Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
August 14, 2008
www.thistledown.com
KING OF THE ROXY BREEDER DEBBIE KOPATZ TO BE HONORED BY NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Debbie Kopatz, whose tiny Fox Chapel Farm in North Canton produced graded stakes winner and 2007 Ohio Horse of the Year King of the Roxy, has been named one of 27 State Breeders of the Year for 2008 by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Kopatz will be honored at TOBA's national awards dinner in Lexington, Ky. on Sept. 6.
"It's quite a thrill for me," said Kopatz. "My farm is a family operation, just me and my husband (Rick) and our son (Philip). We only have 11 acres."
The dinner will kick off a month of great anticipation for Kopatz. She has six horses entered for sale at Keeneland, including a colt by Bright Launch out of the Bold Forbes mare, Marrakesh.
"That makes him a half-brother to King of the Roxy," said Kopatz. "He's a registered Ohio foal, born Feb. 15. We're very excited about the prospect of selling him for a good price."
King of the Roxy's half-brother will go under the hammer on Sept. 18. Meanwhile, King of the Roxy, who has won or placed in five graded stakes races -- his biggest scores came in the Futurity and Hutcheson, both Grade II races, -- hasn't started since finishing unplaced in the April 5 Carter at Aqueduct. Runner-up (by a half-length) in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby, King of the Roxy has banked $536,734 with three victories in 12 career starts.
As for breeding King of the Roxy, Kopatz, says, "Through a lot of hard work and passion, I got a good horse -- and on a bare budget."
Kopatz, who still lists winning a maiden race at Thistledown with the first horse she ever bred as her greatest thrill, will be in good company at the TOBA dinner. Selected as the state breeder of the year for Florida is Frank Stronach, the owner of Thistledown.
INVADER AUSTRALIS DAY AT HEAD OF CLASS IN THISTLEDOWN'S KINDERGARTEN STAKES
Ruben Valdes' Australis Day, splitting horses to gain the lead in the first quarter of a mile, rode the rail to a two-length victory in Friday's (Aug. 8th) $50,000 Kindergarten Stakes at Thistledown.
Raise The Reward rallied for second money, followed by Astronaut, the race's 5-2 betting favorite. Both horses are from the barn of trainer Tim Hamm, who had saddled the winners of the only two juvenile stakes run in Ohio this season, both at Cincinnati's River Downs.
Ridden by Ernesto Oro, Australis Day was making his Ohio debut. He ran six furlongs in 1:13 2/5, earned Valdes $30,000 and paid $7.60 for a $2 win wager. The Victor Collazo-trainee had run twice at Philadelphia Park last month and entered the Kindergarten as a maiden.
"He's a fast horse," said Oro. "He broke real good and I took a hold of him. He was going too fast. I believe he's going to stay in Ohio now and run in some of the other stakes (for state-breds). "
Australis Day, a $10,000 auction ring purchase, gave Oro his first ever stakes victory at Thistledown. They survived a foul of claim by the rider of Chief Sinbar, the fifth-place finisher, who alleged interference in the early running. Presenting the trophy to the winning connections was Maggie Sawitzke, who'll be in kindergarten at Crestview Elementary in Brunswick this year.
Saturday Features Jazz Music With WNWV The Wave
This Saturday is The Wave Day at Thistledown, featuring a live jazz concert by Forecast from 12:30-4 p.m. Visit The Wave Booth and register for prizes including Spa West gift certificates, dinner for two aboard The Majestic Charter Yacht and coupons from Vito’s Italian Grill. Support The Wave’s “Go Green” initiative. Northcoast Shredding will be on site providing free shredding services from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
FIRST WINNER --- Apprentice Richard Torres, 28, a native of Puerto Rico, registered his first career victory in Monday's sixth race when he rallied Rickitte Tom to an upset score in the sixth race. Torres, a recent arrival at Thistledown from Louisiana, brought his mount good luck. The seven-year-old gelding, whose entire 55-race career has unfolded at Thistledown, was winless in his previous 29 starts. Overlooked by the bettors, he paid $77 for a $2 win ticket. Torres got the traditional dousing by fellow riders following his victory, a mixture of eggs, shaving cream and ice water. "Everything was in that thing," said Torres. "I was cleaner for my next mount."
LEADERBOARD --- Through 19 days of the 66-day Randall-Cranwood Meeting, Ernesto Oro, on a strength of a Monday three-bagger, and Weldon Cloninger are tied for the lead in the riders' derby at 17 winners. Louis Stokes is third with 13 winners. Jane Magrell is next with 11 winners, followed by Luis Gonzalez, Ramon Ramos, and Jeffrey Skerrett, all on 10 winners . . . Jeff Radosevich tops all trainers with 10 winners, followed by Jevon Crumley at eight and the trio of Rodney and Randy Faulkner and Burton Sipp at seven winners.
FEED BAG --- Magna Graduate, runner-up in the 2005 Ohio Derby and winner of more than $2.3 million, finished third in Saturday's $110,000 Duke of Magenta Stakes. The now six-year-old has been transferred from the barn of Todd Pletcher to that of Steve Asmussen and was making his first start for his new conditioner . . . 2007 Ohio Derby winner Delightful Kiss finished sixth in Saturday's $50,000 Governor's Handicap at Ellis Park. It was his first start in over six weeks and he had a wide trip . . . Time flies at the racetrack. The Aug. 31 program will be Thistledown's last seven-and-seven offering of the year. Starting Sept. 1, and lasting through the remainder of the season (Oct. 25), Thistledown will race without a partner. The High Five of Aug. 31 will be conducted with a mandatory payoff . . . Thistledown will be open for evening full-card simulcasting on Thursday and Sunday of this week. The track is open seven days a week for full-card simulcast wagering in the afternoon. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.