COMING UP THIS WEEK
• As posted yesterday, Canadian champion BEAR NOW and Ontario bred AUTHENICAT are taking on champion VENTURA tomorrow in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes. On Friday, more Candian-breds are in action in Kentucky including one of the top Canadian-breds in training right now…TWILIGHT METEOR (Smart Strike):
Friday, Keeneland
MAKER=S MARK MILE S.-GI, $300,000, 4yo/up, 1mT
PP HORSE (SIRE) JOCKEY WT
1 Mr. Sidney (Storm Cat) Desormeaux 117
2 House of Silver (Chester House) Castanon 117
3 Fluke (Brz) (Wild Event) Gomez 117
4 Passager (Fr) (Anabaa) Prado 117
5 Thorn Song (Unbridled’s Song) Albarado 123
6 Twilight Meteor (Smart Strike) Velazquez 119
7 Just as Well (A.P. Indy) Leparoux 117
In Arkansas, Canadian-bred JAZZ NATION, bred by Shirley Prosser’s Box Arrow Farm, is entered in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Stakes.
Friday, Oaklawn Park
COUNT FLEET SPRINT H.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 6f
PP HORSE (SIRE) JOCKEY WT
1 Greeley’s Conquest (Mr. Greeley) Theriot 116
2 Jazz Nation (City Zip) Ocampo 113
3 Evening Reward (Chief’s Reward) Court 112
4 Secretintelligence (Smart Guy) Compton 113
5 Semaphore Man (Formal Gold) Berry 117
6 Carson’s Legacy (Carson City) Hamilton 113
7 Grand Sensation (Grand Slam) Doocy 115
8 Accredit E (Dubai) Hernandez Jr 114
9 Garifine (Belong to Me) Sterling Jr 113
10 Cush (Arch) Borel 114
11 Red Hot N Gold (Gold Case) Thompson 114
12 Lovango (Capote) Quinonez 114
WOODBINE DAY THREE – Friday
10 races attracts 100 horses
• A big card has been assembled for day 3 of the 167-day Woodbine meeting on GOOD FRIDAY and there are several promising young runners set to compete during the afternoon.
The day’s feature is the 7th race, an allowance event for 3yo fillies with just 2 Canadian-breds entered. One of those, Cudney Stables’ SECRET WISH, trained by Jim Day, is making her season debut and won her last race of 2008, an allowance event (she was a maiden at the time). The Jimmy Day trainee is a Woodbine Oaks hopeful (as well as a Queen’s Plate nominee).
QUEEN’S PLATE business gets going on SATURDAY with the ACHIEVEMENT STAKES, the first scoring race for the QUEEN’S PLATE FANTASY CHALLENGE and likely the first test for some Plate hopefuls – even if the distance is just 6 furlongs.
EL BRUJO has to be considered one of the leading Plate contenders in what, so far, is a very weak group of Canadian-bred 3yos (save for SQUARE EDDIE, who is Kentucky Derby bound, maybe).
The son of CANDY RIDE has tons of foundation for Saturday’s race – he was ready to run in Fair Grounds but trainer MALCOLM PIERCE could not find a race to fill for Windways Farms’ homebred colt.
EL BRUJO had a 5 furlong breeze at Keeneland 4 days ago.
While the majority of Queen’s Plate Fantasy Challenge contest entries will have EL BRUJO on top (many in the ‘PRO’S’ SECTION have done just that, there are some other possibilties to consider on Saturday.
If Knob Hill Stables’ BUCEPHALUS (Cape Canveral) shows up (there are only 10 nominations to the Achievement on Saturday), he could gain points fo his litany of supporters.
If you still need to enter Woodbine’s contest, go to www.woodbineentertainment.com/fantasy.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS
Blue Grass/Arkansas Derby this weekend
• You can read Keeneland notes and see a video of Blue Grass hopefuls workouts (including Canadian-owned PATENA) by clicking here: www.keeneland.com/racing/Lists/News/home.aspx
Or check out the Clocker’s Comments on horses racing today and tomorrow at Keeneland (Including Canadian stakes winner AUTHENICAT) here: www.keeneland.com/racing/Lists/copy/intoday.aspx
THESE GUYS ARE LUCKY
• Sam-Son Farms’ LUCKY OLD SUN and PARASAIL are jumping for joy in their new careers. The former, an 11-year-old son of Sky Classic, won $155,000 on the track and the white faced gelding shows great form over the fence.
PARASAIL, a Smart Strike full brother to Horse of the Year SOARING FREE, won 4 of 13 races and $177,000 and he too is learning the jumping ropes.
Thanks to Lisa Samuel for the photos.
N.Y. Racing Board Opens Inquiry Into Horse Breeder
By JOE DRAPE
Published: April 7, 2009
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board issued a subpoena Tuesday to the prominent New York thoroughbred owner Ernie Paragallo concerning the treatment of his horses at his Center Brook Farm.
The board is investigating Paragallo, a licensed authorized agent in New York who is associated with Paraneck Stable, and his involvement with the horses. “He has made some public comments about the condition of those horses,” Joseph Mahoney, the board’s spokesman, said, ”and we have serious questions about their treatment and conditions.”
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is also investigating whether Paragallo neglected and abused horses at Center Brook Farm, which is in Climax, about 20 miles south of Albany.
To read the rest: www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/sports/othersports/08horses.html?ref=sports
HORSE COALITION CALLS FOR AUDIT OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES
Press release
CHDC Calls for Audit of Horse Slaughter Operations After Plant Shut Down Over Food Safety Concerns
• With the news that the Natural Meat Company (formerly Natural Valley Farms) in Neudorf, Saskatchewan has been shut down by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for food safety concerns, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC) is calling for a complete audit of Canada ‘s remaining horse slaughter operations by the CFIA.
Graphic evidence of animal welfare violations was documented at Natural Valley Farms in April and May 2008 and aired to the public a month later. At
the time, government officials made repeated assurances regarding the plant’s operations.
Over six months later, the CFIA quietly ordered the plant closed citing food safety concerns. “Despite the attention given to this operation, this action shows that there are major problems in Neudorf and quite possibly elsewhere,” said Sinikka Crosland, CHDC’s Executive Director. “Only a full audit can begin to deal with the real concerns that the public has with Canadian horse slaughter operations.”
“This is exactly the kind of problem that arose in the United States and the reason, along with concerns associated with inhumane treatment, that saw
the US close every single one of its slaughter houses,” added Ms. Crosland.
For further information: Sinikka Crosland, CHDC, 250-768-4803 or go to www.defendhorsescanada.org
