HorseRacing Central December 11, 2009
JJJ STABLES ON HOT STREAK
It was back in the 1980’s when Rick Mowles would join his pals Bill Ashcroft and Jim Richards for what he would refer to as “a fun day at the races, strictly as a spectator and fan of the standardbreds”.
Today Mowles is a key partner in JJJ Stables at Fraser Downs with brothers Al and Mark Anderson, a group that has come to the forefront in developing young horses in recent years.
“We’ve been incredibly lucky with our 2-year-olds,” Mowles says. “It’s like the stars have been aligned in our favour.”
The Anderson brothers work the JJJ Stables farm in Willows, California where Mowles owns at least 50 per cent of the 60-plus horses on site. “That’s where we get them ready,” he says. “We bring them up to Fraser Downs and a lot of them have stayed.”
Stayed … and won. JJJ Stables won both divisions of the B.C. Stallion Stakes last week at Fraser and in each case their horses finished one-two. Dontmakemebeg won the $30,000 Final for 2-year-old colts and geldings with stablemate Nobody Can finishing second. The previous night in the $30,000 Final for 2-year-old fillies Stormy Tuesday hit the winner’s circle with BeenDownBefore in the runner-up spot.
“We foal all of our mares in British Columbia,” Mowles points out, “but we are eligible to race in other areas such as California and Ontario if that’s where the sires are from. It’s worked out well over the years.” Well enough that Mowles, the Andersons and JJJ Stables won consecutive Breeders of the Year awards in 2004 and 2005.
Start times at Fraser Downs this the weekend: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
A SPECIAL MOMENT FROM A SPECIAL PERSON
Casie Coleman & Fraser Downs Donate $24,888 to Burn Unit
It was a smiling and appreciative Victoria Hospitals Foundation staff that accepted a cheque in the amount of $24,488 for the Burn Unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital. The money was raised by Canada’s top female standardbred trainer Casie Coleman, a Surrey native who suffered third-degree burns in a barn accident 10 years ago at Sandown Park. Coleman and Fraser Downs Racetrack raised the money through a silent auction.
From left to right: Debbie Cavana, Burn Unit Nurse; Mike Finlayson, Chair, Firefighters Burn Fund; Heather Mitchell, Nurse, Burn Unit; Jackson Wittup, Director of Racing, Fraser Downs; David McCoy, Director, Post Surgical Care Programs; Melanie McKenzie, Executive Director, Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY AWARDS
The 2009 Thoroughbred Industry Awards will be presented Saturday night at The Derby Bar and Grill in Surrey. While the various categories of top horses remain a surprise, the ceremonies will include the induction of trainer Frank Barroby to the British Columbia Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Also honoured will be leading rider Fernando Perez, leading apprentice rider Geovanni Franco, leading trainer Troy Taylor and leading owners Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella. There are a couple of other surprise announcements on the agenda, as well.
WHAT’S ON TAP
OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD
The big race Saturday afternoon is the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap (3:35 p.m.) at Hollywood Park that features the return of former champion Lava Man who will be looking to add to his current bankroll that already has hit over $5.2 million. He hasn’t won since capturing the Hollywood Gold Cup in June, 2007 and will need to be at his best to beat a field that includes another former Gold Cup winner in Mast Track. Ironically, Mast Track also hasn’t won since his Gold Cup triumph in July, 2008.
A little earlier in the day (12:44 p.m.) Aqueduct will have the $100,000 Queens County Handicap for older runners at a mile and three-sixteenths on the inner dirt.
LOCAL INTEREST
There are a couple of locally owned runners at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday in the fifth race –the North American Thoroughbred Corp. Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella will send out Roar Lord (2:45 p.m.) n a 2-year-old maiden event with Mario Gutierrez aboard. In the ninth race Bell and MacLeod’s Overtime Victory (4:45 p.m.) will try to bring home some glory for the local connections.
BIG RACES AT HONG KONG
Four major stakes are on Saturday night’s card at the Hong Kong Sha Tin Racecourse. The Sprint has lured Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag with trainer Brian Kriner bringing along his regular pilot Joe Talamo. They’re likely to be rated favourites. Cannonball, third behind California Flag on Cup Day, has made the trip with rider Ramon Dominguez. Another big race is the Mile Turf featuring Southern California-based Ferneley as well as Black Mamba.
The remaining stakes are the Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Vase. The first of 10 races goes at 8:25 p.m. and will be shown on our regular simulcast network.
HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY GREETINGS
From all of us at HorseRacing Central, we wish you a healthy holiday season and a prosperous New Year. We’ll be back in 2010 to keep you informed from Hastings Racecourse, Fraser Downs Racetrack and industry developments from around the world.
