Contact Information:
Bob Roberts (216-662-8600)
May 5, 2009
www.thistledown.com
Pay The Man Could Become Ohio's All-Time Money Mare
Pyrite Stables' Pay The Man made Thistledown history Saturday by becoming the first filly or mare to win the $50,000 Angenora Stakes three times. If she continues to dominate the state stakes program, the 5-year-old daughter of Bernstein will make even bigger news before the 2009 season is over, becoming the all-time Ohio female thoroughbred money-earner.
The Angenora score, not only her third but third in a row, is Pay The Man's 12th victory in 29 career starts. The $30,000 she banked lifts her lifetime bankroll to $426,185, fifth on the all-time list of money-winning Buckeye distaffers. Tougaloo, voted Ohio Horse of the Year in 1989, tops the roster at $583,030. Glacial Princess, Buckeye Horse of the Year in 1985 and 1986, is second at $542,792. Ashwood C C is next at $519,843, followed by Sadie's Dream at $488,328. Pay The Man hopped over Cut The Cuteness ($411,159) and Extended Applause ($403,519) to make the top five.
"She is the best mare I've ever trained. She came out of the Angenora in good shape," said trainer Miguel (Angel) Feliciano. "As long as she stays healthy, I think she has a shot at catching Tougaloo."
Next up for Pay The Man, who Feliciano wants to keep in races restricted to Ohio-breds, is Thistledown's $50,000 William Petro Memorial on June 20, a race she won last year in a romp. Feliciano doubled his pleasure in the Angenora, saddling not only the winner, but also the runner-up in Pyrite Gem.
"I know she (Pyrite Gem) can run, too. But she's better going a route. I don't think she can beat the other horse, but it's hard to say."
Pay The Man entered the starting gate for the Angenora level with Crack The Code and Crypto's Redjet, who had each won the six-furlong dash twice. Unlike those champions, Pay The Man has never lost to another filly or mare at Thistledown. She has run eight times against the fairer sex at the North Randall oval and has defeated 63 opponents in seven stakes and one allowance race.
"I have been working her down at Tampa,” said Ricky Feliciano. “Miguel always has her right. My filly is so game, she wants to go and go. The other filly is nice, but Pay the Man is Pay the Man."
"My filly is pretty good," said Alfredo Clemente (rider of Pyrite Gem). “I saved a little bit for the end because I know the horse I have to beat (Pay The Man) is a really nice horse. I know that Ricky had a lot of horse."
DERBY DOLLARS --- Thistledown horseplayers once again proved they are some of the sharpest bettors in North America, nailing several big tickets on Mine That Bird, upset winner of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. There were more than $70 of winning exacta tickets, each worth $2,074.80 for a $2 wager, and four $1 trifecta tickets, each valued at $20,750.15. There was also a winning Pick Four ticket sold, with the Derby as the anchor leg. It paid $10,221.15 for a 50-cent wager.
DERBY DAY CARRYOVER --- A run of long-shot winners, including Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby, has created two large carryover jackpots at Churchill Downs when racing resumes Wednesday (tomorrow). The Pick 6 pool will start with a $781,146 carryover, while there is $251,856 in the High-5 pot. Thistledown horseplayers can watch and wager on Churchill Downs each and every day the Louisville oval races.
GIANT KILLER --- Veteran Thistledown trainer Donn Rowe knocked off five Ohio champions when he saddled Dr. James Gabel's Left On Base to win Saturday's $50,000 Babst/Palacios Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park on Saturday. The 5-year-old gelding outdueled Royal Nemesis by a nose under jockey Edgar Paucar.
"That's my Best of Ohio race," joked Rowe, who hopes to keep Left On Base fit and eager for action all season, climaxing with the $75,000 Best of Ohio Sprint at Thistledown on Oct. 3. Left On Base has never been better. Behind him in the Babst/Palacios was Ohio Horse of the Year Catlaunch (third), former Sprint champions Dooze, Ben's Reflection and Pforperfectspistol, and a former juvenile champ in Acts Like a King. The stakes victory was the first in Left On Base's 25-race career. He absolutely loves Beulah, having won eight of 14 starts with two runner-up finishes and three show efforts.
EARLYBIRD LEADERBOARD --- After four days of racing, Ernesto Oro has opened a daylight lead in the jockeys' derby. He has six winners, double the output of David Cardoso and Weldon Cloninger, Jr. Six trainers have two winners each. They are Angel Feliciano, Rod Madrigal, Jevon Crumley, Jerry Noss, Tony Rini, and Randy Faulkner.
FEED BAG --- Shipawanda, winner of the last race on Thursday's opening day card, may be toiling in $4,000 claiming races to make a living, but she's got Ohio Derby blood. Her sire, Skip Away, won the 1996 Ohio Derby. Skip Away's sire, Skip Trial, won the 1985 Ohio Derby . . . The oldest silks racing at Thistledown, those of Dr. Daniel Stearns, are back for another year. Stearns-owned horses started running in Cleveland in 1948. Stearns, an Ohio State University grad, uses his alma mater's famed scarlet and gray colors as his racing silks . . . Thistledown trainer Jamie Ness was honored Saturday as the winningest trainer at Tampa Bay Downs. Ness won his third consecutive title at the Florida track. He sent out 62 winners . . . Ohio juvenile champion Slides Choice is gearing up for a big season. He's already won twice this spring for trainer Tim Hamm, once at Beulah and once at River Downs. His score on Saturday at the Cincinnati track was a 6 1/2-length laugher.