Of the 32 races run at Woodbine last week, just four trainers won two races each, and the other races were won by different trainers. The small stables picked up some nice purses, in particular those who had Ontario-bred winners.
Trainer JULIE BELHUMEUR won her first race of the year with 16-to-1 shot ONE SHOT SCOTT, a Bruno Schickedanz homebred three-year-old filly by Mr. Scotty who led from start to finish in a six furlong optional claiming maiden race ($40,000) on Saturday. Ridden by D’Sean Gaskin, who won two races that day, One Shot Scott was making her third career start and she collected a whopping $31,248 for the victory.
Other small barns that won races last week included Terry Brooker, Todd Kettleson, Roy Jones, Don Pleterski and Sharon Ceccato, who races at Fort Erie but won with longshot Pine Knoll on the grass on Aug. 21 for owners Mary Biamonte, Danny Lococo and C. DeMizio. Pine Knoll is nine years old and he has won seven of 51 races.
Trainers who won multiple races (two) last week included Don McRae, Mark Casse, John Mattine and Michael Wright Jr.
Longshots did well all week as favourites had all kinds of bad luck in their races.
The ATTARD family had a big week as Tino Attard won with PRINCESS ORLAITH, an impressive debut winner for Gordon and Elizabeth Lickrish; Kevin Attard won with Blue Bird Stables’ Ontology; Sid Attard won with Nikita’s Gem; and Larry Attard’s only horse EXUDE won off the claim for Larry and Veronica who were joined in the winner’s circle by Sid.
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RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, Canada’s reigning champion jockey, won his first-ever race in Japan on August 22 during his visit to the World All-Star Jockeys event.
Hernandez scored his first JRA victory with second choice Fiery Beat, his seventh mount in Japan. The son of Pyro is a homebred for Godolphin. Hernandez collected a couple of points in the competition races, but had to book off following race 7 on Saturday when he was kicked by his mount. He was not seriously injured.
“I appreciate everything the JRA has been doing for us, the fans here are unbelievable, the racecourse is the best and I feel great riding my first Japanese winner,” said Hernandez. Watch the race here.
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FRASER AEBLY continues to impress at Woodbine, showing patience and poise in his race rides. Aebly won five races last week and with a bit more luck could have matched the eight won by Pietro Moran. One of Aebly’s gems was in race 4 on Aug. 24 when he watched three horses battle for the lead throughout 1 1/16 miles, sat behind them and then passed them as they predictably faded. That was on THIS DUDE’S A BREEZE.
The Woodbine riding colony kept the AGCO stewards busier than ever this past week. There were at least half a dozen reviews, warnings and/or fines addressed during the week and in one race on Aug. 22, maidens Cyclone Taylor and Cope de Plata were greatly inconvenienced when a rival shifted out late on the turn and caused others to veer.
On Aug. 20 there were three inquiries in race 3 (one was about a fair start) and lengthy descriptions of the wild happenings in the stretch run:
R3: INQUIRY #1: Looking at the start of #9 “Ladies Rum” (J. Alderson – 9th) who dwelt in the gate and trailed. Spoke with Mr. Alderson and video and confirmed that horse turned her head on her own and was not held by the assistant starter. Thus, horse received a fair start. No further action required.
INQUIRY #2: Looking at the stretch run, racing between #4 “That Girl Artemus” (E. Flores – 7th PL 6th PL 5th) and #6 “Thatsithtatsall” (J. Hoyte 2nd PL 7th PL 6th). Spoke to involved riders and reviewed available video angles. #6 veers out into the path of #4 who is forced to take up and loses ground and momentum. Thus #6 is disqualified from 2nd and placed 7th behind #4 for interference as a result of this inquiry. Video below.
INQUIRY #3: Reviewed stretch run between #7 “Beautiful Sky” (D. Gaskin – 8th PL 7th) and #3 “Serenading Amaya” (L. Salles – 3rd PL 2nd PL 8th). Spoke to both riders and Reviewed available video angles. #3 bears out sharply into the path of #7 and bumps him Quite hard. #7 then takes up and loses ground. As a result of this inquiry, #3 was disqualified and placed 8th behind #7. Video below.
*NOTE* Inquiries are addressed in the order that they occur from start to finish of the race.
Original order of finish: 8-6-3-5-1-2-4-7-9
After Inquiry #2: 8-3-5-1-2-4-6-7-9
After Inquiry #3 (final order): 8-5-1-2-4-6-7-3-9
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