Saturday, July 04 2009
GO GO SHOOT WINS MR. PROSPECTOR BY HALF AT MONMOUTH
OCEANPORT, N.J. * Go Go Shoot scored a swift victory in the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes, and American Border captured the $70,000 Miss Liberty Stakes before a holiday crowd of 10,656 at Monmouth Park on Friday.
Go Go Shoot, trained by Bruce Levine and ridden by Eddie Castro, assumed command in mid-stretch and then was all out to hold off Timely Advice by a half-length in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector, run in 1:08 3/5. Unwritten, who briefly got to the lead at the top of the stretch, settled for third, two and a quarter lengths farther back.
Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, July 3, 2009
SUMMER BIRD ARRIVES AT MONMOUTH TO PREP FOR HASKELL
Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird rolled into the Monmouth Park stable area at 5:30 Friday morning and settled into his stall in Barn 3 as he prepares for his next start, the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on Sunday, Aug. 2.
Trainer Tim Ice, looking sleepy after the long road trip from Louisiana Downs that included a stopover at Churchill Downs, said the Birdstone colt had handled the trip well.
Backtalk Wins 108th Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, July 3, 2009) – Gold Mark Farm’s Backtalk charged past Flatter Than Me inside the sixteenth pole to win the 108th running of the $110,500 Bashford Manor Stakes (GIII) for 2-year-olds by a length at Churchill Downs on Friday.
Ridden by Miguel Mena and trained by Tom Amoss, Backtalk covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:11.08 in defeating seven rivals. The victory was worth $66,455 and increased Backtalk’s earnings to $90,095 for two wins in two starts.
Arlington park Barn Notes: July 3
MEDIA ADVISORY – SUNDAY IS EARLIE FIRES DAY AT ARLINGTON
It’s time to sing “Thanks for the Memories” to the most enduring jockey in the history of Arlington Park!
How many Chicagoans cut their teeth as Thoroughbred racing fans watching the inexhaustible talents of Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires as he drove horses to the wire – encouraging each animal’s best effort with his patented furious finish?
Fund Established to Help Grandchildren of Gulfstream Clerk of Scales
A fund has been established to help the two teenage children of Lisa Kotula, the daughter of Gulfstream Clerk of Scales Victor Sanchez.
Ms. Kortula passed away Thursday after suffering from a long illness. She was a week away from turning 43.
BELMONT PARK NOTES: Friday, July 3, 2009
ELMONT, N.Y. – Dancing Forever, third in an allowance in his 2009 debut on May 31, is heading into the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’ War on July 11 at Belmont Park in good order as Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey contemplates a schedule that will bring the 6-year-old horse back to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
“I thought he ran good the other day,” said McGaughey. “He was always a big horse and it took him a while to get things together in his career. He had a break over the winter, and whatever bumps and bruises he had, had a chance to go away.”
‘Smoke’ looks to fire in Ontario Damsel
TORONTO, July 3 – Woodsmoke, a three-year-old daughter of Langfuhr, goes after her fourth win in five starts and third added-money crown, in Sunday’s $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mike Keogh and owned by Gus Schickedanz, Woodsmoke heads into the 6 1/2-furlong Ontario Damsel off a nose score in the Alywow Stakes, which was also contested at 6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
Friday, July 03 2009
PLETCHER HOPING RECENT HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF IN THE TOM FOOL
ELMONT, N.Y. – In 34 previous editions of the Tom Fool Handicap, three-year-olds have been victorious only three times, most recently in 2000 when Todd Pletcher saddled Trippi to a 4½-length victory in the seven-furlong race.
Sunday, Pletcher is hoping history repeats itself when he sends out Michael B. Tabor’s sophomore star Munnings against four older horses in the Grade 2, $200,000 sprint at Belmont Park.
Blame Wins Moon Over Prospect Purse Purse Before 33,481 ‘Downs After Dark’ Patrons
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, July 2, 2009) – Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm’s Blame found running room at the eighth pole and drew off to win Thursday’s featured $50,397 Moon Over Prospect Purse for 3-year-olds and up by 1 ¼ lengths over Blackberry Road before a “Downs After Dark” crowd of 33,481 at Churchill Downs.
The attendance was the largest of the three “Downs After Dark” night racing programs and is believed to be the largest non-Kentucky Derby, Oaks or Breeders’ Cup crowd in modern Churchill Downs history. The initial “Downs After Dark” program on Friday, June 19 attracted 28,011 and 27,623 were on hand last Friday.
Tizaqueena Tops Field of Eight for Churchill Downs’ Closing Day Locust Grove Handicap
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Thursday, July 2, 2009) – Darley Stable’s Tizaqueena, winner of the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (Grade II) on Kentucky Derby Day, will carry top weight of 118 pounds as she faces seven older fillies and mares in Sunday’s 28th running of the $100,000-added Locust Grove Handicap (Grade III).
The Locust Grove, run at a mile over the Matt Winn Turf Course, will go as the 10th race on the 11-race card that closes out Churchill Downs’ 45-day Spring Meet. The program begins with a first post time of 12:45 p.m. (all times EDT).and the Locust Grove is set for 5:29 p.m.
STREAKING GOZZIP GIRL LEADS IN $700,000 AMERICAN OAKS
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 2, 2009) — New York filly Gozzip Girl, a winner of three straight races on turf, will attempt to become the fifth straight invader to win the $700,000 American Oaks on Sunday at Hollywood Park.
The daughter of Dynaformer will be ridden by New York-based Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who was a regular at Hollywood Park when he rode Ticker Tape in 2004 — the last local winner of the Grade I event.
I’LL SHOW THEM WINS FEATURE, HELPS SET UP $96,527 PICK SIX CARRYOVER
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (July 2, 2009) - Glen Hill Farm's I'll Show Them, given a comfortable stalking trip by jockey Martin Garcia, remained perfect in two starts by closing from third in the final furlong to score a one-length victory over Gretsky in Thursday's $50,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Hollywood Park.
I'll Show Them, a 6-1 outsider, covered one mile on the Lakeside Turf Course in 1:34.01 while rewarding backers with payoffs of $15.40, $7.40 and $6.20. Gretsky paid $9.80 and $7.60, while the show payoff on Backbackbackgone was $4.80. Favorite Cleisthenes finished fifth in the field of ten 3-year-olds.
