Del Mar’s recently installed El Segundo sand got its first major test on Saturday as the skies opened up when a non-typical tropical deluge hit the San Diego area.
Bloodhorse – Balan – Downpour, Lightning Create Havoc at Del Mar
LA Times – Rain, thunder and lightning pound L.A. area; flooding possible
Lady and the Track – Laughter – Saratoga Springs Travel Tips 2015
Horse Race Insider – Twas’ the Week Before Saratoga
Bloodhorse – Fields Shaping Up for Spa’s Opening Weekend
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – An early look at the likely fields for Saratoga’s opening weekend stakes
Lady and the Track – Laughter – 2015 Saratoga Season Seasoned with Superstars
Bloodhorse – Castellano, Pletcher Take Belmont Titles
Bloodhorse – Balan – American Pharoah Records First Del Mar Breeze
TwinSpires Blog – Caldwell – American Pharoah posts bullet 6f in 1:11.40
Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Report: American Pharoah to stud in Australia?
Bloodhorse – War Story Gearing Up to Take on ‘Pharoah’
Louisville Courier-Journal – Haskell takes shape for Pharoah’s next race
Phil has a question:
Do you think that anyone has ever called Phil a Bloody Jerk or maybe something spicier.
Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.
Mark Twain
NY Times – Overbye – A Window Into Pluto, and Hopes of Opening Other Doors
NY Times – Corum – New Horizons Reveals Ice Mountains on Pluto
NY Times – Chang – The Long, Strange Trip to Pluto, and How NASA Nearly Missed It
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein
Phil’s Vignette of Canadian History
World Book – The “Last Spike” completes the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885
UBC – The Chung Collection – Canadian Pacific Railway
NY Times – Bittman – ‘Chop Suey’s Next Wave’
Phil has a question:
How could a railroad be built across Canada during the 19th century with little or no mechanized equipment, no GPS or digital surveying equipment, no computers and mainly blood, sweat and tears in less time than it takes to repair an interchange today.
Garden and Gun – Summer Beer Pairings
Phil’s favourite beer pairings.
Woodbine jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson has moved into the Top 100 jockeys for 2015 and should end up being the top earning female jockey of 2015.
The Globe And Mail – Shandrow – The seven books Bill Gates wants you to read this summer
Phil has a question:
What’s Bill Gates favourite Board Game.
Phil has another question:
Will the partings on either side of this issue read Smil’s book that purports to present a relatively unbiased view.
Louisville Courier-Journal – Edelson: Can American Pharoah lose in N.J.? Seattle Slew did
Ashbury Park Press – Edelson – Haskell ticket prices skyrocket with American Pharoah to run
Date Race Name Track Division
Jul 25 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO Ascot Longines Turf
Jul 26 Bing Crosby Stakes Del Mar Sprint
Jul 29 Qatar Sussex Stakes Goodwood Mile
August
Aug 1 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap Del Mar Longines Distaff
Aug 2 William Hill Haskell Invitational Monmouth Park Classic
Aug 8 The Whitney Saratoga Classic
Aug 15 Beverly D. Stakes Arlington Park Filly & Mare Turf
Aug 15 Arlington Million Arlington Park Longines Turf
Aug 19 Juddmonte International Stakes York Longines Turf
Aug 20 Darley Yorkshire Oaks York Filly & Mare Turf
Aug 21 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes York Turf Sprint
Aug 22 Pat O’Brien Stakes Del Mar Dirt Mile
Aug 22 Del Mar Handicap Del Mar Longines Turf
Aug 22 TVG Pacific Classic Del Mar Classic
Aug 29 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes Saratoga Longines Turf
Aug 29 Forego Handicap Saratoga Sprint
Aug 29 Ballerina Stakes Saratoga Filly & Mare Sprint
Aug 29 Personal Ensign H. Saratoga Longines Distaff
September
Sep 5 Spinaway Stakes Saratoga Juvenile Fillies
Sep 5 T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis Baden Baden Filly & Mare Turf
Sep 5 Pocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Juvenile Fillies
Sep 5 Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs Sentient Jet Juvenile
Sep 6 Longines Grosser Preis Von Baden Baden Baden Longines Turf
Sep 12 The John Deere Juvenile Turf Trial Stakes Leopardstown Juvenile Turf
Sep 12 The Coolmore Stud Matron Stakes Leopardstown Filly & Mare Turf
Sep 12 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes Leopardstown Longines Turf
Sep 12 Natalma Stakes Woodbine Juvenile Fillies Turf
Sep 12 Summer Stakes Woodbine Juvenile Turf
Sep 13 Moyglare Stud Stakes The Curragh Juvenile Fillies Turf
Sep 13 Canadian Stakes Woodbine Filly & Mare Turf
Sep 13 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Woodbine Mile
Sep 25 Shadwell Rockfel Newmarket Juvenile Fillies Turf
Sep 26 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes Newmarket Juvenile Turf
Sep 26 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes Belmont Park Filly & Mare Turf
Sep 26 Vosburgh Invitational Stakes Belmont Park Sprint
Sep 26 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Belmont Park Longines Turf
October
Oct 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes Keeneland Sprint
Oct 2 Darley Alcibiades Stakes Keeneland Juvenile Fillies
Oct 3 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Mile
Oct 3 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland Filly & Mare Sprint
Oct 3 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Keeneland Sentient Jet Juvenile
Oct 3 Frizette Stakes Belmont Park Juvenile Fillies
Oct 3 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes Belmont Park Sentient Jet Juvenile
Oct 3 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Belmont Park Classic
Oct 4 Total Prix Marcel Boussac Longchamp Juvenile Fillies Turf
Oct 4 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Longchamp Juvenile Turf
Oct 4 Longines Prix de L’Opera Longchamp Filly & Mare Turf
Oct 4 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Keeneland Juvenile Turf
Oct 4 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes Keeneland Longines Distaff
Oct 8 J. P. Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes Keeneland Juvenile Fillies Turf
Bloodhorse – Novak – Tiz Shea D Survives Mr. Z’s Antics in Indiana
AUBURN, Wash. (July 19, 2015) – Stryker Phd appears to be in another league from his foes at Emerald Downs.
Sunday, the 6-year-old gelding turned in perhaps his strongest race yet, rolling from behind for a powerful six-length victory in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.
Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 122 lbs, Stryker Phd ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.89 and paid $4, $2.60 and $2.10. Larry Ross is the winning trainer for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash.
The winning margin was a stakes record, and Stryker Phd became the fourth horse to win the Mt. Rainier twice. He also tied Noosa Beach’s track record for most consecutive stakes win by an older horse with six, and in four weeks bids to become the first horse to win the Longacres Mile twice at Emerald Downs.
A Washington-bred by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, Stryker Phd has a lifetime mark of 7-5-5 in 20 starts with earnings of $375,651, including $27,500 for Sunday’s win.
Absolutely Cool, ridden by Rocco Bowen at 118 lbs, closed well for second and paid $5.80 and $3.40. Del Rio Harbor, a 25-to-1 long shot ridden by Julien Couton at 116 lbs, held third place and paid $10.60.
Noosito, the 2-to-1 second choice, rallied into contention into the lane, but lost his punch late and finished fourth. Scat Daddybaby, Remembertobreathe, Herbie D, Mike Man’s Gold and Grinder Sparksaglo completed the order of finish; Prohibition and Mebossman were scratched earlier in the day.
Stryker Phd, as usual, lagged far back early, biding time as Scat Daddybaby, chased by Herbie D, carved out fractions of :22.36, :44.81 and 1:09.06. He commenced his rally on the last turn, flying past horses in droves, and swept to the lead into the stretch. By the time the field straightened into the lane, Stryker Phd already was five lengths clear and pouring it on, stretching the lead to eight lengths at one point before coasting to the wire.
“I knew the pace was going to be fast,” Mawing said. “He grabbed a hold of the bit early, but his forte is coming off the pace. He likes running at horses.
“When I made that move, he was just going by horses,” Mawing added. “When I asked this horse to go, he just gave me a turn a foot and exploded. I just eased him up in the stretch to save him for next time.”
BARKLEY TAKES THE EMERALD EXPRESS
As expected, the $50,000 Emerald Express for 2-year-old colts and geldings developed into a virtual match race, with even-money favorite Barkley out-finishing 6-to-5 Gold Rush Dancer for a half-length victory in 1:11.04 for six furlongs.
Ridden by Javier Matias at 120 lbs, Barkley paid $4, $2.60 and $2.10.
Gold Rush Dancer, ridden by Julien Couton, finished second and paid $2.40 and $2.10. It was 6 ½ lengths back to third-place finisher Wando Cat, followed by Packy’s Out and Ryan Walt.
Barkley sat third as Gold Rush Dancer and Ryan Walt dueled through fractions of :22.19 and :45.50 for the quarter and half-mile. The winner attacked from the outside, collaring Gold Rush Dancer at the head of the stretch, and proved best in a long stretch battle.
Unbeaten in two starts, Barkley earned $27,500 for the win, pushing his career ledger to 2-2-0-0-$38,775. Howard Belvoir is the winning trainer and co-owner with Rising Star Stable III, a syndicate led by Vicki Potter of Auburn, Wash.
A Kentucky-bred by Munnings-Numero d’Oro, Barkley cost $21,000 at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Belvoir now has a record five wins in the Emerald Express—including four straight from 2003-06—and is 4-0-1 in five 2-year-old races at the meet.
Matias, up for both of Barkley’s wins, is No. 7 all-time with 22 stakes wins at Emerald Downs.
NOTES: Mawing had a great weekend, notching riding triples Saturday and Sunday including stakes wins on Belle Hill in the Irish Day Handicap and Stryker Phd in the Mt. Rainier Handicap. . .With 40 days in the books, Julien Couton leads the jockeys’ standings with 57 wins, with Mawing and Juan Gutierrez tied for second at 45 wins apiece. . .In the trainers’ standings, Jeff Metz owns a 32-20 lead over Frank Lucarelli, with Howard Belvoir third with 19 wins. . .Montelena ($38.80) scored her 10th career win at Emerald Downs, rallying for a neck victory over The Gang and I in Sunday’s sixth race. A 7-year-old mare by Spinelessjellyfinish, Montelena has six wins the last two seasons for trainer Martin Pimentel. . .Chaching Pete ($6.60) also has a winning spirit at Emerald Downs, rolling to his 12th win here and 15th lifetime victory in race seven for older $5,000 claimers. An 8-year-old Petersburg gelding, Chaching Pete now has four multiple win seasons at Emerald Downs. . .Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:45p.m.
BELLE HILL PREVAILS IN KENT HANDICAP
AUBURN, Wash. (July 18, 2015) – Belle Hill continues to look like a filly with a big future for Aithon Stable and trainer Larry Ross.
Saturday, the regally-bred miss overcame some anxious moments before scoring a one-length victory over Ethan’s Baby in the $50,000 Kent Handicap at Emerald Downs. Suva Harbor was a nose back in third place.
Ridden by Leslie Mawing at high weight of 120 lbs, Belle Hill ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.14, and paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10.
Coupled with a victory in the Irish Day Handicap last month, Belle Hill stands atop the sophomore filly division at Emerald Downs, and she figures to be a prohibitive favorite when the division reconvenes August 8 for the $65,000 Washington Oaks.
The Kent Handicap was hardly a pushover, however, as Belle Hill was bottled up with nowhere to go, and quickly running out of ground. She finally angled out for racing room past mid-stretch, swept to the lead inside the sixteenth pole, and edged clear for the victory.
“Thank God it opened up down the lane,” Mawing said. “She got room and really accelerated.”
Interviewed in the winner’s circle after the race, Ross said, “(Belle Hill) could be the best horse I’ve ever trained. It’s early, but she’s very good.”
Quite a statement considering Ross has trained two Longacres Mile winners and several other top horses over the years.
Purchased for $250,000 by James and Mary Beth Holt-Perkins (Aithon Stable), Belle Hill is a Kentucky-bred by Sky Mesa-Sealy Hill. Her overall record is 3-0-1 in five starts with earnings of $77,470,including $27,500 for Saturday’s victory.
Ethan’s Baby, ridden by Julien Couton at 118 lbs, gamely held second and paid $3.20 and $3.20. A Washington-bred by Offlee Wild, Ethan’s Baby changed back to front-running tactics Saturday and nearly pulled off the upset, setting fractions of :23.42, :47.16 and 1:11.92.
“She was really trying all the way to the wire, and we just got beat by a better horse today, Couton said.”
Suva Harbor, ridden by Joe Steiner at 119 lbs, finished third and paid $3. A Kentucky-bred by Rockport Harbor, Suva Harbor has finished third in all three stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Perhaps a Pie, Seeking the Light and Pippa Bou Peep completed the order of finish.
NOTES: Leonel Camacho-Flores is on a long shot roll at Emerald Downs. After engineering a 33-to-1 upset on Betrbegone last week in the Seattle Slew Handicap, Camacho-Flores clicked with three double-digit winners Saturday: Sharp Focus ($19.20), Grand Baylee ($16) and Andiamo Deb ($10.80). A 31-year-old native of Zacatecas, Mexico, Camacho-Flores jumped into 10th place with 14 wins at the meet. .. Leslie Mawing also had three wins and the defending riding champion is still in the hunt for the 2015 title. Julien Couton leads with 56 wins, followed by Juan Gutierrez with 45 wins and Mawing with 42. . .With victories Saturday, 4-year-old gelding Holmes Harbor ($3.20), 3-year-old filly Haleys Rainbow ($5) and 4-year-old filly Diamonds Dena ($7.40) became the meet’s 9th, 10th and 11th three-time winners. Trained by Manny Oritz and ridden by Juan Gutierrez, Diamonds Dena rallied to win the $21,000 sub-feature for older fillies and mares, running one mile in 1:38.63, and is now 3-for-3 since shipping in from Turf Paradise. . .Other horses with three wins: Calculated Chaos, River District, Thetrailerguy, Sea Side Story, Coach Royal, Whiskeyonthehouse, Rio Hondo and Ain’t Tellin’. . . Trainer David Martinez remained hot with a pair of wins Saturday: Dedicated to You ($6) and Andiamo Deb ($10.80). .. Live racing continues Sunday with special first post time of 1:50 p.m. Defending Horse of the Meeting Stryker Phd is the 7-to-5 morning line favorite in the $50,000 Mt. Rainier Handicap, final local prep for the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) on August 16.
Bloodhorse – Angst – High Dollar Woman Cashes in Indiana Oaks
TwinSpires Blog – Caldwell – High Dollar Woman leads all the way in Indiana Oaks upset
SUNDAY HASTINGS PREVIEW
Racing resumes at Hastings Racecourse this after noon with an excellent weight race program.
The feature event is race two as five optional $25,000 claimers will be gunning for the lion’s share of the $23,000 pot being offered.
Starting in post one is Bob Cheema’s recent claim Tracker who won easily at this same tag in his last start. He is an honest horse that fits nicely at the $25,000 tag. Pedro Alvarado gets the call from Anita Bolton.
George Gilbert’s Go For Guinness is dropping out of stakes company looking for his first win of the season. He is a former stakes winner at this distance and should be a major player at this level. Antonio Reyes is named to ride for Hall-of-Famer Dave Forster.
Lillian Jarvis-Meehan ‘s Steupforthemoney is another stakes winner at a mile and a sixteenth. He had a sprint prep earlier this month which should set him up for a top effort this afternoon. Sahin Civaci gets the mount from trainer Pat Jarvis.
The most accomplished runner in the field is Senor Rojo who is owned by George Gilbert, Cameron Hill and the Tres Hombres Stable. The son of Out of Place has banked over $440,000 and the bulk has been earned going long, He is in a favourable spot at this $25,000 price and should be tough to outrun. Richard Hamel rides.
The Century Plaza’s Laguna Blaze is another that has done his best running at this mile and a sixteenth trip. Keishan Balgobin gets the riding assignment from trainer Carl Lausten.
The live program gets started at the usual time of 1:50 p.m.
Horse Race Insider – Jicha – A big horse outweighs big races
TwinSpires Blog – Sheer Drama passes all tests in Delaware Handicap
Bloodhorse – LaMarra – Sheer Drama Powerful in Delaware Handicap Win
Bloodhorse – Balan – Gabriel Charles Swings Wide to Win Read
TwinSpires Blog – Gabriel Charles finds conditions ideal in Eddie Read
Nominations for the Princess Margaret
36th Running Of The Princess Margaret
$50,000 Estimated
A SPECIAL WEIGHT STAKES FOR TWO YEAR OLD FILLIES
SIX FURLONGS
TO BE RUN FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
BESWICK dk b/.f.2 Al Pitchko Rodney J. Cone
BOOTLEGGERS WIFE (Beauregard) dk b/.f.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
COSMIC DREAMS dk b/.f.2 Bar None Ranches Ltd. Ron Grieves
HAYTHORNE PLACE ch.f.2 Charlie Maze Craig Smith
LOMA LINDA dk b/.f.2 Al Pitchko Rodney J. Cone
MISS WILD ROSE dk b/.f.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
ONESTARATATIME dk b/.f.2 Curtis & Darrell Landry, Red Diamond Stable and Highfield Stock Farm Greg Tracy
RAISE A DANCER b.f.2 Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp. Greg Tracy
SAFARI TAN b.f.2 M & P Equipment Inc., Met Set Consulting Ltd. and Dale L. Saunders Dale L. Saunders
Nominations For the 37th Running Of The Edmonton Juvenile
37th Running Of The Edmonton Juvenile
$50,000 Estimated
A SPECIAL WEIGHT STAKES FOR TWO YEAR OLD COLTS AND GELDINGS
SIX FURLONGS
TO BE RUN SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AWESOME SLATE ch.g.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
CREDITS GOOD dk b/.c.2 Dialed In Racing Stable, IndyRock Racing and Smokin Guns Stable Craig Smith
GIO PANELLI dk b/.g.2 Al Pitchko Rodney J. Cone
HOLD THE GIANT ch.g.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
KRISTOFFERSON dk b/.c.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
MACHO NORTH b.g.2 Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp. Greg Tracy
MOONLIGHT MALICE (Zenteno Jr) ch.g.2 Mark Gems International Ltd. Jennifer Shafer
N. Y. SMOKE dk b/.c.2 Doug Blair Joan Petrowski
OVED dk b/.g.2 Jennifer Smith Rodney J. Cone
OZARK DAREDEVIL dk b/.g.2 Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd. Tim Rycroft
REASON FOR BEING dk b/.g.2 Don B. Danard Greg Tracy
SCHRAMSON ch.g.2 Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp. Greg Tracy
SIBERIAN NOON dk b/.c.2 Jennifer Smith, Dialed In Racing Stable and IndyRock Racing Craig Smith
WHISKEY BIRD dk b/.g.2 Mark Heppner Malcolm Beveridge
Edmonton Sun – FRANK FONTANA’s Northlands Favourites
Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Wednesday July 22, 2015
Sharon and Victor Kleparchuk, Eric Dohei and Viking Stables’ Quality Lane relished the stretch out to 8 furlongs closing hard and finishing well to garner her first stakes victory in Friday’s Northlands Oaks Handicap at Northlands Park. Trained by Joan Petrowski and ridden by Ruben Lara Quality Lane got the mile in 140.19 on a track rated good after much needed showers.
Both Joan Petrowski and Victor Kleparchuk are running for the Board of the Alberta Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association.
Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp.’s Star Lady trained by Greg Tracy with Rico Walcott in the irons attended the early pace set by Eustacia but could not match strides with the winner down the lane.
Wood River Ranches Ltd.’s Wilko’s Quiet Girl trained by Wally Pugh and ridden by Anastasios Chalaris made a late run for third but was no match for the top pair.
The hard knocking veteran mare Smile Again Theta rewarded her owners Heather Chieffo and trainer Jerri Robertson with a gate to wire throttling of her rivals in the Madamoiselle Handicap at Northlands Park on Friday, July 17, 2015 stopping the timer in 144.71 for 1 1/16 miles on a track rated as good with Tony Maragh in the irons.
Bred in Alberta by Con Stavropoulos Smile Again Theta pushed her record to 10 wins from 42 starts with lifetime earning of $159,223.
Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.’s Holiday Babe conditioned by Tim Rycroft with Ismail Mosqueira aboard rallied late for second just ahead of Wood River Ranches Ltd’s Sollie Go Nee Nee for trainer Wally T Pugh with Jorge Espitia in the irons.
Show bettors were rewarded with payoffs of $31.70, 36.20 and $73.40 when a bridge jumper loaded up on the favourite Rock and Glory who finished 4th.
Edmonton Journal – Blue Dancer dominates to earn Canadian Derby berth
Rico Walcott completed the Stakes Double at Northlands Park on Saturday aboard Lyle and Phyllis Farkash’s Southview Ag Ltd’s For Cash in the Fred Jones Handicap for trainer Dale Greenwood. Rico bided his time just off the pace set by Killin Me Smalls made a decisive move with For Cash before the stretch and had enough left to hold off Killin me Smalls who rerallied late.
Deltin Stable and Ed Welsh’s Killin Me Smalls conditioned by Ernie Keller with Ruben Lara in the irons rewarded a bridge jumper who loaded up on him by finishing second and paying $2.10 to show.
Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot In The Dark Racing Corp.’s Deadly Truth trained by Greg Tracy with Scott Williams aboard held on for third over Lyle and Phyllis Farkash’s Southview Ag Ltd’s hard charging Toccetive.
Phil has a question:
Will the Farkashes accept the Hastings Racing Club winning photo challenge.
Are there enough people in Vermillion.
Louisville Courier Journal – Hall – Handicapping the D.C. medication push
Louisville Courier Journal – Hall – Horse racing drug debate goes to D.C.
Louisville Courier-Journal – Racing medication bill out of gate, lines drawn
TDN – Federal Anti-Doping Legislation Introduced
NY Times – Macur – Bill Would Save Horse Racing From No. 1 Threat: Itself
NY Times – Drape – Congressmen Propose Antidoping Agency for Horse Racing
Barr Tonko – Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015
Bloodhorse – Angst – Bill Would Give USADA Medication Oversight
Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – Owers – Doing time Down Under: Penalties in Australian racing
Racing Post – Barber – Point of consumption tax sent to European court
Bloodhorse – Novak – Midnight Cello Soars in Hanshin Cup
Bloodhorse – Angst – Syntax Proper in Kent Stakes Win at Delaware
July 19
Belmont Park
Lynbrook Stake $125,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f Dirt
Canterbury Park
MTA Stallion Auction Stake $55,000 3yo R 6.5f Dirt
Del Mar
San Clemente Handicap GII $200,000 3yo Fillies 8f Turf
Emerald Downs
Emerald Express Stake $50,000 2yo Colts & Geldings 6f Dirt
Mt. Rainier Handicap $50,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Hakodate Kinen GIII $723,000 3&up 10f Turf
Monmouth Park
Miss Woodford Stake $70,000 3yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Woodbine
Duchess Stake $125,000 3yo Fillies 7f AW
Nijinsky Stake CanGII $200,000 3&up 9f Turf
Wyoming Downs
Wyoming Downs Derby $8,000 3yo 6f Dirt
July 22
Les Bois Park
I.T.A. Willy Fiddle $11,000 3&up State/Prov 7.5f Dirt
I.T.A. Winning Colors Stake $11,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 7f Dirt
Del Mar
Wickerr Stake $80,000 3&up R 8f Turf
Woodbine
Deputy Minister Stake $125,000 3yo State/Prov 7f AW
July 24
Ascot
Woodcote Stud EBF Stallions Valiant Stake Listed $62,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Turf
Del Mar
Cougar II Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up 12f Dirt
Marquis Downs
Bob Barr Memorial Handicap $6,500 g 3yo Fillies 8f Dirt
Northlands Park
Princess Margaret Stake $50,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Saratoga
Lake George Stake GII $200,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Turf
Schuylerville Stake GIII $150,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
July 25
Arlington Park
Springfield Stake $50,000 3yo State/Prov 8f AW
Arapahoe Park
CTBA Breeders Oaks $40,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8.32f Dirt
Ascot
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stake (Eng-I BC $1,560,000 3&up 12f Turf
Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stake (Eng-III $78,000 2yo Fillies 6f Turf
Titanic Belfast Winkfield Stake $47,000 2yo 7f Turf
Assiniboia Downs
Winnipeg Sun Stake $25,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Dirt
Chippewa Downs
NDTA Derby $10,000 3yo State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
Del Mar
Fleet Treat Stake $200,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 7f Dirt
San Diego Handicap GII $200,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Evangeline Downs
Opelousas Stake $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8f Turf
Sunset Stake $75,000 3&up 8.5f Turf
Turf Express Stake $75,000 3&up 5f Turf
Marquis Downs
Saskatchewan Lotteries Handicap $6,500 g 3yo 8f Dirt
Monmouth Park
Jersey Shore Stake GIII $100,000 3yo 6f Dirt
Northlands Park
Edmonton Juvenile Stake $50,000 2yo Colts & Geldings 6f Dirt
Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows Handicap Listed $75,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Parx
Crowd Pleaser Handicap $75,000 3yo State/Prov 8.5f Turf
Power By Far Handicap $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 5f Turf
Ruidoso Downs
Rio Grande Senorita Futurity $175,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Saratoga
Sanford Stake GIII $150,000 2yo 6f Dirt
TVG Diana Stake GI $500,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Turf
ThistleDown
Miss Ohio Stake $75,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Woodbine
Colin Stake $125,000 2yo 6f AW
Ontario Matron Stake (Can-III $150,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f AW
July 26
Arapahoe Park
Columbine $40,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Dirt
Arapahoe Park
Mount Elbert $40,000 3&up Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8.5f Dirt
Belterra Park
Norm Barron Queen City Oaks $75,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 9f Dirt
Chippewa Downs
NDTA Futurity $10,000 2yo State/Prov 4.5f Dirt
Del Mar
Bing Crosby Stake GI BC $300,000 3&up 6f Dirt
California Dreamin’ Handicap $150,000 3&up State/Prov 8.5f Turf
Emerald Downs
Angie C. Stake $50,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Chukyo Kinen GIII $685,000 3&up 8f Turf
Hakodate Nisai Stake GIII $542,000 2yo 6f Turf
Monmouth Park
Little Silver Stake $60,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Turf
Ruidoso Downs
Land of Enchantment Handicap $50,000 3&up State/Prov 7.5f Dirt
Lincoln Handicap $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f Dirt
Rio Grande Senor Futurity $175,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Road Runner Handicap $50,000 3yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Sierra Blanca Handicap $50,000 3&up State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Sierra Starlet Handicap $50,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Saratoga
Coaching Club American Oaks GI $300,000 3yo Fillies 9f Dirt
Woodbine
Royal North Stake (Can-III $150,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Turf
Toronto Cup Stake $125,000 3yo 9f Turf
July 27
Saratoga
Lucky Coin Stake $100,000 4&up 5.5f Turf
July 28
Fort Erie
Prince of Wales Stake $500,000 3yo State/Prov 9.5f Dirt
Rainbow Connection Stake $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 5f Turf
July 29
Les Bois Park
Les Bois Park Derby $10,000 3yo 7f Dirt
Les Bois Park Distaff Derby $10,000 3yo Fillies 6.5f Dirt
Saratoga
Honorable Miss Handicap GII $200,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Woodbine
Eternal Search Stake $125,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8.5f AW
July 30
Saratoga
A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Handicap GI $125,000 4&up 16.5f Turf
John Morrissey Stake $100,000 3&up State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
July 31
Del Mar
CTBA Stake $100,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Finger Lakes
Arctic Queen Stake $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f Dirt
Saratoga
Curlin Stake $100,000 3yo R 9f Dirt
August 1
Arlington Park
Addison Cammack Handicap $50,000 3&up State/Prov 6f AW
Isaac Murphy Handicap $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6f AW
Arapahoe Park
Silver Cup Futurity $35,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Silver Cup Futurity $35,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Assiniboia Downs
Graduation Stake $25,000 2yo 5f Dirt
Charles Town
Robert G. Leavitt Stake $50,000 3yo State/Prov 7f Dirt
Del Mar
Clement L. Hirsch Stake GI BC $300,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Dirt
Mountaineer
Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies Stake $100,000 2yo Fillies 6f Dirt
Mountaineer Juvenile Stake Listed $100,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stake Listed $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt
West Virginia Derby GII $750,000 3yo 9f Dirt
West Virginia Governor’s Stake Listed $200,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup Listed $100,000 3&up 8.32f Turf
West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup $100,000 3&up 4.5f Dirt
West Virginia Secretary of State Listed $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
West Virginia Senate President’s Cup $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.32f Turf
Monmouth Park
Regret Stake Listed $75,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6f Dirt
Saratoga
Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap GI $350,000 3&up 6f Dirt
Amsterdam Stake GII $200,000 3yo 6.5f Dirt
Bowling Green Handicap GII $250,000 4&up 11f Turf
Jim Dandy Stake GII $600,000 3yo 9f Dirt
Santa Rosa
Wine Country Stake $50,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Turf
Woodbine
Victoriana Stake $125,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 8.5f Turf
Wyoming Downs
Hank Mills Handicap $8,000 a 3&up Fillies & Mares 5f Dirt
August 2
Assiniboia Downs
Manitoba Mile $25,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Del Mar
Real Good Deal Stake $200,000 3yo State/Prov 7f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Ibis Summer Dash GIII $685,000 3&up 5f Turf
Queen Stake GIII $633,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Turf
Monmouth Park
Lady’s Secret Stake Listed $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.32f Dirt
Metropolitan Jets Oceanport Stake GIII $150,000 3&up 8.5f Turf
Monmouth Cup Stake GII $200,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Teddy Drone Stake Listed $100,000 3&up 6f Dirt
William Hill Haskell Invitational GI BC $1,000,000 3yo 9f Dirt
WinStar Matchmaker Stake GIII $150,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Turf
Saratoga
Shuvee Handicap GIII $200,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Dirt
Smirnoff Sorbet Caress Stake $100,000 4&up Fillies & Mares 5.5f Turf
Santa Rosa
Luther Burbank Handicap $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Turf
Woodbine
Seagram Cup Stake (Can-III $150,000 3&up 8.5f AW
August 3
Assiniboia Downs
Manitoba Derby $75,000 3yo 9f Dirt
Assiniboia Downs
Manitoba Oaks $25,000 3yo Fillies 8f Dirt
Hastings Race Course
British Columbia Cup Classic $50,000 3&up State/Prov 9f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Debutante Stake $50,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Distaff $50,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 9f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Dogwood $50,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8.5f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Marathon $20,000 3&up State/Prov 11f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Nursery $50,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 6.5f Dirt
British Columbia Cup Stellar’s Jay $50,000 3yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8.5f Dirt
Saratoga
Coronation Cup Stake $100,000 3yo Fillies 5.5f Turf
Woodbine
Nandi Stake $125,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 6f AW
Shepperton Stake $125,000 3&up State/Prov 6.5f AW
August 4
Sunray Park
Budweiser Allowance Stake $30,000 3yo Fillies 6.5f Dirt
August 5
Les Bois Park
Taylor/Davenport Memorial $7,000 a 3&up Fillies & Mares 7f Dirt
Del Mar
Graduation Stake $100,000 2yo State/Prov 5.5f Dirt
Saratoga
Shine Again Stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares R 7f Dirt
August 6
Saratoga
Quick Call Stake Listed $100,000 3yo 5.5f Turf
Lady and the Track – Smith – Weekend Stakes News, Recaps, Replays July 18, 2015
BY GLEN TODD
LOADS OF STATS TODAY
Down near the end of today’s newsletter we have published the list of all of the horses that have started so far this season at Hastings Racecourse. The list was compiled from Equibase and just to throw you off a bit it’s all calculated in US Funds. To date as you will see Hastings has had total of 436 individual horses start at least once.
Equibase also keeps all of their stats for owners, trainers and jockeys by the amount of money won at the current meet. You can also search back several years on horses etc. on their website and is a very useful tool for information,
HASTINGS HANDLE IS UP 21% OVER 2014
After 24 days of live racing the mutuel handle is up 21% over 2014. The actual dollar amount is $2,891,988 ahead of last year. That is a very significant number.
HORSES PER RACE AVERAGE IS STILL OVER 7
Hastings has run a total of 181 races so far and 1269 horses have started in those races keeping the average just slightly over 7 horses per race.
TOTAL PURSE PAYOUT NOW OVER $3 MILLION DOLLARS
The total purse payout is now at $3,174,707.00 for an average payout of $132,279.44 per day. The overnight race payouts is $2,474,707.00 and stakes payouts total $700,000.00.
The stake race payout will take a huge jump come BC Cup Day on August 3rd where the total payout will be $375,000.00.
TWENTY FOUR DAYS AND TWENTY FOUR FAST TRACKS
The dry spell continues with record high temperatures and the least amount of rain for May and June in recorded history. The track has been fast all 24 days so far and the track maintenance crew continue to pour thousands of gallons of water onto the racing surface. We could really do with a couple of days of heavy rain to put out about 200 forest fires in British Columbia and green up some of burnt out grass.
BC CUP NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON JULY 25TH
Nominations for all seven of the BC CUP Races closes a week Saturday, July 25th. The year the Redekop Classic is a $100,000.00 is open to BC Bred Horses and BC Owned Horses. The Pegasus Distaff which is $75,000 also is open to BC Owned horses.
How Is The Handicapping Going? I Am Getting Warmer
Some of this little feature’s harsher critics maintain that it too often kicks off with one variety of weather report or another. Well, to them we say this: it was hot out there on Sunday. Pedro Alvarado was hot. He won three. Keishan Balgobin was hot. He had a riding double. The 22 year-old sire Stephanotis showed them he was still hot, siring two winners. SenorRojo was hot; he scorched an Allowance type field on his way to a daylight win. And the racing fans that came out to historic old Hastings Racecourse, well there can be no doubt that they had a hot time.
Senor Rojo: Nine Is The New Five
The best horses on the day ran in the second, an Allowance Optional Claiming event at 1 1/16 miles for older horses and it was won by the oldest horse, Senor Rojo ($7.10), who at age 9 still knows what to do and can still do it. Stepupforthemoney closed from last to be second, although 4 lengths behind the winner, and Laguna Blaze trooped along in an even but non-threatening effort to be third.
Senor Rojo won his first career start in July of 2008 in a Maiden Special Weight with Felipe Valdez up. His next win came in June of 2009 and Richard Hamel rode him. In their careers, the two have been together 25 times and won 9. They have been one-two-three in 15 of their 25 starts. Senor Rojo has won 4 stakes in his career, including the Grade 3 Premier’s in 2010, and the Speed to Spare twice at Northlands. He has placed in 17 other stakes. Now he has won or placed in 41 of 57 starts and earned $450,000. He is a commendable racehorse and on Sunday, he was a formidable one.
Hamel settled him on the rail early and sat there in fourth for a long time while Go for Guinness and Tracker were frying themselves on the front end. Tracker shook off Go for Guinness after a fast half in 46.61. Tracker opened up three part way around the final turn, but Hamel had started to ride hard with a quarter-mile to go and he got to Tracker on the turn and when they straightened to come home he was by and gone. He widened to four lengths clear at the finish with Laguna Beach almost another length back in third.
It is true that Senor Rojo got a fast pace to run at. It is true that he was the beneficiary of a perfect ride from Richard Hamel. It is also true that Senor Rojo was feeling good today (maybe old bones and muscles like the heat) and some of the Senor Rojo that won 4 stakes came out in the warmth to demonstrate to his juniors that intrinsically he is just a lot better than they are.
Senor Rojo is a Kentucky bred son of Cox’s Ridge who sold for $32,000 at Keeneland in September of 2007. He is owned by Tres Hombres, George Gilbert and Cameron Hill Mortgages, Ltd. David Forster trains the horse and has always done so.
Cyclone Cindy Storms By After A Slow Beginning
Two-year-old fillies valued at $25,000 went six furlongs in the sixth and Cyclone Cindy ($9.40), despite hesitating for a beat when the gates opened, went fastest with jockey Keishan Balgobin aboard to eventually wear down the pace-setting It’s a Factum and move out to a length-plus win. Chestnut’s Gold closed well to be third after running unevenly early. The winner took 1:14.63 to negotiate the distance.
Despite being away late, Cyclone Cindy was threatening to run over horses going around the first turn and things got a little lose for a while. When she got clear running going down the backside she started moving past horses. Going into the second turn, only it’s a Factum was in front of her.
Still, Cyclone Cindy did not get to the lead until somewhere around the big screen television. Balgobin earned his 10%. He had to ride hard the last part to get her there, and the first 3/8ths of a mile offered some opportunities for things to go wrong. But in the end, Cyclone Cindy was too good to be denied.
Cyclone Cindy was bred in British Columbia by Jim Alendal and he, along with Anne Alendal and Philip Hall, owns her. Philip Hall trains and this was his second winner of the day. The winner is by Stephanotis out of a Delineator mare.
Also Noteworthy:
Stephanotis had a good stallion double with the above mentioned Cyclone Cindy winning the sixth and Rosie Notis ($5.00) taking the third, a $16K maiden claimer, for Lorne MacDougall, Agnes Jackson and Paul Hunter and trainer Barb Heads. Rosie Notice was ridden by Pedro Alvarado for what was the first of three wins on the card.
Alvarado won the fourth on first-timer Put Sarah On ($8.70) for his second while putting owner Diane Moore and trainer Pat Jarvis in the Winner’s Circle. The third win came in the nightcap with a wire-to-wire win on favored Rebus ($3.80) for owners Tony and Pat Hepburn and trainer Mark Cloutier. Rebus went to another barn following his win.
Jockey Keishan Balgobin won two, with Cyclone Cindy as discussed, and with Fransor’s Finest ($4.60) in the sixth for owner Praven Sorenson and trainer Phil Hall.
The seventh race provided the biggest payoff of the day when Green Dude ($50.30) and Jeff Burningham scored an upset for owners T. and B. Smith and T. and C. Firenze and trainer Terry Smith.
Sahin Civaci opened the card with a win on Cassidy Command ($6.60) for the account of owner/breeder Dan Lee. The win kicked off trainer Phil Hall’s double.
Pedro Alvarado’s triple gave him 34 wins and shaved Richard Hamel’s lead by a couple, but Hamel is still on top with 37 wins. Antonio Reyes and Keishan Balgobin are tied for third with 18.
Mike Anderson is still the trainer to catch with his 19 wins. Troy Taylor and Craig MacPherson each have 15 and a share of second. Dino Condilenios has 11 and Phil Hall, with today’s double, and Mark Cloutier each have ten.
Swift Thoroughbreds leads the owner standings with 11.
Finally, I was remiss in not mentioning the outstanding riding exhibition put on by jockey Amadeo Perez in Saturday’s seventh and last when he lost his irons early in the proceedings and continued on to win. Perez looked more like John Wayne than John Longden crossing the finish line, but pilgrim, he got it done. It might be the ride of the season and it just goes to show you that you never know when something amazing will happen at the track.
Hastings Wrap-up For Saturday July 18—–Richard Yates
Every now and then something truly miraculous will happen at the races. A miracle of sorts is what occurred Saturday at Hastings when 200 people, most of who have never been involved with racing thoroughbreds, saw the first horse they have ever had anything to do with circle the field in a very tough Allowance route and put them in a win picture for the ages. If they did not set a Guinness record for people in a Winner’s Circle, they are surely in the photo finish.
The Hastings Racing Club sprang to life on Victoria Day and was full-up by Canada Day, when all the Club’s 200 spots had been filled. The HRC is a project that is the result of the thoroughbred Associations, with the support of Hastings management, trying to find ways to foster interest in the sport and introduce new people to the incredible experiences that racing can provide. On Saturday the HRC members and everybody else who was there got one of those experiences.
Square Dancer Waltzes To A Win
There can be no doubt, for any number of reasons, that the fourth race on the card was the feature. It was a $50,000 Allowance Optional Claiming race for older horses, it was over a route of ground, it was largely composed of stakes winners and Graded runners-up, it was won by the only horse without any sort of stakes success, and, oh yeah, did I mention that there were a couple of hundred people in the Winner’s Circle. Well, there and all across the racetrack. It was the Hastings Racing Club and family and friends and Square Dancer ($9.40). He probably looked at them all and had some horse-type thoughts about the event that was unfolding. Think about it, a horse will notice a scrap of paper that wasn’t there the day before across an acre of pasture. It is therefore reasonable to assume that Square Dancer noticed that this was an unusual gathering at the Winner’s Circle, a place he had been six times before and always with not so many humans. A dozen would have been a crowd. Now this. I am not in Washington anymore he thinks. Anyway, for win number seven, Square Dancer covered the mile -and-a-sixteenth in 1:43.98 and finished two lengths ahead of Mysterious Soul who set some serious fractions and held on after giving up the lead to finish almost two more lengths clear of Twistgrips in third.
They had gone less than an eighth of a mile when Richard Hamel won the race by deciding to pull Square Dancer out of a multi-horse pace battle and settle in along the inside. Coming out of the first turn he shifted into the two-path and had clear running in fifth while Title Contender and Mysterious Soul were locked up on the front end in a duel that saw them post a 46.45 half and go three-quarters in 1:12.24. At that point they were joined by Devil in Disguise and a four-wide Square Dancer who was travelling best despite being wide. He hit the head of the stretch two lengths on top and he was that far in front at the wire.–Mysterious Soul was making his first start of the season and he soldiered on down the lane despite being beaten and galloped out like a horse that will be much tougher going a little longer with a race under his belt. Twistgrips closed some but was never a threat to either of the first two. When all was said and done, it was Square Dancer’s Day.
It was also the Hasting Racing Club’s day as they (200 of them) won with their first start as a group with the Florida bred son of Circular Quay and the Theatrical mare Dance Special. Steve Henson trains the five-year-old gelding for the Hastings Racing Club.
Dear Lilly Runs A Dilly
The supporting feature went as the sixth race, an Allowance Optional Claiming sprint for three-and-up fillies and mares with the option being a $25,000 price tag. The winner, Dear Lilly ($4.70), sat in perfect stalking position behind the pace setting Hidden Harbor and the chasing Fire Beauty before running past them one at a time and turning for home with a head on Hidden Harbor that she expanded to a length and a half after 6 ½ furlongs in a rapid 1:16.77. Fire Beauty persevered to be a distant third.
Jockey David Lopez steered Dear Lilly inside Fire Beauty going into the final turn and attacked outside Hidden Harbor before finally getting some separation after six furlongs in 1:10 flat. She came to the wire with run left, getting the last sixteenth a length quicker than seven seconds. Fire Beauty was four lengths clear of fourth place Blended.
Dear Lilly is a horse that likes to win. She has finished first in half of her 12 races, with all her wins coming in sprints despite her being a daughter of the stayer Graeme Hall who won the Arkansas Derby, among other routes of distinction. The five-year-old Florida bred mare is owned by Mark Dedomenico LLC and North American Thoroughbred Horse Company. Troy Taylor trains her.
Also Noteworthy:
The second race on the card was an open $16,000 claimer for three-year-old fillies sprinting and it was won by Splendid Scat ($7.80) for owner Charlie Maze and trainer Craig MacPherson. Keishan Balgobin rode.
Owners Barry and Henrica Tyrer had two winners on the day. Alexander Marti guided Power to Believe ($4.80), a horse they also bred, to victory in the third and Amadeo Perez got Marruk ($11.00) home for them in the fifth. Rob VanOverschot trained both winners.
The win on Marruk was the first of Amadeo Perez’s double, the second coming in the seventh and last when Dee Jay Snow ($3.30) won for owner/breeders John and Tammy Snow and co-owner Alison Tonner. John Snow trained the winner who finished in front of a somewhat abbreviated field.
The opener went to Wise Boss ($10.10) with Pedro Alvarado delivering a win to owner/trainer Deidre Bell.
#7-5492 Production Blvd,
Surrey, BC V3S 8P5
Phone (604) 534-0145 Fax (604) 574-CTHS (2847)
Email cthsbc@cthsbc.org
TwinSpires Blog – Caldwell – Gas Total fires in Osunitas
Lady and the Track – Smith – Two-Year-Old Thoroughbreds to Watch: Team Picks
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Pretty N Cool stamps herself as a two-year-old to follow at Del Mar
Speaking about two-year-old thoroughbreds. Jennifer Smith, Dialed In Racing Stable and IndyRock Racing’s SIBERIAN NOON was quite impressive winning his maiden debut at Northlands Park on Saturday July 18 for conditioner Craig Smith with Scott Williams in the irons.
Siberian Noon held off his stablemate Dialed In Racing Stable and IndyRock Racing’s Alberta bred Super Start for a Craig Smith Exactor.
Not bad for a $1,000 purchase by Jennifer Smith from the Ocala Breeders 2015 Spring Sale of Two Year Olds in Training.
Bloomberg Business – Mamudi and Michaels – NYSE Outage Shows a Need for Plan B
As previously communicated to the membership, 2015 is an election year with respect to members electing seven (7) Owners and four (4)Trainers in good standing to sit on the Board of Directors of the Association for a three (3) year period commencing in August, 2015 and ending August 2018.
No later than July 8, 2015 Election Ballots will be mailed from our Calgary office to HBPA of Alberta member Owners and Trainers in good standing who have a valid 2015 Horse Racing Alberta license. So that all Trainer members receive their Election packets timely, they will be hand delivered at Northlands rather than sending the information through the mail.
Please refer to the information contained in your package with respect to the proper voting procedure. Ballots must be placed in the envelope addressed to Mr. Kenneth McTavish and must arrive postmarked no later than August 7, 2015.
If you prefer, you may vote in person on August 7, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The letter addressed to Kenneth McTavish containing the completed Ballot must be placed in the Ballot box which will be placed at the HBPA office located in the Edmonton Northlands Control Office, on the backstretch.
If you are a licensed Owner or Trainer and do not receive your Election packet by July 27, 2015, kindly call Denise at the Calgary office (403-263-7499) or Theresa Sealy at Northlands (780-474-1724).
The following individuals are running for office. The new Board will take office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting on August 27, 2015
OWNERS TRAINERS
Rod Cone
Darrell Bauder Ryan McLean
Brian Bygrave Craig Smith
Norm Castiglione Joan Petrowski
Dr. Rod Cundy Tim Rycroft
Don Danard
Victor Kleparchuk
Don Knight
Curtis Landry
Linda Smith
Dr. Steve Smith DVM
per:
Mat Monaco – HBPA of Alberta
Calgary Herald – McClure – Watchdog investigates secret golf course deal as bill tops $10 million
Calgary Herald – Henton – Alberta took $5-million bath on sale of aircraft fleet
Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt said the liabilities that taxpayers continue to carry “are ghosts of governments past that continue to haunt us.”
“The experiments of the 1980s and early ’90s of government intervention in the economy and corporate welfare are stark lessons for us today,” he said. “No matter what politicians tell themselves, they are never smarter than the market and they never spend other people’s money better than those people can spend it themselves.”
“It is a powerful lesson that government should not be in the business of being in business.”
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Paige MacPherson noted the Alberta government lost more than $2 billion through investments in private businesses during the Don Getty era.
“That’s a massive amount of money that could obviously have been used in better ways — either through tax relief or programs that we actually value as a society,” she said. “I think it just really shows we did not get a bang for our buck and the government just shouldn’t be in the business of corporate welfare.”
Calgary Herald – Henton – Bad investments still fill a chapter in Alberta’s books
Phil has a question:
How many of these failed and brutal investments went to Tory cronies.
Bloodhorse – Peters – The Continuing Influence of Blushing Groom
Save the Date!CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED HORSE SOCIETY
(ALBERTA DIVISION)
2015 Alberta Thoroughbred Sale
Sunday, September 20th, 2015
Northlands Park EXPO Centre – Edmonton, Alberta
_______________________________________________________________________
MAIN CATALOGUE
DEADLINE FOR MAIN CATALOGUE: FRIDAY, JUNE 26th, 2015
Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion
Emerald Downs, Auburn, Washington
Bloodhorse – Northview PA Real Estate on the Market
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Will Gold N Sochi do these Olympians proud tonight?
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Alyssa Selman
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FYI . . .
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DO THE DOWNS
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Click for race schedule
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Simple tips for winning
(pass it on)
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CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE
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High Valley: brothers Brad & Bryan Rempel
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The highlight of the summer — the Festival of Racing weekend presented by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries — is just 2 1/2 weeks away. It will feature a special Sunday night card of racing at 7 which includes a free concert by Alberta country recording stars High Valley followed on holiday Monday by Manitoba Derby Day that kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, will feature the $25,000 Graduation Stakes, a 5f sprint for the babies; Sunday will showcase the $25,000 Manitoba Mile for older horses and Derby Day Monday will highlight the $75,000 Manitoba Derby and the $25,000 Manitoba Oaks–the two biggest races of the year for 3-year-olds.
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Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen |
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| MILESTONES |
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Kayla Pizarro
Every reason to smile |
Indian Ancestry in a handride (because apprentices can’t use a whip usually for their first five races) “Unbelievable” is the way the 24-year-old described her accomplishment. And she picked a great way to celebrate: watching the fireworks display that night at the Forks, she told The Insider. Her brother Tyler has been riding at Woodbine since 2006 and has won 590 races or 13 per cent of his starts. Her father, Jorge Pizarro, had also been a jockey for 18 years, primarily riding at Fort Erie and Assiniboia Downs. He last rode in 1998.
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Rasheed Hughes
Thank you, Adolfo! |
| A UNIQUE CHALLENGE |
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We were better bettors in June at these U.S. tracks:
1. Emerald Downs
2. Northfield
3. Los Alamitos QH
4. Santa Anita
5. Pimlico
6. Yonkers
7. Golden Gate
8. Prairie Meadows
9. Plainridge
10. Ruidoso Downs
11. Pleasanton (Cal)
12. Canterbury
13. Maywood
14. Saratoga (harness)
And at these Canadian tracks:
1. Grand River
2. Hastings
3. Rideau
4. Century Downs
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HOTTIES OF THE WEEK
Hottest jock:Dane Nelson & Chris Husbands (5 wins) Hottest trainers: Tanya Lindsay (4 wins)
Biggest upset:My Secret Cause $55 (Fri 7th)
Biggest 20-cent superfecta: $511 (Fri 7th — 3-4-8-A)
HISTORIAN BOB’S BLOG: In 1994 Assiniboia Downs lost a good-guy trainer who, even though his last win was 22 years ago, still sits in 15th place on the Downs’ all-time leader board with 463 victories. Who is Bob’s honouree this week? Find out here.
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Trainer/jockey fist-bump after bittersweet stakes win
Trainer Jerry Gourneau bumps fists with jockey Chavion Chow after his Witt Six (#1) held off Charlie Smith’s Spider’s Alibi (#4) by half a length to win the $25,000 Harry Jeffrey Stakes Saturday, a prep race for the Manitoba Derby. Witt Six paid $10 It was a bittersweet victory for Gourneau and the horse’s owner, Texas cattle rancher Henry Witt Jr., however, because Witt Six’s stablemate (and race favourite) Witt’s Tax Day broke down in the turn to become the first casualty of the 2015 race season.
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Queen’s Plate winner Shaman Ghost
A big chance to win the Triple Crown? |
horses who won the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine even ventured down the highway to the second leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. That’s because Queen’s Plate winners on Poly have had terrible records trying to win on dirt. Favourites have foundered. But if there ever was a horse that has shown he should be able to make the adjustment, it’s this year’s Plate winner, Shaman Ghost, whose connections say he will enter the race which goes Tuesday, July 28. After all, Shaman Ghost broke his maiden on Gulfstream dirt, followed up with an allowance win on Keeneland dirt. That kind of versatility is rare and it seems the Canadian Triple Crown is a possibility for the first time since it was won pre-Poly by Wando in 2003.
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Audrey Johnson, 96, a beautifully friendly woman who’s been playing the races forever, recently decided to find out what it was like to become a jockey, too. (Thanks to HBPA’s Joanie Hamilton for this endearing photo.)
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Okay, time to challenge yourself to be a better bettor!
And don’t forget the fundraiser for Alyssa on Sunday at 7
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Twinspires Blog – Caldwell -Longshot Antonia Autumn kicks off stakes action on Indiana Derby Day
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – San Clemente form underlines Lady Eli’s stature
Bloodhorse – Prize Exhibit Rolls Late to Take San Clemente
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Prize Exhibit sails past Sunset Glow in San Clemente
The Guardian – Covert Love a wedding gift for Hugo Palmer in Irish Oaks at Curragh
Racing Post – Baxter – Godolphin add to ranks with Toormore purchase
Bloodhorse – Balan – California Chrome to Return to Racing in 2016
Louisville Courier-Journal – It’s official: Coburn no longer a Chrome owner
Democracy as a system has evolved into something that Thomas Jefferson didn’t anticipate.
Hunter S. Thompson
Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Are You Kidding Me Convinces in Nijinsky
TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Are You Kidding Me takes Nijinsky, but note a couple of others too
Phil has a question:
As the cronies spend more money trying to get the Tories elected won’t their expectations for post- election patronage perks be increased.
When will the people of Canada wake up to the fact that all Harper is doing is using taxpayer money to buy votes.
Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt said the liabilities that taxpayers continue to carry “are ghosts of governments past that continue to haunt us.”
“The experiments of the 1980s and early ’90s of government intervention in the economy and corporate welfare are stark lessons for us today,” he said. “No matter what politicians tell themselves, they are never smarter than the market and they never spend other people’s money better than those people can spend it themselves.”
“It is a powerful lesson that government should not be in the business of being in business.”
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Alberta director Paige MacPherson noted the Alberta government lost more than $2 billion through investments in private businesses during the Don Getty era.
“That’s a massive amount of money that could obviously have been used in better ways — either through tax relief or programs that we actually value as a society,” she said. “I think it just really shows we did not get a bang for our buck and the government just shouldn’t be in the business of corporate welfare.”
Calgary Herald – Henton – Bad investments still fill a chapter in Alberta’s books
All Canadians should be bothered by the fact that the Harper government is using taxpayer money to buy votes. Albertans should be especially bothered as a very large percentage of the taxpayer money that the Harper government is using to buy votes is not returning to the province where it was generated.
I guess that’s okay as Harper now knows which way to wear his cowboy hat.
Good thing the truck wasn’t an:
Regina Leader-Post – Rattray – Underage driving part of rural culture in Saskatchewan
NY Times – Rosenberg – Can Moral Disputes Be Resolved?
Phil has a queation:
Why does Ezra Levant believe that everyone one else must obey the letter of the law except for Ezra Levant.
Garden and Gun – Mischner and Portman – Any Way You Slice It
Driving – Edwards – Modernized ’59 Triumph took 2,800+ hours to restore
Phil has a question:
How big is the grin on Hilary Clinton’s mug with the Republicans continually lambasting each other.
NY Times – Wilkerson – Our Racial Moment of Truth
Bitter Southerner – Auchmutey – A Reconciliation in Georgia
I am surprised and embarrassed to be a part of the first American generation to leave the country in far worse shape than it was when we first came into it.
Hunter S. Thompson
Phil M Stockmen
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ONTARIO NDP ANDREA HORWATH RUMOURED TO SUPPORT ALBERTA HORSEPEOPLE!!
The recent posting of the ASHA July 11/2005 board meeting Minutes shows the lack of confidence in the state of harness racing industry in Alberta by their reference” to surprises in future and need to increase handles and CENTURY DOWNS infrastructure commitments with future revenue stream.
CEO/CHAIRMAN working with the NDP government to familiarize them to horse racing with the CEO giving the COLD shoulder to the NDP party for 30 years and now expecting a welcome mat!
ASHA hiring of DAVID KINCADE to develop a positive relationship with the NDP government is a joke. What’s the CEO doing to earn her 249k. KINCADE as former executive assistant to LIBERAL leader KEVIN TAFT who was completely against BALZAC/HRA funding racing in 2008 /and as former ASHA executive director resigned.
HRA turnover not to occur until the FEDERAL election comment / I thought it was HORSE RACING ALBERTA with the provincial government running the show?
INDUSTRY SESSION MEETING occurring JULY 29/2015 what’s the horse racing industry strategy with 3 MONTHS until the legislature OCTOBER 26 opening/with 4 NDP VETERANS and 50 rookies to convince about the continuation of racino funding/ at present it is PLAN B (B TRACK MONEY)!
ONTARIO history with the reduction of slots have lead to numerous tracks closing/thousands of job losses with ANDREA HORWATH ONTARIO NDP LEADER leading a campaign to save horse racing!
HORWATH quote of “government has to pony up and provide stable long term financing for the horse racing industry” has ASHA/HBPA contacted her to give NOTLEY a strong message for continuation?
SUGAR DOYLE a great ambassador for horse racing should be used as a HORWATH contact,he would not turn his back on horse people unlike the NOTLEY throw them under the SULKY WHEELS APPROACH/ hopefully both associations get off their back sides and give him a call!!!