CAREN and Joseph DiPaola and jockey Jesse Campbell – Image by MR WILL WONG
WOODBINE OAKS – QUEEN’S PLATE UPDATES
Oaks probables – 10
Neshama – allowance winner last out 80 Beyer
Garavogue Colleen – 2nd to Neshama
Crumlin Spirit – won Lady Angela, 3rd Fury 87 Beyer in Lady Angela
Dublin Diva – allowance winner 80 beyer
Gamble’s Ghost – Selene Stakes 79 Beyer
Tiz Imaginary – Fury Stakes
Conquest Partygirl – maiden win
Luckbe Tanya – placed this year
Caren – 2nd Selene
Trini Brewnette – 3rd Lady Angela
FIRST – THE QUEEN’S PLATE (JULY 3)
MARK CASSE told Thoroughblog on Monday that CONQUEST
ENFORCER, a sizzling winner of the Queenston Stakes at 7 furlongs last month, will by-pass the Queen’s Plate and instead focus on the turf-mile King Edward Stakes on July 2 at Woodbine. Conquest Enforcer had been away from the races for a long time after winning the Cup and Saucer Stakes and then getting sick right after that event.
Meanwhile, SHAKHIMAT worked with 2 stablemates last weekend and rallied from well back to win the prep as he continues his preparation for the Plate Trial and Plate. The son of Australian star Lonhro is a heavy Plate favourite at this time.
Waiting in the wings to get a chance to prove themselves are maiden winner ALL ON RED (90 Beyer), AMIS GIZMO, BATTERY, HAMMERS VISION, SCHOLAR ATHLETE, SIR DUDLEY DIGGES, AYE AYE CAPTAIN and ESPOSITO.
ESPOSITO was one of several Plate hopefuls to work Wednesday morning. The Ghostzapper colt out of Money My Honey by Red Bullet worked 7 furlongs in 1:28 and Fair Hill and could be on his way to Woodbine. The colt has not raced since December when 3rd in the key race, the Springboard Mile at Remington Park in the slop.
Plate possibilities: (11)
All On Red
Amis Gizmo
Battery
Esposito
Leavem in Malibu
Hammers Vision
Mike
Scholar Athlete
Shakhimat
Sir Dudley Digges
Aye Aye Captain
others – filly Gamble’s Ghost and whomever wins Oaks; Chebruashka, not nominated to Plate currently
FORT ERIE EXPLODES OUT OF THE GATE
http://eriemedia.ca/successful-opening-fort-erie-race-track/
Increases in wagering and attendance highlighted opening day at the Fort Erie Race Track. The historic border oval opened its doors for the 119th season of live racing on Tuesday, May 31. Thousands of fans turned out for an exciting eight race card filled with great racing, delicious food and plenty of entertainment.
Total betting for the day exceeded one million dollars, an increase of close to 10 percent over opening day in 2015, with one fewer race.
“We started off the way we finished last year with another million-dollar day, with the total handle being $1,190,703.42,” said Tom Valiquette, chief operating and financial officer of the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.
The first horse to cross the finish line on opening day was Mt. Gayego, trained by Nicholas Gonzalez and ridden to victory by veteran jockey Christopher Griffith, returning $6.20 to her backers.
TOP WOODBINE WINNING BEYER FIGURES FROM SATURDAY/SUNDAY
ARE YOU KIDDING ME – 100
LEXIE LOU – 93
OCCASIONAL VIEW – 89
TALLBOY TUESDAY 87
DEFONDO – 86
LEAVEM IN MALIBU – 85
ARPISTA – 80
GARY STAHLBAUM to be presented AVELINO GOMEZ AWARD
Photo is of Gary when he won 6 races at Fort Erie – his agent was none other than Reade Baker
GARY STAHLBAUM, RECORD SETTER, CHAMPION, RIDER OF THE GREAT AFLEET
Champion jockey Gary Stahlbaum, who won 1,759 career races, has been named the 2016 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.
His riding résumé features a Sovereign Award (1980) as Canada’s top rider, nearly 120 lifetime stakes triumphs, including 16 graded, and close to $20 million in purse earnings.
The Gomez recognition certainly stands out as one of Stahlbaum’s most cherished accomplishments.
“I guess the best way to describe how I felt when I found out about the award is ‘surprised,’” said Stahlbaum. “I’ve been away from the races so long, so to find out about this, it’s really nice to have this honour.”
Throughout his career, Stahlbaum went head-to-head against some of the sport’s most decorated stars, Hall of Fame legends like Sandy Hawley, Robin Platts and Gomez himself.
And although his name might not be mentioned in the same breath as those race-riding standouts, Stahlbaum undoubtedly deserves recognition and acknowledgement for his abilities in the saddle.
Robbie King, a former rider and Gomez honoree, and current Executive Director of the Jockey Benefit Association of Canada, is thrilled to see Stahlbaum noted for his impact on thoroughbred racing.
“Gary was a great jockey, who could do it all very well, be that nursing a sensitive filly on the lead or rousing a lazy colt from off the pace,” said King. “He was the real deal, or as Cordero once jokingly told him after beating Angel on the wire, ‘You ride pretty good for a white boy!’”
The coveted Gomez Award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.
A native of Toronto, now residing near where Greenwood Racetrack used to be, Stahlbaum rode several of Canada’s most accomplished horses for two decades, including Horse of the Year, Afleet, and champion fillies, Bessarabian, Rainbow Connection, Eternal Search and One From Heaven.
His breakthrough season came in 1971 in just his second full year of riding when he won 148 races. In 1977, Stahlbaum had a career best win total of 196 triumphs. In a three-year period from 1979-81, he captured the coveted riding title at Woodbine’s summer meet.
Stahlbaum’s run of stakes success started in 1972 and carried on to 1989. In 1980, he won both divisions of the Natalma aboard Rainbow Connection and Bessarabian. He rode in the first ever Breeders’ Cup in 1984 and was aboard favoured Bessarabian, who was interfered with early in the stretch drive. Four years later, Stahlbaum finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with the great Afleet, who charged home late to finish third behind Gulch.
“I wish I would have won the Queen’s Plate,” said the 65-year-old. “I finished second three times. But, I was lucky enough to win some good races and have some success.”
Stahlbaum’s looking forward to the Gomez ceremonies that will take centre stage on June 12, Woodbine Oaks day.
“It will be nice to be back at the racetrack,” said Stahlbaum. “I was there the day Mickey (Walls) got his Gomez Award. As for Avelino, he was the man. He could find a way to get a horse to win. He was the king. I remember Avelino would say that he was the king, and that (jockey) Jeff Fell – who he took under his wing and tutored – he said he was the queen. I always had a great respect for Avelino and the rider he was.”
Presented annually on Woodbine Oaks day at Woodbine, the honour is named in memory of one of the sport’s most heralded and loved performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks, a race that Stahlbaum won.
“I remember being in the winner’s circle and being asked questions, but all I was thinking about was Avelino.”
To commemorate his contributions to the sport, a life-size statue of Gomez, who called Toronto home and raised a family there, keeps watch over Woodbine’s walking ring. A replica is presented to each year’s honouree.
Stahlbaum joins Ron Turcotte, Johnny Longden, Sandy Hawley, Don MacBeth, Chris Rogers, Jeff Fell, Lloyd Duffy, Hugo Dittfach, Robin Platts, Larry Attard, Don Seymour, David Gall, Richard Grubb, Irwin Driedger, David Clark, Jim McKnight, Chris Loseth, Richard Dos Ramos, Robert Landry, Francine Villeneuve, Sam Krasner, John LeBlanc Sr., George Ho Sang, Jack Lauzon, Robert King Jr., Stewart Elliott, Emile Ramsammy, Steve Bahen, Mickey Walls, Patrick Husbands and last year’s recipient, Quincy Welch, as Gomez honourees.
CANANDIAN-BRED WINS EMERALD DOWNS STAKE
(May 29, 2016) – Princess Katie finished with a bold rush and nailed My Heart Goes On late for a head victory Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
Under a perfectly timed ride by Leslie Mawing, Princess Katie ran one mile in 1:36.36 and paid $9.60, $4.40 and $3.80. Robert Gilker, whose previous stakes win here was with Herbie D in the 2013 Longacres Mile, is the winning trainer for owner Ernest Chu of Vancouver, B.C.
Some 18 lengths off the pace on the backstretch, Princess Katie stuck to her task and reeled in her seven opponents with a sustained rally, finally nailing My Heart Goes On in the final stride for the victory.
“I didn’t want to be that far back but I knew the pace was pretty hot up front,” Mawing said. “I got a little worried at the half-mile pole when she wasn’t picking up on the bit. I kept after her and she kicked it in after the quarter-pole and gave me all she had.”
My Heart Goes On, ridden by Francisco Duran, did everything but win the race. The 2015 state champion 2-year-old filly shook off even-money betting favorite Invested Prospect on the last turn, kicked three lengths clear in mid-stretch, and just failed to last. The runner-up earned $10,000 for owner Coal Creek Farm and paid $8.20 and $5.40. Princess Kennedy, ridden by Rocco Bowen, was 1-½ lengths back in third place and paid $10 to show.
Previously unbeaten Invested Prospect led through fractions of :22.44, :45.27 and 1:10.51, but gave way into the lane and finished last.
A British Columbia-bred by Finality-Two to Get Ready, Princess Katie has a career record of 3-1-1 in eight starts with earnings of $86,198 including $27,500 for Sunday’s victory.
