{"id":6528,"date":"2008-09-05T12:33:01","date_gmt":"2008-09-05T12:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=6528"},"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=6528","title":{"rendered":"Monster Milers Invade Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Canada Mile<\/EM><\/STRONG>
<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT>Grade I
One mile
Firm Turf
$1,000,000
All horses, 3 years old and up <\/DIV>
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PP\u00a0\u00a0 Horse\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Owner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jockey\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Odds\u00a0
1\u00a0 HOEGAARDEN(KY)\u00a0 simsters6\u00a0 V Townsend\u00a0 7\/1\u00a0
2\u00a0 VICTORY BUDA(KY)\u00a0 lacostra\u00a0 P Ashmore\u00a0 6\/1\u00a0
3\u00a0 BASKETBALL JONES(KY)\u00a0 guyinchlt\u00a0 B Renfroe\u00a0 6\/1\u00a0
4\u00a0 SENOR ANZIO\u00a0 elranchoti\u00a0 T Sherr\u00a0 5\/1\u00a0
5\u00a0 MESA DREAM\u00a0 jerkstable\u00a0 M Ritchie\u00a0 18\/1\u00a0
6\u00a0 YASUTORA(CO)\u00a0 daedalus\u00a0 R Heenan\u00a0 14\/1\u00a0
7\u00a0 SHOULDN’T MATTER(IRE)\u00a0 seekgold\u00a0 S Bauder\u00a0 11\/1\u00a0
8\u00a0 SEVERE WARNING(IRE)\u00a0 fairhaven5\u00a0 N Linville\u00a0 10\/1\u00a0
9\u00a0 TIPPY’S LOVE\u00a0 relaytx\u00a0 K Wakeman\u00a0 8\/1\u00a0
10\u00a0 FIVE STAR CADET(GB)\u00a0 desperado4\u00a0 Mo Johnson\u00a0 6\/1\u00a0
11\u00a0 URBAN SPEED ZONE(IRE)\u00a0 commbank\u00a0 T King\u00a0 10\/1\u00a0
12\u00a0 GEORGE W. LOSER\u00a0 monimonica\u00a0 R Toral\u00a0 99\/1\u00a0
13\u00a0 BENDIGO\u00a0 cuprunners\u00a0 K McCafferty\u00a0 13\/1\u00a0
14\u00a0 TEN BUCKS\u00a0 tsunami95\u00a0 R Tatersall\u00a0 99\/1\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Which race would you most like to win?\u00a0 The Bluegrass Derby?\u00a0 Breeders Bowl Classic?\u00a0 2000 Guineas?\u00a0 Perhaps the Breeders Bowl Turf or the Garr Memorial?<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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For me it is The Canada Mile.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Say what?<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The Canada Mile.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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To make a short story long, I have a Canada Mile fetish.\u00a0 It started when I was a relative newbie.\u00a0 I had one good horse. \u00a0His name was July War.\u00a0 And somehow he amassed enough stakes points to earn a starting spot\u00a0in the 2001 Canada Mile.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I was so excited to be racing in what many said was the best field of turf milers ever assembled at the time. Collectively they earned over $30,000,000.00 and many Grade I victories. <\/FONT><\/DIV>


At one\u00a0point in the race, July War was surrounded by eventual winner Used Bandaid, Starke Storm, Enough Knock and Buda With The Slew.\u00a0 My guy battled long and hard but in the long run couldn’t keep\u00a0pace with those legendary milers\u00a0all the way to the wire.\u00a0\u00a0He was the longest price on the board\u00a0but did manage to beat three horses.\u00a0 The entire experience remains a very fond memory. <\/FONT><\/DIV>


I returned to Ontario loaded for bear in 2004. So I thought.\u00a0 But Twice Told Tale couldn’t quite reach. Finished a game second.\u00a0 I really wanted that one <\/FONT><\/DIV>


I tried again in 2006 with Manifest Destiny.\u00a0 The big Storm Cat colt was as\u00a0good as I could get him.\u00a0 But, alas, The Canada Mile was apparently not\u00a0meant to be listed among his Grade I victories.\u00a0\u00a0Destiny’s third place finish did nothing but increase my frustration.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I didn’t think I had\u00a0anything worthy of\u00a0consideration in either 2007 or this year.\u00a0 But looking at some of the entries, I wonder.\u00a0 But hey, I’ll be back.\u00a0 Perhaps sooner.\u00a0 Maybe later.\u00a0 But I will\u00a0be back.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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In the meantime, it is my distinct privilege to cover the 2008 renewal of The Canada Mile for the Black Type Bugler.\u00a0 Here are the starters in post position order.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Breaking from gate one will be\u00a0The Evil Empire’s deep closer, Hoegaarden<\/STRONG>(KY).\u00a0 Lenny’s\u00a0 homebred is best remembered as the upset victor in last\u00a0December’s Grade I Penn Mile.\u00a0 In that event, Hoegaarden came flying down the middle of the racetrack to nip pace setting Rock Ballad by a scant nose on the wire.\u00a0 The\u00a0rangy Gone West colt covered the grassy mile in a blazing 1:33 4\/5<\/A><\/SUP>, good for a 114 speed figure.\u00a0He remains in solid form having run past half the field in each of his last two starts.\u00a0\u00a0If not given too much to do, may run past them all on Saturday.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Next in line comes Topicount Stables’ Victory Buda<\/STRONG>(KY).\u00a0 Laura’s Victory Gallop four year old has excelled in long sprints.\u00a0 The son of brilliant broodmare Freedom’s Sal became his dam’s first graded winner last time out when he took down a strong field in the 7.5 furlong Grade III Epsom Turf Special over a good track.\u00a0 But even before that race, all four of\u00a0Freedom Sal’s\u00a0offspring were stakes winners.\u00a0 Victory Buda\u00a0has won a stake at a mile already so the distance won’t preclude his becoming mom’s first Grade I winner.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Basketball Jones<\/STRONG>, I got a Basketball Jones.\u00a0\u00a0 Got a Basketball Jones, oh baby, oo-oo-ooo.\u00a0\u00a0I love the song and the horse both.\u00a0 Great Plains based Fabman trains the\u00a0Equinics gold medalist.\u00a0 Basketball Jones(KY) has won three\u00a0grade I\u00a0races in his last\u00a0four starts.\u00a0 Most recently,\u00a0Brad’s monster\u00a0squished the life out of an outstanding group in Equinics’ Michael J. Fox.\u00a0 The big Smarty Jones colt’s most impressive win is arguably his annihilation of eight other graded winners in the Grade I All Comers Stake in which he posted an eye popping 118 speed rating.\u00a0 Bottom line, if\u00a0the only\u00a0foal of the Seattle Slew matron Upper Crust\u00a0fires his best shot, the rest are running for place.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Veteran conditioner\u00a0Seveii sends out race favorite Senor<\/STRONG> Anzio<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 Seveii has his\u00a0son of E\u00a0Dubai\u00a0in peak form as evidenced by consecutive graded wins at a mile on the grass.\u00a0 Two back Senor Anzio demolished a full field in Newmarket’s Grade III High Lady Cup coming from way, way back to post a going away victory in 1:33 3\/5<\/A><\/SUP>.\u00a0 Last time out the six year old war horse was equally impressive in dispatching a solid field in the Grade I Jack The Man Stakes in Paris.\u00a0 Don’t care for the price considering the quality of his competition, but certainly capable of winning\u00a0again and deserves respect.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Mesa Dream<\/STRONG> is a tough old\u00a0bird who won her share of added money events back in the day.\u00a0 I\u00a0met with the Sky Mesa mare’s\u00a0sultry and mysterious\u00a0owner at her place of employment, a grocery store, of all places.\u00a0 Who would ever suspect finding someone who looked like her working in a meat locker?\u00a0 Man it was cold in there!\u00a0 I asked her about\u00a0the decision to try a Grade I with her six year old.\u00a0 “Well, you know, Mr. Bonus, there are\u00a0a\u00a0few people up in arms about certain\u00a0individuals supposedly disrespecting the game by entering\u00a0claimers in Grade I races that don’t fill.\u00a0 The Canada Mile didn’t fill.\u00a0 There are\u00a0a couple of horses in here that make my mare look like Rags To Riches.\u00a0 So I tossed her in.\u00a0 You\u00a0got a problem with that?”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I assured her I didn’t and asked if we could continue our discussion in warmer climes.\u00a0 “Follow me\u00a0to the deli, ” she said with a wink.\u00a0 “You look like you could use a ham on rye and some hot soup.”\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Much more comfortable.\u00a0 Great lunch, too.\u00a0 Now I can use some of my BTB per diem to make a few wagers!\u00a0 The lady continued, “Anyway, I don’t know what the answer is.\u00a0 Where do you draw the line?\u00a0 I mean, c’mon!\u00a0\u00a0Do they want us (owners\/trainers) to sign an affidavit attesting to the fact that we are actually interested in winning and\u00a0not just in earning BPs or making political statements?\u00a0 I’ll race anywhere I please until Big Brother locks the entry box.\u00a0 If someone doesn’t like it, tough beans!”\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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On to\u00a0a real contender.\u00a0 Perhaps the bargain of the century.\u00a0 14-1 on 3YO Yasutora<\/STRONG>(CO) cannot be passed up.\u00a0 Now I know where my per diem cash is going.\u00a0\u00a0Ace’s colt has been lights out against the very best in his division.\u00a0 Look at his last three starts.\u00a0 Three back he won the rich and extremely prestigious 2000 Guineas (G I).\u00a0 Then\u00a0the Colorado bred captured Ascot’s famous Grade I St. James Tavern.\u00a0 Last time out the son of Eckelson and Ally’s fine broodmare, The Seventh One, earned Equinics Bronze by storming past twelve rivals in the (G I) Springhill Horse Rescue Stakes.\u00a0 Of course there is always at least one\u00a0question to be answered by each and\u00a0starter in each and every race.\u00a0 And Yasutora’s query is simply this, can he beat world class older rivals in September of his three year old year?\u00a0 One of the many great things about horse racing is that almost all of our questions are answered without waiting forever.\u00a0 I suspect we’ll get our answer\u00a0in just under\u00a0a minute and thirty four seconds after the gates open.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Flagdown sends out his talented North Light(IRE) colt, Shouldn’t Matter<\/STRONG>(IRE), for The Canada Mile.\u00a0 The four year old started out as a precocious youngster, winning five of his first seven starts including the Grade III Apparently Juvenile in only his fifth career race.\u00a0 Although he has continued to be a solid stakes horse, including a nice listed win last time out, he has only three in the money finishes among his last eleven graded efforts.\u00a0 Needs to step\u00a0way up\u00a0for any chance on Saturday.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Lenny shortens up his world class router, Severe Warning<\/STRONG>(IRE), for this test.\u00a0 The\u00a0whippet quick\u00a0Theatrical colt is a multiple Grade I winner at ten furlongs and\u00a0you know his crafty conditioner will have\u00a0both halves of his entry\u00a0ready.\u00a0 I watched\u00a0Severe Warning\u00a0blow out a half in :46 yesterday.\u00a0 What a great looking individual!\u00a0 Awfully impressive.\u00a0 He likes the lead\u00a0going longer.\u00a0 Not sure\u00a0if he\u00a0will be able to open a clear lead in here.\u00a0 But if he does, look out.\u00a0 Has a history of getting very brave when he\u00a0does and all eight of his wins were taken in coast-to-coast fashion.\u00a0 Very dangerous.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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After thirty five races, twelve wins and a half million dollars in earnings, Tippy’s Love<\/STRONG> is racing better than ever for trainer Relaytx.\u00a0 The five year old Successful Appeal stallion has won four of his last six starts including a pair of Grade III scores in long sprints.\u00a0 Tippy’s Love is interesting for a couple of reasons.\u00a0 First of all, he is so darn sharp that only a complete fool could overlook him entirely.\u00a0 And secondly, his\u00a0stalk and pounce style seems to be a good fit\u00a0between all the speed and deep closing types.\u00a0 Crazy chance.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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There is good, there is very good, and there is WOW!\u00a0 Five Star Cadet<\/STRONG>(GB) is a WOW horse.\u00a0 Desperado Rob’s flashy chestnut is one of those rare colts who can simply pop your eyeballs out of their sockets.\u00a0 For instance, two back the son of Motivator(GB) and the graded placed Five Star Rabbit (Danzig) dazzled the racing world when he posted a come from behind\u00a0tally\u00a0in Smackdown’s turf mile in 1:33 2\/5<\/A>\u00a0<\/SUP>.\u00a0 The most remarkable part was that he was still eighth, some five and one half lengths from the leader, in mid stretch!\u00a0 Five Star Cadet not only made up the deficit, he powered away to win by almost two lengths.\u00a0 This guy is the real deal.\u00a0 Major threat to say the least.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Ozsteve\u00a0ships in from Virginia\u00a0with his steadily improving Urban Speed Zone<\/STRONG> for this test.\u00a0 After showing little in his first six races on dirt,\u00a0the handsome Giant’s Causeway(IRE) colt turned tiger on the turf.\u00a0 He has won half of his fourteen grass starts thus far and most recently posted a career high 112 speed figure while annexing a mile turf stake at Colonial Downs.\u00a0 Steve sends them ready so give this one a good close look.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Poor George W Loser has obviously been entered strictly\u00a0to make a political statement and get some free pub.\u00a0\u00a0Not gonna happen on my watch. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Lucky number thirteen is Tulloch Stables’ Gone West chestnut, Bendigo<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 The five year old opened 2008 with a pair of wins including his first stakes win in the 9.5 furlong Well Resume Special\u00a0at Epsom.\u00a0 He’s winless in five tries since then but has raced very well on occasion.\u00a0 His best non-winning effort was a solid second behind legendary (as in 7.5 mil in the bank) Creepshow in the (G I) Prince of Whales two back.\u00a0 Needs best to possibly share\u00a0with these brutes.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Last and probably least is Ten Bucks<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 The old gray mare she ain’t what she used to be many long years ago.\u00a0 But she’ll pick up ten “valuable” breeding points for tsunami and anger enough folks to provide\u00a0Hannibal with entertaining reading for a few more days.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I think I’ll play “soccer mom” or “little league dad” this week and\u00a0get my Canada Mile kicks vicariously through my friends and fellow Great Plains rezzies, Alicyn and Brad.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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C’mon Ace!\u00a0 C’mon Fab!\u00a0 How about a Great Plains exacta?\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Favored Senor Anzio Faces Evil Empire Pair and Great Plains Duo <\/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-6528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6528","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=6528"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6528\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}