OLHO EM AFLEET ALEX

Consistent Iotapa Rewarded in Santa Maria Win

• By Jack Shinar

Graded stakes-placed four times previously in her career, Iotapa broke through with a front-running tally in the $200,000 Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 15 at Santa Anita Park (VIDEO).

The John Sadler-trained 4-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex   changed up her usual running style as jockey Joe Talamo put her on the lead for the first time. From there, the improving filly dictated the tempo and then kicked away in the homestretch for a 1 3/4-length victory over Let Faith Arise.

"We were going pretty slow and that was kind of our plan, to take her to the lead, Talamo said. "She was just pricking her ears back and forth. She showed a lot of class today; I was so fortunate to get back on her."

Iotapa was timed in 1:42.30 on a fast track for the 1 1/16-mile Santa Maria, the main prep for the $350,000 Santa Margarita Stakes (gr. I) at nine furlongs March 15.

Hronis Racing campaigns Iotapa, who was claimed out of her debut race, a maiden victory at Betfair Hollywood Park, for $50,000 in June 2012. She is out of the winning El Corredor mare Concinnous and was bred in Kentucky by Gem Inc., Steven Bajer, and Robin O'Hara. The dark bay filly was coming off a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) in her seasonal debut Jan. 25.

"We've paid a lot of money for horses," noted co-owner Kosta Hronis, who credited Sadler for the operation's success over the past two years. "This one we got kind of a bargain through the claim box."

Morning line favorite Fiftyshadesofhay was scratched from the Santa Maria earlier in the day by trainer Bob Baffert. That left Iotapa as the slight second choice in the field of six older fillies and mares behind Ondine. Both went off at 2-1.

Breaking from the rail, Iotapa outfought Yahilwa for the lead going into the clubhouse turn and maintained a steady advantage over that rival through reasonable fractions of :23.28, :47.75, and 1:11.64, with Ondine and Let Faith Arise tracking the leaders.

"When she drew the rail, I didn't want to waste the post," Sadler said in explaining why Iotapa went to the front. "You don't want to get sucked back out of the one, so I thought she'd be first or second, but I left it up to Joe."

Iotapa put away pace rival Yahilwa leaving the far turn, got a reminder in upper stretch from Talamo, and kept to her task to the wire in an impressive display as the stalking Let Faith Arise and Corey Nakatani vainly attempted to cut into the advantage. It was 1 3/4 lengths farther back to late-running Stanwyck, with Alex Solis aboard, in third. Then came Yahilwa, Ondine, and Golden Production.

The breakthrough win for Iotapa followed a 3-year-old campaign in which she won the listed Railbird Stakes at  Hollywood Park but was denied in second-place finishes in the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I) and the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II), as well as a third-place finish on grass in the San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar. The ultra-consistent filly now owns a career mark of 4-3-1 in eight starts and earnings of $363,490.

Sadler said Iotapa would be pointed toward the Santa Margarita.

Iotapa won for the first time beyond seven furlongs and scored her initial triumph from three tries at the 1 1/16-mile distance.

Under equal weight of 118 pounds, Iotapa paid $6.40, $3.60, and $2.80 across the board while keying a $20.60 exacta. Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Let Faith Arise, second in the La Canada Jan. 19 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, was the bridesmaid again while returning $3.60 and $2.60. Jerry and Ann Moss' Stanwyck, in her second Southern California start since returning from New York late last year for trainer John Shirreffs, paid $3.20 to show..

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83377/consistent-iotapa-rewarded-in-santa-maria-win#ixzz2tV82b8OC

FILHO DE HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR VENCE EM HONG KONG, um grupo 1 (local) COM UMA MÃE 8-f

BOA A CORRIDA DE VIVA RAFAELA

Todd Pletcher quase completa o crime perfeito. Viva Rafaela, tinha o jóquei certo e fez o trem de carreira certo. Velasquez tentou roubar a carreira com parciais moribundos de 25"78, 49"99, 1'15"50 e passou a milha em 1'39"66. Imaginem na Gávea, alguém correr uma milha para quase 1'40. Onde chegará? Provavelmente atrasará o páreo seguinte… Mas aqui nos Estados Unidos é assim. Corre-se uma carreira nesta distância, apenas os 600 metros finais. Até chegar a esta marca galopa-se.

Para se ter uma ideia, como isto é verdade, logo a seguir, no Mac Diarmida, uma carreira igualmente em 2,200 metros os parciais foram de 25"43, 49"85, 1'59"79 e a milha em 1'40"18. Logo, parciais semelhantes. Mas como terminaram? Inimitable Romanee em 2'15"40 e Twilight Eclipse, em 2'15"18.

Nunca gostei de comparar, mas pelo andor da procissão, diria que  Viva Rafaela, está, neste momento, em melhores lençóis que Old Tune. Tenho minhas dúvidas ainda que ela possa ganhar em Keeneland, Saratoga (onde já correu) ou em Belmont Park, mas pelo menos não só está com pinta que correrá melhor, como também, com um pouco mais de desenvolvimento técnico, quem sabe, não se gradue por lá?

Ella resistiu bravamente na reta por 100 metros o ataque da vencedora, porém no final entregou-se, perdendo a segunda colocação a poucos centímetros do disco. Em mais 10 metros talvez fosse sexta. Mas como sempre digo, a corrida era de 2,200 metros e não de 2,210 metros.

Inimitable Romanee Gets Gulfstream Distance

• By Myra Lewyn, 

Inimitable Romanee wore down pacesetter Viva Rafaela in the final furlong to score a convincing victory in $100,000 The Very One Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).

 

The 6-year-old Maria's Mon mare struck from off the just off pace and comfortably held back the closing charge of Aigue Marine to win by a length. The triumph was a display of versatility following her front-running win at 28-1 in the 1 1/2-mile Long Island Handicap (Gr. IIT) Nov. 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack in her previous start. 

 

With Alan Garcia riding for trainer Graham Motion, Inimitable Romanee covered 1 3/8 miles in 2:15.50 on firm turf while improving her career line to 4-6-5 with earnings of $383,875 from 21 career starts. The New York-bred is campaigned by breeder Gallagher's Stud.

 

"She broke good and was nice and relaxed," Garcia said of Inimitable Romanee, who won at 10-1 odds.

 

Inimitable Romanee settled into striking position in fourth early as Viva Rafaela, a group I winner in her native Brazil, sprinted to the lead and set moderate fractions :23.78, :49.99, 1:15.50, and 1:39.66 through a mile. She maintained a clear advantage from Seanchai and Aigue Marine, who tracked from second and third.

 

Inimitable Romanee and Seanchi moved closer to the leader nearing the home turn. With his sights on Viva Rafaela, Garcia asked Inimitable Romanee for more and she found another gear to collar Viva Rafaela at the eighth pole. The two were eyeball to eyeball for a few strides before the winner dug in and pulled clear for the victory under urging.    

 

As Seanchai weakened, Aigue Marine, ridden by Joel Rosario, rallied past Viva Rafaela and John Velazquez, who held on for third, a neck back. 

 

Inimitable Romanee paid $22.40, $8 and $4.80 and Aigue Marine returned $4.40 and $3.40 to combine for a $130.20 exacta. Viva Rafaela paid $5.60.

 

Left a Message finished half a length farther back in fourth, followed by 8-5 favorite Preferential, who ran evenly to finish fifth. Seanchai and Dame Marie completed the order of finish.

 

Anjaz, a temperamental Street Cry mare out of former world-record priced broodmare Playful Act, was fractious in the starting gate and was scratched. 

 

"She's got a little temper behind her," said trainer Tom Albertrani, who later on the card won the Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT) with favorite Twilight Eclipse. "She just had some minor scratches. It's unfortunate, but I know they're just doing what's best for the horse."

 

Inimitable Romanee, who is out of the stakes-winning Kissin Kris mare Cellars Shiraz, placed in six stakes for state-breds in 2012 and 2013 before her breakthrough in the Long Island. Her career began with Amanda Perrett in England where she broke her maiden in her second start. 

 

"We backed off of her a little bit (after the Long Island)—I didn't want to come down here and run in every race," Motion said. "We had the idea of giving her a little break. She'd been running maybe not all year, but she had had a good go, so we backed off of her a bit."

Inimitable Romaneehad primarily been campaigned in two-turn races for the last two years before stretching out to 12 furlongs in the Long Island.

"I'm not surprised that she's come into herself, I should have tried her at a mile and a half about three years ago, I guess," Motion said. "This was our first goal and I'm not going to be in a hurry to run her back. It's a long year. I am lucky that (owner) Mrs. (Marlene) Brody decided to keep her in training because she very easily could have sent her to the breeding shed. I feel very fortunate that she kept her going."

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83375/inimitable-romanee-gets-gulfstream-distance#ixzz2tUuD0pON

E TWILIGHT ECLIPSE VOLTA A ESBANJAR CLASSE EM GULFSTREAM

Tem cavalos que se adaptam a uma pista e não a outras. Penso que Twilight Eclispe, é um cavalo para a grama de Gulfstream, onde bateu o recorde mundial da milha e meia, na disputa do Pan American, prova que Belo Acteon compareceu e chegou na quarta colocação.

Este descendente da prodigiosa linha 4-m, via uma de suas melhores mensageiras, Alablue, tem a meu ver esta stamina, pela presença em sua linha alta de Dynaformer, seu avô e em seu quadrante inferior a Nijinsky, pai de sua segunda mãe. Sempre que este dois elementos se juntam, algo staminado aparece. Outrossim, diria que talvez Twilight Eclipse, seja o melhor que esta combinação apresentou até o presente momento.

Twilight Eclipse Proves Best in Mac Diarmida

• By Myra Lewyn, 

West Point Thoroughbreds' favored Twilight Eclipse likely punched his ticket to Dubai with an impressive victory in the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) Feb. 15 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).

After tracking pacesetter Alpha and Bingo Bango Bongo from third, the 4-year-old Purim gelding surged off the turn to get the lead and cruised to a one-length win over the late-running Amen Kitten. He was timed in 2:15.18 from 1 3/8 miles on firm turf.

"I got a very good trip," winning rider Jose Lezcano said. "I got the position that I wanted behind the two horses with speed. I waited as long as I could and when I asked him he gave me a strong run."

Trainer Tom Albertrani was impressed with his runner's effort as the 7-5 choice in the field of nine older horses.

"Did you see when he came back?" he said. "He (Lezcano) couldn't pull him up. This horse, just never gets tired. The longer the better."

Twilight Eclipse has won six of 15 career starts with earnings of $712,786. Albertrani said the winner will be pointed to the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) on the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) undercard March 29 at Meydan Racecourse. The Dubai Sheema Classic is run at 2,410 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) on turf.

"We were talking about going to Dubai with him. We got the invite to go, depending on the outcome today. I think that's what we're going to do," Albertrani said. "He seems like he's matured quite a bit. He's filled out some this year. Hopefully, we can have another big year ahead of ourselves."

Fourth in last year's edition of the Mac Diarmida, Twilight Eclipse rebounded to set a world record time of 2:22.63 for 1 1/2 miles in the Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream. The bay gelding was making his season debut in the Mac Diarmida following a wire-to-wire seven-length romp in the off-the-turf W. L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIT) Dec. 28 at Calder Casino & Race Course. He also won the 2012 McKnight.

Making his turf debut, former classics starter Alpha took the lead soon after the start and set easy fractions of :25.43, :49.85, 1:15.79 and 1:40.18 through a mile, with Twilight Eclipse tracking in a good rhythm. 

"We were thinking Alpha might go and we knew (Bingo Bango Bongo) might kind of put a little pressure on him. We were in a good spot," Albertrani said.

Twilight Eclipse paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.40 while keying a $28.50 exacta with Amen Kitten, who paid $5.20 and $3.40. Biding his time in fourth throughout, Slumber gained late to finish third, a neck behind Amen Kitten, paying $2.80.

Spent from his front-running efforts, 2012 Travers (gr. I) and Woodward Stakes (Gr. I) winner Alpha finished fifth, 1 1/2 lengths behind fourth-place finisher Suntracer. Mucho Mas Macho, Bingo Bango Bongo, Cozy Kitten, and Dashing David completed the order of finish. 

Bred in Kentucky by Epona Thoroughbreds. John Langemeier purchased Twilight Eclipse out of the Select Sales consignment at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale for the bargain price of $1,000. An earner of 712,786, he is out of the Twilight Agenda mare My Twilight Dancer.

Twilight Eclipse raced in honor of the eight Thoroughbreds killed in a barn fire Feb. 9 in Georgetown, Ky. The horses belonged to Langemeier and Clara Fenger, from whom West Point Thoroughbreds acquired Twilight Eclipse in June 2012.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83376/twilight-eclipse-proves-best-in-mac-diarmida#ixzz2tUqzU9OL

PRIMEIROS DESCENDENTES DA 3-l A LEVANTAR UMA PROVA DE GRUPO

Existem linhas maternas consagradas que dificilmente negam fogo, se utilizadas pelos mensageiros certos. E outros em ascensão  A 3-l é uma delas. Ela, na temporada anterior, deu finalmente o ar de sua graça, com 21 individuais ganhadores de grupo, chegando assim na meritória décima quinta colocação. Ou trocando em miúdos, iniciando sua participação na chamada elite dos veios maternos.

Este ano estava quieta. Quieta até demais para o meu gosto, já que mais de 100 veios haviam se manifestado. Nesta duas últimas semanas ela aparece com dois vencedores. Não creio que nossas expectativas estivessem erradas.

Pinch-Hitting Tamarando Takes El Camino Real

• By Jack Shinar

Tamarando gets by Dance With Fate to win the El Camino Real Derby.

Back on a synthetic surface he seems to prefer, Tamarando closed from last on the far turn to register a half-length triumph over Dance With Fate in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields Feb. 15 (VIDEO).

The grade I winner returned Russell Baze to the winner's circle after a two-year absence in Northern California's major prep race on the Triple Crown trail. Baze, North America's all-time leading jockey with an amazing 12,167 victories, won the El Camino Real Derby for a record ninth time. It was also fellow Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer's record sixth win in the race, and five of those have come in tandem with Baze.

Tamarando, who wasn't even a sure starter until stablemate Exit Stage Left came up injured a week before the race, rebounded from a distant second as the favorite in the California Cup Derby Jan. 25. He recorded his first graded stakes win since taking last summer's Del Mar Futurity (gr. I). The California-bred son of Bertrando has won four of seven starts on synthetic tracks with one second and one third.

The winner was timed in 1:51.23 for 1 1/8 miles over Golden Gate's Tapeta racing surface as the 2-1 second choice in a field of eight 3-year-olds. Dance With Fate was second by 2 1/4 lengths over 6-5 favorite Enterprising.

I'll Wrap It Up set the pace for the first six furlongs, holding a one-length advantage over Enterprising after a half mile, with Dance With Fate a close third on the far outside. Tamarando was unhurried while last but no more than five lengths or so from the leaders through quarter mile fractions of :24.40, :49.73, and 1:13.98.

Baze asked Tamarando for more speed and the dark bay colt responded while rounding the final bend five paths wide. Enterprising, ridden by Gary Stevens, and Dance With Fate, under the guidance of Aaron Gryder, dueled through the lane after taking over in upper stretch, and Dance With Fate put his head in front at the eighth pole as Enterprising weakened. But the new leader could not withstand the superb charge from Tamarando, who was put to a full drive by Baze and hit the front in the closing strides.
"He was laying closer than normal for him and doing it within himself," Baze noted of Tamarando's confirmed closing style. "I had to ask him to start moving at the three-eighths pole because I knew they had a lot of horse in front of us. He got me right up there to them and then had enough to push by (Dance With Fate) at the finish line. 

"My horse was moving pretty good, but (Dance With Fate) wasn't coming back. He ran all the way to the wire. It took a good horse to run him down and this is a good horse. He's got a nice, long move. There's going to be a lot of good things coming from this colt. He's got a lot of talent."

Hollendorfer trains Tamarando for Larry and Marianne Williams, who bred the colt from their graded stakes-placed mare Tamarack Bay, by Dehere.

Tamarando defeated Dance With Fate by the same half-length margin in the Del Mar Futurity, which he won in an upset in his first start after breaking his maiden over state-breds Aug. 18. Tamarando went on to finish third in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) and the Golden State Juvenile, both at Santa Anita Park, before getting back on the winning track in the Real Quiet Stakes on Hollywood's Cushion Track. He followed that effort with a third, seven lengths behind stablemate Shared Belief, in the rich CashCall Futurity (gr. I).
Hollendorfer said he was a bit surprised that Tamarando was able to pull it off.

"About the quarter pole I saw Russell moving and thought we had a chance but it still takes an awful lot to run them down," he said "This horse runs well every time we race him. Even before Exit Stage Left got hurt we talked about running him in this race. We might have run all three if (Exit Stage Left) didn't get hurt."

Hollendorfer said he is looking at the $550,000 Spiral Stakes (gr. III) March 22 at Turfway Park for Tamarando's next start.

"And he might train here because it's synthetic," he added. "I think I'd continue to use Russell (who replaced Rafael Bejarano in the El Camino Real). I always say a horse has to take you to the Kentucky Derby, and if he takes us we'll show up. He seems like he has the style to run 1 1/4 miles. He's very sound, trains very forwardly and seems happy all the time. We take good care of him and keep him thinking positive."

With his latest win, Tamarando has banked $625,120 from a 4-2-3 mark in 10 lifetime outings.

Under equal weights of 121 pounds, Tamarando paid $6.60, $4. and $2.20. Dance With Fate, still in search of his first stakes win for trainer Peter Eurton, returned $4.60 and $2.60 as the 7-2 third choice. The exacta was worth $27.40. Glen Hill Farm homebred Enterprising, favored off his close runner-up showing to Exit Stage Left in the California Derby Jan. 18, paid $2.10.
Tamarando earned 10 points toward a possible start in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Puppy Manners, a second entrant from the Hollendorfer stable, finished fourth, followed by Infosec, Icy Ride, Craftsman, and I'll Wrap It Up.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/83378/pinch-hitting-tamarando-takes-el-camino-real#ixzz2tUmS7KlC

E A COISA ATRASOU

COMO PODE SER NOTADO

PELA PRIMEIRA VEZ

EM TODOS ESTES ANOS

O NINHO DO ALBATROZ

VAI SAIR ATRASADO

MAS SAIR DO MISERO INVERNO

QUE ESTA ASSOLANDO A PARTE NORTE

DA COSTA ESTE

NÃO É BRINCADEIRA NÃO

MEU AVIÃO ERA PARA TAKE OFF

TERÇA FEIRA PELA MANHA

ELE SÓ CONSEGUIU SAIR SABADO A TARDE

E ASSIM MESMO FICOU PRESO EM MAIS DE

6 HORAS NA CONEXÃO.

DESCULPEM O INCOVENIENTE

MAS AQUI ESTA A JUSTIFICATIVA