Canadian bred HARD NOT TO LIKE (grey gal), owned by Erin, Ont.’s Garland and Marie Williamson, was 2nd in the Ashland last weekend, Grade 1, wow!
EquiSport photo.
The racing action is too thrilling these days – Woodbine is open and the Kentucky Derby is getting closer..
there’s bad news…government’s threatening to take money from the industry in Saskatchewan and Ontario, Hastings Park in last year of contract, Fort Erie hanging on…
WOODBINE WEEKEND PREVIEW
Champion 2yo filly of 2011 TUE ENDIE WEI is 4 to to to win the STAR SHOOT STAKES, a race her half sister BIOFUEL won. The Johar – Ms Cornstalk gal is making her season debut and trainer Reade Baker says she has calmed down this year, not quite so speed crazy as she was last year. Meanwhile, she was unbeaten at Woodbine, 3 for 3, and posted some big numbers.
Her main rivals tomorrow in the 6 furlong race appear to be RUN FOR RO, winter raced but still a gal who has never crossed the finish line in first place (she was placed first through DQ) for her maiden score) and CASA LOMA, from the Rolh Davis and Robert Tiller barn.
QUEEN’S PLATE ACTION heats up on Sunday as the WOODSTOCK STAKES features contenders MENLO CASTLE and RUN IN ARUBA, from the Ralph Biamonte barn\ and MAKING AMENDS from Mark Casse’s stable.
While the 6 furlong dash is a far cry from 10 furlongs in late June, Menlo Castle is considered a leading Plate hopeful, although he can sprint too.
Also on Sunday’s card, Frank Romano’s Plate duo of ROCKY ROMANO and CAMPITELLO are in a maiden race at 7 furlongs.
And Eugene Melnyk’s GOLDEN RIDGE is the 7 to 2 favourite in a 1 1/16 mile maiden allowance at Keeneland tomorrow. The Distorted Humor fellow is making his second start and Casse trains, Luis Contreras will ride.
STAR SHOOT, a leading sire in the early 1900’s, has a race named for him at Woodbine. He is the sire of the great SIR BARTON
Wikipedia photo
INGLORIOUS HUGE IN RETURN
Mrs. Revere could be next
Making her first start since finishing 3rd in the Selene last September, Queen’s Plate winner and champion INGLORIOUS had a super return to racing yesterday at Keeneland.
Donver Stable’s champion filly, making her grass debut, rallied from well back, wide off the turn and was just over a length behind superstar MARKETING MIX (a Canadian bred who was 2nd in the voting to Inglorious for champion 3yo filly in Canada).
The time was 1:35.38. The final quarter was :22.68. Her Beyer was 89.
TOP 20 BEYERS OF LAST WEEK
from drf.com
1. JACKSON BEND – 109 – Carter Handicap (G1) – 7 Furlongs – Aqueduct
2. AMAZOMBIE – 105 – Potrero Grande Stakes (G2) – 6 1/2 Furlongs – Santa Anita
3. ESSENCE HIT MAN – 104 – Jacques Cartier Stakes – 6 Furlongs (Polytrack) – Woodbine
3. SAGINAW – 104 – Hcp 25000s – 1 Mile – Aqueduct
5. IT’S ME MOM – 101 – Hilton Garden Inn Sprint Stakes – 6 Furlongs – Tampa Bay
5. TAPTOWNE – 101 – Cryptoclearance Stakes – 1 1/16 Miles – Hawthorne
7. FAST TIME – 100 – OC 25k/N1X -N – 5 Furlongs – Gulfstream
7. GRAYDAR – 100 – Md Sp Wt 46k – 1 Mile – Gulfstream
9. GEMOLOGIST – 98 – Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) – 1 1/8 Miles – Aqueduct
10. RIVER BEAR – 97 – OC 80k/C -N – 6 Furlongs – Hawthorne
11. FANTASTICAL – 96 – Clm 20000(20-15)N3L – 1 1/16 Miles – Oaklawn
11. JOHANNES – 96 – Md Sp Wt 60k – 5 Furlongs (Polytrack) – Woodbine
11. SCOTUS – 96 – OC 80k/N3X -N – 7 Furlongs (Polytrack) – Keeneland
14. AL KHALI – 95 – Alw 66872C – 1 1/8 Miles (Turf) – Keeneland
14. BROADWAY’S ALIBI – 95 – Comely Stakes (G3) – 1 Mile – Aqueduct
14. FIDDLERS AFLEET – 95 – OC c-40k/N1X – 1 Mile – Santa Anita
17. I’LL HAVE ANOTHER – 94 – Santa Anita Derby (G1) – 1 1/8 Miles – Santa Anita
17. SILVER MAX – 94 – Transylvania Stakes (G3) – 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) – Keeneland
17. TRINNIBERG – 94 – Bay Shore Stakes (G3) – 7 Furlongs – Aqueduct
20. BEN’S CAT – 93 – Mister Diz Stakes – 5 Furlongs (Turf) – Pimlico
20. HE’S A DANCE STAR – 93 – Clm 40000(40-35) – 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf) – Santa Anita
20. IT HAPPENED AGAIN – 93 – OC 62k/C -N – 1 1/16 Miles – Oaklawn
20. SOLAR ROCKET – 93 – Clm 16000(16-14) – 6 1/2 Furlongs – Santa Anita
PROSPECTIVE FEATURE IN LOUISVILLE-COURIER JOURNAL
PROSPECTIVE – a good race tomorrow and it’s Derby dreaming time for team Casse!
Cindy Pierson Dukay/www.horse-races.net
BY JENNIE REES
LEXINGTON, KY. — Prospective, one of thirteen 3-year-olds entered Wednesday for Saturday’s $750,000, Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, is quite the day-tripper.
The dark bay colt ran three times at Tampa Bay Downs this past winter, each time vanning 200 miles from the Palm Meadows training center on the morning of the race. The results: a victory in the seven-furlong Pasco, a second in spite of racing wide on both turns in the Grade III Sam Davis and a victory in the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby at 11/16 miles.
That success was among the selling points for Keeneland’s Kentucky Derby prep: Prospective can van 75 miles from Churchill Downs on Saturday morning.
Saturday, Keeneland, post time: 6:18 p.m. EDT
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $750,000, 3yo, 1 1/8mA (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Heavy Breathing K Giant’s Causeway Lanerie Pletcher 123
2 Gung Ho Kitten’s Joy Prado Maker 123
3 Prospective Malibu Moon Contreras Casse 123
4 Hansen Tapit Dominguez Maker 123
5 Russian Greek K Giant’s Causeway Mena Dorochenko 123
6 Dullahan K Even The Score Desormeaux Romans 123
7 Politicallycorrect Kitten’s Joy Trujillo Ward 123
8 Midnight Crooner War Chant Gomez Baffert 123
9 Holy Candy Candy Ride (Arg) Rosario Sadler 123
10 Howe Great Hat Trick (Jpn) Castellano Motion 123
11 Ever So Lucky K Indian Charlie Leparoux Sheppard 123
12 Hero of Order K Sharp Humor Martin Jr Dorochenko 123
13 Scatman K Scat Daddy Bridgmohan Lauer 123
MORE SATURDAY AT KEENELAND – OH BAY-by, local gal 6 to 1
Saturday, Keeneland, post time: 4:42 p.m. EDT
JENNY WILEY S.-GI, $300,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Heavenly Landing K Pulpit Lanerie Kenneally 118
2 Zagora (Fr) Green Tune Castellano Brown 118
3 Tapitsfly Tapit Leparoux Romans 120
4 Aruna Mr. Greeley Dominguez Motion 118
5 Daisy Devine K Kafwain Graham McKeever 118
6 Bay To Bay K Sligo Bay (Ire) Gomez Lynch 118
MORE STUFF –
HARVEY, ATTFIELD winners at KEENELAND – SIR MCINTYRE won his maiden at Keeneland yesterday on the Polytrack, coming back from a 10 month layoff at 2 to 1.
SIR MCINTYRE (g, 4, Mull of Kintyre–Serena’s Lady, by Prized) Lifetime Record: 7-1-3-2, $83,829.
O-Robert Harvey. B-R Harvey & S Dilillo (ON). T-Roger L Attfield.
Trainer Brian Lynch recorded his first Keeneland victory on Wednesday when Quick Split, a 5-year-old Broken Vow mare he also owns, won the second race. Quick Split, who won by a neck and covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:49.51, was one of three winners of the eight-race card for jockey Julien Leparoux, who equaled Alan Garcia’s three-win feat from Saturday.
Today, Harvey and Attfield get together with Canadian bred HOLLINGER IN THE GRADE 1 MAKER’S MARK MILE:
Friday, Keeneland, post time: 5:13 p.m. EDT
MAKER’S 46 MILE S.-GI, $300,000, 4yo/up, 1mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Doubles Partner Rock Hard Ten Castellano Pletcher 5-1
2 Pressday (Aus) Domesday (Aus) Rosario Sadler 20-1
3 Hollinger Black Minnaloushe Lezcano Attfield 8-1
4 Big Blue Kitten Kitten’s Joy Velazquez Brown 8-1
5 Get Stormy Stormy Atlantic Dominguez Bush 9-5
6 Turallure Wando Leparoux Lopresti 7-5
7 Data Link War Front Solis McGghy 12-1
KEENELAND 2YO SALE NEWS
CANADIAN BREDS
GR/RO.C. Tapit — Redness Merriefield Farm – Charles E. Noell $150,000
Consignore = Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XII
CANADIAN BUYERS:
CH.F. Sky Mesa — Preemptive Attack Mark Casse, Agent 175,000
Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
FUN STUFF
In Ontario, is this guy the WORLD’S BIGGEST HORSE? How cool is that…(his name is Poe)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/
canada/6242858/Poe-the-Clydesdale-The-worlds-tallest-horse.html
*BULLETNEWS NIAGARA
NDP’s latest budget demands include help for horse-racing industry, strings-attatched tax credits for job creators
JOHN ROBBINS/Bullet News
NIAGARA – The the wheel’n and deal’n begin.
Ontario’s New Democrats have submitted the last of their budget proposals to Premier Dalton McGuinty’s minority Liberals, who will meet as a caucus today to consider their next steps.
The latest demands by the NDP, announced Tuesday, include help for Ontario’s horse-racing industry and strings-attached tax credits for job creators.
The New Democrats also want a Legislative debate on privatization of gambling facilities, somthing that has yet to happen since the Liberals and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation executives announced plans to “modernize” gaming operations provincewide last month.
http://www.bulletnewsniagara.ca/2012/04/11/ndps-latest-budget-demands
-include-help-for-horse-racing-industry-strings-attatched-tax-credits-for-job-creators/
FORT ERIE OPENS FOR TRAINING
Nah Nah Nah! Racing at Fort Erie, let’s go!!
(It’s Madman Diaries, a champion, at Woodbine, but hey, it’s a cute pic) Norm Files photo
…It’s official. The Thoroughbreds are back at Fort Erie Race Track in preparation for the 115th season of live racing at the historic border oval. Currently, over 250 horses are stabled on the grounds with more shipping in by the day. More than 900 stall applications have been received from trainers across Canada and the United States.
The first day of training took place on Sunday, April 8th under sunny skies. There was plenty of action with a number of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses breezing over a perfect dirt surface.
As a pre-season bonus, Fort Erie is hosting a gala Kentucky Derby “Watch ‘n Wager” party Saturday, May 5th. Highlights include a Kentucky Derby Tiki Bar BBQ featuring $15.00 buffet, mint juleps and a free concert from popular Bluegrass band, Rhyme N Reason. This is a family event with the buffet running from 3pm until 6pm. Also, fans can watch and wager on the races live from Churchill Downs as well as those simulcast from other tracks. Post Time for the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:24 pm.
On Sunday, May 6th, live racing at Fort Erie Race Track gets underway with a 1:15 post time. The main theme throughout the season will be the track’s history, so in keeping with the theme, fans are invited to bring along their Fort Erie racing memorabilia such as photos, tack, saddles, silks and other various items of interest to be evaluated by racing, collectible and historic experts. With the owners’ permission and recognition, a number of the most unique items will be loaned to Fort Erie for display at the racetrack throughout the season.
In total there will be 81 live racing dates in 2012 including five Quarter Horse cards and three mixed cards featuring both breeds. The Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown will be run on July 15th. The race is Canada’s richest stakes event run on a dirt surface with a total purse of $500,000.
There are a number of new additions to the promotions and event schedule this season including a three day Outdoor Show featuring campers, boats, golf and fishing equipment and much more to be held on May 20th, 21st and 22nd. Also, new for 2012 will be a three day Food Festival on July 29th, 30th and 31st. Popular events such as the Sunday Breakfast Club will begin on July 1st, earlier this season as a result of its success in 2011.
A major 115th anniversary party is scheduled for June 26th during which jockeys who won the Prince of Wales Stakes (dating back to 1965) will be on track to sign autographs for racing fans. Fort Erie Race Track will also be home to a Farmers’ Market every Sunday starting June 3rd. The summer concert series will continue in 2012 every Tuesday in June, July and August with Horns from Hell kicking off the Twilight racing party at the Tiki Bar on June 5th after the races.
There will be plenty to see and do for the whole family this season at the historic border oval. Check out forterieracing.com for details.
HASTINGS OPENS TOMORROW
Interest mounts apace as Hastings opens Saturday
By Tom Wolski, The Province April 13, 2012 3:02 AM
Chances are that with two recent Sovereign Award winners having ties to Vancouver and a former leading jockey at Hastings Race-course on his way to ride in this year’s prestigious Kentucky Derby, interest in the upcoming season at Hastings will be far greater than in any previous sea-sons.
The mood is heightened after seeing all of the top horses and jockeys named to perform on this opening weekend, Saturday and Sunday, both with 1: 50 p.m. starts.
It clearly shows those unfounded rumours pertaining to there being no horse racing this season at Hastings were just that: rumours.
“We began last year as a tale of two seasons,” said Raj Muti, general man-ager at Hastings.
“We were down close to 20 per cent in handle by the end of June. That was when we shifted our post time to 1: 50 p.m., caught a break with the weather change and by year end, we were up five per cent in wagering, a huge 25-per-cent turnaround.”
MORE VANCOUVER: Taylors Deal: local boy makes good!
By Ian Webster – Merritt Herald
Published: April 12, 2012 9:00 AM
Updated: April 12, 2012 9:11 AM
In the 20 years that Joel and Karen Mena have run Can-A-Mex Farms, located 25 km west of Merritt by Spius Creek, there have been countless highlights and memorable occasions for the couple to look back on.
After all, when your business is breeding and raising horses for the racing industry, it sort of comes with the territory.
For the Menas, however, nothing can quite top what happened earlier this year, on February 25 in Phoenix, Arizona. That’s when ‘one of their own’ – Taylors Deal – became the first B.C.-bred race horse in history to win an official Kentucky Derby prep race.
With jockey Mario Gutierrez in the saddle, the three-year-old gelding came from fifth place on the back stretch to power home and win the $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby by 2¼ lengths. Taylors Deal covered the 11/16-mile distance in 1:43.82 on a fast track.
“It was very, very special,” said Karen Mena in a phone interview recently. “You could call it icing on the cake, a reward for many, many years of hard work.”
Taylors Deal’s success in the Turf Paradise Derby was the latest accomplishment in a very promising, early racing career for the young horse from the Nicola Valley. All told, he has competed five times since October, 2011 and picked up three wins, a second and a fourth.
Immediately prior to the Derby, Taylors Deal was a winner of the 6½-furlong Lost in the Fog Juvenile Stakes at Turf Paradise on December 26. The gelding’s total earnings to date are $79,828.
The offspring of Second in Command (sire) and Fleet Amyanne (dam), Taylors Deal was born in May of 2009. The official breeders are listed as Can-A-Mex Farms and Clive and Linda Lytle of Vancouver who together own the mare Fleet Amyanne.
http://www.merrittherald.com/sports/147174215.html
