MATCH SERIES RETURNS FOR '98 The Mid-Atlan­ tic Thoroughbred Championships Series, inaugurated in 1997, will be back this year sporting the new National Thoroughbred Racing Association's "Go Baby Go" logo and even more bonuses for participating owners and SILVER CHARM BOUND FOR DUBAI? The trainers. The Series features seven races in five divi­ Daily Racing Form reports that Silver Charm (Silver sions for a total of 35 events from April to October. The Buck), forced to miss Saturday's GI Santa Anita H. with bonus pool has been increased to $600,000, with the a bruised foot, has bounced back so fast he is likely to owners of the top 1 0 point-earning horses dividing ship out of California Friday, heading to Dubai for the $4 $250,000, the trainers of the top 10 point getters divid­ million World Cup March 28. "I discussed it (Monday ing $100,000, and the top three point-earning trainers morning) with Bob Lewis, and we're going to dinner to splitting $150,000. Divisional champs earn bonuses of go over the plans and discuss the pros and cons," $20,000 each. The MATCH Series races will be held at trainer Bob Baffert told the Form. "But Mr. Lewis lets tracks in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania me drive the bus. The horse is a bull right now, and I've and Virginia; finals in all five divisions will be run got to find a race for him fast. We removed the heel throughout the region on October 3. "The inaugural nails on his shoe Friday. We soaked the foot on Satur­ Series last year exceeded our expectations," said day, and Sunday morning he was perfectly sound. I MATCH creator Alan Foreman. "We are encouraged by jogged him two miles (Monday) and he didn't show the enthusiastic response we have received and look anything. After he cooled out, I put him back in the stall forward to an even stronger and more competitive se­ for a while, then jogged him on the hard road and noth­ ries this year. I think we have created a signature event ing. With that in mind, I got to thinking about it ... I could for the industry." MATCH Series races will be televised wait for a race in this country, and he could wind up on espn2' s "2Day at the Races," and plans call for a getting hurt again. If he's ready, I hate to miss the op­ half-hour special on the divisional championships to be portunity. If he should go over there and get hurt, I'll broadcast October 4. The Giii Pennsylvania Derby, sixth take full responsibility." Baffert added that, if his colt race in the three-year-old distance division, will be the makes the trip to the Middle East, he will be rested East Coast leg of the "America's Day At The Races" when he returns to the States, gearing up in time for the Coast-to-Coast Triple on Labor Day. Del Mar meet. HERB McCARRON DEAD Herb Mccarron, the father DEPUTY COMMANDER OUT OF DUBAI CUP A of Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron and jockey­ day after watching his star four-year-old finish a lacklus­ turned-trainer Gregg Mccarron, died Monday morning at ter seventh in the Giii New Orleans H., trainer Wally South Shore Hospital in S. Weymouth, Massachusetts Dollase reported that Deputy Commander (Deputy Minis­ after a long illness. He was 76. Mccarron served as a ter) will not make the trip to the March 28 Dubai World court stenographer for the U.S. Navy for over 30 years, Cup. Dollase had expected a big effort out of the 1997 retiring in 1974. He was active in the Knights of Colum­ GI Travers and GI Super Derby winner and was stunned bus and served as Executive Secretary for the state when Deputy Commander finished next to last as the council from 1975 until 1991. In addition to Chris and 4-5 favorite. "I'm not sure what happened to him, other Gregg, he is survived by four sons, three daughters, 19 than maybe it was a virus," Dollase said. "When he gets grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife back (to California) we'll do tests and take X-rays. I've Helen died August 19, 1997. A wake will be held Wed. had quite a few viruses with horses at this time of year. at the Dolan Funeral Home in East Milton; a funeral (Jockey Corey Nakatani) said he knew right away he mass will be held Thurs. at St. Elizabeth's Church, also wasn't into the race. We won't be going to Dubai be­ in East Milton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests cause I still really don't know what is wrong with him." that donations be made to the Joslin Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA, 02215, or the Don MacBeth Memo­ rial Jockey Fund, P.O. Box 18470, Encino, CA, 91416. STAKES CLOSINGS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11: RACING CALLED OFF AT SPORTSMAN'S PARK 3-21 $150, 000 Santa Ana H. -Gil, SA, Heavy snowfall in the Chicago area forced the cancella­ 4yo/up, 9fT ($150} tion of Monday's card at Sportsman's Park. The track is 3-22 $250,000 San Luis Rey-Gil, SA, 4yo/up, expected to be back in action this afternoon, with first 12fT ($250) • post at 1 p.m. PAGE 2 •THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS• 3-10-98 News cont. 6th-GPX, $40,000, Alw, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1 :24 /5, sy. DANE RIPPER WINS AUSTRALIAN CUP Bart 1--COLONIAL MINSTREL, 118, f, 4, Pleasant Colony-­ Cummings' four-year-old filly Dane Ripper (Aus) Minstrella (Ch. 2yo-lre, MG1SW-lre, G1SW-Eng, (Danehill) became a leading candidate for Horse Of The $358,429), by The Minstrel. O/B-Evans Edward P Year honors in Australia when she annihilated her field (VA); T-Mark Hennig. Lifetime Record: SW, 11-5-3-1, in Monday's G1 $832,500 Australian Cup over a mile $140,567. *1/2 to Minidar (Alydar), GSW, $350,900. and a quarter at Flemington in Melbourne. She also gave 2--Lady Carson, 118, f, 4, Carson City--Heathers her master trainer his 12th win in the event. In the Surprise, by Best Turn. absence of Foster's Melbourne Cup winner Might And 3--Mydaddysthemann, 116, m, 5, Ruhlmann--Crystal Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who sustained a minor leg Pirate, by Pirate's Bounty. injury in training, Dane Ripper, ridden by jockey Steven Margins: 7, HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.90, 2.30, 12.40. King, started 7-4 favorite and raced in the fourth spot Off the board in the Giii Joe Namath H. on the grass early, moving to the front as they straightened for home to start this campaign, Colonial Minstrel came back to and quickening brilliantly to win by 4 Y2 lengths. Dane post an impressive 6 %-length tally in a Gulfstream dirt Ripper was winning her third Group 1 stakes and her allowance test February 18. Looking to put them back­ second of the current season, following her 40-1 upset to-back, the grey shadowed pacesetter Lady Carson for win in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last October. a half, sweeping to the lead on the far turn and gallop­ Cummings will now run her for the first time over a mile ing away to another decisive victory. and a half when she contests the G 1 Mercedes Classic at Rosehill in Sydney April 4. "I knew she was pretty 8th-GPX, $32,000, Alw, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1 :12 2/5, sy. good and she seems to be getting better every day," LIMIT PUSHER (f, 4, Shadeed--Wee Dram {SP, said Cummings, who was winning his 238th Group $192,960}, by Nostrum) broke her maiden at Aqueduct race. "I don't think a mile and a half will worry her at in her final start at three, and came back after a two­ weight-for-age in the Mercedes." month break to be second in a Gulfstream allowance February 8. Bet down to 8-5 off that effort, the bay stalked the leaders to the top of the stretch, driving to FLORIDA the lead as they raced down the lane and pulling away • • to win by 3 3/4 lengths. Lifetime Record: 9-2-2-2, Yesterday's Results: $57,259. 10th-GPX, $50,000, Alw, 4yo/up, 8.5f, 1 :46 2/5, gd. O/B-Linda L. Ramsey (KY). T-Christophe Clement. 1--COME ON GET HAPPY, 119, g, 5, Cure the Blues-- Just Cuz (SW), by Cormorant. 0-Crescent City Stable; 9th-GPX, $32,000, Alw, 4yo/up, 1 1 /4m (off turf), B-Darmstadt-Dupont Pamela S (KY); T-W Elliott 2:09, sy. Walden. Lifetime Record: MSW, 26-9-3-1, $359,933. DON VITO (GB) (h, 5, Generous {lre}--Dance By Night 2--Gator Dancer, 115, h, 5, Pleasant Colony--Token {GB}, by Northfields) missed by a nose in an allowance Dance, by Sovereign Dancer. race over the Churchill turf in May, then was off nine 3--Sea Horse, 115, g, 5, Cutlass--Charquillo, by Native months before resurfacing to be third in a Gulfstream Charger. allowance on the main track February 9. Making his Margins: 3/4, 1 HF, 7. Odds: 3.10, 6.60, 1.20a. second start off the layoff, the Y2 to Danseuse du Soir Come On Get Happy, claimed for $75,000 at Chur­ (Ire) (Thatching {Ire}), MG1 SW-Fr, $518,561; Dana chill Downs Nov.