Jardin, who inherited the favorite's role after odds-on choice Cats was a late scratch, went practically gate-to-wire in this one, but Pearl of Valor ran a very game second. She was outrun early, but came running wide and got close to the winner. Unfortunately, Jardin had another gear and spurted away again. Still, it was a promising debut for Pearl of Valor.

Result: June 22, 2008 
Churchill Downs Race 6

Equibase Chart 

It's the R Brown Sugar Express over Aerin She Lovely

R Brown Sugar took the lead soon after the start and although she looked a little wobbly in the stretch, she had no trouble holding off Ripley's Express. The latter might have had a chance at victory, if only she would have run just a bit straighter in the stretch (she went this way and that way, and eventually almost hit the rail). Aerin She Lovely was in a good spot in fourth, but was checked on the turn and seemed to lose interest, however, she maintained her fourth place position.

Result: June 22, 2008 
Calder Race 4

Equibase Chart 

Lippy Tries to Rule over Candy

June 25, 2008
Hollywood Park Race 8
Maiden Special Weight
5 Furlongs
2 Year Old Fillies
Post Time: 7:50 PM TVG

Lippy Rules (Peace Rules - Jive Talker by Time for a Change) is back after a fourth place finish on June 15, a race in which she set the pace. She should benefit from that performance, especially as she is one of only two experienced horses in this race. Lippy Rules' dam, Jive Talker, was 3 for 3 as a 2-year old including 2 stakes wins. Overall, she earned $102,780 in her career. Lippy Rules is a half-sister to 3 winners. Lippy Rules' eight opponents include three offspring by 1st-crop sire, Candy Ride.

The other experienced horse is one of the Candy Rides, Candilejas (Candy Ride (ARG) - Delicias Blues by Grindstone) who finished 2nd in a Maiden Special Weight at 4.5 furlongs on April 10. Candilejas, who sold for $22,000 as a yearling, is the first foal out of the 2-year old winning mare, Delicias Blues. Delicias Blues is a half-sister to 3 winners including stakes winner Palikar, who won 2 races as a 2-year old. Candy Ride has had 9 runners who have made a combined 10 starts, recording one win and 2 seconds and earnings of $62,250.

The other Candy Rides entered are: Mad for Candy (Candy Ride (ARG) - March North by Manzotti) and Evita Argentina (Candy Ride (ARG) - Jealous Wildcat by Forest Wildcat). Mad for Candy sold for $50,000 as a 2-year old. She is a half-sister to 2 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old. The dam of Evita Argentina was a winner of $45,650, but did not run as a 2-year old. She has produced 1 winner, Wild and Ready, who won as a 2-year old and has earned $101,738 through 2008.

First-year sire Tapit is represented by Stardom Bound (Tapit - My White Corvette by Tarr Road) who sold for $375,000 as a 2-year old. Tapit has had 9 runners who have made 10 starts with 2 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds with total earnings of $41,279. Stardom Bound's dam, My White Corvette, was a stakes winner who earned $87,772. As a 2-year old, she ran 5 times winning 3 starts (including the Cimarron Stakes) and finishing third in the Golden Rod (gr. II). My White Corvette has produced 2 winners.

Selling for $300,000 as a 2-year old was Susan's Wildcat (Forest Wildcat - Caribbean Sol by Woodman).Susan's Wildcat is a half- or full-sister to 4 winners including three 2-year old winners.

Forest Wildcat is also the sire of Veranda Cafe (Forest Wildcat - Seeking Success by Seeking the Gold) who brought $150,000 as a 2-year old. Veranda Cafe is out of a winning dam and is a half-sister to one winner.

Winningdancer (Jump Start - Jaye's Hope by Line In The Sand) sold for $45,000 as a yearling.  Her dam, Jaye's Hope, was a stakes winner who earned $100,085, but did not race as a 2-year old. Jaye's Hope has produced one winner from two to race.

Sorry Baby (Bernstein - Our Saratogadancer by Saratoga Six) is the first foal out of a dam who is a half-sister to one winner. Sorry Baby sold for $42,000 as a yearling.

The dam of Brewha Baby (Milwaukee Brew - Grand Fan by Lear Fan) was a winner of $46,610. She did not race as a 2-year old, but she did win her 3-year old debut.

2-Year Old Works

New to this blog

Broad Stone (colt; Birdstone - Broad Legacy by Broad Brush) worked 3 furlongs at Belmont Park in :38.23.  Broad Stone is out of a winning mare who has produced 3 winners. One of Broad Stone's half-siblings is Boot Strap who is the dam of the Birdstone gelding, Shoe Strap who most recently ran on June 14. Both Broad Stone and Shoe Strap were bred by Marylou Whitney Stables.

At Aqueduct, Shrewd (colt; Speightstown - Bluffing Girl by Pine Bluff) went 5 furlongs in 1:01.79. Shrewd was a $435,000 yearling and is out of the stakes winning mare, Bluffing Girl, who earned $268,350 in a career that included a 2-year old victory in the Gowell Stakes. Bluffing Girl has produced 3 winners, 2 of which won during their 2-year old season.

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

June 21

Rockland (colt; Smarty Jones - Wiscasset by Kris S.) - Fair Hill, 4 furlongs, :52.00.

June 22

Heir to the Stone (colt; Birdstone - Mi Mariposa by Two Punch) - Aqueduct, 4 furlongs (gate), :49.12.

Mine That Bird (colt; Birdstone - Mining My Own by Smart Strike) - Woodbine, 4 furlongs, :48.40.

P. J.'s Canary (filly; Birdstone - P J Prado by El Prado (IRE)) - Churchill Downs, 4 furlongs (gate), :50.20.

Congaway (filly; Congaree - Fleeting Ways by Afleet)  - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :52.20.

Hank the Billymax (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Twining Star by Twining) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :38.60.

Renda (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Ten Carats by Capote) - Calder, 3 furlongs (gate), :37.40.

Joanne's Ruler (filly; Peace Rules - Escaping Glory by Red Ransom) - Belmont Park, 3 furlongs, :37.03. 

Mostly Peace (filly; Peace Rules - Ms. Mostly by Copelan) - Arlington, 3 furlongs, :36.00.

Noble Rule (filly; Peace Rules - Vienna Knickers by Noble Saint) - Calder, 5 furlongs, 1:03.40. 

Peace Reigns (filly; Peace Rules - Diamond Dottie by Eagle Eyed) - Louisiana Downs, 4 furlongs, :48.00.

Tiger Rules (colt; Peace Rules - Danzig Tiger by Danzig Connection) - Arlington, 5 furlongs, 1:02.00. 

One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) - Hollywood Park, 4 furlongs, :48.40.

Winnie the Stew (filly; Smarty Jones - Bella Gatto by Storm Cat) - Emerald Downs, 2 furlongs, :26.20.

Munnings (colt; Speightstown - La Comete by Holy Bull) - Belmont Park, 4 furlongs, :48.82. 

Gato Roar (colt; Speightstown - Madame Roar by Roar) - Hollywood Park, 5 furlongs, :59.40.

Speight the Halo (colt; Speightstown - Ballado's Halo by Saint Ballado) - Santa Anita, 5 furlongs, 1:01.40

Western Fire (colt; Speightstown - Under Fire by Gulch) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :51.40.

June 23

S. S. Stone (colt; Birdstone - Sing and Swing by Dixieland Band) -  Santa Anita, 5 furlongs, 1:00.00.

Wear Blush (filly; Congaree - Tifonica (ARG) by Equalize) - Hollywood Park, 4 furlongs, :47.20. 

Gold Aly (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Bangled by Alysheba) - Hollywood Park, 5 furlongs (gate), 1:05.40.

Signet Ring (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Runaway Royalty by Runaway Groom) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.20.

Power Rules (colt; Peace Rules - World Storm by Summer Squall) - Calder, 4 furlongs, :50.60 (wet fast). 

Schrader Rules (filly; Peace Rules - She Did It Her Way by Private Terms) -  Calder, 4 furlongs, :52.00 (wet fast).

Bajan Kitty (filly; Speightstown - Pleasing by Falstaff) - Santa Anita, 3 furlongs, :34.80 (fastest of 32). 

Reynaldothewizard (colt; Speightstown - Holiday Runner by Meadowlake) - Keeneland, 5 furlongs, 1:02.00. 

June 24

Longandstrong (colt; Birdstone - Bessie's Chips by Rakeen) - Monmouth Park, 3 furlongs, :37.80.

Texas Birdstone (colt; Birdstone - Imatexantoo by Ray's Pegasus) -  Lone Star Park, 5 furlongs (gate), 1:03.20.

Stone Legacy (filly; Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch) - Belmont Park, 4 furlongs, :48.26.

Belfast (colt; Congaree - Southerncomfortgal by Hermitage) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :49.00. 

Midnight Break (colt; Congaree - Twilight Spectre by Imp Society) - Keeneland, 4 furlongs, :48.40. 

Rue Du Bois (filly; Congaree - Aroz by Fappiano) - Delaware Park, 4 furlongs, :49.80.

Singing Rose (filly; Congaree - Dial a Song by Mining) - Keeneland, 3 furlongs, :34.60 (fastest of 9). 

C. S. Silk (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Remember the Day by Settlement Day) - Churchill Downs, 4 furlongs, :47.20. 

Causin' Havoc (colt: Medaglia d'Oro - Degenerate Gal by Degerate Jon) - Keeneland, 4 furlongs, :47.60. 

Glory Gold (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Gayla by Lord Gaylord) - Laurel, 5 furlongs, 1:02.40.

Saarman (colt; Saarland - Mil Kilates by Gold Alert) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :50.40.

Sargon (colt; Saarland - Cherished Jewel by Private Account) - Woodbine, 5 furlongs; 1:03.00.  

Go Smarty Go (colt; Smarty Jones - Sarah's World by Holy Bull) - Belmont, 4 furlongs, :48.46.

Despeightitall (colt; Speightstown - Deputy Royal by Deputy Minister) - Churchill Downs, 4 furlongs, :49.20.

Gemswick Park (filly; Speightstown - Queen's Park by Relaunch) - Belmont Park, 3 furlongs, :37.24.  

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).