CALIFORNIA CHROME (at left) cannot stay with the leaders Tonalist (second from right) and Commissioner (far right) as he lands 4th in the Belmont, with cut foot and all. TERENCE DULAY PHOTO
News, emotions and tons of racing action made up Saturday June 7. Too much to get at this Sunday morning but ONTARIO Thoroughbred breeders were greeted at last night’s CTHS Breeders’ Awards with big news: breeders’ awards incentives are getting a $12 million boots over the next 5 years and that includes awards for locally bred horses who finish 2ND AND 3RD in stakes PLUS allowances and high level claiming races. This is also reported to be retroactive for this year.
The announcement was made before the awards evening began by CTHS president Glenn Sikura. In attendance was John Snobelen, part of the racing panel that has helped get funding back to horse racing after the Liberal government of Ontario and the OLG yanked away a partnership slot revenue program. The breeders’ awards is a tremendous incentive in the hopes that locals will continue to breed horses, sell and race them in this great province.
More details to come…
LOVE THE CHROME
There was nothing about CALIFORNIA CHROME’S run in the 146th Belmont Stakes that tarnishes anything about the ride this colt has given his interests and racing fans since the beginning of the year. This flashy colt, who, as a person would probably be a bubbly, fun loving fun, won 6 straight races at four different tracks and at four different distances. Oh yes, two of those races were the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, the first jewels of the coveted Triple Crown.
The media frenzy surrounding the colt as he headed into the Belmont, the 1 1/2 mile monster tour around Big Sandy, has been intense. Minute by minute photos and interviews, appearances and reports has been the lifestyle of Steve Coburn, Perry Martin, Art Sherman and jockey Victor Espinoza. We knew everything about this colt and the people around him.
So the disappointment was magnified 10-fold when the talented, brave colt suddenly could not advance any further once he drew to the lead turning for home, a bleeding foot, courtesy of Matterhorn, stinging him and his tank just about empty. Anyone in this game knows the 5 week Triple Crowns is tough. That is why there is only 11 winners of the series. The Chrome could simply could not do it. But he sure was not disgraced in his 4th place finish behind Tonalist and Commissioner and Medal Count.
Of course, the reaction of owner Steve Coburn is making more news and talk Sunday morning than the Chrome’s loss, his injured foot and Tonalist’s gritty win. And that is too bad. Who among us in this great game has not been hit by emotion after a race that we lost, as an owner, trainer, rider or bettor. It is tough to lose. But in horse racing, you lose more than you win. With the microphone thrust in his face, Coburn started off okay when he said the horse didn’t have it, and he didn’t, plain and simple, but then the longer he was on TV, the worse it got for him, the viewers and his wife:
The notion that anything about the Triple crown should be altered is absurd. Allowing only the horses that raced in the Derby to compete in the other 3 races would simply mean a 3-4 horse field in the Belmont, perhaps Triple Crown winner every other year. And a series of races that few people would be interested in betting on.
Putting more space between the races? Then what? We compare the next Triple Crown winner to Affirmed, Seattle Slew, Citation etc? Hardly.
This series is for everyone, this sport is for everyone. Not just the owners like Steve Coburn. We don’t invent races so that owners can just win more money. There are zillions of races in the US everyday, and dozens of rich races and lots of money to be won. Sure, a Triple Crown sweep would be big for a horse,maybe even add a few bucks on to his value, but it cannot be easy to win. There is no bonus at the end of it, just glory. They have to be great and strong to win it.
If you don’t like the series, then don’t race your horse in it. Simple as that. There is no one saying you have to try your great 3yo in the Kentucky Derby. If you do, and you are lucky enough that he wins, it is your decision to race him in the Preakness, the Belmont. And if he is good enough and you are lucky enough, to win the Preakness to and put you and your horse in the mainstream media spotlight for 3 weeks, cherish it, enjoy it.
Good luck the rest of the way Chrome. You are still a superstar.
TONALIST – MAIDEN WINNER IN JANUARY
gm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 11 Tonalist Rosario 20.40 9.60 7.00 8 Commissioner Castellano 23.20 13.20 1 Medal Count Albarado 13.20
Robert ‘Shel’ Evans’ TONALIST was a popular selection in the Belmont and the colt battled out a narrow win after 1 1/2 miles over front runner Commissioner and Medal Count. The winner is the first classic winner for the hot sire Tapit (Pulpit) and the colt’s dam is by Pleasant Colony. Tonalist was 1st time Lasix and blinkers when he made his 2nd career start in January at Gulfstream and he was an impressive maiden winner. He was then 2nd to Constitution in an allowance race before winning the Peter Pan in May; He missed time from Feb. to May because of a quarter crack and illness. He is obviously a talented colt. Let’s hope he goes on to prove that he is a worthy Belmont winner.
LADY ANGELA is ON RAINBOW BRIDGE
Woodbine handles almost $5 million
An update of all Woodbine races from Wednesday through the weekend will come tomorrow but Saturday’s large card plus the incredible Belmont card of graded stakes and the Belmont Stakes, led to a big day for betting – $4.9 million. That is a huge non-big race day for Woodbine and, well, good horse racing and big fields bring out fans and players.
The featured race, the LADY ANGELA STAKES, was won by ON RAINBOW BRIDGE, who was returning from a lengthy layoff for Triple K Stables and Curt Kobza and trainer Dave Cotey. The filly, by Bold Exeucitve out of Miss Deputy by War Deputy, made an early move up the rail to battle for the lead with favoured She Aint’s Bad, surged clear and then held on for a half a head win over a charging Sweater Weather (Milwaukee Brew).
The time of 1:23.57 translated into a 79 Beyer Speed Figure.
Saturday’s fastest winner was course record setter ALDOUS SNOW, who was up in time to win an allowance/optional claiming race by a nose in 1:38.62, besting the previous record of 1:38.80. The winner, a Sam-Son Farms homebred, was winning his first race since 2012 and his 3rd race overall.
UPDATE on Sunday’s WOODBINE OAKS – POSSIBLE ENTRANTS
John Brnjas of Colebrook Farm was non-committal about CALL HER KARMA, a recent maiden winner, going into the Oaks. The filly woekd in 1:00 on Saturday on the training track while LEXIE LOU also worked in 1:00, on the Polytrack.
Trainer ROGER ATTFIELD was very pleased with the workout of UNSPURNED on Friday. Storm Now, a maiden, is uncertain and she is owned by Robert ‘She’ Evans, owner of Tonalist.
PALADIN BAY
HOT AND SPICY
LEXIE LOU
WILD CATOMINE
LLARARMON
UNSPURNED
GDANSK
on the fence
CALL HER KARMA
HOLD THE GOLD
STORM NOW
HOT AND SPICY worked on Friday morning at Saratoga on the dirt training in 1:01.30
HALL OF FAME TRAINER ROGER ATTFIELD worked his trio of fillies on Friday morning: UNSPURNED went furlongs in 1:13, STORM NOW, 1:13.0 and LLANARMON 1:14.20.
LEXIE LOU is scheduled to work this weekend. WILD CATOMINE prepped on Thursday, 1:00.40; GDANSK also worked on Thursday, 1:01.20.
PALADIN BAY had a 59 and change workout earlier in the week.
