There may not have been a stakes race on Day 5, Sunday June 14, of the 2020 Woodbine meeting, but the entries were full with a mixture of 3-year-olds hoping for advancement to the classics, new faces in a 2-year-old race, and rising stars.
Let’s start with the Canadian classic trail. Queen’s Plate contenders MALIBU MAMBO and CLAYTON, both trained by Kevin Attard, met up in a 7 furlong allowance race, race 9 on the day and Clayton, the big debut winner from last fall (88 Beyer Figure according to Daily Racing Form) was 6-to-5 favourite.
Things did not start well for the son of Bodemeister – Smarthalf by Smart Strike as he was fractious in the gate and reared up. He broke a beat slow but then stalked a slow pace early in the race. It seemed as if no one wanted the lead early in this race or some horses were simply getting tune-up races to stretch their legs. Whatever it was, the pace quickened around the turn and Clayton was shuffled back and then he had to move when a rival backed into him. He finally finished well with a final 2 furlongs in 23.98. At least Attard and owner Donato Lani know the colt can overcome some adversity to finish up.
The Plate distance of 1 1/4 miles is still a much different story.
As for MALIBU MAMBO, his race did not go the way he wanted. He was close to the early pace and then raced evenly, slipping back to be on the edges when the pace quickened. That was his first race with Lasix and new rider Luis Contreras. He was listed as the Queen’s Plate favourite in the spring by Woodbine.
TECUMSEH’S WAR, making his Tapeta and Woodbine debut, raced wide and attended the pace, also finishing evenly and he is likely better suited to longer races. He also likes the turf.
The time of the race of 1:23.23 set by winner LUCKY CURLIN (Curlin) was decent and the colt easily got the best ride courtesy of Kazushi Kimura. The winner came in from New Orleans and this was the first time Lucky Curlin crossed the finish line in front in a race. He had been placed first Dec. 21 when Sycamore Run was disqualified for a positive test. John Oxley owns and Mark Casse trains.
The Woodbine Oaks picture may have collected a nice one in the form of SILENT CAUSEWAY who crushed maidens in the 11th race at 6 furlongs. The dark coloured 3-year-old filly by Silent Name (Jpn) – Good Religion by Giant’s Causeway simply galloped to an 8-length win in 1:10.26 with Patrick Husbands just sitting on her.
This filly was making her 2020 debut and only her 2nd start of her career for Laura Krasaukaite who bought the filly for $4,000 at the 2018 CTHS Premier Yearling Sale.
Silent Causeway was bred by Mike Deegan.
More Sunday:
Trainer STEVE OWENS and his family’s Empress Stables won the first race of the day with homebred GHOST ISLAND, taking this maiden $15,000 claiming event in his 2020 opener and 6th career race. He had not hit the top three yet in his career. The 3-year-old is by Head Chopper.
Race 2 featured classy old-timer MARTEN LAKE, winner of 12 of 49 races but in for $15,000 claiming after being claimed for $40,000 last September. It was Marten Lake’s stablemate who ran away with the 5 1/2 furlong race; Big League, owned by Earl Shaw, won big and he went off at 6-to-5.
Race 3 was thought to be a two-horse race between MAGIC TAPIT and COMBATIVE, both back from Florida with some decent efforts. But in the five-horse field those two were ho-hum while Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch’s SOLIDIFY zoomed on by to win as a first-time gelding. The son of Tapizar won the Grade 3 Grey Stakes as a 2-year-old for trainer Reade Baker in 2018 but went on a diet of grass racing for trainer Graham Motion in 2019.
When Solidify returned to Woodbine last fall finally, he eventually joined trainer John Charalambous as Baker had retired. This guy looks like a good one for the older horse, main track division.
Race 4- The Mark Casse – Kazushi Kimura combo is currently very strong. Trainer and rider combined to win with DAY DAYENU in this maiden allowance despite starting from post 13 and coming from far off the pace. The fast pace helped this gal catch up and it was not a very quick race at 1:24.85 for 7 furlongs. The winner is owned by Kingsport Farm and was a $300,000 juvenile purchase last year. She is by Into Mischief.
We know how well Ontario-sired and -bred horses can run against open company here at Woodbine and the 2nd two-year-old race of the season was won by LION OF THE SEA, a gelding who was the first starter for his sire RELOAD (Hard Spun), who stands at Northern Dawn Farm in Hillsburgh.
LION OF THE SEA, first starter, first winner for Ontario sire RELOAD – Michael Burns photo
Lion of the Sea is owned and was bred by Minshall Farms and he battled on the pace all the way and edged clear to win in :52. Leo Salles picked up a long-awaited first victory in the saddle.
LET’S HAVE FUN won her maiden in race 6 for $25,000 claiming for Tom and Connie Patton and trainer Kathy Patton. Daisuke Fukomoto rode the winner. Front runner JUXTAPOSE won race 7 at 6 furlongs and this was a 3-year-old beating older gals in the $40,000 claiming race. Terry Jordan trains for James Redekop and Stefan Ferrario.
Speaking of possible stakes horses here for 2020, GRAY’S FABLE may fit the bill and this Gio Ponto guy won the 8th race at 6 1/2 furlongs and just about set a course record. Trained by Roger Attfield for Jeff Zlonis, Kari Provost and Steve Goldfine, the grey 5-year-old led all the way to stop the clock in 1:13.16, just off the 1:12.93 record.
And race 10 for optional claiming went to SPEEDY COLT, a Souper Speedy gelding for Paul Buttigieg who ended last year with a big maiden win and he took this race in 1:17.86 for 6 1/2 furlongs under Justin Stein.
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