BROWN PANTHER has been happy and strong since he arrived from England on Tuesday. Owned by Andrew Black and Michael Owen, this Shirocco stallion is a major contender on Sunday. MICHAEL BURNS – WEG PHOTO
THE PIZZA MAN has a pizza-shaped marking on his head. He is also pretty good in long grass races. MICHAEL BURNS – WEG PHOTO
Watch out for HILLSTAR, a dangerous fellow from the yard of SIR MICHAEL STOUTE, who has had some good results in this race WOODBINE – MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO
FROM EUROPE, THE U.S. AND CANADA – IT’S INTERNATIONAL DAY!
Canadian breds DYNAMIC SKY and PYRITE MOUNTAIN, both American owned, will try to win the 77th Canadian International and become the first locally bred horse to win this 1 1/2 mile classic since Thornfield in 1999.
The former has been close all year long in these big turf races and is bound to win one of these days. Patrick Husbands, who is set on trying to be leading rider and is hotter than any rider anywhere, is on board for owner John oxley.
PYRITE MOUNTAIN, bought by Dr. Gerald Bortalazzo for $200,000 from Frank Stronach’s syndicate group last fall at auction, is back in his home country after he just missed to Suntracer in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup.
Dr. Bortalazzo is a cool story as this Atlanta ER surgeon beat terminal cancer a few years ago and he only recently got into the horse ownership game. Of course, Sean Hall, an owner, trainer from Ontario who now lives in Barbados, bred Pyrite Mountain, a son of Silent Name.
BROWN PANTHER and HILLSTAR are rivals overseas and the latter is hoping to beat the cat at a distance shorter than what the cat has been racing at in the last year.
THE PIZZA MAN has to rebound off a dull run at Woodbine in the Northern Dancer than ended a winning streak and SUNTRACER, WAR DANCER and P PRADO OLE are all coming out of the Kentucky Downs race. Toss in another feline – BIG BLUE KITTEN, owned by the popular Ramseys, and this is a barn burner of a race.
MICHAEL OWEN in town to watch the ‘Beast’
Read The Star’s article on Michael Owen here.
Trakus analysis of the race here.
Picks for the WOODBINE RACES are at jmbets.ca
KRIS – SHARP IN VICTORY IN THE RILING ANGEL
It was a windy, cold day at Woodbine with lots of flying, furious finishes and the headline race, the Ruling Angel Stakes was certainly one of those raucous races.
CACTUS KRIS came from last place to win the 6 1/2 furlong dash for 3-year-olds fillies in 1:16.69 edging Bison City Stakes winner Unspurned, who looked like she may have got the jump on the field in the stretch run.
The winner is a Florida bred by Cactus Ridge out of Highest Ground by Lemon Drop Kid and she was a $30,000 yearling purchase in 2012 in October, Fasig Tipton.
Anne Walsh owns and Ryan Walsh trains. The rider was Huber Villa Gomez,
“It’s been a wonderful day,” said Walsh, who also sent out longshot Sweet Nkosi ($77.70), to win the seventh race at Keeneland on Saturday. “We lost a heartbreaker in July (when Cactus Kris got beat a nose in the Duchess Stakes at Woodbine). Huber told me (after the race) that of all the times he’s ridden her, she really excels on this polytrack so we shopped around for a similar spot.
“I think we’ll sit on her for the winter and bring her back in the spring, maybe at Presque Isle or Woodbine.”
More Saturday..
Starting from race 10 – which was a pretty exciting event for Ontario sired fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs. The gritty 3yo VIRREINA finally got some luck as she was extracted from a mess of traffic by Emma-Jayne Wilson and thren used her huge, reaching strides to get Clarkston Hope on the wire. The time of 1:17 2/5 was good for a 69 Beyer Figure.
It was the first winof the year for Virreina, a 3yo by Vibank – Psychedelia by Wild Zone, bred by Vicki Pappas and owned by Bill Diamant. Phil Gracey trains and it was Gracey’s 7th winner of the meeting. Virreina had been second five times this year, once in the Passing Mood Stakes and she had some lucky runs.
Her earnings stand at $135,473.
How about checking out this exciting race:
Race 9 – DIVINE SONET won this $20,000 claiming race for 3-year-olds and up, non-winners of 2 but it was a lot of work for his rider Luis Contreras. The colt by Divine Park, owned and bred by Ivan Dalos, had to be hard ridden almost the entire 1 1/16 miles to get the win, his 2nd in 8 races. Sid Attard trains.
Race 7 – BE MIND PHIL was down to $8,000 claiming and she grabbed her 2nd win of the season on the turn-back from 1 1/16 miles to 6 furlongs. Robert Tiller trains for Frank DiGiulio Jr who also bred the filly. Eurico da Silva rode.
Race 6 – a 2yo filly maiden race, Ontario sired and is was 2nd time strater RELIABLY ROYAL who ralied from 9th to win in 1:11.98 for Bill Thompson and Laurie Silvera. Omar Moreno rode the Phialnthropoist filly out of Queen of Queens who was bred by Bill Grahan and cost $17,000 at auction.
Race 5- BLONDE BREEZE won for Mort Hardy and she has won twice for Hardy since she was claimed for $8,000 in June. Juan drawford rode the 5yo mare by Posse in this $12,500 claiming event.
Race 4- Congratulations to Krista Cole who owns and trains I AM WHO I AM, a Sligo Vay 3yo gelding who won his maiden allowance at 1 1/16 miles in 1:46 under Gerry Olguin. This was a $3,000 purchase at auction and he has won nearly $46,000.
Race 3 – Florida bred RESPONSIVE won her maiden in this 6 furlong dash in 1:11 for Mark Casse and Rocky Top Stables. This Strong Hope filly was 2nd in her debut to Galina Point, who was later bought by Casse and will run in the Princess Elizabeth. This race had several feisty filies who delayed the start and the winner was just up to beat Appeal to the Win and Hidden to Win.
race 2 – A four horse field went to front runner EIRIGH who coasted to this first allwoance score at 1 1.16 miles in 1:44.32. The son of More Than ready is a Cavendish Investing bred from ONtario, owned by Donegal Racing, an American stable, Nick Gonzalez trains and Eurico da Silva rode.
Race 1- Two wins for Robert Tiller and Frank DiGiulio Jr as GREEN BAY won this $12,500 claiming race. The Sligo Bay filly is also owned by DOnofrio and Peri who bred the filly. Patrick Husbands rode.
TSN HAS THE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL AT 3 -4 P.M.
Sunday’s 77th edition of the $1-million Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International is set to go postward as Race 6 at 3:32 pm ET. TSN will provide special 60 minute live coverage of the racing action from Woodbine from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET.
Brian Williams will host the telecast with Jim Bannon providing the analysis. Sandy Hawley is the on track reporter. Dan Loiselle will call the action. Rob Platts will produce the show, while Kris Platts directs behind the scenes.
The $300,000 Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes, a six furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upwards is set for Race 8, while the $500,000 Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares is slated as Race 10.
NOBLE MISSION – with that Northern Dancer look – a Champion (and Frankel’s brother)
