FEATURE PRESENTATION • GI DONN H. Has Gone Two-For-Two Over Meydan=S New Dirt Surface, Including a Maiden Stakes Score in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 Last out Jan
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 732-747-8060 $ TDN Home Page Click Here RIDING THE WAVE Zabeel Racing International=s Surfer (Distorted Humor) FEATURE PRESENTATION • GI DONN H. has gone two-for-two over Meydan=s new dirt surface, including a maiden stakes score in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 last out Jan. 8, and the 6-year-old gelding will look to extend his streak to three in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2 at Meydan today. Surfer has always been highly regarded by the team of trainer Satish Seemar, and was second to back- to-back scorer Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi DONN DRAWS 10 {Ire}) in this event in A solid field of 10 drew for Saturday=s GI Donn H. at 2013. His strongest Gulfstream Park. The entries are highlighted by last performance of last year=s Donn winner Lea (First Samurai) who, after being year=s carnival was a sidelined for nearly a year, returned to take the third in the G1 Al GIII Hal=s Hope S. in Maktoum Challenge impressive fashion R3, and he has been a Jan. 10. AI=d say, he=s Surfer decisive winner of probably coming into the DRC/Andrew Watkins both starts this season Donn the same as he was since switching to the last year,@ trainer Bill Mott dirt, first in a mile conditions race Dec. 18 and then said. AHe=s coming off a over the same distance in Round 1 four weeks ago over good race and I=m happy the re-opposing Frankyfourfingers (Fr) (Sunday Break with him. He=s good {Jpn}). Surfer has yet to win beyond a mile, but regular enough to be in the race, Lea rider Richie Mullen said today=s added distance won=t but I can=t predict the Lauren King pose a problem. outcome.@ Sloane Avenue AIt was a very good performance in the first round,@ (Candy Ride {Arg}) adds some international flair to the said Mullen. AHe really took to the new surface and has field as well. The 4-year-old most recently took been in good form since. The extra trip is not an issue. Kempton=s Listed Hyde S. Nov. 19. Cont. p3 This does look a stronger race but he should run well.@ One who won=t have distance limitations is last year=s G1 Dubai World Cup victor African Story (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who makes his first start since that upset score. The Godolphin colorbearer had developed a love affair with the Meydan Tapeta and enjoyed two victories on the Dubai World Cup card: first in the G2 Godolphin Mile in 2012 and in the main event last year. In between, he took the G2 Burj Nahaar in 2013 and was second in this race last year. The 8-year-old gelding could be counted on to consistently show up on the artificial surface, but how he will handle the dirt remains to be seen. The third of the trio saddled by Saeed bin Suroor will be Emirates Flyer (GB) (Acclamation {GB}), who won last year=s UAE 2000 Guineas Trial and was placed in four subsequent starts, including a third in the G2 UAE Derby. He was second in a Wolverhampton conditions race in his first start since that Mar. 29 effort Oct. 9, and was fifth in his first try on the dirt in Round 1. Bin Suroor, who is seeking his 11th win in this race, said, AEmirates Flyer has improved from that first run. He handled the surface and with the benefit of that run should go well.@ Cont. p8 IN THIS ISSUE President & Co-Publisher: Barry Weisbord [email protected] @barryweisbord Sr. V.P. & Co-Publisher: Sue Finley [email protected] @suefinley V.P., International Operations: Gary King Tatts February Preview [email protected] @garykingTDN The Tattersalls sales calendar begins today with the one-day February Sale at Park EDITORIAL Paddocks in Newmarket. [email protected] Editor-in-Chief: Jessica Martini Managing Editor: Alan Carasso Page 6 Senior Editor: Steve Sherack Racing Editor: Brian DiDonato Tales from the Heath Associate Editor: Justina Severni Associate Editor: Christie DeBernardis Assistant Editor: Heather Likins Assistant Editor: Ben Massam ADVERTISING [email protected] Director of Advertising: Alycia Borer Art Director: Lia Kusch Sr. Ad Coordinator/Dir. of Distribution: Sarah K. Andrew Advertising Designer: Amanda Crelin Advertising Assistant: Amanda Foster Social Media Strategist: Nichola Henry CUSTOMER SERVICE Red Cadeaux and Steve Nicholson [email protected] Dir. of Customer Service: Vicki Forbes Emma Berry INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY In this month’s installment of Tales from the Heath, Emma Berry talks to Steve Nicholson, the work rider of the much-adored Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux Director of IT: Robert Williams {GB}). [email protected] WORLDWIDE INFORMATION Page 11 International Editor: Kelsey Riley [email protected] Assistant Editor: Alix Choppin Also In This Issue... Newmarket Bureau, Cafe Racing: Sean Cronin & Tom Frary Royal Ascot Hunting ‘Chrome’ and ‘Friend’...........................................................7 [email protected] Diamond Hope Burnstone Dies.............................................................................8 I Am Invcincible Fee Increased for 2015.....................................................................9 60 Broad Street, Suite 100 TBA President Defends Breeding Industry..............................................................9 Red Bank, NJ 07701 732-747-8060 | 732-747-8955 (fax) www.thoroughbreddailynews.com www.thetdn.com TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 2/5/15 • PAGE 3 of 13 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Protonico, winner of the GIII Smarty Jones S., annexed the GIII Discovery H. at Aqueduct Nov. 1 before finishing a half-length behind Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) in the Clark. AI think he ran well and I think it should springboard him forward into this race,@ Pletcher said. AI think the added distance will be to his liking. He seems to be coming into this race in good order.@ Commissioner was sidelined after finishing second in DONN DRAWS 10 (cont. from p1) the GI Belmont S. and returned to the races with a AWe=ve wanted to give him a go on the dirt for a little useful third in an optional claimer here Jan. 10. AI think while, trainer Jeremy Noseda said. AWe thought about he ran well and I think it should springboard him going to Dubai for the [G1] Maktoum Challenge and, forward into this race,@ Pletcher said. AI think the added then discussing it with [owner] Paul Roy, decided we=d distance will be to his liking. He seems to be coming sort of take a different route and have a go in America. into this race in good order.@ I had to look at races that would suit him, and if you re = going to come this far and the expense that goes along with it, you have to go for something that has a decent Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:58 p.m. EST purse. Yes, the competition is going to be harder but DONN H.-GI, $500,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m it=s something that=s worthwhile.@ PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT Conditioner Todd Pletcher will send out three from 1 Constitution Tapit Castellano Pletcher 119 his barn in J “TDN Rising Star” J Constitution 2 Commissioner A.P. Indy Velazquez Pletcher 118 (Tapit), Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and Protonico (Giant s 3 East Hall Graeme Hall Saez Kaplan 117 = 4 Lea First Samurai Rosario Mott 121 Causeway). Constitution, winner of last year=s 5 Elnaawi K Street Sense Leparoux McLghlin 115 GI Florida Derby, returned from an injury to finish fourth K in an optional claimer at Belmont in October and was 6 Catholic Cowboy Heatseeker (Ire) Lopez Zito 115 7 Sloane Avenue K Candy Ride (Arg) Lezcano Noseda 114 third in the GI Clark H. Nov. 28, one spot back of 8 Protonico Giant's Causeway Bravo Pletcher 118 Protonico. The horse has been training really well, A @ 9 Blue Tone K Birdstone Lanerie Hess Jr 116 Pletcher explained. AHe certainly seemed to like 10 Prayer for Relief K Jump Start Zayas Romans 116 Gulfstream last year.@ TDN P HEADLINE NEWS • 2/5/15 • PAGE 4 of 13 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Saturday, Gulfstream Park, post time: 5:28 p.m. EST GULFSTREAM PARK TURF H.-GI, $300,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT 1 Mshawish K Medaglia d'Oro Castellano Pletcher 118 2 Amen Kitten Kitten's Joy Hernandez Ward 115 3 Imagining Giant's Causeway Rosario McGughy 120 4 Grand Tito K Candy Ride (Arg) Lezcano Delgado 115 5 Manchurian High The Daddy Saez Kurtinecz 115 6 War Correspondent War Front Bravo Clement 115 7 Slumber (GB) K Cacique (Ire) Velazquez Brown 115 8 Lochte Medaglia d'Oro Lopez Vitali 117 9 Golden Rifle Ghostzapper Zayas Wolfson 113 Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 7:00 p.m. EST SAN ANTONIO INVITATIONAL S.-GII, $500,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT 1 Hoppertunity K Any Given Saturday Garcia Baffert 123 2 Tonito M. K Rock Hard Ten Bejarano Hllndrfer 120 3 You Know I Know Simon Pure Van Dyke Sadler 118 4 Imperative K Bernardini Prat Ppaprdrmu 120 5 Shared Belief Candy Ride (Arg) Smith Hllendrfer 123 6 Clubhouse Ride Candy Ride (Arg) Gryder Lewis 120 7 Bronzo (Chi) Fusaichi Pegasus Stevens Drysdale 120 8 California Chrome Lucky Pulpit Espinoza Sherman 123 9 Alfa Bird K Birdstone Baze Garcia 118 Saturday, Santa Anita Park, post time: 6:30 p.m. EST SAN MARCOS S.-GII, $200,000, 4yo/up, 1 1/4mT PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT 1 Finnegans Wake Powerscourt (GB) Espinoza Miller 123 2 Patrioticandproud K Proud Citizen Van Dyke Casse 118 3 Majestic Harbor K Rockport Harbor Smith McCarthy 120 4 Power Ped Powerscourt (GB) Prat Drysdale 118 5 Little Jerry K Candy Ride (Arg) Maldonado Baltas 118 6 Diamond Bachelor K War Front Pedroza Biancone 118 7 Quadrivium K Henrythenavigator Boyce Motion 118 8 Dynamic Sky Sky Mesa Nakatani Casse 118 9 Power Foot Powerscourt (GB) Fallon Drysdale 118 Saturday, Aqueduct, post time: 4:13 p.m.