Jockey Russell Baze 1 Win Short of 10,000

Posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008

The Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze put himself on the brink of career victory number 10,000 by riding a pair of winners Thursday at Golden Gate Fields.

Russell Baze recorded his victories aboard Northland Glory in the 4th race, and Judged in the 8th race. Both horses were favored in the betting, with Northland Glory paying $5.20 after romping home by five lengths and Judged $4.40 after scoring by three lengths.

Baze, who heads into Friday’s card with 9,999 wins, came up 1 win short of reaching 10,000 victories Thursday. Russell Baze and odds-on favorite Swishing Tiger lost the fifth race by a head to I. C. Rosie ($13.00).

His other mounts Thursday were Count Coup (who finished 6th in the 3rd race), Coronado’s Way (7th in the 6th race), and Shining Day (3rd in the 7th race).

Listed to ride 7 horses Friday, Russell Baze is expected to end up with 6 mounts. Ray Harris, agent of Russell Baze, said Joyful Me, Baze’s call in the 7th race, is expected to be scratched Friday morning.

Golden Gate Fields post time on Friday is 12:45 p.m. and Baze rides Brass Tacks (3-to-1 on the morning line) in the opener. His other scheduled mounts are Flirting for Love (7-to-2) in the 2nd race, Two Step Cat (2-to-1) in the 3rd, Jaywalking (8-to-5) in the 5th, Royal Wager (8-to-5) in the 6th, and Knoblock (even-money) in the 8th.

Russell Baze is the winningest jockey in North American horse racing history.

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5 Stakes Races Scheduled for Santa Anita Park’s Strub Stakes Day on February 2

Posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008

With the addition of the Grade I Santa Monica Handicap, postponed from last Sunday, five stakes races — four of them graded — will form an elite and varied racing program on Saturday’s Strub Stakes Day at Santa Anita Park.

The $300,000 Strub Stakes, which honors Santa Anita’s founding family, is one of the most storied stakes on the track’s seasonal calendar. A Grade II event at 1 1/8 miles for 4-year-olds, the Strub became an important showcase for such racing standouts as Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, Alysheba, Best Pal and Silver Charm as they matriculated into the ranks of older horses.

Top weighted Tiago, Air Commander and Monterey Jazz are among the nine maturing young 4-year-olds who will contest the 61st running of the Strub Stakes, the ninth race on an 11-race program that gets underway at 12 noon.

The Grade II, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, the sternest local test yet for 3-year-olds heading down the 2008 Kentucky Derby Trail, attracted a compact field of five including the unbeaten stretch-running sensation Reflect Times, a Japanese-bred son of French Deputy who will be routing for the first time.

The $250,000 Santa Monica, for fillies and mares at seven furlongs, marks the return to action of Hystericalady, idle since coming within a neck of winning the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 27. The 5-year-old mare will carry high weight of 122 pounds against five rivals including Pussycat Doll, the defending champion.

Completing the stakes portion of the card are the Grade III, $100,000 La Habra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs over the hillside turf course and the $75,000 Thunder Road Handicap at one mile on turf.

Set Play, winner of the Grade I Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs when she last sprinted on September 3, is the 122-pound high weight among 10 entrants in the 35th running of the La Habra.

Million-dollar earner Awesome Gem, third behind Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last October, returns to grass as the 122-pound top weight among 14 entrants in the Thunder Road.

Tiago, the 2007 Santa Anita Derby winner, will be attempting to avenge a stunning upset loss to Air Commander when they are rematched in the Strub. Making his first start since a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Tiago could not overhaul 52-1 shot Air Commander when third as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade II San Fernando Stakes on January 12.

A winner of $1,264,270 from 5 wins in 10 starts for Jerry and Ann Moss, stretch-running Tiago and jockey Mike Smith will get an extra sixteenth of a mile to work with on Saturday. A son of Point Given trained by Bob Baffert, Air Commander survived a pace duel with Johnny Eves to record his first stakes victory in the San Fernando. Monterey Jazz, coming off two wins on the turf including the Grade III Sir Beaufort Stakes, is another who likes to race on the lead, which could benefit Tiago.

The complete field for the Strub Stakes (ninth race), with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Great Hunter under jockey Victor Espinoza, 119 lbs.
  2. Slew’s Tizzy under jockey Joe Talamo, 119 lbs.
  3. Tiago under jockey Mike Smith, 123 lbs.
  4. Monzante under jockey Garrett Gomez, 117 lbs.
  5. Air Commander under jockey Aaron Gryder, 121 lbs.
  6. Sahara Heat under jockey Tyler Baze, 117 lbs.
  7. Giant Gizmo under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 117 lbs.
  8. Warning Zone under jockey Joel Rosario, 117 lbs.
  9. Monterey Jazz under jockey David Flores, 121.

While rallying from far off the pace, Reflect Times won at 6 and 6 1/2 furlongs in preparation for his first distance test in the Lewis. Trained by John Shirreffs, who also conditions Tiago, Reflect Times has demonstrated a long stride that suggests he will be up to the test for owner Koji Maeda. His opposition includes seasoned stakes competitor Indian Sun and Crown of Thorns, an impressive 7 length winner of a maiden race for trainer Richard Mandella and owner B. Wayne Hughes.

The complete field for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (fifth race), with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Indian Sun under jockey Alex Solis, 115 lbs.
  2. Crown of Thorns under jockey Victor Espinoza, 115 lbs.
  3. Coast Guard under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 115 lbs.
  4. Reflect Times under jockey Mike Smith, 117 lbs.
  5. Meal Penalty under jockey Garrett Gomez, 117 lbs.

Hystericalady will be reunited with jockey Rafael Bejarano in the Santa Monica. She was ridden by Eddie Castro in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles in which she bumped eventual winner Ginger Punch at the eighth pole before winding up second.

Rafael Bejarano, who happens to be the regular rider of Ginger Punch, last rode Hystericalady six races previous which was the last time she sprinted, and they formed a dominant duo.

At odds of 7-1 on May 5 at Churchill Downs, Hystericalady, with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle, won the Grade I Humana Distaff by four lengths over Pussycat Doll at the seven-furlong distance of the Santa Monica.

The chestnut daughter of Distorted Humor, co-owned by Rancho San Miguel, has been preparing for her return with weekly drills at Golden Gate Fields under the direction of Hollendorfer. She will bring earnings of $1,150,503 from a 7-3-1 record in 15 starts into the 51st running of the Santa Monica.

The complete field for the Santa Monica Handicap (seventh race), with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Pussycat Doll under jockey Garrett Gomez, 119 lbs.
  2. Society Hostess under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., 117 lbs.
  3. Silky Smooth under jockey Aaron Gryder, 115 lbs.
  4. Overly Tempting under jockey David Flores, 112 lbs.
  5. Hystericalady under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 122 lbs.
  6. Intangaroo under jockey Alonso Quinonez, 112. lbs.

Set Play, with a 2-1-2 record in 8 starts for earnings of $255,450, is the most accomplished of the 3-year-old fillies in the La Habra. She has not raced since a fourth-place finish in Grade I Hollywood Starlet on December 15. Her best efforts have come at sprint distances for trainer Peter Miller. Brice Blanc, aboard for the victory in the Del Mar Debutante, has the mount.

The complete field for the La Habra Stakes (sixth race), with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Pronto Marmay under jockey David Flores, 116 lbs.
  2. Fanatical under jockey Mike Smith, 116 lbs.
  3. Czechers under jockey Tyler Baze, 116 lbs.
  4. Ariege under jockey Garrett Gomez, 116 lbs.
  5. Yasinisi under jockey Alex Solis, 116 lbs.
  6. La Mina under jockey Michael Baze, 116 lbs.
  7. Passion under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 118 lbs.
  8. Brides Folly under jockey Victor Espinoza, 116 lbs.
  9. Sweet August Moon under jockey Aaron Gryder, 116 lbs.
  10. Set Play under jockey Brice Blanc, 122 lbs.

Turning back to one mile in distance in the Thunder Road, Awesome Gem will find the same conditions as in his last start on grass, a fast-closing second in the 2006 Sir Beaufort Stakes. The 5-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again, trained by Craig Dollase, will be looking for his first victory on turf after finishing second in 2-of-3 grass starts. David Flores rides the chestnut who nosed out Midnight Lute in capturing last year’s San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes.

The complete field for the Thunder Road Handicap (eighth race), with jockeys and weights in post position order:

  1. Mr Napper Tandy under jockey Richard Migliore, 115 lbs.
  2. Isipingo under jockey Mike Smith, 118 lbs.
  3. Awesome Gem under jockey David Flores, 122 lbs.
  4. Storm Military under jockey Garrett Gomez, 117 lbs.
  5. Siren Lure under jockey Alex Solis, 118 lbs.
  6. Fitz Flag under jockey Goncalino Almeida, 116 lbs.
  7. Lang Field under jockey Jon Court, 120 lbs.
  8. Night Chapter under jockey Brice Blanc, 116 lbs.
  9. Frank the Barber under jockey Martin Pedroza, 116 lbs.
  10. It’s a Bird under jockey Rafael Bejarano, 114 lbs.
  11. Moth Ball under jockey Michael Baze, 116 lbs.
  12. Stratham under jockey Joel Rosario, 117 lbs.

Also eligible:

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Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct on February 2

Posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

Aqueduct’s inner race track feature on Saturday is the 29th running of the $100,000-added Whirlaway Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds.

Whirlaway Stakes is a significant test and certain to send some horses back for the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III), an important prep race leading to the 2008 Kentucky Derby, at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, March 8.

According to Andrew M. Byrnes, stakes coordinator for the New York Racing Association (NYRA), likely entries for Saturday’s Whirlaway Stakes are Apple Special, Barrier Reef, Cave’s Valley, Roman Emperor, Spanky Fischbein and Texas Wildcatter, while Malibu Kid and Titan of Industry are questionable.Gold Square’s Spanky Fischbein, a New York-bred son of Hook and Ladder, comes in off a neck loss to Giant Moon in the Count Fleet on January 5. In seven starts, he has two wins and five seconds for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Todd Pletcher also trains Stonerside Stable’s Texas Wildcatter, who has won two of three starts, including a 10 1/2-length victory at Philadelphia Park on December 28. Texas Wildcatter is a son of Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner.

Roman Emperor was third in the Count Fleet, and figures to improve with distance. Trained by Steve Klesaris, Roman Emperor is a son of 2003 Wood Memorial and Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker, out of Lady Melesi, whose sire is 1993 Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair.

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2006 Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro To Rest at Churchill Downs

Posted on Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

Churchill Downs has been selected as the final resting place for 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who was euthanized one year ago after a lengthy battle with laminitis. The announcement was made Tuesday, January 30, by Barbaro’s owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, at a Churchill Downs news conference.

Barbaro’s remains were cremated following his death on January 29, 2007, and his ashes will be interred outside of Gate 1 at Churchill Downs, in a large elevated space enclosed by bricks that is currently used as a garden. The site, which will be open to the public, will include a larger-than-life-sized bronze statue of the Kentucky Derby 132 winner that will be commissioned by the Jacksons and loaned to Churchill Downs as part of Barbaro’s official memorial site.

“Churchill Downs is deeply honored to be selected as the final resting place for Barbaro, who first captured our hearts with his impressive win in the 132nd Kentucky Derby and who demonstrated strength and determination in his long battle to overcome both injury and illness,” said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs and executive vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Barbaro took his place in history on the first Saturday in May 2006 with a brilliant Kentucky Derby victory, but his accomplishments as a racehorse are certainly rivaled by the courage and resolve he displayed after his injury. We are grateful to the Jacksons for entrusting their beloved Derby champion to us.”

“Gretchen and I are pleased to be collaborating with Churchill Downs in this wonderful project,” said Roy Jackson. “In the year that has just preceded, we have spent much time thinking about Barbaro’s memorial and where it would be best placed. Churchill Downs became the obvious site for us. It was here that he ran his best race. It was here where we spent our most memorable day as horse owners and breeders. It was here where his racing fans could visit daily, and it was here at Churchill Downs where he was cordially invited to rest. We look forward to working with Steve Sexton and his team.”

In the coming weeks, Churchill Downs will install a bronze marker in the garden outside Gate 1 to designate the area where Barbaro’s ashes and bronze statue will be located.

The Jacksons are currently considering a select group of artists for the project and plan to make a final decision on the artist and statue design in the next few months. The Jacksons and Churchill Downs anticipate the statue’s completion and the formal unveiling and dedication of the Barbaro memorial site sometime in 2009.

To date, Barbaro will become the only horse buried on the grounds of Churchill Downs. The adjacent Kentucky Derby Museum has the remains of four Kentucky Derby winners interred on its property — Sunny’s Halo (1983), Carry Back (1961), Swaps (1955), and Broker’s Tip (1933).

Following Tuesday’s news conference, the Jacksons participated in an autograph signing session at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which was open to the public.

www.churchilldowns.com

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Owners of Barbaro To Make An Announcement at Churchill Downs Tuesday

Posted on Monday, January 28th, 2008

Roy and Gretchen Jackson, the owners of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, will participate in a news conference at Churchill Downs to make a special announcement on Tuesday, January 29, the one year anniversary of the Dynaformer colt’s death.

The news conference will take place at 10 a.m. EST in the Triple Crown Room of the Jockey Club Suites.

Following the announcement, Barbaro fans will have an opportunity to meet the Jacksons during a charity autograph signing in the lobby of the Kentucky Derby Museum from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Jacksons will sign Barbaro-related merchandise and mementos for a suggested donation to benefit The Fund for Laminitis Research at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center. The Jacksons will also be available for individual media interviews at the Kentucky Derby Museum.

Churchill Downs will conduct the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2008. The track’s 2008 Spring Meet is set for April 26 through July 6.

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Santa Anita Cancels January 27-28 Horse Racing Program

Posted on Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Santa Anita Park has cancelled live racing this Sunday and Monday due to continued rainfall, which has again created drainage difficulties for its troubled Cushion Track synthetic main track surface.

“We were gratified and extremely thankful to be able to get yesterday’s Sunshine Millions program in,” said Santa Anita Park President Ron Charles. “We knew heavy rain was coming late in the day we were fortunate to get the entire card in without any problems.

“All things considered, we had a tremendous day. We had over 28,000 (28,414) people on-track and our all-sources handle was over $17 million. We had some great performances on the racetrack and it was just a great day for Southern California racing. To be able to have this kind of a day with all the uncertainty we had leading into the weekend is very encouraging. We want to thank our fans, horsemen and our track maintenance personnel for making it a day we’ll never forget,” he added.

Ron Charles noted that entries will be taken Monday morning for live racing on Thursday and Friday. “The forecast is very good for the week ahead and we are optimistic we’ll be just fine for this Saturday’s Strub Stakes (gr. II). We plan at this point to run through Sunday, February 3, and we hope to begin the process of amending the surface at that point with the synthetic Pro-Ride polymer binder and fiber. If conditions allow us to begin work at that time, we would cancel live racing on Monday, February 4.”

The Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I), originally scheduled for today, will be part of an 11-race program on February 2. “We realize a lot of people are being inconvenienced by the changes we have had to make,” said Santa Anita President Ron Charles. “The owners and trainers, along with our fans, are right at the top of the list. We will make every effort possible to reschedule stakes such as the Santa Monica, in a fair and timely manner.

“We have been in consultation with the CHRB (California Horse Racing Board) regarding the races and dates we’ve had to cancel and we’re confident we will be able to make up most of and likely all of these dates and races at this meet. Once we are able to get to work amending the main track, we are very hopeful we can get back on schedule and get back to business as usual here,” he added.

Charles also noted that with the addition of the Australian-based Pro-Ride synthetic, the drainage woes that have beset Santa Anita’s main track, will be comprehensively addressed. “We are very confident that with the addition of this Pro-Ride product, our main track is not only going to drain as it was designed to, but it will also be a kinder surface. The Pro-Ride should enable us to get through the remainder of this meet without any further significant problems.”

Santa Anita Park will be open today and Monday for simulcast wagering and will offer free General Admission to all attendees. Santa Anita’s winter/spring meet runs through April 20.

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Go Between Wins $1M Sunshine Millions Classic; Florida-breds Win 7 of 8 Races

Posted on Saturday, January 26th, 2008

Go Between won the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic in an upset on Saturday, January 26, giving trainer Bill Mott his 3rd victory of the day and helping Florida-bred horses defeat their California counterparts in the 6th annual Sunshine Millions held at Gulfstream Park in Florida and Santa Anita Park in California.

Ridden by Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez, Florida-bred Go Between covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:45.64 at Santa Anita and paid $12, $6.60 and $4.60 at 5-1 odds.Horse trainer Bill Mott’s other victories were in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf with Quite a Bride at Santa Anita and the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf with War Monger at Gulfstream Park.

Garrett Gomez rode Quite a Bride, giving him two wins, along with jockey Edgar Prado, who won the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint and the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks at Gulfstream Park.

Florida-breds won seven of the eight races and outpointed California 58-14. Winners received five points each, second place was worth three points and third was worth one point. Florida has won the bi-coastal event all six years. Florida entered 55 runners to California’s 27 in the eight races.

In the Sunshine Millions Classic, Go Between won by two lengths over Celtic Dreaming, who returned $9.80 and $6.20. Seminole Native was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $10.20 to show.

Defending Sunshine Millions Classic champion McCann’s Mojave finished 10th in the 12-horse field.

Ginger Punch, winner of the Eclipse Award for older female earlier in the week, overtook Peach Flambe entering the stretch to win the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Distaff by 6 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Ginger Punch covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.14 for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel.

At Santa Anita Park, Florida-bred Dearest Trickski covered six furlongs in 1:07.66 and led all the way in winning the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint by 4 lengths under Mike Smith.Florida-bred Quite a Bride defeated wagering favorite Nashoba’s Key by 1 length in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf. Quite a Bride covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:49.98.

Bob Black Jack was California’s lone winner, taking the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Dash by 3 1/2 lengths over Winsome Charm. Ridden by David Flores, Bob Black Jack covered six furlongs in 1:06.53.

At Gulfstream, Florida-bred Benny the Bull won the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint by 4 1/2 lengths under Edgar Prado. American County, another Florida-bred ridden by Edgar Prado, earned a 1-length victory in the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks. Florida-bred War Monger, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, won the Sunshine Millions Turf by 1 length.

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