GARY BARBER, Woodbine’s leading owner by purse earnings in 2020, celebrated his first Ontario-bred homebred winner on Jan. 3 at Gulfstream Park. Barber’s filly ON A TOUR, who just turned 3, won on the grass for maiden $50,000 claiming with a quick, wide rally to get up by a head under Luis Saez.
Trained by Mark Casse, On a Tour is from the first crop of Barber’s stallion TOURIST, who now has 8 winners from that first crop. On a Tour was produced from the Ghostzapper mare Wraith.
This was just the second career race for On a Tour who was sixth in a maiden allowance on turf at Woodbine in October.
Barber had several mares foal at Glenn Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in 2018, his first Ontario-bred horses.
Earlier on Jan. 3 Casse won with another Ontario-bred filly.
CURLIN’S CATCH won her 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park, pressing the early pace with a pair of rivals in the one mile maiden race and then going clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths. She ran one mile in 1:38.45 for a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.
Owned by Breeze Easy of Mike Hall and Sam Ross and trained by Woodbine’s leading conditioner Mark Casse, Curlin’s Catch (Curlin – Catch the Thrill by A.P. Indy) was making her third career start and first on the dirt. The Ontario-bred filly was second in her career debut to the colt British Royalty on Oct. 11 and then was fifth in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes before heading south.
Curlin’s Catch was bred by Sam-Son Farms, which will disperse its breeding stock at the upcoming January sale at Keeneland, and is from the Champion 2-year-old filly of 2006, Catch the Thrill, a daughter of champion filly Catch the Ring. Curlin’s Catch was bought for $180,000 as a yearling by DeMeric Sales and then purchased by Breeze Easy for $430,000 last June at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales delayed spring auction.
Catch the Thrill has a 2-year-old full brother of this year, bought back at the 2020 Keeneland September sale for $190,000. Catch the Thrill was bred to Connect in 2020. Catch the Thrill’s daughter Chic Thrill, by Smart Strike, is offered at the Keeneland January sale in foal to Hard Spun.
CURLIN’S CATCH won her maiden at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3 and is a Woodbine Oaks contender for 2021 – Gulfstream Park photo
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