Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
June 5, 2008
www.thistledown.com
Ohio Derby Winner Smooth Air Now Pointing For Iowa Derby
Mount Joy Stables' Smooth Air, trained by 70-year-old Bennie Stutts Jr., is back in his home-away-from-home stall at Arlington Park following his triumph in Saturday's $300,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.
According to Stutts, Smooth Air, who is usually stabled at Calder Race Course in south Florida, is now being pointed for the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, which will be run June 27.
"Smooth Air arrived safe and sound here in Chicago around 2 p.m. Sunday," said Stutts. "He's a good shipper and was ready for his groceries (dinner)." Stutts added that Smooth Air would get an extra day off and wouldn't go back to the track for exercise until Wednesday. "He's quite an athlete," said Stutts. "I couldn't be more proud of this horse. He ran a great race at Thistledown."
Indeed, he did. Smooth Air's winning margin of four lengths is the largest in an Ohio Derby since King Glorious won by the same margin in 1989. The all-time winningest margin was Smarten's eight-length romp in 1979.
Smooth Air and jockey Manoel Cruz used a stretch turn rally to run down Cherokee Artist after 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 1/5 over a fast track. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to the favored Z Fortune in third place. Medjool was fourth, followed by Your Round, Instill, Celtic Meal, and Stolen Chevy.
Smooth Air, who finished second to Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown in the Florida Derby, earned Mount Joy $180,000 and paid $5.80 for a $2 win ticket.
"This is the proudest moment of my life," said Stutts. "I'm in a hurry to get back to him. I don't want him out of my sight."
Brian Burns, the owner of Mount Joy said of Stutts, "He's come on the scene as a young 70."
The most confident member of the Smooth Air team was Cruz. "My horse can run on the pace or he can close. I was very confident of winning and I told that to Bennie."
"I was afraid of him being overconfident," said Stutts.
Celtic Meal, the lone Thistledown-based entrant in the Derby, bounded from the gate to make the early Ohio Derby lead. Cherokee Artist, breaking from the outside, No. 8 post, was also away swiftly and was second coming out the clubhouse turn, with Smooth Air just to his inside. Z Fortune and his Eclipse Award-winning rider Garrett Gomez were content to sit fifth in the early running.
At the five-eighths pole, with Celtic Meal still in front and Cherokee Artist stalking out of him, Cruz took a hold of his mount, allowing his rivals to open up three lengths on him. He then decided to swing Smooth Air outside the top two.
"I wanted to get him outside because I had a lot of horse," said Cruz.
At the five-sixteenths pole, Celtic Meal was through and Cherokee Artist assumed the lead. Cruz then asked Smooth Air for his best, and an eighth of a mile later, they were head-and-head for the lead with Cherokee Artist. Z Fortune also put in his bid, sneaking up the rail to get within a half-length of the top two, but quickly stalled.
"I cut the corner a little bit and made a little bit of a run and he just flattened out. It's back to the drawing board."
Smooth Air, full of run, left Cherokee Artist at the eighth pole, drawing off to his easy victory. Although defeated, Jeremy Rose, the rider of Cherokee Artist, was impressed with the colt's first-ever stakes start.
"He took the lead easily but shied a bit when Smooth Air came to him. But, wow, what a nice horse."
The Belmont Stakes Is This Saturday
Big Brown won big in the Kentucky Derby. His victory in the Preakness was even bigger. Will Big Brown win the Belmont Stakes and become horseracing’s 12th Triple Crown champion? Don’t miss the action – Thistledown is the only place in northeast Ohio to watch and wager on the Belmont action. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.
Guests can play the $2,000 Belmont Picks Contest. Each guest 18 years and older will receive an entry blank at the door until 3 p.m. Select the top four finishers in the Belmont Stakes for cash prizes.
Silks Restaurant will feature a Belmont Brunch Buffet Package. Tickets are $35 and include a reserved seat for the day, one live program, one Belmont Program, a selection sheet and brunch including coffee, tea, tax and gratuity. Call 216-662-8600, ext. 1275 for reservations.
Need some hot tips for betting luck? Join Thistledown TV Analyst Rich Ruda in the Starting Gate Museum (4th level) for a Belmont Handicapping Seminar for an informative look at the Belmont card. The seminar begins at 12 Noon.
"OLD MAN" WINS ROWLAND MEMORIAL --- Catlaunch, the graybeard of Ohio stakes racing, didn't let the highest weight impost of his career -- 126 pounds --- bother him as he and jockey Ivan Gonzalez scampered away from all challengers in early stretch to win last Friday's (May 30) fifth running of the $50,000 Michael F. Rowland Memorial Handicap at Thistledown.
At the wire, after six furlongs in 1:11, Catlaunch, who turned seven on New Year's Day, was 2 3/4 lengths clear of Ramblin Mike. Go Johnny Go was 1 1/2 lengths back in third.
"He might be getting better with age," said Ivan Vasquez, who trains Catlaunch for Scioto Farm. "I was worried a little bit about the weight, but he handled it okay."
Catlaunch, who has run in all five Rowland Memorials, a race that honors the memory of Thistledown's seven-time riding champion who died as a result of injuries suffered in a spill at Turfway Park in 2004, was winning it for the third consecutive time. He carried the same 126 pounds in last year's renewal.
"He's kind of a funny horse to ride," said Gonzalez. "You can take too much of a hold of him early because he'll fight you. Turning for home, it probably looks like he's empty, but he's not. He just runs away from the other horses."
Catlaunch was quick away from the gate for the Rowland but was hooked by Purple Sutherland. He shook clear at the quarter pole, but had more company at the top of the stretch when Go Johnny Go moved alongside to challenge. That's when Gonzalez asked for a little bit more and Catlaunch responded, winning for the 23rd time in 58 lifetime starts. The Rowland is his ninth stakes victory. With Gonzalez aboard, Catlaunch has won 11 of 25 starts. His $30,000 share of the Rowland purse lifts Catlaunch's career earnings to $488,778. Bet down to odds of 3-5, Catlaunch paid $3.20 for a $2 win wager.
LEADER BOARD --- After 25 days (Monday, June 2) of the 46-day Summit-Thistledown Meeting, the jockeys’ derby is a scramble and the trainers' race finds a very familiar face comfortably in front. Jeffrey Skerrett and Weldon Cloninger Jr. are tied for the riders' lead, along with red-hot Louis Stokes, with 16 winners. Ironically, Skerrett and Cloninger shared the opening meeting title last year, each with 16 winners. This year, there are several riders in striking distance. In hot pursuit of the leaders is Victor Urieta at 14 winners. Anne Sanguinetti, seeking to become the first female jockey to win a Thistledown saddle crown is next at 13 winners . . . Jeff Radosevich, last year's champion trainer, leads all conditioners with 19 winners. Burton Sipp is second with 13 winners, followed by Rodney Faulkner (12) and Tim Hamm (11).
WHERE'S THE BEEF? -- If it's corned beef or gyros at Thistledown, then you'll find both at the new Lucky Ladies Corned Beef and Gyro stand on the track's main level. Sandy Tsoumas is the owner, and she'll be there every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, offering her sandwiches from 11:30 until the last live race, which is usually around 5:30 p.m. "I'm very proud of our sandwiches," said Tsoumas. "The corned beef sandwich, which sells for $6, is a half-pound of the leanest meat you'll find. The gyros are $5 and are also very good."
FEED BAG --- Through Monday, Thistledown has run 25 programs. Six of the first 14 days saw races contested over either sloppy or muddy tracks. However, the last 11 cards have all been run over fast tracks . . . Longtime Ohio horse owner Joe Weir of Minerva had one of his horses, the stallion Yeti, recently profiled in the Canton Repository. Yeti is the sire of Weir's Sarasponda, winner of last year's Best of Ohio Juvenile Fillies and voted the state's champion two-year-old filly . . . Thistledown jockey Luis Gonzalez and trainer Gerald Bennett teamed to win Saturday night's $100,000 Satin and Lace Stakes at Presque Isle with Winning Stable Inc.'s Bucky's Prayer.
Get Hook’d From The Top
Each week Thistledown Announcer Matt Hook will share his thoughts on the Thistledown races and what to watch out for in coming weeks.
Thursday (5/22) Trainer James Jackson unleashed powerful three-year-old Berry's Pride. For astute observers they may have noticed me call him Berry Point for the first part of the race. It was a mistake but I do have an excuse. That is the name of his mother. That mare also threw a very nice racehorse named Secret Romeo. He won the Isi Newborn here at Thistledown in 2002. I also called him to numerous victories in my tenure at Great Lakes Downs. I am not perfect, and in this case was certainly mistaken, but for a good reason. Look for the Jackson trainee to be tough whenever he goes to post.
Friday (5/23) Online made his 2008 season debut. The Bart Barnes charge has had success here at Thistledown. He probably needed the race and he certainly prefers to go further. I expect this horse to relish a stretch out in the near future. Make sure you add him to your horses to watch list.
Saturday (5/24) The 2008 Dr. T. F. Classen went to Money Card. When it comes to Ohio accredited fillies and mares there are none better. Congratulations to owner Drake Racing Stable, trainer Shirley Girten-Drake, and jockey Jane Magrell on a job well done. This mare has always been fun to watch and I was happy to see her find stakes glory. Hopefully she can remain competitive against Ohio registered company because it is usually more difficult. But in the meantime her connections can enjoy the victory celebration.
Sunday (5/25) I had the opportunity five years ago to call the debut of Express Enjoyment. As a two year old he rocketed out of the gate and never looked back. He has had a successful career since then. I was surprised to see the public let him go off at 15-1. I knew this horse was a runner and thought the fans had missed it. The fans got lucky. He was off slowly and then lost momentum in the stretch when he finally was uncorked. Against the same field next time out I expect him to win. Make sure you add this guy to your horses to watch list as I am predicting a nice price.
Monday (5/26) River Downs races usually don't ever land on this list. However the brilliant Buckeye Cat Singer came out to play. Who could forget his romp in the Ohio Endurance here at thistledown in 2006? If trainer Bill Cowans can hold him together Ohio will be blessed with one of the best Buckeyes to ever hit the ground. I can't wait for him to return to action here, River, or anywhere else.
Thursday (5/29) There are no better lower claiming sprinting gals than Anna the Actress. She rolled to a second consecutive victory on this afternoon. Weldon Cloninger Jr. could have enjoyed a burger from Silks Restaurant in the stretch as it really was that easy. Trainer Bobby Guciardo has done a great job placing this mare in the proper races. I asked another trainer why he wasn't in the race. His response was "I'm not going to run against Anna the Actress." So it's obvious that this mare is not only highly respected by me but by her competition as well. Anything five furlongs or less, run to the window and bet her until they run out of paper.
Friday (5/30) If it sounds like a broken record that is because it is. "Catlaunch has won the Mike Rowland Memorial". What a nice horse. He romped to a third consecutive Rowland title. From six furlongs to a mile and a quarter the others better be ready for a war. If they are not they will be sent back to the barn with their tails between their legs. Congratulations to Scioto Farm, trainer Ivan Vasquez, and jockey Ivan Gonzalez. Every time he goes postward it is like an awesome dessert after dinner. You might be full but you don't want to miss anything.
Saturday (5/31) The Ohio Derby took center stage. Smooth Air was awesome. Jockey Manny Cruz overcame a couple of obstacles put in his path by jockey Jeremy Rose but still proved much the best. Lets hope this three-year-old goes on to bigger and better. Congratulations to Mount Joy stables, trainer Bennie Stutts, and jockey Manny Cruz. The lawn jockey will wear green and gold for about a year. No need to go into too much detail as you can read more about it above.
Sunday (6/1) Trainer John Rupert sent out Racing Authority for his 2008 debut. If not for a perfect ride and a very nice horse he may have even won. It looked like he became a little tired in deep stretch. He still was clearly second best and should be in the winner’s circle very soon. This is another one to add to your horses to watch list.
Monday (6/2) Pforperfectspistol can never be described as the soundest horse. That is evident by the numerous gaps in his past performances between starts. However one could make the case that he is the gamest horse on the grounds. His only loss ever at Thistledown was in the Best of Ohio Sprint in 2006. That was by the smallest of margins to a very nice horse. Today he went 1:10 and 2 and left a couple of very nice horses in his wake. You've got to love this guy and how he lays it on the line every time. Congratulations to the connections.