WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
What started out as a formful night with favourites winning the DAILY DOUBLE, turned into a longshot-fest over an outside biased Polytrack last evening at Woodbine.
Almost every race looked the same as speed horses along the isnide were getting inhaled in the late stages.
Robert Tiller saddled THREE HOUR TOUR to win the first race for Edenvale Stable. The filly won her maiden in her 5th career start and is a Florida bred by Three Wonders.
She rallied from off the slow pace set by LOFTILY.
Race 2, $50,000 fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on the turf, was messy as several gals got fidgety in the gate – Friendly Selection and Morning Prayers were all shook up – there was a considerable delay as the other horses stood in the gate and once sent on their way, the 6 to 5 favourite BEDARRA got left.
“I was trying to shake her up while we were in there,” said jockey Jim McAleney who rode the favourite for Tucci Stables. “But there was a delay and she was left flat-footed.”
Luckily for all of us bettors – BEDARRA came from last anyway to win like the classy gal she is. She is a Came Home 4yo and is now 7 for 22.
She was claimed by CEC Farms and trainer Ralph Biamonte.
Also claimed was She’s the Umpire by Elite Equine and that filly had a dreadful journey through the stretch while blocked.
The parade of wild winners began in race 3 when the, admittedly likeable (on breeding), NORTHOFFIFTY won his grass debut for Bert Simon Jr and trainer Lynn Simon. He was 15 to 1.
A son of RAJ WAKI, who doubles as stallion and pony in Ontario, the dark bay 4yo led almost all the way through 7 furlongs and won for breeders, the Simon family.
The Pick 4 kicked off with the Paynes Bay filly GINEENA coming from just off the pace with an inside move (won against the bias) and then held off fast closing Sacsaywaman to win at 25 to 1. The Ontario bred recently changed barns and is now co-owned and trained by Darly Ezra, a leading trainer at Fort Erie who was winning his 2nd race at Woodbine.
The filly had not shown much in 8 previous races but was at the maiden allowance level last time and ran 4th. She won for $23,500 claiming.
SIX OF THE EIGHT HORSES in the 5 furlong 5th race for $32K claiming were in a virtual line at the finish and the lucky winner was OFFICER ROCKET, a 5yo horse who was down from the $40K price he was claimed for to $32K. JOckey Michele Rainford was winning her first race in 2 years with the score. Rainford had missed a lot of time due to injuries.
Race 6- , SEISMOLOGIST ran a winning race but the outside bias helped longshot SOUPER VEX roll from last and wide to win at 11 to 1.
This grey gelding by Alphabet Soup showed a bizarre reversal in form that left handicappers scratching their heads.
He had been 11th all the way in his previous race on July 22 at the exact same level.
He was changing trainers for the 3rd consecutive race.
Race 7 – The red-hot EARL BARNETT stable continued along. BULLONTHEWIRE, a chunky chesnut by Holy Bull, was up in the final strides to win the non-winners of 2 in his 20th career start.
The last race went to outside, closing SPORTLEY, who reeled in Gen’s Jo in the last three strides to win her maiden for $12,500, The Perfect Soul filly is owned by Kingfield Racing Stable and trained by Catherine Day Phillips.
NORTHLANDS PARK REPORT
CANADIAN DERBY
$300,000 Canadian Derby (Can-III, Race 10, 3:47 p.m), 3-Year-Olds, 1 3/8 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Mr. Shadar (AB), R W Walcott, R Hedge 15-1
2. Theglow (KY), R R Singh, C Torevell 20-1
3. It Happened Again (KY), Q Welch, T Jordan 4-1
4. Tease the Tiger (ON), J Barton, M Russell 20-1
5. Stylish Citizen (KY), J McAleney, J A Ross 8-5
6. Tommy Danzigger (BC), P V Alvarado, R Gilker 6-1
7. Scorewithcater (KY), R A Walcott, J Meyaard 2-1
8. Quiet Approach (MD), H C Huston, R J Cone 30-1
9. Cool Diablo (AB), R E Simard, C Anderson 10-1
10. Almost Time (BC), F P Fuentes, D K Condilenios 10-1
11. Bronze Barbarian (AB), R D Blinston, C Christoffersen 30-1
12. Crowned Royal (KY), S Heiler, R Diodoro 15-1
EDMONTON SUN feature
The long way home:
A dozen of Canada’s finest horses here for Canadian Derby
By JOHN SHORT, SPECIAL TO SUN MEDIA
Once again, the torturous length of Saturday’s Canadian Derby will be the biggest factor in the $300,000 event.
It happens the same way every August.
This time, a high-quality 12-horse field will be setting out in pursuit of Mr. Shadar, a local candidate trained by Rick Hedge and ridden by Rico Walcott. Twelve is the maximum allowed in this race.
The bay gelding’s connections opted for the inside post on the Northlands Park track, knowing that some serious international speed was lining up on his outside.
It’s always difficult for a front-runner to go wire to wire against top competition, but even tougher when the distance is as long as the Derby’s 1 3/8-mile marathon.
Trainer Rick Hedge, who rode Driving Home to a Derby victory in 1980, pointed out that Mr. Shadar lost valuable training time due to a high fever in the spring. Perhaps he’s still a little short of top condition.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/othersports/2009/08/20/10526396-sun.html
Yearling time – continuing from yesterday’s post when a Medagalia D’Oro colt was featured – here is a GRAND SLAM – ROMANCE ROMANCE colt that will sell through Hill ‘n’ Dale at KEEENLAND SEPTEMBER.
PARAGALLO ARRAIGNED
ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT
CATSKILL, N.Y. (AP) — Horse breeder Ernie Paragallo, who was banned from racing after 177 malnourished horses were seized in a raid of his upstate New York farm, has been arraigned on 35 counts of animal cruelty.
Paragallo appeared Tuesday before Judge George Pulver Jr. in Greene County Court but didn’t enter a plea. The case was adjourned for 45 days. Paragallo remains free on $5,000 bail and has denied abusing the animals. If convicted of the misdemeanor counts, the Long Island resident could face up to two years in jail and $35,000 in fines.
State police raided Paragallo’s farm 20 miles south of Albany in April.
Paragallo, owner of 1996 Kentucky Derby favorite and fifth-place finisher Unbridled’s Song, has started more than 4,500 horses and earned more than $20 million in purses.
SINGIN’
Canadian fillies in the hunt in Alabama
Two Canadian-bred 3yo fillies and one Canadian-owned/trained and ridden filly are in the Grade 1 ALABAMA STAKES on Saturday at the Spa.
The first 4 finishers from the CCA Oaks at the distance of 10 furlongs are back in this race, Wynning Ride was one of them
But it is CARELESS JEWEL, owned by Donna and Vern Dubinsky of Alberta who looks like the one to beat.
Saturday, Saratoga
ALABAMA S.-GI, $600,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER
1 Sweet and Flawless Unbridled’s Song Dmngz Reed
2 Wynning Ride Candy Ride (Arg) D’mo Baffert
3 Funny Moon Malibu Moon Garcia Clement
4 Don’t Forget Gil Kafwain Maragh Hennig
5 Careless Jewel Tapit Landry J Carroll
6 Be Fair Exchange Rate Leparoux Lukas
7 Casanova Move Langfuhr Lezcano Pletcher
8 Milwaukee Appeal Milwaukee Brew Velazquez Fairlie
All carry 121 pounds.
