TODAY’S NEWS – THURSDAY – WOODBINE OAKS PREVIEW, BET NIGHT LIVE, BELMONT, EPSOM AND MORE!!
Grade 1 winner RAINBOW VIEW is entered in Woodbine’s Nassau Stakes on Saturday. Sarah K Andrews photo
BET BET BET!
On a miserableWednesday night where the rain was hard and heavy, Woodbine introduced a new TV show to the public that hopefully will lure new fans to our great sport.
BET NIGHT LIVE, on The Score cable channel coast to coast, debuted for thoroughbreds last night and
it was an interesting experiment that had its share of pluses.
Certainly boosting the fun of betting horse races, where a little bit of knowledge can go a long way to winning money, is the name of the horse racing marketers these days and BET NIGHT LIVE might be headed in the right direction.
Teaching folks about racing and how it is possible to pick out a horse that can win at good odds is not an easy task. The equipment of the game, Daily Racing Form, program etc. are daunting publications with lots of figures and facts but Jim Bannon led the 2 hour show last night with bits on how to pick a longshot and how to watch a horse race.
The hosts, Chad Rozema and Laura Diakun, along with Bannon and Sandy Hawley kept things light as the show went through features on how to bet and who to bet on.
It will be interesting to see if every show will be the same, however – will the lessons on how to bet Win, Place and Show be replayed every week or did newcomers have to watch last night to get the keys to the game…?
There were glitches – the track PA system disappeared for a race but Rozema called the proceedings and did well.
The dart board set up in the grandstand for Diakun to make her picks by throwing a dart at a nunber doesn’t make much sense if you are trying to teach people how to win at horse racing and a bit more lessons into handicapping will need to come out over the weeks.
The gang came through with a winner in the final race of the show when Blushing Sir Brahm won at 5 to 2 and that was a dart board pick.
The show has the right idea – just like seminars at the track, handicapping shows etc. but the most important factor to make these things work is getting the word out.
Only those at the track know about seminars and only those who are watching THE SCORE channel, watching sports tickers and highlights, will know about it.
Advertising and marketing must be improved and it does not necessarilyu need to cost a lot of money.
Indeed, a little fill out form in a newspaper advertising a chance to win money in a contest (Bet Night Live gives out $1,000 in cash prizes each night) always lures people. Games at restuarants where you play Monopoly or Rolling up a Rim are always popular.
No one will know about the game of racing unless it gets out there to general public so promoting the sport has to be improved.
Bet Night Live is a little too beginner oriented but perhaps will improve over the weeks and hopefully the cools facts and figures involved in race betting will be more prevalent.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT WRAP
Off the turf, as the races are today and perhaps tomorrow too, so events 2 and 3 shrunk a bit.
Race 1 was a maiden claiming event that went to STORIES N FIBS, taking that all important drop from maiden allowance to maiden claiming for Dave Cotey and partners. The Flatter filly rallied down the centre of the track to win the $40K claiming event.
Race 2 was a romp for REBECCA’S SONG, owned by Ron Clarkson and trained by Ian Black. The 4yo filly by Rahy was making her 4th start of the year and was switching from turf to Polytrack as the allowance event came off turf.
Race 3 was a maiden allowance and it was the first win of the meeting for trainer STUART SIMON. Training for CECIL PEACOCK, Simon sent out MISTER DO IT to win the 6 furlong off-the-turf race with MISTER DO IT, who was reversing his form in dramatic fashion. The Songandaprayer fellow had been last of 11 in his Woodbine debut in a tougher maiden allowance but suddenly was wide and up for the win.
Race 4 was won because EURICO ROSA DA SILVA gave a crafty ride on recent claim PREAKNESS LAUGHER. Once regarded as a top class runner, the pretty chestnut gelding was under a strong hold early in the race at 6 1/2 furlongs and he powered hom for his 2nd consecutive win and first for the Bear Stables and trainer Mike DePaulo.
Maidens in race 5 went 2 turns for $12,500 and BLUSHING SIR BRAHM rallied wide to win for Who Next Stable and trainer Mark Casse and at the same 1 1/16 mile distance, CRAWFORD COUNTY won race 6 to be the first winner of the meeting for trainer JIM SMITH. The 5yo mare was a recent claim in Florida and she was dropped from $20K to just $12,500.
GOLDEN GIRL SUE won an Ontario sired allowance race for fillies & mares in race 7 as she led all the way for Brnada Goodlet, who bought the filly at auction from Gardiner Farms. The Bold Executive – Mad ‘Bout You gal was winning for the 2nd time in her career and Tino Attard trains.
And the final race of the night was a wild one – SPEED THRILLS thrilled anyone wo bet on him. The firster by Roar of the Tiger came from just over 4 lengths off the pace while wide to win at 65 to 1 for Tony Bowling and trainer Danny Vella under apprentice Terry Husbands.
The half brother to 7 winners including stakes winner and debut winner Spensive keyed a $5K tri and a $25K superfecta to wrap up the night.
WOODBINE OAKS COUNTDOWN
Post draw 1 week today
EMBUR’S SONG (Unbridled’s Song) 98, 99 Beyer Figures in 2 races – trained by Todd Pletcher, bred by Ted Burnett, owned by Fares Farm
ERNFOLD (Stormy Atlantic) 80, 81, trained by Roger Attfield, bred by Winsong, owned by Jiim and Susan Hill
FIRST WITH CLASS (Gone West) 78, 68, trained by Malcolm Pierce, owned.bred by Sam-Son Farms
ISABEAU’S ELEGANCE (Dixie Union), 74, 82, : trained by Mark Casse, bred by Denny Andrews/Blackwater, owned by Classic Oaks
MOMENT OF MAJESTY (Saint Liam), 77,81 trained by Sue Leslie, bred by Curtis and Nancy Joseph, owned by Curtis Joseph
OIL PAINTING (Distorted Humor) 74, 75, 71, trained by Josie Carroll. Bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and NETP, owned by Glenn Sikura and HIll ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings
RESENTLESS (Trajectory) 87, 82, trained by Ian Howard, bred by Ian Jamieson, owned by Don Ross
ROAN INISH (Elusive Quality) 75, 74 trained by Carlyn Costigan, owned/bred by Robert Costigan
TEE GAME (El Corredor) 72, 75, trained by Mike Doyle, owned by Hendrie Farm, bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equines Holdings
You can be sure that EMBUR’S SONG will be odds on – perhaps 4 to 5 in the race – but many will be betting against her simply because she has never had an pace pressure and she has won two modest events – albeit in fast times.
But there is not a lot of other speed in the Oaks as it shapes up right now – RESENTLESS is a speedball who is stretching out in distance but if she is rated (and she has been quite sick in recent weeks), then EMBUR’S SONG might be long gone.
The others, ISABEAU’S ELEGANCE, ROAN INISH, MOMENT OF MAJESTY and OIL PAINTING have all raced against each other and been separated by noses and necks.
**NOTE – You can watch OIL PAINTING’S 1:12 WORKOUT TIMEthat had PATRICK HUSBANDS raving on the Woodbine website under Thoroughbred Videos
BELMONT STAKES
Thoroughblog says the classic is Zito’s for the taking
ICE BOX, 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, is one of 2 gems for trainer Nick Zito in the Belmont.
www.horse-races.net photo/Cindy Pierson Dulay
$1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I, Belmont Park, June 5), 3YO 1 ½ Miles (Dirt)
Post Horse Jockey Trainer Odds
1. Dave In Dixie Calvin Borel John Sadler 20-1
2. Spangled Star Garrett Gomez Richard Dutrow, Jr. 30-1
3. Uptowncharlybrown Rajiv Maragh Kiaran McLaughlin 10-1
4. Make Music for Me Joel Rosario Alexis Barba 10-1
5. Fly Down John Velazquez Nick Zito 9-2
6. Ice Box Jose Lezcano Nick Zito 3-1
7. Drosselmeyer Mike Smith Bill Mott 12-1
8. Game On Dude Martin Garcia Bob Baffert 10-1
9. Stately Victor Alan Garcia Mike Maker 15-1
10. Stay Put Jamie Theriot Steve Margolis 20-1
11. First Dude Ramon Dominguez Dale Romans 7-2
12. Interactif Javier Castellano Todd Pletcher 12-1
EPSOM DERBY ON SATURDAY!
from PRESS ASSOCIATION
Bell hopes colt is a cut above
Michael Bell hopes Coordinated Cut has improved from his run in the Dante when he lines up in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The winner of a valuable sales race at Newmarket on his first start for Bell, the Montjeu colt was third behind Cape Blanco and Workforce at York subsequently.
“His preparation has gone very smoothly, he looks healthy and well and we are hopeful of a very good run. He has been training very well and he blew hard after the Dante, so I’m hoping there is some improvement to come. Obviously seeing is believing and we will see on Saturday if that is correct,” said Bell.
“It’s a relatively small field for the Derby so I don’t think there’s much significance in the draw (nine). They should be able to sort themselves out over a mile and a half with only 12 runners.”
Hot Prospect is one of the outsiders having finished third behind fellow Derby aspirant Bullet Train at Lingfield a month ago and trainer Michael Jarvis admits there are question marks about the trip.
“He’s an outsider but he’s a nice horse in his own right and we’ll see how good he is,” said Jarvis.
“His form suggests he’s got it all to do but he’ll love the ground. The trip could be a little bit of an unknown as he’s out of a mare that gets quite fast horses, but he’s by a Derby winner (Motivator), which would give you hope he’ll stay. I’d be very happy if he finishes in the first five.”
Copyright © 2010 The Press Association. All rights reserved.
EPSOM DERBY FIELD
with jockey, trainer, breeding owner
1 AL ZIR
110 Kieren Fallon
Saeed Bin Suroor28 114 124
bay colt Medaglia D´Oro (USA) — Bayou Plans (USA) (Bayou Hebert (USA))
Godolphin
2 AT FIRST SIGHT
104 J A Heffernan
A P O´Brien52 108 117
chestnut colt Galileo (IRE) — Healing Music (FR) (Bering)
D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor
3 AZMEEL
109 William Buick
J H M Gosden56 111 125
bay colt Azamour (IRE) — Best Side (IRE) (King´s Best (USA))
M Al-Qatami & K M Al-Mudhaf
4 BULLET TRAIN
109 Tom Queally
H R A Cecil79 84 125
bay colt Sadler´s Wells (USA) — Kind (IRE) (Danehill (USA))
K Abdulla
5 BUZZWORD
112 Ahmed Ajtebi
Mahmood Al Zarooni62 124 129
bay colt Pivotal — Bustling (Danehill (USA))
Godolphin
6 COORDINATED CUT
107 Jamie Spencer
M L W Bell58 123 126
bay colt Montjeu (IRE) — Apache Star (Arazi (USA))
Lawrie Inman
7 HOT PROSPECT
101 Philip Robinson
M A Jarvis83 104 116
bay colt Motivator — Model Queen (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
A D Spence
8 JAN VERMEER
119 J Murtagh
A P O´Brien52 131 135
bay colt Montjeu (IRE) — Shadow Song (IRE) (Pennekamp (USA))
M Tabor, D Smith & Mrs John Magnier
9 MIDAS TOUCH
115 C O’Donoghue
A P O´Brien52 120 130
bay colt Galileo (IRE) — Approach (Darshaan)
Mrs Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Denford Stud
10 REWILDING
115 Frankie Dettori
Mahmood Al Zarooni62 114 128
bay colt Tiger Hill (IRE) — Darara (Top Ville)
Godolphin
11 TED SPREAD
105 Michael Hills
M H Tompkins44 106 121
bay colt Beat Hollow — Highbrook (USA) (Alphabatim (USA))
False Nose ‘N Glasses Partnership
12 WORKFORCE
108 Ryan Moore
Sir Michael Stoute93 124 128
bay colt King´s Best (USA) — Soviet Moon (IRE) (Sadler´s Wells (USA))
K AbdullaH
BIG SATURDAY AT WOODBINE TOO…
Da Silva off of Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet
The GRADE 3 ECLIPSE STAKES and GRADE 2 NASSAU STAKES highlight a super card at Woodbine on Saturday with champions galore in action – no excuses for newcomers to the sport to come out and enjoy the day!
The Nassau Stakes brings together last year’s Canadian champion turf mare POINTS OF GRACE with Grade 1 winner RAINBOW VIEW, who is unbeaten this year. RAINBOW VIEW is an international star who has been brought north by Augustin Stable and trainer Johnathan Sheppard.
Most intriguing is the Eclipse as HORSE OF THE YEAR from 2008 FATAL BULLET, a champion sprinter, will try and stretch out to 1 1/16 miles under a new rider. GERRY OLGUIN replaces EURICO ROSA DA SILVA who is no longer partnering his champion gelding for Bear Stables.
The Eclipse has also lured stallion-to-be MAST TRACK, the up and coming SOUTHDALE and stakes winners ICE BEAR and POOL PLAY along with PALLADIO, a champion.
SOUTHDALE, Dave Landry photo
Saturday, Woodbine
ECLIPSE S.-GIII, $150,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Fatal Bullet Red Bullet Olguin Baker 121
2 Mast Track Mizzen Mast Contreras Smullen 117
3 Pool Play K Silver Deputy Husbands Casse 121
4 Tierra Del Tigre K Catienus Clark Cox 117
5 Ice Bear Maria’s Mon Sutherland Benson 121
6 Palladio Lycius Dos Ramos Attfield 123
7 Southdale Street Cry (Ire) Wilson Black 117
8 Stunning Stag K Running Stag Da Silva Attard 117
9 Awesome Rhythm K Awesome Again McAleney Ross 119
10 Sligovitz K Sligo Bay (GB) Jones Attfield 117
TOMORROW, THE EPSOM OAKS!
chart courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News
Friday, Epsom, Britain
INVESTEC OAKS-G1, ,366,000, 3yo, f, 12f 10ydsT
SC PP HORSE SIRE
1 13 Akdarena (GB) Hernando (Fr)
O/B-Kirsten Rausing; T-Jim Bolger; J-Kevin Manning.
Lifetime Record: 8-3-0-3, £107,746.
Last Start–1st Apr. 25 Listed Salsabil S.
2 1 Aviate (GB) Dansili (GB)
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd; T-Henry Cecil; J-Tom Queally.
Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, £46,681.
Last Start-1st May 12 G3 Musidora S.
3 5 Awe Inspiring (Ire) Montjeu (Ire)
(€300,000 yrl ‘08 ARQAUG)
O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Lynch Bages Ltd;
T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Seamus Heffernan. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-0, £12,079.
Last Start-1st Apr. 30 Cork maiden
4 12 Bikini Babe (Ire) Montjeu (Ire)
(€150,000 yrl ‘08 ARQAUG)
O-Alan Spence; B-Twelve Oaks Stud; T-Mark Johnston; J-Kieren Fallon.
Lifetime Record: 10-1-2-1, £62,496.
Last Start-5th May 12 G3 Musidora S.
5 7 Cabaret (Ire) Galileo (Ire)
(€300,000 yrl ‘08 GOFMIL)
O-Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Epona Bloodstock Ltd;
T-Aidan O’Brien; J-Colm O’Donoghue. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, £53,327.
Last Start-7th May 12 G3 Musidora S.
6 3 Ceilidh House (GB) Selkirk
O-Julian Richmond-Watson; B-Lawn Stud; T-Ralph Beckett; J-Jim Crowley.
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, £8,299.
Last Start-3rd May 8 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial
7 8 Champagnelifestyle (GB) Montjeu (Ire)
(140,000gns wnlg ‘07 TATDEC; 78,000gns RNA yrl ‘08 TATOCT)
O-Champagne Friday; B-Sunny Days Ltd; T-Barry Hills; J-Michael Hills.
Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, £9,489.
Last Start-3rd May 5 Listed Cheshire Oaks
8 14 Gertrude Bell (GB) Sinndar (Ire)
O/B-Rachel Hood; T-John Gosden; J-William Buick. Lifetime Record:
5-2-1-2, £30,455.
Last Start-1st May 5 Listed Cheshire Oaks
9 6 Marie de Medici K Medicean (GB)
($340,000 yrl ‘08 KEESEP)
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Flaxman Holdings Ltd;
T-Mark Johnston; J-Joe Fanning. Lifetime Record: 8-2-1-3, £59,607.
Last Start-1st May 2 Listed Pretty Polly S.
10 11 Meeznah K Dynaformer
($120,000 yrl ‘08 KEEJAN; $175,000 yrl ‘08 KEESEP)
O-Saif Ali & Saeed H Altayer; B-Swettenham Stud; T-David Lanigan; J-Ted
Durcan. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-2, £6,517.
Last Start-1st May 14 Newmarket maiden
11 4 Remember When (Ire) Danehill Dancer (Ire)
O-Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Tower Bloodstock; T-Aidan O’Brien;
J-Johnny Murtagh. Lifetime Record: 3-0-1-1, £16,342.
Last Start-4th May 23 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas
12 2 Rumoush Rahy
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Farm LLC;
T-Marcus Tregoning; J-Richard Hills. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, £26,120.
Last Start-7th May 2 G1 1000 Guineas
13 9 Sajjhaa (GB) King’s Best
O-Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Darley; T-Michael Jarvis;
J-Frankie Dettori. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, £3,238.
Last Start-1st May 20 Sandown maiden
14 15 Snow Fairy (Ire) Intikhab
(€1,800 yrl ‘08 TATFLT)
O-Anamoine Ltd; B-Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc; T-Ed Dunlop;
J-Ryan Moore. Lifetime Record: 7-2-1-2, £38,787.
Last Start-1st May 19 Listed Height of Fashion S.
15 10 Timepiece (GB) Zamindar
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd; T-Henry Cecil; J-Eddie Ahern.
Lifetime Record: 5-2-2-0, £35,366.
Last Start-2nd May 8 Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial
All carry 126 pounds.
