Saturday, September 27 2008

SLEW’S TIZZY ENDS SLIDE WITH DOMINANT WIN IN MILE ALLOWANCE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2008) – Slew’s Tizzy, winless in nine starts since taking the Lone Star Derby in May of last year, dominated his competition Friday when a 3 ¼-length winner of Oak Tree’s $61,800 allowance feature at one-mile over Santa Anita’s new Pro-Ride synthetic surface.

Sent to the front soon after the start by jockey Joel Rosario, the 4-year-old son of two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Tiznow coasted through moderate fractions before completing his assertive journey in 1:35.66.

STABLE NOTES, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2008

PEDROZA SAYS ODDS ARE NO DETERRENT IN GOODWOOD STAKES

Martin Pedroza teamed with Julio Canani to win the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap with 50-1 outsider Martial Law in 1989, so he has little reservation about the stretch-running Mostacolli Mort being 15-1 on the morning line for tomorrow’s Grade I $500,000 Goodwood Stakes.

“Price doesn’t mean anything in this kind race, or in any kind of race,” Pedroza said. “Once you know the horse can run and the horse is capable, you know you have a chance.”

With a record 561 career victories at Fairplex Park, Pedroza is the undeniable King of Pomona. “I don’t see why my horse can’t win the Goodwood,” said Pedroza, fresh from winning his 10th consecutive riding title and his 11th overall at Fairplex. “He only has one way of going, and, hopefully the way the track is and with his style of running, I think it will suit him very well. The track is playing pretty fair, but in a race like this, I hope the speed comes back to us.”

Spreading the News about Curlin and The Jockey Club Gold Cup

The New York Racing Association is using a full range of media opportunities to promote the third consecutive appearance of Curlin at one of its tracks. The reigning Horse of the Year headlines Saturday’s 90th running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (race 10, 5:52 p.m.) at Belmont Park. If he wins the 11/4-mile contest, Curlin will surpass Cigar and become the highest earning Thoroughbred in American racing history, the first to reach $10 million dollars in purse money won.

On track, fans have been seeing a Jockey Club Gold Cup promo on the self -service betting terminals and light-boxes featuring bright, colorful “Curlin in the Gold Cup” imagery have been installed prominently around Belmont Park.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008

COAL PLAY LIKELY A SHORT PRICE IN CLOSING DAY STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Coal Play, who threw a scare into Big Brown when he led much of the way in the Haskell Invitational, will be favored over four rivals in Sunday’s $70,000 Majestic Prince Stakes, final stakes event of the Monmouth meeting*Jason Servis, whose brother John conditioned champion Smarty Jones, has a filly in his barn by Smarty Jones, who also keeps alive the Jimmy Croll legacy at Monmouth.

The final stakes race of Monmouth’s 2008 season is Sunday’s $70,000 Majestic Prince at a mile and a sixteenth. The stakes drew a field of five, and all eyes will be on Robert LaPenta’s Coal Play, who was last seen throwing a scare into Big Brown in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational here on Aug. 3.

FORTUNATE SLEW TAKES FRIDAY FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Menotti Lembo’s Fortunate Slew splashed home a winner in the $51,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Friday after stepping the mile over sloppy main track in 1:38 3/5.

Trained by Manuel Berrios and ridden by Carlos Cruz, Fortunate Slew paid $15, $5.60 and $3.40. Helen’s the One held well for second, paying $3.40 and $2.60. The exacta returned $56.40. Cosmic Dance, the post time favorite, returned $2.10 to show in the field of six fillies and mares.

CLASSY AWESOME GEM 8-TO-5 FAVORITE IN $200,000 ALL AMERICAN STAKES AT GGF

ALBANY -- The classy Awesome Gem, a 5-year-old gelding who has earned $1,179,882 in 19 career starts, has been made an 8-to-5 morning line favorite in the $200,000 All American Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

The All American, a 1 1/8-mile contest for 3-year-olds and up, is the featured third race on a 10-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. Fans attending the track Saturday will receive a free Golden Gate Fields sweatshirt.

Awesome Gem has competed in Grade 1 stakes in five of his last seven races and holds a tremendous class advantage over his six rivals in the Grade 3 All American. Although seventh in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in his most recent outing, he was beaten less than five lengths by winner Go Between.

Friday, September 26 2008

EAST VS. WEST SHOWDOWN LOOMS IN SUNDAY’S GRADE I NORFOLK

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2008) – Trainer Bob Baffert’s unbeaten Midshipman, established as the West’s premier 2-year-old, will be confronted on Sunday by Eastern invaders Regal Ransom and Silent Valor in Oak Tree’s Grade I, $250,000 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Norfolk, at 1 1/16 miles, presents the first distance test for the trio. The event’s 39th running plus the Grade II, $200,000 Oak Tree Mile conclude Oak Tree’s portion of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the “Win and You’re In” ticket to the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Oct. 24 and 25.

Owned and bred by Stonerside Stable, Midshipman will face nine of his peers while attempting to provide Baffert with his fifth victory in the Norfolk. Midshipman is coming off a pair of sprint scores that included the Grade I Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs. Tyler Baze rides the Unbridled’s Song colt.

GIANT WRECKER HOPING TO “COME OF AGE” IN KELSO

When Giant Wrecker showed up in Anthony Dutrow’s barn this past April, the trainer could only shake his head in admiration. Still productive at age 6, the son of Giant’s Causeway also brought with him a zest for racing that remains unabated.

“He really enjoys being a racehorse,” said Dutrow of Giant Wrecker, who previously was trained by Mark Hennig. “He’s happy, man. He likes it. All of us horse people care about our horses as if they were our children, and when they’re around as long as he’s been, they become someone really special to their connections. A lot goes into planning their campaigns. Mark did a great job with him.”

JACKSON CURLIN FOR KIDS FUND TO DONATE $100,000 TO ANNA HOUSE

ELMONT, NEW YORK (September 26, 2008) -- Saturday morning, several hours before Stonestreet Stable’s defending Horse of the Year Curlin attempts to make history in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, one of his owners, Barbara R. Banke, will deliver books and a check for $100,000 from “Jackson Curlin For Kids” to Anna House, Belmont Park’s on-track day care center for the children of backstretch workers at Belmont Park, Aqueduct Racetrack and Saratoga Race Course.

Banke and her husband, Jess Jackson, are the majority owners of Curlin, who will become the first American Thoroughbred to earn $10 million if he can win the 90th running of the prestigious Grade 1, 1¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.

RACING CANCELLED AT BELMONT PARK TODAY

With Belmont Park hit with an inch and a half of rain overnight and the prediction that two more inches, accompanied by high winds, are on the way today, the New York Racing Association has cancelled today’s live racing program. Belmont Park will remain open for simulcast wagering and the NYRA Rewards account wagering Telebet option will be available as well.

Today’s cancellation will also enable NYRA to keep Belmont Park’s track and turf courses in the best condition possible for Saturday’s race card, which features five Grade 1 stakes, topped by the 90th running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup. With a win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin would become the first American thoroughbred to top $10 million in career earnings.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, Sept. 26, 2008

PRAY FOR ACTION BRED PERFECTLY FOR MONMOUTH SUCCESS

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Pray for Action, who goes in the colt division of Saturday’s $200,000 NATC Futurity, has the right pedigree profile for success at Monmouth * A new policy regarding front shoes will be in place from the start of the Meadowlands meeting on Tuesday*Fan Appreciation Day this Sunday with free Grandstand, ½ price Clubhouse admission.

If you’ve always wanted to build the perfect racehorse for success at Monmouth, you can stop studying nicks and start eyeing a handsome gray colt named Pray for Action.

MEADOWLANDS MEET BEGINS WITH A BANG

A seven-week engagement of live thoroughbred racing kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Meadowlands.

The 41-day meet runs through Saturday, Nov.15, with live racing six days a week. Post time is 1:10 p.m. Monday - Wednesday, and 7 p.m. Thursday - Saturday.

The $350,000 Grade II Meadowlands Cup on Friday, Oct. 3, headlines an action-packed opening week. Probable starters for the race include Belmont winner Da'Tara and 2007 Grade III Pegasus champion Actin Good. Trained by Bobby Dibona, Actin Good posted his first win in five starts this season in an allowance on Sept. 7 at Monmouth. Also expected to run are Shopton Lane, who swept the Formal Gold and Skip Away Stakes this year at Monmouth, and Indy Wind, two-time winner of the Alysheba Stakes at the Meadowlands.