Can Entwistle go the Distance?

A winner in the first leg of Woodbine Racetrack’s inaugural Turf Endurance Series, Entwistle will be aiming to keep his lead in the point standings as the series continues this Saturday, Aug. 19.

The points-based series will see competitors accumulate points over four races run at extended distances on Woodbine’s world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The horse that has accumulated the most points at the conclusion of the four races will be crowned the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series Champion and receive a $15,000 bonus as well as a trophy honouring the accomplishment.

Owned and trained by Tino Attard and bred in Ontario by Kingview Farms, Entwistle won the first leg of the series on July 22 after stalking the pace on the inside from mid-pack and emerging between horses to take the lead in the stretch. The five-year-old son of Strut the Stage held off the rallying Supreme Commander by half a length to win in 2:15.89 over 1-3/8 miles.

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“We know he likes the grass and I always wanted to run him on the grass and there was this race over a mile and three furlongs on the grass,” said Attard. “I expected him to run well because he was doing really well, God bless him. I put Patrick Husbands on and the horse won, he ran a big race.”

With the victory, Entwistle earned 10 points to take the early lead in the Turf Endurance Series standings. The distance will increase throughout the series, with the upcoming Saturday leg to be run over 1-1/2 miles.

“I’m worried a bit about that, about a mile and a half,” admitted Attard. “Maybe he gets there, maybe not, but he’s training really well and he’s very happy.”

If Entwistle can go the distance, Attard is looking forward to competing in the series as it progresses with a chance to earn the bonus purse, and commended Woodbine for offering the races as an innovative new series.

“I was very appreciative, it’s very nice,” said Attard. “Something new, it’s good.”

Following Saturday’s second leg, the series will expand to 1-5/8 miles with a leg on September 23 and then 2-1/4 miles on October 22. All legs of the Turf Endurance Series are open to any horse with preference given to horses with the most points. Horses earn points each race as follows: 1st = 10 points, 2nd = 7 points, 3rd = 5 points, 4th = 3 points, 5th = 2 points, all other entrants = 1 point. To view the current point standings, click here: http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/Pages/WB-Turf-Endurance-Series.aspx

Other first leg starters looking to pad their point totals in the series on Saturday include the Sid Attard-trained runner-up Supreme Commander, third-place finisher Tesseron for conditioner Harold Ladouceur, and Sine Metu, who finished sixth for trainer Debra Rombis. Among the newcomers to watch is the Neil Morris-trained Swellelegent, a five-time winner on the turf who was victorious in his season’s debut on May 6 over 1-1/2 miles on the Great Meadow green.

Here is a look at the complete field for the second leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series, which is scheduled as the fourth race on Saturday’s 1 p.m. program:

Woodbine Turf Endurance Series – $45,000 Leg #2 (1-1/2 miles) 1. Royal Intrigue – Rafael Hernandez – Steven Chircop 2. Swellelegent – Guillermo Rodriguez – Neil Morris 3. Forester’s Destiny – Gary Boulanger – John Mattine 4. Major Production – David Moran – Steve Philpott 5. Party At Eight – Luis Contreras – Denyse McClachrie 6. Sine Metu – Simon Husbands – Debra Rombis 7. Teatoe – Daisuke Fukumoto – Zeljko Krcmar 8. Entwistle – Patrick Husbands – Tino Attard 9. Supreme Commander – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Sid Attard 10. Tesseron – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Harold Ladouceur