SEAN SMULLEN has had many roles in racing in Ontario and, until recently, was an integral member of the team at Stronach Stables and Adena Springs. Smullen trains horses for Frank Stronach and has a career record of 103 wins as a listed trainer since his last starter before the fall in 2020. His last Woodbine winner was in 2015, Demon Buster.
Smullen was back in the winner’s circle as a trainer on Thursday evening at Woodbine, November 13, when the American Pharoah gelding ROYAL PRESENCE won a thriller to break his maiden at 1 1/16 miles for Smullen’s newest employer, CHIEFSWOOD STABLES. Royal Presence was making his second start for Smullen and he edged Ivan Dalos’ Afleet Flatter by a head to win the maiden special weight.
Smullen, who owns a farm, Bilby Ranch, with wife Diane, joined the Chiefswood fold earlier this year.
Thursday evening’s races on the Tapeta favoured inside runners for the most part. One of the shrewdest rides of the night was orchestrated by Jalon Samuel, who hustled longshot BLACK GODDESS hard from post 12 in a 1 1/16 mile race, got the rail and then led all the way to break her maiden at 21-to-1. The dark bay by Higher Power – Jademarie was making her 15th career start and had not indicated any early speed in her races, but trainer Carlton Teape took the blinkers off the filly yesterday. Black Goddess is owned by Diva Stable.
First time starting two-year-old colt VOODOO DOLL, by Vekoma, raced greenly in Thursday’s opener, but put things together in time to win for D.J. Stable and trainer Mark Casse. Voodoo Doll had posted several good workout times before his career debut.
Horses that had troubled outings during last night’s races included Almasty’s Lust, Katherine’s Gem and Sunnyville. Another runner, the filly Helana, who was in the Black Goddess race, was wide in a pace duel at a route distance and stopped abruptly past the quarter pole, fading under the whip right to the wire.
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