– Friday is a day of firsts for Scipion. Remember him, the A.P. Indy colt briefly on the Kentucky Derby trail after winning the 2005 Risen Star with a giant come from behind move at 10-1? He returns to the track as a five-year-old in Belmont’s eighth, making his first start since October, his first start on turf, and his first start for trainer Christophe Clement. The race is an optional claiming/N2X, 1 1/8 mile on the inner, and while Scipion seems to fit with this bunch, he is a deep closer who hasn’t finished better than second in 11 starts since that Risen Star score. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens sends out a more likely winner, the lightly-raced and quick Tricky Causeway, and Saeed bin Suroor, 15-5-2-1 for the meet, the Brit-bred Centaurus, who breezed a bullet five furlongs on the turf in 1:00.31 on July 8.
– With three more wins this afternoon, apprentice Michael Baze heads into Hollywood’s final weekend at the top of the jockey standings, six victories ahead of fellow bugboy Joe Talamo, winner of one today. But Talamo will have many chances to take the lead before the meet closes: He’s named to ride in every race Friday, in another eight on Saturday, and nine on Sunday, while Baze will ride seven on Friday, four on Saturday, and seven on Sunday.
– Posse starter alert: Miss Triss will try to add to her rookie sire’s 9-for-19 record when she makes her second career start in Arlington’s seventh, a five furlong maiden special for fillies, on Friday.
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 07/12/2007 @ 9:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Sensing an opportunity in the dispute between the newly-recognized Mashpee Wampanoags of Cape Code and the town of Middleborough over demands that the tribe pay for millions of dollars in infrastructure costs if it wants to build a casino, Boston mayor Tom Menino “gamely invited the tribe today to build its gambling complex at the Suffolk Downs racetrack in East Boston” (Boston Globe). The tribe would have to overcome some hurdles to make that happen, including getting around a Department of Interior rule requiring Indian-owned casinos be located within a 50-mile radius of tribal land.
Menino may get his wish for a casino at Suffolk anyway, regardless of whether or not it’s run by the Wampanoags. According to a report in the Boston Herald:
An administration panel appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to study the gambling issue is leaning heavily toward the all-inclusive casino model that mixes shopping, entertainment and hotels as well as gambling halls, say industry executives and insiders.
That could be good news for Suffolk — and it would certainly be good news for new owner Richard Fields, casino developer — but bad for Massachusetts dog and harness track owners, long-time proponents of racino-style slots. [Thanks to SS for the Globe link.]
Posted by JC in Suffolk Downs on 07/12/2007 @ 8:55 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
– Del Mar will open next Wednesday with a Trakus system in place. Like Keeneland, the track will replace the first four runners display with “an instantaneous, full-field running order posted throughout all races” and post the Trakus data to their web site.
– Alpena Magic, the 17-year-old gelding entered to run at Ellis Park today, was purchased by track president Ron Geary, scratched, and retired. “It’s time for a new career for Alpena Magic,” said Geary. “This horse enjoys being around people and the racetrack. His new role will allow him to be our ‘equine ambassador’ for our new ‘Early at Ellis’ and backside tour programs” (Blood-Horse).
– Film rights to this flowery Vanity Fair article about Barbaro by Buzz Bissinger have been purchased by director Peter Berg and Universal Pictures.
– Dominican’s post-Derby career begins Saturday at Arlington (DRF). Also, Tiago returns in the Swaps at Hollywood, King of the Roxy in Sunday’s Barbaro Stakes, and a competitive field of eight will go to post in the Delaware Handicap (BRIS).
Posted by JC in News on 07/11/2007 @ 11:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
