Complimentary The Steeplechase A Publication of ST Publishing, Inc. Times Vol. 16, No. 7 • Friday, July 17, 2009 Slipstream Slip Away runs streak to six with stakes tally INSIDE Saratoga Steeplechase Preview Sermon Of Love scores at Penn Entries The Steeplechase What’s Happening and Where To Find It Here’s your newspaper. You know, the summer issue with a deadline that can stretch farther than a can of Silly Putty. Time s Thank goodness they didn’t move up Open House on us. The good news is that while everyone was inside cranking the AC we were manning the phone lines and walking the shedrows to put together a comprehensive list of who’s who this summer at Saratoga. The betting windows await. We also recapped the action at Colonial Downs and Penn National, ST Publishing, Inc. where we saw a winning streak get extended and losing streak get extinguished. We’ll see you at the Spa! 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921 PAGES 4-8 In the Heart of Fair Hill Horse Country Phone: (410) 392-5867 Fax: (410) 392-0170 Cheat Sheet E-mail: [email protected] Six Thursdays and six races. Dozens of horses and countless betting opportunities. On the Web: www.st-publishing.com We break them all down and offer insight on who might be starring at the Spa. From novice runners to restricted stakes foes to the open hurdle stars, we’ll list them all and rank where they fit in during another summer in Saratoga. The Staff Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy and Joe Clancy Jr. PAGES 10-11 Staff Writer: Brian Nadeau Advertising: Contact the office or call Bottoms Up Kathy Rubin (203) 650-6815 Slip Away left Colonial Downs with the perfect parting gift to beat the heat. Ken and Jim McLaughlin (484) 888-0664 Sarah Ramsey’s reformed claimer made it a six-pack of wins after running off with Michelle Rosenkilde (410) 692-5977 the Zeke Ferguson. Once offered for a $10,000 tag, the Tom Voss trainee now looks Reney Stanley (804) 449-2388 like a major player for Saratoga’s two $100,000 stakes. Contributors: PAGES 12-15 Clark Nyberg, Barry Watson, Tod Marks, Cathy Roelke, Carl Hott, Jim McLaughlin Sam Clancy, Anne Clancy, Joe Clancy Sr., Ruth Clancy, Ryan Clancy, The Works Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy, Miles Clancy. What didn’t Colonial have on the hurdle menu this summer? A lifetime maiden finally scored; an owner/trainer began calling his own shots; a claimer continued to climb the ladder and a three-year layoff seemed like a catnap. It’s all right here as 2009 Publication Dates the hurdle contingent wrapped up another summer session in Virginia. March 17 May 22 October 9 April 10 June 12 October 23 April 24 July 17 November 13 PAGE 16 May 8 September 18 December 11 Don’t Forget to Advertise! Stars of the Stage The circuit made its first visit to Penn National for some nighttime fun, where a Member: American Horse Publications cagey veteran and a talented newcomer both saw their names go up in lights. American Horse Publications is the nation’s only asso- ciation of equine periodicals. AHP’s over 200 members are dedicated to promoting better understanding and communication within the equine publishing industry. PAGES 18-20 www.americanhorsepublications.org An AHP General Excellence ‘Pick Award Winner Keep On Keepin’ On Jack McVey’s Don’t Know Stable once again led the way as the Pick Six contest On the Cover Six’ sped through June. Saratoga and over a half-million in purses are sure to test his Slip Away touches down stable along with all the rest. over a fence late in his runaway victory in the Zeke Ferguson Memorial at Colonial Downs. The Th e Steeplechase I PICKED UP THE TIMES AT: gray extended his win- ning streak to six and ________________ launched himself into Ti m e s the Saratoga picture. Photos: Susan Carter/ SUBSCRIBE: Eclipse Sportswife Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ & Tod Marks Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Also by ST Publishing: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Saratoga Special, Thoroughbred Racing Calendar, Telephone: ____________________________________________ Email: _______________________________________ Writing for Daily Racing Form, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred, If gift subscription, please list your name and address. The Times will send a gift card in your name. The Blood-Horse, The Racing Post, etc., American Steeplechasing Subscription Choices (Check One) yearbook, newsletters, public relations consulting, custom brochures, ___ First Class Mail: $35 per year. Internet sites and graphic design for your farm or business. ___ Canada: $45 (first class). or call (410) 392-JUMP to use your Visa or MasterCard. ___ Other Foreign: $65 (air-mail). Maryland residents, please add 6% sales tax. Send check to: ST Publishing, Inc., 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, Md 21921 Copyright ST Publishing, Inc. 2009. All Rights Reserved. 2 • Steeplechase Times www.st-publishing.com • [email protected] Friday, July 17, 2009 News & Notes from around the circuit TheTimeSteeplechase s ST Publishing, Inc. Take A Number 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, 18,000: Bonus dollars earned by owner/breeder Eldon Elkton, MD 21921 Farm after Coupe De Ville and Aero won over hurdles at Colonial Downs. The Virginia-breds (half-brothers, by the way) pocketed In the Heart of Fair Hill Horse Country double the normal winner’s share of $9,000 from the $15,000 races. Pennsylvania-bred You The Man also cashed in on his win Phone: (410) 392-5867 at Penn National, taking in an extra $3,000 for his in-state victory. Fax: (410) 392-0170 E-mail: [email protected] 31: Months between victories for Sermon Of Love, who On the Web: www.st-publishing.com broke his maiden as a 3-year-old at the Colonial Cup in November 2006 and finally moved up a level with a victory at Penn National July 3. The Staff Editors/Publishers: Sean Clancy and Joe Clancy Jr. 7: Victories by Slip Away – who finished second to Sermon Of Love that day in Camden – in the same time span. Staff Writer: Brian Nadeau Advertising: Contact the office or call Talking it Over – and Over Kathy Rubin (203) 650-6815 Jockeys Chip Miller (left) and Xavier Aiz- Jim McLaughlin (484) 888-0664 puru (below) talked about the Zeke Ferguson Michelle Rosenkilde (410) 692-5977 after hopping off Slip Away and Rare Bush, respectively. Reney Stanley (804) 449-2388 Miller: Did you think we were going that quick? Aizpuru: Not crazy fast, just a solid gal- Contributors: lop. (Slip Away) has got such a stride on him Clark Nyberg, Barry Watson, Tod Marks, he doesn’t feel like it. The thing is, if some- Cathy Roelke, Carl Hott, Jim McLaughlin body does go to you and quickens, you’re Sam Clancy, Anne Clancy, just going to keep galloping. Joe Clancy Sr., Ruth Clancy, Ryan Clancy, Miller: He felt like he didn’t finish that great, but Dani didn’t make any headway the last sixteenth of a mile. Jack Clancy, Nolan Clancy, Miles Clancy. Aizpuru: The thing about that horse is it might not feel like you’re going that quick but you killed us for 2 miles. Miller: It’ll be shorter at Saratoga, that’s a real two and a quarter Lydia Williams 2009 Publication Dates and Saratoga’s a short two and a sixteenth. MOUNTAIN AIR. The steeplechasers take flight on the first-ever day (evening) of jump racing at Penn National Racecourse near Aizpuru: You’d be surprised, he doesn’t Harrisburg, Pa. March 17 May 22 October 9 have a turn of foot. If they all stay sound, April 10 June 12 October 23 he’s going to meet all of them again. “I’ll be there.” “Yup, stitting here, strumming a banjo.” Jockey Carl Rafter, injured at Fair Hill and still Trainer Ted Thompson, April 24 July 17 November 13 Miller: Yeah, who’s waiting for him? limping a bit at Colonial Downs, about riding at Saratoga when asked if he was at the beach on the Fourth of July May 8 September 18 December 11 Planets Aligned. Preemptive Strike. Who was third? Aizpuru: Swagger Stick. It kind of set up “The rider looks a whole lot better than I did today.” “Three people asked me about the horse after his race at Fair Hill: Don’t Forget to Advertise! Jockey Chip Miller while holding a bronze for a horse like him. Joe Clancy, Joe Clancy Jr., and Sean Clancy.” of Ferguson’s Leeds Don in the Colonial Downs winner’s circle Trainer Todd Wyatt, Miller: It was a weird race. after You The Man won at Penn National July 3 Aizpuru: It always is. Member: American Horse Publications “Ironfist won nine in a row, I think.” American Horse Publications is the nation’s only asso- Trainer Tom Voss, “Nobody at ST picked that one?” ciation of equine periodicals. AHP’s over 200 members are dedicated to promoting better understanding and when asked if he ever had a horse win six in a row Trainer Richard Valentine, realizing You The Man paid $39.80 communication within the equine publishing industry. Worth Repeating www.americanhorsepublications.org “Petting his horse.” “It’s always nice to be able to phone the boss when he’s on vaca- “Hi, it’s Martie Sanger – of Inkslinger fame.” Colonial Downs’ J.D. Thomas, on how jockey Chip Miller tion and tell him he had a winner.” Former steeplechase owner Sanger, identifying An AHP General Excellence dropped his whip on the dirt course after Assistant trainer James Piper, herself by her 1970s star (and Colonial Cup winner) Award Winner winning the Zeke Ferguson with Slip Away after Aero won at Colonial Downs on a call to Steeplechase Times July 14 “Look, they bet so much they blew out the toteboard.” “Because I like my steak and chips.” “Why don’t you ever call me about going to dinner or something?” On the Cover Trainer Jonathan Sheppard, Jump jockey Xavier Aizpuru, Van driver Keith Cooper, while looking at the blank toteboard on why he wasn’t a flat jockey, after winning after yet another call from ST Slip Away touches down at Colonial Downs before the first jump race July 12 the “jumpers flat” with Monsieur Henri at Colonial Downs about moving something heavy over a fence late in his runaway victory in the Zeke Ferguson Memorial at Colonial Downs.