News and Notes

The 3-year old colt Birdrun (colt; Birdstone - Run Like Martha by Jolie's Halo) won his second race today by 8 1/4 lengths, setting a new track record of 1:39.38 for 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park. Watch the Replay. Read more about this record-setting performance here.

Patti's Kitten Can't Overcome the Final Ending

Talk to Nick (Canadian Frontier - Madam C E O by Corporate Report) was scratched. Patti's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Hillary Step by Chimes Band) and his entrymate, Final Ending (Omega Code - Romaca by Kris S.), were favored at even money. Hooten Town Hill (Monashee Mountain - Poquito Nikawa by Parade Ground) was acting up in the paddock. Patti's Kitten looked good. He's a chestnut with a big white blaze, like many of the Kitten's Joys. At the break, it was longshot Doniphon (Olmodavor - Irgun's Trial by Irgun) on top, with Final Ending and Show Trial (Purge - Moody Royal by Dr. Adagio) pursuing. Patti's Kitten was a long way back, trailing the field. Final Ending surged to the lead in the stretch. But, who was that moving on the far outside? Yep, it was Patti's Kitten. He passed 9 horses, but couldn't quite get by his entrymate. If it would have been 7.5 furlongs, Patti's Kitten would have been a winner. Watch the Replay.

Result: October 21, 2009
Keeneland Race 1
Maiden Claiming ($30,000)

Allowance Entries

Bear's Hard Ten (colt; Rock Hard Ten - Playforme by Gone West), who broke his maiden last time out at 7 furlongs at Woodbine on October 2, runs in race 2 at that track. Post time is 1:28 PM ET for this 6.5 furlong test on the Polytrack. Bear's Hard Ten most recently worked on October 16 at Woodbine, going 5 furlongs in 1:02.60.

Afleet Maggi (filly; Afleet Alex - Mindset by Coronado's Quest) takes on 10 in race 7 at Keeneland. Post time is 4:11 PM ET for this 6 furlong race. Last time out, Afleet Maggi finished 4th in the 6 furlong Presque Isle Debutante Stakes on September 26. She had earlier broken her maiden at Saratoga on August 30, while running 5.5 furlongs. Her most recent work was on October 16 at Keeneland, when she went 4 furlongs in :51.00.

Maiden Entries

Mountain Justice is the Chief Counsel for Mickejoe

October 22, 2009
Keeneland Race 3
Maiden Special Weight
About 7 furlongs
2-year olds
Post Time: 2:07 PM ET TVG

Mountain Justice (Afleet Alex - Just Fun by Dehere), who has been working at Keeneland, debuts at about 7 furlongs at that track. His most recent work came on October 19, when he went 3 furlongs in :36.00. Mountain Justice sold for $75,000 as a yearling, and is out of the winning mare Just Fun. Just Fun has produced 2 winners from 2 to run. Just Fun is also a half-sister to 10 winners, including stakes winner Have Fun. Afleet Alex's 45 runners have made 119 total starts, recording 10 wins, 18 seconds, 13 thirds, and $576,625.

Chief Counsel (Officer - Format by Furiously) has placed in all three of his starts. He was 2nd at Saratoga on August 15, and 3rd at Saratoga on September 2. He then ran in the Monmouth Park NATC Futurity at 6 furlongs on September 26, finishing 3rd. Chief Counsel sold for $75,000 as a yearling, and $230,000 as a 2-year old, and is the first foal out of stakes winner Format. Format won her only race at 2, and is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Mickejoe (Bernstein - Harmattan by Thunder Gulch) is the most experienced entrant. He has run 7 times, including a second in his debut at Keeneland back on April 16. He has finished 3rd in his last 4 starts, most recently at a mile at Presque Isle Downs on September 23. Mickejoe is a half-brother to 3 winners, and his dam, Harmattan, is a half- or full-sister to 11 winners, including grade III winner Free At Last.

Pronto Caballo (Cactus Ridge - Jorja's Prospect by Prospect Bay) made his previous starts on the turf. He finished 3rd on firm turf at Ellis Park on September 5, and 6th on soft turf at Kentucky Downs on September 21. Pronto Caballo is out of the winning mare Jorja's Prospect, who has produced winner Jorga's Song. Jorja's Prospect is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Rusticity (Kutsa - Rustic Decor by Well Decorated) also has experience on the turf. He finished 10th on that surface at Ellis Park on August 29. He previously ran on the Ellis Park dirt on August 15, finishing 7th. Rusticity is out of the winning mare Rustic Decor, who is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Another 2 race veteran is Northern Giant (Giant's Causeway - Jessi Take Charge by War Chant). He was 9th on August 22 and 6th on September 5. Both starts were at Saratoga. A $150,000 yearling, Northern Giant is the 2nd foal out of the unraced mare Jessi Take Charge. Jessi Take Charge is a half-sister to 4 winners, including stakes winners Eventail and Commendation, and grade I winner Take Charge Lady. Take Charge Lady won her first 3 races at 2, including the Alcibiades (gr. II).

The rest are unraced, including Dr. Hudson (Seeking the Gold - Career Fair by Storm Cat), who brought $220,000 as a yearling. He is the first foal out of the unplaced mare Career Fair. Career Fair is a full-sister to stakes winner Mr. Mabee. She is also a half-sister to 5 winners, including grade I winners River Flyer and Victory Ride.

Selling for $80,000 as a weanling was Spoon River Lew (Maria's Mon - Stolen Pleasures by Marfa). He is a half-brother to 4 winners, including stakes winner Pirate of Penzance. Three of his siblings won at 2, and 2 were debut winners that season.

First Dude (Stephen Got Even - Run Sarah Run by Smart Strike) is out of stakes-placed Run Sarah Run, who was a debut winner at 2. Run Sarah Run earned $181,22 in 26 starts, and has produced the winner Via Veneto. Via Veneto was also a debut winner at 2.

Three on the Belmont Turf: The Mailet, Deanallen'skitten, and La Cloche

October 22, 2009
Belmont Race 4
Maiden Special Weight
1 1/16 miles turf
2-year old fillies
Post Time: 2:32 PM ET HRTV/TVG

Three Maiden Watch entrants in this one at Belmont, scheduled for a mile and a sixteenth on the turf: The Mailet (Rock Hard Ten - Emerging Glory by Smarten), Deanaallen'skitten (Kitten's Joy - Miss Carmella (IRE) by Carmelite House), and La Cloche (Ghostzapper - Memories of Silver by Silver Hawk). The large number of MTOs make me wonder if the management is expecting rain. Weather.com says no.

The Mailet has run twice, finishing 6th on a sloppy track at Saratoga on August 29, and 8th at Belmont on October 4. This will be her first turf try. The Mailet was a $75,000 yearling, and is out of the mare Emerging Glory, who was a winner at 2. Emerging Glory is the dam of three winners, including the 3-year old Speightstown filly Town Glory. Two of The Mailet's siblings won at 2. Rock Hard Ten's 20 runners have run 46 combined times, recording 5 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds, and $258,743.

Deanaallen'skitten was third in her only race, a 1 1/16 mile turf race at Belmont on September 25. Lisa's Kitten was the winner of that one. Deanaallen'skitten has worked a couple of times since her debut, including 4 furlongs in :49.00 on October 15, on the dirt training track at Saratoga. Deanaallen'skitten is out of the mare Miss Carmella, a winner on the turf. Miss Carmella has produced 2 winners, including grade III stakes-placed Darling Daughter. Kitten's Joy has had 35 starters, which have run 103 total times, recording 18 wins, 17 seconds, 16 thirds, and $743,937.

La Cloche has run twice, finishing 10th on the dirt at Saratoga on August 2, and 2nd at 7 furlongs on the Belmont Park turf on September 16. Since then, she's been working at Belmont, including 5 furlongs in 1:04.12 on October 15. Grade I Turf winner Memories of Silver, dam of La Cloche, earned $1,448,715 in a 19 race career. Memories of Silver has produced turf stakes winners British Blue and War Trace. Ghostzapper's 17 runners have made 36 total starts, recording 6 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, and $241,674.

March Mischief (Smart Strike - March Magic by Evansville Slew) finished 2nd, in front of Deanaallen'skitten, at a mile and a sixteenth on the Belmont turf on September 25. It was her only start. Grade II winner March Magic, dam of March Mischief, earned $638,290 in 22 starts. She was also a winner at 2. March Mischief has produced the winner McMagic.

Far Isle (Indian Charlie - Meine Cosmos (IRE) by Caerleon) finished 3rd, behind La Cloche, at 7 furlongs on the Bemont turf on September 16. Previously, she was 3rd on the dirt at Saratoga on August 30. She sold for $165,000 as a yearling, and is out of the placed mare Meine Cosmos. Meine Cosmos is a half-sister to grade I winner Unbridled's Song and three other winners. Unbridled's Song won 2 out of 3 at 2, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Angel's Cove (More Than Ready - Minge Cove by Sandpit (BRZ)) has run twice on the turf. She was 3rd at 5.5 furlongs at Saratoga on September 3, and 2nd at a mile at Laurel on October 1. Angel's Cove was a $60,000 yearling, and is the first foal out of turf stakes winner Minge Cove. Minge Cove is also a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winner Nasty Hero and grade III winner Mint.

Performing (Smart Strike - Scorching by Dynaformer) has also run twice, finishing 5th on the dirt on September 16, and 6th on the turf on October 7. Both starts were at a mile at Belmont. She is out of the winning mare Scorching. Scorching has produced 2 winners from 3 to run, including a full-brother to Performing. One of Performing's siblings was a winner on the turf at 2. Scorching is also a half-sister to 2 winners, The Hess Express, stakes-placed on the turf and dirt.

Lost At Dawn (Action This Day - My Honest Mistake by Alwuhush) debuted on the dirt at Delaware Park on September 19, finishing 6th. She then ran at a mile and 70 yards on the turf at the Meadowlands on October 5, finishing 4th. She is out of the turf winning mare My Honest Mistake. My Honest Mistake has produced 2 winners. My Honest Mistake is also a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes winner Storm Commander.

Completing the main body of the race is unraced Empire Spring (Empire Maker - Our Rite of Spring by Stravinsky). Our Rite of Spring, dam of Empire Spring, was placed at 2 and a stakes winner at 3, while earning $141,000 overall. Empire Spring is her first foal. Our Rite of Spring is a half-sister to 4 winners, including grade I winner Hard Spun.

MTO Joanie Baloney (Stephen Got Even - Angel in de Skies by Dixieland Band) finished 8th at a mile on the Belmont turf on October 7, behind Performing. It was her only start. She sold for $15,000 as a weanling, and is a half-sister to the winner Suspicious Angel. Her dam, Angel in de Skies, is a half-sister to 3 winners, including stakes winner Excuse.

MTOs Kind Words (A. P. Indy - Cara Rafaela by Quiet American) and Summer Humor (Distorted Humor - Summer Colony by Summer Squall) finished 8th and 9th in a 7 furlong race at Saratoga on September 6. It was the first and only race for both. Kind Words is a full-sister to champion Bernardini, and a half-sister to three winners. Two of her siblings were winners at 2. Her dam, Cara Rafaela, was a grade I winner at 2, winning the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) that year. She also won the Alcibiades (gr. II) and finished 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Grade I winner Summer Colony, dam of Summer Humor, earned $1,448,930 in 24 starts. She is a half-sister to 2 winners, including stakes-placed Colonial Causeway.

MTO Anchorage (Tapit - Cross Your Heart by Miswaki) has also run once, finishing 7th on a sloppy Belmont track on September 27. She brought $540,000 as a 2-year old in training, and is out of the winning mare Cross Your Heart. Cross Your Heart has produced 2 winners, including stakes-placed Aviv. Both of her winners won at 2. Cross Your Heart is also a half-sister to stakes winner Threshold and grade II winner Broken Vow.

Completing the MTO list are unraced fillies Guru (Posse - Storm Tracer by Pulpit) and Weak Dollar Policy (Fusaichi Pegasus - Broad Path by Broad Brush). Guru is the first foal out of the unraced mare Storm Tracer. Storm Tracer is a half- or full-sister to 7 winners, including stakes winners Field Cat and Estevan. Weak Dollar Policy sold for $30,000 as a weanling, $40,000 as a yearling, and $120,000 as a 2-year old. She is out of the winning mare Broad Path, who has produced 2 winners, including Peggy Sus Path, a full-sister to Weak Dollar Policy.

Other Maiden Entries

Nittany Kitten (colt; Kitten's Joy - Teach by Pine Bluff) makes his second start, facing 11 in a Maiden Claiming race at Penn National, race 2. Post time is 7:09 PM ET for this 5.5 furlong contest. First time out, Nittany Kitten finished 8th in a 5.5 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Penn National on September 2. Since then, he's worked a couple of times, including 5 furlongs in 1:02.60 at Penn National on October 2.

Cat Ruler (colt; Kitten's Joy - Grindstone Lassie by Grindstone) faces 13 in a 6.5 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Retama. Post time is 9:37 PM ET. Cat Ruler has run 3 times. His best finish was 2nd at Columbus on September 7. Most recently, he was 5th at a mile at Retama on October 9. His last two starts were scheduled for the turf, but were run on the main track. This one is scheduled for the main track.

New Worker

October 20

New to this blog, Afleet Express (colt; Afleet Alex - Expanse by Distant View) went 4 furlongs in :49.26 at Belmont. It was his 4th official work. Afleet Express sold for $245,000 as a yearling, and is out of stakes-placed Expanse, who was a debut winner at 2. Expanse has produced 3 winners from 3 to run, including stakes winner Reporting for Duty.

October 21

Afleet Frio (filly; Afleet Alex - Frio Town by Kerosene) worked 3 furlongs in :37.60 at Highpoint Farm and Training Center. She also worked 3 furlongs there on October 13, recording a time of :38.00. Afleet Frio is a half-sister to 4 winners, including grade II winner Beau's Town.

Hot Kitten (filly; Kitten's Joy - Tabby Cat by Tabasco Cat) worked at Hawthorne, 3 furlongs in :40.00. She is a half-sister to 3 winners. Her dam, Tabby Cat, is a half-sister to 6 winners, including grade II winner All Chatter.

Also working 3 furlongs in :40.00 at Hawthorne was Scottish Kitten (filly; Kitten's Joy - Glasgow by Menifee). She is the first foal out of the winning mare Glasgow. Glasgow is a full-sister to one winner, and a half-sister to one winner.

Returning Workers

October 21

At Delaware Park, Afleet of Angels (filly; Afleet Alex - Come On Bid by Spectacular Bid) went 4 furlongs in :49.20.

At Bowie, Itineris (colt; Afleet Alex - Kafaf by Zilzal) worked a mile in 1:48.00.

La Gran Bailadora (filly; Afleet Alex - Affirmed Dancer by Affirmed) went 3 furlongs in :36.60 at Keeneland.

William Paley (colt; Afleet Alex - My Sweet Country by Bold Ruckus) worked 4 furlongs at Belmont, recording a time of :53.01.

Daddy Forty Nine (colt; Ghostzapper - Tuff Chick by Wild Again) worked 4 furlongs in :51.40 at Churchill Downs.

At Saratoga, Pacific Ocean (colt - Ghostzapper - Miss Salsa by Unbridled) went 4 furlongs in :49.15.

At Belmont, Seeking the Ghost (filly; Ghostzapper - Questress by Seeking the Gold) went 4 furlongs in :50.12.

Tom Kitten (colt; Kitten's Joy - Coax Classic by Caveat) worked at Saratoga, 4 furlongs in :52.80.

At Hawthorne, Aditsan (filly; Rock Hard Ten - Dixie Bay by Dixieland Band) went 4 furlongs in :49.20.

Dixie Rocks (filly; Rock Hard Ten - Dixie Doree by Dixie Brass) went 4 furlongs in :50.35 at Saratoga.

At Fair Grounds, Hazards of Love (colt; Saint Liam - Spring Rush by Wild Rush) went 4 furlongs in :49.60.

Lacrosse Player (colt; Saint Liam - Almost Saintly by St. Jovite) worked at Remington Park, 4 furlongs in :48.94.

At Santa Anita, Saintly Seoul (colt; Saint Liam - Seoul by Deputy Minister) went 3 furlongs in :35.80. It was the fastest of 12 works at the distance.

Upgrade (colt; Saint Liam - Emily Ring by Fit to Fight) went 4 furlongs in :49.15 at Saratoga.

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