TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
Racing ends this weekend after 133-dates and we starts up again on April 9.
As we say farewell to friends who will flock south for the winter, we will also say farewell to the 2nd richest Ontario-sired runner in racing – PENDER HARBOUR.
Pender will be retired to western Canada following the Valedictory Stakes at 1 3/4 miles on Sunday.
I met Pender in person a couple of years ago in the middle of a harsh winter in Ontario while he was on lay-up at Woodlands Farm. Our late friend, Dan Steeves told me to just ‘go on in’ to the gelding’s stall and what a sweet, wonderful fellow this son of Philanthropist is to visit.
He is possibly completing one of the best campaigns of all his years as his Beyer Figures have been very strong and he has had every bit of the fighting spirit and heart as he always has had.
Owners Denny Andrews, Roberta and Bob Giffin and Sandra Lazaruk have donated $15,000 on behalf of Pender to LongRun Retirement Society. Let’s toast Pender tomorrow!
Josie and Mike DePaulo (from left to right) have trained and cared for Pender his entire career. LongRun’s Wendy Muir and Vicki Pappas and groom Howard Pottins. WOODBINE PHOTO
FORECAST – WAGERING ON WOODBINE IN 2015 2nd highest in last 10 years
If you don’t have Star Touch, the free Toronto Star app on your tablet, some of the perks include extra stuff with stories such as a chart Thoroughblog compiled with the help of Woodbine Entertainment:
ALL SOURCES WAGERING ON WOODBINE LIVE THOROUGHBRED RACING
YEAR NO. RACE DATES – WAGERING
*2015 133 $422,684,966 (THROUGH NOV. 25, with 4 CARDS REMAINING (up 14%)
2014 133 $393,781,491
2013 132 $405,799,510
2012 156 $453,865,564
2011 165 $423,209,365
2010 167 $393,507,233
2009 167 $361,435,208 up 7 percent
2008 167 $337,734,635 down 1.55%
2007 169 $343,059,524
2006 162 $333,489,534 down 8.6%
2005 164 $364,750,930
The projected number from my estimate will settle in around $436 million, inflated by the strength of the American dollar but also solid considering a horse population issue.
Speaking of the TORONTO STAR, it ran a story on Woodbine’s president Jim Lawson and his vision for clockwise turf events next year – hope you got to read it – only at www.thestar.com
WOODBINE WINNERS THURSDAY – FRIDAY
FRIDAY – Mild turns to cold and light rain all day.
EZZTHETIC – one of the tough geldings of 2015 raced in May through Friday. He has won twice this season and is a 5yo by Mizzen Mast. NORM FILES PHOTO
SPRING SPIRIT did not win at odds-on in the spring but won her maiden in her 10th career start in this $32,000 claiming dash. The Ontario bred by Spring at Last is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse.
Lots of patience with this miss as she debuted in November 2013.
Eurico da Silva with the ride.
race 2- Recent private purchase OLD VALYRIA, off her sizzling debut win with an 82 Beyer Figure, could not catch KEEPLAFFINLESLIE who was delayed in the paddock. At 9-1, the John Ross and Brian Broughton-owned 2yo led all the way under Patrick Husbands. She is by Victor’s Cry and was bred by Domenici Triumbari. The allowance win moved the filly’s earnings to past $68,000 and she cost about $20,000 at the local sale.
race 3- GRAND PALAIS ran the highest Beyer Figure of the day in this maiden race for $32,000. A well bred grey by Grand Slam owned by Fred Nixon and Tami Bobo., the colt was making his 2nd career start for trainer Justin Nixon. He scorched 6 furlongs in 1:10.43, good for an 82 Beyer Figure.
Race 4 – for $8,000 claiming was won by ATYPICAL, a homebred for Tucci Stables who is 3 for 9 this year now. Sid Attard trains the son of Seeking the Best and Husbands rode.
AUNT SUE won this maiden race for $10,000 claiming at 1 1/8 miles under Da Silva as the Catherine Day Phillips barn won its 13th race of the season. The Philanthropist filly is co-owned by the late Susan Burns.
Classy graded stakes winner OCCASIONAL VIEW is racing for mid-level claiming now and he won for Robert Trussell for $23,500 at 6 1/2 furlongs and was claimed by Mark Fournier. The 7-year-old ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.19 for a 78 Beyer Figure. He is 7 for 31 in his career now with earnings over $400,000.
Upset here – a maiden allowance for 2-year-olds at 1 116 miles. An ‘open’ race, it was the filly LUCKBE TANYA,an Ontario-bred, who got a great ride from pick-up jock Jermaine Brigdhmohan and wore down favoured Glenn Coco from the Zayat Stables. The Coco colt was favoured and tried to lead all the way but he just failed to hold on.
The winner is owned by Arnold Hill and this is the first horse he has owned by himself.
Bred by Charles Hayden, the filly is by Lookin at Lucky out of Higher World and she is a half sister to new Ontario stallion Conquest Curlinate.
73 Beyer for 1:45.89 according to Daily Racing Form
DEL CIELO held on to win the 8th race, a filly and mare allowance for Ontario sired runners. It was the 1st win of the year for the Riverlea Farm (Joe and Karen!!) and Ricky Griffith filly who is a homebred by Philanthropist.
Race 9 – the 2nd highest Beyer Figure of the day was an 80 earned by the sizzling HOT KISS with her 4th win of the season and third in succession. The Philanthropist filly is owned by Super Six Stable and trained by Mike DePaulo. Another win by Da Silva. Her time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.14.
The last race of the day was for $62,50 and that popular old horse (and he is not a gelding) LORD OF GREATNESS was in for a new low and he rallied for a 7-1 score, his 17th career win, Claimed for $20,000 this year by Peter Armata, the Willie Armata trained 9-year-old was ridden by Matt Moore and he was not claimed.
Wagering for Friday was $3.1 million.
The filly LUCKBE TANYA beat the colt GLENN COCO (Zayat Stables) in a maiden allowance – prospects for next years classic perhaps? NORM FILES PHOTO
THURSDAY
MALIBU TIDE rallied to win this $16,000 claiming opener for Mike Wright Racing Stable and Eurico da Silva. The 6yo by Malibu Moon was winning for the 3rd time in his 15th race this year
Race 2 was easily the fastest of the day with a 89 Beyer Figure earned by KITTEN CANDY, a wonderful 5yo who has been nothing but a money machine for owner/breeeder Frank DiGiulio Jr. This Candy Ride gelding won from the 1 post for his 7th career win in his 28th start. The race was for $50,000 claiming at 6 furlongs and his time was 1:09.94 even while being eased up well before the wire. Robert Tiller trains.
race 3- a maiden 2-year-old race for $32,000 claiming went to MORE MIA in his first race for claiming and 8th race of the year. The son of Mass Media, bred in Florida, had been 2nd or 3rd in 5 previous races. Mike McDonald owns and trains.
MIGHTY QUINN took race 4 for $8,000 claiming for Aurora Meadows and Peter Berringer was winning for the 2nd time this year.
Race 5 – SPLENDID GLORY held on to win this 5 furlong dash for $10,000 for her 2nd win of the season for Jessie and Harold Labouceur.
PATSY’S STAR, an Ontario bred by Plan our of Starship Cruiser, won this maiden allowance for CEC Farm and trained Ralph Biamonte. The filly was making her 2nd start and led all the way, She was bred by Adena Springs.
New trainer Angus Buntain won his 4th race of the season with his 17 start as MASTER LIGHTNING won a $20,000 claiming race in his 2nd start off the claim. Kevin Diamond owns the Pulpit 4yo.
Race 8 – FORTIS won his maiden officially this time (he won last year in December but was disqualified) and set up a $230,000 payoff to a player who took the Hi 5 jackpot before we got to the mandatory payout. (The ticket cost $11,000 and was bought in the US).
Fortis was the first winner of the year for Daniel and Ryan Birtch. Matt Moore has had a super end of the season with a lot of good rides and winners.
