The doors were open at Woodbine yesterday – and they are today – come on over and see the inner-workings of an industry that does so much for Ontario!
Photos below from DOORS OPEN TORONTO are from Woodbine Racetrack/Dawn Kay
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS: AMI’S FLATTER enjoying some horse time
Ivan Dalos’ AMI’S FLATTER, who was 2nd in the Tampa Bay Derby and 3rd in the Florida Derby (Grade 1) is enjoying some paddock time following his 7th place finish in the Marine Stakes. Trainer Josie Carroll told Thoroughblog that the colt is going to “roll around in the paddock, get muddy and have some horse time” before he will return to the track and point for the Queen’s Plate.
The son of Flatter will go right in the Plate while others are pointing to the Plate Trial.
The Trial could lure: Conquest Typhoon (Mike Smith), Conquest Boogaloo, Field of Courage, Danish Dynaformer, Danzig Moon, Breaking Lucky and perhaps West Village.
NIPIGON, owned by Chiefswood Stable m has been officially ruled out of the Plate by the stable.
SKY TREASURE BURIES NASSAU RIVALS
The Grade 2 Nassau Stakes brought together a very good field of fillies and mares for the 1 mile grass race with the pairing from Malcolm Pierce, Overheard and Deceptive Vision, battling for favoritism with invader Stellar Path (Fr).
The pace was strong as Resistivity tugged her way to the lead and got away from Hendire winner Skylander Girl. Stellar Path, a stakes winner at Aqueduct last time out on ‘good’ turf’ was very close to the good pace and that proved to be her undoing.
From far back, SKY TREASURE (Sky Mesa) flew late and won the Nassau in the late stages under Gary Boulanger, who was riding for John Oxley and Mark Casse. The Ed Seltzer-bred 5-year-old was winning her first stakes race but she was coming out of a strong race at Santa Anita, the Grade 3 Wilshire.
Deceptive Vision kicked on for place money, a head in front of the late rallying Overheard. Sky Treasure covered the mile in 1:33.54. She was 19 to 1 and quite a bit of an overlay.
Sky Treasure wins 2015 Nassau (Grade 2) she is in the yellow and light blue silks. Sam-Son farms’ Deceptive Vision is 2nd from right and Skylander Girl is at the far right WEG/Michael Burns photo
More Saturday
EASTERN ATLANTIC, a tough local mare, rallied from last to win this $25,000 claiming race at a route distance for Debmar Stables and trainer Ricky Griffith. The Stormy Atlantic mare was ridden by Justin Stein who took the Daily Double.
Race 2 – the sleek dark bay HOMBRE NATURAL was dropping in for $32,000 off a win and led all the way through 6 furlongs to beat 3 rivals in this dash. The winner is owned by Hernandez racing Club and trained by Armando De Le Cerda. Stein rode this odds on favourite to the easy win in 1:09.77.
race 3- The Mark Casse trainees in this maiden allowance finished 1-2. CONQUEST COBRA was put on the lead by Alan Garcia and he held off his mate OIL STRIKE to win by a neck for Conquest Stable LLC. The colt is by Pioneerof the Nile and it was his 5th career start. Oil strike was first time as a gelding and he was a $425,0000 purchase as a yearling by John Oxley.
race 4- FEW WHITE HAIRS won and was claimed and he was the first of 2 winners for jockey Gerry Olguin. The winner is a Benchmark grey gelding who was bred by Cecil Peacock. Blinkers were off for his 3rd strat off the layoff and he had a big interim workout of 46 1/5. Stuart Simon trained and now Zeljko Krcmar will train the 4yo gelding.
Race 5- a maiden allowance sprint on the turf at 6 1/2 furlongs and Jim and Susan Hill’s pair of Appeal to the Win and Awesome Song ran 1-2 through the stretch and the former won with a 74 Beyer Figure for a time of 1:16.15. The filly is by Successful Appeal and it was his 5th career start. Reade Baker trains and Gerry Olguin rode.
race 6 – Dixie Brew won in her 3rd race off the layoff and in bounce-back fashion for owner/trainer Debra Rombis. The Milwaukee Brew filly added blinkers and she was coming off a 24 length drubbing but before that had missed by a head. Gary Boulanger with 1 of 2 wins on the day.
race 7 – Like a Harley among scooters – that is how Dan Loiselle described CONQUEST MISBEHAVE as she blew by the field of allowance fillies and mares to win her 2nd career race and first start since August. She is 2 for 2 for Conquest Stables and a daughter of Into Mischief. Mark Casse won 3 races on the day and this one was ridden by Patrick Husbands. 6 furlongs in 1:09.62 – an 82 Beyer Figure
race 9
Rolph Davis’ THE GREAT GIZMO won an exciting stretch battle in this 1 1/16 mile allowance/optional claiming race, an event worth $39,000 but with Ontario sired bonuses, the winner collected just over $38,000. The Great Gizmo is a sizy chestnut by Giant Gizmo out of Great Gazoo by Great Gladiator. He won for the second time in his career in his season debut and is 2 for 2 in 2015 for trainer Robert Tiller and jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva. The gelding was bred by March Quayle.
Race 10 – KEEN GIZMO made it a ‘gizmo’ late double as he blasted his way to victory in this Ontario sired allowance race for non-winners of 2. He was making his season debut for Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll and boy, he looked like a champ in post parade. He is a homebred for Dalos and the 4yo is 2 for 14 in his career. Queen’s Plate contender Bear at Last finished 2nd. The winning Beyer Figure was 74.
Wagering on Saturday was $3.32 million.
