News and Notes

Three-year old filly Stone Legacy (filly; Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch), famous for finishing 2nd in Rachel Alexandra's Kentucky Oaks, was back in the winner's circle today, as she won an Allowance race at Fair Grounds. It was a nice win, as she closed into a slow pace and survived some bumping from Tilodi. Watch the Replay.

Harveyetta has the Eye of a Winner

Track was fast, Mambo Aimee (Monarch's Maze - Peaceful Approval by With Approval) was the only scratch. Woke Up Smilin (Woke Up Dreamin - Madison Grace by Just a Tab), the Steve Asmussen trainee, was favored. Eyes of a Saint (Saint Liam - Eyeofthestorm by Summer Squall) was the second choice. Share the Dream (Toccet - Share the Wealth by Key to the Mint) had some pep in the paddock. Eyes of a Saint looked calm in the post parade. First-timer Asian Dream (Mingun - Greely's Dream by Mr. Greeley) warmed up strong. Share the Dream loaded with a blanket. The break was pretty even, Holy Motion (Holy Bull - Tuft of Flowers by Two Punch) won the early scramble for the lead. She was pursued by Harveyetta (Cactus Ridge - Miss Moneywise by Crafty Prospector). Bella Marie (Smoke Glacken - Beautiful by Rahy) made an early move and drew even with Holy Motion. Eyes of a Saint was in 4th and was moving. In the stretch, Harveyetta rolled to the lead. She was green, but got the win by a half-length. Eyes of a Saint made a run late to third, and galloped out strong. Harveyetta paid a nice $85.40 for the victory. In retrospect, this one was ripe for a big payoff, as the only horses taking money were Woke Up Smilin, Eyes of a Saint, and Bella Marie. Watch the Replay.

Result: December 11, 2009
Remington Park Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

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No Praise for the Monk

The track was fast, J Leonard (Closing Argument - Royal Interest by Royal Academy) and Showmanship (Yes It's True - Home From Oz by Pulpit) were scratched. Tempted to Tapit (Tapit - Tempting Note by Editor's Note) was favored, but Laus Deo (Medaglia d'Oro - Shebane by Alysheba) received a lot of attention from the bettors as well. He looked good in the warm-up. Trappist Monk (Saint Liam - Merengue by Broad Brush) was almost 92-1. It was quite chilly at Philadelphia Park and they pretty much went right to the gate. Smooth Sailing (Rock Slide - Royal Mast by Roy) went to the early lead, followed by Brasilier (Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) - Hostile Fleet by Hostage). Trappist Monk was not in the picture, but he did have one beat. Tempted to Tapit, who wasn't far off the pace, moved to the outside of Smooth Sailing and assumed the lead. But, Laus Deo was driving and moved on by for the victory. By the way, the title of the section refers to the fact that Laus Deo is Latin for "praise to god." Watch the Replay.

Result: December 11, 2009
Philadelphia Park Race 5
Maiden Special Weight

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The Friday Star

The track was fast, and there were no scratches. Vlad the Impailer (Dixie Union - Music Way by Kris S.) took the early money, but the slight favorite at post time was Park Rules (Peace Rules - Chelsea Park by El Prado (IRE)). Just behind that one on the tote board was Star Friday (Five Star Day - Feels Like Friday by Anet). Speedy Solution (Afleet Alex - Perfect Solution by Seeking the Gold) was 6-1. He looked good in the paddock. Brunnera (Southern Image - Laurie's Balada by Saint Ballado) was acting up a bit as they went to the track. Vlad the Impailer broke on top, but Star Friday took the early lead. Speedy Solution was at the back in the early stages, but it was a compact field. Vlad the Impailer was the nearest pursuer to Star Friday for the first half, but he was passed by Brunnera. Brunnera chased Star Friday all the way to the wire, but he was unable to make up any ground. Star Friday took the race by a length and a half. A weakening Vlad the Impailer just held off Park Rules for third. Speedy Solution didn't have a lot of spunk late, finishing 5th. Watch the Replay.

Result: December 11, 2009
Fair Grounds Race 3
Maiden Claiming ($40,000)

December 12 Entries

Sheltowee (colt; Saint Liam - Crafty Oak by Crafty Prospector), who has finished 2nd in his last two races, tries stakes company in the Jim Edgar Illinois Futurity at Hawthorne. Post time is 4:53 PM ET for this 1 1/16 mile race. Interestingly, the winner of Sheltowee's last start, Slewzoom, is also in this race. Overall, Sheltowee has run 5 times. In addition to the 2 seconds, he has also finished 4th twice. His last three starts have all been at a mile and a sixteenth at Hawthorne. Since his last start on November 21, he worked 4 furlongs in :49.60 at Hawthorne on December 5. Sheltowee is out of grade III winner Crafty Oak, who earned $442,155 in her career. Crafty Oak has produced 6 winners from 7 to run, including stakes winners Giant Oak and Apple Martini.

It's a Cat Fight at Aqueduct

December 12, 2009
Aqueduct Race 6
Maiden Special Weight
1 mile and 70 yards
2-year olds
New York-breds
Post Time: 2:48 PM ET HRTV/TVG

It's the battle of the Kitten's Joys at Aqueduct, as It's the Big Cat (Kitten's Joy - Sweeping Cat by End Sweep) takes on Tom Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Coax Classic by Caveat). Kitten's Joy's 41 runners have made 148 total starts, recording 26 wins, 20 seconds, 24 thirds, and $1,135,220.

It's the Big Cat has run twice. He was 6th in his debut at 5.5 furlongs on the Saratoga turf on August 6, and then finished 2nd at a mile on the dirt at Aqueduct on November 25. Since then, he's worked 4 furlongs in :49.43 at Belmont. It's the Big Cat was a $50,000 2-year old, and is the first foal out of stakes-placed Sweeping Cat. Sweeping Cat is a half-sister to 4 winners, including stakes winner Tejati, and graded stakes-placed winners Pajamas and Alex's Disaster.

Tom Kitten was 3rd in his only start, running a mile and a sixteenth on the turf at Aqueduct on November 11. He's worked a couple of times since then, including 4 furlongs in :49.82 at Belmont on November 30. Tom Kitten sold for $30,000 as a yearling, and is out of stakes winner Coax Classic. Coax Classic has produced 10 winners from 12 to run, including stakes winner Silent Emotion. Two siblings of Tom Kitten won at 2.

AEs I'm Hooked Up (Hook and Ladder - Uppity by Colony Light) and D'argento (Eurosilver - Wilusa by Vigors) finished 4th and 5th, behind It's the Big Cat, on November 25 at Aqueduct. These 2 also met in a mile race at Aqueduct on November 14, with I'm Hooked Up finishing 6th and D'argento 7th. I'm Hooked Up has two additional starts to his credit, finishing 6th on the Belmont turf on October 15, and 9th on the Saratoga dirt on August 24. He sold for $15,000 as a 2-year old. He is a half-brother to 5 winners, including stakes winners Two Sixty Four and Vain Vixen. Three of I'm Hooked Up siblings won at 2. D'argento previously finished 12th at Belmont on October 24, and 7th on the Belmont turf on September 17. He is by freshman sire Eurosilver, whose 57 runners have made 177 total starts, recording 17 wins, 22 seconds, 32 thirds, and $387,436. Wilusa, dam of D'argento, was stakes-placed. Wilusa has produced 6 winners from 7 to run, including stakes winner Wiry Willie. Two of D'argento's siblings won at 2.

Neversaywhen (Chief Seattle - Grand Tomorrow by Dixieland Heat) and Eire's Run (Performing Magic - Tiz Paula by Tiznow) finished 2nd and 4th on a muddy track at Aqueduct on November 14, in front of I'm Hooked Up and D'argento. Neversaywhen previously finished 4th on the Belmont dirt on October 24, 8th on the Belmont Park turf on October 7, and 3rd on the Belmont dirt on September 12. He is the second foal out of the unplaced mare Grand Tomorrow. Grand Tomorrow is a half-sister to 2 winners, including stakes winner Wooden Wagon. Eire's Run has made 6 starts in all, finishing 3rd three times. One third-place finish was on the turf, and two were on the dirt. He is the first foal out of the unraced mare Tiz Paula. Tiz Paula is a daughter of stakes winner Paula's Girl.

Good to Be Me (A. P Jet - Pierpont Account by Private Account) finished 4th, behind Tom Kitten, on the Aqueduct turf on November 11. Previously, he had run on the Belmont dirt on October 24, finishing 6th. Subsequently, he finished 3rd on the turf at Aqueduct on November 28. He is out of the winning mare Pierpont Account, who has produced 6 winners, including 2 full-brothers to Good to Be Me.

Johannesburg Smile (Johannesburg - Serenity's Smile by Dixie Brass) and Thousand Excuses (Millennium Wind - Cantrell Road by Atticus) finished 4th and 5th in a 6 furlong race at Aqueduct on November 22. Johannesburg Smile previously finished 4th on a muddy track at Belmont Park on October 24. He is the second foal out of stakes-placed Serenity's Smile, who earned $178,634. Serenity's Smile's first foal is stakes winner Stormy's Smile, winner of the Maid of the Mist Stakes at 2. Thousand Excuses is the first foal out of the winning mare Cantrell Road. Cantrell Road is a half-sister to 5 winners.

Backcountry Boy (Smarty Jones - Beautiful America by Dixie Brass) finished 5th on a muddy Belmont Park track on October 24, behind Johannesburg Smile. Backcountry Boy was the even money favorite in that one. He previously finished 2nd at Saratoga on August 30 and 5th at Belmont on September 23. Stakes winner Beautiful America, dam of Backcountry Boy, won 4 races at 2, including 3 stakes, and earned $523,927 overall. Backcountry Boy is her second foal. Her first foal, Scorch the Torch, is a winner.

L L Flying Notes (Read the Footnotes - Six Tales by Tale of the Cat) has run twice, finishing 4th both at 5.5 furlongs at Belmont on October 15, and at 6 furlongs at Aqueduct on November 7. He sold for $2,200 as a yearling, but for $24,000 as a 2-year old. He is a half-brother to 2 winners. His dam, Six Tales, is a half-sister to 7 winners, including stakes winner New Capricorn and Lady Six, a group III winner in Brazil.

Castaneda (Yonaguska - Winloc's Gramie by Belong to Me) made his one and only start back on April 23 at Keeneland, where he finished 6th in a 4.5 furlong race. He is out of the winning mare Winloc's Gramie, who has produced the winner Danzaway. Winloc's Gramie is also a half-sister to 9 winners.

Patti's Kitten seeks a Major Award in the Union Army

December 12, 2009
Turfway Park Race 11
Maiden Special Weight
1 mile
2-year olds
Post Time: 5:45 PM ET TVG

Patti's Kitten (Kitten's Joy - Hillary Step by Chimes Band) makes his second start in this mile race at Turfway Park. First time out, he finished 2nd in a 7 furlong Maiden Claiming race at Keeneland on October 21. Since then, he's worked 4 times, including 5 furlongs in 1:00.00 on December 5 at Turfway. He is out of the winning mare Hillary Step, who was a winner at 2. Hillary Step has produced 3 winners from 4 to run, including grade I winner Dawn of War. Two of Patti's Kitten's siblings won at 2. Kitten's Joy's 41 runners have made 148 combined starts, recording 26 wins, 20 seconds, 24 thirds, and $1,135,220.

Pronto Caballo (Cactus Ridge - Jorja's Prospect by Prospect Bay) has run 4 times. His best finish was 3rd his debut, at 5.5 furlongs on the Ellis Park turf on September 5. Most recently, he finished 5th in the mud at Churchill Downs on November 18. He 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.

Buddha's Lyrics (Buddha - Lyrics 'n Laughter by Stop the Music) has made 3 starts, all at Churchill Downs. He finished 5th at 4.5 furlongs on May 22, 3rd at 5 furlongs on June 25, and 4th at 6 furlongs on November 26. He is out of the winning mare Lyrics 'n Laughter, who earned $136,300. Lyrics 'n Laughter has produced 2 winners, including Lyrical Buddha, a full-brother to Buddha's Lyrics.

Patsy's Prom Date (Repent - Jilli's Dream by Out of Place) ran in a different 6 furlong race at Churchill Downs on November 26. He finished 11th in what was his only start. He sold for $10,000 as a yearling, and is out of the winning mare Jilli's Dream. Jilli's Dream was a winner at 2, and earned $170,006 overall. Jilli's Dream has produced 2 winners, one of which won at 2.

Halo Casper (Silver Ghost - Toot's Classic by Well Decorated) has run twice, both times at Churchill Downs. He finished 10th at 6 furlongs on November 1, and 9th at a mile on Churchill Downs. He is out of the winning mare Toot's Classic, who has produced 3 winners from 4 to run. Two of Halo Casper's siblings won at 2.

Vow to Wager (Broken Vow - Wage a Penny by Valid Wager) has also run two times, finishing 6th at a mile at Turfway Park on October 4, and 5th at a mile and a sixteenth on November 14 at Churchill Downs. Stakes winner Wage a Penny, dam of Vow to Wager, won 3 races at 2, including the Tippett Stakes. Wage a Penny is also a full-sister to 2 winners, and half-sister to 7 winners.

Van Goal (Van Nistelrooy - Cissy Blair by Dallasite) is another with two starts, but his previous running was done on the turf. He finished 6th at 5.5 furlongs at Ellis Park on July 12, and 9th at a mile and an eighth on November 28 at Churchill Downs. Van Goal sold for $30,000 as a weanling, and is out of the winning mare Cissy Blair. Cissy Blair has produced 3 winners, including stakes winner Blarin Speed. Blarin Speed was a winner at 2.

Tap N Point (Point Given - Tap to Talk by Pleasant Tap) finished 4th in his lone start, a 7 furlong contest at Churchill Downs on November 15. He is the first foal out of the winning mare Tap to Talk. Tap to Talk is a half-sister to 5 winners, including grade II winner Monkey Puzzle.

Major Award (Lost Soldier - War Special by Stalwars) was 10th in his only start, a 7 furlong race at Keeneland on October 29. He is the first foal out of the winning mare War Special. War Special is a full-sister to stakes winners Scout Me and Special Appeal and winner Cosmic Secrets, and a half-sister to 7 winners, including grade III winner Wildly Special.

Completing the field are unraced entrants Union Army (Dixie Union - King's Fancy by King of Kings (IRE)), Black Patch (Chief Seattle - Irish Ginger by Wavering Monarch), and Mr Tiz (Tiznow - Epithet by Gulch). Union Army sold for $150,000 as a yearling, and is out of the winning mare King's Fancy. King's Fancy is a half-sister to 5 winners, including stakes winners Dixie Pearl and Cornish Snow. Black Patch is out of the winning mare Irish Ginger, who was a winner at 2. Irish Ginger is a half-sister to 4 winners, and a full-sister to stakes-placed Here's Ya Mama. Mr Tiz sold for $58,000 as a yearling, and is a half-brother to 2 winners, including grade III stakes-placed Acceleration. Acceleration won 2 races at 2, and earned $134,572 overall. Epithet, dam of Mr Tiz, is a half-sister to grade III winner Runspastum.

Other December 12 Entries

Russian Kitten (filly; Kitten's Joy - Nikita by Slew City Slew) runs in race 3 at Turfway Park, a mile Maiden Claiming race (Claiming Price $7,500). Post time is 2:04 PM ET. Russian Kitten most recently finished 3rd at 6 furlongs at Turfway Park on December 4.

Vivacious Anna (filly; Afleet Alex - Petite Chatte by Storm Cat), who broke her maiden last time out on November 25 at Charles Town, faces winners for the first time in race 1 at that track. Post time for this 6. 5 furlong Claiming race is 7:15 PM ET.

December 11

Fast Alex (colt; Afleet Alex - Unaffordable by Unbridled) worked at Fair Grounds, 4 furlongs in :50.60.

At Fair Grounds, Mountain Justice (colt; Afleet Alex - Just Fun by Dehere) worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.00.

Ghostwalking (colt; Ghostzapper - Two Trail Sioux by Indian Charlie) worked at Payson Park, 3 furlongs in :37.20.

Fed Up (colt; Rock Hard Ten - Perdition by Dixieland Band) worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.20 at Fair Grounds.

At Santa Anita, Kevlar Kid (gelding; Rock Hard Ten - Lianda by Danzig) worked 4 furlongs in :51.80.

At Palm Meadows, Krypton (colt; Rock Hard Ten - Freedom Reigns by Unbridled's Song) went 4 furlongs in :50.60 on the turf. It was the fastest of 14 works at the distance and service.

Saint Eligius (colt; Saint Liam - Great Connection by Dayjur) worked 3 furlongs in :38.40 on the turf at Vinery Stable.

At Payson Park, Seruni (colt; Saint Liam - Lady Melesi by Colonial Affair) worked 4 furlongs in :49.40.