NEWS ALERT FOR TODAY – MOBY DIP , 3 TO 1 IN RACE 5 AT FORT ERIE TODAY, could be trainer Martin Drexler’s record-equalling consecutive win at the meeting. Alex Bankuti set the record almost 30 years ago…stay tuned.
The PRINCE OF WALES, the 2nd jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, puts FORT ERIE in the spotlight this coming weekend. The track, with one-year left on the lease by Fort Erie Consortium, continues to struggle with its wagering although there has been some improvement since the Pick 4 takeout was dropped to 14%.
The race does not have the Plate winner, which is a bummer, and I have yet to have anyone send me the answer to the quiz – who was the last Plate winner to pass the ‘Wales’???
A field of 9 could go, 2 would be maidens and from this corner, it looks like a 2-horse race between HIPPOLYTUS and CHECK YOUR SOUL, with the latter looking like he can bounce back off his icky Plate run…
CHECK YOUR SOUL ‘spit the bit’ 4 furlongs into the Plate said jockey Patrick Husbands
Cindy Pierson Dulay photo
WALES WEEK!
Hippo works at Fort Erie
With jockey TYLER PIZARRO on his back, Queen’s Plate runner-up HIPPOLYTUS worked 5 furlongs at Fort Erie yesterdsay morning in 1:02, beateing workmate Penthouse View after starting behind him.
Trainer Mark Casse reported on the workout yesterday at Woodbine:
“We broke him 3 or 4 lengths behind him and he caught him. I got him in 1:01 2/5, they got him in 1:02 but I was happy. He moves well, I dont think any surface bothers him he is a very pretty mover.”
‘HIPPO’, by Philanthropist, will meet up with Plate rivals PENDER HARBOUR (3rd) and BOWMAN’S CAUSEWAY (4th) and others on Sunday.
The latter worked four furlongs at Saratoga yesterday in :50 breezing.
PENDER HARBOUR worked this morning, MONDAY, in 1:01 1/5 breezing on the training dirt track.
CHECK YOUR SOUL worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 2/5 at Woodbine on the dirt training yesterday and is lookig to bounce back from his Plate flop. The Trial winner, holder of an 89 Beyer Figure, seemed to lose his cool on Plate day as he was quite sweaty and lathered.
CHARLIE’S THE MAN, a maiden and the likely pacesetter in the race is he is supplemented, worked 6 furlongs in 1:13 breezing yesterday, going faster than older stakes winner Essence Hit Man. Charlie’s the Man is owned by JOm and Susan HIll, who had a longshot winner of the Breeders’ Stakes last year with Miami Deco, also trained by Brian Lynch.
WELLOILEDMACHINE, second in a Fort Erie allowance recently, worked in 1:02 breezing yesterday on the dirt traiinng track for Mike Keogh and owner Chris Windsor.
OBAN, a maiden, worked in 1:01 4/5 for Keogh. PH CANADA worked in 1:01 2/5 on the Polytrack for trainer Robert Tiller.
PROBABLES (9)
BOWMAN’S CAUSEWAY
ch.c.3 by Giant’s Causeway(Storm Cat) – Victory Encounter(Victory Speech)
Martin S. Schwartz Chad C. Brown
FOURTH IN THE PLATE
(S)CHARLIE’S THE MAN
B.c Indian Charlie – Social Woman, by Woodman.
Jim and Susan HIll Brian Lynch
* would need to be supplemented
maiden
CHECK YOUR SOUL
dk b/.c.3 by Perfect Soul (IRE)(Sadler’s Wells) – Unchecked(Unbridled)
Charles E. Fipke Roger L. Attfield
PLATE TRIAL
CURGONE
b.g.3 by Niigon(Unbridled) – Curiosity(Tale of the Cat)
J. M. Stritzl Stable Gregory de Gannes
Winner
HIPPOLYTUS
dk b/.g.3 by Philanthropist(Kris S.) – Danzatara(Ascot Knight)
Horse’n Around Racing Stable and Lederman, R. Mark E. Casse
2ND PLATE
OBAN
b.g.3 by Pleasant Tap(Pleasant Colony) – Oliva(Danzig)
Schickedanz, G., Howard, D. Kenny, G. and Partner Michael Keogh
MAIDEN
OH CANADA
b.g.3 by Proud Citizen(Gone West) – Oh Livia D.(Ascot Knight)
Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr. Robert P. Tiller
stakes placed
PENDER HARBOUR
ch.g.3 by Philanthropist(Kris S.) – Uproar(Hail the Ruckus)
Andrews, Dennis, Lazaruk, Sandra and Giffin, Rob and Roberta Michael P. De Paulo
3RD PLATE
WELLOILEDMACHINE
dk b/.g.3 by Mobil(Langfuhr) – Sleek and Powerful(Sir Cat)
Christine and Dennis Windsor Michael Keogh
WINNER
The Plate video:
WEEKEND WRAP FROM WOODBINE
Never Retreat does not give up…Bingo was her name, oh!
BINGO, a maiden, upset the Ontario Damsel Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine and continued a wild roll for trainer MARK CASSE, who has won with 7 of his last 28 starters (25%).
Bingo, a highly regarded dark bay, was wearing blinkers for the 1at time but was also first time LUIS CONTRERAS and it’s starting to look like this guy is just going to ride rings around the colony.
Contreras allowed Bingo to stroll to the lead through 24 and change and 47 1/5, dueling briefly with Isabella Bay who was rank, and then she just motored away from the field that included odds-on stablemate ROXY GAP, who was 2nd.
The Beyer was 85, easily the best of Bingo’s career.
She was bred by Denny Andrews and Blackwater Farm Ltd. the latter which was listed as buyer of the filly as a weanling for $10,000.
She is by Bernstein out of Isabeau by Prospector’s Pick and is a half sister to multiple Alberta stakes winner Beau Brass.
Bingo was one of 4 winners for jockey Contreras on the card and he will be on days this week, Wed, Thurs and Friday.
On Sunday, the Grade 2 DANCE SMARTLY STAKES marked a revenge run for NEVER RETREAT, who was ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan. The Team Block mare, by a Canadian-bred sire, SMART STRIKE, and from a Canadian sired mare LISIEUX (by Steady Growth) held off the closing BAY TO BAY, who got the jump on her in the Nassau Stakes last time. The winner upped her record to 9 for 28 and earnings of $867,000.
Her BEYER WAS A SHARP 97
LISIEUX raced for Ted Burnett’s Josham Farms and was trained by Mike Mattine. Her sire is Queen’s Plate winner STEADY GROWTH. Lisieux has had a number of foals and all were foaled in the United Stakes.
MORE STUFF…
DEBUT WINNERS INDIAN EVENING and MARITIMER won as expected yesterday but in very different manners.
The former, who was 5 to 2 as the last horse went into the gate but then was 6 to 5 by the end of the race (!!) broke slowly under Tyler Pizarro, realxed and then rallied with flair and he earned a 70 Beyer Figure for 6 furlongs in 1:09 4/5.
The $110,000 yearling purchase is owned by Vinery and trained by Josie Carroll. He is by Indian Charlie.
Later, the much bally-hooed MARTIMER barely held on to win his maiden. He’s a big colt by Stormy Atlantic and out of unbeaten stakes winner Highland Mood, and he rallied very nicely while wide but as he drew off he suddenly seemed to stall. He did manage to win but his Beyer Figure was just a 59.
MOSTLY MAGIC broke down in race 7 on Saturday. The Tiznow gelding was making his first start since 2010 (October) when he was claimed for $20,000. He was racing for $12,500 on Saturday, led to the turn in the 6 furlong race, got a couple cracks of the whip and then broke down into the stretch, Reports say he was vanned off.
That race was won by BLUSHING BRAT who strolled up the rail under a hold by Quincey Welch and won easily as the first winner for trainer Darren Glennon this season.
Trainer Linda Pilotto also won her first race of the season as NIGHT DUTY won her maiden for $16,000 claiming under Emma-Jayne Wilson, The Officer filly, an Ontario bred, was dropping from $20,000 claiming.
NORTHERN PASSION, a debut winner for the Casse stable, drove through a tiny path along the rail to win her maiden on Saturday for owner John oxley. The Ontario bred was a $200,000 2yo purchase in March and she was bred by Mel Lawson. She is by First Samurai out of A Touch of Glory from the family og champion Ginger Gold.
Oh yes, she had worked one furlong in 10 seconds flat and was really moving that day. Leggy gal looks like a good one.
On Sunday, form reversals were preva;ent. GOLD DUST LADY, 7 to 2 in her latest for $60,000 claiming dove down from 74 Beyer Figures to a 53 and was 6th beaten 12.
She won Sunday for $60,000 with a wide rally at 7 to 1 in a wild rebounding effort for True North Stable.
HANDY HAROLD, at 9 to 2 in his last race on june 23 for $12,500 claiming, bombed that day when 8th behind artie hot and forty creek. sunday, he beat those guys for $15,000 claiming with a bizarre switch in form for ron sadler.
VENUS BAY won a turf allowance race on the Sunday card to go 4 for 12 in her career. The dark bay Mobil filly, bred by Richard Moylan and Judy Hulley, was a $15,000 yearling purchase and is owned by Quintasesial Racing Florida and Sherry McMartin.
ALDERSON WINS FIRST AS JOCK
Fort Erie, July 10…Apprentice jockey Bryce Alderson scored his first career victory Sunday afternoon at Fort Erie Race Track. Alderson’s mount Kinshasa’s Paradis was making his first start of the 2011 racing season and trying the turf for only the second time in his career. The 6 year-old gelding was sent out by trainer Pierre Crete for owners James, Todd and Charlie Brown.
The 20 year-old Fort Erie native comes by his love for the racing game naturally. His father Ian Alderson has been involved in the business for many years as well as Bryce’s uncle Tony and Grandfather Malcolm.
“The horse broke well and I just sat until I saw an opening. When I asked him to go, he made one big move,” explained the young rider after the race. “I am really excited to have won and could really get use to this!”
Kinshasa’s Paradis went off at odds of 9-1. The win returned $21.20, $9.60 and $5.30. Zenko finished second paying $6.90 and $5.00, while Gulch Knight ran third and paid $6.50.
Eight races are scheduled to run tomorrow at Fort Erie with a post time of 4:00 pm. Bryce Alderson rides Proudly True in the fourth race tomorrow for trainer Jennifer Davis.
