Barbados essentially shuts down for Gold Cup day! Fingers crossed for better weather as rain has made turf course soft…local horses are the main players..read more below
Patrick Husbands with Dennis Rodman and Emile Ramsammy, Terence Dulay/horse-races.net
PATRICK HUSBANDS RIDES FAVOURITE IN BARBADOS
but… HEAVY RAINS THREATEN RACE
Champion Canadian rider Patrick Husbands has picked up the mount on the likely favourite, SHOW ME THE MONEY, in today’s $200,000 (Bar) BARBADOS GOLD CUP at Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown.
The race is in danger of being postponed for the first time in its history, however, as heavy rain this week has made the grass course soggy. Workers have been trying to pump water out of the grass course this week.
Racing secretary Rosette Peirce (wife of former Woodbine trainer Robert Peirce) said in the Barbados Advocate “There is cause for concern, but we haven’t given up yet. As long as this rain holds up and gives us a chance, we’ll press on.”
It is not unusual for the Barbados Turf Club to cancel races due to track condition. Today’s Gold Cup, the biggest event of the season, also means people will trek across the track to the infield throughout the morning to set up booths and tents for the festival.
Show Me the Money won the Gold Cup last year only to be disqualified with arch rival Zoom being placed first.
Husbands picks up the mount for Lord Michael Taylor.
Two former Canadian based horses, Cavaichi and Dancin David, are also in the field but both have distance issues and class issues.
THE XXXI SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR. 1. – INT. – BAR)
3-YEAR-OLDS AND OVER (WFA)
1 SHOW ME THE MONEY (T) 128 HUSBANDS BSS P 6 122 122 WARD A $211,212.00
2 MINGUN TEMPLE(USA) 108 Scratched 5 129 129 NUNES A $127,198.00
3 GRAEME HILL(USA) 105 CARTER K 4 125 125 SIMPSON J $50,430.00
4 RING TIME(USA) (BT) 102 JOHN K 6 129 129 JOHN B $63,780.00
5 CAVAICHI(USA) (T) 100 WALCOTT RICO 4 125 125 PEIRCE R $0.00
6 JOHN BRIAN(USA) (T) 109 TROTMAN A 8 129 129 DEANE SCM E $262,684.00
7 LITTLE MAN ARRAN(USA) (T) 099 LEACOCK J 4 125 125 SIMPSON J $28,025.00
8 CHARGE IT(USA)(Res 1) (T) (Pref 1) 099 — 6 129 — DEANE R $63,430.00
9 FUSAICHI RIDGE(USA)(Res 2) (B)(Pref 1) 094 — 4 120 — DEANE R $12,800.00
10 DAGA(USA) (T) 097 EDDERY P 4 120 120 WARD A $114,230.00
11 DANCIN DAVID(USA) 090 J SAMUEL 5 129 129 DEANE SCM E $0.00
12 ZOOM (T) 125 BISHOP A 7 122 122 WALCOTT JR. E $365,428.00
13 APOSTLE 128 HUSBANDS C 8 122 122 NUNES A $437,446.00
14 INDANGER(USA) (T) 104 LEACOCK P 5 129 129 PARRAVICINO J.P R $63,632.00
15 GIOVEDI(USA) (T) 100 LATCHMAN R 4 125 125 SIMPSON J $38,110.00
HUSBANDS’ GOLD FEVER
from the Nation News
By Lindon Yarde |
“I want to win the Gold Cup! I want to win it again; it’s the biggest race in Barbados.”
These were the sentiments of seven-time Canadian Sovereign Award-winning jockey Patrick Husbands.
Weather permitting today at the Garrison Savannah, Husbands will partner the Lord Michael Taylor-owned colt Show Me The Money in the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
“Riding in the Gold Cup is like riding in the Breeders’ Cup,” he told the SATURDAY SUN “It’s a race I want to win and riding in [the] Gold Cup is an unbelievable feeling.
“I have been doing this for a long time and it just comes naturally professionally. I just like to play it by ear. Leaving the gates, I hope everything goes in my favour,” he said.
He said Show Me The Money was a speedster and he wouldn’t change his style but they would have to work together to achieve their goal of winning.
“It’s funny how life is.
I could never have foreseen myself riding for Andy [trainer Andy Ward], as we had grown up together and were previously rivals in the saddle,” Husbands added
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/husbands-gold-fever/
ROGER ATTFIELD, ON THE SHORTLIST FOR US HALL OF FAME
Frank Stronach’s Ghostzapper also to be considered
Canada’s most accomplished thoroughbred trainer in modern day could enter the prestigious Hall of Fame at Saratoga if he gets the votes.
ROGER ATTFIELD, who came to Canada as a young man to pursue a career with racehorses (he rode steeplechasers in England), has won almost every race of importance in Ontario and only seems to be getting stronger with his horsepower.
The trainer of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, Perfect Shirl, will find out on April 23 if he will be inducted.
Attfield is already entering the ONTARIO SPORTS HALL OF FAME this summer.
Roger Attfield (left) and John Whitson
(www.horse-races.net photo)
FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING:
Five newcomers and five returning finalists comprise the National Museum of Racing’s 2012 Hall of Fame ballot. The first-time finalists are trainer Roger Attfield and thoroughbreds Ashado, Ghostzapper, Housebuster, and Xtra Heat. They join jockeys Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez, Alex Solis, and John Velazquez, and trainer Robert Wheeler, all of whom were finalists in 2011.
Hall of Fame voters may select as many candidates as they believe are worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. The four candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected.
The finalists were selected by the Hall of Fame’s 16-member Nominating Committee from a total of 82 candidates suggested throughout the year by turf journalists, thoroughbred industry participants, and racing fans. To be eligible, trainers must have been active for 25 years, and jockeys must have been active for 20 years. Thoroughbreds must have been retired for five years. All candidates must have been active within the past 25 years. A separate Historic Review Committee is assigned to consider candidates whose careers were completed more than 25 years ago.
The results of the voting on contemporary candidates will be announced on April 23. The induction ceremony will be held at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs on Friday, Aug. 10 at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony is free and open to the public.
Attfield has saddled the winner of 1,727 races, including 369 stakes, and has purse earnings of more than $88 million. He has won the Sovereign Award for Outstanding Canadian Trainer a record eight times and trained three Canadian Triple Crown winners (Izvestia, With Approval, and Peteski). Attfield has won a record-tying eight runnings of the Queen’s Plate and seven editions of the Canadian Breeders’ Stakes. He won his first Breeders’ Cup race in 2011 when Perfect Shirl took the Filly and Mare Turf.
Hansen has some proving to do in New York today…Terence Dulay photo
BIG RACES TODAY!
GOTHAM PREVIEW from RAGOZIN SHEETS!
by Bob Ehalt
From just a quick glance at the entries for the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (G3), there’s an impression that Hansen has no shortage of competition in the 1 1/16-mile test.
Yet, in delving deeper into the strengths and weaknesses of the field, it seems like Hansen just might be running against himself.
A champion at two, Hansen suffered his first career loss in his three-year-old debut and now finds the perfect remedy for his blues in a highly mediocre assortment of 12 opponents in the Gotham.
By far the most accomplished horse in the field, Hansen also stands as the fastest horse, even after suffering the sting of defeat in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3).
Thanks to his victory in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Hansen owns a career-best Ragozin speed figure of 6 1/4, and if he can return to his two-year-old top it’s unlikely that anyone will be able to jump up enough to beat him. Not even post 12 in a field of 13 might be enough to stop him.
Conversely, if the same Hansen that went down to defeat at Gulfstream Park resurfaces at Aqueduct, his morning-line price of 6-to-5 would be a tremendous underlay.
Hansen ballooned to a 9½ while finishing five lengths behind Algorithms, though he had a couple of excuses in that he stumbled at the start and raced on a sloppy surface in his first race in nearly three months.
There’s a possibility Hansen could find a wet track waiting for him at the Big A, though his 2012 debut should help him Saturday from a physical standpoint.
More than all that, Hansen’s biggest friend on Saturday may be the dubious quality of the competition. There’s little separating them in terms of ability, which sounds like parity, but in this case might be parody.
My Adonis, who has the rail, looms the main foe for the reigning juvenile champ. He was a half-length behind a rusty Hansen while finishing third in the Holy Bull and comes into the Gotham with a line of 9 – 23 ½ – 11 ½. Coming off a 2½ –point new top in the slop, a wet track might bring a smile to the face of his connections. Yet at 5-to-1 on the morning line he offers only a mild dose of value.
READ MORE...http://equibase.com/racingnews/article/View.cfm
THOROUGHBLOG AND JAKE HANDICAP SOME BIG RACES TODAY
It may be extremely windy here but JAKE, the ‘Blog’s ace handicapper, has weights on his feet and he’s ready to make a pick in one of Gulfstream’s races today.
First, let’s offer up some picks for the stakes events:
GOTHAM – well, if you like the ‘sheets’ or you are any kind of speed figure player, HANSEN is tough in the Gotham. An outside post may not help and if he does not settle, he could be vulnerable. No funin betting the favourite – let’s take a stab at DAN AND SHEILA, the More Than Ready ridgling who runs for Zayat Stables and Todd Pletcher.
Woodbine trainer MARK CASSE has high hopes for STEALCASE, who is 12 to 1 on the morning line. The grandson of Canadian star LANGFUHR comes off his maiden win at Gulfstream.
Casse also has a decent chance of upsetting a big fave in the Top Flight (G2) earlier in the card. DELIGHTFUL MARY takes on IT’S TRICKY and could pounce.
Meanwhile, over at Turfway Park, where the weather is likely scary as it has been in the last 2 days, Casse sends out DYNAMICAL, a maiden, in the Battaglia Memorial and that Hard Spun colt is well regarded. He appears to be a major player along with Phantom Fury and Mr. Prankster.
SANTA ANITA – The Big Cap is not a very good race quality-wise but it’s a good betting race/ Let’s play against the fave, Ultimate Eagle and take shots with NORVSKY and GLADDING.
And now for JAKE’S TAKE… call him a homer but we know how high trainer ROGER ATTFIELD is on STRONG DEFENCE (Orientate). Blinkers on for his 2nd career start of his career. 6 to 1 in the book.
**HUNTERS BAY, Stronach Stables’ promising 5yo horse, makes his first start since May in the 7th at Gulfstream today with Emma-Jayne Wilson on board. The Ghostzapper horse is 4 to 1 against a tough little field. Reade Baker trains.
So, let’s sum it up – we’re going to put a couple of bucks on
*DAN AND SHEILA -Gotham
*DYNAMICAL – Battaglia
*NORVSKY/GLADDING each to win/place Santa Anita ‘Cap
*STRONG DEFENCE – Gulfstream maiden race (Jake’s pick)
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE-QUEEN’S PLATE HOPEFULS
Eugene Melnyk’s QUEEN’S PLATE hopeful GOLDEN RIDGE had a super debut outing yesterday at Gulfstream Park on the grass. The Distored Humor colt out of Grade 1 winner Indian Vale was shuffled back on the rail into the backstretch early in the 1 1/16 mile race, seemed to race greenly and then moved fast while 4 wide into the turn. He dueled for the lead but just hung a bit.
He earned a 77 Beyer Figure.
In more Queen’s Plate bits – HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS makes his North American debut at Santa Anita today in race 2. The Ontario bred by Awesome Again – Royally Chosen, In Excess (Ire) is 1st time with Lasix and making his 4th career start for Robert Trussell and trainer Patrick Biancone.
At Oaklawn Park today, Kinghaven Farms’ bred 3yo FASTESTWHOGETSPAID is in the GAZEBO STAKES at 6 furlongs. He is an Ontario bred by Hard Spun out of stakes winner Talk Back, by Talkin Man.
At Gulfstream, Eugene Melnyk’s BLACK BIRD ROCK, a well regarded 3yo filly by Flower Alley, debuts in race 8 on the grass for trainer Mark Casse.
On the worktab, Kinghaven Farms’, Hat Trick Stable, Horner, Hutzel and Fieldings’ promising INCREDICAT had another strong workout at Payson Park for trainer Ian Black. The Discreet Cat 3yo is getting ready to compete at Gulfstream. He is a Plate contender. He also had the same time for his work as top 2yo filly of last year HARD NOT TO LIKE, trained by Gail Cox for Garland and Marie Williamson.
Hard Not to Like (ON) Filly 3 1:01.40 b 1/5
Incredicat (ON) Colt 3 1:01.40 b 1/5
At Palm Meadows, graded SW CITY WOLF was in action as was top Canadian-bred fillies DIXIE STRIKE and NORTHERN PASSION.
City Wolf (KY) Horse 5 1:02.02 b 4/7
Dixie Strike (ON) Filly 3 1:01.55 b 2/7
Northern Passion (ON) Filly 3 1:01.55 b 2/7
INCREDICAT, winning his debut last fall. Norm Files photo
STRAWBRIDGE, WEBER ‘APPALLED’ BY LASIX BAN BACKTRACK
Two prominent owner/breeders in the US have resigned from the Thoroughbred Owns and Breeders Association after the previously scheduled ban of Lasix in 2yo graded stakes this year has been put off. Lasix is still banned in the 2yo Breeders’ Cup races:
from Thoroughbred Daily News
George Strawbridge and Charlotte Weber have announced their resignation from TOBA over the industry organization’s reversal on their position of raceday medication in two-year-old graded stakes in 2012. The pair sent a letter to TOBA President Dan Metzger, and made the letter available to media outlets. It reads:
Dear Dan,
We were appalled by your recent decision to not enforce a previously announced ban on race day medication for juvenile graded stakes. It was one of the most craven acts we have witnessed. The question now has to be asked “What does TOBA stand for?” Your actions clearly demonstrate that TOBA doesn’t stand for anything. As a result we are resigning our membership in your organization.”
It was signed by both Weber and Strawbridge.
