Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
February 28, 2008
www.thistledown.com
In an article in the current edition of The Blood-Horse (dated Feb. 23), Akron native Jerry Hollendorfer, the fourth winningest trainer in racing history (more than 6,000 triumphs) credits winning the 1989 Ohio Derby with King Glorious as the turning point in how his parents viewed his career in racing.
"I was brought up in a place where the Protestant work ethic runs deep," Hollendorfer told author Jack Shinar, adding that his parents "very much disapproved" of racing. "Once I got established and came back to race at Thistledown in the Ohio Derby, they changed their minds. They saw what I was doing and came to realize that racing was not all about gambling. They understood better what I was trying to do."
CURLIN RUNS TODAY --- North American Horse of the Year Curlin, a winner of six of nine starts last year, including the Preakness and Breeders' Cup Classic, makes his 2008 debut today in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy Handicap at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai. The race has a post time of 12:15 p.m. and can be watched and wagered on at Thistledown. Curlin, who'll be ridden by Robby Albarado, is the 3-5 morning line favorite to win the 1 1/4-mile Jaguar, which is a prep race for the big prize, the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 29. If Curlin wins both starts in Dubai and adds this fall's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, he would jump over Cigar ($10 million) as North America's all-time money winning thoroughbred.
BUCKEYE ROAD VICTORY --- Cryptoquip, voted Ohio's champion sophomore filly two years ago and a leading candidate to add the Buckeye championship as best mare champion in 2007 at next month's awards banquet, notched her first victory of the new year in Saturday's $66,200 Maryland Racing Media Handicap at Laurel. Bred and racing for Elisabeth Alexander of Hunting Valley, the five-year-old daughter of Cryptoclearance actually finished second to All Smiles, but was interfered with by the winner and had her number put up. Ridden by Jeremy Rose of Afleet Alex fame, Cryptoquip won for the fifth time in 15 starts. Her $36,000 share of the purse lifted the bay mare's career earnings to $362,592.
CHAMPION TRAINER DEAD --- Les Wiley, who developed 1975 Ohio juvenile filly princess First Lt. Wack died last week in Kentucky. Wiley was 74. First Lt. Wack won Thistledown's Heritage Stakes at two en route to her championship, but her most significant score came in the following year's Cleveland Gold Cup, a triumph over male rivals. Only three fillies or mares have won the Gold Cup in 40 runnings.
THE FEED BAG --- The first on-line event on the National Handicapping Championship tour is set for Saturday. It's free to those who have joined the tour and paid the $125 registration fee. The top three finishers in Saturday's contest, which consists of races from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, will automatically be entered in the next year's championship final in Las Vegas that awards the winner $500,000. For more information or to sign up go to www.ntra.com/nhctour…2005 Ohio Derby runner-up Magna Graduate, who races for Elisabeth Alexander, worked a half-mile in 47 3/5 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Sunday. Also working at PBD Sunday was King of the Roxy, the Ohio-bred who won last year's Hutcheson and then finished second in the Santa Anita Derby. He was caught five furlongs in 1:02.