Your nostrils stick together when it’s this cold! But Ontario gets a warm up again in a couple of days – up to 45 Fahrenheit, wowee.
Only a couple of weeks until the backstretch at Woodbine re-opens, although a lot longer until some of us have any employment, ouch.
Hey, thanks to a super friend whe sent me Binoculars! Very special gift, I am ready for the season! And thanks to another set of friends who I dined with last week, lots of fun with great people.
CASSE, CONTRERAS TAKE PASCO, 2ND IN GASPARILLA
PROSPECTIVE (Malibu Moon – Spirited Away, by Awesome Again) rallied wide and was up in time to win the Pasco Stakes at 7 furlongs at Tampa Bay yesterday for John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse. Luis Contreras was the rider. The 3yo, who won the Grey Stakes (GIII) last year at Woodbine before finishing 13th beaten 20 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, posted a 75 Beyer Figure in the win.
It was interesting to watch the colt charge down the stretch with a trailing hind bandage that flapped along as he went on to win.
Earlier in the card, the Oxley, Casse, Contreras team were an unlucky 2nd in the Gasparilla for fillies as DELIGHTFUL MAGIC (Mineshaft – Magic Kitty by Storm Cat) was extremely wide in her journey and then hung late when making her bid in the stretch. She posted a 72 Beyer Figure.
CANADIAN BRED DISQUALIFIED, MOVES UP CAN. BRED TO 2ND
Silver Medallion (10) edges Canadian-breds Yummy With Butter (4) and Hollinger (grey colt). Yummy With Butter was dq’d – note that Gulfstream Park allows Bruno Schickedanz to race horses there.
In a weird event, Canadian -bred YUMMY WITH BUTTER, who led most of the way in the Grade 3 Fort Lauderdale Stakes yesterday at Gulfstream, was demoted from 2nd and placed 6th after the race.
That allowed Canadian-bred HOLLINGER, who closed well to be 3rd, to be placed 2nd for owner/breeder Robert Harvey and trainer Roger Attfield.
The winner of the race was the fast improving Badge of Silver 4yo colt Silver Medallion, trained by Todd Pletcher for Black Rock Stables.
RUSSIAN GREEK TAKES CAL. DERBY
Not sure how good the field was but RUSSIAN GREEK looked good rallying from well back to win the California Derby at Golden Gate yesterday. The 3yo colt was lightly handled all the way while others seemed to be in a big hurry – the lead changed at least 3 times before the winner got there.
His Beyer for 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.07 was 74.
He is a Giant’s Causeway colt out of Sand Dollar by Grindstone who cost $100,000 as a weanling.
OTHER STUFF
It was not a great day for some horses/jockeys as there was simply too many accidents and break downs for one afternoon of racing. FOR OBEY broke down after the finish line of the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay after he finished 5th at 3 to 1.
The $7,500 claimer SCORPER broke down at Aqueduct for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and he was claimed by a former owner/trainer, David Jacobsen and Drawing away Stable.
THINKING OUT LOUD has been retired. The son of Regal Classic, who won the Coronation Futurity some 6 years ago, has apparently found a home after being retired by Stephanie Beattie. The gelding had been faring poorly for low claiming at Penn National but thankfully, he seems to have gone on to a quieter life as a hack horse.
Thanks to all those concerned horsepeople out there who want to make sure our heroes are safe.
ROCKET TWENTYONE (Indian Charlie – Symphonic Lady by Blare of Trumpets) was 3rd in the Dixie Bell Stakes yesterday at Oaklawn behind unbeaten NOW I KNOW.
SAGATIBA, an Ontario bred by Niigon – Ordwillow, by Ordway, won her 2nd straight race at Charles Town yesterday for Kevin Buttigieg and trainer Richard Morden. The filly was even-money in the $5,000 claiming race.
SCOTT FAIRLIE’S SILVER BAG won by 5 lengths later on the Charles Town card. The Devil His Due mare, bred in Kentucky, was 4 to 5 in the $5,00 claiming race.
RICHARD MORDEN was listed as trainer for Silver Bag.
REAL DINGO, a Canadian-bred by Thunder Gulcj – Powerful Nation by Turkoman won his maiden for $32,000 yesterday at Gulfstream. The 4yo colt led all the way for Stronach Stables, which bred the colt.
Martha and Nick Gonzalez sent out Woodbine mare MIMI COOPER to be 2nd for $15,000 claiming yesterday. E,,a-Jayne Wilson rode the mare who is 7-years-old and has won $347,000.
SOME OF CANADA’S TRAINERS have been winning races in 2012…
Mark E. Casse 18 3 2 2 $109,360 17% 7 39%
Scott H. Fairlie 6 1 1 1 $22,550 17% 3 50%
Josie Carroll 12 2 2 1 $61,907 17% 5 42%
Robertino Diodoro 25 5 1 2 $62,660 20% 8 32%
If you have been in and out in 2012 so far, after 2 weeks, this is what you have missed: your chance to place a vote on your opinion for a couple of Sovereign Awards, Canadian results all over North America and our own list of top 10 Interesting things to watch for in 2012.
Don’t forget to check back at THOROUGHBLOG every day! Okay, well I don’t update every day, but most days!
TO VOTE FOR YOUR OLDER MALE HORSE OF THE YEAR: https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/rate/
OR WHO YOU LIKE FOR HORSE OF THE YEAR IN CANADA?
https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/burst/
TO READ ABOUT THE TOP 10 INTERESTING THINGS FOR 2012:
https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/leap/
