Tuesday, September 23 2008

OAK TREE, NTRA INITIATE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO ATTRACT NEW FANS & OWNERS

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 22, 2008)—Oak Tree at Santa Anita, in conjunction with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), has announced it will initiate a race track Ambassador Program designed to attract and cultivate new fans and owners beginning Thursday, Oct. 2.

The program, which was piloted this past summer at Del Mar, is the brainchild of Orange County-based dentist Troy Racki, who is also a licensed horse owner. Under his direction, the program’s goal is to offer participants a unique and interactive experience in the stable area and on the front-side of the race track.

CURLIN HAS FINAL TUNEUP FOR RECORD-BREAKING ATTEMPT

Reigning Horse of the Year Curlin had a “perfect” workout Monday morning in his final move before attempting to become the first American racehorse to break the $10 million mark in Saturday’s 90th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational at Belmont Park.

Under regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas, the 4-year-old Stonestreet colt covered a half-mile in an easy 51.85 on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course. Curlin went in fractions of 13 and 25.70 while galloping out five furlongs in 1:06.15 over the fast training track.

“Perfect,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “It was his normal work before he runs. He got over the ground really well and we are all excited about Saturday.”

MEADOWLANDS HOSTS BREEDERS’ CUP LEGENDS

The three jockeys who dueled in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic are together again -- and racing fans can meet them in person Friday, October 3 at the Meadowlands.

Pat Day, Angel Cordero, Jr. and Laffit Pincay, Jr. will greet fans and sign autographs beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the Paddock Level. Plus, 15 lucky fans and their guests will win dinner with the Hall of Fame jockeys in Pegasus Restaurant that night. The three legendary jockeys are touring the country to commemorate the 25th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Their ultimate finish line is the 2008 championships at Santa Anita Park.

Candy Ride Filly Tops Monday Session of Keeneland September

Lexington, KY (September 22, 2008) – A filly by Candy Ride (ARG) brought a final bid of $52,000 to top Monday’s session of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale.

Consigned by Stony Point, agent, the filly is out of the unraced Dixieland Band mare Wise Love and from the family of stakes winners Mystical Mood, Stevie Wonderboy, and Short Stay. She was purchased by Albatroz Bloodstock, agent for Haras Cifra.

On Monday, a total of 211 horses were sold for gross receipts of $1,585,700, down 39.7 percent from 2007 when 243 horses brought $2,630,500. The session average of $7,515 was down 30.6 percent from last year’s figure of $10,825, while the median decreased 35.7 percent from $7,000 to $4,500.

DELPARK STAKE ADVANCE - DELAWARE CERTIFIED

September 23, 2008, Wilmington, DE-Thoroughbreds raised or trained in Delaware will take center stage Saturday at Delaware Park with the presentation of four $75,000 restricted stake races for Delaware Certified Thoroughbreds.

The Delaware Certified Distaff, the Small Wonder, the First State Dash, and the Delaware Certified highlight the eleven race card, with a first race post time of 12:45 p.m.

Monday, September 22 2008

Lickety Lemon finds winning note in Flaming Page

TORONTO, September 21 - Charles Laloggia's Lickety Lemon captured Sunday's 1 1/2-mile Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine.

The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, who won the Belmont Stakes at the same distance on dirt, gobbled up the extra yardage like an experienced stayer, galloping away to win the $102,500 event.

"She's got great endurance," said winning jockey Chantal Sutherland.

The bay filly is the second Woodbine-based sophomore in as many days to successfully defeat elder rivals. On Saturday, Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon won the Overskate Stakes in convincing fashion.

GET FUNKY EYES MORVICH REPEAT AS OAK TREE OPENS WEDNESDAY

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2008) – Defending champion Get Funky, seeking an assured Breeders’ Cup berth, heads 12 entrants in Wednesday’s Grade III, $100,000 Morvich Handicap as the Oak Tree Racing Association launches its 40th season at Santa Anita with two of the 26 racing dates comprising Breeders’ Cup XXV on Oct. 24 and 25.

The 35th Morvich, at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, is part of the Breeders’ Cup’s innovative “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series with the winner to secure a starting spot in this year’s inaugural $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

LONESOME GLORY RECAP

Harold A. Via Jr.’s Good Night Shirt, tracing his own hoofprints that lead to a championship season in 2007, returned to Belmont Park on Sunday afternoon and successfully defended his title in the second running of the Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Steeplechase at two and a half miles over national fences.

Last year, he followed his Lonesome Glory victory with a fourth in the Grand National at Far Hill, N.J., but then won the Colonial Cup at Camden, S.C. to win the Eclipse as 2007’s top steeplechase horse.

This year, the 7-year-old Concern gelding won the Georgia Cup and Iroquois and made the Lonesome Glory his fourth straight Grade 1 victory. And this was despite a four-month layoff and spotting his rivals from four to 20 pounds as the 158-pound highweight in the Lonesome Glory.

BELMONT PARK NOTES, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008

Shadwell Stable will be represented Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh by Argentina-bred Lucky Island, whose four-race win streak was snapped when he stumbled at the break and lost all chance as the favorite in the Grade 1 Forego Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

The four-year-old son of Lucky Roberto worked a half-mile in 49.13 this morning at Belmont Park’s fast training track and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s assistant, Artie Magnusson, reported he is “doing better than ever.”

“First Defence ran really big in the Forego, but it was unlucky for us,” said Magnusson.

DELOSVIENTOS SETS TRACK RECORD IN POINT GIVEN STAKES VICTORY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * A day after jockey Eddie Castro won five races, including two stakes, he seized the top prize once again with The Big Stable’s Delosvientos in the $100,000 Point Given Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Delosvientos assumed the lead shortly after the start in the 12-furlong, three-turn feature, and he never relented that position in a scratch-reduced field of four. His final time of 2:31.12 also set a track record at the rarely-run distance, shaving two-fifths from the previous mark, set by Malibu Moonshine on June 10, 2006.

Graeme Hall Colt Tops Sunday Session

Lexington, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2008)—A colt by Graeme Hall brought a top price of $95,000 during Sunday’s session of Keeneland’s 15-day September Yearling Sale.

Leighton Brooke Racing bought the chestnut colt out of Divine Rockette, a winner of three races and $119,225 during her racing career. She is a daughter of Is It True.

Gainesway, as agent, sold Sunday’s session topper.

Catalano, Calabrese and Douglas Take Titles

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (Sept. 21, 2008) – The 96-day meeting at Arlington Park ended Sunday, Sept. 21 with owner Frank C. Calabrese, trainer Wayne Catalano and jockey Rene Douglas taking season crowns in their respective divisions.

The white and black diamond silks of Calabrese were displayed in the winner’s circle on 69 occasions, five shy of his own mark of 74 victories set last year. Calabrese has been leading owner in races won at Arlington Park every year since sharing the title with Lothenbach Stables in the year 2000. Calabrese has also been leading owner in purses earned in 2001, 2002 (excluding Breeders’ Cup Day), 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and was leading owner in purses won among non-Arlington Million winners in 2000 and 2004.