Cosmic Queen, the high-priced 2-year old, came out of the gate flying and drew off in the stretch setting a new track record for 4.5 furlongs. However, it was a promising debut for Trifecta King. She came out of the gate nicely and seemed to get stronger as the race progressed. Although she was second best, there was daylight between her and the rest of the field.

Result: May 15, 2008 
Hollywood Park Race 3

Equibase Chart

Lord Shanakill

We did, however, have a winner today.  Kudos to reader, K. Rob, for alerting us to the fact that Lord Shanakill (Speightstown - Green Room by Theatrical) won the Constant Security E.b.f. Maiden Stakes today at York to become the first winner for Speightstown. As far as I can determine, Lord Shanakill is also Speightstown's only runner so far, so he has a 100% success rate. Lord Shanakill sold for $110,000 as a yearling. His dam was unraced, but she is a half-sister to grade I stakes winner, Spanish Fern, and also half-sister to the dam of Heatseeker who won the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I).

Rapid Redux Entered

Rapid Redux (aka Storm Leopard) becomes the first runner for Pleasantly Perfect, as he has been entered in a Maiden Special Weight at Belmont Park on May 16. Out of the Storm Cat mare, Thiscatsforcaryl, Rapid Redux sold for $85,000 as a yearling. Thiscatsforcaryl failed to win at the track, but she has produced 6 winners including the stakes winner Be Like Mike (earnings $174,202) and Sacred Journey who finished 3rd in this year’s Southwest Stakes. Two of her offspring won as 2-year olds.

First-year sire Lion Heart is represented by two runners, Silent Valor (Lion Heart - Few Choice Words by Valid Appeal) and Trusting Heart (Lion Heart - Trust Your Heart by Relaunch). Silent Valor is a familiar face, having finished 2nd in a race profiled previously. The winner of that race, Run Away and Hide, came back to win the Kentucky Stakes. Silent Valor sold for $320,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to stakes winner Miss Jeanne Cat. He is the only horse in the race with experience. Trusting Heart sold for $135,000 as a yearling. He is a half-brother to 3 winners including Special Grayce who finished 2nd in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. III) and earned $124,129. Lion Heart has had 3 winners from just 6 to run.

Another who sold for 6 figures is Atomic Rain (Smart Strike - Paradise Pond by Cox's Ridge) who brought $170,000 as a yearling. Atomic Rain's dam has produced 1 winner. She is also a  half-sister to grade III winners, Roxelana and Tiger.

May 16, 2008
Belmont Race 2
Maiden Special Weight
5 furlongs
2-Year Olds
Post Time: 1:32; HRTV, TVG 

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

May 14

Zigaree (colt; Congaree - Zigabout by Danzig) - Evangeline Training Center, 4 furlongs, :51.21.

May 15

Prime Time (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Sioux City by Carson City) - Woodbine, 4 furlongs; :48.80.

Collegiate (filly; Saarland - La Sorbonne (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Belmont Park, 4 furlongs, :49.50.

First Magnitude (colt; Saarland - Fapindy by A. P. Indy) - Arlington, 3 furlongs, :39.20.

Indemand (filly; Saarland - One Bat Cat by Mountain Cat) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :38.40.

Mighty Pleasing (filly; Speightstown - Pleasing by Falstaff) - Santa Anita, 4 furlongs, :48.80.

Mullins Beach (filly; Speightstown - Treasure Beach by Silver Deputy) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3f, :35.20.

New to this blog

May 15

Rocket Dog (filly; Saarland - Quiet Talk by Valid Appeal) worked 3 furlongs at Santa Anita in :37.00. Rocket Dog is a half-sister to 3 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old.

At Hollywood, Hornung (colt; Speightstown - Deb's Charm by Silver Charm) worked 2 furlongs in :25.40. Hornung, who sold for $120,000 as a yearling and $200,000 as a 2-year old, is out of the stake-placed Deb's Charm. Deb's Charm finished 3rd in the Alcibiades (gr. II) as a 2-year old. Hornung is her first foal.

Another Speightstown was on track at Keeneland, where Reynaldothewizard (colt; Speightstown - Holiday Runner by Meadowlake) went 3 furlongs in :36.00.  Reynaldothewizard sold for $400,000 as a yearling and $775,000 as a 2-year old. He is 2nd foal out of the stakes winner, Holiday Runner who earned $232,073 in her career ($171,623 as a 2-year old including victories in the Three Chimneys Juvenile and Fashion Stakes and a 3rd in the Adirondack (gr. II)).

Curly

Curly was back on the worktab after his 2nd place finish on Derby Day. He worked 5 furlongs at Arlington in 1:03.00.

Like many twinspires.com customers, I was shut out of the Derby.  In fact, I tried to login so many times that I disabled my login.  I called immediately after the race, not to complain about the service, but to reinstate my account.  "I need to bet the 12th at Arlington."  Luckily, this was easily done. 

If you didn't have a chance to watch Curly's race live or via replay, I would encourage you to take a look.  It was a very enjoyable race. As in his first start, Curly was severely lacking early speed.  In fact, for much of the race, he wasn't in the picture.  Instead, his old buddy, Stirrup Excitment set the early pace. Finally, he started coming as they came into the final turn ("now here comes Curly"). But, he was pushed wide, wide, wider than Big Brown in the Derby (officially 7 wide).  Amazingly, Curly kept coming and coming.  Meanwhile Four to Go was closing too, but he had the rail and less distance to travel.  At the wire, it was Four to Go by a head.  Sure it was a very fast pace that set up for a closer, but Curly looked like a real racehorse out there. By the way, I did have the exacta in Curly's race, hopefully I wasn't the only one.

Result: May 3, 2008 
Arlington Race 12

Equibase Chart

2-Year Old Works 

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

May 1

Our Golden Dream (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Adorahy by Rahy) - Belmont, 3 furlongs; :38.44.

Prime Time (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Sioux City by Carson City) - Woodbine, 3 furlongs; :36.20.

At Fenway (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Dancey Kate by Danzig) - San Luis Rey, 3 furlongs :35.00.

One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) - Santa Anita, 4 furlongs; :48.20.

Persian (colt; Peace Rules - Lady Cheryl by Williamstown) - The Thoroughbred Center; 3f (gate); :34.80.

Collegiate (filly; Saarland - La Sorbonne (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Belmont, 4 furlongs, :49.90.

Mullins Beach (filly; Speightstown - Treasure Beach by Silver Deputy) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3f, :40.40.

Gemswick Park (filly; Speightstown - Queen's Park by Relaunch) - Winding Oaks Farm, 3f, :40.40.

The Red Seat (colt; Speightstown - Luna Real (ARG) by Mutakddim) - San Luis Rey, 2 furlongs, :23.20.

May 2

Aerin She Lovely (filly; Birdstone - Strawberrydaiquiri by Cherokee Run) - Calder, 3 furlongs (gate), :36.60.

Alexabella (filly; Congaree - Diane's Birthday by With Approval) - Keeneland, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

Ambraw (colt; Congaree - Fabulous Flight by Flying Continental) - Silverton Hill Farm, 4 furlongs; :51.10.

King Congo (colt; Congaree - Hansels' Star by Hansel) - Emerald Downs, 3 furlongs; :39.40.

May 3

Stone Legacy (filly; Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch) - Belmont Park, 3 furlongs, :36.45.

Zigaree (colt; Congaree - Zigabout by Danzig) - Evangeline Training Center, 3 furlongs (gate), :35.60.

Peace Conference (colt; Peace Rules - In Conference by Dayjur) - Vinery Stable, 3 furlongs, :37.80. 

First Magnitude (colt; Saarland - Fapindy by A. P. Indy) - Arlington, 2 furlongs, :25.40.

In Speight of It (colt; Speightstown - Honest Deceiver by Is It True) - Belmont, 3f, :37.65.

Mighty Pleasing (filly; Speightstown - Pleasing by Falstaff) - Santa Anita, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

Pick's Express (colt; Speightstown - Program Pick by Peterhof) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :37.40.

May 4

River Treck  (colt; Congaree - Gem Treck by Java Gold) - Churchill, 4 furlongs, :50.80.

Cradle of Peace (colt; Peace Rules - Cat's Cradle by Flying Paster) - Arlington Park, 4 furlongs, :48.60.

Mostly Peace (filly; Peace Rules - Ms. Mostly by Copelan) - Arlington, 4 furlongs, :52.20.

Red Bird Rules (filly; Peace Rules - Twirling Angel by Saint Ballado) - Calder, 3 furlongs, :35.60.

May 5 

Cozy Bird (filly; Birdstone - Cozy Island by Cozzene) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.60. 

Shoe Strap (colt; Birdstone - Boot Strap by Storm Boot) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :36.80.

Belfast (colt; Congaree - Southerncomfortgal by Hermitage) - Lone Star Park, 4 furlongs, :50.00; Belfast was previously known as Darkin Color.

Karanka (filly; Congaree - Casual Rendezvous by High Brite) - Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 1:00.80.

Oconee (colt; Congaree - Chenoa by Wild Again) -  Churchill Downs, 5 furlongs, 1:00.40.

Gabby's Golden Gal (filly; Medaglia d’Oro – Gabriellina Giof (GB) by Ashkalani (IRE)) - Hollywood, 4 furlongs, :46.80.

Danceyoursocksoff (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Come Dancing by Two Punch) - Churchill Downs, 3 furlongs, :39.00.

Gatwick (colt; Speightstown - Beauty Halo (ARG) by Southern Halo) - Hastings, 3 furlongs, :37.60.

New to this blog

May 1

Royal Treaty (colt; Saarland - Itama by Tabasco Cat) went 3 furlongs in :39.36 at Hunter Farm Training Center. Royal Treaty's dam, Itama, is a half-sister to My Boston Gal, a grade III winner who was 3 for 3 as a 2-year old including a victory in the Golden Rod (gr. II). 

At Churchill Downs, the Saarland filly, Indemand, worked 4 furlongs in :49.60.  Indemand is out of the Mountain Cat mare, One Bad Cat, which means that she is a half-sister to El Gato Malo, winner of the San Rafael (gr. III) and scheduled to start next in the Preakness. El Gato Malo was also 2 for 2 as a 2-year old.

Also working 4 furlongs in :49.60 was Rachel Alexandra (filly, Medaglia d'Oro - Lotta Kim by Roar) who recorded her workout at Diamond D Ranch. Lotta Kim was a stakes winner who broke her maiden in her first start as a 2-year old and also finished second in the Golden Rod (gr. II) that year. Rachel Alexandra is her first foal.

May 2

Birdcaper (colt; Birdstone - Sweet Caper by Cape Town) worked at Calder, recording a time of :38.00 for 3 furlongs. Birdcaper's dam was a winner who is a half-sister to 5 winners including the stakes winner, Leslie's Lady. Leslie's Lady won the Hoosier Debutante Stakes as a 2-year old.

At Calder, the Peace Rules filly, Noble Rule, went 3 furlongs in :37.40.  Noble Rule is out of the Noble Saint mare, Vienna Knickers. Vienna Knickers is the dam of 3 winners including the grade III winner, Mr. Livingston who finished 3rd in the Rhythm Stakes as a 2-year old.

Working 4 furlongs from the gate in a time of :53.00 at New Episode Training Center was Pleasant Flight (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Heather's Flight by Seattle Dancer). Pleasant Flight is a half-brother to 4 winners, one of which won as a 2-year old.

Paid Preview (colt; Speightstown - Starring Monique by Risen Star) went 3 furlongs in :37.60 at Keeneland. Starring Monique is the dam of 5 winners, including Blushing Indian who finished 2nd in the Sanford (gr. II) and third in the Iroquois (gr. III) as a 2-year old.

May 3

At Louisiana Downs, Mimsa (filly; Congaree - Majestic Report by Corporate Report) worked 3 furlongs in :38.80. 5 out of 6 of Majestic Report's runners have been winners, 4 of them won at 2.

Gold Aly (colt; Medaglia d'Oro - Bangled by Alysheba) worked 3 furlongs at Hollywood in :38.20. Gold Aly is a half-brother to 5 winners including the grade III winner, Anklet who earned $486,451 and broke her maiden in her 2nd start as a 2-year old. 

Working 3 furlongs at Belmont in :39.47 was Saarlanddisourland (filly; Saarland - Crypto Kate by Tabasco Cat). Saarlanddisourland is a half-sister to one winner.   

May 4

Birdseye (filly; Birdstone - Trail Guide by Our Native) worked at Lone Star Park recording a time of :37.80 for 3 furlongs. Birdseye is a half-sister to 9 winners, 3 of which won as 2-year old.

Another Birdstone offspring who worked 3 furlongs was the colt, Heir to the Stone (colt; Birdstone - Mi Mariposa by Two Punch) who recorded a time of :38.56 at Aqueduct. Mi Mariposa has produced 3 winners.

Becky's Express (colt; Congaree - Becky Virtue by Strodes Creek) worked 3 furlongs at Arlington Park in :37.00. Becky Virtue was a stakes winner who earned $101,990. 

At Woodbine, the Saarland colt, Regent Street, went 3 furlongs in :38.20. Regent Street is out of the winning Commemorate mare, Regents Signet who has produced 5 winners.

May 5

Perfect for a Run (colt; Pleasantly Perfect - Unbridled Ashley by Unbridled) worked 3 furlongs in :38.40 at Monmouth. Perfect for a Run's dam is a half-sister to Elusive Warning who has earned $384,800 through 2008.

At Belmont, the Speightstown filly, Mother Ruth, worked 3 furlongs in :39.12. Mother Ruth is out of the stakes winning Colonial Affair mare, Seven Four Seven who earned $403,681 in her career. 

You ought to know Mr. Mistoffelees!
The Original Conjuring Cat -
(There can be no doubt about that).
Please listen to me and don't scoff. All his
Inventions are off his own bat.
From "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" by T. S. Eliot

I think we all will be getting to know Mr Mistoffelees.  He made his $1.5 million sale price look like a bargain, drawing off to win by 9 1/4 lengths. 9 1/4 lengths in a 4.5 furlong race? Not bad, not bad at all. Chapel Run was a bit erratic, but showed some grit and ended up second (the way the Chapel Royals have been running, the biggest mystery was how Chapel Run went off at 37-1). Interestingly, the experienced runner, Regardlesofoutcome, finished 3rd once again. Tripp to Hedo showed some speed, but got a little tired. Our boy, Medaglia d'Onore, ran pretty evenly to take 6th. I was encouraged that he broke well and seemed to be in the race from the beginning.  Fradiablo was pulled up, but he walked off on his own power and seemed to be ok. Meetmeatthechapel and Wallstreetgold were scratched.
 

Result: April 24, 2008 
Keeneland Race 3

Equibase Chart 

2-Year Old Works 

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

On 4/23, Speight the Halo (colt; Speightstown - Ballado's Halo by Saint Ballado) worked 3 furlongs at Santa Anita recording a time of :35.40.

Gemswick Park (filly; Speightstown - Queen's Park by Relaunch) and Mullins Beach (filly; Speightstown - Treasure Beach by Silver Deputy) worked 2 furlongs together again at Winding Oaks Farm on 4/24 recording a time of 24:80.

At Churchill Downs on 4/24, Cozy Bird (filly; Birdstone - Cozy Island by Cozzene) worked 3 furlongs from the gate in :39.60. 

Floating On Air (filly; Peace Rules - Charmie's Secret by Secret Hello) was on track at Santa Anita working 4 furlongs in :48.00 on 4/24. 

Also working 4 furlongs at Santa Anita on 4/24 was One Perfect Karat (filly; Pleasantly Perfect - Golden Fanfare by Seeking the Gold) who worked in :49.40. 

New to this blog

Singing Rose (filly; Congaree - Dial a Song by Mining) worked 3 furlongs at Keeneland on 4/23 recording a time of :36.60. Dial a Song was a stakes-winner who earned $148,855. She did not race as a 2-year old, but she did win her 3-year old debut. She has produced one winner.

Another Congaree filly, Wear Blush (Congaree - Tifonica (ARG) by Equalize), worked 3 furlongs at Hollywood on 4/23 in :36.80. Wear Blush is the first foal out of a stakes-placed mare who earned $140,381.

Working 3 furlongs at Belmont on 4/24 in :37.11 was Our Golden Dream (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Adorahy by Rahy). Our Golden Dream is a half-sister to 4 winners including Icabad Crane who won the Federico Tesio on 4/19.  Icabad Crane also won his first start as a 2-year old.

April 18, 2008
Keeneland Race 5
Maiden Special Weight
4.5 furlongs
2-Year Olds
Post Time: 3:10 PM; TVG 

Peace Rules' 2nd starter comes Friday, April 18 at Keeneland, as Tiger Rules (Peace Rules - Danzig Tiger by Danzig Connection) takes to the races for the first time. Tiger Rules was a $40,000 yearling whose dam won $42,613, but didn't start as a 2-year old. She has produced 3 winners, including stakes-placed Tyger River who earned $87,363. One of Tiger Rules' half-siblings won as a 2-year old. Danzig Tiger is a half-sister to 8 winners including Chilito who earned $210,030 including a victory in the Flamingo Stakes (gr. III). Chilito also won 2 of 4 starts as a 2-year old. Peace Rules raced 6 times as a 2-year old, breaking his maiden third time out, running a mile on the turf.  He also won the Generous (gr IIIT) and the Hill Rise and finished 2nd in the Pinjara, all on the turf.  His best finish on the dirt, during that season, was 3rd in his debut.

In addition to Peace Rules, other first-year stallions represented in this race include Chapel Royal (Cape Royale), The Cliff's Edge (Mount Hope), Alke (Broadway Al), Lion Heart (Silent Valor), and Friends Lake (Screen Your Friend).

Selling for $320,000 as a yearling was Silent Valor (Lion Heart -  Few Choice Words by Valid Appeal). His dam won $71,408, but did not run as a 2-year old. She has produced 4 winners including the stakes winner Miss Jeanne Cat. Miss Jeanne Cat broke her maiden in her first start as a 2-year old and also won the Time to Leave Stakes that year. Lion Heart was 3 for 3 as a 2-year old, winning the Hollywood Prevue (gr. III) and the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I).

Broadway Al (Alke - West Broadway by West Acre) sold for $120,000 as a 2-year old.  He is the first foal out of an unraced dam. She is a half-sister to 8 winners none of which won as 2-year olds. In three starts as a 2-year old, Alke had 1 win and 2 seconds.  The latter included a runner-up finish in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III).

The dam of Screen Your Friend (Friends Lake - Screen Prospect by Rare Performer) won or placed in 15 stakes (7 of them graded) and earned $575,747.  As a 2-year old, she started 3 times winning her first two starts and finishing 2nd in the Gold Digger Stakes.  Six of Screen Prospect's offspring have raced and all have won, 2 won during their 2-year old season. Friends Lake won 2 out of 3 as a 2-year old, including the Sleepy Hollow Stakes.

Mount Hope (The Cliff's Edge - Radiant Megan by Sir Jinsky) is out of a mare who earned $252,850 and won the Sabin (gr. III).  However, she did not win as a 2-year old. Mount Hope is a half-sibling to four winners, 2 of which won as 2-year olds. The Cliff's Edge raced 5 times as a 2-year old, winning 3 (including the Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) and the Iroquois (gr. III)) and finishing 2nd once (via disqualification in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile).

Among those participants not by first-year stallions, the best sales credentials come from Regal Eagle (Langfuhr - Strikes No Spares by Smart Strike) who sold for $210,000 as a yearling. Strikes No Spares was a stakes winner who earned $121,129.  She also was a debut winner, and finished 2nd in the Angie C. Stakes in her only other 2-year old start. None of her offspring have raced yet.

Bold Vindication (Vindication - Bolsa by Mr. Prospector) sold for $120,000 as a yearling.  He is a half-brother to one winner, Directive, who won as a 2-year old.

2-Year Old Works

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

Dr. Smarty Jack (colt; Smarty Jones – Hoh Buzzard (IRE) by Alhaarth (IRE)) worked 4 furlongs in :53.40 at Sunland Park on 4/16. Also on 4/16, C. S. Silk (filly; Medaglia d'Oro - Remember the Day by Settlement Day) worked 4 furlongs in :52.20 at Elloree Training Center.

New to this blog

A pair of Birdstone fillies worked 3 furlongs at Churchill Downs on 4/17 each recording a time of :37.20 (hmmm... anyone think these worked together?). Cozy Bird is out of the Cozzene mare, Cozy Island. Cozy Island earned $160,444 in a graded stakes-placed career. Cozy Bird is her 2nd foal.  Her first offspring won as a 2-year old and has earned $85,502 through 2008. Stone Legacy (Birdstone - Gulch Legacy by Gulch) is out of a dam who earned $145,501. Both fillies were bred by Marylou Whitney, breeder and owner of Birdstone.

At Santa Anita, Speight the Halo (colt; Speightstown - Ballado's Halo by Saint Ballado) worked 3 furlongs on 4/17 in :35.00. Ballado's Halo was a stakes-placed winner of $80,858 and she is also a full sister to champion Ashado and Sunriver. Speight the Halo sold for $400,000 as a 2-year old in training.

At Winding Oaks Farm, two Eugene Melnyk-bred Speightstown fillies worked 2 furlongs, presumably together as both recorded a times of 26:40. Gemswick Park is out of the stakes winning Relaunch mare, Queen's Park. Queen's Park has produced 2 winners, including Queen's College who was stakes-placed as a 2-year old. Mullins Beach (Speightstown - Treasure Beach by Silver Deputy) is the first foal out of a dam who earned $98,710.  Eugene Melnyk raced Speightstown.