BREAKFAST IN DUBAI, well, breakfast, watching Dubai
It is one of those bitterly cold mornings in southern Ontario but there is light, in the form of a sun, at the end of this excruciatingly long tunnel. The high temp by Monday should be 2 or 3 Celcius, yippee.
For now, we cozy up and watch racing from Dubai until the big event at 1:30 and then get tied on for much mayhem at Fair Grounds and Gulfstream.
THOROUGHBLOG HANDICAPS WORLD CUP CARD
free pp’s from Equibase below:
I will start with the UAE DERBY, with a post time of 10:25 Eastern. The 1 3/16 mile race brings togher some tough fillies wot meet the boys (the race if for 3yos but southern Hemisphere 4yos are eligible too):
Having watched the replays of many of the entrants, I do believe the fillies are going to be tough. But perhaps it will not be REEM or KHAWLAH today. I liked the way the Kentucky bred colt AHLAAIN closed last time behind Reem after he had a bad start. He’s just 1 for 9 in his career but if he gets some pace to run at, he can rally for a big prize, He is by Bernstein.
In the GOLDEN SHAHEEN, at 6 furlongs around one turn, it looks like a crapshoot but gosh, ROCKET MAN is a doozy. EUROEARS could bounce off his big return to action but he’s by Langfuhr so we cheer for him.
DUBAI DUTY FREE – PRESVIS for Luca Cumani is the the pick/
SHEEMA CLASSIC – the 1 1/2 turf marathon will showcase some good Americans CHAMP PEGASUS and ONtario sired BOURBON BAY. The Champ looks good.
WORLD CUP – The daddy of them all – TWICE OVER looks very strong off his prep win in Dubai but also consider CAPE BLANCO , GIO PONTI and my sneaky one GOLDEN SWORD!
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARD PP’S FROM EQUIBASE AND AMWEST
CANADIAN STUFF – QUEEN’S PLATE news
It is a big day for Queen’s Plate winterbook favourite INGLORIOUS and then there is ELITE ALEX, the Plate hopeful who is not yet eligible but perhaps on his way to the Kentucjy Derby first should be run well in the Louisiana Derby.
Breeder Alison Register, who is no longer in racing, will surely be watching with excitement today as the bay colt makes his 3rd start off the layoff. He should handle the distance based on his breeding but strating from post 11 in the 12 horse field is no prize.
The DISTANCE of 9 furlongs is going to separate the men from the boys in the Louisiana Derby – MUCHO MACHO MAN is worthy favourite but will be too low to play since the distance might be beyond his best.
After Macho Man, the race is wide open. I am leaning to playing MACHEN (may-chin), even though his morning line odds of 7 to 2 are dreadful – perhaps he will be a bit higher. This is a lightly raced colt who was stunning his his allowance win on Jan. 30 for trainer Neil Howard. He was 3 wide throughout the Risen Star and a bit flat in his run but he is still learning.
LA. DERBY PICKS – 1 – MACHEN 2- MUCHO MACHO MAN 3- ELITE ALEX
INGLORIOUS’ task got a lot easier when first KATHMANBLU was re-routed to Keeneland and then SNOW FALL was scratched yesterday. Now the Canadian-bred is the highest last-race Beyer Figure filly in the 1 1/16 mile race, but not by much.
She is no shoe-in in this spot but may have a better pace to run at.
The fillies for Inglorious to beat are DAISY DEVINE, sent out by 32 per cent trainer Andrew McKeever and the fast improving LITTLE MISS HOLLY, with Edgar Prado on board.
FAIR GROUNDS OAKS PICKS 1 – LITTLE MISS HOLLY 2- DAISY DEVINE 3- INGLORIOUS
Also at Fair Grounds, Canadian-owned CATEGORY SEVEN is looking for some pace to run at the Bayou Stakes, which drew a small field. Sam-Son Farms’ Canadian-bred FOREST UPROAR plus UPPERLINE have the tactical advantage.
The exciting 2nd start of the American colt BIND comes in race 4 – the Pulpit colt ran a 105 Beyer Figure in his debut outing.
Race 9 is the Mervin Muniz at 1 1/8 miles on the grass and Sam-Son farms’ Canadian bred 4yo GIANT’S TOMB comes off an allowance win on Feb. 20 in his first race since the Queen’s Plate last year. This is a much, much tougher test for the gelding.
In other news…BOWMAN’S CAUSEWAY will cram another race into his schedule this winter as he will take part in the FLORIDA DERBY next Sunday. The Queen’s Plate hopeful will meet a tiny field but he has been consistent all winter, he just seems to need a bit of pace to run at.
The DRF talked to trainer Patrick Biancone…
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown2011/news/story?id=6258844
FAIR GROUNDS PICKS from scribe BOB FORTUS :
http://www.nola.com/horseracing/index.ssf/2011/03/so_many_questions_so_little_ti.html
HORSEPLAYER INTERACTIVE ANNOUNCES TRIACTOR TAKEOUT DROP
2% on the popular bet
See
http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2011/03/woodbine-drops-tri-takeout-2-full.html
ENTER OUR CONTEST –
GUESS THE WINNERS OF THE HORSE AWARDS FOR THE SOVEREIGNS
SOVEREIGN AWARD NOMINEES
Thanks to the latest entries for our Sovereign award contest! One week left in the contest, try and guess the winners of the horse awards (see list of nominees below) and win MURIEL LENNOX’S new book, THE HORSE AND THE TIGER!
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:
Delightful Mary
Roxy Gap
Wyomia
Champion Two-Year-Old Male:
Blue Laser
Madman Diaries
Rockin Heat
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly:
Biofuel
Free Fee Lady
Roan Inish
Champion Three-Year-Old Male:
Big Red Mike
Hotep
No Hesitation
Champion Older Female:
Hooh Why
Impossible Time
Simply Splendid
Champion Older Male:
Sand Cove
Southdale
Stunning Stag
Champion Turf Female:
Mekong Melody (IRE)
Miss Keller (IRE)
Perfect Shirl
Champion Turf Male:
Grand Adventure
Rahy’s Attorney
Windward Islands
Champion Female Sprinter:
Hooh Why
Indian Apple Is
Sugar Again
Champion Male Sprinter:
Essence Hit Man
Hollywood Hit
Smokey Fire
