HorseRacing Central October 3, 2008

ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND AHEAD

Two great stakes races are on the agenda at Hastings this weekend and plenty more action at Woodbine, Keeneland and Belmont as the 25th annual Breeders’ Cup is just a month away and potential participants take part in 12 “Win and You’re In” races on Saturday and Sunday. We’ll get to all of the simulcast coverage in a moment but first, a look at the local scene: the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity (4:16 p.m.) for 2-year-old fillies is the premier event on Saturday’s card with the favourite being P.S. Good N Ready. The $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity (5:16 p.m.) goes Sunday with El Sinaloense looking for his fifth straight stakes score. He takes on sharp maiden winners Almost Time and Millwright as the major threats.

SATURDAY’S OUT-OF-TOWN LINEUP

There are four Grade 1 stakes on the turf at Woodbine all with “Win and You’re In” rewards to go along with over $4.3 million in cash.

Things get started in race six (1:04 p.m.) with the 2-year-olds going a mile on the lawn. Çharles Fipke’s homebred Perfect Shower challenges six others. Up next is the 6 furlong $500,000 Nearctic (1:35 p.m.) with last year’s winner Hero’s Reward back to defend his title. His main competition will come from True To Tradition and Quietly Mine. The fillies and mares take the spotlight in race eight (2:16 p.m.) in the $1.5 million E.P. Taylor Stakes at a mile and a quarter. As usual, there’s a strong European influence led by Toque de Queda, an unlucky third in the Grade 1 Beverly D at Arlington in her last start. The local heroine at Woodbine – Sealy Hill – will once again go up against the big girls with Patrick Husbands in the saddle. Sealy Hill finished fourth in the Grade 11 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine in a race won by J’ray and these two meet again in the E.,P. Taylor. Another entry worth mentioning is English star filly Folk Opera with popular Frankie Dettori getting the ride.

The $2 million Jim Pattison Canadian International (2:48 p.m.) finishes out the big day as the best older horses travel a mile and a half. The top five finishers in the recent Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine are all back: Chanmps Elysees, Quijano, Seaside Retreat, Marsh Side and Spice Route. All five were separated by just a length at the 12-furlong finish. The class of the field this time, though, will be Doctor Dino, winner of the Grade 1 Man O’War at Belmont last year.

The fall Keeneland meet just started Friday and there are no shortage of premier events on the calendar. There are four “Win and You’re In” races on Saturday beginning with race five (12:18 p.m.) and the $250,000 Phoenix for sprinters going six panels over the synthetic track. Of local interest at 8-1 on the morning line is B.C.-bred Disfunction (Vying Victor) who’ll be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

The next stakes event is the Grade 1 $500,000 Lanes End Futurity for 2-year-olds (1:22 p.m.) going 1 1/16 miles followed by the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile featuring Kelowna resident Charles Fipke’s Society’s Chairman as one of the entrants along with Woodbine-based Rahy’s Attorney who upset Breeders’ Cup winner Kip Deville in the Woodbine Mile last month. The filly and mares sprinters complete the stakes action in the $300,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. Indyanne, who defeated Dancing Allstar at Calder earlier this summer, will try to avenge her recent defeat at Saratoga.

Three graded stakes Saturday begin with the $250,000 Jamaica (12:39 p.m.) for 3-year-old turf colts, followed by the popular Breeders’ Cup 2-year-old preps starting with the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (1:43 p.m.) for the fillies and concluding with the third “Win and You’re In” feature: the $400,000 Champagne (2:15 p.m.) for 2-year-old colts and geldings.

NO DAY OF REST SUNDAY

Santa Anita’s annual Cal Cup Day has eight stakes on the program, two starter allowances and a maiden special weight race making up the 11-race program that has over $1.3 million in purse money up for grabs for the best of the Calfiornia breds. First post is 12:00 noon.

Keeneland has two important stakes on Sunday: the $500,000 Spinster (2:10 p.m.) with the winner being guaranteed a spot in the gate with Zenyatta, Ginger Punch, Hysterical Llady and Cocoa Beach in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Woodbine has the 2-year-olds headling things with the colts getting things started (12:35 p.m.) in the $250,000 Grey Stakes followed by the fillies (1:34 p.m.) in the $250,000 Mazarine Stakes (1:34 p.m.). Of local interest here is Astrotime who ran third in her first stakes try in the Muskoka Stakes. She is out of B.C.-bred champion Astro Beauty.

Belmont goes with the $150,000 Jerome Handicap for 3-year-olds with notable nominees being Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara as well as Charlesd Fipke’s Take of Ekati and Visionaire, who narrowly defeated Texas Wildcatter in the Gotham earlier this year.

FOR THE EARLY, EARLY BIRDS

Local thoroughbred fans can get an early start with three great races from France on Sunday morning, wagering through their HPI accounts. The Grade 1 Prix de I’Opera goes at 7:00 a.m; the Grade 1 Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe at 7:40 a.m. and the Prix Barzen Handicap at 9:05 a.m.

A reminder, too, that harness racing from the Red Mile has been added to Saturday’s simulcast schedule at Hastings and Fraser Downs. The 15-race card concludes the Grand Circuit Week with race 11 featuring Somebeachsomewhere facing six rivals in the $293,000 Lis Mara. First race goes at 9:30 a.m.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

And the winner is: (the envelope, please) … Alan Harrison! The DRF Friday Handicapping contest Final was staged in Silks last week and included nine weekly winners plus the top six cumulative winners. They played off for a seat in the NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Vegas next January with Mr. Harrison leading the way with winnings of $51.00. Minder Singh placed second with $48.70 while John Green and Gordon Cruikshank tied for third at $37.90.

Entries are now being accepted at the HPI Centre for the Hastings Qualifying Tournament that will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19. You can also enter by phone (604 – 216-5271) or by email (hpicentre@hastingsracecourse.com). The cost is $150 and it’s open to the first 150 entrants. This year the total purse for the January 2009 showdown in Vegas is expected to exceed $1 million, making it the richest event ever.

EXCLUSIVE TO HORSERACING CENTRAL SUBSCRIBERS:

We want to acknowledge our dedicated HorseRacing Central readers & subscribers by offering a share of a $1,000 draw at the end of October, 2008. $500 will go to our first ballot drawn with $250, $150 and $100 available in that order. Again, this HRC offer is for members & subscribers only. Ballots are available at the HPI Centres at both Hastings and Fraser Downs or you can enter by filling out this coupon and dropping it off at an HPI Centre.

Name: _____________ Phone: ___________ Email: __________


In our inaugural “Behind the Scene” segment with the ‘Hossman’ himself – Tom Wolski – here’s what you can expect on Saturday’s Sport of Kings at 11 a.m. on Citytv:

“We’re going to give an update on Stephanie Fedora and her incredible riding record this season,” says Wolski. “Also, a unique piece on trainer Terry Jordan at home … up close and personal! We’ve taken our television cameras where others wouldn’t dare to tread. It truly is Behind the Scene.”

$100,000 Championship Challenge

It’s going to happen on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Hastings but you must be an HPI Member or HorseRacing Central subscriber to enter. Pick all nine winners at Hastings and win $100,000 or $3,000 to the first runner-up; $1750 to the second runner-up; $750 to the third runner-up. It’s free to enter; no purchase necessary and full details are at Guest Services.

AN ONGOING BUZZ AT FRASER DOWNS

The 2008/09 standardbred season at Fraser Downs is heading into only its third weekend but already attendance is healthy and the introduction of several open stakes have created quite a stir. The $100,000 Princess of the Pacific on March 14 complements the established $100,000 Clash of the Pacific on Oct. 17. In total, more than $500,000 has been committed to major open stakes this year including the $40,000 River Rock Resort Cup for 4-year-olds on February 14 and the $30,000 Boulevard Casino Cup for 3-year-olds on March 6.

The first leg of the BCSA-sponsored Clash of the Pacific goes Friday (Oct. 3) with the second leg set for Friday, Oct. 10. With 22 entries, there will be only nine survivors for the Oct. 17 Final.

YEARLING SALE SET FOR SUNDAY

There will be plenty of activity at the Cloverdale Agriplex adjacent to the backstretch at Fraser on Sunday with the BC Standardbred Breeders’ Pacific Yearling Sale beginning at 1:00 p.m. A total of 68 quality yearlings are up for auction through the sale plus an additional 33 horses that have been made eligible via the exception rule will be eligible to race in the 2009 BC Sale Stakes at Fraser. The yearlings on sale Sunday will be available for inspection in the Agriplex Showbarn on Saturday and early Sunday morning.