Thursday, September 04 2008

FRANKEL LOOKING FOR A THIRD WOODBINE MILE WIN

Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel will be looking for his third win in the Woodbine Mile on Sunday, when he sends out Juddmonte Farms' Ventura in the Grade 1, $1 million turf classic.

Ventura, a four-year-old daughter of Chester House, has won three of her five starts this year after campaigning in England as a two and three-year-old. She'll also try to become the first filly to win the Woodbine Mile in its 12 editions.

Fall Championship draws 10 for “Win and You’re In” shot

The 59th running of the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3), lengthened to 1 1/2 miles for its debut as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, has drawn a talented field of 10 for Saturdays’ renewal at Turfway Park.

Under the Challenge series’ “Win and You’re In” provision, the winner of the race automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, part of the $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita next month. Breeders’ Cup races that traditionally run on dirt will instead be run for the first time on an all-weather surface akin to Turfway’s Polytrack.

OAK TREE COMMEMORATIVE STEIN TO BE GIVEN AWAY OPENING DAY, SEPT. 24

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 3, 2008)—The Oak Tree Racing Association will kick off its 40th anniversary season by rewarding all fans who attend on-track with a beautiful Oak Tree Commemorative Stein on opening day, Sept. 24. This is the 22nd consecutive year the stein has been offered to fans, making it the longest running and most popular promotion in Oak Tree history.

The steins, free with paid admission, have become prized collector’s items and will feature the likeness of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who won an unprecedented four Breeders’ Cup races at Oak Tree in 2003. His four Breeders’ Cup champions, Halfbridled, Pleasantly Perfect, Johar and Action This Day, will also be depicted.

MCLAUGHLIN HOPES SPA SUCCESS CONTINUES IN GARDEN CITY

When Kiaran McLaughlin wrapped up his first training title at last Monday at Saratoga Race Course, the first congratulatory phone calls he received came from a pair of former title holders -- Todd Pletcher, who finished a close second in the standings, and D. Wayne Lukas, the Hall of Fame trainer for whom both McLaughlin and Pletcher were assistants.

“It meant a lot that both called me,” said McLaughlin. “It was a very nice accomplishment and a credit to my owners and the quality of the horses they sent me, and to my staff. We’ve got a nice group of horses.”

INDIAN BLESSING RETURNS VS. OLDER FOES IN RUFFIAN

The other morning at Saratoga Race Course, jockey John Velazquez was standing outside Indian Blessing’s stall after working the 2007 juvenile filly champion six furlongs in preparation for Saturday’s 33rd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Ruffian at Belmont Park.

“I never rode her going long, but if you can sit quietly with her, you can get her to rate in the middle of the track and give her a chance,” said Velazquez.

IDIDNTMEANTO CAPTURES FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

Jack Mandato’s Ididntmeanto prompted the early pace, dropped back to third on the turn, and then came with a rush through the stretch to take the $40,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Wednesday.

The winner, trained by Rick Dutrow Jr. and ridden by Pablo Fragoso, scored by nearly three lengths and stopped the timer in 1:10 3/5 for six furlongs on the fast main track.

LIVE RACING RETURNS TO LAUREL PARK ON SEPTEMBER 4

Live racing returns to Laurel Park tomorrow afternoon for the fall meeting. First post is 1:10 p.m. Opening day features free admission. Other September promotions include Back to Racing Barbeque (September 6); College Pride Day (September 13); Track Diva Day and Crab Feast (both September 20) and Vegas or Bust (September 27).

The first three days of the meet will include 10 races on the turf course, including the $50,000 Gin Talking Stakes for two-year-old fillies on Saturday.

Delaware Park Hires Jerome Doro as Assistant Racing Secretary

Delaware Park, the Delaware Valley's premier racetrack and gaming venue, is pleased to announce the hiring of Jerome Doro as assistant racing secretary.

Doro, who hails from a racing family, began his career in racetrack management working for trainers Anthony Dutrow, Charles H. Hadry and Bob Bealle. For the last eight years, he has worked in a variety of track roles, including claims clerk, paddock judge and horse identifier at the Maryland Jockey Club; the Timonium Race Track, Timonium, MD, and Colonial Downs, New Kent, VA.

Dinner in Odem takes Cape Henlopen with late rally

WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, September 3, 2008 - Sharyn and Peter Wasiluk Jr.'s Dinner in Odem rallied from last to notch an upset victory in the $62,250 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park today.

With Terry Thompson aboard, the 4-year-old son of Quaker Ridge won by a neck and returned $33.20. The 3-to-5 favorite in the field of eight, Herboriste with Gabriel Saez, finished second. It was another ¾-length back to Ra Der Dean, with Rosemary Homeister, Jr, in third.

Del Mar Remains A State, National Racing Leader

"No doubt, we were swimming against a strong (economic) current this year. But we swam well and we will get stronger because of it. While this economy has threatened to drown a lot of folks out there, we held our own and we don't need to be making any excuses for that."
--- Joe Harper, president and general manager, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

Del Mar closed out its 69th summer of racing Wednesday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, a Grade I test that was won in dramatic fashion by the promising colt Midshipman in a comeback of sorts for the track's leading stakes trainer, Bob Baffert.

MIDSHIPMAN WINS DEL MAR FUTURITY

Stonerside Stable's Midshipman and jockey Tyler Baze forged to the front in the final stride to edge out Coronet of a Baron and win the featured Grade I $250,000 Del Mar Futurity for two-year-olds Wednesday, closing day of the 43-day Del Mar summer season.

Closing gamely in the middle of the track, Midshipman gave trainer Bob Baffert his first success in the seven-furlong Futurity since 2002 when Icecoldbeeratreds supplied the conditioner with his seventh consecutive success in the race.

Del Mar Stable Notes 9/3/8—CLOSING DAY

RIDER CHANGE FOR BELIEVE IN HOPE FOLLOWS VALDIVIA INJURY

High hopes for impressive maiden winner Believe in Hope, pegged at 9-2 odds on the morning line for the Grade I, $250,000 Del Mar Futurity, took a little dip when an injury to regular rider Jose Valdivia Jr. sidelined him for today's big race. He's off all his mounts.

Valdivia suffered a broken toe when his mount, Kindred Creek, in Monday's third race stepped on his foot after unseating him in the gate. The rider was excused from his mounts for the rest of the day.

Joe Talamo will ride Believe in Hope for trainer Ron Ellis.