The Scar-Face and The Jewel

First Dude will have to wait for yet another day for his chance to step into the winners circle after the tough-luck colt finished 4^th as the favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park. At odds of 27-1 Tackleberry led the Classic field on a merry chase and after fighting off a challenge from Duke of Mischief in early stretch, spurted away from the field to win by 2 ¼ lengths. The winner returned a whopping $56.60.

Caracortado is back to the top of his game and looking good. Racing in 5^th for most of the trip behind The Usual Q. T. and Jeranimo, Caracortado began to make his move around the far turn at the same moment as The Usual Q. T. Presious Passion began fading quickly after setting all the fractions on the front end as The Usual Q. T. flew into the stretch with Caracortado moving up quickly to his outside. Down the stretch those two battled it out with Caracortado swiftly seizing control of the lead and powering home to defeat a stubborn The Usual Q. T. by ¾ of a length.

This could be a start to a strong 2011 campaign for the 4-year-old gelding who has proven the ability to run well over just about every surface. Trainer Mike Machowsky stated after the race that he would like to explore the options available to his runner where surface is concerned. The two immediate options right now are the March 5^th Santa Anita Handicap (gr.1)on the dirt and the Frank Kilroe Mile (gr.1) on the turf. Speaking of his long term plans Machowsky said, “He’s a gelding and I want him racing with us for a long time.” Sounds good to me, we could use some longevity with our start athletes. Here’s to hoping Caracortado become s a force to be reckoned with on all surfaces and sticks around in the upper echelons of racing for years to come.

[caption id="attachment_1070" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="Evening Jewel ©Benoitphoto.com"][/caption]

There will be no retirement for Evening Jewel after her impressive victory in the Sunshine Millions Distaff on January 29^th. In the days leading up to the race trainer Jim Cassidy dropped hints that the talented 4-year-old filly might be retired if she did not perform well after finishing off the board in her only other 2011 start. Owner Marilyn Braley tearfully established that her start filly will continue to race in 2011.

In a tightly bunched field of 9 fillies, Evening Jewel dropped much farther off the pace than usual while sitting patiently towards the back of the pack third to last. Up front Briecat led the field through modest fractions down the backstretch as they began to spread out. With less than a half mile to go Evening Jewel began to pick up the pace, moving up along the rail until she was only 4 lengths from the lead. Coming off the turn Briecat was all out to hold off Amazing but Evening Jewel was gaining more and more momentum. Blazing into the stretch she angled out four wide, swinging around Amazing and Briecat to take control of the lead. Under strong right handed urging Evening Jewel flashed under the wire, the winner half a length over a gritty Amazing who nosed out the late closing Ultra Blend for second place.