Needless to Say (Peace Rules) was scratched from his race at Philadelphia Park. The winner was Saintly Rose.

On June 23, Maiden Watch debuts at Saratoga in style, with two horses in the Schuylerville, Collegiate (Saarland) and Renda. Plus, In Speight of It (Speightstown) makes his first start.

Collegiate and Renda Seek Stakes Glory at Saratoga

July 23, 2008
Saratoga Race 9
Schuylerville Stakes (gr. III)
6 furlongs
2 Year Old Fillies
Post Time: 5:30 PM HRTV/TVG

Maiden Watch horses Collegiate (Saarland - La Sorbonne (ARG) by Southern Halo) and Renda (Medaglia d'Oro - Ten Carats by Capote) are among 11 seeking victory in the Schuylerville (gr. III), the feature race opening day at Saratoga. Collegiate comes into the race off of a wire-to-wire victory at Belmont on June 19. Renda broke her maiden on May 31 and subsequently finished a good 5th in the Debutante (gr. III) on June 28. Interestingly, both fillies were the first winners for their respective sires. Neither horse has been working at Saratoga (Collegiate has been working at Belmont, Renda at Calder).

Favored in the field is Winning Colors' daughter, Ocean Colors (Orientate - Winning Colors by Caro (IRE)) who broke her maiden in her only start on June 13 at Churchill Downs.

Other runners familiar to Maiden Watch readers include Jardin (Montbrook - Unlimited Pleasure by Valid Appeal), a winner in her only start on June 24, Cameron Crazies (Lion Heart - D Hail Mary by Defensive Play), a winner in one of three starts who was 6th in the Debuante, and Girlfrienontheside (Indian Charlie - Refrain by Unbridled's Song) who broke her maiden on June 3 and finished 2nd in the Astoria (9 lengths behind the winner) on June 29.

The field features one maiden, Mine All Mine (Belong to Me - Pulcinella by Unbridled), who has also been entered in a Maiden race at Saratoga on July 24. Mine All Mine has started 3 times, recording 1 second. She also finished 6th in the Ketucky Stakes against the boys.

Read more about the Schuylerville here.

In Speight of It may be Gone Astray for a Brave Victory

July 23, 2008
Saratoga Race 2
Maiden Special Weight
5.5 furlongs
2 Year Olds
Post Time: 1:33 PM HRTV/TVG

In Speight of It (Speightstown - Honest Deceiver by Is it True) debuts at Saratoga in a field mostly filled with first-timers. Speightstown's 6 runners have made 8 total starts with 3 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds. In Speight of It was a $140,000 2-year old. Honest Deceiver, dam of In Speight of It, was a debut winner at 2. She also won stakes at 2 and 4 and earned $150,958. Honest Deceiver is a half-sister to grade I stakes winner and millionaire, Yes It's True. As a 2-year old, Yes It's True was a debut winner and won or placed in 7 stakes including wins in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (gr. III) and the Sapling (gr. III).

Cognito (Langfuhr - Coral Sea by Rubiano), who finished 2nd in his only start at Churchill Downs on June 27, brought $700,000 as a 2-year old. He is a half-brother to Cool Coal Man who won the Fountain of Youth (gr. II) in February and most recently won the Spend a Buck on June 14. In addition to this 3-year old success, Cool Coal Man also won two races as a 2-year old. Cognito and Cool Coal Man's dam, Coral Sea, was a winner of $129,010 and has produced 3 additional winners.

Finishing 8th in his only start on June 19 at Churchill Downs was Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus - Beautiful Treasure by Unbridled). Flying Private, who sold for $700,000 as a yearling, is out of a mare who was stakes-placed as a 2-year old and earned $65,025 overall. Flying Private is half-brother to one winner.

The remaining entrants are unraced, including two by first-year stallions, Prince Teton (Teton Forest - Princess Sequoia by Cherokee Run) and Brave Victory (Lion Heart - I'm in Celebration by Copelan). Prince Teton, who sold for $130,000 as a yearling and $200,000 as 2-year old, is by Teton Forest. Teton Forest has sired 3 runners who have made 4 total starts, recording 1 win. Prince Teton is the first foal out of a winning mare who is half-sister to 5 winners including stakes winners Meter Maid and Barilko. Meter Maid earned $557,698 in a career that included a win in the Gardenia (gr. III). Barilko was 4 for 4 as a 2-year old, including 3 stakes wins. Selling for $200,000 as a yearling was Lion Heart's son, Brave Victory. Lion Heart's 21 runners have made a combined 37 starts, registering 11 wins, 4 seconds, and 4 thirds. I'm in Celebration, dam of Brave Victory, was a winner and has produced 8 winners including stakes winners Nice to Know and Cheers and Tears.

Selling for $700,000 as a 2-year old was Zensational (Unbridled's Song - Joke by Phone Trick) whose dam, Joke, was a stakes winner who earned $121,674. Joke also won 2 races as a 2-year old and is a half-sister to stakes winners Trip and Laity.

Pious David (Aldebaran - Hamba by Easy Goer) was a $180,000 yearling and is a half-brother to Monba, winner of the 2008 Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). Monba also won 2 races as a 2-year old. Pious David and Monba are out of a winning mare who has produced 5 winners.

Bringing $65,000 as a yearling was Forest Lord (Forest Camp - Texas Silk by Houston) who is a half-brother to 4 winners.

Gone Astray's (Dixie Union - Illicit by Mr. Prospector) dam, Illicit, is a daughter of champion and millionaire Inside Information. Gone Astray is a half-brother to one winner, stakes-placed Contentious.

2-Year Old Works

New to this blog

July 22

Desert Fox (colt; Saarland - Sandshell by Silver Hawk) worked 3 furlongs in :36.60. Desert Fox, who sold for $57,000 as a 2-year old, is a half-brother to 3 winners.

Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

July 22

Hoopoe (Birdstone - Allou by Seattle Slew) - Saratoga, 4 furlongs (gate), :50.84.

Da Bear Facts (colt; Congaree - Impending Bear by Farma Way) - Presque Isle Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.80.

King Congo (colt; Congaree - Hansels' Star by Hansel) - Emerald Downs, 4 furlongs; :51.60.

Rue Du Bois (filly; Congaree - Aroz by Fappiano) - Delaware Park, 5 furlongs, 1:01.20.

Dreams d'Oro (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Morning Time by Gilded Time) - Lone Star Park, 3 furlongs, :38.00.

Gold Aly (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Bangled by Alysheba) - Hollywood Park, 5 furlongs, 1:02.80.

Min d'Oro (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Min Elreeh by Danzig) - Aqueduct, 4 furlongs, :49.31.

L.A. Rules (colt; Peace Rules - L. a. Explosion by Honour and Glory) - Woodbine, 5 furlongs, 1:03.40.

R B Keep Peace (filly; Peace Rules - Mrs. M by Mecke) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :36.20.

Tiger Rules (colt; Peace Rules - Danzig Tiger by Danzig Connection) - Fair Hill, 4 furlongs, :49.00.

Into My Soul (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Stop Traffic by Cure the Blues) - Saratoga, 3 furlongs, :35.72.

Pamona Ball (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Fireman's Ball by Hennessy) - Del Mar, 5 furlongs, 1:00.40.

Saarman (colt; Saarland - Mil Kilates by Gold Alert) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :49.60.

Mission Gap (colt; Speightstown - Chase Gap by Mission Gap) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3 furlongs, :36.20.

Dukes Alley (colt; Speightstown - Mount Hillaby by Colonial Affair) - Winding Oaks Farm, 2 furlongs, :23.80.

Speight of Hand (colt; Speightstown - Hitch by Cox's Ridge) - Saratoga, 4 furlongs, :50.23.

Town Glory (filly; Speightstown - Emerging Glory by Smarten) - Delaware Park, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

Wickedly Spicey (filly; Speightstown - Star of Wicklow by Fast Play) - Saratoga, 5 furlongs, 1:02.85.

Persian got out of the gate well and raced near the front for a bit before tiring.  It was encouraging that he remained in fourth and didn't fall back farther.  The winner was the top-seller from the race, Segal who started a bit slowly but soon took the lead.  He then drew off like a horse with a promising future, to win by 4.  Screen Your Friend, who was 4th on April 18, improved to take 2nd.  The filly, Mar Fina, broke awkwardly and was never much involved, finishing last.  Out of the Van was scratched.

Result: May 7, 2008 
Churchill Downs Race 5

Equibase Chart

The Cowboy Runs Again

Katolak Cowboy (colt; Saarland - Tide Cat by Storm Cat) who finished 7th in his debut on April 20, becomes our first return runner. He will again try 2 furlongs at Woodbine. Three of his opponents are back, Tin Pan Alley Cat who finished 5th, Player's List who was 8th, and Can'tstopthiscat who finished 3rd. Interestingly, the filly Can'tstopthiscat has run since then, finishing third on May 3 also at 2 furlongs. Another familiar horse is Yo Joe who finished 5th in the first 2-year old race profiled on this blog.

Katolak Cowboy's dam, Tide Cat, was unraced and she has produced one winner who earned $43,143 and finished 5th in one 2-year old start. Tide Cat is a half-sister to Ide winner of the Southwest (gr. III) and Rebel (gr. III) stakes. Ide was a very good 2-year old, earning $243,780 that season including wins in the Iroquois (gr. III) and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. III).

The top-seller in this race was Bear Encounter (Johannesburg - Current Encounter by Little Current) who sold for $142,000 as a yearling.  All 4 of Current Encounters offspring who have run were winners, but only one won during his 2-year old season.

The first-crop sire Stroll is represented in this race by Fast Eddie (Stroll - Icee Sara by Eskimo). Fast Eddie is a half-brother to 2 winners including Norjac, a stakes-placed runner who has earned $140,466 through 2008. Norjac's earnings include a third in the Oliver's Twist stakes as a 2-year old. Stroll has had one starter, a colt who finished 2nd in his debut. Stroll himself started 5 times as a 2-year old, recording a first, a second, and a third; and earned $47,747 that year (career earnings: $795,071).  

May 9, 2008
Woodbine Race 2
Maiden Special Weight
2 Furlongs
2 Year Olds
Post Time: 1:37 PM

2-Year Old Works
Returning to the WorkTab (horses previously mentioned in this blog)

May 7 

Bear's Conductor (colt; Congaree - Symphonic Lady by Blare of Trumpets) - Woodbine, 4 furlongs, :50.60

Pearl of Valor (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Maderia M'dear by Black Tie Affair (IRE)) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :37.40.

Lippy Rules (filly; Peace Rules - Jive Talker by Time for a Change) - Hollywood Park, 3 furlongs, :36.80.

Noble Rule (filly; Peace Rules - Vienna Knickers by Noble Saint) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :37.00.

Peace Bear (colt; Peace Rules - Cocktail by Relauch) - Woodbine, 4 furlongs, :49.00.

May 8

Alexabella (filly; Congaree - Diane's Birthday by With Approval) - Keeneland, 4 furlongs, :49.40.

Renda (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Ten Carats by Capote) - Calder, 4 furlongs (gate), :50.20.

One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) - Santa Anita, 4 furlongs, :48.80. 

Collegiate (filly; Saarland - La Sorbonne (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Belmont Park, 4 furlongs, :48.66.

Mighty Pleasing (filly; Speightstown - Pleasing by Falstaff) - Santa Anita, 3 furlongs, :36.40.

New to this blog

May 7 

Midnight Break (colt; Congaree - Twilight Spectre by Imp Society) worked 3 furlongs at Keeneland, recording a time of :36.60. Midnight Break is a half-brother to 3 winners including Ethan Man who won the Swale Stakes (gr. III). Ethan Man also broke his maiden in his 2-year old debut.

Another Congaree who worked 3 furlongs was the filly, Sugaree Gold (Congaree - Sugar is Gold by Slew o' Gold) who registered a time of :38.00 at Hollywood Park. Sugar is Gold has produced 8 winners including the stakes winner, Shot of Gold, who earned $515,033.

At Hollywood Park, the Peace Rules filly, Trifecta King (Peace Rules - Mamita by Unbridled) worked 4 furlongs in :48.40. Yes, Trifecta King is a filly.  I double-checked.  If anyone has an explanation as to why a filly would be named Trifecta King, please chime in. Trifecta King is the first foal out of an unraced mare.  However, her dam is a half-sister to Church Service who is grade II-placed and most recently (on March 29, 2008) finished 2nd in the Tokyo City Handicap.

Babylon Road (filly; Speightstown - Bowmanston by Phone Trick) went 2 furlongs in :25.00 at Winding Oaks Farm.  It was the fastest of 11 works at the distance. Babylon Road's dam is a half-sister to 2 stakes winners.

May 8

Cedros (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Wayward Bound by Mr. Prospector) worked 3 furlongs at Keeneland recording a time of :38.00. Cedros is a half-brother to 5 winners.

Two Saarland fillies worked on this date, Saarlands Star went 2 furlongs at Hollywood in :23.20 while Exclusive Scheme worked 3 furlongs in :39.00 at Quiet Woman Farm Training Center. Saarlands Star is the first foal out of the unraced Conquistador Cielo mare, Interruption. Interruption is a half-sister to 7 winners, 3 of which won as 2-year olds. Exclusive Scheme's dam, the Distant View mare, Pyramid Scheme, is a half-sister to 4 winners.

At Santa Anita, Exile (colt; Speightstown - Ruff by Clever Trick) worked 3 furlongs in :38.60. Exile's dam, Ruff, was a multiple-stakes winner whose victories include the Miss Grillo Stakes (gr. III) as a 2-year old. As a broodmare, Ruff has produced one winner (from 2 to race).