DerbyTrail
06-30-2005, 08:00 PM
Derby Trail will Preview 25 Stakes in 4 days.. A Holiday Racing Bonanza!
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Six events kick off our Fri/Sat coverage: Prairie Meadows, Woodbine, Arlington Park and Thistledown
The holiday weekend gets off to a nice start Friday with Woodbine hosting Canada Day racing including the 53rd Dominion Day Handicap, a 10f main track Gr. III for $200,000 which includes last year's Canadian Triple Crown race winners Niigon and A Bit of Gold as well as versatile veteran Freefourinternet, now 7.
Burgeoning Prairie Meadows in Des Moines, quickly becoming a major among minor track players, kicks off its four day "Iowa Festival of Racing" Friday night with the sophomore colts and fillies with the 7th $125,000 Gr. III Iowa Oaks and 7th $250,000 ungraded Iowa Derby. Both events are run at 8.5f. Saturday, PrM cards the 9th Cornhusker BCH, a Gr. II, 9f affair with a $300,000 purse.
For those not familiar with Prairie Meadows, it is a small modern gaming facility that has successfully used casino wagering to build their thoroughbred, quarterhorse and harness racing business. Des Moines is a beautiful, petite city, with first class amenities like the Hyperion Field Club, more than 100 years old and one of the tawniest country clubs in the Midwest. It would not surprise us to see Prairie Meadows, founded in 1989, emerge long term as a major racing venue.
Saturday, Thistledown features the Gr. II Ohio Derby at 9f for $350,000, and a solid group of three year olds has been assembled including Pinpoint, Silver Haze, Magna Graduate and Unbridled Energy. The Ohio Derby has been run intermittently since 1876, and boasts prominent thoroughbred names like Black Gold, Traffic Judge, Broad Brush, Skip Away and Milwaukee Brew as winers.
Arlington's big July 4th weekend races are turf events, and Saturday's 71st Arlington Classic (Gr. III) for three year olds drew an interesting mix of local and national names for its' $150,000 8.5f challenge including Southern Africa, Guillaume Tell, United and Purim.
Here's a look at these six races in Derby Trail Graded Entry (selection) format.
(7/1-4:39pm) WO 8th: 53rd DOMINION DAY HANDICAP, Gr. III, $200,000, 10f, 3+
4.) A BIT OF GOLD (Jones/Day-Phillips) 120/5-2: Highweight and likely choice merits nod off pair of triple digit Beyer tune ups and blistering a.m. efforts. 2/1-1-0 at trip and 11/5-3-1 on home oval.
1.) FREEFORINTERNET (McKee/Maker) 115/8-1: 7-year old makes first trip to Toronto off turf tune at CD last. Used identical tactic last fall before grabbing Gr. II HAW Gold Cup.
3.) NIIGON (Landry/Coatrieux) 119/8-5: '04 Queens Plate winner demonstrated new trick last out when rated. Can use his old speed style here as well with little pace signed on.
(7/1-8:54pm) PrM 7th: 7th IOWA OAKS, Gr. III, $125,000. 8.5f, 3 y.o. f
4.) WHIMSY (Marquez/Stidham) 115/5-2: Local prep winner from potent T/J combo gets our vote as fleet stalker type in field rife with speed.
5.) CEE'S IRISH (NAKATANI/O'NEILL) 121/8-5: Logical favorite 6/2-2-1 this trip, but hardly "lays over". Has failed when unable to get lead, and they'll be pressure from the bell here.
6.) QUENSCO (DOOCY/GLEASON) 122/10-1: Compelled to include late running, long priced IA-bred bay that cost $600 new and has banked $111k. 8/3-3-2 at home, and seems to hold her own versus open company. Why not?
(7/1-9:18pm) PrM 8th: 7th IOWA DERBY, $250,000, 8.5f, 3 y.o.
7.) SHAMOAN (Valdivia/Harty) 116/5-2: Lone Star Derby runner up (Southern Africa) gets 6# break at scales from 2-1 Thor's Echo (who we're tossing), and has prefered style in another speed-heavy heat. Never off board in 10 career starts.
8.) WAYZATA BAY (DOOCY/HICKLIN) 116/12-1: Taking stab with another Doocy-mounted local with nice heritage, increasing figs and appropriate closing style. Third dam dropped the very good Euchre ($800k+) via Personal Flag, sire of this guy's dam.
1.) QUIET MONEY (Birzer/Canani) 113/10-1: Generous price on son of Seattle Slew who's been dormed in Des Moines two months by mad monk owner Neilsen (Everest St.). Got marooned turning for home last behind 2nd choice above.
(7/2-4:45pm) Tdn 11th: OHIO DERBY, $350,000, Gr. III, 9f, 3 y.o.
1.) UNBRIDLED ENERGY (Migliore/Walden) 115/4-1: Sharp WinStar runner was bumped early and then rallied way wide when 2nd to tough Don't Get Mad in Gr. III Dancer. Mig makes trip to Cleveland.
2.) MAGNA GRADUATE (Stevens/Pletcher) 115/5-2: Note game effort in Texas when 11th in the gate, 5 wide turning for home but just three lengths shy at the wire first time under Stevens. And Gary makes the trip today...
3.) SILVER HAZE (Perrodin/Wren) 115/12-1: J/T combo nearly perfect with Honor Grades son that returns to dirt off trio of grass scores. Exotics booster.
5.) PALLADIO (Dos Ramos/Attfield) 115/6-1: Lone entrant with win at the journey makes short hop from Toronto for cagey Canuck Attfield.
(7/2-6:07pm) AP CLASSIC, $150,000, Gr. III-T, 8.5f, 3 y.o., All 119 ex. Southern Africa, 123
1.) HOLE IN THE HEAD (Luzzi/Mott) 6-1: Mott sizzling and this Wekiva Springs grey looks on the improve. Owns second best turf/trip fig (88) behind fave (93), but figures to get better trip from down inside under Luz.
5.) GUILLAUME TELL (Bridgmohan/Pletcher) 2-1: Plausible choice has faced top competition since gaining green card trailing only Rey de Cafe, Rush Bay, Chattahoochee War, Noble Causeway, Reverberate and Tadreeb in 4 U.S. starts. Adds goggles to package but loses Nakatani, Bejarano or Johnny V to Bridge.
7.) PURIM (Guidry/Proctor) 9-2: Two for two for Proctor and uber efficient stalking to wire under Guidry first time on turf last. Underlaid versus more experienced, but could be any kind.
2.) MAJOR LEAGUE (Marquez, Jr./Murphy) 20-1: Like the juicy number on interesting Magic Cat bay gelding that found trouble last when 5th to Mad Adam on yielding TX turf. Has faced some nice ones.
(7/2-9:18pm) 9th CORNHUSKER BCH, $300,000, Gr. II, 9f, 3+
6.) MUSIQUE TOUJOURS (Garcia/Sadler) 113/7-2: No 70-1 today on Sunshine Millions shocker who has worked aces for Sadler preparing for return. Doesn't need the lead to be successful.
2.) LORD OF THE GAME (Razo, Jr./Tomillo) 117/3-1: One that WinStar let get away for 10 clams has only gone 5 of 6 since including Hanshin (Gr. III) score in Chicago last time. Capable in odd field.
4.) CRYPTOGRAPH (Pettinger/Von Hemel) 117/5-2: Yet more chalk for the equation in mind-numbingly late runner who has yet to break through in graded company. Won't get a better chance than this.
5.) SCOOTER RAINS (Compton/Chleborad) 111/20-1: Had to find some value, and since it's the "Iowa Festival of Racing" let's toss IA-bred bay in the mix. Should like stretch-out and J/T click at 21% this strip.
Coming up Friday...
The rest of the Saturday action: Gr. III Locust Grove from CD, the Lone Star Oaks, the Gr. II New York H. at Belmont, and two of history's most prestigious Gr. I events: The Suburban Handicap (BEL) and the United Nations H. (MON).
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/derbytrail
Six events kick off our Fri/Sat coverage: Prairie Meadows, Woodbine, Arlington Park and Thistledown
The holiday weekend gets off to a nice start Friday with Woodbine hosting Canada Day racing including the 53rd Dominion Day Handicap, a 10f main track Gr. III for $200,000 which includes last year's Canadian Triple Crown race winners Niigon and A Bit of Gold as well as versatile veteran Freefourinternet, now 7.
Burgeoning Prairie Meadows in Des Moines, quickly becoming a major among minor track players, kicks off its four day "Iowa Festival of Racing" Friday night with the sophomore colts and fillies with the 7th $125,000 Gr. III Iowa Oaks and 7th $250,000 ungraded Iowa Derby. Both events are run at 8.5f. Saturday, PrM cards the 9th Cornhusker BCH, a Gr. II, 9f affair with a $300,000 purse.
For those not familiar with Prairie Meadows, it is a small modern gaming facility that has successfully used casino wagering to build their thoroughbred, quarterhorse and harness racing business. Des Moines is a beautiful, petite city, with first class amenities like the Hyperion Field Club, more than 100 years old and one of the tawniest country clubs in the Midwest. It would not surprise us to see Prairie Meadows, founded in 1989, emerge long term as a major racing venue.
Saturday, Thistledown features the Gr. II Ohio Derby at 9f for $350,000, and a solid group of three year olds has been assembled including Pinpoint, Silver Haze, Magna Graduate and Unbridled Energy. The Ohio Derby has been run intermittently since 1876, and boasts prominent thoroughbred names like Black Gold, Traffic Judge, Broad Brush, Skip Away and Milwaukee Brew as winers.
Arlington's big July 4th weekend races are turf events, and Saturday's 71st Arlington Classic (Gr. III) for three year olds drew an interesting mix of local and national names for its' $150,000 8.5f challenge including Southern Africa, Guillaume Tell, United and Purim.
Here's a look at these six races in Derby Trail Graded Entry (selection) format.
(7/1-4:39pm) WO 8th: 53rd DOMINION DAY HANDICAP, Gr. III, $200,000, 10f, 3+
4.) A BIT OF GOLD (Jones/Day-Phillips) 120/5-2: Highweight and likely choice merits nod off pair of triple digit Beyer tune ups and blistering a.m. efforts. 2/1-1-0 at trip and 11/5-3-1 on home oval.
1.) FREEFORINTERNET (McKee/Maker) 115/8-1: 7-year old makes first trip to Toronto off turf tune at CD last. Used identical tactic last fall before grabbing Gr. II HAW Gold Cup.
3.) NIIGON (Landry/Coatrieux) 119/8-5: '04 Queens Plate winner demonstrated new trick last out when rated. Can use his old speed style here as well with little pace signed on.
(7/1-8:54pm) PrM 7th: 7th IOWA OAKS, Gr. III, $125,000. 8.5f, 3 y.o. f
4.) WHIMSY (Marquez/Stidham) 115/5-2: Local prep winner from potent T/J combo gets our vote as fleet stalker type in field rife with speed.
5.) CEE'S IRISH (NAKATANI/O'NEILL) 121/8-5: Logical favorite 6/2-2-1 this trip, but hardly "lays over". Has failed when unable to get lead, and they'll be pressure from the bell here.
6.) QUENSCO (DOOCY/GLEASON) 122/10-1: Compelled to include late running, long priced IA-bred bay that cost $600 new and has banked $111k. 8/3-3-2 at home, and seems to hold her own versus open company. Why not?
(7/1-9:18pm) PrM 8th: 7th IOWA DERBY, $250,000, 8.5f, 3 y.o.
7.) SHAMOAN (Valdivia/Harty) 116/5-2: Lone Star Derby runner up (Southern Africa) gets 6# break at scales from 2-1 Thor's Echo (who we're tossing), and has prefered style in another speed-heavy heat. Never off board in 10 career starts.
8.) WAYZATA BAY (DOOCY/HICKLIN) 116/12-1: Taking stab with another Doocy-mounted local with nice heritage, increasing figs and appropriate closing style. Third dam dropped the very good Euchre ($800k+) via Personal Flag, sire of this guy's dam.
1.) QUIET MONEY (Birzer/Canani) 113/10-1: Generous price on son of Seattle Slew who's been dormed in Des Moines two months by mad monk owner Neilsen (Everest St.). Got marooned turning for home last behind 2nd choice above.
(7/2-4:45pm) Tdn 11th: OHIO DERBY, $350,000, Gr. III, 9f, 3 y.o.
1.) UNBRIDLED ENERGY (Migliore/Walden) 115/4-1: Sharp WinStar runner was bumped early and then rallied way wide when 2nd to tough Don't Get Mad in Gr. III Dancer. Mig makes trip to Cleveland.
2.) MAGNA GRADUATE (Stevens/Pletcher) 115/5-2: Note game effort in Texas when 11th in the gate, 5 wide turning for home but just three lengths shy at the wire first time under Stevens. And Gary makes the trip today...
3.) SILVER HAZE (Perrodin/Wren) 115/12-1: J/T combo nearly perfect with Honor Grades son that returns to dirt off trio of grass scores. Exotics booster.
5.) PALLADIO (Dos Ramos/Attfield) 115/6-1: Lone entrant with win at the journey makes short hop from Toronto for cagey Canuck Attfield.
(7/2-6:07pm) AP CLASSIC, $150,000, Gr. III-T, 8.5f, 3 y.o., All 119 ex. Southern Africa, 123
1.) HOLE IN THE HEAD (Luzzi/Mott) 6-1: Mott sizzling and this Wekiva Springs grey looks on the improve. Owns second best turf/trip fig (88) behind fave (93), but figures to get better trip from down inside under Luz.
5.) GUILLAUME TELL (Bridgmohan/Pletcher) 2-1: Plausible choice has faced top competition since gaining green card trailing only Rey de Cafe, Rush Bay, Chattahoochee War, Noble Causeway, Reverberate and Tadreeb in 4 U.S. starts. Adds goggles to package but loses Nakatani, Bejarano or Johnny V to Bridge.
7.) PURIM (Guidry/Proctor) 9-2: Two for two for Proctor and uber efficient stalking to wire under Guidry first time on turf last. Underlaid versus more experienced, but could be any kind.
2.) MAJOR LEAGUE (Marquez, Jr./Murphy) 20-1: Like the juicy number on interesting Magic Cat bay gelding that found trouble last when 5th to Mad Adam on yielding TX turf. Has faced some nice ones.
(7/2-9:18pm) 9th CORNHUSKER BCH, $300,000, Gr. II, 9f, 3+
6.) MUSIQUE TOUJOURS (Garcia/Sadler) 113/7-2: No 70-1 today on Sunshine Millions shocker who has worked aces for Sadler preparing for return. Doesn't need the lead to be successful.
2.) LORD OF THE GAME (Razo, Jr./Tomillo) 117/3-1: One that WinStar let get away for 10 clams has only gone 5 of 6 since including Hanshin (Gr. III) score in Chicago last time. Capable in odd field.
4.) CRYPTOGRAPH (Pettinger/Von Hemel) 117/5-2: Yet more chalk for the equation in mind-numbingly late runner who has yet to break through in graded company. Won't get a better chance than this.
5.) SCOOTER RAINS (Compton/Chleborad) 111/20-1: Had to find some value, and since it's the "Iowa Festival of Racing" let's toss IA-bred bay in the mix. Should like stretch-out and J/T click at 21% this strip.
Coming up Friday...
The rest of the Saturday action: Gr. III Locust Grove from CD, the Lone Star Oaks, the Gr. II New York H. at Belmont, and two of history's most prestigious Gr. I events: The Suburban Handicap (BEL) and the United Nations H. (MON).