MILLION DOLLAR DAY
ARLINGTON MILLION DAY is always a fun betting event so sharpen your pencils and get studying.
GIO PONTI and CAPE BLANCO are the big boys in the field – the former was 2nd in the race last year. TREASURE BEACH powered through a gallop yesterday and looked good, let’s play him.
SWORD DANCER, BELMONT
Rahy’s Attorney leading earner in field
Canadian champ RAHY’S ATTORNEY has a good chance to slow things down early in the 12 furlong Sword Dancer today at Saratoga and that gives the Ellie Boje homebred a a good chance to win it.
The tough one in the race has to be GRASSY, picked by this corner to win the Singspel last time at Woodbine but he lost a tough one.
By MICHAEL VEITCH
patelin@nycap.rr.com
Drosselmeyer picked to win: Winner of the Belmont Stakes last year, the |4-year-old son of Distorted Humor hasn’t been on the lawn since his 2-year-old season.
But he is a very steady customer who could make his presence felt in the $500,000 event at 1-1/2 miles on the inner turf course.
Owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Bill Mott, Drosselmeyer is ridden by Jose Lezcano.
http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/08/12/sports/doc4e45adbe64d26947461923.txt
Saturday, Saratoga, post time: 5:50 p.m. EDT
SWORD DANCER INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $500,000,
3yo/up, 1 1/2mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Drosselmeyer K Distorted Humor Lezcano Mott 8-1
2 Grassy El Prado (Ire) Castellano Clement 5-1
3 Rahy’s Attorney Crown Attorney Wilson Black 8-1
4 Bim Bam Deputy Wild Cat Cohen Moquett 12-1
5 Boisterous Distorted Humor Velazquez McGaughey III 4-1
6 Al Khali K Medaglia d’Oro Garcia Mott 15-1
7 Teaks North Northern Afleet Castro Sallusto 3-1
8 Winchester Theatrical (Ire) Velasquez Clement 5-2
SUNDAY’S ADIRONDACK at Saratoga
Casse filly is funny and fast
from Brisnet news: FUNNY PROPOSITION (Medaglia d’Oro) represents another fast threat. After breaking seventh in her July 4 debut at Churchill Downs, the dark bay miss cut through an opening quarter-mile in :21 1/5 and opened up by two lengths in the lane before winning the six-furlong race by three-quarters of a length.
“We had about 15 (horses) at Churchill Downs all spring, mostly two-year-olds we wanted to get ready for the end of Churchill Downs and Saratoga,” said Norman Casse, assistant to his Canadian-based training father, Mark Casse. “We wanted to train them on the dirt instead of the Polytrack at Woodbine. The ones that showed the most talent at Ocala were the ones pointed toward Saratoga.”
Funny Proposition was bet down to 3-1 in her debut but was made 6-1 on the Adirondack morning line.
“I think they had her 8-1 in the morning line (for her debut), and I was surprised she wasn’t the favorite,” Casse said. “I don’t know if we have a horse that’s training better. A lot of our horses have struggled over the deep surface (at Saratoga) and she has handled it beautifully.”
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=23383
AND MONDAY’S SARATOGA SPECIAL at the Spa
Woodbine winners BANNER BILL and INDIAN EVENING are contenders in the Grade 3 2yo event:
Monday, Saratoga, post time: 4:56 p.m. EDT
THREE CHIMNEYS SARATOGA SPECIAL S.-GII,
$150,000, 2yo, 6.5f
PP Horse Sire Jockey Trainer Wt
1 Union Rags Dixie Union Castellano Matz 118
2 Stat K Unbridled’s Song Velazquez Pletcher 118
3 Banner Bill Rockport Harbor Solis Biamonte 122
4 Indian Evening K Indian Charlie Maragh Carroll 118
5 Italo With Distinction Sanchez Ward 118
6 Trinniberg Teuflesberg Velasquez Parboo 118
THE WEEK AT WOODBINE
FRIDAY – JOHN FORT’S Ontario -bred LAERTES became the first winner for Woodbine Mile winner SHAKESPEARE when he won his debut in very professional fashion, The pretty dark bay won the 7 furlong turf event with a covered up trip and then a rail rally. He was bred by Dell Ridge Farm LLC.
SCHOOL GIRL won her 10th race from 32 starts in race 2 for $32,000 claiming, This lovely 6yo mare is owned and trained by Steve Asmussen and she won on the pace.
MORT HARDY’s BELL’S FIRST LAD was only 9 to 1 winning the 3rd, a 2 turn maiden race for $32,000. Why only? This ONtario bred by Victory Gallop was 3rd in his latest at 74 to 1, a turf sprint, but he was blasted in his only other 2 turn claiming event this year in a previous start. Hard to figure him wining Friday but he was brave through the strtech.
THURSDAY – MOUNTAIN ECHO won her 4th race of the season and first at Woodbine since last year when she took race 2 for $19,000 claiming. The Oregon bred mare by the late sire Tempered Appeal is based at Fort Erie with Richard Davis (co-owner, trainer) and Kris Robinson is the rider.
An even money shot, Kain’s Vow, was unplaced after setting the pace.
Another even-money shot lost in race 3 after setting the pace. In the 2yo maiden race for $25,000 the winner was EVER RINGING a 2yo by Where’s the Ring, who had Justin Stein up in his win in his 4th career race. It was the 6th win of the season for trainer Dave Cotey who co-owns and trainers. The colt was a local yearling buy for about $7,000.
It doesn’t happen often but leading rider LUIS CONTRERAS ran THUNDERING WATERS into a wall of horses into the stretch of race 4, a turf allowance dash, but guess what? The 3yo gelding by Artie Schiller won anyway for Centennial Farms Inc. and leading trainer Mark Casse. The gelding was turning back from a 5th in the Toronto Cup (beaten 1/2 a length), was allowed to trail by a good margin early in the 7 furlong dash and then he was simply thundering through the stretch.
WEDNESDAY – SHEPPERTON STAKES
Paso Doble, under Patrick Husbands, was a driving winner of the $125,000 Shepperton Stakes, Wednesday night at Woodbine.
Sent off as the slight favourite in the six and a half furlong Polytrack sprint, Paso Doble, a five-year-old son of Bold n’ Flashy, was content to follow the pace-setters from third position as Daniel Be Good notched a quarter in :22.70, with Arepeatee hot on his heels. Paso Doble and Arepeatee would make their move together through the far turn, with Paso Doble assuming the lead and driving clear to win by a length and a half. Race for Gold rallied late along the rail to earn place honours, a head in front of Arepeatee.
The final time for six and a half furlongs on the Toronto oval Polytrack was 1:15.75.
Owned by Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. and trained by Mark Casse, Paso Doble won for the third time in six starts on the season, all at Woodbine. The chestnut won an allowance event on May 1 and followed that up with a smart stakes scored in the New Providence on May 22.
The successful season can be attributed to a lot of hard work in the morning for the improving gelding.
“Mark and myself, we spent a lot of time with him, teaching him how to relax in the morning,” said Husbands. “We always put horses 10 lengths in front of him. Now, he knows how to run. He leaves the gates, positions himself, and it’s up to you to dictate (tactics). He always gives you 110.”
Paso Doble’s jockey and conditioner were singing the same tune about their quick-stepping pupil.
“He’s just a classy horse,” said Casse. “He seems to like to train. Normally, I don’t work horses as fast as he (goes), but he just thrives on it. We let him do it, and it works.”
CANADIAN HORSE RACING HALL OF FAME CEREMONY COMING UP!
Media passes have been sent out
Hall of Fame Auction List Loaded, Donors Don’t Disappoint
Toronto, ON (August 11, 2011) – While the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame gears up for its Induction Ceremony next Thursday, August 18 at the Mississauga Convention Centre, items for the silent auction fundraiser keep pouring in. Generous donors like Adena Springs, The Royal Horse Show, Seelster Farms, Windfields Farm and Woodbine Entertainment Group have beefed up the list of items that sees all proceeds go directly toward helping the Hall of Fame recognize the achievements of those that have built and established the roots of horse racing in Canada.
So far, a stallion season to Canadian Hall of Fame thoroughbred racehorse, Langfuhr, donated by owner and Hall of Fame inductee Gusav Schickedanz and a halter from international sire and son of Northern Dancer, Sadler’s Wells, donated by thoroughbred trainer Reade Baker, top the list of items. From sports memorabilia and tickets to equine art and collectables, there’s a little something for everyone.
The silent auction is just one component of the night that will celebrate the induction of eleven thoroughbred and standardbred individuals. Live music by Matthew James, games, a live auction by Bill Dickenson, dinner and a tribute to Northern Dancer’s 50th birthday will round out the night.
Silent Auction items are available for viewing at www.canadianhorseracinghalloffame.com and bidding will begin during cocktail hour at 5:30PM. Tickets to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Fundraising Dinner are $175 or $1700 for a Table Sponsorship.
CANADIAN DERBY – AUG 20
14 nominees
CALL ME LATER ch.c.3 Nicole Diodoro, Tim Gordon and Randy Howg Robertino Diodoro
EMBELLISHED (E.Martinez) dk b/.f.3 Amber Buniak and Ryan McLean Rick Hedge
FLEET ATTACK b.g.3 Derek G. Milen Professional Corp., Elwin Page and Viking Stable Joan Petrowski
FREEDOMS TRAVELLER (Zenteno) gr/ro.g.3 Randy & Donna Feddema Lianne Knechtel
HAMMERS BULLET dk b/.g.3 Terry Hamilton Jared Brown
INHISGLORY b.g.3 Peter Redekop B. C., Ltd. Craig MacPherson
LEMON LOAF ch.f.3 Riversedge Racing Stables, Ltd. Greg Tracy
LINE CHANGE ch.c.3 Bob Cheema Terry Jordan
NORTHERN INDY dk b/.c.3 Highland Yard LLC O. J. Jauregui
SEATTLE MELODY b.f.3 True North Stable Craig Smith
THE ACID TEST (Walcott) b.g.3 Almac Racing Stable Rick Hedge
TOMMY D’ HORSEY b.c.3 Robert W. Williams Craig MacPherson
TREASURED KITTEN ch.g.3 Don Dimma Craig Smith
WILD CRUSH ch.g.3 Barb Saunders Dale L. Saunders
HOORAY FOR JENNIE REES – BREEDERS’ CUP BLOWING UP
This is a popular topic this week:
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/2011/08/10/breeders-cup-2012-decision-boggles-the-mind/
JUMPING IN …WITHOUT LOOKING?
Lasix will now be banned in graded 2yo stakes races next year:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64477/no-salix-in-graded-stakes-for-2yos-in-2012
