The sizeable 2-year-old filly SWINGING MANDY picked a great time to figure out this racing business as she won her maiden in the $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 17. Owned by Rustywood Stable, Solo Racing Ltd. (Joe Mazarese) and Dale Desruisseaux, who also trains, Swinging Mandy was also the first stakes winner for Desruisseaux.
Taking to the inner turf with aplomb, Swinging Mandy was headstrong early in the one-mile test under leading rider Kazushi Kimura but was held back to stalk the pace of favoured Lois Len from the Mark Casse barn and Debra Rombis-trainee Thatsitthatsall. The dark bay was three wide stalking the leaders around the final turn of the inner turf, was four wide and almost last off the turn but galloped down the less-than-firm course to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:40.13. Thatsitthatsall, by Silver Max and bred by Daniel Mooney, was brave in second for Rombis and Lois Len (Hunters Bay) held third.
Each filly in the six horse field was 5-to-1 or less except for Swinging Mandy, who was 19-to-1 in her third career race. The filly by Giant Gizmo – More Than Bandeau by More Than Ready had been fifth in two Tapeta sprints to begin her career, including the Muskoka Stakes.
Swinging Mandy as a yearling from the Cara Bloodstock consignment, 2020. Ericka Rusnak photo
“She’s always trained like she wanted two turns,” said Desruisseaux, who was joined in the winner’s circle by wife Jeanette and children Dawson and Daynica. “Her first race, kind of a throw-out race, she broke really horrible. second race she showed that she wanted to go a bit further as she galloped out really good.”
Desruisseaux was not sure about the filly’s chances halfway through the race. “To be honest, I was a bit worried because she does not have a big turn of foot, at least on the Tapeta. I thought she would be more forwardly placed. I guess it worked out. I don’t really have words, my partners, my family and my crew back at the barn – total team effort.”
More Than Bandeau raced for Jim and Susan Hill and trainer Reade Baker at the outset of her career. She retired with five wins in 37 races and $161,402. She is the fifth winner for the mare Bandeau who is half-sister to Coaching Club of America Oaks (G1) Jilbab. Fourth dam of More Than Bandeau is Comely Nell, dam of Bold Forbes (Kentucky Derby) etc.
Dr. Anderson purchased More Than Bandeau for $23,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in foal to Silent Name (Jpn). He sold that first foal for $45,000 as a yearling to Desruisseaux, Solo Racing and James Schlehr. Earlier this month he sold a colt by Exaggerator from the mare for $20,000 to Helen Bruno, now named Cadfael.
In March, Canadian Thoroughbred featured Dale:
Family Ties and An Eye for Fast Horses for Dale Desruisseaux
Earlier on Friday WHERE’S NEAL won the Bull Page stakes at one mile on the turf for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings. Also a maiden going in – he was second in the Simcoe Stakes behind the fleet Ironstone – Where’s Neal set the pace with his ears pricked under Justin Stein and held off Chairman Bob to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:40.05. The son of Society’s Chairman – Miss Dorothy by Stormin Fever is owned by Ray Burke’s Sea Glass Stables Ltd. and trained by Dan Vella. Chairman Bob, also by Society’s Chairman, was second for Al and Bill Ulwelling while another Vella trainee, Spring Mountain, rallied for third.
“He’s a really nice horse, lots of talent,” said Stein. “I think there is a lot more there.”
Vella, no stranger in developing a young runner into a stakes horse, was impressed with Where’s Neal early.
“A good friend of ours, Michael Cooke, had him down in Ocala in the winter,’ said Vella. “The first time I breezed him I said ‘geez, this is a very talented horse.’ He’s kind of a laid-back horse and he’s just really learning to be competitive.”
Linda Mason bred Where’s Neal who was bought at the 2020 CTHS yearling sale at Woodbine for $35,000. The colt is the eighth foal to race for the wonderful racemare Miss Dorothy, who won eight races and over $351,000 for Gary Wellwood and L. Tichener. Miss Dorothy is also the dam of this year’s impressive winner Miss Speedy. Her other foals to have won include Dot’s Vision and Donna’s Boy.
This family traces back to pedigree lines from Buckland Farm (Pleasant Colony, etc.) through Miss Dorothy’s fourth dam Middle Stage.
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