HorseRacing Central April 11, 2008

Mike Heads' HorseRacing Central

COUNTDOWN IN FULL SWING

You can actually “feel” the excitement building throughout the barns these days as the April 26-27 opening weekend approaches for the launch of our 2008 racing season at Hastings Racecourse.

Sovereign Award winners Dancing Allstar and True Metropolitan have both been training in fine style as they prepare to defend their titles as the best in Canada. Also creating a bit of buzz in workouts are local award winners Star Prospector and Alpine Garden from Peter Redekop’s stable.

Hastings’ 2007 trainer of the year Troy Taylor has Sir Gallovic back in training under the watchful eyes of owners Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella. Sir Gallovic is expected to resume his epic battles with True Metropolitan this coming season. The only B.C. champ not scheduled to return to Hastings is the great Monashee but if she continues her ‘shy nature’ in Kentucky with younger stallion Hard Spun and doesn’t get in foal … hmmm, could a comeback be in the making?

It was a pleasure to see the smiling face of 2007 leading rider Mario Gutierrez earlier this week at Hastings. There’d been speculation about Mario staying in Northern California but Glen Todd, who has him under contract, was having nothing of it. “I love the city and the people at Hastings,” Gutierrez says. “I’m happy to be back.”

WIN A TRIP TO THE 2008 BREEDERS’ CUP AT HASTINGS OPENING WEEKEND

Hastings and V.I.P. Travel (www.viptravel.ca) have teamed up to give away a trip to the 2008 Breeder’s Cup.

April 26th and 27th fill out a ballot at Gaming Floor Guest Services to win a trip for two, including airfare, hotel and transfers.

OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD

It was another great weekend for our local horsemen in Calgary as trainers Terry Jordan and Troy Taylor sent four horses to Alberta and all four came home with winners’ cheques. Ronaldino and Fortynine Express captured easy victories for owner Bob Cheema and Jordan while Bank Emblem and Powerful Summer won for the team of Todd and Kinsella. Powerful Summer was claimed for $22,000 after being purchased at Golden Gate late last year for $16,000.

Kelowna owner and breeder Chuck Fipke is on his way to the Kentucky Derby after winning the $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct with Tale of Ekati, a first-place finish worth $450,000.

The final two important stakes races for 3-year-olds on the road to the May 3 Kentucky Derby go Saturday with the running of the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland and the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

With several unexpected entries turning up for the Blue Grass, the field of 12 will be the largest in the Keeneland showcase since 1983, assuming all of them start Saturday. Pyro has been installed as the even money morning line favourite. A full field of 14 is expected to start the Arkansas Derby with home turf favourite Golden Yank and California invader Gayego gaining most of the early wagering attention. Of local interest is the fact Cecil Peacock’s Indian Sun is scheduled to be in the lineup trying one more time to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Our simulcast coverage of the Blue Grass is at 2:18 p.m. and the Arkansas Derby at 3:44 p.m.

WHAT’S AHEAD

Former Hastings runner No Ka Oi will try for her second consecutive victory in a $32,000 claimer down the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Saturday and another home-bred – Seven Secrets – tackles some tough $50,000 company.

Hastings trainer Craig MacPherson sends four runners across the Rockies to compete in Calgary this weekend, including Bold Knockout, Kadence, If I’m Spared and Arkhill. Lance Giesbrecht sends out his first starter of the year on Saturday in Calgary with Kokopelli Wind entered with non-two allowance mares.

SANDOWN PLATE HEATS UP

Royal Morn - the top B.C.-bred juvenile pacer from last season – returned to Fraser Downs last weekend with an impressive victory in his 3-year-old debut, going gate to wire in a career best 1:56.1. Trained and reined by Rod Therres, Royal Morn is expected to be the pre-race favourite for Saturday’s $31,500 Sandown Plate Stake Final but will receive some stiff competition from the Serge Masse trained duo of McArtical and Inspired Art. Post time for this epic showdown goes at 3:57 p.m.

LEADERS OF THE PACING PACK

Bill Davis continues to lead the Driver and Trainer standings at Fraser with 143 driving victories from 485 starts and 121 training wins from 347 starters. Jim Marino is second in driving wins with 90 followed by Serge Masse at 81. Masse is the second leading trainer with 71 wins, followed by Dave Hudon with 55. (These standings are up to April 7).

FAST TRACKING …

The thoroughbred racing fraternity lost two outstanding contributors with the recent passing of longtime owner/trainer Tony Tomlenovich and owner/breeder Ben Ternes. Mr. Ternes will be remembered at a service April 16 in the Horsemen’s Cafeteria (Trackers). A service for Mr. Tomlenovich was held last week at Forest Lawn in Burnaby … We are also saddened to hear of the passing of Joe Horton, former Director of Racing for British Columbia … Check the Hastings website for our new shuttle bus schedule and by signing up for your free BC Gold Card at the Hastings Gaming Floor there’s a chance to win a 32” Toshiba HD-Ready flat screen television set … Congratulations to E. Joyce McQuarrie of Surrey for winning last month’s HPI Cardholder Give-Away … The next slot tournament at Fraser Downs is Wednesday, April 23 with the field limited to 56 paid entrants.