Katara Rules the Noble One

Love Ya Style took to the early lead, pursued by Saving Gracie. Implicate was sitting just off of these. At the back of the pack were Noble Rule (Peace Rules) and Katara. These two moved as a team on the outside, but Katara was going better and swept to the lead. I have to take issue with the call of this race. Noble Rule received nary a mention until they crossed the wire. True, I am biased, but she was moving with Katara and certainly deserved at least a passing mention. Noble Rule has now finished in the money in 7 of her 10 starts.

Result: January 2, 2009
Calder Race 4
Maiden Special Weight

Race Details and Equibase Chart

Bikini Takes Joanies Glory

This one was basically a match-race. Bikini and Schefflera dueled virtually the entire race. Bikini took the lead at the start, but Schefflera, who was running on 4 days rest, was in close pursuit. Throughout it seemed as if favored Schefflera would surge to the lead, but Bikini kept fighting and held on for the win. Joanies Glory (Pleasantly Perfect) was near the back at the start, and then got mired in traffic. She got shuffled to the back and never fully recovered, finishing 5th.

Result: January 2, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 6
Maiden Special Weight

Race Details and Equibase Chart

The Magician Tries to be Spectacular

January 3, 2009
Gulfstream Race 4
Spectacular Bid Stakes
6 furlongs
3-year olds
Post Time: 2:42 PM HRTV

Jazzandthemagician (Birdstone - Pat Hand by Cape Town), who most recently finished 6th in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at a mile and a sixteenth on November 29 at Churchill Downs, returns to stakes company in the Spectacular Bid at 6 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. Jazzandthemagician had previously broken his maiden in his debut on November 1 at Churchill Downs, in a 6 furlong race. He has had several works at Gulfstream since his last start, including a bullet 4 furlong work on December 29.

You Luckie Mann (Exchange Rate - Terri's Choice by West Acre) and Bee Cee Cee (Songandaprayer - Mighty Rose by Mighty Appealing) have raced against each other in their last 3 races. In the Florida Stallion Dr. Fager Stakes on August 16 at Calder, Bee Cee Cee was 2nd and You Luckie Mann was 3rd. On September 6, in the Florida Stallion Affirmed Stakes at Calder, You Luckie Mann was 3rd, and Bee Cee Cee 5th. Finally, in the 5.5 furlong Birdonthewire Stakes on October 18 at Calder, You Luckie Mann was the winner, and Bee Cee Cee was 4th. Previously, Bee Cee Cee won the B L's Sweep Stakes on June 15 at Calder, and finished 4th in the Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes at that track on June 12.

Silent Valor (Lion Heart - Few Choice Words by Valid Appeal) won the 6 furlong Sapling Stakes at Monmouth on August 31 in his third start. In that race, he came from off the pace. However, his maiden win was a gate-to-wire victory. Since the Sapling (gr. III), Silent Valor finished 5th in the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita on September 28, and 8th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) on October 25 at Santa Anita. He's been working at Palm Meadows since late November, including a bullet 5 furlong work on December 28.

Notonthesamepage (Catienus - Blue Holiday by Cure The Blues) broke his maiden on April 30 at Churchill Downs on April 30, and then finished 2nd in the 5.5 furlong Tyro on July 26 at Monmouth, and 5th in the Hopeful (gr. I) at Saratoga on September 1. Most recently, he was 11th in the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at a mile and a sixteenth at Keeneland on October 4. He's been working at Gulfstream since early December, including 3 bullet works. His most recent work was a bullet 5 furlong work on December 28.

Vinnies Wild Tale (West Acre - Royal Prairie by Louis Quatorze) broke his maiden in his 2nd start on August 14 at Saratoga in a 6 furlong Maiden Claiming contest. He then won a 5.5 furlong allowance race on September 14 at Calder.

Put It Back Twenty (Put It Back - Ioweyoutwenty by Fappavalley) and Under Contract (Three Wonders - Pride of the Hunt by Hunting Hard) have met twice in maiden races. On November 11 at 5 furlongs on the Calder turf, Put It Back Twenty was 2nd and Under Contract 6th. Then, on November 27, again at 5 furlongs on the Calder turf, Put It Back Twenty won and Under Contract was 2nd. Since that race, Put It Back Twenty was 2nd in an Allowance/Optional Claiming contest at Calder on December 13. Under Contract's most recent start came on December 14, where he broke his maiden in a 5 furlong turf race at Calder.

Read more about the Spectacular Bid here.

Pitched Perfectly and Haynesfield take on the Count Fleet

January 3, 2009
Aqueduct Race 8
Count Fleet Stakes
1 mile and 70 yards
3-year olds
Post Time: 3:49 PM HRTV/TVG

Haynesfield (Speightstown - Nothing Special by Tejabo) and Pitched Perfectly (Pleasantly Perfect - Musical Minister by Deputy Minister) go head-to-head in the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct. Haynesfield is already a stakes winner, having won the restricted Damon Runyon in his last start, at Aqueduct on December 7 at this same mile and 70 yard distance. He scored in gate-to-wire fashion in that race, just as he did in his maiden victory on September 25. He's had two works since the Damon Runyon. Pitched Perfectly broke his maiden in his third and most recent start, at a mile and 70 yards on the inner dirt at Aqueduct on December 13. He's worked once since that victory.

In Pitched Perfectly's 2nd start, he came up a neck short to Aswaaq (Empire Maker - Queen Mama by Seattle Slew), who led virtually the entire length of the mile and an eighth race at Aqueduct on December 3. Aswaaq has worked twice since his maiden win.

Mike From Queens (Flatter - Fob by The Prime Minister) was victorious in his third start, a 6 furlong contest at Belmont on September 19. He then finished 2nd in the Finger Lakes Juvenile Stakes at Finger Lakes on November 1. In that race, he led nearly the whole race, before being caught late. In his most recent effort, he did go virtually gate-to-wire, to take a 7 furlong allowance race at Aqueduct on November 28. He's had several works at Belmont since that win.

Finishing third in Mike From Queens' allowance win was Bad Action (Brahms - Lucky Carley by Sky Classic) who runs as an entry with Pitched Perfectly. Bad Action most recently finished 4th in a mile and 70 yard allowance/optional claiming race at Aqueduct on December 7. His maiden win came in his third start, on October 23 at Belmont, where he won by 10.

Jess Not Jesse (Minardi - Alex Hollywood by Cormorant) broke his maiden in his debut, at 5.5 furlongs on the Saratoga turf on August 29. He then ran in the Summer Stakes (Can-IIIT) on the turf at Woodbine on October 4, finishing 8th. Most recently, he was 4th in a 6 furlong allowance/optional claiming race at Aqueduct on December 4.

Smart Bid (Smart Strike - Recording by Danzig) broke his maiden in his third and most recent start, a mile and 70 yard Maiden race at Philadelphia Park on December 8.

Second Glance seeks a Dancing Moment for Sunset Magic

January 3, 2009
Laurel Race 5
Maiden Claiming ($25,000)
6 furlongs
3-year old fillies
Post Time: 2:26 PM HRTV

Second Glance (Smarty Jones - Worth a Look by Sword Dance (IRE)) makes her 7th start, and her 3rd in Maiden Claiming ranks. Her previous starts were all at Laurel. She finished a flat 4th last time out on December 11, when she didn't seem to care for the slop. Her November 22 Maiden Claiming start was her best, as she finished 2nd. Second Glance is a half-sister to one winner and her dam is a half-sister to 4 winners, including stakes winners Class Kris and Patriot Act.

Unflappable Miss (Alphabet Soup - Let's Toast by Miswaki) finished 4th, behind Second Glance, on November 22 at Laurel. It was her first and only start. Unflappable Miss' dam, Let's Toast, earned $110,480 and has produced 3 winners. Unflappable Miss' siblings include stakes winner Kitty Knight.

Whatababe (Unbridled's Image - Bogus Babe by Unreal Currency) has made 4 starts, all at Calder. She finished 2nd in her debut on September 14, and in her most recent start on December 14. Whatababe is out of a winning mare, who has produced 3 winners from 5 to run.

Include Us All (Include - Square Two by Miswaki) finished 2nd in her only start, at Delaware Park on November 9. She is out of a winning mare who has produced 2 winners.

Certainly Yes (Include - Yes Ma'am by Cormorant) and Slew of Students (Chapel Royal - Student Wife by Seattle Slew) both finished 5th in their only starts. Certainly Yes ran on a muddy track at Philadelphia Park on December 16. Yes Ma'am, dam of Certainly Yes, was a winner and has produced 2 winners, including stakes winner R Charlie's Angel. Slew of Students start was at Laurel on December 10. She sold for $20,000 as a yearling, and is a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winner Naseem.

The remaining fillies are unraced including Dancing Moment (Domestic Dispute - Polish Account by Polish Numbers), who is the first foal out of the winning mare Polish Account. Polish Account is a half-sister to 8 winners, including stakes winners Brilliant Prospect and Snowberg.

Wee Irish Maid (Bowman's Band - Wee Irish Star by Irish River (FR)) is the first foal out of an unraced mare, who is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Sunset Magic (Wayne County (IRE) - Brenta's Prospect by Allen's Prospect) is the first foal out of the winning mare Brenta's Prospect. Brenta's Prospect is a half-sister to 3 winners.

Silky Slim (Macho Uno - Angelina J by Rahy), who sold for $11,000 as a 2-year old, is the first foal out of the placed mare Angelina J. Angelina J. is a half-sister to 3 winners.

Jeranimo will find it a Pleasure to Ride the Street Car

January 3, 2009
Santa Anita Race 3
Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs
3-year olds
Post Time: 4:31 PM HRTV

Jeranimo (Congaree - Jera by Jeblar) debuts at Santa Anita, where he has been working since early November. Jeranimo sold for $50,000 as a yearling, and $70,000 as a 2-year old. He is out of stakes winner Jera, who has produced stakes-placed Tizthen.

The only horse with experience is Snapshot (Awesome Again - Cajun Flash by Bertrando), who finished 6th in his only start, at Del Mar on August 2. Snapshot is out of a mare who was a winner of $90,000 and has produced one winner.

Wall Street Wonder (City Place - Kisses and Hugs by Kissin Kris) sold for $145,000 as a yearling and $325,000 as a 2-year old. Wall Street Wonder is the first foal out of an unplaced mare who is a half-sister to 6 winners, including stakes-placed Bernie B.

Selling for $170,000 as a yearling was Street Car (Street Cry (IRE) - Star Brightly by Trempolino). Stakes-placed Star Brightly, dam of Street Car, earned $102,036 in a 13 race career. Star Brightly has produced Tiz Lindy's Star, who was a debut winner.

Gotmymojoworkin (Gimmeawink - Countrywishingwell by Country Pine) sold for $40,000 as a yearling, and $160,000 as a 2-year old. He is out of a winning mare who has produced two winners, including stakes winner Calico Bay. Calico Bay was a debut winner and earned $408,700.

Pleasure to Ride (Candy Ride (ARG) - All Pleasure by All Gone) is the first foal out of the unraced mare All Pleasure. All Pleasure is a half-sister to 9 winners, including grade II winners Built for Pleasure and Littlebitlively.

Mr. President (Vindication - Discovering Beauty by Theatrical (IRE)) is out of Discovering Beauty, a half-sister to grade II winners Gold Beauty and The Prime Minister, and three stakes winners.

Ego (Malabar Gold - Favorite Feline by Harlan) is the 2nd foal out of an unplaced mare who is a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes-placed Cat Crossing.

Pauper's Prize (Repent - Paupernot by Strike Gold) is out of a winning mare, who has produced one winner.

Maestro and Master and Alma d'Oro have a Ruler's Vision

January 3, 2009
Gulfstream Race 9
Maiden Special Weight
1 mile
3-year olds
Post Time: 5:14 PM HRTV

Maestro and Master (Smarty Jones - White Gulch by Thunder Gulch) Alma d'Oro, who both finished 4th at Churchill Downs in their debuts, move south for their second starts. Maestro and Master, who ran on November 1, sold for $290,000 as a weanling, and $650,000 as a yearling. He has been working at Gulfstream since early December. His dam is unraced, but she is a half-sister to 10 winners, including grade III winner Phantom On Tour and stakes winners No White Socks and Gold n' White.

Alma d'Oro, who is on the AE list for this race, debuted on November 22. He has had a couple of Gulfstream works to prepare for this one, including a 5 furlong work on January 1 in a zippy :59.80. Alma d'Oro sold for $75,000 as a yearling, and is out stakes-placed Brenda D S, who earned $116,444 overall. Brenda D S has produced 2 winners, including stakes-placed Ford Island.

Debuting in this one are Tiger Tracks (Storm Cat - Paiota Falls by Kris S.) and Pedestal (Pulpit - Mudslinger by El Gran Senor). Tiger Tracks is the first foal out of stakes winner Paiota Falls, who earned $177,354. Paiota Falls is a half-sister to stakes winner West Coast Swing. Tiger Tracks is from the family of grade I winners Dance Smartly and Smart Strike. Pedestal, who sold for $140,000 as a yearling, is out of stakes winner Mudslinger, who earned $254,078. Mudslinger has produced one winner.

Copper Cascade (Grand Slam - Topicount by Private Account) and Tippity Tap (Tapit - Fatal Distraction by Hatchet Man) met on November 29 at Aqueduct, finishing 5th and 7th. Earlier, Copper Cascade was 3rd at Aqueduct on November 1. Copper Cascade sold for $120,000 as a yearling, and for $260,000 at 2. Grade II winner Topicount, dam of Copper Cascade, earned $607,618. She has produced 7 winners, including stakes winners Laguna Seca and Winning Season. Tippity Tap's only other race was on November 8 at Aqueduct, where he was 3rd. Tippity Tap, who sold for $100,000 as a yearling, is out of stakes winner Fatal Distraction. Fatal Distraction has produced 5 winners, including stakes winners Urban Distraction and First Spear.

Ten Is Enough (Tenpins - Pelican Strip by Comic Strip) has run three times at Calder. He finished 2nd in two Maiden Claiming races, on October 24, and November 29. He also finished 10th in a Maiden Special Weight turf contest on November 11. Ten is Enough is the 2nd foal out of an unraced mare who is a half-sister to 6 winners.

Discreet Street (Street Cry (IRE) - Torrid by Honor Grades) has made three Kentucky starts, finishing 5th at Turfway on September 4, 10th at Keeneland on October 3, and 3rd at Churchill Downs on November 8. Discreet Street, who sold for $35,000 as a weanling, is out of a mare who is a half-sister to grade III winner Lakenheath.

Bear Always (Vindication - Always Awesome by Awesome Again), who sold for $80,000 at 2, finished 2nd in his only start, at Woodbine on December 7. He is the first foal out of stakes-placed Always Awesome, who earned $137,900. Always Awesome is a half- or full-sister to 7 winners, including Anzillero, a group I winner in Germany.

Prospective Love (Not For Love - How 'bout Chris by Unbridled) debuted on the turf, finishing 3rd at Churchill Downs on November 14. He then finished 3rd on the Churchill Downs dirt on November 29. Prospective Love brought $300,000 as a 2-year old, and is a half-brother to 2 winners.

Causeway's Kin (Giant's Causeway - You by You and I) was 5th in his only start, at Calder on December 7. Causeway's Kin is the 2nd foal out of grade I winner and multi-millionaire You. You's first foal, grade II stakes-placed You and I Forever, has earned $121,446.

Coltraider (Thunder Gulch – Final Legacy by Boston Harbor) has run three times. He was 5th on June 5 at Monmouth, 7th on July 20 at Monmouth (behind Keefer), and 2nd on November 5 at the Meadowlands (behind Rockland). Seems Coltraider has a problem with Smarty Jones' colts, which bodes well for Maestro and Master. Coltraider, who sold for $90,000 as a yearling, is out of a dam who is a half-sister to Storm Cat. She has produced one winner, Ranchy.

Ruler's Vision (Monarchos - Vue by Mr. Prospector) finished 3rd in his only start, at Saratoga on August 30. He has been working at Palm Meadows since late November. Ruler's Vision, out of stakes-placed Vue, is a half-brother to champion War Pass and grade I winner Oath, as well as three other winners. Ruler's Vision was a 1.5 million RNA at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-year olds in Training Sale in February of 2008.

Completing the AE list is Webcast (Strong Hope - Dance the Slew by Slew City Slew), who has run three times. He was 8th at Saratoga on August 30 (behind Ruler's Vision), 2nd at Turfway Park on September 27, and 5th at Keeneland on October 24. Webcast, who sold for $200,000 as a yearling, is out of the stakes winner Dance the Slew. Dance the Slew has produced one winner from two to run. Interestingly, Dance the Slew has a 2-year old filly and a yearling colt both by Smarty Jones.

Canadian Royalty tries to Catch a Star in the Classic Streets

January 3, 2009
Charles Town Race 2
Maiden Claiming ($6,500 - $7,500)
6.5 furlongs
3-year olds
Post Time: 7:39 PM

Canadian Royalty (Peace Rules - Northern Babe by Polish Numbers) makes his 2nd start at Charles Town, after finishing 4th first time out on December 3. In that 4.5 furlong race, he started slow and made up a lot of ground late. He's had one work since that start. Canadian Royalty is the first foal out of stakes winner Northern Babe.

Finishing 8th, behind Canadian Royalty, on December 3 at Charles Town was Gateway Island (Gold Case - Go Helen Go by Island Whirl). Gateway Island is the 2nd foal out of a winning mare who is a half-sister to 9 winners, and a full-sister to grade III winner Kachemak Bay.

AE entrant Roadmark (Safely's Mark - Tassless by Tasso) and Classic Streets (City Street - Storm Cell by Storm Creek) met on December 7 at Charles Town, finishing 6th and 7th. Roadmark is a veteran of 7 starts. His best finish was his debut, where he was 3rd on the Colonial Downs turf on August 4. Roadmark is a half-brother to two winners, including Brother Bud. Brother Bud has earned $212,835. Classic Streets has run 9 times. He has finished 2nd twice at Charles Town, on August 28 and September 6. Classic Streets also finished 8th at Charles Town on November 13, where he faced several of the runners in this race. Classic Streets is a half-brother to 2 winners.

Jo Jo's Slim Jim (Jo Jo Dancer - Amberlyn Brooke by Compelling Sound), Banker's Reserve (Banker's Gold - Five to Won by Clever Champ), Doc's Choice (Luftikus - Smart Beauty by Smarten), and To Catch a Star (Mr. Executioner - Absolutly Orange by Digamist) all faced Classic Streets on November 13 at Charles Town, finishing 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 10th. Jo Jo's Slim Jim finished 5th twice (each time behind Classic Streets) and 7th once in 3 previous Charles Town starts. Jo Jo's Slim Jim is out of a winning mare who has produced the winner Pee Wee. Banker's Reserve is out of a winning mare who has produced three winners, including stakes-placed Hi Five Raven. Doc's Choice's dam, Smart Beauty, was a winner and has produced 2 winners. To Catch a Star has run 6 total times. His best finish was 4th at Charles Town on July 13. His most recent start was on November 28 at that track, where he was 7th. To Catch a Star is the first foal out of the winning mare Absolutly Orange. Absolutly Orange is a half- or full-sister to 5 winners.

Irishreunion (Mojave Moon - Quite Pleasant by Awad) has run twice at Laurel, finishing 3rd on November 8, and 8th on November 26. He is the first foal out of the unraced mare Quite Pleasant. Quite Pleasant is a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes winner Irish Colony.

Rosses Point (Shore Breeze - Petite Zinger by Seattle Morn) has also run twice, but at Charles Town. He was 10th on September 25, and 8th on December 4. He is out of the winning mare Petite Zinger, who has produced the winner Eagle Valley Storm. Eagle Valley Storm is a full-brother to Rosses Point.

He Ran So Fast (Luftikus - Dangerously Fast by Red Ransom) was 7th in his only start, at Charles Town on October 16. He is a full-brother to the winner Been a Good One.

Completing the field is unraced Adorable Truckee (Truckee - Adorable Cielo by Stately Cielo). He is the 2nd foal out of the winning mare Adorable Cielo. Adorable Cielo is a half-sister to the winner Truckee Tease, who is by Truckee, sire of Adorable Truckee.

Also in action on January 3

Passum Pattie (filly; Peace Rules) and Prosecca (filly; Speightstown) go head-to-head in a 4.5 furlong allowance contest at Charles Town, which has a post time of 10:03 PM. They will break side-by-side, from posts 9 and 10. Passum Pattie was a winner in her debut at Charles Town on July 10, and then ran 8th in the Tippett Stakes. Most recently, she was a winner in allowance company at Charles Town on November 22. Prosecca broke her maiden at 4.5 furlongs at Charles Town on November 7, and then came back on December 13 to finish 3rd at the track in allowance company.

Frosty Diamond (colt; Medaglia d'Oro) is the 2nd horse on the AE list for race 6 at Gulfstream Park, a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight contest. Post Time is scheduled for 3:42 PM. Frosty Diamond most recently finished 2nd at Calder on October 25 in his 5th start.

Workouts

New to this Blog

December 31

Naughtiest (filly; Congaree - Haughty by Halo) worked 4 furlongs in :51.80 at Starting Point Training Center. Naughtiest is out of a winnng mare who has produced 7 winners, including stakes winner Naughty.

Also working 4 furlongs at Starting Point Training Center, recording a time of :52.00, was Runningforspeight (colt; Speightstown - Intrigued by Lord at War (ARG)). Runningforspeight is out of stakes winner Intrigued, who has produced 3 winners, including stakes winner War Charm.