ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

IN THE CARDS FOR STACKED DECK
103 Beyer Figure one of the highest in Canada for 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STACKED DECK got back to his favourite track, got a whole lot luckier with his trip and crushed the field in the Kennedy Road Stakes – Grade 2 on Sunday at Woodbine.
The dark bay 4-year-old by First Samurai, owned and bred by Bruce Lunsford, had a dream trip behind duelers Rexton and Paso Doble who went wild on the pace  :43.97 in front of Copperplate and Bye Bye Bernie. Stacked Deck made his winning bid in the turn, with Copperplate following his move and Passion for Action bursting up the rail, but there was no catching the impressive winner. Passion for Action stayed on determinedly for place, ¾-lengths in front of Goodoldhockeygame.

Mutuel favourite Calgary Cat, defending Kennedy Road champ and Canada ‘s reigning outstanding sprinter, was last of 11 heading into the turn and failed to find his usual stretch kick.

Minshall was thrilled with the effort of the dark bay four-year-old, a top contender to be named champion sprinter at April’s Sovereign Awards, who made the grade in September with a neck score over Calgary Cat in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes.

Stacked Deck then shipped to Keeneland to finish third in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Woodford Stakes and 10th in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, a race in which he was hampered by a troubled trip over ‘good’ turf.

“When I saw him in the paddock, I knew he was on his game,” said Minshall. “He’s gained weight every race this year. I think he’s got stronger every race. He’s had a lot of races in the last couple months, but it hasn’t taken anything out of him.”

Contreras took over from Luis Saez for the Kennedy Road and followed the pre-race instructions to perfection.

“I told him he didn’t need the lead, but just don’t take him back. Let him get comfortable and see how it sets up. If somebody wanted to go, just let them go,” said Minshall. “I told him, turning for home, that’s when you want to set him down. If he gets in front, he’ll be hard to go by.”

Stacked Deck, bred in Kentucky by his owner, banked $120,000 in victory while improving his record to 7-0-3 from 17 starts.

He paid $7.30, $4.70 and $3.70, combining with Passion for Action ($15.90, $11) for a $121.10 (5-7) exactor. A 5-7-11 triactor (Goodoldhockeygame, $6.20 to show) was worth $824.70. Bear No Joke was scratched.

 

More Sunday

race 1- Apprentice AIMEE AUGER, riding in her 13th race, won for the first time as she guided the crafty old mare CLEMENTIS to victory in a $19,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles. The old mare was making her 80th start and darted through a path into the stretch and won for fun, her 7th career win. She was recently claimed by Ted Knight and is a Perigee Moon mare.

AUGER made her first media appearance on TALKIN’ HORSES (www.talkinhorses.com) on CTV earlier this year as the show followed her for 2 episodes on her way to riding in her first race.

Thoroughblog and TALKIN HORSES congratulate Aimee on her first win.

 

 

race 2 – TURN TO REALITY led all the way and won for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Stuart Simon. The Niigon filly is 2 for 9 this year and Gerry Olguin rode her in this allowance race.

race 3- second horse of the day stumbled at lost the rider – Jose Sea View ran on ths lead and interfered with BREAKING BALL who was on the pace but the latter still won in 1:22.56 at 7 furlongs in this $32,00 claiming race. TheSmart Strike Kentucky bred is owned by Ed Seltzer and Cabernet Racing and Eurico da Silva rode this 7-year-old. Justin Nixon scored for the 4th time at the meeting.

race 4- an $8,000 claiming race at 7 furlongs went to SUPERSIXPHIL who just won his maiden for the same price for Super Six Stable and trainer Mike DePaulo. Da Silva rode this gelding who was in the 14 post and rallied from 5 lengths off the pace to win at 9-2.

race 5- Murray Stroud, Sam DiPasquale and Tom Micallef’s GENERAL KEON led all the way and won this $20,00 claiming race for his first win in his 6th start this year. The Zanjero 4yo gelding pressed the pace, led and held on to win at 11-1.

race 6 – an Ontario sired maiden allowance for 2yos at 1 1/16 mile was won by heavily favoured CHEBRUASHKA, a Milwaukee Brew – Zoogdid, Singspiel homebred for Goldmart Farms. The 2yo colt, a $40,000 buy back by Goldmart at a 2yo sale this June, is trained by Robert Tiller.

He is a Leonnatus Anteas gelding who was in the Queen’s Plate in 2014.

race 7 – The 3rd best Beyer Figure of the day of 86 was earned by the winner of this allowance race – ATHENIAN GUARD who is suddenly red-hot since he dropped to $20,00 claiming in September. He was claimed from a win at that price by Mad River Farm and the geldign has won twice now,. this time with Omar Mmoreno on board.

race 9 SWEET INTERLUDE, owned by Gabe Grossberg, led all the way under Gary Boulanger to win this $62,500 claiming/optional event, her 3rd start of 2015.

race 10 – BUCKDEN HOUSE drew off the also eligible list and won her maiden in this $45,00 maiden allowance for Twin Bullet Stable and trainer Blair Miller. The Paynes Bay filly, bred by Eugene Melnyk was winning in her 13th race and she was a whopping 9-1.
Miller won 2 races this week for 3 at the meeting but the stable had 19 2nds and 3rds.
SATURDAY WRAP

 

 

 

 

 

Jessie and Harold Ladouceur raced Paladin Bay to many nice stakes wins in the last 2 years and recently sold her as a broodmare for $180,000 US. The stable won its 6th race of the year when ARIEL’S VISION, a filly by Court Vision, won this maiden $25,00 claiming race on the pace under Gerry Olguin. It was the Huntington Stud Farm-bred’s 9th start of the season. She has earned over $33,000.

BET ON JACK came from last at 5 furlongs in yet another miraculous run, his 5th with of the year (he won one at Penn National). The 6yo by With Distinction is 11 for 40 in his career and he was claimed from Joshua Attard and trainer Kevin Attard by SA Racing and Ross Armata.
The gelding posted an 84 Beyer Figure.

Race 3 – ANOTHER GIRL, owned by Carlo Tucci, won for the 2nd time in her 14th career start in this $19,00 claiming race. She is a homebred by Old Forester out of stakes winner My List and Nick Gonzalez trains.

race 4– A MANS DRINK made up for a near miss last time to win this $7,500 claiming race for Deborah Fletcher and trainer Alec Fehr. The Langfuhr filly out of Love Co was a $10K claim and she has won twice for her current owner.

race 5– NIIGON’S GLORY dropped to $20,00 claiming in his 2nd race for 4U Thoroughbred Racing Stables and trainer Sylvain Pion and won at 17-1. It was Pion’s first win of the Woodbine meeting. The Niigon gelding was ridden by Jermaine Bridgmohan. He posted an 84 Beyer Figure

race 6 – a maiden allowance for Ontario sired 2yo fillies went to WEST L A GIRL, owned by Gabe Grossberg and trained by Mark Casse. The Sinigng Saint – Bambuyan, Gone West filly was a $55,000 2yo in training purchase and she was bred by Devonleigh Farm in Ontario.

race 7 – MAGNI is a nice prospect for Heste Sport Inc. The Rebellion gelding is a 3yo homebred trained by Bill Tharrenos and he won this maiden allowance at 6 furlongs in 1:12.17 at 7-1 in his 4th career race.

race 8 – see last Sunday’s post for a report on Ami’s Mesa, who put up a 93 Beyer Figure in the Glorious Song Stakes.

race 9 – Stakes winner BEAR’S PRIDE dipped in for $32,00 claiming and won this 7 furlong sprint for her 6th win in 19 races. This Kentucky Bear 4yo filly raced for $8,00 claiming last year and simply has been all over the map for reade Baker and the Bear Stables.

race 10 – SKYDIGGER ANDY won his maiden for Bill Sorokolit and trainer Darwin Banach in his 8th carer start. He was making his 2nd start for maiden claiming $16,000 and won this 1 1/16 mile race at the last minute over Timberline

 

FRIDAY WRAP

Inside speed dominated this card and SUDDEN BID won the first race as a 29-1 outside in a small 6-horse field. This Alphabet Soup filly, currently trained by Chris Jolin stretches out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time in several starts and led all the way under Chris Husbands. She had blinkers off.

MIKE AND NICK NOSOWENKO’S homebred SHE’S A RINGER won her 2nd straight race and 3rd race this year from 11 starts in this allowance race. The Where’s the Ring – Executive Affair by Bold Executive filly won by 3 lengths in 1:11.06 under Patrick Husbands.

CALL ME WALLY is not just pretty but the flashy chestnut by Old Forester is now 3 for 6 in his career with this allowance win in 1:09.65. The Paul Buttigieg trainers and bred gelding is owned by Gus Vlahos and he bounced right back to his 93 Beyer Figure that he earned 2 starts before. David Moran rode him.

race 4 – CONSPIRE won at odds-on off the claim for Mark Fournier and SGR RACING. The Take of the Cat gelding was winning for $12,500, the same price for which he was claimed.

Race 5- HOWDOYOULIEKTHAT was 2-1 and won this $12,500 claiming race for Murray Stroud and trainer Sam DiPasquale, She is 2 for 8 in her career and is an Ontario bred by Giant Gizmo, Justin Stein rode.

Race 6 – a maiden allowance for open 2yos was won on the pace by OUR NATION, a John Oxley colt by United States who cost $150,000 as a 2yo. The colt debuted at Belmont on turf and was 1st time Lasix for his Woodbine debut. Mark Casse with his 75th win of the season.

race 7 – riding the rail and winning the pace battle, MOON DOGGIE won this 2yo race for $32,000 claiming for TC Racing, Stablemates and Ace Racing. Scott Fairlie trains the Spaniard gelding who is 2 for 5. Sherry McLean bred the youngster who was a $10,000 yearling purchase.

race 8 – CAREER YEAR for trainer MIKE DEPAULO, 47 wins in 2015 and the stable won the 8th race on Friday with DANCING ON FIRE, a filly by Philanthropist bred by Denny Andrews. Super Six Stable would later win another race with a Philanthropist on the weekend.

race 9 SILENT ADMIRER, at one time a very promising 3yo by Silent Name who was stakes placed, is now a 5yo who won this 1 1/16 mile race for $7,500 claiming for Len Green and trainer Dan Vella.

 

 

THURSDAY WRAP

MASQUERADE PARTY started a good week for the Blair Miller stable. The grey gelding was off the claim and in for $8,000 and he led all the way under Chris Husbands.

BABY GIRL BURT won a maiden allowance for 2yo fillies at 6 furlngs for owner and breeder Bonnie Kirkwood-Peavoy. Phil Gracy trains the daughter of Court Vision – Sweet Windsong by Aptitude. Steve Bahen rode.

DUBLIN DIVA, the longest shot on the board, won this maiden allowance, open, by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:04.51 for 5 1/2 furlongs for Duar Racing and Mike Doyle. It was the 3rd recent debut winner for the Doyle stable which is loaded with nice ones for 2016. This gal is an Adena Springs-bred by Leroidesanimaux out of Diva Ash by Tapit. She was a $25,000 Keeneland September yearling and is the first foal of her winning mare. Sheena Ryan rode.

race 4 – an $8,000 claiming race was won by EGBERT’S BEST, making his first start for Enza Armata and Willie Armata. The 4yo by seeking the Best had 12 previous races for owner and breeder Paul Buttigieg and 6 top three placings. Brandon Duchaine, a 10 pound apprentice, won his first Woodbine race from well off the pace.

race 5 – Big class drop for SWEET ESCAPE, a homebred for Kirk Bradden Stable. She won for $7,500 claiming under Steve Bahen for trainer John Charalambous and it was the daughter of Giant Gizmo’s 2nd win of the year.

race 6 – Colebrook Farms’ OMINVELLY, by Marcavelly, won for the 2nd time this year for $8,000 claiming, scoring at odds-on at 6 furlongs in 1:11.53 for 6 furlongs. Ashlee Brjas trains.

BRNJAS has 30 wins in Ontario this year, more than any other year she has trainer (she won 29 in 2012).

race 7 – The day’s biggest Beyer Figure of 87 was earned by GENTLEMAN JACKSON, the 2nd win during the week for the combo of owners Ken Lee, Mitchell, Bell and trainer Marty Drexler. The gelding battled on the pace and won in 1:22.92 for 7 furlongs. It was the 8-year-olds 13th career win and 3rd score this year in this $10,000 claimer. Alan Garcia rode.

The final race was an $8,000 claiming race won by VOLSTEAD, a Rebellion gelding owned by the same interest of Catch a Glimpse, the Breeders’ Cup Juv. Turf winner – Jeff Begg, Mike Ambler and Greg Lang. The gelding is 2 for his last 3 starts and Nick Gonzalez trains.

 

WEDNESDAY WOODBINE

It is a CAREER YEAR for trainer (and owner) NICK NOSOWENKO who has 17 wins from 111 starts in 2015, more than he has ever had in a single season. His purse earnings of over $565,000 is also a new top for his stable.
SHINING STAR started the week by winning the 1st race on Wed. night in a maiden, $50,000 claiming race for 2yos fillies. The Ontario bred by Giant Gizmo, a local yearling purchase for $7,000 won the 1 1/16 mile race under (whose else) Eurico da Silva in front running fashion. Stehepn Birks bred the filly.

Rene and Darlene Hunderup’s HESTE SPORT was named Top Owners at the QROOI Awards this past weekend for an outstanding Quarter Horse season and they won at Woodbine Wed. night with MY ROSEBUD, a daughter of Megas Vukefalos that they bred. The 3yo is trained by Bill Tharrenos and Luis Contreras rode as a pick up mount.The race was for $12,500- claiming.

race 3 – the 5th win of the year for WANDOBOYSLEW, a son of the great Wando. This hard trying bay 5yo has had a few different owners and trainers this year but he has won twice for Tino Attard, who owns and trains this Ontario bred. He won for $12,500 on Wed. night under Da Silva.

Here are the leading horses at Woodbine by wins:

Miss Victoria    8 6 0 0 $60,767
Caren                  6 5 0 1 $340,818
Melmich             7 5 1 0 $185,481
Solo Player        11 5 2 1 $63,839
Wandoboyslew 9 5 1 0 $52,699

 

GEOCENTRIC, with Da Silva on board, ran out of her skin to win this $8,000 claiming race (Race 5), trying to bear out into the turn and then racing with her ears pricked to the wire. This is a Florida bred 3yo by Sardegna trained by Carlos Grant for Norm Mcknight.

race 5 – PLAY IT FORWARD won her maiden after three straight 2nd place finishes. She won for $7,500 claiming for Manitoba’s Ken Lee, Dennis Mitchell and parteners and trainer Marty Drexler. She is by Philanthropist and was bred in Ontario by Gold Medal Stable.

race 6 – SHREWD RIDE BY CHRIS GRIFFITH to win on Downey Gap for DON MACRAE. This was a $40,00 claimign race at 1 1/16 miles and Griffith slowed the pace right down and the pair won by a head in 1:44.77, the night’s top Beyer Figure of 79. The 4yo by Bernardini is now 3 for 22 in his career.

race 7 KANNY NG’S IMAGE OF LUCY won her maiden for $8,000 in her 3rd start under Tommy Wong. The homebred (Ng ownws Castle Peak Farm) is the first runner and winner for her sire Sinners N Saints, a hard knocking runner who won 7 races and almost $300,000 on the track. Steve Attard trains.

Race 8 – Classy old-timer URBAN FORESTER was stakes placed a year ago but now races for just $6,000 claiming, The flashy 7yo won for the 3rd time this year with a wild rally from far back under da Silva for Carlos Grant – Norm McKnight stable. The gelding has won almost $400,000 from 12 wins in 38 races

 

 

 

BUTTON DOWN ZIPS TO WIN
Canadian invader Button Down (GB) found the chilly and rainy conditions on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs to her liking as the 4-year-old filly swept past the leaders at the top of the stretch and held sway in the final stages to beat Lady Fog Horn by a half-length in the 42nd running of the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap (Grade III) for fillies and mares.

Button Down (GB), owned by Greenwood Lodge Farm’s Carol and William McAlpin, ran 1 1/8 miles over a turf course rated “good” in 1:56.19. Josie Carroll was the winning trainer, and eastern-based jockey Paco Lopez rode a stakes winner at Churchill Downs for the second straight Saturday. He won the Mrs Revere (GII) last week aboard Isabella Sings.

“She has just been an amazing filly” Carroll said. “Every time she goes over there, she comes back better.”

Invading Humor led the field of 11 fillies and mares through early fractions of :24.02, :48.85 and 1:14.94 with Button Down (GB) well placed early a couple of lengths off the lead. Button Down (GB) was fanned wide on the final turn, took command entering the homestretch and opened a clear advantage in the stretch before holding off Lady Fog Horn. Lacy (GER) rallied from far back but was another 3 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up to get third.

“This filly is a really good filly,” Lopez said. “We had a little trouble in the first turn. In the second quarter we got in a good position and then she was so relaxed turning for home. This filly tries really hard.”

Button Down (GB), who toted 118 pounds, paid $6.60, $4.40 and $3.60 as the 2-1 favorite. Lady Fog Horn, off at odds of 20-1 under Albin Jimenez and 115 pounds, returned $16 and $9.80. Lacy (GER), ridden by Joe Rocco Jr. who carried 117 pounds at odds of 23-1, paid $14.

Street of Gold, Bitty Kitty, Annulment, Invading Humor, Faufiler (IRE), America Mon Amie, Wiener Valkyrie (GB) and Kiss Moon completed the order of finish. Emotional Kitten and Sistas Stoll were scratched.

The Cardinal Handicap was the first graded stakes win for Button Down (GB), who banked $58,280 to improve her record to 14-3-6-0-$188,989.

Prior to the Cardinal, Button Down (GB) was fifth in the Grade I E.P. Taylor over her home course at Woodbine.

“The plan is to keep on racing her next year,” said Carroll, who added that Button Down (GB) would be turned out at the owners’ farm in Paris, Ky. for five to six weeks. “She ran in Europe (at age 2 and 3), she flew over (to the United State) and she ran all season so I would like to see her freshen up and we’ll look at a real strong campaign next year.”

Button Down (GB), a bay daughter of Oasis (GB) out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Modesta (IRE), was bred in England by Juddmonte Farms.
COMING UP ON U.S. THANKSGIVING THURSDAY

Terry Hamilton’s Heart to Heart, a fan favorite for both his on-track success and the distinctive heart-shaped star that adorns his forehead, bids for a Churchill Downs hat trick when he takes on eight rivals in the 38th running of the $100,000 River City Handicap (Grade III) on the Thanksgiving Day undercard.

The 1 1/8-mile turf test is scheduled as the 10th of 12 races on the holiday program.

The Ontario-bred 4-year-old son of English Channel comes into the race off a disappointing 10th-place run behind Grand Arch over yielding turf in Keeneland’s Shadwell Turf Mile (GI). But Heart to Heart is unbeaten in two stakes outings at Churchill Downs with victories in the 2014 renewals of the Jefferson Cup (GIII) and Commonwealth Turf (GIII), both restricted to 3-year-olds. A victory in the Oceanport Handicap (GIII) on Aug. 14 at Monmouth Park is the only victory in five races for Heart to Heart since his back-to-back wins at Churchill Downs.

“No doubt he’ll be up front,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “Hopefully there isn’t too much speed in the race. His last race was run over a soft turf and he doesn’t like that too much. He hasn’t run his best races over the soft going. It seems like the firm turf suits him much better so hopefully we get that on Thursday.”

Heart to Heart has a record of 6-2-2 in 17 races and is 5-1-1 in 10 stars on the grass. He has earned $456,640 during his career.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, who was aboard Heart to Heart’s in last year’s wins at Churchill Downs, returns to the saddle. Heart to Heart will carry 121 pounds from post three as the 2-1 second choice in Mike Battaglia’s morning line odds for the River City.

Heart to Heart’s effort to remain perfect over Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf Course will be challenged by a pair of accomplished rivals in European import Messi (GER), the 9-5 morning line favorite, and Canadian shipper Are You Kidding Me, the 5-2 third choice.

Gestut Brummerhof’s Messi started his career in Germany, but has won three of four races since he arrived in the U.S. barn of Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion. The 5-year-old New Approach gelding scored his first U.S. stakes victory with a nose victory in his most recent start in the $200,000 Knickerbocker (GIII) at Belmont Park.

Jockey John Velazquez has been in the saddle for all four of Messi’s stateside races and will be in the saddle for his River City run. Messi has a career record of 5-5-0 in 16 races with earnings of $302,899. He will break from post six in the River City and was assigned 119 pounds.

Ronald K. Kirk, John C. Bates and Michael Riordan’s Canadian invader Are You Kiddin Me comes into his Thanksgiving Day engagement at Churchill Downs off a half-length victory in the $200,000 Autumn Stakes (GII) at Toronto’s Woodbine. Trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, the 5-year-old son of Run Away and Hide also scored 2015 stakes wins in Woodbine’s Eclipse Stakes (GII) and Nijinsky (GII).

Alan Garcia has been in the saddle for all of Run Away and Hide’s seven 2015 starts and will ride Attfield’s charge in Thursday’s race. Are You Kidding Me has a career record of 6-3-6 in 24 races with earnings of $661,566. The River City’s 124-pound high weight breaks from gate four.

The River City Handicap field, from the hedge out (with jockey, weight and morning line odds): Dac (Robby Albarado, 112, 30-1), Kalamos (Abel Lezcano, 115, 20-1), Heart to Heart (Leparoux, 121, 2-1), Are You Kidding Me (Garcia, 123, 5-2), Perfect Title (Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 15-1), Messi (GER) (Velazquez, 119, 9-5), Knights Nation (Calvin Borel, 115, 12-1), Gabriel’s Cat (Victor Lebron, 112, 30-1) and Thatcher Street (Brian Hernandez Jr., 115, 15-1).