Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
February 14, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Ohio Derby Starter Danny Sez Ready To Launch Comeback
Patience is a major player in thoroughbred racing and nobody has to remind trainer Donn Rowe of such pari-mutuel virtue. Rowe, who has been conditioning horses at Thistledown for more than 40 years, has been waiting eight months to give Danny Sez, the top gun in his stable last season, a chance to redeem himself.
Danny Sez, a troubled fourth and fifth in Turfway's Hansel Stakes and Churchill Downs' Derby Trial, respectively, was considered a "live" longshot in last year's Ohio Derby, but failed to fire and finished eighth.
"We think he bled in the Ohio Derby," said Rowe of the sophomore colt who was bred and races for Emile Hawkins of Kentucky. "We found blood in his throat. There was also mucus."
Danny Sez was given the rest of the summer and most of the fall to recover at Hawkins' farm in Bardstown, Ky. Rowe picked him up in November and the son of King Cugat has since been working forwardly.
"He's ready to race again," said Rowe. "I worked him five eighths of a mile at Beulah Park on Saturday and he went real good."
Rowe said he's looking for an allowance race for Danny Sez, a winner of two of eight starts, at either Mountaineer or Turfway Park.
DERBY FUTURE WAGER UPDATE --- Those who played at Thistledown last weekend, helped make the mutuel field the 3-1 betting favorite in the first of three Kentucky Derby Future Wager pools. Pyro, the runaway winner of Saturday's Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds, is the 5-1 second choice, followed by juvenile champion War Pass at 6-1. The second future pool will open March 6 and close March 9. The final pool is set for April 3-6.
FEED BAG --- Magna Graduate, runner-up in the 2005 Ohio Derby, finished third in Saturday's Grade III $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap at the Fair Grounds . . . Thistledown trainer Tim Hamm just missed registering his first Gulfstream Park winner of the meeting when his Ameliaislandmissile was beaten in a first race photo finish Wednesday . . .Two other Thistledown trainers, Ronnie Behrens and his daughter, Ashley, had six horses run at Tampa Bay Downs last Saturday. Their best finish was a fourth . . . Edgar Paucar, who dominates the jockey standings at Beulah Park, ranks third in North America in victories. Through Feb. 10, Paucar has 48 winners. Russell Baze leads all riders with 60 victories. Paucar rode in one race at Thistledown last year, the $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes, and won it aboard Dooze . . . Bath, Ohio native Jerry Hollendorfer may be positioning himself for a run at a North American training title. He is third in the national race with 31 winners. Steve Asmussen is the runaway leader with 70 winners, but Hollendorfer, who is racing in northern and southern California, recently opened a stable at Beulah Park. He has won three races from the four horses he's started at the Grove City oval . . .Thistledown jockey Abad Cabassa Jr. has won with the only two mounts he's had at Gulfstream Park, scoring both victories aboard One Dreamy Cat. However, he'll have to follow the four-year-old gelding to a new stable to extend the winning streak. One Dreamy Cat was claimed for $10,000 out of Monday's first race from the barn of Tino Attard and will now race for Scott Lake, one of the top conditioners in North America.