Manitoba sale strong on average

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - A total of 37 yearlings went through the auction ring here at Assiniboia Downs on Tuesday night at the annual Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society Manitoba yearling sale.

Twenty-five sold for gross receipts of $122,000, down 14 percent from last year when 33 yearlings sold for $141,600.

The average of $4,880 increased 14 percent from the average of $4,290 in 2006.

The sales-topper was a filly by Prized out of the winning mare Prospecting Lady purchased by Ken Lee and Dennis Mitchell for $15,000.

* Last Saturday, Spillway ($14.10) received a heady ride from jockey Alan Cuthbertson and was able to get by heavy favorite Polynesian Kitty late to win the $30,000 Jack Hardy Stakes. Trained by Martin Drexler, Spillway completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.40. Owned by Shyman Farm, Spillway improved her record to 4-2-2 in 13 starts with earnings of $58,036. It was her first stakes win.

On Sunday, 9-year-old Car Keys ($16.50) made his first venture into stakes company a winning one in the $30,000 R.J. Speers. Arthurlooksgood was second with Illusive Force third.

Trained by Gary Danelson and ridden by Renaldo Cumberbatch, Car Keys completed the 1 1 /16 miles in 1:46.20. Owned by Jacqueline Smith, Car Keys improved his lifetime mark to 8-5-3 from 21 starts for earnings of $155,550.

Givem Hell Harley ($5.30) won the four-horse restricted North Dakota Futurity on Sunday for the connections of owner Sina Horst, trainer Devron Leinang, and jockey Rohan Singh. Givem Hell Harley completed the six furlongs in 1:15.80.

On Monday, Bella Mariella and Eight by Ten scored their first wins in divisions of the restricted $30,000 CTHS Sales Stakes. Bella Mariella ($4.10) took the fillies division over Still Flying and Meow Wow for owners Larry Fallon and Garry Naherniak, trainer Drexler, and jockey Paul Leacock. Bella Mariella completed the six furlongs in 1:14.20.

In the colts and gelding division, Eight by Ten ($5.70) finished ahead of Vinegar Jim and Dust de Gold. Owned by Betty Hughes, trained by Lise Pruitt, and ridden by Jerry Pruitt, Eight by Ten completed the six furlong in 1:14.00.

* With nine racing days remaining in the Assiniboia Downs meet, little is left to be decided in the jockey and trainer standings.

Cuthbertson tops all jockeys with 86 wins. Kirk Johnson is second with 46, followed by Singh with 45. Drexler, who currently has 37 wins, should be able to close out his first trainer title. Ardell Sayler is second with 28, followed by Tom Gardipy with 26.