A spectacular race day at Woodbine on Saturday which included four graded stakes races proved popular with bettors as wagering surged over $9.3 million for the day.
Great weather on the Canada Day weekend brought people out in droves and they were treated to great finishes, a historic win by one of Canada’s greats, and a glimpse at perhaps the Queen’s Plate favourite (see separate posts on this site).
Highlander Stakes (G2)
Wesley Ward’s 8-year-old stallion BOUND FOR NOWHERE has raced all over the world and Woodbine was the latest stop for this lightly-raced fellow. Virtually every race run by the son of The Factor from the mare Fancy Deed, a daughter of Canadian-bred champ Alydeed, has been followed by some sort of layoff and that was the case on Saturday.
Bound for Nowhere was off from August to this past March when he won a 5 1/2 furlong allowance race at Fair Grounds. A multiple Grade 2 stakes winner, was a surprising 5-to-1 for the $203,200 Highlander Stakes despite being installed as the morning line favourite.
It was a cavalry charge for the lead in the six-furlong turf sprint for four-year-olds and up contested over a firm E.P. Taylor Course, with Chuck Willis (IRE) emerging on top. The six-year-old gelding, on a two-race win streak, proceeded to lead his rivals through an opening quarter in :21.84, as Pablo Morales, aboard Bound for Nowhere, settled into sixth spot.
Chuck Willis was still in control after a half-mile timed in :44.25, but a host of rivals began to set their sights on the leader around the turn for home.
As the field straightened for the long stretch drive, Arzak took over top spot at the stretch call, as Morales and Bound for Nowhere, behind a wall of horses, desperately looked for daylight.
When the opportunity came, the duo punched through and attempted to collar frontrunning Arzak, which they eventually did, grinding out a one-length triumph in a time of 1:08.1. Arzak finished second, a neck ahead of longshot White Flag. Ontario-bred Silent Poet finished fourth.
“For a second, I thought I might be a little closer, but it worked out perfectly,” said Morales. “A lot of horses came out together head and head and I was able to drop in and save a little bit of ground. He was very powerful all the way around there. I was sitting on a ton of horse. I was following a couple that I thought would carry me, but it seemed like everybody sort of stayed together. I was getting a little worried there but I’m glad I was able to work out a trip. When I put him in the clear, and he felt a little bit of room, he just took off.
“I didn’t even see the Form. If Wesley Ward wants you to come to Woodbine, I’m going to come to Woodbine. I had no idea what horse it was, of course for my surprise, for a great surprise, I looked at the horse and I’m like, ‘Well, you’re put on an awesome horse.’ I was really excited to be here.”
Bound for Nowhere has nine wins from 19 starts and over $1.17 million in earnings.
Selene Stakes (G2) – Fifth straight for Mark Casse
The graded stakes four-pack began with the Selene for 3-year-old fillies and from the moment the gates opened for the 1 1/16 mile race on Tapeta, it appeared it was going to be one weird race.
Favoured Catiche, an Augustin Farms’ Arrogate filly coming off a lopsided win on May 21 with a huge 93 Beyer Figure, broke several steps slowly under Kazushi Kimura and soon would be forced wide into the first turn.
In fact almost the entire seven horse field was lined up to the first turn with Live Oak Plantation’s SUPER HOITY TOITY (Uncle Mo – Town Tour by Speightstown) taking out Catiche a bit on the turn as she did not corner well under Patrick Husbands.
“Once we left the gate, I could see the speed horse [Catiche] missed the break, and no one wanted the lead,” said Husbands. “My horse was a little bit rank to me. I tried to get across, and then everybody was rushing in. Everybody did the same as me. I turned my horse loose, so we had a fight for position in the first turn. I tried not to let Emma [jockey Wilson on Join the Dance] get things the way she was going. My filly was going so easy down the back, and as I went up the sixteenth and the half, towards Emma, she went on and I sat and sat, then chased her down.”
Sixth after the opening split, Super Hoity Toity, under Patrick Husbands, was positioned second after a half-mile reached in a slow :49.84. As the field turned for home, Husbands had the Kentucky-bred filly ready to take aim at Join the Dance.
Midway down the lane, the daughter of Uncle Mo-Town Tour struck the front and then braced for the challenge of even-money choice Catiche but fended off that foe to cross the wire a three-quarter length winner in a time of 1:45.11. Catiche was second and Mrs. Barbara, last year’s Canadian champion two-year-old filly, also conditioned by Casse, finished third. Join the Dance rounded out the top four.
Souper Hoity Toity, a $550,000 Ocala juvenile purchase in March 2021, was adding Lasix for her first race since November. She was let go at 8-to-1.
The two Canadian-bred fillies in the field, Pioneer’s Edge and Absolute Jewel, were non-factors.
Wickenheiser scores
There were some impressive runs by young horses on Saturday. The 2-year-old first time starter WICKENHEISER (named after renowned hockey player Hayley) ducked and barged her way to her debut win in a six-furlong turf maiden allowance for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling and Clay Schere. Trained by Kevin Attard, the long-striding daughter of Lemon Drop Kid – Game (Fr) by Montjeu (Fr) was bred by Sean Fitzhenry in Ontario and she was a $245,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland. The filly is a full sister to stakes winners Season Ticket and the late Belichick.
LADYWEARSTHERING, a Sam-Son Farms’ homebred trained by Gail Cox, was well prepared for her 3-year-old debut at 1 mile on the turf, leading all the way to win by more than 5 lengths. Justin Stein rode the daughter of Uncle Mo – Southern Ring by Speightstown.
The last race of the day was very much an eye-catching event and a quick one, too. SUGAR RAY, a 4-year-old Street Sense gelding making his first start since September for trainer Kevin Attard and first start for $40,000 claiming and as a gelding, flew to a 10 1/4 length romp in a fast 1:09.24. It was the third career start for the Josham Farms’ homebred.
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