CORRECTION – Thoroughblog was bogged by egg nog and messed up the photo credits for the Dec 24 post – the images of Tommy Wong and Bilby Rhode were taken by Norm Files and the others were taken by Mr Will Wong!
BEST BEHAVIOR, a $10,000 yearling purchase by top Woodbine trainer Nick Gonzalez, is now a Grade 3 stakes winner for Miller racing – GULFSTREAM PHOTO
Ontario-bred BEST BEHAVIOR won the Grade 3 SUGAR SWIRL STAKES at Gulfstream on Boxing Day, taking over on the turn and driving to a two length score at 5-1 over 2-5 favourite Stonetastic. The Into Mischief 5-year-old is out of Queenship by Line in the Sand and was bred by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse. She ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.69 and is owned by Miller Racing.
QUEENSHIP, the mare’s dam, is a half sister to multiple Canadian spritn champion KING CORRIE (out of Escorrie).
BEST BEHAVIOUR has an interesting past as she began her career at Woodbine in 2013 for an ownership group that included Marth Gonzalez, Doug Jarvis and Robert Lubinsky. She won her maiden at Fort Erie for $7,500 claiming and was claimed, then re-claimed by Gonzalez.
She was then claimed again for $20,000 at Gulfstream in Jan. 2014 for $20,000 by Frank Calabrese.
By then, the speedy gal was improving from 60 to 80 Beyer Figues when claimed for $62,500 by Miller Racing and trainer Martin Wolfson.
Since then, Best Behaviour has won or placed in 7 stakes races. The Sugar Swirl is her first graded victory. She has 9 wins in 28 races and earnings of $344,018.
SEE WHAT TRANSPIRE-D IN TRINIDAD
Emile Ramsammy wins the Gold Cup on Transpire
FROM THE TRINIDAD GUARDIAN –
What transpired yesterday at Santa Rosa Park, Arima was nothing short of spectacular as Emile Ramsammy gave the David Ojar trained Transpire a superb ride to win the Chief Secretary Gold Cup on Tobago Day At The Races.
In front of the biggest crowd at the centralised facility for the 2015 season, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, Horse of the Year 2013/14 Bigman In Town was installed as the 1/2 favourite to win his eleventh race under Nobel Abrego. However, Bigman In Town trailed home in sixth, 12 lengths behind the winner in the worst performance of his career.
Ramsammy broke Transpire alertly and took charge of the race. The pair led Bigman In Town, Momentum, Scotus and Nominee for the early part and never gave up that position. Going down the back-straight, Nominee moved into second ahead of Big Man In Town as Sacred Trust started to get involved.
However, at the 600 metres marker, Ramsammy slipped the field and opened up a four-length gap on Sacred Trust as Bigman In Town was flattening out, while Scotus and Thisoneisforron began to get closer.
At the corner, Ramsammy had Transpire ahead by three lengths, with Sacred Trust unable to bridge the gap. With 200 metres left, Bergeron Rodeo (Patrick Husbands) began to eat up the ground but the winning post came in time for Transpire. Bergeron Rodeo was a neck down at the line with Thisoneisforron in third and Sacred Trust fourth.
Transpire registered the time of 2:06.2 for the trip. An elated Ojar stated, “I was confident my horse would win. Ramsammy rode him well and slowed up the fractions. When he kicked for home, no one had an answer. He had enough in reserve to repel the challengers.”
Ramsammy said he was happy to have been given the ride. “I was 110 percent sure he would win and I rode him with that confidence.”
https://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2015-12-27/transpire-new-big-man-town
MORE CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
Ontario-bred KAIGUN (pink silks) just misses in the Grade 3 W L McKnight – GULFSTREAM PARK PHOTO
KAIGUN, bred in Ontario by Bill Sorokolit, was beaten just a neck in the Grade 3 W L McKnight at Gulfstream on Saturday, a 1 1/2 mile turf tour on firm grass. The son of Northern Afleet, owned by Qintessential, Horsen Around and Gary Barber engaged Charming Kitten in deep stretch and was edged by the Ken and sarah Rsamamy 5yo horse.
One race later in an allowance/optional claiming event, Ontario-bred BEST BARD, owned by Richard Lister, was 2nd beaten 3 3/4 lengths in a 7 1/2 furlong turf race. The 3rd place finisher, Stormy Rocit, was claimed for $62,500 by Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse.
Trainer Mark Frostad sent out HABIBI to finish 4th in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante, beaten 4 lengths by favoured Goldy Espony, a french-bred grey from the Chad Brown barn.
At MAHONING VALLEY, BEAR LINFINI, an Ontario bred by Corinthian, won a $5,000 claiming race at odds-on for owner Danielle Agnello
RUNHAPPY RUNS AWAY IN MALIBU
More than 44,000 fans were at Santa Anita on Boxing day to see RUNHAPPY romp in the Malibu. The son of Secret Saver won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint – Grade 1 and became infamous after his trainer Maria Borell was fired. He was odds-on on Saturday and led all the way for owner Jim McIngvale.
CANADIAN-BREDS IN THE MIX FOR NEXT WEEKEND
The road to the 2016 Florida Derby (G) and Triple Crown starts at Gulfstream Park Jan. 2 with the runnings of the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes and $100,000 Hutcheson Stakes (G3), the first major 3-year-old races on the new calendar.
The Mucho Macho Man, a one-turn mile stakes that attracted 21 nominations, and the Hutcheson, a seven-furlong sprint that drew 18 nominations, will highlight a five-stakes program that will include the $100,000 Old Hat, $100,000 Ginger Brew and $100,000 Dania Beach (G3).
Todd Pletcher, on a quest for an unprecedented 13th consecutive Championship Meet title at Gulfstream, nominated a pair of horses to both the Mucho Macho Man and Hutcheson: Zulu, a dazzling debut winner Dec. 5, and Prospectus, who followed up a sharp debut victory at Gulfstream Park West with a late-closing third in an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Dec. 12.
Zulu, a son of Bernardini, set a pressured pace on opening day of the Championship Meet before drawing away by two lengths and completing six furlongs in 1:10 over a ‘good’ track. Prospectus got away from the gate slowly before finding his best stride too late last time out. The son of Uncle Mo previously won his debut by 1 ¾ lengths after dueling throughout his debut at 5 ½ furlongs.
Pletcher has saddled the winners of the last two runnings of the Florida Derby (slated for April 2 this season) with late-developing, lightly raced colts: Constitution (2014) and Materiality (2015).
Trainer Graham Motion, who saddled Animal Kingdom for a 2011 Kentucky Derby victory, nominated Rafting to the Mucho Macho Man, as well as the Dania Beach. The son of Tapit, who broke his maiden on dirt at Saratoga, captured the Smooth Air Stakes over Gulfstream Park West’s main track by 2 ½ lengths Nov. 28. Runner-up Fellowship and third-place finisher Sumpter have also been nominated.
Kiaran McLaughlin-trained Annual Report also nominated to the Mucho Macho Man, and sports graded-stakes credentials. The son of Harlan’s Holiday captured the Futurity by 1 1/4 lengths at Belmont Park Oct. 17.
Awesome Speed, who captured the James F. Lewis III Stakes at Laurel for trainer Alan Goldberg; and Big Louie D., who followed up a maiden victory with a triumph in the Christopher Elser Memorial Stakes at Parx last time out; are among the more prominent nominees. Servis saddled Smarty Jones for victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Joining Zulu and Prospectus on the list of nominees for the Hutcheson is Sheikh of Sheiks, who captured the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 31. The Wesley Ward-trained son of Discreetly Mine broke his maiden at Saratoga before finishing off the board over a muddy track in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Noholdingback Bear, who finished a half-length behind Sheikh of Sheiks in his second-place Juvenile Dirt Sprint finish, was alson ominated to the Hutcheson by trainer Michael De Paulo.
Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Full Salute, a proven stakes competitor who captured the Buffalo Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park West last time out, was nominated to the Hutcheson, as was Buffalo Man runner-up Cat Tree, who came back to capture a Gulfstream Park optional claiming allowance.
Sophomore fillies will be featured in the Old Hat, a six-furlong sprint that drew 20 nominations, and the Ginger Brew, a 7 ½-furlong turf stakes with 31 nominations.
Josie Carroll-trained Ami’s Mesa was nominated to both the Old Hat and Ginger Brew. The undefeated daughter of Sky Mesa scored by eight lengths in her debut before capturing the Glorious Song Stakes over Woodbine’s Polytrack surface. Carroll also nominated Gamble’s Ghost to the Ginger Brew. The daughter of Ghostzapper captured the Mazarine (G3) on Polytrack and finished second in the Natalma (G2) over Woodbine’s turf course.
Joining Gambler’s Ghost on the nominations list for the Ginger Brew are five Pletcher-trained fillies: Lira, Sweet Victory, Daring Bride, Broadway Gal and Spinamiss. Lira launched her career with two straight victories over the Gulfstream Park West turf course, capturing the Wait a While Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths Nov. 28.
