COVER BOY GOES FOR MILE..
WE CAN SEE FOR MILES
Wise Dan and the boys are getting organized
How interesting that the two favourites for the WOODBINE MILE on Sept 13 will both be ended long layoffs. Both are wonderful turf milers although one is a whole lot more popular that the other and a 2-time Horse of the Year.
WISE DAN and OBVIOUSLY come into the Mile without any racing this year and both are old timers who have their set ways of racing.
Obviously will be gone from the start and will try to lead all the way while Dan with track and try to rally.
Since both are coming off layoffs, even with all those wins they have off vacations, they must both be considered vulnerable.
The locals are headed by GRAND ARCH, who just won the Fourstardave at Saratoga and he has run well in the Mile before – just not a horse that you can rely on for a win. TOWER OF TEXAS is the best of the other locals.
Then there is LEA, who I tabbed as the next possible Cigar last year when he hung up a 114 Beyer Figure when he won the Donn Handicap over Will Take Charge and others. The son of First Samurai was coming off many grass races. Now he is back on the grass after a drab run in the Whitney (okay, that was a good field) so he is a total guess, is he just off form now?
Same can be said for MSHAWISH, who was a Grade 1 winner on Florida turf in February but his run behind Grand Arch last time was so-so.
Euro starters are MONDIALISTE who just won on Aug 22 and Mr Owen, a new purchase for Qatar who has some potential.
An intriguing group.
LEA was a decent grass runner, a potential superstar on dirt (114 Beyer, track record) and now he is back on turf – Churchill photo
PROBABLE FIELD FOR THE GRADE 1 $1-MILLION RICOH WOODBINE MILE (13)
HORSE / OWNER / TRAINER / JOCKEY
Grand Arch / Jim and Susan Hill / Brian Lynch / Luis Saez
Kaigun / G. Barber, Quintessential, Horse’n Around / M. Casse / P. Husbands
Lea / Adele B. Dilschneider & Claiborne Farm / Bill Mott / Joel Rosario
Mondialiste (IRE) / Geoff and Sandra Turnbull / David O’Meara / TBA
Mr. Owen / Qatar Racing Limited / Francois Rohaut / TBA
Mshawish / Al Shaqab Racing / Todd Pletcher / Javier Castellano
Obviously / Anthony Fanticola & Joseph Scardino / Phil D’Amato / Joe Talamo
Platinum Glory / John Di Scola / Mike DePaulo / Jesse Campbell
Reporting Star / Copper Water Thoroughbred Comp./ Pat Parente / Luis Contreras
Tower of Texas / T. F. Van Meter II & S. Dilworth / Roger Attfield / E. da Silva
Turncoat / Irish Wisky Racing LLC / Laurie Silvera / Omar Moreno
Wise Dan / Morton Fink / Charles LoPresti / John Velazquez
Za Approval / Live Oak Plantation / Mark Casse / TBA
News..
OBVIOUSLY AN OBVIOUS WOODBINE MILE CONTENDER
Obviously, a multiple Grade 1 winner trained by Philip D’Amato will be among the challengers to the returning Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, to be held Sunday, September 13.
For the eighth consecutive year, the Ricoh Woodbine Mile is part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ series and will offer the winner an all-expenses paid berth (entry fees and travel costs) into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, slated for Saturday October 31 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
The 19th edition of one of the premier grass races on the continent will be televised live across Canada on TSN and across the U.S. on FOX Sports 1 as part of The Jockey Club Racing Tour. The winner receives $600,000, while the runner-up gets $200,000.
Obviously, a now seven-year-old Choisir gelding successfully defended his title in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on June 14, 2014 at Santa Anita, going gate-to-wire for a 1 1/2-length score.
Away since a fifth-place run in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November, Obviously, with a work tab riddled with bullet works, has signaled D’Amato he’s ready for a return.
“He loves to run four or five races a year and just gives you everything he’s got. He runs great fresh and if he wasn’t training as well as he ever has, if not better, I wouldn’t even consider this off the bench. But he is training like a horse possessed so we’re going to take a shot in a $1-million race and a chance at a ‘Win and You’re In’,” said D’Amato.
Joe Talamo will come to Woodbine to ride Obviously in the Mile, and D’Amato will not have to provide any pre-race instructions for the take-no-prisoners pacemaker.
“He’s one of those warriors you’d love to go into battle with. He’s got one way to go and if you want to go with him, he’s proven for four years straight, that if you do go with him, you’ll finish towards the back of the pack,” said D’Amato.
D’Amato, a longtime assistant trainer for Mike Mitchell, took over training duties for the barn in April of 2014 when Mitchell retired to spend more time with his family as he battled brain cancer.
Mitchell passed away this April.
Obviously, an 11-time winner from 22 starts including more than $1.4-million in purse earnings arrived at Mitchell’s barn in 2012, following a trio of starts in Ireland, and improved with each start under the conditioner’s tutelage.
And D’Amato, the leading money earner at Santa Anita’s 2015 spring/summer meet, was a big part of Obviously’s continued education.
“I’ve grown up with this horse ever since he joined our stable after coming over from Europe,” said D’Amato. “I know the horse well. He’s the barn favourite. He’s got a very straight forward personality. He’s just a great all around training horse. Everything he does, he gives you 110 percent. He’s the opposite of lazy. He’s a work horse that loves what he’s doing and puts everything into it, every day.”
The Irish-bred Obviously will be venturing outside of California for the first time since leaving his homeland and will provide D’Amato with his first international starter. It’s a journey D’Amato has longed to make.
“I’ve watched Woodbine for many years and I’ve always been enamoured with the beautiful turf course,” said D’Amato “On T.V. it just looks stunning. It’s huge. I’ve always wanted to run a horse there and now we’re doing it. I think he’s going to love the layout.”
Of course, to make the trip a winning one, Obviously will have to fend off Wise Dan, the two-time Ricoh Woodbine Mile champ and current course record holder.
“I have the utmost respect for Wise Dan. He is a specimen,” said D’Amato. “I’ve seen him in all of his Breeders’ Cup appearances and I have lots of respect for him and Chuck LoPresti and the way he’s trained him. But, our horse is doing super and I think he’ll love that Woodbine turf and we’re going to give it a go.”
Obviously will breeze once more over the Del Mar turf on Sunday before shipping to Toronto for his first start in 10 months. And there’s no question in D’Amato’s mind that the quick-stepping bay is ready.
WOODBINE – FRIDAY’S RESULTS that update CTHS catalogue for Sept. 8 sale
RACE 2 CLM 40K NW2
#6 Impetuous Act HE WON Hip 39 1/2 brother by Victor’s Cry
RACE 3 MDN 10K
#3 Even Up SHE WON by 7 lengths in her debut Hip 42 1/2 brother by Signature Red
RACE 4
#7 Lookingforanewhome FIN. 2ND Hip 136 1/2 sister by Where’s the Ring
RACE 8 OC60K/NW2
#4 Kay’s Grace FIN. 2ND Hip 146 1/2 brother by Plan
RACE 9 ALW NW2 OSS
#4 Virtadero FIN. 4TH Hip 167 1/2 brother by Old Forester
SATURDAY ENTRIES with siblings in book:
RACE 1 MDN CLM 25K
#1 Marsala Hip 16 1/2 brother by Court Vision
RACE 2 ALW
#3 Obeah Woman Hip 73 1/2 brother by Exhi
#6 Pretty Two Faced Hip 198 1/2 brother by Leonnatus Antaeus
RACE 4 MSW OSS
#1 Forest Love Hip 254 full brother
#4 Allied Chrome Hip 222 1/2 sister by Court Vision
RACE 7 OC 40K
#8 Virreina Hip 167 1/2 brother by Old Forester
#12 Leave Er B Hip 13 1/2 sister by Court Vision
RACE 9 OC 62K
#1A Bear’s Big Boy Hip 284 1/2 brother by Kentucky Bear
RACE 10 CLM 32K
#13 Mattangel Hip 94 1/2 brother by North Light
FRIDAY AT WOODBINE – Congratulations to trainer Debbie England who saddled her first winner of the season in race 1 – A A THUNDER BAY. This is a well bred son of Stormy Atlantic who had never tried the Polytrack until this $16,00 maiden claiming race, dropping from maiden allowance turf sprints. He is a 4yo owned and A and A Farms and bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms and the Stormy Atlantic Syndicate. It was the colt’s 4th career race. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode.
race 2- A number of horses rallied from far back and wide and the winner was IMPETUOUS ACT, taking this $40,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles in 1:44 2/5 for his 2nd caree win. This is a fellow who took 23 races to win his maiden and he recently bombed at odds-on for $40,000 on July 24. David Moran rode for trainer Franz Crean who co-owns with Dr. Chris and partner. Impetuous Act is just about at $200,000 in earnings.
race 3 – The first time starter EVEN UP took a short lead early in this maiden claiming race for $10,00 and then poured it on to win big in 1:19.52 for 6 1/2 furlongs. She is a Marcavelly 3yo out of stakes winner Everybottiwins and she is owned by Sean selose. Abraham Katryan trains and David Garcia rode.
race 4- RAGING MANE darted away from the field turning for home while others got into trouble and won for the 3rd time inhis last 4 races. This son of Purim is owned by Ace Racing, Julie McNiven and Rohan Thomas and Scott Fairlie trains. Michelle Rainford rode. The 5yo won this $8,000 claiming race for his 4th career win. HUricane Elvis had a troubled trip and was 3rd.
INteresting set of claims after the race as Team Valor claimed Get a Grip from Joshua Attard for $7,500 – that gelding making his 54th career start; Hurricane Elvis was claimed by trainer Harold Ladouceur for Ross Knight and Ace Racing took Rockinmebaby.
race 5- off the turf for $32,000 claiming fillies and mares at 1 mile and 70 yards and there were 4 scratches. MISS TATEY CAT stole the show as she went very, very slow on the pace – 26 1/5, 52 2/5 and 1:17 1/5 and certainly no one was going to catch this Angie Swartz mare who is 7 for 24 in her career now. Nick Gonzalez trains and Jesse Campbell with the shrewd ride.
race 6 – LA NENA EXECUTIVE ran away with this sprint for $10,000 claiming fillies and mares under Tommy Wong. The 3yo by Old Forester – Regal n Bold by Bold Executive has 2 wins and 2 seconds in her last 4 starts for owner and trainer Mario Maver.
race 7 – off the turf for this $40,000 claiming/optional event and there were 2 scratches; BRILLIANT COMET had not raced for 16 months and had only one race in2014. However, the 5yo by Bordstone won both starts as a 3yo at Woodbine with strong form. He was offered for the claiming price, battled hard all the way and then held off a charging Lookingforanewhome to win in 1:10.49. John Oxley owns, Mark Casse trains and Gary Boulanger rode the newly gelding Kentucky bred.
race 8 – a $62,500 allowance/optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs and heavily favoured Line of Best Fit grabbed a snug, short lead under Emma-Jayne Wilson but she had pressure and in the stretch run she was overtaken by Kay’s Grave who then was nabbed right on the money by BLACK BIRD ROCK, a 6yo mare by Flower Alley wo was re-claimed by Bear Stables for $62,500 2 starts ago. Bear Stables had lost her last September for the same amount and she had won almost $100,00 that season. The mare raced all winter in California but then won her 2 return races this spring before being claimed again. She is an 8-time winner in 34 races and her earnings are up to $495,000.
Mike DePaulo trains and Patrick Husbands rode.
race 9 – an allowance race for Ontario sired fellows came off the grass and the pace was quick compared to other dashes on the day. Battling on the lead was Virtadero with 2 others and heavily favoured Sweet Grass Creek, owned by Gus Schickedanz was trapped inside and off the pace until the turn for home. Taking advantage of the hot pace, Sweet Grass Creek came on in the 2 path and rushed clear to win in 1:23.30 for his 2nd career win. The Wando fellow, who set that crazy pace in the Queen’s Plate and won 2 and placed 2nd twice in races around the Plate debacle. Mike Keogh trains and Jesse Campbell rode.
FORT ERIE’S GOOD NEWS
FORT ERIE – This season at the Fort Erie Racetrack is quite possibly the most successful in the modern era of the 118-year-old border oval.
This week’s Twilight Tuesday, the last of the evening series for 2015, is one of five race dates this year where at least $1 million was wagered when on and off track betting is combined.
Remaining race dates are scheduled until the end of October – meaning there is plenty of opportunity to have several more successful days.
Jim Thibert, chief executive officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium, said a marketing budget that sits at approximately $200,000, compared to the roughly $800,000 the track used to have for promotion, is being used effectively.
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