Friday, October 10 2008

Pick 6 to be added to Thoroughbred betting profile

TORONTO, October 10 - Beginning this Wednesday, October 15, Woodbine Entertainment Group will be offering the Pick 6 as part of its Thoroughbred racing betting profile, replacing the Pick 7.

The Pick 6, which asks fans to pick the winners of six consecutive races, is a minimum $2 wager and offers a "major/minor" payout.

If a fan, or fans, get 6 of 6 in the wager, 70% of the net Pick 6 pool and carryover will be paid out (major).

STABLE NOTES, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008

FRANKEL SET TO ADD TO HIS BREEDERS’ CUP RESUME

Bobby Frankel is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup. The 67-year-old Brooklyn native has started 72 horses in racing’s championship races since its inception in 1984, winning five.

Frankel, Oak Tree’s career leader in victories with 269, is preparing his latest brigade for Breeders’ Cup 25 on Oct. 24 and 25 when the Oak Tree Racing Association hosts the two-day extravaganza at Santa Anita.

Breeders’ Cup Post Position Draw

POST POSITIONS FOR ALL 14 BREEDERS’ CUP RACES TO BE DRAWN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 AT SANTA ANITA PARK

TVG to Televise

LEXINGTON, Ky. (October 10, 2008) – The Breeders’ Cup announced today that post positions for all 14 races of the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be drawn on Tuesday, October 21 at Santa Anita Park, following the closing of entries at 10 a.m. PT.

The Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing most prestigious global event, consisting of 14 races and $25.5 million in purses, will be run on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at Santa Anita, and will be televised live on ABC, ESPN and to more than 130 countries.

BELMONT NOTES, Friday, October 10, 2008

Trainer Dominic Galluscio still hopes he can be “Mr. October” again this year on New York Showcase Day, Saturday, October 18 at Belmont Park.

Galluscio will be seeking his third straight victory in the day’s feature race, the $250,000 Empire Classic for New York-breds, three and up, at nine furlongs. He won the race in 2006 with Organizer and last year with Dr. V’s Magic, both for Majesty Stud.

“Dr. V’s Magic has had some setbacks, so we’re going to try his sister, Raffie’s Treasure in there,” Galluscio said. “She had a nice win the other day (October 1) and there are not a whole lot of other spots for fillies going long this time of year.”

Like her brother, Raffie’s Treasure is by Raffie’s Majesty out of the Summer Squall mare Treasure Always. A 3-year-old, she is the only filly nominated to the 33rd running of the Empire Classic.

Important schedule reminder from Calder Race Course

These are important reminders about Calder's live racing schedule next week:

* There will be live racing on Monday, Oct. 13 (Columbus Day).

* There will be NO live racing on Thursday, Oct. 16.

* Simulcasting continues its regular everyday schedule.

* Special event reminder: Saturday, Oct. 18 is the Festival of the Sun at Calder.

Keeneland Barn Notes—Friday, October 10, 2008

TAGG LOOKS TO DOUBLE UP IN QE II

Trainer Barclay Tagg has one Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) in his pocket, and it has not taken him long to begin pursuit of a second.

On Saturday, he will send Lael Stables’ My Princess Jess postward in the 25th running of the $500,000 stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf in an attempt to become the fourth trainer to saddle back-to-back winners of the QE II. In 2007, Joyce Young and Gerald McManus’ Bit of Whimsy rallied from off the pace to run down champion Dreaming of Anna to win the QE II and give Tagg his second Keeneland stakes score.

Carotene first of four stakes at Woodbine this weekend

TORONTO, October 9 - Saturday's Carotene Stakes kicks off a $550,000 holiday weekend of added-money action for which Woodbine horsemen and fans will be thankful.

A 1 1/8-mile turf contest, the $150,000 Carotene is for three-year-old fillies, foaled in Ontario.

Kinghaven Farms' homebred Reverently seeks to borrow a page from her star younger brother and snag a major share of the purse.

CARRILERO RETURNS TO MOW DOWN FOES IN FEATURED TURF EVENT

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2008) – Winless in two starts since a hard-charging second at 42-1 odds to Johnny Eves in the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita last December, Carrilero returned from a six-month layoff Thursday to mow down five rivals in Oak Tree’s $50,400 optional claiming feature at 6 ½ furlongs over Santa Anita’s downhill turf course.

With Jose Valdivia Jr. maintaining a clear path on the extreme outside, the Argentine-bred rallied from last to defeat Australian-bred Easy On The Eye by 1 ¼ lengths. Wiredfortwotwenty, the 7-5 favorite, settled for third, another half-length back, after gaining a one-length lead at the head of the stretch. The winning time was 1:12.85.

REBELLION, GLOBAL HUNTER AT HEAD OF CLASS IN SUNDAY’S LURE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2008) – After racing in seven and six straight graded stakes races, respectively, British-bred Rebellion and Argentine-conceived Global Hunter would appear to have a decided class advantage among eleven entrants Sunday in Oak Tree’s $75,000 Lure Stakes at one mile over Santa Anita’s turf course.

Trained by H. Graham Motion for Hickory Tree Stable, Rebellion drew post position No. 10 and will be partnered by Rafael Bejarano, who was aboard when the bay 5-year-old took Hollywood Park’s Grade III Ack Ack Handicap in June. Rebellion previously had won the Grade II Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland.

LEGENDS ON TOUR GALA SCHEDULED

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2008)—A Living Legends gala event that will include dinner, dancing, cocktails, a silent auction, music, comedy and an opportunity to meet some of the greatest jockeys in the history of Thoroughbred racing will be held at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. and will serve as a prelude to Breeders’ Cup 25 at Santa Anita on Oct. 24 and 25.

The event, hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association in conjunction with racing’s new Legends on Tour, also will include a silent auction to benefit Jockeys’ Choice Charities and will lead into the most prestigious race for retired jockeys in the history of the sport, the Living Legends Race, featuring live pari-mutuel wagering, on Oct. 18.

WAQUOIT’S LOVE GETS ANOTHER SHOT AT CRIMINOLOGIST

As Belmont Park’s Fall Championship Meet enters its final weeks, owners and trainers are already making arrangements for the late fall and winter. Some will remain in New York when Aqueduct opens on October 29. Others will set up in warmer climates. Still others will go back and forth from New York to Florida.

Trainer Tim Hills was on the road this week, leaving Belmont Park and arriving Thursday morning at his 2 ½-acre farm in Southwest Ranches, Fla.., just west of Fort Lauderdale, so that his wife, Laine, could resume her veterinary practice.

PRIVATE MIRACLE TAKES MEADOWLANDS FEATURE

East Rutherford, NJ [October 9, 2008] Private Miracle seized command from the dueling leaders at the top of the stretch and held on to win the $50,00 allowance for three-year-old fillies and mares Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

Trained by Alan S. Seewald, Private Miracle is perfect in two career starts. With Jose Velez Jr. in the saddle, Private Miracle paid $4.40 to win the night's sixth race in 1:11.14. It was a photo for the place spot, with Billy We Got You nosing out a very game Aly Blair in third.