There were 37 races run last week at Woodbine and the weekend cards were two of the best of the entire season for competitive racing. Favourites had solid results and there were some exciting maiden winners.
KEVIN ATTARD is just four winners behind the Mark Casse stable currently, taking three wins last week, while his uncle SID ATTARD won a whopping five races and his father TINO also won a race.
But it is the women trainers who are making the headlines at Woodbine, with some 14 of them having multiple winners at the meeting. Last week, seven women trainers won eight races: Katarina Vassilieva (2), Julia Carey, Rachel Halden, Kelly Callaghan, Barbara Minshall, Gail Cox and Josie Carroll.
Oh, and the TOP THREE FAVOURITES FOR THE KING’S PLATE on August 15 are trained by Carroll (Luster), Halden (Magical Factor) and Carey (Brachetto)
On the equine side, fillies did some nice work last week as CREED’S GOLD put up a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, when winning the Hendrie Stakes (G3) for the second straight year.
GO FOR LAUNCH, a daughter of first year sire and American champion FLIGHTLINE, won her career debut in a 5 furlong turf sprint as everyone’s pick. The daughter of Horse of the Year Starship Jubilee is a bit on the small side, but she had the speed to win the short dash in 56.50, No Beyer Figure was assigned for her three-quarter length win, but it was likely in the 80 range.
Another maiden winner, GO OLIVIA, ran to her turf breeding and quick turf workout when she won her maiden on Saturday at 38-to-1. Owned by Jordan Lady and Rosario Caridi and trained by Lay, Go Olivia was a bit rank early in the turf race, but sat a dream trip behind a slow pace and she powered on to the win under Keveh Nicholls. Go Olivia, by Good Samaritan, was originally a $4,000 yearling purchase by Black Rose Farm.
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Things that were a bit strange recently (and you have to be a student of replays to catch the occasional blooper) included a horse who almost had to race with a blindfold on. Pin Boy, competing on Friday afternoon, wears a blindfold to be led into he starting gate and this is not a rarity. However, the blindfold was only removed when the gates opened, which means the gelding went from standing in the dark to having to be at top speed in a blink, so to speak. He broke slowly of course.
A gelding named TAZMAN, who was coming off a layoff on June 28, actually got a bit of a head start in his race when his gate opened a touch early. He was deemed a non-starter after the race; however, the ruling noted that he was claimed and that it was valid because he was still declared a starter and that he was “disqualified.”
Stewards’ inquiry reviewed the break by #8 Tazman (Slade Callaghan), (finished sixth and
was disqualified). The Stewards determined that #8 received an unfair advantage when
his gate opened earlier than the rest at the start. #8 was a complete pari-mutuel refund.
The claim on #8 was valid as the horse is still declared a starter but was disqualified for
receiving an unfair advantage when his gate opened early.
Eight days later a ruling was posted by the stewards that noted that two claims were submitted for Tazman and it was Bruno Schickedanz and trainer Audrey Cheung who were the successful claimees.
Two claims were submitted on this horse prior to Race 2 on June 28th, 2026 at Woodbine Racetrack. Following the race, a pari-mutuel refund was issued due to the horse’s start. The successful claim (of the two submitted) was deemed by the stewards to be valid, and the horse was transferred to the new owner, Bruno Schickedanz and new trainer Audrey Cheung following the post-race Veterinary inspection.
However, after the AGCO rule that notes that if a horse is a non-starter, claims are not valid, was discussed, the horse has reportedly been returned to the Callaghan barn. On Equibase, the horse is shown to have a voided claim, which is usually reserved for horses who do not pass the vet exam after the race.
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