Thoroughbred Racing Weekend Advance

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER


UPI Racing Writer

He was undefeated at age 2, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was named Eclipse Award champ. But can Hansen keep moving forward Sunday in his 3-year-old debut?


That will be a key question in an interesting weekend of racing that also includes early tests for both Florida- and California-based 3-year-old fillies, the revamped Florida-only Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park and the John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Park.

On Friday in Australia, Black Caviar is slated to go for her 17th win without a loss amid speculation she might travel to Dubai for a step into the big time.

But first, Hansen.

The light gray colt streaked to national prominence in the Breeders' Cup by winning a ding-dong stretch duel with the heavy favorite, Union Rags. Try as he might, Union Rags couldn't overcome his wide trip to get by the stubborn Hansen, whose previous wins came at Turfway Park.

But 2-year-old phenoms often either burn out at 3 or simply see their rivals develop into more formidable competition. Will Hansen move ahead or step back in Sunday's $400,000, Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, going 1 mile on the main track?

After he breezed 5 furlongs in 59.81seconds Sunday morning, trainer Mike Maker said, "We've had no bumps in the road. Hopefully, that trend continues."

The five rivals entered for the Holy Bull include Algorithms and Consortium, a promising pair who finished 1-2 in a recent Gulfstream allowance; Fort Loudon, who swept the three races in last year's Florida Stallion Stakes; and stakes winner My Adonis.

Hansen has never seen the hindquarters of a rival during a race but Maker said he doesn’t see that as a disadvantage.

"It's no different than a closer," he said. "You're dependent on the pace. You just hope no one makes him go quicker earlier than he has to."

He was never challenged in his first two starts and got away with 6 furlongs in 1:12.24 in the Breeders' Cup.

Union Rags, meanwhile, is scheduled to start his 3-year-old campaign at Gulfstream in the Feb. 26 Fountain of Youth.

Also on Saturday at Gulfstream, a well-balanced field of 3-year-old fillies will mix it up in the $200,000, Grade II Forward Gal Stakes at 7 furlongs. Wayne Catalano will saddle Sacristy, who won her last two, including the Grade III Old Hat Stakes at 6 furlongs on New Year's Day. Say a Novena, second in the Old Hat, is back for another try. Good Deed comes in from at win in the Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds. Quick Flip won the Sandpiper at Tampa Bay before finishing fourth in the Old Hat. Yara won the Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies at Calder in November. Broadway's Alibi is the only starter without a stakes win and she had scored in each of her last two starts, including a scorcher in an optional claimer early in the Gulfstream meet.

And those Sunday races are only the icing on a cake whose six layers comprise the "Sunshine Millions" races for Florida-breds on Saturday worth a total of $1.3 million in purses. A stellar roster of 48 is set for that program, too, headed by the undefeated Awesome Feather and the recent Eclipse Award winner, Musical Romance, racing in the $300,000 Distaff and the $150,000 Filly & Mare Sprint, respectively. Also on the card is Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man in the $400,000 Classic.

"Florida Sunshine Millions Day is going to be a tremendous day of championship racing," said Gulfstream Park Racing Secretary Dan Bork. "Every race will feature graded-stakes winners and many of the top horses in the country."

Horse Racing Radio Network will air the Sunshine Millions and a "Luck Pick Six" involving Gulfstream and Santa Anita races, live on its internet site.

Elsewhere around the racing ovals:

Santa Anita has put together a Saturday program that mixes three state-bred stakes events with the $300,000, Grade I Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares and the $100,000, Grade III Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The day also includes a craft beer festival, beach chair giveaway and a bikini contest so fans can bet, sit, sip and ogle.

Mike Smith will be aboard Rumor for the first time in the Santa Monica, run at 7 furlongs. Rumor, a 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie, has never finished worse than second in seven career starts but tackles a graded event for the first time. The field of seven also includes sentimental favorite Home Sweet Aspen.

Killer Graces, a daughter of Congaree, will be among the favorites in a seven-filly field in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel off her win in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet last month. Charm the Maker was third in the Grade I Oak Leaf last fall, then won the Sharp Cat and finished second in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet last time out. Lady of Shamrock and Batalha were first and second in the Blue Norther Stakes on Dec. 30. The result should give a reading on Kentucky Oaks prospects on the West Coast.

The $200,000, Grade III John B. Connally Turf Cup, run at 9 furlongs over the Houston-area track turf course, attracted seven starters. The morning-line favorite in that tussle is Proceed Bee, a 6-year-old Bernstein gelding who has been a consistent performer in the Chicago area and in northern Kentucky but visits the Lone Star State for the first time for trainer Scott Becker. In a bit of an oddity, Proceed Bee has made 28 career starts with 12 wins and five thirds but has never finished second.

Adding to the Chicago-area flavor in the Connally is Ioya Bigtime, a 5-year-old Dynaformer gelding handled by Team Block who won three races at Arlington this summer, then overcame a rough start to finish second in the Grade II Fayette at Keeneland in his last start.

And, possibly saving the best for last, Black Caviar is on course to win her 17th race sans loss Friday in the Australia Stakes at Mooney Valley.

Managing owner Neil Werrett told the Press Association Thursday that Black Caviar, should she win the Australia Stakes, is targeted for two more runs in Melbourne. After that, he indicated Royal Ascot is an ultimate target with a potential prep in either of the two sprints on Dubai World Cup night – both of which found Black Caviar's name on their entry list.

"Royal Ascot is the ultimate goal and (trainer Peter Moody) wants to get her there in 100 percent shape and working out the best way to do that is what we have to talk about," the PA quoted Werrett.

And if the 6-year-old mare is to travel internationally, there could be stops at the rich stakes races at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, Japan and/or Hong Kong to round out the year.

First things first: Black Cavier drew the No. 1 post for Friday's race and will face six rivals.

18-year-old jockey from Shakopee gets first two career victories

Alex Canchari
photo by Coady Photography

Jockey Alex Canchari, son of former Canterbury rider Luis Canchari, notched his first career victory yesterday in the season-opener at Oaklawn. He followed it up with another win later in the card....read about it HERE

Coady Photography

Heartland Poker Tour Announces Canterbury Park Event

By popular demand, Heartland Poker Tour announced a tour stop in the company’s home state of Minnesota. The nationally-televised poker show will film two episodes at Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino in Shakopee April 20-30, 2012. The event, which could offer the largest poker tournament prize pool ever in the state, is open to the public.


Players can take a shot at “life-changing” money for as little as $65. The two-day Main Event begins April 28 and concludes on April 29 when the field is reduced to six, with qualifying rounds beginning April 20th. The remaining six players will advance to HPT’s TV production set, assembled on site, on April 30. Thirteen high-definition cameras will capture all of the No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em action until a champion is named. To date, 582 poker enthusiasts have played their way to national television exposure on HPT.

Since humble beginnings in Moorhead, Minnesota, HPT built a nationwide following of poker enthusiasts with the mission, “Real People, Unreal Money.” Because the buy-ins are reasonable and the prize money is substantial, HPT tournaments appeal to players at every skill level.

“We see Cinderella stories at every stop,” said HPT Executive Producer Greg Lang, referencing retired police officer Craig Casino who recently won $293,270. “Anyone can have a shot at that life-changing moment on a national stage,” he added. Since 2005, 97 champions have experienced the thrill of an HPT victory. The tour has awarded over 32 million dollars to date.

HPT is expected to continue an upward growth swing in Season 8. For the poker tour that began in one of the most unlikely places, Fargo, North Dakota, 2011 was a year of new heights. The season began with a sellout event in Las Vegas and went on to break attendance records in many markets, including Colorado, Michigan and New York. The tour recently celebrated its first million-dollar prize pool in Colorado with 668 players.

While growing the brand nationwide, Lang said, loyal Minnesota players campaigned for a tournament at home. “They shouted, we listened,” said Lang. “We’re looking forward to seeing many familiar faces in April.”

Located near the Mall of America and downtown Minneapolis, Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino will see a bump in business while the tour is in town, as will other businesses in Shakopee, as players travel from across North America to participate. A top Twin Cities’ gaming destination, Canterbury Park provides 18,000 square feet of casino-style action around the clock for all levels of players. The card room features 34 tables of Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven-Card Stud.

”We are excited to host Heartland Poker Tour at Canterbury Park,” Michael Hochman, Senior Director of Card Casino Operations, said. “An event of this stature is a perfect fit for Minnesota’s premier poker room. The opportunity to offer what could be the largest poker prize pool in state history is great news for our players.”

Family, friends and fans are invited to watch the taping live on set or at HPTpoker.com. Seats are available in the audience on a first-come, first-served basis. HPT is available on TV in over 100 million US households in addition to widespread distribution throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Schedule and broadcast information is available at http://www.hptpoker.com/

Scott Stevens returns to work

Canterbury Park Hall of Fame jockey Scott Stevens will return to riding Friday at Turf Paradise. He has been named on two mounts, the first a Doug Oliver trainee.


Stevens was hurt in a gate incident during training hours in mid-June at Canterbury. He injured both shoulders including a broken scapula. It has been a long road back for Stevens but not the first time the 50-year-old rider has overcome the odds. He also suffered multiple injuries a year prior. While many thought that would end his career, Stevens was back in the winners’ circle less than five months later. He looks for the same to happen this time.

“I’ve been in therapy since July,” Stevens said. “I had to work hard. I’ve got 95% of the motion in my shoulder.”

Stevens was leading rider at Canterbury from 1990 through 1992 and is near the top of the Canterbury historical standings in nearly every record that matters.

Stevens is more than ready for his career to resume. “I feel good,” he said. "Everything works." The veteran chooses his mounts wisely so victory will not be far off.

Stevens was recently named a finalist for the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Read more here...

Other news….

Jockey Paul Nolan has moved his tack to New Orleans where he is working for trainer Michael Stidham at Fair Grounds. He has a mount in the second race on Saturday.

Canterbury Park’s 2012 Race Meet Receives Approval

Canterbury Park received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission on Thursday to conduct a 62-day thoroughbred and quarter horse race meet in 2012. The meet will begin Friday, May 18 and run through Monday, September 3. Thursday and Friday racing will begin at 7:00 p.m. with weekend and holiday racing beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Featured race days in 2012 will include the 19th renewal of the Minnesota Festival of Champions, a day dedicated to the best race horses bred in the state, and the second annual Fillies Race For Hope, a day of races exclusively for fillies and mares that will benefit Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation. Dates for those events will be announced in January along with a complete stakes schedule.

“The 2012 race meet will closely resemble the meet we ran this year, minus the state government shutdown that caused Canterbury and the horse owners, trainers and breeders to lose 20 days of business,” track president Randy Sampson said. “While the shutdown and loss of revenues had a negative impact on next season’s purses, it is necessary to offer sufficient racing opportunities so that Canterbury continues to attract enough horses to make the meet a success,” Sampson said.

Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota Formed, Selects Leaders for 2012

Formerly named Racino Now, the Coalition will advocate on Behalf of Horse Racing and Other Equine Activities

In an effort to build Minnesota's equine industry and accelerate rural economic development, Racino Now has approved a new name and elected new officers to focus its work to support Minnesota's horse industry.

Under its new name, the Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota (EDCoM) will replace Racino Now, advocating on behalf of horse owners and breeders, horse racing fans and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans who depend on a healthy equine industry in this state. Jeff Hilger, a longtime Minnesota business owner, thoroughbred breeder and owner of Bleu Valley Farm in Stillwater, Minn., has been named President of EDCoM. Rosemary Higgins, a quarter horse owner from Princeton, Minn., will serve as Executive Director. Quinn Cheney has been retained as the lobbyist for EDCoM in St. Paul.

“The equine industry touches all 87 counties in our state. It will be an enormous economic engine for Minnesota if legislators are willing to make the same investment in horse racing purses and equine development that other states have successfully made,” Hilger explained.

In 2004, Dr. Brian Buhr, current Director of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Applied Economics, estimated that Minnesota’s equine industry created a total economic impact of approximately $1 billion. Additionally, he noted that Minnesota could improve that economic impact with an increase in racing purses.

Increasing horse racing purses is important because it helps grow the entire industry – more horses, trainers and breeders come to Minnesota, requiring more support from farmers, veterinarians, fence builders and other businesses. EDCoM supports Racino legislation, which would provide $135 million in new revenue for the State of Minnesota and make significant investments in the equine industry.

“Putting the new revenue aside, there is a much bigger picture here.” said Hilger. “If our state is like the 12 other states that have passed Racino legislation, it can more than double the dollar value of our equine industry. We are talking jobs here - for farmers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, fence and barn builders and many other businesses. Larger purses will allow Minnesota breeders to be more competitive, attracting trainers, breeders and owners and causing a ripple effect around the state.”

Twelve states have approved Racino legislation, and each of those states has experienced an increase in racing purses and equine development because of the legislation. Independent public surveys have shown that support among Minnesotans for Racino legislation exceeds 75 percent.

“In the short term, we have a vehicle that allows the Legislature to address a few of the toughest problems facing the state, and in the long-run increase jobs and help an agricultural industry that has been hard hit,” Hilger explains. “Simple logic dictates that it is time to move this economic engine forward.”
The Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota is a group of dedicated equine industry members who want to improve economic development throughout Minnesota by strengthening the state's horse industry. EDCoM supports passage of Racino legislation.  For more information about the Racino proposal, go to http://www.racinonow.com/.

Breeders' Cup Top 10 Lists

DRF.com has a list of Breeders' Cup Top Tens for several of the championship races. HGet a head start on your Breeders' Cup handicapping>>>>>>>>>     DRF Top 10s