ANTICIPATE

EARLE MACK PURCHASES FRIETAG, MARK FROSTAD TO TRAIN

The successful owner/trainer combo of Earle Mack and trainer Mark Frostad has teamed up with recent Woodbine allowance winner FREITAG, recently purchased by Mack from owner and trainer NATHAN SQUIRES.

Mack, former US Ambassador to Finland, philanthropist and senior partner of the Mack Company, a real estate development, investment and management firm is an avid horse racing owner who has had some top Canadian-bred horses. Most notably, Peteski, who won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1993, Bruce’s Mill, champion 3-year-old in 1994 and Cryptocloser in 1994 (co-owned by Bill Sorokolit).

Frostad trained Bruce’s Mill and Cryptocloser and helped Mack acquire Peteski, who was trained by Roger Attfield.

Mack has also owned Italian Horse of the Year Electrocutionist, Grade 1 winner November Snow and Brazilian Triple Crown winner Roxinho.

Always on the lookout for a Canadian-bred, classic-type horse, Mack and his racing manager Aaron Cohen recently contacted Frostad and expressed an interest in Freitag (German for Friday), a 3-year-old gelding by Giant Gizmo out of Deadlock, by Regal Classic.

“He’s a great big, strong horse,” said Frostad. “He has a nice stride on him and he is Ontario sired, there are a lot of options for him.”

Bred by Helga Reiss’s Clayborn Farm in Cayuga, Ontario, Freitag was purchased by Squires as a yearling at the CTHS Ontario sale two years ago for $2,300.

“I actually got him for nothing since I had some sales credits built up from races I had run in at Fort Erie,” said Squires, 50. Squires, who calls himself a ‘sales junkie’ is a pedigree aficionado and enjoys studying nicks and crosses. He liked the look of Freitag as a yearling and is a fan of the Giant’s Causeway (sire of Giant Gizmo) sire-line.

Deadlock, bred by Minshall Farms, was bought by Reiss in 2006 when Minshall dispersed its horses. The mare’s dam Mountain Monarch is a half sister to the top stakes winner Stephanotis, who raced for Minshall Farms.

Squires sent his new purchase to Florida to let the sizy fellow (he’s 17 hands high) grow and mature. He was at Woodbine by June and began his career sprinting.

“He always looked like a good horse,” said Squires. “I had it in the back of my mind that, because of his dam, he wanted to sprint. But we also knew he would go long.” Freitag won his maiden late in 2013 at 1 1/16 miles. At that time, Squires was already entertaining some possible suitors for his horse including bloodstock agent Ciaran Dunne and trained Josie Carroll. No deal was made at that time.

A longtime assistant trainer to Laurie Silvera, Squires credits that top conditioner for his knowledge. “He taught almost everything I know. I would follow him around to sales and he would tell me what to look for.” Freitag, who goes on turn out at Rolling Oaks Farm in Florida, returned to training at Nelson Jones Farm in Ocala in January.

He raced in a sprint once to get into shape and then recently won an allowance race on May 19 under jockey Slade Callaghan. His time for 1 1/16 miles of 1:45.02 was a career best 72 Beyer Figure.

“He is such an easy horse to ride, nothing bothers this horse,” said Squires. “He just keeps getting better.” Squires calls Freitag one of two home runs he has had in the selling business. He sold Gangster Rap, a $1,000 purchase, after one race to Peter Redekop. That one was by Old Forester.

Freitag, a chestnut like Mack’s other good ones Bruce’s Mill and Peteski, is not currently eligible to the Queen’s Plate and would have to be supplemented for $25,000. He is not eligible to race in the Plate Trial. Frostad said they would look for a race for the gelding in the coming weeks and see if he can make his way to the Plate.

As for Squires, he is simply cheering on his former horse. “I hope he wins the Plate. I won;t have the money, but I will have the bragging rights.”

Earle Mack

Read about Earl Mack and his horse STAR PLUS..http://www.earleimack.com/press-releases/horses-have-never-been-a-game-to-earle-i-mack/

ACTION HEATS UP

FRAC DADDY was the boss in the Eclipse Stakes – Grade 2 at Woodbine on Sunday. A top US colt, he came north to try the all weather surface. NORM FILES PHOTO

Horse racing and the Ontario racing industry is going to have a super next 5 weeks. The BELMONT STAKES is Saturday and California Chrome attempts to win the coveted Triple Crown. Many of us will be at the CTHS AWARDS that evening to watch the Belmont on a big screen (Copper Creek Golf Course in Kleinburg) and then celebrate our breeders and horses. Get there early everyone, watch the Belmont with all our peeps!

Sunday – a handicapping contest for Members of the WOODBINE CLUB.

And next week is the lead-in into the $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS and the $150,000 Plate Trial (June 15), as the classic season gets underway for Canadian-bred racehorses.

Let’s not forget the June 12 election: horse racing industry members need to be sure they know what they are doing when it comes time to vote. And let’s hope the voted leader will be there for our great industry.

WOODBINE OAKS – TOP 10

PALADIN BAY
HOT AND SPICY
LEXIE LOU
WILD CATOMINE
LLARARMON
UNSPURNED
COOL FAITH
GDANSK
SWEATER WEATHER
HOLD THE GOLD

Below is an excited filly by LEGAL JOUSTING out of Shubiz,foaled May 6 and owned by Cedarcrest and Kingsgate Stud. Thank you to Krista Kocot for the beautiful photos.

BELMONT WORKOUTS

Contenders for the Belmont were busy on the weekend, many of the preps were recorded. CALIFORNIA CHROME’S PREP at 4 furlongs at Belmont was a hot topic on the weekend, leading some scribes to virtually grant the colt the Triple Crown sweep. Here is his work:

RIDE ON CURLIN WORKOUT

COMMANDING CURVE workout

BIG DADDY – Frac Daddy invades, crushes Eclipse

American colt FRAC DADDY, at one time a Kentucky Derby, classic colt and still a top notch stakes star for Magic City Thoroughbreds of Billings, Montana and trainer Ken McPeek, made easy work of the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday. Ridden by Luis Contreras, the grey son of Scat Daddy pressed a slow pace and took off to win in 1:42.74, just 2/5 off the track record of 1:42.22.

His Beyer Figure was 100.

Really Sharp, who was very well rated by jockey Steven Bahen, outbattled champion Alpha Bettor to keep 2nd place in a super outing. The Bettor rode the rail and just missed 3rd.

Frac Daddy rose to prominence as a sophomore with a second-place run in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby before tries in the Kentucky Derby (16th) and Belmont Stakes (14th.)

“He’s grown a lot since his three year old year,” said McPeek assistant Matt Shirer. “He’s a whole other horse now and we’re happy with him.”

While the DOMINION DAY STAKES would be an obvious next target for Frac Daddy were he to stay in Canada (or come back to Canada), the PACIFIC CLASSIC was bounced around as a possible next start at Del Mar on Polytrack.

Frac Daddy banked $120,000 in victory while improving his career record to 5-5-0 from 16 starts.

He returned $3.70, $2.60 and $2.20, pairing with Really Sharp ($10, $6.50) for a $35.50 (5-6) exactor. A 5-6-1 (Alpha Bettor, $3.20 to show) triactor was worth $174.10. Are You Kidding Me completed a $1 Superfecta (5-6-1-3) worth $532.40.

MORE SUNDAY –

Race 1 – a field of beginners, 2-year-olds, was dominated by ADROSA SKY, yet another juvenile winner for John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse this year. This is an Ontario bred by Sky Mesa – State Cup by Elusive Quality who was a $150,000 Fasig Tipton October yearling last fall. Manfred and Penny Conrad bred the colt who was ridden by Patrick Husbands and ran 4 1/2 furlongs in 52.05

Race 2- EXECUTIVE CLASS was the 5th winner for trainer Nick Nosowenko as she won this $8,000 claiming event, her 4th start of the season. The Where’s the Ring filly is owned by Nosowenko and his father Mike. Red-hot apprentice SHEENA RYAN rode the winner who is now 2 for 11 in her career.

Race 3- ADMITIT, she’s a super mare. The E Dubai 6-year-old won her 2nd race of the meeting in her 7th start of the year (she raced at Tampa Bay in the winter) and she has won 5 of her last 15 races. In total, this mare, who was winning for $20,000 claiming, has 8 wins in 37 races and 11 seconds and 7 thirds. Admitit was claimed by Greenoaks Farm and trainer Lorna Corston, sho has taken over from trainer John MacKenzie.

Race 4 – a $16,000 claiming race at 7 furlongs and VALID’S BEST won for CEC Farms and trainer Ralph Biamonte. This Best of the Bests (Ire) gelding, bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack has now won his season debut in 2011, 2013 and 2014. He is 6 for 17 in his career. Omar Moreno rode this chestnut gelding (see photo below). Hesa Big Dude and King City were claimed by trainers Kevin Attard and Arthus Silvera respectviely.

Race 5 – an Ontario sired maiden allowance at 1 1/16 miles and KEEN GIZMO won for Ivan Dalos, whose runners have been doing very well this year. Trained by Josie Carroll, this gelding was 2nd in his latest when he had a loose horse around him for part of the race. He had clear sailing on this day under Luis Contreras and won in 1:45.59

Race 6 – Congratulations to American trainer JOAN SCOTT, from Kentucky and Florida, who won her first Woodbine race with 34 to 1 shot MORE THAN SPECIAL, who came back from a 20 length drubbing at Keeneland to win this allowance race for Elizabeth Muirhead, who also bred the filly, and partners. Gary Boulanger had this filly pressing and chasing the speed before going in for the win.

Race 7 – On the grass for a first level allowance race for the boys and REPORTING STAR led all the way and held on to win by a nose over Dramedy with BEST BARD third. The winner has been a road warrior and a good one at that: he was 3rd in the Grade 3 palm Beach last march and 3rd in the Calder Derby, 2nd in the Grade 3 Pegasus (to Verrazano) and 2nd in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby ad 3rd in the BC Derby (Grade4 3). It was noce to see this son of Circular Quay get a win in his second Woodbine outing. Trained by Pat Parente, Reporting Star is owned by relatively news owners Chad and Christa Joe from BC.

Race 9 – GIRL’S GOT SOUL and Emma-Jayne Wilson powered to a win in this $10, 000 claiming race for Ian Black racing. This is a cool mare, 5-years-old, who won 3 of 7 last year and was making just her first start of the year. She is by Perefct Soul (Ire) out of Nickle Slot by personal Hope, bred by Anita Dawson and Richard Virs in Ontario.

Race 10 – CANDY PASSION arrived from Golden Gate in early April to trainer Scott Fairlie and he won his local debut for $20,000 claiming for a partnership of Tony Barraco, Dario Bernardi and J. Cavalli. Ridden by Gerry Olguin, Candy Passion is actually an Ontario bred, foaled at Josham Farms. He was a $60,000 Keeneland yearling two years ago. The 3-year-old won his maiden first time out at Golden Gate at the maiden allowance level. This was his fourth start. A horse to watch from this race is SAWDUST, who tried to rally from far back but was blocked for the last half of the stretch run.

*HOLY COW! A MOST UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY! AVAILABLE FOR BIDS before CTHS AWARDS AUCTION SATURDAY!
RIDE CHAMPION MARE FRAGGLE ROCKS IN MINSHALL FARMS’ CUTTING HORSE CLINIC

A fascinating auction item up for bids for the CTHS Awards silent auction benefiting LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT SOCIETY is a chance to ride a champion cutting horse, Fraggle Rock.

DETAILS – Friday, June 20th – 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Flag works
Saturday, June 21st – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Four head of cattle per person
The clinician is Mr. Gabe Reynolds of Simpsonville, Kentucky, a multiple finalist and aged event champion, Music City Trainer Challenge Champion.
YOUR PARTICIPATION INCLUDES:
Use of the champion cutting mare Fraggle Rock, a multiple aged event and weekend show champion with lifetime earnings of over $115,000, plus all applicable tack
Video of the clinic and the winning bidder’s participation including their individual work
Snacks Friday night and lunch on Saturday

BEST SUITED FOR AN EXPERIENCED RIDER WITH A GOOD SEAT
Please contact the LongRun office if you have any questions
416-675-3993 ext. 1-3440

OHRIA SENDS LETTER TO CANDIDATES as June 12 election nears

The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association wants candidates who are running for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to sign a pledge
indicating they will be a ‘Champion of Horse Racing and Breeding’ if elected on June 12, 2014.

“OHRIA has taken this step because we’ve seen the importance of working with MPPs from across Ontario and all parties over the last two years,” said Sue Leslie, President and Chair of OHRIA.

“In February 2012 our industry was threatened with collapse due to a policy decision that likely seemed minor to the individuals making the
decision. Through OHRIA, we were able to engage the public and politicians from all three parties and because of that work, we are here
today, looking toward the future,” Leslie added.

The champions of horse racing within the industry and inside the Legislature have kept the industry alive despite the cancellation of the
Slots at Racetracks Program, but Ontario’s horse racing and breeding industry will continue to need champions of our sector to allow us to
continue to thrive and finish the job on gaming integration and renewing a lasting partnership with government.

“Horse racing needs champions in the Ontario Legislature and as an industry we must continue to work together and with these champions to
move our industry forward. The lead up to the June 12, 2014 election is a great opportunity for candidates to come forward and pledge to support
the industry, so the 60,000 people who work in the horse racing and breeding sector know who to support on Election Day,” said Leslie.

The champions of horse racing pledge is available to download from the OHRIA website http://value4money.ca and has been emailed to candidates for all major parties in ridings where Ontario’s horse racing and breeding sector has a significant impact. Responses to the pledge will be shared on the OHRIA website prior to the June 12, 2014 election.

http://value4money.ca/letter-from-sue-leslie-to-major-party-candidates/