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Program # TBA |
Post Position:  |
Photo By: Bill Denver - Equi-Photo |
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Recent Developments |
John Oxley's Booklet stalked but cam eup short in the stretch drive in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. on April 13, finishing second, beaten 4 1/2-lengths, by arch-rival Harlan's Holiday in the nine furlong event. Ocean Sound (Ire) finished a neck off Booklet in third; Straight Gin, Bob's Image and Azillion (Ire) complete the official order of finish. Booklet, who was ridden in the Blue Grass by jockey Jorge Chavez, had a brief lead during the run to the clubhouse turn, then was eased back by Chavez and rated outside the early pacesetter, Bob's Image down the backstretch. Booklet failed to settle down and relax while bing asked to rate for the first time in a two-turn race and didn't hit his best stride until the field started to head into the second turn. Entereing the far turn, Booklet gained a slight lead and made all the pace until the quarter pole before tiring in the drive, just fending off a fast-closing Ocean Sound (Ire) to save third. The final time for the nine furlong race was a tardy 1:51 2/5. “The thing that would make us run in the Kentucky Derby is the attrition over the next couple of weeks," Booklet's trainer, John Ward, Jr, said after the Blue Grass. "You are not going to take yourself out of the game early. But it will be up to Mr. Oxley (owner, John). Harlan’s Holiday is an extremely solid horse on an upward curve. It looks like we have the second-best horse right now. I am just glad we beat him twice. I think we ran a good, strong 1 1/16-miles, a good, clean race. But, it’s up to Mr. Oxley if he wants to go back or not. My feeling is that we probably saw the best our horse has to give today. Harlan’s Holiday has just gotten better with each race."
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Scrap Book |
Booklet News: Harlan's Holiday, Lightly Raced Duo Make Their Visa Triple Crown Cases
Booklet News: Easy Blue Grass Win Vaults Harlan's Holiday Into Derby Favortism
Booklet News: Booklet, Harlan's Holiday Square Off For Round 3 In Fla. Derby
Booklet News: Booklet Turns Another Page On His Derby Journey
Booklet News: Round 3 For Booklet, Harlan's Holiday To Come In Fla. Derby
Booklet News: Booklet, Harlan's Holiday Renew Rivalry In "Youth"
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As A 3-Year Old |
Finished second, beaten 4 1/2-lengths by Harlan's Holiday, in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on Apr. 13
Finished 4th, beaten about 14 lengths, in the Florida Derby (GI) on Mar. 16
Won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (GI) in wire-to-wire fashion
Won the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) in wire-to-wire fashion
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As A 2-Year Old |
Won four-of-five starts and $339,700
Won two stakes including the $400,000 Fla. Stallion Stakes (In Reality Div.)
Bought privately from former owners Philip & Marcia Cohen and trainer Steve Klesaris
Named champion Florida-bred juvenile colt
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Derby Starter Background By: Jenny Kellner |
He's beaten Harlan's Holiday in the short ones, and faded twice in the stretch going nine furlongs in their last two meetings. The obvious question for this bay son of Notebook -- can he go 1 ¼-miles? He beat the expected Kentucky Derby favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull and again the Fountain of Youth, then finished a fading fourth in the Florida Derby and barely held on for second in the Toytoa Blue Grass, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. Owned by John Oxley and trained by John Ward, who last year teamed to win the Derby with Monarchos, he has won six of nine career starts and has earned $729,700. Trained as a 2-year-old by Steve Klesaris, he has been ridden most recently by Jorge Chavez, his fourth jockey. |
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Pedigree Anlysis By: John Gaver III |
Dosage Index: 1.67; Born: February 9, 1999
The tenacious, free-running colt Booklet is by the veteran sire Notebook, a stallion not known for throwing progeny capable of staying a classic distance of ground, but for getting precocious runners capable of getting a mile to a mile and an eighth. Notebook, who is by Well Decorated and a representative of the Bold Ruler sire line, is the sire of 10 crops to date and over 30 stakes winners including the Grade I winners Delaware Township and Three Ring and Grade III stakes winners Fappie's Notebook and Take Note of Me. Booklet is the sole foal from Crafty Bobbie, a daughter of the main track router Bob's Dusty and a half-sister to three minor stakes winners including Trebizond, a winner of 17 races from age 3 to 9 and earner of $581,560 - the hard way - on the Pacific Northwest circuit. Crafty Bobbie died in 2000 after aborting her foal and developing colitis (inflammation of the colon). There are hints of stamina in Booklet's pedigree and Dosage fiends will love his low Dosage Index number (1.67), it's Booklet's free-wheeling running style that is worrisome from a staying a mile and a quarter standpoint. It's really tough to win a ten furlong race wire-to-wire, especially under pressure, no matter what your bloodlines are.
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