Volatile weather has been the scourge of the summer in southern Ontario and the July 13 card began again with heat protocols in place as the temperature reached into the 30s, higher with the humidity. Heavy rain hit the track twice before post time and seven races on the 11-race card had to be taken off the grass. A rash of scratches ensued.
The stakes race feature, the Ontario-sired BALLADE STAKES worth $100,000, was won easily by Gabe Grossberg’s homebred OLIVIA ROSE, the lone speed in the small field. Rafael Hernandez rode the daughter of Silent Name (Jpn) – Malibu Sunrise by Malibu Moon to the easy win in 1:09.70, her fifth win in 14 starts. Mark Casse trains Olivia Rose, who also won the Fury and Thunder Bay Stakes last year.
A litany of horses won by huge margins on Sunday and one of those was the two-year-old first-time starter TWO OUT HERO, a Kentucky-bred by War Front – Song River by Liam’s Map. Two Out Hero was no secret, as he had a number of snazzy workouts for trainer Kevin Attard who conditions the colt for Gold Square LLC, who owned Full Count Felicia. Two Out Hero zipped to the lead early in the 6 furlong Tapeta race and won by 12 lengths in 1:10.47, under – who else? – Rafael Hernandez.
Two Out Hero was a $240,000 yearling purchase from the Keeneland September sale last fall and he was bred by Corser Thoroughbreds.
Race 5, a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles, was delayed for quite some time as Rideau Hall, a grey four-year-old and a half-brother to Victoria Stakes winner Casson making his third start of the year, became fractious in the gate and was unfortunately fatally injured. The horses returned to the paddock while the track was harrowed.
Once back on track, the race went to WILLIAM T, a King’s Plate contender who was making his fourth career start and third start this year. The son of Frosted – Upper Brass by Hard Spun added blinkers for this race after closing too late in his most recent at the 1 1/16 mile distance. William T, trained by Don MacRae for Woodbine board of director Michael Lay, won by six lengths in 1:44.70. Fraser Aebly rode.
With the Plate Trial next weekend, William T will likely make his next start in the Plate. He was a $45,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling bred by David Anderson.
Another Plate eligible, Globecrest, was a distant second with a good rally.
Rafael Hernandez continued his roll that began at the start of the week. He won two on Friday, four on Saturday and three more on Sunday, his third win of the day on the super gelding RON’S GIZMO, the eight-year-old who won for the third straight time, dating back to last September. Linda Thiel and Harri Hosein’s Giant Gizmo gelding has won 10 of 33 races and he is trained by Ron Sadler. He won the $80,000 claiming optional claiming race by a nose.
Another race on the day with Plate eligibles was race 9, but it was Kentucky who came from far off the pace to win the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:43.75. The Mark Casse trainee, owned by Tracy Farmer, nabbed Plate hopeful Ashley’s Archer right before the finish line. It was a super effort by ‘Ashley’, who had not raced since April 9. Faber, yet another Plate hopeful, was a mild fourth.
Casse came right back with Gary Barber’s Tour the City to win the 10th race and that was his 3,999th win of his career. Casse has a maiden entered at Ellis Park on Monday and a number of horses entered on Wednesday at Colonial Downs and Saratoga.
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