WILL WONG captured LEIGH COURT in full flight as she flew across the finish line! check out Mr. Will Wong and Will Wong on Facebook and at www.mrwillwong.com
NO HOLDING COURT
89 Beyer Speed Figure for Leigh
Wagering on the first weekend was up a bit from last year’s opening weekend – $5.6 million compared to $5.4 million.
It was a different Tapeta on Sunday as inside speed held very well and the times were faster (they were very fast for
morning training Sunday).
Champion Canadian 3-year-old from 2 years ago, LEIGH COURT made a lovely return to Woodbine with a facile score in the WHIMSICAL STAKES -GRADE 3 for the Speedway Stable and trainer Mike Stidham.
The daughter of Grand Slam – Padmore, French Deputy accelerated into the turn and took command through a :45.25 half as Ida Bambina tried a rail run while Galina Point circled wide. However, there was no denying the returning champion as Leigh Court sprinted clear to a two-length victory. Galina Point won a photo for place over Skylander Girl who did not offer any speed after lots of rapid workouts all spring. Leigh Court covered six furlongs in 1:08.88.
Geroux believes a quick start was the key factor as Leigh Court took her fourth career graded stakes win. In addition to the Ontario Colleen, Leigh Court has also won the Grade III Seaway, at Woodbine, and the Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America, at Keeneland.
“She broke very sharp today. Sometimes she has a tendency of breaking a step slow or flat footed,” said Geroux. “Today, she broke very alertly and I was able to make the lead very nice and comfortable. We know she can be very tough when she can be on the lead like this and able to relax. She gave me a very nice turn of foot at the quarter pole. (She was) very strong.
“Last time (in the Mardi Gras) it was a little more difficult because we had the one hole and she broke flat footed,” continued Geroux. “I had to send her a little bit out of there to take my position and from there she was able to hold on. She was coming from a layoff and a little short of fitness, but today she was ready to run a big one, and she did.”
It was the fourth added-money win at Woodbine for Geroux who won the Grade II Natalma Stakes here last year with Catch a Glimpse who was named Canada’s Horse of the Year at Friday night’s Sovereign Awards. In 2014, Geroux won the Duchess and Etobicoke Stakes for the Stidham trained Pirate’s Trove.
“I like to come here to Woodbine. I’ve had a lot of success here and I picked up a Breeders’ Cup winner (Catch a Glimpse) the last time I came. I think I’m going to keep coming,” said Geroux.
Leigh Court, bred in Kentucky by former owner Eugene Melnyk, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 9-4-0 from 17 starts.
BULLET! Beginner BETTIN’ ACES and Eurico da Silva – captured by Mr Will Wong
Mr. Will Wong captured this lovely moment in the paddock at Woodbine
MORE SUNDAY RECAP
RACE 1- If you were BETTIN’ ACES then you won! The first time starter by Speightstown came in from New York for
trainer Brian Lynch with tons of workouts and this 4yo chased on the rail early in the 5 furlong dash, then agnled out
and edged past Dreamaker. The winner was 6 to 1 and was a $90,000 purchase from Eugene Melnyk’s dispersal in 2014.
Town & Country Farms own the colt and Eurico da Silvva rode.
One to watch for next time is Banker’s Mark, the favourite who lost a lot of ground on the turn and then rallied late.
Time was 57.57
Fastest dash of the day at 5 furlongs was HOLDING GOLD‘S charge to win an allowance race, race 2 on the day, for Live
Oak Platantion. This is a handsome bright bay by Lonhro (same sire as SHAKHIMAT) who won his debut with an 82 Beyer
Figure at Woodbine last July but then bombed when in very tough in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.
Off along layoff, the Florida homebred chased the speed of Armando Big early and then rallied to wear down the nice
filly DUBLIN DIVA from the Mike Doyle and Bill Duffy stable.
Patrick Husbands got his first win of the season as did Mark Casse.
The time of 56.86 was good for an 82 Beyer Speed Figure.
Dublin Diva, an Ontario bred by Leroidesanimeaux out of a Tapit mare, looks like an Oaks prospect if she get stretch out.
race 3 – BELLA HUMOR took a big edge in race 3, diving down from maide allowance (open) in 2014 in her only race, to pop up for $12,500 maidens. She led all the way at 3 to 1 for Linmac Farms and trainer Dave Cotey. Steve Bahen rode.
race 4 – A $62,50 claiming race brought together so older, speedy guys and Ontario bred BUONGIORNO JOHNNY was really happy to be back home and he lpoved the soft and fluffy Tapeta.
The 7-year-old Mr Greeley gelding, owned by RCC Racing Stables Ltd. raced 5 times at GUlfstream and was a minor player. Before that he was at Churchill and Fort Erie.
The busy boy led all the way in this race under Eurico da Silva for trainer John Mattine.
The gelding has earned over $378,000.
race 5- $10,000 claiming race and early in the race, STRUT THIS from the rail post, came out throwing his head and veering to the outside fnce and eventually he was pulled. Favoured Conn’s Reward could not keep up and that paved the way for a parade of longshots.
ZENZIZI charged home to win at 40 to 1 for Enza Armata and Frank Sara, trainer Vito Armata and 10-pound rider BRANDON DUCHAINE.
This was Duchaine’s 8th career win from 90 rides.
Another longshot, Kayez, was 2nd for the Kathy Patton stable.
ZENZIZI, four feet off the ground, wins at 40 to 1 under 10-pound bug rider BRANDON DUCHAINE – Mr Will Wong photo
race 6 – a maiden special weight for Ontario sired 3-year-olds at 5 furlongs was made to order for PHILLIPIAN, one of numerous lightly raced runners who have been working quickly this spring for trainer Robert Tiller.
This guy was quick to the lead and finished well to win in his 3rd career start and first outing since November.
Jockey Simon Husbands looked good aboard Frank DiGiulio Jr.’s homebred by Philanthropist, who had a litany of winners on the weekend but has not sttod in Ontario for a few years.
The mare is Yolie by Menifee.
race 7 – an allowance race, non-winners of 1 other than maiden or claiming or non-winners of 2 at 5 furlongs was one of the quicker races of the day. The Very Dry Stable’s RIVER MAID, bred by Jay Cochlin, was the 2nd winner for Robert Tiller and 2nd winner for jockey HUsbands as she battled the tough gal LETTER FLY (aka Cinderella) to win for the 4th time in her 8 career starts.
The daughter of Where’s the Ring – Rivermaid Dancing by Riverman had not raced since she won in July so she was well prepared.
Ontario sired gals ran 1 – 2 – 4 in this race that offered a purse of $56,000 but with the Ontario-bred /sired bonuses, was at $84,693.
River Maid, bought for about $55,0000 locally, has won $172,000.
57.06 for 5 furlongs was a 78 Beyer Figure.
race 9 – Ontario sired allowance non-winners of 2 lifetime or NW 1 other than went to the fleet OLD VALYRIA, an Old Forester gal who had been so sensational in her debut last October but went way off form after that.
She was heavily bet and, in her first race since a Tampa Bay Downs try in December, presses the pace of another Old Forester, Glasgow Kiss and then moved clear. She lasted to hold off the long striding CRUMLIN SPIIRIT (Court Vision). Lou Tucci owns Old Valyria and Jamie Attard trains.
Sherry McLean bred the filly out of the mare Woodland City (SAf).
The win was the first of 2 straight for Jesse Campbell as he was on another quick one in race 10..
EMPYREA, a U S Ranger filly out of Hhow Far is Heaven by Chapel Royal, led all the way and just held on to win this maiden allowance, open, by a nose over CONQUEST TIZFIRE, who was gaining on her slowly.
The winner was making her 2nd career start since she debuted last fall and she was 1st time Lasix for owners Martha Gonzalez and Hhorsen Around Racing. Nick Gonzalez trains and Huntington Stud Farm bred the quick miss.
At post time, Conquest Tizfire, a Tiznow filly, was 7 to 2 but was 9 to 5 during the race.
WE’RE BACK TO WORK! Jamie Attard getting the tack set for OLD VALYRIA who won well on Sunday. Mr Will Wong photo
TRAKUS IS NOW TIMING!
Trakus, the state of the art technology that has brought us the ‘chiclet’s is now timing the races at Woodbine. For the first time in 60 years, the horse races are not being timed by a person running a teletimer.
There was some issues on the weekend as the times did not appear on the TV screens or tote board while the race ran or finished but track announcer Robert Geller did provide the information following the race.
For more on the Trakus technology:
http://www.trakus.com/press-pdf/trakus_FAQ.pdf
DOH! ROGER FALLS OFF WARMBLOOD HORSE, BREAKS RIBS AND FOOT
update on ROGER ATTFIELD’S tumble..
While SHAKHIMAT has bounced back from his big win and is headed to a possible run in the American Turf at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day, his trainer is not doing as well…
http://www.torontosun.com/2016/04/10/famed-woodbine-trainer-finds-lighter-side-of-his-injury
MORE SATURDAY WOODBINE
Worst kept secret on the entire weekend and probably for much of last year – MARSANTROPIST (photo), owned by Andrew Fredericks, who won her debut on Saturday with a fierce stretch fight. Trained by Kevin Attard, the filly was bred by Michelle and Rob Love. Other winners on opening day were BITE THE GOLD, owned by Steven Pearce who bred the Mass Media gelding, trained by Denyse McClachrie ($12,500 maiden claiming race); PAT DADDY for Scott Abbott and Mike Doyle and jockey David Moran (allowance); ULTRAFLAME (Old Forester) for John Ross and jockey Jesse Campbell (allowance); LO AND BEHOLD, well ridden by Luis Contreras for Nick Nosowenko ($10,000 claiming) ; GRAN BID, 7 furlong score in a starter allowance for Willie Armara and Moran, OUR NAT’S for John Ross and James Passero and Steve Bahen and MAJESTIC SLEW, owned by Frank Russo and trained by Mike DePaulo. Jesse Campbell had a big weekend.
PHOTO BY WILL WONG – www.mrwillwong.com
