The familiar colours of Les and Zona Pereira’s BECLAWAT STABLE landed in the winner’s circle at Woodbine twice on Thursday afternoon in hot and stuffy weather.
Beclawat is one of the few Canadian racing stables still around from 30 or so years ago and in the last decade, has had a small stable that will make 10 to 30 starts per year. The Pereira’s best horse, multiple stakes winner Saskawea, a homebred by Stormy Atlantic, earned over $800,000 for them about a decade ago.
Beclawat also raced Annasan, bred her to Gold Fever and sold that offpsring, A Bit o’Gold for $60,000 at auction. A Bit o’Gold went on to be the 2005 Canadian Horse of the Year.
Steve Attard has been training for Beclawat for several years and he sent out 2 winners for the Pereira’s on July 2.
MIZZONA, an auction purchase and a Florida bred, won race 3 at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf over three rivals. The daughter of Gone Astray is a 6-year-old and she has 4 wins in 25 starts. Kazushi Kimura rode Mizzona.
Later, the stable’s SALIERI sizzled in a 6 1/2 turf sprint, 1:15.23 under Rafael Hernandez for a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. This 6-year-old by Spring at Last from Shannon’s Debut by Stormy Atlantic was bred by Beclawat, but in Kentucky. He has won 5 of 30 for $138,000 (US).
Steve Attard’s Equibase stats go back to 1985 and show 447 wins.
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COURT RETURN was due to win her maiden and it was important for her value to do just that. It happened Thursday, race 3, in her season debut as the 4-year-old by Court Vision – In Return by Horse Chestnut streaked away to an 8 1/4 length win on the inner turf in a maiden optional claiming race. She sped 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.28 to set a course record. She posted a 77 Beyer Speed Figure. Court Return is a half sister to two Grade 1 winners, Channel Maker and Johnny Bear and all were bred by Ivan Dalos. Dalos still owns Court Return and Josie Carroll trains. Luis Contreras rode.
Sadly, a first time starter in the race, NICALI’S DISCOVERY, bred and owned by Hugh Blackmore, broke down into the stretch of the race and was euthanized.
Transplanted Manitoba horseman COLE BENNETT continues his roll with 2 more wins Thursday to bring his total to 4. Bennett, who had a rough spring as a few of his horses were hit with the Equine Herpes Virus, one passed away, sent out LOKINFORPURSEMONEE to win for $5,000 claiming and STATION ROCK to win for $7,500 claiming. Both horses are owned by Domenic Dilalla’s Centennial Farms (Niagara) Ltd. Patrick Husbands and Emma-Jayne Wilson rode the winners respectively.
Joshua Attard, son of trainer Kevin Attard, watched his filly OUR EYES TOUCHED win race 1 on the afternoon under Hernandez. It was the Wilko filly’s first race of the year and second career win.
The Ladouceur family got its first win with VICTORIAN MOON (Mike Fox) who won her maiden for $10,000 claiming. Harold Ladouceur trains for Oh Em Gee Stable and Ross Knight.
And trainer JOHN ROSS got his first win of the season with the 4-year-old first time starter DOUBLE THE HEART in race 8, a colt he owns with Cheryl Smith. Double the Heart, by Alternation – Question Period by Gilded Time was a $30,000 purchase at the 2017 CTHS yearling sale. The colt’s dam is a half sister to Grade 1 winner Heart to Heart.
Richard Day’s Kingview Farms bred the winner.
Daisuke Fukumoto rode the winner who posted a 60 Beyer Figure for 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.30.
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