Snow is on the ground in southern Ontario as the final full week of March begins.
The Woodbine main track opened on March 23 and five horses worked on the surface, compared to 40 on the training track.
The Mark Casse barn filled up late last week and its first horses were galloping on the main track on Sunday. Other Woodbine stables that have had runners in the south this winter are set to come back to the home track after a bit of a rough winter, results-wise.
Woodbine Entertainment and the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association continue to try and form a new contract for the next two years. The current contract expires on March 31.
First up in the weekend wrap, however, is news about MOIRA, the Canadian/Ontario-bred star mare who was sold for $4.3 million to Yulong Investments following her big Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) win at Del Mar in November. Vin Cox, manager for Yulong, confirmed Moira will compete in the $4 million (Aus) Doncaster Mile on April 5 at Royal Randwick Racecourse. The race, at 1600 metres, is on the turf and run clockwise.
Canadian Grade 1 winner and finalist for Champion Turf Female, FULL COUNT FELICIA, made her first start for Australian interests in the Group 1 Ranvet stakes at Rosehill on March 21. ‘Felicia’, trained by Kevin Attard at Woodbine in 2024, won the E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1) over champion Moira. Both Full Count Felicia and Moira were bought at auction by Yulong Investments as broodmare prospects and race prospects.
Moira by-passed the Ranvet, but Full Count Felicia got her first try on Golden Slipper day, but it came against the brilliant mare VIA SISTINA (Fastnet Rock (Aus)), also owned by Yulong.
Full Count Felicia jumped to a clear lead early in the 2000 metre turf race and led the field on a merry chase until the long straightaway to the wire. At that time, Via Sistina overtook the Kentucky-bred ‘Felicia’ and surged clear for her sixth Group 1 this season. Full Count Felicia faded to fourth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths. Following the race, trainer Chris Waller, who conditions Via Sistina, Full Count Felicia and Moira, said the winner goes to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 12 and Felicia will improve next time out off her first Aussie run. The replay is below.
Canadian Grade 2 stakes winner HE’S NOT JOKING, owned by the DiScola Boys and trained by Josie Carroll, did not contend in the $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park on March 22. The Grey Stakes winner by Practical Joke had been well beaten in two previous stakes races at Gulfstream and Churchill Downs and was back on his preferred footing, Tapeta, at Turfway. However, the colt faded early and wound up 11th.
Carroll and jockey Rafael Hernandez had better results earlier in the Rushaway Stakes when the handsome Megalodon finished second for Pin Oak Stable. The Carroll barn’s star horse this winter, Playmea Tune, will compete in the Army Mule Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 29.
Recent winners from Canada include owner DARRELL JONES, whose HOLLYWOOD MAYHEM won a claiming dash at Gulfstream last week for Steve Owens and Tara Neigel. This was the third win for Hollywood Mayhem, a son of Omaha Beach. Owens and Neigel had a successful Florida stint with a record of 15 starts, three wins, and four seconds.
EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, champion jockey and soon to be honoured with a Special Sovereign Award by the Jockey Club of Canada for contributions to the sport, said physiotherapy is going “very well” as she makes her way back from serious injuries last year.
“It’s going very well, it’s slow but steady,” Wilson told the Down the Stretch podcast. “The best news I had was that I got a prognosis of a full recovery,” said Wilson, who had neck fractures to the C2 as well as multiple severe pelvic and sacral fractures.
Wilson said she goes to the gym, the pool and has various doctors monitoring her recovery.
“I’m not near getting on horses yet, but I’m looking to be Emma-Jayne Wilson 100 percent when I return.”
Stakes-placed SWIFT DELIVERY, who caused a stir last summer at Woodbine when he attracted a part owner in Kansas City Chiefs’ TRAVIS KELCE, competes in an allowance/optional race at Gulfstream on Saturday. The grey gelding was racing for Kelce, Team Valor International, Bruce Zoldan, Steve Rocco and Gary Barber last year, but Barber is the only listed owner currently.
Sovereign Award finalist for Champion Three-year-old Male MY BOY PRINCE is back on the worktab for Barber and trainer Mark Casse. The grey colt had a three-furlong spin at Casse’s training centre in 37.20 on March 21.
Former trainer ARTHUR SILVERA is embarking on a job as jockey agent for 2025 and he will represent OMAR MORENO. Silvera, who has been working for Centurion therapy products in the last few years, has said he wanted to try his hand at booking mounts.
“We’re good friends. We talk about races, watch replays and dissect races,” said Silvera to the Down the Stretch podcast. Moreno, who won the 2009 Eclipse Award and Sovereign Award as top apprentice rider, has won over 580 races and has also started working with Standardbreds, jogging some horses for girlfriend and trainer Amanda Fine.
