The 2006 Cup Championships were held once again at Delaware Park.

GLADYS BROWN EDWARDS ARABIAN CUP (G1)
Fillies & Mares Three Years Old & Upward, 1 1/8 Miles, $45,000

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006
Off at: 4:22
Value of Race: $45,200
Surface Type: Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 2:08.26

Also ran: AF GUENIVERE, WHOS YOUR DADDY, VIRAMIKA, COU DE TA

Winning Breeder: BILL WALDRON
Winning Owner: Bill Waldron
Winning Trainer: Bill Waldron

It seemed the only question out there was which Bill Waldron mare, Dixies Delight or Cath, would win the $45,000 Gladys Brown Edwards Arabian Cup (G1) on October 14. The feeling was so strong that the track allowed only win betting on individual horses. Still, Cath had proved vulnerable in her first start against older mares, the Buzz Brauninger Distaff H. (G1) where she faded to fourth behind Dixies Delight.

True to her style, the light grey filly went to the lead under Alvaro Torres. She set a moderate pace with Viramika, Cou De Ta and Dixies Delight settled in behind her. Dixies Delight made an inside middle move after five furlongs, and then Juan Umana angled her to the outside into the stretch. It was clear that it would be a two horse race. Viramika and Cou De Ta both faded. Frynch, who was bumped at the break by Viramika, fanned four wide into the stretch. She was slowly gaining on the front runners who were battling head and head. In late stretch, Dianne Waldron's champion filly was still gaining on the top two, but she couldn't quite get there. In the final 70 yards, Dixies Delight surged in front of her stablemate. She won the 1 1/8 mile contest by ¾ of a length over Cath with Frynch another length in third. It was about 14 lengths back to fourth place finisher AF Guenivere who passed her tiring rivals Whos Your Daddy, Viramika and Cou De Ta. The winning time was 2:08.26.

This marks Dixies Delight's fourth win in as many starts in 2006 -- all stakes. She has won or placed in 18 of 22 lifetime starts for earnings of over $281,000. By champion and Hall of Fame member Sam Tiki, she is out of fellow champion and Hall of Fame member Dixie Darlene. She may yet prove to be a better racehorse than her wonderful mother, who obviously has already shown that she can reproduce herself. That is a feat not often accomplished.

ARABIAN CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (G1)
Fillies Three Years Old, 1 Mile, $30,000

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006
Off at: 4:49
Value of Race: $30,200
Surface Type: Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:52.32

Also ran: CAVIYAR, AF GELDA, CABIN FEVER, DREAMM DIVA

Scratched horses: SUPER SONNIC , CAFE LATTE , HOT TICKIT

Winning Breeder: TRACKSIDE FARM
Winning Owner: Southern Arabian Racing
Winning Trainer: Loren Nichols

Seven of the ten fillies originally entered went postward in the $30,000 Arabian Cup Juvenile (G1). The start was good for all, and Darley Stable's Kittilina set the pace. She was followed closely by Caviyar (a full sister to Horse of the Year Triple Five) and Scoot. Favored Rolly Polly settled into fourth. Kittilina continued to save ground showing the way into the final turn. Into the stretch, Scoot moved closer as did Rolly Polly, who was four wide. It was a mad dash to the wire for these youngsters, who all ran very gamely. Under strong handling by Juan Umana, Scoot managed to just get her head in front of Trackside Farm's Rolly Polly. Kittilina gave way grudgingly to be third. The Southern Arabian Racing filly completed the one mile in 1:52.32. Caviyar, AF Gelda, Cabin Fever and Dreamm Diva completed the field.

Bred and trained by Loren Nichols of Trackside Farm, Scoot is the third stakes winner for leading freshman sire, Falina Des Fabries. He was also the sire of Rolly Polly and Kittilina. The bay filly is out of Mellonah (by *Mellon), who won twice but has been an outstanding producer. Of her four other starters, three have been winners and include No Show Jones (by Virgule Al Maury), a stakes winner of over $142,000 and Whos Your Daddy (by The Fast Lane), a stakes winner of over $92,000. This was Scoot's third win and her first stakes victory. Her lifetime earnings from her seven starts are just over $33,000.

ARABIAN CUP CLASSIC (G1)
Three Year Olds & Upward, 1 1/4 Miles, $50,000

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2006

Off at: 4:21
Value of Race: $50,300
Surface Type: Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 2:19.09
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward

Also ran: TOUR DE FRANCE, ORDAINED, FRYNGE BENEFIT, AIM SOUTH, VOL DE VAILLANCE

Winning Breeder: VALOUR ARABIANS
Winning Owner: Macey, Sandra S. and Michael
Winning Trainer: Ronald D. Martino

A solid field of eight starters went postward in the $50,000 Arabian Cup Classic (G1) on Sunday, October 15, and Michael and Sandra Macey's MD Blue Chip looked to build upon his recent victory in the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation S. (G1). With William Hollick aboard, he went off as the even money favorite.

Front-runner Aim South went to the lead, but Esteban Unsihuay aboard Frynge Benefit was determined not to let him set a leisurely pace. The two ran head and head through six furlongs in 1:19.89 -- a quick time for many 6 furlong races at Delaware Park and a suicidal time for a 1 ¼ mile race. Tour De France and MD Blue Chip settled behind the torrid pace while late runners Geronimo HF and Maxisumus lingered at the back of the pack. The speed dual was too much for the front runners, and they began their steady retreat. Tour De France gained the lead by a length, but MD Blue Chip drew even with him after one mile. Coming through the stretch, MD Blue Chip edged away from his rival while Geronimo HF and Maxisumus were making up lots of ground. The grey son of Patriot Missle was too much for the field and he won going away by 6 lengths in a time of 2:19.09. Lonnie and Carol Crowell's rejuvenated 8-year-old Geronimo HF held safely onto the place spot. Maxisumus, owned by Pamela Linahan, finished well to easily best the rest: Tour De France, Ordained, Frynge Benefit, Aim South and Vol De Valliance.

By adding his second stakes win, MD Blue Chip's lifetime record is now 3/20(7-2-2), $172,164 and is helping his sire Patriot Missle have his best year ever. Bred by Valour Arabians, the 5-year-old is out of Valours Golly G, by By Golly. She is the dam of MD Miss Anniversary (Dreams Of Valor), who is also racing for the Maceys.

ARABIAN CUP JUVENILE (G1)
Three Year Olds, 1 Mile, $30,000

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2006
Off at: 4:49
Value of Race: $30,500
Surface Type: Dirt
Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:50.25

Also ran: LATER, ORDINATION, FRYVOLOUS, FRENCH DESIGN, ANNSWER TO PRAYER, THE LAST DANSE, SAKBEE

Scratched horses: WINDJAMMER PS

Winning Breeder: THOMAS C AND EUNICE LUCKETT
Winning Owner: Cre Run Enterprises LLC
Winning Trainer: Lynn A. Ashby

A full gate of 10 youngters went postward in the Arabian Cup Juvenile (G1), and many were given a shot at victory. At the start, Cre Run Enterprises Gimme A Break broke on top followed by Later and the strongest part of the favored entry The Last Danse. Halfway through the 1 mile race, Clyde Martin still had Gimme A Break on top. The Last Danse moved into second by a head over Later. Leaving the far turn, Anne Seymour's Sey Spottsproof made a run at the leaders. The Last Danse was tiring and Later was also struggling to keep up. Under good handling, Gimme A Break was able to hold off Sey Spottsproof hitting the wire 3 lengths clear and stopping the clock in 1:50.25. Gimme A Break's entrymate Genuine Treasure made a mild bid to pass a tiring Later for the show. They were followed by Ordination, Fryvolous, French Design, Annswer To Prayer, The Last Danse and Sakbee.

It was Patriot Missle's day, who (as the Arabian Triple Cup winner himself) sired the winners of both stakes races on Sunday. Tom and Eunice Luckett of Louisville, KY bred the first foal to race out of TC Break Dancer (by Wiking). She is from a family of great Luckett horses, including champions T C Tomahawk, TC Kentucky Blue, T C Tomtyr and Tomanchie. Gimme A Break was sold along with his dam to Cre Run at the 2003 Arabian Race Horse Spring Sale for $15,500. He now has 3 wins in 6 starts with earnings over $33,000.

ARABIAN CUP DISTAFF SPRINT(G1)
Three & up Fillies & Mares, 6 furlongs, $40,100

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2006
Off at: 4:24 Race Type: Stakes
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Sex Restriction: Fillies and Mares
Value of Race: $40,100
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface Type: Dirt Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:19.11

Also ran: WHOS YOUR DADDY, FRYNCH, VIRAMIKA

Winning Breeder: BILL WALDRON
Winning Owner: Bill Waldron
Winning Trainer: Bill Waldron

After suffering her only two losses to Dixies Delight, Bill and Cathy Waldron’s Cath was able to turn the tables on her stablemate. With a win in the $40,000 Arabian Cup Distaff Sprint (G1), Cath handed Dixies Delight her only loss of the year.

The race went perfectly for Cath, but the same cannot be said for Viramika. The Lapco Arabians’ mare had her head turned in the starting gate. When the doors sprang open, she was unprepared for the start. Following a stewards’ inquiry after the race, she was declared a non-starter and wagers on her were refunded.

The remainder of the field got off well in the 6 furlong contest. Cath broke sharply to set the early fractions and was followed by Whos Your Daddy, Edee Rose and Dixies Delight. She drew clear after a half mile when Whos Your Daddy and Edee Rose couldn’t stay with her. Jockey Alvaro Torres rode out Cath to the wire so that her lead was 7 ¼ lengths, and her final time was a brisk 1:19.11. Dixies Delight finished well to be second, but was no match for the winner. Edee Rose faded from her early efforts, but managed to be third for lessee Carrie Blanchfield and trainer Eric Ferguson.

This was Cath’s first win since her victory in the Cre Run Oaks (G2) in July. Her lifetime record now improves to 2/9(7-1-0)6-1, $142,120. She is a daughter of leading sire Burning Sand, who has sired a number of outstanding runners including Line Dancer, Aim South and Big Easy. Her dam is Halianna (by ZT Ali Baba), who is also the dam of the good 3-year-old AKA Alluring (by Dreams Of Valor).

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2006
Off at: 4:28 Race Type: Stakes
Age Restriction: Three Year Old and Upward
Value of Race: $40,500
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface Type: Dirt Track Condition: Fast
Winning Time: 1:20.28

Also ran: MAXISUMUS, GIMME A BREAK, THOROUGHBRED, MAGS MAD MAX, GERONIMO HF, NO SHOW JONES, HAAHIRA

Winning Breeder: BILL WALDRON
Winning Owner: Bill Waldron
Winning Trainer: Bill Waldron

Aim South has been taking his hits this year. Winless since an allowance victory on May 30, the 5-year-old was still given a good chance in the 6 furlong race that also featured standout 4-year-old Tour De France, Arabian Cup Juvenile winner Gimme A Break (the post time favorite) and the rejuvenated Geronimo HF.

The start was good for all ten horses, but Aim South did not get an easy lead. He ran to the outside of Southern Arabian Racing’s Tour De France with Dianne Waldron’s Frynge Benefit close as well. He managed a slight advantage over those two after a half mile, but then Maria Charles got him into gear and he began to draw off. He had 7 lengths on Tour De France at the wire with Frynge Benefit third. Maxisumus closed from far back to be fourth, and Gimme A Break (facing older horses for the first time) ran evenly for fifth. Thoroughbred, Mags Mad Max, Geronimo HF, No Show Jones and Haahira followed. The final time was 1:20.28, over a second slower than Cath’s winning time.

This was the first stakes win of the year for the Burning Sand horse, who won both the Arabian Cup Classic (G1) and Arabian Cup Sprint (G1) in 2005. Bred, owned and trained by Bill and Cathy Waldron, he is out of the Sam Tiki mare SS Doctor Sam. She also produced Edee Rose, the third place finisher in the Arabian Cup Distaff Sprint (G1) run the previous day. Aim South’s lifetime record is 3/28(9-7-5)3-6, $239,278.

We honor all the horses in the Championships, and congratulate all the winners.