GOT YER NOSE! Hall of Fame trainer ROBERT TILLER is now a breeder! Tiller and Rolph Davis are the proud owners of this guy by OLD FORESTER out of VICTORIA’S DESTINY, born on FEB. 13 . ROBERT TILLER photo
WHAT A WILD DAY IN RACING
From the riderless FORT LARNED “winning” the Gulfstream Park Handicap by a sixteenth of a mile to the bizarre speed duel in the San Felipe between big Derby contenders FLASHBACK and GOLDENCENTS, and then the cruising score by VERRAZANO in the Tampa Bay Derby, it was an action-packed Saturday of horse racing.
Thankfully, FORT LARNED emerged essentially unscathed (grabbed a quarter) from the GUlfstream Park ‘Cap, won by Discreet Dancer. The fun stuff flying around after the race is that the Breederds’ Cup Classic winner and champion posted a Beyer Figure in the 130 range for winning the race by a pole, while looking pretty darn mad!
The flawless run by VERRAZANO was spine tingling (101 Beyer) and came in just his 3rd career start. He had ever right to pack it in from this corner’s standpoint. He bobbled at the start, was eager from the inside into the first turn, was wrangled back and then sent up 2 wide to duel early. He then relaxed and powered forward to win by 3 lengths without feeling the whip.
Meanwhile, Canadian bred DYNAMIC SKY, who tracked the winner early through 47 3/5 for the half mile, faded to 4th and seemingly is out of Derby contention.
To the un-trained eyes out there, the jockey is being once again for his loss but the colt has never been comfortable with 2 turn distances, always hanging, and he should be better in one-turn events and coming from off the pace.
The Canadian-bred is still a contender for the Queen’s Plate (although 1 1/4 miles will be a stretch). His Beyer was an 86.
CHARLES FIPKE’S homebred JAVA’S WAR made an exciting rally from far back to be 2nd and that was an appealing run from the son of War Pass.
The other Derby prep was the San Felipe and it was too very eager colts, Flashback and Goldencents, pulling their riders out of the saddle and they ding donged until they could not fight anymore and then it was HEAR THE GHOST, by Ghostzapper, who zoomed by to win. The $40,000 yearling purchase is from the family of SILKEN CAT, a Canadian champ from years ago. Hear the Ghost earned a 92 Beyer in only his 3rd race.
JOE GANLEY (EquiSport photos) captured the possessed FORT LARNED “winning” at Gulfstream yesterday.
TAMPA BAY DERBY REPLAY
KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS
**(projected level needed to get in is in the 30-40 range)
Rank Horse Points Owner(s) Trainer
1 Vyjack 50 Pick Six Racing Rudy Rodriguez
2 Orb 50 Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable Shug McGaughey III
3 Verrazano 50 Let’s Go Stable, Tabor, Magnier & Smith Todd Pletcher
4 Hear the Ghost 50 Halo Farms or Hollendorfer Jerry Hollendorfer
5 Flashback 30 Gary & Mary West Bob Baffert
6 Goldencents 29 W.C. Racing, Dave Kenney & RAP Racing Doug O’Neill
7 Shanghai Bobby 24 Starlight Racing, Magnier, Tabor & Smith Todd Pletcher
8 Java’s War 22 Charles Fipke Ken McPeek
9 Falling Sky 20 Newtown Anner Stud, James Covello & Joseph Bulger John Terranova II
10 West Hills Giant 20 Long Island Racing Stables, Sunrise Stables, Bentivegna John Terranova II
11 Code West 20 Gary & Mary West Bob Baffert
12 Oxbow 16 Calumet Farm D. Wayne Lukas
13 Dynamic Sky 13 John Oxley Mark Casse
14 Speak Logistics 11 Hardaway Stables Eddie Plesa Jr.
15 Itsmyluckyday 10 Trilogy Stable & Laurie Plesa Eddie Plesa Jr.
16 Overanalyze 10 Repole Stable Todd Pletcher
17 Uncaptured 10 John C. Oxley Mark Casse
18 Den’s Legacy 10 Westrock Stables LLC Bob Baffert
19 Power Broker 10 Gary & Mary West Bob Baffert
20 Super Ninety Nine 10 Tanma Corporation Bob Baffert
21 Will Take Charge 10 Willis D. Horton D. Wayne Lukas
TAMPA BAY DOWNS – 10,000 FANS for popular track
TAMPA BAY TIMES FEATURE..
OLDSMAR — Standing near the winner’s circle late Saturday afternoon at Tampa Bay Downs, Derby Lane kennel owner Hans Limmer echoed what other late-arriving fans were saying.
“I can’t believe people are still coming,” he said.
With Verrazano and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez on display, the Festival Day crowd of 10,476 wanted to see a big victory from a big Kentucky Derby hopeful. They weren’t disappointed.
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/parimutuels/verrazano-wins-tampa-bay-derby/2108090
SAN FELIPE FEATURE from LA TIMES:
By Eric Sondheimer
March 9, 2013, 7:34 p.m.
With the Kentucky Derby less than two months away, excitement and tension filled the Santa Anita paddock Saturday just before the running of the Grade II $300,000 San Felipe Stakes.
Cameras were everywhere, and all eyes were on the two highly regarded 3-year-olds, Flashback and Goldencents. And their two jockeys, Julien Leparoux and Kevin Krigger, acted as if they were engaged in a match race soon after the start of the 1 1/16-mile race.
Flashback, the even-money favorite, and Goldencents engaged in a speed duel, but when they reached the stretch, Hear The Ghost came charging from fifth place under jockey Corey Nakatani and overtook Flashback for a half-length victory. Tiz A Minister rallied for third, with Goldencents fading to fourth in the eight-horse field.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-san-felipe-stakes-20130310,0,4579478.column
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
DYNAMIC SKY aside (and hey, his 86 Beyer keeps him in the hunt for the Queen’s Plate) , there were some bright moments from some Canadian-bred 3yos as we get closer to the opening of Woodbine.
PYRITE MOUNTAIN, the Kingarvie Stakes winner, made his 3yo debut at Gulfstream in a 1 mile grass race yesterday for trainer Mark Frostad.
It was a troubled journey for the son of Silent Hame (Jpn) but he closed well to be 4th and he earned a 66 Beyer. Awesome Again Racing Syndicate owns the Sean Hall-bred colt.
The news was not as good for COUNTY LINEMAN, also a Frostad trainee, who was blasted 38 lengths in his dirt debut and 3yo unveiling.
MIDNIGHT ARIA for Tucci Stables, posted a 72 Beyer in his run on the grass, 3rd in a 1 mile event. He is a son of Midnight Lute.
also..
PERFECT AFLEET, a 7-year-old horse owned by Charles Fipke, won his dirt debut yesterday at Gulfstream and posted a career best 92 Beyer Figure. The flashy chestnut, trained by Roger Attfield, was ridden by Patrick Husbands.
JOHN HILLER’S LOVE 2WIN STABLE sent out its debuting 3yo, Kentucky bred STEEL DUST DANCER at Gulfstream yesterday. The grey son of Unbridled’s Song had a rough trip but was 3rd with a 71 Beyer in a pleasing run.
He is trained by Mark Casse.
OBS CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES RACES TOMORROW!
Canadian-breds and Woodbine Oaks/Plate contenders SPRING IN THE AIR, HESA BIG DUDE and STAR CONTENDER are in the non-betting OBS races on the Pro-Ride all weather surface tomorrow in Ocala.
Patrick Husbands will ride the Canadian-breds for John Oxley.
past performances:
http://obssales.com/OBSPAGES/2013Racepps.pdf
OBS SALE TUESDAY
Here is a list of the Ontario breds catalogued for the Ocala 2yo sale next week. The gallop show began Thursday – the times for each 2yo’s works is included in my list:
2 10.1 Updates Y C Kitten’s Joy Oh What a Feeling ON Eddie Woods, Agent LXXV 11
33 10.1 Updates Y C Street Sense Rare Opportunity ON McKathan Bros., Agent III 6
70 out Updates C Giant’s Causeway Sheer Enchantment ON Sequel Bloodstock, Inc. (Becky Thomas), Agent 11
79 10.1 Updates F Dixie Union Sky Select ON Sequel Bloodstock, Inc. (Becky Thomas), Agent 11
88 10.4 Updates Y C Belong to Me Staid ON Ricky Leppala, Agent I 11
134 out Updates C Flower Alley Vaulcluse ON Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XV 8
147 10.3 Updates C Cowboy Cal Wild and Wonderful ON Paul Sharp, Agent V 8
221 10.0 Updates Y C Put It Back De’jade ON Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent IV 5
231 10.2 Updates Y C Ghostzapper Dynamite Dancer ON Eddie Woods, Agent LXXV 11
255 10.1 Updates Y F Colonel John Galadriel ON de Meric Sales, Agent I 12
279 10.1 Updates Y F Northern Afleet Hold the Sugar ON Southern Chase Farm, Inc.\(Greg and Karen Dodd), Agent 7
324 10.2 Updates Y C Tale of the Cat Meandering Stream ON Ricky Leppala, Agent 11
340 10.1 Updates F Ghostzapper Morning Chatter ON Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent IV 5
FORT LARNED STUMBLES, TOSSES JOCK AND STREAKS AROUND GP
Oh yes, Discreet Dancer won GP ‘Cap
Dancer’ wins after Fort Larned stumbles
Discreet Dancer captured the Gulfstream Park Handicap after favorite Fort Larned stumbled and lost his jockey.
By Jim Freer
Special to The Miami Herald
The return of Breeders’ Cup champion Fort Larned ended with a scare, but fortunately no injuries, on Saturday when he fell and unseated jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. leaving the gate in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Handicap.
With Fort Larned out, Discreet Dancer took the lead after a half mile and pulled away to beat Swagger Jack by 5 1/2 lengths in the one-mile Grade 2 stakes on dirt. Fort Loudon finished third, another 1 1/4 lengths back.
Fort Larned regained his footing, passed the other five horses and crossed the finish line about 10 lengths ahead of Discreet Dancer.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/10/3277355/dancer-wins-after-fort-larned.html#storylink=cpy
HASTINGS PARK’S NEW SHIP N WIN PROGRAM
The action is already fast and furious at Hastings Park where some 500 horses are on the grounds and recorded works begin on TUESDAY!
Hastings Racecourse last fall announced a new Ship N Win Program to assist new Owners and Trainers to race at the local oval in 2013.
The program was also set-up to assist local owners to go out of jurisdiction and purchase or claim new horses to increase the local horse population.
Total of $2000.00 per Horse is Offered
Here is the criteria as we understand it.
1: The program offers a total of $2000.00 per horse, $1000.00 for the owner and $1000.00 for the trainer. If a horse was purchased or claimed by the current owner or by another trainer other then the trainer at Hastings, the owner would receive the entire $2000.00.
2: The program is for 3 year olds and up only.
3: To be eligible, a horse must not have raced in British Columbia for the
same owner or ownership group in the past six months.
4: Not started or trained/recorded works at Hastings in 2012
5: To be eligible, a horse must make 3 starts during the 2013 season at Hastings Racecourse.
6: Stakes races are excluded from being considered a start.
7: In the event the eligible horse is claimed before its 3rd start the original owner/trainer are still eligible to receive the funds not the claimee after the 3rd start.
