**Today’s post in memory of Martin Rogers.
Popular exercise rider Martin Rogers passed away recently after a reported car accident. He was the curator of the Patrick Husbands facebook site and had his own Facebook page that is filled with condolences.
Shepperton, a chestnut warrior.
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame photo
SHEPPERTON HONOURED
“One of the best Canadian-breds we have seen in many years’
The mighty weight carrier SHEPPERTON is the star tonight as the stakes race named in his honour is run again – it was inaugurated in 1976.
Tonight’s field is missing NOT BOURBON, who was expected to return to action but he has had another setback.
Heading the field is DANCER’S BAJAN, who won the race last year for 3 Sons Racing and trainer Robert Tiller. He ran a 103 Beyer Figure in that win, the best of his career.
But hey, since Roger Attfield is winning almost everything in sight these days, why not take a stab on SAND COVE, the grey fellow who puts up a big fight all the time?
Most wins by a jockey:
* 7 – David Clark (1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1888, 1996, 2006)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 3 – Robert P. Tiller (1997, 2003, 2006)
Hall of Fame Inductee, 1976
Bio from Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
• When Shepperton won the Canadian Championship (later named the Canadian International Championship) on the half-mile track at Dufferin in the war years of 1942 and 1943, his total earnings from those two victories was just $5,202.
Shepperton was ridden by Bobby Watson in his Canadian Championship wins. The chestnut horse did not run in the Championship in 1944, but Shepperton was still turning in some impressive races. In the Bryan and O’Hara Memorial Handicap at Toronto’s Old Woodbine, he carried 138 pounds to victory in the 1 1/16 mile race in the track record time of 1:44 3/5. “He (Shepperton) went to the front without any special urging and won comfortably,” said the Thoroughbred Record. “This is probably the best Canadian-bred we have seen in many years.” He was a superb weight carrier, often winning while carrying up to 140 pounds.
Bred, trained and owned by Fred Schelke of Gormley, Ont., Shepperton was “the wonder horse” of his time. He was a confirmed cripple from birth but a great race horse nevertheless. Jockey Willie Holborn, who exercised him in his early trials and for nearly all his racing years, said he was the easiest horse to ride of any that he ever worked. “It was like sitting in a rocking chair and going for a pleasure ride,” he said. Injuries prevented Schelke from racing him as a 2-year-old and also knocked him out of the 1942 King’s Plate.
In 1944, as a 5-year-old, Shepperton won three of his five starts. But his best years were at three and four. In 1942, he won six races, was second seven times and third once in 17 starts and in 1943, he won nine of fourteen races and was out of the money only twice. He raced from 1942 to 1948, winning 22 of his 54 starts, finishing second eleven times and third five times. Besides his Canadian Championship wins and the Bryan and O’Hara Memorial, his important wins included the Breeders’ Stakes and Autumn Handicap in 1942 and the Jubilee Handicap in 1943.
DON’S FOLLY (9) is a contender in tonight’s Shepperton Stakes.
Norm Files photo.
CANADIAN BREDS WINNING EVERYWHERE
While Awesome Rhthym and Monty’s Best did not have any success against SOUL WARRIOR and MINE THAT BID in the West Virgnia Derby last Saturday, there were some locally bred horses who did well in other places.
How about the AUDRE CAPPUCCITTI bred CARDASHI, by Kiridashi – Honor Card, who won the Governor’s Cup at Penn National over the likes of Smart Enough?
A $10,000 claim, the 7-year-old raced at Woodbine and Fort Erie briefly in 2005, won his maiden for $10,500 and then went off to Thistledown. He was scooped up by his current interests this year. He ran a career best 102 Beyer Figure in the turf win.
EXCERPT Blood-Horse story:
Cardashi Pulls 29-1 Governor’s Cup Shocker
By Jason Shandler
Locally-based claimer Cardashi scored a shocking 29-1 upset in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup Handicap when he ran down pacesetter Blue Sailor in mid-stretch and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths Aug. 1 on the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course turf.
Ridden by David Cora, Cardashi was claimed by trainer Tim Kreiser for Mason Dixon Stable for just $10,000 in February. Since then, the 7-year-old gelded son of Kiridashi had won two turf sprints at Penn National, but they were in claiming and allowance company, nothing like the richest race in the racetrack’s history.
Cardashi completed five furlongs on the ‘yielding’ turf in :56.23 while making his stakes debut.
Blue Sailor set the pace in the Governor’s Cup, sprinting out to a clear lead while running splits of :21.70 and :44.07 under Harry Vega. Sea Dubai tracked the leader in the early going, while Cardashi raced in third.
Cardashi loomed as the biggest threat to Blue Sailor at the eighth-pole, but still had a 2 1/2 lengths to make up on the leader. The bay gelding kept charging from the outside and finally surged to the front with a sixteenth remaining. Blue Sailor stayed on for second, a length better than third-place Chamberlain Bridge.
Cardashi, who was bred in Ontario by Audre Cappuccitti and is out of the Honor Grades mare Honor Card, is now 11-10-3 from 42 starts. His $120,000 first-place check pushed his earnings to $266,085.
SHE’S WILD
D’WILD RIDE, bred by Sophian Stables in Ontario, won the REGRET STAKES at Monmouth on Haskell day. The filly had just 2 rivals but was the 5 to 2 3rd choice and won by a neck. She is by D’Wildcat out of Summer Storm and is trained by Joe Orseno.
D’WILD RIDE, a Candian bred stakes winner at Monmouth last weekend.
Vanessa Ng photo.
WOODBINE SCOREBOARD – TRAINERS
*It’s a tie! MARK CASSE AND SID ATTARD have 28 wins apiece as we move into the 2nd half of the Woodbine meeting. Catching up fast is Steve Asmussen who is a super 6 for last 15 starters in the last 10 days at Woodbine. ROGER ATTFIELD is 6 for his last 12 starters, wow.
Mark Casse 174 28 29 22 $2,196,689
Sid C. Attard 127 28 18 16 $1,226,299
Steven erce 104 24 12 11 $1,768,374
Terry Jordan 53 24 5 10 $914,494
Robert P. Tiller168 23 32 21 $1,127,337
Roger.Attfield 81 22 14 9 $1,590,205
N Gonzalez 137 21 17 17 $1,112,765
Josie Carroll 86 21 11 17 $1,275,856
Scott H. Fairlie 146 19 24 26 $1,436,961
Reade Baker 155 18 25 26 $1,194,322
Ian Black 99 13 15 10 $1,176,973
SCOREBOARD – JOCKEYS
Patrick Husbands 468 91 84 73 $5,486,521
Chantal Sutherland 458 69 71 71 $3,886,492
James McAleney 299 58 38 48 $3,028,766
Emile Ramsammy 388 56 45 48 $2,609,484
Eurico Rosa Da Silva 339 54 52 42 $3,758,645
Tyler Pizarro 357 54 51 45 $2,767,480
Emma-Jayne Wilson 425 46 61 53 $2,777,502
Luis Contreras 141 33 22 18 $1,377,863
Justin Stein 325 29 38 31 $1,358,121
Jono C. Jones 238 22 25 27 $1,764,028
Todd Kabel 142 20 15 10 $973,795
SCOREBOARD – FORT ERIE TRAINERS
Nicholas Gonzalez 86 24 18 16 $230,016
Michael Newell 152 23 15 24 $232,308
John Simms 75 22 14 14 $212,418
Daryl G. Ezra 62 16 6 11 $156,837
Lyle Morden 46 15 5 8 $137,248
W. V. Armata 85 12 9 8 $117,847
Robert J.W. Johnston 61 11 12 6 $112,276
Daniel Wills 45 10 5 9 $86,989
Howard Keen 78 7 9 12 $96,956
Winston Wilkinson 58 7 7 4 $73,367
FORT ERIE JOCKEYS
Rui M. Pimentel 265 69 40 40 $656,240
Melanie Pinto 188 31 34 33 $349,489
Anthony Stephen 153 24 25 22 $267,013
Christopher Griffith 143 23 21 11 $232,846
Sunny Singh 133 21 21 17 $235,159
David Garcia 122 18 15 15 $209,199
Edward K Robinson 163 18 15 13 $192,444
Mike Mehak 192 17 18 25 $210,919
Kristopher Robinson 149 17 12 25 $190,660
Daniel J. David 84 13 13 15 $140,812
Kirk Johnson 129 12 14 14 $136,709
Roderick Dacosta 88 10 13 12 $134,326
SNEAKING A DERBY WIN
Smuggler’s Hold wins Manitoba Derby
Victory smuggled
‘Antsy’ invader crowned Derby king
By KEN WIEBE, SUN MEDIA
Not even a slow start out of the gate could prevent outside invader Smuggler’s Hold from stepping into the winner’s circle.
The pre-race favourite from Canterbury Park in Minnesota overcame a suspect start by rallying late to capture the 61st running of the $75,000 Manitoba Derby by 3/4 of a length on a wind-filled day at Assiniboia Downs.
“He’s a tricky horse, but I knew he could run,” said Adolfo Morales, the victorious jockey. “On the back side, he grabbed hold of the lead and was running me around. When we turned for home, I went by the one horse that was inside of me and that was it. Nobody else was coming.”
Hilton’s Cherokee, rode by Alan Cutherbertson, broke into the lead along the rail and held it for a good portion of the race before fading down the back stretch.
Once Smuggler’s Hold blew past Hilton’s Cherokee, it was basically over.
Tease The Tiger finished second, while long-shot Celtic Thane was third in the 10-horse showdown.
www.winnipegsun.com/sports/othersports/2009/08/04/10352871-sun.html
HASTINGS REPORT
B.C. CUP DAY
KRAZY KOFFEE WINS REDEKOP CLASSIC WHEN FAVOURED SPAGHETTI MOUSE SCRATCHED
Vancouver, B.C. (Aug. 3/09) — A resounding groan filled the air at Hastings Racecourse Monday afternoon when it was announced on post parade that favoured Spaghetti Mouse was declared a late scratch from the $100,000 Redekop BC Cup Classic.
The track veterinarian declared Spaghetti Mouse unfit to race, leaving the feature race of the day with five starters. Krazy Koffee, named Horse of the Year in 2008, held off Till the Storm to win the Classic by a half-length for owner Butch Goertzen and trainer Cindy Krasner, the winning combination of last year’s BC Derby that also includes jockey David Wilson. Krazy Koffee’s winning time over the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.30.
“When I heard Spaghetti Mouse had been scratched I wanted to go back to the paddock for instructions,” Wilson said from the winner’s circle. “Once I got him to relax, he was okay.” Spaghetti Mouse was looking to tie Artic Son as the only other three-time winner in the 15-year history of the Classic. Spaghetti Mouse won it in 2008 and 2006.
On a BC Cup Day when the favourites prevailed, Krazy Koffee paid $3.20, $2.30 and $2.10.
There were six other stakes races on the holiday card, all with $50,000 purses. Frank Fuentes rode Woombroom Express to victory in the Sprint. Huitziloplochtli won the Nursery by almost nine lengths with Fernando Perez in the irons.
Favourite Tierra Del Feugo easily won the Dogwood with Pedro Alvarado gaining the lead on the backstretch and cruising home to a six-length victory.
Against the Sky was favoured in the Distaff and didn’t disappoint her backers with Fuentes winning his second stakes of the afternoon.
Vying Ty Grr won the Debutante wire-to-wire under Richard Hamel.
BC CUP RESULTS
courtesy Thoroughbred Daily News:
BRITISH COLUMBIA CUP NURSERY S., $50,597, HST,
8-3, (R), 2yo, c/g, 6 1/2f, 1:16 4/5, ft.
1. HUITZILOPOCHTLI, 119, g, Wandering–Always a Star (SP), by Sunny’s Halo. (C$16,000 yrl >08 BRCSEP).
O-Lara Racing Stables, Ltd; B-Ralph Jesiak (BC);
T-Juan C Olmos; J-Fernando Hernandez Perez; $30,358. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $72,906.
*1/2 to Grace for You (Bold Laddie), GSW, $217,237; and Ronaldino (Katahaula County), MSW, $149,290.
SPRINT
(R), 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16 3/5, ft.
1. #WOOMBROOM EXPRESS, 116, g, 4, Katahaula County–Sanich Lady, by Gold Saga.
O-Quinton McCabe, E & Lottie Ann Kerr & Three Of Diamonds Stable;
B-Rob Maybin & Sheena Kaur (BC); T-Quinton McCabe; J-Francisco Perez Fuentes;
$30,999. Lifetime Record: 17-5-3-2, $91,501
BRITISH COLUMBIA CUP DOGWOOD H., $51,484,
HST, 8-3, (R), 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45, ft.
1. TIERRA DEL FEUGO, 120, f, 3, Finality–Hail to Maudie, by Maudlin. O/B-Mr & Mrs R J Bennett (BC);
T-Barbara Heads; J-Pedro V Alvarado; $30,891. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-1, $88,227
NORTHLANDS REPORT
Courtesy Jonathan Huntington
WINNIPEG – Four starters from today’s Manitoba Derby appear likely to nominate to the $300,000 Canadian Derby in Edmonton.
Alberta-based Tease The Tiger is suddenly a main 3-year-old in the Canadian Derby picture after a fast-closing second in the $75,000 Manitoba Derby in Winnipeg this afternoon. “He’ll go the mile and three-eighths, no problem,” said jockey Jake Barton, referring to the Canadian Derby distance. Added owner Robert Vargo: “He closed like we wanted him to. It looks like (we’ll nominate to the Canadian Derby) if everything looks good.”
Tease The Tiger closed five lengths in the stretch drive to finish second – three-quarters of a length behind – winning Minnesota invader Smuggler’s Hold at Assiniboia Downs. According to one racing insider, Smuggler’s Hold will nominate to the Canadian Derby, which is Aug. 22 at Northlands Park. “No doubt about it,” he remarked. Smuggler’s Hold has raced at six different tracks since December 2008.
