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THE
trainers’ association—the Philippine Race-Horse
Trainers’ Association (PHRTA)—held its annual election
of officers Monday.
It must
be a tough election because another group of trainers
are contesting the 11-man board as of press time Monday.
The current board headed by Rogelio “Mang Eyo” Catajan
is running for reelection except for one of his
directors, Dr. Maximo Guce. The current officers include
vice president Dr. Panfilo Oliva Jr., secretary Felipe
Falcon, treasurer Cecilo Vergara, auditor Andy
Florentino, and directors Rosendo Mamucod, Edwin Vittali,
Nestor Manalang, Antonio Luna, Pedro Sanchez, Loreto
Domingo and Conrado Vicente.
Both
Manalang and Vittali are running but had earlier decided
to side with the new group called “Matapat na Pangkat”
which is headed by Kap. Pablito “Abong” Guce. Besides
the three, the other members of the group contesting the
seats are Boy Vicente, Caloy Macaraig, Rutchie Ladiana,
Abot Bungar, Jomer Tionloc, Jojie Panlilio, Bojie
Fernandez and Rey Henson.
Earlier
this month, Kap Abong wrote the PHRTA president and
requested “a copy of our latest audited financial
statement certified and signed by an independent
auditing firm or a certified public accountant.” He
argued that “the fairness of financial statement as
certified will shed light to some queries that seek to
be answered. Transparency in the operation of the
organization makes us firm and stable in the eyes and
mind of our general membership and that of the racing
industry as well.”
Kap
Abong added his group, when elected, will start a number
of projects that will help the less-fortunate trainers.
“First on our agenda is the acquiring of a service
vehicle for those trainers who have no cars or vehicles
of their own. We will also apply for the SSS [Social
Security System] for all the trainers and return the
educational assistance for their respective children,”
Kap Abong said.
When
contacted, the PHRTA said it has the said papers which
could not be released without the approval of the
board. The members shall elect the 11-man board and, a
week after, the elected board members shall elect among
themselves the officers of the association, who shall
serve a term for another year. Good luck to all those
who are running!
****
FORMER
champion two-year-old
War
Pass,
one of the top favorites in this year’s US Triple Crown
Series, was declared out of the Kentucky Derby set early
next month at the Churchill Downs in Kentucky.
This was
declared by trainer Nick Zito last weekend after an
x-ray result revealed a small fracture in the sesamoid
in the colt’s left front ankle. It is not known yet
whether surgery would be required, but the colt needs to
be sidelined for a few months.
“We had
some good days, but we started to get some bad days. We
were getting to crunch time and I was getting these
funny things, and I just couldn’t get through it. The
Wood was a killer—anybody who saw it knows it was a
gut-wrenching performance. The race took its toll, but
when he got back to the barn at Belmont, he was
great—that’s the heart he’s got,” said Zito, referring
to the Wood Memorial (Grade 1) at Aqueduct on April 5,
where War Pass checked in second to winner Tale Of Ekati.
“It’s at
the back of the ankle, and it pulled away from the
sesamoid. It’s very small. In fact, the vet took the
picture again and had a technician look at the digital
images, because there’s no swelling there. He’s actually
walking sound. It’s unfortunate. It just wasn’t meant to
be, maybe. It’s a shame, because he has all the ability
in the world. He’s one of the best I’ve ever had,” Zito
was quoted.
“Obviously, it’s very disappointing for the LaPenta
family; it’s disappointing for the Farish family. Both
families took it well. And he’s extremely important to
my family and my racing family because these people put
their heart and soul in the Derby dream. So they’re
taking it good because they love the horse, and the
horse will be with us. The LaPentas took it as great as
any owner could take it. He’s (LaPenta) grateful for
having a champion—and it could be worse. So what I’ve
got to do is give him a few months off, see the healing
process, and go through all the motions.”
War Pass
owns a career record of 5-1-0 in seven races and
earnings of $1,583,400. He led all contenders for the
134th running of the Kentucky Derby in graded earnings
with $1,470,000. His defection will open the door for
another horse in the crowded field of Derby contenders
to make the maximum field of 20 horses in that race. The
roster of horses hoping to make the Derby remains at
more than 30, but only the 20 horses with the highest
totals in graded earnings will be allowed to enter.
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher puts another horse in
the Derby picture when his colt Behindatthebar won the
Grade-2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes recently. It was the
first start outside of
California
for Behindatthebar, who ran the distance in 1:42.14 and
earned $201,500 for the partnership of Padua Stables,
Michael Shustek and W. Don Stanley. Pletcher’s 1-2
horses in the Grade-1 Toyota Blue Grass with Monba and
Cowboy Cal gave him a total of three horses that are now in the running
for the Run For The Roses. The victory improved
Behindatthebar’s record to three wins in five starts and
increased his career earnings to $277,100. His earnings
in graded races—$204,500—rank him in the top 20 among
the prospective
Derby
starters.
****
THIS
early, many are asking whether that magnificent stallion
Better Than Honour is already angling for another win at
the Belmont Stakes, the second leg of the US Triple
Crown Series in
New York.
His two
earlier offsprings—Jazil and Rags To Riches—had won the
Belmont Stakes in two consecutive years, 2006 and 2007.
A Japanese colt named
Casino Drive,
which won his first start with an 11-and-a-half length
maiden victory at Kyoto almost two months ago, will be
arriving next week at
Belmont
Park together with another colt named Spark Candle (AP
Indy-Serena Song).
Casino
Drive is by Mineshaft out of the Deputy Minister mare
Better Than Honour. He is expected to prep for the
Belmont Stakes in the Peter Pan Stakes on May 10. The
two colts are owned by Hidetoshi Yamamoto and being
trained by Kazuo Fujisawa. |
