News

The big news of the day is that two Birdstones are being pointed to the Derby, Mine That Bird (Birdstone - Mining My Own by Smart Strike) and Summer Bird (Birdstone - Hong Kong Squall by Summer Squall). However, since they are currently #18 and #21 on the graded earnings list, there is a chance that one or both may be left out of the field. Mine That Bird finished 4th last time out in the Sunland Derby, while Summer Bird was third in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II).

New Worker

Ophiuchus (filly; Afleet Alex - Nymphenburg by San Romano) worked 3 furlongs at Payson Park in :38.00 on April 17. Stakes winner Nymphenburg, dam of Ophiuchus earned $424,715 in 20 starts. She didn't run at 2, but did win her 3-year old debut. She has produced Sergei, who was a winner at 2.

Returning Workers

April 17

Afleet Maggi (filly; Afleet Alex - Mindset by Coronado's Quest) worked 4 furlongs at Keeneland in :48.20.

Dragon Lilly (filly; Ghostzapper - Classy Cara by General Meeting) worked 3 furlongs in :39.40 at Adena Springs.

Also working 3 furlongs at Adena Springs was In This Life (filly; Ghostzapper - Spy Novel by Broad Brush), who recorded a time of :38.20.

Frankie Cal (colt; Ghostzapper - Lady Shari by Judge T C) also worked 3 furlongs, but at Keeneland in :35.60.

Cater to Kitten (colt; Kitten's Joy - Olinka by Wolfhound) worked for the first time since his 2nd place finish on April 3. He went 4 furlongs at the Churchill Downs Training track in :48.80.

Results for April 17

Crema d'Oro (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Courageous Maiden by Broad Brush) gave it a good try in her Maiden Special Weight at Aqueduct, but couldn't hold off big favorite Malibu Prayer, who won by 13. Crema d'Oro did finish 2nd. Watch the Replay.

Congo Kaye (filly; Congaree - Palau by Kingmambo) chased pacesetter Beautiful American the whole way round in their Allowance/Optional Claiming race on the Golden Gate turf, and they finished that way. In fact, there was almost no change in position among the four runners in this one. Watch the Replay.

Smart Justice (gelding; Smarty Jones - Sheza Honey by Honey Jay) was chasing early, then weakened a bit late to finish 6th in his Maiden Special Weight on the Atlantic City turf.

Catalina Way (filly; Congaree - Sound of the West by West by West) raced in mid-pack and finished 7th in her Maiden Special Weight at Hawthorne.

Jersey Town (colt; Speightstown - Jersey Girl by Belong to Me) was scratched from his Allowance race at Gulfstream.

Also scratched was Brazilionaire (colt; Congaree - Lady Siphonica by Siphon (BRZ)), who had been entered in the 10th at Keeneland.

Stakes Entries April 18

Jeranimo and Pitched Perfectly at Stake in Lexington

April 18, 2009
Keeneland Race 9
Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II)
1 1/16 miles
3-year olds
Post Time: 5:40 PM ET

Jeranimo (Congaree - Jera by Jeblar) and Pitched Perfectly (Pleasantly Perfect - Musical Minister by Deputy Minister) attempt to enter the Triple Crown conversation in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Jeranimo has made 4 starts, all this year at Santa Anita. He broke his maiden in his 2nd start, going 6.5 furlongs. He then finished 2nd in a mile and a sixteenth Allowance race on February 26, before finishing third in the San Felipe (gr. II) behind Pioneerof the Nile. Pitched Perfectly has made 5 starts, including 2 this year. He broke his maiden on December 13 at Aqueduct, going gate-to-wire at a mile and 70 yards. He then ran 4th in the Count Fleet on January 3. Most recently, he won a Allowance/Optional Claiming race at Aqueduct on January 22 while leading the whole way. Second in that race was Cliffy's Future, who later won the Rushaway Stakes.

Most of the attention in this one will be on Square Eddie (Smart Strike - Forty Gran by El Gran Senor), who won the Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland on October 4. Square Eddie also finished 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and 2nd the San Rafael (gr. III), before suffering an injury. This will be his first race back, and the biggest question may be whether he is fit enough. Square Eddie already has enough graded stakes earnings to get into the Kentucky Derby, but he needs a good showing (not necessarily a win) to prove that he's up to that challenge.

El Crespo (A. P. Indy - Commodities by Private Account) won the Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at a mile and an eighth on the Gulfstream Park turf on March 14. He had previously finished 9th in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream on the dirt. His maiden victory was also on the Gulfstream turf.

The only other stakes winner in the field is Parade Clown (Distorted Humor - Twilight Parade by El Prado (IRE)), who took the WEBN on the Turfway Polytrack on February 7. He also broke his maiden at that track. Interestingly, he finished 6th in a maiden race on the turf at Chuchill Downs on November 26 behind El Crespo, who was 2nd. Parade Clown also finished 2nd in the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway on February 28, and 4th in Lane's End (gr. II).

Advice (Chapel Royal - Word o' Wisdom by Hennessy) was a debut winner on July 3 at Arlington Park. He then finished 2nd in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. III), but was placed 3rd through disqualification. His next race was the Breeders' Futurity, where he was 9th behind Square Eddie. His 2009 debut came February 26 at Santa Anita in a mile and a sixteenth Allowance race. He was third in that race (Jeranimo was 2nd). He most recently ran in the Sunland Derby on March 29, finishing 5th behind Kelly Leak, Mythical Power, and Mine That Bird.

His Greatness (Honour and Glory - Klair Alley by Well Decorated) finished 3rd in the Illinois Derby (gr. II) in his most recent start. He also ran in the Rebel (gr. II), finishing 7th. Last year, His Greatness was 6th in the Breeders' Futurity and 7th in the Arlington-Washington Futurity. His Greatness was a debut winner at 2 while running 6 furlongs, and also won an Allowance/Optional Claiming race at 3.

Brave Victory (Lion Heart - I'm In Celebration by Copelan) finished 4th in the Swale (gr. II) on March 28 in his most recent start. He previously finished 5th in the Iroquois (gr. III) and 7th in the Champagne (gr. I). His maiden victory was a 7 length triumph at 7 furlongs at Belmont, and he also has an Allowance victory to his credit.

Masala (Lion Heart - Countess Marq by Marquetry) also finished 4th in a graded stakes in his last start. In his case, it was in the Gotham (gr. III) on March 7. That was his first stakes try. He broke his maiden at a mile in the mud at Aqueduct on November 15.

Hull (Holy Bull - Band Queen by Chimes Band) is a perfect 2 for 2 in his short career. He broke his maiden by more than 4 on February 7 at Fair Grounds, and then won an Allowance/Optional Claiming race on April 2. That race was at 6.5 furlongs at Turfway Park.

Omniscient (Pulpit - Actceptional by Noactor) finished 2nd in his debut on January 1, and then won 2 in a row. All of his races have been at Fair Grounds, and his victories both came at a mile and 40 yards.

Conservative (Unbridled's Song - Oh What A Windfall by Seeking the Gold) took 5 tries to break his maiden, but he was always in the mix (his early attempts include a 2nd behind El Crespo in that horse's maiden victory). His maiden win came in a mile and a sixteenth turf race at Gulfstream on February 8. He then won a mile Allowance race on a sloppy Gulfstream track on March 19.

Read more about the Coolmore Lexington Stakes here.

Cassidys Pride and Ameribelle Sailing to Boynton Beach

April 18, 2009
Gulfstream Race 9
Boynton Beach Stakes
1 mile turf
3-year old fillies
Post Time: 5:14 PM ET

Cassidys Pride (Medaglia d'Oro - Cassidy by Jolie's Halo) and Ameribelle (Medaglia d'Oro - Miz United States by Valid Appeal) face off in the Boyton Beach Stakes at one mile on the Gulfstream turf. This will be the first turf try, and the first stakes try for Cassidys Pride. She was a debut winner at Woodbine on September 28, and then finished 4th in an Allowance race at that track on October 16 (behind Hooh Why, recent winner of the Ashland Stakes (gr. I)). This year, she has run in two Gulfstream Allowance races, most recently winning at 6.5 furlongs on February 15. Ameribelle broke her maiden in her third start, on September 19 at Calder. She then won an Allowance race on the turf at Calder on October 17. Since then, she has run in nothing but stakes. She was 2nd on the Calder turf in the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes on November 8, 6th on the Gulfstream turf in the Sweetest Chant Stakes on January 18, and 2nd in both the Suncoast Stakes on February 14, and the Florida Oaks (gr. III) on March 14. Both of those races were at Tampa Bay Downs.

The winner of the John Franks Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes was Exe (Exchange Rate - Exaggerate by Cat Thief). She also finished 3rd in the Florida Stallion My Dear Girl Stakes on the dirt at Calder and 3rd in the Sweetest Chant Stakes on the Gulfstream turf (in front of Ameribelle). Most recently, Exe finished 6th in the Coconut Grove Stakes on the Gulfstream turf on February 15.

Oilgonewile (Montbrook - Dignified Woman by World Appeal) finished 10th, behind Exe and Ameribelle, in the John Franks Juvenile Filles Turf Stakes. She then won the Live Oak GTOBA Debutante Stakes on the Calder turf and the Sweetest Chant Stakes over Exe and Ameribelle, before finishing 2nd in the Coconut Grove Stakes also on the Gulfstream Turf. Most recently, she was 6th on that surface in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (gr. III).

Roxyana (Sky Mesa - Rubyana by Rubiano) finished 4th in Cassidys Pride's February 15 Allowance win. Roxyana then returned to win a mile Allowance race at Gulfstream on March 26. As a 2-year old, she finished 5th in the Sorority Stakes. Roxyana has never run on the turf.

My Magic Moment (Forest Wildcat - Sari by Cozzene) makes her 2009 debut in this one. As a 2-year old, she won 2 races on the turf, including the Missy Moo I Love You Stakes at Belmont on October 26. She also finished 3rd in the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. III) on the Belmont turf.

Seminole Lass (Indian Charlie - Inside Emotion by Miswaki) has made 8 starts, including 5 on the turf. She broke her maiden on that surface at 5.5 furlongs at Laurel on November 6. She also won a $50,000 Claiming race on the turf on January 18 at Gulfstream. Her lone stakes attempt was a 8th place finish in the Caressing, at a mile on the turf at Churchill Downs on November 29.

Iztaccihuatl (Chapel Royal - Southern Issue by Southern Halo) has two wins and a third in her three starts. Her wins include her most recent race on March 10, in a mile Allowance/Optional Claiming race on the Tampa Bay turf.

Miss Blakely (Smart Strike - A Bit Special (GB) by Rahy) has run 5 times, including 4 turf starts. She won two of those turf starts, including a mile and a sixteenth Allowance race at Gulfstream on March 13. This was her most recent start.

Other Entries April 18

Saarlandisourland (filly; Saarland - Crypto Kate by Tabasco Cat) faces fellow-New Yorkers in a 7 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Aqueduct, race 2. Post time is 1:28 PM ET. Saarlandisourland has not run in 2009. In 2008, she ran 7 times, finishing third once.

Hornung (gelding; Speightstown - Deb's Charm by Silver Charm) runs in a 5.5 furlong Allowance race at Woodbine at 2:36 PM ET (race 4). Hornung last ran on February 28, finishing 6th in the Borderland Derby.

Prime Time (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Sioux City by Carson City) debuts in a full field at Woodbine, race 5. Post time is 3:07 PM ET for this 6.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight. Prime Time sold for $140,000 as a yearling, and is a half-brother to stakes winner Santerra and stakes-placed Eishin Eden.

Stakes-placed Hug It Out (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Dazzling Contrast by General Meeting), Maraschino Red (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Irish Cherry by Irish Open), and Wood Violet (filly; Congaree - Nani Rose by Peteski) face each other and 9 others in a 6 furlong Allowance race at Keeneland, race 5, with a post time of 3:20 PM ET. Also in this one is Ocean Colors (filly; Orientate - Winning Colors by Caro (IRE)). Hug It Out last ran on January 12 at Fair Grounds, finishing 5th in a 6 furlongs Allowance/Optional Claiming contest. Overall, she has run 6 times, with one win, one second, and one third. Maraschino Red was a winner in her 5th and most recent start, a 6 furlong contest at Gulfstream on March 22. Wood Violet is making her 2009 debut. In 2008, she was 2nd in her debut and then was victorious on the Ellis Park turf on August 28. Ocean Colors is also making her 2009 debut. She was an impressive debut winner on June 13 at Churchill Downs, and then finished 9th in the Schuylerville (gr. III) on July 23.

Outta Speight (colt; Speightstown - Winter Garden by Roy) takes on 3 and 4 year olds in a 6 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Lone Star Park, race 4. Post time is 3:59 PM ET and he breaks from post 6. Outta Speight has made 2 starts, most recently finishing 4th at Fair Grounds on February 19.

Pearl Esque (filly; Peace Rules - Crown the Queen by Gulch) debuts at Tampa Bay Downs vs. 3-year olds and up at 5 furlongs. This Maiden Special Weight is race 9 with a post time of 4:09 PM ET. Pearl Esque sold for $72,000 as a weanling, and is a half-sister to one winner.

Speight the Halo (colt; Speightstown - Ballado's Halo by Saint Ballado) makes his 3-year old debut in a 6.5 furlong Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita, race 6. He breaks from post 6 at approximately 6:05 PM ET. Speight the Halo ran 3 times at 2, finishing 2nd twice.

Gold d'Oro (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Gold Canyon by Mr. Prospector) goes a mile and an eighth at Keeneland in race 10, a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year old fillies. Post time is 6:10 PM ET. Gold d'Oro last ran on March 22 at Gulfstream Park, finishing 4th.