A LEO IS BORN!
Okay, not as in the astrological sign – but one of the first babies by champion LEONNATUS ANTEAS arrived on Feb. 12 at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms. This little girl is out of Trufflesfromheaven and was greeted by, among others, Ericka Rusnak from Hill ‘n’ Dale, who snapped this cute shot.
*Three weeks today WOODBINE sets sail on 167 days of racing, can’t wait. The weather seems to be settling in now, a whole bunch of rain has made ponds and rivers up to 2 feet higher and this morning, everything was a bit frozen, icy. Maybe we get some more snow but more likely it will hover around 1-3 degrees for a while. Wednesday it is tabbed to go as high as 9 Celcius!
*WOODBINE workouts on the training track are well underway – at least they were until 2 days ago. On Wednesday, everyone worked their horses it seems as there were more than 200 headed out for preps. Thursday had just one worker and yesterday, none were reported, according to Equibase.
SPEAKING OF WOODBINE and TRAINING, there are some good conditioners out there with some space to take horses for 2011.
**In particular PHIL GRACEY and his super team of workers located in the barn alongside the Gus Schickedanz runners. Want a trainer who takes good care, is hands-on (he gallops and works the horses) and can have one ready? Contact Thoroughblog (dolphin12@rogers.com) to get in touch with Phil Gracey and get set for the winner’s circle!
*The 10-year-old mare SPRINGLEDGE, who finished last in her 2010 finale for $16K claiming, was one of the workers on Wednesday.
Don’t forget out CONTEST for the Sovereign Awards, scroll down for details!
*SPRING FORWARD tonight, lose one hour sleep, boooooo.
COMMENTS – see yesterday’s post – CASEY writes in...Please tell me that this ORC initiative will mean that Fort Erie and Woodbine do not overlap in future. Fort Erie needs its own days (that include weekends), a whole block, maybe three weeks when Woodbine would shut down. Maybe one in spring, one in fall. Fort Erie should be the Saratoga or Keeneland of Ontario racing. Less days, but more excitement. We all need to work together to make fans excited about racing and changing it up once in a while is the answer. It would also be great to get a break from Woodbine for a bit and refresh the fan interest midseason.
Interesting!
GAME ON!
Sutherland will ride the Dude in Dubai, Inglorious needs jock
It’s official – GAME ON DUDE, by Awesome Again, will race in the Dubai World Cup on March 26 and Chantal Sutherland will get to keep the mount for trainer Bob Baffert. The Santa Anita Handicap winner will be one of 2 mounts for Sutherland (of Brampton, Ontario) but her trip means she will not ride Queen’s Plate favourite INGLORIOUS in that day’s Fair Grounds Oaks, should she be entered.
Inglorious, a filly, was 2nd in her seasonal debut at Fair Grounds with Sutherland on board.
GIVE US MO ACTION!!
Lots of cool stuff going on south of the US border today including the exciting return to the races of UNCLE MO! He’s unbeaten, has a huge following on Facebook and has found a really cozy spot to return to action today at Gulstream
The son of Indian Charlie, unbeaten in 3 races, is meeting a weak group although the presence of probable 2yo Canadian champion Madman Diairies (may be scratched) makes for an interesting pace set up. Debut winner RATTLESNAKE BRIDGE is an interesting opponent.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:25 p.m. EST
TIMELY WRITER S., $100,000, 3yo, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Uncle Mo Indian Charlie Velazquez Pletcher 123
2 Gallant Dreams Bernardini Castellano Albertrani 117
3 Madman Diaries Bring the Heat Sanchez Ward 121
4 Rocking Out Include Leparoux Dutrow Jr 117
5 Schoolyard Cat Catienus Curatolo Martin 117
6 Rattlesnake Bridge Tapit Lezcano McLaughlin 117
MARCH 2YO SALE IN OCALA
Gallop show on ‘live’ webcast at www.obssales.com, sale next week
An Ontario-bred chestnut filly by EXCLUSIVE QUALITY out of the Bold Executive mare ON THE PODIUM sped one furlong in 10 second flat yesterday at day one of the Ocala 2yo sale gallop show. She was a $40,000 yearling at OBS August last year and has been named PODIUM SEEKER.
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
today,,
245 …………………….B C……….09 Ghostzapper…………..Running Lass
259 …………………….B C……….09 Shakespeare…………..Shebandowana
306 …………………….DKB/BR F…..09 Indian Charlie………..Symphonic Lady
373 …………………….CH F………09 First Samurai…………A Touch of Glory
419 …………………….DKB/BR C…..09 Cactus Ridge………….Casual Rendezvous
428 Tapitstry…………….GR/RO F……09 Tapit………………..Chic Sheba
OBS CHAMPIONSHIP DAY
CASSE LOADED, ‘OIL and MARY entered
2:00 PM 1 MILE AND 1/16 ARE TO WEIGH OUT WITH CLERK OF SCALES
OBS CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES (FILLIES)
1 TAKE ME TO ZUBER SANTIAGO, J. 120 OLIVARES, L. RICHARD COYNE:
2 SILENT MOON MARAGH, R. 120 CASSE, M.
3 WILD PENNY HEBERT, T. 120 TRACY, R
4 BANDOLA CASTELLANO, J. 120 ANDRADE, P.
5 SNOW TRIAL ALVAREZ, J. 120 AZPURUA, M.
6 BE MY CANDY COA, D. 120 PECORARO. A
7 DELIGHTFUL MARY BRIDGMOHAN, S. 120 CASSE, M.
BOYS
1 EXTENDED FAMILY NO RIDER 122 ROMANS, D.
2 ANDYSUN TRUJILLO, E. 122 PINCHIN, J.
3 TAPILU HEBERT, T. 122 TRACY, R.
4 PICAROO (S) COTTO, P. 122 WILLIAMS, E.
5 REPRIZED HALO ALVAREZ, L. 122 AZPURUA, M.
6 STRIKE OIL BRIDGMOHAN, S. 122 CASSE, M.
7 POWERMAN MARAGH, R. 122 CASSE, M.
8 PICK FOUR GONZALEZ, L. 122 JEFFRIES, R.
BIG DAY FOR THE KITTEN!
Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:55 p.m. EDT
PALM BEACH S.-GIII, $150,000, 3yo, 1 1/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 East of Danzig Langfuhr Bravo Matz 116
2 Ari C K Stormy Atlantic Castellano Pletcher 116
3 Joes Blazing Aaron Graeme Hall Bocachica Hunter Jr. 116
4 Artful Run K Artie Schiller Desormeaux Romans 116
5 Queen’splatekitten Kitten’s Joy Velazquez Pletcher 116
6 Newsdad K Arch Castanon Mott 116
7 Liberty Cap Street Cry (Ire) Lezcano McLaughlin 116
SCRATCHED8 Pluck More Than Ready Maragh Motion 120
9 Master Dunker Imperialism Saez Fawkes 120
10 Rafe Anabaa Trujillo Stewart 120
KENTUCKY DERBY PREPS
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs, post time: 5:20 p.m. EDT
TAMPA BAY DERBY-GII, $350,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Striding Ahead Empire Maker Solis Mott 116
2 Economic Summit K Malibu Moon Solis Violette Jr. 116
3 Beamer Vindication Goncalves Nafzger 116
scratched4 Uncle Mo K Indian Charlie Velazquez Pletcher 122
5 Too Experience Drewman Centeno Passley 120
6 Crimson Knight Leroidsanimux (Brz) Allen Jr. Bennett 116
7 Free Entry K Tale of the Cat Garcia Brown 116
8 Moonhanger K Malibu Moon Marquez Jr. Alexander 116
9 Watch Me Go West Acre Garcia O’Connell 116
10 Brethren Distorted Humor Dominguez Pletcher 120
Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 7:07 p.m. EDT
SAN FELIPE S.-GII, $250,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Albergatti Unbridled’s Song Gomez Asmussen 6-1
2 Runflatout Flatter Rosario Sadler 4-1
3 Surrey Star (Ire) Dubawi (Ire) Talamo Cassidy 15-1
4 Awesome Patriot K Awesome Again Bejarano Baffert 12-1
5 Comma to the Top Bwana Charlie Nakatani Miller 4-1
6 Premier Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus Quinonez Cho 4-1
7 Bench Points Benchmark Flores Yakteen 8-1
8 Jakesam K Smoke Glacken Valenzuela Hollendorfer 20-1
9 Jaycito K Victory Gallop Garcia Baffert 7-2
10 Quail Hill Candy Ride (Arg) Pedroza Hofmans 20-1
CANADIAN BRED TAPIT FILLY COULD BEEE-READY
Saturday, Oaklawn Park, post time: 5:03 p.m. EDT
HONEYBEE S.-GIII, $125,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Salty Strike Smart Strike Borel McPeek 115
2 Rigoletta Concerto Baze Hendricks 119
3 Joyful Victory K Tapit Smith Jones 115
4 Holy Heavens Holy Bull Ocampo Chatters 122
5 Dixie City Dixie Union Rose Dutrow 119
6 Norma’s Dream K Awesome Again Radosevich McCauley 115
7 Summer Soiree K War Front Saez Jones 117
8 Jazzin’ Okie Candy Ride (Arg) Berry Von Hemel 117
9 Hearts On Fire K Lion Heart Birzer Von Hemel 117
CANADIAN STUFF
HANSON HEIGHTS, an Ontario bred by Speightstown – Adams Castle, by Hennessy, won his maiden for $35000 claiming at Gulfstream Park yesterday under Alex Solis. The 4yo gelding was the 2 to 1 favourite for the 1 1/16 miles utrf event.
Eugene Melnyk owns and bred the gelding.
CANADIAN CHANCE, owned by Sheldon Pettle, won a non-winners of 2 race for $5,000 claiming at Penn National yesterday. The oNtario bred by Cape Canveral – Lively U by Lively One was bred by Dennis Morrison and Karen Schmidt.
CONTEST!!
Win MURIEL LENNOX’S NEW BOOK – THE HORSE AND THE TIGER if you can guess the most winners of the Sovereign Awards –
Send your entry, one per person, through the COMMENT BUTTON on the ‘Blog, and list your predictions for
2yo colt
2yo filly
3yo colt
3yo filly
older mare
older male
turf male
turf female
sprinter
female sprinter
Horse of the Year
entries close March 31. *Emails to me or the magazine will not be accepted – sign up is very easy, just need an email!
NEED SOME INFO ON THE NOMINEES? Then go to www.jockeyclubcanada.com and look for the press release!
Ball Four, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Grand Slam, has been retired from racing and on Friday was sent by van to Old Friends, a retirement facility in Lexington, Ky.
Ball Four, now 10, had gone from multiple graded stakes winner to low-level winner, winning for $4,000 at Penn National in February. Ball Four was entered in a $5,000 claimer at Penn National on March 4, but scratched with the idea of running at Aqueduct.
But ultimately, owner Bruce Golden and trainer David Jacobson opted to retire the horse when presented with the opportunity to send the horse to Old Friends.
** THOROUGHBLOG was one of many concerned spectators that wrote about this old guy who was racing for $5,000 claiming.
LIFE AT TEN RULING…..
Jockey Velazquez will fight
Finally, a decision has been made on the debacle of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic last fall. The jockey and head steward are in some trouble.
While LIFE AT TEN now frolics in a field, this Grade 1 stakes winner was the focus of a shocking occurrence last fall when she was blatantly not right before the race and this was admitted by jockey, trainer etc. on National TV before she ran.
Well, Velazquez certainly knew something was up and never let her run. That’s a lot of bettor’s cash he burned there.
So, someone has to take the fall in this event – guess it has to be him and Veitch:
From KENTUCKY HORSE RACING COMMISSION:
23 page report:
http://www.khrc.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6706FFE8-7F37-4BCF-B0BF-F7A888237129/0/SummaryRecommendation.pdf
BIG RACING DAY IN JAMAICA, MON
BY HURBUN WILLIAMS Observer writer
Saturday, March 12, 2011
WITH another three weeks remaining before the 2011 native-bred Classic season begins on April 2, preparation for three-year-old Classic prospects will turn several notches upward in the scale of readiness with two Graded Stakes races worth $1,300,000 each in purse money at Caymanas Park today, including one for fillies and the other for colts and geldings.
Both events will share top billing on the 10-race card and will be contested over 1,400 metres while attracting some of the most gifted native-bred foals of 2009, including Sweet Browning, Caridad, Sense Of Tradition, Justin On Fire, Gershwin, Technomoto, Traditional Prince and Jet Setter.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Caridad–Jet-Setter-for-today-s-co-features_8508918
MORE BITS
SPECIALNESS has a record of 46 0 4 6 $ 28,278 – not totally unusual, he’s a maiden after 46 races. But he is 10 YEARS OLD and in a maiden allowance today at Charles Town!
The 2yo sale at Fasig Tipton last week was one of those Feast or Famine deals. Thoroughblog talked with JOHN FIELDING last week in Barbados and the horse owner (he has 55 thoroughbred mares) was at the sale and commented on the large number of RNA’s and the fact that the good ones sold well and the rest struggled..
A Canadian bred by Macho Uno, bred by Adena Springs, was one of the toppers at $700,000 and that is cool news. West Point Thoroughbreds bought the son of Champagne Cocktail.
Canadian buyers in action AT THE SALE:
129 F SCAT DADDY BUBBLY BAILY SEQUEL BLOODSTOCK (BECKY THOMAS) AGENT BEAR STABLES LTD $125,000
