Monday, May 07 2012

STORMY LUCY BREATHING EASY AFTER GOLDEN POPPY VICTORY

ALBANY -- Stormy Lucy, a new filly since having a breathing problem corrected, charged to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes at Golden Gate Fields Sunday.

Stormy Lucy was trying turf for the first time and stretching out in distance in the Golden Poppy, a 1 1/16-mile grass race for 3-year-old fillies. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Stormy Atlantic handled both tests impressively, rallying from a few lengths off the pace to earn her third straight victory since undergoing surgery for an entrapped epiglottis.

TEAM O’NEILL ON CLOUD NINE AFTER I’LL HAVE ANOTHER’S DERBY VICTORY

You could see his smile from the eighth pole to the wire. It was business as usual for Leandro Mora, Doug O’Neill’s assistant trainer, but Mora and everyone connected to Team O’Neill were still ecstatic the morning after I’ll Have Another’s brilliant victory in the Kentucky Derby.

“It was too bad I couldn’t go,” said Mora. “I was supposed to go yesterday, but I couldn’t because we had horses running here and we have to take care of business. But that’s alright, because it’s still the same great feeling. Doug called me after the Derby to give me some congrats. So now we’re just enjoying it. I spoke to the boys this morning and he looks fine. I guess they were worried about him getting too hot after the race. It took a long time with the ceremonies and things like that, but they gave him a bath right there on the track and everything was cool.”

FINAL DAY OF TAMPA BAY DOWNS SEASON GIVES PAUSE FOR REFLECTION

The sight of a pair of adult sandhill cranes with two adorable chicks making their way across the main track two hours before post time at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday served as a fitting metaphor for the final day of the 2011-12 Thoroughbred meeting.

For horsemen, jockeys and Tampa Bay Downs officials, Sunday was a time to reflect on the achievements of the past five months – including a highly successful Kentucky Derby Day party that attracted more than 9,000 fans – while looking forward to the promise of a bright future.

Essence Hit Man fends off Vigil foes

TORONTO, May 6 – Essence Hit Man, with Jesse Campbell in the irons, got off to a fast start and then dug in late for a three-quarter length score in the featured $168,000, Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

Last year’s Canadian champion sprinter, Essence Hit Man, an Ontario-bred five-year-old son of Speightstown, went one better than he did in last year’s Vigil, while running his win streak to three.

Sunday, May 06 2012

Kentucky Derby 138 Establishes Across-the-Board Records

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 5, 2012) – It was a record-breaking 138th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands as a crowd of 165,307, the largest in history, gathered on a beautiful day at Churchill Downs Racetrack to watch Reddam Racing LLC’s California-based I’ll Have Another rally to defeat favored Bodemeister and win the roses that go to the winner of America’s greatest race.

The on-track attendance erased the previous record of 164,858 that was established just last year. The record attendance prior to 2011 was the crowd of 163,628 who gathered for the 100th Kentucky Derby in 1974. The attendance mark set the tone for a Kentucky Derby Day that concluded with record totals for wagering for both the Kentucky Derby race and the entire 13-race card race card.

Kentucky Derby 138 Losing Trainer Quotes

BOB BAFFERT (Bodemeister, second) – “He was doing it easily. He was within himself. He was being pressed, but he’s a brilliant horse. That’s the way he wanted to run. We talked about it before. I told Mike (Smith), ‘Look, if he breaks great and feels like running, we can win it.’
“He ran his race. He was there and he just got tired a little bit. He’s only run four times. I was really proud of him. He’s a super impressive horse.

Kentucky Derby 138 Losing Jockey Quotes

MIKE SMITH (Bodemeister, second) – “I’m very disappointed, but at the same time I’m just so proud of him. He’s brilliant. He really is.
“He was flying leaving there. He was two in front leaving the gate.
“He didn't finish first, but he's still the winner. He's such a free running horse that I couldn't take that away from him. At the top of the stretch, I really thought we had it, but I knew we were in trouble when I saw Doug's (O'Neil) horse (I'll Have Another) coming.”

Little Mike Gets Big Win in Woodford Reserve Turf Classic

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Priscilla Vaccarezza’s Little Mike continued a major afternoon for trainer Dale Romans by posting a front-running 2 ½-length triumph over Slim Shadey (GB) in the 26th running of the $561,500 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (Grade I) on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day card, Romans sent out Shackleford to a victory in the Churchill Downs Presented by Navistar (GII).

Kentucky Derby 138 Post-Race Winner’s News Conference Transcript

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, jockey Mario Gutierrez, also the owner J. Paul Reddam, and trainer Doug O'Neill.
We'll ask a couple of questions, then open it up. Gentlemen, let's get started. Doug O'Neill, let's get started with you. You've been here a couple of times before; had some success at Churchill Downs. I remember your owners that day had a shirt on that read, Getting lucky in Kentucky.

Groupie Doll Shatters Track Record in Winning Grade I Humana Distaff

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Fred Bradley, trainer Buff Bradley, Carl Hurst and Brent Burns’ Groupie Doll made shambles of the field in winning the 26th running of the $334,500 Humana Distaff (Grade I) for fillies and mares by 7 ¼ lengths in track record time.

Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Groupie Doll ran the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:20.44 to break the track record of 1:20.50 set by Alannan on May 5, 2001 and the stakes record of 1:20.70 established by Dream Supreme in 2001.

Groupie Doll Shatters Track Record in Winning Grade I Humana Distaff

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Fred Bradley, trainer Buff Bradley, Carl Hurst and Brent Burns’ Groupie Doll made shambles of the field in winning the 26th running of the $334,500 Humana Distaff (Grade I) for fillies and mares by 7 ¼ lengths in track record time.

Ridden by Rajiv Maragh, Groupie Doll ran the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:20.44 to break the track record of 1:20.50 set by Alannan on May 5, 2001 and the stakes record of 1:20.70 established by Dream Supreme in 2001.

Hungry Island Wins Churchill Distaff Turf Mile

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 5, 2012) – Emory Hamilton’s homebred Hungry Island collared Tapitsfly at the eighth pole and then drew off to win the 27th running of the $223,400 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Presented by American Commercial Lines (Grade II) by a length on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by John Velazquez, Hungry Island ran the mile on a Matt Winn Turf Course labeled as “good” in 1:36.20.