just helped them break the $100,000 mark in purses for 2021. Did the hugs make a difference?
You bet they did.
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