♥ In both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing on Saturday fans saw some remarkable performances from WISE DAN at Saratoga to the 2yo pacers JKshealady and Artspeak, undefeated after big wins in the She’s A Great Lady and Metro Pace last night with the former equaling a world record time.
THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO MAX BERKETA….
The Woodbine racing community lost a dear friend in Max Berketa on Thursday. Max battled a short illness but passed peacefully in hospital at the age of 83. A teacher and a school principal, Max’s true love was horse racing – standardbreds and thoroughbreds. He loved the racing excitement and he particularly enjoyed talking about it among his friends and acquaintances at the track. As a member of the Woodbine Club, Max was often seen holding court, talking horse stories and watching races. Max owned many horses with partners and he had one of his dream horses noy too long ago when Kara’s Orientation won the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes in 2011 with Joe Chircop and trainer Steven Chircop. The horse even made a start in that year’s Woodbine Mile. Kara took Max on a wild ride that even Max, who could worry a lot about his horses, could not believe.
Max has been at Woodbine this year – he sat on “the couch” in front of the big screen on Queen’s Plate day and enjoyed a lavish lunch and talked with everyone, including a friend of mine who was down from Sudbury for the day. He was gracious and friendly and inquisitive and funny. We won’t forget his regular sayings such as “My name is Tucker, not sucker”.
Greg at the Woodbine Club called Max “larger than life” and he was. We knew when he was there. We will miss now that he is not.
Condolences to his family including daughter Karen and granddaughter Tiffany.
MAX BERKETA and his granddaughter Tiffany Locicero
“I THINK HE DID IT!”
Tom Durkin, on his final weekend of calling races, captured the Bernard Baruch perfectly, Canadian-trained Five Iron runs a heroic 3rd
A nerve-wracking summer came to a thrilling finish for Charles LoPresti early Saturday afternoon.
Wise Dan, the reigning two-time Horse of the Year he trains for breeder-owner Morton Fink, returned from a 15-week layoff to hold off late-running long shot Optimizer and win the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap by a nose at Saratoga Race Course.
It was the third win in as many races this year for the 7-year-old Wiseman’s Ferry gelding, and first since having emergency colic surgery on May 16. Despite the time off and having to spot his eight rivals from eight to 13 pounds, Wise Dan ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.08, just .17 off the Mellon turf course record.
Optimizer, a veteran of all three Triple Crown races in 2012 for previous trainer D. Wayne Lukas, was 1 ¼ lengths ahead of pacesetting Five Iron. Sayaad checked in fourth, with Bio Pro, North Star Boy, Sky Blazer, Boisterous and Paris Vegas completing the order of finish.
“We wanted a good race for him to get started with. He’s been through a lot,” LoPresti said. “I knew he was training good and I knew he was going to run good. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if he was beat today; it would have been something to build on. He showed today why he is the two-time Horse of the Year. He’ll be way tougher next time.”
The victory wasn’t without a few anxious moments for Wise Dan, who was keyed up in the paddock and unsettled in the starting gate, unseating Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and having to be backed out and reloaded. When the doors opened, he sprung from post 4 and immediately settled into a ground-saving trip in fourth behind Five Iron, who led through a quarter-mile in 23.26 seconds, a half in 46.37 and six furlongs in 1:09.77.
Five Iron was still in front as the field turned for home, though Velazquez swung Wise Dan four wide to launch his bid leaving the backstretch. Wise Dan collared Five Iron at the eighth pole and began to edge clear while Optimizer was making a bold run from mid-pack on the far outside.
“He was really tough,” Velazquez said. “He showed he has the heart of a champion. [He carried] 127 pounds coming from a long layoff. When I got to the eighth pole, I didn’t think I got it. When I got past the sixteenth pole he was giving me everything he had and the other horse was coming from the outside. There was a little bit of doubt; he was getting tired. [I’m] incredibly proud. It’s incredible to have this horse coming back.”
With Optimizer bearing down on him, Wise Dan continued to fight and got his nose down with one final lunge at the wire for his 22ndvictory in 30 lifetime starts, boosting his career earnings to $6,952,920. The 4-5 favorite, he returned $3.60 for a $2 win bet.
“He’s a trouper, man,” LoPresti said. “He knows how to win races. Johnny said he was tired. I can tell you, he’s just an amazing horse. That’s the way he wins.”
Wise Dan, who had six breezes at Saratoga as part of his recovery, received an ovation from an appreciative crowd as he jogged back to and then walked into the winner’s circle, and again after posing for his photo and being led back to the barn.
“We wanted to run here,” LoPresti said. “I came here to run. I came here to train, and I came here to run. I really wanted to do it, and I’m really glad that we did.”
WISE DAN, 127 pounds, off colic surgery, acted up in gate, still hangs on to win in his comeback – MYRA/COGLIANESE PHOTO
TWO MANY EGBERTS? Yes!
85 Beyer Figure for Vice Regent winner, supplemented to race
Well, not if you are Paul Buttigieg who has had many horses with Egbert in the name (the town where the farm is located). Now there is TOO MANY EGBERT’S (okay, so the apostrophe does not belong there but maybe it was done on purpose?), the latest stakes winner for Buttigieg, who co-owns this big bay gelding with Don Charlwood. In his 5th career race, Two Many Egbert’s rallied past man Cave to win the $125,000 Vice Regent Stakes under David Moran for his 3rd win. The 3yo only began his career on May 4.
“He jumped out a little sharp,” said Moran. “But once I got him back a couple of lengths he spit it right out. When Luis (Contreras, aboard Man Cave) came to me the last eighth, he just dug in and finished up really strong. He’s a very nice horse. He’s learning with every race. Paul said to me in the spring he thought he was the best horse he had.
“His first start he was fresh and bold. Ever since then, he’s run really good. Like in the stake, when he got beat just over two lengths, it was pure inexperience that beat him that day. We knew there would be speed (today) and we were pretty confident he’d get the trip.”
Too Many Egbert’s is a homebred by Laura’s Lucky Boy, a graded stakes winner on the grass by Theatrical. Laura’s Lucky Boy stands at centennial farms (Niagara) in Vineland, ON for a $1,500 fee. The dam is Mount Royer, by Silver Deputy. Man Cave is by Leonnatus Anteas and 3rd place finisher Spadina Road is by Where’s the Ring.
CTHS Sale notes – There is a half brother to Spadina Road, hip no. 165, in the select session, a chestnut colt by 1st year sire EXHI.
More Saturday –
SHOGUN RUA rallied past Stormin Clooney to win the first race for $11,500 claiming at 6 furlongs. The winner was winning his 2nd straight race for trainer Norm McKnight who has 19 wins at the meeting. The Ontario bred 4yo is by One Wat Love.
Race 2 – Three scratches in this small field of maiden allowance fillies left just 6 runners and pounded down to 1 to 1 was BUREAU DE CHANGE who barged her way up the rail under Luis Contreras to win her debut for Ammerman Stable and trainer Brian Lynch. The winner is a 3yo Kentucky bred by Exchange Rate and she is from Grade 3 winner Fencelineneighbor by Wild Rush.
race 3 – stakes winners CRYPTIC MESSAGE and BEAR’S GEM ran 1-2 in this $50,000 claiming race and both were claimed. The winner, a very fast 4yo filly by Cryptograph out of Abby O by Deputy Commander, was bred by Barry and Helen Irving and was owned by CEC Farm. She was claimed by Mike Doyle. She is 7 for 14 in her career. Bear’s Gem, part of a fire sale being held by Bear Stables, has won 6 of 21 races and $341K and she was claimed by John Atto, who recently returned to racehorse ownership.
Race 4 – LOGITO came from last place around the turn to win her maiden for $15,00 claiming at 7 furlongs. Gus Schickedanz’s homebred filly is by City Zip out of Fuhrleen by Langfuhr. It was her first race since June and 9th career start. There is a full sister to this 4yo in the select sale. Omar Moreno rode for trainer Mike Keogh.
Race 5- a 1 3/8 mile claiming race on turf for $32,000 and there was a heavy favourite in Global Express from trainer Roger Attfield but that 4yo colt stalled in the stretch and finished 4th behind front running RENEGADE MAN, owned by Mike Doyle and RGH Bloodstock. Renegade Man was bred by Sam-Son Farms and he is a 5yo by Strut the Stage out of Northern Fleet by Afleet. Renegade Man posted an 85 Beyer Figure.
It was the 5th win in just 10 races for Renegade Man who was ridden by Justin Stein.
Race 6 – MAN O’ BEAR, down from allowance and stakes races to just $8,000 claiming, won handily despite becoming very sweaty pre-race. The son of Corinthian – Mahalo by Gulch is a Bear Stables colt trained by Reade Baker, ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson.
He was claimed by Soli Mehta and trainer Kevin Attard.
Race 8 – an allowance race for Ontario sired fillies and mares had just 6 runners and the winner was MOONLIT BEAUTY, scoring his first win in 2014 and 12th in 46 races. The 8-year-old is owned by William Gierkink and trained by John Leblanc.
Race 9 – Second win on the day for Bear Stables, Baker and Wilson as BEARSEEKER won his maiden for $16,000 in a 5 furlong dash. It was his 5th career race and 3rd race this year.
CTHS sales notes – Hip no. 13 in the select session is a Philanthropist out of this Bearseeker’s dam, stakes winner ARDEN BELLE.
race 10 – IROQUOIS FALLS has won 2 straight races and 3 of 15 for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Paul Attard. The Niigon 4yo out of La Nan won this 1 1/8 mile turf race for $40,00 claiming over Dupes, owned by Connie Patton. His Beyer Figure was 79.
WOODBINE MILE DRAWS 22 NOMINEES
With notes on the horse from Thoroughblog..*expected to run
ANCIL / Farmer, Scott and Thompson, Kathy / Joan Scott – Woodbine based, just back from a Royal Ascot attempt
BEST BARD / Cinnamont Stable / James J. Smith recent allowance winner, 2nd career win at Woodbine
*BOBBY’S KITTEN / Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey / Chad C. Brown – Grade 3 winning miler
CABLE BAY (IRE) / Julie Martin, David R. Martin & Partner / Charles Hills – 1time winner overseas
DORSETT / Terry Hamilton / Brian A. Lynch – Canadian owned and trained, stakes winner
EXCAPER / Richard S. Kaster & Frederick C. Wieting / Ian Black – top local speedster, 5th in Play the King
*GRAND ARCH / Jim and Susan Hill / Brian A. Lynch – Canadian-owned and trained won King Edward, 2nd Fourstardave
*HIS RACE TO WIN / Sam-Son Farm / Malcolm Pierce – Seagram winner (Poly), has won on turf
JACK MILTON / Gary Barber / Todd A. Pletcher – Gary Barber, won Poke S, 3rd Fourstardave
*KAIGUN / G. Barber, Quintessential Racing Florida LLC & Horse’n Around Racing Stable /Mark E. Casse – won Play the King
*LOCKOUT / John C. Oxley / Mark E. Casse -2nd Play the King
MSHAWISH / Al Shaqab Racing / Todd A. Pletcher – raced Saturday Aug. 30
OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE) / Al Shaqab Racing / Richard Hannon – 3rd to Kingman in Jackques le Marois (Group 1 winner too)
REPORTING STAR / Copper Water Thoroughbred Company Ltd. / Pat Parente 2nd Sky Classic
RIVER SEVEN / Tucci Stables / Nicholas Gonzalez 4th Sky Classic
SEEK AGAIN / Juddmonte Farms / William I. Mott – won Fourstardave, Saratoga
SILVER FREAK / Raroma Stable / Brian A. Lynch – – allowance winner at Saratoga, locally based
SKY CAPTAIN / John C. Oxley / Mark E. Casse – Graded SW Woodbine Poly, never ran on turf
SUMMER FRONT / Waterford Stable / Christophe Clement multiple graded SW
TORONADO /Al Shaqab Racing / Richard Hannon – 2nd to Kingman in Sussex off year layoff
TRADE STORM (GB) / Qatar Racing Limited / David Simcock 3rd to Wise Dan last year
WISE DAN / Morton Fink / Charles LoPresti – won Bernard Baruch on Saturday
