Friday, August 15 2008

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.

RAW SILK ONE OF FEW SPA VISITORS THAT WANTS MORE RAIN

While the connections of Raw Silk hope that lightning will strike twice, those in charge of managing I Lost My Choo will hope to stay high and dry in Friday’s 25th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Lake Placid Handicap for three-year-old fillies on the turf.

Raw Silk turned in a huge performance in the rain two back on May 21st when she went box-to-wire on Belmont’s “good” turf course through an easy half in 49.13 to win the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes by four and a quarter lengths. She covered the nine furlongs in 1:48 2/5 seconds, and will look to take them all the way in the Lake Placid at the same distance.

TRAVERS FESTIVAL, AUGUST 16 - 24

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Nine days of family festivities, live entertainment and community events will permeate the Saratoga region as the 13th annual Travers Festival returns to commemorate the running of America’s oldest stakes race, the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm on Saturday, August 23.

The Travers Festival, presented by the New York Lottery and the New York Racing Association, begins on Saturday, August 16 and concludes on Sunday, August 24.

The 2008 Travers Celebration to Honor Travers Stakes Champion Street Sense

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Travers Celebration, Saratoga Race Course’s premier evening event, will return for its eighth edition to honor 2007 Travers Stakes winner Street Sense on Thursday, August 21, just two-days before the running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm.

The Travers Celebration will feature an outdoor cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, silent fireworks and a silent auction in the “At the Rail” pavilion beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The celebration, which will honor last year’s Travers and Kentucky Derby winner, and his connections, is a major fundraiser for the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) and the Double H Ranch for critically and chronically ill children. In its first seven years, the Travers Celebration has raised more than $700,000 for B.E.S.T., the Double H Ranch and other prominent local charities.

SARATOGA NOTES; Wednesday, Augsut 13, 2008

As of Wednesday, Godolphin Stables’ Music Note was still under consideration for the 139th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers presented by Shadwell Farm on August 23, although Saturday’s Grade 1 $600,000 Alabama for 3-year-old fillies remains the primary target for both Music Note, winner of four straight including the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont Park, and her stablemate, Grade 1 Ashland winner Little Belle.

“No final decision has been made,” said Rick Mettee, North American racing manager for Godolphin. “I spoke with Saeed (bin Suroor) yesterday and faxed them the form on both races, and they are still looking. I think they want to make sure they run something. Entering (Music Note) in the Alabama and then scratching is a possibility; anything can happen after they draw.”

A good aura for C Karma heading into Ontario Debutante

TORONTO, August 13 * C Karma, a dark bay daughter of Exchange Rate, gets her first taste of stakes action in Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Debutante, at Woodbine.

Owned by Pamela Edel and trained by Greg De Gannes, the two-year-old Florida-bred broke her maiden in her most recent start, a two-length score at five furlongs over the Toronto oval Polytrack on August 2.

Sent off at 3-1, C Karma earned an 83 Beyer figure (Daily Racing Form speed rating) for the victory.

PARADISE TONIGHT CAPTURES FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Paradise Tonight stalked the pace until midstretch, and then turned on the speed to win Wednesday’s $41,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares by four lengths at Monmouth Park.

The winner, trained by Joe Pierce Jr. and ridden by Eddie Castro, stepped the one mile and 70 yards in 1:42 4/5 over the fast main track and paid $6, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board as second choice in the field of six.

GOTTCHA GOLD NEEDS TO STEP UP IN ISELIN REPEAT TRY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Gottcha Gold comes into Saturday’s $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes off three straight losses and gets a new rider in Elvis Trujillo as he seeks a repeat victory in the Grade 3 event * Tickets for Saturday’s wine tasting and luncheon are still available at $75 each.

This has been a different year for Gottcha Gold, and not in a good way so far. Last year, the son of Coronado’s Quest caught some breaks and captured his first graded stakes, with victories in both the Salvator Mile (G3) and Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3). He finished the 2007 season with a second in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.