Today’s word is august, as in ah-GUST, marked by majestic dignity or grandeur
REMEMBERING ‘KING’ – a photo I took of my buddy at Kinghaven on the Woodbine backstretch (1989)
TODAY’S PLAY THE KING STAKES
BOBBY’S KITTEN returns to action – Woodbine Mile the goal if he takes to Woodbine’s turf today in the Play the King. Conditions should be perfect for the 7 furlong grass test, the local prep, if you will, for the Woodbine Mile.
SUNDAY’S SIBLINGS
Race 2 OC40/NW3
#1 Zebrano Hip 253 Full brother
#3 Fiftyshadeslighter Hip 270 1/2 sister by Victor’s Cry
Race 4 MDN$25
#3 Stormbeforethecalm Hip 209 1/2 brother by Spring at Last
Race 5 ALW
#7 Highland Bay Hip 296 1/2 brother by Milwaukee Brew
Race 6 VIC.PARK S.
#5 Bring On the Bull Hip 256 1/2 sister by Silent Name
Race 9 ALW/NW2
#1 Radiant Star Hip 227 1/2 sister by Court Vision
SATURDAY UPDATES..
Race 1 MDN$32 – 2yos
#4 Mister Nada (finished 2nd, earned over $5,000) Hip 140 1/2 sister by Where’s the Ring
Race 10 ALW OSS
#11 Easy Indygo (finished second, earned of $9,000) Hip 174 1/2 sister by Court Vision
BEHOLD this mare – what a performance
” I’ve never felt anything like that on a racetrack before.” – jockey Gary Stevens
DEL MAR PHOTO
from Del Mar media
B. Wayne Hughes’ Beholder, a two-time Eclipse Award champion, became the first female to win Del Mar’s signature race of the summer season, the Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic, in a performance for the ages as she won the mile and one-quarter event by a dazzling eight and one-quarter lengths under jockey Gary Stevens Saturday.
Breezing to the front on the far turn without being asked by Stevens, Beholder disposed of dueling pacemakers Bayern and Midnight Storm in a matter of several strides to open a commanding lead entering the stretch. Under no pressure from her rider, the five-year-old mare, a champion at two and three, widened on her nine male rivals to score by eight and one-quarters. It was the second largest winning margin in the 25-year history of the race, exceeded only by Game On Dude in 2013.
Catch a Flight, stablemate of Beholder from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, put in a solid late run under Flavien Prat to be second, a length in front of Eastern invader Red Vine who was ridden by Joel Rosario. Fourth was Hoppertunity, followed by Imperative, Hard Aces, Class Leader, Bailoutbobby, Bayern and Midnight Storm.
Beholder, a daughter of Henny Hughes, was scoring her 14th win in 19 starts and ninth in her last ten races. Earlier this season, she won the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. First money of $600,000 Saturday increased her career earnings to $4,256,600. Her time for the distance was a fast 1:59.77.
Sent postward the 2-1 favorite, the Kentucky-bred mare paid $6, $4.60 and $2.80 to her backers in a crowd of 20,424. Catch a Flight, victor in the San Diego Handicap July 25, returned $6.80 and $4.20, while Red Vine paid $3.40 to show.
Beholder was the fifth female Thoroughbred to run in the Pacific Classic, preceded by Paseana, fifth in 1992; Island Fashion, ninth in 2005; Amani, sixth in 2012, and Byrama, seventh in 2013.
For Mandella, Beholder provided his fourth win in the Pacific Classic. He won memorably in l996 with Dare And Go who upset Cigar, in 1997 with Gentlemen when he also saddled the place horse, Siphon, and Pleasantly Perfect in 2004.
Already having earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland race course in Lexington, Ky., Oct. 31, Beholder also clinched a place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic should her connections choose so. The Pacific Classic was part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series which guarantees an expenses-paid berth in the mile and one-quarter contest.
GARY STEVENS (Beholder, winner) – “The funny thing was (about her move on the far turn), is that I didn’t do that. She did. You could see her ears straight up. She was just going so easy. We went by Bayern like he was tied. Then when we straightened away I pushed the button and she went on with it. I’ve never felt anything like that on a racetrack before. And I don’t think she’s done yet. She’s got a few more in her. And she’s got a special place in my heart.”
OBVIOUSLY…HE’S COMING TO WOODBINE
“Why not take a chance? He’s been doing so well, why not gamble a little bit with a million dollar ‘Win and You’re In’ race at equal weights? Because we’ve started late this year, the owners are OK with shipping around a bit to take a shot.” – Trainer Phil D’Amato
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93861/obviously-scratched-from-del-mar-handicap
SATURDAY WOODBINE WRAP
DON’T LEAVE ME and her owner/breeder Joseohine Abercrombie WOODBINE PHOTO
One of the top Woodbine based 3-year-old fillies was back and back in a big way on Saturday. Josephine Abercrombie’s DON’T LEAVE ME, winner of the Bourbonette Oaks – grade 3 in March and then edged in the Selene Stakes – grade 3 at Woodbine in May, won her first Woodbine stake whhen she rolled to a victory in the ONtario Colleen yesterday, a Grade 3 race.
The 1 mile turf event had only a few horses in the field who had run 80+ Beyer Figures and thus the betting support went on those gals.
MISSISSIPPI DELTA was favoured as she won the Alywow at Woodbine on soft turf and was 7th in the Lake George at Saratoga on July 24.
LONDON TOWER, the Fury and Eternal search Stakes winner, was making her grass debut for Steve Owens.
But it was DON’T LEAVE ME, under Eurico Rosa da Silva and trained by Malcolm Pierce who dominated. Last briefly, she moved up quickly to stalk the pace set by London Tower, split fillies and poured it on for her 4th win in 7 races. The Lemon Drop Kid filly is a Kentucky bred out of Woodbine stakes winner See How She Runs by Maria’s Mon.
“I asked Malcolm if I could put her a little bit closer to the pace today. Last time (in the Selene), I think I gave her a little too much to do and he said, ‘Go on out there and ride the race,'” said da Silva.
“In the beginning, she was really sharp and I chirped on her and gave just a little tap on her shoulder and she wanted to take off,” grinned da Silva. “I said, ‘Woah babe, relax’ and she did relax. She ran awesome.”
Pierce was pleased with the effort of the improving grey.
“We gave her plenty of time and aimed her for this race since the race at Churchill,” said Pierce. “It looks like it was the right move. We just have to figure out where to go next.”
The time of 1:35.70 was good for an 85 Beyer Figure, her best of her career.
Race 1- maiden 2-year-olds for $32,000 – the winner was Ontario bred PLAY WITH PASSION, bred by Murray Stroud who also owns this Even the Score colt. Sam Dipasquale trains and Justin Stein rode him in his 2nd race.
race 2- The prep for the Natalma Stakes, 2yo fillies at 7 furlongs on the grass and there was an upset. CATCH A GLIMPSE, a daughter of top turf sire City Zip and from a very old mare in Halo River, won in his 2nd career start. She had debuted at Saratoga but caught a sloppy track and she faded. Jesse Campbell rode for owners Mike Ambler, Gary barber and Windways Farm.
The other Mark Casse trainee, the $650,000 filly CONQUEST SARAHSTAR finished last. The time of 1:24 was good for a 71 Beyer Figure.
race 3- an allowance/optional claiming race went to RESERVE LOVE, a Philanthropist filly who was winning for the 3rd time in 13 races. With earnings of over $100,000, this bay 3yo has done well for her $18,000 purchase price. Linmac Farms owns and Dave Cotey trains. Luis Contreras rode the filly who was bred by Hugh Sutherland and Paradox Farm.
race 4- TWO TO TANGO put her last race behind her – she dwelt as an odds-on favourite – and led all the way under Patrick Husbands to win for the 3rd time in her 20th start. She is owned by Jim and Susan HIll and this was an allowance/optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Brian Lynch’s team trains the Tapit mare.
race 5- Augustin Stable’s SMART SPREE dropped to claiming for the first time and won this 7 furlong race for his 2nd win in 15 races. He had blinkers off and Emma-Jayne Wilson on. Mark Frostad (and Gator Kitten) trained the son of Smart strike but he was claimed by Brad McKnight.
race 6 – SHE’S EXPLOSIVE won for the 4th time this year – the only horse with 4 scores in 2014 – as she cruised to a win at 6 furlongs on turf at the allowance/optional claiming level ($62,500, non-winners of 2 other than). The Ontario bred Old Forester is a homebred for Norseman racing Stable and Sid Attard trains. Luis Contreras has been her only rider in 8 races. She posted an 86 Beyer Figure for 1:09.67.
race 7 – COLLEEN’S SAILOR is a wonderful 6yo gelding and he won for the 8th time in this $37,500 claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Northern Afleet guy has had half a dozen trainers in the last year, currently with Norm McKnight, and Justin Stein rode him. He is getting close to $400,000 in career earnings.
Stakes winner Jose Sea View was claimed from this race by Nick Gonzalez – he was 4th, and Mist was claimed by Tucci Stables.
race 9 – Beholder was stunning yes – but what about SCOTTY’S MODEL? This was the performance of the day as she sizzled on the lead in a pace battle and then drew off to win this allowance race by 6 lengths in 1:09.17. She won the first 3 races of her career before she was tossed in a stakes race, going long, on turf last time and she bombed.
Um, yesterday her Beyer Speed Figure came up as 94, the day’s best and her previous sprint Beyers were 69, 69, and 65. Norm McKnight trains the 5yo by Mr Scotty.
race 10 – COSMIC CHARLIE won this 1 1/16 mile allowance race with a 76 Beyer Figure, a new top. He is a homebred for Richard Day’s Kingview Farms and Catherine Day Phillips won her 6th race in 21 races this season. The 3yo is by North Light and Eurico Rosa da Silva rode.
