Sunday, September 07 2008

Kip Deville favoured in $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sunday

IEAH Stables and Partners' Kip Deville, the top ranked turf miler in North America, is the 6-5 morning line choice for Sunday's Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile.

A field of eight seeking the $600,000 first place prize will go postward at 5:35 pm ET over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Woodbine Mile is now a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' race, giving the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Mile, October 25 at Santa Anita.

Turfway: Delightful Kiss is Breeders’ Cup bound

Delightful Kiss is bound for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships next month on the strength of a compelling 1 1/4-length victory in the Turfway Park Fall Championship (G3) Saturday. Because the race is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” event, the striking gray colt automatically qualifies for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita Park on October 25.

Breaking from post two and running to form, Delightful Kiss raced near the back early, with jockey Calvin Borel saving ground while Canela and A. P. Excellent separated from the field and vied for the lead through the first mile of the 1 1/2 mile course. Following their easy early fractions, :25.11, :49:55, and 1:15.50, Borel moved Delightful Kiss out with less than half a mile to go and urged him on. By the time the field turned for home he had rolled from ninth to third, and as they straightened into the stretch the race was his. Star Plus raced in mid-pack throughout and moved up for second. Dominican bid for the lead leaving the turn and stayed in to finish third, a neck farther back.

RUFFIAN A ROMP IN THE SLOP FOR TOUGH TIZ’S SIS

Trainer Bob Baffert felt that Saturday’s 33rd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park presented the perfect opportunity to return Tough Tiz’s Sis to the dirt after three straight tries on synthetic surfaces.

She didn’t exactly get dirt, but she delivered.

Ignoring the torrential rain that was the last hurrah of Tropical Storm Hanna, the 4-year-old Tiznow filly took the lead after a half mile on the sloppy/sealed main track and waltzed home to a 12 ¼-length victory, covering the mile and a sixteenth in 1:40.46. She returned $10.60 for her eighth win in 20 career starts and she will now point to the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita on October 24.

GRASS IS GREENER FOR BACKSEAT RHYTHM IN GARDEN CITY

There is no secret to Backseat Rhythm. What you see is what you get, and Saturday afternoon, she got her first Grade 1 victory on the turf as she rallied to collar favored Pure Clan in the 30th running of the $250,000 Garden City Stakes for three-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on the yielding inner turf course at Belmont Park

“She’s by no means an Amazon, but she’s got a great stride on her,” said trainer Pat Reynolds, after Backseat Rhythm withstood an objection by Pure Clan’s jockey Julien Leparoux for interference in the stretch to make the half-length victory official. “It was great coming from that far back with no pace. She’s a no excuse filly. She either gets there or she doesn’t and she always gives you her best.”

ONE Belmont Barn Under precautionary Quarantine

Smell My Carrots, a three-year-old New York bred maiden gelding, was euthanized today after being found in his stall in Belmont Park’s Barn 38 with a fever and unable to stand, according to New York Racing Association’s Chief Examining Veterinarian Dr. Anthony Verderosa.

Blood samples have been sent to a laboratory in Kentucky, with results expected Tuesday. With equine herpes among the possible causes of the horse’s illness, Barn 38 has been placed under a precautionary quarantine.

Pedroza Wins 3,000th

According to statistics provided by Equibase Company, jockey Martin A. Pedroza won his 3,000th race on Friday, September 5 when he guided Airplane Attendant to victory in the second race at Fairplex Park.

According to statistics provided by Equibase Company, the following jockeys are approaching a major North American Thoroughbred milestone as listed below:

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SHOPTON LANE GOES ALL THE WAY IN FORMAL GOLD STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Malih Al Basti Racing Stable’s Shopton Lane took control out of the gate and never looked back, taking the $70,000 Formal Gold Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, covering the mile and a sixteenth over the sloppy main track in 1:43 4/5.

Trained by Bruce Levine, the meet’s top conditioner, Shopton Lane returned $2.80 and $2.10 as the odds-on choice in the field of four older horses. It was three lengths back to Indy Wind, who rallied up the inside to complete a $7.80 exacta and paid $2.40 to place. Rikman was third with Sinners N Saints fourth. There was no show wagering on the Formal Gold.

BIG BROWN SET TO WORK TUESDAY FOR SATURDAY TURF TEST

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Big Brown, leading 3-year-old in training with victories in four Grade 1 stakes, will likely have his final work on Tuesday at Aqueduct in preparation for his date in the Monmouth Stakes* Wednesday’s first race will be part of the world championship of amateur riders, with jockeys from seven nations participating.

Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell Invitational winner Big Brown is likely to have his final breeze on Tuesday over the Aqueduct turf as he prepares for his date in Saturday’s Monmouth Stakes.

Gulfstream Park Prepared for Hurricane Ike

Gulfstream Park staff and construction crews from Forest City are spending the weekend securing materials and equipment in preparation for Hurricane Ike.

Racetrack employees stored the more-than 600 seats and tables from the apron in safe places while workers on the multi-million dollar retail development hustled to install roof tiles and weigh-down their equipment for the storm, whose winds and rains are expected to reach South Florida by late Monday or Tuesday.

MISS CHARM CITY CHARGES TO VICTORY IN GIN TALKING STAKES

Miss Charm City seized the lead from Graceful Ginger as the pair raced into the turn and sped away to victory in the $50,000 Gin Talking Stakes for Maryland-bred 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park.

Miss Charm City, a chestnut daughter of Bowman’s Band who is owned by the Estate of James Glenn, upped her record to two wins in two starts for trainer Carlos Garcia and jockey Horacio Karamanos. She completed the 5-1/2 furlong distance over a sloppy track in 1:06.87, 6-3/4 lengths ahead of Lemeaskuaquestion, who edged Graceful Ginger for the place. Miss Charm City paid $7.60.

P V Lightening posts upset in DTHA Owners’ Day Stakes

Dave Chappell, Bill Pershin and Michael Sutherland's P V Lightening posted an upset score in the $100,000 Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen Association (DTHA) Owners Day Stakes at Delaware Park today.

Pyramyst splashes away with George Rosenberger

Skip Cheeseman and Peter Walder's Pyramyst splashed her way to a win in the $100,000 George Rosenberger Memorial at Delaware Park today. The mile and a sixteenth test for fillies and mares was originally scheduled for the turf but transferred to the main track due to heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Hanna.