I was lucky enough to visit one of this year’s newest thoroughbred babies – this leggy, handsome fellow by Canada’s leading sire Old Forester. He was just a day old and enjoying some snooze time. His mum, Creekside Cafe, was very attentive, it’s her first foal, and this colt was in loving hands all around. This is the beauty of a beautiful and precious business. Jeff Sullivan photo
MARITIMER JOINS HERMAN BROWN BARN TOMORROW
Canada’s top 2-year-old colt of 2011, MARITIMER, will land in Dubai tomorrow (Thoroughblog incorrectly reported he landed yesterday) and join trainer HERMAN BROWN, who trains horses in Dubai at Blue Stables, where top trainer Mike De Kock also trains.
MARITIMER will be pointed to the UAE Derby. The colt was in quarantine in the US with trainer Seth Benzel before he was sent on his long journey.
Thoroughblog will have more updates and interviews with trainer Brown through journalist Sarah Tregoning in the coming days.
PERFECT SHIRL, Breeders’ Cup winner, owned by Canadian Charles Fipke, returns from turf training on Tuesday at Payson Park – she races tomorrow at Gulfstream! See field below
Janet Black photo
MUSKETIER/SIMMARD – 2 FOR ROGER IN MACDIARMIDA
(PRONOUNCED MICK- DER-MIDDA)
Veterans Simmard & Musketier Likely Choices in Mac Diarmida
By Jack Will
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Stella Perdomo’s 10-year-old German-bred Musketier and Haras Santa Maria de Araras’ 7-year-old Simmard are proven long-distance turf stakes performers for trainer Roger Attfield over several seasons. They look like the horses to beat in a wide-open field of 10 drawn for Sunday’s $150,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes to be run at 1 3/8 miles on turf.
Musketier and Simmard finished one-two last out, separated by a half-length, in the 12-furlong W.L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder Race Course on Nov. 25. Jockey John Velazquez will be aboard the venerable Musketier, a roan/gray horse by Acatenango with $985,000 career earnings. He finished third in this race last year and second by a half-length in the 12-furlong Pan American (G3)
.A Kentucky homebred by Dixieland Band, Simmard finished a game second to his stablemate in the W.L. McKnight Handicap after losing another tough decision when second by a neck in the 12-furlong Northern Dancer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine in mid-September. Leading rider Javier Castellano is named to ride Simmard.
Trainer Bill Mott sends out James Karp’s 4-year-old Kentucky homebred Newsdad with jockey Julien Leparoux after they teamed up to post a 6 ¾ lengths allowance victory on Jan. 28 over the course and 11-furlong distance. The son of Arch just missed when third after a big stretch rally in a similar race on Dec. 31 when beaten less than a length for it all.
Taking a big step up for the Mac Diarmida will be Lucky Seven Farm’s 4-year-old Kentucky homebred Minister Colin with jockey Elvis Trujillo aboard for trainer Tom Proctor. The son of Smart Strike has won the last two of three starts at the meet, most recently an optional/allowance at 1 ½ miles on Jan. 21.
“He just got better last fall and this winter,” said Proctor Thursday. “I can’t tell you why. He was kind of dull and didn’t train all that well last summer, but has come around and earned a chance in this one.” Mister Colin’s first two starts at this meet were for a $50,000 claiming tag with no takers and the Mac Diarmida will mark his stakes race debut.
*from GULFSTREAM MEDIA
He’s not 10 years old and MUSKETIER, a contender for champion turf male in Canada last year, makes his 2012 debut on Sunday. EquiSport photo
Sunday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:45 p.m. EST
MAC DIARMIDA S.-GII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 1 3/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Eagle Poise K Empire Maker Maragh Motion 121
2 Musketier (Ger) Acatenango (Ger) Velazquez Attfield 123
3 Newsdad K Arch Leparoux Mott 117
4 Minister Colin Smart Strike Trujillo Proctor 117
5 Simmard K Dixieland Band Castellano Attfield 117
6 Mambo Meister King Cugat Cruz Gleaves 117
7 Dixie Emperor K Purge Solis Wolfson 123
8 Center Divider K Giant’s Causeway Lezcano Brown 117
9 Middie K Officer Bravo Oliver 117
10 Crimson China K Giant’s Causeway Rose Motion 117
PERFECT SHIRL ready to roll tomorrow
Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:45 p.m. EST
THE VERY ONE S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Here to Win (Brz) Roi Normand Bravo McLaghln 117
2 Hasay (GB) Lomitas (GB) Dominguez Motion 117
3 Woodford Belle Arch Castanon Nihei 117
4 Perfect Shirl Perfect Soul (Ire) Velazquez Attfield 123
5 Casablanca Smile (Chi) Ocean Terrace Desormeaux McGaghy 121
6 Keertana Johar Lezcano Proctor 121
7 Clarinet Giant’s Causeway Leparoux Motion 117
8 Good Karma (Ity) Tobougg (Ire) Maragh Clement 117
9 Shimmering Moment K Afleet Alex Rocco Jr. Abbott 117
10 Middle Club (GB) Fantastic Light Lopez Clement 117
11 Font Pulpit Solis Tagg 117
12 Aquitaine K Empire Maker Contreras Matz 117
13 Full Moon Party K Medaglia d’Oro Wilson Frazier 117
14 Dash Dot Dash Put It Back Trujillo Wolfson 117
FOREVER YOUNG – FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH PREVIEW FROM PHILLY.COM
SUNDAY AT GULFSTREAM…Time is now for Union Rags
BY DICK JERARDI
jerardd@phillynews.com
ALSO ON PHILLY.COM
Kentucky Derby Watch
Leparoux lands Derby favorite, and a bride to be
IT IS NOW TIME. After nearly 4 months away from the races and 6 weeks away from the racetrack, Union Rags is back Sunday at Gulfstream Park in South Florida. The colt, now 3 years old and a giant at nearly 17 hands, will race in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes against what is the most difficult field of 3-year-olds assembled in 2012.
They call these prep races for a reason. It is not about the last Sunday in February. It is about the first Saturday in May. So, the “what” (the result) might not be as significant as the “how,” as in how Union Rags runs.
The Kentucky Derby has been Michael Matz’ goal since the trainer first gauged the depth of the colt’s talent last summer. Owner Phyllis Wyeth sold the colt in the summer of 2010, but had such a strong, recurring dream about him that she bought him back in February 2011. Since then, Union Rags has earned $858,800 on the track and was a diminishing head from being an unbeaten 2-year-old champion.
Like Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Barbaro, Union Rags has those southeastern Pennsylvania connections that dominated the Triple Crown races from 2004 to 2006.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/sports/140238173.html#ixzz1nInJNi9F
Sunday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:13 p.m. EST
FASIG-TIPTON FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH S.-GII, $400,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Neck ‘n Neck Flower Alley Lezcano Wilkes 116
2 Algorithms K Bernardini Castellano Pletcher 120
3 Fort Loudon Awesome of Course Maragh Gold 120
4 Casual Trick K Bernardini Nakatani Zito 116
5 Discreet Dancer Discreet Cat Velazquez Pletcher 116
6 News Pending K Harlan’s Holiday Desormeaux Romans 116
7 Union Rags Dixie Union Leparoux Matz 122
8 Csaba Kitten’s Joy Lopez Gleaves 116
STYLISH – CITY STYLE, out of Katahaula County mare!
CITY STYLE, winning on Jan. 5 – photo from Godolphin website.
American stakes winner CITY STYLE is a bear in Dubai and, recently off a long layoff, he is back in form.
His dam, BRATTOTHECORE won the Bison City Stakes in 2003 and her sire is BC stallion Katahaula County. She was bred by Bill Stewart’s Black Canyon Thoroughbreds.
chart courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News
21.30, Meydan, $100,000, Hcp, NH4yo/up/SH3yo/up,
1800mT, 1:53.49, gd.
CITY STYLE (g, 6, City Zip–Brattothecore {MSW-Can, $322,567}, by Katahaula County), winner of the Sunday Silence S. and fourth in the GII Breeders= Cup Juvenile Turf in 2008, had endured a spell in the
wilderness before taking a liking to this venue when winning a mile handicap last January. Off until a return win in a conditions test Jan. 5, the chestnut was no match for Musir (Aus) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) when a non-threatening length second to that rival in the Jan. 26 G2 Al Rashidiya last time. Held up early by a
confident Mickael Barzalona, he was threaded through the pack with a flourish to lead with 100 yards remaining en route to a decisive two-length defeat of Rerouted (Stormy Atlantic). Lifetime Record: SW-US, GSP-UAE & SP-GB, 17-7-2-2, $524,905.
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Stonerside Stable (KY); T-Mahmood Al Zarooni
INTERESTING LOOKING FILLY – LIKE THE EYE MAKEUP!
Uniquely marked four-year-old filly A. K. A. Xe (Indian Ocean) schools in the saddling barn a day before winning her career debut at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Kevin Krigger jockey, Kristin Mulhall trainer, Twilight Racing, LLC owner. (Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012) Credit: Marcie Heacox / EquiSport Photos
***PETITION ON-LINE FOR ‘SAVE THE ONTARIO HORSE RACING INDUSTRY‘
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/savehorseracing
BARBADOS GOLD CUP NEXT SATURDAY MARCH 3
12 will compete
SHOW ME THE MONEY, shown winning last year at Garrison Savannah, will look to make amends in the Gold Cup this year, he won in 2011 but was disqualified.
Race 9 [5:00PM] Purse:$200,000 1800M (Turf)
Plus Subscriptions totaling $22,000.00 NO APPRENTICE ALLOWANCE
THE XXXI SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR. 1. – INT. – BAR)
3-YEAR-OLDS AND OVER (WFA)
1 SHOW ME THE MONEY (WON LAST YEAR’S GOLD CUP BUT DQ’D)
122
WARD A
2
MINGUN TEMPLE(USA)
129
NUNES A
3
GRAEME HILL(USA)
125
SIMPSON J
4 RING TIME(USA)
129
JOHN B
5 CAVAICHI(USA) SHIPS IN FROM LOW CLAIMERS AT WOODBINE, ROB PEIRCE
125
PEIRCE R
6 JOHN BRIAN(USA)
129
DEANE SCM E
7 LITTLE MAN ARRAN(USA)
125
SIMPSON J
8 CHARGE IT(USA)(Res 2)
129
DEANE R
9 FUSAICHI RIDGE(USA)(Res 3)
120
DEANE R
10 DAGA(USA)
120
WARD A
11 DANCIN DAVID(USA)(Res 1) LIKELY CONTESTS ANOTHER RACE ON THE CARD
129
DEANE SCM E
12 ZOOM – PLACED FIRST IN LAST YEAR’S GOLD CUP
122
WALCOTT JR. E
13 APOSTLE
122
NUNES A
14 INDANGER(USA)
129
PARRAVICINO J.P R
15 GIOVEDI(USA)
125
SIMPSON J
SPANIARD ARRIVES AT GARDINER FARMS
Blood-Horse report
Stakes-placed Spaniard has been retired from racing and will stand the 2012 breeding season at Gardiner Farms near Caledon, Ontario, Canada. Spaniard will stand for a partnership of Bar None Ranches Ltd. and Paradox Farms. His fee is $3,500 live foal guaranteed (Canadian funds).
A 6-year-old son of Candy Ride (Arg) , Spaniard won at six furlongs in 1:09.48 at Del Mar and at seven furlongs in 1:21.36 at Santa Anita. He was retired with a record of 3-4-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $144,197.
Spaniard is a half brother to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner and two-time champion Indian Blessing. His dam, stakes winner Shameful (by Flying Chevron), is a half sister to stakes winner Little Matth Man.
Contact either Mike Vanin at Bar None Ranches Ltd. (www.barnoneranches.com) or Dr. Mike Colterjohn at Gardiner Farms (905) 584-2293 for more information.
