Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
January 31, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Ohio Derby Winner Brass Hat Chases History In Saturday’s Donn
Brass Hat, winner of the 2004 Ohio Derby, seeks to make racing history in Saturday's Grade I $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Only three horses have won the prestigious 1 1/8-mile race twice, but none of them have accomplished the feat at the advanced racing age of seven. Brass Hat, who like all northern hemisphere thoroughbreds, celebrated a birthday on Jan. 1, won the 2006 Donn Handicap. The seven-year-old gelded son of Prized has won eight of 21 starts and $1.6 million in a career that has twice been interrupted by serious leg injuries.
Fred Bradley bred and races Brass Hat who is trained by his son, William (Buff) Bradley. One-Eyed King won the first two runnings of the Donn (1959-60). The other two-time winners are Pistols and Roses (1993-94) and Horse of the Year Cigar (1995-96). Two horses (General Arthur in 1961) and Jumping Hill (1979) have won the Donn as seven-year-olds.
Brass Hat will have eight rivals Saturday, including A. P. Arrow, who beat him by three-quarters of a length in the Nov. 23rd Grade I Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. The Clark was the most recent start for both horses.
ROAD TO THE DERBY CONTEST--- Thistledown’s Road to the Derby Contest kicks off this Saturday (2/2) with the Whirlaway Stakes (Aqueduct), Swale Stakes (Gulfstream Park) and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (Santa Anita). The contest is free for Player Reward Members. Contestants must select the top three finishers of each day’s Kentucky Derby prep races. Contestants earn points for their correct selections and the winner with the most points each week wins $100. Plus, the top five contestants with the highest cumulative points at the end of the contest will share in an overall $5,000 prize pool!
FAMILIAR FACE --- Scott Borgemenke, a member and chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission from 2002 to 2004, has been appointed Executive Vice-President, Racing of the Magna Entertainment tracks that include Thistledown. "I am very excited to be taking on this new position," said Borgemenke, who lives in Columbus. "MEC's commitment to the racing industry is unmatched. I feel fortunate to be joining a great team and look forward to putting my experience to work on the company's behalf." Borgemenke and former Thistledown general manager Bill Murphy, now track president and general manager of MEC's Gulfstream Park, are close friends. A few years ago, they matched strides in the annual Cleveland marathon.
HANDICAPPERS' ROUNDUP -- Lorne Weiss, who finished second in Thistledown's Nov. 3rd qualifier, turned in a solid effort to finish 16th in the ninth annual $1 Million Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship, held last Friday and Saturday at the Red Rock Resort in suburban Las Vegas. Weiss, from Toronto, Canada, earned $4,900 as his 30 mythical $2 win and place wagers had a combined payoff of $162.20. Richard Goodall, the champion and winner of the $500,000 first place prize, tallied the second highest payoff total in tournament history, $272.30.
Five area handicappers competed in the tournament with Edward Brickman of Strongsville, who also qualified at Thistledown, the best finisher in 33rd place. His $144 total left him just $2.30 short of 30th place, the last paying position ($2,000).
Fred Kanter of Beachwood, who qualified at Beulah Park, finished 69th, John Fasola of Hudson, who qualified on-line, was 99th, Gary Johnson, the six time champion trainer at Thistledown and another Beulah qualifier, was 100th, and Louis Licata of Chagrin Falls, who qualified at Lone Star in Texas, was 241st.
David Brownfield of Toledo, a Thistledown qualifier was 106th, and Mike Igleski, of Chicago, winner of the Thistledown's qualifier, was 239th.
BEST OF THE BUCKEYES --- The Ohio Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners announced Wednesday that it will hold its annual awards and dinner dance on Friday, March 28th at the famed Darby House in Galloway, Ohio. Darby House is located on the 4,000-acre estate of the late John Galbreath, former owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates and owner of Kentucky Derby winners Chateaugay (1963) and Proud Clarion (1967).
The 2007 Ohio Horse of the Year, as well as the "Best of the Buckeyes," the dozen or so divisional champions, will be announced at the banquet. For the first time ever, racing fans can vote for their favorites on line at www.otbo.com. Internet balloting will close Feb. 8th. The public is invited to attend the dinner-dance. Reservations can be made on the OTBO's website.
FEED BAG --- Hobeau Farm's Delightful Kiss, winner of the 2007 Ohio Derby, has recently returned to the barn of trainer Pete Anderson at Calder Race Course. He has yet to have an official workout . . . Abad Cabassa Jr., who finished 20th in last year's Thistledown jockeys' derby with 12 winners, is riding at Gulfstream Park this winter and is 10 winners shy of his 1,000th career victory . . . Cryptoquip, voted Ohio's champion sophomore filly last year, ran fourth in Saturday's $60,000 Nellie Morse Stakes at Laurel Park in Maryland.