Monday, February 06 2012
Gulfstream Today: 2.5.12
Flying Zee Stable’s Street Game rallied strongly along the inside to just get up over a fast-closing Plead on the far outside in Gulfstream Park’s featured seventh race on Sunday afternoon. In the one-mile allowance/optional claiming event on turf, Street Game settled behind the majority of the field early, before uncorking his rally along the inside. The 4-year-old colt by Street Cry was able to narrowly defeat Plead who also put in a very strong rally to fall just a nose short.
Sunday’s race was the first of 2012 for the Philip Serpe-trained Street Game who won the Hill Prince (G3) last summer at Belmont Park. As the 2.40-1 second choice in the field of seven colts and geldings, Street Game – who was ridden by Ryan Curatolo – returned $6.80.
NYRA NOTES: Sunday, February 5, 2012
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sporting a brand-new New York Giants cap in honor of their appearance in tonight’s Super Bowl XLVI, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported this morning that Alpha returned from his Withers CXXXII victory in good order and would likely take the next step to the Kentucky Derby in New York.
“We’ll look at the Gotham/Wood, talk to [Godolphin racing manager] Simon Crisford and see if we want to run him two more times, or one more time,” said McLaughlin, referring to Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham on March 3 and the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World New York City Casino Wood Memorial on April 7. “We like having him here in New York.”
GAME ON DUDE RETURNS AS MAJOR PLAYER WITH 5 ¼-LENGTH ROMP IN SAN ANTONIO STAKES
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2012) – In his first start since a gritty second in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic last Nov. 5, defending Santa Anita Handicap champion Game On Dude gave every indication Sunday that he again would be a major player among the nation’s older horses at the age of 5.
With regular rider Chantal Sutherland at the controls for trainer Bob Baffert, Game On Dude ran off with Santa Anita’s 74th running of the Grade II, $200,000 Santa Antonio Handicap while defeating Uh Oh Bango by 5 ¼ lengths and covering 1 1/8 miles in a brisk 1:46.88.
STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN Sunday February 5, 2012
THE USUAL Q.T. IN STRONG SAN MARCOS LINEUP ON SATURDAY
The Usual Q.T., one of Unusual Heat’s wealthiest and most successful progeny and one of a rash of California-bred Thoroughbreds to gain national prominence recently, hopes to add to his millionaire status Saturday when he runs in the Grade II, $150,000 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf.
Second to then-stablemate Evening Jewel in last year’s California Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Horse of the Year voting for horses bred in the Golden State, The Usual Q.T. was third in the Grade II San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Jan. 16. It was the first race in nearly eight months for the 6-year-old gelding, and trainer Jim Cassidy had to employ a less-than-ideal training schedule to make the race.
THE MAGIC OF AFFIRMED AND CAUTHEN REUNITES A BARRERA AND A WOLFSON
In the spring of 1977, Harbor View Farm owner Louis Wolfson sent a 2-year-old colt to trainer Guillermo “Willie” Barrera at Hialeah in south Florida for final polishing before his racing debut.
Wolfson, who campaigned 1965 co-Horse of the Year Roman Brother, couldn’t imagine what the future held in store for the homebred chestnut son of Exclusive Native-Won’t Tell You, owned by himself and wife Patrice. But Barrera knew almost instantly Affirmed had championship potential.
Pletcher Holds Strong Hand in Two Thursday Allowance Features
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL - Thursday’s 10-race program at Gulfstream Park offers a pair of 6 ½-furlong allowance features, one for 3-year-olds and one for older horses, and leading trainer Todd Pletcher appears have the favorites in both races with E. Paul Robsham Stable’s 4-year-old Travelin Man in the third and Bortolazzo Stable’s 3-year-old Stat in the eighth.
Jockey John Velazquez, who will ride both horses, teamed up with Travelin Man for all six of his career starts, beginning with three over the Gulfstream track early last year. The Kentucky homebred by Trippi won his debut, finished second in the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) to Flashpoint and then won the Swale Stakes (G2) on Florida Derby Day, Apr. 3
Friendly Banter Wins Sunday Fature
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, February 05, 2012 – Louie Roussel III and Ronnie Lamarque’s Friendly Banter, reserved off the pace until the stretch run, took command at the furlong grounds and then drew off for a three-length tally in Sunday’s $49,000 feature, an allowance and $17,500 optional claiming event contested at one mile and 70 yards.
Trained by Louie Roussel and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, the recently altered son of Distorted Humor returned mutuels of $5.60, $4.80 and $4.20, toured the distance in 1:43.98 and increased his career earnings to $82,136 with his second win in eight lifetime starts.
Saturday’s Tiffany Lass Shaping Up Strong, Perrodin Retires
NEW ORLEANS (Sunday, February 05, 2012) – A match up between last year’s Kentucky Oaks favorite and last year’s New Orleans Ladies winner appears likely this Saturday at Fair Grounds.
In one corner, it’s Fox Hill Farms’ Joyful Victory, winner of Oaklawn’s Grade II Fantasy in 2011, and in another, it’s Mrs. Yoshio Fujita’s Ravi’s Song, heroine of the 2011 $100,000 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds and a mare who worked a half-mile in 48.80 Sunday morning here. Those two are likely to face each other in Saturday’s 20th anniversary edition of the $75,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares.
BAZE, GRYDER WIN HALF THE RACES ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY CARD AT GGF
ALBANY -- Russell Baze and Aaron Gryder, the two leading jockeys at Golden Gate Fields, combined to win half the races on the track’s Super Bowl Sunday racing program.
Due to the Super Bowl, Golden Gate Fields started its eight-race card at 11:15 a.m. and Gryder tallied in the early opener with Lady Hokulea ($4.80). The 7-to-5 favorite, Lady Hokulea held off 12-to-1 outsider Roll Your Eyes to win by a neck.
Sunday, February 05 2012
I’LL HAVE ANOTHER SENDS PUNTERS PACKING WITH 43-1 LEWIS UPSET
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) _ With trouble unfolding behind him, 43-1 shot I'll Have Another went on to stunning upset in the Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, surprising his trainer and owner as much as the bettors.
The longest shot in the field of eight 3-year-olds won by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday at Santa Anita, with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's two colts finishing out of the money.
TWO-DAY PICK SIX CARRYOVER OF $353,248 ON SUPER SUNDAY
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 4, 2012) – After two days of no winning tickets in the Pick Six, Santa Anita will offer a super two-day carryover of $353,248 into Sunday’s Pick Six when there will be an early post of 11 a.m. in deference to the late afternoon Super Bowl.
It is estimated that the pool will approach $1.5 million by the time wagering closes on the popular exotic.
Bold Front Wins Saturday 3YO Feature
NEW ORLEANS (Saturday, February 04, 2012) – Jay Em Ess Stable’s Bold Front, unhurried early, commenced a rally outside the leaders entering the lane, launched a strong second surge in the late stages and was up to be best by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s $46,000 main event for maiden sophomores.
Trained by Paul McGee and ridden by Robby Albarado, the winner returned mutuels of $9.60, $4.40 and $3.40, toured the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.67 in the race transferred to the sloppy main track and increased his career earnings to $39,213 with his first win in four lifetime starts.
