Thursday, September 25 2008

Keeping them happy in advance of ‘Cup Day

FLORENCE, KY . . . September 25, 2008 . . . With the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions at Turfway Park just two days away, the time for race preparation is over. As trainer Larry Jones said, “Now is the time we just have to keep them happy.”

On Thursday morning Jones galloped all three of his entries for Saturday: Honest Man in the Kentucky Cup Classic, Maren’s Meadow in the Distaff, and Beyond Ready in the Sprint.

“They all came in well and ate well last night, so we got that off our [list of] things to worry about,” he said.

Turfway Park to honor Perfect Drift

FLORENCE, KY . . . September 25, 2008 . . . Multimillionaire Perfect Drift will return to Turfway Park one more time for congratulations and honors as he begins his retirement. A special celebration and ceremony is planned for Saturday, September 27, as part of festivities surrounding the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions.

Now nine years old, Perfect Drift was bred and campaigned throughout his career by Stonecrest Farm, the Kansas City, Mo., breeding and racing operation of Dr. William A. Reed, a cardiovascular surgeon who now chairs the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at Kansas University Hospital in Kansas City, Ks.

“The whole family has enjoyed a wonderful experience with Perfect Drift for the past nine years,” said Dr. Reed, who will be on hand for the ceremony. “‘Drift was foaled in Kentucky but grew up here on our farm. This is just a new time in his life.”

STABLE NOTES, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2008

SMITH SET TO RIDE HIGH SATURDAY WITH THREE GRADE I MOUNTS

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith has seen plenty of big races in his day, but even he couldn’t contain his excitement over the record six Grade I stakes races being run Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park. Five are Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, adding an even greater measure of fanfare to the big day.

“It’s a great day for racing,” Smith said. “But in saying that, they’re also major preps for the Breeders’ Cup. You want to perform well in them. It’s the last step before the Breeders’ Cup, so everything’s got to work out right.

AWAITING HISTORY IN THE JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP

Through history, the Thoroughbreds who became America’s leading money-earner rank amongst the greatest racehorses of all time, from Man o’War to Seabiscuit, Citation to Kelso, Alysheba to Cigar.

Saturday at Belmont Park, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin seeks to add his name atop that exclusive list and become American’s first $10 million horse in the 90th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational.

FILLIES LOOK TO GRAB A SHARE OF THE SPOTLIGHT ON SATURDAY

They’re fast. They’re determined. They’re gifted. And Saturday at Belmont Park, both Ginger Punch and Mauralakana (FR) take another step toward championship honors as the respective favorites in the Grade 1, $600,000 Beldame and the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational on the turf.

The nine-furlong Beldame (Race 6, 3:40 p.m.) and the Flower Bowl, at 1¼ miles (Race 7, 4:13 p.m.) are but two of five Grade 1 races on the day, headlined by the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, in which reigning Horse of the Year Curlin goes for a repeat victory and a chance to become the first American horse to break the $10 million barrier. Also on Saturday’s card are the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational and the $400,000 Vosburgh at six furlongs.

J BE K LOOKS FOR HIS OWN STAR POWER IN VOSBURGH

He may be overshadowed by his famous stablemate, reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, but on Saturday, Zayat Stables’ 3-year-old speedster J Be K is looking to generate some buzz of his own in the 69th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh at Belmont Park.

The leading East Coast prep for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on October 25, the Vosburgh (race 8, 4:46 p.m.) is part of a five-race Grade 1 extravaganza at Belmont, the centerpiece of which is the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, in which Curlin will attempt to become the first American horse to break the $10 million barrier. Also on Saturday are the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, the $600,000 Flower Bowl for fillies and mares on the turf and the $600,000 Beldame, also for fillies and mares.

STRIKE A DEAL COULD SAY `CHEESE!’ IN TURF CLASSIC WIN PHOTO

For years, Alan Goldberg forged a reputation as a dangerous trainer, one who does not ship in for races on a whim but on a real chance for a win.

And Saturday afternoon, he hopes to live up to his reputation when he sends Jayeff B Stable’s Strike a Deal to Belmont Park for the 32nd running of the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at a mile and a half on the Widener Turf Course.

Although the star of the day is defending Horse of the Year Curlin and his quest to become the first American horse to earn $10 million when he goes to post later in the day in the 90th running of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Strike a Deal has a big chance to upstage the day if he can win the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and end an eight-race losing streak. The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic will be race 9 (5:19 p.m. Eastern) on the 11-race card and will be the third leg of a guaranteed $500,000, all Grade 1 Pick 4.

MSG PLUS to telecast the JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP

New York, NY, September 25, 2008 – MSG Plus, in partnership with New York Racing Association (NYRA), announced today that for the first time the network will telecast the Jockey Club Gold Cup live from Belmont Park on Saturday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m. The frontrunner for this year’s 90th running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup is Curlin, arguably the top thoroughbred in the world, who is chasing one more big win to become racing’s first $10 million horse.

“On the heels of televising the Woodward Stakes, we are excited to provide racing fans with live coverage of the Jockey Club Gold Cup on MSG Plus this Saturday,” stated Lydia Murphy-Stephans, executive vice president of programming and production, MSG Media. “This continues our commitment to offer New York area sports fans coverage of a variety of first-rate sporting events, and adds to our expanding lineup of premier horse racing programming.”

SAY IT WITH A KISS TAKES FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Say It With a Kiss raced into command on the far turn, and then sailed to the wire for a three-length victory in the $50,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Thursday.

The winner, trained by Joe Pierce Jr. and ridden by Daniel Centeno, ran the six furlongs in 1:11 flat over a fast main track and paid $6.20, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board as second choice in the field of seven New Jersey-bred fillies and mares.

JASON NGUYEN GETS FIRST WIN

Apprentice rider Jason Nguyen won his first lifetime race in today’s opener at Laurel Park. The 23-year-old from California sent Pride of the Fleet straight to the front in the six-furlong maiden claiming test for 2-year-olds. They opened an insurmountable lead through the turn and Nguyen kept after him to the finish line, winning by 7-1/4 lengths over Soup to Go.

“What a great feeling,” said Nguyen, who started riding in Maryland during the summer mini-meeting. “It took me awhile to get this first one but maybe it will get the ball rolling.”

MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB SECURITY CHIEF WILLIE COLEMAN RETIRES

LAUREL, MD. 09-25-08---Willie Coleman, the Maryland Jockey Club’s Vice-President of Security, will be retiring at the end of the month after nearly 25 years with the organization. Coleman, who turned 69 on Tuesday, will celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary on October 11 in Las Vegas.

“I always hoped to make it until I was 65 years old so I could draw social security,” Coleman said. “I asked the Lord to help me raise my kids until they became grown-ups. My one daughter is a flight attendant for US Airways and the other owns a beauty salon in Baltimore so my logic was if God let me live until I was 65 and the kids are grown then why are you working? It is time to go.”

Keeneland’s 2008 Fall Racing Season Opens Friday, October 3

Lexington, KY (September 25, 2008) – Keeneland begins its 2008 fall racing season on Friday, October 3 with the first day of FallStars Weekend, a showcase of many potential contenders for the $25 million Breeders' Cup World Championships at the end of the month.

During Keeneland's 17-day race meeting that runs through October 25, the track also will acknowledge people and programs for their efforts within the Thoroughbred racing industry and beyond. Those special events include Make-A-Wish Day on October 8, Military Family Day on October 19 and Pink Day on October 24.