Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
July 2, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Thistledown’s Fourth Of July Cleveland Gold Cup Draws Strong Field
The $100,000 Cleveland Gold Cup, the richest race on Thistledown's stakes calendar for Ohio-bred three-year-olds, goes to the post on Saturday's Fourth of July program with several interesting story lines. Trainer Angel Feliciano seeks his third Gold Cup victory in the last four years, Ohio's 2008 juvenile champion Raise The Reward looks to notch his first added-money score of the season, and Donn Rowe, the winningest Buckeye stakes trainer this year, is planning on starting an equally-hot pupil in Brother Terry.
Feliciano, who won last year's Gold Cup with Formal Arrangement, the 2007 renewal with Pyrite Personal, and the 2005 edition with Pyrite Springs, will be represented in Saturday's 42nd running with Pyrite Stables' Bold Captain. The gelded son of Bold Truth, winner of last year's Ohio Juvenile at Thistledown, is winless in four starts this year.
"Yes, but he should have won his last start at River Downs (the May 30 Green Carpet). He was jumping shadows and had a rough trip. At Tampa this winter, he was in tough. He finished fourth (in the Pasco Stakes) to Musket Man, who was third in the Kentucky Derby."
Raise the Reward, who represents Blazing Meadows Farm and Brian Broll, also ran in the Green Carpet, finishing third to Halmi, another Gold Cup runner.
"The Gold Cup has been our goal for him all along," said trainer Tim Hamm. "He's been training well and I expect him to run a good race."
Charles Braden's Brother Terry carries a three-stakes-race winning streak to the starting gate for the Gold Cup. The Donn Rowe-trainee closed out his juvenile champion with a score in the Ohio Freshman at Beulah Park, then kicked off his 2009 campaign with victories in the Noonan and Rowland Memorials, at Beulah Park and Thistledown respectively.
"I'm pointing him for the Gold Cup," said Rowe, who leads all Buckeye trainers this year with three Ohio Fund stakes victories. "He worked well for me last week."
Brother Terry sizzled at Thistledown on June 23 with a six furlong drill in 1:13 2/5.
SATURDAY IS WGAR DAY – Start your 4th of July with a Bang! It’s WGAR Day. Visit the WGAR Booth from 12-4 p.m. and Scan-N-Win with Chuck Collier for a chance to win a spot in the WGAR Race of the Day. You could win $1,000 cash, amusement park travel packages and concert tickets including Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban. Play Thistledown’s Corn Hole Challenge for a chance to win more great prizes. All money benefits CANTER of Ohio to help save retired racehorses. Plus, enjoy live music by Whiskey Outlaw, free kids’ fun including face painting and crafts and outdoor grilling by B&M BBQ. Plus, it’s Jockeys Across America Day – support the Don MacBeth Memorial Fund. Activities include a dunk tank, bake sale and autographed photos with the jockeys!
FEED BAG --- Owner-trainer Tony Rini, Thistledown's champion jockey in 1968 and 1970, has stable star Wings On Springs on his toes. The veteran gelding won a starter allowance race last Friday by nearly eight lengths, running a mile and 40 yards in 1:41 1/5, that was two-fifths of a second faster than That's So Romantic needed to run a mile on the same card, and That's So Romantic is a very solid performer, a winner of six of 17 starts. Wings On Springs has now won 15 of 59 starts and more than a $150,000 . . . Smooth Air, winner of last year's Ohio Derby, is scheduled to run in Saturday's Grade II $250,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park . . . On a wall in Thistledown's basement racing department is a winner's circle photo from Aug. 3, 1974. The race winner was Donald Peppers' Capitol Jet, trained by Clarence Taylor. The trophy presenter? Michael Jackson and his brothers, who were in town to perform at either Musicarnival or the Front Row. The race was called the Jackson Five Purse.
ROAD WIN FOR WEIR --- Gathering Dreams, bred and owned by Joe Weir of Minerva, registered her first stakes victory when she rallied to capture Sunday's $55,000 Cincinnatian at River Downs. Trained by Joe Shuman and ridden by Christian Pilares, Gathering Dreams broke her maiden at Thistledown last fall. She shook winter's cobwebs with a sixth place finish at Thistledown on May 22 before shipping to River Downs. The victory is the second in five career outings for the daughter of Mercer Mill out of the Light Idea mare, Touched Blythe Light.
HE'S ONE FOR ONE -- Joe Kasmerski had the ultimate training debut at Thistledown on Saturday. Kasmerski, 43 of Colombia Station, saddled Skylar Kaz for the third race and watched as the four-year-old filly went wire-to-wire to win by 1 1/2 lengths. "I've been in the game for some time, but this is my first attempt at training," said Kasmerski. He's very familiar with the owner of Skylar Kaz, who races for Christine Kasmerski, who is Joe's wife.
LEADERBOARD --- Through 36 days of the 46-day Summit-Thistledown Meeting, Ernesto Oro continues to enjoy a double-digit lead in the jockeys' derby. Oro has 37 winners to current runner-up Weldon Cloninger, Jr.'s 26 winners. Louis Stoke, Thistledown's overall riding champ last year, is third with 19 winners . . . While he has cooled off somewhat, Jamie Ness is the leading trainer with 18 winners from 30 starts, a success rate of 60 percent (it was over 70 percent last week). Jeff Radosevich, last year's champion, is tied for second at 14 winners with Jevon Crumley. The Faulkner brothers, Randy Joe and Rodney, are next in line with 12 winners . . . Andy's Lilly, Flying Peak, and Sailfin are tied for winningest horse, each with three scores.