A Big Surf Washes Over Presidente d'Oro

This one came off the turf, resulting in the scratching of many (9), including Midnight Break (Congaree), as the Main Track Only entrants, Big Surf, Inclusive Faith, and Galloping Gulch all got a chance to show their stuff. J T Rocker took the early lead, pursued by Buzzin and Dreamin and Rocamadour. Buzzin and Dreamin took over after 6 furlongs, but Big Surf was closing 4 wide. Buzzin and Dreamin was unable to hold off the son of Surfside, resulting in an unlikely exacta of 15-14 (and a super of 15-14-5-16). Presidente d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) trailed throughout. I'm willing to throw this one out, and hope for a turf start next time.

Result: November 12, 2008
Churchill Downs Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

Replay

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Fitz is Just Right Over Missunitednations

Missunitednations (Peace Rules) came out running, in between Brave Love and Fitz Just Right. Missunitednations took the lead after a quarter, as Brave Love fell back, but she was pressed by Fitz Just Right. Those two raced together for much of the stretch. Fitz Just Right pulled ahead at the end, but Missunitednations never stopped trying (earning a "game try" in the chart). Fitz Just Right is the first repeat winner for her sire, Seattle Fitz.

Result: November 12, 2008
Philadelphia Park Race 7
Allowance

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Persian Makes a River Treck for Real Thunder

November 13, 2008
Churchill Downs Race 1
Maiden Claiming ($80,000)
6 furlongs
2-year Olds
Post Time: 12:40 PM HRTV

Persian (Peace Rules - Lady Cheryl by Williamstown) and River Treck (Congaree - Gem Treck by Java Gold) both return to the races after breaks. Persian has made 5 starts, finishing 4th on May 7, 5th on May 26, 3rd on June 15, 3rd on July 25, and 3rd on August 14. Persian also participated in an exhibition race at Turfway Park for graduates and students of the North American Racing Academy on September 27. He finished 4th in that race. He has had a couple of works at Churchill Downs since then. Persian is out of Lady Cheryl, a stakes winning mare who earned $189,054. Lady Cheryl did not run as a 2-year old, but she has produced a 2-year old winner. Persian sold for $32,000 as a yearling. Peace Rules' 41 runners have made 129 total starts, registering 25 wins, 23 seconds, and 15 thirds, and $605,639.

River Treck finished 7th in his lone start, at Churchill Downs on June 4 (behind Screen Your Friend, who later won the Bashford Manor (gr. III)). He has had several works at Churchill to prepare for this start, including 3 furlongs in :37.40 on November 9. River Treck, who sold for $110,000 as a yearling, is a half-brother to 6 winners, including stakes winner Buddy Got Even. Two of his siblings won at 2. Congaree's 40 runners have made 91 total starts, recording 15 wins, 17 seconds, 7 thirds, and $633,355.

Dookie Duck (Bright Launch - Meet With Pete by Anticipating) and Real Thunder (Thunder Gulch - Mama's Pro by Proper Reality) met on September 3 at Turfway Park, with Dookie Duck finishing 3rd and Real Thunder 6th. Dookie Duck has since finished 6th at Turfway on September 27, and 2nd at Keeneland on October 17. He is out of a winning mare who has produced 5 winners, including stakes-placed Doc's Lil' Angel. Real Thunder's most recent start was at Keeneland on October 15, where he finished 11th. Mama's Pro, dam of Real Thunder won or placed in 13 stakes, including the Pontalba Stakes at 2. In her career, she earned $435,802 in 32 races. Mama's Pro has produced 3 winners from 4 to run, including stakes winner Pro Prado. Pro Prado, who earned $397,514, won his first 2 starts at 2.

Charco (Yes It's True - Reallyaroan by Imperial Falcon) has made three starts, finishing 4th at Churchill on June 4 (this was not the same race as River Treck), 2nd at Ellis Park on August 3, and 5th at Ellis on August 29. Charco, who sold for $50,000 as a yearling, is out of the stakes winner Reallyaroan. Reallyaroan, who earned $183,677 in a 60 race career, has produced two winners.

What About It Brud (Petionville - Alyette by Alydeed), who brought $25,000 as a yearling, finished 4th in her only start, at Churchill Downs on November 2. What About It Brud is a half-brother to 2 winners, one of which won at 2.

The field is completed by debuters Peacepipe High (Sir Cherokee - Dance On High by Criminal Type) and Melo (Friends Lake - I Dream a Dream by Grindstone), who are both by first-crop sires. Peacepipe is by Sir Cherokee, whose 9 runners have made 23 total starts, recording 4 wins and 2 seconds. Peacepipe High is a half-brother to 4 winners, 2 of which won at 2. Melo, who sold for $50,000 as a yearling, is by Friends Lake. Friends Lake's 33 starters have run 86 total times, registering 11 wins, 9 seconds, 14 thirds, and $492,380. Melo is the first foal out of the unraced mare I Dream a Dream, who is a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winner Ransom the Dreamer. I Dream a Dream is also a half-sister to the Birdstone 2-year old, Lucy to the Max.

Loving Roe Is Easy Will Behold a Lady at South Ocean Drive

November 13, 2008
Meadowlands Race 5
Claiming ($25,000)
6 furlongs
2-year Old Fillies
Post Time: 8:51 PM

Something's got to give in this one, count the number of fillies who went gate-to-wire when breaking their maidens.

Loving Roe Is Easy (Peace Rules - Miss What a Day by Miswaki) makes her 5th start overall and her 2nd against winners, in this 6 furlong claiming race at the Meadowlands. After breaking her maiden in gate-to-wire fashion on October 1 at the Meadowlands, she ran against claiming company on November 4 at the Meadowlands where she finished 3rd. In that race, she pressed the pacesetter before tiring late.

Also returning from the November 4 Meadowlands race are South Ocean Drive (Drewman - Southern Wave by Southern Halo) and Saratoga Lilly (Mo Mon - Saratoga Luck by My Prince Charming), who finished 4th and 5th respectfully. South Ocean Drive, who passed Saratoga Lilly in that race to pick up 4th, has made 6 total starts. She broke her maiden in her first start, going gate-to-wire at Calder on May 26. Her other races include two stakes attempts, she finished 7th in the Colleen Stakes on August 2 at Monmouth, and 5th in the Junior Champion Stakes on August 23 at Monmouth behind Renda. Saratoga Lilly, who is coupled with Loving Roe Is Easy, broke her maiden in her 2nd start, at Monmouth Park on July 27 against New Jersey-breds. She also won gate-to-wire. Saratoga Lilly has made one additional start, finishing 5th in an allowance race at the Meadowlands on October 18.

The remaining fillies are coming into this race off of their maiden wins.

Behold a Lady (Yes It's True - Western Delight by West by West) stalked the early pace and then took over, in her maiden win on September 17 at Monmouth Park, winning by more than 6. It was her third start. In her debut on June 7 at Arlington Park, she finished 5th behind Quite the Lady. Behold a Lady has had four works since her last start.

Also possessing some good company lines is Charlie's Diva (Gulch - Charlies Paradise by Winrightt) who finished 7th in her debut on September 25 at Monmouth, behind Exe recent winner of the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes. After finishing 12th in a turf race at Belmont on October 16, Charlie's Diva got her win on October 31 at Aqueduct. She came from off the pace in that 6 furlong race.

Miss Royale (Chapel Royal - Miss Say by Oh Say), by first-crop sire Chapel Royale, has never finished worse than 4th in her 4 race career. Her maiden win came at Aqueduct on November 7, where she went gate-to-wire to win by more than 8. She had prevoiusly raced at Belmont (twice) and Delaware Park.

Fishers Mill (Songandaprayer - Big City Joy by Joyeux Danseur) is another who went gate-to-wire to break her maiden, as she won by more than 9 lengths on October 21 at Philadelphia Park. Previously, she had made 4 starts at Monmouth Park, with her best finish a 4th on September 26.

2-Year Old Works

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November 12

Sarah Cataldo (filly; Smarty Jones - Mescalina by Smarten) worked 4 furlongs at Laurel in :51.20. Sarah Cataldo, who sold for $110,000 as a yearling, is out of the winning mare Mescalina. Mescalina has produced 6 winners from 6 to run, including grade II winner Love of Money and stakes winner Astrid. One of Sarah Cataldo's siblings won at 2.