Careers

BRENNAN BATTLE BECKONS 

A small but select field of seven is set to battle Friday in the $30,000 Pat Brennan Memorial stake for three-and four-year-old colts and geldings. 

Five saw action last weekend in prep races and one, Thisisbliss, came home a winner.

The son of Blissful Hall made it three in a row with a 1:56 clocking for trainer Wayne Isbister last Friday.  

Boiling Over was also in action Friday, placing second to the scorching win of El Toro.

Accent Seelster, Stonebridge Camlot and Dancelikeahos took on older horses last Sunday and acquitted themselves in fine fashion. Seelster was third, just a neck from the win, clocking 1:55.2. Camlot was a recent winner in 1:55.2. 

Cucomunga last raced on Feb. 24 while Joe Millionaire has been idle since Feb. 17. However, on that date the three-year-old son of No Nukes paced to the win in 1:56.2 for trainer Jim Wiggins. 

Three of the leading wagering choices at post time drew inside sports. Stonebridge Camlot has the rail, Thisibliss is in the two-hole and Accent Seelster will start from the three. 

Conversely, Joe Millionaire and Boiling Over will start from the outside, six and seven respectively. 

It should be a close battle – and fun. 

DUCA LIKES IT HERE: Duca, a newcomer to the Fraser Downs arena, is obviously quite happy with his new surroundings. 

Duca captured the open event last Saturday in his third race since owner Niele Jiwan shipped him to the Downs from Ontario. In his three starts, all in the open, Duca now has two wins and a second (by a nose). 

The five-year-old son of Western Hanover was a 4-5 favorite and went gate to wire to win by half a length in 1:54.1 for trainer/driver Bill Davis. 

Duke Is Duke had the two-hole trip throughout but could only marginally cut into Duca’s lead as they came down the stretch. Armbro Bach was a strong third in the field that was reduced to five with the scratches (sick) of Red Star Senator and Armbro Blacktie. 

Duca, who has a lifetime mark of 1:52 set at Woodbine in Toronto, was eighth in the Pepsi North America Cup consolation. As a three-year-old he won a leg of the Youthful Pacing Series and was third in the $100,000 Burlington Stakes at Mohawk. 

He has now won $17,875 in 2006 and more than $185,000 in his career. 

Jiwan, who has horses racing at Woodbine, admitted he had watched Duca race a lot. Despite some blips by Duca, Jiwan thought about claiming him on one than one occasion. 

“He has good breeding (he is by the Cam Fella mare Five Oclock Cindy),” Jiwan said. “I thought after awhile, as he was a little horse, that he would be good on this track (the Downs). 

“Then I worked out a deal with his previous owners and bought him for $35,000.” 

Jiwan, “who admits he is having a lot of fun,” gives the credit to Davis for Duca’s fine start at Fraser Downs. 

COLA SIZZLES: In one of the top races of last weekend, the non-winners $7,500 last six starts, Haras Colta Cola with driver/trainer Paul Harrison, used the two-hole trip to advantage. 

The seven-year-old son of Armbro Operative, picked up his first win of 2006, covering the mile in 1:55.2.  

Colta Cola, traveled the last quarter in 28.4 seconds, attacking at the head of the stretch and nipping Hot Venture, who had led from the gate, by a head at the wire. Accent Seelster used a 28.2 last quarter to finish just a neck back of the winner. 

The top six finishers in the field of eight charged home in the stretch and were separated by only 2˝ lengths at the wire. 

YANKEE MONEY HOT: Yankee Money, a six-year-old son of Make A Deal, continues to roll in 2006. Trained and driven by Jim Marino (and owned by Jim’s mom Barbara Landers), Yankee Money, won his second straight and pushed his 2006 record to 8-4-2-1.  

He also covered the mile in a lifetime best 1:57.3 as he moved up in class again – this time to $8,000 claimer. 

Thisisbliss, a four-year-old son of Blissfull Hall, last Friday won his third consecutive race for trainer Wayne Isbister and driver Jim Marino. Thisisbliss has now won more than $18,000 in 2006. 

Alex Gibb-trained horses were sharp last Friday. Lunar Chipmunk, a six-year-old son of Atomic Force, won his second in a row for Gibb, and was Terry Kaufman’s first driving win of 2006. Trulyatyrant, a six-year-old son of True Tyrant also trained by Gibb and driven by Marino, won his fourth, in seven starts in 2006. 

Rocket Rachael, a four-year-old daughter of Pacific Rocket, made it two straight victories for trainer Carol St Amand and driver Rod Therres. 

Goldies Eldorado, a 10-year-old Manitoba-bred son of Reckless Regard, made it three straight victories last Saturday for trainer/driver Scott Knight. Goldies Eldorado now has 29 career wins. 

Rodeo King, a three-year-old son of Blissful Hall, lowered his career best to 1:58, for trainer/driver Serge Masse while U Smooth Operator, a four-year-old son of Armbro Operative, did the same in 1:58.1 for trainer Paul Urquhart and driver Bill Davis. 

Leanback Coco, a three-year-old daughter of Cambest, made her first start of 2006 a winning one on Sunday for driver/trainer Serge Masse. It was her fourth straight victory in as many career starts (her last win was Nov. 3) and she cruised the mile in a career best 1:57.2. 

Red Star Soprano, a five-year-old son of Barnet Hanover, won his third in four 2006 starts. He also picked up a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4 for trainer/driver Barry Treen. 

Also covering the mile in career topping fashion was Dianes Desire for trainer/driver Bill Davis. The three-year-old daughter of Scruffy Hanover was clocked in 1:58.3.

THE DUST REMOVED: Red Star Dusty wins again. 

Remember Dusty? The five-year-old son of Just Camelot out of Blazing Sevens started his racing career leaving many in his dust. 

In the seventh start of his career, as a two-year-old, he broke his maiden. In his next start, he captured the Sales Stake for two-year-old colts and geldings. Two starts later, now a three-year-old, he won the Stallion Stake. In his next start he was second and then he won again, this time on March 14, 2004. 

He had 12 starts, four wins and more than $57,000 in earnings. 

Then he fell into a bit of a slump. His next win – last Sunday -- came 52 starts later. 

Now owned by Robert Ross of Lumby and trained by Ann Cooper, Dusty was in a conditioned claimer, $6,000, non-winners of five. Tim Brown drove him to victory. It was his eighth start of 2006 and pushed his year earnings to more than $5,300. He closed to within less than $3,000 of $100,000 for his career. 

Interestingly his time last Sunday was 1:58, just one tick off his career best, set in his previous victory. 

THREE SHARE NICE WEEKEND: Three of the top drivers at the Downs each had a big day last weekend but it was not enough to have sole domination of the weekend. 

Jim Marino had five wins on Friday, Bill Davis had four Saturday and Serge Masse had five Sunday. However, when the sun sank each had six victories over the three days. 

The six victories did push Marino past the 100 mark for the meet as he now sits at 101, Davis has 95 while Masse, who dominated the meet early, moved back into third with 63.

(Masse has the meet-leading URS close to .400 and win percentage at 30 per cent.) 

Gord Abbott had three wins while Tim Brown and Barry Treen had two apiece. 

Terry Kaufman picked up his first driving win – in only his second start -- of 2006. 

Davis led all trainers with five triumphs, widening his meet-leading total to 56. Masse was second with three while Wayne Isbister, Mike Glover, Ann Cooper, Alex Gibb and Treen had two each. 

HIP HIP HOVEY! To the surprise of absolutely no know, except perhaps her, Sharalyn Hovey has been awarded the Doug Gillespie award for 2005. 

Sharalyn, the group sales manager at Fraser Downs, received the award at the recent annual B.C. Standardbred Industry awards. 

The Doug Gillespie award is in recognition of the achievements of Gillespie, the original food service manager of Cloverdale Raceway and Sandown Raceway.  

The award’s criteria for winning pinpoints the person who demonstrates superior leadership and service excellence throughout the year. Dedication to not only Fraser Downs but also their co-workers and the community is what makes this person stand out among all others. 

Anyone who comes to the Downs, not only in one of the food service areas, knows the friendly and capable work of Sharalyn Hovey. 

ERNIE GETS LAST SPOT: Ernie Moroz of New Westminster captured week 10 last Saturday and completed the field of finalists for the California Dreamin’ Handicapping Contest at Fraser Downs. 

Moroz led the way, in a week where big payoffs prevailed, with a total of $938 and won the $250 weekly prize and the last spot in the final. 

June Trachyk had an $815 total and finished second while June McQuillan was close behind in third with $798. Edith Mcevoy made it three of the fairer sex in a row with a $702 total while Ron Miscich placed fifth at $688. 

Others in the final already are Les Shubrook, Lloyd Burbridge, Len Zurowski, Mark McNulty, Ian Barrie, Koji Kariya, Tom Mohammed, Art Worsfold and Bob Kosolofski.  

They will compete head-to-head on this Saturday in the Homestretch Party Zone. 

The winner of Saturday’s face-to-face showdown will take a guest to Santa Anita racetrack in California for the Santa Anita Derby on April 8. 

Each Saturday contestants handicap six races from the Santa Anita card, races three through eight, of which three must be handicapped. For each of the three horses selected, a mythical $20 win/place/show bet will be placed.  

RECORD SALE: At the Fasig-Tipson Florida select sale of thoroughbred two-year-olds in training on Feb. 28, the most expensive horse purchase in racing history took place.  

A bay colt by Forestry sold for a world record price of $16-million, purchased by Demi O'Byrne, acting on behalf of Coolmore managing partner John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derek Smith.  

Previously, the most expensive racehorse ever sold at public auction was a whopping $13.1-million for Seattle Dancer at the 1985 Keeneland July selected yearling sale.  

The colt was consigned by Dean De Renzo and Randy Hartley of Florida, who purchased him at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July select auction for only $573,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency.

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