Tropical Park Derby at Calder Race Course on Jan. 1

Posted on Sunday, December 30th, 2007

The $100,000 Tropical Park Derby (G3) run on New Year’s Day Tuesday at Calder Race Course promises to launch the 3-year-old campaigns of several highly-promising young prospects with Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Cannonball and Stonerside Stable’s Cowboy Cal the most accomplished in the field of 12 with four others on the also-eligible list.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo rides Cannonball for trainer Wesley Ward in the 1 1/8 miles turf test won in 2004 by the Ramseys’ future Eclipse champion turf star Kitten’s Joy and in 2006 by ill-fated Barbaro on his way to victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1) that spring. Cannonball is a New York homebred son of Catienus making his first start since a very good third-place finish behind Nownownow in the inaugural edition of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park on October 26.

Jockey John R. Velazquez will be atop Cowboy Cal for trainer Todd Pletcher and is likely to vie for favoritism in the race after two brilliant victories on turf. After finishing seventh in a main track sprint debut at Saratoga, the homebred son of Giant’s Causeway broke his maiden going a mile on turf at Belmont Park in late September and romped home a 6 ¼ lengths winner of the Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park on November 24.

Todd Pletcher has another contender in the race with credentials of his own in Starlight Stable and Paul Saylor’s Why Tonto with Edgar Prado named to ride. The son of Indian Charlie shows two wins and a second in four starts on turf, most recently a runner-up effort in the Grand Canyon Stakes over the Churchill Downs, home of Kentucky Derby, course in late November.

Completing the body of the field for the Tropical Park Derby are J D Farm’s Wise Answer, Bruce Lunsford’s Celestial Comet, Klaravich Stables’ Titan of Industry, Joel Sainer’s Joey the Scholar, Jacks or Better Farm’s Heaven’s Awesome, Patricia Generazio’s Kim’s Dixie Tune, North Shore Racing’s Moral Compass, Vicino Racing Stable’s Dynhocracy and Dennis Amaty and Peter Darras’ Pir At The Moon.

Left on the also-eligible list are Marie and Aaron Jones’ Fire Lookout, Sarabia Ranch’s El Profeta, Robert Dubois’ Concertos Song and J. Philip Mote’s Horse Doctor.

News from Calder Race Course release.

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Rutherienne Wins By A Neck In The Frances A. Genter Stakes at Calder Race Course

Posted on Saturday, December 29th, 2007

Virginia Kraft Payson’s 3-year-old filly Rutherienne returned to Calder, where she won her two starts last season, to win the Grade III $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes on Saturday, December 29, Grand Slam III day at Calder Race Course.

With only a neck separating Rutherienne from two other fillies, the daughter of Pulpit ridden by jockey Rene Douglas covered 7 1/2 furlongs over firm turf in 1:28.16 and paid $4.60, $2.80 and $2.60.

“The way the course was playing (speed), Rene (Douglas) put her a little closer to the pace than she usually is, which might have taken a little off of her closing kick, but she got the job done,” said Rutherienne trainer Christophe Clement. “She’s a very good filly and I didn’t really have her at 100% (fit) for this race, but she was able to overcome that. She’ll get some time off now until April, probably coming back at Gulfstream or Keeneland. The goals after that are the Just a Game at Belmont and the Diana at Saratoga, both Grade 1s.”

Dead-heated for second place were Sweet Ransom and Pretoria Light. Sweet Ransom with jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard returned $2.60 and $3.00 while the early pace setting Pretoria Light under jockey Jorge Chavez paid $5.20 and $6.40.

One race earlier on the Grand Slam III card, Christophe Clement saddled Bayou’s Lassie to win the Grade III $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap.

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NYRA Gets Extension To Continue Running Thoroughbred Races

Posted on Saturday, December 29th, 2007

With the expiration coming in Monday of New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) agreement to operate Aqueduct, Saratoga and Belmont Park, an extension was agreed upon with the state to avoid any interruption of thoroughbred racing the next few weeks.

New York Racing Association (NYRA) is a private, non-profit corporation that has run thoroughbred racing in New York since 1955. The association has changed management and said it has put new financial controls.

The temporary extension was confirmed by the governor’s office. Negotiations on a new agreement still continues. Any agreement would require approval by the state Legislature, which isn’t expected back in Albany until after the contract expires.

Chairman of the state Non-Profit Racing Association Oversight Board, Steve Newman, said in the Saratogian newspaper Friday the extension would run “at least until January 23.”

NYRA bid against three other groups to keep the franchise and appears to be the front-runner for the long term. It has the backing of Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. In a tentative accord with Gov. Spitzer, it would give up its disputed claim to ownership of the tracks, which are valued at more than $1 billion.

NYRA spokesman John Lee declined to comment Friday.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is in bankruptcy reorganization. A hearing on its plans has been rescheduled for mid-January. It includes keeping the franchise with the help of a $250 million state bailout.

On Thursday, the state Racing and Wagering Board approved NYRA’s proposed racing dates and officials for 2008, however, it is only effective for 30 days starting January 1, board spokesman Dan Toomey said. The board received NYRA’s application Friday and will consider it Saturday, he added.

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Frances A. Genter Stakes at Calder Race Course

Posted on Friday, December 28th, 2007

Saturday’s $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes (gr. III) for 3-year-old fillies at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf is one of the most popular events on the Calder Race Course calendar each year.

Among the runners in this event is Virginia Kraft Payson’s Kentucky homebred filly Rutherienne who is easily the best known horse nationally entered this Saturday’s race and will likely be odds-on to give trainer Christophe Clement his third winner of the Frances A. Genter Stakes with jockey Rene Douglas getting the call in the race that drew a field of 16 with 12 to start.

Rutherienne began her career on the Calder course late last year, winning her first two starts, including the $100,000 Cherokee Frolic Stakes, before emerging a division leader winning Graded stakes at Belmont Park, Monmouth Park and Saratoga and then posting her most significant victory in the Del Mar Oaks (gr. I) in August. Rutherienne record is seven victories in nine starts.

While Rutherienne is a deserving favorite, others in the field have solid credentials on their best form, including Hidden Creek Farm’s Street Sounds with jockey Jose Lezcano aboard for trainer Michael Matz. The daughter of Street Cry was a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase and has won three of seven starts on turf, including the Selima Stakes at Laurel Park as a 2-year-old and the Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico this spring.

Trainer Bill Mott sends out a pair of contenders with Dinwiddie Farm’s Pitamakan and Live Oak Plantation’s Sweet Ransom to be ridden by John Velazquez and Kent Desormeaux, respectively. Pitamakan appears to be the stronger of the two after winning two of five starts on turf and finishing a good third last out in the Valley View Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland on October 19.

The complete lineup of 3-year-old fillies participating in the $100,000 Frances A. Genter Stakes at Calder Race Course on Saturday, December 29, are:

1. Sweet Ransom under jockey Kent Desormeaux carries 116 lbs.
2. Beautiful Venue under jockey Eduardo Nunez, 121 lbs.
3. Street Sounds under jockey Jose Lezcano, 121 lbs.
4. Katerbug under jockey Manoel Cruz, 116 lbs.
5. Cozzi Capital under jockey Javier Castellano, 121 lbs.
6. Silence Dogood under jockey Edgar Prado, 118 lbs.
7. Dattts Awesome under jockey Eibar Coa, 116 lbs.
8. Rutherienne under jockey Rene Douglas, 121 lbs.
9. Maddy’s Heart under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, 121 lbs.
10. Pitamakan under jockey John Velazquez, 116 lbs.
11. Pretoria Light under jockey Jorge Chavez, 118 lbs.
12. Snow Cone under jockey Eddie Castro, 121 lbs.
AE Lady Carlock under jockey Ariel Smith, 116 lbs.
AE Marchesa under jockey Raymundo Fuentes, 116 lbs.
AE Foret under jockey Carlos Olivero, 116 lbs.
AE Precious Princess under jockey Jose Lezcano, 116 lbs.

The Frances A. Genter Stakes is the 11th race in Calder Race Course’s Saturday race card. Other races before it are: $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap (gr. III) (10th race) for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 1/16 miles; the $100,000 Pete Axthelm Stakes (9th race) for 3-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, and the $100,000 Chaposa Springs Handicap (8th race) for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 7 furlongs.

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La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park Attracts 14

Posted on Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

The 35th running of the $250,000 La Brea Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park attracted 14 entrants, the largest in the history of the 7 furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. The largest number of runners to compete in a La Brea Stakes to date was 12 when Affluent was victorious in 2001.

The complete field for Saturday’s La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park lines up as follows:

  1. Pinata under jockey Martin Pedroza carries 117 lbs.
  2. Cathrine’s Hope under jockey Jon Court, 119 lbs.
  3. Ashley’s Kitty under jockey Tyler Baze, 119 lbs.
  4. Silky Smooth under jockey Aaron Gryder, 114 lbs.
  5. Dawn After Dawn under jockey Garrett Gomez, 117 lbs.
  6. Shriek under jockey Richard Migliore, 115 lbs.
  7. Glorified under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., 115 lbs.
  8. Frisk Her under jockey Corey Nakatani, 119 lbs.
  9. Dearest Trickski under jockey Mike Smith; 117 lbs.
  10. Sindy With an S under jockey Michael Baze, 121 lbs.
  11. Look Deep under jockey Victor Espinoza, 117 lbs.
  12. Macadamia under jockey Julien Leparoux, 115 lbs.
  13. Swiss Diva under jockey Agapito Delgadillo, 117 lbs.
  14. Unspoken Word under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 117 lbs.

Trained by Mike Mitchell for Dream Stable, Sindy With an S, one of only two graded stakes winners among the assemblage, heads the field in earnings with a career bankroll of $315,959. She has posted a 4-2-1 record in eight starts that include a 3 1/4 length victory in the Safely Kept Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Laurel Racecourse in Maryland on October 6.

Dearest Trickski has won six of her last seven starts. The La Brea Stakes will be her first stakes competition.

Dawn After Dawn captured a Hollywood Park allowance sprint in her first West Coast start on November 30 after facing top competition in the East. She ran fourth to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) last May.

After decisive victories in her first two starts at Hollywood Park this year, lightly raced Glorified ran second to Desire to Excel as the 9-10 favorite in the Honest Lady on July 2 before hitting the sidelines.

The field’s other graded stakes winner is Ashley’s Kitty, a 17-1 upsetter in Hollywood Park’s Railbird Stakes (gr. III) last May 13. The filly trained by Ted West for Oak West Farm has won 4 of 9 races for earnings of $190,958.

The La Brea Stakes is scheduled as the 9th race. It is supported by two other stakes on the 10-race program at Santa Anita Park that gets underway at 12:30 in the afternoon of December 29: the $125,000 California Breeders Champion Stakes for 2-year-old statebred fillies at seven furlongs (7th race) and the $75,000 Eddie Logan Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on turf (8th race).

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Jerry Hollendorfer Achieves 5,000 Wins

Posted on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

In the final race of the last day of the 2007 Autumn Meet at Hollywood Park on December 22, Jerry Hollendorfer became the fourth trainer to win 5,000 races after Political High won the 6 1/2 furlong $25,000 claiming race. 58-year-old Jerry Hollendorfer also won the third race with Gold Trim.

“It took a long time to do it but it was well worth it,” he said. “We just keep doing what we do every day. We’ve been very fortunate and the wins just started piling up.”

Other trainers who reached the 5,000 mark are Dale Baird with 9,445 wins, Jack Van Berg with 6,378 and King Leatherbury with 6,227.

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NYRA Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga 2008 Stakes Schedule

Posted on Friday, December 21st, 2007

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) released 2008 stakes schedule for Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The schedule, worth more than $34,000,000, was approved by NYRA’s Board of Trustees at its monthly meeting and awaits approval from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

There are no changes in NYRA’s biggest horse races for 2008. At Belmont Park, the 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the 1 1/2 mile final leg of racing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds, will be run on Saturday, June 7, while the 90th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup for three-year-olds and up at a mile and a quarter will be run during the Fall Championship Meet on Saturday, September 27.

Saratoga Race Course’s biggest race, the 139th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes, the 1 1/4 mile “Mid-Summer Derby” for three-year-olds, will be run on Saturday, August 23.

Aqueduct will play host to the 84th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Wood Memorial for three-year-olds at nine furlongs on Saturday, April 5, four weeks before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 3. During the Big A’s Fall Meet, the Grade 1, $300,000 Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile for three-year-olds and up will be run on Saturday, November 29.

The major changes are in the handicap turf division, with the running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Man o’ War for three-olds and up at 11 furlongs on the turf on Saturday, July 12. The Man o’ War had been a staple of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet. It will replace the Bowling Green on the 2008 schedule.

Meanwhile, Saratoga’s Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer Invitational, which is normally run on the third Saturday of the meet, has been moved back a week to share the card with the Spa’s biggest race for three-year-old fillies, the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama, on Saturday, August 16.

“Moving the Man o’ War to the spring gave better spacing for our turf races,” said Paul J. Campo, NYRA racing secretary and handicapper. “In previous years, we had three races in a seven-week span: the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and the Man o’ War and Turf Classic at Belmont Park. We found that schedule didn’t really work. One of the races was always getting hurt, and usually, that was the middle one.

“So, we decided to move the Man o’ War in the Bowling Green spot. The schedule for older horses on turf, and they are all Grade 1 races, now looks like this:

Manhattan Handicap, Belmont Stakes Day, June 7
Man o’ War, July 12
Sword Dancer Invitational, August 16
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, September 27

“This gives a month from the Turf Classic to the (2008) Breeders’ Cup (October 24-25, Santa Anita).”

The upgrading of the Just A Game to Grade 1 status will mean that NYRA will host 39 of the nation’s 110 Grade 1 races in 2008. The Just A Game, for fillies and mares at a mile on the turf, also received a $100,000 boost and is now worth $400,000. It will be run on Belmont Stakes Day, Saturday, June 7.

“The Just a Game is a great race and it deserved a Grade 1 upgrading,” Campo said. “It adds to our powerful fillies and mares category with the Flower Bowl and Diana also being Grade 1s. Now on Belmont Day, we have four Grade 1s and two Grade 2s.”

Including the Just A Game, five NYRA races were upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee for 2008: the Lake George at Saratoga was upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2 status, while at Belmont Park, the Miss Grillo was upgraded to Grade 3, the Sands Point to Grade 2, and the Pilgrim to Grade 3.

The Nassau County Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park was downgraded to Grade 3.

Aqueduct Winter/Spring Meet
83 days, January 1-April 27
Dark Mondays and Tuesday, except:
Open: Mondays, January 21 and February 18; Tuesdays, January 1
Dark: Wednesdays, January 2, 23 and February 20; Sundays, March 16 and 23
Post times: 12:30 a.m. daily (January 1 – March 2)
1 p.m. daily (March 5 – April 27)

Saturday, April 5 is the big day of the meet with the first Grade 1 races in New York for 2008: the Wood Memorial and the $300,000 Carter Handicap for three-year-olds and up at seven furlongs.

The traditional major prep for the Wood Memorial, the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham at a mile and a sixteenth, will be run on Saturday, March 8.

Belmont Park Spring/Summer Meet
59 days, April 30-July 20
Dark Mondays and Tuesdays except:
Open: Monday, May 26
Dark: Wednesday, May 28 and Sunday, June 8
Post times: 1 p.m. daily; Except:
3 p.m., Sunset Fridays, June 13-July 18; noon Belmont Stakes Day, June 7

The 140th running of the Belmont Stakes on June 7 tops a day of six graded stakes. With the upgrade of the Just A Game, the day features three Grade 1s (including the $400,000 Manhattan Handicap) and two Grade 2 races: the Woody Stephens and True North Handicap. The True North received a $50,000 purse boost to $250,000.

One of New York’s more historic races, the Brooklyn Handicap, is once again a mile and a half. The 120th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap moves from the Fall Championship Meet and will be run the day before the Belmont Stakes on Friday, June 6.

“The Breeders’ Cup has added a $500,000 race on October 24 (Dirt Marathon), so some racetracks have worked together to create a pattern for this category,” Campo said. “Keeneland, California, New York and Philadelphia Park are putting on similar races as well.”

Although the Man o’ War replaces the Bowling Green, the Bowling Green is not extinct.

“The Bowling Green retains its Grade 2 if we don’t drop it for more than two years,” Campo said. “We can always bring the Bowling Green back into the mix at some point.”

The $150,000 Sands Point for three-year-old fillies at nine furlongs on the turf will be run on Saturday, May 31 and was upgraded to Grade 2 status.

Saratoga Race Course Meet
36 days, July 23-September 1
Dark Tuesdays
Post times: 1 p.m. daily except:
2:45 p.m. on Friday, July 25 and August 29
Noon on Travers Day, August 23

The $150,000 Lake George for three-year-old fillies on the turf on Friday, July 25 was upgraded to Grade 2 status.

The $100,000-added Yaddo for New York-bred fillies and mares at nine furlongs on the turf will take the Sword Dancer’s traditional spot on Saturday, August 9.

Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet
38 days, September 5 – October 26
Dark Mondays and Tuesdays except:
Open: Monday, October 13
Dark: Wednesday, October 15
Post time: 1 p.m. daily
TBA, Breeders’ Cup, Friday, Saturday, October 24-25

The $150,000-added Pilgrim for two-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf was upgraded from listed to Grade 3.The $150,000-added Miss Grillo, for two-year-old fillies at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, also was upgraded to Grade rade 3. Both races will be run on September 28.

New York Showcase Day, featuring the $250,000 Empire Classic, will be run on Saturday, October 18.

Aqueduct Fall Meet
39 days, October 29-December 31
Dark Mondays and Tuesdays; Christmas break, December 15-25
Post times: 12:30 p.m. Daily except:
12:25 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 28 and 29
11:25 a.m. on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day)
HolidayFest will run from Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 30.

The Grade 3 $100,000-added Discovery Handicap for three-year-olds at nine furlongs has been moved up a week to Saturday, November 22.

This post was modified from NYRA’s release.

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