C. S. Silk (Medaglia d'Oro) went right to the lead, which surprised me a bit. Broadway Hennessey was stuck to her flank and the pair set some pretty ambitious fractions. However, C. S. Silk was moving easily. Quite the Lady (Pleasantly Perfect) also secured a good position, lingering in fourth. Broadway Hennessey gave way in the stretch, tiring to 5th. But, C. S. Silk kept going. At this point, I was yelling for Quite the Lady to get up for place, because it was clear that the C. S. Silk was long gone. Quite the Lady obliged to complete the Maiden Watch exacta.

C. S. Silk is one of the most professional 2-year old fillies you will ever seen. In her short career, she has already shown the ability to stalk and win on the lead, and has won on both the dirt and the Polytrack. C. S. Silk is the 2nd stakes winner for Medaglia d'Oro and his first graded stakes winner. Quite the Lady is the 2nd stakes-placed runner for her sire, Pleasantly Perfect. Both horses are currently the leading money earners for their respective sires.

Read more about the Arlington-Washington Lassie here.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Arlington Park Race 8
Arlington-Washington Lassie (gr. III)

C. S. Silk	$10.00	$7.40	$5.40
Quite the Lady		$20.20	$10.60
Phola			$8.20

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Smart One Will Have to Run Another Day

Run Smart One (Smarty Jones) was scratched from his race at Delaware, most probably due to the sloppy track. The winner was the favorite Afleet Aussie who shook free from the early company of Little Turtle and Grand Motion to win easily. It Happened Again and Irascibull both finished well for 2nd and 3rd.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Delaware Park Race 1
Maiden Special Weight

Afleet Aussie	$4.80	$3.00	$2.40
It Happened Again		$8.80	$4.60
Irascibull			$3.00

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Ms. Lively Rules the Red Bird

I was wrong about one thing, they ran on the turf at Calder and it was listed as good. Red Bird Rules (Peace Rules) was in a good position, just off the pace set by East of Eden. That one tired and Red Bird Rules took the lead, but she couldn't hold off the closing kick of Ms. Lively. However, it was impressive that Red Bird Rules was able to hold second, as it appeared that a couple would go by. A good turf debut.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Calder Race 1
Maiden Special Weight

Ms. Lively	$44.20	$17.80	$6.60
Red Bird Rules		$6.40	$3.20
Wild Actress			$2.40

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Sugarandice Wins Inspeightofsuccess

As they were putting the fillies in the gate, Clique dumped her rider and took off. But, she didn't get far and was soon back in line with the rest. Inspeightofsuccess (Speightstown) came out well and went up with the leader, Olga's Marbles. She lost some ground and I thought she was tiring. But when Sugarandice closed to the lead, Inspeightofsuccess started running again to lose by just a head at the finish. This was a very good debut for Inspeightofsuccess, who only ran in spurts. She obviously is still figuring out what she is supposed to do out there.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Turfway Park Race 4
Maiden Special Weight

Sugarandice	$12.00	$6.20	$4.80
Inspeightofsuccess		$5.80	$4.80
Frequent Flyer			$6.40

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Credit Limits Smarty Marty

Smarty Marty went off as the favorite, either there were a lot of Smarty fans contributing or everyone was inspired by the drop in class. It appears that the plan was to go to the lead with Smarty Marty, but she was outsprinted by Imandra, Credit Limit, and Royally Fortunate. She sat in a good position off of these three, but never really made much of an impact. Instead, it was Credit Limit who took control and she had enough to hold off Who Plays Brahms. Also showing interest late was Miss Royale.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Belmont Race 5
Maiden Claiming

Credit Limit	$10.00	$4.40	$3.50
Who Plays Brahms		$3.10	$2.30
Miss Royale			$4.80

Equibase Chart

The Lady is a Mercedes Over Payton

Patti's Unbridled Cat took the early lead, but she was closely followed by Shug. Those two dueled into the stretch. Meanwhile, Lady Mercedes was waiting back in third. She came on the outside and drew off. What a Smile closed well to pick up the place spot. Payton d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) was in a good position despite bobbling after the start, but tired on the sloppy track and ended up 8th.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Delaware Park Race 7
Maiden Special Weight

Lady Mercedes	$9.20	$5.40	$4.60
What a Smile		$9.40	$7.20
Shug			$7.60

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Code Runs Over Pick's Express

Pick's Express (Speightstown) jumped out of the gate and took the early lead, accompanied by New God Code. Pick's Express shook free from that one in the stretch and established a clear lead. But, he was no match for the closers, as Code Runner, Silver Bayer, and Little Richie sped by. Code Runner held off Silver Bayer to become the first stakes winner for Omega Code.

Result: September 6, 2008 
Calder Race 8
Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash

Code Runner	$15.80	$7.00	$4.60
Silver Bayer		$3.60	$3.00
Little Richie			$5.20

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Phil Promises Seacliff Win

Bidham established the early lead, followed by Promise Me Merlot (Peace Rules). Close behind were Dakota Bob and This Ones for Phil, who clipped heels with Promise Me Merlot in the first turn. In the stretch, This Ones for Phil took over, as Bidham and Promise Me Merlot retreated. Favorite March Twelth also came on, but he was no match for This Ones for Phil who drew off. It was also a promising performance for maiden Stately Character, who closed well to take 3rd. Grand Central bolted on the first turn and didn't finish the race. He had previously bolted in the Dr. Fager (in between these two boltings, he broke his maiden).

Result: September 6, 2008 
Calder Race 9
Seacliff Stakes

This Ones for Phil	$10.00	$4.00	$3.60
March Twelth		$2.80	$2.40
Stately Character			$6.20

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A Ghost Five in the Jungleland for Prolific

September 7, 2008
Monmouth Race 6
Maiden Claiming ($40,000)
1 miles and seventy yards
2 Year Olds
Post Time: 3:10 PM TVG

P	Horse
1.	Ghost Five
2.	Elvis Valentino
3.	Jungleland
4.	Repent At Leisure
5.	Erik's Flame
6.	Master Mariner
7.	Prolific

Prolific (Medaglia d'Oro - Quadrahope by Quadratic) makes his 5th start at Monmouth Park. His best finish was a 2nd in a mile race on July 30, so the stretch out to a mile and 70 yards might be just what he needs. His most recent start was a 4th in a 6 furlong race on August 22. Prolific is out of a mare who won once and placed 2nd once in 2 2-year old starts. Selling for $37,000 as a yearling, Prolific is a half-brother to 5 winners, including El Prado Essence who earned $890,281 and won or placed in 16 stakes. As a 2-year old, El Prado Essence won her debut and finished 3rd in the Ontario Debutante Stakes. Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of 30 runners have made 65 total starts, recording 12 wins, 8 seconds, 8 thirds, and $515,075.

Ghost Five (Grand Slam - Unsurpassed by Unbridled) met Prolific in that July 30 mile contest, finishing 6th. He previously raced twice at Calder, finishing 5th on June 26 and 6th on June 7. A $13,000 yearling, Ghost Five is out of a mare who was a 2-year old winner and earned $108,780 in her career. Ghost Five is her 2nd foal, and the first to reach the races.

Jungleland (Double Honor - Super Lass by Line In The Sand) comes out of the same August 22 race as Prolific, where he was 5th. Jungleland sold for $30,000 at 2, and is the first foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister to 8 winners, including stakes winner Champagne Royal. Champagne Royal was also a 2-year old debut winner, and was stakes-placed that same year. Overall, she earned $287,935.

Elvis Valentino (Full Mandate - Fayston by Fire Dancer) has run twice at Monmouth, finishing 3rd on June 27 and 4th on June 4. He is a half-brother to 5 winners, one of which won at 2.

Finishing 6th in his only start, a Maiden Special Weight contest on August 14 was Master Mariner (Master Phone - Mezzie by Roberto). Master Mariner is out of a winning mare who has produced 6 winners, including 3 stakes-placed runners.

The field is completed by debut runners Erik's Flame (Action This Day - Blues On Parade by Cure the Blues) and Repent At Leisure (Repent - Fortuitousmiss by Fortunate Prospect). Erik's Flame is by freshman sire Action This Day, whose 26 runners have made 60 combined starts, recording 6 wins, 4 seconds, 8 thirds, and $238,935. Erik's Flame is out of a winning mare who has produced 5 winners, however none won at 2. Fortuitousmiss, dam of Repent At Leisure was a winner and has produced 3 winners, 2 of which won at 2.

Tranquil Times for The Gang of Four

September 7, 2008
Arlington Race 6
Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs Turf
2 Year Olds
Post Time: 4:24 PM HRTV

P	Horse
1.	Fleet Ace
2.	Heartbreakinlooks
3.	Purple Flash
4.	Sneaking Uponyou
5.	Big Push
6.	The Gang of Four
7.	Tranquil Times
8.	Big Al Cordes

Tranquil Times (Peace Rules - Lake Leman by Meadowlake) makes his third start, after finishing 5th on July 5 at Churchill Downs and 3rd on June 8 at Arlington Park. In his last start, he set the early pace before tiring. Since that race, he has had 5 works. Tranquil Times, like every other experienced horse in the race, has not started on the turf. Tranquil Times sold for $155,000 as a weanling and is a half-brother to 2 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old. His dam is a half-sister to grade III stakes winner, Wild Gale who won the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. III) as a 2-year old. Wild Gale also finished 3rd in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). Peace Rules has sired 27 runners who have made 66 total starts, recording 14 wins, 8 seconds, 8 thirds, and $317,820.

This time out, Tranquil Times is joined by fellow Maiden Watch horse The Gang of Four (Medaglia d'Oro - One Tough Cat by Mountain Cat), who makes his debut. The Gang of Four, who sold for $325,000 as a 2-year old, is out of the mare, One Tough Cat, who was stakes-placed at 2. One Tough Cat has produced one winner from one to run. That one was a winner on the turf. Medaglia d'Oro's 30 runners have made 65 total starts, recording 12 wins, 8 seconds, 8 thirds, and $515,075.

Big Al Cordes (Smoke Glacken - Hondo Creek by Private Terms) ran against Tranquil Times on June 8, finishing 4th. Since that race, he has finished 2nd on July 6 and 6th on August 9, also at Arlington. A $33,000 2-year old, Big Al Cordes is the first foal out of the winning mare, Hondo Creek. Hondo Creek is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Purple Flash (Slew City Slew - Lace Embrace by Lear Fan) and Fleet Ace (Alke - Yada Yada by Great Above) previously met at Arlington Park on August 16, finishing 3rd and 5th respectively. Purple Flash is out of a turf winning mare who has produced 2 winners, including one that was victorious on the turf. Fleet Ace is by first-crop sire Alke, whose 21 runners have made 44 total starts, recording 6 wins, 7 seconds, 8 thirds, and $224,885. Fleet Ace is a half-brother 5 winners, including grade III stakes winner Miss Macy Sue. Miss Macy Sue has won or placed in 11 stakes and has earned $787,230 through 2008.

Heartbreakinlooks (Bernstein - Heart a Bustin by Caveat), who sold for $57,000 as a yearling, finished 9th in his only start, on July 27 at Arlington. Heartbreakinlooks is a half-brother to 2 winners, including Montana Rush, who was stakes-placed on the turf and dirt.

Finishing 7th in his only start, at Arlington Park on July 6, was Sneaking Uponyou (Snuck In - Chestnut Game by Dahar). Chestnut Game, dam of Sneaking Uponyou, was a winner on the turf and has produced 2 winners.

Unraced Big Push (Black Mambo - Listentothebells by Allen's Prospect), who sold for $45,000 as a 2-year old, completes the field. He is out of a winning mare, who has produced 1 winner.

Verdant Will Be More Than Grand for Cookie Dough

September 7, 2008
Turfway Park Race 10
Maiden Special Weight
1 Mile
2 Year Fillies
Post Time: 5:24 PM TVG

P	Horse
1.	More Than Grand
2.	Banker's Choice
3.	Cookie Dough
4.	Cha Ching Jackpot
5.	Mescu
6.	Chary
7.	Verdant
8.	Doneraille Belle
9.	Little Nancy

Verdant (Pleasantly Perfect - Rift Valley by Gulch) makes her 2nd start, after stumbling and finishing 4th in a 6 furlong race at Ellis Park on August 2. At the time, I wrote that she ran like a horse would like more distance, she'll get that in this one. Since that race, she has had 2 works at Churchill Downs. Rift Valley, dam of Verdant, was a winner of $118,718. Verdant is her 2nd foal. Her first foal, Marubutsu Center, is a winner in Japan, and has earned $378,113 through 2008. Rift Valley is a daughter of champion 2-year old filly, Meadow Star. Meadow Star was a perfect 7 for 7 as a 2-year old, including wins in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), the Frizette (gr. I), the Matron (gr. I), the Spinaway (gr. I), the Schuylerville (gr. II), and the Astoria Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. III). In her career, she earned $1,445,740. Pleasant Perfect's 10 runners have made 20 total starts with 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds, and $126,455 in earnings.

Also returning from the August 2 race at Ellis Park is Cha Ching Jackpot (Posse - Prevailing by Summer Squall), who was 3rd that day. Cha Ching Jackpot had previously finished 3rd at a mile on the Ellis Park turf on July 17, and 5th at Churchill Downs on June 29. Cha Ching Jackpot, who sold for $22,000 as a yearling, is out of the winning mare, Prevailing. Prevailing has produced 3 winners.

Finishing 3rd in her most recent start, at Mountaineer on August 22, was Cookie Dough (Toccet - Eyeofthestorm by Summer Squall) by first-year sire Toccet. Toccet has sired 25 runners who have made 65 collective starts, recording 8 wins, 9 seconds, 9 thirds, and $200,362. Cookie Dough is the first foal out of the winning mare, Eyeofthestorm. Eyeofthestorm is a half-sister to 6 winners.

Another who last ran at Mountaineer is Doneraile Belle (Doneraile Court - Cactus Belle by Gone West), who was 4th at that track on July 26. Doneraile Belle is a half-sister to 2 winners.

Banker's Choice (Canadian Frontier - Berry Blessed by St. Jovite) made her last start at Saratoga, finishing 5th on July 28. Banker's Choice is by first-year sire, Canadian Frontier whose 13 runners have made 31 combined starts recording 2 wins, 3 seconds, 6 thirds, and $73,969. Banker's Choice was a $100,000 yearling and is a half-brother to 2 winners.

Finishing 5th in her only start, a Maiden Special Weight contest at Arlington Park on August 14, was Chary (Montbrook - Lady Discreet by Boundary). Chary, who brought $130,000 as a 2-year old, is a half-sister to the winner, EZ Phone Home. EZ Phone Home was a 2-year old winner who has earned $72,546 through 2008.

Three are making their debuts in this one, including More Than Grand (More Than Ready - Grandstone by Grindstone). More Than Grand, who sold for $115,000 as a yearling, is out of a winning mare who has produced 2 winners from 2 to run, including Out of Rock a 2-year old winner, who has earned $113,847 through 2008.

Selling for $40,000 as a yearling was Little Nancy (Gulch - Time to Decide by Wavering Monarch). Time to Decide, dam of Little Nancy, was stakes-placed at 2 and a stakes winner at 3, earning $171,161 in her career. Time to Decide is a half-sister to 7 winners, including stakes winner Simply Runaway.

Mescu (Syncline - Hot Digadeed by Alydeed) is out of a winning mare who is a half-sister to one winner.

News and Notes

Check out Parts 3 and 4 of HRTV's Pursuit of the Cup to see what the HRTV folk have to say about this year's juveniles.