Patches O’Houlihan isn’t the only hotshot in the Frank DiGiulio Jr. and Robert Tiller barn. A day after the champion of 2023 and probable champion sprinter of 2024 put up a good fight when second to Nobals in the Kennedy Road, ECHO WITH LAUGHTER won his fourth race of the year, co-leading that category this year.
Bred by DiGiulio and John Carey, Echo With Laughter and Sofia Vives won the $10,000 starter optional over war horse Lapochka. A son of Old Forester from Frantic City, Echo With Laughter matched Patches’ win output this year as well as several others.
Stakes winner Ecstasy has won four, as has the very versatile Veery, the mare Kitten’s Romance and claiming filly Stolen.
Stolen won her fourth of the year on Sunday in a $15,000 starter optional sprint. The Mohaymen filly won three for owner and breeder George Bigliardi and trainer Matt Douglas before she was claimed by Zack and Amanda Cameron. The filly then reappeared this past weekend for trainer Douglas again and owner Chris Howard.
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner NOBALS was very ready for his return to Woodbine for the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) and he was able to halt the winning streak of Patches O’Houlihan, who tried hard but could not get past the millionaire. Nobals, who won the Woodstock Stakes at Woodbine two years ago, loves synthetic dirt and the son of Noble Mission (GB) was wisely spotted by trainer Larry Rivelli.
The next stop for Nobals, who has 11 wins from 22 starts, is the Hong Kong Sprint on Dec. 8.
The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association held its yearly awards for grooms and assistant trainers on Saturday, which was also Longrun Thoroughbred Retirement Day.
Grooms Armando Torres Morales from Ralph Biamonte’s barn, Janeen Lalsingh, who works for Steven Chircop, and Edwin Weekes, staff member for Barb Minshall, were all honoured by HBPA directors Veronica Attard, Josie DePaulo, Josie Carroll, and Steve Lym.
The assistant trainers of the year were Brent Harris (Mike Doyle), Nancy Sullivan (Mark Casse) and Emily Fisher (James Begg).
SAHIN CIVACI won four races on Saturday, four races on Sunday and collected 10 in total last week to go further ahead in the rider standings. Well on his way to his first Sovereign Award for Outstanding Jockey, Civaci won on horses such as the two-year-old Tiz Her Money, despite almost falling off at the start, and 9-to-1 winner in Sunday’s finale Loaded Justice, who had been beaten over 27 lengths in his previous race with a different rider.
It was also a huge week for MARTIN DREXLER who sent out seven winners from 21 starters (several in the same race) and is in second place in the trainer standings behind Mark Casse.
There were about a dozen claims last week although a few were voided. Victory March, Great Kate and Fast Boat to Skye had claims submitted for them but following a vet inspection they did not pass and the buyers turned down the claim.
Woodbine 2024 Leaderboard
LEADING OWNERS by Purses
Owners/Starts/1st/Purses
BRUNO SCHICKEDANZ – 370 – 50 – $1,557,257
CHIEFSWOOD STABLES LIMITED – 131 – 14 – $1,491,935
GARY BARBER – 110 – 24 – $1,469,500
LIVE OAK PLANTATION – 28 – 11 – $1,057,357
LEADING TRAINERS by Wins
Trainer/Starts/1st/2nd/3rd/Purses
MARK CASSE – 475 – 103 – 74 – 63 – $7,104,488
MARTIN DREXLER – 352 – 68 – 60 – 58 – $2,525,548
KEVIN ATTARD – 354 – 65 – 53 – 61 – $4,142,725
WILLIAM THARRENOS – 142 – 32 – 19 – 18 – $716,710
JOSIE CARROLL – 191 – 29 – 23 – 24 – $1,847,756
ROBERT TILLER – 152 – 26 – 23 – 22 – $1,110,203
NORM MCKNIGHT – 170 – 24 – 2 – 18 – $691,999
PAUL BUTTIGIEG – 144 – 23 – 17 – 22 – $832,247
SID ATTARD – 170 – 20 – 26 – 22 – $1,032,440
MIKE DEPAULO – 190 – 18 – 33 – 25 – $1079,903
Leading Jockeys by Wins
Rider/Starts/1st/2nd/3rd/Purses
SAHIN CIVACI – 546 – 141 – 98 – 76 – $5,738, 866
RAFAEL HERNANDEZ – 559 – 112 – 106 – 73 – $5,473,600
SOFIA VIVES – 442 – 64 – 56 – 45 – $2,903,923
FRASER AEBLY – 577 – 71 – 71 – 62 – $2,450,993
EMMA JAYNE WILSON – 440 – 55 – 53 – 61 – $4,220,204
PIETRO MORAN – 347 – 55 – 51 – 50 – $2,146,794
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