WOW!  There can’t be many people who did not think that MY CONQUESTADORY’S win in Friday’s Alcibiades Stakes (GI) at Keeneland was not stunning.. Woodbine’s EURICO DA SILVA has himself a good one…now let’s see if she can go to Breeders’ Cup and conquer the NO LASIX RULE…..

 

http://www.keeneland.com/sites/default/files/shared/17225/WEB-MY-CONQUESTADORY---Darley-Alcibiades-GR-I---10-04-13---KEE---Under-Rail.jpeg
SCINTILLATING! MY CONQUESTORY gets out of a jam to romp

It’s on to the Breeders’ Cup Championships once again for trainer Mark Casse and his team as the 2yo filly MY CONQUESTADORY (named for Ernie Semersky’s Conquest Stables and partner Dory Newell) got out of what appeared to be a hopeless bind to win the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on Friday.
The daughter of Artie Schiller – Golden Artemis by Malibu Moon broke a bit sluggishly, was last into the first turn, on the rail and in traffic down the backstretch (mildly steadied) but when Woodbine jock EURICO DA SILVA got her into some clear sailing, she was gone.

Mark Casse said , “A little worried? My thoughts were, ‘Here we have this great filly and she’s not going to be able to show how great she was.’ I wasn’t upset or worried for me, I was worried for her, because I wanted her to be able to show you how great she was. That was my concern.”

Da Silva said: “She didn’t break sharp, but she was very, very relaxed. I was worried in the middle of the turn because there were so many fillies in front of me but every time I need her, she was just galloping. I was waiting for a hole, and every time it opened a little bit, I put her in. In the stretch when we had a free run, she just ran so easy. She’s a very nice filly.”

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf is likely next for the filly – remember, Casse ran Northern Passion in the Juvenile Filly race on dirt last year and  admitted the grass stakes winner should have stayed on turf, especially with no Lasix. It will be interesting to see which way they go with this lovely gal.

Sold for $70,000 as a yearling by breeder PAUL TACKETT to BILTMORE MANSION RACING, the filly re-sold this year in march after working one furlong in 10 seconds. EISAMAN EQUINE sold the filly and has photos and videos on its website.

See the race here:
http://www.drf.com/news/keeneland-alcibiades-becomes-second-straight-graded-win-my-conquestadory

 

PHOENIX STAKES – DOES IT ADD UP?

SUM OF THE PARTS proved that he is a Keeneland specialist with his 2nd straight win in the Phoenix Stakes, earning another trip to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. The 4yo son of Speightstown – Enjoy the Moment by Slew’s Royalty had not won a race from 3 starts since then and in fact, had been drubbed in most of them.
On Friday, the $150,000 2yo purchase scampered to a clear lead and held off Laught Track, trained by Mark Casse, and Canadian owned Go Blue or Go Home (who had trounced Sum of the Parts when they met in June at Presque Isle).
Trainer Tom Amoss said he brought the colt back too quickly from last year’s Breeders’ Cup (he was 4th to Trinniberg), this the poor form in the spring. The owners of the colt, who is not 6 for 15 in his career are Klaravich Stables and partner.

Jim and Susan Hill’s GO BLUE OR GO HOME ran a hard, strong race to be 3rd beaten 1 1/4 lengths. He sat nicely off the flank of Sum of the Parts and then ducked in to follow that rival in the stretch while still trying to chase. He was pipped by Casse trainee LAUGH TRACK for second on the wire.
Paco Lopez, aboard GO BLUE OR GO HOME said:

“My trip was perfect. When I came out, I took a hold and I was in good position in second. When I asked him turning for home in the stretch, my horse went in a little bit and I changed my whip (to the other hand) and he went out a little bit so I took a hold. He tried really hard.”

Stretch run of the Phoenix stakes:

 

SEMERSKY IMMERSED IN RACING

 

http://blogs.courier-journal.com/racing/files/2013/10/MY-CONQUESTADORY-Darley-Alcibiades-GR-I-10-04-13-KEE-Celebration1.jpg

From LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL, ERNIE SEMERSKY AND DORY NEWELL

Since he bought his first auction horses this spring, Ernie Semesky is up to 40 horses and at the recent Keeneland September sale, even grabbed a few Canadian-breds (read Thoroughblog after the Grade 2 Summer Stakes when he announced that he “loved Canada”.

 

ERNIE SEMERSKY FEATURE from July, Paulick Report

“You learn to win, you learn to lose, and hopefully, you learn to do both of them with class. That’s what I hope my granddaughters learn.” – Ernie Semersky

http://www.paulickreport.com/features/three-chimneys-presents-good-news-friday/three-chimneys-presents-good-news-friday-stars-that-last-awhile/

 

TOMORROW IS ARC DAY!!

NOVELLIST has been scratched..

from BBC.UK>CO

Novellist will not run in Sunday’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp because of a high temperature.

The German-trained horse, who was second favourite, was to be ridden by in-form Irish jockey Johnny Murtagh.

Favourite Orfevre will be bidding to give Japan a first win in Europe’s richest race.

Last year’s narrow runner-up, trained by Yasutoshi Ikee, will be ridden by Belgian Christophe Soumillon.

Leading British challenger Al Kazeem must overcome the widest draw of all in 18 to triumph for Roger Charlton.

Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien saddles Leading Light and Ruler Of The World.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/24398854

 

 

JAKE’S TAKE

Photo: Jake Morrison ..looking for mice

JAKE has sharpened his handicapping pencil and has some picks for the races (when he is not looking for mice). He starts with a selection at Woodbine today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake could not resist when he looked at today’s Woodbine card – he likes DRAGON PUFF at 8 to 1 in the morning line in RACE 7! Good luck with your wagers today and stay tuned for more handicapping tomorrow on THOROUGHBLOG.

 

JACKPOT HI 5
TORONTO, October 4 – Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) today announced the addition of an exciting new wager to its daily betting menu.

The Jackpot Hi 5 will require horseplayers to select the first five finishers in exact order on the last race of the programme. The Jackpot proviso means that the entire pool pays out only when there is one winning ticket sold that correctly selects the first five finishers in exact order.

The new wager, which will offer a 20-cent minimum, makes its debut during the Wednesday, October 9 Thoroughbred card of racing at Woodbine. It will make its Standardbred racing debut on Thursday, October 17, the first card of the Woodbine Fall-Winter-Spring meet.

The Jackpot Hi 5 will also have a takeout of 15%, a continent-equalling low.

“The excitement generated by a jackpot at the races is obvious,” said Greg Martin, WEG’s Director of Wagering Operations. “Most horseplayers will be enthused by the chance to hit a big payout on this wager affordably, which we have offered at a minimum 20 cents and a favourable 15% takeout.”

If there is not just one winning ticket, half of the wagering pool will be carried over and offered on the next racing card. The other half will be paid out in consolation payouts to those Jackpot Hi 5 tickets which have the correct order of finish. If there are no winners of the wager, the entire pool, minus takeout, carries over.

To promote the new wager, the first single winner of the Jackpot Hi 5 is guaranteed a minimum $10,000 payout.

For fans and horseplayers wanting further details on WEG’s Jackpot Hi 5, a dedicated webpage featuring details, strategy and carryover info has been set up at www.WoodbineEntertainment.com/JackpotHi5.

 

CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED MAGAZINE – oct-november 2013 is now out!

 

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