Page 25 - September 2005 The Game
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Your Thoroughbred Racing Community Newspaper The Game, September 2005 25
Prime Time T.V. Dominates Manitoba Derby Field with 10-3/4-LengthsVictory
Assiniboia Downs Stakes Recap
Friday, July 29 - Sunday, August 28, 2005
Friday, July 29, 2005
North Dakota Stallion Stakes - 3 yr-olds $18,690
Winner: Your Excellence
Owner: High Life Stable
Trainer: Emile Corbel
Jockey: Vince Guerra
Breeder: Reg Studler
Pedigree: His Excellence
- Canadian Danzig
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Winnipeg Sun Stakes
- 3 yr-old & Up fillies & mares $40,000
Winner: Ericka’s Lass
Owner: Empire Stables
Trainer: Emile Corbel
Jockey: Rohan Singh
Breeder: Casey Seaman
Pedigree: Limit Out - Miss Malcolm F.
Monday, August 1, 2005
Winnipeg Futurity Stakes - 2 yr-olds $40,000
Winner: Hey Hey Renee
Owner: Off 2 Win Stable
Trainer: Ardell Sayler
Jockey: Vince Guerra
Breeder: John Franks
Pedigree: Anziyan - Roadability
Monday, August 1, 2005
Jack Hardy Stakes - 3 yr-old fillies $40,000
Winner: Aly’s Flyer
Owner: Bronco J Stables
Trainer: Jared Brown
Jockey: Felipe Valdez
Breeder: Henry Booy
Pedigree: Alybro - Ground Flyer
Monday, August 1, 2005
Wheat City Stakes - 3 yr-old & up $40,000
Winner: Kat Kool
Owner: Derby Stable, Red Ron Farms & David Tosh
Trainer: Ron Smith
Jockey: Travis Hightower
Breeder: Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey Pedigree: Tomorrow’s Cat
- Just Like Jill
Monday, August 1, 2005
Manitoba Lotteries Derby - 3 yr-olds $100,000
Winner: Prime Time T.V.
Owner: Rob Mitchell
Trainer: Albert Edward Blake Jockey: Travis Hightower
Breeder: Richard S. Kaster in KY Pedigree: Deputy Minister
- T.V. Countess, by T.V. Commercial
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Agassiz Stakes - 3 yr-old & Up $40,000
Winner: Albarino
Owner: Dr. Ross McKague
Trainer: Carl Anderson
Jockey: Rohan Singh
Breeder: Dr. Ross McKague in MB Pedigree: Langfuhr
- Ms. Tenacious, by Buckley Boy
Sunday, August 21, 2005
North Dakota Stallion Stakes - 2 yr-olds $30,000
Winner: Barnstorm
Owner: Wayne Simon
Trainer: Ardell Sayler
Jockey: Larren Delorme
Breeder: Larry Carlson in SD Pedigree: Storm of the Night
- Lucy’s Coach, by Queen City Lad
Sunday, August 28, 2005 Harry Jeffrey Stakes - 3 yr-olds $40,000
Winner: Raggidy Rowe Owner: Melvin Davis
& Heather Skeoch
Trainer: Melvin Davis
Jockey: Travis Hightower Breeder: Melvin Davis in OR Pedigree: Superior Success
- Extradite, by Rehaan
Aly's Flyer, winner of the Jack Hardy Stakes on Derby Day with jockey Felipe Valdez and trainer Jared Brown
Agassiz Stakes winner, Albarino, with jockey Rohan Singh and trainer Carl Anderson.
Derby winner Sidelined
According to the Daily Racing Form, Prime Time T.V. was sent to Kentucky in mid August to have a chip removed from his ankle
Photo Left - ND Stallion Stakes winner Barnstorm with jockey Larren Delorme, trainer Ardell Sayler and assistant trainer Aaron Sayler.
Hey Hey Renee, winner of the Winnipeg Futurity on Derby Day with (L-R) Aaron Sayler, assistant trainer and his father co- owner/trainer Ardell Sayler
By Ernie Nairn
The 57th running of the $100,000 Manitoba Lotteries Derby for 3-year-olds, over a mile and an eighth, on Monday, August 1, witnessed the most impressive outing this season by Prime Time T.V. The (3-1) pre-race choice, with jockey Travis Hightower, scored an impressive “come from behind” victory to win the richest race offered at Assiniboia Downs each season by 10-3/4 lengths over (2-1) pre-race favourite Iowa invader Wayzata Bay with jockey Cindy Noll. The July 10, Manitoba Derby Trial winner Stormy Business with Felipe Valdez who went to post at (5-1) finished third. The running time for the feature was 1:52.20.
Owned by Robert Mitchell of Saskatoon and trained by wily veteran Bert Blake, the Kentucky-bred son of late sire Deputy Minister - T.V. by T. V. Commercial was coming off a two race losing steak. He lost the July 10 Manitoba Derby Trial to Minnesota invader Stormy Business by 2-1/4 lengths and prior to his that start finished 4th in the $125,000 Alberta Derby at Stampede Park in Calgary with local rider Ricky Walcott on June 18 on a very sloppy track.
The Prime Time T.V. winning team cutting the Manitoba Derby Cake at the post race reception, accompanied by two of the 11 Derby Belles that we had at the race day. (L-R) between the
2 Derby Belles are Jockey Travis Hightower, Owner Robert Mitchell and trainer Bert Blake.
Following those two losses, Hightower and Blake realized they needed to get the colt to relax and not run for the lead as he had done in his previous starts. That is exactly what happened in the Manitoba Lotteries Derby. Hightower held the colt back, and going into the first turn he was dead last. But as the front-runners headed into the final turn, Hightower moved to the outside and passed the rest of the field by the time he hit the stretch. From there it was strictly a hand ride all the way to the finish line. Prime Time T. V. drew away to score an impressive 10-3/4-lengths victory. The first place purse money was worth $60,000. Prime Time T.V.’s season record improves to 3-2-0 after 7 starts with season earnings of $109,784. His career record after 9 starts now 4-2-0 with career earnings totaling $125,749.
Hightower said he really wasn’t worried about being at the back of the pack. “I needed to get him relaxed. Bert left the race decision in my hands; he trusts my judgment so that’s what we did. Hightower added, “He was really goofing off down the backside and wouldn’t pay attention to what he was suppose to be doing. Once I
Prime Time T.V., winner of the 2005 Manitoba Derby, with jockey Travis Hightower
got him to the outside going into the final turn, he got back into his running mode. Then he started paying attention and I just sat on him till we made our move and took over the lead. When we did, he was doing what he was supposed to be doing and we won.”
Owner Robert Mitchell whose father Bill owned the 1993 Manitoba Derby winner Royal Frolic, also trained by Bert Blake, was to say the least ecstatic about the win. “We discussed the strategy, we knew if we could keep him back for the first part of the feature he would run a big race, and he ran a huge race today”, was Mitchell’s initial comment. Mitchell went on to thank Bert Blake and Nicholas Lotz in Kentucky, who helped him get Prime Time T.V. He also stated he loves running horses at Assiniboia Downs.
This was trainer Bert Blake’s first Manitoba Derby win since 1993 when he last won the Manitoba Derby with Royal Frolic. “Well, when he went by the grand- stand dead last, the reins were hanging, but that was the key,” said Blake. He added, “He was relaxed until the half mile pole, then he picked his head up a little bit and went after them. Then he caught up to the pack at the turn, and that’s the way he runs best.”
Blake admitted that this victory was a headache compared to his 1993 win with Royal Frolic. “We worked hard the last 2-1/2 weeks getting him ready and between Travis and exercise riders Keith Corbel and Tanya Lindsay we were able to get him ready. Blake added that the ride Hightower came through with and the victory was outstanding. “He did it book perfect,” was Blake’s final comment.
Following the victory, Travis


































































































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