Here is a newcomer- a Silent Name (Jpn) – Katz Reign colt who recently appeared on Facebook, presented by Shelley Fitzgerald
In the south, Canadians are heading out to the track to watch the DONN HANDICAP or they are in California to take in the SAN ANTONIO.. here, we are going to be stuck inside for the most part with steady snow.
Lots of fun watching and wagering, however and don’t forget the big carryover of the HIGH 5 JACKPOT at Woodbine tonight (race 11); the KENTUCKY DERBY FUTURE WAGER is open (see field and odds below from www.horse-races.net).
Standardbred racing has its big night tonight in Mississauga, the O’BRIEN AWARDS should be a great night for that industry.
Enjoy!
THOROUGHBLOG TRIES SOME PICKS:
SAN ANTONIO – No matter who you are a fan of, this is an awesome way to get the older horse division started off for 2015. CALIFORNIA CHROME, now Horse of the Year and champion 3yo for 2014, is fresh off his romp in the grassy Hollywood derby over our own Lexie Lou and SHARED BELIEF eked out a win in the Malibu after a difficult trip. Or do you think HOPPORTUNITY knocks.
I believe CALIFORNIA CHROME is just a bit better than those 2 and I would put BRONZO in the triactor.
Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 7:00 p.m. EST
SAN ANTONIO INVITATIONAL S.-GII, $500,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Hoppertunity K Any Given Saturday Garcia Baffert 4-1
2 Tonito M. K Rock Hard Ten Bejarano Hllndrfer 15-1
3 You Know I Know Simon Pure Van Dyke Sadler 30-1
4 Imperative K Bernardini Prat Ppaprdrmu 20-1
5 Shared Belief Candy Ride (Arg) Smith Hllendrfer 7-5
6 Clubhouse Ride Candy Ride (Arg) Gryder Lewis 30-1
7 Bronzo (Chi) Fusaichi Pegasus Stevens Drysdale 20-1
8 California Chrome Lucky Pulpit Espinoza Sherman 6-5
9 Alfa Bird K Birdstone Baze Garcia 30-1
DONN HANDICAP
Hard to beat LEA – he is following same pattern as last year but remember, he only ran the 2 races last year. Will take COMMISSIONER as the upsetter if you want to double your cost of wagers.
SUWANEE RIVER – 1 1/8 miles turf 4:28 p.m.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:28 p.m. EST
SUWANNEE RIVER S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Skylander Girl Stroll Contreras Patykewich 20-1
2 Bitty Kitty K Kitten’s Joy Lanerie Walsh 12-1
3 Scampering K Afleet Alex Saez McGghy 8-1
4 Starstruck (Ire) Galileo (Ire) Lezcano Zito 12-1
5 E B Ryder Bluegrass Cat Prado Wolfson 20-1
6 Nellie Cashman K Mineshaft Maragh Abbott III 15-1
7 Rock On Baby Rock Hard Ten Lopez Wolfson 15-1
8 Sandiva (Ire) Ftstpsinthesnd (GB) Castellano Pletcher 7-2
9 Pink Poppy Tiznow Leparoux Wolfson 12-1
10 Rosalind Broken Vow Rosario Brown 6-1
11 Bohemian Dance (Ire) Dansili (GB) Cruz Dilger 20-1
12 Cay Dancer (GB) Danehill Dncer (Ire) Zayas Brown 9-2
13 White Rose K Tapit Velazquez Mott 4-1
Main Track Only
14 Sheer Drama Burning Roma Bravo Fawkes 10-1
Canadian filly SKYLANDER GIRL has fought hard in her 2 races at the meeting for Alex Paykewich and she was recently 2nd in the 8 1 /2 furlong Marshua’s River. She is a front runner who has a bit of trouble with the last furlong of these races on the 2-turn grass course.
It is a tough race to handicap with a lot of stretch running – long distance specialists in the field.
Let’s try narrowing it down to 2 major players – SANDIVA (7 to 2) and fast improving PINK POPPY (12 to 1)
FRED HOOPER Grade 3 1 mile
Canadian champion ALPHA BETTOR tries dirt for the first time for the Bulldog Stable and trainer Dan Vella. The now 7-year-old has worked in good times on the Gulfstream main track since December and he should love a one-turn one-mile distance but he took a slip in form last year and this is a tough field.
VALID is a monster, needs to time his move right. Todd Pletcher’s RACE DAY is making his stakes debut off huge race at this distance and CONFRONTATION is improving too for trainer Barclay Tagg.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 4:58 p.m. EST
FRED W. HOOPER S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Grande Shores Black Mambo Zayas Gold 8-1
2 Adirondack King K Lawyer Ron Lezcano Servis 20-1
3 Confrontation K War Pass Maragh Tagg 5-1
4 Brothersofthetime Bob and John Saez Sano 30-1
5 Mosler K War Front Rosario Mott 8-1
6 Midnight Cello Midnight Lute Rios Tomlinson 6-1
7 Race Day K Tapit Velazquez Pletcher 3-1
8 Purple Egg K Lion Heart Castellano Cibelli 8-1
9 Alpha Bettor Alphabet Soup Contreras Vella 20-1
10 Valid K Medaglia d’Oro Lopez Vitali 4-1
11 Looking Cool Candy Ride (Arg) Lanerie Sancal 30-1
12 Ulanbator Offlee Wild Leparoux Wilkes 15-1
GULFSTREAM PARK TURF 5:28 p.m. 1 1/8 miles, turf
Woodbine fans got a chance to see WAR CORRESPONDENT in November when he was edged by Lukes Alley in the Autumn Handicap on the Polytrakc. He is a listed winner in France and an interesting, lightly raced War Front colt. 8 to 1 would be nice.
CANADIAN STUFF
Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 6:30 p.m. EST
SAN MARCOS S.-GII, $200,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/4mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Finnegans Wake Powerscourt (GB) Espinoza Miller 5-2
2 Patrioticandproud K Proud Citizen Van Dyke Casse 4-1
3 Majestic Harbor K Rockport Harbor Smith McCarthy 8-1
4 Power Ped Powerscourt (GB) Prat Drysdale 9-2
5 Little Jerry K Candy Ride (Arg) Maldonado Baltas 12-1
6 Diamond Bachelor K War Front Pedroza Biancone 20-1
7 Quadrivium K Henrythenavigator Boyce Motion 8-1
8 Dynamic Sky Sky Mesa Nakatani Casse 3-1
9 Power Foot Powerscourt (GB) Fallon Drysdale 8-1
DYNAMIC SKY had some trouble in the San Gabriel in his 5yo debut and can be better in the San Marcos for John Oxley. He is the probable champion grass male in Canada for 2014 and he looks very nice in this spot, the race before the San Antonio.
As if he does not have a litany of Queen’s Plate contenders already, trainer MARK CASSE sends out John Oxley’s DANZIG MOON in a maiden race at Gulfstream today (race 6, 2:28 p.m.) and he is 7 to 2 to win this 1 mile race on the dirt. He is an Ontario bred by Malibu Moon out of Leaveminthedust and he was bred by Bill Graham. The colt was 2nd in his latest in October at Churchill with an 83 Beyer Figure.
In race 7 Oxley has Ontario bred Confront in a maiden allowance on the grass and Chiefswood Stable has Escape Shaft, by Mineshaft, in the same race.
In race 9, another maiden allowance, Stronach Stables sends out firster GOLDEN SPEAR, by Bluegrass Cat, trained by Dan Vella.
Yesterday at PENN NATIONAL, Christine Tavares and trainer Nick Mileni Jr. celebrated a win with SEETHING, who won a $15,000 claiming race at 6 furlongs at 10 to 1. Helen Vanek rode the son of Greatness bred by Barb Minshall. The gelding was claimed from his nose-margin win.
PLACE YOUR KENTUCKY DERBY BET!
2015 Kentucky Derby Future Wager
Official Field – Pool Two
# Name Pool 1 Final Odds Pool 2 M/L Odds Pool 2 Final Odds
1 American Pharoah 12-1 10-1
2 Carpe Diem 15-1 15-1
3 Competitive Edge 47-1 30-1
4 Daredevil 48-1 30-1
5 Dortmund 9-1 12-1
6 El Kabeir 74-1 20-1
7 Far Right – 50-1
8 Firing Line – 30-1
9 Frosted 38-1 30-1
10 Gorgeous Bird – 50-1
11 Imperia 27-1 30-1
12 International Star – 50-1
13 Itsaknockout – 50-1
14 J S Bach – 30-1
15 Khozan – 20-1
16 Lord Nelson 72-1 30-1
17 Mr. Z 47-1 50-1
18 Ocean Knight – 50-1
19 Ocho Ocho Ocho 29-1 30-1
20 Prospect Park – 50-1
21 Texas Red 14-1 15-1
22 The Great War 72-1 30-1
23 Upstart 53-1 12-1
24 Mutuel field (all other 3-year-olds) 3-5 1-1
HASTINGS PARK OPENS – nOTES FROM DERBY NEWSLETTER and Greg Douglas
Vancouver, B.C. (Feb. 6/15) – Over 100 horses were on the grounds for the opening of training Thursday at Hastings Racecourse. With the 2015 thoroughbred season set to open Saturday, April 25, long-time trainer John Morrison was the first to have a horse on the track shortly after 7:30 a.m.
“It’s an encouraging start,” said Darren MacDonald, General Manager at Hastings and recently appointed Director, B.C. Racing. “We expect to have between 250 and 300 horses on site by the end of the weekend.”
Manager of Racing Joe Gray was coordinating traffic on Day One of training and said that despite the wet weather, spirits on the backstretch were high among the horsemen.
That thought was shared by Lackey Condilenios, who operates The Horsemen’s Grill (previously called Trackers). It’s the most popular place on the track during early-morning training sessions.
“We open at 6 a.m. and we’ve had more traffic than last year at this time,” he says. Younger brother of trainer Dino Condilenios, Lackey runs the cafeteria with his wife Victoria and mother Nina. The backstretch at the break of dawn is a community within itself.
BC DERBY PURSE INCREASED TO $250,000
The 2015 BC Derby on September 13, 2015 will have something special to celebrate on the 70th anniversary of the crown jewel of stakes races at Hastings.
“The purse has been increased from $150,000 to $250,000,” MacDonald said. “That makes it the richest purse in the Pacific Northwest and we’re very proud and excited to make that statement.”
MacDonald acknowledged the co-operation that Hastings management has received from the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (BC Division), the Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (HBPA) and the BC Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association (BCTOBA).
“We share a great working relationship,” MacDonald said. “Some of the initiatives and new programs we’ll be introducing this year are adding to the excitement we anticipate for the coming season.”
The Ship ‘n’ Win program offering $150,000 in total rewards for horses making their debut at Hastings Racecourse is referred to by MacDonald as “possibly the best in North America”.
Further information is available at www.hastingsracecourse.com, including the 2015 regular and stakes schedules.
GOING SHOPPING THIS MONTH?
Broodmares, broodmare prospects and 2-year-olds in Ky. and Fla. Fasig-Tipton sales
There are plenty of opportunities to pick up a broodmare prospect or a short yearling at this weekend’s Winter Mixed Sale held by Fasig-Tipton in Kentucky. The following is a list of the Canadian-breds in the sale and this list includes the dispersal of Bruno Bros. Farm, which raced champion sprinters Blonde Executive and Main Executive.
Ontario stakes winners PART THE SEA and HOBNOBSNOB are also in the sale.
MIXED SALE (Feb 8 and 9) Horses list by:
Hip No. Sex Type Name Breeding Covering Sire Province Barn Consignor
448 M BMP WILD HICKORY TERRELL HICKORY (CHI) DUSHYANTOR BRITISH COLUMBI 11 CATALYST BLOODSTOCK LLC AGENT II
308 M BMP QUESTION PERIOD GILDED TIME ASK THE QUESTION SILVER DEPUTY AB 8 DARBY DAN FARM AGENT
489 F BMP BET ON SOUP ALPHABET SOUP LADY GLACKEN SMOKE GLACKEN AB 9 KINGSWOOD FARM AGENT
12 F BM CHAMPIONSHIPSEASON BERNARDINI ROYAL CORREDOR EL CORREDOR ESKENDEREYA ONTARIO 1 DENALI STUD (CRAIG & HOLLY BANDOROFF) AGENT I
75 C Y COURT VISION ENDING WELL END SWEEP ONTARIO 12 CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT FOR BRUNO BROS FARMS DISPERSAL OF BREEDING STOCK
81 F BMP EVANGELINE’S HOPE CITY ZIP ELUSIVE HOPE ELUSIVE QUALITY ONTARIO 11 JAMES B. KEOGH (GROVENDALE) AGENT V
106 M BM FORTRESS HILL FOREST WILDCAT ACADIA SILVER DEPUTY ASTROLOGY ONTARIO 6 SELECT SALES AGENT V
144 M BMP HOBNOBSNOB MOBIL DANCING LEAVES KIRIDASHI ONTARIO 7 HUNTER VALLEY FARM AGENT
150 F BMP HONOURABLE MOMENT JAZIL SPLASHA TWINING ONTARIO 9 SOUTH POINT SALES AGENCY AGENT
152 M BMP HYMN NOTE CHAPEL ROYAL NOTE TO SELF NOTEBOOK ONTARIO 9 SOUTH POINT SALES AGENCY AGENT
233 F HORA MISS FORESTER OLD FORESTER BLONDE MISS LANGFUHR ONTARIO 12 CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT FOR BRUNO BROS FARMS DISPERSAL OF BREEDING STOCK
254 F BMP MY GIRL ANDY EMPIRE MAKER GO FIRST CLASS EASY GOER ONTARIO 11 JAMES B. KEOGH (GROVENDALE) AGENT V
262 M BM NICE AGAIN AWESOME AGAIN BAL D’ARGENT SILVER BUCK SIDNEY’S CANDY ONTARIO 12 VINERY SALES AGENT IX
277 M BMP PART THE SEAS STORMY ATLANTIC GO MARCHING THRU SMART STRIKE ONTARIO 4 FOUR STAR SALES AGENT FOR GLENCREST FARM
304 M BMP QUALITY LASS EXCLUSIVE QUALITY ON THE PODIUM BOLD EXECUTIVE ONTARIO 8 DARBY DAN FARM AGENT
320 M R/BMP REMSONG BERNSTEIN REMSHEG UNBRIDLED ONTARIO 7 WATERFORD-MILLFORD FARM (MR. & MRS. ROBERT S. WEST JR.) AGENT
365 M BMP SISTER FRIEND MINESHAFT MY PAL LANA KRIS S. ONTARIO 6 SHAWHAN PLACE LLC AGENT I
395 M BM SURPRISEINTHEBOX OUTOFTHEBOX TIE TALK BLACK TIE AFFAIR (IRE) SUPER SAVER ONTARIO 1 BROOKDALE SALES AGENT
427 F BMP UNSIGHTED SONGANDAPRAYER VILLACORA PULPIT ONTARIO 13 FOUNDATIONS FARM AGENT
433 F Y MACLEAN’S MUSIC VEGAS BABE BERNARDINI ONTARIO 4 HILL ‘N’ DALE SALES AGENCY AGENT
477 F BM ATLANTIC ZIP STORMY ATLANTIC SENTEBALE VINDICATION EINSTEIN ONTARIO 11 HINKLE FARMS AGENT
488 F R/BMP BEST BEHAVIOR INTO MISCHIEF QUEENSHIP LINE IN THE SAND ONTARIO 1&2 TAYLOR MADE SALES AGENCY AGENT XV
498 M BM BLONDE MISS LANGFUHR BLONDE EXECUTIVE BOLD EXECUTIVE ONTARIO 12 CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT FOR BRUNO BROS FARMS DISPERSAL OF BREEDING STOCK
499 C Y COURT VISION BLONDE MISS LANGFUHR ONTARIO 12 CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT FOR BRUNO BROS FARMS DISPERSAL OF BREEDING STOCK
516 G HORA LITTLE ROBBIE D PERFECT SOUL (IRE) TIMBER ICE WOODMAN ONTARIO 3 ALASTAR THOROUGHBRED CO LLC
526 C R/S NOT AN ILLUSION NOT BOURBON MISS ILLUSION MR. PROSPECTOR ONTARIO 4 FOUR STAR SALES AGENT
562 M BM SOUTH SEA PEARL FOREST CAMP SOUTH SEA BLUES CURE THE BLUES RULER’S COURT ONTARIO 5 PARAMOUNT SALES AGENT XXVIII
593 M BM NEW ATTRACTION HONOUR AND GLORY CELMIS BOLD RUCKUS MAJESTICPERFECTION ONTARIO 9 SOUTH POINT SALES AGENCY AGENT
