HorseRacing Central July 24, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
While the staff at Hastings Racecourse readies itself for perhaps the biggest event of our season – BC Cup Day on Monday, August 3 – it’sbusiness as usual this weekend with our Friday, Saturday and Sunday cards. As always, there’s plenty of out-of-town action that we can all enjoy via simulcast. Let’s take a look …
WHAT’S ON TAP
Saturday
Belmont Park’s added money event is the $300,000 Grade l Coaching Club American Oaks (2:17 p.m.) for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and a quarter on the huge main course. The likely favourite will be Funny Moon (Alan Garcia). Funny Moon crushed her opponents for trainer Christopher Clement in an optional claimer last time and looks like one that will love this long trip.
The 3-year-old fillies will also be in the spotlight at Woodbine in the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes (1:33 p.m.) at a mile and a quarter on the grass. The one to beat is Tasty Temptation (Patrick Husbands) following a fourth in the Queen’s Plate and second in the Woodbine Oaks.
This is opening week at the lovely Del Mar Racecourse and the feature is the Grade ll $350,000 Eddie Read (5:35 p.m.) for 3-year-olds and up on the grass. The speedy Monterey Jazz is the morning line favourite and if he wins, his connections say they’ll be looking at the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs as his next stop.
Of local interest is the fact both Winter Warning (Fernando Perez) and Bank Emblem (Frank Fuentes) will be running in the $50,000 Don Fleming Stakes (2:42 p.m.) at Northlands Park in Edmonton.
Sunday
The headliner at Woodbine is the $300,000 Nijinksy Stakes with Toronto champ Rahy’s Attorney looming as the favourite with challengers Spice Route, Marchfield and Champs Elysees.
In Seattle both Holy Nova (Mario Gutierrez) and Blue Sky Holiday (Çhad Hoverson) are confirmed starters Sunday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap. Later in the day, Del Mar hosts both the $85,000 Osunitas Stakes and the California Dreamin Stakes.
On the good news front, top rider Rafael Bejarano escaped with minor injuries following a nasty spill when coming off a horse at Del Mar this past Wednesday. He suffered a broken nose and cheekbone and some soreness in his shoulder. Bejarano thinks he’ll be back riding within three weeks.
HANDICAPPING CHALLENGE
The Derby Bar and Grill is sponsoring a $1,000 Weekly Handicapping Challenge where you’re free to play every Sunday only at Fraser Downs. The wagering covers four thoroughbred tracks and eight races and you can pick up ballots on Saturday for a list of contest tracks and mandatory races. Of course, ballots must be handed in prior to the start of the first contest race in order to qualify.
First prize is $500 in cash with $250 in cash as a runner-up prize. Third and fourth prizes are $150 and $100 betting vouchers to the Derby Bar and Grill. Tracks recently involved in the Handicapping Challenge have included Hastings, Belmont, Woodbine and Hollywood.
