Trainer Lorne Richards and True North may have a nice one in PERFECT TAY, maybe a Queen’s Plate horse, read below…some Canadian winners, the Derby hero is back and other stuff….
Sparkling – A shiny morning at Payson Park in Stuart, Florida – photo by Janet Black
MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE
ANIMAL KINGDOM, flush with front bandages for the first time, nevertheless looked good winning his first race since the Belmont Stakes yesterday at Gulfstream.
In the grass race, his 2nd ever turf outing, he dragged his rider JOhn Velazquez to the leaders down the backstretch and soon powered away to win the race in 1:41.72, good for a 92 Beyer Figure for the 1 1/16 miles on the grass.
He is reportedly going to the Dubai World Cup at the end of next month now.
The Kentucky Derby winner has posted a pair of 103 Beyers in his career and then
fractured a hind leg after the Belmont Stakes.
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE – BIG DAY FOR TRUE NORTH!
TRUE NORTH STABLE ‘s (ALBERTA) and trainer LORNE RICHARDS may have just claimed themselves a Queen’s Plate/Triple Crown hopeful.
The barn dished out $75,000 to take PERFECT TAY from his career debut yesterday at Gulfstream from fellow Canadians Charles Fipke, who bred the son of Perfect Soul (Ire) and trainer Roger Attfield.
Perfect Tay, out of the Rahy mare Loch Tay, rallied to be 2in in the 1 1/16 mile grass race and posted a smart 73 Beyer Figure. Edgar Prado rode.
PERFECT TAY was 2nd beaten 1 3/4 lengths to a Todd Pletcher-trained front runner.
Meanwhile, yesterday Tampa Bay Downs, True North won with VICAR’S ICE PICK in an $8,000 claiming race. The 5yo BC-bred by Vicar is trained by Craig Smith. It was a Canadian DAILY DOUBLE at Tampa as John and Sharon Simms celebrated a win with WILDCAT PRINCE in race 2. The 4yo won a $5,000 claiming race at 1 mile and 40 yards by 2 1/2 lengths at 3 to 1.
Ontario bred filly HIGH POMEROY won her maiden for Monarch Stable and trainer Larry Pilotti yesterday at Gulfstream. The filly, by Pomeroy – Searching High, Miswaki, won for $25,000 claiming. She was bred by Briggs/Cromartie and Ascot
Stud and was a $6,000 yearling purchase.
SILENT WISPER, now competing for $8,000 claiming, won at Laurel Park yesterday for Midwest Thoroughbreds and trainer Jamie Ness. The Wando filly, bred in Ontario by Gus Schickedanz, was claimed from her previous start for $8,000.
JOHN PASTOREK celebrated a win at Gulfstream Friday when his ABSOLUTE POWER won a $30,000 claiming race on the grass at 11 to 1. The Kentucky bred by Tapit, a $40,000 claim before he went to Florida, ran an 81 Beyer Figure on Friday and he was ridden by Javier Castellano. Tino Attard trains.
Woodbine fans may have to say goodbye to tough ole BEDARRA, the 7yo mare, who raced locally for Tucci Stables and Nick Gonzalez and others for years at Woodbine was claimed for $6,250 yesterday at Gulfstream by Mr. Amore Stable. She has won $369,000.
Mr. Amore also claimed Canadian-bred stakes winner SENSATIONAL SLAM yesterday at Aqueduct. The Gran Slam fellow was taken for $15,000 and he has won 2 of his last 3 races.
He’s baaaack – FIFTY PROOF, a finalist for champion older male in Canada, is back in training at Payson Park in Florida. The giant dude is a graded SW on Polytrack and a turf ace. Janet Black photo
BILL FINLEY FOR HARNESS RACING UPDATE…
Marketing, marketing, marketing
“Whether marketing, whether a reduction in takeout, there has to be something, there has to be a plan, a vision. There
is none.” – Finley
BILL FINLEY makes remarks on the plight of Ontario horse racing, mostly standardbred racing, but it seems to apply to TB’s too – market the sport to customers, pend some money to market it to the people out there. The industry has definitely dropped the ball here.
http://www.harnessracingupdate.com/restricted/pdf/hru/hru021912.pdf
THREE-YEAR-OLD COLT, known as INCREDICAT, gets ready to to train at Payson Park. The Discreet Cat fellow won his debut last year at Woodbine and is a Plate hopeful.
(Janet Black photo)
19TH STRAIGHT WIN FOR BLACK CAVIAR
one week after her 18th win!
SIDNEY MORNING HERALD – Black Caviar pushed, but 19th win equals record
Andrew Garvey
Black Caviar has continued her domination of the Australian turf, scoring her 19th
career victory in the group one Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
But the five-year-old “equine freak” was given a real race by hulking sprinter Hay
List, who served it up to her for the majority of the $750,000 1000-metre feature
down the straight.
Black Caviar finished just .03 seconds outside the course record.
Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/black-caviar-pushed-but-19th-win-equals-record-20120218-1tfqb.html#ixzz1mpQyqhq4
BARBADOS GOLD CUP MARCH 3
Editor’s note – I have crossed out the Canadian-bred references, neither of these horses are Canadian-bred)
nationnews.com | By Lindon Yarde | Thu, February 09, 2012
Defending champion Zoom as well as top heavyweights Apostle and Show Me The Money are among nine horses selected by the Classification Committee of the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) to represent Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago in the 16th running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
The prestigious race is scheduled for March 3 at the Garrison Savannah.
The other horses are Cavachi, Giovedi, Graeme Hill, Indanger, Mingun Temple and Trinidad and Tobago’s lone entrant Joezel.
The selection of the nine, with the exception of the Canadian-bred Cavaichi, could be easily traced to their performances in the Victor Chandler Stakes & Trophy over 1 570 metres and the Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes & Trophy over 1 800 metres. The top three finishers in both races have gained selection here.
However, the indifferent and erratic form of the other eight nominees has certainly created a massive headache for the selection committee.
The eight, whose fate lies in the balance, with their present ratings are: Charge It (99), Daga (97), Dancin David (90), Fusaichi Ridge (94), John Brian (109), Little Man Arran (99), Reward Me (74) and Ring Time (102).
Their selection for the final three positions now depends heavily on their performances in Saturday’s Rotherley Construction Inc. Race Day.
Noticeably amongst this group is the much talked about Canadian-bred Dancin David, owned by Sir David Seale, who is competing for a Barbadian spot.
Just how many of these horses will face the starter remain to be seen as only John Brian, Ring Time, Dancin David and Reward Me are down to race on Saturday.
