If you were following along with Thoroughblog picks for Woodbine’s opening weekend..9 winners in 20 races! Let’s keep it going, check out this weekend’s selections only on Thoroughblog!
Cupid..draw back your bow…STEVE QUEEN image of the Arkansas Derby favourite
JOURNEY TO WOODBINE OAKS BEGINS AT WOODBINE
Star Shoot was a stallion from long ago, you may know the name of one of his famous sons SIR BARTON, the first American Triple Crown winner.
But the Star Shoot Stakes is a sprint for girls today at Woodbine and a few of the entrants are Canadian-breds with a possible date with the Woodbine Oaks in June in their future.
TIZ IMAGINARY is an exciting prospect for owner and breeder Bill Graham. The Tiznow filly was bought back as a yearling by Graham and then did not sell as a 2-year-old. She came out to win her debut last October and 3 weeks later romp in the Fanfreluche. A 3rd outing saw her race flat behind Amis Mesa in the Glorious Song but it was an exciting first series of races. Patrick Husbands gets a rare ride for trainer Mike Doyle so let’s see what this pair can do.
The small field includes an Ontario bred favourite in JENNIFER LYNNETE, owned by Conrad Farms and bred by Christine Hayden. This is an interesting Elusive Quality filly who was 3rd in the Gloridous Song and Gary Boulanger rides for trainer Mark Casse.
The other 2 Oaks hopefuls are SWOOP AND STRIKE from the Sam-Son Farms and HOLY FLAME from the Chiefswood Stable.
The only filly in the field with racing this year is the Kentucky bred TREASURING, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Streaming. The Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings /Ed McGhee gal was 5th in the Grade 1 Starlet lastyear and 4th in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez. She has had a couple of troubled runs at Santa Anita recently and she is the most logical gal in the field to win.
Bill Graham and his homebred Tiznow filly, TIZ IMAGINARY – WOODBINE PHOTO
CRUNCH TIME FOR KENTUCKY DERBY HOPES
It is the last of the big events, the rich races leading to the May 7 KENTUCKY DERBY – The Lexington at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
If you are not convinced that the unbeaten NYQUIST is your Derby guy, GUN RUNNER does not have biggest shot or EXAGGERATOR, BRODY’S CAUSE or OUTWORK move you up, then maybe you will find a gem today.
Speaking of NYQUIST, Doug O’Neill talks about the Canadian owned colt after his workout at Keeneland yesterday…
So who should we be watching in the Lexington today?
It’s not a very strong field and unless a colt comes in and runs a big race and finishes strongly, I am thinking this race does not yield a Derby contender. The Bob Baffert team has speedy COLLECTED who is a contender in the race amd Godolphin’s $800,000 guy, DIRECT MESSAGE just won his maiden and may go forward. Canadians will watch champion 2-year-old of 2015, RIKER, in his 2nd race of the year after a fade job in the Tampa Bay Derby but he would have to have some kind of giant form reversal.
Swipe – Keeneland photo
The most intriguing guy in the field is SWIPE from the Keith Desormeaux barn (Exaggerator) as he makes his season debut after a string of 2nd place finishes in big races as a 2yo. Those 2nd place finishes? In 3 Grade 1’s and a Grade 2 all to Nyquist. But hey, this guy was a $5,000 yearling purchase and he is by Birdstone. He should be fun to watch.
The ARKANSAS DERBY is a more pivotal race as the up and coming CUPID ($900,000 Tapit colt) looks to continue his front running march to the big day. The top runners in the Rebel figure here with Cupid and WHITMORE coming off big efforts and Creator and Suddenbreakingnews very strong from off the pace.
I like SUDDENBREAKINGNEWS (by Mineshaft) to win this time.
MARIO GUTIERREZ FEATURE IN GLOBE & MAIL
He struggled after I’ll Have Another but he’s still trying hard and Canadian owner Reddam and trainer O’Neill have been loyal…
MARK CASSE STABLE TO RACE IN FLORIDA YEAR ROUND
Trainer Mark Casse’s growing presence within the Thoroughbred racing world will expand to South Florida this spring and summer, when his stable will campaign a 50-horse division at Gulfstream Park.
While Casse has had a strong presence during the Championship Meet, his decision to set up a large division during the spring and summer meetings for the first time is further evidence of the growing success of Gulfstream’s year-round racing program.
“I’ve been a Florida boy my whole life, but I only raced at Gulfstream during the winter. With the program now that Gulfstream’s been able to do, I tip my hat to Frank Stronach, the Florida Breeders and everybody,” Casse said. “To me, it’s beginning to make a lot more sense to race there year-round.”
Casse is a nine-time Sovereign Award-winner in Canada, where he has been honored as outstanding trainer for five consecutive years. He enjoyed a career year in 2015, when his stable earned $13.6 million and won 159 races, including Breeders’ Cup victories by Tepin (Mile) and Catch a Glimpse (Juvenile Fillies Turf).
“I’m always trying to take advantage of opportunities, and I think the opportunity is there. It’s great for us. Our main deal is in Ocala – that’s where we get all our horses ready,” said the 55-year-old conditioner, who operates a farm in Ocala. “It’s a lot easier to get them ready and ship them down to South Florida. We’re excited about it.”
Casse, who finished fifth in both races won and purse earnings in the trainer standings during the past Championship Meet, recently took over the training of Fred Brei’s Jacks or Better Farm’s powerful contingent of Florida-bred racehorses, including Kentucky Derby candidate Fellowship.
“The happenings of the last few days are going to make us a much bigger factor in South Florida. We’re excited to have them. I think it will be a good relationship for both of us. We have similar ideas the way we do things,” said Casse, who will seek his 10th straight training title at the current Woodbine meet. “It’s getting to be that the Florida-bred is becoming more valuable again. For the first time in 30 years, I’m actually looking and trying to buy Florida-breds to compete there.”
The day-to-day training of Casse’s Gulfstream division will be handled by assistant Jamie Begg.
“Jamie has been with me for a few years. He was with our Keeneland division,” Casse said. “His father (Jeffrey Begg) is the chief steward of the Jockey Club of Canada and is actually a part owner of Catch a Glimpse. I’ve been friends with the family for years. Jamie has been a horseman his entire life.”
Source: Gulfstream Park
SHERGAR CUP TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Frankie Dettori, Jamie Spencer, Silvestre de Sousa and Emma-Jayne Wilson have been confirmed as team captains for the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup; the world’s premier international jockey’s competition at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 6th August.
2016 will also see a further increase in prize money with all six races now worth £45,000 (£40,000 last year). Each participant will get five rides as they bid to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for their team.
Last year saw the Girls team lift the trophy for the first time when they claimed three of the six races. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who captained them to victory, is back and will be joined by Michelle Payne from Australia, and Ireland’s Cathy Gannon.
Payne made history last November when becoming the first female to win the Melbourne Cup, on the 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance, while Gannon became the first female Irish Champion Apprentice in 2004 and has enjoyed considerable success since moving to the UK in 2006, notching over 300 winners here.
Wilson is Canada’s most successful female jockey having ridden over 1,000 winners. This will be her fifth Shergar Cup appearance.
Wilson said: “Last year was amazing and I am so proud to have been part of the first Girls team to win. I am looking forward to reminding everyone what a powerful force we are. The Shergar Cup provides a great opportunity for us girls to prove we are as good as some of the world’s best male jockeys. Bring it on.”
Frankie Dettori is a Shergar Cup veteran having taken part seven times. He missed out on riding in 2015 due to suspension and is keen to get back to his role of captaining the Europe team.
He said: “I always look forward to the Shergar Cup as it is a great day with a fantastic atmosphere. Hopefully we can win this year.”
He will be partnered by two Shergar Cup debutants from across The Channel – Thierry Jarnet and Pierre-Charles Boudot. Jarnet is a stalwart of the French Weighing Room and has enjoyed a resurgence in his career in recent years thanks to Treve’s two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe’s triumphs. Boudot is Europe’s hottest jockey in recent few months, who shared the 2015 French Jockeys Championship with Christophe Soumillon and has enjoyed a brilliant start to 2016.
Britain’s Champion Jockey of 2015, Silvestre de Sousa, who was born in Brazil, will captain the Rest Of The World team.
