Friday, August 15 2008

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES, Thursday, August 14, 2008

Hostess, who was scheduled to run against males in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational at a mile and a half on the turf, will skip the race, according to trainer H. James Bond.

“There’s been too much rain and the turf is just too soft for her,” Bond said “It really is a shame. We’ll see if the weather lets up and maybe she can run here in the Glens Falls Handicap (Grade 3, $100,000-added, fillies and mares, 3 and up, 11 furlongs, turf, Monday, September 1). If not, then we’ll look at races like the Yellow Ribbon, the Flower Bowl and the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup.”

Executive Flight looks to soar in Victoriana

TORONTO, August 14 * Executive Flight, a dark bay daughter of Bold Executive, goes after her ninth career win in Sunday's $125,000 turf Victoriana Stakes, at Woodbine.

Owned by Bill Soroklit Jr. and trained by Darwin Banach, the five-year-old mare has one win this year, that coming in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes on July 1, along with two thirds in three starts.

EXCITABLE MISS, $41.20, UPSETS FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Excitable Miss, a 19-1 outsider, ran down front-running Empress Gracie in the final strides to score a neck victory in the $51,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Thursday.

Excitable Miss, trained by Joe Pierce Jr. and ridden by Elvis Trujillo, raced the one mile and 70 yards in 1:43 3/5 over the fast main track and paid $41.20, $16.60 and $8.80 across the board.

BALTIMORE BOB FACES SIX IN HUMPHREY FINNEY STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 08-14-08---Baltimore Bob is the 9-5 favorite to win the Humphrey S. Finney Stakes on Saturday. He will face a half-dozen 3-year-old Maryland-breds in the 1-1/8th mile test on the Laurel Park turf. The nine-race card features five races on the grass.

Baltimore Bob has three wins on the grass, including a pair of victories on the Laurel turf last fall, and has been ridden exclusively by Horacio Karamanos. The son of Malibu Moon has raced in stakes company all year, including a pair of graded races at Colonial Downs.

Hawthorne Summer Harness Recap

Stickney, IL---The Hawthorne Summer Harness Meet was a success by most any measure.

On site handle increased by nearly 11 percent, as full fields, contentious races, and a cornucopia of promotions brought more people to the Stickney venue.

The quality of racehorse was evident by no less than four new track-record performances, either equaled or surpassed, and by the continued popularity of the Harness Racing School, which has introduced scores of new fans into the standardbred arena.

Doug Bredar Named Gulfstream Park Racing Secretary

Doug Bredar, a nationally respected racing official with more than 20 years experience, has been named Racing Secretary at Gulfstream Park.

“Many highly qualified people were interviewed for this position and what distinguished Doug, beyond his experience and obvious capabilities, was his enthusiasm for Gulfstream Park,” said Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy. “His contacts span the country and his enthusiasm is infectious. We anticipate he and his staff will put on a show that will prove to be one of Gulfstream Park’s finest.”

VETERAN RIDER GONZALEZ RIDES TWO WINNERS AT FAIR

SAN MATEO -- Roberto Gonzalez, who at age 54 is the dean of the Northern California jockey colony, rode two winners Thursday at the San Mateo County Fair at Bay Meadows.

Gonzalez scored with a pair of heavily-backed favorites, taking the first race with Star Cat Go ($2.80) and the fourth with Flashy Helmsman ($5.00). Gonzalez has ridden five winners at the fair and is tied for fourth in the jockey standings.

QUEEN OF THE CATSLE WINS DEL MAR FEATURE

In a dominating performance, Queen of the Catsle and jockey Victor Espinoza made quick work of the opposition in winning Del Mar's Thursday feature, a five-furlong dash over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Cut loose entering the stretch under a confident ride by Espinoza, Queen of the Catsle cruised to the front in mid-stretch and won by 1 1/4 lengths in :55.95 for the abbreviated distance.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/14/8

CONSISTENCY PAYS OFF FOR PACIFIC CLASSIC'S GO BETWEEN

Ranking as a "Mr. Consistency," Go Between shows one of the most impressive resumes among the 15 prospects lining up for Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24, a race that guarantees the winner a place in the Breeders' Cup Classic as part of the "Win and You're In" program.

The 5-year-old son of Point Given has been out of the money only three times in his last 14 starts and is a constant traveler, having run in Southern California three times and in Kentucky once so far this year. His record also shows races at Calder Race Course, Louisiana Downs, Arlington Park, Churchill Downs, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park over the past two years.

Arlington Park Barn Notes: Aug. 14, 2008

RANDY RETURNS TO NEBRASKA SUNDAY FOR HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Veteran Illinois-based jockey Randy Meier, who surpassed the 4,000 career-win milestone on closing day of Arlington Park’s 2007 season, will return to his native Nebraska this weekend for ceremonies inducting him into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame.

“It’s kind of neat,” said Meier (whose son Brandon is Arlington’s leading apprentice rider this summer) when asked about the upcoming Nebraska recognition ceremonies. “My mother still lives there, and she’ll be coming to the ceremony along with Brandon and Emily (Meier’s daughter who serves as Arlington’s marketing coordinator). We’re all going to stay for a couple of days and return to Chicago on Tuesday.

Thursday, August 14 2008

MANI BHAVEN PROVES A POINT WITH ADIRONDACK VICTORY

When Mani Bhaven stepped onto the racetrack for the first time in a five-furlong maiden event at Delaware Park last month, she pleasantly surprised her connections with the ease of her 9 ¼-length victory.

When she stepped onto the track at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday afternoon for 92nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Adirondack Stakes, she had another pleasant surprise in store. Sent off as the fifth choice at $8.70-$1 in the field of eight two-year-old fillies, the dark bay daughter of Storm Boot popped out on top and was never threatened as she ran off to a seven-length win over Doremifasolatido.

JACKSON RESPONDS TO BIG BROWN CAMP AFTER INVITATION DECLINED TO WOODWARD STAKES

LEXINGTON, KY (August 13, 2008) - Statement by Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, 2007 Horse of the Year, after Big Brown Camp declines invitation to race Curlin at the Woodward Stakes(Gr. I) in Saratoga Springs, New York on August 30, 2008:

“I am delighted that we are talking about Curlin on the day that Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever. Great athletes deserve great company. This is what sports is about -- the thrill of competition. And it is my belief that Thoroughbred racing is indeed the greatest sport of all time.