LIVIN IS EASY
COSTALIVIN had a small issue with a blood disorder right before the Queen’s Plate and had to miss that big dance but it paid off nicely as the bay 3yo by Tomahawk won his first stakes race last night in the restricted Deputy Minister.
It was easy to see that the colt, a $33,243 purchase as yearling from Jim Sabiston’s consignment as the local yealring sale 2 years ago, was going to win on the turn.
Under a snug hold by Jim McAleney, the colt was just waiting to rally up the inside.
He went for a hole between horses but his rivals drifted in front of him and then he angled inside and was up for the win.
Paul Buttigieg’s GYPSY RING was a fast flying 2nd.
Costalivin is out of turf stakes winner SYLKY MARKET, the Ann Kuti runner by Market Control.
The colt has won 3 of 12 races now and about $200,000. He is owned by Bud Reynolds’ Jam Jar and trained by John Ross.
“It was a good thing we didn’t run him (in the Queen’s Plate),” said Ross. “Making that decision has paid off here.”
Costalivin was over six lengths behind after an opening quarter-mile in :22.80. He made up ground towards the inside on the turn and continued to close along the inside through the stretch. He seized command in the last jump before the wire.
Ross praised jockey Jim McAleney for a quality come-from-behind steer.
“It was a great job by Jimmy (McAleney) getting him off the pace. I was a little nervous getting through on the inside. What a great ride,” he said.
The Polytrack slow last night, a common occurrence on Wednesday nights after a couple of days off (see the Daily Racing Form’s twitter/inside post comments from last night)
OTHER WINNERS:
Trainer Malcolm Pierce also owns his own horse – the former Live Oak runner SULTRY APPROVAL, who was up in the last strides to win the first race for $15,000 claiming at 1 1/4 miles. The gelding is by With Approval.
MARK CASSE sent out Eugene Menyk’s Danzig gelding WOODBOURNE to win his 2nd consecutive race and 3rd in the last 4 starts in race 2 on the grass for $40,000 claiming; the gelding was dropped off a win for $50,000. He has won 5 of 13 career starts.
Bill Sorokolit’s Kentucky bred filly KAIN’S VOW won her maiden for $50,000 claiming in race 3 at 7 furlongs on the turf. She’s by Broken Vow and is a homebred out of Kain’s Price. One of 2 winners for jockey Todd Kabel.
Michael Scott’s Ontario bred DIVINE DESTINY switched from turf to Polytrack and dropped to $30,000 claiming for a win in race 4 for trainer Greg de Gannes. The friends Lake filly is out of Chic Sheba and she is 2 for 9 in her career now.
Emma-Jayne Wilson rode the filly.
Owner/trainer DEVON BORELAND won his firstrace of the season with his lone starter – ALKELINE, who turned back from 1 1/16 miles and rallied to win the $20,00 maiden rclaiming 5th race/ He was dropping big-time from good outings at the $32,000 level. He is a Florida bred by Alke.
There was a loooong wait for race 6 as GREAT IT TIZ went squirrelly pre-race and got loose, running around the track a number of times before he was finally caught.
Once underway, the allowance race for ontario sired guys was bizarre as every rider dragged their mounts back and the pace was silly-slow – :24.07, :48.18.
So, Todd Kabel, nursing along NERONE for Linda Pilotto and the Mystical Rose Stable, scampered away to a handy win on the pace. The dark bay is by Where’s the Ring and is 2 for 5 in his career. he was bred by Linda Mason and was a $2,358 yearling purchase.
Nice.
DAILY RACING FORM TWITTERS
Just like almost all bloggers, movie stars and celebrities of any ilk, the DAILY RACING FORM has joined TWITTER.
Now you can follow along with DRF handicappers as the races are run at your favourite –
(I guess as long as you and the DRF guys are sitting at the races, in front of their computers all day…)
Ron Gierkink was Tweeting last night on the card, click here to see comments:
It’s also on the DRF site if you happen to have your computer with you at the track (or a handheld device)
http://theinsidepost.typepad.com/the-inside-post/
FASIG TIPTON JULY
it’s yearling time already!
Local folks are heading to Kentucky this weekend for the selected yearling sale, the first auction of the summer and fall.There are a number of Ontario-foaled youngsters up for auction:
65 Ghostzapper – A.. Andie colt, Adena Springs
122 Ghostzapper – French Park colt, Adena Springs
131 Henny Hughes Gold Crystal colt, Taylor Made
208 Roman Ruler- Rare Passion colt, Hidden Brook
216 Posse – Sandhill Charm filly, Three Chimneys
298 El Prado – Blue Sky High filly, Bluegrass Stable
305 Awesome Again – Calico Flower colt, Adena Springs
352 El Prado – Dress to Impress filly, Adena Springs
370 Holy Bull – Flows Like Wine colt – Elm Tree
404 Touch Gold- Indy Gold colt, Adena Springs
416 Street Cry – La Rein colt, Anderson
NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW
COREY FRASER
COREY FRASER on his biggest day.
Personable and great with the fans and media, his story is a nice one. Terence Dulay photo.
The longshot jockey
Posted By DAN DAKIN , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
It took nearly 10 minutes for the Prince of Wales Stakes -with its photo finish -to be decided last Sunday, and in that time jockey Corey Fraser saw his career flash before his eyes.
He saw the 20-year-old kid, with no direction and wondering what he would do with his life.
He saw the winter spent in Florida learning what the horse racing game was all about.
He saw his new career on hold the following summer when his mother died after a brief battle with cancer.
He saw that first race as a rider in the fall of 2003 at Woodbine Race Track.
Then he heard the announcement.
Fraser, that once directionless kid from Niagara Falls, had just won the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes aboard a horse that shouldn’t have had a chance.
He couldn’t contain his excitement.
As the blanket of roses was draped over his thoroughbred Gallant, the 32-year-old jockey grabbed fistfuls of flowers and threw them in the air with what might just be the biggest smile of his life brimming across his face.
Corey Fraser had arrived.
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1658198
MARYJEAN WALL REVIEWS
“SECOND CHANCE HORSES”
Featuring Woodbine horses and folks
(Go to the home page of Thoroughblog to find out how to buy it!)
BOOK REVIEW: SECOND-CHANCE HORSES
By Maryjean Wall
I sit in the coolness of an early summer’s evening, my mind playing lightly over the names of favorite horses in the way of fingers skipping across piano keys. I play this melody with great feeling. A lively tempo brings to mind the names of Secretariat and Forego, John Henry and Spectacular Bid.
The names of horses never known are another matter: discordant to this happy tune of horses making meaning in our lives. Horses of no renown traverse the landscape of our sport with nothing more than passing glances from the lot of us.
I was delighted, then, to discover a book titled, Second-Chance Horses from Eclipse Press ($22.95). The subtitle tells us there can be meaning made in the lives of horses who receive no more than passing glances at the race track. The subtitle: Inspiring Stories of Ex-Racehorses Succeeding in New Careers.
http://www.maryjeanwall.com/wallblog/?page_id=801
TOUR OF THE CAT
Millionaire, 11yo – $5K CLAIMING
Purse $14,500. (plus Up To 30% Pabf) For Three Year Olds And Upward. Three Year Olds, 117 Lbs.; Older, 122 Lbs. Non-winners of a race at a mile or over since June 16 Allowed 3 Lbs. Such a race since May 16 Allowed 6 Lbs. Claiming Price $5,000 (Claiming races for $4,000 or less not considered in estimating allowances) (Winners in 2009 Preferred). One Mile. (All Weather Track)
# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Claim $ Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Transit of Venus (KY) 6/G L $5,000 H Villa-Gomez 116 J Ness 3/1
2 2 Tour of the Cat (FL) 11/G L $5,000 J M Rohena 116 O S Barrera, Jr. 4/1
3 3 Jet Flag (MD) 6/G L $5,000 P Teator 116 W F Bish 8/1
4 4 Humble Earl (AR) 9/G L $5,000 M E Doser 116 G S Wismer 10/1
5 5 Hots Is Hot (FL) 9/G L $5,000 A R Ramgeet 122 A Behrens 5/1
6 6 Bluefinger (KY) 8/G L $5,000 S Spieth 119 J M Rogers 6/1
7 7 Greeley’s Gold (KY) 6/G L* $5,000 D V Beckner 116 C Crane 8/1
8 8 Sunsational (FL) 5/G L $5,000 L A Gonzalez 119 A J Exposito 10/1
Owners: 1 – Repole Stable; 2 – David Jacobson; 3 – Walter F. Bish; 4 – Timothy P. Haley; 5 – Behrens, Ashley and Sullivan, Joseph; 6 – J. Michael Rogers; 7 – Holly Donovan; 8 – Adolfo J. Exposito
