FRIDAY, FRIDAY, always a good feeling day no matter whether you work or not! It’s -25 with the wind, sunny and bright again, should get a bit more tolerable on weekend when rain/snow mix comes. Don’t forget to enter the survey on the home page – there is one for all magazines so check out the Canadian Thoroughbred survey for a chance to win $500.!!
THE BABIES ARE COMING THE BABIES ARE COMING!
Send in your foal pictures and foal reports to Thoroughblog and we will post them!
PEEK A BOO! Hello there young fella. Here is an Alphabet Soup – Affirmed Royal, Affirmed colt born to owner Bill Diamant at Gail Wood’s Woodlands.
I’M GOIN OVER HERE MUM…Here is a fellow from the first crop of GIANT GIZMO (Giant’s Causeway). The foal was born at Norse Ridge Farm in King, Ontario and is out of Keen Victory by Victory Gallop and is owned by Ivan Dalos.
Here is a fellow from the first crop of REBELLION, who stands at Norse Ridge. The sire was a smart sprinter on any surface and is by Mozart. This one is out of Tappin and Turnin, by Pleasant Tap.
CANADIAN STUFF
RAININ SIDEWAYS, an Ontario bred by Trajectory, won his maiden at Fair Grounds yesterday for Donver Stable and trainer Josie Carroll. The 3yo is a homebred out of the Montbrook mare China Rain. He won a $30,000 maiden claimer by 2 1/2 lengths.
Two Ontario breds won at Charles Town yesterday – MIDDLE RIVER for $5,000 claiming and BANYAN COURT, also for $5,000.
EMILE RAMSAMMY TO GET TOP TRINIDAD AWARD
Chin defends Ramsammy’s selection
Story Updated: Feb 10, 2011 at 10:38 PM ECT
THE selection of Canadian-based jockey Emile Ramsammy to represent horse racing at Wednesday night’s First Citizens Sports Foundation (FCSF) Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards ceremony has been strongly criticised by Trinidad and Tobago’s jockey colony.
Ramsammy was selected by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA) and newly-appointed chairman Derek Chin was yesterday asked to explain the criteria used.
“I would say that Emile was suggested by the previous Board under Mr Joe Hadeed,” said Chin. “I do not think there is a clause that prevents a T&T national competing overseas from being nominated.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Chin_defends_Ramsammy_s_selection-115803184.html
ANOTHER CANADIAN-BRED TO WATCH IN THE SOUTH
ELITE ALEX, from the first crop of Afleet Alex, is headed to the Feb. 21 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn as the Canadian-bred works his way back from a long layoff. The colt, bred in Ontario by Alison Register, is out of CATCH THE MOMENT, an unraced mare bred by Sam-Son Farms in Ontario. Catch the Moment is by Unbridled out of Fluid Move and she was bought back in 2005 in foal to Smart Strike for $130,000. In Jan. 2006 Dr. John Cummins was the listed buyer at $130,000 and then last fall, he was again the listed buyer at $43,000.
Elite Alex probably goes Southwest
Elite Alex, strangley enough, validated his Triple Crown potential when he finished second on opening day at Oaklawn Park. If there had been any doubts — oh, they probably existed in some corners, like dustballs — about his ability to run around two turns or about his talent or his determination, he dispelled them all with his runner-up performance. But his effort still left a question: He stumbled so badly at the start and ran so hard, but where did it all leave him?
Well, he’ll have a workout this weekend, said his trainer, Tim Ritchey, and if all goes well, Elite Alex will make his next start Feb. 21 in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.
Elite Alex came out of his seasonal debut, Ritchey said, “with some cuts and scrapes.” But he came out of it well, or at least as well as could be expected.
http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/west_points/2011/01/elite-alex-probably-goes-southwest.html
This was only the second start of his career, and his first since he won his debut last summer.
IVAN DALOS MARE FAVOURITE AT THE FAIR
BY GRAHAM ROSS, FAIR GROUNDS
Avie’s Tale Heads Saturday’s Pelleteri Stakes
Ivan Dalos’s Avie’s Tale, heroine of Fair Grounds’ $58,000 Blushing K D Handicap on New Year’s Day when that race was taken off the grass and run on a sloppy main track, has been installed as the lukewarm 3-1 choice for Saturday’s 25th anniversary edition of the $60,000 Pelleteri Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16-miles over the main track.
Trained by Canadian conditioner Josie Carroll, Avie’s Tale will be ridden by Fair Grounds’ leading rider Rosie Napravnik. In her last trip to the post the daughter of Tale of the Cat out of a Lord Avie mare ran second in Fair Grounds’ $58,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes over the Stall-Wilson turf course.
Capable of providing strong competition for Avie’s Tale in the Pelleteri is Coteau Grove Farms’ Bella Medaglia, tabbed as the Pelleteri’s 7-2 second choice and now conditioned by Bret Calhoun but trained by Glenn Delahoussaye in her previous outings. Veteran Louisiana-based reinsman Kerwin Clark, who was aboard for her 5 3/4-length victory in her last start Jan. 21 in optional claiming allowance company, returns in the irons Saturday. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro finished second in last year’ $74,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes and fourth in last year’s Grade III Silverbulletday Stakes.
KENTUCKY DERBY PREPS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs, post time: 4:25 p.m. EST
SAM F. DAVIS S.-GIII, $225,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Reprized Halo Halo’s Image Maysonett Azpurua 120
2 Adulare K Flatter Solis Arnold II 116
3 Washington’s Rules KRoman Ruler Desormeaux McPeek 116
4 Too Experience Drewman Centeno Passley 120
5 Watch Me Go West Acre Garcia O’Connell 116
6 Litigate Closing Argument Valdivia Jr Duggan 116
7 Beamer Vindication Goncalves Nafzger 116
8 Monzon Thunder Gulch Prado Correas IV 116
9 Ribo Bobo Louis Quatorze Coa Azpurua 116
10 Brethren Distorted Humor Dominguez Pletcher 116
Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 6:05 p.m. EDT
ROBERT B. LEWIS S.-GII, $250,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Wegner K Dynaformer Bejarano Baffert 118
2 Anthony’s Cross Indian Charlie Rosario Harty 118
3 Comma to the Top Bwana Charlie Nakatani Miller 123
4 Tapizar Tapit Gomez Asmussen 120
5 Ten Devils Rock Hard Ten Talamo Mandella 118
6 Riveting Reason K Fusaichi Pegasus Espinoza Cho 118
7 Quail Hill Candy Ride (Arg) Pedroza Hofmans 118
8 Thirtyfirststreet Good Journey Valenzla O’Neill 118
Saturday, Golden Gate Fields, post time: 7:15 p.m. EDT
EL CAMINO REAL DERBY-GIII, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Comma to the Top Bwana Charlie Nakatani Miller 121
2 Bluegrass Reward Good Reward Hernndez Miyadi 121
3 Formula Gold Formal Gold Romero Mason 121
4 Silver Medallion K Badge of Silver R Baze Asmssen 121
5 Positive Response K Pomeroy Couton Morey 121
6 Anthony’s Cross Indian Charlie Gryder Harty 121
7 Jakesam K Smoke Glacken Alvarado Hollndrfer 121
POSITIVE RESPONSE won his maiden at Woodbine for owner David Callaghan and trainer Kelly Callaghan.
BARBADOS GOLD CUP UPDATE
California based JAIRZINHO was unfortunately vanned off from an allowance race yesterday at Santa Anita so his participation in the Gold Cup on March 5 is obviously in doubt. The flashy bay had a good position early in the 1 mile race but dropped back quickly by the turn for home.
The entries for the Gold Cup stand at this:
BARBADOS
APOSTLE
BIRD WATCH (RESERVE)
CHARGE IT
DUC D FER (RESERVE)
JOHN BRIAN
MINGUN TEMPLE
PURE TEMPTATION (RESERVE)
REWARD ME
ROCAMADOUR
SHOW ME THE MONEY (RESERVE)
SPICEY TIGER (RESERVE)
ZOOM
TRINIDAD
JUST CALL ME ROGER
ANTIGUA
ELIZABUL (RESERVE)
ST. KITTS
AL PORTADOR
BAD ACTION
CANADA
EMERALD CRESCENT (RESERVE)
SAFETY ZONE
SPLASH POINT IN UAE GUINEAS
FROM PRESS ASSOCIATION
(UKPA) – 17 hours ago
Mahmood Al Zarooni’s Splash Point benefited from a fine ride from Mickael Barzalona to get up late in the day in the Dubal-sponsored UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan.
Barzalona adopted waiting tactics on the 10-1 chance but always appeared to be travelling strongly, and he picked up well down the outside to clinch Group Three honours.
Mike De Kock’s hot favourite Zanzamar can be counted slightly unlucky, having found himself short of room heading towards the final furlong, and it was too late once the gap came for Richard Hills.
“I thought it would not be easy from his draw (stall 11) but they went very fast. The jockey was patient and did a good job,” said Al Zarooni.
Away from the feature event, De Kock and brilliant Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon continued their excellent Carnival alliance, sharing three winners including Golden Sword.
The 2-1 favourite, fifth behind Sea The Stars in the 2009 Epsom Derby when trained by Aidan O’Brien, was ridden confidently in the Dubal Potlines Trophy, slicing through the pack in the home straight and pulling readily clear for an easy victory.
Soumillon further enhanced his Carnival tally when Robert Cowell’s Prohibit (7-1) showed an excellent turn of foot to pick up fellow European raider Invincible Ash in the Dubal Trophy
Cowell, who was at home in Newmarket, said: “Christophe gave him a very good ride and did exactly what we were talking about. It was quite a daring manouvre going inside horses but it worked brilliantly and we’re absolutely thrilled.
“It depends what the handicapper does, but he might go for a conditions race on Super Thursday (March 3) next and we’re hoping to get an invite for the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.”
