It was in the fall of 2018 when Woodbine fans got their first glimpse of CHUCK WILLIS (Ire) who was a 2-year-old at the time coming into the Grade 3 Grey Stakes with a fast 47 workout for four furlongs for his North American debut. The gelding sped to the lead in that race but faded before he hit the stretch run (the third place finisher that day was eventual Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston) and he was not seen again until Sunday June 7.
A maiden winner at Ayr in England in June 2018, the gelding missed time from November of that year until October 2019 when he began working again for trainer Mark Casse. He arrived at Woodbine in mid-May, posted two workouts and then popped up in the allowance/optional claiming at 5 furlongs.
He was offered for $40,000 claiming.
In a flash, the bay gelding overcame a hop at the start and was clear of the field into the turn and he rolled to a 5 3/4 length win in 57.07, good for a hefty 93 Beyer Speed Figure. The son of Kodiac from Xinji by Xaar was ridden by Kazushi Kimura and was 11 to 1.
Beyer Figures at 5 furlongs need to be taken with a grain of salt as the margin of difference in times is so small. The Beyers can be inflated. Still, Chuck avoided being claimed and it will be interesting to see how good he is.
Chuck’s quick time shaded the 57.38 posted by FOXXY BELLE who won as a big favourite two races later on Sunday. This Leonnatus Anteas filly from Tory’s Humorgirl by Sharp Humor picked up where she left off in 2019 when she ended the season with 2 wins. Sunday she dominated an allowance/optional claiming dash ($60,000 claiming or allowance conditions) for her 7th win in 17 wins. It was her 5th win for owner Tommy Massis who claimed her for $25,000 with trainer Norm McKnight last June. Foxxy Belle was bred by Tony James.
BUTTERMILK PIKE was the quickest winner on opening day, June 6, as he crushed $7,500 claimers in his season debut. The Giant Gizmo 6-year-old, making just his 9th career start and first since December, was long gone on the field of non-winners of 2 lifetime and won by 7 lengths in 56.94, good for a 90 Beyer Figure. A $40,000 yearling purchase, James Perron Racing Stables’ dark bay showed promise when he won his maiden in August 2017 at 1 1/8 mile on turf but he missed all of 2018. He had three races last fall and showed brief speed.
Speaking of Buttermilk Pike, Woodbine’s longtime publicity director Bruce Walker tells us that “Jockey Allan Cuthbertson broke his maiden on a horse named Buttermilk Pike at Fort Erie in 1964. I think the horse was trained by Larry Moorhead, whose daughter is married to Bob Tiller.” The 1960-born version of Buttermilk Pike was by Peter Parent and was stakes placed in his career.
Mark Casse and his team had another horse ready off a very long layoff. NOT SO QUIET, a fast and promising fellow for Heste Sport in 2018 had been absent since November of that year. The son of Silent Name (Jpn) rode the rail and battled to a big win on June 6 at 5 furlongs with an 87 Beyer Figure.
Woodbine Oaks contender ARTIE’S PRINCESS posted the same Beyer Figure in her allowance win the same day.
Impressive debut winner ENNIS THE MENACE stalked from the rail and and won race 6 at 5 furlongs after a stern stretch battle with favoured Bend in the River. Ennis, a $60,000 yearling purchase by Gus Vlahos (the sales ticket was signed by trainer Norm McKnight) was already named when he was bought. The grey son of Frac Daddy – Kamaina Rose by Royal Academy had a few workouts in 2019 and a few quick moves this spring.
The dam, Kamaina Rose, was bought in 2011 by Tony Gattellaro and Matt Douglas for $800 in foal to Badge of Silver. The mare has since produced Gattellaro’s stakes-placed filly Fresh Princess. Richard Moylan bred the mare to the exciting young stallion Frac Daddy and she has a yearling full sister to Ennis.
TOP BEYER FIGURES from WOODBINE JUNE 6-7
93 CHUCK WILLIS (Ire)
91 FOXXY BELLE
90 BUTTERMILK PIKE
87 NOT SO QUIET
87 ARTIE’S PRINCESS
84 ENNIS THE MENACE
83 ANOTHER TIME
THURSDAY RACING AT WOODBINE STARTS AND IS ON TSN
Racing at 3:45 p.m. on Thursdays is added this week at Woodbine and the last 3 races on the card will be shown on a new version of Woodbine Racing Live show on TSN.
The show begins at 6 p.m. and will show Thoroughbred and Standardbred races.
Woodbine Entertainment will partner with Dome Productions to produce the weekly editions of RACING NIGHT LIVE, hosted by TSN’s Laura Diakun and Woodbine Entertainment’s Jason Portuondo, with Brodie Lawson and Chad Rozema contributing reports from track level.
For the premiere broadcast, TSN’s Brian Williams sits down with Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the horse racing industry and how Woodbine Entertainment will operate live racing to ensure the safety of all participants.
The weekly broadcasts lead up to TSN’s broadcast of all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, including the 161st running of the Queen’s Plate, which has been rescheduled for September 12.
‘HURRICANE’ HELEN VANEK BACK TO DOUBLE DUTY
Helen Vanek, a Sovereign Award winner for Champion Apprentice in Canada, has won 377 Thoroughbred races, according to Equibase. She has been one of the leading riders at Fort Erie and also won 339 Quarter Horse races. While it has been 4 years since she rode at Ajax Downs, Vanek will return to that track Wednesday June 10 for its opening day card.
Vanek was the 1998 Outstanding Apprentice in Canada.
DEAR HORSE RACING Message filmed by Santino DiPaola
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