Wednesday, July 23 2008

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Continuing their commitment to one another and to the health, safety and welfare of the Thoroughbreds on the racetrack and their life thereafter, Monmouth Park Racetrack has provided office space to ReRun, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which provides care and rehabilitation to off the track Thoroughbreds while awaiting adoptive homes.

“This is really win-win for everyone involved,” said Bill Knauf, assistant general manager of Monmouth Park. “Monmouth Park has always been supportive of programs such as ReRun and we look forward to working together in the future, offering assistance and helping them achieve their goals and objectives.”

Tuesday, July 22 2008

POPULIST TOPS DENISE RHUDY MEMORIAL

John Fike's Populist tops the $75,000 Denise Rhudy Memorial to be run at Delaware Park this Saturday. The one mile and a sixteenth turf contest for 3-year-old fillies has attracted a field of eleven.

In her most recent outing, Populist scored 1 ¾-length victory in the mile and a sixteenth $55,000 St. Georges Stakes at Delaware Park on June 28. The St. Georges was originally scheduled for the turf, but was transferred to the main track. Previously, the daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus, won a mile and a sixteenth allowance by ¾-lengths at Pimlico on May 31. The Kentucky-bred trained by Gary Capuano sports a career record of three wins, a second and a third from six starts with earnings of $87,810.

Del Mar Stable Notes 7/21/8

LAVA MAN FANS MAY HAVE SEEN LAST OF HIM AT THE RACES

It's not official, and it might not happen right now, but there's a good chance that Lava Man may have raced for the last time, in Sunday's Grade I Eddie Read Handicap.

The 7-year-old warrior finished last of six in the 1 1/8-mile turf race and the owners -- STD Stable and Jason Wood -- expect to make a decision soon on his future.

Point Determined Entered in Friday Allowance Feature at Calder

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (July 21, 2008) – St. George Stable’s 5-year-old Point Determined was last seen under colors finishing a well-beaten seventh behind Strong Contender and Lawyer Ron in the Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs in September of 2006 for the Bob and Beverly Lewis Trust with Bob Baffert as trainer.

Runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and ninth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) earlier that season, Point Determined has re-surfaced at Calder Race Course in the care of the meet’s current leading trainer Kirk Ziadie, and is entered in Friday’s ‘money’ allowance feature at six furlongs with jockey Ariel Smith named to ride in the in the field of seven older horses.

Road To The Million VII:  Monday, July 21, 2008

CORAL-ECLIPSE HERO MOUNT NELSON JOINS ARLINGTON MILLION MIX; TWO EUROPEANS NOW LIKELY FOR BEVERLY D. – FOUR FOR SECRETARIAT

British-bred Mount Nelson, who ascended to the summit of Great Britain’s prestigious Group I Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park July 5, has now become the latest European-based superstar to join the list of probable starters for the upcoming Grade I Arlington Million Aug. 9.

The Coral-Eclipse, first run in the United Kingdom in 1886, is traditionally recognized as the initial race of the British Thoroughbred season in which Europe’s best sophomores encounter their older rivals. Legendary European champions that boast a Coral-Eclipse win on their résumés include such cracks as Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Sadler’s Wells, Pebbles and Giant’s Causeway, but none of those ever crossed the ocean to grace an Arlington Million field.

Monday, July 21 2008

Bear Now hits million-dollar mark with Ontario Matron score

TORONTO, July 20 * Bear Now, a dark bay daughter of Tiznow, led at every call in taking the $155,500 Ontario Matron Stakes, for fillies and mares, Sunday at Woodbine.

Sent off as the 4-5 choice, the four-year-old Kentucky-bred eclipsed the seven-figure mark in career earnings with the 1 ½-length score for owner Bear Stables.

Of the 29 nominations to the Schuylerville, three belonged to Breen, including undefeated Bold Union

TORONTO, July 20 * Fatal Bullet gave Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker a sweep of Sunday's added-money features, as the son of Red Bullet gunned down six rivals to take the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes, at Woodbine.

Under Eurico Rosa da Silva, Fatal Bullet passed Vigil Stakes champion Disfunction in early stretch to take the 6 ½ furlong Bold Venture in a time of 1:14.54, besting the previous mark of 1:14.82 set by Home for Harlan on May 19.

BREEN’S PACKING HEAT FOR OPENING DAY SCHUYLERVILLE

It is always an edge to have options, and trainer Kelly Breen plans to take full advantage of his situation on Wednesday, July 23, when Saratoga Race Course opens the doors on its 36-day meeting.

Breen has entered George and Lori Hall’s Boom Town Sally in the Opening Day feature, the 90th running of the Grade 3, $100,000-added Schuylerville for two-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

SLY STORM ROLLS TO VICTORY IN THE MONGO QUEEN STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Glen Hill Farm’s Sly Storm kicked clear of her foes to post a 3 ½ length win in the $70,000 Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Thomas Proctor, Sly Storm covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09 1/5 and returned $4.40, $2.80 and $2.20 as the favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies. Shining Image completed the $22.60 exacta and returned $3.80 to place and $2.40 to show. It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Throbbin’ Heart, who returned $2.20 to show.

MONZANTE RALLIES TO WIN EDDIE READ HANDICAP

Monzante, well-regarded at 3-1 under jockey Rafael Bejarano, unleashed a brilliant burst of speed in the stretch to win today's featured Grade I $400,000 Eddie Read Handicap for older grass horses.

Last in the early stages of the mile and one-eighth race over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, Monzante was steered to the outside entering the stretch and proceeded to run past his five rivals in winning by a half-length in 1:46.53. According to Trakus, the winner ran his final furlong in a blistering 10.93 seconds.

Del Mar Stable Notes 7/20/8

AT LEAST TWO FROM SAN DIEGO HEADING TO PACIFIC CLASSIC

Winner Well Armed and runner-up Surf Cat are on their way to Del Mar's signature event, the Grade I, $1-million Pacific Classic Sunday, August 24, following solid showings in Saturday's Grade II San Diego Handicap.

The winner had not run since finishing third in the Dubai World Cup March 29 but the long layoff obviously didn't create a problem for the front-running 5-year-old son of double Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow. He won in gate-to-wire fashion under perfect handling by Aaron Gryder, who has ridden the horse in all six of his starts in the United States after two seasons in the United Arab Emirates.

Calder Barn Notes: 7-20-08

Smooth Air Back Home and at Work at Calder

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (July 20, 2008) - Mount Joy Stable’s 3-year-old Florida homebred Smooth Air breezed an easy five furlongs in 1:02 2/5 Sunday morning at Calder Race Course for trainer Bennie Stutts, Jr., posting his first workout since romping to a four-length victory in the $300,000 Ohio Derby (G2) at Thistledown on May 31.

“We got back here about 10 days ago,” said the veteran horsemen, who took Smooth Air and 3-year-old filly stablemate Cubs Fan to Arlington Park to train after the Ohio Derby victory. Mount Joy owner Brian Burns and his family live in Chicago. One original plan for the Smooth Jazz colt’s next start after the Ohio race was the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in late June, but he was forced to miss that spot.