Thursday’s twilight racecard July 9 at Woodbine featured eight races and eight different trainers and owners winning, seven different jockeys. Justin Stein was the only soul to score a double.
On what was likely the hottest day of the summer so far, with the humidity reaching into the low 40s C, activities with horses and horsepeople were kept short. From the paddock to the gate happened in not many minutes so that horses could get cooled off quickly.
It is amazing that everyone from the gate crew to the outriders to grooms and hotwalkers, not to mention our precious horses, can get through a day so hot.
Thursday notes:
Anthony Pottinger sent out his first winner of the Woodbine season when DESDEMONA, a 5-year-old mare he owns with Wayne Brown, was a popular winner of race 2 on the grass for $23,500 claiming. The Court Vision mare, who won $46,000 (US) for her owners in 2019 was making her second start and Keveh Nicholls rode her to her third career win in her 20th start.
Another barn that sent out its first winner is that of Alex McPherson who won with FIRST SPRING, claimed last October for $15,000 from Mark Casse and winning Thursday for $ $25,000. The grey gelding led all the way on the main turf course under Daisuke Fukumoto for P413 Stable.
Austin Hinds won his first race of the year with his lone starter so far, CASSIE’S RAINBOW, who was third in her first 2 races of this year and then finally won her maiden in the last race on Thursday. Hinds owns the Souper Speedy filly who was ridden by Justin Stein.
Race 1 was taken by BEAR KITTY, a Kentucky Bear mare who is certainly the apple of owner/trainer Michelle Love’s eye. This gal was bought by Love at the CTHS Mixed Sale auction in 2016 for $8,000. In just her second career race, Bear Kitty was claimed for $20,000, but Love quickly claimed her back a couple of races later.
Last June, Love and co-owner Mentec Mississauga Industrial again lost Bear Kitty through the claim box, again for $20,000. She once again claimed her back last fall for $10,000. Ridden by her favourite rider Patrick Husbands, Bear Kitty won her season opener Thursday in a $10,000 claiming race. She was not claimed.
The Leonnatus Anteas gelding ANALZYER was the most impressive winner on the night as this 5-year-old won his first outing of the year by 6 1/2 lengths in 101.74 for 6 furlongs. Trainer by Martin Drexler for Randy Exelby, Analyzer was ridden by Sahin Civaci. It was the horse’s 3rd win in 4 starts for Drexler since he was claimed last fall for $25,000.
ORBITING THE SKY is undefeated in 3 races now as she won her Woodbine and tapeta surface debut Thursday. This Speed Ring mare is a Florida-bred for Bruno Schickedanz. She won her maiden in February at Penn National with a 21 Beyer Figure, won in June for $4,500 claiming at Fort Erie and her Woodbine win with trainer Mike Wright came for $7,500. Emile Ramsammy rode.
Mary Self and Tim Murray’s MAYITO won his maiden as the favourite in race 5. The Declaration of War 3-year-old was brought from Florida and he was third against better in his Woodbine debut on the grass before this win.
CHART won race 7 for DJ Stable and trainer Mark Casse over the fast improving Weed Be Happy. The winner is a Lea filly who won her maiden in her debut in January at Tampa Bay Downs but then she was in a Grade 2 in her next race. She had a couple more starts in Florida before heading north and Emma-Jayne Wilson rode this gal to her second career win.
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