Woodbine Weekend Wrap: Good Days for Local Owners/Breeders

CANADIAN TOP WINNING BEYER FIGURES July 26-Aug 2

91 ESKIMINZIN

87 SPANISH BALLERINA

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85 BOARDROOM

85 ARMISTICE DAY

84 SENT FROM HEAVEN

83 LAPOCHKA

83 RIDEFORTHECAUSE

82 CORDUROY ROAD

82 TIMESKIP

82 FORESTER’S TURN

81 JUSTLEAVEITALONE

81 BEXAR

80 PACHAMAMA

It was a good week for some of the longtime owners and breeders who race at Woodbine as some big purses were scooped up by locally purchased and bred horses.

The 1-2 finish by sons of Old Forester in the $150,000 Greenwood Stakes Saturday at 6 furlongs on the turf but one of this province’s top sires in the spotlight once again. Dr. Rolph Davis’ homebred FORESTER’S TURN, from the mare Eff Bee Eye (Philanthropist) was the winner for his 5th win in 7 races for Dr. Davis who has bred and raced horses with Robert Tiller for many years. Forester’s Turn was supplemented to the race for $3,000.

FORESTER’S FORTUNE, bred by John Carey, was a good second for Claudia Silvera and Archie Lee. The son of the Beau Genius mare Nursery Song had won both of his races coming to his grass debut for trainer Rodney Barrow, who has had a big start to his first year of training.

Sunday’s stakes race, the Victoria for 2-year-olds, went to Kentucky bred READY TO REPEAT (More Than Ready) a $60,000 purchase in the US by John Menary and Gail Cox and the youngster races for them and Jeff Begg’s Windways Farm and Mike Ambler.

The first weekend of August at Woodbine marked the first time this year owners could register and attend the race of their horse. One owner and one guest per horse is allowed currently and reportedly there were just over a dozen who popped in on Saturday. Owners can only stand on the apron and watch their horse on the track and then must leave. They are not permitted in the winner’s circle.

The top-heavy turf weekend was also marred somewhat by heavy rain Sunday and all races came off turf.

On Sunday, a very scary spill in race 4 sent jockey JEROME LERMYTE to hospital for further evaluation. His horse RUGGERO, a lightly raced maiden by Giant Gizmo, fell when Grazely (Rafael Hernandez), racing in mid-pack on the final turn, clipped heels with a horse in front of him,

Hernandez escaped serious injury and was able to resume riding in the following race. Grazely walked off under his own power.

Sadly, Ruggero passed away on track. Earlier on Sunday afternoon, MARY OF SCOTTS, owned and trained by Paul Buttigieg, collapsed and passed away and jockey Justin Stein suffered a minor injury and booked off the remainder of the card.

Saturday

Race 1- NORTHERN SOLUTION continued to improve with each race this season for Tom, Connie and Kathy Patton and the Red Solution gelding won his maiden for $7,000 claiming under Daisuke Fukumoto. Kathy Patton has started the season with a 2-2-2- record from 10 starters.

Race 2- Favoured CORDUROY ROAD, owned and bred by Frank DiGiulio Jr. won this turf sprint for $40,000 claiming in his second outing of the season. The son of Souper Speedy – Noir Velours was winning for the 5th time in 14 starts and Robert Tiller trains. He is 2 for 5 on the grass and sizzled 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.05 in this victory earnings over $38,000.

Race 4 – IVYLEA, a second time starter Ontario bred by Lea-Slipcover by Candy Ride (Arg) won this maiden race for fillies on the grass for $25,00 claiming for owner Debra Ehrat and trainer Martin Drexler. Bred by Ron Clarkson, this bay filly streaked to her win under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Race 5 – The biggest longest of the weekend was TOO MANY MOUNTANS, a 4-year-old filly by Sky Conqueror – Mount Royer by Silver Deputy who won her grass debut at 44 to 1 for owner, trainer and breeder PAUL BUTTIGIEG. It was Emma-Jayne Wilson orchestrating this upset score.

Too Many Mountains collected over $38,000 for the win.

Race 6- LEA RO, the second winner by US sire Lea on the card, won her maiden for $25,000 on the grass for trainer Kevin Attard and Raroma Stable Inc. This filly was returning from the the US and Justin Stein was the winning rider.

Race 8 – Sam-Son Farms’ RIDEFORTHECAUSE, by Candy Ride (Arg) won an allowance race on grass for trainer Gail Cox, the second local start of the season for this 4-year-old filly who is 3 for 9 in her career. Rafael Hernandez did the riding.

Race 9 – A nine-furlong maiden race on Tapeta featured some Queen’s Plate eligibles, many who are also nominated to the Plate Trial on Aug. 15. OLLIEMYBOY, a stretch-running dark bay colt owned by Dennis Narlinger’s JMJ STABLES, an American stable, rallied to win by 2 lengths under Patrick Husbands in 151.69 for a 68 Beyer Figure. Bred by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt Meeuse, the colt was a $140,000 buy back by the Everatts at the 2018 Keeneland yearling sale. He is the third foal and winner for his winning dam.

Two races later, another Everatt-bred 3-year-old, TECUMSEH’S WAR, finished a smart second in an allowance race at 9 furlongs to older horse TIMESKIP, owned by Wallace Standardbreds and trained by Renee Kierans. Tecumseh’s War, owned by US based Ilium Stables, is a Summer Front colt who earned an 81 Beyer Figure as Timeskip posted an 82 for his time of 1:51.19.

TIMESKIP, a 5-year-old by Court Vision, earned over $60,000 for this win, his 4th in 28 races, pushing his earnings to over $203,00 (US). He was a local yearling sale purchase for just over $20,000.

Race 10 – The first leg of the Turf Endurance Series went to ARTISTICO, trained by Sylvain Pion for the 4Y Thoroughbreds Stable. This chestnut 7-year-old, the champion of the series in 2018, is 7 for 35 in his career and he was bred by Colebrook Farms.

Sunday

Race 1- JUSTLEAVEITALONE was a smart winner of this 9 furlong maiden race for US owner Ron Paolucci and local trainer John Mattine. The Creative Cause filly, bred by Sean Fitzhenry,was a $6,000 purchase by Nick Gonzalez and the filly earned an 81 Beyer Figure for this win. The Woodbine oaks is in 2 weeks but this gal is not currently eligible.

Race 2 – Lisa Mccallum Smith and Murray Stables, trainer Greg Cox celebrated thair second win with their mare SOEXOTIC in this $25,00 claiming sprint. Bred by Susan Rasmussen, the Giant Gozmon mare has 3 wins in 11 races.

Race 4 – EXECUTIVE SEARCH, disqualified from a maiden win July 12, made it offical in this 6 1/2 furlong Tapeta dash for Overheath Stable and trainer Nick Gonzalez. Bred by Dr. Brian Van Arem, the lcoal yearling purchase avoided the spill behind him in this fourth career race.

Race 5 – ROBERT MARZILLI’s stable watched his filly MARWOODS WAR win this optional claiming race for $40,000 on the main track under jockey David Moran. Trained by Mike Depaulo, the declaration of War filly, another Eveatt-bred, is 2 for 15 in her career.

Race 6- GRETZKY THE GREAT is a promising 2-year-old for Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbreds as this Ontario bred by Nyquist (his first crop) won this maiden dash for trainer Mark Casse. A $295,000 buy back last October the colt was bred by Anderson Farms.

Race 7- BEXAR was a nice claim by Anthony Russo and trainer Pat Parente in June. The Daredevil fellow was scooped up for $7,5400 from trainer Wesley Ward and he has won 2 races since then for $40,00 claiming.

Russo, incidentally is the co-bred of Saturday’s winner Tieskip along with Lesley Russo.

*Will be updated later Monday, Civic Holiday