Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
May 27, 2009
www.thistledown.com
With the record books missing in action and memories sketchy at best, red-hot Jamie Ness either owns or shares Thistledown's standard for consecutive victories by a trainer.
When the five-year-old gelding Sailfin goes postward in today's third race, Ness, who has saddled eight winners in a row at Thistledown, will either be gunning for sole property of the record or to add another winner to the record he holds alone.
"While we can't find a press book for confirmation, several people in the racing department believe the late W.J. (Bill) Miller won eight races in a row here in the 1980's," said Bill Couch, Thistledown's director of racing.
Ness, 34, a native of Minnesota, is happy to own or share the mark.
"I've been carefully spotting my horses at Thistledown and it's working," he said. "Of course, it only gets tougher to keep the streak going. What you need are good horses with conditions (race eligibility) that are running to their ability."
Ness is racing on two fronts, Thistledown and Presque Isle Downs and credits his staff at Thistledown for the record run.
"My people there are doing a great job. I only get over to Thistledown on Mondays, so I'm relying on their help. That doesn't mean I'm not watching. I see all my horses run at Thistledown, either in person, at Presque Isle, or on my laptop computer."
Ness, the champion trainer at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter, began his current run at Thistledown after the first he started at the Summit-Thistle Meeting finished fourth on Kentucky Derby day.
"It's been kind of nice to get on such a roll," said Ness. "Last year, when I was racing at Canterbury Park (in Minnesota), and also at Prairie Meadows and Assinboia Downs, I won seven in a row in three days."
If Sailfin scores Wednesday, Ness can extend his record run on Thursday as he has Touch Em All entered in the fourth race.
"I'm taking it one race at a time. This game is too tough to look too far ahead," said Ness.
IN THE CARDS ---- Drake Racing Stable's Money Card scored the easiest of victories at Thistledown when she rolled to a four-length tally in Saturday's fourth running of the $55,000 Ted Classen Memorial Stakes.
The rocking chair effort gave her back-to-back scores in the six furlong dash for Buckeye-bred fillies and mares that honors the memory of the late president of the Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners and the last man to win the Ohio Derby with a state-bred (Brent's Prince in 1975).
"She ran like she trained," said Shirley Girten-Drake, who owns and conditions the six-year-old daughter of Left Banker who has now earned $286,849 on 11 victories in 41 career starts.
Money Card broke alertly from the No. 1 post, rushed up inside of several foes, and was in front at the half-mile pole. Jane Magrell, her regular rider, had not asked Money Card for run but she slowly opened up a commanding margin by the time the field straightened out in the stretch. The final margin of victory is Money Card's largest since she won an allowance race on June 18, 2006 by 4 1/4 markers. Her last six victories were all by less than a length.
"She doesn't like the inside, so I moved her off the right as soon as I got clear," said Magrell. "When she made the lead, she started looking around. After chasing Pay The Man (in the May 2 Angenora Stakes) she had nobody to play with today."
"That was one of the easiest victories of her career," added Girten-Drake. "I was a little worried when she opened up and started looking around, but this was one of her best efforts, ever. She has never been better."
Money Card ran the Classen's six furlongs in 1:12 1/5, matching her clocking in last year's renewal. She continues to enjoy Thistledown's racing surface. The Classen is her ninth victory in 20 starts, with a second and a foursome of third place finishes.
FEEDBAG --- According to Lisa Schwartz, who organized last week' horsemen's rally at the statehouse in Columbus, 6,537 letters were delivered to Ohio senators and representatives, urging them to authorize slot machines at the state's seven racetracks. Schwartz said it would have cost $2,876.28 to mail all the letters . . . Longtime Thistledown regular Katie Kopp of Maple Hts., who recently died, will honored with a private memorial service at the track Saturday. Kopp's family included $2 bills with invitations to the memorial. They are encouraging the guests to place a $2 wager for Katie . . . Brass Hat, winner of the 2004 Ohio Derby, continues to perform with remarkable zest for competition. The eight-year-old gelding won Saturday's Grade III Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs, his first ever career score on the turf. He was ridden by Calvin Borel, the winning Kentucky Derby (Mine That Bird) and Preakness (Rachel Alexandra) jockey. Brass Hat has won nine of 30 lifetime starts and is within $100,000 of hitting the $2 million earnings mark . . . Broad Brush, winner of the 1986 Ohio Derby, was euthanized for humanitarian reasons last week at Gainesway Farm. He was 26. Broad Brush won more than $2.6 million and sired Stellar Brush, winner of the 1999 Ohio Derby.
ROWLAND WEIGHTS -- Director of Racing Bill Couch has released his weights for Saturday's $55,000 Michael Rowland Memorial. Catlaunch, the 2008 Ohio Horse of the Year, is the 123-pound highweight. Brother Terry, winner of the April 11 Noonan at Beulah Park, is next at 118 pounds, along with Ramblin Mike. Entries will be taken on Wednesday (May 27).
THE LEADERBOARD --- After 15 days of the Summit-Thistledown Meeting, Ernesto Oro and Weldon Cloninger Jr. have left their rivals far behind in the jockeys' derby. Oro has 15 winners, one more than Cloninger. David Cardoso is in third place with seven winners. Louis Stokes, the 2008 overall champion, has five winners . . . Jamie Ness leads a very tight race among the trainers. He has eight winners, one more than Jevon Crumley and Randy Joe Faulkner. Defending champion Jeff Radosevich is next with six winners.