A Ghost in the Jungle Too Much for Prolific

Master Mariner took the early early lead, but was rank. Also up on the early pace were Jungleland and Ghost Five. Master Mariner fell back after a half, and Ghost Five hit the front. Jungleland stuck with him for awhile, but then Ghost Five drew off to win by more than 6. Prolific (Medaglia d'Oro) settled off the pace and came running wide in the stretch, but could do no better than 3rd.

Result: September 7, 2008 
Monmouth Park Race 6
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Big Al Overtakes Tranquil Times, The Gang of Four

Sneaking Uponyou and Fleet Ace set the early fractions, but neither was around at the finish. Tranquil Times (Peace Rules) secured a good stalking position and took a brief lead, but he couldn't hold off the closing kick of Big Al Cordes. He did, however, save place over a closing Big Push. The Gang of Four (Medaglia d'Oro) broke inward, made a bit of a move in the stretch, but tired to finish 5th. It's tough to debut on yielding turf, so this was a promising first start for The Gang of Four.

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

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Banker is the Choice Over Verdant

I ventured to Turfway Park for this race, to see Verdant (Pleasantly Perfect) in the flesh. Not much flesh to her, kind of a skinny thing. She certainly does not look like a sprinter, I can definitely see why they wanted to stretch her out. She ran a good race, despite going wide. She would have been third, except she was trying desperately to get out in the stretch. A straight path would have netted the show spot. The race itself was pretty exciting. Chary held the early lead, but tired in the stretch. At that point, heavy favorite Banker's Choice hit the lead, but she was all out to hold off first-timer, Little Nancy. At the wire, there was only a nose separating them. Little Nancy, who was quite a handful in the paddock and in the post parade, showed a lot of tenacity and should be one to watch in the future.

Two races early at Turfway, Ravin Maniac, who was scratched from the Arlington-Washington Lassie on Sept. 6, went off at 1-9 in a 5.5 furlong allowance race. She justified those odds, breaking on top and never looking back to score by more than 7 lengths.

Result: September 7, 2008 
Turfway Park Race 10
Maiden Special Weight

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Stone Legacy Doing a Rain Dance

September 10, 2008
Belmont Park Race 9
Maiden Special Weight
1 Mile turf
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 5:17 PM HRTV/TVG

Stone Legacy (Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch) is hoping for some help from the weather to make her second start, as she is first on the MTO list. In her debut, she finished 12th (and last) after being squeezed at the start on the yielding turf at Saratoga on July 28. Gulch Legacy, dam of Stone Legacy, was a winner of $145,501. She has produced one winner from three to run. Birdstone has sired 18 runners who have made 38 total starts, recording 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 6 thirds, and earnings of $209,353.

Outstanding Henny (Hennessy - Outstanding Info by Tactical Advantage) has run twice, finishing 7th on the dirt at Belmont on July 16, and 2nd on the Saratoga turf on August 25. Outstanding Info, the dam of Outstanding Henny, won or placed in 12 stakes including a 2nd in the Blue Hen Stakes as a 2-year old. She earned $322,092 in her career. Outstanding Henny is her first foal.

Another with one start on the dirt and one on the turf is Concorde's Dance (Concorde's Tune - Polish Holiday by Danzig), who was 3rd in her turf start at Saratoga on August 22. She is out of grade III stakes winner Polish Holiday, who won the Martha Washington Handicap on the turf and earned $131,344 in her career. Polish Holiday is the dam of 4 winners, including stakes-placed Broadway Johnny.

Fast Tigress (Hold That Tiger - Fleeting Fable by Afleet) has also made one dirt start, a 5th at Belmont on July 3, and one turf start, a 6th on the good Saratoga turf on August 20. She is out of a stakes-placed mare who earned $144,440. Fast Tigress is a half-sister to Anakim, who finished 3rd in the Nashua Stakes (gr. III) at 2.

Finishing 3rd in her only start, a mile and a sixteenth turf try at Saratoga on August 7, was Freedom Rings (Proud Citizen - Dana's Wedding by Compliance). Freedom Rings is out of mare who earned $120,710 and has produced 6 winners, including turf stakes winner Peg's Prayer.

The final horse with turf experience in the main body of the race is Eleni's Hope (Strong Hope - Restored Hope by He's Bad), who was 7th on the firm Saratoga turf on August 29. Eleni's Hope, who sold for $60,000 as a 2-year old, is by first-crop sire Strong Hope. Strong Hope is the sire of 14 runners who have made 23 collective starts, recording 3 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, and earnings of $47,880. Restored Hope, dam of Eleni's Hope, won or placed in 5 graded stakes and earned $286,232. She has produced 4 winners, including Sabellina who was a grade III stakes winner on the turf, whose total earnings of $531,237 were primarily earned on the turf.

Also by a freshman sire is Carioca (The Cliff's Edge - She's Never Wrong by Nureyev) who finished 5th in her only start at Saratoga on August 13. Her sire, The Cliff's Edge is the sire of 26 runners who have made 56 total starts, recording 5 wins, 7 seconds, 7 thirds, and $193,610. Carioca is the first foal out of an unraced mare, who is a half-sister to one winner.

Siren Serenade (Unbridled's Song - Versailles Treaty by Danzig) also finished 5th in her only start, on the sloppy main track at Saratoga on July 24. Siren Serenade is out of grade I stakes winner and millionaire Versailles Treaty, which makes her a half-sister to Saarland. Saarland, who won the Remsen Stakes at 2, earned $595,250 and won or placed in 6 stakes, including a 2nd in the Met Mile (gr. I).

The remaining horses in the main body of the race are making their debuts, including Venatrix (Theatrical (IRE) - Garimpeiro by Mr. Prospector) who sold for $300,000 as a yearling. Venatrix is a full-sister to Geri, a grade I stakes winner on the dirt, and a grade II stakes winner on the turf. Geri earned $1,707,980 in his career. Venatrix is also a half-sister to grade II stakes winner A. P. Arrow, who has earned $1,458,457 through 2008.

Selling for $220,000 as a yearling was Pull Dancer (Pulpit - Mayhavebeentheone by Arch). Pull Dancer is the 2nd foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister to 4 winners, including grade III stakes winner Wiseman's Ferry, who was also group III stakes-placed on the turf. Wiseman's Ferry earned $825,266 in his career.

Selene's Delight (Maria's Mon - Buzzovertomyhouse by Drone) is a half- or full-sister to 8 winners, including stakes winner Affair with Aflair, Chasing Stars, and Buzz Song. Affair with Aflair and Chasing Stars both won stakes on the turf.

Gozzip Girl (Dynaformer - Temperence Gift by Kingmambo), who sold for $60,000 as a yearling, is a half-sister to one winner and her dam is a half-sister to 7 winners, including stakes winners Mistress S. and Kodema.

Lakeway, dam of Flying Spur (Giant's Causeway - Lakeway by Seattle Slew), was a grade I stakes winner who earned $965,330. She was also 1 for 1 at 2. Lakeway is the dam of 3 winners, including turf stakes winner Sluice.

Joining Stone Legacy on the MTO list are War Echo (Tapit - Wild Vision by Wild Again) and State Treasure (Mineshaft - Private Status by Alydar). War Echo, who is by first-crop sire Tapit, finished 7th at Saratoga on July 27. Tapit is the sire of 29 runners who have made 68 total starts, recording 10 wins, 14 seconds, 7 thirds, and $470,738. War Echo is a half-brother to grade II stakes winner Pyro. As a 2-year old, Pyro won one race and finished 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the Champagne Stakes (gr. I). Private Status, dam of State Treasure, was a stakes winner who earned $146,337. As a broodmare, Private Status has produced 3 stakes winners, including Secret Status winner of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), the Mother Goose (gr. I), and the Florida Oaks (gr. III). Secret Status earned $1,053,705 and was also stakes-placed at 2. State Treasure is also a half-brother to grade III stakes winner Alumni Hall.

News and Notes

Another maiden race of note at Belmont on September 10 is the 2nd race, which features the debut of Castanet (El Prado (IRE) - Dancinginmydreams by Seeking the Gold). Dancinginmydreams, the dam of Castanet, was a debut winner at 2, who finished 2nd in the Matron. She is also a full-sister to grade I stakes winners Heavenly Prize and Oh What a Windfall. However, Dancinginmydreams is probably better known for suffering and surviving a multiple-fraction of her right hind leg, which occurred in the 2000 Frizette. Castanet is Dancinginmydreams' 2nd foal to reach the races. Her first foal is Dancing Forever, who earlier this year won the Manhattan Handicap on the Belmont Turf.

Curly Works

Curly worked at Arlington Park on September 7, going 4 furlongs in :51.60.

2-Year Old Works

New to this Blog

September 7

Smart 'n Snazzy (filly; Smarty Jones - Solvig by Caerleon) worked 4 furlongs in :51.40 at Fair Hill. Solvig, dam of Smart 'n Snazzy, won or placed in 15 stakes, including victories in the Regret (gr. IIIT) and the Pucker Up (gr. IIIT), and earned $800,694. Solvig is the dam of one winner from one to race, Don'twait Toolong, who has earned $114,712.

September 8

Just Ben (colt; Speightstown - Chip by Norquestor) worked 3 furlongs in :38.07 at Saratoga. Just Ben, who sold for $230,000 as a yearling, is out of the grade II stakes winner Chip, who earned $448,033. Chip is the dam of 3 winners.