Saturday's Overnights
Saturday's Overnights
Victoria Day weekend begins with seven races at Hastings on Saturday, featuring the seasonal reappearance of LEGACY SQUARE and AIR FORCE, two of last season's best juveniles
Bailey on the Backstretch
By Bailey Williams
If there appeared to be more enthusiasm than usual in the winner’s circle after Race 3 on Saturday, May 13 at Hastings, it was with good reason.
It marked the return of veteran trainer Jim Loseth after saddling SHAMRA, his first winner in more than a decade dating back to September, 2011. And, as usual, the lady listed as assistant trainer – Jim’s wife Sandra – was right smack in the centre of the celebration.
No strangers to the BC breeding and racing industry, Jim and Sandra are two of the hardest-working people you’ll ever find behind the scenes at a racetrack.
They own and operate Emerald Acres, one of the lower mainland’s last standing breeding and training facilities. Through the fall and winter months there are upwards of 60 horses experiencing their first steps towards a racing education as multiple trainers send their horses to Jim and Sandra.
Along with the beautiful training amenities at Emerald Acres is the breeding shed. Two standing stallions are on site – Pop Artist and Lent.
Lent is the sire of 4-year-old filly Shamra out of Honey Dew Honey, bred by Sandra Loseth, owned by Sapphire Stables and Ted Feentra, trained by Jim Loseth and ridden by Brian Boodramsingh, a newcomer to the jockey colony at Hastings.
With the Jim and Sandra training tandem just shy of 300 career wins, there is still plenty time for the husband-and-wife team to add to their victory dances this season at Hastings.
Thoroughbred Daily News
Preakness 148
Saturday sees the 148th running of the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown. You can see all the contenders by clicking on the blue button
BALTIMORE, MD – OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH’s Mage continued to give off positive vibes to his connections during a 1 ½-mile gallop Wednesday morning at historic Pimlico Race Course in preparation for Saturday’s $1.65 million Preakness Stakes (G1).
“It was the same routine since we got here. He looked better, had more energy,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., trainer Gustavo Delgado’s son and assistant. “He wanted to do more. His exercise rider J.J. Delgado said he’s doing good.”
The Kentucky Derby (G1) winner reared up as he was leaving the racetrack as though he indeed wanted to do more.
“He was showing off. He was showing off a little bit,” Delgado Jr. said. “He was just feeling good.”
The son of Good Magic appears to have bounced back nicely from his rallying one-length victory in the May 6 Derby, in which he made only his fourth career start. His victory caused widespread celebrations in Venezuela, where his trainer achieved legend status and his jockey, Javier Castellano, began his Hall of Fame career before immigrating to the U.S.
Delgado Jr. is proud that Mage’s connections have been able to show their fellow Venezuelans and others that achieving success is not just a dream.
“It means a lot. I think it’s a good message for our community that anyone can do it if they have the will to succeed. It’s not a matter of where you come from. It’s if you want to do it,” Delgado Jr. said.
Mage is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, in which he is scheduled to face seven rivals, none of which ran in the Kentucky Derby.
50 Years Since Secretariat Won the Preakness
Kloepatra Fails to Make Reserve
KLOEPATRA (Cairo Prince), last season’s champion three-year-old filly at Hastings, failed to reach her reserve when offered for sale at the most recent Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale. WYN Racing Stables’ British Columbia Oaks heroine, who earlier in the season also landed the BC Cup Hong Kong Jockey Club Handicap, attracted a final bid of $38,000 — understandably not enough to secure the four-year-old, who was offered as a racing or breeding prospect.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines, Thursday May 17
