MY MY MY MY BOOGIE SHOES…..
Back to winter!
Thanks for your patience – THOROUGHBLOG is back after a trip to the island of Barbados and a day at the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.
The day ended with a wild stage show of magic and cirque de soliel-style acrobatics from cranes at a private party, then topped by an amazing show by KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND and a team of dancers and 15-piece band complete with brass section…SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY!
It’s always an interesting experience to be at the races at the Garrison Savannah. They hang up the results on a very old tote board and the current odds also have their own board and a fellow on a ladder.
Covering a race such as this is very difficult as information/resource is tough to come by.
And then when the winner is disqualified for the first time in the history of the race – well then you are at the mercy of other sources. Except, really, there are none!
So, after the sun-burnt turf had settled following the 30th Gold Cup, SHOW ME THE MONEY was led into the winner’s circle, a Barbados-boy by Kit Fisto (by the Kingmambo stallion King’s Best and out of a Storm Cat mare). The 17-year-old jock aboard the chestnut 5yo horse was in tears – Jalon Samuel in only his 2nd year of riding.
Quotes were gathered from Lord Michael Taylor and trainer Anderson Ward. They were understandably thrilled.
And then came the objection. And then the DQ.
It was hard to see during the running of the race but there were murmurs of an infraction – and certainly the Eugene Melnyk contingent knew that SAFETY ZONE had encountered some trouble as he went from 4-wide wide into the stretch to the rail by the finish. He landed in 5th place.
But SHOW ME THE MONEY ran away with the race after a pace battle with APOSTLE all the way to the top of the strtech. He began to edge clear under the young sire but Samuel glanced over to his inside, struck his horse left handed and his horse veered. APOSTLE was checked quite hard and eventually pulled up. He beat one to the line.
SHOW ME THE MONEY, who won the Queen’s Plate last year as a 4yo in July, was placed next to last and ZOOM was awared the win.
The winner is yet another star runner for top Barbados owner MRS. GAY SMITH, who bred the 6yo gelding, a son of SUPER JEBLAR (By Jeblar) out of the Boomerang mare Flying Dove.
ZOOM won once in 12 races last year and is now 6 for 30 in his career. He was 12 to 1 in the Gold Cup and set up some big payoffs as BIRD WATCH was placed 3rd at 50 to 1 (by American stallion GRAEME HALL) and CHARGE IT (By GRAND SLAM) completed a Barbados top 3 finish.JOHN BRIAN was moved to 4th and he made it a Barbadian superfecta.
(FIRST TIME PAST STANDS, Apostle leads Show Me the Money, winner, Zoom is in 4th in pink.
As for the Wesley Ward trainees on the day, GRAND TIMES was a hard fighting 2nd in the Grade 1 Spa Sprint behind longshot BIPPIN while GRAND CASH was unplaced in the Gold Cup.
Without race-day Lasix, it is certainly difficult for non-Barbados horses to overcome heat and humidity.
RACING POST WRAP:
Zoom awarded Gold Cup in Barbados controversy
By Julian Armfield 3:23PM 6 MAR 2011
Report: Barbados, Saturday
IN a dramatic outcome to the £70,000 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, Gay Smith’s 12-1 outsider Zoom, who had finished a well beaten four-length second past the post behind to Show Me The Money, was later awarded the race in the stewards’ room.
This followed an enquiry and an objection by the connections of Apostle, who finished 11th of the 12 runners.
Show Me The Money, ridden by local champion jockey Jalon Samuel, had just taken the lead from the pacesetting Apostle as the field turned from home with a little over a furlong to run when he hung violently across his rival.
The manoeuvre almost led Apostle’s rider, Anderson Trotman, to be unseated but Show Me The Money had his measure at the time and came home to win unchallenged.
Zoom, who was bred on the island by Gay, wife of Derrick Smith, scored a third success for his owner in the southern Caribbean’s richest race.
CANADIAN SUTHERLAND REELS IN the ‘BIG’ ONE,
but wow, WEIRD GOINGS ON IN RACING
Santa Anita is reeling from breakdowns and a drop in betting, but Canada celebrates a big win at the track as hometown girl CHANTAL SUTHERLAND coaxed GAME ON DUDE (by Canadian-bred AWESOME AGAIN) edged SETSUKO is a wild Santa Anita Handicap.
By now you know there was an inquiry into a pinball series of crashes through the stretch – it seems as if the majority feel the winner should have been disqualified. While it is a bit harder to tell who was at fault in this race compared to the Barabdos Gold Cup once thing is certain – the whip use was a major culprit.
VICTOR ESPINOZA hammering away on Setusko right handed and Sutherland smashing left handed and both were careening into TWIRLING CANDY.
It’s a shame that big races have to come down to a steward’s call, especially when the whip was mostly at fault (well, and the folks carrying them).
Santa Anita does not have whip rules like WOODBINE, probably should like every other track.
Two horses died on the track Saturday also, bringing the new surface’s total to 16.
FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES:
Game On Dude wins on an upsetting day at Santa Anita
Two horses are fatally injured, and controversial decision mars Big ‘Cap.
March 05, 2011|Bill Dwyre
On Big ‘Cap Day at Santa Anita on Saturday, the agony outdid the ecstasy.
What was designed to be a feather in the cap of horse racing turned out to be a bobby pin. The usual story lines became an unusual soap opera. On a beautiful early spring day that should have sent people home happy, the parade to the parking lot featured many unhappy faces.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/05/sports/la-sp-dwyre-santa-anita-20110306
WATCH THE RACE: (hopefully this link-thing worked):
SENSATIONAL -SLAM!
Rises up Queen’s Plate chart with New York win
Back from a winter vacation, Canadian bred SENSATIONAL SLAM posted a huge 94 Beyer Figure with his win in the 6 furlong Fred Capposela Stakes at Aqueduct on the weekend. Foaled in Aurora at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, the Grand Slam – Romance Romance guy may have enjoyed the sprint distance but there is always a chance he can stretch out.
The colt is 3 for 3 on the dirt or Polytrack and 0 for 1 on the grass.
WAM BAM FOR THE SLAM!
Canadian-bred SENSATIONAL SLAM wins Fred Cappoella at Aqueduct for owner Bobby Flay
THANKS FOR PHOTO – Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos
WINDFIELDS FARM MEMORIAL UPDATE
FROM NEWS – DURHAM REGION
Still no plan for memorial at former Windfields Farm
OSHAWA — A year after the famous farm, Windfields Farm, was closed, the proposed public park that was promised has not been built and there is concern that the property has been left to decay.
Historic Oshawa farm closed its gates one year ago
Mar 06, 2011 – 04:30 AM
Jillian Follert
OSHAWA — A year after Windfields Farm closed its gates for good, there is no progress on plans for a memorial park to honour the famous Oshawa landmark.
While much of the farm was sold to developers for housing and retail projects, a small piece owned by Durham College was earmarked to become a public park.
The college also agreed to preserve the site where legendary horses such as Northern Dancer are laid to rest.
“As far I’m concerned that’s still the agreement,” said college spokeswoman Donna McFarlane. “But we don’t have definitive plans at this time. I can’t say when a park will be built.”
http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/172783
