Marilyn I Love You Anniversary Day Stakes
One mile
Firm Turf
$75,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
Don’t marry the person you think you can live with; marry only the individual you think you can’t live without.
—James C. Dobson
We gather today in
Marilyn M. and Donmar were married on 8-19-04 and today would have marked only their two year anniversary. She was taken away early in life after battling a lengthy illness. Don’s love for her is evident in the game by naming several stables after her: The Marilyn Corp consisted of donmar, mymarilyn, redmarilyn, etc. Don was able to share with me small bit of their life together. He bragged about how she was able to transform his life by standing firm to her values and beliefs. Those values had a positive affect on Don’s life and brought them closer together. “She’s the only woman I ever wanted” he explained. She had a gift of voice and used it in church every Sunday. She also had a love of nostalgia, naming Dean Martin and Patsy Cline as personal favorites and had a knack to knowing all the stars of old Black and White movies. Although Don and Marilyn had no children together they had a joint love for man’s best friend as she kept several dogs over the years. Don said his happiest times with her was when they were alone with the curtains drawn, enjoying their lives together. “We were like two peas in a pod” he stated.
Don, on behalf of the Simulated Racing community, we mourn your loss with you and also celebrate her life. We hope you find strength in your love and we will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers.
Marilyn M.
1960-2006
PP 1
11/1 LONE PINE(NZ) ID# 90219
(MARAUDING(NZ) x PINE BLUFF x
5 Year Old Horse
O Pool ( 68 – 3 – 5 – 2 – 4% )
Trainer: tote
5 Year Old Horse
Making his stakes debut, Lone Pine(NZ) has changed hands three times this year in the auction but looks like a good pick up for Hollandia Stables (who accounts for one of the moves between stables). Equally at home it seems on either surface he’s come on nice lately on the grass. He’ll need to improve after a dismal start last time out where he only managed an 87 SR in a restricted Allowance race. But if you go back two races you’ll find justification for his entry today. What will be scrutinized today won’t be his speed but if can successfully make the move up in class. Luckily he will have his stable mate Jacky Hollandia to pace him.
PP 2
7/1 SLEW CAN ID# 7976
(DANZIG x
Y Feese ( 171 – 14 – 16 – 17 – 8% )
Trainer: gsrprize
There was a discussion a few weeks ago among owners regarding former claimers who have gone on to be become Grade 1 winners. You need look any further than our #2 entrant Slew Can for your answer. He experienced some moderate success as a two and three year old but for some strange reason his original owner and breeder, Roberto, dropped him in a $35k claimer and gsrprize was quick to pick him up. Since then this
PP 3
9/1
(
J Heffernan ( 115 – 12 – 14 – 12 – 10% )
Trainer: peeps4
5 Year Old Horse
Breaking out of gate #3, Chester Copperpot looks good at 9/1 odds. He’s fresh off a season best 107 SR showing at this distance on Smackdown II day but you still have to scratch your head a bit. Undoubtedly, he’s got the tools to take down the field but he’s only notched back to back 100+ races once in his career. If you look back at his last ten races his Speed Ratings marks are: 103, 99, 88, 95, 86, 90, 104, 99, 76,107. Perhaps the only race can throw out is the 76 where moved out to 10 Furlongs. But just in case you didn’t read it above, he’s capable of winning any day in any race. It’s just a matter of which
PP 4
22/1 RUMORMONGER ID# 94869
(MARIA’S MON x BROAD BRUSH x RAISE A NATIVE)
Trainer: hornfrog2
Rumormonger, sired by Maria’s Mon, drops in distance today and may be overlooked by the betting public. Although this very well bred colt hasn’t produced quite as hornfrog2 has liked, he’s still done well but mainly at 11-12 furlongs. He has a come from the back running style and it’s hard to say how he’ll react to the shorter distance. Like many of the other mid to long odd entrants, the pace will more than likely determine his chances. His speeds have been dangerously close to breaking the 100 barrier and when you see horses like these you have to wonder if he’s due for a big race. I won’t quite step up all the way and say he’s got a chance to win it as he’s facing some strong competition. I will recommend wheeling him in on the backend of your trifecta ticket though. If he manages to hit the board, the payoff could be huge.
PP 5
7/1 CAT OF THE TAIL ID# 93247
(TALE OF THE CAT x DANEHILL x PROUD TRUTH)
X Reed ( 74 – 3 – 6 – 8 – 4% )
Trainer: graywolf3
In a surprise move, dirt specialist Cat Of The Tail switches surfaces and looks to upset the field. His generous 7/1 odds may be more of a reflection of his recent speeds on the dirt but he has shown decent numbers in his few turf attempts. However, these numbers are not comparable to his dirt tries. If he can manage to acclimate back to the grass, he might be the best shot to challenge Jacky Hollandia for the win. The challenge is nothing new for him as he’s has consistently ran well in graded events this year but the winner’s circle has eluded him thus far. He did manage to pick up his first stake win earlier this year though in The U. Bull Memorial—Stk. His style seems to fit in nicely and with an expected slow first half he may have enough to fend off the pressure.
PP 6
7/1 REBELLION ID# 88866
(WAR CHANT x IRISH RIVER(FR) x THE MINSTREL)
Trainer: kyclocker3
With perhaps the best chance to challenge for the trophy, Rebellion grabs my attention with several rock solid performances this year. This War Chant colt may look like an outside chance at first given he’s only won once this year in an open Allowance race but his efforts in stakes competitions certainly has been admirable although it just hasn’t been quite enough to come out ahead. His best race this was back in March where he finished 3rd in the Tally Ho Mile—G3 where he posted a 106 SR but was unfortunate to enter on the day that #2 Slew Can decided to post his season best. Look for an improvement over his last effort where he literally got “smacked” on Smackdown II day. If he can make the distance, he’ll likely challenge for the opening lead but will need to save some strength for the stretch drive.
PP 7
22/1 MARDON ID# 3264
(YES IT’S TRUE x FESTIN(ARG) x TRUE KNIGHT)
J Piotrowski ( 555 – 144 – 90 – 83 – 26% )
Trainer: redmarilyn
Starting out our first of four entrants for The Marilyn Corp, Mardon enters here today for his first start at this level. While these entrants are sure to be the sentimental favorites, The Marilyn Corp will probably have to look at for one of their others to grab a share of the purse as Mardon has had difficulties finding the winners circle in the allowance ranks. Perhaps he is being sent to play a decoy by pressing the pace thus allowing his stable mate to make a true run. This sounds unlikely though as he has drawn top jock J Piotrowski in the irons. He’ll need some luck in this one.
PP 8
15/1 SHAKA ZULU ID# 7284
(TIGHT SPOT x INTERCO x ARBEES BOY)
S Camp ( 190 – 15 – 19 – 18 – 8% )
Trainer: redmarilyn
Like a bottle of good scotch, some things get better with time. It’s not every day that you can say that your six year old horse is just now peaking but that’s exactly what Shaka Zulu is doing. She was finally able to break the century mark in speed earlier this year after 30 attempts but it may not be enough as she’s facing some tough competition not to mention taking on the boys. Much like Bill Person, she’s more of a sprinter but I think she’ll find a harder time making it around two turns as she’s shows recently to have little left in the stretch. A valiant try for a veteran horse but I think it may not be his day.
PP 9
44/1 YKICKAMOOCOW ID# 26840
(
I Pollara ( 157 – 11 – 18 – 8 – 7% )
Trainer: sarasans
Hobbyist owner sarasans, answered the call for entries as he looks to upset the entire field with the longest shot on the board with 44/1 Ykickamoocow. You may be asking “Y” indeed as it’s hard to justify his entry today. With his last five races ending with SR’s in the 70’s and 80’s, it’s difficult to place an honest word on his chances. However, many owners participate for different reasons and it looks like sarasans is here for the thrill of racing. This is evident by the fact that he’s only managed nine wins in 222 starts but at least he’s having fun.
11/1 TINKER TOYS ID# 108566
(FANTASTIC LIGHT x MIESQUE’S SON x DANEHILL)
T Bernard ( 91 – 12 – 6 – 13 – 13% )
Trainer: calmriver
Tinker Toys is a relative newcomer to the scene but is showing a lot of promise. Already, he’s managed five wins in nine starts and seems to be progressing well with added experience. He marked a career best speed two races back in The Slew J. Challenge—Stk with a 105 SR although he came up a hair shy of winning. Breaking out of the 10 hole, he may find a little difficulty getting to the lead before the first turn as he’s accustomed to, but I think the distance suits him well. I’ll peg him as my long shot as he may contest for a piece of the board and if he comes alive he may win the whole thing.
PP 11
19/1 IOKAPPA ID# 137
(BROAD BRUSH x
F Disher ( 70 – 4 – 6 – 7 – 6% )
Trainer: xenophon
2006 seems to be the year for Iokappa. This eight year olds Broad Brush son has toiled year after year in the allowance ranks with moderate success. He seemed to top out in speed in 2003 by posting 100+ SR regularly. However, it wasn’t until this year that he finally nailed a win in an open stake race by winning The I Love Sal Memorial—Stk and followed that up with a 4th place finishes in the MouseLotto.com—G3 where he benefited from an off track and slow pace in both races. In only his 4th start for the year, trainer Xenophon was probably hoping for rainy conditions again but clear skies are expected but I think he make a good showing none the less. He’ll also look to set the pace but he make come up empty in the stretch as he shown recently.
PP 12
23/1 JACOB’S LADDER ID# 76087
(MINING x SILENT SCREEN x LE FABULEUX)
D Hinnant ( 133 – 14 – 6 – 8 – 11% )
Trainer: iansplugs
Much like Rumormonger, Jacob’s Ladder has the potential to put up a career race at any time. Although he hasn’t shown the consistent speeds as Rumor he did manage to bust out a 106 SR back in 2004 and had three consecutive races this year with speeds in the 90’s. The jump in class may to a shade too tough for him though. He has shown better success in lower levels but may look to set up the race for his stable mate Bill Person starting to his outside. Keep an eye on him but it looks like an outside chance at best.
PP 13
8/1 BILL PERSON ID# 43714
(PERSONAL FLAG x STEINLEN(GB) x MAJESTIC PRINCE)
R Smith ( 87 – 9 – 3 – 8 – 10% )
Trainer: flobarb2
With perhaps the best chance at a win for The Marilyn Corp, Bill Persons stretches his legs to tackle two turns. He has seen success before just shy of this distance. If you go back to September of last year he posted a win and a 109 SR at 7 furlongs in The Tolerant Tide Memorial-Stk so the extra furlong is not out of the question. In all, he’s managed to collect two stake wins in his career and jockey R Smith has done well with the limited amount of rides he been given. Bill Persons has been lightly raced this year mainly due to his advancing age but it looks like the old guy still has some fight in him.
PP 14
3/1 JACKY HOLLANDIA ID# 91427
(SAKHEE x DIXIELAND BAND x TARLAC)
Q Miller ( 506 – 77 – 93 – 72 – 15% )
Trainer: tote
Breaking from the outside gate, our morning line favorite and #9 ranked colt Jacky Hollandia is coming off two consecutive 2nd place finishes in stakes company including a 109 SR effort in the Confederate Stk-G2. He may prove to be a formidable opponent as he’s a winner of seven stake races and is no stranger to this level. The highlight of his short 18 race career was earlier this year in the Dick Fancis—G1 where he posted an amazing 114 SR over 8 furlongs and is one of only two entrants to have earned over $1,000,000. He prefers to hang mid to back pack and make his move as he rounds the second turn. Not a rock solid favorite but you have to include him on your trifecta ticket.
–Maverick