Delaware Park Race Track

GLADYS BROWN EDWARDS ARABIAN CUP (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: October 15, 2005 Purse: $65,000 Distance: 1 1/8 mile
	finishing time 2:07.0
	1st: Dixies Delight
	2nd: AF Guenivere
	3rd: Delphine

Owner (along with wife Cathy)/trainer/breeder Bill Waldron and jockey Juan Umana, set a record by winning three out of the four Cup Championship races at Delaware Park. Their only miss was in the Juvenile Colts, where Waldron simply didn't have an entry.

The pair started off the record setting-weekend by saddling Dixies Delight, a 4-year-old filly who earlier this year won the Sapphire Sprint (G1). The field also included winners of the other two Filly Triple Crown races; Delphine, who won the Daughters of the Desert Oaks (G1) and AF Guenivere, who was victorious in the Cre Run Oaks (G1). Waldron's bay took up a stalking position in third behind Delphine's early pace. She inched closer to Delphine into the far turn and gained the lead down the stretch. AF Guenivere, who had been running alongside Dixies Delight, put in her bid. The tough chestnut tried hard, but Dixies Delight was a little bit better and held her rival at bay to win the 1 1/8 mile race with Juan Umana in the saddle. Delphine stayed on for third followed by Hilaritie and Kinzi Kong. The final time was 2:07.06.

With an overall record of 2/18(6-6-2)2-5, $135,106, Dixies Delight is a perfect example of a horse bred to win. She is by champion and Hall of Fame member Sam Tiki and out of champion and Hall of Fame member Dixie Darlene (by Wiking). Waldron also trained and raced Dixie Darlene, who has shown she can produce about as well as she could run.

ARABIAN CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: October 15, 2005 Purse: $50,300 Distance: 1 mile
	finishing time 1:52.2
	1st: Cath
	2nd: Sand Spirit
	3rd: Love Me Dew

In the $50,000 Juvenile Fillies (G1) Waldron had the strong entry of Cath and Bonnett (Dixie Darlene's half-sister), and the race was over as soon as it began. Umana took Cath right to the lead and never looked back. Dreamfield Arabian Racing's Love Me Dew went with her followed early on by Chocolat Blanc and Bonnett. Cath was ridden out to prove clearly the best and crossed the wire almost 14 lengths in front in a time of 1:52.50. The real race was for second between Danny Garrett's Sand Spirit, who made a big middle move and Love Me Dew. Sand Spirit stuck her head in front to claim second, and Love Me Dew had to settle for third. Cou De Ta, Theatre, The Wright Stuff, Bonnett and Chocolat Blanc completed the order.

This win keeps Cath's record a perfect 4 for 4 with 3 stakes wins and earnings of over $61,000. She is by the successful runner and sire Burning Sand, who recently had his race record reinstated by the Arabian Jockey Club. He sired a number of Cup-starters this year, including this race's runner-up Sand Spirit. Cath is out of Halianna, who was stakes-placed herself and has also produced Hanna CW, a stakes-placed winner.

ARABIAN CUP CLASSIC (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: October 16, 2005 Purse: $110,100 Distance: 1 1/4 mile
	finishing time 2:20.3
	1st: Aim South
	2nd: Nordik Star
	3rd: Mags Mad Max

The big race of the weekend was the $110,000 Arabian Cup Classic (G1) run at 1 ¼ miles. Two top runners were unfortunately absent. Arabian racing's richest horse (with earnings of over $600,000) DA Adios was not nominated this year and TH Richie, the 2005 Triple Crown winner, was scratched on race day. That left a short field of 6 for the race and once again Waldron had the favorite in Aim South, a handsome bay colt also by Burning Sand. Aim South has one running style. He goes to the front and plays "catch me if you can". Djenius and Mags Mad Max did try to go with him. After running 6 furlongs in 1:20.39, things seemed to set up perfectly for a come from behind horse, but Aim South had plenty left in the tank. Djenius tired, but Sam Vasquez's Mags Mad Max hung tough. However, Aim South was simply too good, and he slowly widened his lead to finish almost 6 lengths in front of North Star Racing's Nordik Star, who closed well. He was another 3 lengths ahead of Mags Mad Max with Noble House, Djenius and Mellonite rounding out the field. Aim South's final time was 2:20.78.

Aim South is the third foal out of the unraced Sam Tiki daughter SS Doctor Sam. She has also produced Edee Rose, who finished second in the Iron Butterfly Claiming Championship earlier in October. This is actually Aim South's first stakes win, and his overall record now stands at 2/18(6-5-3)1-5, $168,440.

ARABIAN CUP JUVENILE (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: October 16, 2005 Purse: $50,200 Distance: 1 mile
	finishing time 1:52.3
	1st: Thoroughbred
	2nd: Sumthntosingabout
	3rd: Fuego IA

Waldron didn't have a runner in the last race of the Championship weekend, so a clean sweep was not possible. However, there were still 7 talented colts entered in the $50,000 Juvenile race that was contested at a mile. Island Arabians' Fuego IA took the lead followed closely by Vol De Vaillance and Tour De France. Sitting just behind the leaders was Guy Neiven's Thoroughbred and lagging far behind everyone was Sumthntosingabout, owned by Arabian racing newcomer Danna Bohnhoff. Thoroughbred moved into contention in the far turn and was urged by rider William Hollick to close on Fuego IA. Meanwhile, Sumthntosingabout was on the outside picking off horses. Thoroughbred and Sumthntosingabout were both in hard drives to catch Fuego IA. These three battled down the stretch until Fuego IA weakened slightly and Thoroughbred got the lead. Sumthntosingabout was still gaining ground on the outside but fell a neck short of Thoroughbred. Fuego IA was over 13 lengths in front of fourth place finisher Tour De France, followed by Vol De Vaillance, Frynge Benefit and Herbie. The winner's time was 1:52.79.

Thoroughbred is a tall, leggy bay colt bred by Shaikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed and trained by Bobbie McAlister. This victory gives him 3 wins and 3 seconds in 6 starts this year with earnings of over $57,000. He is the best runner T C Tomtyr, the great champion and Hall of Fame member, has sired to date. His dam is French-bred Vanessa Du Loup (by Manganate), who was a stakes winner of over $51,000 in the U.S. A number of her foals were exported to race in the UAE, but Thoroughbred is her first stakes winner.

ARABIAN CUP DISTAFF SPRINT (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: November 12, 2005 Purse: $50,300 Distance: 6 furlongs
	finishing time 1:19.74
	1st: Dixies Delight
	2nd: Edee Rose
	3rd: Delphine

Dixies Delight put an exclamation point on her win in the Gladys Brown Edwards Arabian Cup (G1) with a 7 length romp in the Arabian Cup Distaff Sprint (G1) two weeks later on November 12. This is her third grade 1 win of the season and adds another $25,000 to her growing bank account.

At the start of the 6 furlong race, previous Sprint winner Joyful Love broke sharply and set a lively pace along with Dixies Delight's entrymate, Edee Rose. Maria Charles had Dixies Delight well placed on the inside racing only a length off of the frontrunners. She moved through to gain the lead at the top of the stretch and then was ridden out to draw off. Edee Rose, while no match for the winner, stayed on well for second followed by Delphine in third. Whos Your Daddy, RW Omega, Burning Firestar, and Kinzi Kong completed the field. Joyful Love unfortunately suffered a career ending injury and was eased. The final time was a brisk 1:19.74.

Dixies Delight (Sam Tiki x Dixie Darlene, by Wiking) is bred, owned and trained by Bill and Cathy Waldron. This win solidified her credentials for the 4-Year-Old Filly Championship. She is headed home to Florida for some time off, but should be back in Delaware for 2006.

ARABIAN CUP SPRINT (G1)

Photo courtesy of Hoofprints, Inc.	Date: November 13, 2005 Purse: $50,200 Distance: 6 furlongs
	finishing time 1:18.1
	1st: Aim South
	2nd: Mags Mad Max
	3rd: TH Richie

Bill Waldron closed out an impressive two weeks with a front running victory by Aim South in the Arabian Cup Sprint (G1). The field of 7 for the Sprint included the return of Triple Crown winner, TH Richie, who hadn't run since his Bob Magness Derby (G1) win in July. Also entered was CG Borhabba, a handsome chestnut 9-year-old imported from Argentina. He was a stakes winner in his native country, but finished eighth in his first start at Delaware Park.

Aim South was very quick to the lead, and no other horse seemed interested in getting into a speed dual. No Show Jones and Mags Mad Max settled just off the leader, and TH Richie was towards the back, but only about 7 lengths from the leader. Turning into the stretch, jockey Maria Charles kept Aim South to task and he maintained his advantage. No Show Jones started to fade while Sam Vasquez's Mags Mad Max was running hard for second. TH Richie finally was getting into gear, but it was too little too late. Aim South was 4 ½ lengths clear at the wire and stopped the clock in a very fast 1:18.21. Mags Mad Max held onto second with TH Richie, owned by Dianne Waldron, in third. They were followed by No Show Jones, Noble House, Djenius and CG Borhabba, who hasn't shown a liking to the Delaware surface.

Aim South (Burning Sand - SS Doctor Sam, by Sam Tiki) now has 2 stakes wins, 7 total victories and over $193,000 in earnings. He put the exclamation point on an unbelievable run for Bill Waldron.