CONTEST – CONTEST CONTEST – SEND YOUR GUESSES as to who may win the SOVEREIGN AWARDS (horses only) and get a chance to win THE HORSE AND THE TIGER, the new book by Muriel Lennox.
Send your picks by using the Comment button, you have 16 days left to take your guess…
CANADIAN-BRED JOYFUL VICTORY streaks to her Honeybee win- Oaklawn Park/Coady Photo
MAIN TRACK OPENS EARLY AT WOODBINE
A series of wacky weather days with tons of rain and cold left the Woodbine training track in a mess so the main Polytrack was opened several days earlier that scheduled. Horses were able to get on to the Poly on Saturday instead of tomorrow.
The weather has made it tough for locals to get their horses ready for opening day which is less than 3 weeks away.
IN fact, the training track has not had any workers on it for several days.
Notable moves lately include INDIAN APPLE IS, a finalist for champion female sprinter for 2010, 9-year-old champion WHOLELOTTABOURBON, and stakes winners STUNNING STAG and SIGNATURE RED.
ACES UP
RED ACE IS SCARY GOOD WITH 86 BEYER FIGURE
Several years ago, JOHN FORT and his Peachtree Stables were headed to Canada with a Canadian-bred 3yo colt named Twilight Meteor, in search of the Queen’s Plate. The racy chestnut with the white blaze did indeed make it to Woodbine but he would up 7th behind Mike Fox in the 2007 Plate.
Fort could be back in 2011 with another nice chestnut with a white face – RED ACE.
A son of Northern Afleet, Red Ace won 2nd time out at Fair Grounds, yesterday with an 86 Beyer Figure. He is trained by Steve Margolis.
7th-FGX, $41,000, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 1:10 1/5, ft.
RED ACE (c, 3, Northern Afleet–Swiss Courts Cheat, by Notebook), a $77,000 KEESEP yearling turned
$300,000 two-year-old when offered by Parrish Farm and purchased by John Fort at FTFFEB, was fourth on
debut behind promising J “TDN Rising Star” J Bind (Pulpit) here Feb. 19, and was given a 5-2 shot to
graduate in this second attempt. The chestnut rated early in mid-pack while wide behind an opening half in
:45.82, threaded the needle between horses to edge closer turning for home and tipped out wide for clear
sailing. Pacesetter Yankee Gone South (Yankee Gentleman) opened up in upper stretch, but he could
not hold off Red Ace=s devastating late kick, and was relegated to second, beaten 6 1/2 lengths.
The winner is a half to Swiss Lad (Phone Saga), SW & GSP, $295,036. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $27,060. O-Peachtree Stable. B-James A & Janeane A Everatt & J Arika Everatt-Meeuse (ON). T-Steve Margolis.
IN OTHER QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS –
KITTEN SCRATCHES HIS WAY TO 2ND
QUEEN’SPLATEKITTEN, a Queen’s Plate contender for American interests Mill House and trainer Todd Pletcher, was 2nd in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes on the grass yesterday at Gulfstream after a slow gain through the stretch. The winner of the race, Joe’s Blazing Aaron, led all the way at 11 to 1 and won by 1 3/4 lengths over the Kitten.
The Kitten earned a career best Beyer Figure of 80 and it was a reasonable effort that suggested he still wants more distance and will certainly like Canadian company.
BEAR’S CHILL, a promising youngster from the Reade Baker Stable, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.50 at Palm Meadows yesterday in company with older mate Thunder Ball.
OCALA RACES ARE DELIGHTFUL
DELIGHTFUL MARY, a finalist for champion 2yo filly in Canada for 2010 at the April 1 Sovereign Awards, won her seasonal debut in workmaklike fashion yesterday at the Ocala Sales Track in Ocala. It was the ‘Day of Champions’ card of racing and Mary, by Limehouse, earned an 80 Beyer while beating 3 rivals. She is a Kentucky bred for JOhn Oxley and she is trained by Mark Casse.
By Fred Hiers
Staff writer
Published: Monday, March 14, 2011 at 5:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, March 14, 2011 at 5:32 p.m.
The horses didn’t disappoint the crowd of about 5,000 spectators at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales’ Day of Champions race Monday, and hundreds of those gathered rushed the rail or stood on bleachers to cheer the day’s four races.
The first race of the afternoon, OBS’ six-furlong Sprint Stakes race for fillies, turned into a three-way battle along the stretch as One Star came three wide, found an opening under jockey Elvis Trujillo, and crossed the wire 1¾ lengths ahead of Take Me To Zuber and Wild Penny in a field of six fillies.
“I was open a little bit (in the stretch) … and I went through,” Trujillo said in the winner’s circle after the race. “I’m in the stretch and I saw no one coming. Then I knew I won.” STORY IS 4 PAGES LONG…
HOLY MO-LEY!!
“It’s the first time in four months that I’ve taken a deep breath. So it kind of feels good to take a deep breath,” said Mike Repole, who readily admitted to being especially anxious about his stable star’s 3-year-old debut. “But when you have the best trainer in the world and he tells you how good this horse is, you’ve got to trust him.” – Mike Repole, owner of Uncle Mo
Undefeated Uncle Mo eased his owner’s nerves with a dominating 3-3/4-length triumph while living up to the lofty expectations of a very partial crowd that sent him to post as its 1-10 darling against four seriously overmatched rivals.
“He knows what he’s here for. He’s just one of those special horses. I’ve said it many times, ‘Good horses know they’re good.’ He knows he’s good,” Repole said. “He’s a monster on the racetrack and he’s a puppy dog in the stall. He knew today, he was running.”
UNCLE MO coasted to an easy lead and went slow as others were not going to bother going with him and so he quickened and won easily with an 89 Beyer Figure, the lowest of his career. Still, he still looks like a monster and now he goes to New York for the Wood Memorial for his last Derby prep.
MO TORING – Joe Ganley-EquiSport photo
OH JOY!
The grey Tapit filly JOYFUL VICTORY took advantage of a very hot pace up front and blew past for an 8 length win in the Honeybee
at Oaklawn yesterday under Mike Smith. The filly ran 1 mile in 1:38 and earned an 82 Beyer Figure, not mind-boggling, but she was making only her 4th career start and her first start since last year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Bill graham bred the filly at his Windhaven in Caledon and she is out of WILD LUCKY BLACK, by Wild Again.
She was a $40,000 yearling at the Janaury Horses of All Ages sale in 2009 and then pinhooked for $400,000 last year as a 2yo and was bought by Fox Hill Farm (Eight Belles, Hard Spun etc.).
JOYFUL VICTORY is not nominated to the Woodbine Oaks or Queen’s Plate but maybe she is good enough to carry on in the U.S…
we’ll see!
KENTUCKY OAKS ODDS:
1 A Z Warrior Bernardini Baffert 15-1 28-1
2 Big Tiz Tiznow Glatt 20-1 38-1
3 Bouquet Booth Flower Alley Margolis 20-1 41-1
4 Dancinginherdreams Tapit Ward 10-1 10-1
5 Delightful Mary Limehouse Casse 15-1 24-1
6 Harlan’s Ruby Harlan’s Holiday McPeek 20-1 84-1
7 Holy Heavens Holy Bull Chatters 50-1 82-1
8 Inglorious Hennessy Carroll 30-1 23-1
9 It’s Tricky Mineshaft McLaughlin 10-1 10-1
10 Joyful Victory Tapit Jones 20-1 7-1
11 Kathmanblu Bluegrass Cat McPeek 12-1 7-2
12 Mildly Offensive Sharp Humor Gaines 50-1 51-1
13 Miss Smarty Pants Smarty Jones Benzel 50-1 44-1
14 Oh Carole Unbridled’s Song Kenneally 50-1 54-1
15 Pomeroys Pistol Pomeroy Tarrant 30-1 127-1
16 R Heat Lightning Trippi Pletcher 8-1 9-1
17 Rigoletta Concerto Hendricks 30-1 56-1
18 Royal Delta Empire Maker Mott 20-1 37-1
19 Salty Strike Smart Strike McPeek 30-1 100-1
20 Snow Fall War Front Stidham 50-1 56-1
21 Summer Soiree War Front Jones 50-1 55-1
22 Wyomia Vindication Vella 50-1 24-1
23 Zazu Tapit Sadler 8-1 7-1
24 Mutuel Field 5-2 9-1
TACKLEBERRY, who had a chip in his knee as a 2yo, refuses to lose. The Montbrook fellow has won big races at 4 different distances recently and Saturday, won the 1 mile Gulfstream Park Handicap despite being challenged late by a host of runners. He is on the inside in this super shot with Single Empire (white face) and Tizway (blinkers) plus the chestnut Duke of Mischief.
Joe Ganley/EquiSport photo
WATCH OUT
WATCH ME GO, at 43 to 1, went. Right past big fave BRETHREN in the Tampa Bay Derby and then edged 78 to 1 shot Crimson Knight to take his big win for owner and breeder Gilbert Campbell.
The 3yo colt by West Acre (a son of Forty Niner), Watch Me Go had made a good living since he won his debut last May at Calder but this was his biggest race.
He comes from a strong Canadian family too!
SABBATH SONG, his dam, is an Ontario bred from Adena Springs. She did not race but is out of SIRONA (Irish Stronghold), who gave Frank Stronach stars such as BLITZER, DIAMONDS GALORE and SIR BLITZ.
And Colebrook Farms should be abuzz this morning too…it raced SIRONA GOLD a half sister to Watch Me Go’s mum and she has had 2 foals for Colebrook through 2008.
WATCH ME GO earned an 82 Beyer Figure.
Tampa Bay Track Report:
OLDSMAR, Fla. (March 12, 2011) A crowd of 10,755 gathered at the Oldsmar oval today to witness Watch Me Go capture the 31st running of the Grade II $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, defeating the remaining field of eight to record his first graded stakes win.
The twelve race card attracted a record all-source handle of $10,949,948 which included $876,063 wagered on track, a 16% gain over last year’s Festival Day.
Vice President and General Manager Peter Berube commented, “I’m extremely pleased by the afternoon’s performance. On last year’s Festival Day, Aqueduct cancelled, making this year’s gain a phenomenal success. Having the local horses run so well certainly added to the on-track festivities.”
Grade II Tampa Bay Derby winner Watch Me Go is a Florida-bred son of West Acre who is conditioned by Kathleen O’Connell for owner-breeder Gilbert Campbell; jockey Luis Garcia piloted the colt to victory. Watch Me Go stalked the pace set by eventual second-place finisher Crimson Knight and third-place finisher Brethren throughout the opening quarters, then battled with Crimson Knight throughout the stretch drive to win by a neck.
Winning trainer Kathleen O’Connell was thrilled by the victory. “I was really happy, and I was sure he’d dig in. He’s exhibited a great amount of heart, and he really tried hard. His last race was his first time going two turns, and it was a graded race.
Unfortunately, if you’ve got a three-year-old that’s won a few races, there’s not an easy prep spot. But he’s just fulfilled a lot for the owner and for myself.”
O’Connell continued, “I love my horse, and I felt that we had the home court advantage. You’re stabled here; you walk right out of the barn into the race, which is good. At this point, when he ran such a big race the last time, we nominated him to quite a few spots. Instead of just trying to find an easy spot, which there really aren’t in this type of competition, I just thought it would be the best to walk right out of our stable and over here.”
Larry King, manager of winning owner Gilbert Campbell’s Stonehedge Farm South, said of Watch Me Go’s future, “Mr. Campbell is considering the Arkansas Derby (where Super Saver went last year on the road to his victory in the Kentucky Derby) or the Bluegrass as options; we definitely have the Kentucky Derby as a goal. We were a little surprised to see him go off at 43-1, and wondered what we were missing. Of course, we knew he was training very well, and we were confident that he would improve off of his third-place finish in the Sam F. Davis. After all, that was his first time going two turns.”
Winning jockey Luis Garcia didn’t look surprised in the slightest to find himself in the Tampa Bay Derby Winner’s Circle. “I knew this horse was something special. He was only third in the Davis but he showed me something; that was his first time stretching out and learning to relax behind a good pace. That experience helped us today. We broke well today and the plan was to get in behind the favorite Brethren and to follow him along and wait for the stretch. Brethren took a challenge from that other horse going into the turn and I was able to wait a bit longer; then when I asked him in the stretch he had a lot of run left. Sometimes everything works out just right!”
The $75,000 Suncoast Stakes, a 1 mile 40 yard main track test for fillies three years old, was captured by Wyomia. The daughter of Vindication got up late to win the Suncoast in her first start since running in the Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Wyomia settled off the pace through the early fractions of the Suncoast, splitting horses to emerge the winner in the final strides of the race. Devilish Lady was second, and Her Smile was third.
Co-owner Edward Seltzer said that they weren’t sure how his filly would handle the change in racing surfaces. “We wanted to find out if she could handle the dirt. We bring everything down (to Florida) after the Canadian season; so we brought her to the farm, which is in Ocala. We trained her off of the farm. (Trainer) Curtis (Garrison) has gotten a bunch ready through here and so we decided to get this one ready here, too. We were concerned that she wouldn’t handle the dirt, and she didn’t look like she was at the beginning. She looked like she leveled off at the end. I’m not sure that she loves it, but she handled it, so we’ll see what happens from here.”
When asked whether he’ll keep running her on dirt, owner Edward Seltzer said, “I’m not sure. We have some options. It’s funny – she’s bred for the grass, but her grass races have been full of trouble, so we don’t know how that works. She certainly handles the poly; we’ll just have to decide where to go from here. She’s nominated to the (Kentucky) Oaks, and she’s nominated to the Ashland, also.”
Freddy Lenclud was happy be in the Winner’s Circle again and surprised too, “I didn’t get the mount until late and had never even seen her until the paddock. And even when she was going well entering the stretch I didn’t think we could win it but she just kept trying and the others started to come back to us. The only thing they told me was that she tends to get anxious early and I should get her to relax if I could. It was big field and she handled the traffic very nicely to get position in the turn. I’d love to ride her again!”
Sovereign Award nominee WYOMIA, a Kentucky bred by Vindication who was trained at Woodbine by Danny Vella, had an 83 Beyer Figure. The giant 3yo filly, owned by Ed seltzer and Bev Anderson came from well back and inside and in traffic but lumbered up in time to grab the win in her first race since the Breeders’ Cup.
LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL’S DERBY RANKINGS
1. Uncle Mo Repole Stable Todd Pletcher
2. Soldat Harvey Clarke/ Craig Robertson III Kiaran McLaughlin
3. Dialed In Robert LaPenta Nick Zito
4. To Honor and Serve Live Oak Plantation Bill Mott
5. Premier Pegasus Myung Kwon Cho Myung Kwon Cho
6. Mucho Macho Man Reeves Thoroughbred Racing Katherine Ritvo
7. Jaycito Zayat Stables Bob Baffert
8. Sway Away Batman Stable, et al Jeff Bonde
9. Stay Thirsty Repole Stable Todd Pletcher
10.Santiva Tom Walters Eddie Kenneally
Others (in order of votes received): Anthony’s Cross, The Factor, Gourmet Dinner, Brethren, Elite Alex, Rogue Romance, Silver Medallion, Wilkinson, Alternation, J.P.’s Gusto, Machen, Flashpoint, Arch Traveler, Riveting Reason, Sweet Ducky, Astrology, Bench Points, Watch Me Go, Awesome Patriot, Toby’s Corner, Comma to the Top, Crimson China
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YOU LIKE MY STYLE? Here is the first foal of Canadian stakes winning sire HEAD CHOPPER, foaled at Empress Stables (Ontario) of Steve and Bev Owens. Named CHOPPER ONE, this fellow is out of the mare Princess Bay. Head Chopper is a 2003 horse by Mutakkdim.
photo courtesy Steve Owens
IT HAPPENED AGAIN, HE WON!
Former Woodbine runner sharp as a Razor…
From Thoroughbred Daily News
It Happened Again was haltered for $20,000 from Peter Redekop and trainer Terry Jordan out of a fifthplace
finish at Woodbine Oct. 9. Sixth next time for a $25,000 tag on the Canadian Polytrack Nov. 19, the
chestnut ran third on the dirt at Fair Grounds in an Pptional claimer Dec. 27. He scored his first win for
attorney Maggi Moss in a one-mile test over this oval Jan. 28, and carried on the good work with a 7 1/4-
length tally at Oaklawn Feb. 25. The 5-year-old secured a perfect trip in second, took over in the stretch and
had enough left to fend off Thiskyhasnolimit. “Im just hysterical right now,” said Moss. ‘God, that was great.
I wish we could keep him stabled at Oaklawn all year. It was pretty quick back, but he just loves this track.’ It
Happened Again will likely be freshened up now. ‘He’s had three straight races,” Moss pointed out. “He’s getting lots of carrots and apples and a break.”
OBS 2YO SALE AT 11 A.M. TODAY!
Ontario-bred Two Year Olds
clockings at the sale
HIP COLOR YEAR
NO. NAME SEX FOALED SIRE DAM
OUT 10 Embur’s Melody………..B F……….09 Mr. Greeley…………..Embur Sunshine
22 4/5 15 …………………….B F……….09 Quiet American………..Evanthia
OUT 31 …………………….GR/RO C……09 Macho Uno…………….Feisty Woman
22 3/5 33 …………………….B C……….09 Stormy Atlantic……….Firebaby
11 1/5 69 Theatre Queen…………CH F………09 Bob and John………….Hold the Spirit
10 2/5 98 …………………….DKB/BR F…..09 Candy Ride (ARG)………Jingle Berry
10 184 Podium Seeker…………CH F………09 Exclusive Quality……..On the Podium
out 219 …………………….B C……….09 Officer………………Raphael Rose
Sunday..
10 3/5 245 …………………….B C……….09 Ghostzapper…………..Running Lass
22 flat 259 …………………….B C……….09 Shakespeare…………..Shebandowana
10 flat 306 …………………….DKB/BR F…..09 Indian Charlie………..Symphonic Lady
10 flat 373 …………………….CH F………09 First Samurai…………A Touch of Glory
OUT 419 …………………….DKB/BR C…..09 Cactus Ridge………….Casual Rendezvous
OUT 428 Tapitstry…………….GR/RO F……09 Tapit………………..Chic Sheba
KAUTO STAR TRIES GOLD CUP FOR 5TH TIME!
Gold Cup punters keep the faith in Kauto Star
By Tom Kerr 5:30PM 12 MAR 2011
KAUTO STAR on Saturday was backed for his fifth attempt at the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup as dry weather forecasts suggested he would get his ideal good ground.
The two-time Gold Cup winner, who was as big as 12-1 for the race after finishing third in the KingGeorge VI Chase in January, has been edging towards the top of the Gold Cup market ever since connections revealed he had been less than 100 per cent at Kempton.
And with the increasing chance conditions will suit him ideally come Friday, he is now on the cusp of usurping Long Run as second-favourite with some bookmakers.
Totesport went 11-2 (from 6) about Kauto Star on Saturday – simultaneously pushing Denman out half a point to 13-2 (from 6-1) – whilePaddy Power trimmed him to 5-1 (from 11-2) and Victor Chandler went 6-1 (from 13-2).
Other moves in the Gold Cup market came for Kempes, 9-1 (from 10) with Stan James, and What A Friend, whose price was cut to 40-1 (from 50) with William Hill.
The Morris Mouse-trained China Rock was also the subject of price changes with several bookmakers on the day his trainer said he was hopeful the eight-year-old would make the frame.
He said: “He has been fourth on his twoprevious appearances at Cheltenham, so we know that he acts round the track. He will be two stone better on a faster surface and realistically I am hoping that he can be placed.”
read more at
AND NOW FOR THE SOBERING STUFF:
We’re getting ready for another racing season at Woodbine, the 56th season, and everyone is happy and excited and loving their horses.
Let’s keep it that way – by year’s end or any time for that matter, let’s not let this happen:
(NOTE – JOEL MORENO is the last listed owner of this horse, DYNA KING)
Horse Racing, Animal Cruelty, and Survival at Heart of Tucson
by Karyn Zoldan on Mar. 04, 2011, under Animal Cruelty, Horses, Hoofs, Goats, Farm Animals
On October 14, 2000, a 3-year-old colt was making his debut at Santa Anita in a maiden special weight race. As for any first time starter, the sky was the limit and the possibilities endless. He came in sixth on that day, and he would continue to race at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, and Del Mar for the next 15 months.
In that time, he won one race in 13 starts, a $20,000 maiden claiming race at Del Mar on July 30, 2001, for his owners, the Firmamento Corporation.
This colt would continue to race for over five more years, with his last race on February 10, 2007 at Rillito Park race track in Tucson, Arizona.
On that day, he was entered for a claiming price of $1,500, finishing last in the field of six. With that race, he had just finished his career on the track at the age of 10. He had raced for over six years, having 56 starts, 8 wins, 6 seconds, and 6 thirds with earnings of $34,113.
In that span, he was owned by three separate owners and raced at Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Rillito, Turf Paradise, Yavapai Downs, Graham Fair, Cochise Fair, Santa Cruz, Flagstaff, and Gila Fair. From there, the story is more or less lost, as this colt struggled to stay alive.
