CONFERENCE

 

 

 ECLIPSE AWARDS

While the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ruled the roost at Air Canada Centre last night over the dreaded Montreal Canadiens, the computer was abuzz with the stream of the Eclipse Awards event, which was about 2 1/2 hours long and filled with some interesting speeches from winners of horse racing’s 2013 awards.

You may have loved JONATHAN SHEPPARD, trainer of steeplechase champion DIVINE FORTUNE, who talked about previous Eclipse Award winner FLATTERER being alive and well at age 35 along with the dam of Divine Fortune, who is 25.

Or TODD PLETCHER, talking about CAIXA ELECTRONICA, a barn favourite and rags to riches horse who died in a training accident recently.

TV personality JIM ROME was truly excited to win an Eclipse for the 2yo gelding he shares ownership of – SHARED BELIEF.

Ontario’s own STACIE CLARK shared an Eclipse with HRTV for a video called WAR HORSE that was super.

WILLIS HORTON was no doubt thrilled to be the owner of the champion 3yo colt, WILL TAKE CHARGE, so much so that he did not want to leave the stage.

JAVIER CASTELLANO was a very popular winner of champion jockey, he gets a lot of love on social media, alhtough he did not say anything about horses, at all, during his acceptance speech.

 

 

WISE DAN’S OWNER MORTON FINK – last night at the Eclipse Awards:

 
“I won’t go into a lot of details about what he=s accomplished, but he certainly has accomplished a lot. I just wanted to mention: he holds three track records, one of them is at a mile and an eighth–which might come as a surprise to some people
who think he can=t run past a mile. I’m hoping that I convince Charlie–which is nearly impossible–to run on
the dirt, long. I think the breeding of a $29,000 mare with, at the time, a $1,000 stud fee, should get people
interested in the business. You don’ t have to be a millionaire. You can get lucky at any price. So go in with what you can afford and anything can happen.”

 

VOTING TOTALS FOR ECLIPSE AWARDS

Horse of the Year: Wise Dan

Voting: Wise Dan, 208, Mucho Macho Man, 21, Will Take Charge, 15; Others: Dank (GB), 1; Princess of Sylmar, 1; Royal Delta, 1, abstentions, 2.

Older Male: Wise Dan

Voting: Wise Dan 123, Mucho Macho Man 93, Game on Dude 31, Others: Flat Out 2

Male Turf Horse: Wise Dan

Voting: Wise Dan 243, Magician 4, Point of Entry 1, Others: Obviously 1

Two-Year-Old Male: Shared Belief

Voting: Shared Belief 115, New Year’s Day 99, Havana 24, Others: Honor Code 5, Outstrip 4, Tamarando 1, No vote 1
Two-Year-Old Filly: She’s a Tiger

Voting: She’s a Tiger 212, Chriselliam 15, Ria Antonia 10, Others: Sweet Reason 3, Stopshoppingmaria 3, Streaming 3, My Conquestadory 2, Artemis Agrotera 1

Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Will Take Charge

Voting: Will Take Charge 231, Orb 15, Palace Malice 1, Others: Goldencents 1, Verrazano 1

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Beholder

Voting: Beholder 207, Princess of Sylmar 42, Close Hatches 0

Older Female: Royal Delta

Voting: Royal Delta 234, Joyful Victory 3, Tiz Miz Sue 2, Others: Dank 5, Dance to Bristol 1, Laughing 1, Brandy’s Secret 1, abstention 1, no vote 1

Male Sprinter: Points Offthebench

Voting: Points Offthebench 125, Secret Circle 70, Sahara Sky 45, Others: Justin Phillip 4, Private Zone 2, Immortal Eyes 1, Strapping Groom 1, abstention 1

Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll

Voting: Groupie Doll 192, Mizdirection 45, Dance to Bristol 5, Others: Cluster of Stars, 7

Female Turf Horse: Dank

Voting: Dank 229, Laughing 8, Mizdirection 8

Steeplechase: Divine Fortune

Voting: Divine Fortune 112, Italian Wedding 27, Gustavian 25, Others: Alajmal 21, Mr. Hot Stuff 12, Abstentions 52

Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Voting: Ken and Sarah Ramsey 235, Midwest Throughbreds 4, Juddmonte 0, Others: Morton Fink 3, Gary and Mary West 2, Jungle Racing 1, Maggi Moss 1, abstentions 3

Breeder: Ken and Sarah Ramsey

Voting: Ken and Sarah Ramsey 221, Adena Springs 17, Morton Fink 4, Others: Darley 1, WinStar Farm 1, abstentions 1

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Voting: Todd Pletcher 183, Bill Mott 7, Bob Baffert 5, Others: D. Wayne Lukas 21, Jerry Hollendorfer 9, Charles LoPresto 6, Shug McGaughey 6, Steve Asmussen 3, Chad Brown 2, Kathy Ritvo 2, Ollie Figgins 1, David Jacobson 1, King Leatherbury 1, Dale Romans 1, abstention 1

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Voting: Javier Castellano 134, Gary Stevens 65, Joel Rosario 21, Others: Mike Smith 19, John Velazquez 8, Corey Nakatani 1, abstention 1

Apprentice Jockey: Victor Carrasco

Voting: Victor Carrasco 172, Edgard Zayas 18, Manuel Franco 13, Others: Emmanuel Esquivel 8, Jose Ortiz 4, Dylan Davis 3, Trevor McCarthy 2, Voter abstentions 29

How the Awards are Decided
The old three-bloc voting system was replaced in 2003 with a one vote per person system, where every voter’s selection is weighted equally. Voters rank their top three selections in each of the 16 voting categories and points are awarded on a 10-5-1 basis. The voting point system determines the three finalists in each category, but the winner is determined by first-place votes.

 

HE’S ALL MAN
Mucho Macho Man strolls in the Sunshine Millions

It was a walk in the Mark for Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) winner MUCHO MACHO MAN in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park as the latest racing hero crushed an overmatched field and posted a 111 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.
The 6-year-old won by 14 lengths and ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.76.
He did not win champion older male at the Eclipse Awards as Wise Dan took it, but it sure will be fun to watch this pretty gelding all season.

Gulfstream Park’s $1.3 million Sunshine Millions program was a huge hit, highlighted by Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner and Horse of the Year finalist Mucho Macho Man’s 14-length victory in the $400,000 Sunshine Millions Classic.

Said jockey Gary Stevens, who rode Mucho Macho Man, said trainer Kathy Ritvo and stable manager Finn Green told him not to show off, but “he kind of did anyway, on his own.

“But there was no intention of trying to embarrass anybody,” Stevens said. “It was nice to have people show up to run against him today. It was a huge effort from him — an easy effort, but huge at the same time.”

Green said Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s 6-year-old could be pointed toward the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in seven weeks or the Dubai World Cup in 10 weeks. “We’d probably run in a race five weeks from now, if we were going to go to Dubai,” Green said.

Mucho Macho Man went off the favorite at 10 cents on the dollar and created a minus pool of approximately $125,000.

Who’s Hot: Jockey Jose Lezcano won three Sunshine Millions races in a row – the Filly & Mare Turf with Parranda ($7.60), Filly & Mare Sprint with Ullapool ($6.40) and the Turf with Star Channel ($19.20). Jockey Joe Bravo won the Millions Distaff with Sweet N Discreet ($8) and won the fourth race with Tonalist ($9).

Also at Gulfstream yesterday, 2nd time starting 3yo TONALIST ran a 90 Beyer Figure to win a maiden allowance at 9 furlongs and he looks like a really exciting one for owner Shel Evans.
The colt is yet another winner for the red-hot sire TAPIT.
For readers of the ‘Blog who are longtime Canadian racing fans, you may remember the ‘other’ TONALIST, a Jacinto mare from the early 1980s who was a stakes winner for trainer ROBERT TILLER!

 

FAIR GROUNDS

Canadian CHARLES FIPKE’S homebred 3yo filly UNBRIDLED FOREVER posted a 93 Beyer Figure when she won the SILVERBULLETDAY Stakes at 1 mile and 70 yards. The Unbridled’s Song – Lemons Forever, Lemon Drop Kid filly was coming off her maiden win at Churchill Downs in November. This was her 3rd career race. Dallas Stewart trains.

VICAR’S IN TROUBLE is the latest stakes star for popular KEN AND SARAH RAMSEY (Eclipse award winners of top owner and breeder last night). This 3yo posted a 97 Beyer Figure to win the LECOMTE Stakes for 3yos, a stepping stone to the Louisiana Derby. This colt was also making just his 3rd career start and he just won his maiden in a sprint at Fair Grounds over state-breds – with a 98 Beyer Figure.
He is by Into Mischief and out of Vibrant, by Vicar.
VIBRANT is a Canadian-bred mare, a 5-time winner who was bred by Beclawat Stables (her dam is Ms Paragon, from the family of the mare JABOT).
Vibrant raced for Bruce Lunsford. Vicar’s in Trouble was bred by Spendthrift Farms.

 

DEBUT WINNER AT GOLDEN GATE BRED BY JOSHAM FARMS

CANDY PASSION, a 3yo gelding by Candy Ride (Arg) – Gentle Words by Bertrando won his debut at Golden Gate yesterday, 6 furlongs on an all-weather track in 1:11 – good for a 67 Beyer Speed Figure.
He was a $60,000 Keeneland Sept. yearling  and he was bred in Ontario by Ted Burnett’s JOSHAM FARMS in Ontario.

 

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

DEBMAR STABLES and RICKY GRIFFITH won the 3rd race, a maiden 3yo race for $12,500 with RAY’S BACK, a War pass gelding bred in Indiana. He was a $30,000 yearling purchase and was 6th in 2 races at Woodbine in 2013.

JAMES AND NANETTE MCCULLOGH’S Alberta-bred PORTOFAPPEAL a homebred by Tempered Appeal, easily won an $8,000 claiming race at 1 mile and 40 yards. She was stakes placed at Northlands Park last year and is 3 for 14 in her career.

 

OAKLAWN

Canadian-bred millionaire DIXIE STRIKE was 6th of 6 in the Pippin Stakes, beaten just 6 lengths. Eurico da Silva rode for owner john Oxley.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

Owner  Cecil Clugston and trainer Walter Shauf had two horses break down in races at Charles Town since Friday. PAST GLORY broke down in a starter allowance on Friday and yesterday, DiplOmatic Gal was one of two horses that broke down in an $8,000 claiming race.

AT PENN NATIONAL

Rock Bottom Ranch won 2 races with Ontario breds: GENEVIEVE’S BREEZE won the first race by 14 lengths for $10,000 claiming (she is by Mutakkdim) and SODA ON THE SIDE won a $10,00 claiming race by 1 1/4 lengths: he is by Whiskey Wisdom. Both horses were claimed.

 

 

QUEEN’S PLATE CONTENDER WEE MISS ARTIE GETS 2014 going today!

Two months after running seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), We Miss Artie kicks off his 3-year-old campaign in Sunday’s $100,000 Kitten’s Joy at Gulfstream Park.

Winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) over the Polytrack at Keeneland last fall, We Miss Artie drew post four in a field of 10 sophomores set to go 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Trainer Todd Pletcher considered all options in looking for a spot to bring back We Miss Artie, a son of Grade 1 turf winner Artie Schiller who broke his maiden on the grass at Saratoga Race Course last August.

“He’s trained well on the dirt, but basically he’s run well on all three surfaces,” Pletcher said. “We just felt like the turf was a logical place to bring him back. We won’t rule out trying him on the dirt again at some point.”

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, We Miss Artie finished sixth of seven after being caught wide on both turns in his stakes debut, the With Anticipation (G2) at Saratoga on Aug. 29. He rallied to win the Breeders’ Futurity by 2 ¾ lengths in his next start, earning a trip to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup.

In the Juvenile, he bobbled at the break before settling in along the rail while awaiting room near the half-mile pole. Steered wide in the stretch by jockey Javier Castellano, We Miss Artie made a bid before tiring to seventh though beaten only four lengths.

“I actually thought he ran pretty well in the Juvenile,” Pletcher said. “It’s a tough race. He loomed up in the middle of the turn like he had a shot and he just leveled off a little bit, but it was a good effort.”

We Miss Artie has breezed four times since the Juvenile, given a break from a Dec. 1 breeze to his bullet half-mile work in 47.30 seconds at Palm Meadows on Jan. 7, the fastest of 76 horses. Most recently, he went a half in 49 on Jan. 13.

“The horse has been training really well,” Pletcher said. “We tried to freshen him up a little bit and he seemed to respond to it. His last few breezes have been quite good.”

Pletcher has also been pleased with the way We Miss Artie, the program favorite, has developed from his juvenile season, as well as his versatility.

“Physically, he’s doing well,” he said. “He’s gained some weight, he’s filled out and he’s making that physical transition you like to see one make from two to three. It’s great. You can point for races on the turf and not have to worry if they come off. At the same time, you know he’s good on the turf and his best race so far was on the synthetic, so we have a ton of options.”

OBS RACING DAY TUESDAY!
AND YOU CAN BET ON ONE OF THE RACES!!

Canadian owned and trained NORQUAY is a contender in the non-wagering OBS 3yo championship at 1 1/16 miles. The Kentucky bred Fairbanks filly, a troubled 2nd in her second career race, the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine. Joe Rocco rides for trainer Reade baker, who co-owns with Ricj Mah and Roger Fortier. The filly drew the rail in a large field and  she  should have a good chance to win if she avoids too much traffic.

Also in that race is BUMP BUMP, a Kentucky bred maiden  who was 2nd beaten a neck at Tampa Bay Downs on the grass last time and is a promising runner for Darcy Scudero and Canadian trainer Mike Wright. Gary Boulanger rides. And Sherry McLean’s CHARLOTTE’S QUEST, trained by Sandra Dominguez makes her 2nd career race and ships in from Nelson Jones training centre for the same race.

In the day’s first thoroughbred race, Ed Seltzer and Cabarnet Racing’s  SHANAGARRY, trained by Justin Nixon, has the rail post in the 6 furlong 3yo filly sprint. She is 6 to 1 under Melanie Pinto and is a homebred by Greatness.

http://www.obssales.com/obs-championship-stakes/