SOVEREIGN AWARDS PARTY BEGINS 2015 WOODBINE SEASON
It will a night to reconnect with racing friends and family, a night to usher in the new season and of course, to celebrate last year’s champions.
It may be LEXIE LOU, Mark Casse and Gary Barber and Conquest Stables that sweep a lot of the awards but we will be celebrating Ontario breds, who had a big year all over the continent.
Good luck to CINDY PIERSON DULAY and SANTINO DIPAOLA whose photos are up for the Sovereign tonight. Both images appeared only on THOROUGHBLOG!
WOODBINE OPENING DAY
Come early for a handicapping seminar by JIM MAZUR who is in town to cheer on his horse BRING ON THE BULL in the Woodstock Stakes. There is also a jockey signing and other events to take in before racing beings at 1 p.m.
The weather should be lovely for the weekend: Sunday has 81 horses entered with the STAR SHOOT Stakes being the feature with a very good field.
In the news – Jockeys at Woodbine getting most the play:
ALAN GARCIA by Canadian PRESS
http://www.sookenewsmirror.com/national/sport/299234851.html
SHEENA RYAN now a journeyman –
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/09/sheena-ryan-knows-that-journey-to-being-a-top-jockey-can-be-a-painful-yet-joyful-ride
JOCKEY RACE at WOODBINE –
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/09/woodbines-top-jockey-race-will-be-quite-a-battle
PAULICK REPORT WEIGHS IN on Woodbine opening
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/woodbine-kicks-off-2015-season-april-11/
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS: SHAMAN GHOST – SCARY GOOD
Stronach Stables’ homebred 3-year-old SHAMAN GHOST, touted by Brian Lynch on yesterday’s THOROUGHBLOG as the stable’s big Queen’s Plate weapon, won an allowance race at Keeneland on Thursday at 1 1.16 miles. The son of Ghostzapper – Getback Time by Gilded Time won by a neck over Outlash, an odds-on colt for trainer Todd Pletcher.
The Beyer Figure was 78 for 1:45 4/5.
On Saturday at Keeneland, NIPIGON makes his much anticipated return in a grass allowance race and he will meet DANISH DYNAFORMER and MILWAUKEE MIST. Nipigon was edged in the Coronation Futurity last year by DECISION DAY.
MALCOLM PIERCE – DON’T LEAVE ME headed to SELENE STAKES
Pin Oak Stable’s homebred Don’t Leave Me, the three-quarter length winner of the Bourbonette Oaks (G3) at Turfway on March 21 in her most recent start, will not be pointed to the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“She was never on the Oaks trail,” trainer Malcolm Pierce said Wednesday morning of Don’t Leave Me, who earned 50 qualifying points for the Oaks that would be enough to earn a spot in the 14-horse starting gate.
Don’t Leave Me has won three of four starts with all races coming on grass or all-weather surfaces. Pierce did not consider supplementing the filly to Sunday’s $125,000 Appalachian (G3) Presented by Japan Racing Association at a mile on the turf.
“She just ran a huge race off a (six-month) layoff and I want to give her plenty of time,” Pierce said. “I will nominate her to the ($150,000) Edgewood (G3 on May 1 at Churchill) as a consideration but probably she will go next in the Selene (a Grade 3 race for $150,000 at Woodbine on May 24).
“It is a long year, and as long as you get the money it doesn’t matter if it is in the spring or the fall.”
JANINE SMITH AMONG NEW RIDERS AT HASTINGS PARK
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