Wearing the famous silks of MICHAEL TABOR, Rafael Hernandez guided CIRCLE THE WORLD to a win in the season opener at Woodbine. She was the first of 3 winners for trainer Wesley Ward on the card – WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT/MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO
LET’S TALK SERIOUSLY ABOUT OPENING DAY
SERIOUS TALK, returning to Woodbine where he began his career for previous owners Bill Tharrenos and Vicki Banks, surged late to win the Woodstock Stakes at 6 furlongs, the featured race on opening day of Woodbine’s 60th season.
The 3-year-old stakes race was being run for the 117th time and was highlighting an opening day card for the first time.
SERIOUS TALK, a son of Forestry out of Agapanthus by Theatrical, was a $10,000 yearling purchase whp won his career debut for $32,000 last August. After winning at Gulfstream in January, Tharrenos and Banks sold the gelding to Michael Hui. The gelding then was 3rd in a small stakes race at Turfway before winning an optional claiming race there with an 86 Beyer.
In the Woodstock, with Emma-Jayne riding for the first time, the dark bay was always close to the pace while in the 3 path and then reeled in a stubborn Jacks Escarpment in the late stages for the 3/4 length win in 1:09.52.
The winning Beyer Figure was 88. Mike Maker trains the winner.
Favored Conquest Big LuckE was third after lacking speed early in the race.
SERIOUS TALK, by Forestry, is loud and clear in the Woodstock Stakes – Woodbine/Michael Burns photo
It was a breezy and very cool day at Woodbine but spirits were high and while wagering was down a bit from last year’s opening day – $2.4 million compared to $2.7 million in 2014 – there was a good vibe.
The very small fields for the first card was no doubt the reason for the dip in betting and certainly Sunday should be better. In addition, some noise from the Horseplayers Association of North American (HANA) tried to get players to avoid Woodbine for the day in response to a 25% takeout rate on the new Pick 5 bet (which handled $28,000).
Shades of recent springs at Woodbine as WESLEY WARD won 3 of the 10 races, all ridden by the top American rider Rafael Hernandez.
In 2011, Ward won 5 of the 10 races on the first card of Woodbine and the next year he won 3 races.
Ward had 5 runners on Saturday’s card and was one of several invading trainers for the opening day card.
The Ward runners are usually lickety split and very ready and that was the case on Saturday.
It was a Ward trainee who won the first race of the season, the beautifully bred filly CIRCLE THE WORLD, owned by Michael Tabor and a daughter of Munnings. The filly was racing for just $10,000 claiming off a lengthy layoff, had blinkers off and was catching a small, weak field of colts.
She got it done as she was surrounded on the lead turning for home but would not let any other filly go past. She paid 2.90 and was claimed by Nathan Squires.
Ward also won with SMITHEREEN at even money in race 6. This Ontario bred by Street Boss, bred by Adena Springs, led all the way and posted a time of 57.98 for the 5 furlongs. He had speed in a tough maiden race at Saratoga in one race in 2014.
The 3rd winner for Ward was TIZ SARDONIC JOE, who led all the way with the wind at his back for half the race to win the starter allowance, race 10, in a wild 1:15.36, good for an 87 Beyer Figure.
At 2 to 1, the Tiznow horse is 6 for 22 in his career and he is now 2 for 2 on synthetic.
Stakes winner JADE DRAGON bled and was eased before falling and then being vanned off.
More winners
RACE 2 – LEADING WILD, a Florida bred by Leading the Parade, won this maiden allowance for 4-year-old fillies at 5 to 1 for trainer Norm McKnight. The filly had been working at Belmont since last fall and she marked the first win for Alan Garcia at the 2015 meeting.
RACE 3- The wonderful mare CLOUDWATCHER, now 6-years-old, won her season opener with a nice rally at 5 furlongs at 3 to 1 in this $10,000 claiming race. The Macho Uno mare had done the same thing last spring and she has won 6 of 17 races. She is currently trained by Willie Armata for Peter Armata and David Moran rode.
RACE 4- workout time-watchers may have liked HER MAJESTY’S FLAG in this allowance/optional claiming race for 3-year-old fillies. The Midhsipman gal won her debut last May at 31 to 1 and then raced once in November when 5th in the Glorious Song Stakes. With the vet scratch of Dancing On Fire, this filly figured to take a bit more support than she did but she paid a nice 6 to 1 off a 47 4/5 workout on Mar. 29. Skye Chernetz rode for trainer Dave Cotey who co owns with Barry Butzer.
RACE 5- Stakes placed SUPER COLEROSA was well prepared by the Mike and Josie DePaulo barn and he had a nifty ride by Jesse Campbell to win this Ontario sired allowance race. The son of Bold Executive – Minstrel Show by Tale of the Cat was very eager in pre-race warm-up, looking as if he was almost running off. He had the rail post, chased the pace set by Phil in the Blank and then got outside to rally 5 wide for the 1 length win for owner Frank Romano.
Paradox Far, and Windways Farm Ltd bred the colt who was a $30,000 yearling purchase and now an earner of over $95,000.
His 5 furlong time was 58.09.
RACE 7 – Picking up where she left off in 2014, SIMPLY BELONGING, by Belong to Me, won this $20,00 claiming race at 5 furlongs in her first run off the winter layoff. She had won her maiden at the distance for $8,000 claiming on Dec. 7 by 7 lengths. Trained by Nick Nosowenko for Michelle Newell, the mare snuck up the rail to win by 3 1/2 lengths under Luis Contreras.
RACE 9 – SPLASHY GIZMO and MAHOGANY ROAD both had very good workout times this spring and then finished 1-2 in this allowance race/optional claimer resulting in a nice $55.20 exactor.
Splashy Gizmo, ridden by Alan Garcia, raced just 4 time sin 2014 and struggled after a great 2013 season when she was stakes placed twice. Owners and trained by Nick Nosowenko, the Giant Gizmo 4-year-old was shiny and new off the layoff and won by 2 lengths over speedy Mahogany Road.
The winning Beyer was 65.
AMERICAN PHAR OH!!
105 Beyer in a gallop
WOW is what most horsepeople and fans said as AMERICAN PHAROAH cruised to an 8 length win in the Arknanas Derby (Grade 1) yesterday at Oaklawn Park, long after the Woodbine card had ended.
Here is a Zayat Stables homebred colt by Pioneer ofthe Nile from a Yankee Gentleman mare who looks like he very well could be the next superstar our sport is going to get.
$1.4 million in earnings in 5 races and one loss in his 5 races. And this Bob Baffert trainee was ridiculously amazing yesterday:
HOT SPRINGS — Nothing short of a dominating victory would have lived up to expectations for American Pharoah at the $1 million Arkansas Derby.
The heavy favorite met, if not exceeded, those hopes by pulling away in the stretch for an eight-length win on Saturday — setting the stage for the colt’s position as the likely Kentucky Derby favorite next month.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and owned by Zayat Stables, American Pharoah went off as the heavy 1-9 favorite in the eight-horse field at Oaklawn Park.
The pre-race hype was fueled by a win at last month’s Rebel Stakes by last year’s 2-year-old champion, who has now won four straight races by a combined 22 1/4 lengths. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah — after settling into second for much of the race — left the field in his wake around the final turn and turned the home stretch into more of a coronation than competition.
“I’ve had a lot of nice horses,” Baffert said. “I think he’s the most exceptional three-year-old.”
American Pharoah ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.2 in the Kentucky Derby prep race, finishing well ahead of runner-up Far Right and the rest of the field.
The colt paid $2.20, $2.20 and $2.10. Far Right returned $2.80 and $2.40, and Mr. Z paid $3.80 to show.
After a winter of less-than-ideal conditions — including a downpour during February’s Southwest Stakes — the crowd of 67,500 enjoyed a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the 70s on Saturday.
With a fast track to match the conditions, Bridget’s Big Luvy set the pace on the rail early with American Pharoah content to coast in second around the first turn and throughout the back stretch.
However, as the field made its way around the final turn, American Pharoah blew past the fading Bridget’s Big Luvy — well ahead of any other possible challengers.
“He’s always been something special from the start,” Baffert said. “It’s in the way he works; he’s just really an intelligent, gifted horse … I’m glad he got it done, and he did it the right way.”
Baffert said American Pharoah will travel straight from Oaklawn Park to Churchill Downs to continue his preparation for what many hope is a run at the Triple Crown.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2015/apr/11/american-pharoah-runs-away-arkansas-derby/?f=latest
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS
Guess who has a serious Queen’s Plate prospect…again? ROGER ATTFIELD, already with 8 of those babies, sent out the well regarded DANISH DYNAFORMER to win again yesterday. The son of Dynaformer out of Danish Wildcat by Danehill won on yielding grass at Keeneland in 1:44.53, good for an 80 Beyer Speed Figure. It was his 2nd grass win in succession and 2nd win in 4 races. Charles Fipke owns and bred the colt whose 2nd dam is champion HOLLYWOOD WILDCAT.
Danish Dynaformer won by 2 1/4 lengths over another Plate contender, MILWAUKEE MIST, by Milwaukee Brew, who is improving for Preston Stables, This colt was bred by Sean Fitzhenry.
A filly of note to watch for is OPENING ACT, who won a big maiden race at Keeneland on Saturday. the race was the buzz of the day the Ogden Phipps beginner Playtime was a big favourite but she finished last while the Ontario bred streaked to victory.
From Thoroughbred Daily News: 8th-KEE, $51,430, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24 3/5, ft.
OPENING ACT (f, 3, Distorted Humor–Life Begins, by Unbridled’s Song) was a well beaten sixth at odds of
7-2 on debut going six panels at Sam Houston Feb. 2, and was dismissed at 28-1 in this second attempt. The
gray shot to the front and was extremely eager as she posted opening splits of :23.39 and :46.98. Pressured
by 8-1 shot Flying Jibe (Fusaichi Pegasus) at the top of the stretch, Opening Act kept on finding to kick clear of
that rival for a 1 1/4-length victory. Heavily favored Phipps homebred Playtime (Street Cry {Ire}), a daughter
of champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), came in at the start and never got in gear, finishing last of the 10.
Sales history: $250,000 yrl ’13 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $29,680.
O-Donamire Farm. B-Anderson Farms, Trackside Farm,Tenlane Farm & New Dawn Stable LLC (ON).
T-Ben Colebrook.
SOVEREIGN AWARDS FUN FOR THOROUGHBLOG
Thank you to the JOCKEY CLUB OF CANADA and STACIE ROBERTS who put on an amazing show Friday night at Woodbine – the 2014 Sovereign awards. It is a nice start-up night to get rolling into the season, although a little tough on us who have a wild day the next afternoon!
Great image below by the incomparable WILL WONG!
I presented the CHAMPION MALE SPRINTER award to CALGARY CAT, owned by (from left) Cory Hoffman, trainer Kevin Attard and owner Stephen Chesney. CONGRATS GUYS!
MORE WOODBINE OPENING DAY in the news
Jockeys ruled most of the headlines in Woodbine opening week coverage.
TYLER PIZARRO is back riding at Woodbine:
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/11/woodbine-jockey-tyler-pizarro-gets-a-fresh-start
ALAN GARCIA at Woodbine:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/04/10/jockey-alan-garcia-looks-to-make-his-mark-at-woodbine.html
TEMPORARY FOREIGN WORKERS RULES HIT WOODBINE
