One of the newest riders to the Woodbine jockey colony, 10-pound apprentice XAREL FORDE, won his first race since leaving Barbados when he was placed first aboard longshot Secret Butterfly on Saturday. In a roughly ridden claiming race, Forde, riding his second race at Woodbine, had Secret Butterfly, trained by Zeljko Krcmar, stalking the pace along the rail before he looked behind him and then angled his filly sharply to the four path. Secret Butterfly was second best, but the winner, Save the Date and jockey Da-Sean Gaskin, interfered with a rival on the turn and were disqualified.
Gaskin received a three-day suspension.
Sovereign Award-winning trainer KEVIN ATTARD received notice this weekend of a positive test from one of his winners, the filly Party On, who won on opening weekend.
From the AGCO:
Trainer Kevin Attard received a Certificate of Positive for the class IV medication Meclofenamic Acid, (Arquel) Test Tag 73 25116 001, provided by the horse “Party On” tattoo Y06224, following the sixth race on April 26, 2025 at Woodbine. “Party On” which finished first is owned by X-Men Racing III LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC. The trainer Kevin Attard was notified and accompanied AGCO inspector Francis Antoniou to his barn for an inspection.
The anti-inflammatory’s elimination guideline is below. There is no decision yet on any fine or suspension.
Arquel (Meclofenamic Acid)
Type of Drug:
Analgesic/Anti-inflammatory (NSAID)
Route of Administration:
Oral (PO)
Dosage Regimen and Elimination Guideline (EG):
Dosage Regimen and Elimination Guideline for Meclofenamic Acid
#Horses Product Dose/Route Administration EG
4 Arquel 1 g PO single 48 h
4 Arquel 1 g PO once daily, 3 days 48 h
ESSEX SERPENT, a handsome four-year-old by Honor Code owned and bred by Manfred and Penny Conrad, won big on May 10, taking a 1 1/16 mile allowance race in 1:43 for a hefty 93 Beyer Speed Figure. Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands, Essex Serpent went off form in the Plate and Prince of Wales, but is a tough customer when he is alone in front in the early part of a race.
Casse’s team won five races of 2o on the weekend, including a seven furlong allowance dash with Woodbine Oaks contender SHIFTY, by Medaglia D’Oro. Winner of the Catch a Glimpse Stakes on turf last year, the D.J. Stable filly was third in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes. Bred by David Anderson, Shifty led throughout the race and won by 9 1/2 lengths in 123.36 for seven furlongs.
The first two-year-old race of the year went to Manfred and Penny Conrad’s CASSON (named for painter A.J. Casson). The grey by Caravaggio – Zee Ro Drop by Lemon Drop Kid was a $200,000 Keeneland September yearling.
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