Snow and ice canceled racing at many venues, including Turfway where Perfectly Campbell, Con Lover, and Palin will wait for another day. 

Balfour Parks Over Congaree

Fiery Rebel went to the front, but Congaree Park (Congaree) was right with him. Congaree Park drew even on the backstretch, and then got his head in front. Fiery Rebel was defeated, but favorite Balfour Park was making his move. It seemed like Balfour Park would cruise on by, but Congaree Park showed a lot of determination and kept the margin close. Balfour Park was the winner, but Congaree Park was not disgraced. Balfour Park was claimed out of the race for $100,000.

Result: January 28, 2009
Santa Anita Race 3
Maiden Claiming

Balfour Park	$5.40	$3.00	$2.40
Congaree Park		$3.80	$2.40
Winning Vow			$4.80

Race Details and Equibase Chart

Again Strikes Over Dr. Smarty Jack

Dr. Smarty Jack (Smarty Jones) was a little disruptive in the post parade, but came out ok at the break and settled in 5th. Up front, Strike Again sped to the front, accompanied by Rocamadour. Causeway's Kin and Bobs Tiebreaker were stalking. Rocamadour was through after three-quarters. Causeway's Kin took a try at the leader, but fell short. Then, Dr. Smarty Jack made his move, coming wide on the turn. He couldn't catch the winner, but he finished well. Riboletto, the million dollar yearling, hesitated at the start and ran twelfth the whole way round.

Result: January 28, 2009
Gulfstream Park Race 9
Maiden Special Weight

Strike Again	$25.20	$11.60	$8.20
Dr. Smarty Jack		$11.00	$7.20
Causeway's Kin			$4.80

Race Details and Equibase Chart

Schleprock Masters Maestro

This one was pretty eventful at the start. Coach Abs broke in, and Eagle Express ducked in after the start, hitting the rail (it actually looked like he was trying to jump the rail). Maestro and Master (Smarty Jones) avoided all of this, going right up to the lead. He was hounded by Oski Oski. Schleprock was stalking. Oski Oski began to fade after 6 furlongs, but Schleprock chose that time to pounce. Maestro and Master hung tough for awhile, but faded to 4th late. Perfect Boom, who also had trouble early, closed well to pick up third. I was impressed with Eagle Express who got into the photo for fourth after the incident with the rail.

Result: January 28, 2009
Gulfstream Park Race 3
Maiden Claiming

Schleprock	$7.00	$4.20	$3.00
Perfect Boom		$12.40	$8.80
Liberty St. Outlaw			$6.60

Equibase Chart

Hippie Princess has a Sticky Issue to be a Sneaky Valentine

January 29, 2009
Tampa Bay Race 5
Maiden Claiming ($50,000)
About 1 1/16 miles turf
3-year old fillies
Post Time: 2:17 PM ET TVG

P	Horse
1.	Special Jak
2.	Sly Sara
3.	Sticky Issue
4.	Pop Pop's Carr
5.	Alexandra's Halo
6.	Sneaky Valentine
7.	A June Affair
8.	Lady Black Mambo
9.	Video Vixen
10.	Cherry Lady
AE	Hippie Princess
AE	Free Light
AE	Win Jane's Heart
AE	Candy Apple

Hippie Princess (Peace Rules - Royal Pelliknow by Raja's Revenge) will attempt to make her 4th start, as she is the first one on the AE list. I thought it would be worth taking a look at this one, however, as there is often a scratch or two in these turf races. Hippie's Princess has run twice on the turf, finishing 5th at 1 1/16 miles on September 11, and 8th at 5 furlong on November 16 in her most recent start. All of her previous races were at Calder. Royal Pelliknow, dam of Hippie Princess, was stakes-placed on the turf and earned $281,681. She has produced 4 winners, including King Cassia who was stakes-placed on the turf and dirt.

Nine of the entrants ran on January 13 at Tampa Bay Downs in 2 separate mile and a sixteenth races originally intended for the turf. In one race, Special Jak (Sligo Bay (IRE) - Live in Freedom by Our Emblem) was 2nd, Sticky Issue (Chief Seattle - Wrinkled Rose by Northern Jove) was 3rd, Video Vixen (Wild Event - Video Devil by Devil's Bag) was 5th, and Sneaky Valentine (Snuck In - Braided Way by Mining) was 8th. Special Jak previously finished 6th at Calder on December 29, and is a half-sister to winner High Stakes Poker. Sticky Issue has run 2 additional times, including an 8th place finish on the Tampa Bay turf on December 13. She is out of the winning mare Wrinkled Rose, who earned $107,317. Wrinkled Rose has produced 3 winners, including stakes-placed Persuaggle. One of her offspring won on the turf. Video Vixen has had one other start, finishing 3rd at Calder on August 8 in a 5 furlong race. She sold for $15,000 as a 2-year old, and is a half-sister to 6 winners, including stakes-placed Mama Ella. Two of her siblings won on the turf. Sneaky Valentine has made two additional starts, both on the turf. In her first start, on November 16 at Calder, she hit the rail and lost her rider. Next time out, at Tampa Bay on January 6, she finished 9th. Braided Way, dam of Sneaky Valentine was a winner. She has produced 5 winners from 7 to run, including 1 turf winner.

In the other race on January 13, Cherry Lady (During - Takemeoutonthetown by Cape Town) finished 2nd, Alexandra's Halo (Changeintheweather - U R Theweakestlink by Mountain Cat) was 3rd, Pop Pop's Carr (Honor Glide - Jazzy Carr by Carr de Naskra) was 6th, Lady Black Mambo (Black Mambo - Linda's Code by Lost Code) was 7th, and A June Affair (Black Tie Affair (IRE) - Woody n June by Magesterial) was 9th. Cherry Lady has made 5 total starts, including 2 on the turf. She was 3rd on September 12, and 4th on October 9. Both of those starts were on the Belmont turf. She is a half-sister to the winner, Wise On the Prize. Alexandra's Halo's 9 starts include one turf start, as she was 5th on the Belmont turf on September 19. She is a half-sister to one winner. Pop Pop's Carr has also had one turf start, finishing 9th on December 27 at Tampa Bay. Pop Pop's Carr is out of a winning mare who has produced 4 winners. One of Pop Pop's Carr's siblings won on the turf. Lady Black Mambo has made 3 previous starts. Her best finish was in her debut on October 19 at Calder, where she finished 4th. Lady Black Mambo is a half-sister to 2 winners, including one turf winner. A June Affair has run twice on the turf, finishing 6th on September 6 at Arlington Park, and 8th, after setting the pace, on January 6 at Tampa Bay. In between those starts, she also finished 9th on the Hawthorne dirt on October 10. A June Affair is out of a turf winning mare who has produced stakes-placed Chipotle. Chipotle was a winner on the turf.

Sly Sara (Freud - G' mornin Donna by Dawn Quixote) has run three times, finishing 3rd and 11th in two Suffolk Downs starts, and 8th at Tampa Bay on January 18. Those starts were on the dirt. She is the 2nd foal out of the winning mare G' mornin Donna. G' mornin Donna is a half-sister to 2 winners, including one turf winner.

Joining Hippie Princess on the AE list are Free Light (Crown Delite - Swift Star by Theatrical (IRE)), and unraced entrants With Jane's Heart (Straight Man - Southern Belle by Vicksburg) and Candy Apple (Forbidden Apple - Littlest Secretary by Secretary of War). Free Light has run 5 times, all on the dirt. Her best finish was 2nd, which she achieved in her debut on October 25 at Calder, and in her most recent start on January 16 at Tampa Bay Downs. Free Light is the first foal out of the mare Swift Star. Swift Star is a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes winner Quiet Ruler, who earned $399,698. With Jane's Heart is a half-sister to one winner, and her dam is a half-sister to 4 winners, including one turf winner. Candy Apple is out of Littlest Secretary, a stakes winner on the turf and dirt, who earned $136,038. Littlest Secretary has produced 4 winners from 5 to run.

Peace Roll is At Your Service for Captivating Lyrics

January 29, 2009
Santa Anita Park Race 3
Maiden Claiming ($40,000 - $50,000)
6 furlongs
3-year old fillies
Post Time: 5:03 PM ET HRTV

P	Horse
1.	At Your Service
2.	Peace Roll
3.	Captivating Lyrics
4.	Cambria Sunrise
5.	Allie Wolff
6.	Always Pretty
7.	Cali Girl
8.	Kentucky Nectar

Peace Roll (Peace Rules - Roulette by Storm Bird) debuts at Santa Anita, where she has been working since mid-December. She sold for $105,000 as a yearling, and is out of Roulette, who was a debut winner. Roulette is also a half-sister to 4 winners, including stakes winners Misty Sixes and Broadway View.

Also debuting in this one are Allie Wolff (Smart Strike - Frappay by Deputy Minister), Cali Girl (Domestic Dispute - Lady Shadeed by Shadeed), and Kentucky Nectar (Maria's Mon - Absolute Nectar by Carson City). Allie Wolff sold for $70,000 as a yearling, and is the first foal out of the unraced mare Frappay. Frappay is a daughter of grade II winner Supercilious, who earned $843,454. Cali Girl is a half-sister to 3 winners. Kentucky Nectar is the first foal out of stakes-placed Absolute Nectar. Absolute Nectar was also a debut winner.

Captivating Lyrics (In Excess (IRE) - Swingtime Music by Woodman) and Cambria Sunrise (Lion Heart - Cambria Gold by French Deputy) met on December 5 at Hollywood Park in a 6 furlong race, Captivating Lyrics was 5th and Cambria Sunrise was 8th. Captivating Lyrics has since finished 6th at Santa Anita on January 1. She was a $37,000 yearling, and is out of the winning mare Swingtime Music. Swingtime Music has produced 2 winners, including stakes winner Seven Nation Army. Selling for $65,000 as a yearling, Cambria Sunrise is the 2nd foal out of the unraced mare Cambria Gold. Cambria Gold is a half-sister to 2 winners.

Always Pretty (Officer - Always Twining by Twining) has made 4 starts. Her best finish came on November 2 in a 6.5 furlong race at Hollywood Park, where she finished 2nd. Most recently, she was 6th at Hollywood on December 18 while going a mile and a sixteenth. Always Pretty sold for $20,000 as a yearling, and is the first foal out of Always Twining, a winner of $150,285.

At Your Service (Full Mandate - Gated Entrance by Montbrook) has run 3 times. Her best finish was a 2nd on October 16 at Santa Anita going a mile. Her last start came on January 15, where she finished 4th at Santa Anita in a mile race after setting the pace. At Your Service sold for $18,000 as a yearling, and $27,000 as a 2-year old. She is the first foal out of the winning mare Gated Entrance. Gated Entrance is a half-sister to stakes winner I'm Sentimental.

Miss Mary K is Equally a Majestic Mistress

January 29, 2009
Oaklawn Park Race 9
Maiden Special Weight
6 furlongs
3, 4, and 5-year old fillies and mares
Post Time: 6:11 PM ET HRTV

P	Horse
1.	Majestic Mistress
2.	Miss Mary K
3.	Elizabeth Park
4.	Wings of an Angel
5.	Equally
6.	Smoking Kitty
7.	Afleet Deceit
8.	Lady Mariah
9.	Mz Olivia
10.	Ms Good Cat
11.	Masako

Miss Mary K (Speightstown - Balancing Act by Spectacular Bid), who was scratched out of a 6 furlong race at Oaklawn on January 16, is entered in a similar race. This time, the race is open to 3, 4, and 5 year-old fillies and mares, although there are only 3 and 4-year olds in the field. Miss Mary K, who sold for $160,000 as a yearling, is out of a winning mare who has produced 8 winners. Miss Mary K's siblings include grade II winner Eleusis, a debut winner who has earned $165,801. Another sibling was also a debut winner. Miss Mary K most recently worked at Louisiana Downs on January 10, where she recorded a 3 furlong bullet.

Also debuting in this one are 3-year old Majestic Mistress (Pulpit - Metromane by Metrogrand) and 4-year old Mz Olivia (Smoke Glacken - Linking by Saint Ballado). Majestic Mistress sold for $17,000 as a yearling, and is out of the stakes winner Metromane. Metromane has produced 2 winners, including grade II winner Flame Thrower. Mz Olivia, who brought $180,000 as a yearling, is a half-sister to 2 winners. Her dam, Linking, is a half-sister to grade III winner Link.

The other three-year olds in the race are Smoking Kitty (Macho Uno - Number One Cat by Storm Cat), Afleet Deceit (Northern Afleet - Deceit by Danzig), Lady Mariah (Giant's Causeway - Cee's Song by Seattle Song), and Masako (Indian Charlie - Whistler's Lady by Executive Order).

Smoking Kitty has run three times, finishing 6th at Keeneland on October 10, and 3rd and 5th in two Churchill Downs starts. Smoking Kitty brought $105,000 as a 2-year old, and is the 2nd foal out of the winning mare, Number One Cat. Number One Cat, who earned $133,830, is a daughter of grade I winner Vivid Angel.

Afleet Deceit has also run three times. After finishing 2nd in her debut at Arlington Park on August 14, she finished 4th in the Arlington-Washington Lassie on September 6. Her most recent start was on October 12 at Keeneland, where she was 8th. She is the 2nd foal out of the winning mare Deceit. Deceit is a half- or full-sister to four winners.

Lady Mariah has run twice at Churchill Downs, finishing 12th on November 1, and 9th on November 27. Lady Mariah is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Tiznow and grade II stakes winners Budroyale and Tizdubai.

Masako's lone start was on a muddy track at Churchill Downs on November 16 where she was 5th. Masako, who sold for $39,000 as a 2-year old, is a half-sister to one winner and a full-sister to one winner.

Equally (Cherokee Run - Equilibrate by Gone West) has run 11 times, finishing 2nd five times, and 3rd three times. She is half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winner Equal Opportunity, grade III winner Equality, and Equitable, who was third in the United Nations (gr. IT).

Wings of an Angel (Cherokee Run - Angel Gift by Allen's Prospect) has made 9 starts, all in California. She has finished second once, and third twice. Her most recent race was on December 18 at Golden Gate Fields, where she finished 5th. Angel Gift, dam of Wings of an Angel, was a stakes winner who earned $364,524. Wings of an Angel is her first foal. Angel Gift is a half- or full-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winners Jarf and Easy Million.

Ms Good Cat (Tale of the Cat - Special Gift by Seattle Slew) has made 5 starts, including 4 at Oaklawn Park, where she finished second twice and third once. She has not run since April 6 at Oaklawn Park, when she finished 2nd after setting the pace. Ms Good Cat is out of a winning mare who has produced 4 winners.

Elizabeth Park (Runaway Groom - Easy Hall by Mr. Greeley) has run twice, finishing 3rd at Churchill Downs on June 6, and 6th at Turfway Park on December 27. Elizabeth Park is a half-sister to one winner, and a full-sister to one winner.

Also in Action on January 29

Dancin Perfect (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Dancewiththebride by Belong to Me), who finished 6th on the Fair Grounds dirt on December 29, returns to the Fair Grounds turf where she broke her maiden. She'll face 8 in this allowance race at about a mile. Post Time is 4:25 PM ET.

Cassidy's Pride (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Cassidy by Jolie's Halo) and Devil by Design (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Beauty's Due by Devil His Due) take on allowance company at 6 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. Cassidy's Pride last ran on October 16 in an allowance race at Woodbine, where she was 4th. Devil by Design ran on November 29 at Churchill Downs in the Caressing Handicap on the turf, finishing 6th. Also in this race, scheduled for 4:43 PM ET, is Elusive Heat, who was 2nd in the Old Hat Stakes (behind Gemswick Park) in her last start. Elusive Heat is the 3-5 morning line choice in this one.

Ivory Bill (gelding; Birdstone - Novena by Tejano) breaks from post 12 against fellow Louisiana-breds in a mile maiden claiming contest at Fair Grounds. Post is 2:29 PM ET. Ivory Bill is making his 2nd start. First time out, he was 7th at 6 furlongs at Fair Grounds on December 6.

Mydadsperfect (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Red Cell by Geri) and Peace Be With You (filly; Peace Rules - Gold Parody by Java Gold) are entered in a 7.5 furlong maiden claiming race at Gulfstream Park scheduled for 3:12 PM ET. Mydadsperfect, who has made two starts, will break from post 10. Peace Be With You, who was 10th in her only start at Gulfstream Park on January 18, is 4th on the AE list.