***BREAKING NEWS SATURDAY – MAJOR MARVEL, an 8yo son of Bernstein – Ms Isadorable, owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, easily won the 33rd SANDY LANE GOLD CUP at Garrison Savannah racecourse in Barbados at about 3:40 p.. EST. The bay gelding track speedy pacesetter Areutalkintome, took over with just over two furlongs left to run and won by about 5 lengths in 1:49 2/5. Trinidad shipper NOMINEE a son of Awesome Again, was 2nd and DASHING DAVID, by Lemon Drop Kid, was third.
Ridden by PATRICK HUSBANDS, who lives in Brampton, ON, MAJOR MARVEL was a $10,000 claim from Maggi Moss at Churchill Downs. Before that he raced at Woodbine for breeder Richard Schultz and trainer Laurie Silvera, the Tucci Stable and Sid Attard and others. The gelding has won more than a dozen races for the Ramseys and trainer Mike Maker and about $500,000.
Husbands won all 3 stakes events on the Garrison card, the first jockey to ever do so. He also won the Spa Sprint on VITALITY and the Tanglewood Stakes on KENDAL MOON. Major Marvel is the 4th Gold Cup winner for Patrick Husbands.
PRIME TIME RACING
What are you most excited about this weekend in racing? The Tampa Bay Derby and the Canadian content?
The Santa Anita Handicap with Mucho Macho Man vs. Will Take Charge?
The Barbados Gold Cup with Canadian riders PATRICK HUSBANDS and RICO WALCOTT?
The Super Saturday card in Dubai in the morning, with 7yo JOSHUA TREE at 20 to 1 for the Maktoum?
THOROUGHBLOG PICKS FOR THE BIG RACES TODAY:
TAMPA BAY DERBY – COUSIN STEPHEN, CONQUEST TITAN, SURFING USA
GULFSTREAM PARK HANDICAP – PALACE MALICE
SAN FELIPE 5:00 P.M. – Wide open with scratching of Bayern, will take a shot on KRISTO, 4 to 1, a son of Distorted Humor for John Sadler.
KILROE MILE – 6:30 – SILENTIO, by Silent Name (Jpn).
SANTA ANITA HANDICAP – 7:OO PM – WILL TAKE CHARGE
COLTIMUS PRIME starts his 3yo campaign in the Tampa Bay Derby today at Tampa Bay Downs for Cabernet Racing Stable and trainer Justin Nixon. Gary Boulanger will ride the graded stakes placed son of Milwaukee Brew. From Coltimus Prime page on Facebook.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs, post time: 5:25 p.m. EST
TAMPA BAY DERBY-GII, $350,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Ring Weekend K Tapit Centeno Motion 116
2 Surfing U S A Roman Ruler Lezcano Pletcher 116
3 Matador K Malibu Moon Leparoux Casse 116 8-1
4 Coltimus Prime Milwaukee Brew Boulanger Nixon 116 15-1
5 Conquest Titan K Birdstone Bridgmohan Casse 116 7-2
6 Vinceremos K Pioneerof the Nile Prado Pletcher 120
7 East Hall Graeme Hall Leyva Kaplan 116
8 Cousin Stephen Proud Citizen Castellano Brown 116
9 Hy Kodiak Warrior K Kodiak Kowboy Saez Navarro 116
10 Tuscan Getaway K Stroll Rocco Jr Griffith 116 20-1
Almost half of the Tampa Bay Derby field is from Woodbine in some form.
CONQUEST TITAN certainly looks imposing off his 2nd place finish behind the mighty Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull and the 3rd horse from that race, Intense Holiday, has since come back and won the Risen Star.
COLTIMUS PRIME, a Canadian-bred by Milwaukee Brew, owned and bred in part by Jayson Horner, is getting his 3yo season underway. The ‘Derby was not plan ‘A’ for the colt but without a Gulfstream allowance suitable, he goes in this event off some nice prepping for trainer Justin Nixon.
MATADOR, also a Canadian-bred, was hit squarely in the nose by a rival’s whip in the Sam F Davis last time – it was missed my everyone – and you can see that intimidated the fellow a lot. Both he and Coltimus Prime are Queen’s Plate contenders.
Woodbine trainer Ricky Griffith has Tuscan Getaway in the field for his first race since the fall.
Bear Stables‘ ASSERTING BEAR, who was on the fence for this race, will be going to the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park later this month.
Selections for the big races will be up tomorrow morning on Thoroughblog!
More big races of note:
*LUIS CONTRERAS aboard Canadian-bred UNCAPTURED, Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:10 p.m. The Lion Heart turns back in distance from the tough Donn Handicap, rates a look at 10 to 1.
GULFSTREAM PARK H.-GII, $250,000, 4yo/up, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Brujo de Olleros (Brz) Wild Event Lanerie Mettee 117
2 Golden Ticket K Speightstown Cruz McPeek 118
3 Uncaptured K Lion Heart Contreras Casse 116
4 Falling Sky K Lion Heart Trujillo Weaver 118
5 Sr. Quisqueyano Exclusive Quality Olivero Olivares 116
6 Narvaez K Holy Bull Jaen Bezara 115
7 Itsmyluckyday K Lawyer Ron Lopez Plesa Jr 116
8 Palace Malice K Curlin Velazquez Pletcher 119
*EMMA-JAYNE WILSON is back riding after a scary spill last month at Gulfstream. Saturday she is reunited with DUFF ONE in the Florida Oaks.
Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs, post time: 4:55 p.m. EST
FLORIDA OAKS-GIII, $200,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Kitten Kaboodle Kitten’s Joy Castellano Brown 122
2 Interrupted Broken Vow Serpa Motion 116
3 Babe’s Ruler Roman Ruler Centeno Scott 116
4 Jerry Love K Not for Love Leparoux Trombetta 116
5 Spangled Banner K Tiz Wonderful De La Cruz Harty 116
6 Runway Giant K Giant’s Causeway Allen Jr Wilkes 116
7 Annulment K Broken Vow Boulanger Oliver 116
8 Duff One K Harlan’s Holiday Wilson Contessa 116
9 Istanford Istan Rocco Jr Stidham 116
10 Miss Besilu K Medaglia d’Oro Bridgmohan Mott 116
11 Ready’s Legend More Than Ready Prado Pletcher 116
12 Testa Rossi (Fr) Dr Fong Lezcano Brown 122
13 Resistivity K Student Council Leparoux Casse 116
14 Grand Elmendorf K A.P. Indy Gallardo Sancal 116
BARBADOS – SANDY LANE GOLD CUP A MAJOR RACE
Canadian jocks Patrick Husbands, Rico Walcott getting ready
The biggest race in the Caribbean is Saturday afternoon at the Garrison and American invaders MAJOR MARVEL and DASHING DAVID battle 9 rivals from the islands in the 1 1/8 mile turf event.
Major Marvel is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsay and trained by Mike Maker. Patrick Husbands will ride.
THE XXXIII SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR. 1. – INT. – BAR)
3-YEAR-OLDS AND OVER (WEIGHT FOR AGE) 1 1/8 miles Turf
1 DASHING DAVID(IRE) 105 4 125 JOSEPH JR. S. $0.00
B.c. 4 Lemon Drop Kid – Myarhini, by Fantastic Light
* Just came over from Europe and was 9th in the MacDiarmida Stakes at Gulfstream
2 KNIGHT RIDER 105 4 118 WALCOTT JR. E $125,641.00
Ch.g. 4 Storm Arrow – Stargayzer, by Nosferatu
*Barbados bred
3 AREUTALKINTOME 130 8 122 YEARWOOD D $463,349.00
B.h. 8 by Zwick (Arazi) – Bossa Nova by Nosferatu
*Barbados-bred Triple Crown winner
4 MAJOR MARVEL(USA) 135 8 129 MAKER M $0.00
B.g. 8 Bernstein – Ms Isadorable, by Royal Academy
*Invades from Florida for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Mike Maker
5 DAGA(USA) 108 6 124 WARD A $228,103.00
B.m. 6 by Stormy Atlantic – Disrupt by Deputy Minister
*Top mare in Barbados
6 DISCREETWON(USA) 116 5 129 PARRAVICINO J.P R $89,578.00
B.h. 5 by Discreet Cat – Empress of India by Dancing Brave
*Barbadaos runner bred in US
7 ARISTODEMUS(USA) 130 5 129 DEANE SCM E $225,958.00
Ch.h. 5 by Giant’s Causeway – Ethyl Mae, by Woodman
*Won last year’s Barbados Gold Cup
8 INDIAN OFFICER(USA) 92 5 129 PARRAVICINO J.P R $84,530.00
B.h. 5 Officer – Herats Goldengirl by Gold Alert
*Barbados runner bred in US
9 SHARED ADVENTURE(USA) 137 5 129 JOHN B $192,381.00
B.h. 5 by Wildcat Heir – Starship Elaine, by Petionville
*Top rated Barbados horse, big speed
10 JAKESAM(USA) 114 6 129 ISSA N $22,235.00
Gr.h. 6 by Smoke Glacken – Deputy Sarah, by Deputy Commander
*2nd El Camino Real Derby, 2nd California Derby, Bob Baffert, moved to Barbados and now top runner there
11 NOMINEE(USA) 110 5 129 DE SILVA JR. K $0.00
B.h. 5 Awesome Again – La Porta, by Distorted Humor
*Trinidadian top runner
RICO WALCOTT FEATURE FROM NATION NEWS
By Lindon Yarde | Thu, March 06, 2014 – 12:02 AM
The Sandy Lane Gold Cup comes along every year, but this Saturday’s version could prove to be Rico Walcott’s biggest race day.
He has captured a hat-trick of riding titles at Northlands Park in Canada, won the Canadian and the Oklahoma Derby and was a lone ranger at his base last year with 153 wins for earningsof $2 288 314.
Securing the best strike percentage (32) of all riders in North America in 2013, he also achieved his first Breeders Cup ride at Santa Anita with Broadway Empire on whom he took the above mentioned derby.
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/big-day-looms-for-walcott/?fb_action_ids=10153836678465184&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=[815016581845594]&action_type_map=[%22og.recommends%22]&action_ref_map=[]
PATRICK HUSBANDS INTERVIEW AT THE GARRISON
ONTARIO-BREDS IN MARCH 2YO SALE ON MONDAY
An Ontario bred colt by BLAME – LA SUENA, by STORM CAT will be sold by Eisaman Equine. The colt was bred by Windhaven and was a $90,000 yearling. Photo from Eisaman Equine. Watch the colt breeze at this link:
http://www.eisamanequine.com/horses/-8396.html
OUT 17 C Tale of Ekati Twice as Sweet Ontario Scanlon Training Center, Agent III 10
OUT 53 F Harlan’s Holiday Allison’s Pride Ontario Eisaman Equine, Agent 7
74 C Speightstown Banga Ridge Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent I 5
77 Y F Scat Daddy Baytree Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent VIII 5
135 C Distorted Humor Endless Journey Ontario Scanlon Training Center, Agent I 10
OUT 224 Y F Medaglia d’Oro Lady Charade Ontario Classic Bloodstock (Danzel Brendemuehl), Agent 9
229 Y C Blame La Suena Ontario Eisaman Equine, Agent 7
OUT 238 Y C Old Fashioned Lochrea Ontario SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II 2
OUT 294 F Mineshaft Mystical Beauty Ontario Eddie Woods, Agent LXXII 11
296 C Stormy Atlantic Nicki Knew Ontario SAB Sales (Scott A. Bergsrud), Agent II 2
319 Y C Hard Spun Penny Perfect Ontario Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent II 1
324 F Macho Uno Pop Princess Ontario Scanlon Training Center, Agent I 10
OUT 346 C Street Boss Reggae Rose Ontario Classic Bloodstock (Danzel Brendemuehl), Agent 9
362 C Speightstown Santerra Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XI 8
398 F Exchange Rate Staid Ontario Scanlon Training Center, Agent I 10
LIBERAL GOVERNMENT DELAY JEOPARDIZING HORSE RACING IN ONTARIO
– MPP Pettapiece
from Standardbred Canada
The Liberal government has failed to approve race date applications for many tracks’ upcoming horse racing seasons, says Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece.
Contracts stipulating the terms of the upcoming horse racing season, including the number of race dates at each track, are supposed to be signed by April 1. However, the government is keeping the industry waiting for any indication on whether their applications will be approved.
“I’ve spoken to horse racing industry leaders, and they are fed up with this government’s delays. They are tired of excuses,” Pettapiece said in the legislature’s question period. “Racetracks across Ontario are still waiting for their race dates. Some are waiting to see if they’ll even have a season.”
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/3-6-14/pettapiece-wants-answers-wynne.html
SUPER SATURDAY IN DUBAI – WORLD CUP PREP RACES
get news and past performances here…
http://www.dubairacenight.com/2014-dwcc-super-saturday-analysis/
DEBRA ROMBIS TRAINEE WINS AT MOUNTAINEER
chart from THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
8th-MNR, $22,200, Alw, NW2L, 3yo/up, 5f, :58 4/5, gd.
ONLY I KNOW (g, 3, Flower Alley–Cuz You Never Know, by Dehere), a commanding 12 1/2-length debut
winner going six furlongs in the mud here Dec. 28, was sent off as the 2-1 second-choice for this sophomore
debut. Running without Lasix, the bay sprinted up the outside to seize a narrow advantage and moved
towards the rail, where he kicked clear of the field. He held off a late run from Midnight Shine (Indygo Shiner)
to score by 1 3/4 lengths. The winner is a half to Monono (Whywhywhy), SW, $211,095. Sales history:
$1,200 wlng ’11 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $25,432.o-Flying G Racing LLC & Debra Rombis. B-Three
Chimneys Farm LLC (KY). T-Debra Rombis.
