HorseRacing Central July 31, 2009

SPECIAL BC CUP POST TIME 1:15PM

CLASSIC TALENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

While Spaghetti Mouse and Krazy Koffee seem to be getting most of the attention when talk turns to Monday’s $100,000 Redekop BC Cup Classic, keep in mind there is plenty of talent from top to bottom in this 1 1/8 mile feature.

As the Daily Racing Form points out an 8-year-old gelding with career earnings in excess of $300,000 also rates a serious chance to win the Classic. We’re speaking of Trick of the North from the Aurora Stables, trained by Barb Heads and ridden by Robert Skelly.

Trick of the North has won his last two starts and hasn’t been worse than second in his last five races. Prior to winning a $45,000 optional race at Hastings on July 4, he won a $25,000 claiming race at Golden Gate on June 25.

It will also be interesting to see how Emerald Downs invader Emancipated adjusts to the Hastings oval. A 4-year-old gelding, Emancipated won the one-mile Trooper Seven Stakes last year at Emerald Downs and trainer Robert Baze is pleased with having secured Frank Fuentes for Monday’s ride.

Jockey Stephanie Fedora, sidelined with a shoulder injury, was the guest selector at today’s Post Position Draw and the Classic lineup unfolded like this:

PP 1 Ookashada (Mario Gutierrez) PP 2 Spaghetti Mouse (Pedro Alvarado) PP 3 Trick of the North (Robert Skelly) PP 4 Till The Storm (Fernando Perez) PP 5 Emancipated (Frank Fuentes) PP 6 Krazy Koffee (Dave Wilson). The morning lines: Ookashada 12- 1, Spaghetti Mouse 4-5, Trick of the North 5-1, Till The Storm 8-1, Emancipated 20-1, Krazy Koffee 9-5.

While the Redekop BC Cup Classic is the marquee event Monday, six other stakes – all with $50,000 purses – include the Debutante, Nursery, Dogwood, Stellar’s Jay, Sprint and Distaff. There is also the BC Cup Endurance.

NO FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE THIS WEEK

Because of the Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday cards, there won’t be a Friday Night Live program this week. Start times for Saturday and Sunday are the normal 1:25pm, and the special BC Cup post time is 1:15 p.m.

OUT OF TOWN

Saturday

The exciting afternoon of stakes races gets underway at 12:24 p.m. at Woodbine with the $150,000 Royal North Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs in the E.P. Taylor turf course. The second choice in the morning line is Bob Cheema’s B.C.- bred Dancing Allstar, second in her last start at Fort Erie. Things shift to Saratoga for two graded stakes with the $500,000 Diana Handicap (2:14 p.m.) for older mares on the turf and the $500,000 Jim Dandy (2:47) for 3-year-olds at nine furlongs on the main track. Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird is up next (2:43 p.m.) as the heavy favourite in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer.

Heading west and to Northlands Park, El Cugat with Mario Gutierrez up will try to dethrone the current 3-year-old champ in Alberta, Robo Willie, in the $50,000 Count Lathum Stakes. The Grade ll $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (5:30 p.m.) goes at Del Mar.

Sunday

Woodbine hosts the first stakes event of the day as 2-year-Stakes (12:01 p.m.). One of the choices is locally-owned Oistins, who has drawn the rail for owner James Redekop. Later at Woodbine is the $500,000 Breeder’s Stakes, the third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. Favourites for the mile and a half test on the grass (1:37 p.m.) will be Queen’s Plate winner Eye Of The Leopard and recent Prince of Wales winner Gallant, bred by local resident Bob Costigan.

At Saratoga, the Grade ll $150,000 Fourstardave (1:21 p.m.) will feature former Breeders Cup Mile winner Kip Deville facing off with Cosmonaut, Cowboy Cal and Justenuffhumor. The $300,000 Go For Wand Stakes (2:30 p.m.) has Cocoa Beach looming as the heavy chalk. The connections of Rachel Alexandra have opted to go up against the boys once again and she’ll be the sentimental pick in the $1.25 million Haskell Stakes (3:15 p.m.) at Monmouth Park. Rachel Alexandra will have six opponents, including the Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird. BC will have on- track wagering available for full Monmouth Park card.

On the west coast, the Todd/Kinsella combo will try and sweep the stakes action at Northlands as they will send out Summer Song in the $50,000 Madamoiselle. Hometown favourites Tanika and Littlemiss Allison look to be the top threats. At Del Mar the feature event is the $250,000 San Diego Handicap for older horses at a mile and a sixteenth. Dubai Classic winner Well Armed looks to be the one to beat.