CAFFEINED TOO STRONG
There was no open event last weekend at
the Downs but Caffeined looked powerful in winning the
claiming $35,000 event.
Caffeined, a five-year-old son of On
The Road Again, captured his fourth triumph in six starts in
2006 and pushed his earnings to more than $28,000 for
trainer/driver Bill Davis.
Part of an entry, Caffeined dropped
down from the open and was best of a field of seven which
saw all the others move up to the $35,000. Starting from the
four-hole, Caffeined stayed back early and then used a
strong last quarter (28.2 seconds) and stretch drive to win
by 1¼ lengths in 1:54.3.
Hot Venture, who battled early with
Caffeined’s entry mate, Wild Rumour, was second and Lance
Raider third.
Sergeirachpaninoff upset 4-5 favorite
Haras Colta Cola in capturing the non-winners $7,500 last
six event. Sergei, with driver/trainer Serge Masse, settled
into the two-hole trip from the rail post and moved on the
last turn to take command to win by 1¾ lengths in 1:57.4.
Cola, down from a sharp open showing,
was second and Red Star Yogi third.
FAST SAILING: Sail The Sevenseas
was fast last Friday. The five-year-old son of Scruffy
Hanover won impressively, pacing the mile in a new life mark
of 1:54.2. That was more than two seconds faster than ever
for the Tim Brown trained and driven competitor who has now
won more than $90,000 in his career.
Also setting a career mark was Magic
Pal, in 1:56.4, while winning his second straight and third
in six starts in 2006 for trainer Wayne Isbister and driver
Jim Burke.
Titans Revenge, a nine-year old son of
Scruffy Hanover, jumped a class to $5,000 claimer and still
won his third straight and fourth in six starts in 2006 for
trainer/driver Brown.
Vanishing Equity, a 12-year-old son of
Precious Energy, made it two straight for driver/trainer
Bill Davis. Vanishing Equity has five wins in nine starts
this year.
Thisisbliss, a four-year-old son of
Blissfull Hall, also won his second consecutive race for
Isbister and Jim Marino.
Even with a jump from $8,000 claimer to
$15,000 Cher The Wealth, a six-year-old daughter of Wheelin
Chance, continued to roll last Saturday. Three weeks ago she
set a life mark of 1:56.2 and last Saturday made it three
wins in a row for trainer/driver Brown.
Goldies Eldorado, a 10-year-old son of
Reckless Regard, made it two straight victories for
trainer/driver Scott Knight.
Enqvist Blue Chip, a four-year-old son
of Sealed N Delivered, ran his 2006 record to 2-2-2 in seven
starts in 2006 for trainer Rene Goulet.
Air Force Hall, a three-year-old son of
Cambest, covered the mile in 1:58.2 for a career best for
trainer/driver Serge Masse and Proudsonofscotland, a
four-year-old son of Chill Factor, did the same in the
identical time, for trainer Jim Wiggins and driver Jim
Marino.
Hurricane Pat, a four-year-old daughter
of Falcons Future, won her second in a row, this time for
Brown and trainer John Hudon. Pat has two wins and two
seconds in seven starts in the year.
Coco Bongo, also four and a daughter of
Northern Luck, made it two consecutive victories and pushed
her 2006 record to 7-3-1-1 for driver/trainer Marino.
Another Marino charge, Yankee Money, also likes 2006,
winning last Sunday and making her 2006 record 7-3-2-1.
BROWN, MARINO BIG IN SHORT MONTH:
Tim Brown and Jim Marino hated to see the end of
February. The hot Downs drivers had another good weekend and
ended the month with fine figures.
Brown won eight times last weekend but
it wasn’t enough to overtake Marino for the month lead.
Marino had seven victories on the weekend and 26 for the
month, two more than Brown.
Jim Burke and Serge Masse each had four
for the week while Bill Davis, Barry Treen and Scott Knight
had two apiece.
Brown was the leading trainer for the
month followed by Marino. Brown had three on the weekend for
12 in the month while Marino had two for eight. Jim (it only
hurts when I laugh) Wiggins, who is recovering from his
recent spill, also had three on the weekend and joins Davis
at seven for the month.
Wayne Isbister, Davis, Ken Dorman,
Treen and Knight each had two trips to the winner’s
enclosure.
SHUBROOK HAS MORE: Les Shubrook
of Surrey captured week nine of the California Dreamin’
Handicapping Contest at Fraser Downs last Saturday.
Shubrook led the way with a total of
$485 and won the $250 weekly prize and a spot in the final.
Bernadette Cook, who was third the week
before, had a $403 total and finished second. Sylvia
McKenzie placed third with $381 while Kevin Jackson took
fourth at $379. Lloyd Burbridge, who is a former weekly
winner, taking week six, captured fifth spot for the second
straight week, this time with $360.
Others in the final already are Len
Zurowski, Mark McNulty, Lorne Morisset, Ian Barrie, Koji
Kariya, Tom Mohammed, Art Worsfold and Bob Kosolofski. They
will compete head-to-head on Saturday, March 11 in the
Homestretch Party Zone.
The winner will spend a weekend at
Santa Anita racetrack in California for the Santa Anita
Derby on April 8.
This Saturday is the final week in the
10-week contest that had contestants handicap a series of
races from Santa Anita. Entry ballots are available at Guest
Services the morning of each contest day and entry forms
must be submitted before the scheduled post of the second
race at Santa Anita.
The contest consists of 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.
At the end of each contest day, scores will be tallied and
the entrant with the highest total for that contest day will
be crowned a finalist and will receive the weekly $250 prize
money.
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