DISCOVER

 Congratulations to everyone for Woodbine’s first weekend – David Garcia wins Woodbine stake, Juan Crawford has 2 wins, and the Polytrack has played fairly

 

 

SHOWING HIS METTLE – 85 Beyer Speed Figure for Dan

This tin man is all heart. DAN THE TIN MAN is at his best in a Polytrack sprint race, he is also very good when he is fresh. The Florida bred 4-year-old did essentially the same thing on Sunday as he did on April 21 last spring: he won a stakes race in his Woodbine return. The son of Songandaprayer – Mrs. M by Mecke was a $22,000 yearling purchase by Glenn Harvey’s Kelynack Stable and Stephen Duffield. Ricky Grffith, who bought, raced and then sold Ria Antonia, the champion 2-year-old filly in Canada, trains the Tin Man.

The gelding has won 4 of 14 races and the Woodstock, Tom Ridge and Jacques Cartier, for earnings of over $310,000.

David Garcia, a winner of over 800 races in his career was winning HIS FIRST WOODBINE STAKES (according to woodbineentertainment.com) race and was riding the gelding for the first time.

The time of 1:09.75 was good for an 85 Beyer Figure.

Woodbine’s opening weekend was down in wagering on both days($2.7 million, $1.9 million)  but the race cards were on the light side and as horses get fit, the races will no doubt fill better.

 

More Woodbine Sunday:

Day 2 was a bit light on entries but there were many close finishes.  In race 1, a mad speed duel between 4 horses set the race up for the 5th runner, SYMPHONY ON ICE, a homebred filly for Penny and Manfred Conrad. This gal, by Yes It’s True out of Live Music by Lemon Drop Kid had a learning race last Nov. 2 when trained by Andrew Smith. With 1st time Lasix, the filly (who was transferred to Mark Casse before the winter) rallied inside to win the 5 furlong race with a 71 Beyer Figure. Gary Boulanger gave this gal the shrewd steer.

Race 2- MARK CASSE Daily Double as the expensive gelding (he was 1st time gelding) TACTICAL MOMENT stalked a pace duel and rallied to win under Patrick Husbands. This colt, a $435,000 purchase 2 years ago in Florida as a 2yo, is owned by John Oxley, He is by Tale of the Cat and he was part of the heavily favoured entry.

Race 3- second win of the season for jockey JUAN CRAWFORD as he guided S A Racing’s GOLDEN ABBEY to a win in the $10,000 claiming race for non-winners of 2. The Where’s the Ring mare was making her first start since August and Ross Armata had her well prepared.

Race 4- The big class drop by TOTAL ACCOUNTING was the winning ticket for this 3yo Ontario bred by Sligo Bay (Ire). Owned by Martha Gonzalez and Horsen Around Racing, this gelding was making his first start of the year and was down from $32,000 claiming to $10,000. Jesse Campbell has 4 winners on the meet.

Race 5 – Ontario sired allowance  and speedster BEARS GRACE gave trainer Mike DePaulo his meet-leading 3rd win of the season. The Bear Stables gal is a 4yo by philanthropist and she is 2 for 14 now. Justin Stein rode, he has 4 wins on the meet.

Race 6 – an Ontario sired allowance for 3yo fillies and there was a pair of gals who landed on the wire virtually as one but the photo showed BELLA’S REBEL winning by inches over VIRREINA. The winner, a Rebellion (GB) filly out of Marina Bella by Bold Execuetive, is owned by Gary Wellwood, trained by Scott Fairlie and bred by Jennifer Leuty. Michelle Rainford rode the chestnut gal who was making her first start of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race 7 – First time gelding STORMIN CLOONEY sped to a clear lead but could not hold off SORRY ABOUT THAT, the big fave who gave trainer LAURIE SILVERA his 1000th career winner. The winning 5yo gelding is by Mobil and was bred by his owner Pat O’Grady.

 

Race 9 – Maidens for $20,000 and again there was a wild speed duel (Sixmile and Unleash the Talent) and that set things up for SECURE THE DOOR, who rallied for Natural Eight Stable, Fred Harrison and partner. Billy Tharrenos trains the winner by Keyed Entry.

 

Race 10 – a maiden allowance for Ontario sired guys went to layoff runner MARTEN LAKE, owned and trained by David Bell. This Trajectory – Kain’s Deed, by Alydeed gelding was 3rd in a race last June in a good effort and he looked very impressive off the long layoff on Sunday. He had inside speed and then drove clear to post a 77 Beyer Figure, one of the best numbers of the weekend. bred by Alexis and Katie Ward, this gelding was a $10,000 RNA yearling.

 

‘Sir’ LAURIE SILVERA with jockey OMAR MORENO before saddling his 1000th winner. NORM FILES PHOTO

 

 

 

 

MORE STUFF – HAMMER TIME

 

 

NORTHERN HAMMER, a Medaglia d’Oro 5-year-old gelding making his first start ever on a synthetic track, posted a 97 Beyer Figure on Saturday at Woodbine in his 7 furlong win (1:22.07). It was easily the fastest race of the 20 races run during opening weekend at Woodbine. He was a $16,000 claim by High Five Racing at Parx two starts ago.

Meanwhile, at Keeneland, Canadians continue to kick butt. EXCAPER, owned by Fred Weiting and the Kaster family and trained by King City’s IAN BLACK, won his return to racing and posted a 98 Beyer Figure in the 1 mile grass race. This grey fellow is due for a breakout year after so much bad luck in 2013. Watch out for this guy in 2014. Excaper returned to Woodbine on Tuesday morning.

COOL FAITH, a Pulpit filly owned by Chiefswood Stable, won an allowance race in her Polytrack debut and posted a 75 Beyer. This gal is an Oaks and Queen’s Plate contender (see my news lists n the cover page of THOROUGHBLOG)

 

ARTIE WORKS TOWARDS KENTUCKY DERBY

The lone Canadian representative in this year’s Kentucky Derby is Canadian bred WE MISS ARTIE, who had a 4 furlong workout in Florida last week as he prepares for his return to a dirt track for the biggest race of his life.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Ken and Sarah Ramsay, We Miss Artie was bred by Richard Lister in Ontario.

We Miss Artie and Intense Holiday worked in company, completing four furlongs in 48.67, with a final quarter into the wind in 24.01. Intense Holiday appeared to be going easiest of the duo while about a head in front at the wire. The pair galloped out as a team in 1:01.20.

“I thought both went well, galloped out real well, with good energy,” said Pletcher.

 

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS

1     California Chrome     Art Sherman     150     $782,250
2     Vicar’s in Trouble     Mike Maker     120     $760,000
*3     Dance With Fate     Peter Eurton     108     $600,000
4     Wicked Strong     Jimmy Jerkens     102     $630,000
5     Samraat                          Rick Violette Jr.     100     $640,000
6     Danza                          Todd Pletcher     100     $620,000
7     Constitution     Todd Pletcher     100     $600,000
8     Hoppertunity     Bob Baffert     95     $576,000
9     Intense Holiday     Todd Pletcher     93     $527,500
10     Wildcat Red     Jose Garrofalo     90     $610,000
11     We Miss Artie     Todd Pletcher     60     $544,000
12     Ride on Curlin     Billy Gowan     55     $354,387
13     Chitu                Bob Baffert     54     $440,000
14     Tapiture        Steve Asmussen     52     $470,378
*15     Midnight Hawk     Bob Baffert     52     $320,500
*16     Ring Weekend     H. Graham Motion     50     $260,000
17     General a Rod     Mike Maker     40     $240,000
18     Medal Count     Dale Romans     40     $226,500
19     Candy Boy     John Sadler     30     $380,000
20     Cairo Prince     Kiaran McLaughlin     24     $520,000
21     Uncle Sigh     Gary Contessa     24     $180,000
22     Vinceremos     Todd Pletcher     20     $191,666
23     Harry’s Holiday     Mike Maker     20     $152,622
24     Commanding Curve     Dallas Stewart     20     $140,000
25     Pablo Del Monte     Wesley Ward     20     $102,000

*NOT CONFIRMED AS A STARTER

 

 

KENTUCKY DERBY FEATURES

Can California Chrome win Kentucky Derby? April 15, 2014 3:10 AM by Charlie Ludlow

California Chrome will be in the Kentucky Derby. 

In the days leading up to the May 3 Kentucky Derby, volumes will be written about why California Chrome can’t win.
 
His pedigree is lacking, they’ll say. His sire, Lucky Pulpit, stands for a cheap $2,500 as compared to the $100,000 plus fees top sires command these days and has never produced a Derby distance winner of any kind. He is also the first foal out of a mare that even his owners admit was sent to the breeding shed because she couldn’t run.
 
Love the Chase scored just one victory in a short career that ended in a low level claiming race at Golden Gate in Northern California. She was purchased for just $8,000.
The naysayers will also resort to history to bolster their argument. After all, only three Cal breds have ever brought home the roses in the 139 previous Derbys and the last was Decidedly in 1962.
 
Then there is the owner/trainer connection; two rookies being led by one of the sunshine boys. Owners Steven Coburn and Perry Martin have just five years of experience together and less than a dozen runners. Their trainer, Art Sherman, 77 years old, harkens back to the “golden age” of racing in the 1950s and a Cal bred named Swaps. Lightning in a bottle is an understatement describing the “ride” this trio is on.

http://www.gamingtoday.com/articles/article/46671-Can_California_Chrome_win_Kentucky_Derby#.U00K6aKcBsI

 

IMPERIAL MISS

FOALS PRODUCED:

Mr. Zippy     2010     5     0     1     0     $4,061
Imperial’s Best     2008     14     1     2     2     $31,901
Shes Endearing     2007     4     0     0     1     $9,623
Molly Maguire     2006     20     2     3     1     $38,018
Bon Echo     2005     2     0     0     0     $804
Alytoro     2004     18     2     1     3     $20,609
One Across     2003     22     3     5     1     $221,303
Imperial Alydeed     2001     58     9     9     4     $354,325
Love One Way     1999     0     0     0     0     $0
Lord Lloyd Outlaw     1998     45     10     5     2     $93,102
Estonia     1997     60     6     2     5     $272,649    
       Kenora S.
Golden Nicolas     1996     86     19     15     11     $260,286
Seek the Secret     1993     68     13     11     5     $105,362

 

 

HUSBANDS, RAMSAMMY IN TRINIDAD 

Jockeys battle in Guineas, Champagne Stakes

By MIDAS Tuesday, April 15 2014

NOT only will this year’s edition of the National Lotteries Control Board-sponsored Easter Guineas and Champagne Stakes be an equine battle, but also a raging contest between the “knights of the pigskin.”

Patrick Husbands and Emile Ramsammy will be coming out of Canada, Antonio Whitehall (Barbados), and Shane Ellis (Jamaica) will be pitting their riding skills and wits against each other in both races.

The jockeys’ riding assignments were announced at the draw for starting postions for the two races at the NLCB Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, yesterday.

For Husbands, he will be attempting to make it a four-timer and possibly five, after winning the three feature races in his native Barbados last month, including the rich Barbados Gold Cup.

He will be coming after having his first winning ride at Woodbine race course in Canada astride Tactical Moment on Sunday. He also had two third place finishes and one second when the 2014 season opened at the weekend.

Ramsammy on the other hand has managed one third place to date. Husbands will ride one of Baskaran Bassawh’s two entries in the feature $315,000 NLCB Easter Guineas over 1800 metres, first jewel in the local Triple Crown, Spitfire, —Ramsammy will ride Dark Treasure in the race while Whitehall will be astride Eye See You and Ellis aboard two-year-old queen Soca Rhapsody.

And in the NLCB Champagne Stakes, Husbands will be astride last year’s Derby winner Bigman In Town, Ramsammy aboard Kidz Ro and Whitehall rides Buffalo Soldier.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,193392.html

 

HARD NOT TO LIKE after the Grade 1 win

Matz said Hard Not to Like, who had not raced since Feb. 28, when she won an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, benefited from the layoff . “She’s been training the best she ever has,” he said. “She’s had a couple of races where she’s had bad luck. Yesterday, everything worked out the right way.”

He said the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 7 at Belmont might be a possible next race for the Jenny Wiley winner. …

 

OBS APRIL 2YO SALE

GALLOP SHOW BEGINS TODAY FOR APRIL 2YO SALE AT OBS

Ontario bred by Hip -see catalogue at www.obssales.com

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EASTER WEEK – for family, friends, horses and animals – be kind.