SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE..
RADICAL RULES IN NEW YORK
Four new rules will have a major impact on how owners and trainers approach racing their horses in New York. The rules were announced on Friday and included Aqueduct racetrack not taking entries for horses that have raced in the previous 14 days and reduce its weekday race cards to eight races per day effective Jan. 22, t
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/sports/horses-deaths-at-aqueduct-prompt-new-rules.html?_r=0
CANADIAN STUFF
Canadian horses are in action in stakes events today with the most notable being LEXIE LOU in the La Canada, Grade 2 at Santa Anita. The post time is 7 p.m. EST.
Through the claim box, Woodbine lost two of it’s popular claimers yesterday. LIGHTHOUSE SOUND, an 8 year-old gelding owned by True North Stable and trained by Lorne Richards, won a $20,000 claiming race at Gulfstream on the grass and was claimed by Mark Valentine. Lighthouse Sound raced at Woodbine for several years for True North owner Keith Johns.
At Penn National, that ole grey mare THE QUEEN’S REIGN won an $8,000 claiming race for Scott Fairlie and was claimed by Joe Besecker.
The Queen’s Reign was ridden by Michelle Rainford and was coming off a win. She won her career debut for Fairlie and partners in 2011 and has won 8 races and over $142,000. She is by Political Force.
**STARTING NEXT WEEK (technical issues this week)- WATCH AND WAGER ON DUBAI RACING AT HPI.COM and get some analysis from Pat Cummings here:
http://www.dubairacenight.com/2015-dwcc-night-2-analysis-tips/
NICK EAVES TO LEAVE WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
“I’m young and got to think about what the rest of my life and career look like although, frankly, I don’t know the answer to that.” – Nick Eaves, Toronto Star
The bomb dropped in early afternoon when horse racing industry members received the press release from Woodbine: president and CEO Nick Eaves would be leaving the helm of Canada’s biggest racetrack.
While Eaves has worked for Woodbine since 1994, working his way up through the ranks, it has only been about 10 years since Woodbine’s longtime president David Willmot left the company and Eaves took over.
And he certainly wasn’t done any favours by the Ontario government when his tenure began as Dalton McGuinty pulled the slots at racetracks revenue sharing program out from under Woodbine and its partner track Mohawk.
WEG had to let go hundreds of employees, cut racing dates and some stakes purses and horse racing in the province was on thin ice.
The situation was so dire, Eaves announced at the post position draw for the 2012 Queen’s Plate that if things did not change, the track could be forced to close.
A year later, Ontario’s new leader, Premier Kathleen Wynne, got the industry back on the rails somewhat, putting some money back into racing and breeding and slowing the bail-outs on the side worst hit, the breeders.
It has been a slow, but positive stabilization period. Through many long days and late hours Eaves and the Ontario Horse Racing Industry and a government panel worked together to put the industry on better footing.
There is still a long way to go, however. Premier Wynne’s five-year subsidizing plan is only a band-aid and there is still the matter of getting a program in place with the Ontario Lottery Corporation where racing is integrated into that business.
Then there is the question of racetrack surface at Woodbine – it is set to be changed at the end of this racing season – and the new leader will have plenty of work.
Chairman Jim Lawson, a horse owner and breeder and chairman of the Canadian Football League, will take over from Eaves when he leaves at the end of March. Lawson comes from a wonderful pedigree himself as his father Mel raced and bred horses under the famed Jim Dandy Stable for years. The Lawsons have been well known as passionate racing and sports fans, and businesspeople and Ontario racing is in good hands with Jim and the Woodbine team.
Eaves was always generous with his time, approachable and charitable. Who can forget the footage of him running in United Way races on the Woodbine turf course or getting many ice buckets of water dumped on his head by Woodbine jockeys?
Thoroughblog wishes Nick Eaves the best in his future endeavours.
TORONTO STAR/CANADIAN PRESS STORY BY DAN RALPH:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/01/15/woodbine-entertainment-ceo-steps-down.html
LEXIE LOU FOR LA CANADA
Gary Barber’s highly accomplished Lexie Lou and Jerry Hollendorfer’s Sam’s Sister, an upset winner of the seven furlong La Brea Stakes, head a field of eight 4-year-old fillies in Saturday’s Grade II, $200,000 La Cañada Stakes at Santa Anita.
Second to Horse of the Year hopeful California Chrome in the Grade I Hollywood Derby on Nov. 29 at Del Mar, Lexie Lou gets back with her sorority sisters on Saturday but will be trying natural dirt for the first time in the La Cañada. A winner of four of eight starts last year, including Woodbine’s Queen’s Plate versus Canadian-bred males and the Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes at Santa Anita, Lexie Lou has clearly stamped herself as an indefatigable competitor under varied conditions and thus looms the horse to beat.
Trained by Mark Casse, Lexie Lou, an Ontario-Canadian-bred daughter of Sligo Bay, has won sprinting and routing and has an overall mark of 16-7-3-2, with earnings of $1,429,714.
Off at 12-1 in the Grade I La Brea on Dec. 26, Sam’s Sister will be a much shorter price on Saturday, although the La Cañada will be her first try at two turns. Owned by Mark Dedomenico, LLC, George Todaro and Hollendorfer, Sam’s Sister has four wins from five starts and provided her sire, 2006 Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek, with his first Grade I winner in the opening day La Brea.
LA CANADA S.-GII, $200,000, 4yo, f, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Fleet of Gold K Medaglia d’Oro Solis Hollendorfer 118
2 Sam’s Sister K Brother Derek Trujillo Hollendorfer 118
3 Lexie Lou Sligo Bay (Ire) Nakatani Casse 118
4 Thegirlinthatsong My Golden Song Bejarano Hollendorfer 118
5 Jojo Warrior Pioneerof the Nile Garcia Baffert 120
6 Une Cherise K Curlin Talamo Motion 118
7 Ramona’s Wildcat Wildcat Heir Desormeaux O’Neill 118
8 Colonel Joan Colonel John Stevens Harty 118
CANADIANS HEATING UP IN THE SOUTH
MIKE DEPUALO’S SPOT A KISS, a Mutakkdim filly bred by Donver Stable, won for $12,500 claiming on Wednesday in race 2 at Gulfstream Park. The 4-year-old was 2 to 1 and won by 4 1/2 lengths in the 1 mile dirt event.
ROGER ATTFIELD and owner BILL WERNER were winners on Wednesday as well. The colt ADAPTOR won his maiden as the odds-on favourite in race 5 for $12,500. Bred by Werner, the Grand Slam colt won by 4 1/2 lengths under Javier Castellano and he was not claimed.
U.S. MARSHAL, owned by Richard and Nancy Kaster and trained by Ian Black, ran a big race in a 3-year-old grass allowance event as he led late before being edged by Team Valor’s latest acquisition, INDIANAUGHTY, a son of Indian Charlie. But U.S. Marhal was demmed guilty of veering out in the stretch and he was disqualified from 2nd to 4th.
(The half brother to U.S. Marshal, stakes winner Really Sharp, has also been disqualified for erratic stretch running in his career.)
ALAN ALBER and trainer BILL THARRENOS claimed SUMMLIKEALADY from her runner-up placing in race 4 for $12,500 claiming. The 3yo filly was racing for $12,500 and she was 5 to 2.
SOVEREIGN AWARD VOTING CLOSES TODAY…
Okay, so this year’s Sovereign Awards will be a tad anti climactic since we know who most of the winners figure to be, in particular the big one – HORSE OF THE YEAR – but voting closes tomorrow.
It figures to be a big, big night for trainer Mark Casse and his owners:
Here is a look at some of the categories:
2yo filly – CONQUEST HARLANATE won the Natalma and Mazarine, both graded stakes. She didn’t do much after that but is the top contender over BROOKLYN’S WAY, the Princess Elizabeth winner.
2yo colt – CONQUEST TYPHOON, another Conquest Star and multiple stakes winner
3yo filly – LEXIE LOU
3yo colt – Since ALERT BAY, a multiple graded stakes winner for Peter Redekop this year in California and British Columbia (he won the BC Derby and beat older horses in the BC Premier’s while also taking the Echo Eddie Stakes at Golden Gate and placing in stakes at Santa Anita.) is not eligible, the race is between Coltimus Prime, the Prince of Wales winner, and Ami’s Holiday, the Breeders’ Stakes winner.
Older male – LUKES ALLEY has the edge over SKY CAPTAIN, PENDER HARBOUR and HIS RACE TO WIN
Older female – STRUT THE COURSE is the leader here based on her Maple Leaf win but it is a weak category
Male Turf – DYNAMIC SKY has been steady for John Oxley and Casse
Female Turf – LEXIE LOU
Male Sprinter – The Kennedy Road partially muddled the picture – SHARP SENSATION has won 3 stakes at 3 different tracks on 3 different surfaces already. CALGARY CAT won 2 stakes and beat SS in the Kennedy Road.
Female Sprinter – Nobody stands out here – SPRING IN THE AIR could have the edge currently. Silent Treat?
HORSE OF THE YEAR – Lexie Lou.
As for the some of the people awards – MARK CASSE will probably be named Outstanding Trainer again especially since he won his first Plate and guided Lexie Lou through a marvelous campaign. PATRICK HUSBANDS had a remarkable season, he could win top jock.
The awards are on April 11.
KEENELAND JANUARY SALE – DAY 3 and 4
BAR NONE RANCH, one of the country’s top breeders of 2014, paid $12,000 for BROKEN ROMANCE, a Broken Vow mare in foal to Dialed In and $12,000 for CLASSY BROAD, a 4yo by Tiznow in foal to Stroll.
WINDWAYS FARM LIMITED (Jeff and Annabel Begg) paid $42,000 for NICKEL CANDY, a Silver Deputy mare and half sister to Grade 2 winner Globalize, in foal to Trappe Shot. The mare produced stakes placed Manewal and Woodbine winner Dixie Troop.
NICK NOSOWENKO paid $8,000 for a 2-year-old filly named RUSH CRUSH by Eskendereya out of Interest Only by Crafty Prospector. The dark bay sold as a racing or broodmare prospect and she is unraced.
Nosowenko also picked up KENTUCKIANA, a 4-year-old, unraced filly by Stormy Atlantic out of Ring Seeker by Seeking the Gold. The filly is from the family of champion Catch the Ring. She cost $5,000.
On Day 4, Nosowenko bought TOWN LEADER, an unplaced Proud Citizen 4yo filly for $3,700.
HIGHFIELD STOCK FARM in Alberta bought a short yearling filly by Stormy Atlantic out of Born Perfect by Mr. Prospector. The Ontario bred is a half sister to stakes winner Devereux.
Highfield also was the buyer for LOCAL, an Offlee Wild mare in foal to Colonel John who cost $22,000 and a Bullet Train yearling colt out of Lupe de Grace for $15,000. The colt is an Ontario bred.
DOMINION BLOODSTOCK (Dave Cotey) bought the unraced broodmare prospect WILMA, by Arch, for $2,000.
DEBRA WARE bought BURSTALL, a 4-year broodmare prospect by Zensational out of Grade 2 winner Springside by Awesome Again. The filly raced once and was unplaced. She was bought for $1,000. Ware also paid $1,000 for AZULINHA (Arg), an unplaced Hat Trick (Jpn) 4yo filly.
J.A. EVERATT paid $14,000 for LYRICALLY, a Thunder Gulch mare our of Lover’s Talk by Vice Regent. The mare, in foal to Midnight Lute is a stakes placed half sister to 4 stakes winners and she has 2 winners from 3 starters.
SHERRY MCLEAN paid $6,000 for MISTRESS GALLOP, a hard knocking local runner by Victory Gallop who was stakes placed as a 2yo at Woodbine. McLean also bought saint judy, AN UNRACED mINESHAFT BROODMARE PROSPECT FOR $2,200.
LORNA GRAY paid $8,000 for ZERO LIGHT, a Flashy Bull colt, a 3-year-old, and $12,000 for AWESOME CARVER, a 4yo unraced colt by Awesome Again.
DENNY ANDREWS continues to shop and on day 4 paid $62,000 for RANSOM KITTY, a short yearling by freshman sire Regal Ransom.
ADDENDUM… Christine and Jay Hayden purchased hip 222, CAST CALL, through Chad Schummer for $115,000. She is an A. P. INDY mare in foal to STREET SENSE and her first foal is a 3yo by Medaglia D’Oro in training currently in Florida. The Hayden’s bred 2014 stakes winner UNSPURNED.
SAVVY SYSTEMS has everything you need as a horse owner
SHELLEY LUPUL talks horses (and dogs) and 10 years in her business:
Over the years I have tried many different styles of home made “horse health care systems”. Like most of us, I put together a barrage of binders and notebooks to keep my horse records in which still didn’t work because they were too bulky, not convenient and usually got left on the to be filed pile!
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Since that time, I have been the President, CEO and chief order-taker and janitor at Savvy Systems o/a Horse Savvy (a division of SS Pink Inc.) and I love every bit of it! I get to be at home with my 4 young kids every day, and know I am helping make a difference in the world through supportive and caring people like you!
I appreciate that most of you recognize the extraordinary value in my creation and for that I am very thankful! Hearing the appreciation expressed from you, my customers, makes it all worthwhile.
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http://www.savvysystems.ca/
