Many 'Firsts' from Thursday's Woodbine Racing July 16

Five trainers and three jockeys had their first winners of 2020 on Thursday afternoon at Woodbine. The eight-race card began at 3:20, a bit earlier than it had been starting.

DEBRA ROMBIS didn’t just saddle her first winner in race 1 but had the exactor as her two mares SOTHATSTHEWAYITIS and Show Me the Prize finished first and second in the $7,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles. Rombis owns both gals. The winner, ridden by Kirk Johnson, is an Awesome Patriot mare who is now 3 for 22 in her career.

Trainer LUKE CARNEGIE had his first winner of the meeting in race 3 as did 10-pound apprentice HANNAH TWOMEY as CHEETAHRA won her maiden in her 29th attempt. Cheetahra, favoured for her season debut when second under Luis Contreras, was the second choice in this $7,500 claiming price. The daughter of Marchfield is 7 years old. Twomey was winning her 3rd career race and she began her career in 2018 but did not ride in 2019.

Scroll to continue with content

In race 5, Carrie Russiani and David Grant’s I AM I SAID was a 14-to-1 winner of a $7,500 maiden race and this was the first winner for trainer Russiani. The winner is a Frac Daddy 3-year-old bred by the owners. Simon Husbands was winning his first race of the meet.

WARREN LEBLANC and jockey JUAN CRAWFORD won their first Woodbine races when NIGHT WATCHMAN won race 6, a route event for $9,500 claiming. Owned by Michael Sims, the 6-year-old First Defence gelding is 4 for 34 in his career with this win.

And in the evening’s finale, KELLY CALLAGHAN sent out GO GIGI GO GIGI GO to win a maiden $25,000 race on the Tapeta at 7 to 1. This was the 7th starter for Callaghan and the winner is an Ontario-bred (Mike Anderson) by Congrats – Ella’s Music by Not Bourbon and the owner is Barbados owner Roger Parravicino. Slade Callaghan got his first winner of the meeting on this filly.

The first race of the Turf Sprint Series was race 7 and HITTERS PARK posted an upset for owners Sadio Maragh and 1569389 Ontario Inc. This flashy 7-year-old by Cowtown Cat chased the speed of Salieri from the rail and then tipped out and ran the leader down to win in a time of 55.85.

HITTERS PARK is trained by Martin Drexler, his 6th winner of the meeting. This gelding was claimed for $25,000 in September, raced once for his new interests and was coming off a November – July layoff. It was the first win for Hitters Park since he won a 5-furlong turf dash at Del Mar in 2018.

ALKELINE won race 2 for Newtop Stables and trainer Norm McKnight, taking a $37,500 claiming race at 1 mile on the inner turf in her second outing of the season. The Not Bourbon Mare, bred by Colebrook Farms, is now 5 for 17 in her career.

Trainer Rodney Barrow continues his roll as PIERIAN doubled up in 2020 and won race 4 for $7,000 claiming at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta. The winner is a filly by Nephrite.