{"id":6367,"date":"2008-08-07T03:54:14","date_gmt":"2008-08-07T03:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=6367"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=6367","title":{"rendered":"This Race is for the Birds"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Grade I
Six furlongs
Firm Turf
$1,000,000\u00a0
3 years old fillies<\/DIV>
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PP\u00a0\u00a0Horse\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Owner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jockey\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Odds\u00a0
1\u00a0 GOSSIPER(KY)\u00a0 legacy\u00a0 B Schardein\u00a0\u00a0 11\/1\u00a0
2\u00a0 KING’S HALO(ARG)\u00a0 mindblower\u00a0 P Harzheim\u00a0 27\/1\u00a0
3\u00a0 LET CORD(KY)\u00a0 adzam\u00a0 Q Cassell\u00a0 14\/1\u00a0
4\u00a0 SEATTLE APPLES(KY)\u00a0 imatiger2\u00a0 A Reed\u00a0 17\/1\u00a0
5\u00a0 MIRROR LADY(IRE)\u00a0 clk2007\u00a0 Pa Carrier\u00a0 26\/1\u00a0
6\u00a0 PUNCH THE TICKET(KY)\u00a0 stelplas\u00a0 H Harzheim\u00a0 6\/1\u00a0
7\u00a0 STARRAHY EYED(KY)\u00a0 pegasus\u00a0 K Ledwith\u00a0 12\/1\u00a0
8\u00a0 FIT TO ROMP(KY)\u00a0 desimster5\u00a0 T Loesch\u00a0 25\/1\u00a0
9\u00a0 FAIR GO(NZ)\u00a0 thematrix\u00a0 J Stivers\u00a0\u00a0 12\/1\u00a0
10 JOELINE(MD)\u00a0 dendro\u00a0 R Harzheim\u00a0 19\/1\u00a0
11 ONE EYE JACKIE(KY)\u00a0 bigtate03\u00a0 S Weller\u00a0\u00a0 33\/1\u00a0
12 PIVOTAL MATCH(ENG)\u00a0 irt1\u00a0 A Craig\u00a0 21\/1\u00a0
13 INSULA(KY)\u00a0 limpid\u00a0 L Denney\u00a0\u00a0 13\/1\u00a0
14 COTE BONNEVILLE(KY)\u00a0 super6\u00a0 B Ball\u00a0 9\/1\u00a0
15 JOCKEY HASABUZZER(KY)\u00a0 sjmeola5\u00a0 D Evans\u00a0 22\/1\u00a0
16 VIXEN VALLEY(KY)\u00a0 focusforce\u00a0 T Small\u00a0 10\/1\u00a0
17 UNFABULOUS(KY)\u00a0 fairhaven2\u00a0 Z Kentucky\u00a0 5\/1\u00a0
18 PAUL’S BOUTIQUE(AUS)\u00a0 crawf68\u00a0 P Bangs\u00a0 15\/1 <\/DIV>
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It is this reporter’s\u00a0distinct pleasure to be on assignment in Beijing to cover The Pheasants Forever<\/EM><\/STRONG> for the Black Type Bugler.\u00a0 Many thanks to Lady’s Secret and everyone else who works so hard for so long every two years to put together this world class extravaganza.<\/DIV>
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Pheasants Forever may not have the name recognition of Red Cross or evoke the emotions of Breast Cancer or Make a Wish, but it was selected as the charity of choice by the\u00a0folks of Great Plains for a reason.\u00a0 They’re good eatin’!\u00a0 And if pheasants become extinct, what excuse can we find to buy guns and escape with our buddies for the weekend?\u00a0 We must preserve them!<\/DIV>
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Pheasants Forever is dedicated to the conservation of pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness, education and land management policies and programs.\u00a0 Believe it or not, there are more than 650\u00a0Pheasants Forever chapters across the U.S. and Canada, accounting for 115,000 current members, and more than 100 Quail Forever chapters in the U.S. accounting for 5,000 members.\u00a0 Go figure.<\/DIV>
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I could encourage you to visit the\u00a0Pheasants Forever website and contribute to the cause, as many of my colleagues are doing with the charities sponsoring the races they\u00a0are covering, but c’mon, dying children, poverty stricken third world nations,\u00a0breast cancer research\u00a0or game bird hunters?\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Before you write out your check, I encourage you to do what I do before every major life decision.\u00a0 Ask yourself, “What would TBGifted do?”<\/DIV>
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On to the race!\u00a0 Let’s take a look at this extremely deep and talented field of three year old turf sprinting fillies in post position order.<\/DIV>
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When I looked at the filly breaking from the hedge I asked myself, why was she even bred?\u00a0 Her dam, L A Talkin, earned less than a\u00a0thousand dollars\u00a0per start\u00a0for seven different owners.\u00a0 Trainer Legacy, after\u00a0haltering\u00a0L A Talkin\u00a0for ten grand out of a maiden claimer,\u00a0had\u00a0her for only two races, a fourth and a sixth, seven years ago.\u00a0 L A Talkin’s first three foals were bad, worse, and oh my gosh, what do I do with this thing?\u00a0 Despite her abysmal\u00a0racing career\u00a0and worse production record, Legacy decided to\u00a0breed her again for some reason.\u00a0 Andromeda’s Hero was the stallion of\u00a0choice this time.\u00a0 And the result was the Benelux\u00a0representative, Gossiper<\/STRONG>(Ky).\u00a0\u00a0Can you say lightning in a bottle?\u00a0 The amazing Gossiper\u00a0has won three stakes in a row coming into Equinics and has never missed the board in twelve lifetime starts.\u00a0 She is living proof of the saying that there\u00a0are no sure things in racing. <\/DIV>
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I have no idea why this filly is 27-1.\u00a0 She is almost perfect.\u00a0 As in eight victories and a second in nine starts.\u00a0 That’s King’s Halo<\/STRONG>(Arg).\u00a0 The pride and joy of the Snyder Stable will proudly represent Vermont in The Pheasants.\u00a0 Perhaps the most impressive part of the big gray’s domination of her rivals is the ease with which she dispatches her foes.\u00a0 Get the lead, thwart any attacks, draw clear late.\u00a0 And she makes\u00a0it look effortless.\u00a0 Although I dutifully report speed figures for the many fans who want to know, this reporter has never really put much stock in them as handicapping tools.\u00a0 King’s Halo has a career best speed rating of 94 taken in her last win.\u00a0 But it appeared as if she could have gone\u00a0faster had she been pressed.\u00a0 She will be this week.\u00a0 It will be fun seeing how she responds.<\/DIV>
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Like mother like daughter.\u00a0 Let Cord<\/STRONG>(Ky) is out of the fabulous graded winning race mare Rope Blush (A. P. Indy x Caerleon\u00a0 $842,330).\u00a0 And so far, she’s doing both trainer Irisharse and her mom proud.\u00a0 The speedy Powerscourt filly has never missed the board in six tries and has already\u00a0earned\u00a0a stakes placed\u00a0designation by virtue of her sharp (SP 103) runner-up effort\u00a0behind Exotic Film(Eng) in the Again With Jo Ann Special.\u00a0 The C R Racers hope her lack of experience is offset by her speed and heart.<\/DIV>
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Alpine Turf Club has designated Seattle Apples<\/STRONG>(Ky) to start in The Pheasants Forever.\u00a0 The daughter of Royal Academy and Seattle Cindy (Seattle Slew) has had quite a bit of success swooping allowance fields with her big worst to first moves.\u00a0 Apples has shared twice in three career stakes tries but has never seen foes anything like these.\u00a0 It would be my pleasure to interview the lovely and talented Delta Tiger in the winners circle.\u00a0 But I think I better catch her in the owners lounge if I want to chat.<\/DIV>
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Mirror Lady<\/STRONG>(Ire) is a nice filly.\u00a0 Problem is, nice fillies don’t win Equinics races.\u00a0 Great ones do.\u00a0 The Rash lass needs\u00a0much, much easier company\u00a0than the monsters she’ll face Saturday.\u00a0 Hopefully Clk2007’s Noverre filly will emerge unhurt and\u00a0can resume\u00a0beating up\u00a0allowance foes.<\/DIV>
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Fabman Farms,\u00a0representing Great Plains, presents his star filly Punch The Ticket<\/STRONG>(Ky) for his residency’s sponsored race.\u00a0 PTK comes off an eye opening victory (SP 104) in Delaware’s Arctic Bingo Stakes.\u00a0 Although that tally was on the main course, the slick Suave x Green Desert lass also shows a stakes victory on the grass three back in Arkansas.\u00a0 Tabbed by odds maker Won Hung Lo as the second betting choice at 6-1, Fab’s filly handles both surfaces with aplomb and is certain to be a big factor in this event.<\/DIV>
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Minnesota’s Starrahy Eyed<\/STRONG>(Ky) loves to win.\u00a0 As in eight of twelve career starts.\u00a0 As in three graded wins including a pair of GI’s.\u00a0 As in kick ass and take names.\u00a0 The pretty chestnut daughter of Rahy and the graded placed Danzig mare, Star Out Of Men,\u00a0may not\u00a0look like a cold blooded assassin, but you do NOT want to get between her and the finish line.\u00a0 Trainer Pegasus (Citation Stables) has\u00a0the filly\u00a0all cranked up for this tilt after\u00a0a dismal Smackdown performance at a mile.\u00a0 Cuts back to six furlongs where she is four out of five on the grass.\u00a0 Major player.<\/DIV>
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Blazing Saddles sends out multiple stakes winner Fit To Romp<\/STRONG>(Ky) for The Pheasants.\u00a0\u00a0Shamrock Stables’\u00a0flashy chestnut is both fast and versatile.\u00a0\u00a0The daughter of Cryptoclearance \u00a0comes off\u00a0the perfect tuneup, a\u00a0fast closing\u00a0second in a Pennsylvania turf sprint.\u00a0 Prior to that, she had raced on dirt twice, winning a listed stake and failing in graded company.\u00a0 Her turf resume includes four stakes wins and that makes her a big threat on Saturday.<\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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Ohio Thoroughbred Racing will be represented by Big Kev and B J Bandit’s\u00a0fast and consistent New Zealand bred, Fair Go<\/STRONG>(NZ).\u00a0 The rangy Zabeel\u00a0filly has finished first or second in ten of eleven lifetime starts and has never missed the board.\u00a0 She sports five stakes wins and arrives off a neck loss to Silver Splendor(Ky)\u00a0in Queensland’s Grade II Barrier Reef Stakes.\u00a0 Will have the services of the hottest rider on the planet in Frenchman Jacques Stivers and is certain to be a factor on Saturday.<\/DIV>
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I’m not quite sure what to make of Whisper Stables’ Joeline<\/STRONG>(Md).\u00a0 On one hand, the Two Punch filly has won only two races in her life and hasn’t won at all in over six months.\u00a0 On the other hand, she is improving her speeds each race and got beat only a head in a turf stake two back.\u00a0 Last time out, the EAAA Racing rep posted a 97 while finishing a fast closing third in a Florida stake.\u00a0 My guess is that she will continue to improve, but not enough to handle this very deep field.<\/DIV>
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New Orleans Racing Inc trains the\u00a0Northwest Racing Circuit representative, One Eye Jackie<\/STRONG>(Ky).\u00a0 The Flower Alley sophomore has been doing her best work against easier over a distance of ground.\u00a0 The 96 she posted two back when capturing a 2X Michigan allowance was a career best.\u00a0 Nice filly but in too\u00a0tough against these Amazons.<\/DIV>
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Iant sends out Pivotal Match<\/STRONG>(Eng) for The Kentucky Horsemen.\u00a0 Her speed figures are steadily improving.\u00a0 Last time out she posted a career high 98 while a sharp runner up in a Swedish allowance.\u00a0 Prior to that, the Pivotal lass\u00a0emerged victorious from a pair of allowance sprints.\u00a0\u00a0Hard to ignore this fast and consistent runner entirely.\u00a0 But the leap from allowances to graded company is likely\u00a0a bit much for now.\u00a0 We’ll find out soon enough.<\/DIV>
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Insula<\/STRONG>(Ky) will attempt to carry Rafa Stables’ \u00a0familiar green and red colors to victory on Saturday.\u00a0 The Hispano Parlante standard bearer arrives following a pair of strong Michigan wins.\u00a0 The more recent one resulted in a lifetime best speed rating of 100.\u00a0 If the daughter of Flower Alley and stakes winning \u00a0Zaragoza (Fusaichi Pegasus x Storm Cat) can take another step forward, anything is possible.\u00a0 Buena\u00a0suerte, amigos!\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Niedermeyer Cup Champion Cote Bonneville<\/STRONG>(Ky) is the DelPenn entrant.\u00a0 The Super Stables’ star bounced badly in the Grade II Barrier Reef just two weeks after her spectacular Niedermeyer score.\u00a0 Has had only three weeks off to recover since then so a quick return to form by the deep closer\u00a0is needed.\u00a0 If the splendidly bred (El Prado x Machiavellian x Roberto) lass can overcome her busy schedule, she certainly rates a big chance.\u00a0 Your call.<\/DIV>
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Here’s the “now” horse,\u00a0East-West Connection’s rapidly improving Jockey Hasabuzzer<\/STRONG>(Ky).\u00a0 The impeccably bred (Unbridled’s Song x Northern Dancer x Secretariat) gray arrives in Beijing off a career best effort.\u00a0 Last time out, S. J.\u00a0Meola’s speedy homebred opened up a huge lead and coasted to victory in a Rhode Island stake in a brisk 1:22.2 for seven panels on the grass.\u00a0 That translates to a 100 speed figure.\u00a0\u00a0Any improvement off that effort means a potential medal for one of the best trainers and nicest guys around.<\/DIV>
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Queensland proudly presents their representative, Valley Vixen<\/STRONG>(Ky) from the Focusforce stable.\u00a0 The five time stakes winner\u00a0comes off\u00a0an eight week break following a rigorous spring campaign.\u00a0 The lightning quick daughter of Orientate and the fabulous sprint mare, Vixen Prospector, would prefer a wet\u00a0track as she inherited her mom’s propensity to dominate over the off going.\u00a0 But she is good enough\u00a0on firm footing to give these a test.\u00a0 Must respect.\u00a0<\/DIV>
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I wanted to get a close up look at the race favorite.\u00a0 So I dragged myself out of bed and headed for the track at zero dark thirty to\u00a0watch her work.\u00a0 The dark gray\u00a0filly was\u00a0not yet\u00a0visible\u00a0through the early morning\u00a0mist\u00a0when I heard her\u00a0tapping out a\u00a0faint yet familiar rhythm.\u00a0 Da da dump, da da dump, da da dump.\u00a0\u00a0Her hoof beats became louder and louder. \u00a0And when\u00a0the shadowy figure\u00a0finally emerged from the fog, she was\u00a0flattened out, ears pinned back, and looking\u00a0very much like a champion.\u00a0 The inappropriately named Unfabulous<\/STRONG>(Ky)\u00a0will represent the defending Equinics champion G R Simsters in the Pheasants Forever.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0brilliant daughter of Borrego has amassed career earnings in excess of $300,000 and her only off the board finish was a close up fourth in the Grade II Niedermeyer Cup.\u00a0 Fairhaven2 has\u00a0tabbed\u00a0uber talented Zach Kentucky\u00a0to ride the big filly.\u00a0 Obviously the one to beat.\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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What happened to the luck of the Irish?\u00a0 Last but not least comes not so lucky number eighteen.\u00a0 Ireland has tabbed the Aussie bred Paul’s Boutique<\/STRONG>(Aus)\u00a0as their 3YO filly turf sprinter.\u00a0 The multiple stakes winner arrives in Beijing fresh off a career best speed figure (97) taken in a\u00a0Wisconsin\u00a0Downs stakes win.\u00a0 She is the first and only stakes winner\u00a0sired by\u00a0Kempinsky.\u00a0\u00a0Crawford Incorporated will have their familiar black, white and blue colors worn by top Aussie jock\u00a0Paul Bangs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Good luck\u00a0to all the\u00a0fillies and their connections.\u00a0 Have a\u00a0safe trip and may the best horse win!<\/DIV>
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\u00a0<\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Top Sophomore Filly Sprinters Clash on Beijing Turf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":308,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/308"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6367\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}