Two turf stakes this weekend and the Fanfreluche tomorrow for speedy 2yo fillies..just a week until Breeders’ Cup 31!
**Don’t forget TALKIN HORSES is on at 10:30 this morning on CTV and 11:30 on CTV2
Visit the YOUTUBE PAGE for TALKIN’ HORSES TV for all the shows..here is Episode 7..
IT’S FUN TO BE NUMBER 1! Friday Woodbine wrap –
The 1 post and the rail did well on Friday but horses on the pace and off the pace also did well so perhaps it was only a matter of riders using the inside to their advantage a bit more.
The leading rider title continues to be the hot item at Woodbine with Patrick Husbands currently holding a 7-win lead heading into Saturday:
1 Patrick Husbands 545 139 96 82 $8,100,613
2 Luis Contreras 740 132 120 110 $6,550,890
The mornings are cold and frosty but the afternoons have been warm, approaching 65 degrees with lots of sun.
Friday featured some very speedy winners.. let’s begin with Race 1-
LUCK SEEKER, fresh off a layoff since May, battled hard to thw wire and won his maiden for $19,000 claiming for Robert Bates and trainer Katerina Vassilieva. This Heatseeker 4yo colt, bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale farm in Ontario, had shown plenty of ability against tougher earlier this year. Jesse Campbell kicked off a good day with this win.
FIGHTING CHRIS took race 2 for his first win of the season in only his 7th start. The Terra Farms’ homebred by Old Forester, won this $11,500 claiming race at 7 furlongs from the rail post with Justin Stein replacing suspended Eurico Da Silva. Kevin Attard padded his win column with his 24th score of the meeting.
Race 3- GDANSK, A 3yo Langfuhr filly bred by Gus Schickedanz, won on the drop from allowance to $32,00 claiming with a sturdy stretch bid under Jesse Campbell. The filly is owned by Mike Ambler and trainer by Nock Gonzalez, who is in a heatded battle for 2nd place on the trainer’s list by wins with Robert Tiller. Gdansk has won 4 of 17 races.
Race 4 – Another rail winner on the main track and congratulations to FRANCESCA ARMATA who sent out her first winner of the year (only 12th starter) when SKY KISSES led all the way in this $8,000 claiming race as the 2 to 1 favourite. Gerry Olguin rode this Sky Mesa filly to the win.
There were plent of fillies in this event who were hung out 7 and 8 wide around the turn and are worth tabbing for a next outing.
Race 5 -Another popular winner on the day – SURE WOULD won this $8,00 claiming race to be the first winner this year for JOhn Coryat who trains who Handel Viarruel. Handel claimed this grey gal for $8,000 2 races back and she won this race at 35 to 1 after stalking and dueling from the rail with 2 others before she pulled clear on the last turn. She is a Wando filly who is 2 for 19 in her career.
This was the first Woodbine winner for Barbados jockey Paul Leacock, who has been riding in western Canada.
Race 6- maiden fillies for $12,500 claiming at 6 furlongs and this was a wild finish – SPOT A KISS, owned and trained by Mike DePaulo, received a cool and brilliant ride by apprentice Nick Webb, threading her way from the back and then waitin for room in mid strtech. While a rival was drifting out in front of her, Webb waited until the coast was clear and the filly exploded for a big win in her 5th carert. start. She is a Mutakkdim 3yo who was making her 3rd start for DePaulo.
Race 7 – Lisa McCallum Smith and Cindy Cox’s BATHSHEBA STATION must be watching stablemate CHIEF CHATO as that rival has been on a serious speed roll this year. This 6yo gelding (also by Mutakkdim) has rarely shown gate speed in his career but he had the rail post today, was hustled by David Moran, cleared and led all the way to win in 1:09.80. It was his 3rd win in his 9th start in 2014. The chestnut gelding is trained by Greg Cox, who is having a huge year. This winner was 18 to 1.
Race 8 = a maiden allowance on the grass for fillies and mares and it was nice to see good form be rewarded – COPPER KITTEN (Best bet of the day at JMBets.ca) came from just about 4 lengths off the pace and moved 3 wide on the turn to stalk Chique to Chique and she reeled that one in through the final 1/16th of a mile. The Kitten’s Joy filly is a homebred for Robert and Jo Ellen Shaw. David Bell trains and Jesse Campbell got his 3rd winner.
Race 9 – maidens at $8,000 at 1 1/8 miles and GRAND MIXTURE finally won his maiden in his 16th race – dueling early and then pulling clear to win by 9 1/4 lengths for Racing Canada and Mike Wright, who also trains, Gary Boulanger was back to ride this Sligo Bay (Ire) 3yo who was bred by John Carey. It was his 13th race this year.
Horse to watch from this race, CROWNS DANCER, who closed well after some traffic trouble off the last turn.
HORSES OFFERING HOPE
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Horses Offering People Encouragement (HOPE) pilot project.
“We are thrilled to see the inspiring outcomes of this program,” says Nick Eaves, WEG President and CEO. “WEG is committed to supporting racehorse adoption and placement programs to ensure the welfare, safety and dignity of horses continues in their retirement. The HOPE program is an excellent example of how retired racehorses can continue to have a positive impact on society long after their racing careers are over.”
HOPE, a therapeutic horsemanship program brings together retired racehorses with the community’s most vulnerable citizens.
Participants receive hands on training in basic horsemanship skills like grooming, haltering, tacking, herd dynamics and horse anatomy from experienced horse caretakers from Woodbine’s backstretch.
The five week pilot was launched in partnership with Halton Regional Police Service’s COMMANDE (Community, Mobilization and Engagement), LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society and Woodbine Entertainment Group. It was hosted at Emerald Lane Farm, a long time LongRun foster farm located in Thornton, Ontario.
“LongRun has a number of horses who, due to age or infirmities, are not the first choice for the average adopter. We are committed to finding these horses a permanent home and a dignified retirement for as long as they are happy and healthy,” said Vicki Pappas, Executive Director of LongRun. “The HOPE pilot gives these horses a chance to receive individual attention and affection from the program participants.”
A generous donation from Sam-Son Farms helped to fund this pilot project which was supported by two of the stable’s former race horses Symphony of Fire (Symphony) and Ice Bridge (Reggy), who are enjoying their time as therapy horses while they wait for a permanent home.
A training facility in the Halton region is now being sought to expand the HOPE program for a planned Spring session.
BREEDERS’ CUP ACTION GEARING UP – LEIGH COURT ON HER WAY!
LEIGH COURT on her way to Cali-fornia i aye! Lorie Allen Twitter photo
**WATCH THE WORKOUTS LIVE FROM HRTV.. http://www.hrtv.com/racing/breeders-cup-works-camera-1/
AND..use this handy Saddle Towel Guide:
http://www.breederscup.com/media-center/workout-towels
or see some videos of other works
.. http://www.hrtv.com/BreedersCup-Works/?VideoId=hhdVVgSMmZIDNdemT35LWT%2f0p9GDwp9uIxQKqeArd0k%3d
STRONG BRITISH TEAM ASSEMBLED FOR BREEDERS’ CUP
LADY AND THE TRACK – BLOG
Top Ten Major Upsets in Breeders’ Cup History: The Breeders’ Cup World Championship is usually formed by full field races with evenly matched horses which sometimes produce unbelievable upsets. It’s fair to say that every horse in the Breeders’ Cup has a chance to win, even those that didn’t look so great on paper. As the Breeders’ Cup approaches us on Friday, October 31, and Saturday, November 1, 2014, let’s take a look at the top ten major upsets in Breeders’ Cup History.
https://www.ladyandthetrack.com/news/10127/upsets-in-breeders-cup-history.html
