December 29, 2008
Santa Anita Race 6
Maiden Special Weight
1 mile
2-year olds
Post Time: 6:05 PM HRTV

Resplendently (Birdstone - Hold All Calls by Caller I.D.), who impressed everyone first-time out with a fast closing third at Hollywood Park on November 30, returns to take on 8 at a mile at Santa Anita. The increase in distance should help his chances. Since that race, he's worked three times, including a 5 furlong work at Santa Anita on December 24. Resplendently sold for $50,000 as a yearling, and $140,000 at 2. He is a half-brother to Golden Roses, a debut winner at two. Hold All Calls, dam of Resplendently, is a half-sister to stakes winners Extrovert, Ever After, and Wedlock. Birdstone's 30 runners have made 95 total starts, recording 18 wins, 17 seconds, 11 thirds, and $832,515.

Also returning from the November 30 race is Papa Clem (Smart Strike - Miss Houdini by Belong to Me), who was 4th behind Resplendently. Papa Clem had previously finished 6th at Hollywood on November 8. He is out of grade I winner Miss Houdini. Miss Houdini was 2 for 2 at 2, including victory in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (gr. I). Miss Houdini has produced the winner Magical Victory.

Mayor Marv (Distorted Humor - Miss Wineshine by Wolf Power (SAF)) is the most experienced entrant, having made 4 starts. He was 3rd at Saratoga on August 27, 6th at Belmont on September 20, 2nd at Aqueduct on November 15, and 2nd in his California debut at Hollywood on December 14. Miss Wineshine, dam of Mayor Marv, was a stakes winner at 2 and earned $189,080. Miss Wineshine has produced 2 winners.

Candy's Pride (Candy Ride (ARG) - Alpride (IRE) by Alzao), by first-crop sire Candy Ride, has finished 7th in all three of his races. His most recent efforts were on the turf, at Santa Anita on September 27, and at Hollywood Park on October 31. Alpride, dam of Candy's Pride, was a grade I winner who earned $1,048,270. Alpride has produced two winners. Candy Ride's 45 runners have made 152 collective starts, recording 32 wins, 23 seconds, 22 thirds, and $1,388,941.

Another with turf experience is Millennium Lakes (Storm Cat - Tweedside by Thunder Gulch), who was 7th in his only start, on the Aqueduct turf on November 22. Millennium Lakes is the 2nd foal out of grade I winner Tweedside, who earned $646,791. Tweedside is also a half-sister to grade II winners Evanescent and Tactical Advantage.

Brian Boru (Harlan's Holiday - About Respect by Woodman), who sold for $80,000 as a yearling, finished 4th in his only start, at Hollywood Park on December 6. Brian Boru is the first foal out of the winning mare About Respect, who earned $136,979 in a 35 race career. About Respect is a half-sister to 3 winners, one of which won at two.

The race is completed by first-time starters Yep (Whywhywhy - Yingyingying by Horse Chestnut (SAF)), Action in May (Action This Day - Shake Off by A. P. Indy), and Andiron (A. P. Indy - Zigember by Danzig). Yep is the first foal out of stakes-placed Yingyingying. Yingyingying is a half-sister to grade II winner Ready's Image. Ready's Image was a debut winner at 2, and won the Sanford (gr. II) that year. Action in May is by first-crop sire Action This Day, whose 44 runners have made 161 total starts, recording 12 wins, 10 seconds, 16 thirds, and $349,566. Action in May, who sold for $105,000 as a yearling, is the first foal out of stakes winner Shake Off, who was a winner at 2. Shake Off is a half- or full-sister to 4 winners. Andiron is a half-brother to 5 winners, including grade I winner The Cliff's Edge. Two of his siblings won at 2, including The Cliff's Edge who was a debut winner at 2, and won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) and the Iroquois (gr. III) that year.

Peaceful Woman is in a Quick Pickle, Why? Because.

December 29, 2008
Calder Race 4
Maiden Claiming ($25,000)
6.5 furlongs
2-year old fillies
Post Time: 1:47 PM HRTV

Peaceful Woman (Peace Rules - Jungle Woman by Northern Baby) debuts at Calder, where she has been working for several months. Stakes-placed Jungle Woman, dam of Peaceful Woman, was a winner at 2. Jungle Woman has produced 4 winners, including grade III winner Dontletthebigonego. Three of her offspring have won at 2, including Dontletthebigonego, who was a debut winner. Peace Rules' 48 runners have made 170 total starts, recording 32 wins, 32 seconds, 17 thirds, and $787,624.

Also debuting in this one are Splendid Storm (Cat Thief - Vogue Girl by Souvenir Copy) and Special Jak (Sligo Bay (IRE) - Live in Freedom by Our Emblem). Splendid Storm, who sold for $22,000 as a yearling, is out of stakes winner Vogue Girl, who was 3 for 3 at 2. Splendid Storm is her first foal. Vogue Girl is half-sister to grade II winner Scrimshaw. Special Jak is a half-sister to winner High Stakes Poker.

The veteran in this race is This Gal Is Mine (Untuttable - Rokyjam by Petionville), who has made 6 starts, including 5 at Calder. Her best finish was a 2nd in a 7 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Calder on November 23. Most recently, she was 3rd at Tampa Bay in a 6.5 furlong Maiden Claiming contest. This Gal Is Mine is out of a winning mare who has produced the winner Seabrook Charmer. Seabrook Charmer was a winner at 2 and 3.

Xcluesivgirlfriend (Trippi - Oh My Mary Kate by Gold Meridian) has run 4 times, all at Calder. She finished 2nd in her debut on September 19, and in her most recent start on November 11. The latter race was at the 6.5 furlong distance, the same as this race. Xcluesivgirlfriend, who was a $13,000 weanling, is out of a winning mare who was produced 3 winners. One of Xcluesivgirlfriend's siblings won at 2.

Quick Pickle (Zavata - Kate's College by Carr de Naskra) finished 2nd in her only start, a 5.5 Maiden Claiming race at Calder on December 8. She was a $20,000 weanling, and is out of stake-placed Kate's College. Kate's College earned $187,541 in a career that included 2 wins and a third in the New York Stallion Stakes at 2. Kate's College has produced 5 winners, including stakes winner Storm Me September. Two of Quick Pickle's siblings won at 2.

Why Because (Whywhywhy - Hester Lou by Summing) has also run once, finishing 6th at Calder on November 23. Why Because, who sold for $35,000 as a 2-year old, is out of the mare Hester Lou who was a winner at 2. Hester Lou has produced 6 winners, including stakes winner Maybe Jack.

Finishing 8th in her only start, at Monmouth on September 13, was My Friend Melini (Trippi - Best Friend by Dr. Caton). My Friend Melini is the first foal out of a winning mare, who is a half-sister to 4 winners, including stakes winners Magic Mecke, A. J. Melini, and Yesbyjimminy. Yesbyjimminy won 2 stakes at 2, and most recently won the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap (gr. III) on December 13.

Also in action on December 29

Dancin Perfect (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Dancewiththebride by Belong to Me), who broke her maiden first time out at a mile on the turf at Fair Grounds on November 21, takes on 7 (plus one MTO entry) at about a mile on the turf at Fair Grounds, race 9. It's an Allowance/Optional claiming race, but Dancin Perfect, who is 6-1 on the morning line, is not in for a tag. She will break from hole 3 in this race with a scheduled post time of 5:24 PM ET.

Mario d'Oro (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - No Habra Ninguna (ARG) by Parade Marshal), who was 13th in his debut on November 22 at Aqueduct, is entered in a mile and a sixteenth Maiden Claiming race on the Calder turf. However, he is the 5th horse on the AE list, and will probably not make it in. The race, which is the 8th one on the card, has a post time of 3:41 PM ET.

Recapping the Week's Races

A Brief recap of those Maiden Watch races missed over the Holidays, highlighted by Peace Town's victory in the Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes.

December 22

Strike Jak (filly; Peace Rules - Sunset Crest by Strike the Gold), who broke her maiden on October 31 at Calder, finished 6th in a Starter Allowance contest at that track.

Belfast (colt; Congaree - Southerncomfortgal by Hermitage) and Gifts for a King (colt; Saarland - Shepherd's Star by Seeking the Gold) faced off in a Maiden Claiming contest at Fair Grounds. Gifts for a King was up close early, before fading to 7th. Belfast was wide on both turns, but kept coming for the win.

December 23

Nancy's Voyage (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Nancy's Glitter by Glitterman) finished 6th in a Maiden Claiming contest at Calder after checking repeatedly. Presumably, this effort didn't take much out of him, as he is back in on Tuesday, December 30 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Mydadsperfect (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Red Cell by Geri) debuted in a Maiden Special Weight at Calder, finishing 6th.

December 26

Prolific (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Quadrahope by Quadratic) finished 5th in a Maiden Claiming contest at Calder after stumbling at the start.

Better Than Gold (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Arches of Gold by Strike Gold) made his 2nd start, finishing 5th at Turfway Park in a Maiden Special Weight after being part of the early pace.

Peace Above All (filly; Peace Rules - Pleasant Glory by Honour and Glory) debuted in a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Penn National, finishing 5th after being up close early.

December 27

Finishing 2nd in his debut in a Maiden Special Weight at Laurel was Tone It Down (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Chattin by Rollicking), who was gaining late.

The Peace Rules colts Persian (Peace Rules - Lady Cheryl by Williamstown) and Peace Rumor (Peace Rules - Seattle Cyrina by Bold Ruckus) faced off at Fair Grounds in a 5.5 furlong turf Maiden Special Weight. Persian finished a good 2nd in his first turf start, and looks like he might have a good future on that surface. Peace Rumor, who was making his first start, didn't have much impact, passing one to finish 10th.

Glory Gold (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Gayla by Lord Gaylord) went gate-to-wire in a Maiden Special Weight contest at Laurel, to break her maiden in her 6th start.

Also at Laurel, Peace Town (colt; Peace Rules - Darnestown by Williamstown) stalked the early pace, took the lead after 6 furlongs, and held off the closing In the Juice, to take the Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes. Peace Town has now won 3 races and earned $88,850.
View Stakes Details

Tasty Temptation (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Parisia by Tethra), who was making her 2nd start, finished 6th in a Maiden Special Weight on the Santa Anita downhill turf course.

Promise Me Merlot (gelding; Peace Rules - Promise Me Magic by Pentelicus) tried stakes company at Tampa Bay, finishing 6th in the Inaugural Stakes.

Sweet Kristen (filly; Peace Rules - Puddy Cat by Mountain Cat) finished 7th in a 6 furlong allowance race at Fair Grounds, weakening after being up with the pace.

Congor Bay (colt; Speightstown - Pico Teneriffe by Red Ransom) took 3rd in the Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita, his first try on the turf.

Also at Santa Anita, Dial Four Peace (colt; Peace Rules - Four O One Katie by Marquetry) finished 4th in a 5.5 furlong Maiden Claiming contest after setting the early pace.

Penching Pennies (gelding; Peace Rules - Gayle's Glory) didn't show much in a 5 furlong Maiden Claiming contest at Delta Downs, running 10th and last the whole way round.

December 28

Lucy to the Max (filly; Birdstone - I Dream by Wajima) finished 4th in her debut at Turf Paradise, after starting slowly.

Con Lover (filly; Congaree - Timeless Love by Gilded Time) and Mocha d'Oro (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Chopard by Silver Deputy) met in a 6 furlong Maiden Claiming contest at Turfway Park. Con Lover made up ground late to finish 3rd. Mocha d'Oro also gained some late, but could do no better than 7th.

Also running at Turfway Park was Palin (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - La Alleged by Alleged), who was making her debut in a 6 furlong Maiden Claiming contest. She didn't run much and finished 10th.

I'm the Law (gelding; Peace Rules - Stormin' Down by Storm Creek) finished 8th in a Maiden Claiming race at Delta Downs, after being part of the pace.

2-Year Old Works

New to this Blog

December 21

Dance Routine (colt; Smarty Jones - Tap Your Feet by Dixieland Band) worked 3 furlongs in :37.20 at Fair Grounds. Dance Routine sold for $200,000 as a yearling, and is out of the stakes winner Tap Your Feet. Tap Your Feet has produced stakes winner Diamondrella.

December 23

Quick in Motion (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Trisha Quick by Deputy Minister) worked 3 furlongs in :36.00 at Sunland Park. Quick in Motion is a half-sister to the winner Dixie Quick, and her dam, Trisha Quick, is a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winner Medford.