TODAY’S NEWS – Hope everyone had a wonderful week, BOXING DAY IN CANADA is for bettors and shoppers.
Canadians are in action today and THOROUGHBLOG also looks at contenders for SOVEREIGN AWARDS..
Saturday, Calder Race Course, post time: 4:17 p.m. EST
W. L. MCKNIGHT H.-GII, $150,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Winchester Theatrical (Ire) Garcia Clement 4-1
2 Memorial Maniac Lear Fan Marquez Jr Demeritte 20-1
3 Warning Zone Chester House Castro Ma Wolfson 6-1
4 Spice Route (GB) King’s Best Velazquez Attfield 6-1
5 New Fandan (Brz) Fantastic Dancer (Brz) Prado Fawkes 15-1
6 Mr.Universo (Brz) Roi Normand Cruz Lobo 15-1
7 Silver Mountain Victory Gallop Lezcano Proctor 10-1
8 Imawildandcrazyguy Wild Event Nunez Kaplan 20-1
9 Cloudy’s Knight Lord Avie Homeister Jr Sheppard 5-1
10 Presious Passion Royal Anthem Trujillo Hartmann 5-2
11 Livingston Street Mr. Livingston L Saez Kaplan 20-1
Saturday, Santa Anita, post time: 6:30 p.m. EST
MALIBU S.-GI, $300,000, 3yo, 7f (AWT)
PP HORSE OWNER BREEDER TRAINER/JOCKEY ML
1 Misremembered Baffert & Jacobs Bob Baffert-KY Baffert 4-1
(r, Candy Ride {Arg}–Beyond Perfection, by Quack) Espinoza
2 Kinsella Team Valor International Lliberation Farm & Oratis-KY Pletcher 12-1
(c, Mr. Greeley–Win My Heart, by King of Kings {Ire}) Gomez
3 Square Eddie J Paul Reddam Kinghaven Farms Ltd-ON O’Neill 15-1
(c, Smart Strike–Forty Gran, by El Gran Senor) Talamo
4 Supreme Summit Joseph LaCombe Stbls Inc Wm A Thomson-KY O’Neill 8-1
(c, Cactus Ridge–Studentoftheweek, by Sunny Clime) M Baze
5 Mythical Power Peachtree Stable Peachtree Stable -KY Baffert 8-1
(c, Congaree–School for Scandal, by Is It True) Rosario
6 Jeranimo B J Wright Brylynn Farm Inc-FL Pender 30-1
(c, Congaree–Jera, by Jeblar) Blanc
7 Papa Clem Bo Hirsch LLC Bo Hirsch-KY G Stute 6-1
(c, Smart Strike–Magical Maiden, by Belong to Me) T Baze
8 Join in the Dance Ballis, Lewis & Swinbank et al The Answer LLC-KY Pletcher 20-1
(c, Sky Mesa–Dance Darling, by Devil’s Bag) Sutherland
9 Coronet of a Baron Darley Stable Edward & Hannah Poremba-FL Harty 20-1
(c, Pure Prize–Time for a Crown, by Time for a Change) Ajtebi
10 New Bay Spendthrift Farm LLC Ironwater Farms Joint Venture-KY Mandella 12-1
(c, Cuvee–Royal Dove {Ire}, by Royal Academy) Solis
11 Smart Bid Augustin Stable George Strawbridge Jr-PA Motion 6-1
(c, Smart Strike–Recording, by Danzig) Rose
12 Hunch C R K Stable Pennston Farm-FL Sadler 10-1
(c, Lion Heart–Whattacapote, by Capote) Bejarano
13 M One Rifle Bernstein/Greenspun/Headley, et al Bernstein/Greenspun/Headley/Irwin-CA Headley 5-1
(g, One Man Army–Leanessa, by Bertrando) Smith
Saturday, Calder Race Course, post time: 4:43 p.m. EST
STAGE DOOR BETTY H.-GIII, $100,000, 3yo/up, f/m,
1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Aurora Lights Pulpit Velasquez Coatrieux 8-1
2 Sweet Repent Repent Cruz Braddy 4-1
3 Morena (Per) Privately Held Lezcano Matz 6-1
4 Flying Dixie Dixieland Band Garcia McGaughey 12-1
5 Nicksappealinglady Successful Appeal Velazquez Tagg 20-1
6 Lomaki A.P. Indy DeCarlo Coatrieux 15-1
7 Sweetsouthernqueen Sweetsouthernsaint Prado Blengs 20-1
8 Cat Can Do Adcat D Coa Ziadie 30-1
9 Even Road Stephen Got Even Arango Ersoff 12-1
10 Miss Singhsix (Ire) Singspiel (Ire) J B’mohan Ma Wolfson 6-1
11 Jessica Is Back Put It Back L Saez Ma Wolfson 3-1
12 Amazing Greatness Trujillo Lynch 12-1
13 Kiddari Smarty Jones Castro Mott 20-1
14 Hopeful Image Gulch Nunez Procino 30-1
SOVEREIGN AWARD VOTING OPENS JAN. 7
HOW APPEALING – MILWAUKEE APPEAL is on everyone’s list for HORSE OF THE YEAR nad Champion 3yo filly… DAVE LANDRY PHOTO
Voters have begun receiving their passcodes for the Jan. 7 opening of the Sovereign award voting for Canada’s best horses and humans of 2009.
Some divisions will be moghty contentious – others not so much.
Here is THOROUGHBLOG’S condensed list of contenders for each category (not in any kind of order):
2-YEAR-OLD COLT:
HOLLINGER – unbeaten in 4 races and winner of the big 2 Caanadian – bred baby races: Cup & Saucer Stakes and
Coronation Futurity. Should be a hands-down winner for Bob Harvey, trainer Roger Attfield
BEAR TOUGH GUY & BEAR’S HARD TEN – a pair of Bears will garner many votes but they might split the remaining
votes between them. The former was unbeaten in 2 races and won the important Grey Stakes but he was injured in
the race. The latter ran a big Beyer Figure when he won the Display Stakes in his 4th race.
GHOST FLEET won 2 stakes in Ontario and was not far behind Hollinger in the big 2 stakes events.
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY:
BAY TO BAY – won the Grade 3 Natalma on the grass and was 2nd in the Mazarine (Grade 3) to BIOFUEL, her main
rival for this title.
BIOFUEL – won the Mazarine (Grade 3) Stakes convincingly and then was smashed in the late stages of the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, beaten just over a lengtyh and should have been a lot closer.
NEGILGEE – Won a Grade 1 in Kentucky in her 3rd race after her 2 races at Woodbine (one was a 2nd in the Ont.
Debutante). She was the one who smashed Biofuel in the last furlong of the Breeders’ Cup.
FRANNY FREUD – she won 3 sprint stakes races in a busy campaign.
ROAN INISH won the Princess Elizabeth and RSENTLESS won the Lassie Stakes.
3-YEAR-OLD COLT:
This division is wide open, AWESOME RHYTHM reeled off 3 stakes wins against small field in the spring and
summer and did well in a tough Grade 2 against older horses late in the year.
EYE OF THE LEOPARD won the Queen’s Plate and Plate Trial but was a bust after that.
EL BRUJO won 2 graded stakes races in the States but they were sprints and he won the Queenston at Woodbine.
TOMMY DANZIGGER won the Grade 3 Canadian Derby with a 96 Beyer Figure.
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY:
MILWAUKEE APPEAL won the Oaks and placed in the Plate, Prince of Wales and Grade 1 Alabama. Did a lot more than
most horses who raced at Woodbine all season.
HOOH WHY deserves mention – she is eligible since she raced 3 times at Woodbine and she won the Grade 1 ASHLAND
at Keeneland.
FILLY/MARE SPRINTER:
New category came just in time for TRIBAL BELLE, won won 4 straight stakes, 5 of 6 on the year and posted a 102
Beyer Figure making her one of the fastest Canadian-breds of the year.
MALE SPRINTER:
EL BRUJO (Dave Landry photo)
BANK EMBLEM, a remarkable 20 for 45 in his entire career, won 3 stakes this season, 2 of them sprints with
Beyers in the 80s.
EL BRUJO – He won 3 sprint stakes and 2 were graded events in the United States so that makes him tough.
HOLLYWOOD HIT ran Beyers of 108 and 104 this year but he tested positive in his stakes win. A superstar in the making for sure.
FILLY/MARE TURF:
Wide open here, POINTS OF GRACE won 2 turf stakes inclusing the Grade 2 Dance Smartly…MUCH OBLIGED just won a stake at Fair Grounds and was 2nd in Canadian (Grade 2)
MALE TURF:
CHAMPS ELYSEES won the big one, the Grade 1 Canadian International and placed in a few other graded stakes but RAHY’S ATTORNEY won 2 graded stakes and the Bunty Lawless. Interesting matchup.
OLDER MALE (main track):
MARCHFIELD won the Dominion Day and a turf stake so he’s a possibility for voters. So is old timer PALLADIO, winner of 2 stakes, the Autumn and Seagram.
OLDER FEMALE (main track):
SERENADING won the Grade 2 Falls City and Churchill and the Maple Leaf at Woodbine
and placed in two other stakes including a graded event. Her stablemate SMART SURPRISE had a good season too and if you don’t mind voting for sprinters, TRIBAL BELLE could get some votes.
and finally…..HORSE OF THE YEAR:
There really was not a Horse of the Year in Canada but a lot of steady runners who did well south of the
border. CHAMPS ELYSSEES is an option since he won a Grade 1 at Woodbine and is eligible because he raced here 4 times.
Other division (possible winners) like MILWAUKEE APPEAL could get Horse of the Year votes. This will be a
closely contested category for all the marbles.
PATRICK HUSBANDS ON STREET TO TRINIDAD
Woodbine’s leading rider is at Santa Rosa Park today for a big card of racing including the $500,000 Gold Cup. He rides a Victory Gallop – Skipping Lass colt called BLACKSTONE STREET and the main rival is BRUCEONTHELOOSE, who is out of the Canadian-bred mare ROAD TO JUSTICE (won $133K at Woodbine and is by Lit de Justice).
excerpt – newsday, TRINIDAD
Go brave with ‘Bruce’ to win Gold Cup
Saturday, December 26 2009
THAT long awaited equine match-up between Bruceontheloose and Blackstone Street is on at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today.
All talking done…the two equine superstars will match strides in the feature $500,000 First Citizens Gold Cup to be run over 2000 metres.
Would it be the Tres Amigos syndicate — Paul Hoo and Herbi Chung of Jamaica and Gervain Mouttet of Trinidad leading in the winner or what a sight it would be with the cluster of Blackstone cowboys and cowgirls leading in their charge.
Not since the epic battles between Jetsam and Brown Bomber and the outstanding class of Mentone and Sugar Mike has a race captured the imagination of turfites like this one.
Undoubtedly Blackstone Street has staked his claim for the Gold Cup and Horse of the Year, having won five of his seven starts locally, finishing second and third in the other two.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,113183.html
ANTHONY STEPHEN FEATURE
Fort erie’s 2nd leading rider is in the south
Stephen’s blue Christmas
By Claire Novak
Special to ESPN.com
OLDSMAR, Fla. — On the morning before Christmas, Anthony Stephen works four horses at Tampa Bay Downs. A few hours later, he goes home to the condo he shares with agent Lou Agosto, a place he’s finally settled into after weeks of hotel hopping and apartment searching. It’s been a quiet holiday season. On Christmas day, he will be alone.
This is not an unfamiliar feeling for the 36-year-old jockey, who celebrated a birthday on Dec. 21. He’s used to the nomadic lifestyle of the career he’s chosen; shifting tack here, accepting mounts there. But there could be something different about these months spent in Florida, something to make Christmas away from his family worthwhile.
He’s ready to make a comeback.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4771239
