Friday, September 19 2008

JOCKEY ALVARADO NOTCHES HIS 2,000TH CAREER VICTORY

ALBANY -- Jockey Frank Alvarado is known as a strong finisher and he displayed that strength while recording his 2,000th career victory Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.

Alvarado scored the milestone win aboard longshot Skimasco, who battled gamely along the rail to win the 5 1/2-furlong fourth race by a nose over Special Therapy. Skimasco responded to strong urging from Alvarado down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Upon returning to the winner's circle, Alvarado was surprised to see Golden Gate Fields personnel holding a sign that read, "Congratulations jockey Frank Alvarado - 2,000 wins."

Thursday, September 18 2008

SEVEN TO START IN DEPUTED TESTAMONY STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 09-18-08---Trainer Gary Capuano has entered both Wonder Mon and Legendary Lover in the $50,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes at Laurel Park Saturday afternoon. The test for three-year-old Maryland-breds also attracted five others who will race a one mile on the main track.

Wonder Mon is the 2-1 morning line favorite. Away from action since last May, the Maria’s Mon colt won his first two starts in Maryland, raced in Florida during the winter and came back to run in Maryland in the spring.

Capuano’s other runner is Legendary Lover (4-1), who is not coupled with Wonder Mon in the betting. The son of Not For Love is two for five lifetime, with a maiden claiming win and an allowance score at Laurel Park. Travis Dunkelberger has the mount.

Be A Hero For Just One Day - Support LongRun Day at Woodbine

TORONTO, September 18 - This year's LongRun Day at Woodbine, slated for Saturday, will include an autograph session and photo opportunity with three Queen's Plate-winning members of the Woodbine riding colony.

LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, whose adoption and placement programs help find homes for thoroughbreds in Ontario, will offer a little bit of everything for racing fans on September 20.

The event starts at noon on the second floor.

Will Bourbon jog or will he skate?

TORONTO, August 29 - Queen's Plate champ Not Bourbon returns to the Ontario-sired ranks in Saturday's $125,000 Overskate Stakes at Woodbine.

In the seven-furlong event, the earner of $966,160 will face four rivals, including salty four-year-olds Dancer's Bajan and Yummy With Butter, and six-year-old stalwart Archers Alyancer, who will be the first Woodbine stakes mount for apprentice Melanie Pinto.

Owned by Charles Fipke, Not Bourbon hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 13.

ARLINGTON MILLION WINNER TO MAKE SYNTHETIC DEBUT IN GOODWOOD

French-bred Spirit One, who registered a front-running upset at $29.40 in the Grade I Arlington Million at 1 ¼ miles on turf on Aug. 9, will attempt to transfer his form to a synthetic surface for the first time when he runs Sept. 27 in the Goodwood Stakes, a possible prelude to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Oak Tree on Oct. 25. Each of Spirit One’s 18 career starts have been on grass.

“Thursday morning, the horse was in a van from Chantilly to Amsterdam,” said bloodstock agent Francoise Dupuis, who is coordinating the move for trainer Philippe Demercastel and brothers M. Kamel Chehboub and Boualem Chehboub, owners of the 4-year-old son of Anabaa Blue. “He’ll fly tomorrow from Amsterdam to Los Angeles, then go into quarantine at Hollywood Park. He’ll be released Sunday around 12:30 p.m., then van to Santa Anita.”

Sports drive takes centre stage Saturday morning at Woodbine Racetrack

TORONTO, September 18 - Woodbine Entertainment Group wants every child in the Greater Toronto Area to have a chance to play the sport of his or her choosing.

In partnership with the City of Toronto, Toronto Breakfast Club and other local groups, WEG's sports equipment drive will conclude on Saturday, September 20 with a day filled with activities.

The ultimate goal is to collect; repaint and refurbish used items that can be distributed to youth organizations, which will pass the equipment on to local underprivileged children. Obviously new items are greatly appreciated.

CAN ELOPE RUN OFF WITH GALLANT BLOOM?

There’s not much to glean from the past performances of Peter Blum’s four-year-old filly, Elope – she’s only run twice in her life, and only once this year. But her 11 ¾-length victory at Saratoga Race Course on August 3 was enough to convince trainer Bruce Levine that Elope rates a shot at champion Indian Blessing in Saturday’s 15th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park.

“She doesn’t know who the competition is; she only knows it’s a race,” said Levine of Elope, who broke her maiden last September at Turfway Park for trainer Eddie Kenneally over an all-weather track in her only other start. “I think she deserves a chance. Her race at Saratoga was spectacular.”

CHAMPION GOOD NIGHT SHIRT SEEKS LONESOME GLORY

Good Night Shirt’s journey to a second Eclipse Award resumes this Sunday at Belmont Park when he goes out to defend his title in the Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Steeplechase. The son of Concern won the inaugural running of the 2½-mile stakes in 2007 en route to year-end honors and returns from his customary summer vacation as the horse to beat.

Last year’s Lonesome Glory proved a validation of sorts for Good Night Shirt. The Jack Fisher-trainee entered on the heels of an upset win in the Grade 1 Iroquois looking to prove his Nashville win was no fluke. A year later, the reigning champion enters at the top of the sport, climbing up the all-time leader board and aiming for his fourth consecutive Grade 1 triumph and sixth overall.

GHOST FIVE CAPTURES GRASS FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Big Time Racing’s Ghost Five gained command in the stretch, and then held off the late charge of favorite Beacon Hill Road to win the $40,000 allowance feature on the grass at Monmouth Park on Thursday.

At the wire, Ghost Five scored by two over Beacon Hill Road, who had four and a half lengths on Hopeforthebest for the place. The winner, trained by Greg Sacco and ridden by Stewart Elliott, raced the one mile over a firm turf course in 1:35 4/5.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, Sept. 18, 2008

JOCKEY CHUCK LOPEZ, OUT SINCE MAY, RIDES AGAIN SATURDAY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Jockey Chuck C. Lopez, who has been out with an injury since May 19, returns to riding on Saturday’s card * The Sleeter Family seeks first victory in race named for one of their stars * Hurdle stakes on Saturday’s card * Crab Cake Festival set Saturday.

Jockey Chuck C. Lopez, who has been sidelined since he was injured in a training accident here on May 19, will return to riding Saturday, with three mounts on the card.

“It’s great to be back,” said Lopez, who started galloping horses last Monday. “I missed the whole summer at Monmouth, but I want to get back in action before the Meadowlands starts. I’d like to be leading rider at that meet.”

Arlington Park Barn Notes - Thursday, September 18, 2008

‘STRIKE’ THE CHOICE TO NAIL DOWN JOHN HENRY STAKES SATURDAY

Edward Evans’ Pleasant Strike, hero of last summer’s Grade III Arlington Classic over Chicago’s world-famous grass course but absent from the Midwest this season, returns to the Northwest suburban oval for Saturday’s $50,000 John Henry Stakes and has been named the 5-2 morning line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile turf test.

Trained by defending Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Todd Pletcher, Pleasant Strike continued on the 2007 Mid-America Triple trail with a creditable fourth-place run in last year’s Grade II American Derby, but disappointed in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes during the International Festival of Racing one year ago.

COMMENTATOR HEADLINES FIELD FOR SATURDAY’S MASSCAP AT SUFFOLK DOWNS

EAST BOSTON, MA – Commentator, a two-time Grade I winner for Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, leads a field of seven for this Saturday’s $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs.

Commentator, the morning-line favorite at 3-to-5, is coming off of an impressive gate-to-wire score in the Whitney Handicap (Grade I) at Saratoga. He won the Whitney in 2005 as well. Overall this year, the seven-year-old gelded son of Distorted Humor has three wins from four starts, including a dominant victory in the Richter Scale Handicap (Grade II) at Gulfstream Park, which he won by over 13 lengths. Commentator starts from post two and will be ridden by John Velazquez for owner Tracy Farmer.