HIP 131 at Fasig-Tipton/Palm Meadows yesterday is a $1.6 million BERNARDINI colt out of Hishi Aspen, a 3 time winner whose own dam was a winner and dam of 5 winners. Not much in the first 2 dams but Robert la Penta is the proud new owner. Fasig Tipton photo

 

 

OH BABY – 2yo sale at Palm Meadows is ‘all or nothing’

There was a 41% buy-back rate (ouch) but there was lot of money around for the racy, speedy, pretty 2yo’s offered at the Fasig Tipton 2yo sale at Palm Meadows Training centre yesterday.

Once again, the mysterious REGIS FARMS, located in King, ON, was front and centre as it bought 3 youngsters for $700,000. $485,00 and $145,000. Owned by Nat Rea, Regis Farms had its first racehorse compete recently when GOLDEN MYSTERY was last in a stakes race at Gulfstream Park 2 weeks back. The filly was bought as a broodmare prospect but did race once more.

Rea also has purchased SILVER SPRINGS Farm in Kentucky , a 300 acre spread in Paris.

Here in Ontario, Rea has a few horses on his Regis Farms, including recent purchase CAREM CRESCENT, who is due to foal any day now.

He now has some racehorses that will be (hopefully) competing in 2013 – although many are American-bred and perhaps not for the Ontario circuit.

The purchases yesterday included a $700,000 SMART STRIKE filly out of Music Room by Unbridled’s Song, a kentucky bred gal who had been a $250,000 yearling. The other two bought by Rea were a $145,000 Pioneer ofthe Nile filly and a Dixie Union filly for $485,000.

 

 

HIP NO, 19 – the $700,000 SMART STRIKE filly bought by Canadian Nat Rea

Fasig Tipton photo

 

 

FASIG-TIPTON FLORIDA–TOP PRICES
Hip Sex Sire Dam Price ($)

131 colt Bernardini Hishi Aspen 1,600,000
($250,000 yrl ‘12 FTKJUL)
B-Masaichiro Abe (Ky)
Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent
Purchased by Steven W Young, Agent

124 filly A.P. Indy Foxy Danseur 1,100,000
($300,000 yrl ‘12 KEESEP)
B-Clearsky Farms (Ky)
Consigned by Stephens Thoroughbreds LLC, Agent
Purchased by Green Hills Farm

130 colt Bernardini Heart of Grace 950,000
($525,000 RNA yrl ‘12 FTSAUG)
B-Destiny Oaks of Ocala (Fl)
Consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
Purchased by Dr. Dermot O’Byrne

19 filly Smart Strike Music Room 700,000
($250,000 yrl ‘12 KEESEP)
B-SF Bloodstock (Ky)
Consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds, Agent
Purchased by Regis Farms

93 colt Bernardini A Precious Memory 650,000
($200,000 yrl ‘12 FTSAUG)
B-Epona Equine (Ky)
Consigned by Sequel Bloodstock (Becky Thomas), Agent
Purchased by Three Chimneys Sales & Solis

16 filly Malibu Moon Miz United States 625,000
($160,000 yrl ‘12 KEESEP)
B-Hart Farm (VA)
Consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent
Purchased by Stonestreet Stables

87 colt Tapit Winter Garden 625,000
($110,000 yrl ‘12 KEESEP
B-Town & Country Farm, Corp (Ky)
Consigned by Hoby & Layna Kight, Agent
Purchased by Dr. Dermot O’Byrne

 

CAB RIDE, a  CANADIAN-BRED 2YO by Roman Ruler – Fancy Deed by Queen’s Plate winner Alydeed, brought $400,000 by Barry Berkelhammer, agent. The colt was bred by Robert Harvey and Al Wortzman and was a $120,000 yearling purchase by SGV Bloodstock.

 

 

The Canadian bred Roman Ruler colt is out of an unraced Alydeed mare who is a half sister to champion MIDNIGHT LITE. The colt is named CAB RIDE.

Janis Maine photo

 

FORT ERIE UPDATE – from HBPA

As you know, the HBPA of Ontario has been involved in conversations with OMAFRA’S – Horse Racing Transition Panel and various Ministries to maintain Fort Erie Racetrack for the 2013 racing season.  Discussions continue and negotiations have taken a tremendous amount of co-operation and effort from the HBPA, the management and staff of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium (FELRC) and the Ontario government.  All three parties recognize the importance of keeping Fort Erie Racetrack open.

Please be confident in the fact the HBPA continues to work quietly for the betterment of thoroughbred racing and the livelihood of all our members.  The HBPA Directors are totally committed to maintaining live racing at Fort Erie Racetrack.

Since the OMAFRA panel has set March 31st, 2013 as the deadline for negotiations with racetracks a decision regarding the future of Fort Erie Racetrack will be coming very soon. Members of the HBPA will be advised promptly once we are made aware of the final decision.

WOODBINE WORKOUTS

There is stil a few more weeks before racing returns to Woodbine, but slowly, the work tab is filling up and there are lots of busy folks on the backstretch.

Some of the notes from workouts include:

Nine-year-old RONALDINO is back, he prepped 2 furlongs on Monday in 25.00 for Jack Fournier and Dan Burwell, owners. The BC-bred gelding has 15 wins in 32 races.

ARTIE HOT, also 9 years old, is back for another year and he worked 3 furlongs on the olytrack in 36.00.

At Crupi’s New Castle Farm on March 22 – the Ralph Biamonte stakes winners were in action:

Cryptic Message (ON)     Filly     3     38.40     b     13/31
Jenna’s Wabbit (ON)     Gelding     4     37.60     b     5/31

In other Canadian results news – first time starter REAL AWESOME won his debut at Mountaineer yesterday in tough circumstances. He raced at 1 mile on a sloppy track and he won by by 1 1/4 lengths. He is owned and was bred by Stronach Stables. The sire is Awesome Again and the mare is Real Rose by Slip Trial.

STUCK IN TRAFFIC, who has appeared in the news a lot this year, is entered for $4,500 claiming tomorrow at Charles Town, a 4 1/2 furlong dash. The 8-year-old stakes winner trailed throughout in his most recent race. His race goes off a 8:37 p.m.

IN THE ZONE!
DUBAI NEWS

Private Zone–( Ontario bred)  The Golden Shaheen starter returned to main track on Tuesday after remaining in the Quarantine area on Monday morning.  The 4-year-old gelding galloped one lap over the Tapeta surface under exercise rider Antonio Romero. “With the walk all the way from the barn to the track plus the gallop, it’s like he went two miles,” the exercise rider commented, only half-joking.  “He doesn’t need to do that much and he seems to be handling the track pretty good.  He’s doing great and he’s very happy here.” Romero indicated that Leandro Mora, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, will arrive in Dubai either late Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning to supervise the remaining training of the son of Macho Uno in advance of Saturday’s Dubai Golden Shaheen.

WORLD CUP STARTERS – ROYAL DELTA – ‘SASSY’

Tuesday, 26 March, 2013

Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline

Royal Delta – Displaying some of the personality that trainer Bill Mott has described as “sassy,” two-time American champion Royal Delta reared as she jogged past a throng of media onlookers, drawing a slight rebuke from assistant trainer and exercise rider Rodolphe Brisset. Settling immediately, Royal Delta glided into an effortless gallop and cruised once around the track impressively.

Animal Kingdom – On his first morning in Dubai, trainer Graham Motion sent Team Valor International’s 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom for a short burst of speed down the Meydan stretch, with Dubai Racing Club official Jim Cornes clocking the chestnut ridden by Alice Clapham in :36.24 for 600 metres. “That was exactly what I was looking for,” Motion said. “He looks terrific. I was very surprised he had a timed workout because it looked like he was just in an open gallop. He really seems to handle this track very well.”

Dullahan – Two days after his 1000-metre workout, Dullahan jogged a lap around Meydan with Tammy  Fox in the saddle as trainer Dale Romans watched while surrounded by international media. “He’s feeling good,” Romans said of the towering chestnut who came off the track with a playful flourish, rearing several times as camera shutters whirred. “I think he’s ready.”

Meandre – It was business as usual for the Andre Fabre-trained Meandre who will line up at the start of the Dubai World Cup on Saturday. On Tuesday morning he pulled out together with his compatriots Dunaden and French Fifteen. Richard Lambert, travelling head lad, said, “He did exactly this morning what he did yesterday. He went for warm up canter and then went a bit quicker. He is in good form and seems to like the surface. He will continue like this until the end of the week.”

Planteur – The 6-year-old son of Danehill Dancer emerged from quarantine to complete one lap of the main track at a gentle canter under trainer Marco Botti’s wife Lucie. “We are very happy with him,” she said. “We think he is in better form than last year [when Planteur finished third behind Monterosso].”

Red Cadeaux – Connections of the Hong Kong Vase and 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup runner-up report the 7-year-old to be improving on a daily basis.Trainer Ed Dunlop’s travelling head lad Robin Trevor-Jones said, “All is good and he cantered over a mile and a quarter this morning. He is getting better day by day. We had planned to work him on the Turf track midweek but we may stick to the all-weather. He is due to work on Wednesday or Thursday and we will decide which day when his trainer arrives tonight.”

http://www.dubairacingclub.com/news/dubai-world-cup-trackwork-notes-march-26-2013

CANADIAN-TRAINED ARE YOU KIDDING ME, $6,000 to make TC eligible

Late Nominations to 2013 Triple Crown

Horse     Owner     Trainer
Are You Kidding Me     John Bates, Ron Kirk, Greg McDonald and Riordan, Shaw & Sones     Roger Attfield
Black Onyx     Sterling Racing     Kelly Breen
Brazilian Court     Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey     Mike Maker
Departing     Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider     Al Stall Jr.
Erik the Red     Lady Sheila Stable     Linda Rice
Giant Finish     Sunrise Stable, Gary Tolchin, Aubrey Flanagan and Bob Smith     Anthony Dutrow
Hip Four Sixtynine     J-LU LLC     Bobby Barnett
Infinite Magic     Team Valor International     H. Graham Motion
Narvaez     Stipa Racing Stable Inc.     Agustin Bezara
Storm Fighter     Golden Eagle Farm     Bruce Headley
Sunbean     Brittlyn Stable Inc.     Al Stall Jr.
Undrafted     Wes Welker     Wesley Ward
Wings of Fortune     Richard S. Reed, Tiffany Zammit and Quade, Bruce & Joyce     Mike Maker

 

VAUGHAN CASINO? – Ouch

NATIONAL POST

Natalie Alcoba

The decision to add Vaughan to the mix of cities that could vie for a casino alongside downtown Toronto shows the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation sees “real potential” in locating an entertainment complex north of Steeles, according to Vaughan’s city manager.

It also has executives at Woodbine fearing for the future of its racetrack and slot operations.

“It’s 10 minutes away from here,” said Jane Holmes, vice president of corporate affairs at Woodbine Entertainment Group. “Those are our customers.”

A spokesman for the OLG said its “business analysis” supported adding a portion of Vaughan to the “C1” gaming zone, “in part because of the infrastructure in the area — the new subway extension, proximity to Hwys 401/400/407.” Downtown Toronto, parts of Mississauga and Markham are in the same zone, and none of them have agreed to a host a casino yet. Another part of Vaughan is in the C2 zone, with other parts of Mississauga, the area around Woodbine (which wants a casino) and Brampton.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/22/mixed-reactions-as-olg-adds-vaughan-to-list-of-possible-casino-sites/