HOOPS

QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS

160th edition June 29, TSN to broadcast OLG Triple Crown

The chase for the OLG Canadian Triple Crown begins with the 160th running of the $1 million QUEEN’S PLATE, airing Saturday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m. ET on TSN and CTV, live from Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack. 

The historic OLG Canadian Triple Crown, which is contested over three different distances and racing surfaces, continues with the $400,000 PRINCE OF WALES STAKES on Tuesday, July 23 at Fort Erie Racetrack and the $400,000 BREEDERS’ STAKES on Saturday, August 17 at Woodbine Racetrack. New this year, a $500,000 bonus is being offered to a horse that captures all three legs of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

In partnership with Woodbine Entertainment, TSN’s exclusive live coverage of Canada’s marquee horse racing events features the following races:

$1 million Pepsi North America Cup (June 15)
$1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (September 14)
$800,000 Pattison Canadian International (October 12)
Selection of the $6 million Breeders Crown championships (October 26)

 

AVIE’S FLATTER, who has been favoured for the Queen’s Plate since he won the Coronation Futurity last fall at 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta track for owner and breeder Ivan Dalos.

The Coronation is the top 2-year-old race in Canada and tends to yield the early Plate favourite but with it comes Canada’s own version of the ‘Kentucky Derby Apollo’ jinx.

While not quite the same (the Derby jinx went on for 100 + years as Apollo had been the last horse to win the Derby having not run as a 2-year-old until Justify broke it in 2018), the Coronation winner has won come back the next year to win the Plate since Norcliffe did it in 1975 – 1976.

Avie’s Flatter, trained by 2-time Plate winning trainer JOSIE CARROLL by-passed the Plate Trial and is training into the race off two grass races this spring in Kentucky. He won the Transylvania (Grade 3) and then was sixth in the American Turf (G2) beaten 2 lengths but earning his best Beyer Figure of 87.

The colt’s 1 mile workout on June 2 of 1:38 2/5 was, by accounts from those who watched it, was a stunning move.

He came back to work on June 10 (Monday) in 48 4/5 breezing.

The DAILY RACING FORM reported that Eurico Da Silva, the leading rider, has surprisingly chosen SKYWIRE as his Plate mount over AVIE’S FLATTER. Da Silva rode Avie’s Flatter last year while Javier Castellano rode the colt in the two races this season.

SKYWIRE, 2nd in the Grade 3 Marine after his Wando Stakes win, is owned by Lou Tucci of Toronto and US owner Gary Barber. The colt worked 5 furlongs in 59 on June 9.

Meanwhile, agent Anthony Esposito reports that RAFAEL HERNANDEZ will ride Plate Trial Stakes winner PAY FOR PEACE for trainer Rachel Halden and owners Team Penney and Carem Racing.

JUSTIN STEIN will ride RISING STAR in the Plate. The Ghostzapper colt, claimed for $40,000 at Gulfstream, was a troubled 3rd in the Plate Trial.

The possible field is listed below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible starters (9-11)

AVIE’S FLATTER – Ivan Dalos homebred  Josie Carroll  87, 81, 80 by Flatter

SKYWIRE – Gary Barber, Lou Tucci, Tr- Mark Casse  87, 88, 66  worked Sunday, 59 flat  by Afleet Alex (bred by Bill Graham)

DESERT RIDE (filly)  Sam-Son Farms, Neil Howard,  83, 75, 73 by Candy Ride (arg)

ONE BAD BOY – SayJay Racing, Greg Hall, Brooke Hubbard, tr – Richard Baltas. 89, 85. 73 by Twirling Candy bred by Ron Clarkson

TONE BROKE – L and N Stable, tr – Steve Asmussen 81, Dubai Dubai, 77, 71 – Broken Vow, bred by Ron Clarkson

FEDERAL LAW – Qatar Racing, Tr- Mark Casse  68, 73, 75, by Scat Daddy; bred by Jim Dandy Stable

PAY FOR PEACE – Team Penney and Carem Stable (Lisa Mosa), tr – Rachel Halden  71, 64, 52; by Silent Name (Jpn); bred by Brian Lynch

BOLD SCRIPT – Chiefswood Stable, Tr- Stuart Simon. 82, 70, 79, by Speightstown

HE’S A MACHO MAN – Da Scola Boys, tr- Josie Carroll  75,36, 62; by Mucho Macho Man,

RISING STAR – Zilli Racing, tr – Mike DePaulo.  68, 65 66 by Ghostzapper

 

WOODBINE is also set to open its Trackside Clubhouse patio to the public. The unique is located on the west turn of the track between the outer, EP Taylor turf course and the main track.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES JUNE 2-YEAR-OLD SALE UNDERWAY

Canadians are shopping at the OBS June 2-year-old sale that continues today and goes to Friday in Ocala.

There are a number of Ontario breds and an Alberta-bred in the sale and the first three to all were all purchased by Canadians.

BLAIR MILLER, acting as agent, paid $37,000 for a colt from the first crop of graded stakes winner FRAC DADDY from the mare Champagne Dynasty. Bred by Mike Byrne and Brian O’Leary, the colt worked two furlongs in a quick 2 1/45 for the sale.

 

65 G         F Silver Max Back to Class ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Mickey Demers 20,000
99 out       C Honor Code Beth’s Bling ON Eddie Woods, Agent XLVII Withdrawn Out
144 out      F Sky Mesa Casey’s Dreamin’ ON Hidden Brook, Agent II Withdrawn Out
158 21.4   C Frac Daddy Champagne Dynasty ON Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent Blair Miller 37,000
161 G         C Silver Max Chapel Dancer ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Mike Doyle Racing Stable Ltd. 2,000
192 21.0    C Competitive Edge Cool Slew ON Brick City Thoroughbreds
205 11.1     F Shanghai Bobby Crispy ON Pick View LLC, Agent V
270 out     C Quality Road El Prado Essence ON Bobby Dodd, Agent I
312 10.0    C Goldencents Fredericka La Rose ON Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent
340 G        F Silver Max Golden Scarf ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I
348 10.2     F Girolamo Got Smarts ON Sugar Hill LLC, Agent IV
352 10.1      F Constitution Gradient ON Bobby Dodd, Agent I
381 10.1     F Girolamo High On Kitten ON All Dreams Equine
382 out      C Overanalyze High Tee ON Grassroots Training & Sales LLC
466 22.0  G Big Screen Lady Elena ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I
497 11.0    F Conquest Curlinate Lileagh (IRE) ON Golden Noguez, Agent
519 22.0    C Magician (IRE) Lyndenshire ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I
545 10.3   C Shanghai Bobby Midnight Embrace ON Hemingway Racing and Training Stables LLC, Agent II
600 out    F Tale of the Cat My Sister Sandy ON Eddie Woods, Agent VIII
606 G      F Point of Entry Naturally Smooth ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I
686 10.3  F Big Screen Prestissimo ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent II
835 11.3   F Summer Front Snow Lady ON Big Easy, Agent II
876 G      C Fort Larned Sugar Swirl ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I
886 22.2 F Jimmy Creed Sweetstart ON Point of Gravity Thoroughbred LLC
909 10.0  C Atreides Tidal Surge ON Team Work Racing Corp., Agent I
957 10.0 F Uncaptured Vegas Babe ON Whitman Sales LLC, Agent V
970 G      F Point of Entry Way Smarter ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I
1001 35.3  F Big Screen Falling Snow ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent III
1044 10.2  C The Factor Songofthecity ON Bobby Dodd, Agent XV

ALBERTA BRED

805 10.2 F Take Charge Indy She’s Copacetic AB Niall Brennan Stables, Agent X

 

SANTA ANITA RACETRACK AGREES TO BOOST SAFETY MEASURES

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/santa-anita-horse-track-safety_n_5d01b195e4b0dc17ef03df80

The Santa Anita Park racetrack reached an agreement with the California Horse Racing Board on Wednesday, pledging to immediately implement upgraded safety measures amid the ongoing furor over a spate of horse deaths at the popular sporting venue.

Under the new guidelines, a team of five people will conduct an additional review of horses’ “medical, training and racing history” and be given the authority to scratch animals that aren’t deemed fit to compete.