More than a dozen claim slips were submitted for horses through four days of racing last week at Woodbine as claiming continues to be brisk. Most of the prospective purchasers utilized the post-race inspection by the track veterinarian. Just one, REPEAT THE HEAT, did not pass the vet exam. The gelding, who was dropping from $40,000 claiming (and a good effort) to $15,000 claiming on August 2, finished sixth and was claimed by Martin Drexler but the horse did not pass the vet exam (lameness) and the claim was voided by the stewards.
Saturday’s stakes race, the Sweet Briar Too Stakes for fillies and mare at 6 furlongs on the turf, was won by favoured LOON CRY, a New York-bred for owner and breeder Waterville Lake Stables and trained by Christophe Clement. The More Than Ready filly and jockey Sahin Civaci came from well back of a predicted hot pace to win by a length in 1:09.11. Blind Spot was second and Queen Macha landed third.
Loon Cry has won six of 13 races and two straight at Woodbine.
Apprentice riders are doing well at Woodbine these days and there are quite a few good ones. PIETRO MORAN won six races last week and three of them came on Sunday. The son of jockey David Moran is sixth in the rider standings while fellow apprentices Sofia Vives and Fraser Aebly are also in the top 10.
Leading rider Sahin Civaci won six races last week also and Rafael Hernandez won seven.
Trainer STEVE FLINT and owner CAMHAVEN Farms won a pair of races last week and have eight at Woodbine this year. On Sunday the combination won with the impressive-looking LUCKY ROMANCE (Lookin at Lucky) on the inner turf.
And earlier in the week, the barn favourite, ALICIA’S KID, a nine year-old, won for the second straight time this year in a claiming race. The son of Kentucky Bear has been ultra tough in his 10 races this year and he has eight career wins.
The King’s Plate is less than two weeks away and those who dare to enter the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic and try to upend the Mark Casse trio of MY BOY PRINCE, ESSEX SERPENT and MIDNIGHT MASCOT are rounding up their troops.
Trainer KEVIN ATTARD said that is it likely that his two entrants for Al and Bill Ulwelling, PIERRE and JOKESTAR, will be joined by the filly CAITLINHERGRTNESS, who was second in the Woodbine Oaks. The Omaha Beach filly will have to be supplemented for $25,000 upon entry time which is Tuesday, August 13.
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