Wednesday, September 10 2008

FRENCH RIDER CAPTURES AMATEUR RACE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Despite losing his irons in deep stretch, French rider Paul-Henri de Quatrebarbes guided Jay Em Ess Stable’s Maven to an 11-length victory in the Amateur Riders Club of America event at Monmouth Park on Wednesday.

Maven, trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., went off the 7-10 favorite in the maiden claiming event, which went off as the second race on the card. The race was part of the FEGENTRI World Championship of Gentlemen Riders competition.

Maven raced the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:47 and paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board.

Arlington Park Barn Notes: Wed. Sept. 10

INJURED JOCKEY CAMPBELL DIAGNOSED WITH TORN ROTATOR CUFF

Arlington Park jockey Jesse Campbell, injured in a spill during last Saturday’s $54,600 Honor Glide Stakes, has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and began what will be approximately two weeks of therapy on Tuesday.

“Jesse has been getting a little better each day,” said Campbell’s fiancée Allyson Morrissey Wednesday morning. “Nothing is broken and he has good movement. The plan is to have him undergo physical therapy every day, let him gradually rebuild his strength and then see how quickly he improves. Also, his neck is still sore, but that’s also getting better each day.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008

IEAH STABLES TAKES OVER SPONSORSHIP OF MONMOUTH STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. * IEAH Stables will be the presenting sponsor of Saturday’s $500,000 Monmouth Stakes, it was announced Wednesday * Big Brown had an easy day at Aqueduct after his turf breeze Tuesday * Amy Tarrant is ready to take on Big Brown with Kiss the Kid on Saturday.

IEAH Stables, part-owner of Big Brown, will be the presenting sponsor of Saturday’s $500,000 Monmouth Stakes, it was announced today by Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park.

Big Brown, Kiss the Kid Ready for Saturday’s Monmouth Stakes

Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Haskell Invitational winner Big Brown had his final workout this morning as he prepares for his next start in Saturday’s Monmouth Stakes, a mile and an eighth contest on turf at Monmouth Park.

A 3-year-old colt by Boundary, Big Brown breezed five furlongs over an Aqueduct turf course rated “good” in 1:05 1/5 on Tuesday morning.

“He went beautifully,” said Rick Dutrow Jr., conditioner of Big Brown. “Everything is set for him right now. I’m excited to watch him run Saturday.”

A.P. Indy Colt Brings $1.5 Million to Top Day 2 of Keeneland September Sale

Lexington, KY (September 9, 2008) – For the second consecutive day a yearling by A.P. Indy brought the highest bid at the Keeneland September Sale, this one a colt sold for $1.5 million to Sheikh Hamden bin Rashid al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.

Sheikh Hamden’s brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, purchased a filly by A.P. Indy out stakes winner Chimmichurri for $3.1 million to top Monday’s opening day.

Bunker Hill tops Go for the Green Juvenile Stakes

Flying Dutchman Stable's Bunker Hill tops the $100,000 Go for the Green to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. A field of eight has been entered in the mile and a sixteenth turf test for 2-year-olds.

In his last outing on August 16, Bunker Hill scored a neck victory in the $60,000 Continental Mile, which was originally scheduled for the Monmouth Park turf but transferred to the main track. In his only other career outing the Florida-bred son of Trippi trained by Derek Ryan posted a 2 ½-length score in a five furlong $50,000 maiden claiming event at Monmouth Park on August 7.

Megachurch tops Fairway Fillies Stakes

Robert S. Evans' Megachurch tops the $100,000 Fairway Fillies Stake to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. A field of nine has been entered in the mile and a sixteenth turf test for 2-year-old fillies.

In her only career outing, Megachurch, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Pulpit trained by Tim Ritchey, notched a 4 ¼-length maiden victory going one mile over the Delaware Park turf on August 5.

Tuesday, September 09 2008

$3.1 Million A.P. Indy Filly Headlines Opening Day at Keeneland September Sale

Lexington, KY (September 8, 2008) – Fillies – led by a daughter of A.P. Indy who brought a final bid of $3.1 million – stole the spotlight on Monday as Keeneland opened its 2008 September Yearling Sale.

Fillies brought the day’s four top prices. In addition to the A.P. Indy filly, two others – by Unbridled’s Song and Empire Maker – each brought $1.7 million, the second-highest prices of the day. Celebrity Cat, a filly by Storm Cat, sold for $1.2 million.

Monday, September 08 2008

Rahy’s Attorney rules in Woodbine Mile

Ontario-bred Rahy's Attorney, ridden by Slade Callaghan, scored a shocking upset in the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile, Sunday at Woodbine.

Trained by Ian Black, Rahy's Attorney, unbeaten in three career starts at one mile on the grass, kept his streak intact remarkably by taking one of the most prestigious turf races on the continent, a hard-fought, one and one-quarter length win over Ventura, as the two battled from the eighth pole to the wire over a yielding E.P. Taylor Turf Course. Just Rushing wound up third, with Ice Bear fourth, as the mile was reached in 1:36.14.

Ten to line up for Quarter Horse sprint at Turfway

A full field of 10 American Quarter Horses entered Friday’s inaugural $25,000-guaranteed John Deere Turfway Park Sprint Stakes at Turfway Park on Friday, September 12. The race marks the national debut for racing American Quarter Horses on Polytrack.

Quarter Horses last raced at the Florence, Ky., oval in 1972 when the track was known as Latonia. American Quarter Horses currently have two pari-mutuel dates in Kentucky, running at The Red Mile in Lexington. At this year’s meet, July 18 and 19, horses from 25 states competed.

POWER GAME STAYS UNBEATEN IN WINNING RESTORATION

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Phipps Stable’s Power Game powered past his rivals before opening up in the stretch to remain unbeaten in three lifetime starts after taking the $65,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey, Power Game stepped the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:43 2/5 and returned $3 to win. It was 4 ¼ lengths back to runner-up Meal Penalty, who bested Pascal by another three-quarters of a length. There was no place or show wagering offered on the Restoration, which scratched down to three 3-year-olds after being transferred from the turf to the main track.

Gulfstream Park Poker Moves to First-Floor Finish Line

Poker at Gulfstream Park successfully made the move from the second-floor Sport of Kings to the first-floor Finish Line Casino this weekend.

“Our players are every bit as comfortable as they were in the Sport of Kings,” said Gulfstream Park’s Poker Room Manager Scott Poole, “and they are that much closer to all the live action when the live races return Jan. 3.”

The Finish Line, just outside Gulfstream Park’s walking ring, is not only home to poker but also to simulcasting and slot machines as well as one of the finest delicatessens in the area.