NEW, EMPIRE STABLE OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW!!
12-30 – 4:30
Come out to NICOLE UMIKER`S new boarding stable, EMPIRE STABLE, just 5 min north of highway 9 on Highway 50, (just across and up from T and T Stud) near Loretto, Ontario.
A former jockey Umiker is looking for clients for her new business which includes a fresh new barn, round pen, paddocks and large arena.
Come and see for yorself tomorrow at the OPEN HOUSE!
OLAY! Canada`s hero, EL BRUJO!
EL BRUJO – GRADE 1 WIN FOR CANADIAN BRED , 106 Beyer
He must love the surf, and the turf. Or, rather the Del Mar synth.
EL BRUJO, once a favourite for the Queen`s Plate and bred right here in Ontario by Jeff Begg`s WINDWAYS FARM, won the Grade 1 Pat O`Brien yesterday at Del Mar in1:21.70 for 7 furlongs, good for a 106 BEYER FIGURE, one of the highest numbers for a Canadian bred all season.
The son of Candy Ride – Enchanted Spell led all the way through 7 furlongs,his favourite distance and was racing for only the second time for Arnold Zetcher and trainer Bob Baffert, who bought the 4yo privately this spring.
Originally bought back for $9,500 as a yearling by Begg, the large El Brujo won a pair of graded stakes last fall at Keeneland but somehow missed out on champioon sprinter in Canada at the Sovereign awards.
This year, he is not eligible for a Sovereign as he has only raced twice in Canada. Yesterday, he beat Crown of Thorns, who just missed winning the Breeders`Cup Sprint last fall.
OF TRAVERS AND COLLEENS and so much more
Is your head spinning from the stakes action around the continent yesterday?
At Woodbine, a boisterous crowd, more than usual, cheered the runners down the stetch all day long, there were quite a few close finishes. The weather was warm.
Inside, die hards were watching one big event after another at Saratoga, the guarnteed $1 million Pick 4 was tough to resist (yours truly had 2 of 4, eeks), now that’s luring the betting dollars to the races.
It was a fun day all around, the TRAVERS finish was simply wild with the two horses that yours truly had on the ticket (but missed triactor) finishing 1-2.
AFLEET EXPRESS, by Afleet Alex, is owned by Gainesway and Martin Cherry. It seems as if Gainesway (acting as consignor) was really trying to sell the 3yo for breeders McMillin Bros. and James Devany as he was entered in 5 sales in his life, including once as a weanling.
He was reported sold as a yearling at the Keeneland Jan. sale to Two Brother Stakes for $245,000 but then he was up for auction again in the fall under the Gainesway banner and he was bought back for $185,000. He was then withdrawn from 2 more sales.
There was no Beyer Figure this morning for the Travers. The colt had run a 101 as his best preivous number and he was coming off a 3rd in the Jim Dandy.
DISCREETLY MINE (Mineshaft) was probably the most impressive winner all day. This is one sprinting machine. He was under pressure on the pace all the way in the Grade 1 King`s Bishop and he held sway. Nice, nice colt.
CINDY PIERSON DULAY caught the Travers finish, Afleet Express is on inside.
TURF RAILS WAY OUT, FAR OUT FOR BARRACKS ROAD!
When the rails are out in lane 5, look out, the speed wins the turf races at Woodbine.
And so, there was Eugene Melnyk`s homebred Elusive Quality gal BARRACKS ROAD leading all the way to win the Ontario Colleen Stakes yesterday over a competitive group of 3yo turf fillies at one mile.
She took the field through leisurely splits of :23.45 and :46.23, while maintaining a solid one length lead over a stalking 53-1 shot, Dixie Chicken.
As the field turned for home over the lengthy and firm E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Barracks Road first fended off a stout challenge from Dixie Chicken, then never wavered the rest of the way while racing closest to the rail, eventually posting a length and three-quarters decision in 1:34.95.
Longshot Jenny’s So Great, at 26-1, came flying late for second, while Dixie Chicken and No Explaining, the 3-2 favourite, wound up in a dead-heat for third, a length further back.
“I wasn’t really surprised (to be in front easily),” said Fraser. “She’s an excellent filly. If you can get her the lead nice, she’ll run on. This time she was looking around. As she got closer to the wire, Mark (Casse) even said she looked like she was going to prop. Her ears were going and she does tend to look around, but she did what had to be done today.”
It’s been quite a turnaround year for Barracks Road. Winless in four starts last year, the bay filly has now taken three of five outings this season, including another turf stake score, the Ontario Damsel on July 10, also at one mile over the same course.
(with files from Woodbine Entertainment)
BARRACKS ROAD is out of Padmore, by French Deputy. The Ontario bred does not have the strongest of female families as her dam was a winner has had had 1 winner from 2 doals. The second dam, Double Lock, is an English bred.
The winning Beyer was 89.
WHOOSH, MORE FOR CATEGORY SEVEN
Canadian owned CATAGORY SEVEN won another turf stake in the bayou – she took the Shishkabob yesterday at Louisiana Downs..
SHISHKABOB S., $50,000, LAD, 8-28, 3yo/up, 1mT,
1:36 3/5, fm.
1–CATEGORY SEVEN, 119, m, 5, Gulf Storm–
Spectacular Lace, by Jokester. ($11,000 2yo >07
OBSAPR). O-James Perron Racing Stable; B-Bill
& Linda Hovanec (FL); T-Kenneth L Hargrave;
J-Richard E Eramia; $30,000. Lifetime Record:
39-13-9-5, $371,827.
