One last blast of winter in southern Ontario today with heavy rain in the ice form falling and playing havoc with trees..STEVE OWENS captured this image from training this morning at Woodbine…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, some of the world’s top racehorses are just about ready for World Cup night at Meydan in Dubai ..oh, to visit there one day..
DUBAI WORLD CUP – SATURDAY 1 P.M. EST
Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1 Keen Ice R. Moore Dale Romans 20-1
2 Mshawish L. Dettori Todd Pletcher 8-1
3 Gun Pit J. Moreira Caspar Fownes 30-1
4 Mubtaahij C. Soumillon Mike de Kock 15-1
5 Special Fighter F. Jara Musabah Al Muhairi 15-1
6 Candy Boy P. Dobbs Doug Watson 50-1
7 Vadamos V. Cheminaud Andre Fabre 20-1
8 Hokko Tarumae H. Miyuki Katsuichi Nishiura 20-1
9 Frosted W. Buick Kiaran McLaughlin 2-1
10 Hoppertunity F. Prat Bob Baffert 12-1
11 California Chrome V. Espinoza Art Sherman 3-2
12 Teletext S. De Sousa Sami Al Harabi 30-1
Meydan Grandstand in the morning (Mathea Kelley)
RACE SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY MORNING
Post Time – Race # – Purse – Race Name
8:20 a.m. ET
2 $1 Million Godolphin Mile
8:55 a.m. ET
3 $1 Million Dubai Gold Cup (T)
9:35 a.m. ET
4 $2 Million UAE Derby
10:10 a.m. ET
5 $1 Million Al Quoz Sprint (T)
10:45 a.m. ET
6 $2 Million Dubai Golden Shaheen
11:45 p.m. ET
7 $6 Million Dubai Turf (T)
12:20 p.m. ET
8 $6 Million Dubai Sheema Classic (T)
1:00 p.m. ET
9 $10 Million Dubai World Cup
CANADIAN 3-YEAR-OLD REPORT
At Payson Park, SHAKHIMAT is readying for the Spiral Stakes at Turfway next weekend – currently a huge favourite for the July 3 Queen’s Plate. ‘Check mate’ – DAWN KAY/WOODBINE RACETRACK PHOTO
SHAKE DOWN BABY, the bargain purchase filly who won the Muskoka Stakes for Bill Tharrenos and partners last fall at Woodbine, makes her first start for new owners, Cheyenne Stable in the Sanibel Island Stakes at Gulfstream on Saturday.
The Wando filly was purchased by Cheyenne Stables, which has Christophe Clement as its trainer fo rthis filly, after her allowance win on turf with a 73 Beyer Figure earlier in the winter.
The price for the filly is not known but thought to be in the $200,000 (US) range.
Shake Down Baby was a $5,000 yearling purchase from breeder Gus Schickedanz at the CTHS Woodbine yearling sale 2 years ago.
The race is not an easy one for the Baby but there is speed to run at. Canadian-owned and trained FIRST GIRL, fresh off a big win on the grass just 17 days ago, is in post 1 for Tucci Stables and trainer Sid Attard. Woodbine trainer Dan Vella will saddle Pulled the Goalie in the race and she starts from post 11.
Here are some of the top Beyer Figures for Canadian-bred 3-year-old winners from their races last fall and/or through today:
ARCTIC JOY – 67 – recent maiden winner at Turfway
AEGIS – 72 – recent maiden winner at Laurel
LIMITLESS – 76 – filly, winner at FG
SMART MISSION 72 – Sam-Son filly, winner at GP
BATTERY 77 – In the Louisiana Derby on Saturday for trainer Todd Pletcher
SHAKHIMAT – 91 – leading Candian-bred 2yo of 2015, readying for next weekend’s Spiral S. at Turfway
AMIS GIZMO – 86 – Top local 2yo for Ivan Dalos
CONQUEST ENFORCER – 87 – Impressive Cup & Saucer winner still idle
CONQUEST DADDYO – 83 – Summer S. winner flopped in 2016 opener
AYE AYE CAPTAIN -81 – local colt with Catherine Day Phillips
AMIES MESA 84 – Ivan Dalos filly has been ok in Florida races
GAMBLES GHOST 81 – not a bad return outing for Dalos filly
CAREN 80 – Ontario-sired stakes winner did not take to dirt at GP last weekend
ESPOSITO 79 – Dec. winner idle since January
STEADY ACTION AS HORSES WORK TOWARD WOODBINE OPENING
JEFF BOWEN captured this icy image from Thursday morning..
The weather will keep horses recording workouts down to a minimum for a couple of days currently but things have been moving along at Woodbine as opening day, April, 9, gets closer.
Through Wednesday and after 6 days of Tapeta training, trainers seem generally pleased with the surface and it will certainly get a big test with the ice and rain during the next day or two.
On Wed., a pair of Robert Tiller trainees by Old Forester sped 4 furlongs in :47.00 on the Tapeta: Amazing in Motion and Hazel Meadow.
