TODAY’S PICK FROM JAKE’S TAKE!!
The heat has been getting to JAKE, the guest handicapper on Thoroughblog – but today he really likes the 7yo grey gelding WINDWARD ISLANDS with jockey Emma Wilson to win the $300,000 Nijinsky Stakes!
While FIFTY PROOF will be a big fave and the lone speed, this gelding should be in a tracking spot and hey, he won the race last year!
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
Oh, ya, that’s JAKE, had to get him in there since he is making the pick of the day in JAKE’S TAKE!
(It’s Windward Islands in case you did not read above)
LOVE FEST…
The Rocco and Frank train keep rolling…
ROCCO D’ALIMONTE and FRANK ANNECCHINI have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years with their horses, in particular since hiring Catherine Day Phillips as their stable trainer.
Their gelding MR. FORICOS TWO U was a close 2nd in the Queen’s Plate a couple of years ago.
Yesterday, the team of Toronto businessmen presented their yearling purchase WEEKEND ROMANCE in the passing Mood Stakes and watched the filly gun to the lead and take the 7 furlong grass race for Ontario sired gals under Luis Contreras.
The chestnut speedster is 3 for 3 this year and she is an Old Forestoer gal out of Seduction, by Vice Regent. Hedgestone Management, Chris Thomas, bred the filly and he sold her for $25,000.
She picked up an 82 Beyer Figure yesterday.
OTHER SATURDAY WINNERS AT WOODBINE
Speed dominated the races, in particular the sprints and speed has been strong on the grass as the railings have been out in the 4 path and more.
KARA’S ORIENTATION hit a new high Beyer Figure of 89 with his turf allowance win yesterday. The Orintate gelding, owned by Max Berketa and Pinnacle Racing, is one of the best claims in recent years – Steve Chrcop took this one for $20,000 and has sent him out to win well over $200,000.
EMMA’S BULLSEYE hit the target in her career debut when she smoked a field of maiden fillies for $50,000 claiming, picking up a 73 Beyer Figure. Lawrence Cordes ows the daughter of good 2yo debut sire City Place and Tino Attard trains.
GANGSTER RAP is a cool story and oh ya, he’s another by OLD FORESTER.This Ontario bred was bought for $1,000 at the local yearling sale and raced for Nathan Squires in his debut before he was sold to Peter Redekop and trainer Terry Jordan. The horse won an allowance yesterday and now has earnings of over $80,000. Bonne Kirkwood-Peavoy bred the 3yo.
WOOLLY BEAR turned her form around in dramatic fashion with a front running score in an allowance/optional claiming event on the grass. The win for the Doug Reddington filly, was very popular since the grey gal’s trainer Debbie England, was hurt in a training accident last week and is hospitalized. Jockey Rick Dos Ramos talked to England on a cell phone as he rode the filly to the winner’s circle.
DANCE WITH GRETCH won her maiden in her 2nd career strat for owner/breeder George Tharrenos and trainer Abraham Katryan. The Niigon filly stalked and then rallied 3 wide as one of only a couple of off the pace winners on the day.
IT’S TRICKY won the CCA Oaks and Saratoga yesetrday while canadian bred star JOYFUL VICTORY finished last… MATT WOOLEY – EQUISPORT
SEASIDE RETREAT – Casse trainee returns after 3 years
POSTSTAR NEWS..
By WILL SPRINGSTEAD — springstead@poststar.com | Posted: Saturday, July 23, 2011 11:12 pm | (0) Comments
SARATOGA SPRINGS — He had so many career starts, a person looking at the horse’s recent history in the program wouldn’t have known or might not have remembered.
Seaside Retreat was once a Kentucky Derby participant. That was back in 2006, and he finished 10th. Shortly thereafter, trainer Mark Casse switched him to the turf, where he raised his career earnings up to $1,077,234.
He’s been out of action for nearly three years. His last race was a Grade II stake at Woodbine on Oct. 25, 2008. On Saturday, however, the 8-year-old gelding made his return to racing in an allowance/optional claiming race, and in fact, could have been bought for $50,000 before the gates opened.
There were no takers, and Seaside Retreat finished seventh of eight in the 1 1/16-mile turf race.
Horse euthanized…
REWILDING
ASCOT, England// Rewilding had to be put down after suffering a serious injury in yesterday’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, won by Nathaniel.
The Dubai Sheema Classic winner was about to make his challenge in the straight under Frankie Dettori but slipped badly, throwing his jockey to the ground. Ahmed Ajtebi, onboard Debussy, could be seen frantically looking around to check on his fellow Godolphin rider.
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, said: “It is a tragedy. Unfortunately, we have lost him as he has had to be put down.”
John Gosden, the trainer of the winner, was watching the race by the stand-side rail and collected the horse before the on-course veterinary team euthanised him.
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/rewilding-suffers-tragic-end-at-ascot
HOPING FOR A DANDY TRIP TO THE SPA
Moonshine Mullin heads to Saratoga for trainer Reade Baker
Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride MOONSHINE MULLIN for trainer Reade Baker and American owner in next weekend’s Jim Dandy Stakes. The Victoria Park Stakes winner will meet horses such as BRILLANT SPEED, the Blue Grass Stakes winner, GII Peter Pan S. winner Alternation (Distorted Humor); GIII Matt Winn winner Scotus (Successful Appeal); Belmont runner-up Stay Thirsty (Bernardini); Tech Fall (Birdstone), fourth in the GII Dwyer S.; and
either Dwyer winner Dominus (Smart Strike) or GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Astrology (A.P. Indy) from trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn
DAILY DAZETTE – SCHENECTADY
BOWMAN’S CAUSEWAY POSSIBILITY FOR TRAVERS
MIKE MCADAM BLOG..
By Mike MacAdam
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Last seen this side of the U.S.-Canada border, Bowman’s Causeway was last of eight in the Florida Derby. The Ontario-bred owned by Martin Schwartz was subsequently sent to Mechanicville native Chad Brown, who put Bowman’s Causeway on the Canadian Triple Crown trail.
Bowman’s Causeway may run in the third leg, the Breeders’ Stakes at a mile and a half on the turf a Woodbine on Aug. 7, but, in light of the disarray in the 3-year-old division, Brown is intrigued by the idea of waiting three more weeks and giving Bowman’s Causeway a shot at the $1 million Travers at Saratoga.
“I’m going to see what’s going on there,” Brown said. “I’m not blown away by anything I’m seeing. I think that the best 3-year-old that I’ve seen this year is Animal Kingdom by a mile. He’s not around anymore. The other horses are just OK. Now, I’m not saying he belongs with them, but until somebody steps up and shows that he’s dominant, I’m not ruling it out.
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/wire/2011/jul/23/travers-option-bowmans-causeway/
