HorseRacing Central February 13, 2009

WHAT’S ON TAP

The excitement gets started early in Florida where the first stakes action is at 11:42 a.m. (local time) with the $150,000 Richter Scale Stakes at Gulfstream Park. It features the return of Tale of Ekati owned by Kelowna’s Charles Fipke and going for a third straight win after graded victories in the Cigar Mile and the Jerome Handicap

Also at Gulfstream is the $125,000 Hallandale Beach Stakes (3rd leg of the Magna 5) for fillies and mares on the grass at a mile and a sixteenth.

There’s more stakes action in South Florida as Tampa Bay Downs has two graded stakes: the $125,000 Endeavour (1:17 p.m.) for fillies and mares on the turf; and the $225,000 Sam B., Davis (1:48 p.m.) which is the final prep before the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 14.

MAGNA 5

This week’s Magna 5 kicks off Saturday with the $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel (1:52 p.m.) that brings together a well-matched group of eight fillies and mares going seven furlongs. I like Access Fee. The five Magna races will be run in just a 42-minute span with the other four races being Race 4 at Santa Anita (2:03 p.m.), Race 9 from Gulfstream (2:14 p.m.), Race 4 from Golden Gate (2:15 p.m.) and Race 5 at Santa Anita (2:34 p.m.) The Golden Gate race includes Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella’s Texas Wildcatter. 

There are two major stakes in California on Saturday with the $300,000 Santa Maria (4:38 p.m.) for fillies and mares at Santa Anita. It will provide a great opportunity for one of 12 mares to get Grade 1 status with the champ Zenyatta not quite ready for action. The likely favourite is Leah’s Secret, winner of the Sunshine Millions Distaff in her last trip to Santa Anita.

The El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate (4:15 p.m.) with seven 3-year-olds vying for a $200,000 purse will have recent Cal Derby winner Chocolate Candy (Jerry Hollendorfer/Russell Baze) as the probable odds-on choice.


SUNDAY/MONDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Gulfstream Park has the $125,000 Hurricane Bertie Stakes (11:12 a.m.) on Sunday that will see the rematch of Game Face and Any Limit, one-two in the First Lady Handicap in mid-January. This will be followed by the $125,000 Coconut Grove Stakes (2:14 p.m.) featuring Habaya (Storm Cat), winner of the Miesque Stakes at Hollywood Park in her last start. Also Sunday at Santa Anita is the $100,000 Daytona for older horses headed by Desert Code, the 36-1 upset winner of the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint last October. The $200,000 La Canada Stakes for 4-year-old fillies is on the Santa Anita program with Life Is Sweet the likely favourite.

All of the major U.S. tracks will be running on Monday as part of the President’s Day Holiday. The $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park for 3-year-olds is the richest of the stakes races on the holiday slate. Santa Anita has two more stakes on Monday: the $150,000 San Vicente for 3-year-olds and the $150,000 Buena Vista for fillies and mares at a mile on the turf.

HASTINGS BARNS COME ALIVE

Like the 2010 Winter Olympics, Hastings Racecourse is on a countdown of its own: Nine weeks to go before the opening of the 2009 thoroughbred season.

Opening weekend at Hastings is April 18-19 with the overall schedule having been increased to 76 racing days, up from 71 last year.

Director of Racing Paul Ryneveld created a stir earlier in the week when he said he wanted to see more out-of-town competition for this year’s big event days when major stakes races are on the agenda.

“Our whole business is based on competition and we have a duty to promote full competitive fields,” Ryneveld told News1130 sports: “We’re trying to create as much incentive as we can.”

Ryneveld noted that purses will total more than $625,000 for the five stakes races on BC Derby Weekend (Sept. 26-27) and should attract owners and trainers not only in B.C. but also from Alberta, Seattle and California. The purse for this year’s BC Derby has been bumped by $50,000 to $300,000. The previous day – Saturday, Sept. 26 – the BC Oaks ($125,000) and Delta Colleen ($100,000) will have Hastings jumping with enthusiasm.

JOCKEY RIVALRIES ABOUT TO RESUME

Race Secretary Lorne Mitchell and Head Starter Joe Gray are keeping close tabs on the Hastings jockey colony that’s been checking in for the new season. While Mario Gutierrez continues to ride at Golden Gate, he’ll be ready to defend his Hastings leading jockey title (two years in a row) against veterans Pedro Alvarado, Frank Fuentes, Richard Hamel, Chad Hoverson, Dave Wilson and Fernando Perez. Newcomers include Jose Campos, Angel Rivas and Geovanni Angeles.
And let’s not forget about the return of last year’s leading apprentice Stephanie Fedora, who finished seventh overall in 2008 with an outstanding record that included 40 wins.

BIG MONEY ON THE LINE

The Daily Racing Form National Handicapping Championship Tour will have a $2.6 million pot. Check our Hastings Racecourse and Fraser Down websites for more information.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 16 when you bring a friend to Hastings and have them enroll for the free BC Gold Card, you will automatically receive $5 in slot play.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH T.W.

This week’s edition of Tommy Wolski’s Sports of Kings on Citytv at 11 a.m. Saturday provides an up-close-and-personal interview with Walter Slopianka, a transplanted Alberta trainer who’s having a great year at Fraser Downs. The show also includes coverage of both legs of the River Rock Casino & Resort Cup eliminations and just for fun, the hilarious Powder Puff Derby from a few years ago has been yanked out of the archives.

ACTION-FILLED WEEKEND AT FRASER DOWNS

There are two added money events on Saturday’s card at Fraser. The $25,000 Miss Valentine Final for 4-year-old mares goes as the sixth race on the afternoon program. The morning line choice is owner Robert Murphy’s entry of Caru Hanover and Marla Hanover. Both pacers won their respective eliminations last week.

The $40,000 River Rock Casino & Resort Cup Final for 4-year-old colts and geldings goes as the eighth race. The role of the favourite lands with Royal Morn, trained and driven by Rod Therres.

Alberta-based drivers Rod Hennessy and Jeff Stone will be at Fraser Downs for Saturday’s card, mainly to check on some of the horse they trained in Alberta now racing here. The feature on Sunday will be the Open for fillies and mares with Lil Kim the early favourite.

HARNESS THE HOPE

Circle the date Sunday, March 1 at 12:00 noon on your entertainment calendar. It’s one you won’t want to miss: The Harness The Hope clubhouse buffet in support of Breast Cancer Research. Prize draws, a silent auction, free pink umbrellas, guest speakers … they are all part of a fun afternoon. Contact Group Sales at 604 575-5603 or visit www.fraserdowns.com