Woodbine Weekend: Aftercare Day Emphasizes Thoroughbred Retirement

Sunday, October 17 was Aftercare Appreciation Day at Woodbine in support of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement and the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare group was represented by Stacie Clark-Rogers and Vicki Pappas, chair of LongRun and Hall of Fame inductee for 2021, represented LongRun.

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Both LongRun and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance were presented with cheques for $5,000, Catherine Vella-Martin sold her exquisite Exclusively Equine merchandise with a portion of the sales going to both groups and a number of jockeys donated to Thoroughbred retirement.

Trainer Mike DePaulo had a good weekend with several winners including two for owner and breeder Ben Hutzel on Sunday. Hutzel’s 2-year-old SAILOR’S PASSION (Silent Name (Jpn)) – Awesome Mariner by Awesome Again won his maiden for $15,000 in race 6 under leading rider Kazushi Kimura. DePaulo also saddled Hutzel’s 3-year-old PRIDE AND PASSION, by Tamarkuz, who won his maiden for $7,500 in race 1.

Two-year-olds to watch from the weekend include SOUPER RUSH, an impressive debut winner for Stacey Van Camp, and trainer Mike Mattine. This Souper Speedy – Queenie’s Gold by Tapit gelding was well prepared to win his 5 1/2 furlong opener under Chris Husbands. Bred by Paradox Farm, Souper Rush’s dam Queenie’s Gold was bought by Moira Gunn for $20,000 in 2015 in foal to Hold Me Back. She has sold five offspring in total from the mare for about $100,000 (US). Souper Rush was bought for $12,000 at the 2020 CTHS Ontario yearling sale through consignor Northern Dawn Farm which raises the horses of Gunn.

LAMENT, a 2-year-old bred in Ontario by Gabe Grossberg and K. Wentzien and owned by Grossberg, won a maiden allowance at 1 mile and 70 yards in his second start and looks like a nice prospect.

The dark bay, trained by Mark Casse, is by Point of Entry and is the first foal of the Street Boss mare Heard That. Heard That raced for the breeders, winning her debut in October 2016 and finishing third in the Fanfreluche Stakes. Heard That is from the family of multiple stakes winner and stakes producer IN MY CAP.

There were nine claims in for Augustin Stables’ SPEAK UNITY, a 2-year-old who won for $25,000 claiming on Saturday. The son of Union Rags was winning for the second straight race. The winning bidder was trainer Norm McKnight.

ARTIE, sensational winner of his first two career starts, could not keep the roll going on Sunday. Coming back in two weeks after a huge win with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, the son of Artie Schiller was 3-to-5 for the second allowance class but after tracking a moderate opening two furlong time of 23.21 with a strong tailwind, the Martin Drexler trainee flattened out after a wide bid off the turn.

The winner of the race was the front runner CLAYTON, making his first start in a year and his first start as a gelding for Daniel Plouffe and Donato Lanni. Clayton, last year’s Plate Trial winner, was third in the Queen’s Plate and second in the Prince of Wales to Mighty Heart. Kevin Attard trains.

Lanni had a winner on Saturday also as DEMOGORGON, a 2-year-old filly by Bayern, came from post 12 to win a 5 1/2 furlong maiden race for $40,000 claiming.

Trainer SANDRA DOMINGUEZ has a new owner’s group with their first horse after they claimed MS. P’S BELLA (Reload) for $7,000 on Saturday.

Ricardo Pedilla, Daniel Yris and Omar Ramos are the proud owners of the dark bay filly who finished a wide fifth in the maiden race.