Horse trainer 'Cowboy' Larry Jones to be honored...

Veteran trainer Larry Jones will be honored later this year by the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) along with Oak Tree Racing Association founding director Dr. Jack Robbins and international journalist Dan Farley. The three will be recognized at the 50th annual NTWA Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 4.

Jones will receive the Mr. Fitz Award that honors an individual or group for typifying the spirit of horse racing. The Mr. Fitz Award is named for the late Hall of Fame trainer Jim 'Sunny Jim' Fitzsimmons.

Jones, who is expected to retire at the conclusion of this year, trained 2008 champion three-year-old filly Proud Spell as well as 2007 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Hard Spun. In 2008 his filly Eight Belles also finished second in the Run for the Roses before suffering severe injuries immediately after the race. The filly needed to be euthanized.

Dr. Robbins, a president of Oak Tree and past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, will receive the Joe Palmer Award. Named for the former New York Herald Tribune turf writer, the Palmer Award is presented annually for meritorious service to racing.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/horse-racing/story/1234679.html

Jones is one of the good guys of racing and should be honored. The sport needs people like him and less Frankel/Dutrow types. Larry will be missed but I wish him good luck in retirement.

hope he finds some happiness in retirement

That positive he had in Delaware last year bothered him also, I think.

I hope he takes some time off and gets some perspective and decides to come back. He's still young and we need more guys like him.

Have you been racing anything this summer, Sid?

it just got too expensive and no real chance to make any money racing or breeding to sell. Michigan racing is dead. I miss it very much.

How are you and your family doing? Do you guys have many horses in training? Is Ohio doing alright? If you guys are still racing let me know when you have one in so I can catch the race and cheer you on!

(I'm still enjoying the TB's and am so glad Rachel came along when she did.)

I've had track photographer duty at 7 fairs, the last of which was at Montpelier, Ohio last night. There seemed to be fewer heats for the Ohio-breds this year, owing to the exodus of stallions to greener pastures in Indiana and Pennsylvania. There were lots of Michigan-based horses in the cheap overnight races the fairs put on to round out their racing programs. I expect that trend to continue for a couple of years until the slots get on-line.

Dad bred a Sires Stake champion this year, Curly Top. Unfortunately, her weanling half-brother broke a leg in the stall and had to be put down. He's got a nice Duke Of York yearling filly that he's trying to find a buyer for at the moment.

it sucks to lose one like that. Good on your dad for breeding that Sire Stakes Champ. I hope you get a buyer on the filly.

Man, things are bad in MI. I've been watching TVG and HRTV recently and I see most of the better MI guys and gals are in IN, PA, and NY.

I'll keep an eye out for Curly Top or is she put up for the year?

Dad was down there and he was just over the moon about the whole thing. Unfortunately, this will be the first year in about a decade that I won't be making it down to the Delaware fair, owing to a confluence of other commitments.

Sorry you won't be at Delaware this year. The fair is always fun.

Have you or the family been up to Hazel Park this year?

Curly Top trotted to a stakes and national season's harness racing record 1:55.2 to win her division of the $43,234 Ohio Breeders Championship for three-year-old filly trotters on opening day at the Delaware, OH Fair. Striking Lauren captured the second division in 2:00.1.

The victory was Curly Top's 12th of the season in 22 starts and increased her 2009 earnings to $74,210 for owner-trainer Jerry Lighthill of Wauseon, OH. The daughter of Emily Angus also captured the $80,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship at Northfield Park.

Driver Aaron Merriman moved Curly Top into an early lead and never looked back, beating Rose Run Keepsake by 3 ¾ lengths with Get Chipped third.

Striking Lauren, driven by Ray Paver, moved from third at the top of the stretch to edge Mini Marvelous and Mocha Jo for only her third victory of the season. The Chip Chip Hooray filly is owned by trainer Danny Collins of Columbus, Jerry Sommers of Pickerington,OH and John Rhoads, Jr. of Circleville, OH.

http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=75541

Outstanding!

In a $4500 race. She should win easily, if she isn't scratched.

Jambalaya will start for the first time since his memorable victory in the 2007 Arlington Million on Friday at Woodbine in the second race, a classified allowance/optional claimer which is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Jambalaya, a 7-year-old trained by Catherine Day Phillips, captured the Breeders' Stakes and the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga as a 3-year-old in 2005. Jambalaya began to really blossom early in 2007 at Gulfstream, when he won the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf over Honey Ryder and Einstein, and the Grade 3 Pan American Handicap. Jambalaya ran another corker that summer in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, defeating The Tin Man and the brilliant European runner Doctor Dino.

Day Phillips said several different physical problems kept Jambalaya away from the races.

"He had a deep bone bruise in his right front after the Arlington Million that curtailed us in the fall of 2007," Day Phillips recalled. "When we brought him back in 2008, he pulled his gluteal muscle in behind, and that knocked us out for a good chunk of the summer. We were pretty close to running him at Gulfstream this winter, but he went unsound on the opposite side of his original injury. We sent him to the farm, and things have gone relatively smoothly since he's been back in training."

http://drf.com/news/article/107305.html

Midshipman, last year's champion 2-year-old colt, makes his long-awaited 3-year-old debut in a third-level allowance race Friday at Belmont Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race marks Midshipman's first start since he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last Oct. 25. This race, which goes as the third, also represents Midshipman's first start on dirt.

As a 2-year-old, when trained by Bob Baffert, Midshipman went 3 for 4 racing exclusively over the synthetic surfaces of Southern California. He won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his second start before finishing second to Street Hero in the Grade 1 Norfolk. Midshipman clinched his Eclipse Award with a front-running score in the Juvenile from post 10.

Midshipman was transferred from Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable to his Godolphin operation and was shipped over to Dubai for a winter campaign that was designed to have him return for the Kentucky Derby. But Midshipman suffered a soft tissue injury in March that forced him off the Triple Crown trail and out of training.

Midshipman did not resume training until this summer at Belmont, where he began working July 18. Midshipman has breezed nine times since then, including a five-furlong move in 1:00.25 on Sept. 10.

http://drf.com/news/article/107298.html

He won over Just Ben by about 3 1/2 lengths. Looked pretty solid too, laying just off the pace and taking control fairly easily, I think. Good to see the champ back and hope he progresses well from here on out.

I didn't see the race but I read on DRF he drifted out badly. Migliore was making excuses. It sounded to me like he was sore.

Durkin called it: "He's wandering to the outside." It didn't seem drastic just a steady drift to the center of the track. Here's the replay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JueJ_Gj8u7U.

I'll watch it before the Super Derby.

The thought a month ago was that Win Willy might be ready for his first start since the April 11 Arkansas Derby sometime late this summer or early this fall at Remington Park. But the spot for Win Willy's comeback is the featured ninth race Thursday at Arlington Park.

Win Willy was one of eight horses entered in Thursday's feature, a multi-conditioned allowance race also open to $62,500 claimers. The race is carded for 6 1/2 furlongs on Polytrack and might as well be dubbed the Robertson Family Special.

Win Willy is trained by Mac Robertson, who also entered King A.J. in the race. Mac's father, Hugh, also put in two, Celluloid Hero and Trying Brian. All, save Win Willy, have spent time with both father and son, whose seasons converge at Oaklawn Park before separating the rest of the year.

Win Willy has been training for his comeback this summer at Arlington, overseen by Hugh Robertson, but it was at Oaklawn that Win Willy made his name. He won an entry-level sprint allowance race there before pulling a 56-1 upset over heavily favored Old Fashioned in the Rebel Stakes. And Win Willy's fourth in the Arkansas Derby was not a bad effort, either. He probably regressed a touch off the Rebel peak, and in any case was caught wide in the race while checking in two lengths behind multiple Grade 1 winner Summer Bird. Win Willy would have started in the Kentucky Derby but came up with an ankle injury days before the race that forced him to miss the Triple Crown and most of the summer.

http://drf.com/news/article/107290.html

pretty good effort in his return. He'll get 'em next out.

http://drf.com/drfPDFChartRacesIndexAction.do?TRK=AP&CTY=USA&DATE=20090917&RN=9

The hope of having Belmont winner Summer Bird run in the Super Derby gave way to the reality of a seven-horse field without any superstars.

Yet when the 30th Super Derby is run on Saturday afternoon at Louisiana Downs, it may have one of its most wide-open fields in years.

"I think so. None of them are real, real accomplished horses," said Don Simington, who will be aboard Electric Alphabet on Saturday. "They've all done good at different times in their careers.

"But like I said, there's no real big standouts in the race."

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090917/SPORTS/909170325

Don't have the motivation or money to get down to Shreveport and make a fun day of it. But I'll root for Massone. I wish the Super Derby had stronger fields.

he should run away with it if he is in form. Godolphin has been on a hot streak.

1. Regal Ransom
2. Blame
3. Massone

Congrats and good call on Regal Ransom. When he hit the half in .49 he had it in the bag. Blame made a nice late move, but way too late. Cool to see Godolphin get a win down there. That's a classy horse.

I didn't.

I saw those times at the 1/4 and 1/2 and knew he was home free as long as Mig didn't fall off.

Last year’s champion grass mare Forever Together will attempt to add some more black-type to her already stellar resume when facing six other fillies and mares, including the highly regarded Points of Grace, in the $300,000 Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) Sept. 20 at Woodbine.

The race is on the undercard for the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT) and the Northern Dancer Turf Presented by Vtech (both Can-IT). Post time for the 1 1/8-mile contest is 2:30 p.m. EDT.

Forever Together is owned by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, which just collected the award as 2008’s National Owner of the Year by the Thoroughbred Owner’s and Breeders’ Association. Much of the stable’s success has stemmed from the Jonathan Sheppard-trained Forever Together, who captured the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) during her championship season.

The daughter of Belong to Me , third in last year’s Canadian in her Woodbine debut, has raced just three times this year, but has won or placed in all of those efforts. She posted a victory in the Jenny Wiley (gr. IT) at Keeneland, a second in the Just a Game (gr. IT) at Belmont Park, and scored in the Aug. 1 Diana (gr. IT) last out at Saratoga.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52597/forever-together-readies-for-breeders-cup

Paul Pompa Jr. is reluctant to compare any of his young horses to 2008 dual classic winner Big Brown , but the New York based owner is not afraid to say that D' Funnybone could be something special.

“You never get that high or psych yourself up like that. You go one step at a time,” said Pompa when asked if D’ Funnybone reminds him of Big Brown. Pompa, along with IEAH Stables, owned last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I) winner. “But (trainer) Rick (Dutrow Jr.) likes him a lot and so do I. He’s worked tremendously and we expect him to run huge.”

D’ Funnybone, a son of D'wildcat —Elbow, by Woodman, will likely be the overwhelming favorite for the $250,000 Futurity (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Belmont Park. The seven-furlong race for juveniles is the feature on a card that also includes the Matron (gr. II) for juvenile fillies, and the Noble Damsel (gr. IIIT).

Pompa and his team, which includes bloodstock agent Nick Sallusto, certainly have an eye for young talent. An owner of a New York trucking business, Pompa bought Big Brown out of the 2007 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training for $190,000 before selling a 75% interest to IEAH for millions.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52591/futurity-d-funnybone-a-star-in-the-making

Paul Pompa Jr.’s D' Funnybone followed up his impressive Saratoga Special (gr. II) win with another no-doubt-about-it victory, this one in the $250,000 Futurity (gr. II) (VIDEO) Sept. 19 at Belmont Park. The 2-year-old son of D'wildcat is sure to be one of the favorites for the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) later this fall, if he is entered.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52625/another-laugher-for-d-funnybone-in-futurity

Princess Haya, making her graded stakes debut, rallied along the hedge to nose the 2008 Eclipse Award-winning turf female Forever Together in the $283,376 Canadian Stakes (Can-IIT) (VIDEO) at Woodbine Sept. 20.

Rafael Bejarano guided the 4-year-old Texas homebred daughter of Street Cry to her first stakes victory with a ground-saving trip in the 1 1/8-mile grass event for fillies and mares. Sent off at odds of 15-1, she won in the final stride in a superb time of 1:45.03 on firm going.

Forever Together, the 3-10 favorite with regular rider Julien Leparoux aboard, finished second by a head over Much Obliged and Patrick Husbands, with front-running Points of Grace finishing fourth.

Trained by Michael Matz for owner/breeder Eileen Hartis, Princess Haya ran a well-beaten second in the off-the-turf Matchmaker Stakes on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park in her last start Aug. 2. The bay filly was making her initial start at Woodbine.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52633/princess-haya-tallies-royal-upset-in-canadian

Northern Dancer Inquiry Goes to Just as Well

Just as Well was awarded victory in the $750,000 Northern Dancer Turf (Can-IT) (VIDEO) at Woodbine Sept. 20 when the winner, Marsh Side, was disqualified for interference in the stretch.

Following a lengthy inquiry, stewards decided that Marsh Side, clinging to a narrow lead under right-handed urging from jockey Javier Castellano approaching the sixteenth pole, impeded both Quijano to his immediate inside, and the favored Champs Elysees, rallying at the rail.

Marsh Side, who went on to win by a half-length, was placed fourth, behind Champs Elysees.

Just as Well, who charged on the outside from far back to get second, was not involved in the skirmish but benefited trainer Jonathan Sheppard, who owns the 6-year-old son of A.P. Indy , mightily. A few races earlier on the card, the Sheppard-trained female turf champion Forever Together lost by a nose in the Canadian Stakes (gr. IIT).

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52635/northern-dancer-inquiry-goes-to-just-as-well

If she goes to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, I think she's a single. If she were to go to the Mile, I would still pick Goldikova if she runs there.

And Marsh Side had to come down after that Northern Dancer Turf. Champs Elysees is lucky he didn't go over the rail.

A very nice Chester House mare. Too bad Frankel has to train her. Did anyone ever say why Frankel's been sick?

Well, I for one think this sucks.


Lava Man Back in Training

by Jeff Lowe, Tom Law, and Steve Bailey

Lava Man, who was retired with ankle problems last year, has returned to trainer Doug O’Neill’s barn at Hollywood Park, where he won three straight editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).

“He’s been back in the barn since the end of the Del Mar meeting and he’s doing fantastic,” O’Neill said on Wednesday after the eight-year-old Slew City Slew gelding breezed three furlongs at Hollywood Park in :36, the fastest of 24 workouts at that distance. “If and when he runs, all of the trainer earnings will be donated to CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) so people don’t think this is all about greed.”

Lava Man was retired after a sixth-place finish in the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) last July at Del Mar. He subsequently began stem cell treatments and underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his ankles at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California, and was sent to nearby Magali Farm in Santa Ynez for rehabilitation.

The process involved drawing cells from Lava Man’s sternum and injecting them into his ankles, more than 10-million cells per treatment.

“He had to continue training at Magali as part of the stem cell treatments,” O’Neill said. “They found they were able to actually grow back cartilage. No one knew that was possible, so it’s exciting that this treatment may be able to help other equine athletes in the future.


full story: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/September/23/Lava-Man-back-in-training.aspx

I like the idea of gene therapy but I think the old guy deserves his rest. I was as big a fan of LM as anyone but, I just do not like to see him back on the track.

I don't trust the tone of what I'm hearing from the connections. O'Neill sounds like he's trying to convince himself this is a good idea. Lava Man, if I remember right, had some pretty horrendous ankles when he left. And he was not a Grade 1 horse anymore when he retired.