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Barn Notes: Saturday, May 29, 2010
In Today’s Notes:
· Voodoomon Lives On in Spirit
· Memorial Day Weekend Features Multiple Festival Preps
· Baze Bags Second Consecutive Triple Friday
VOODOOMON LIVES ON IN SPIRIT
The concept of permanent death is foreign to most African religions, and voodoo – a blend of African cult worship and Catholicism – embraces that same belief that life is continuous and immutable.
It was in that spirit that Thoroughbred owner Vanessa Nye, her primary trainers Jim McMullen and Dale Bennett, jockeys Chris Emigh and Junior Alvarado and other assorted friends commemorated the memory of her beloved campaigner Voodoomon in a respectful ceremony following Friday’s fourth race.
“I want to keep his name alive in racing,” said Nye of her gallant gelding who had to be euthanized following injuries suffered in a race exactly one year earlier.
Nye, a lifelong animal lover and devoted owner of a shepherd-mix rescue dog named Max, also has made it her mission to rescue Thoroughbreds. As a resident of
Last fall at Hawthorne, trainer McMullen made her aware of a horse he had formerly trained named Diamond Steal who needed surgery and a long, unprofitable layoff, but she claimed him anyway and paid for the surgery. Now, that horse is ready to race again under the banner of Voodoomon Racing.
“He looks just like Voodoomon, so he, too, will keep Voodoomon’s name alive,” said Nye. “On Sunday, I’m going to try to claim a 9-year-old gelding at Calder in partnership with some other people. The horse has made 120 starts and has physical problems. Naturally, we’re claiming him to retire him.
“Now, I have been made aware of Gail Vacca’s Illinois Equine Humane Center in Elgin, Illinois, that also helps rescue and retire Thoroughbreds,” Nye said. “Naturally, I’m looking forward to meeting her and hopefully working with her.”
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Barn Notes
May 29, 2010
Page 2
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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND FEATURES MULTIPLE FESTIVAL PREPS
Saturday’s grass stakes scheduled throughout North America include
However, on Memorial Day Monday, grass racing preps for
Hollywood hosts the Grade I Shoemaker Mile – always a significant Arlington Million prep – as well as the Grade II Honeymoon Handicap for turf-favoring sophomore fillies, while highlighted in Texas over the Lone Star lawn Monday is the $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup for older horses, the Grade III Ouija Board Distaff – always a significant Beverly D. prep – as well as the $100,000 USA Stakes for 3-year-olds that gives Secretariat Stakes possibilities a chance to prove themselves.
Also, Monmouth has its grassy Eatontown Stakes for female members of the distaff set on Memorial Day, while Mountaineer has its $75,000 Decoration Day Handicap for that same group. The
Meanwhile, at
More family day activities and more live music in the Park Area at
BAZE BAGS SECOND CONSECUTIVE TRIPLE FRIDAY
Jockey Michael Baze became the first jockey this season at Arlington to post a riding triple on consecutive race days when he won Friday’s third race on Dean Caras’s Tessies Tilbury for trainer Tom Swearingen, the fifth on Wildcat Thoroughbred’s Aka Lily’s Lad for conditioner Tammy Domenosky, and then came right back in the sixth on Arlene’s Sun Star Stable’s Mam Bird for leading trainer Wayne Catalano.
Nevertheless, Baze remained one win behind defending jockey champion Junior Alvarado in this summer’s standings through Friday. Alvarado had his second consecutive double on the same program, winning Friday’s opener on Frank Calabrese’s Sicomoro for trainer Ron Faucheux and the fourth on Highlander LLP Holiday in
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