The personable and pretty PENDER HARBOUR – Dave Landry Photo
PENDER HARBOUR in his first allowance race since he was a 2yo
Canadian champion PENDER HARBOUR starts off his 6yo campaign today in the featured 7th race at Woodbine on the Good Friday card. The chestnut gelding, a millionaire owned by Denny Andrews, Sandra Lazaruk and Bob and Roberta Giffin, has been in stakes races in every race since May 2011. He did not win last year but came so close in many races and he is one of this country’s best horses to be produced here in the last few years.
Aa winner at today’s 7 furlong distance, Pender Harbour should be a pace factor in his return for trainer Mike DePaulo, who won 3 of 6 starts on opening weekend. The race is a competitive little event on a small card of racing (just 57 entries for 8 races) with winter raced SNIPER back from Kentucky in good form, BOBCAYGEON coming out of a huge key race at Gulfstream, PEYTON making his comeback and he won his return last summer, CHIEF THUNDERCLOUD coming in from Parx in good form and layoff runner COURTVILLE.
Don’t forget to check out racing picks and some handicapping trends on http://jmbets.ca/
STRONACH TAKES THE LEAD
The Stronach Group is committed to implementing the following measures at all of our racetracks aimed at eliminating drug abuse and the mistreatment of horses:
• Creating a strictly regulated pharmacy to dispense all medications prescribed and administered on association property.
• Prohibiting anyone from having any medications in their possession unless those medications have been properly prescribed for a therapeutic treatment program.
• Instituting random spot checks of veterinarians and all personnel that have access to the horse.
• Automatic drug testing for all horses that ship-in to race.
• Establishing a program of random drug testing that can be administered at any time for all horses.
• Banning individuals found guilty of animal abuse from competing.
• Having the right to request all veterinarian records and have them examined by an independent team of veterinarians.
• Creating a shared database of all racing and training fatalities.
• Prohibiting the use of buzzers or other devices designed to manipulate or abuse horses.
• Providing horse ambulances and stalls fitted with special equipment to ensure the safe and humane movement of an injured horse in order to provide immediate care with the ultimate goal of rehabilitation.
We at The Stronach Group are committed to undertaking all necessary measures to ensure the health and safety of the horses and jockeys; I hope that these proposals will be endorsed by owners, trainers and veterinarians. To assist with the implementation of these proposals, we will immediately begin searching for an Equine Health and Safety Director who will report to a newly established Equine Health and Safety Board. The members of this new board will include owners, trainers, and veterinarians.
VET RECORDS AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC
ADENA SPRINGS, BAKER, ATTFIELD, CASSE AMONG among group
A large and growing number of prominent Thoroughbred owners and trainers have voluntarily pledged to make veterinary records of their horses competing in graded stakes races in the United States and Canada available to the public, The Jockey Club announced April 17.
Such records will cover the 14-day period preceding and including the day of each race and will be available on the day of the race at least two hours prior to post time. The pledges take effect immediately.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84439/key-owners-trainers-to-publicize-vet-records#ixzz2zEcqVkMs
SAM-SON’S RACE TO WIN
and HORSE OF THE YEAR UP WITH THE BIRDS EYES DIXIE
Sam-Son Farm’s HIS RACE TO WIN overcame a bunch of trouble to win an allowance race at Keeneland this week and he posted a 92 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. The son of Stormy Atlantic – Fleet of Foot, by Gone West won the Ontario Derby on Woodbine’s Polytrack last year and this win came on the grass. The colt came to hand a bit later than his more illustrious stablemate Up With the Birds but the latter had a fauly season opener while this guy is looking like he has more to offer.
Up With the Birds became a two-time Sovereign Award winner over the weekend as Canada’s 2013 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old. Trainer Malcolm Pierce had Up With the Birds at Keeneland, where he made his 2014 debut April 5 and finished sixth in a turf allowance test.
“Maybe I did not have him tight enough, but he is the kind of horse that has to race himself into shape,” Pierce said. “The other day when he ran, the turf was not that firm.”
Pierce said his horses would begin shipping to their home base at Woodbine the middle of next week. Plans for Up With the Birds might include a trip to Baltimore.
“I have been thinking about the ($400,000) Dixie (G2) at Pimlico (on May 17),” Pierce said. “Timing-wise that would be perfect.”
HE WON! His Race to Win posted a 92 Beyer Figure in a scintillating grass allowance win at Keeneland this week. Yet another star for Sam-Son, could he be better than the Bird this year? KEENELAND PHOTO
GOOD FRIDAY AT KEENELAND
Champions Solid Appeal and Sistery Love square off
Juddmonte Farms’ Emollient, a three-time Grade 1 winner in 2013, headlines a field of 11 fillies and mares entered Tuesday for Friday’s 20th running of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare will go as the ninth race on Friday’s 10-race program with a 5:13 p.m. ET post time.
Trained by Bill Mott, Emollient notched two of her Grade 1s at Keeneland with triumphs in the Central Bank Ashland and Juddmonte Spinster. Only three fillies (Take Charge Lady, 2002; Optimistic Gal, 1976; and Doubledogdare, 1956) had accomplished that double.
Regular rider Mike Smith has the call on Emollient, who will break from post position 10.
Two 2013 Sovereign Award winners are in the field: Gary Barber’s Sisterly Love and Susan and Jim Hill’s SolidAppeal.
Trained by Mark Casse, Sisterly Love was named Canada’s champion older female in 2013. Stewart Elliott, who rode Sisterly Love to a wire-to-wire victory here on opening day, April 4, has the mount Friday and will break from post position seven as a supplemental entry to the race.
Trained by Reade Baker, Solid Appeal picked up a 2013 Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion turf female. Winner of the Nassau (G2) and Dance Smartly (G2) last year, Solid Appeal will make her first start since finishing third in the Cardinal Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs in November. Robby Albarado has the mount on Solid Appeal and break from post position nine.
The field for the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare, from the rail out, is as follows: Ire (Julien Leparoux, 118 pounds),Moment in Dixie (Jose Lezcano, 118), Pearl Turn (Rosie Napravnik, 118), Gold Medal Dancer (Luis Quinonez, 118), Noble Charlotte (Mario Pino, 118), Dixie Strike (Alan Garcia, 118), Sisterly Love (Elliott, 118), Sisterhood(John Velazquez, 118), Solid Appeal (Albarado, 118), Emollient (Smith, 123) and Strathnaver (GB) (Joel Rosario, 118).
Friday, Keeneland, post time: 5:13 p.m. EDT
HILLIARD LYONS DOUBLEDOGDARE S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/16m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Ire Political Force Leparoux Stall Jr 118
2 Moment in Dixie Dixieland Band Lezcano Toner 118
3 Pearl Turn K Bernardini Napravnik Van Meter 118
4 Gold Medal Dancer Medaglia d’Oro Quinonez Von Hemel 118
5 Noble Charlotte Include Pino Cheeks 118
6 Dixie Strike Dixie Union Garcia Casse 118
7 Sisterly Love Bellamy Road Elliott Casse 118
8 Sisterhood Kitten’s Joy Velazquez Ward 118
9 Solid Appeal K Successful Appeal Albarado Baker 118
10 Emollient Empire Maker Smith Mott 123
11 Strathnaver (GB) Oasis Dream (GB) Rosario Motion 118
Saturday, Hawthorne, post time: 6:10 p.m. EDT
SIXTY SAILS H.-GIII, $150,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Sonja’s Angel Smoke Glacken Garcia Walder 115
2 Flashy American K Flashy Bull Emigh McPeek 117
3 Distinctive Review Kitten’s Joy Rose Darjean 112
4 Dixie Strike Dixie Union Mena Casse 117
5 Ana Luisa (Brz) Elusive Quality Napravnik Pletcher 116
6 Dress the Part K Malibu Moon Allen Jr Proctor 116
7 Gamay Noir K Harlan’s Holiday Thornton Wolfson 117
8 Imposing Grace Empire Maker Hill Catalano 117
KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS
California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) 150
Vicar’s in Trouble (Into Mischief) 120
Dance With Fate (Two Step Salsa) 108
Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) 102
Samraat (Noble Causeway) 100
Danza (Street Boss) 100
Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) 95
Intense Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) 93
Wildcat Red (D’wildcat) 90
We Miss Artie (Artie Schiller) 60
Ride On Curlin (Curlin) 55
Chitu (Henny Hughes) 54
Tapiture (Tapit) 52
Midnight Hawk (Midnight Lute) 52
Ring Weekend (Tapit) 50
General a Rod (Roman Ruler) 40
Medal Count (Dynaformer) 40
Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) 30
Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) 24
Uncle Sigh (Indian Charlie) 24
Vinceremos (Pioneerof the Nile) 20
Harry’s Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) 20
Commanding Curve (Master Command) 20
Pablo Del Monte (Giant’s Causeway) 20
Bayern (Offlee Wild) 20
Social Inclusion (Harlan’s Holiday) 20
MORE DERBY MEMORIES
How about this horse coming up the rail with little room? Godspeed Ferdinand.
AMI’S HOLIDAY in Saturday’s Lexington stakes
Ivan Dalos has a good 3yo filly this year in Aragorn Ami and now his top 2yo colt AMI’S HOLIDAY is ready to go for 2014 in the Lexington tomorrow at Keeneland. The Grey Stakes winner has 10 Derby points but he certainly is a Queen’s Plate candidate first and foremost.
Saturday, Keeneland, post time: 5:13 p.m. EDT
COOLMORE LEXINGTON S.-GIII, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Mr Speaker Pulpit Lezcano McGaughey III 120
2 Solitary Ranger U S Ranger Geroux Catalano 120
3 Dynamic Impact K Tiznow Garcia Casse 118
4 Poker Player K Harlan’s Holiday Elliott Catalano 120
5 Z Lucky Zensational Court Lukas 118
6 Divine Oath K Broken Vow Castellno Pletcher 118
7 Ami’s Holiday Harlan’s Holiday Albarado Carroll 120
8 Ride Away Candy Ride (Arg) Leparoux Motion 118
9 Morning Calm Broken Vow Rocco Jr Nihei 118
10 Supermonic K Latent Heat Rosario Pletcher 118
11 Global Strike Smart Strike Ortiz Jr Pletcher 118
AMI’S HOLIDAY – photo by Michael Burns
WARRIOR’S REWARD FILLY WORKS IN 9 4/5:
ONTARIO BREDS IN OBS APRIL 2YO SALE
Gallop show results and more
Ontario bred by Hip -see catalogue at www.obssales.com
Ontario-bred 2yos up for sale next week were sizzling during the gallop show in Ocala. A filly from the first crop of WARRIOR’S REWARD worked in 9 4/5
67 9.4 F Warrior’s Reward G G’s Dolly Ontario King’s Equine, Agent for Spendthrift Farm
117 11.2 F Discreetly Mine Hannah Sue Ontario L & S Thoroughbreds LLC
138 21.0 F Yes It’s True Hold the Sugar Ontario Southern Chase Farm, Inc. (Greg & Karen Dodd), Agent
187 10.0 C Red Giant Itstartswithadream Ontario McKathan Bros., Agent V
365 10.3 C Where’s the Ring Moon Mist Ontario RiceHorse Stables
396 out C Old Fashioned Nithi Ontario SBM Training and Sales, Agent III
407 21.2 F City Zip Ochoa Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent VI
424 10.2 C Sharp Humor Overocks Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent I
457 out C Midshipman Pinafore Lady Ontario Tom McCrocklin, Agent I
516 22.0 C Marchfield Real Scoop Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent IV
530 10.0 C Street Boss Reggae Rose Ontario Classic Bloodstock (Danzel Brendemuehl), Agent II
551 10.4 C Alumni Hall Romantic Fibs Ontario SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II
557 23.0 C Bellamy Road Rouge Lady Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent III
568 10.1 F Spring At Last Sago Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
THOROUGHBLOG LISTS
Queen’s Plate contenders, Top Canadian-breds and my Must Reads! All on the main page of Thoroughblog!
ONE OF MY FIRST BOOKS
Had to share this cover of one of the first books I bought in grade school through Scholastic – published in 1955 – it is a prized possession.
