The phone began ringing not long after ARTIE scored a 9 1/2 length win in a 6 1/2 furlong turf race September 4 at Woodbine. Trainer Martin Drexler fielded calls from people interested in making an offer on the tall, bay gelding by Artie Schiller who raced to his workouts and won big in that career debut. The 3-year-old, a Kentucky-bred for the Manitoba group of Ken Lee, Don and Gaye Bell and Dennis Mitchell, owners and breeders, broke slowly in the turf sprint but got a good position under jockey Kazushi Kimura along the rail before he charged to the lead and drew off under a number of taps with the crop. His time of 1:13.53 would be remarkably fast although that clocking, like many at Woodbine this year, is under some review due to the issues with the Gmax system.
No matter what his time was, the gelding’s Beyer Figure stands to be in the 85 range. He is the second foal to race from the mare Copenhagen Cowgirl (More Than Ready) with her first being winner Denmark.
There is not much chance Lee and company will sell their impressive gelding, one of the last bred by Lee’s late wife Sandy Lepard, but the offers have been substantial according to the Drexler team.
Saturday the Ami’s Holiday colt BOSSY HOLIDAY won his Woodbine debut in a maiden, optional race at 5 1/2 furlongs for owner/breeder Ivan Dalos. The colt, who began his career in Florida with trainer Joe Orseno and bolted and lost his rider, led all the way for a handy score over beginner Hunt Master, by Hunters Bay.
Also Saturday, True North Stables’ HAZELBROOK won very impressively for the second time in as many starts this year in a 6 1/2 furlong allowance race. The Kentucky-bred filly by Bayern, trained by Lorne Richards, was romped in her maiden opener in June but had not been seen since. In the return she circled fillies and drew off to win in 1:16.42 under Jason ‘Jet Li’ Hoyte.
The Squires family celebrated a big win by their 2-year-old filly LUZ DE LA LUNA (light of the moon) who took a 1 mile and 70 yard race worth $126,800 in her second career start. The Florida-bred by Uncaptured is out of Nathan Squires trainee Woven Lady, a tough runner at Woodbine who earned over $160,000. Luz de la Luna is her first foal. Vidal Squires is the owner and Jeff Alderson rode.
KEVIN DREW and KATERINA VASSILIEVA look like they have another good one. The owner and trainer had debut winner and stakes winner JILLI MARIE last year, the first horse owned by Drew and on September 4 they unleashed another juvenile filly, MY GIRL SKY.
Like Jilli Marie, My Girl Sky is by graded stakes winner DYNAMIC SKY, and this grey gal from the mare Channel the Green by English Channel was outrun early in the 5 1/2 furlong maiden optional event but reeled in a long leader, Dixie Wish, in the late stages to win at 2-to-1.
The filly was bred by FrostFire Thoroughbreds. Watch My Girl Sky’s impressive run here.
What is racing at Woodbine without some head-scratching bombs blowing up the tote board? Stronach Stables and trainer Mike Doyle had one of those on Sept. 5 when the 2-year-old colt SHAMATEUR (Shaman Ghost – Sky High Gal by Leroisdesanimaux) posted a 47-to-1 upset in a maiden allowance at 1 mile and 70 yards under Kazushi Kimura. Wearing blinkers for this second career race, Shamateur (defined as a sportsperson who is officially an amateur but accepts payment) was able to win by a narrow margin over two closing colts. Stowaway, a Gun Runner Kentucky-bred from the Mark Casse barn, was charging between youngsters late while STRONG TOGETHER, who had broken slowly and raced wide, may have been best for trainer Sid Attard. And DAY TRIPPER, who faded late, likely would have finished closer had he not gone far too fast on the pace. Watch that race here.
Trainer DEVON BORELAND sent out his first winner of the meeting when KAWACATOOSE won a maiden optional sprint on Sunday for owners Robert Boreland and Cyle Larin. Kawacatoose, making just his third race of the season, is a son of Signature Red – Aquiring Signal by Bring the Heat and was bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds. Boreland bought the bay gelding for $3,000 at the 2019 CTHS Ontario yearling sale.
Steve Bahen rode Kawacatoose, one of his three winners on the Sept. 5 card.
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