Today Phil’s blog is like the post Christmas edition of your favourite fashion magazine, sans the Boxing Day flyers.

Garden and Gun – Lotz – The Story Behind “Sweet Home Alabama”

Sweet Home Alabama

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Five Things I’m looking forward to in the Pacific Classic/Alabama

TwinSpires Blog – ON POINT: Pacific Classic and Alabama Stakes picks

Mr. Farmer

Ponderosa Gifts & Tack

Lady and the Track – Macatangay – Curalina, I’m a Chatterbox Lead Confusing Alabama Stakes

Bloodhorse – Jones Returns for Alabama Bid With Hot Hand

TwinSpires Blog – Hanson – Curalina, I’m a Chatterbox set for Alabama rematch

Louisville Courier-Journal – Lintner – Zayat cements American Pharoah’s Travers plans

Bloodhorse – American Pharoah Among 16 Travers Nominees

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

Bloodhorse – Zito Considers Travers for Frammento

Bloodhorse – Monmouth Working on $1M Race for ‘Pharoah’

Carryovers

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Arlington
Pick 6 Jackpot    $30,187.00
Super High Five Jackpot    $27,805.00
Assiniboia Downs
Super High Five Jackpot    $1,288.00
Ellis Park
Super High Five     $1,000.00
Fair Grounds
Pick 5 Jackpot    $361.00
Ferndale
Pick 6    $1,515.00
Super High Five     $1,194.00
Gulfstream Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $323,857.00
Indiana Grand Race Course
Pick 6    $1,393.00
Laurel Park
Pick 6    $3,175.00
Los Alamitos    Pick 6    $3,405.00
Louisiana Downs
Pick 5 Jackpot    $6,982.00
Marquis Downs
Superfecta    $413.00
Monmouth Park
Pick 6 Jackpot    $65,017.00
Northlands Park
Super High Five Jackpot    $1,303.00
Prairie Meadows
Pick 5    $150.00
Pick 4    $809.00
Ruidoso Downs
Tri Super    $26,678.00
Sunray Park
Super High Five Jackpot    $634.00
Woodbine
Super High Five Jackpot    $69,197.00

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Presque Isle Downs
Pick 6    $100.00

Monday, August 24, 2015

Hastings Racecourse
Pick 6    $12,025.00

Guaranteed Pools

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Northlands Park
$10,000  — Pick 4

Equibase Carryovers and Guaranteed Pools

Horse Race Insider – Jicha – Stewards play God, let them take it all the way

On the face of things Ortiz displayed the sort of melodramatic over-acting that in football would receive a smile and a “get up” from the referee as he allowed play to continue, but this am-dram saw the stewards completely alter the result.

…

No one likes to see the mad situation where the third best horse on the day – a horse who had no pretensions of winning before, during or after the race – is awarded the top honour in the stewards’ room, but that is simply the way the American rules are framed.

To be fair American rules have evolved since the days when they used to throw out every horse who put a toe out of line, but there is still some way to go to prevent controversial decisions like that which saw Secret Gesture stripped of her deserved win in the Beverly D Stakes.

In Britain if the best horse on the day is first past the post he keeps the race, quite simply because it would look ridiculous throwing him out. If there was significant interference the jockey might be punished but the result would stand and punters would be paid for correctly identifying the best horse.

This seems one step further along the logic evolution to a fair ideal, although there will always be loopholes and the very fact stewards can alter results will not please everyone all the time.

…

If the Secret Gesture team decide to appeal their one hope is the fact that if Ortiz had kept riding to the line his mare would have finished second. So it was the jockey, rather than the interference, which actually cost her a place.

Racing Post – Walker – Rules to blame for Secret Gesture demotion

Racing Post – Baxter – Spencer: Ortiz took a dive in Beverly D

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Beverly D. DQ: Spencer vs. Ortiz, my take & yours

There’s a comment made by Jamie Spencer that the Brit’s are conveniently overlooking.

“In the final 50 yards of the race my horse shifted out but I felt then, and now, following a review of the race, that she was clear of Stephanie’s Kitten as she moved out. As soon as I drifted across the track I moved my whip into my correct hand to straighten her up.”

Watch Ortiz and you’ll notice that he appears to be keeping a fairly straight course to the finish line as Secret Gesture is drifting across Stephanie’s Kitten’s path. Ortiz checks Stephanie’s Kitten only after Spencer changes his whip to the right hand stopping Secret Gestures drift and moving her back towards the path of Stephanie’s Kitten.

Bloodhorse – Angst –  Spencer, Beckett Say Beverly D. Appeal Likely

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

Albert Einstein

Horse Race Insider – ARCI’s Martin Spearheading Pushback Campaign to Thwart Meaningful Reform

Lady and the Track – Laughter – Lexington Locals Prepare for Breeders’ Cup 2015

TwinSpires Blog – Powell – Handicapping Insights – August 21

Breeders’ Cup Challenge

NY Times – Drape – Erinn Higgins Is Still Caring for Horses, as a Regulator

Bloodhorse – Hangin With Haskin – The Legacy of John Nerud

Bloodhorse – Hangin With Haskin – Nerud, The Fox, and The Rivalry

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

Thoroughbred Racing Commentary – One of John Nerud’s finest: Remembering the remarkable Ta Wee

Friday, August 21, 2015 7:00 PM CDT
Saturday, August 22, 2015 7:00 PM CDT

Lady and the Track – Park – TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar: Posts, Odds, Festivities

Bloodhorse – Johnson – Will Beholder Win the Pacific Classic?

ESPN – West – Defining a special filly

Lady and the Track – Beholder Faces Distance Question in Pacific Classic

Beholder’s by Henny Hughes the same Henny Hughes who sired last Saturday’s  Canadian Derby winner Academic.

You don’t see very many Henny Hughes foals in North America as he now stands in Japan.

Academic had no difficulty handling 1 3/8 miles in the Canadian Derby GIIIC at Northlands Park last Saturday, but not only is Beholder facing much tougher male company in Saturday’s Pacific Classic but Beholder does not have as strong stamina influences on her broodmare side. Awesome Lass, Academic’s dame is a daughter of Awesome Again who not only won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles but has also sired 4 Breeder’s Cup winners.

Beholder’s dame Leslie’s Lady is by Tricky Creek a sire more known for his sprinters than for stamina. There is stamina a lot further back in Leslie’s Lady’s family and I’m sure that Beholder’s connections hope that it shows through on Saturday.

Bloodhorse – Balan – Beholder Tagged Favorite in Pacific Classic

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Beholder well-situated in post 9 for Pacific Classic bid

Bloodhorse – Beholder Shows Readiness for Pacific Classic

Emerald Downs Wrap-Friday, August 21

WHERE’S MY VOUCHER? IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE,
JUAN GUTIERREZ SWEEPS FINAL FOUR RACES

AUBURN, Wash. (August 21, 2015) – Where’s My Voucher sprinted clear early and held off Mr. Takahashi late for a three-quarter-length victory Friday in the $14,900 Bud Light Purse for 3-year-olds at Emerald Downs..

Winning his third race of the meeting and his fifth of 2015, Where’s My Voucher ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.14, and paid $5.60, $3 and $3. Juan Gutierrez rode the winner for trainer Jeff Metz and owners Tom Purdy and Michelle Barnes.

Gutierrez swept the final four races on the seven-race card, upping his season total to 63 wins, 12 behind Julien Couton, the meet’s leading rider who is sidelined through Saturday on suspension.

Breaking from the outside post, Where’s My Voucher set fractions of :22.01, :43.95 and 1:08.45 en route to victory. A California-bred by Storm Wolf, Where’s My Voucher is 5-for-11 in 2015—winning twice at Turf Paradise and three times at Emerald Downs—with Gutierrez up for all five wins.

Mr. Takahashi, ridden by Jake Barton, chased the winner the length of the stretch, but settled for second and paid $3.60 and $3.60.

Private Boss, ridden by apprentice Osvaldo Gonzalez, was five lengths back in third and paid $7. Red Ridge, Percy’s Bluff, Courage of Faith and The Search Is Over completed the order of finish.

Gutierrez was 4-0-0 in five mounts, scoring victories on Chaching Pete ($6.20) the fourth race, Finality’s Charmer ($3.80) in the fifth, Where’s My Voucher in the sixth, and Doubledeesonthetee ($16) in the seventh.

Metz also trains Doubledeesonthetee and is 23-for-57 combined with Gutierrez at the meet.

A 46-year-old native of Jalisco, Mexico, Gutierrez has 21 multiple-win days this season and is en route to a 14^th consecutive top-five finish in the jockeys’ standings. He ranks No. 2 all-time with 1,205 wins at Emerald Downs.

NOTES: Gallyn Mitchell, No. 1 all-time with 1,413 wins at Emerald Downs, rode Tricky Person ($6.80) to a win in Friday’s second race, his 122^nd victory when riding for trainer Jim Penney at EmD. . .Leslie Mawing rode the final five winners on a seven-race card on May 2, 2014. . .
Chaching Pete ran the third fastest six furlongs of the meet, 1:08.54, while scoring his 13^th Emerald Downs victory in Friday’s fourth race. An 8-year-old Washington-bred by Petersburg, Chaching Pete has three wins at the meet for trainer Bill Tollett and is 16-for-42 lifetime. . .Finality’s Charmer ($3.80) gave Canadian trainer Craig MacPherson his first Emerald Downs win with a gate-to-wire victory in race five. MacPherson currently is third at Hastings Racecourse with 18 wins. . . .Live racing continues Saturday with a 10-race card at 2 p.m. Simulcast action includes the $1-million TVG Pacific Classic from Del Mar, with 5-year-old mare Beholder the 5-to-2 morning line favorite.

STRYKER PHD SAYS YES TO WASHINGTON CUP!

Fans will get another chance to watch Stryker Phd at Emerald Downs in 2015.

Assistant trainer Sharon Ross said Stryker Phd—the first horse to win the Longacres Mile twice at Emerald Downs—is a go for the $60,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic on Sunday, September 13.

At 1 1/16 miles, the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic anchors the 2015 Washington Cup, six stakes worth an aggregate $310,000 exclusively for Washington-breds.

“Today was his first day back at the track for Stryker, and he’s doing great,” Ross said. “The Washington Cup fits the schedule.”

In winning Sunday’s 80th Mile, Stryker Phd rallied from ninth for a one-length victory in 1:34.06 and earned a career-high 99 Beyer, two points higher than last year’s Mile and a point better than his previous best in the Budweiser Handicap two months ago.

Following the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, Stryker Phd could be shipped to Golden Gate Fields for the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap, a Grade 3 at one mile on Tapeta. Although the stakes schedule isn’t set, the Berkeley is usually run in late November.

Such a scenario would allow Stryker Phd to be turned out in the winter before taking a run at a Longacres Mile three-peat as a 7-year-old in 2016.

“He likes having those three months off,” Ross said. “It works well for him.”

Stryker Phd’s seven straight stakes wins ties Ropersandwranglers for second longest streak in Emerald Downs’ history, and a victory in the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic would tie Stopshoppingdebbie’s track record of eight straight stakes wins.

In fact, Stryker Phd began his Emerald Downs winning streak with a 3 ¼-length victory in the 2013 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.99. He sat out last year’s race, mainly due to a short two-week gap between The Mile and Washington Cup, and the schedule was revamped this year with an eye toward luring horses from The Mile.

With a career mark of 21-8-5-5-$485,651, Stryker Phd has moved into 10th place all-time in Washington-bred earnings. His $437,046 in Emerald Downs’ earnings ranks fourth behind Wasserman ($575,024), Assessment ($472,744) and Noosa Beach ($465,308). His seven stakes wins are tied with Jumron Won for sixth all-time.

The Washington Cup is restructured this year with two races for older horses, the Muckleshoot Tribal Classic for routers and $50,000 Chinook Pass Sprint Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs. Noosito, Del Rio Harbor and Absolutely Cool, fourth, fifth and sixth place finishers in the Longacres Mile, are obvious candidates for either race.

 

Stakes Heaven!

Washington Horse of the Year Stryker Phd won his seventh straight stakes at Emerald Downs with his win in the Longacres Mile.

Horse	Consecutive EmD Stakes Wins
Stopshoppingdebbie	8
Stryker Phd	7
Ropersandwranglers	7
Fleet Pacific & Noosa Beach	6
— Emerald Downs Media

ROSS & MAWING COMBO CONTINUES HOT

The combination of trainer Larry Ross and jockey Leslie Mawing is smoking hot at Emerald Downs.

In fact, their 2015 success is unprecedented: 25-14-5-2-$335,012, with six stakes wins—including Stryker Phd in the Longacres Mile and Belle Hill in the Washington Oaks.

That equals 56 percent wins, and an amazing $13,400 per start. Their combined record in 2014/ 2015 is 80-25-17-8-$683,471 with nine stakes wins.

Ross and Mawing also are climbing the ladder in all-time Emerald Downs stakes wins—Ross is 10th with 22 while Mawing is fourth with 39. Combined Larry and Sharon Ross have 45 stakes wins here, which would rank No. 3 all-time behind Doris Harwood (66) and Bud Klokstad (49).

LADY ROSBERG EYES WASHINGTON CUP

Top Training Accomplishment is shaping up as the toughest category for voters in 2015, with several sensational achievements to ponder:

Larry Ross becoming the first trainer to win two straight Longacres Miles with the same horse at Emerald Downs, guiding the 6-year-old gelding to a 6-6-0-0 record the last two seasons.

Jeff Metz capturing his third straight training title.

Tom Wenzel for two straight sweeps of the older filly and mare division, an unprecedented feat culminated by Lady Rosberg’s 3 ¾-length romp in Sunday’s $65,000 Emerald Distaff.

Who knows, perhaps the Washington Cup will sway the vote. Stryker Phd is committed to the $60,000 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic while the Wenzel-trained Lady Rosberg would be odds-on in the $50,000 Pegasus Training Center Stakes for older fillies and mares, a race Wenzel said he and owner Karl Krieg would consider.

With Stryker Phd winning The Mile and Lady Rosberg taking the Distaff, it marks the first time since 2007 that Washington-breds have swept the track’s two biggest events for older horses.

Wenzel swept this year’s series with two horses, Kikisoblu winning the one-turn Hastings Handicap and Washington State Legislators Stakes and Lady Rosberg winning the two-turn Boeing Handicap and Emerald Distaff.

A 5-year-old homebred by Rosberg-Enter Laughing, Lady Rosberg earned an 83 Beyer in the Distaff, running 1 1/8miles in 1:48.68, and pushing her career mark to 15-8-2-2-$170,022.

UPCOMING EVENTS

August 22: Emerald AM/Breakfast at the Wire

August 29: Final Breakfast at the Wire

August 30: Italian Day

September 7: Labor Day Racing

September 14: Washington Cup Day

MATCH-UP OF THE WEEK: COURAGE OF FAITH & WHERE’S MY VOUCHER

Friday’s feature race is a $15,000 claiming for 3-year-olds headed by Courage of Faith and Where’s My Voucher.

Courage of Faith has the tactical style to sit anywhere during the race, but will likely get a good trip behind a projected fast pace. He’s been running against tougher lately and won by 3 1/4 lengths at this level in early July. Look for the good old stalk-and-pounce!

Where’s My Voucher set fast splits and just failed to last at the same condition last month. He moves far outside for the meet’s leading barn, and Juan Gutierrez has four wins aboard this gelding in 2015. Gate-to-wire at low odds.

Also entered: Cash N Dash, Percy’s Bluff, The Search is Over, Mr. Takahashi, Hot Bobby, Private Boss and Red Ridge.

FAST TIMES & FIGURES: WEEK 18

Friday, August 14
Race 1: Bird Colonel-66**
Race 2: Cats Ransom-40
Race 3: Wedgey Time-63
Race 4: Northern Choice-61
Race 5: Tim Tim Tim-57
Race 6: Disruption-79
Race 7: Stormin Parker-54

Saturday, August 15
Race 1: Jacango (qh)
Race 2: Furriddle (qh)
Race 3: Allaboutthatbass-48#
Race 4 Vistarella-64
Race 5: Go Diva Go-55*
Race 6: National Wonder-35
Race 7: Luck Out-59
Race 8: Mach One Rules-72*
Race 9: Princess Kennedy-56
Race 10: Exclusive Gold-40

Sunday, August 16
Race 1: Lamu-65*
Race 2: En Avant-40*
Race 3: Memo to Reese-44
Race 4: Roxie Heart-42
Race 5: Cash Gaming-72*
Race 6: Tabled With Gold-68
Race 7: Lady Rosberg-83
Race 8: Stryker Phd-99*
Race 9: Tribal Waters-71*
Race 10: Scat Daddybaby-98*
Race 11: Square Jimmer-58
*career high
**ties career-high
#first-time starter

2015 Fastest Times
4 1/2 Furlongs :51.25 Kiss My Lulu, June 27
5 Furlongs :56.70 Power Fleet, May 16
5-½ Furlongs 1:02.39 O B Harbor, April 18
6 Furlongs 1:08.33 Dare Me Devil, August 9
6-½ Furlongs 1:14.27 Fleet Eagle, May 17
1 Mile 1:34.06 Stryker Phd, August 16
1 1/16 Mile 1:42.79 Betrbegone, July 12
870 Yards :45.85 Grand Move, May 30

 

FINISH LINES: Weekly Honors #18-Jockey- Leslie Mawing ; Trainer- Larry Ross ; Owner- Jim & Mona Hour ; Groom- Gumaro Martinez (Frank Lucarelli) ; WTBOA Washington-bred- Stryker Phd ; Exercise Rider of the Week- Brad Balcom ( Robbie Baze ) . . . Mach One Rules’ 72 Beyer is highest at the meet by a 2-year-old and six points better than Trackattacker earned winning the 2014 WTBOA Lads. . .Lads runner-up Viewingthegold also got a 72, and the terrific effort by the first-time starter makes his head defeat one of the toughest of the meet. . . Julien Couton serves a two-day suspension Friday and Saturday, but begins Week 19 with a 75-59 lead over Juan Gutierrez in the Thoroughbred jockeys’ standings. . . Javier Matias tops the Quarter Horse standings with a sterling 6-for-11 record in QH races. . .Both Washington-breds by Harbor the Gold , Mach One Rules and Viewingthegold could have a rematch in the $50,000 Captain Condo Stakes on September 13. . .Sunday’s 11-race card begins with two 440-yards trials for the $60,000 Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge on Sunday, September 6. Defending champion Chicks Special Angel drew the one-hole in Race 1 with Jesus Valenzuela up for trainer Jose Sanguino . The 10 fastest times qualify for the final. . .Saturday simulcasts include the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar, featuring Beholder taking on the boys at 1 1/4 miles. Also Saturday at Del Mar, Boyett , runner-up to Stryker Phd in last year’s Mile, races in a $78,000 allowance/optional claimer on turf., and 2014 Muckleshoot Tribal Classic winner Mike Man’s Gold runs in a $32,000 claimer at six-furlongs

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 – Desormeaux Barn Buzzing Over Exaggerator

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Obviously faces Talco, Bal a Bali in Del Mar Mile comeback 

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Change of plans for Highland Reel or Lucky Speed?

Bloodhorse – Acapulco Second to Mecca’s Angel in Nunthorpe

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Ward expects big effort from Acapulco in Friday’s Nunthorpe

ESPN – Cronley – Place it at your own risk

Edmonton Journal – Laliotis – Social Seen: The Canadian Derby

Edmonton Sun – FRANK FONTANA’s Northlands Favourites

Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Friday August 21, 2015

Matt’s Picks and Free Program – Saturday August 22, 2015

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

ESPN’s Jay Cronley often advocates the use of  ALL for the third line of Triactors and the third and fourth line of Superfectas. How many bettors were walking around Northlands Park on Saturday shaking their heads with Triactors and Superfectas that had Academic the second favourite on top, Witt Six the third choice on the second line and no Cowboys Don’t Cry on the third.  With the Triactor paying $799.45 for a $1.00 ticket and the Superfecta paying $10,010.75 for a $1.00 ticket not hitting the ALL button is enough to make even the crustiest Cowboy Cry.

A $1.00 Triactor with 3 horses to 3 horses to ALL is $60.00. A $1.00 Superfecta 3 horses to 3 horses to ALL to ALL is $540.00 and 20 center is $108.00.

Results for the 86th Running Of The Canadian Derby (Grade III)

Man has such a predilection for systems and abstract deductions that he is ready to distort the truth intentionally, he is ready to deny the evidence of his senses only to justify his logic.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Bloodhorse – Jess’s Dream Entered for Monday at Spa

 This Weekend’s  Stakes

TwinSpires Blog – Simon – Analyzing Workouts

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Ebor Festival preview: Juddmonte International and beyond

TwinSpires Blog – Reilly – Juddmonte International clash an example U.S. would be wise to emulate more often

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE kicks back into action this Friday, the night before the PNE Opens with no less then 6 stakes races on the card.  Entries for Friday will be taken today and it should be a great program.  First post time is 7:00pm

MONDAY RACING STARTS ON AUGUST 24

Because of the PNE opening on Saturday we will run on Monday, August 24th with a 4:00pm first post and Monday, August 31 as well at 4:00pm and Monday, September 7th (Labor Day) will be the regular 1:50pm post time.

TUESDAY IS STATS DAY

As of Sunday we have run a total of 257 races in which 236 are overnight races and 21 stakes races.

In those 257 races a total of 1764 horse have run now giving us an average of 6.86 horses per race. The average has dropped severely in the last few weeks.

The track has been fast on 33 of 34 days this season which must be some kind of record by now?

PURSE POOL IS WITHIN BUDGET

The purse pool is well within our budget after 34 days of live racing and the racing office has done a admiral job this year keeping us within budget.

The total payout to overnight races to date is $3,097,000.00 and a average payout per race of $14,706.16 for 236 races.

The stake payout to date stands at $1,095,000.00 with $332,050.00 coming from nominations and $75,000 from sponsorship of the Redekop Classic and Pegasus Distaff on BC Cup Day.

Hastings Wrap-up For August 21—-Richard Yates

It was an amazingly nice night at historic old Hastings Racecourse. The temperature was perfect for humans and horses, it might have been the best evening of the summer.   A lively and sizable crowd was on hand, and despite some PNE induced logistical problems (for example, Where Do I Park My ##@%**Car?), a good time was had by the overwhelming majority. There were six, count ‘em, six stakes races, with a couple of lesser contests thrown in to make an eight race Friday night card for the first time since who knows when.

Why not just go through the six stakes in order?

Touching Promise Holds Off Locket

The opener was the British Columbia Cup Distaff Handicap, a race that was short on competitors and long on competition as Touching Promise ($6.70) proved a diminishing neck better than Lockett after a mile-and-an-eighth in 1:51.10 over a fast track, but a track that is not playing as fast as it was earlier in the season. Amber Moon was third of four and Dawselina tired to finish fourth and last after setting the early pace.

Touching Promise took over the front end from Dawselina after three-quarters in 1:12.62 and from there it was just a matter of whether jockey Amadeo Perez had enough horse left to hold off the steady late close from Lockett. In the end, he did, but it got very close.

Touching Promise was bred in British Columbia by her owners, R. J. and Lois Bennett. She is by Touch Gold out of an Old Trieste mare and is to date by far the best horse out of the mare. Barb Heads trains.

Stanz in Command Remains Unbeaten

The New Westminster Handicap, an open stake for two-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs, was won by the BC-bred Stanz in Command ($6.70) who closed strongly to take his second stakes in two starts, this one by a half-length over Dashing Don who came into the race a perfect two for two. Favored Fear of the Cat ran third.

Longshot Capital Expense went to the lead with Dashing Don, under David Lopez, never far away. They went like that to mid-way of the final turn when Dashing Don took over and looked a winner while doing it. But Stanz in Command just kept eating away at the gap between them and eventually got past Dashing Don shortly before the wire. The final time was 1:19.30.

Stanz in Command is by Second in Command who stands at Road’s End Farm. He was bred in British Columbia by White House Stables who sold him to his owner, Robert Scott in the 2014 CTHS Sale for $7,500. Charlene Miller does the training.

C U At Eau Claire Says See You Later

The Hard Rock Casino Vancouver handicap went to C U At Eau Claire ($3.90) in a very convincing win over a small field of two-year-old fillies. Ridden very confidently by Richard Hamel, the winner opened up by five lengths on the final turn and had plenty left to keep the well regarded Snuggles at bay by more than 3 lengths. Snuggles was well clear of Our Bonita Rose who finished third after harassing the winner early, to no avail.

Our Bonita Rose ran by C U At Eau Claire early on the backstretch, but that was short lived. C U At Eau Claire moved to the front again from along the rail and then she moved away emphatically and once she separated it was over. The final time of 1:18.62 was easily 3 lengths faster than the two-year-old boys ran one race earlier. C U At Eau Claire has established herself as the best two-year-old filly for the time being, and Snuggles would appear to be the best maiden in the division.

C U At Eau Claire is a BC-bred daughter of Haynesfield (Speightstown) and the unraced Awesome Again mare, Sweetheart Rose who has now produced three stakes winners. Don B. Danard acquired her from her breeders, Tod Mtn Thoroughbreds, for $38,000 in the 2014 CTHS Sale. Greg Tracy trains.

Bluegrass Angus:  He Is The Fastest

The Richmond Derby Trial Handicap went with 5 horses and there can be no doubt that Bluegrass Angus ($2.70) was the best of them as he pulled away in the stretch for a comfortable 2 length win over Don’t Hold Me Back. Third went to Aditya who fought all the way but could not stay with winner and got caught late for the place. Final time for the mile-and-a-sixteenth was 1:44.95.

Bluegrass Angus took over the lead from along the rail soon after the break and gave Richard Hamel his second stakes win in a row. Aditya did what he could to bother Bluegrass Angus on the front-end, but he was just not fast enough to do so. When the time came the winner moved away with authority and never looked in danger of losing. The recent Kentucky claim and newcomer Don’t Hold Me Back closed well to show he fits and may like another sixteenth of a mile, as in the 1 1/8 BC Derby.

Bluegrass Angus was bred in Kentucky. The son of Bluegrass Cat was bought in the September 2013 Keeneland sale for $5,000. He has now won three stakes in a row for owner Copper Water Thoroughbred Company and trainer Craig MacPherson. He is obviously the local horse to beat in the upcoming BC Derby.

Morning Coffee Beats Sailingforthesun

Morning Coffee ($2.60) was the shortest priced winner on a day of short prices, and she was full value in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap, a test for three-year-old fillies. Morning Coffee was a little more than 2 lengths clear of Sailingforthesun following a mile-and-a-sixteenth in 1:46.23. Ambleside Park was a distance back in third.

Pedro Alvarado had Morning Coffee in front early, but Sailingforthesun, despite not getting away well and rushing up to take the lead, made her presence felt for a while. That, however, was never going to last and late in the backstretch, Morning Coffee retook the lead and removed any suspense as to the outcome. Although It must be said that Sailingforthesun put in a first-class try in a race where things did not go right for her.

Morning Coffee is by Quiet American out of a Tale of the Cat mare. She was bred in Kentucky but owner Michael Whieldon acquired her through the claim box at Santa Anita for $65,000. She has now won two stakes in two starts at Hastings for trainer Rosann Anderson.

Brass and Gold: Classic

The British Columbia Cup Classic Handicap went to Brass and Gold ($6.10) for the second time in three years, he having won the 2013 edition as well. Herbie D ran second and Wilo Kat came from far back to be third. Time for the mile-and-an-eighth was 1:51.17.

Herbie D and Brass and Gold were in front right out of the gate, but Cowie Creek, who did not break well, rushed up on the outside and cleared to a two or three length lead over Herbie D first time by the grandstand. Herbie D is seven and probably a step or so slower, however running by him early is not likely to be the path to success, particularly if you are going a mile-and-an-eighth. In any case, Cowie Creek ran a brave race, but he was done as a contender just past the three-quarters when Herbie D moved past him and Brass and Gold moved past them both.

After Brass and Gold hit the lead he was not losing. Herbie D hung on well to be second and Wilo Kat put in his closing run to take third over a tired Cowie Creek. The win gave rider Pedro Alvarado a stakes double on the card and it provided owner/breeders R. J. and Lois Bennett with doubles in both categories. It was trainer Barb Heads second stakes win on the night. The winner is a Bennett homebred by Sungold out of Always Brassy by Dixieland Brass.

Also Noteworthy:

Richard Hamel and Pedro Alvarado both had back to back stakes wins on the card. Hamel continues to lead Alvarado by 7 wins. David Lopez also won two

Rosann Anderson and Michael Whieldon had owner and trainer doubles with Morning Coffee, as mentioned, and Bluegrass Pride in the fifth with Antonio Reyes riding.

Crackdown ($4.40) won the sixth for Mark DeDomenico and North American Thoroughbred Horse Company and trainer Troy Taylor. It was David Lopez’s second win on the night.

Lady and the Track – Smith – Chart Calling Suits Carly Kaiser

ESPN – The Pen Is Mightier Than the Whip

CTHS SALE PREVIEW AT THE DERBY

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

Racing Post – Clower – Legendary trainer Bass in an induced coma

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED HORSE SOCIETY (BC Division)

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 – Angst – Delaware Valet Injured, Four Races Canceled

Bloodhorse – Novak – Shogood Looks to Step Up at Arlington

Bloodhorse – Mitchell – KHRC Approves Regulations for Mineral Cobalt

Bloodhorse – Mitchell – Medication Issues Dominate KHRC Meeting

Bloodhorse – Mitchell – Arkansas Commission Opposes Medication Bills

OCTOBER 3

$100 EARLY BIRD ENTRY FEE
(until September 19)

$125 ENTRY FEE
(starting September 20)

Sign up at the information desk.

Bloodhorse – Lwwyn – Record-Breaking Arqana Sale Concludes

Results for the Alberta HBPA Board of Directors election have been posted.

Want to meet the new Board.

Lady and The Track – Laughter – Deep Pat O’Brien Stakes for Breeders’ Cup Sprint Spot 

Bloodhorse – Appealing Tale Dials Back for Pat O’Brien

2015 WTBOA Summer Yearling Sale Average Up 17 Percent

The 59th annual Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale brought forth increases in both gross and average for the fourth straight year, while the median slipped slightly.

Held at the Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion located at Emerald Downs  in Auburn, Washington, this year’s August 18 sale cataloged 105 summer session yearlings, as well  as a dozen mixed and paddock session horses.
The energy level – and in fact the whole racing atmosphere in Washington – has been buoyant this year with the many positive changes seen at Emerald Downs this season and the recent boosts in the  overall Thoroughbred industry.

And the proverbial “cherry on top” was the not first, but second  exciting victory of WTBOA Sale poster boy Stryker Phd in the Northwest’s marquee race – the  $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) – held just two days prior to the sale.
Topping the venue was a filly (Hip 75) sired by top North American sire Into Mischief which was purchased by John Brocklebank, as agent, for $80,000. The striking dark bay, a daughter of multiple stakes producer Campanita, a half‐ sister to Grade 1 winner and Grade 1 producer Rings a Chime, was bred and consigned by Terry and Mary Lou Griffin’s Griffin Place LLC. Brocklebank also purchased Hip 12 from Griffin Place, a filly from the first crop of 2011 Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1)  winner Coil and out of the Tough Knight mare Mia F Eighteen, who has already produced $574,849  Grade 3 stakes winner Summer Hit and $198,697 stakes winner and Emerald Downs champion Starbird Road.
Brocklebank, who was the sale’s leading buyer, purchased a total of ten yearlings – ranging from $5,000 to the sale topper – for a total of $383,000. The Utah horseman also paid $75,000 for the sale’s third highest offering (Hip 82), a Stormin Fever filly out of Washington champion racemare Clair Annette consigned by Stormy Hull and Ginger Samples’ Critter Creek Farm.Fourteen other yearlings brought a $30,000 or higher price, including the $77,000 that nationally prominent Ten Broeck Farm – the nom de course for Woodinville resident and longtime Washington horseman David Mowat – paid for the Tiz Wonderful—Witchy Meeting filly (Hip 59) consigned by Blue Ribbon Farm, as agent for Patricia Murphy and Rick and Debbie Pabst. The filly is bred on the same lines as Grade 1 winner Condo Commando (by Tiz Wonderful out of a General Meeting mare).

Also bringing a $65,000 bid was a filly (Hip 37) from the first crop of 2012 Wood Memorial (G1) winner Gemologist. Consigned by Dr. Duane and Susan Hopp’s Castlegate Farm, the half‐sister to Grade 2 $683,263 stakes winner Briecat was purchased by trainer Mark Glatt of Monrovia, California.

After eight withdrawals, 97 summer session yearlings went through the ring with 74 selling for a $1,389,900 total (up nearly seven percent from the 2014 total), a $18,782 average (up 17 percent from 2014’s $16,056 figure) and a $10,000 median (down 4.8 percent from last year’s $10,500). There were 23 RNAs (reserve not attained) this sale (23.7 percent), which was a 27.8 percent increase from the 18 or 18.2 percent
in 2014.

Top Selling Yearlings
Hip       Name, Sex, Sire –Dam (Consignor) … Buyer, Price
75         unnamed, filly, Into Mischief—Campanita (Griffin Place LLC) … John Brocklebank, Agt, $80,000
59         unnamed, filly, Tiz Wonderful—Witchy Meeting (Blue Ribbon Farm, Agt for Pat Murphy & M/M F. L. Pabst) … Ten Broeck Farm $77,000

82         Barbara Jo, filly, Stormin Fever—Clair Annette (Critter Creek Farm, Stormy Hull & Ginger Samples) … John Brocklebank, Agt, $75,000
12         unnamed, filly, Coil—Mia F Eighteen (Griffin Place LLC) … John Brocklebank, $65,000
37         unnamed, filly, Gemologist—Silk Briefcase (Dr. & Mrs. Duane Hopp, Castlegate Farm) … Mark Glatt, $65,000
33         Flood Watch, colt, Forestry—Rewritten (Griffin Place, Agt for Carnation Racing Stable) … Glen Todd, $52,000
86         unnamed, filly, Atta Boy Roy—Crafty Diva (Tall Cedars Farm LLC) … River Ridge Ranch, $50,000
93         unnamed, colt, Sixthirteen—Felice the Cat (Bar C Racing Stables Inc., Pam & Neal Christopherson … John Brocklebank, Agt, $50,000

To review the complete preliminary sale results, go to www.wtboa.com. Final results will also be published in the Fall issue of the Washington Thoroughbred and will be added to the online WTBOA Sales Archives.

Bloodhorse – Ashleyluvssugar Sweetens Del Mar ‘Cap

TwinSpires Blog – Scully – Big John B, Wild Dude head Pacific Classic undercard stakes

  For Sale

ESPN – West – D. Wayne Lukas to turn 80

Get ready football fans! This September 12 is set to be the most exciting day you’ll have all year. We’re inviting you to join us here at Northlands Park Racetrack & Casino before the Battle of Alberta Labour Day Rematch! We want you to celebrate the Green & Gold with Beer, BBQ & Free Parking (w/a food bank donation) while cheering on live horse racing from Edmonton’s largest patio party. It’s going to be wall to wall fun and you shouldn’t miss a second of it!

Sept. 12, 1 to 5 p.m.

• 1 p.m. Post Time
• 5 p.m. Fan Parade to Commonwealth
• 5:30 p.m. Molson Fan Fest
• 7:30 p.m. Kick Off

*All times subject to change

Welcome to the Save-On-Foods Family Huddle – an alcohol-free, general admission section at Commonwealth Stadium during Eskimos home games.

Please note the new purchase location for Family Huddle tickets is Save-On-Foods.

Tickets are $27.50 (plus fees and taxes) for regular season games.

Get yours at participating Save-On-Foods in Edmonton and surrounding areas. Find a store near you.

Seating in the Save-On-Foods Family Huddle is located on the lower deck in sections PP, QQ, RR and on the upper deck in sections AA, BB, QQ and RR.

Please note that accessible seating is not available in this area.

Paulick Report – Smith – Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Justin Stein’s Most Unusual Life

The best Alberta-bred horses come together for one of the province’s most exciting race days. Come for the racing, but also enjoy great prizes and a marketplace featuring Alberta vendors!

September 19
Post Time: 1 p.m.

Bloodhorse – Angst – Filly Arabian Queen Stuns Golden Horn at York

Bloodhorse – CHRB Approves 2016 California Race Dates

$4,300 PICK-4 CARRYOVER TONIGHT

Bidding starts Friday for Pharoah, Zenyatta halters Paralyzed jockey Alyssa Selman, who said she was told by the spinal specialist that her injury is “as bad as it can be,” was delighted Saturday night at the Downs to be able to hold the halters of American Pharoah and Zenyatta which, along with Shaman Ghost’s halter and other historic memorabilia, begin a 10-day run on eBay to raise money for the Alyssa Selman Trust Fund. Except for short exhausting excursions in a wheelchair, Alyssa remains in the hospital for treatment and for physiotherapy which, she said, she has asked to have doubled to two hours a day. She hasn’t lost hope:  She points to someone who, after hitting his head diving, was told he would remain a quadriplegic but, 18 months later, is walking again.  She was paralyzed from the chest down after a spill from a horse that had clipped heels.

Predict the top price at Sunday’s sale

PREDICT YEARLING SALES TOPPER:

WIN A NIGHT OUT!

Win a “night out at the Downs” by predicting the highest price for a Manitoba yearling at this Sunday’s yearling sale.  Closest to being correct (without going over) wins:  (a) a Thursday night prime rib buffet for two (2) $50 in wagering vouchers for that night (3) $20 in free VLT spins that night.  TIE-BREAKER:  Also predict the SECOND-HIGHEST price that will be paid for a yearling. Email your predictions BY MIDNIGHT SATURDAY to theinsider@ASDowns.com.   IF YOU ARE AT THE SALE, YOU WILL GET DOUBLE the betting vouchers and double the VLT play.

Nelson lights up tote board at Northlands

	DO THE DOWNS Carryovers
Click for race schedule		Simple tips for winning (pass it on)
CLICK HERE TO ENLARGE

You’re invited to the yearling sale Sunday at 2:30 p.m. behind the grandstand

It’s a big stakes week at the Downs with three tonight and three on Saturday.  Note that Saturday’s stakes are exclusively for Manitoba-breds as a way to kick-off the CTHS yearling sale for Manitoba-breds on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on the Red River Ex grounds behind the grandstand.  Paddock host Rob MacLennan selects his winners below and promises to eat a garden slug for each one he gets wrong.  Ya, sure.  I just made that up after contemplating the banana slug eating contests they have in California and watching a You Tube video of a kid trying to eat one on a dare. Ugh!

Official stations of horse racing. Click to listen

	There’s a new face atop the leader board!
Trevor Tilston-Jones

HOTTIES OF THE WEEK Hottest jock: Renaldo Cumberbatch (5 wins) Hottest trainers: Shelley Brown (4 wins) Biggest upset: Ninja Prospector $25.90 (Fri. 7th) Biggest 20-cent superfecta: $1,640 (Wed. 5th — 3-6-7-2) BOB’S BLOG TODAY: When the Downs held a name-a-stake contest in 1959 (the year after it opened), what name emerged as the overwhelming favourite?  Think about it for a moment before you peek here.  There are lots of clues in this column.

The long and short of it The new claiming series designed for hard-working blue collar (blue halter?) horses saw routers and sprinters sparring in special $11,000 semi-final races Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the always hard-trying 7-year-old gelding Flexiplus (41-5-5-4)  dug in (photo on left) to win the longest race of the year at 1 1/4-miles ($7.90) over Duke Street King. Ridden by Chavion Chow, Flexi is trained by Tanya Lindsay and owned by Martin Yeroschak. And on Saturday 4-year-old gelding Papa Smitty (18-7-0-1) put away six foes in a 5f dash and paid his backers $7. Ridden by Rohan Singh, Papa is trained by Elton Dickey and owned by Dickey and Lori Mann who did a yeoman job helping organize the highly-successful benefit social for jockey Alyssa Selman three weeks ago.

David and Anne Champion with Charley Horse

CHAMPIONS ARE CHAMPIONS: Happiness is walking to the Winner’s Circle without pain after having invested so much in yearlings through the years.  So the big smile on David Champion’s face after race 5 last Wednesday was as much a result of having had a hip replacement as collecting, with wife Anne, the $5,700 purse when their horse, Foxy Champ, won his second race of the year.  They had purchased the Quest colt at the yearling sale in 2013 for $8,250.  Wednesday’s win brought his earnings to $16,226.  Ridden by Shavon Belle and trained by Darrell Lawson, Foxy paid $18.40 to win and set up a huge 20-cent superfecta that paid $1,640.  Couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple.  Does that mean they’ll be celebrating their wedding anniversary by bidding on a yearling at this Sunday’s sale?

Cheque, mate?   Memorialize your big wins Winning big is even more fun when you immortalize that win to send to friends by posing with a big cheque — which is available with any win of more than $1,000.  Just tell the mutuel supervisor or VLT hostess that you want to grab a picture of your VLT or racing success and the cheque will be prepared for your picture-taking.

So how much will Sunday’s yearling sales topper fetch?

Bloodhorse – Novak – Wise Dan Works, Woodbine Mile Most Likely

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 – Something for Everybody in Monmouth Oaks

Bloodhorse – Novak – Middleburg Keeps Knocking in Cliff Hanger

Bloodhorse – Angst – Sheer Drama Works Toward Personal Ensign

Bloodhorse – Lexie Lou Entered Wednesday at Woodbine

Bloodhorse – Mississippi Delta Set for Ontario Colleen

Bloodhorse – Angst – Bobby’s Kitten Returns in Play the King

NY Times – Belson – No Suspension of Arguments as Tom Brady Case Becomes a Test of Wills

Phil’s Drink and a Flick

Old Fashioned

The True Cost

Vogue

The Globe And Mail – Smith – Berenstain Bears debate is a case of Schrodinger’s nostalgia

New York Times – Manjoo – Ad Blockers and the Nuisance at the Heart of the Modern Web

Esquire – The ESQ&A: Keith Richards Explains Why Sgt. Pepper Was Rubbish

I believe time wounds all heels.
John Lennon

Gimme Sympathy

NY Times – Little League Softball Scandal Ends in Elimination for the Accused

The Globe and Mail – Cheney – Driving trucks and ranching with NHL legend and ‘farm boy’ Brian Sutter

NY Times – Reuters – Blanket Ban of Nations Over Doping Is Considered

The best way to destroy the capitalist system is to debauch the currency.
Vladimir Lenin

NY Times – OpEd – Fischer and McWilliams – When Vegans Won’t Compromise

National Post – National Post View: Throwing cheaters under the bus

Gimme Shelter

Back In The USSR

Phil M Stockmen