It’s another weekend of huge stakes racing and the action actually continues into Monday with Hasting’s Park Breeders Cup. The Whitney headlines the racing at the Spa on Saturday and Iowa breeders have their best on the track at Prairie Meadows.
The top trotters battle for a $1.5 million purse in Saturday’s HAMBLETONIAN at The Meadowlands. Post time is 12 Noon for a special 15-race card.
The CBS Sports Network will also have live television coverage.
Mountaineer Park hosts the $750,000 West Virginia Derby featuring Eclipse Award winner HANSEN.
PREVIEW STORIES BELOW
THOROUGHBRED STAKES:
Thursday
- Delaware
Park: Thomas “Tuck” Greene Memorial,
$50,000g, 2yo f, 7.5f (turf). - Saratoga:
A.P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase H (NSA-I),
$100,000g, 4&up, 16.5f (turf).- Birdstone S,
$100,000g, 3&up, 9f.
- Birdstone S,
Friday
- Del Mar:
Real Good Deal S (R), $200,000g, 3yo,
California-bred, 7f. Marquis
Downs: Gold Strike S (R), $10,000a, 2yo f,
Saskatchewan or Manitoba sired and bred, 6f. Dakota
Dunes H, $6,500g, 3&up, f/m, 8f. - Northlands
Park: Northlands Oaks, $50,000g, 3yo f, 8f. - Penn National: Robellino S (R), $75,000g,
3&up, Pennsylvania bred, 8.5f (turf).- Russian Rhythm H (R), $75,000g, 3&up, f/m, Pennsylvania-bred, 5f
(turf).
- Russian Rhythm H (R), $75,000g, 3&up, f/m, Pennsylvania-bred, 5f
- Saratoga:
Honorable Miss H (gr. II), $200,000g, 3&up, f/m, 6f.- John’s Call Presented by Sportech (R), $100,000g, 3&up, non-winners of a
graded stakes on the turf in 2012, 13f (turf).
- John’s Call Presented by Sportech (R), $100,000g, 3&up, non-winners of a
Saturday
- Arapahoe
Park: Silver Cup Futurity (R), $20,000e,
2yo, c/g, Colorado-bred, 7f.- Silver Cup
Futurity (R), $20,000e, 2yo f, 7f. - Meadowlake
S, $65,000a, 2yo, 7f.
- Silver Cup
- Assiniboia
Downs: Winnipeg Sun S, $30,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.5f. - Canterbury Park: Lady Canterbury S, $100,000g 3&up, f/m, 8f (turf).
- Hoist Her Flag S, $50,000g, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
- Princess Elaine S (R), $50,000g, 3&up, f/m, Minnesota-bred, 8.5f (turf).
- Charles Town: Robert G. Leavitt S (R), $50,000a 3yo, West Virginia-bred, 7f.
- Del Mar:
Clement L. Hirsch S (gr. I), $300,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.5fBC. - Delaware Park: Nick Shuk Memorial S, $50,000g, 2yo, 7.5f (turf).
- Finger Lakes: Genesee Valley Breeders’ H (R),
$50,000g, 3&up, New York-bred, 8.5f. - Louisiana Downs: Super Derby Prelude, $100,000g, 3yo,8.5f.
- Barksdale,$50,000g, 3&up, 8f (turf).
- Donnie Wilhite Memorial, $50,000g, 2yo f, 7.5f (turf).
- Sunny’s Halo, $50,000g, 2yo, 7.5f (turf).
- Marquis Downs: Harlequin S (R), $10,000a, 2yo, c/g,
Saskatchewan or Manitoba sired and bred, 6f. - Monmouth Park: My Frenchman S, $60,000g, 3&up, 5.5f (turf).
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort: West Virginia Derby
(gr. II), $750,000g, 3yo, 9f.- West Virginia Governor’s S, $200,000g, 3&up, 8.5f.
- Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies S, $100,000g, 2yo f, 6f.
- Mountaineer Juvenile S, $100,000g, 2yo, 6f.
- Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial S, $100,000g, 3&up, 6f.
- West Virginia House of Delegates Speaker’s Cup, $100,000g, 3&up, 8.32f (turf).
- West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup, $100,000g, 3&up, 4.5f.
- West Virginia Secretary of State, $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, 6f.
- West Virginia Senate President’s Cup, $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, 8.32f (turf).
- Northlands Park: Count Lathum H, $50,000g, 3yo, 8.5f.
- Prairie Meadows: Donna Reed (R), $85,000a,4&up, f/m, Iowa-bred, 8.32f.
- Ralph Hayes (R), $85,000a, 4&up, c/g, Iowa-bred, 8.5f
- Iowa Breeders’ Derby (R), $75,000a, 3yo, c/g, Iowa-bred, 8.5f.
- Iowa Breeders’ Oaks (R), $75,000a, 3yo f, Iowa-bred, 8.32f.
- Iowa Cradle S (R), $75,000a, 2yo, c/g, Iowa-bred, 6f.
- Iowa Sorority (R), $75,000a, 2yo f, Iowa-bred, 6f.
- Iowa Classic Sprint (R), $70,000a, 3&up, Iowa-bred, 6f.
- Santa Rosa:Robert Dupret Derby, $50,000a, 3yo, 8.5f (turf).
- Saratoga: Whitney Invitational (gr. I), $750,000g, 3&up,
9f BC.Prioress (gr. I), $300,000g, 3yo f, 6f.- De La Rose S (R), $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, non-winners of a graded stakes on
the turf in 2012, 8f (turf).
- De La Rose S (R), $100,000g, 3&up, f/m, non-winners of a graded stakes on
- Suffolk Downs: Isadorable S (R), $50,000g,
3&up, f/m, Massachusetts-bred, 6f. - Woodbine: Seagram Cup S (Can-III), $150,000g, 3&up,8.5f.
Sunday
- Del Mar:
Best Pal S (gr. II), $150,000g, 2yo, 6.5f. - EmeraldDowns: Angie C. S, $50,000e, 2yo f, 6f.
- MonmouthPark: Tyro S, $60,000g, 2yo, 5f (turf).
- Santa Rosa Jess Jackson Owner’s H, $50,000a, 3&up, 5f (turf).
- Joseph T. Grace H, $50,000a, 3&up, 8.5f (turf).
- Saratoga:
Alfred G. Vanderbilt H (gr. I), $400,000g, 3&up, 6f. - Woodbine:
Breeders’ S (R), $500,000g, 3yo, Canadian-bred,12f (turf).- Nandi S (R), $125,000g, 2yo f, Ontario-sired, 6f.
STANDARDBRED STAKES
| 08/02/12 | HARRAH’S PHILADELPHIA |
2 F T |
PA STALLION |
$20,000 |
| 08/02/12 | INDIANA DOWNS |
2 C&G T |
INSS |
$30,000 |
| 08/02/12 | INDIANA DOWNS |
2 F T |
INSS |
$10,000 |
| 08/02/12 | KAWARTHA DOWNS |
3 F P |
ONSS GOLD |
$40,000 |
| 08/02/12 | MOHAWK RACEWAY |
2 F P |
WHENUWISHUPONASTAR |
$50,000 |
| 08/02/12 | MOHAWK RACEWAY |
2 F T |
ONSS GOLD |
$40,000 |
| 08/02/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
2 F T |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$40,000 |
| 08/02/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
3 F T |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$39,000 |
| 08/02/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
2 F P |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$38,000 |
| 08/02/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 C&G T |
KINDERGARTEN |
$10,000 |
| 08/02/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 F T |
KINDERGARTEN |
$10,000 |
| 08/02/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3&UP OPEN T |
HAMBO AMAT. DRVRS |
$10,000 |
| 08/02/12 | YONKERS RACEWAY |
2 F T |
NYSS |
$205,000 |
| 08/03/12 | BATAVIA DOWNS |
2 C&G T |
NYSS |
$100,000 |
| 08/03/12 | BATAVIA DOWNS |
2 C&G T |
EXCELSIOR |
$12,000 |
| 08/03/12 | HARRAH’S PHILADELPHIA |
2 F T |
PASS |
$200,000 |
| 08/03/12 | INDIANA DOWNS |
2 F T |
INSS |
$30,000 |
| 08/03/12 | INDIANA DOWNS |
2 C&G T |
INSS |
$10,000 |
| 08/03/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
2 C&G T |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$40,000 |
| 08/03/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
3 C&G T |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$25,000 |
| 08/03/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
3 F P |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$25,000 |
| 08/03/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
4 M T |
IMA LULA |
$60,000 |
| 08/03/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 OPEN T |
TOWNSEND ACKERMAN |
$50,000 |
| 08/03/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 F T |
DUENNA |
$30,000 |
|
$200,000 |
||||
|
$20,000 |
||||
| 08/03/12 | WOODSTOCK RACEWAY |
2 C&G T |
ONSS GRSRTS |
$24,000 |
| 08/04/12 | BALMORAL PARK |
3YO&UP PACE |
BIG TOM STAKES |
$50,000 |
| 08/04/12 | BALMORAL PARK |
F&M PACE |
PARKLANE POWERFUL STAKES |
$50,000 |
| 08/04/12 | LINCOLN | 2 C&G P |
DOWNSTATE CLASSIC |
$11,000 |
| 08/04/12 | LINCOLN | 2 C&G T |
DOWNSTATE CLASSIC |
$11,000 |
| 08/04/12 | LINCOLN | 2 F P |
DOWNSTATE CLASSIC |
$11,000 |
| 08/04/12 | LINCOLN | 2 F T |
DOWNSTATE CLASSIC |
$11,000 |
| 08/04/12 | MOHAWK RACEWAY |
3 C&G P |
ONSS GOLD |
$130,000 |
| 08/04/12 | SARATOGA HARNESS |
3&UP OPEN P |
JOE GERRITY |
$25,000 |
| 08/04/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
2 C&G P |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$40,000 |
| 08/04/12 | SCIOTO DOWNS |
3 C&G P |
OHIO ST FAIR |
$40,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 OPEN T |
HAMBLETONIAN |
$1,500,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 F T |
HAMBLETONIAN OAKS |
$750,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 C&G T |
PETER HAUGHTON MEM |
$375,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 F T |
MERRIE ANNABELLE |
$375,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 F P |
SWEETHEART |
$350,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3&UP OPEN P |
U S PACING CHAMP |
$325,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
2 OPEN P |
WOODROW WILSON |
$300,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 C&G P |
NEW JERSEY CLASSIC |
$275,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3&UP F&M P |
LADY LIBERTY |
$250,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3&UP OPEN T |
NAT RAY |
$250,000 |
| 08/04/12 | THE MEADOWLANDS |
3 F P |
MISS NEW JERSEY |
$125,000 |
|
$200,000 |
||||
|
$20,000 |
||||
| 08/05/12 | FLAMBORO DOWNS |
3 C&G T |
ONSS GOLD |
$40,000 |
| 08/05/12 | FLAMBORO DOWNS |
3 F T |
ONSS GOLD |
$40,000 |
| 08/05/12 | MOHEGAN SUN POCONO |
2 F P |
PASS |
$200,000 |
| 08/05/12 | TIOGA DOWNS |
3 C&G P |
EMPIRE BRDRS CLASSIC |
$12,500 |
| 08/05/12 | TIOGA DOWNS |
3 F P |
EMPIRE BREEDERS CLASSIC |
$12,500 |
| 08/05/12 | TIOGA DOWNS |
3 F P |
EBC UNDERCARD Elim LC |
$10,000 |
HAMBLETONIAN
PREVIEW from USTA News
Freehold, NJ — John Fielding is one of harness racing’s most
successful owners. He has won numerous stakes races over the years, including
10 Breeders Crown trophies, which is good for second place in the history of
the series, and was named the sport’s owner of the year in 2011 by the U.S.
Harness Writers Association.
He is still seeking, though, his first win in the Hambletonian. Of course, any
victory in trotting’s premier race for 3-year-olds would be memorable, but a
triumph in Saturday’s $1.5 million final at the Meadowlands Racetrack by Uncle
Peter would be even more special.
The horse is named in honor of Fielding’s late brother Peter Fielding, who passed
away from leukemia 10 years ago. We buy probably 30 yearlings a year — and we picked this one to name after my brother, said Fielding, whose brother Jim is also among the owners of Uncle Peter. Sure enough, he’s the one. It’s unreal. It’s exciting. It’s a great tribute to Pete.
|
USTA/Ken |
| Uncle Peter heads into the Hambletonian with career earnings of $533,967. |
Fielding, who lives in Toronto, played junior hockey in Canada before playing
professionally in Germany for several years. He later made his mark in the
business world, in both the cosmetics industry and real estate. He has owned
horses since the mid-1990s with trainer Jimmy
Takter, with whom he has had stars such as divisional champions See You At
Peelers, Pastor Stephen, Ken Warkentin, and Solveig.
Takter trains Uncle Peter as well as Hambletonian finalist Guccio — another horse in
which Fielding shares ownership. Fielding has had nine previous Hambletonian
starters, including Pastor Stephen in last year’s race.
Hopefully it’s a great race, Fielding said. It’s the highlight for our sport so I’m
just really happy we have two (horses) in the final and have a legitimate
chance of winning it.
Uncle Peter will
start the Hambletonian from post one and was made the 5-2 morning line
favorite. He has won eight of 12 career races, including last year’s Breeders
Crown at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, and earned $533,967. He is a son of Cantab Hall
and the first foal out of the mare Victory Treasure. He was purchased for $60,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale, under the name Pick Up The Tab.
Fielding said they settled on the name Uncle Peter because his brother was beloved by his many nieces and nephews. Also sharing in ownership of the colt are
Christina Takter and Goran Falk.
It really was for the kids that we named him Uncle Peter, Fielding said. They
all completely loved him. He was a great guy and a very good uncle.
Uncle Peter, driven by Ron Pierce, brings a three-race win streak to the Hambletonian final. He won his Hambletonian elimination race last weekend by 1-3/4 lengths over Money On My Mind in 1:53.3 over a track labeled “good†because of earlier rain.
Pierce positioned Uncle Peter third going around the first turn before moving to the
lead on the backstretch. Banker Volo immediately trotted forward to take the
top spot from Uncle Peter as the field reached the halfway point in :55.3, at
which point Pierce moved from second and reclaimed the advantage at the top of
the stretch.
I thought he raced well, Takter said. He had to move a couple times but he
finished within himself so I was very pleased with him. It was a good race.
Hopefully we have a little better weather this Saturday. That’s going to be an
important factor.
Takter is a two-time Hambletonian winner, having captured the race in 2010 with Muscle Massive and in 1997 with Malabar Man. The 1997 Hambletonian was the first to be contested using the eliminations-final format rather than heats and in the 15
years with that system Takter has had at least one finalist 11 times.
In fact, this year’s Hambletonian marks the sixth time Takter has had multiple
finalists in the race.
It’s a big honor, said Takter, who was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of
Fame in Goshen, N.Y., on July 1. There are 10 horses in the field and you have
two of them; that’s 20 percent. How can you complain? Especially when you have
two horses that did a good elimination performance. Of course I’m very happy.
Guccio, who is owned by Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding, was a late-charging second to Knows Nothing in his Hambletonian elimination. Jimmy
Takter drove Guccio, who has won two of 14 career starts and earned
$170,647. Prior to the Hambletonian elim, Guccio was second to stablemate
Little Brown Fox in a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial.
It’s not going to be a walk in the park for anyone in there, Takter said about the
Hambletonian final, which will be aired on CBS Sports Network from 3:30 to 5
p.m. Saturday. I could see four or five horses winning that race. But I like
my chances with both of my horses. I think they’re as good as anyone out there.
We’ll see.
The Hambletonian is the Hambletonian. It’s tough to win the final. I’ve been in a
lot of finals and I’ve been very fortunate to win two of them. But it’s not
easy. Things have got to go your way. At least we have a ticket to be excited
about. Fielding and his family are excited as well.
Alot of the troops will be down there, Fielding said. My mom and dad are
excited. I’m not sure of everyone that’s going yet, but it will be a lot of
fun.
HANSEN GOES FOR WEST VIRGINIA DERBY
By Sports Network
Eclipse Award winner Hansen heads a field of 10 three-year-olds for Saturday’s 43rd
running of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park.
Fresh off an Iowa Derby victory, Hansen will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The pair will break from post nine.
“We plan to ship him to Mountaineer from the
Churchill training center the day before the race,” said Hansen’s trainer
Mike Maker. “This is a good spot for him.”
Hansen won the Iowa Derby by 10 lengths as the 1-10
favorite versus four rivals. It was his first start since a disappointing
ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby
Previously ridden by Ramon Dominguez, Hansen
captured last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. In March the
colt won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct between second-place results in the Holy
Bull and Blue Grass Stakes.
Owned by Dr. Kendall Hansen and Skychai Racing, the nearly all white colt has five wins in eight career starts for $1,773,305.
Trainer Steve Asmussen goes a fourth West Virginia Derby win with Macho Macho. The colt will be ridden by Corey Nakatani from post four.
Macho Macho is coming off a second-place finish behind My Adonis in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 8. On June
16 at Churchill Downs he was third to Neck ‘n Neck in the Matt Winn Stakes.
Owned by Jerry Durant, the colt has banked $94,714 with two wins in six career starts.
Three years ago Soul Warrior gave Asmussen his third West Virginia Derby victory. The trainer earlier won the race with Real Dandy (2005) and Zanjero (2007).
Last Saturday, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga with Alpha. This week, McLaughlin has Le Bernardin entered at Mountaineer.
Le Bernardin will be ridden by Mike Luzzi from postseven for Darley Stable.
The colt, who did not race in 2011, has won three of five starts for $146,000. He won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 17 after finishing 10th and last in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 12.
From the rail out here is the field for the West Virginia Derby: Macho Bull, Eddie Martin Jr.; Hero of Order, Eddie Martin Jr.; Z Camelot, Deshawn Parker; Macho Macho, Corey
Nakatani; Morgan’s Guerrilla, Leandro Goncalves; Called to Serve, Leandro
Goncalves; Le Bernardin, Mike Luzzi; Bourbon Courage, Deshawn Parker; Hansen,
Mike Smith and Penn’s Grant, Luis Garcia.
