Big wins today for Ashado, Saint Liam, and Don’t Get Mad.
Ashado, the 2004 champion filly, took the Ogden Phipps at Belmont with a front-running performance, shaking off challengers with ease. Rival Society Selection made a late move and came in second, with Bending Strings running third.
At Churchill Downs, the Stephen Foster Handicap was Saint Liam’s from the start. The colt relaxed just off pacesetter Presidentialaffair until the top of the stretch, where he took off, winning by more than two lengths. In the Northern Dancer, Don’t Get Mad looked once more like the horse that won the Derby Trial, coming from off the pace in a stunning move that left his competition far behind.
Nine-for-nine: That’s the career record of the filly Happy Ticket, who notched her ninth straight win this afternoon in the Chicago Breeders’ Cup Handicap. “She won eight in a row and she was never tested in any of those races,” said trainer Andrew Leggio. “[Owner Stewart Madison] thought it was time for us to step up a notch and she did.” (Thoroughbred Times)
Posted by JC in Races/Results on 06/18/2005 @ 8:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
It was a good day at the Downs, with fine weather and two stakes races on the card. I had the great pleasure of hanging out with Bud from Thoroughbred Racing Fans of New England for the second half of the afternoon. Bud’s the photographer for the group, which meets at Suffolk occasionally and takes trips to Saratoga and such events as the Breeders’ Cup.
Bud told me that he didn’t handicap, but proved he knew horses — especially New England horses — when he spotted Spectacular Orage in the African Prince, a stakes race for state-breds, and struck up a conversation with the owner about Spectacular Orage’s grandsire, 1994 New England turf champion, Eternal Orage. Photos from today are already up — check out the nice shot of Winston Thompson winning the Old Ironsides on Miesque’s Approval.
In the African Prince, Reprized Strike was the even money favorite for obvious reasons. The three-year-old colt won the Norman Hall Stakes last fall and came back this year with a fourth in the Rise Jim. I picked 5-1 Stylish Sultana, who finished a respectable fourth against tough competition in the Isadorable Stakes last month. She made a late move in the stretch, coming from sixth to win by a neck on the outside. Reprized Strike finished third, Spectacular Orage second.
I didn’t do as well in the Old Ironsides, picking One Nice Cat, who finished fifth. Miesque’s Approval, a New York shipper trained by Bill Mott, won easily. Canyon’s Way ran second and Tom the River Rat third. This race was the high point of the day for me, for the simple reason that Bud and I stood at the rail on the turf course and watched the horses come by at the first turn and again at the finish. It was a beautiful sight — the horses so near, the turf so lush.
The Old Ironsides was a high point for jockey Winston Thompson as well: The race was his sixth win of the afternoon. It was Thompson’s first career six-win day; he is the seventh rider to accomplish the feat at Suffolk.
Posted by JC in Suffolk Downs on 06/18/2005 @ 7:55 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
The effect of Ghostzapper’s retirement continues to be felt in the older male handicap division. Trainer Mark Hennig has adjusted Eddington’s 2005 campaign now that the 2004 HOTY is out of the picture. Eddington was scheduled to start in the Suburban, the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s still on schedule for the Suburban and is a definite for the Classic, but may now enter the Whitney and the Woodward in place of the Saratoga and Gold Cup. The July 2 Suburban will be Eddington’s first start since winning the Pimlico Special in May. (Daily Racing Form)
Trainer Robbie Bailes needs a new plan for Scrappy T — the horse didn’t take to the turf as it was hoped he might. Scrappy T worked out on Colonial Downs’ turf course yesterday, with the idea that he might run in the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby, but Scrappy T didn’t like the change of surface. “[Rider Ramon Dominguez] said he didn’t have the same spurt that he had on the dirt,” said Bailes. Scrappy T may be pointed to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown instead. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Posted by JC in Horses on 06/18/2005 @ 10:05 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter
