When entries were drawn for Sunday’s card of racing at Woodbine, it was already apparent that the weather in southern Ontario could be an issue. A heavy heat wave hit the Greater Toronto Area on Friday and the forecast was for Sunday to be one of the hottest days in years.
Woodbine eventually moved the post time from 1:05 p.m. to 4 p.m. and while there was little difference in the temperature at the later time – it was 35 degrees Celsius with a humidex of 45 – the card went off well.
One stable that was happy the races continued was that of trainer Mark Casse, who sent out five winners on the 10-race card. Three were ridden by Patrick Husbands and two by Sahin Civaci. And three of the five winners are owned by Tracy Farmer.
The Casse train began to roll in race 1 with the highly touted two-year-old beginner JUPITER, a son of the very good debut sire Upstart. Jupiter started slow, but picked up speed on his way to a big win for D.J. Stable. The Kentucky-bred was bought for $50,000 as a weanling at the Keeneland November Sale in 2023. He was bought back this April for $100,000 from the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of two-year-olds.
ASPEN DAWN, a four-year-old filly by Quality Road, was the first winner for Farmer on the day. The late-running mare won an allowance/optional event at 1 1/8 miles. Second in that race after setting the pace was the three-year-old filly REVELERS ROW, who could be a Woodbine Oaks contender.
ROMANTICA was easy to love in her race and she flew to a big win on the inner turf at 4-to-5 and Farmer’s nice three-year-old colt SPECIAL SESSION finally got his maiden win, scoring by more than four lengths over stablemate Trip Aces.
Gary Barber and friends won the finale with SWIFT DELIVERY, the grey gelding who attracted NFLer Travis Kelce as a part-owner last year. The gelding was winning for the first time for Kelce and company in the optional claiming event.
Casse had another second-place finish on the day when War Strategy was beaten a head by SIMCOE in one of the best races of the day. Just four horses went to post for the 6 1/2 furlong allowance/optional dash, but the top two were in a big speed all the way, before they were joined by another rival. I’m a Gambler appeared poised to run the top two down, but the leaders weren’t fading and the three classy horses landed at the finish together.
Simcoe is a homebred for Chiefswood Stable and he is a son of Uncle Mo. The dam Aurora Light has a few other winners. Simcoe is now 5-for-17.
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