2-year Old News

New Workers

Working 3 furlongs on March 28 at Palm Meadows was Maddie's Odyssey (filly; Kitten's Joy - Personal Odyssey by Lemon Drop Kid), who registered a time of :39.00. Maddie's Odyssey is the first foal out of the winning mare Personal Odyssey. Personal Odyssey is a half-sister to 2 winners.

At Hollywood Park on March 28, Ghost Shadow (filly; Ghostzapper - Gracious Living by Pleasant Colony) worked 2 furlongs in :24.20. Ghost Shadow sold for $30,000 as a yearling, and is a half-sister to the winner Rochioli. Her dam, Gracious Living, is a half-sister to grade I winner Finder's Fee.

Returning Worker

Saintly Ways (filly; Saint Liam - Visual Art by Deputy Minister) went 3 furlongs at Keeneland in :39.60 on March 28.

Just Ben Just Wins

Just Ben (Speightstown) was off slowly, but was soon rushed up to join and then pass the early pacesetter Lean Machine. After that, it was just a matter of how many lengths the win margin would be. The answer was 7. As track announcer Larry Collmus said, "Just Ben is just awesome." Our other runner, Bear Onamission (Congaree) was 5th the whole way around. Watch the Replay.

Result: March 28, 2009
Gulfstream Park Race 1
Maiden Special Weight

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A Triumphant Flight in the San Miguel

Triumplant Flight set the early pace, stalked by Gotmymojoworkin, with Charlie's Moment not far off. Turk and Reynaldothewizard (Speightstown) were together off the pace. In the stretch, Gotmymojoworkin tired, as Turk and Reynaldothewizard came on. Triumphant Flight, however, held them all off. Reynaldothewizard finished a head behind Turk in fourth. I thought this was a decent effort for Reynaldothewizard, especially coming in off of a layoff. By the way, Flashmans Papers was 6th (last). I really think that they should stick with the turf for that one. Watch the Replay.

Result: March 28, 2009
Santa Anita Race 4
San Miguel Stakes

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Glittermans Gets the Run on Bird

Glittermans Cartel went after the early lead. He was pursued early by In My Prayers, but that one soon faded. Then, Nicanor took up the chase. Meanwhile, Birdrun (Birdstone) was lingering near the back of the pack after breaking slowly. Nicanor got within a head of Glittermans Cartel, but he couldn't or wouldn't go by that one. Nicanor still seems to be running a bit greenly, as he did come on again at the end. Making a move late was Birdrun, who finally got in gear and closed nicely to pass everyone else and take third. Watch the Replay.

Result: March 28, 2009
Gulfstream Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

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Ten Lil Indians runs away from Miss Mary K and Rue Du Bois

Miss Mary K (Speightstown) could not get the early lead this time, as she was outbroke by Ten Lil Indians. She chased that one for awhile, but tired to 4th late. Southern Dynasty and Magical Feeling tried, but there was no catching Ten Lil Indians, who pulled away by better than 5. This was just a learning experience for our other entrant, Rue Du Bois (Congaree), who was cut off at the start and encountered lots of traffic. She finished 7th, but should improve next time around. Watch the Replay.

Result: March 28, 2009
Oaklawn Race 6
Maiden Special Weight

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She's a Tough Tiger Outsmarts Marty

This one was taken off the turf, which was a disappointment, since Smarty Marty (Smarty Jones) had performed so well last time out on the turf. She's a Tough Tiger took command early. Schefflera was her closest rival. She's a Tough Tiger shook free from that one, but she was all-out to hold off Just Plain Wayne and Rock 'n' Roll Gal. Smarty Marty ran fairly evenly, finishing 7th. Watch the Replay (note that She's a Tough Tiger is called, She's a Tough Kitty, until the end).

Result: March 28, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 10
Maiden Special Weight

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Other Results for March 28

River Saar (filly; Saarland - One Neat Trick by Phone Trick) was in a good position, but weakened late to finish 6th in her Allowance/Optional Claiming race at Tamba Bay.

Missy Loves Mambo (filly; Peace Rules - Mambo Mistress by Kingmambo) finished 4th in her Allowance race at Aqueduct, but it was a very good fourth. She came running late and just missed a placing. This was a very tight finish, as the top 6 were just a length or so apart. Watch the Replay.

Kelode (colt; Saarland - Precious Jewell by Fortunate Prospect) chased the early pacesetter in his Maiden Special Weight at Tampa Bay Downs. Both the pacesetter and Kelode were passed by a closer, but Kelode did hold second.

Also finishing 2nd was Lady Bradbury (filly; Congaree - Boardwalk Baby by Gilded Time), who ran in a Maiden Claiming race at Santa Anita. She showed a lot of guts coming between horses.

98-1 Atalanta Velox (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Mandy Mack by Native Prospector) provided quite a thrill for awhile in her Maiden Special Weight contest at Santa Anita, as she led into the stretch. Alas, she weakened to ninth. But, this was not a bad effort. Watch the Replay.

Garlington (gelding; Peace Rules - Foreign Country by Sefapiano) was scratched from his Maiden Claiming race at Fair Grounds.

Entries for March 29

I won't be able to do previews for the March 29 races, but here are the entries.

Mine That Bird (gelding; Birdstone - Mining My Own - Smart Strike) and Mythical Power (colt; Congaree - School for Scandal by Is It True) will face each other and 10 others in the 1 1/8 mile Sunland Derby, post time 7:45 PM ET. Grade III winner Mine That Bird last ran on February 28 in the Borderland Derby, where he just missed the win, finishing 2nd to Scorewithcater. Scorewithcater is also entered in the Sunland Derby. Mythical Power broke his maiden in his third and most recent start, running a mile at Santa Anita on March 6. The favorite in the Sunland Derby is Mayor Marv, who won the Turf Paradise Derby in his most recent start. Read more about the Sunland Derby here.

Gabby's Golden Gal (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) will also be in action at Sunland, running in the 1 1/16 mile Sunland Park Oaks. She'll face 5 at 6:47 PM ET. Gabby's Golden Gal has run three times, recording a first, a second, and a third. Last time out, she was 2nd in a 7 furlong allowance race at Santa Anita. This will be her first stakes try.

Our fourth horse facing stakes competition is Texas Birdstone (colt; Birdstone - Imatexantoo by Ray's Pegasus), who runs in the 6 furlong Rainbow Stakes against fellow-Arkansas breds at Oaklawn, post time 4:21 PM ET. Texas Birdstone has run 6 times, recording 2 wins and a third. He last ran on January 18 at Oaklawn in a 6 furlong Allowance/Optional Claiming race, finishing 5th. In 2008, he won the Razorback Futurity while facing Arkansas-breds.

Rule of Motion (colt; Peace Rules - Poetic Motion by Green Dancer) runs in a mile and 70 yard Allowance race at Philadelphia Park, post time 3:22 PM ET. Rule of Motion last ran on March 15 in a mile and 70 yard Allowance race at Philadelphia Park, finishing 2nd. Overall, he has run 7 times with 2 wins and 3 seconds.

Smarty's Gold (colt; Smarty Jones - Mandy's Gold by Gilded Time) makes his 2nd start, going a mile and a sixteenth at Philadelphia Park in Maiden Special Weight company. Post time is 2:04 PM ET, as he'll break from post 6. First time out, Smarty's Gold finished 7th in a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Philadelphia Park. 

Verdant (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Rift Valley by Gulch) faces 6 in a mile Maiden Special Weight contest at Turfway Park, post time 3:00. Verdant has run 6 times, recording 1 2nd and 1 3rd. She last ran on February 14 at Turfway, finishing 4th.

Darlin Saarland (filly; Saarland - Rahy's Darlin by Rahy) makes her 4th start, taking on 8 in a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight race at Fonner Park, post time 4:22 PM ET. Darlin Saarland last ran on March 15 at Fonner Park, finishing 7th.

Persian (colt; Peace Rules - Lady Cheryl by Williamstown) is a Main Track Only entrant for a 5.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight contest at Fair Grounds scheduled for the turf, post time 5:11 PM ET. Persian last ran on February 28 on the Fair Grounds turf finishing 4th. He has made 9 starts, recording 2 seconds and 4 thirds.

Peace Reigns (filly; Peace Rules - Diamond Dottie by Eagle Eyed) takes on 6 in a 5.5 furlong Maiden Claiming race for fillies 3, 4, and 5 at Oaklawn Park, post time 2:30 PM ET. Peace Reigns has run 5 times without a placing. Most recently, she was 8th at Oaklawn Park on February 27, while running 6 furlongs on a sloppy track.

Smart N Lonely (filly; Smarty Jones - Lonely Girl by Relaunch) and Gallery Sculpture (filly; Birdstone - Mona Lisa Lady by El Prado (IRE)) will break from posts 1 and 2 in an about one mile Maiden Claiming contest on the Tampa Bay turf, post time 4:10 PM ET. Smart N Lonely has run once, finishing 9th in a 5.5 furlong race at Santa Anita. Gallery Sculpture will be making her debut.

Jaystone (gelding; Birdstone - Maya's Note by Editor's Note) takes on 11 in a 6 furlong Maiden Claiming race for New York-breds at Aqueduct, post time 4:55 PM ET. Jaystone has run twice. Most recently, he finished 2nd at Aqueduct on February 28, while running 6 furlongs.

Dial Four Peace (gelding; Peace Rules - Four O One Katie by Marquetry) will go 6 furlongs in a Claiming race at Golden Gate, post time 4:45 PM ET. Dial Four Peace has run 8 times, finishing first once, second once, and third once. He broke his maiden in his most recent start, on March 14 at Golden Gate.

Tiger Rules (colt; Peace Rules - Danzig Tiger by Danzig Connection) is 2nd on the AE list for a 4.5 furlong Claiming race at Charles Town, post time 4:12 PM ET. Tiger Rules has run 11 times, recording 2 wins and 2 thirds.