Valid Rule (Peace Rules) jumped out of the gate and went right to the lead. He was pestered for awhile by Quackenbush, but soon shook that one off. Seldan took a run at him on the turn, but Valid Rule was still running easily. Valid Rule pulled away in the stretch without being fully tested. He kept the jockey on this time, and picked up the win. Valid Rule is the 23rd winner for Peace Rules.

Result: December 11, 2008
Hawthorne Race 2
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Don'tgetsuspicious gets a Second Glance

Deer Tracker came out running and soon had a clear lead. Don'tgetsuspicious and Tossabouquet were the nearest pursuers. Deer Tracker seemed to hit a wall in the stretch and began to move backwards through the pack. Don'tgetsuspicious took control at that point, pulling away to win by more than 6. Second Glance (Smarty Jones) was bumped a bit at the start, raced mid-pack, but didn't have much punch. She finished 4th. It seemed to me that Second Glance did not care for the sloppy track, since she didn't show her usual speed. Throw this one out.

Result: December 11, 2008
Laurel Race 3
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Mischievious Rules Nobly

Forest Grinder and Saving Gracie battled early. Forest Grinder put that opponent away, but couldn't hold off West Court, who had been sitting just off the pacesetters. West Court was joined by a closing Mischievious. Those two battled to the wire, with Mischievious prevailing. They were well-clear of Forest Grinder who held third. Noble Rule (Peace Rules) was sitting near the back of the bunched field early, swung out for the drive and passed a bunch of them. She ran evenly in the stretch and ended up 4th.

Result: December 11, 2008
Calder Race 3
Maiden Special Weight

View Race Details and Equibase Chart

Beltene Pounces on Bajan Kitty

Bajan Kitty (Speightstown) went after the early lead, but Dancing Erin got the jump on her. These two set some fairly ambitious fractions (:22.08, :45.15), and Bajan Kitty began to give way. Dancing Erin still held the lead, but both Beltene and Rev Her Up were closing. Dancing Erin withstood Rev Her Up, but she couldn't keep up with Beltene, as that one swept by to win by more than 2. Bajan Kitty should be stronger in her next start, especially if she can get an easy lead.

Result: December 11, 2008
Hollywood Race 6
Maiden Claiming

Equibase Chart

Wild Conga will hold a Lofty Banner for Weekend Action

December 12, 2008
Aqueduct Race 2
Maiden Claiming ($50,000)
6 furlongs
2-year Olds
Post Time: 12:56 PM HRTV/TVG

Wild Conga (Congaree - Totaly Wild by Wild Again) returns, after running greenly in the stretch in his debut on November 29 at Aqueduct, finishing 6th. He has worked once since that effort. Wild Conga, who sold for $57,000 as a 2-year old, is out of stakes winner Totaly Wild. Totaly Wild was also a winner at 2. Congaree's 43 runners have made 110 total starts, registering 17 wins, 18 seconds, 9 thirds, and $671,586.

Debuting in this one are Brad's My Hero (Menifee - Rashas Warning by Caveat), Ajeed (Rahy - Alshadiyah by Danzig), and Another Joey (Gilded Time - Ten Downing by Pembroke). Brad's My Hero, a $25,000 yearling, is out of grade II winner Rashas Warning. Rashas Warning, who earned $163,022, also won 2 races at 2, including the Hollywood Wildcat Stakes. She has produced two winners from two to run. Alshadiyah, dam of Ajeed, was also a stakes winner at 2. She has produced 2 winners including Wid, a winner at 2 who was also stakes-placed that year. Another Joey's dam, Ten Downing, was a winner at 3 and 4, and is a half-sister to stakes winner Pal Joey and 2 other winners. Pal Joey is by Gilded Time, sire of Another Joey.

The veteran of the field is Lofty Banner (Quiet American - Flattered by Saint Ballado), who has started 5 times. He has finished 2nd twice at Belmont, on September 19 and October 23. His most recent effort came on November 15 at Aqueduct at a mile in the mud, where he was 7th. Lofty Banner is the 2nd foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister to the winner Harry Bailey.

Captain Booyah (Sky Mesa - Captain's Girl by Miswaki) has run twice at Belmont, finishing 4th on September 20, and 3rd on October 11, and once at Aqueduct, finishing 2nd on November 5. He sold for $120,000 as a yearling, and is a half-brother to one winner, who did win at 2.

Weekend Action (Action This Day - Weekend Retreat by Cox's Ridge), by freshman sire Action This Day, has also run three times. He was 7th at Belmont on October 19, 9th at Aqueduct on November 1, and 7th on the Aqueduct turf on November 22. Action This Day's 43 runners have made 145 total starts, recording 10 wins, 9 seconds, 15 thirds, and $332,664. Weekend Action's dam, Weekend Retreat, was a winner of $112,287. Weekend Retreat has produced two winners.

Higher Place (Trippi - Zophie by Hawkster) finished 8th in his only start, at the Meadowlands on October 6. He is out of a winning mare who has produced 2 winners, including grade I winner Appealing Zophie. Appealing Zophie, who earned $497,898 in her career, won 2 races at 2, including the Spinaway (gr. I).

Seeking a Midnight Break for a Strategic Decision

December 12, 2008
Turfway Park Race 8
Maiden Special Weight
6.5 furlongs
2-year Olds
Post Time: 8:38 PM TVG

Midnight Break (Congaree - Twilight Spectre by Imp Society) is making his third start, after finishing 2nd in his first two, at Presque Isle Downs on August 21, and at Keeneland on October 17. He's been working regularly in the 2 months since his last race. Midnight Break is a half-brother to 3 winners, including grade III stakes winner Ethan Man. Ethan Man was a winner at 2, and earned $227,294 in his career. Congaree is the sire of 43 runners who have made 110 total starts, registering 17 wins, 18 seconds, 9 thirds, and $671,586.

Indyama Jones (Van Nistelrooy - Indy Ama by A. P. Indy) finished 9th, behind Midnight Break, on October 17 at Keeneland. Since then, he's run twice at Churchill Downs, finishing 3rd both on November 7, and November 27. Indyama Jones sold for $40,000 as a yearling. Indy Ama, dam of Indyama Jones, was a winner at 2, and has produced 5 winners from 6 to run. Two of Indyama Jones' siblings won at 2.

Snack Daddy (Richter Scale - Ring for Me by The Minstrel) and Shanes Gold (Yankee Victor - Golden Reality by Unreal Zeal) met on November 9 at Churchill Downs, finishing 3rd and 4th. Snack Daddy has made 5 total starts. His best result was a 2nd on October 8 at Keeneland. Snack Daddy is out of the winning The Minstrel mare, Ring for Me. Ring for Me has produced 9 winners from 10 to run. Three of her offspring won at 2. Shanes Gold finished 8th at Keeneland on October 24 in his only other start. He is a half-brother to 4 winners, including grade III winner Golden Marlin. Golden Marlin, who earned $389,667, was a winner at 2.

Oceanage (Teton Forest - Haleakala Sunrise by Gold Fever), by first-crop sire Teton Forest, has run 4 times. In his two most recent starts, he was 2nd at Churchill Downs on November 2, and 3rd at that track on November 22. Teton Forest's 14 runners have made 39 total starts, recording 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds. Oceanage was a $26,000 yearling, and is the first foal out of the winning mare Haleakala Sunrise. Haleakala Sunrise is a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winners Miss North Beach and Lonely Fact, and group II winner Victory Mount.

Contention (Dixie Union - April Squall by Summer Squall) has also run 4 times. His best effort was a 5th at Arlington Park on August 9. His most recent start, at Churchill Downs on November 15, resulted in an 11th place finish. Contention sold for $110,000 as a weanling and $350,000 as a yearling. April Squall, dam of Contention, was a winner at 2 who finished 3rd in the Pike Creek Stakes that same year. April Squall has produced 3 winners, including 2-year old winner, Hurricane Hymnbook.

Dutch Striker (Van Nistelrooy - Thinkinaboutyou by Wild Again) has made three starts, including his last two on the Churchill Downs turf, where he was third on November 1, and 6th on November 14. Previously, he was 12th on the Keeneland Polytrack on October 5. Dutch Striker is a half-brother to 6 winners, including stakes winner Lost Again and 2-year old stakes winner Wildaboutyouagain. Three of Dutch Striker's siblings won at 2.

Bobby B. Goode (Songandaprayer - Huntin 'with Hunter by Jade Hunter) finished 4th in his only start, at Churchill Downs on November 8. Bobby B.Goode is a half-brother to the winner Post Time, and a full-brother to stakes-placed On Duty. On Duty won 2 races at 2.

The remaining entrants are unraced, including Kranz (Strong Hope - All the Crown by Chief's Crown), who sold for $120,000 as a yearling. Kranz is by freshman sire Strong Hope, whose 28 runners have made 73 combined starts, registering 8 wins, 7 seconds, 10 thirds, and $168,264. Kranz is a half-brother to 7 winners, including stakes winner Coral Reef and grade II winner Devil's Preacher. Three of Kranz' siblings won at 2, and one was a debut winner at 2.

He's Got the Beat (Sultry Song - French Ribbon by Gulch) sold for $25,000 as a yearling, and $40,000 as a 2-year old. He's Got the Beat is out of a winning mare who has produced the winner Miss Bordeaux.

Strategic Decision (Distorted Humor - Beautiful Pleasure by Maudlin) is a son of champion and multi-millionaire Beautiful Pleasure. Beautiful Pleasure was also a debut winner at 2 who won the Matron Stakes (gr. I) that year. Beautiful Pleasure has produced grade I stakes-placed Dr. Pleasure who has earned $333,098.

Stakes-placed Aunt Ginger, dam of Rudy Flyer (Mutakddim - Aunt Ginger by Fred Astaire), has produced 4 winners, including stakes winners Rhythm in Shoes and Anna Em.

Also in action on December 12

River Fancy (Congaree - Go Baby Go (IRE)) and Missunitednations (Peace Rules - Sister Greeley by Mr. Greeley) face off in Race 3 at Aqueduct, a mile and 70 yard Allowance Optional Claiming Contest. Neither horse is in for a tag. River Fancy broke her maiden last time out, in a mile and 70 yard turf contest at the Meadowlands on October 13. Earlier, she had finished 4th on the Saratoga turf (at 5.5 furlongs) on August 31, and 4th on the Saratoga dirt on August 13. Missunitednations is also making 4th start. After finishing 2nd in her debut on September 20 at Philadelphia Park, she broke her maiden at that track on October 11. She then returned to run second at Philadelphia Park in an Allowance race on November 12. Post Time for this race is 1:24 PM.

2-Year Old Works

New to this Blog

December 11

Michelle Marie (filly; Saarland - Saucy Blondy by Gilded Time) worked 3 furlongs in :37.00 at Santa Anita. Michelle Marie sold for $37,000 as a 2-year old, and is out of the winning mare Saucy Blondy. Saucy Blondy is a half-sister to 6 winners, including stakes-placed Strey Lane.