Saturday, August 16 2008

Juliet’s Spirit still perfect after Ontario Debutante score

TORONTO, August 16 * Juliet's Spirit, a two-year-old bay daughter of Exchange Rate, is now three for three, after taking Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes by a head, at Woodbine.

Owned by Padua Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, Juliet's Spirit notched her second consecutive stakes score, having won the five-furlong My Dear on June 30 at the Toronto oval.

Monmouth Park Recap for Saturday, August 16, 2008

HONEST MAN BEATS GRASSHOPPER IN ISELIN STAKES AT MONMOUTH; BUNKER HILL, $29, SCORES UPSET IN CONTINENTAL MILE STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Honest Man stalked the pace into the stretch, and then turned on the speed to score a nearly three-length victory in the $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

In the day’s second feature, Flying Dutchman Stable’s Bunker Hill fought back gamely when headed in deep stretch and gained an upset victory in the $60,000 Continental Mile Stakes for 2-year-olds, run over the main track.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Saturday, August 16, 2008

JAZZY TOPS COMPETITIVE FIELD IN SUNDAY’S INCREDIBLE REVENGE

OCEANPORT, N.J. * The Mark Hennig-trained Jazzy, beaten a nose in last year’s running of the $60,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes, is back for another try in Sunday’s turf feature * Monmouth stakes winner Prop me Up has been retired from racing, and will be sold as a broodmare prospect.

SEEYOUINTHECITY GALLOPS IN HUMPHREY FINNEY STAKES

LAUREL, MD. 08-16-08---See You Stable’s Seeyouinthecity said ‘see you’ to some fellow Maryland-bred 3-year-olds, leading from start to finish in the $50,000 Humphrey S. Finney Stakes, today’s feature at Laurel Park.

Sent over the firm turf by jockey Malcolm Franklin for trainer Dale Capuano, Seeyouinthecity upped his lifetime record to three wins in six starts, including three wins in five tries on the turf. This was Franklin’s first stakes win in Maryland and his fourth stakes win overall.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/16/8

AWESOME GEM, McCANN'S MOJAVE IN FINAL P.C. WORKOUTS

Awesome Gem, 2007 Pacific Classic runner-up, put the final touches on his preparation for next Sunday's edition of Del Mar's Grade I, $1-million signature event with a 6-furlong move this morning on the main track.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again worked in company with Bai and Bai and was clocked in 1:12.80 for the distance, with these splits: first quarter in 25.80 and 5 furlongs in 1:00.60. He galloped out 7 furlongs in 1:28.20. Exercise rider Mario Uribe was up for the work.

Arlington Park Barn Notes: Aug. 16, 2008

INEZ WINS FOUR AT ARLINGTON AGAIN; THREE FOR KIRBY

What’s better than becoming the first female rider to win four winners on a single racing program at Arlington Park? Doing it twice in the same summer!

That’s what Swedish-born apprentice jockey Inez Karlsson did Friday at Chicago’s showcase Thoroughbred oval – thanks in a large part to two-time Arlington trainer champion Frank Kirby, who saddled three of her Friday winners and was one of the first conditioners to pick up on the riding talents of Karlsson.

Friday, August 15 2008

SARATOGA RACE COURSE NOTES, August 15, 2008

Robert LaPenta’s Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara and Saratoga Race Course’s Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner Macho Again, owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, head the likely field for the Travers.

Also expected for the Travers are IEAH Stable’s Acai, WinStar Farm’s Colonel John, Stronach Stable’s Harlem Rocker, Mrs. William S. Kilroy’s Mambo in Seattle, Ron Winchell’s Pyro, Charles E. Fipke’s Tale of Ekati, C. Beau Greely’s Tres Borrachos and Edmund A. Gann’s You and I Forever.

Zabeel Racing International’s Tiz Now Tiz Then is considered questionable.

RED ROCKS OUT OF GRADE 1 SWORD DANCER

J. Paul Reddam’s Red Rocks, the early 9-5 favorite for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational, will be scratched from the mile and one-half turf race because of filling in his left hock, trainer Mark Hennig said Friday morning.

“Thursday afternoon he had filling in his left hock and we felt like we needed to treat it,” said Hennig, who took over training of Red Rocks last month. “That, and the prospect of running over soft turf with the possibility of further aggravating it, led us to that decision.”

JENNY BEAN GIRL UPSETS FEATURE AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Ocean View Stables’ Jenny Bean Girl, longest shot in the field at 6-1, gained command in midstretch and held off favored Lucky Revival late to win Friday’s $45,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park.

Jenny Bean Girl, trained by J. Willard Thompson and ridden by Daniel Centeno, scored by half a length over Lucky Revival, stopping the timer in 1:43 flat for the one mile and 70 yards over a track labeled “good.”

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, August 15, 2008

73RD RUNNING OF ISELIN STAKES LOOMS WIDE-OPEN SATURDAY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Grasshopper is the morning line favorite, but he’ll have to have his running shoes on in Saturday’s $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes, where the field includes such Monmouth notables as Gottcha Gold and Kiss the Kid * Beacon Hill Road and Rogersville have experience on their side in Saturday’s $60,000 Continental Mile Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Unlike the Haskell Invitational, where Big Brown was an odds-on choice and delighted the chalk players, Saturday’s $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) will be a wide-open betting event.

Mike Chapple Promoted to Assistant General Manager

Mike Chapple, Vice President of Security and Surveillance at Gulfstream Park, will have the title “Assistant General Manager” added to his already impressive resume.

Mr. Chapple has a long history with Magna Entertainment Corp. owner of Gulfstream Park and Remington Park, the latter in Mr. Chapple’s native Oklahoma. He came to Gulfstream Park in 2006 after serving at Remington for 17 years. Mr. Chapple was on hand when Remington opened its slot business in 2005 and was a consultant when Gulfstream opened its slots the next year.

Del Mar Stable Notes 8/15/8

12 REMAIN SOLID FOR $1-MILLION PACIFIC CLASSIC

A dozen older horses remain solidly committed to competing in the 18th running of Del Mar's signature race, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic, on Sunday, August 24 at 1 1/4 miles on the main track.

The Pacific Classic has been designated a "Win and You're In" event by the Breeders' Cup with the winner getting an automatic spot in the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, October 25 at Oak Tree at Santa Anita, site of the two days of Breeders' Cup championship races.