UPDATE – Trainer Marcus Vitali told Thorougbhblog today that RIDING THE RIVER, Canadian champion and earner of over $900,000, was put down yesterday at Gulfstream due to a broken shoulder.
“It is a pretty gloomy day,” said Vitali, who trained the 8-year-old for Commonwealth Stables in Massachusetts. The gelding was sold by Dave Cotey, Linmac Farms and Hugh Galbraith just over a year ago.
Vitali, who has raced horses at Fort Erie in the past, said the gelding, who was dropped in for $50,000 claiming for yesterday’s race, was “doing great” and the incident was shocking.
RIDING THE RIVER, a $3,500 yearling purchase by Cotey, was the 2012 champion turf male in Canada.
You have mints?? Classy stakes dude EXCAPER, with trainer Ian Black, is hoping young Claire has more goodies in her pocket…JANET BLACK PHOTO from Payson Park
SPIRAL STAKES AT TURFWAY SATURDAY (about 6:30 p.m.)
The up and coming colt METABOSS, a $10,000 weanling purchase by Mersad Metanovic who had the colt returned to him after going through a 2yo sale for $60,000, has some Canadian involvement – read about the “sisters” in today’s TORONTO STAR..(complete with colour photos!) – www.thestar.com
And CONQUEST TYPHOON (with jockey Mike Smith up), a leading contender for the Queen’s Plate, is also in the field at just 4 to 1 and a good effort keeps him on track for the Plate. A start in the Derby, however, would be a longshot:
“I don’t want to say that if he won and won impressively we would definitely not think about the Derby. But more than likely, not,”- MARK CASSE, trainer Conquest Typhoon, Lexington Herald-Leader
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER FEATURE
CONQUEST TYPHOON IN SPIRAL
by Alicia Wincze Hughes
Mark Casse is both a hard-core devotee to pursuing the Kentucky Derby dream and a realist who knows how to keep the chase in perspective.
The trainer has engaged in that mentally draining wrestling match more than once, but he would still like Conquest Typhoon to force him into that position in the Grade III, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on Saturday.
While stakes winner Royal Son was deemed the Spiral’s 7-2 morning-line favorite and Grade III winner Metaboss tabbed as his main threat, Conquest Typhoon is the most accomplished member of the 11-horse field set to vie for 50 qualifying points the victor will earn toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
Read more here:
http://www.kentucky.com/2015/03/19/3756312/conquest-typhoon-most-accomplished.html#storylink=cpy
Saturday, Turfway Park, post time: 6:28 p.m. EDT
HORSESHOE CASINO CINCINNATI SPIRAL S.-GIII, $550,000, 3yo,
1 1/8m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Royal Son Tiznow Prescott Pletcher 123
2 Big Family K Any Gvn Saturdy Jimenez Delgado 123
3 Wtchyrownbobr K Hard Spun Maragh Maker 123
4 Wireless Future K Scat Daddy Geroux Amoss 123
5 Another Lemon Drop K Lemon Drop Kid Van Dyke Bauer 123
6 Imperia Medaglia d’Oro Rosario McLghln 123
7 Magic of Believing Badge of Silver Laviolette McPeek 123
8 Task Force Glory Badge of Silver Hernandez Maker 123
9 Conquest Typhoon K Stormy Atlantic Smith Casse 123
10 Firespike K Flower Alley Mena Maker 123
11 Metaboss K Street Boss Solis Bonde 123
12 Dubai Sky Candy Ride (Arg) Lezcano Mott 123
PATRICK HUSBANDS looking for more wins – in TRINIDAD
WOODBINE’S leading rider from 2014, Patrick Husbands, has been winning races in Trinidad and will be back there on Saturday with fellow Woodbine-r Emile Ramsammy, for a card of racing at Santa Rosa…
from TRINIDAD EXPRESS
Husbands will partner trainer Harold Chadee’s Cramers Rule, who he guided to victory last Saturday. The multiple times Canadian champion reinsman recorded a double last raceday, bringing down the curtain with trainer Harriram ‘Pepsi’ Gobin’s One Fortheroad. He has six mounts on the nine-race card, the sextet conditioned by Chadee.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Husbands-hoping-to-Rule-296831331.html
PINHOOK CRUSH! JIM and ALICE SAPARA’s WINSONG smokes’em with GUS SCHICKEDANZ-bred
An Ontario bred filly by City Zip out of stakes winner Woodsmoke, by Woodman (family of Queen’s Plate winner Woodcarver) sold for $525,000 at the 2nd session of the March 2yo in Training sale in Ocala.
Not only was the colt bred in Ontario by Gus Schickedanz, but he was a $90,000 purchase by Jim and Alice Sapara’s WINSONG Stable (won Queen’s Plate with Edenwold) and then pinhooked for the $525,000.
Oh, and CONQUEST STABLES, which races a lot in Canada, bought the filly.
The chestnut filly is a full sister to recent maiden winner Grand Bili.
The Saparas have not done a lot of racing since Edenwold won the Plate in 2006. Their Winsong Stable has had about 40 starters in the last 5 years (9 winners). The were the underbidder on the sales topping Philanthropist colt last year at Woodbine.
JIM AND ALICE SAPARA with 2006 Plate winner EDENWOLD
OTHER BUYERS…
CARLO TUCCI, one half of the successful TUCCI STABLES, signed the ticket for a $155,000 Ontario bred 2-year-old colt at Tuesday’s Ocala March sale. The Tucci’s, whose Midnight Aria won the Queen’s Plate in 2013 and who have scaled the heights of racehorse ownership in recent years, are uncle and nephew and based here in southern Ontario.
The colt, by Stormy Atlantic, is out of the solid Woodbine mare Clear Lake, who raced for Rob Smithen. Clear Lake, by Megas Vukefalos, earned over $250,000 and this is her first foal.
The colt sold for $40,000 to Kirkwood Stables, agent at the Keeneland September sale last September.
Tucci also bought a First Dude filly for $52,000.
JIM AND SUSAN HILL, through agent Tony Goswell, bought a Sidney’s Candy filly for $130,000.
MARK CASSE bought horses for Conquest Stables and perhaps John Oxley (he had several purchases as agent) including an $800,000 Tiznow colt that will race for Conquest.
Casse, who signed for $1.9 million in horses, will race in New York this year and he has strings here at Woodbine, in California, Florida and Oaklawn.
Casse also has started training horses for Charlotte Weber’s Live Oak Plantation, which bought the sale topping Bernardini colt for $1.4 million.
CHARLES FIPKE bought a $725,000 Congrats filly out of Christie Village by Deputy Minister, Christie Village raced for breeder Eugene Melnyk.
ONTARIO BREDS IN SALE
SALES RESULT HIP NO. GALLOP SHOW TIME SEX BREEDING CONSIGNOR
OUT 10 10.3 F Uncle Mo Captivating Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
NOT SOLD $190,000 36 10.1 C Scat Daddy Classic Neel Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XVI
$155,000 C. TUCCI 38 22.0 C Stormy Atlantic Clear Lake Ontario Kirkwood Stables, Agent
OUT 153 out C Uncle Mo Gentle Words Ontario Secure Investments
$160,000 DOGWOOD STABLES 191 10.1 C Haynesfield Hold the Sugar Ontario Halcyon Hammock Farm, Agent
OUT 310 C Ghostzapper Northglen Ontario Bobby Dodd, Agent I
OUT 323 10.3 C Kitten’s Joy Parisia Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XIX
NOT SOLD $85,000 344 21.3 F City Zip Princess Ruckus Ontario Excel Racing (Rudy Delguidice), Agent III
OUT 535 OUT F Old Forester Woodland City (SAF) Ontario RiceHorse Stables
$525,000 CONQUEST 537 10.1 F City Zip Woodsmoke Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
$37,000 NICK GONZALEZ 600 10.2 F Marchfield Bob’s Choice Ontario Ends Well
CANADIAN CHAMPION RIDING THE RIVER vanned off at GULFSTREAM
Champion RIDING THE RIVER, the 2012 Sovereign Award winning TURF MALE, was vanned off from a $50,000 claiming race on the grass at Gulfstream on Thursday. Currently owned by Commonwealth Racing and trained by Marcus Vitali, the son of Wiseman’s Ferry, now 8-years-old, won the 2013 King Edward at Woodbine but has not won in 10 races since then. He was sold at the end of 2013 by Dave Cotey’s Dominion Bloodstock and partners and he has had 3 different trainers since the sale. Riding the River was a $3,500 yearling purchase and he has won over $900,000.
UPDATE ON INTEGRATION WITH OLG
courtesy STANDARDBRED CANADA (www.standardbredcanada.ca)
Sue Leslie, President of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association, recently spoke on the process of integrating horse racing with the province’s gaming arm — the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
The update was part of an audio interview posted on the OHRIA website.
“Well,” Leslie said with a sigh to interviewer Norm Borg, “integration continues to be a very slow process, unfortunately. I do believe that the people involved at OLG and the province are sincerely working with us and trying to move integration along.
“The more involved we get in it, the more complex it becomes and, as you know, OLG were operating for some time without a CEO. Stephen Rigby now is in charge over there and I’ve found him to be very demonstrative, very willing to work with us, a good communicator. And so I think that getting him in place is going to help the process a lot.”
Leslie noted that one of the key individuals working on the integration process — Larry Flynn, Senior Vice President of Gaming at OLG — is retiring at the end of the month after 14 years.
“[Larry] probably understood our industry better than most there so that will be a little bit of a setback but I know he’s been briefing Stephen (Rigby) like crazy. We have had excellent communication, and I have had excellent communication. I think Phil Olsson, the Chair, has done a good job in the selection there.”
read more and listen to the podcast:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/3-19-15/update-integration-olg.html
ALLEN JERKENS – THE GIANT KILLER
NEW YORK TIMES FEATURE – BY RICHARD GOLDSTEIN
Allen Jerkens, the Hall of Fame thoroughbred trainer who was known as the Giant Killer for springing some of horse racing’s greatest upsets, died on Wednesday in Aventura, Fla. He was 85.
His death was announced by his son Jimmy, who is also a trainer. Mr. Jerkens had been hospitalized with an infection for several weeks.
Mr. Jerkens, who was based at Belmont Park for most of his 65-year career, never had a winner in the Triple Crown series or the Breeders’ Cup, but he won more than 200 stakes races and gained renown as a master of his craft.
RECENT ONTARIO-BRED WINNERS, from SIRE POWERED RESULTS at DAILY RACING FORM
(January 3- March 17)
In order of Beyer Speed Figures
Unbridled Juan 3/C (ON), Unbridled’s Song – Sugar Swirl, by Touch Gold
Breeder: Adena Springs | Trainer: Brian Lynch | Owner: Stronach Stables
Maiden Special Weight – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 7 D-Fast D: 8f | T: 1:37.28 | P: $40,000 | Beyer: 98 | DRF Chart
03/07/2015
Inchcape 5/H (ON), Indian Charlie – Cottage Link, by Seeking the Gold
Breeder: Eugene Melnyk | Trainer: Jason Servis | Owner: Mr. Amore Stable
Allowance Optional Claiming – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 4 T-Firm D: 8.5f | T: 1:38.10 | P: $44,000 | Beyer: 97 | DRF Chart
03/07/2015
Irish Mission 6/M (ON), Giant’s Causeway – Misty Mission, by Miswaki
Breeder: Sam-Son Farm | Trainer: Christophe Clement | Owner: Robert Evans
Stakes- Grade: 3 | Very One S., GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 5 T-Firm D: 11f | T: 2:18.66 | P: $150,000 | Beyer: 95 | DRF Chart
Shaman Ghost 3/C (ON), Ghostzapper – Getback Time, by Gilded Time
Breeder: Adena Springs | Trainer: Brian Lynch | Owner: Stronach Stables
Maiden Special Weight – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 8 D-Fast D: 8.5f | T: 1:44.87 | P: $41,000 | Beyer: 79 | DRF Chart
03/13/2015
Avgolemono 4/G (ON), Aljabr – Rose of Athens, by Alphabet Soup
Breeder: Gus Diakoloukas | Trainer: Michael Pappada | Owner: Danielle Agnello
Allowance – MAHONING VALLEY RACE COURSE, Race Number: 5 D-Fast D: 8f | T: 1:43.46 | P: $16,200 | Beyer: 79 | DRF Chart
03/15/2015
Danish Dynaformer 3/C (ON), Dynaformer – Danish Wildcat, by Danehill
Breeder: Charles Fipke | Trainer: Roger Attfield | Owner: Charles Fipke
Maiden Special Weight – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 12 T-Firm D: 9f | T: 1:49.01 | P: $41,000 | Beyer: 78 | DRF Chart
02/16/2015
South to the Sea 6/G (ON), Johannesburg – Dance to the Sea, by Gone West
Breeder: Sam-Son Farm | Trainer: Joe Woodard | Owner: Hays, Billy, Hays, Donna and Hays, Justin
Allowance – MOUNTAINEER CASINO RACETRACK & RESORT, Race Number: 6 D-Muddy D: 8f | T: 1:41.54 | P: $18,400 | Beyer: 74 | DRF Chart
03/15/2015
OTHER ONTARIO BRED WINNERS FROM FEBRUARY AND MARCH:
Urbanist 5/G (ON), Uncle Woger – Royal Seduction, by Fast ‘n Royal
Breeder: Bruno Schickedanz | Trainer: Jeffrey Radosevich | Owner: Bruno Schickedanz
Maiden Claiming – MOUNTAINEER CASINO RACETRACK & RESORT, Race Number: 4 D-Muddy D: 6f | T: 1:11.49 | P: $6,100 | Beyer: 44
Lady Bugatti 4/F (ON), Bernardini – Officer Cherrie, by Officer
Breeder: Blazing Colours Farm | Trainer: Steven Asmussen | Owner: Florence Rutherford
Maiden Special Weight – SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK, Race Number: 4 D-Fast D: 8.3f | T: 1:48.06 | P: $20,000 | Beyer: 56
03/02/2015
Gray Day Lover 5/G (ON), One Way Love – Gray Oaks Day, by With Approval
Breeder: Stepping Stone Farm | Trainer: Dallas Keen | Owner: Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.
Maiden Claiming – SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK, Race Number: 8 D-Good D: 7f | T: 1:26.51 | P: $7,500 | Beyer: 77
03/01/2015
Uncommon Good 4/F (ON), Philanthropist – How Special, by Sky Classic
Breeder: Paradox Farm, Inc. | Trainer: Robert Johnston | Owner: Six Brothers Stable
Maiden Claiming – MOUNTAINEER CASINO RACETRACK & RESORT, Race Number: 2 D-Good D: 5f | T: 0:58.63 | P: $6,100 | Beyer: 42
02/27/2015
Sick Love 3/F (ON), Where’s the Ring – Cosa Rara, by Tethra
Breeder: Hard Eight Stables Inc. & Ace Racing | Trainer: Scott Fairlie | Owner: Scott Fairlie
Maiden Special Weight – PENN NATIONAL, Race Number: 1 D-Fast D: 8f | T: 1:41.82 | P: $28,500 | Beyer: 60
02/21/2015
Fuhr Gerry 4/G (ON), Langfuhr – Silent Course, by Trajectory
Breeder: Gustav Schickedanz | Trainer: Catherine Robinson | Owner: Gustav Schickedanz
Waiver Maiden Claiming – LAUREL PARK, Race Number: 1 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:15.47 | P: $27,891 | Beyer: 50
02/16/2015
Mytrack Marie 3/F (ON), Mast Track – Mylaar, by Madraar
Breeder: Andy Stronach | Trainer: Jose Corrales | Owner: Wood River Ranches LTD
Maiden Claiming – LAUREL PARK, Race Number: 3 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:16.70 | P: $22,000 | Beyer: 35
02/15/2015
King’s Ghost 3/F (ON), Ghostzapper – Fourth Power, by Cozzene
Breeder: Adena Springs | Trainer: Brad Cox | Owner: Miller Racing LLC
Maiden Claiming – FAIR GROUNDS, Race Number: 6 T-Firm D: 7.5f | T: 1:31.22 | P: $18,500 | Beyer: 66
02/14/2015
Lahaina 5/M (ON), Old Forester – Great Beauty, by Great Gladiator
Breeder: John & Maggie LeBlanc & John Carey | Trainer: Joe Duhon | Owner: Storm Stables
Allowance – FAIR GROUNDS, Race Number: 7 T-Firm D: 5.5f | T: 1:03.31 | P: $38,000 | Beyer: 76 |
02/12/2015
Betterbytheminute 4/G (ON), Kodiak Kowboy – Cumulus (GB), by Kingmambo
Breeder: Windhaven Farm Limited | Trainer: Louie Roussel, III | Owner: Louie Roussel III
Maiden Claiming – FAIR GROUNDS, Race Number: 1 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:11.40 | P: $13,000 | Beyer: 71
02/11/2015
Devilish Boy 4/G (ON), Wilko – Tuscan Princess, by You and I
Breeder: Errol Bailey | Trainer: Angel Gonzalez | Owner: Angel Gonzalez Racing Stable
Maiden Claiming – HOLLYWOOD CASINO AT CHARLES TOWN RACES, Race Number: 8 D-Fast D: 6.5f | T: 1:23.72 | P: $10,500 | Beyer: 26
02/11/2015
Shezafirecracker 4/F (ON), Sharp Humor – Grenade, by Lite the Fuse
Breeder: Norseman Racing Stables Inc. | Trainer: Sid Attard | Owner: Norseman Racing Stable
Maiden Claiming – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 2 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:11.48 | P: $19,000 | Beyer: 75
02/11/2015
Finn’s Jewel 4/F (ON), Giant’s Causeway – Catch the Ring, by Seeking the Gold
Breeder: Sam-Son Farm | Trainer: Malcolm Pierce | Owner: Sam-Son Farm
Allowance Optional Claiming – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 7 T-Firm D: 9f | T: 1:47.91 | P: $42,000 | Beyer: 78
02/10/2015
Maynards Point 5/M (ON), Flower Alley – Licorish Village, by Siphon (BRZ)
Breeder: Eugene Melnyk | Trainer: Elliot Sullivan | Owner: Elliot Sullivan
Allowance – MAHONING VALLEY RACE COURSE, Race Number: 4 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:14.09 | P: $13,500 | Beyer: 50
Danzig Storm 4/C (ON), Distorted Humor – La Suena, by Storm Cat
Breeder: Windhaven Farm Limited | Trainer: Mark Casse | Owner: John Oxley
Maiden Claiming – OAKLAWN PARK, Race Number: 3 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:10.95 | P: $32,000 | Beyer: 76
02/07/2015
Danzig Moon 3/C (ON), Malibu Moon – Leaveminthedust, by Danzig
Breeder: Windhaven Farms Limited | Trainer: Mark Casse | Owner: John Oxley
Maiden Special Weight – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 6 D-Fast D: 8f | T: 1:38.09 | P: $41,000 | Beyer: 89
02/06/2015
Maydell 5/M (ON), Sky Classic – Virginia Plain, by Gulch
Breeder: Sean Fitzhenry | Trainer: Peter Walder | Owner: Lengel, David R. and Aventura Stable
Starter Optional Claiming – GULFSTREAM PARK, Race Number: 11 T-Firm D: 7.5f | T: 1:30.45 | P: $21,000 | Beyer: 81
02/06/2015
Karakorum Queen 3/F (ON), Singing Saint – Karakorum Starlet, by Skip Away
Breeder: Adena Springs | Trainer: Brian Stivers | Owner: Brian Stivers
Maiden Claiming – SUNLAND PARK, Race Number: 7 D-Fast D: 6.5f | T: 1:17.53 | P: $9,182 | Beyer: 44
02/06/2015
Underground Valley 4/F (ON), Rebellion (GB) – Shenandoah Valley, by Proud Citizen
Breeder: Hickory Tree Farm | Trainer: Gary Aimonetti | Owner: James Arbuckle
Maiden Claiming – TURFWAY PARK, Race Number: 5 S-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:14.73 | P: $7,000 | Beyer: 42
02/06/2015
Coast Guard Patrol 5/G (ON), Officer – Severn Sound, by Grand Slam
Breeder: William D. Graham & William Werner | Trainer: J. Kruljac | Owner: Kings River Ranch
Maiden Claiming – TURF PARADISE, Race Number: 1 D-Fast D: 5.5f | T: 1:05.20 | P: $7,800 | Beyer: 55
02/05/2015
Go Go Rocket 5/H (ON), Tapit – Woods Bay, by Mr. Greeley
Breeder: William Graham | Trainer: Michelle Lovell | Owner: War Tide Stables LLC
Allowance Optional Claiming – FAIR GROUNDS, Race Number: 7 D-Fast D: 8.3f | T: 1:43.36 | P: $41,000 | Beyer: 88
02/04/2015
Soccer Ryan 4/G (ON), Marcavelly – Don’t Call Me Tory, by Trust N Luck
Breeder: Two Amigos Racing Inc. | Trainer: Ronney Brown | Owner: Chesney, Stephen and Hoffman, Cory S.
Maiden Claiming – HOLLYWOOD CASINO AT CHARLES TOWN RACES, Race Number: 2 D-Fast D: 4.5f | T: 0:53.59 | P: $14,000 | Beyer: 48
02/04/2015
She Ain’t Bad 4/F (ON), Where’s the Ring – She Ain’t Much, by Phone Trick
Breeder: Ericka Rusnak | Trainer: Sandee Martin | Owner: Rock Bottom Ranch
Allowance Optional Claiming – PENN NATIONAL, Race Number: 5 D-Fast D: 6f | T: 1:11.99 | P: $30,400 | Beyer: 67
02/01/2015
