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ARABIAN TRIPLE CROWN ACTION CONCLUDES IN DELAWARE
July 1st thru 4th, 2006

Bob Magness Memorial Derby (G2)

With no Triple Crown possibility this year, Frynge Benefit and Tour De France were going for the best 2 out of 3. Tour De France has been very impressive, most recently winning the Mandolynn Hill Farm S. over older horses like TH Richie and Aim South in his last start. Selected at Delaware Park as the “Bet of the Day”, he went postward as the heavy favorite in the 1 ¼ mile contest.

The race was marred by a frightening accident going into the first turn. Maxisumus, on the far outside, clipped heels with Tour De France and went down in the blink of an eye. Vol De Vaillance, right behind Maxisumus, had no chance to go anywhere and fell over the grey colt. Both horses got up and ran off, but their jockeys were down on the ground.Vol De Vaillance’s rider, Clyde Martin, was able to get off the track, but Greg Rivera, who was thrown from Maxisumus, lay motionless on the track. The outrider stood in front of him as the ambulance came out. It was obvious that they would not be off the track when the horses crossed the finish line. Fortunately, they were able to move Rivera out of harms way, and he was eventually strapped to a back board and taken to the hospital.

While much of the crowd was watching the fallen riders, the race continued. Ordained and Frynge Benefit, owned by Leah Killingsworth Bates and her mother, Dianne Waldron, raced one-two followed by Tour De France. After straightening into the backstretch, Alex Beitia, let Tour De France move up to the lead and he opened up a good lead. Frynge Benefit and Ordained still raced together, and the started to close some ground on Tour De France, but the bay colt stepped it up and strode clear to win by 5 ¼ lengths in a time of 2:20.75. Frynge Benefit, under a hard drive, gained the place spot and Ordained settled for third. Fuego IA, Thermonuclear and Sumthntosingabout completed the field.

Initial reports on Rivera indicate that he has a bruised aorta and broke his back, but fortunately is able to move his arms and legs. Martin broke three ribs and punctured his lung. Both horses sustained minor injuries.

This win marked three stakes in as many days for trainer Loren Nichols. Tour De France is a half-brother to the previous day’s winner, The Last Danse. However, this bay colt is by Bengali D’Albret, a successful French stallion who stands at Shadwell Stud in England. His U.S. progeny include California standouts Gabret and Highlandar. Tour De France’s now has 3 wins in 12 starts, but has only finished out of the top 3 one time. The winner’s share of the $40,000 purse brings his earnings to almost $80,000.

Cre Run Oaks (G2)

Loren Nichols had Cou De Ta in the $40,000 Cre Run Oaks (G2) to try to make a clean sweep of the weekend stakes, but standing in her way was the undefeated Cath, owned by Bill Waldron. Waldron knows a thing or two about big weekends. It was just last fall that he won 5 out of 6 Cup Championship races over two weekends.

Two scratches meant only 5 fillies went postward in the 1 1/8 contest, and Cath was the overwhelming favorite. Rain caused the sealed track to be sloppy. Cath’s regular rider Juan Umana allowed entrymate Bonnett to set the early fractions while Cath settled easily into second. After 5 furlongs, Cath moved to the front and opened up a commanding lead. Cou De Ta, who was never far back, moved up in the second turn, but was no match for the winner. Under wraps, Cath won by 5 ¼ with Cou De Ta easily second best. It was nearly 25 lengths back to Dancers First Luv, Sand Spirit and Bonnett.

Cath is a perfect representation of Waldron’s small, but high quality breeding program. She is by the successful runner and sire Burning Sand, who has also sired the likes of stakes winners Line Dancer, Aim South, and Big Easy. Cath is out of Halianna, a daughter of Waldron’s Egyptian stallion ZT Ali Baba. A stakes-placed winner herself, she has also produced Hanna CW, a stakes-placed winner. Cath is undefeated with earnings of over $100,000.