After 71 racing day at WOODBINE, we are past the halfway mark of what has been a super intriguing season. There is more fun and excitement on the way.
This site’s sister page – JMBETS.ca – has had almost 70,000 page views since it launched on the 1st of the 71 racing days. JMBETS hopes to expand for 2015 – come and visit, free picks for Woodbine and historical notes and more.
LET’S BET!! A $232,000 carryover in the High 5 today at Woodbine and coming up on Aug. 30 is a mandatory payout of the High 5 at Mohawk..it currently stands at $599,000 and will be frozen on Monday.
GOOD LUCK to WHY KATHERINE at Monmouth today and her owners, Terra Racing, trainer KevinAttard.
MIDSUMMER DERBY – THE TRAVERS
Will it be WICKED STRONG again, with his new blinkers? Or can TONALIST bounce back? Is BAYERN going to be long gone or will KID CRUZ wake up?
These are some of the horses I like in the Travers Stakes today 1 1/4 miles – the top 3yo race of the summer and the last big race as Saratoga winds down.
Sloppy track at Saratoga right now take something away from the big races but CLOSE HATCHES won the Personal Ensign for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bill Mott. CINDY PIERSON DULAY PHOTO
On the day before the Travers Stakes, a field of 7 older fillies and mares contested the $500,000 Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on the Saratoga main track, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” for the Distaff (formerly Ladies’ Classic). 24,088 fans came out despite intermittent showers and unusually cool temperatures in the mid 60’s, with the track downgraded to muddy. Close Hatches was sent off as the 9-5 favorite off her 3 race winning streak including the Azeri (G2), Apple Blossom (G1), and Ogden Phipps (G1)
WOODBINE FRIDAY/WEDNESDAY
Race 1 – DOWNTOWN, a highly regarded Street Sense gelding at one time, came off a 14 month layoff for new owner Winview Stable and trainer Pat Parente and won his maiden for $16,000 by more than 6 lengths. He had been 4th in 2 fast races as a 3yo for Stronach Stables in 2013. He did not have a smooth strat from the gate on Friday as he broke outwardly quite badly but he got straight and ran 6 furlongs under Sheena Ryan in 1:10.42, good for a 71 Beyer Figure. He was a popular pick as he paid $3.80.
Troubled outings for Fingertips and Zensational Josh as both were messed up at the strat.
Race 2 – DON’T LEAVE ME won the prep for the Natalma Stakes for owner/breeder Pin Oak Stable, Josephina Abercrombie. This Lemon Drop Kid – See How She Runs by Maria’s Mon filly won her debut at odds-on on the Polytrack and then came from last to win this grass allowance at 7 furlongs in 1:24.23 – a 59 Beyer Figure. Malcolm Pierce trains.
The going stick rating for the grass was 10.8 and appeared to have a bit of ‘cut’ to it. The race had a very long inquiry as CONQUEST SO TRUE and INTERNAL BOURBON bumped off each other a couple of times in the stretch. The former took a bit of the worst and the latter was disqualfied from 2nd to 5th.
Race 3- HELIO BIRD, an Artie Schiller filly owned and trained by Laurie Silvera, won at 8 to 5 under Patrick Husbands. She was down to $8,000 claiming and was winning for the 2nd time in 8 races this year.
Race 4- a nice maiden allowance race at 7 furlongs on the grass and the winner was the favourite, MANOFMANYVIRTUES, a Kitten’s Joy Kentucky bred owned by Amerman Racing LLC and trained by Brian Lynch. The 3yo colt was bothered in the strtech by Big Black Storm who was leading but got past that Silent Name fellow to win in 123.23, a 72 Beyer.
Race 5- maiden fillies and mares for $8,000 and it was blinkers on for TAMMY’S CHOICE that worked for Rockstone Investment Corp, Sheldon Pettle, S. Herzog and partner and trainer Steve Attard. Sje is a Giant Gizmo filly who wore down layoff runner MI HAT MI COAT for Debra Rombis in the last furlong.
Race 6 – A hot pace softened up DR.HARKNESS but helped YER BLUES ns the two chestnut geldings landed in a ead heat for the win in this allowance/optional claiming race for $20,000. Both are ONtario sired runners. The former was winning for for the first time this year and he is by Bold ‘n Flashy, traine dby Norm McKnight and ridden by Jesse Campbell. The latter is a Tucci Stables 4yo by Endeavor, who has won 3 of 8 in his career. Steven Bahen rode for trainer Sid Attard.
Race 7- That is 2 in a row for BAMBARRA BOLD who loves sprinting on the Polytrack. She is the first winner for JIGGS COZ and she is a homebred for John Unger. Murray Shopiro also owns. Her time was 1:17.11, a 69 Beyer. Barb Minshall trains and Eurico da Silva rode
Race 8 – Small field for the grass at 6 1/2 furlongs and SKY TREASURE, at 2 to 5, won with ease from last place in 1:16.13, a 92 beyer Figure. This John oxley filly is by Sky Mesa and is a Mark Casse trainee. Patrick Husbands rode the filly who is 3 for 9 in her career – she had just finished a close 2nd in the Royal North Stakes.
The last race of the day was a $12,400 claiming race for non-winners of 2 and it was ZIPPER SOLO in the last jump to win over favoured MELMICH. The winner has won 2 in a row for Sam DiPasquale. Nick Webb rode while Luis Contreras, who won on him last time, rode Future King, who was 3rd. The winner was claimed by DiPasquale in July for $10K in his 2nd race of the year.
SKY TREASURE, by Norm Files
Wednesday
The highest Beyer Figure from Wednesday night at Woodbine, courtesy of DAILY RACING FORM, was the 79 posted by BEAR’S PEARL, a homebred, grey filly for Bear Stables Ltd. trained by Mike DePaulo. The filly was competing for just $7,500 claiming but scorched 6 furlongs in 1:09.84 – a 79 Beyer Figure. She was 4 to 5 and paid $3.70. She is by Seeking the Dia out of Flame Song by Unbridled’s Song and Patrick Husbands rode her.
The two other Beyer Figures in the 70’s on Wed. night came from: SOROKOLITIS, also a grey, who won a turf allowance for Ontario sired horses in 1:22.82 for Suzanne Drake, Silver Duck Racing and J and J Pollard. This son of Union Place posted a 76 Beyer. And
ROYAL WARRIOR won his maiden in race 1 at 1 1/16 miles and his 1:44.43 earned this Kentucky bred a 75 Beyer Figure. Frank Bodell owns the Majestic Warrior gelding and Stuart Simon trains.
HILL `N` DALE YEARLING SHOW CORRECTION
I misidentified this photo earlier this week from the super Hill `n`Dale yearling show – this is a Philanthopist yearling, not a Victor`s Cry as previously reported. Thoroughblog regrest the error.
- By PHILANTHROPIST – CLASSY LANDLADY, filly nicknamed Christine
