Trainer Doris Harwood announced that she and husband/owner Jeff Harwood have nominated Washington-bred Noosa Beach to the 2011 Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs.
To make Noosa Beach eligible, the Harwoods paid a $25,000 provisional nomination fee that is part of a new “open enrollment” program offered by the Breeders’ Cup, which is available to any horse sired by a stallion nominated to the Breeders’ Cup for the 2011 breeding season. The deadline for open enrollment nominations is midnight Thursday.
“We decided to nominate Noosa Beach for several reasons,” Doris Harwood said. ”It gives us multiple options: leasing Noosa Beach, selling him, or taking him ourselves. Also, his value increases tremendously if he’s Breeders’ Cup eligible.”
In previous years, Noosa Beach’s connections would have had to pay a prohibitive supplemental nomination fee because the 5-year-old’s sire Harbor the Gold was not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup in 2005, the year that Noosa Beach was conceived. Doris Harwood said even though she spoke with a Breeders’ Cup representative, who all but guaranteed Noosa Beach would get in the BC Dirt Mile, a selection committee still has to qualify him for the race, and Noosa Beach must stay healthy.
“It was a difficult decision for Jeff and me, because we are taking a gamble,” she said. “But as of right now, things are looking pretty good with how Noosa Beach has been running.”
The 2010 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting has already captured the first two stakes races in 2011—Governor’s and Budweiser Handicap—in the older horse division. With the July 24 Mt. Rainier Handicap as the last local prep, Noosa Beach has stamped himself as the resident favorite to defend his title in the 2011 Longacres Mile (G3) on Aug. 21.
In addition to Noosa Beach’s success, Doris Harwood’s previous Breeders’ Cup experience adds a level of comfort to the difficult decision. In 2007, the 58-year-old conditioner saddled triple stakes winner Smarty Deb for a fifth-place finish in the $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park. And the day before, Smarty Deb’s stablemate Margo’s Gift scored a 26–to-1 upset at Monmouth in the $250,000 Favorite Trick.
In other news, Doris Harwood said Thursday that owner Frank Gaunt has transferred twelve horses from her barn to trainer Frank Lucarelli’s stable, motivated by Lucarelli’s strong presence in California. She also said that longtime assistant trainer Maryellen Silva has moved to Southern California to run a string of horses at Del Mar.
FLEDGLING ANNOUNCER BRENT POVIS TO CALL RACE THIS MONDAY
Brent Povis of Redmond will realize a lifelong goal Monday when he calls a live race on the 10-race holiday card at Emerald Downs.
Povis, 33, has been practicing for the big event the last two months, calling approximately 150 “practice” races and receiving advice and feedback from track announcer Robert Geller. A native of St. Louis, Povis approached Geller with the idea last spring, proposing an unpaid apprenticeship behind the microphone. Geller agreed, and said Povis has more than kept his share of the bargain.
“It is not every day that I would agree to mentor someone in the fashion I have with Brent,” Geller said “His quick mind, auctioneering background and handicapping skills made him a good candidate. His commitment and sincerity made him an excellent one.”
Povis, to put it mildly, is the studious type. He earned a master’s degree in biology at Duke University, and has always been fascinated with animals. And perhaps race calling is in his blood, as his grandfather was a livestock auctioneer. In fact, it was his grandfather and father that taught young Brent how to read the Daily Racing Form, and the then 8-year-old recalled listening with admiration to track announcers at places like Churchill Downs and The Woodlands.
“It was mystifying,” Povis said. “I remember as a kid thinking how are those guys doing that? It’s the most difficult play-by-play job in sports. So, I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing to give that a whirl? I wanted to pursue it now while I had the chance.”
Geller said Povis has proven a prompt student, arriving early, staying late and asking probing questions about the craft of race calling.
“I knew he could handle a crash course,” Geller said. “At the beginning I used a fine tooth-comb and was very specific. I then pulled back to allow him to integrate all the feedback and find his rhythm. As he develops his own style, I can suggest choices that I believe enhance rather than detract. I am proud of what I have imparted and have full confidence that he will be great.”
Povis said he would call a route race since the longer distance offers the announcer more of a chance to find a rhythm, and he would prefer an eight-to-10 horse field. In the final analysis, he said, race calling is a sink or swim proposition.
“Hopefully it comes across that I’ve got five years of experience rather than two months,” he said. “If you don’t succeed in the memory department, the rest of the race is going to fall apart.”
Povis’ wife, Kaleen, also is in for a big weekend. She will sing the national anthem prior to Saturday’s races at Emerald Downs, and the couple will soon move to Pittsburgh where Kaleen will pursue a PhD in museum studies.
CHU AND I HEADS MONDAY’S NWSS STRONG RULER
Mike and Amy Feuerborn’s Chu and I, winner of the fastest 2-year-old race of the meeting, is among five juveniles entered in the $25,000 Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes.
The NWSS Strong Ruler at 5-½ furlongs is half of Monday’s Fourth of July stakes double-header for 2-year-olds that are progeny of stallions standing in 2008 that have been nominated.
A Washington-bred by You and I, Chu and I romped by six lengths in his June 5 debut, running 4-½ furlongs in :51.19 and earning a 73 Beyer Speed Figure—both tops by a juvenile at the meeting.
The last two winners of the NWSS Strong Ruler—Hollywood Harbor in 2009 and Couldabenthewhisky in 2010—both went on to earn honors as the meet’s Top 2-Year-Old.
The NWSS Strong Ruler is race eight on a 10-race card at 5:39 p.m.
The field for the 33rd running of the Northwest Stallion Strong Ruler Stakes: Wild Wings, Joe Crispin, 120 lbs; Chu and I, Juan Gutierrez, 120; Orlando Xpress, Leslie Mawing, 118; Mattallie, Pedro Terrero, 118; Mel and Al, Robert Skelly, 118.
YOUTHEPRIZEANDI TOPS LINEUP IN NWSS KNIGHTS CHOICE
Jethorse LLC’s Youtheprizeandi, coming off a smashing 4-¼-length debut on June 11, is among six 2-year-old fillies entered in the $25,0000 Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes.
A daughter of You and I trained by Tim McCanna, Youtheprizeandi ran 4-½ furlongs in :51.96 and is the only horse coming off a winning effort.
Royal Moses, a daughter of Cahill Rose from the Tim Harder barn, and Sweet Saga, a Slew’s Saga filly trained by Larry Ross, are first-time starters that have shown promise in morning drills.
The NWSS Knights Choice is race nine on a 10-race card at 6:09 p.m.
The field for the 33rd running of the Northwest Stallion Knights Choice Stakes: Wild Chica, A.L. Gutierrez, 117; Royal Moses, Jose Zunino, 117; Zenett, Javier Matias, 117; Sweet Saga, Mawing, 117; Youtheprizeandi, Crispin, 120; Gotaminute, Deborah Hoonan-Trujillo, 117.
SPECIAL 4:30 PM POST SUNDAY ON FIREWORKS NIGHT
The annual “Fireworks Spectacular presented by Carl’s Jr.” – one of the most popular fireworks shows in the entire Pacific Northwest – returns to Emerald Downs this Sunday following the 10-race Thoroughbred program.
Special first post time is 4:30 p.m., with the final race at approx. 9:38 p.m. The Fireworks Spectacular will begin about 30 minutes after the 10th race.
NOTES: Week 11 Honors—Jockey-Lance Bullock (rides first EmD winner); Trainer-Frank Lucarelli (five wins); Owner-Nelson Family Racing (Zayda wins Pepsi-Cola Handicap); Groom-Jose Lomeli (Tom Wenzel)… Through eight stakes the average field size is 8.5 horses, and the average $2 win price $23.40. Noosa Beach, with victories in the Governor’s Handicap and Budweiser Handicap, is the only favorite to win a stakes this season at EmD.
First-time starter Cone Back Karma was claimed from Sunday’s third race by owner/trainer Vann Belvoir for $12,500. It was the meet’s 41st claim in 34 days for an aggregate $272,500. Tim McCanna has lost five horses via claim while Vann Belvoir, Howard Belvoir and Tom Wenzel have lost four horses each at the claim box.
Sheen Falls, 3-for-3 last season, will make her 2011 debut Sunday in a $12,500 claiming race. The 6-year-old Officer mare also captured the 2010 Diane Kem Handicap at Portland Meadows for trainer Steve Fisher.
Washington-bred Mack’s Gold Bullet, 2010 Dennis Dodge Stakes winner, will face seven other 3-year-olds Friday in the $50,000 Livermore Valley Wines Stakes at Pleasanton…Trainer Frank Lucarelli, who as three horses entered for Sunday at Pleasanton, will saddle Portland Meadows Mile winner Deacon Speakin’ in the fourth race, a $32,000-30,000 claiming race for older horses.
Longacres Mile possible St. Liam’s Halo, 2011 Johnny Longden stakes winner, will attempt his third straight victory Friday in the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s Handicap at Hastings Racecourse…
Live racing returns to Les Bois Park in Boise, ID Saturday for the first time since Aug. 2008. The opener includes six Thoroughbred races, three Quarter horse events and a grand total of 64 horses on the nine-race card. The feature race is the $5,000 Premiere Quarter Horse Stakes at 350 yards.
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