SHARING IS GREAT
111 BEYER SPEED FIGURE FOR SHARED BELIEF
Mike Smith barely had to move on the racy almost-back gelding SHARED BELIEF who cruised to an easy win in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap last evening, capping off a wild day of tons of racing action all over the world.
The son of Candy Ride (Arg) simply dominated the field of 13 and won in a hand ride, putting his record at 10 for 11 and earnings at over $3 million. Co-owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and sports radio personality Jim Rome, Shared Belief is truly a star to cheer for in 2015.
His time for 10 furlongs was 2:00.67.
Canadian bred DYNAMIC SKY finished 6th beaten just over 8 lengths.
KENTUCKY DERBY FEVER
CARPE DIEM cruises in the Tampa Bay Derby – grade 3 – and it was his first race of the year. TAMPA BAY DOWNS photo
TWO MONTHS AWAY and look at the superstars we have to enjoy as they head to the Kentucky Derby: CARPE DIEM crushed the field in the Tampa Bay Derby, EL KABEIR was the one in the Gotham and DORTMUND scored a workmanlike, front-running score in the San Felipe.
The latter, a giant son of BIG BROWN, posted a 104 Beyer Figure for his win over a closing PROSPECT PARK (TAPIT) to remain unbeaten after 5 races for owner Kaleen Sha. Bob Baffert trains and Martin Garcia rode the $140,000 2yo in training purchase. The time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.65.
EL KABEIR, the grey Scat Daddy colt bred in Florida, bounced back from a 2nd in the Withers to win the Grade 3 Gotham handily in 1:45.56, an 89 Beyer Figure.
The $250,000 yearling purchase is owned by Zayat Stable and trained by John Terranova and he is 4 for 8 in is career
QUEEN’S PLATE 2015 HAS SOLID FAVE IN AMI’S FLATTER
The beautiful UNBRIDLED JUAN (who exactly is Juan?) posted a 98 Beyer Figure in his maiden win for Frank Stronach and family yesterday. GULFSTREAM PARK PHOTO
Ivan Dalos’ homebred AMI’S FLATTER, who has been atop the THOROUGHBLOG Queen’s Plate TOP 10 for many weeks, was a solid 2nd behind CARPE DIEM in the Tampa Bay Derby and, while not threatening the winner, earned an 89 Beyer Figure and that puts him firther ahead of his contemporaries at this point.
The son of Flatter had a good trip and finished well to be 5 lengths behind Carpe Diem, a son of Giant’s Causeway trained by Todd Pletcher. The time was 1:43.60 for 1 1/16 miles.
Luis Contreras was pleased with Ami’s Flatter’s performance. “The (addition of) blinkers made all the difference,” Contreras said. “This is still a green horse and he is still learning. He was away a little slow but he was relaxed. I asked for run down the backstretch and tried to follow (Carpe Diem). We finished very well and this race will do him a world of good.”
DANZIG MOON, a recent maiden winner for John Oxley, was beaten 12 lengths in his 4th place finish.
But watch out for the fast improving UNBRIDLED JUAN, the Frank Stronach homebred who won a maiden race very easily, beating a big favourite, at Gulfstream. The grey son of Unbridled’s Song from graded SW Sugar Swirl, was making only his 2nd career start for Stronach Stables and trainer Brian Lynch.
He won by a whopping 7 lengths in 1:37.28 for the one-turn 1 mile distance and received a 98 Beyer Figure. The colt he beat was WISECRACKER, who had a 95 Beyer first time out when 2nd to the brilliant Khozan.
UNBRIDLED JUAN was 1st with with Lasix and he has the look of a Preakness Stakes contender, should he bet kept in the US for the time being.
Coronation Futurity winner DECISION DAY pressed the pace throughout most of the Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream yesterday, his first race on the grass, but he slipped back to be 7th beaten 3 lengths behind winner Eh Cumpari (Elusive Quality).
His Beyer Figure was 70.
The son of Macho Uno, owned by Donver Stables, will look much better back at Woodbine on the Polytrack as another Plate contender for trainer Josie Carroll.
BARBADOS GOLD CUP WIN FOR RICO AND RAMSAYS
Photographer SIMON WILLIAMS captured the finish of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup as SAYLER’S CREEK leads most of the way to win for the Ramsays and Rico Walcott.
Top Canadian jockey RICO WALCOTT won his first Barbados Gold Cup when he guided SAYLERS CREEK (Bernstein) to a gate to wire win on Saturday in the 1 1/8 mile grass race. It was the 2nd straight Gold Cup win for Ken and Sarah Ramsay, who won last year’s race with the late Major Marvel.
Saylers Creek was one of 2 in the race for the Ramsamys as Patrick Husbands, who rode Major Marvel, rode the more fancied Gentleman’s Kitten to a 4th place finish. The time was 1:53.
BARBADOS ADVOCATE STORY – First Gold Cup win for Rico Walcott
3/8/2015
By Petra Gooding
He may not have been feeling 100% well yesterday but jockey Rico Walcott captured his first Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup win with Sayler’s Creek yesterday at the Garrison Savannah.
Walcott beat out a tough crowd that included stable mate Gentleman’s Kitten and Knight Rider to win the 34th running of the Caribbean’s most prestigious thoroughbred horse race.
He told the Barbados Advocate after the race that he always wanted to win the Gold Cup.
“I never win the Gold Cup; I win the Derby and stuff, but I just get a good horse and get the horse out of the gates early in a good position. When I get past the police station I just ask he and he answer and we just head for home.
“It is a race that everybody in Barbados would like to win because of the crowd and the prestige. I just ride my heart out and it just happened for me today,” said Walcott.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=42135
MORE CANADIAN STUFF
Canadian-bred INCHCAPE set a course record for 1 1/16 miles on the grass at Gulfstream yesterday as she powered to a 3/4 length win in the allowance/optional claiming event in 1:38.10, earning a career best 98 Beyer Figure.
Bred by Eugene Melnyk, the Indiant Charlie – Cottage Link 5yo horse is owned by Mr Amore Stable and he is 3 for 15 in his career.
Trainer JOHN MATTINE got his first win of the year when FRENCH QUARTER led most of the way to win a 6 furlong optional claiming race at Gulfstream. The Florida bred by Shakespeare ran out of his skin and posted a 94 Beyer Figure in his 2nd race of the meeting.
Johin Field’s SONGSATIONAL is 2 for 2 in his career after a win at Tampa Bay on Saturday in 1:22.68, good for an 89 Beyer Figure. The 4yo was co-bred by Fielding who co-owned by Fred Hertrich. Songsational is yet another winner for Unbridled’s Song from Saturday.
ALAN GARCIA, 29, to ride at Woodbine in 2015
American jockey ALAN GARCIA will be the latest new-face to the Woodbine jockey colony as the 29-year-old champion Peruvian rider will be represented by Tony Esposito this year. Esposito, who guided Luis Contreras from the US to championship honours in Canada, was replaced as agent by Contreras last year.
Garcia used to ride most of Kiaran Mclaughlin’s horses in New York but he has been riding in Saudi Arabia recently.
2014 324 42 34 35 $3,112,702
2013 544 81 64 55 $5,063,655
2012 588 96 89 68 $6,923,393
2011 692 104 100 85 $5,913,470
2010 836 148 110 100 $8,644,773
2009 1,049 183 127 125 $11,280,481
2008 1,282 232 168 179 $14,487,938
2007 1,439 235 195 221 $11,806,322
2006 1,108 155 138 134 $5,270,703
2005 823 79 100 118 $2,919,343
2004 651 66 79 72 $2,198,478
