News for January 2012
Miguel M.Clement
copyrights Nancy Rokos
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The barn only had 16 starts in this usual quiet time of the year, but had a good win rate with its 4 winners including two first time starters! It may seem alarming that in January, only 16 starts were made from this outfit, but the majority of the older horses are enduring a break this time of year.
Mr. Steven Dunker’s Eleven Final Fours nearly made his comeback from a five month layoff a winning one at Gulfstream Park on January 8th. Eleven Final Fours was ahead of only one horse, in the field of 12, with a half-mile remaining before making a strong move in the turn under Julien Leparoux. Elevin Final Four took the lead at the 1/16 pole but was outkicked by Leconic, the trailer of the field, and had to settle for second by a length.
Mrs. Ramona Bass’ Dreamspell nearly broke her maiden at Tampa on January 8th under Leandro Goncalves. Dreamspell was placed mid-pack before being checked repeatedly in the turn. She was able to find an opening in mid-stretch and she demonstrated a good kick to finish an unlucky second to Flounce by 1 ¾ lengths.
Mr. Lewis Schaffel, Mr. Jim Collins & Mr. Shwartz’s Team broke her maiden in style on January 13th at Gulfstream Park. Team spotted the field few lengths in a slow pace and was carried five wide in the final turn under Kent Desormeaux but dashed home the final quarter of a mile in 22.84 seconds to win by a comfortable 1 ½ lengths. Team now has a win, a second and a third in 3 starts.
Castleton Lyons’ ultra consistent Race To Urga provided some nervous moments in her victory on January 15th at Gulfstream Park. Jose Lezcano managed to save ground with the favorite but it seemed as if all hope was lost when Race To Urga was bottled down on the inside of nine horses with less than a quarter of a mile remaining. Jose Lezcano managed to guide Race To Urga up the rail in the tightest of spaces to quickly burst to the lead and post Race To Urga’s 3rd victory in 6 starts. This four years old filly by Bernstein earned a 84 beyer for her performance.
Preston’s Stable’s Easy Crossing made his debut a winning one at Gulfstream park on January 16th. Javier Castellano was able to stalk the leaders in a relatively slow pace race, 50.36 seconds opening half-mile in a 1 1/16 event, and had the first run on the field. Easy Crossing opened up by 2 lengths in mid-stretch and was never seriously threatened at the end to post a length victory. Easy Crossing is a three years old colt by English Channel and went off at odds of 9.90-1.Yet again, another great bargain buy for Preston Stable's as Easy Crossing was purchased for $4,000.
Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone’s Blue Creek also made a successful debut when he beat maidens going 7 furlongs on the main track at Tampa on January 26th under Pablo Morales. Blue Creek was able to rate just behind the leaders before slipping down the rail on the far turn to edge the field by 1 ¼ lengths.Blue. Creek chose an excellent day to win his debut as it was Mrs. Firestone's birthday.
A few Upcoming Races…..
Denomination may make her next start in the Grade 3 Suwanee River at Gulfstream Park on February 11th.
Mr. Ryder will be kept eligible to the following races: Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Handicap at Gulfstream Park on February 11th, the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes on February 25th and the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap on February 25th.
Finding Neverland and Future Generation are expected to be making their North American debut in February.
Payson Park Training Center, Florida
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