SANS SOUSI BREAKS THROUGH
Eaton Hall homebred wins stake
– The liver chestnut filly SANS SOUSI (Bold Executive – Ada Dancer by Dance Brightly) won her first stakes of her career yesterday in the Ontario sired Lady Angela Stakes at 7 furlongs. The 3yo had been been 2nd or 3rd in 6 stakes races in her 10 career starts and had been showing a pattern of losing ground in the stretch run. Yesterday, jockey Sutherland let the filly trail behind the good pace set by favourite Minkredible.
(Photo of the LADY ANGELA FINISH by Norm Files)
In her 3rd start of the season, the filly dove inside after tipping out wide off the turn and rallied to beat another closer, Koonunga Hill. “Every race is different,” offered Sutherland. “Last race I rode her, everybody kind of moved early and she’s only got this short little spurt. I kind of need the race to set up for her and today it did. (Trainer Doyle) Mike had her really ready today. When she faced the gate, she tugged on my reins and was so focused. It made my job easier. After the wire, that was it. It was all she had. I didn’t have much left. She just gave me everything she had.”
The time for the race was 1:24.97 a 72 Beyer Figure.
WOODBINE OAKS UPDATE
– The result of yesterday Lady Angela Stakes may not have much of a bearing on the Woodbine Oaks but trainer Mike Doyle said the trainer and owner Thor Eatron would discuss the possibility for the June 7, nine-furlong race.
(Photo is GIGOLETTE, an $8,000 yearling purchase, taken by Norm Files.)
Also, race 6 featured a couple of gals who could come back in the Oaks. Trainer David Bell won the race with Richard and Jo Ellen Shaw’s GIGOLETTE (Northern Afleet), bred by Reade Baker, and said after the race he would consider the Oaks after talking to the owners. The filly was winning in her 3rd race off the layoff. She earned a 76 Beyer Figure yesterday.
Second to Gigolette was Gus Schickedanz’s FIRST CIRCLE, a Langfuhr filly and full sister to Breeders’ Stakes winner Marlang. Trainer Mike Keogh said he would race Politelyprecocious and possibly First Circle in the Oaks.
More Saturday
– INDIAN APPLE IS (Photo at left by Norm Files, check out his pix at flickr.com), an Ontario bred by Indian Charlie out of stakes winner Domasca Bella, won her maiden with an 86 Beyer Figure in the finale – her 2nd career start. Owned and bred by Frank DiGiulio Jr. the filly was a rare wire-to-wire winner at Woodbine during the last week.
That is the 2nd impressive maiden winner at the meeting for trainer Robert Tiller (Exchange Note ran a 99 Beyer to win his debut earlier this month).
MISS YANKEE, equipped pink yellow and blue ears muffs, stalked the pace and ralied for a win in race 1, a $12,500 claiming event for fillies and mares that have never won 3 races. The filly was the first winner for trainer Daryl Ezra at Woodbine this spring.
Speed won the 2nd race as layoff returneed CONFLICTING REPORT, a Florida bred by Graeme Hall, won for $40,000 maiden claiming for K K Sengara and trainer Lorne Richards. Starting from the rail post, the grey battled on the pace all the way and won under a hand ride. He had almost won his debut last year for trainer Mark Casse when touted as a star and after being bought by Sengara, was unplaced twice last fall.
DON’S FOLLY, a stakes winner at 2 yo missed 2 years of racing, won his 2nd race off the layoff yesterday when he rallied steadily and in time to win an allowance race in 1:17 1/5 – an 86 Beyer Figure. The Tethra colt is owned by Don Cole and trained by Ian Black.
PRIMERIC PRINCE won his 2009 debut off the November – May layoff for Goldmart Farms as he rallied wide and in time for an allowance/optional claiming score. Racing for $60,000 tag, the Kentucky bred by Cateinus ran in 1:17 flat – 88 Beyer Figure – for trainer Sid Attard. He was 12 to 1 and 16 to 1 shot Captain raucous was 2nd. LEONIDES was claimed from the race for $62,500 and he finished 5th.
Melnyk Racing’s homebred WALKERS BEACH, trained by Layne Giliforte, came in from Gulfstream Park and won her maiden for $12,500 with an outside, stalking trip. The Ontario bred by Dixieland Band beat LA FAYE, a huge longshot who had drawn in from the also eligible list for trainer Gil Rowntree.
FRIDAY AT WOODBINE
He’s Baaaaaad, 88 Beyer for 3yo gelding
– MY BAD scored a mild surprise in the 4th race on Friday at Woodbne, an Ontario-sired allowance race, and he passed his first 2 turn test quite well. The 3yo is not a Queen’s Plate eligible currently but can always be supplemented – the latest payment was May 1 for $1,500 and the price goes up after that.
The Tucci Stables homebred entered the Plate picture, however, based on his effort and Beyer Figure – he ran an 88, making him even with SOUTHDALE, a recent maiden winner and on par with EL BRUJO, the current favourite.
A son of local stallion ENDEAVOR (raced by the Tucci family after they claimed him for $62,500 from Lakland Farm) the gelding is out of stakes placed My Sweet Tooch by Tejabo. The mare also raced for the Tucci’s. Trained by Nick Gonzalez, My Bad rated well under Emma-Jayne Wilson and raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 3/5.
DUBLIN LANE made good on his 100 Beyer Figure when he won in April in track record time for 5 furlongs as he came back 5 weeks later to win Friday in an allowance race. The Florida bred son of Alke, owned and trained by Laurie Silvera (who is recovering from illness but his son Arthur reports he is doing well and should be back at the track soon), ran an 87 Beyer Figure in this win by 2 lengths over Jimmymac Bear.
Speaking of well prepared horses, FASHION JENNY was pulled up in a race last September for $80,000 claiming and reappeared Friday for $40,000 and pressed the pace and then drew away for a solid win for the popular owners Frank Annecchini and Rocco d’Alimonte. Catherine Day Phillips trains the Kentucky bred by Gilded Time.
More from Friday
– The longshots continue to fly in at Woodbine – ILLEGAL WHISKEY had been beaten 17, 27, and 43 lengths in 3 races this year, the most recent at Woodbine. But a drop from $32,000 claiming to $16,000 suddenly turned his form around – he won at 20 to 1 in race 5 for Terry Hamilton. The Whiskey Wisdom gelding, trained by Alec Fehr, had shown better form as a 2yo when 2nd and 3rd in a pair of maiden allowance races.
DRS TRADEMARK was a 20 to 1 bomber over 20 to 1 shot bomber Slew’s Kid in race 7, a maiden $12,500 claiming dash at 7 furlongs. The winner, a Florida bred by Wild Event, was making his 3rd start off the layoff and was coming off a messy run for $9,500 when he blew the start and then was checked. David Garcia was his new rider yesterday for Lucille Dacosta and trainer Anne Cameron.
STEELER HAS IT won the last race, a maiden $20,00 claiming race, by 7 lengths at 24 to 1 in a shocker. Owned and bred by Molinaro Farm and trained by Ross Armata, the Where’s the Ring gelding was 10th beaten 10 lengths in his debut for $20,000 and Friday was his 2nd race. Dean Deverell, having a good spring, was aboard.
First-time starter HALO GLADIS was an 8 to 1 surprise in race 6 when he won for $19,00 claiming for Bruno Schickdanz and trainer Abraham Katryan. The Florida bred is by young sire Scottish Halo, a debut winner himself and stakes winner of $400K. The mare, Gladis, was a good local runner, a 5-time winner. That race was messed up by the erratic break of Cambie Bridge, who interfered with several horses at the start.
MOMMIE WHIZ was 5 to 1 when she beat favoured ELISION in the 6 1/2 furlong turf allowance in race 8 BEAR’S PRADO, making his first start of the year and since November, won race 1 for $12,500 claiming for trainer Tino Attard. The Ontario bred by El Prado, a $16,000 claim last fall by Patrick and Paul Boissoneault had only had one race since he won his maiden last year and he was 8th. He was well prepared for the win and it was the 2nd score for the Attard barn at the meeting.
POWER OF ZEN
Filly Zenyatta improves to 10-0
Associated Press
By BETH HARRIS
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Move over, Rachel Alexandra and make room for undefeated filly Zenyatta.
Zenyatta pulled away to a 1 3/4-length victory over Life Is Sweet in Saturday’s $150,000 Milady Handicap, improving to 10-0 in her career.
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, Zenyatta rallied from six lengths off the pace to win at Hollywood Park in her first start after a seven-month layoff.
“I’m numb,” he said. “I’m looking for some emotion now but I’m just numb. She’s just amazing.”
She covered 1 1-16 miles on the synthetic Cushion Track surface in 1:42.30 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the 1-9 wagering favorite.
Kentucky Oaks and Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra has generated much of the buzz in racing over the past few weeks. But Zenyatta was making headlines last year.
She was 2008 champion older female, having won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita in October. That race could be the setting this fall for a possible matchup between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, who became the first filly in 85 years to beat the boys last weekend in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“As far as Rachel Alexandra, she’s such a great filly and I don’t want to ruin what she did,” Smith said. “But Zenyatta is Zenyatta. When the match comes up down the road, it’s going to be exciting for racing.”
Smith got a close-up look at Rachel Alexandra after finishing second to her aboard Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird in the Preakness.
Fans crowded around the paddock rail to see Zenyatta before she headed onto the track. One held up a hand-lettered, red-white-and-blue sign that read, “Rachel who, Go Zenyatta.”
Zenyatta was supposed to make her 2009 debut three weeks ago in the Louisville Distaff at Churchill Downs, but Shirreffs scratched her because of muddy track conditions.
That left him and owners Jerry and Ann Moss anxious to see whether Zenyatta would preserve her undefeated streak.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iykGvbLbl6tkb2PPDZBjFrThs4iAD98CA8BO1
CHIEFSWOOD’S BORN TO BE KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS
Jockey Douglas injured
– A clipping heels incident led to the falling of Born to Be in the Arlington Matron Stakes at Arlington yesterday and the Chiefswood Farm, Canadian-owned gal fell and was knocked unconcious. She was later found to have no fractures. Jockey Rene Douglas was apparently injured in his spine according to reports this morning: www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-24-arlingtonmay24,0,7989730.story
SPICE ROUTE JUST CAUGHT
– Harlequin Ranches, Ralph Johnson and Roger Attfield’s SPICE ROUTE, trained by Roger Attfield, led late in the Louisville Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on turf yesterday at Churchill Downs but was caught late by the wily old veteran Brass Hat.
Result from Thoroughbred Daily News:
LOUISVILLE H.-GIII, $111,800, CD, 5-23, 3yo/up,
1 1/2mT, 2:28 2/5, fm.
1–BRASS HAT, 118, g, 8, by Prized
1st Dam: Brassy, by Dixie Brass
2nd Dam: Calm Princess, by Sensitive Prince
3rd Dam: Equanimity, by Sir Ivor
O/B-Fred F Bradley (KY); T-William Bradley; J-Calvin H
Borel; $66,546. Lifetime Record: GISW, 28-9-5-1,
$1,872,360.
2–Spice Route (GB), 121, g, 5, King’s Best–Zanzibar
(Ire), by In the Wings (GB). O-Harlequin Ranches,
R Johnson & R Attfield; B-Usk Valley Stud (GB);
T-Roger L Attfield; $21,465.
FIRST WINNER FOR DANCE WITH RAVENS
– Sam-Son Farms-bred DANCE WITH RAVENS (A.P. Indy – Dance Smartly), winner of the Grey Stakes and now at stud in Maryland, had his first winner yesterday when the 2yo OLD LINE STATE won at Penn National. The 2yo colt was a $10,000 yearling and was making his debut.
IRISH 2000 GUINEAS was MASTERFUL
Photo courtesy www.racingdiary.co.uk, naughtydiesel at flickr.com
With conditions so markedly different from Newmarket three weeks ago when the ground was rocket fast, Mastercraftsman appeared to relish every drop of rain which had fallen in the past week.
He was the only colt that truly seemed to handle it and, after taking over from Viceroy of India, his pacemaker, just under two furlongs out he powered away to a comfortable four-and-a-half length success under Johnny Murtagh.
Rayeni ran on well for second beating Richard Hannon’s Soul City, the best of the two British challengers. At Newmarket, Brian Meehan’s Delegator finished with only one horse, Sea The Stars, in front of him but, though briefly threatening a furlong and a half out yesterday, he petered out quickly to beat only one home on this occasion.
THE HORSES.COM REPORT ON ALBERTA RACING
UHA needs $80 million for racetrack project
Written by Jonathan Huntington
– The United Horsemen of Alberta need to find $80 million to get a proposed racetrack near the Calgary airport off the ground.
At a packed meeting at Edmonton’s Northlands Park Thursday night, UHA executives revealed they need $25 million in cash equity and $55 million in long-term debt financing to re-start construction. “We will not proceed with construction until financing is in place,” said UHA chief executive Max Gibb. Added UHA manager of communications Eric Leonard: “It’s a tough fight to get it.”
The main financial backers of the racetrack project, UHA showed horsemen Thursday night a new blueprint for the racetrack at Balzac, which is a small community north of Calgary off Highway 2. The new plan shows a two-floor grandstand (50,000 square feet on main floor and basement 30,000 sq ft), with two tracks (one-mile thoroughbred and seven furlongs for harness) at a projected cost of $164 million.
But Gibb made it clear the $80 million in required financing is needed inside of two months for the racetrack project to be open next spring. “We would like the commitment by the 15th of July so we could make April 2010,” continued Gibb.
Granted a racing licence in 2004, UHA has been dealing with constant problems in its quest to build a track. Originally scheduled to be open in 2007, it was first pushed back because of an 18-month battle to get water. Now the North American financial crisis has stalled the project. “We had all the financing,” claimed Gibb, “then in December (of 2007) the bank pulled out.”
Compounding the problems in Alberta is the fact Stampede Park is out of the racing business at the moment – leaving Calgary without a racetrack this year. It has all led to plenty of frustration in the industry, which explains the standing-room only crowd of an estimated 175 people at Thursday’s meeting. www.thehorses.com/index.php/stories/thoroughbred-news/44-northlands-park/808-uha-needs-80-million-for-racetrack-project
