Aug 162015
 

 Headline writers have enjoyed the easy puns with Illinois-bred The Pizza Man throughout his career, penning “The Pizza Man Delivers” and “The Pizza Man Gets the Dough” as he galloped to victory in minor races.

 

Bloodhorse – Novak – The Pizza Man Scores in Arlington Million

Phil was under the impression that the Pizza Man only ever scored in porn flicks.

Lady and the Track – Laughter – The Pizza Man Delivers and Receives Breeders’ Cup Turf Entry

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – The Pizza Man overcomes deep ground to serve up hometown win in Arlington Million

In Chicago The Pizza Man has to dig deep to deliver.


Going, Going, Gone


Phil’s Vignette of Canadian History

Chantecler – Canada’s Chicken Breed

Poultry Breeds – Chantecler Chickens

Cherry Creek Canadians – Chantecler Chickens


 The latter part of a wise person’s life is occupied with curing the follies, prejudices and false opinions they contracted earlier.
Jonathan Swift


National Post – Washington Post – GebelHoff – ‘Shade balls’ in L.A. reservoir may look silly, but they’ll save the city 300 million gallons of water a year

Phil has a question:

Aren’t the shade balls exactly what is required to keep the migratory birds off tailing ponds.



Bloodhorse – American Pharoah Among 16 Travers Nominees

Lady and the Track – Hammer – Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah Tops 16 Travers Stakes Nominees

Bloodhorse – Keen Ice Appears Headed to Travers Stakes

Bloodhorse – Tale of Verve Under Consideration for Travers

TwinSpires Blog – American Pharoah on cruise control in first post-Haskell work

Bloodhorse – Novak – American Pharoah Perfect in Del Mar Work

Bloodhorse – Travers Hopeful Tale of Verve Drills at Spa


Gold Dust Woman


 Carryovers

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Arlington
Pick 6    $15,609.00
Del Mar
Pick 6    $97,933.00
Del Mar
Super High Five     $20,911.00
Ellis Park
Pick 6    $2,627.00
Fair Grounds
Pick 5 Jackpot    $138.00
Gulfstream Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $248,343.00
Hastings Racecourse
    Pick 6    $8,305.00
Laurel Park
Super High Five     $2,024.00
Pick 6    $1,361.00
Pick 5    $5,400.00
Monmouth Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $51,909.00
Prairie Meadows
Pick 5    $671.00
Ruidoso Downs
Superfecta    $22,951.00
Saratoga
Pick 6    $97,404.00
Sunray Park
Super High Five Jackpot    $2,308.00
Woodbine
Super High Five Jackpot    $45,695.00

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Indiana Grand Race Course
Pick 6    $415.00

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Assiniboia Downs
Pick 4    $4,277.00
Super High Five Jackpot    $215.00
Louisiana Downs
Pick 5 Jackpot    $5,239.00
Northlands Park
Pick 5    $4,598.00

Guaranteed Pools

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Northlands Park
$10,000  — Pick 4

Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools


Horse Race Insider – Pricci – Jerkens and Nerud: Legendary Horsemen; Greater Men


Bloodhorse – Lady Eli Making ‘Remarkable Progress’


 

Breeders’ Cup Challenge

Date   Race   Name   Track   Division
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


Edmonton Journal – Academic romps to convincing win in Canadian Derby

Bloodhorse – Angst – Filly Academic Romps in Canadian Derby

Edmonton Sun – Moddejonge – Academic first filly to win Canadian Derby since 2003

Equibase – Results for 2015 Canadian Derby


To Sir With Love


Tim Rycroft may have been a tad nervous, but nowhere’s near as nervous as Scott Sinclair and Chris Roberts as the skies darkened and later opened up on Friday evening. Lucky for them the rains held off for the entire Derby card and a rather raucous crowd hollered, cheered and wagered $1,344,537 on the 13 races, an average of $100k per race, far more than the jiggies at Century Downs average per card.

A very fitting sendoff for Chris Roberts whose last official day was Derby Day. Thanks to Topo for the tribute to Chris Roberts at the Derby after party. Phil heard a rumour that before heading to Halifax Chris is spending a week gorging himself on prime Alberta Angus.

Phil popped into the slots area a number of times to watch his ill-fated Arlington P4 go up in smoke with the stewards’ not so secret thumbs down gesture. With the mercury barely cracking the 13C mark numerous fans headed indoors to warm their hands on the machines.


The Hard Way


I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.
Johnny Carson


Upcoming Western Thoroughbred

Race Dates


 

ASD - home
Friday, August 14, 2015 7:00 PM CDT
Saturday, August 15, 2015 7:00 PM CDT

Bloodhorse – Angst – Stryker Phd Repeats in Longacres Mile

Bloodhorse – Angst – Stryker Phd Aims for Second Longacres Mile

Leading Northlands Park rider Rico Walcott headed over the Rockies south of the 49th to ride Peter Redekop’s Alert Bay for conditioner Blaine Wright in Sunday’s Longacres Mile.


Guys Do It All The Time


 

 

HUGE CROWD ON HAND FOR LONGACRES MILE AT EMERALD DOWNS ON SUNDAY – PHOTO BY MICHAEL BYE

LONGACRES  MILE CROWD 2015 M BYE

EMERALD DOWNS WRAP-UP FOR MILE DAY

STRYKER PHD WINS THE LONGACRES MILE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A ROW - MICHAEL BYE PHOTO

AUBURN, Wash. (August 16, 2015) – Stryker Phd etched his name in the record book Sunday at Emerald Downs.

Unleashing his patented rally on the last turn, the 6-year-old gelding blew past the leaders in mid-stretch and held off a late charge from Sammy Mandeville for a one-length victory in the 80th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3).

Ridden by Leslie Mawing at high weight of 123 lbs, Stryker Phd ran one mile in 1:34.06 and paid $4.60, $3 and $2.40. Larry Ross, assisted by Sharon Ross, is the winning trainer for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash.

Stryker Phd joined Amble In, Trooper Seven and Simply Majestic as two-time winners of the Northwest’s most prestigious race, and is the first to accomplish the feat at Emerald Downs.

“It feels fantastic to win the Longacres Mile,” Mawing said. “Any jockey that can win one, it’s fantastic, let alone two. I’ve gotten two in a row.

“I give all the props to the horse,” Mawing added. “This horse is fantastic. I just want to thank everybody that helped get this horse and myself to this point, from the gallop boy, to the groom, to the pony people, I just want to give everybody props.”

A Washington-bred by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, Stryker Phd has won his last seven starts at Emerald Downs—all stakes races—and hasn’t lost here since finishing runner-up to Herbie D in the 2013 Mile. His three straight top-two Mile finishes are also a record.

The victory, worth $110,000, pushed Stryker Phd’s lifetime earnings to $485,651. His career record is 8-5-5 in 21 starts.

Sammy Mandeville, a Southern California shipper ridden by Alex Solis at 117 lbs, flew late for second and paid $5.60 and $4.20.

Alert Bay, ridden by Rico Walcott at 122 lbs, led into the stretch but was overtaken by Stryker Phd and Sammy Mandeville, and settled for third. Alert Bay paid $3.60 to show.

Noosito, bidding to join older brother Noosa Beach as Mile winners, forged to the lead briefly on the last turn and was in contention to deep stretch before finishing fourth.

Del Rio Harbor, Absolutely Cool, Fleet Eagle, Majestic City, Taylors Deal, Modern and Prohibition completed the order of finish. Solemnly Swear was scratched earlier in the day.

Modern, breaking from the outside post, led through fractions of :22.13 and :44.74, a typical pace for The Mile, with Noosito and Del Rio Harbor pressing from second and third place. Stryker Phd, as usual, was lagging far back in ninth place, with only Absolutely Cool and Sammy Mandeville farther back in 10th and 11th.

Mawing asked Stryker Phd on the last turn and the response was the usual withering wide run, with Stryker Phd inhaling the field with huge strides. By the time the field straightened for home, Stryker Phd was bearing down on Alert Bay and Noosito.

“I was just the co-pilot today,” Mawing said. “The horse was the pilot there. I wasn’t going to change the horse’s style of running. Win or lose, he was going to run his race today. I just wanted him to run his race, and not change his style. I’m just grateful to be on this horse.”

Sammy Mandeville made up tons of ground late, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred scoring his second runner-up finish in a Grade 3 race this year.

“He ran a really good race,” Solis said. “Unfortunately he dropped a little too far back. The mile was a little too short for him, but he did what he could.”

There were a couple anxious moments before the race. Stryker Phd was reticent to approach the starting gate, and was walked and pushed by assistant starters the final sixteenth of a mile to the gate. Once there, he loaded easily. The rest is history.

SCAT DADDYBABY SCORES FAST WIN IN PEDERSEN

Scat Daddybaby rolled to a front-running 3 ½-length victory over Remembertobreathe in the $25,000 Pete Pedersen Memorial Purse for 3-year-olds and up.

Ridden by Gallyn Mitchell, Scat Daddybaby ran one mile in 1:34.17—just 0.11 seconds slower than Stryker Phd’s winning time two races earlier in the Longacres Mile.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Scat Daddy, Scat Daddybaby entered the Longacres Mile, but was one of two runners excluded on weights.

Owned and bred by Mike and Amy Feuerborn and trained by Robbie Baze, Scat Daddybaby is 6-3-1 in 19 starts with earnings of $99,439. The gelding finished fourth in the 2014 Mile, after leading the field through six furlongs in 1:08.42.

NOTES: Sunday’s total handle of $2,421,017 was largest of the season and up 3.8 percent from last year’s Mile Day handle. . .

With Stryker Phd winning The Mile, Washington-breds are now tied with Kentucky-breds for most wins in the race at 21 apiece. California-breds are third with 16 wins. . .Stryker Phd also paid $4.60 to win in the 2014 Mile. . .

Larry Ross is on a serious roll—posting a 9-2-1 mark with his last 12 starters at Emerald Downs, including a 2-1-0 mark in three starts Sunday. In addition to Stryker Phd winning The Mile, Just Like Uptown finished second in race five and Emerald Racing Club’s Tribal Waters ($5) made it two straight wins with a victory under Mawing in race nine for older $12,500 claimers. That’s already three wins at the meet for Emerald Racing Club. . .

In what is believed to be a track record, five different jockeys rode two winners each—Leslie Mawing, Joe Steiner, Juan Gutierrez, Gallyn Mitchell and Rocco Bowen. . .

Mach One Rules earned a 72 Beyer for Saturday’s victory in the WTBOA Lads Stakes, largest at the meet by a 2-year-old. Unbeaten in two starts for Frank Lucarelli and REV Racing, Mach One Rules ran 6 ½ furlongs in a stakes record 1:15.78. . .En Avant ($11.80), a half-brother to 2014 Emerald Downs’ Top 2-Year-Old Trackattacker, scored his maiden win in Sunday’s second race for $25,000 claiming 2-year-olds. Trained by Frank Lucarelli for Castlegate Farm, En Avant (Lucky Pulpit-Eclatante) ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.05. . .

Trainer Dustin Murray notched his first career win at Emerald Downs with Memo to Reese ($11.20) in the fourth race. Murray was 4-for-36 at the recently completed Les Bois Park meeting. . .

Live racing resumes Friday with first post 6:45 p.m.

$200,000 Gr3 LONGACRES MILE TODAY AT EMERALD DOWNS

Longacres Mile News & Notes
Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Longacres Mile Facts & Figures
What: 80th Running $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3)
When: Sunday, August 16, 5:35 p.m. (Race 8)
Where: Emerald Downs
TV: Emerald Downs Live on CSN (CSN-179) 2-6 p.m.
Co-Feature: $65,000 Emerald Distaff, Race 7, 4:50 p.m.
Giveaway Item: American Pharoah Triple Crown T-Shirts
First Post: 2 p.m.

$200,000 LONGACRES MILE (G3)
Race 8—5:35 PM

  Post   Horse  Jockey  Trainer  WGT  ML
 1   Del Rio Harbor  Julien Couton  Marshall Allen  116  30
 2   Noosito  Juan Gutierrez  Doris Harwood  116  10
 3   Fleet Eagle  Diego Sanchez  Paula Capestro  118  10
 4   Taylors Deal  David G. Lopez  Troy Taylor  116  12
 5   Majestic City  E. Maldonado  Richard Baltas  118  10
 6   Absolutely Cool  Rocco Bowen  Tom Wenzel  118  15
 7   Stryker Phd  Leslie Mawing  Larry Ross  123  9/5
 8   Alert Bay  Rico Walcott  Blaine Wright  122    4
 9   Sammy Mandeville  Alex Solis  Alex Solis  117  9/2
 10   Prohibition  Tiago Periera  Vann Belvoir  115  20
 11   Solemnly Swear  Joe Steiner  Mike Puhich  115  20
 12   Modern    Richard Hamel  D. Condilenios  118  20

$200,000 LONGACRES MILE DRAWS FULL FIELD,
STRYKER PHD BIDS TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY

Defending champion Stryker Phd heads a full field of 12 older horses in Sunday’s 80th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs.

Stryker Phd drew the No. 7 post-position at Wednesday’s annual Longacres Mile Draw Breakfast, with regular rider Leslie Mawing named to ride the 123-lb. high-weight. Track line maker Rob Rao installed the defending champion as the 9-to-5 favorite, followed by California invaders Alert Bay and Sammy Mandeville at 4-1 and 9-2.

The Longacres Mile goes as Race 7 with post time 5:35 p.m.

Unbeaten in his last six starts at Emerald Downs including a half-length victory in the 2014 Mile, Stryker Phd bids to join Amble In (1946, 1948), Trooper Seven (1980-81) and Simply Majestic (1988-89) as two-time winners of The Mile. He also would become the first to accomplish the feat at Emerald Downs.

Trained by Larry Ross for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash., Stryker Phd is beginning to challenge Noosa Beach for unofficial title of greatest horse in track history. A 6-year-old Washington-bred by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, he’s running in his third straight Mile and is unbeaten here since finishing runner-up to Herbie D in the 2013 Mile.

In last year’s race, Stryker Phd came from last to defeat Boyett by a half-length in 1:33.67. In two starts this year, Stryker Phd defeated Noosito by a neck in the one-mile Budweiser Handicap and beat Absolutely Cool by six lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier Handicap.

“He worked really good last Sunday and he looked good on the track today,”said assistant trainer Sharon Ross. “We just have to make sure nothing happens to him between now and the race.”

Alert Bay enjoyed a remarkable 2014 season, winning six stakes and nearly $600,000 for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop of Vancouver, B.C. A 4-year-old California-bred by City Zip, Alert Bay drew the No. 8 post and will be ridden by Rico Walcott at 122 lbs.

“His (two) races so far this year don’t indicate that he’s back to his 3-year-old form,” Wright said. “He’s trained very smart for this race. Hopefully he can come back here and get back to good form again.

“The Mile has always been on our radar since we turned him out last year,” Wright added. “It’s been a focal point for us and maybe he’ll make a good showing.”

· 14 horses entered the race, with high weights preferred. Botch, low-weighted at 114 lbs was excluded, and a draw was held between three horses weighted at 115 lbs—Prohibition, Solemnly Swear and Scat Daddybaby—with Scat Daddybaby the odd-man out.

· The Southern California contingent of Sammy Mandeville, Majestic City and Prohibition are scheduled to arrive by van Thursday morning.

· For the third time in their last four Mile starts, trainer Dino Condilenios and owner Swift Thoroughbreds drew the dreaded No. 12 post-position. Track announcer Matt Dinerman drew the pill in absentia for the Canadians, and pulled No. 12. Last year, Shooting Jacket finished fifth out of the No. 12 post for Condilenios, and in 2010 Burj Dubai finished 11th out of the 12-hole.

· Assessment in 2009 and Coldwater in 1935 are the only horses to win from post- position 12.

· Only two horses are back from last year’s Mile: Stryker Phd and seventh-place finisher Prohibition.

· Five trainers in this year’s race are previous Mile winners: Doris Harwood, Tom Wenzel, Doug O’Neill, Mike Puhich and Larry Ross. Three owners previously won the race: Jim & Mona Hour (Stryker Phd), Jeff Harwood (Noosito) and North American Thoroughbred Racing Co. (Taylors Deal, Solemnly Swear). Only two jockeys are previous Mile winners: Juan Gutierrez and Leslie Mawing.

· A victory by Absolutely Cool, Del Rio Harbor, Noosito or Stryker Phd would tie Washington-breds with Kentucky for most wins in the race. Heading into the 80th running, Kentucky-breds rank No. 1 with 21 wins, followed by Washington with 20 and California with 16.

·  Doug O’Neill (Sammy Mandeville) and Richard Baltas (Majestic City) currently rank first and third in the Del Mar trainers’ standings.

· Fleet Eagle ran the meet’s fastest 6 ½ furlongs, 1:14.27, while winning the May 17 Governor’s Handicap by 6 ¾ lengths. Fleet Eagle’s 99 Beyer is largest by any horse at the 2015 meet; Stryker Phd earned a 97 in the Budweiser Handicap and a 94 in the Mt. Rainier.

· Entries also were drawn for Sunday’s $65,000 Emerald Distaff; the remainder of Sunday’s card will be drawn Thursday.

· Saturday’s 10-race card features two stakes for 2-year-olds: $50,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for colts and geldings at 6 ½ furlongs, $50,000 Barbara Shinpoch for fillies at 6 ½ furlongs.

BEYERS OF LGA MILE WINNERS AT EmD
2015:
???
2014: Stryker Phd-97
2013: Herbie D-100
2012: Taylor Said-98
2011: Awesome Gem-96
2010: Noosa Beach-99
2009: Assessment-94
2008: Wasserman-90
2007: The Great Face-91
2006: Flamethrowintexan-101
2005: No Giveaway-93
2004: Adreamisborn-99
2003: Sky Jack-105
2002: Sabertooth-96
2001: Irisheyesareflying-100
2000: Edneator-104
1999: Budroyale-106
1998: Wild Wonder-111
1997: Kid Katabatic-105
1996: Isitingood-105

Sunday, August 16, 2015 2:00 PM PDT
Friday , August 21, 2015 4:30 PM PDT
Saturday, August 22, 2015 2:00 PM PDT
Sunday, August 23, 2015 2:00 PM PDT

Bloodhorse – Highland Reel Brilliant in Secretariat


Lady and the Track – Smith – Horse Racing News: Recaps, Replays, American Pharoah Update


 

 

hastings-logo


2015 -Friday-Night-Live_Web-Square

 

SUNDAY HASTINGS PREVIEW – BY MIKE HEADS

Racing resumes this afternoon at Hastings Racecourse with a seven race card that will be the final Sunday program of August. The racing calendar will be Friday’s and Monday’s for the next three weeks. The regular Saturday-Sunday schedule returns after the PNE fair on September 12th and 13th which is BC Derby weekend.

CRIUS LIKELY FAVORITE IN TODAYS FEATURE AT HASTINGS - PATTI TUBBS PHOTO

The headliner today is in race six as nine BC Derby hopefuls will battle in an allowance event for nw2 life or nw3 BC bred or $25,000 claiming three year olds at a mile and a sixteenth.

On the inside is Leif Nordahl’s homebred gelding Crius who is out of his former BC champion filly Excited Miss. Crius rebounded nicely to finish a close fourth on BC Cup day after a disappointing effort in his initial stakes try. He will team up with Pedro Alvarado for trainer Mike Anderson. He looks to be the controlling speed and   with this slight drop in class looks to be one to beat.

The Shamrock Stables’ Smart Focus owns a maiden win this year and will be trying to capitalize on what could be a contested fast early pace. He will need to be better than his last few but does have the potential. Jeff Burningham will get a leg up from JIm Brown.

Lorne MacDougall, Agnes Jackson and Paul Hunter’s Rosies Notis got a maiden score at this distance last time out. He is proven at this trip but will be tested for class this afternoon. Sahin Civaci gets the call from Barbara Heads.

The Jacobson’s homebred Sedin is dropping out of stakes company into this allowance race. He has been just a cut below the stakes calibre so far this season but will be a major threat against this group. Mark Cloutier trains the talented son of Rosberg.

George Robbins, Vicky and Rob Gilker’s Peace Arch returns to Hastings after a good fourth place finish at Emerald Downs on their July 4th Independence Day program. He is another that will appreciate the extra ground and has worked swiftly for today’s race. He was an excellent buy out of the 2013 CTHS sale by Rob Gilker and he will team up once again with rider Amadeo Perez.

The Swift Thoroughbreds’ Merlot was a fast closing third in the $50,000 Chris Loseth stakes behind the current three year old champ Bluegrass Angus. He should get a lively pace to run into and Antonio Reyes gets the call from trainer Dino Condilenios.

The Odds R Good broke through with a win in his seventh career start for Conrad Rozenek and Mel Snow. He will try and stretch out his speed to a mile and a sixteenth with apprentice Silvino Moralez. The young jockey looked very smooth in his first ride on Friday night and will be worth following.

Richard Hunter and the JDP Holdings Every Nites a Blur has proven to be a solid sprinter winning twice this year at six and a half furlongs for trainer Nancy Betts. He didn’t relax very well in his lone try at this trip but perhaps he will be a little kinder to handle this afternoon. Rider Alex Marti managed to rate the son of Second In Command off of the leaders in his last sprint win which may have swayed the connections to give him another try going this far.

Completing the field is Kay and Sue Ohashi’s Forestry’s Devil who finished in mid-pack last time out. He was an excellent two year old last season but hasn’t been able to reproduce that form this year, perhaps better is in store today. Keishan Balgobin gets the call from Patty Leaney.

The racing action gets started at 1:50 p.m. and there will be a Sea-to-Sky Pick 6 (starts in race two at 2:20 p.m.) carryover in excess of $10,000.

Sunday, August 16, 2015 1:50 PM PDT
Friday, August 21, 2015 7:00 PM PDT
Sunday, August 23, 2015 1:50 PM PDT

Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Lucky Speed Gets American St. Leger Win


Handicappers-Corner-2015-web



logo

Friday , August 21, 2015 7:05 PM SST
Saturday , August 22, 2015 7:05 PM SST

TwinSpires Blog – Watsdachances awarded Beverly D. upon DQ of Secret Gesture

Bloodhorse – Angst – Watsdachances Put Up in Beverly D. Stakes

Beckett, who was not amused by Ortiz’s reaction in the saddle, said on At The Races: “It’s deeply frustrating for the owners and I’m very upset for them, both Newsells and Sheikh Fahad. I’ll get over it but the ramifications for them are endless.

Racing Post – Baxter – Beckett frustrated at losing Grade 1 winner

Chances were pretty damn good that Phil was alive to Secret Gesture, Stephanie’s Kitten and Euro Charline in the late Pick 4 at Arlington on Saturday. As Euro Charline faded down the stretch Phil’s ticket still looked good with Secret Gesture striding to the lead and Stephannie’s Kitten rallying on the outside. Just like a semi coming the other way Phil’s ticket goes Kaboom. Secret Gesture drifts out into Stephannie’s Kitten path and when Stephannie’s Kitten checks Watsadachances moves into the path vacated by the drifting Secret Gesture and just gets her nose up for second. Right then Phil knew that the stewards were going to take Secret Gesture. 

Tabarnak


I get no respect. The way my luck is running, if I was a politician I would be honest.

Rodney Dangerfield


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edmonton Sun – FRANK FONTANA’s Northlands Favourites

Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Wednesday August 19, 2015

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 6:30 PM MDT
Friday, August 21, 2015 6:30 PM MDT
Saturday, August 22, 2015 1:00 PM MDT

TwinSpires Blog – Just Wicked, Tonasah provide thrilling finish in Adirondack


 Upcoming  Stakes

August 16
Arapahoe Park
Arapahoe Park Classic $100,000 3&up 9f Dirt
Gold Rush Futurity $100,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Del Mar
Rancho Bernardo Handicap GIII $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 6.5f Dirt
Solana Beach Handicap $150,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 8f Turf
Emerald Downs
Emerald Distaff $65,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 9f Dirt
Longacres Mile GIII $200,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Japan Racing Association
Elm Stake GIII $633,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Sekiya Kinen GIII $685,000 3&up 8f Turf
Monmouth Park
Colleen Stake $60,000 2yo Fillies 5f Turf
Saratoga
Toyota Saratoga Special Stake GII $200,000 2yo 6.5f Dirt
Santa Rosa
Cavonnier Juvenile Stake $50,000 2yo 6f Dirt
Woodbine
Breeders’ Stake $500,000 3yo R 12f Turf
Sky Classic Stake GII-Can $200,000 3&up 10f Turf

August 17
Saratoga
Saratoga Dew Stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 9f Dirt

August 18
Sunray Park
C.O. Ken Kendrick Memorial Stake $50,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 4.5f Dirt
Totah Stake $50,000 2yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 4.5f Dirt

August 19
Assiniboia Downs
Body Works Stake $18,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 8.5f Dirt
Osiris Stake $25,000 2yo 5.5f Dirt
R.J. Speers Stake $25,000 3&up 8.5f Dirt
Del Mar
Green Flash Handicap $80,000 3&up 5f Turf
Saratoga
Bolton Landing $100,000 2yo Fillies State/Prov 5.5f Turf
August 20
Saratoga
Union Avenue Stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 6.5f Dirt

August 21
Del Mar
CTT & Thoroughbred Owners of California Handicap $80,000 3&up Fillies & Mares 11f Turf
Finger Lakes
Ontario County Stake $50,000 3yo State/Prov 6f Dirt
Hastings Race Course
Hard Rock Casino Vancouver $50,000 2yo Fillies 6.5f Dirt
Hong Kong Jockey Club $50,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Dirt
Hastings Race Course
New Westminster $50,000 2yo 6.5f Dirt
Richmond Derby Trial $50,000 3yo 8.5f Dirt
Remington Park
Red Earth Stake $50,000 3&up State/Prov 7.5f Turf
Saratoga
Schenectady $100,000 2yo State/Prov 5.5f Turf

August 22
Arlington Park
Arlington-Washington Futurity GIII $100,000 2yo 7f AW
Assiniboia Downs
Agassiz Stake $25,000 3&up Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8f Dirt
C.T.H.S. Sales Stake $30,000 2yo State/Prov 6f Dirt
Distaff Stake $25,000 3&up Fillies & Mares State/Prov 8f Dirt
Charles Town
Sylvia Bishop Memorial $50,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 7f Dirt
Del Mar Handicap GII BC $250,000 3&up 11f Turf
Pat O’Brien Stake GII BC $250,000 3&up 7f Dirt
TVG Pacific Classic GI BC $1,000,000 3&up 10f Dirt
Monmouth Park
Monmouth Oaks GIII $100,000 3yo Fillies 8.5f Dirt
Penn National
Robellino Stake $75,000 3&up State/Prov 8.5f Turf
Remington Park
Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Handicap Listed $75,000 3&up 8.5f Turf
Saratoga
Alabama Stake GI $600,000 3yo Fillies 10f Dirt
Troy Stake Listed $100,000 3&up 5.5f Turf
Woodbine
Ontario Colleen Stake (Can-III $150,000 3yo Fillies 8f Turf
August 23
Del Mar
Del Mar Mile GII $200,000 3&up 8f Turf
Japan Racing Association
Kitakyushu Kinen GIII $685,000 3&up 6f Turf
Sapporo Kinen GII $1,226,000 3&up 10f Turf
Monmouth Park
Cliff Hanger Stake GIII $100,000 3&up 9f Turf
Saratoga
Lord & Taylor Tale of the Cat Stake $100,000 3&up R 6f Dirt
Woodbine
Play the King Stake (Can-II $200,000 3&up 7f Turf
Victoria Park Stake $125,000 3yo 9f AW
August 24
Saratoga
Summer Colony Stake $100,000 3&up Fillies & Mares R 9f Dirt

August 25
Fort Erie
Andy Passero Memorial Cup $30,000 3&up Fillies & Mares R 6.5f Dirt
Bob Summers Memorial Cup $30,000 3&up R 6.5f Dirt
Molson Cup $30,000 3&up Fillies & Mares R 8.5f Turf

August 26
Del Mar
Harry F. Brubaker Stake $80,000 3&up 8f Dirt
Indiana Grand Race Course
ITOBA Stallion Season Fillies Stake $75,000 3yo Fillies State/Prov 8f Dirt
Paul Tinkle ITOBA Stallion Season Colts & Geldings Stake $75,000 3yo Colts & Geldings State/Prov 8f Dirt
Saratoga
John’s Call Stake $100,000 3&up R 13f Turf

August 27
Saratoga
New York Turf Writers Cup GI $150,000 4&up 19f Turf
Riskaverse Stake Listed $100,000 3yo Fillies 8f Turf


Jim and Susan Hill’s Grand Arch roared past pacesetter King Kreesa entering the stretch and repelled the come-from-behind bid from Ironicus to win the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) in a thrilling four-horse finish Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course

Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Grand Arch Pulls the Upset in Fourstardave

Steve and Shelley Johnson and Dr. Joseph and Lynn Fowler announced June 21 (2014) they have sold their interests in Margaux Farm, located in Midway, Ky., to Jim and Susan Hill of Calgary, Alberta.

Bloodhorse – Hills’ Purchase of Margaux Farm Announced


Derby Bar and Grill
From the Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter

 

RAILBIRD NOTES

RAILBIRD NOTES BY GLEN TODD

BY GLEN TODD

 

 

Hastings Wrap-up For August 16—Richard Yates

Balgobin X Two Hat Tricks Plus One Race = Seven In A Row For Keishan Balgobin

 

JOCKEY KEISHAN BALGOBIN WINS 4 RACES ON SUNDAY AT HASTINGS - JACKIE HUMBER PHOTO

Keishan Balgobin finished off one of the more sensational riding feats in Hastings Racecourse history when he won the first four on Sunday’s card to give him seven in a row, having won the last three on Friday night. He won the first four races on Sunday by a combined 26 ½ lengths. The seven consecutive wins gave him 30 for the season and vaulted him into third place in the jockey standings.

Balgobin won on three favorites and four second choices. Four of his wins came in sprints, three in routes. During his streak he won for seven different ownerships and six different trainers, winning two races with Philip Hall. Only one win came in gate to wire fashion.

It appeared that he would have had a shot at eight in a row had his horse in the fifth race, a first-timer with good works and a 6-1 morning line, not been scratched. According to Wikipedia, the record for consecutive wins is 12, set in 1933 by Sir Gordon Richards who was England’s champion jockey on the flats 26 times and the only jockey to be knighted. There is no statistic readily available for how many riders have won seven in a row, but it would be darn few. Balgobin is not likely to be knighted, but he was for sure the King of Hastings for a night and a day.

Sedin Finally Gets Some Puck Luck

SEDIN SCORES IN SUNDAY'S FEATURE, PATTI TUBBS PHOTO

Sedin ($9.40) has throughout his seven race career been a horse that, if he wasn’t just unlucky, he was certainly a horse that not a lot had gone right for. In Sunday’s featured sixth race, a $25,000 Allowance Optional Claimer for three-year-olds who had not won two (BC-bred3), things went right.   He got a ground saving ride from Antonio Reyes who moved him off the rail in the stretch and caught the favored Crius late. The pace-setting The Odds R Good ran about as good a third as you can run.

The Odds Are Good got to the front pretty quickly, but he had to do a little running to get there as Crius was pushing forward along the rail. Regardless, The Odds Are Good got to the lead, was there through a near 47 flat half and three-quarters in 1:11.95. Crius made a run on the final turn, The Odds R Good dug in, and when Crius finally got to the front, it was brief.

Sedin was taken off the rail well into the stretch where he found a seam and had enough acceleration to move into it and catch the two horses in front of him. He galloped out well and looks like a horse that might prefer going long despite two previous losing efforts going long in stakes.

Sedin was bred in British Columbia by Jacobson (BC) and is owned by Roy and Dixie Jacobson. Sedin is by the late Rosberg and is out of Smokin Danielle, a Smokester mare that won about 155K for the Jacobson’s over four years and 30 starts a while back. Mark Cloutier trains.

 Also Noteworthy:

Keishan Balgobin started his afternoon with a front running win on Collateral ($3.30) who was dropping from a Maiden Special Weight to $25,000. Balgobin rode like he was on the best horse and he was. Collateral races for owner/breeder North American Thoroughbred Company Inc., trainer Troy Taylor.

COLLATERAL WITH KEISHAN BALGOBIN WON THE OPENER - PATTI TUBBS PHOTO

Balgobin was in the right place at the right time in the second because Bay’s Gal ($3.40) was half the stretch the best for owners Warren Wilson, Morris Peter, Deltin Stable, Ian Guthrie and Charles Cowan. Charleen Miller trains Bay’s Gal.

The third was a $12,500 maiden claimer won by Heartset ($4.30) with a patient ride early by Balgobin before he asked the winner going into the final turn. It was quickly over and Heartset ran 1:45.11 after getting the last sixteenth in less than seven seconds. The winner was just plain nasty for a 12.5K maiden, considering that the feature for Allowance types went only three-one-hundredths of a second faster.

Balgobin won the fourth with a ground-saving rail trip on Lord Gallovic ($6.20) who was the only non-favorite in his four race run on Sunday. Phil Hall trains the winner for himself and co-owner Dan Lee.

Another badly needed two-year-old winner was produced when Jeff Burningham got Power Corrupt ($2.70) home in the fifth for owner/breeder Doug Clyde and leading trainer Mike Anderson.

DOUG CLYDE'S POWER CORRUPT EASY WINNER OF THE TWO YEAR OLD DASH ON SUNDAY AT HASTINGS

Queen Militant ($4.20) closed out a chalky day (five of seven races won by favorites) with Sahin Civaci getting her home for owners Grayross Stable and David and Sylvea Gregory who also trains.

Richard Hamel continues to lead the riders with 47 wins, seven more than Pedro Alvarado in second. Keishan Balgobin has 30 for the year and third place.

Mike Anderson tops the trainers list with 23 victories. Troy Taylor has moved into second with 19 wins, one more than Craig MacPherson who has 18. There is a four-way tie for fourth with 12 wins among Dino Condilenios, Anita Bolton, Mark Cloutier and Philip Hall.

Swift Thoroughbreds still leads the owners with 12 wins, two more than Mark DeDomenico LLC and North American Thoroughbred Horse Company, Inc.


Bloodhorse – Shulman – Secretariat’s Cautionary Tale


 

CTHS-sale-2015-dinner web

CTHS SALE PREVIEW AT THE DERBY



 

Bloodhorse – Saratoga Mischief Heads Saratoga Special

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Pletcher to send out Saratoga Mischief in Saratoga Special

Hammers Vision who breaks from the 3 hole in Sunday’s Saratoga Special for trainer Brian Lynch is owned by southern Alberta resident Terry Hamilton. Hammers Vision was bred in Ontario by Alberta residents Donna and Vern Dubinsky’s Donver Stables and was sold for $US47,000 at the Fasig Tipton Kentucky Sale in October of 2014.

Hammers Vision is much clearer than that of the Chair of Horse Racing Alberta, Rick LeLacheur, and the CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, Shirley McClellan. There’s plenty of Alberta money in the thoroughbred industry, but neither the Chair of CEO of Horse Racing Alberta has the slightest modicum of an inkling on how to get that money to be spent in the province of Alberta.

Friday’s handle at Century Downs was $33,399 for 8 standardbred races at a track just outside Calgary,  Alberta. Friday’s handles at Marquis Downs was $55,247 for 8 thoroughbred races at a track at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan that only exports their signal within the province of Saskatchewan. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist, but it takes someone who knows where Nunavut is to figure out that the people in western Canada want to watch and wager on thoroughbred racing.

It’s time that the Chair of Horse Racing Alberta, Rick LeLacheur, and the CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, Shirley McClellan were shown the door and replaced by persons who are capable of understanding that dragging the thoroughbred industry to the same low level as the standardbred industry is not the way to improve the horse racing industry in this province. George Cuff in his report on HRA commented that Horse Racing Alberta needs to start building on areas where the figures have shown growth potential, not continue to push products the fans don’t want. Either the Chair of Horse Racing Alberta, Rick LeLacheur, and the CEO of Horse Racing Alberta, Shirley McClellan haven’t read or haven’t comprehended the Cuff Report that’s as unsatisfactory as their performance in the positions they occupy.


We need a law that will permit a voter to sue a candidate for breach of promise.

Mark Twain


A $110,000 KEESEP yearling buy, Exaggerator hails from the extended family of Canadian champion Embur’s Song (Unbridled’s Song) and Queen’s Plate hero Niigon (Unbridled). Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, 163,120.

TDN – No Exaggeration, This Curlin Colt is Special

Bloodhorse – Novak – Exaggerator Brave in Saratoga Special


 

cths salw poster 2015

2015 Sales Catalogue

2015 Yearling & Mixed Sale
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Thunderbird Show Park, Langley, BC

#7-5492 Production Blvd,

Surrey, BC V3S 8P5
Phone (604) 534-0145 Fax (604) 574-CTHS (2847)

Email cthsbc@cthsbc.org

CTHS BC


Bloodhorse – Casse Decides Not to Finish Out Del Mar Meet


 

 

Horsepower-Thursday-AUG2015-web


Drive My Car


INDIAN CHARLIE WORLDWIDE - We Never Let the Truth Get In The Way Of A Good Story


 A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR PAM MCDOUGALL WILL BE HELD IN THE PADDOCK THEATRRE

 NORTHLANDS PARK

SUNDAY AUGUST 16th AT 1:00 PM MDT


TwinSpires Blog – Esoterique defeats males in Marois; comebacker Karakontie sixth 


Thoroughbred Handicapping Contest

OCTOBER 3

$100 EARLY BIRD ENTRY FEE
(until September 19)

$125 ENTRY FEE
(starting September 20)

Sign up at the information desk.

 


Bloodhorse – Hunter – Pedigree Analysis: Busanda


Deadline for the return of ballots for the Alberta HBPA Board of Directors election was Friday, August 7, 2015.

Want to know who will be on the Board for the next 3 years.

Image result for arrow symbol


HBPA_Meetingjpg_Page1


Bloodhorse – Lewun – Taris Wins Comeback in Rancho Bernardo

Bloodhorse – Balan – Taris Makes Return in Rancho Bernardo


Click to enlarge image 01.jpgClick to enlarge image 01.jpgBloodhorse – LaMarra – Furosemide Use Topic of New York Forum


 

  Twp Rd 502 Rg Rd 240, Leduc County, MLS® # E3416515For Sale


Thoroughbred Internet – Bash one of Perugino’s Boys


Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Stud deal struck for Ramsey’s Big Blue Kitten


Phil has opined many times on the loss of Black Type for thoroughbred stakes races in the province of Alberta and the lack of response to his numerous e-mails to the CCW and QKB and lack of a Plan either A or Z from Horse Racing Alberta to work to have Black Type reinstated for thoroughbred Stakes races in the province of Alberta.

Shy Lil campaigned in Alberta for Don Danard’s Red Diamond Stable, conditioner Red Smith. Among her wins were the Northlands Oaks  at Northlands Park and the Lilac Handicap at Stampede Park. She was sold as a broodmare when retired and has produced a number of winning foals.

The uncatalogued page for her yearling Hip 190 at The Fasig Tipton SARATOGA SELECTED YEARLING sale states:

SHY LIL (f. by Lil’s Lad). Black type winner, see above.

Shy Lil’s Into Mischief filly sold for $250,000US. Shy Lil’s Black Type was not the main reason that this filly brought $250,000US, but it was a significant factor looked at by bother buyers and breeders. Without Black Type on their race record or proven Black Type foal production many mares wouldn’t even qualify to meet Into Mischief in the breeding shed.

If you go way back down the country line in Into Mischief’s pedigree another very good Alberta racehorse appears, Hal Yerxa’s Country Romance who won Northlands Park’s Rundle Heights Handicap, Birdcatcher Stakes and Kindergarten Handicap and Stampede Park’s Stampede Futurity and Alberta Thoroughbred Horse Society Stakes.


Don’t Fence Me In


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – That’s a Stretch First Winner for Exhi


 

Save the Date!
2015 CTHS Sales Contract

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED HORSE SOCIETY
(ALBERTA DIVISION)

2015 Alberta Thoroughbred Sale
Sunday, September 20th, 2015
Northlands
Park EXPO Centre – Edmonton, Alberta


Bloodhorse – LaMarra – Gross, Average Rise at New York-Bred Auction

Bloodhorse – Oxley Goes to $300,000 for Speightstown Filly


Bloodhorse – Lewyn – Dubawi Colt Brings Arqana August Record Price


Washington Thoroughbred Breeders & Owners Association

 

2015
WTBOA SUMMER YEARLING
and MIXED SALE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015
The Tuesday following the Longacres Mile (G3)

Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion
Emerald Downs, Auburn, Washington

Catalogue


Bloodhorse – Colt, Filly Co-Sale Toppers at Barretts


 

$30,544 CARRYOVER in tonight’s Jackpot Hi-5
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Final chance Sept. 5
Jets Oct. 8
Woodbine Oct. 26
Keeneland Oct. 30-31
Dates that matter
Lots to look forward to
• CANADIAN DERBY, ARLINGTON MILLION — This Saturday, Aug. 15. Witt Six among
Derby entrants!
• BREEDERS’ STAKES — This Sunday, Aug. 16: Third leg of Canadian Triple Crown at
   Woodbine.
• SELMAN HALTER BIDDING BEGINS — Friday, Aug. 21 to Sunday, Aug. 30: Halters of
    American Pharoah, Zenyatta and Shaman Ghost (Queen’s Plate winner) up for bidding
   on eBay to raise money for Alyssa Selman Trust  Fund
• TRAVERS STAKESSaturday, Aug. 29: Historic race at Saratoga for 3-year-olds likely
   to see American Pharoah
• LAST ASD BARN TOUR — Sunday, Aug. 30: Sign up at Guest Services
• ASD FESTIVAL OF RACING — Saturday to Monday, Sept. 5-7: Sunday night 7 p.m.
   Winnipeg Futurity, Manitoba Matron, Gold Cup followed by a free concert.
• LAST GO-TO-VEGAS TOURNEY AT ASD — Saturday, Sept. 5
• ASD LIVE RACING ENDS — Monday, Sept. 7: 1:30 p.m. Buffalo Stakes for
   Manitoba-bred babies
• NFL SEASON BEGINS — Thursday Night Football, Sept. 10: Patriots (minus
   Deflationgate Brady?) vs Steelers 7:30 p.m.
• WOODBINE MILE — Sunday, Sept. 13: $1 million turf race
• HOORAY FOR HOCKEY! Thursday, Oct. 8: NHL season begins
    — Winnipeg Jets at Boston 6 p.m.
    — Ottawa at Buffalo 6 p.m. (reason to care: Evander Kane)
    — Edmonton at St. Louis 7 p.m. (reason to care: Connor McDavid)
• JETS’ HOME OPENER — Friday, Oct. 16: vs Calgary 7 p.m.
• VOTE — Monday, Oct. 19: Federal election. Horse race of a different kind.
• BREEDERS’ CROWN — Saturday, Oct. 24: Woodbine (harness)
• BREEDERS’ CUP — Friday/Saturday, Oct. 30-31: Keeneland
• MELBOURNE CUP — Monday, Nov. 2: Flemington Park, Australia
• GREY CUPSunday, Nov. 29: Investors Field, Winnipeg
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 
Bullet briefs . . .
• Were we better bettors in July?  Yes!  See best tracks below.
• Necklace is a winner for Alyssa.  Will it be for you, too?
• Witt Six heads to Northlands for $200,000 Canadian Derby
• Sayler likely to return
• Sadness prevails as gentleman player passes
• Friday is the deadline for your Pharoah halter prediction
HURRY! DEADLINE FRIDAY FOR PHAROAH PREDICTION: What will American Pharoah’s halter fetch on eBay?  Email your prediction to theinsider@ASDowns.com by midnight Friday.  Closest without going over wins $50 in wagering vouchers and having $50 donated to the Alyssa Selman Benefit Fund on your behalf by the Downs.  Bidding begins a week from Friday for 10 days.
DO THE DOWNS


Carryovers

Click for race schedule
Simple tips for winning
(pass it on)
CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE
JUST 13 LIVE RACE DAYS LEFT! Space is becoming a premium at race night buffets.  Phone 204-885-3330.
BABY FUN RETURNS TONIGHT: Two Manitoba-breds face two Kentucky-breds and a horse bred in Texas and in Arizona in tonight’s second race, a Maiden Allowance race for 2-year-olds.  Another “Witt-y” horse is among the contenders (Witt Knows) owned by Henry Witt, Jr. of Waco, Texas. Who’s your money on?
Official stations of horse racing.
Click to listen

Fundraising necklace
Is it lucky, too?
Sterling silver necklace
Proceeds to help Alyssa

When I heard a $45 sterling silver horseshoe necklace was being sold to raise more money for the Alyssa Selman Trust Fund, I headed to Guest Services Saturday night to buy one and put it around my neck. That was about 6 p.m.  Then I headed up to the Race Book where I had one of the best winning nights in weeks which included a $3,500 pick-5 pick-up at Emerald Downs.

Was it just coincidence? Was it luck? Was it good karma. maybe? All I know is that one thing led to another and I look forward to hearing whether the necklace produces positive results for you, too. It’s beautifully designed by Winnipeg jewellery designer and philanthropist, Hilary Druxman. They’re available at the gift shop at Guest Services in limited quantities.  Proceeds help jockey Alyssa who has lost the use of her legs as a result of a spill when her horse clipped heels.
BECOMING BETTER BETTORS
July figures show you were best at Saratoga and
Charles Town; worst at Woodbine and Belmont
Congratulations to Manitoba bettors!   In July, you increased the number of “better bettor” tracks to 23 from 18 the previous month.  That means Assiniboia Downs will be receiving cheques from those tracks which helps the economy grow!  On the flip side, the biggest cheques the Downs must send out are to Woodbine, Belmont and Gulfstream.  What can you do to improve your play at those tracks?  Are you playing to your strengths?  Are you keeping records to see what tracks and conditions produce the biggest return?
TOP better bettor
thoroughbred tracks (money came into the province):
1.  Saratoga
2.  Charles Town
3.  Thistledown
4.  Hastings
Top harness:
1.  Meadowlands
2.  Running Aces
3.  Georgian
4.  Saratoga (H)
BOTTOM thoroughbred tracks (money left the province):
1.  Woodbine
2.  Belmont
3.  Gulfstream
Bottom harness:
1.  Grand River
2.  Maywood
3.  Pocono
OTHER BETTER BETTOR TRACKS: You also helped produce an overall profit playing these tracks — Northville, Pleasanton, Ocean Downs, Sun Ray, Tampa, Sacramento, Delta, Ruidoso, Los Alamitos QH, Emerald, The Meadows, Arlington, Ellis, Parx, Northfield, Ajax, Century, Fort Erie.  Pat yourself on the back if you helped produce this list.  That makes you a good citizen, too!
HOTTIES OF THE WEEK

Hottest jock: Rohan Singh (4 wins)

Hottest trainers: Shelley Brown (3 wins)
Biggest upset: Yvons Dixie Melody $23.50 (Sat. 2nd)
Biggest 20-cent superfecta: $224 (Sat. 2nd — 6-2-3-1)
BOB’S BLOG TODAY: An extreme rarity is the subject of Bob’s blog today.  It involves Honest Onyx and Exclusive Gold in 1994.  What did they do?  (Belongs in Guinness book of records)

THE WEEK THAT WAS
Dane Nelson
To ride Witt Six in Derby

WITT SIX TO RACE IN CANADIAN DERBY: The Jerry Gourneau-trained Witt Six will be racing this Saturday in the 86th annual $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park.  Witt Six finished second to Manitoba Derby winner Flashy Jewel in one of the best Derby finishes in recent memory.  Dane Nelson, ASD’s leading percentage rider, will be riding.  Witt Six had won the Harry Jeffrey and Golden Boy.  Among other horses likely to be entered are Blue Dancer, the winner of the Winnipeg Futurity last year, and Afleet in Time, tended by Rob Atras, a former trainer at the Downs.  Atras works under trainer Robertino DiodoroFirst post at Northlands Saturday is 1 p.m.

SAYLER LIKELY TO RETURN: The word is out that ASD’s 12-time leading trainer, Ardell Sayler, will return to the Downs next season after trying something different over the past year: sending horses to Turf Paradise, Fonner Park in Nebraska, Arapaho in Colorado and now AgPark in Columbus, Nebraska. This year his horses have earned $212,000 compared to last year’s $587,000 when he raced at the Downs.
Dale McDonald
1928-2015

GENTLEMAN PLAYER PASSES: One of the truly nice horseplayers, a real gentleman with a ready smile, Dale McDonald of Portage la Prairie, has died at 86. He had been a regular on Saturdays, generally partnering on tickets with attendees at my “I won big” workshop.  Dale will truly be missed and I’ll think of him every time I go to my clothes closet because he gave me a leather vest he had once worn in a band he played in.  He was very proud of having reached 86 and he mentioned it often.

WOODBINE TOURNEY OFFERS $50,000 IN PRIZE MONEY: Woodbine is holding a two-day horseplayer tournament at the end of August with a $330 buy-in (which includes $80 for players’ bets).  Estimated prize money is $50,000 based on 200 entrants.  Winner gets about $20,000.  Top seven also earn a seat in another tournament (NHC championship in Vegas, Keeneland Breeders’ Cup Challenge or Hawthorne Super Qualifier).  Players make 10 $2 win/place bets on Aug. 30 and 31, selecting from races at Woodbine, Saratoga, Monmouth and Arlington.
GRUELING OPENING TO JETS SEASON: Four eastern games on the road in six days is the way the Winnipeg Jets season starts on Thursday, Oct. 8 with Boston, then New Jersey the next night then, on Thanksgiving Day Monday, a matinee game at the Islanders followed the next night with a tilt against the Rangers. Their home opener follows on Friday against Calgary.
Remember: Making Manitoba the better bettor
province means playing to your strengths

TwinSpires Blog – Pacific Classic hopefuls put in final major moves over the weekend


Maker's Mark Plans Breeders' Cup Bottles

Let’s raise a glass.
And $1 Million for Charity.

Join Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark® in our goal to raise $1 Million over the next three years to support a variety of deserving local and thoroughbred industry charities. Breeders’ Cup and Maker’s Mark® have collaborated on a limited-edition, five-bottle collection featuring a few of the most legendary champions in Breeders’ Cup history. Each bottle pays tribute with a customized design and signature from each Champion’s connections.

This is an extremely limited offer, as only 500 bottles were made for each Champion. Don’t miss your chance to savor the memories of these past champions while helping the local community.

Through your donation you will be granted access to participate in the exclusive commemorative bottle auction which will take place at Keeneland on Thursday, October 29. This event will be the only opportunity to collect the first three bottles of the series. No reserve will be placed on the bottles up for auction.

Champions for Charity event tickets are required, click here to learn more.


Bloodhorse – Danish Dynaformer Romps in Breeders’ Stakes


The secret truth of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is that it isn’t very hard… ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is easy like junior high is easy. All the arithmetic, the creative writing and the history are super simple, but like junior high, you do that easy work surrounded by people who are full-tilt, hormone-raging bug nutty.
Penn Jillette

Fort_Erie_Breakfast_Club


Economists are a fractious lot and rarely agree. If economists left and right share any single view, however, it’s that local and state governments should eliminate subsidies to arenas and stadiums.

The timing of the arena deal was inauspicious. The governor and legislators approved the arena just one month after they cut $250 million from the budget of the prestigious University of Wisconsin System.

The political waters on this deal ran swift and deep. The new majority owners of the Bucks, Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry, are big donors to the Democratic Party. Lasry has bundled tens of thousands of dollars for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, and his hedge fund once employed her daughter, Chelsea.

The private pursuit of a publicly financed arena, however, recognizes no partisan boundary.

NY Times – Powell – Bucks’ Owners Win, at Wisconsin’s Expense


Fort Erie Race Track Logo

 


TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Golden Sabre brutally unlucky in Sky Classic

Bloodhorse – Novak – Interpol Upsets Sky Classic


Twice as Hard


Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.
Sitting Bull


The Bitter Southerner – Schroeder – A Radical & Wonderful Idea


If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?
Chief Seattle


NY Times – Ruiz – How 14 Indicted FIFA Officials Currently Stand


Zombie


FiveThirtyEight – Barry-Jester, Casselman and Goldstein – Should Prison Sentences Be Based On Crimes That Haven’t Been Committed Yet?

Phl has a question:

If this risk assessment program is as good at predicting future behaviour as the proponents claim it to be wouldn’t the proponents be bettor off using it at the track and for sports betting.


I Fought The Law


National Post – Washington Post – Weigel – A lot of what he says hits a chord with me’: Trump makes sense to American voters — even Democrats

LA Times – Lee – Trump: Expel immigrants here illegally and send troops to ‘take over’ Iraq’s oil

Phil heard a rumor that the American Native Bands flush with money from their numerous casinos were planning to expel all immigrants that they feel are in the Americas illegally.


Immigrant Song


When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced plans in 2010 to make the government’s primary source of household data into a voluntary survey, researchers across Canada warned of dire consequences for the survey’s reliability. Those predictions have largely come true: In 2006, nearly 94 percent of Canadian households that received the survey responded to it. In 2011, the response rate fell below 70 percent. As a result, Statistics Canada, the country’s statistical agency, decided not to release detailed data on Snow Lake and more than 1,000 other communities, and researchers have called into question the validity of the data on other areas that was released.

FiveThirtyEight – Casselman – What We Don’t Know About Canada Might Hurt Us

Phil has a question:

How can Stephen Harper purport to run a country when he has chosen to not gather sufficient information to allow the job of running a country to be performed properly.


The Globe and Mail – Ibbitson – Trip to Edmonton shows how worried Conservatives have become

Phil has a question:

When are Albertans going to wake up and realize that the Harper Conservatives take this province for granted as a cash cow to divert billions of dollars from in order to buy votes in Ontario and Quebec.

When is our Premier Rachel Notley going to start governing the province of Alberta and start putting Albertans interest first and foremost.


NY Times – OpEd – Shrage – When Prostitution Is Nobody’s Business


It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way – in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Charles Dickens


Not only does the current slots revenue split agreement with the Alberta government expire in 2016, but 23 days later is the 500th anniversary of the passing of the one of the most momentous laws of all time: Reinheitsgebot.

Wired- April 23, 1516: Bavaria Cracks Down on Beer Brewers

An English translation of the decree simply states,”We wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water.”

Phil has a question:

Don’t you wish that laws today were written with the same simplicity.


Where It’s At


CNN Money – Deceived Beck’s beer drinkers can guzzle $50 refund


Devil’s Haircut


But once it is seen as part and parcel of a broader effort to tamper with a supposedly independent audit, to rewrite a committee report and hoodwink the public, it takes on a rather darker hue.

In the end, Deloitte’s auditors were indeed unable to come to a judgment about Duffy’s housing expenses, though for different reasons: Duffy flatly refused to meet them or grant them access to his files. But even to have contemplated meddling with an audit is deeply troubling. It’s one thing for politicians to lie; I suppose we expect it. But the point of calling in the auditors in such matters is to take them out of the realm of ordinary political duplicity. Maybe you don’t trust us, politicians can say, but you can trust an audit. Unless, of course, you can’t.

If, likewise, Senate committees have no independent authority whatever, but are mere outgrowths of the prime minister’s office, their reports literally written for them by PMO flunkies, then what is the point of keeping them, except to deceive the public? Which was, in fact, the point of this whole affair from the start.

National Post – Andrew Coyne: Avoiding Senate audit prime motive in Mike Duffy case

National Post – Christie Blatchford: Not just innocent, but wronged — lawyer paints Mike Duffy as a victim



Next to the confrontation between two highly honed batteries of lawyers, jungle warfare is a stately minuet.

Bill Veeck


National Post – Who is Roosh V? Sexist pickup ‘artist’ says outrage in Canada only makes him stronger

KrebsOnSecurity – Online Cheating Site AshleyMadison Hacked

Phil has a question:

Can someone please explain to me the outrage over a guy who teaches men to seduce women when there’s 37,000,000 million people on Ashley Madison seeking exactly what Roosh V is.


Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.
Woody Allen


FiveThirtyEight – Oyster – Don’t Take Your Vitamins


‘Sex’ is as important as eating or drinking and we ought to allow the one appetite to be satisfied with as little restraint or false modesty as the other.
Marquis de Sade


Teacher, Teacher

Don’t Stand So Close to Me


Phil M Stockmen

  One Response to “Few of Them Knew”

  1. POST DERBY ACTION HEATS UP IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA

    GATEWAY CASINO EDMONTON goes from a eyesore to upscale casino in Edmonton’s new entertainment centre vision,how will northlands spruce up their soon to be relocated casino in their future business plan!

    SUGAR DOYLE travel adventures take him to calling racing at MOHAWK on Friday/Saturday after BALZAC/FORT ERIE this week rumoured to be appearing in a DR. SOLES commercial.

    CALGARY FLAMES announce plans for a mega project dubbed “CALGARY NEXT” on Aug 18, will government funding be used as horse racing racino funds gets slashed!

    NDP HAWKESWORTH kickoffs campaign for CALGARY/FOOTHILLS today at 4 pm with NOTLEY appearing will the CEO be part of the crowd!

    ROBERTS/SHORT article reminds of a captain leaving by helicopter as he tells his crew to don lifejackets for the rough seas ahead!

    HRA BETTING FIGURES now down 10% or 9.3 million/however the record betting of 1.3 million for the CANADIAN DERBY should represent that the live thoroughbred racing is a vital part of Alberta scene!

    NDP transfer team is rumoured to have informed HRA to get rid of the budget CRYSTAL BALL/ABACUS and start reading the RACING FORM to become more knowledgeable about race industry!

    HRA CAPTAIN is rumoured to be looking at bids/ renting of a 5 ton truck for late fall office move to Delia/based on his extensive moving industry experience.

    HRA FINE REVENUE is puzzling as harness get $250 and thoroughbred get $800 fines,is this based on live betting ratio for 5.2 – 1/as a new way for creating revenue!

    FLOYD MERLE ARTHUR sitting at 998 wins,had been ice cold since last mentioned 2 months ago.

    DALE COLONEL SAUNDERS sitting at 1991, not to jinx him like his 0-OCTOBER Dusty’s filled march to 1000 wins,when his sign had to retrieved the next spring from behind jock quarter washer/dryer.

    TWYLLA BENSMILLER at 134 wins,recent HRA article said she was fast approaching 1000 wins? Someone must have mismoved a bead on the Abacus.

    RACHEL NOTLEY “OCTOBERFEST” in November announced as “have a beer with the premier” on November 7 Edmonton only $200. Wouldn’t it have been cheaper if ROBERTS/NORTHLANDS invited her to present at the derby for frugal racing participants!

    NDP removes part of CEO job description “rose coloured glasses”(noun) an optimistic perception of something,a positive opinion,see something in a positive way,after thinking of it as better than it actually is/ and start facing the reality from her dream fantasy world and smell the horse manure!

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