Tuesday, May 31, 2011

VIRGINIA-BRED RACE WINNERS

Armarante (f, 3yo), Tale Of The Cat - Silent Greeting by Secret Hello. B - Lazy Lane Farms, Inc. Delaware Park, 5/30/2011, mdn sp wgt, $24,000, 6 f, 1:11.20.

Camp Victory (c, 4yo), Forest Camp - Victory Trick by Clever Trick. B - Atkins Danny Mark 1. Hollywood Park, 5/30/2011, gr 3 stk, $60,000, 6 f, 1:08.87. ($90,000, 2yo, 2009, obsmar)

Christmas Punch (c, 3yo), Smart Strike - Christmas Card by Theatrical (IRE). B - Edward P. Evans. Belmont Park, 5/28/2011, mdn clmg, $13,800, 8.5 f, 1:42.27.

Europa (f, 3yo), No Armistice - Runaway Jeanne by Runaway Groom. B - Albert P Coppola. Penn National, 5/24/2011, clmg, $7,800, 8 f, 1:42.25.

Leobuster (g, 6yo), Housebuster - Leotive by Our Native. B - Noffsinger Glenn R. Dr. Charles Town, 5/26/2011, str alwc, $12,000, 6.5 f, 1:19.28.

Lilly Leggs (f, 3yo), Black Tie Affair (IRE) - Loreen by Numerous. B - Carl Buhr & Keith Early. Delaware Park, 5/24/2011, mdn clmg, $10,200, 8.3 f, 1:46.11.

Mambo Fever (f, 4yo), Stormin Fever - Mambo Bell by Kingmambo. B - Edward P. Evans. Delaware Park, 5/30/2011, alwc, $24,600, 8.3 f, 1:42.00.

Starr West (c, 4yo), Gone West - Starr County by Ogygian. B - Evans Edward P. River Downs, 5/30/2011, clmg, $2,640, 5 f, 1:00.21. ($400,000, yrlg, 2008, keesep)

Trouble At Home (g, 5yo), Domestic Dispute - Troublesome by Hennessy. B - Paisley Eugenia D. Camarero Race Track, 5/25/2011, clmg, $3,300, 8 f, 1:39.08. ($68,000, wnlg, 2006, ftmdec; $30,000, 2yo, 2008, ftmmay)

Walnut Tree (g, 4yo), Bernstein - Cottage Flower by Pentelicus. B - Audley Farm, Inc. Lone Star, 5/29/2011, clmg, $6,600, 5 f, 0:56.21. ($25,000, yrlg, 2008, keesep)

CAMP VICTORY EMERGES WINNER IN HOLLYWOOD STAKES

Camp Victory #4
By Vance Hanson - Brisnet.com/ESPN

Amazombie bulled his way between rivals in the stretch and drew off to cross the wire first by a half-length in Monday's Grade 3, $100,000 Los Angeles Handicap at Hollywood Park. However, he left too much residual damage in his wake in the opinion of the stewards, who disqualified the 2-1 second choice and placed him third. In the right place at the right time was Featherston, Jacobsen and Miller's Camp Victory, an 8-1 chance who rallied outside to be a clear second and was elevated to the winner's circle at the conclusion of the six-furlong Cushion Track dash accomplished in 1:08 4/5.

Cost of Freedom, the 8-5 favorite, and Indian Firewater knocked each other out after dueling through splits of :22 1/5 and :44 2/5. Chasing the top pair in third was M One Rifle, with Camp Victory and Amazombie racing in tandem a little further back. While Camp Victory would take the overland route around M One Rifle in the stretch, Mike Smith aboard Amazombie waited for a seam to open up between rivals inside the final furlong. When the opening occurred Amazombie powered his way through, but in doing so bumped into M One Rifle, who in turn bumped slightly with Camp Victory. M One Rifle lost any momentum he might have had in the final yards, and despite looking much the best, Amazombie's number was taken down after stewards initiated an inquiry.

Camp Victory, under Joe Talamo, returned $18.40, $7.40 and $3.80. M One Rifle was elevated to second with Amazombie officially placed third. Indian Firewater retreated to fourth and was followed by Cost of Freedom and Gato Go Win, who trailed throughout. Supreme Summit was scratched.
No stranger to the claiming ranks, Camp Victory was haltered for $40,000 by current trainer Mike Mitchell from a one-mile grass test the four-year-old gelding won at Santa Anita on February 13.

Following an off-the-turf optional claiming score at the same track, Camp Victory just missed catching Regally Ready by a nose in the grassy San Simeon Handicap down Santa Anita's hillside course last time. The form has held up as Regally Ready went on to comfortably win the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs on May 7. Camp Victory now boasts a line of 16-7-1-0, $235,986.

Bred in Virginia by Atkins Homes Inc., Camp Victory was produced by the winning Victory Trick, a half-sister to Canadian Grade 2 winner Last Answer and a full sister to multiple stakes winner Victorious Trick. All were produced by the stakes-winning Victorious Answer, who is also the ancestress of Grade 2 winner Clever Response.

PICTURES OF THE DAY

Sissy, a blind quarter horse, is guided by a seeing-eye entourage of five goats and five sheep at an animal shelter in Montana near Yellowstone National Park. Michelle Feldstein was prepared to provide special accommodations for the blind horse she recently added to the assortment of flightless ducks, clawless cats and homeless llamas inhabiting her animal shelter in Montana. But nothing could prepare Feldstein, a 19-year veteran at accepting unwanted pets and livestock, for the 40-legged, seeing-eye entourage that accompanied the sightless, 15-year-old quarter horse.  (Reuters)
In this photo provided by Benoit Photo, Dubawi Heights, ridden by jockey Joel Rosario goes on to win the Grade I Gamely Stakes horse race on Monday, May 30, 3011 at Hollywood Park, Inglewood Calif.
Mike Smith riding Gentlemans Code win The ladbrokes.com Maiden Stakes at Folkestone racecourse on May 26, 2011 in Folkestone, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images)
 In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, Givine and jockey Joel Rosario, outside, outleg Separate Forest with jockey Patrick Valenzuela, up, to win the $70,000 Great Lady M Stakes horse race, Sunday, May 29, 2011, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
Hibaayeb, right, with John R. Velazquez aboard, captures The Sheepshead Bay Grade II horse race at Belmont Park in New York on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Giants Play, left, with Rajiv Maragh aboard, finished in second place.
French jockey Thierry Majorcryk (R) on Remember Rose and Irish jockey Philipp Carberry on Pibrac jump up the 'Riviere des Tribunes' during the Gras Savoye Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris horse racing on May 29, 2011 at the Auteuil racetrack in Paris.  (Photo by Bertrand Langlois/AFP PHOTO)
American jockey Mike Smith at Folkestone racecourse on May 26, 2011 in Folkestone, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images)
Jockeys and horses parade prior the Gras Savoye Grand Steeple-Chase of Paris horse racing on May 29, 2011 at the Auteuil racetrack in Paris.
In this photo provided by Benoit Photo, Marsha Naify's Ryehill Dreamer and jockey Joseph Talamo, outside, nose out Sidney's Candy and jockey Joel Rosario, inside, for the victory in the Grade II, $150,000 American Handicap horse race, Saturday, May 28, 2011, at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
This photo released by the New York Racing Association shows Tizway, ridden by Rajiv Maragh, capturing The Metropolitan Grade I at Belmont Park, New York, Monday May 30, 2011.
A horse looks out of a stable window before the start of Best Horse competition in the village of Mazgit, Kosovo on May 29, 2011. (Photo by Armend Nimani/AFP/Getty Images)

Monday, May 30, 2011

CRIMSON CHINA VIRGINIA DERBY BOUND


CRIMSON CHINA (#3) scores in the Lamplighter with jockey Alan Garcia and
appears to be on his way to the Virginia Derby. (Photo-Monmonth Park website).
 (by Nick Hahn)

Do you think that trainer Graham Motion is happy with his decision to switch the paths of his three year old Team Valor colts?  On Saturday Crimson China scored an easy going win in the $70,000 Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth Park.  Initially, Crimson China was charted to be Motion's Triple Crown horse while Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was targeted for the turf.  Shortly after April's Bluegrass, Motion switched the surfaces of his colts and it appears to be working out well for him.  After the race, David Rock, an assistant to Motion was quoted on the Daily Racing Form website that Crimson China will be "targeted for the Virginia Derby."  Also on Saturday Willcox Inn re-emerged in the developing three-year old turf picture with a solid win in the $100,000 Arlington Classic by over 2 lengths.  In today's three-year old turf stakes, Uncle Sam, Derby Kitten and Close Alley are the top three choices in the $200,000 Lone Star Derby (post time 5:51).

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

DALE ROMANS, JERRY CRAWFORD "OFF TO THE RACES"


Paddy O'Prado in the 2010 Virginia Derby paddock led by
Ulee (groom) while Dale Romans watches his gait.
Tune in to "Off to the Races" this Saturday morning at 11:00 am hosted by Nick Hahn and "Derby" Bill Watson.  Winning Preakness trainer Dale Romans and owner Jerry Crawford (Donegal Racing) tell us about the highs and lows of Preakness weekend.  Paddy O'Prado wins the Dixie after six months in the barn followed by the gutty Preakness win for Romans with Shackleford. On Monday Paddy O'Prado, due to a sesamoid fracture, is retired just prior to his return to Virginia in the Colonial Turf Cup.

Saturday morning we'll take a look forward to the Colonial Downs meet and Pick the Ponies with "Derby" Bill and Mike Dempsey of Turf 'N Sport.

Outside of the Richmond area, "Off to the Races" can be heard online at www.espn950am.com. (or click the link).

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

PREAKNESS DAY PHOTOS

 Photos by G. Petty/Virginia Thoroughbred Association

 Paddy O'Prado (left) on the way to the paddock for the $200,000 Dixie Stakes Gr. 2.



 Deep stretch of the Dixie.


 Just past the post.
 Cooling off.
With trainer Dale Romans.
 Getting organized.
 YES!
 Hey, that's me on the jumbotron.


 Lenny Hale.
 Dance City is headed to the indoor paddock to saddle.
 Dialed In.
 The gang at the rail.
 Astrology and King Congie.




 Mucho Macho Man.


 The Kentucky Derby winner.




 Michael Lauffer in khaki suit.
 Entering the winner's circle.
 Exiting the winner's circle.
 Heading back to the barn.


 Wide angle of the first time by in the Dixie.
 Paddy returns to the photographers.
 Saddling under the blimp. 
 Spring Hill Farm manager Chris Baker (l) and the late Edward P. Evans' brother Shel (r).
 Steve Asmussen, Kenny Mayne, Graham Motion
 Shackleford and Animal Kingdom lead the charge.
 Near the finish.
 Happy.
 Happier!