Just over a month to go in the lengthy Woodbine Thoroughbred season and plenty of horses and horsepeople are strutting their stuff and having a bit of luck.
While it is very dark very early, the temperatures have dropped and the main Tapeta track has evolved into its heavy kickback phase, some horses, in particular the fresh ones, are thriving.
It is the time of year for the two-year-olds to get in a race or two more and Barbara Minshall’s VERGE, a gelding by Vino Rosso – Fleeting Sensation by Zensational, had an impressive sprint win on November 8, taking an allowance/optional race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 7 lengths under jockey Daisuke Fukumoto. Verge won his maiden in his second start and then was third in the Display Stakes to the highly-regarded Odenkirk.
On Sunday, he had a wild pace battle to stalk as the filly Traction Park and impressive maiden winner Morrisseau went flying through the half mile in :44 and change and predictably faded.
Verge was bred by Jennifer Andrews’ Devonleigh Farm and Minshall bought the youngster at the CTHS Ontario sale last August for $31,000 from consignor Shannondoe Farm, agent V.
Verge is a half-brother to winners Fleet of Foot, Flirting with Fire, and Noballstwostrikes.
MOTION N MISCHIEF was another nice two-year-old winner on Sunday, taking a $98,177 maiden dash by 6 3/4 lengths, running six furlongs in 1:11.48. The colt by Highly Motivated is owned by J & B Wright Racing and Natural Eight Racing and trained by Woodbine’s third leading conditioner by wins, Bill Tharrenos. For the fourth consecutive year, Tharrenos is now in the midst of a career year. He has 47 wins in 2026, 44 at Woodbine, and this is only the second time he has gone over 40 victories.
Motion N Mischief, who was bought with his name for $25,000 from the 2025 CTHS Ontario sale, is a from the family of top sprinting mare Why Not Willie. Bred by Adolf Gust’s Bellwoods Farm, Motion N Mischief is a half-brother to Sammysaurus Rex, Trinity Park, and two other winners.
Motion N Mischief was one of the horses on the weekend who handled the Tapeta surface, which has difficult kickback in the fall. Rivals behind him, including Written Record, were leaping and climbing away from the clods coming back into their body and face.
Trainer and owner PHIL HALL had a big week with three winners. Two won on Friday, Artful Diamond and 33-to-1 longshot Delian League, and Shadow Realm won a nice grass race on Saturday. Hall has won five races in the last three weeks of racing.
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