PHOTO – Toronto Raptors popular centre CHRIS BOSH towers between racing secretary STEVE LYM and track annoucner DAN LOISELLE at a fun post position draw for the WOODBINE OAKS at WEGZ bar yesterday.
Terence Dulay photo.
WOODBINE OAKS
$500,000 Sunday June 7 – 1 1/8 miles, 3yo fillies, foaled in Canada
POST HORSE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY ODDS
1 Indigo North/Chiefswood Stable Ltd./Eric Coatrieux/Tyler Pizarro 30-1
2 Politelyprecocious/Gus Schickedanz/Mike Keogh/Constant Montpellier 15-1
3 Secret Wish/Cudney Stables/Jim Day/Justin Stein 30-1
4 Milwaukee Appeal/C.E.C. Farms/Scott Fairlie/Stewart Elliott 6-1
5 Soul of Nataka/Charles Fipke/Roger Attfield/Richard Dos Ramos 30-1
6First Circle/Gus Schickedanz/Mike Keogh/Jono Jones 20-1
7 Wynning Ride/Arnold Zetcher/Bob Baffert/Joe Talamo 5-2
8 Koonunga Hill/Empress Stables/Steve Owens/Emma-Jayne Wilson 20-1
9 High Mist/N.C. Stables et al./Reade Baker/Jim McAleney 12-1
10 Gore Bay/Chiefswood Stable Ltd./Eric Coatrieux/Chantal Sutherland 15-1
11 Double Malt/Mike Ambler & Partners/Malcolm Pierce/Eurico Rosa da Silva 15-1
12 Academicienne/NYKY Thoroughbreds Stable/Kiaran McLaughlin/Alan Garcia 20-1
13 Tasty Temptation/Woodford Racing/Mark Casse/Patrick Husbands 7-2
14 Miss Blakely/Capitol Hill Th’breds & Team Five Star Stable/Joe Orseno/Eibar Coa 12-1
BAFFERT FILLY FAVOURED, CASSE GAL GETS POST 13
– Mark Casse didn’t seem to mind post 13 when it was drawn for Woodford Racing’s grey gal TASTY TEMPTATION for Sunday’s 1 1/8 mile Woodbine Oaks. Casse had said before the draw he would prefer an outside post rather than far inside and while “she’ll probably race farther than anyone else”, Casse is confident the experience that the Medaglia D’oro filly has will help her beat the others.
Tasty Temptation has raced at a route distance 5 times in her 7 races and is devloping nicely. Last year, the filly came highly recommended to Casse but she did not work well at the outset. She grew and matured and while she has a very short tail and is a lanky miss, she had guts to rally hard behind American filly Hooh Why in the La Lorgnette Stakes, her last start.
WEGZ Stadium bar, where the draw was held, was crowded. A group of folks from New Jersey came up to cheer on their filly at the draw – Capitol Hill and Team Five Star Stables sat up close to root for MISS BLAKLEY to get post 8 – she got the 14 post in the 14 horse field instead. That gal is one of 3 invaders for the race. Miss Blakely is by Smart Strike and was just a $25,000 2yo purchase at the Adena Springs sale last year.
WYNNING RIDE was made a lukewarm favourite based on her Grade 1 placing last year at 2. She has raced just once this year – in a sprint and was 2nd for trainer Bob Baffert.
ACADEMICIENNE, a chestnut miss, was just bought from Europe and she has never raced on anything but turf.
Interesting longshot prospects in the field include HIGH MIST, who stretches out and is fresh for western Canadian connections Wendy Anderson and N.. Stables and partners. The Omodavor gal is bred to handle the trip.
The Gus Schickedanz entry of FIRST CIRCLE and POLITELYPRECOCIOUS are uncoupled – the latter appears to be sitting on a peak effort and she is a full sister to Breeders’ Stakes winner Marlang.
TORONTO STAR FEATURE
THE GEORGE FAMILY and MILWAUKEE APPEAL
Horse has appeal for Woodbine Oaks
JENNIFER MORRISON
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Eugene George has been involved in horse racing at Woodbine for almost 50 years and has had his share of stakes winners, most of which were obtained through the claiming box.
Sunday, the 79-year-old father of eight boys has a good chance to win the biggest race of his career – the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks – with a filly he bred himself. George’s Milwaukee Appeal, a stakes winner last year as a 2-year-old and again in 2009, is the third favourite at 6-1 in a bulky 14-horse field for the 1 1/8-mile classic for Canadian-foaled fillies.
“Dad’s been around the game a long time,” said Ted George, credit manager at his father’s 50-year-old company, G.A. Masonry in Breslau, Ont. “He’s pretty calm and cool about it. He’s actually out of town working this week, but it’s a big thrill to have one in the running.”
http://www.thestar.com/sports/horseracing/article/645993
WHAT’S ON AT WOODBINE THIS WEEKEND
Rain stay away for Oaks day!
– The forecast is not great for Sunday, Oaks day – 15 degrees Celcius, cloudy and rainy, let’s hope they are as wrong as some of us horse racing prognosticators.
A big trackside party hosted by Q107 radio is an attraction for fans on Sunday – Oaks day. There are prizes and contests and lots of fun stuff for everyone.
Earlier in the day, a handicapping seminar focussing on the Oaks begins at 11 a.m. on the 3rd floor with CONSTANT MONTPELLIER and READE BAKER the jockey and trainer guests to discuss their horses and the race.
WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT WRAP
– The prep for the highlander Stakes went to SHADOWLESS, who sat a good tip off the pace in the 6 furlong turf dash and rallied own the middle to just edge a stubborn LEGAL MOVE to win in 1:07.83, mere hundredths off the course record.
The Highlander Stakes is run on Queen’s Plate day June 21.
Jockey SIMON HUSBANDS got his first win of the meeting with a just-in-time ride on the maiden filly FEET ON FIRE, owned by Maggoe LeBlanc. The filly came from 14th and last to win the $12,500 claimer on the last jump.
A lot of winners came with strong, wide rallies – KINNOULL HILL was a first-time starter winner for Eric MacDonald and Paul O’Sullivan in race 2. The Toccet filly won the maiden allowance over the feisty white filly Christie Village. She is trained by Roger Attfield.
CASIMIRO won his maiden in race 8 with a 6 wide rally for the Centennial Niagara folks and trainer Don MacRae. The Mutaakdim gelding came with high hopes last year but won his maiden for for $25,000 last night after bleeding in a previous race.
THURSDAY WRAP
– The first THURSDAY of the meeting was held at the same time as the Woodbine Oaks draw and a Hall of Fame inductees wine and & cheese later in the afternoon. Just eight races and it was something for everyone. Eight different trainers and riders won on the mixed card.
It was fun to see stakes winner WINDWARD ISLANDS win a close battle with a gritty SAFTEY ZONE in the featured 4th race, an allowance/optional claiming event on the grass – 1:47.56 for 9 furlongs. Thre grey Sam-Son Farms gelding is surely headed back to stakes races with that confidence builder under his girth.
Also winning was trainer GREG DE GANNES, whose SEISMIC FORCE won the first on the drop to $40K claiming for the Kasters. The gelding was well reated by Emma-Jayne Wilson throughout the 1 1/16 miles.
TOM PATTON won his first race of the season with NAJRAN’S PICK, who ralied inside to win his maiden for $12,500 in his first time around 2 turns. Jono Jones rode the Najran gelding.
John Cardella is having a good season and he dropped FREE TO FLY, a very consistent fellow, in for $12,500 and watched him rally to win with Slade Callaghan up.
Joe Walls won with stretch runner LONG JOURNEY, who was also dropping in class to win the $20,000 claimers with the turf to Polytrack move. Jim McAleney rode.
Fast paces in the last 2 sprints of the day set things up for TWO VIOLINS, who cut back from 6 furlongs and loved the 5 furlongs to win his maiden for Alec Fehr and owner Terry Hamilton. Tyler Pizarro rode.
And the finale went to OFFICER ROCKET, who rode the rail and rallied from well back to win the $32,00 claimer, dropping in class for owner/trainer Steve Asmussen. Luis Contreras rode.
The wowee run of the day was from FEATHER BED LANE, who was running like a wild horse through the stretch to be 2nd for trainer Julia Carey and he had started sluggishly from the gate.
KATHERINE AT BELMONT
– Canadian-bred PRETTY KATHERINE is no longer on the Woodbine Oaks trail but instead is in a sprint stake at Belmont today:
Friday, Belmont Park
ALYSSUM S., $65,000, 3yo, f, 6.5f
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER ML
1 Mani Bhavan Storm Boot Klesaris 7-5
2 Roxyana Sky Mesa Hennig 6-1
3 Speculation Silver Deputy Bond 5-1
4 Hollywood Hills City Place Klesaris 7-5
5 Malibu Beach Tapit Klesaris 7-5
6 Pretty Katherine Vindication Hollendorfer 6-1
7 Reforestation Forestry Turner, Jr 2-1
BELMONT FOR THE BIRDS
Post Horse Trainer Dosage Jockey M/L Odds
1 Chocolate Candy Jerry Hollendorfer 2.08 Garrett Gomez 10-1
2 Dunkirk Todd Pletcher 3.00 John Velazquez 4-1
3 Mr. Hot Stuff Eoin Harty 2.11 Edgar Prado 15-1
4 Summer Bird Tim Ice 2.11 Kent Desormeaux 12-1
5 Luv Gov D. Wayne Lukas 4.60 Miguel Mena 20-1
6 Charitable Man Kiaran McLaughlin 2.06 Alan Garcia 3-1
7 Mine That Bird Bennie Woolley 5.40 Calvin Borel 2-1
8 Flying Private D. Wayne Lukas 3.67 Julien Leparoux 12-1
9 Miner’s Escape Nick Zito 3.80 Jose Lezcano 15-1
10 Brave Victory Nick Zito 4.33 Rajiv Maragh 15-1
Note: All horses carry 126 lbs.
STICKY AND SWEET – How about Jenny Craig’s CHOCOLATE CANDY (Candy Ride) as a longshot pick for the Belmont Stakes? Check out the TORONTO STAR newspaper tomorrow for an analysis on the race. Cindy Pierson Dulay photo.
VIC ZIEGAL COLUMN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
–Belmont will be Dunkirk’s latest chance to get it done
Friday, June 5th 2009, 4:00 AM
– The horse’s name is Dunkirk. We’ve been waiting forever for him to be great. OK, so it’s more like 10 weeks. But horse racing, more than any other sport, is famous for asking this harsh question: What have you done for us lately? The last time out. The last month. The last half-hour. Huh? Big huh.
Dunkirk’s poppa, Unbridled’s Song, was a 2-year-old champion (despite his name), the Derby favorite the next year and the sire of a Derby winner. And when poppa was sent to the very-happy farm, there was a long line of impressive mares waiting for him. His price for a smooch is $125,000. The old man was an even hotter sire when Dunkirk hit the ground. (Us tabloid guys always try to be delicate.)…
EPSOM DERBY FIELD
SEA THE STARS VS. O’BRIEN 6
– The EPSOM DERBY is tomorrow (morning our time) and there are cases to be made for 2000 Guineas winner SEA THE STARS or one of trainer Aidan O’Brien’s 6 runners – FAME AND GLORY is unbeaten in 4 races. Below is the field and a news story.
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER RTF% JOCKEY OR TS RPR
11 4-1 Age Of Aquarius 28 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 P J Smullen 109 111 122
b c Galileo (IRE) — Clara Bow (FR) (Top Ville)
23 -31 Black Bear Island 23 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 Ryan Moore 112 125 132
b c Sadler´s Wells (USA) — Kasora (IRE) (Darshaan)
312 1-8 Crowded House 23 3 9-0 B J Meehan 50 Jamie Spencer 120 135 134
ch c Rainbow Quest (USA) — Wiener Wald (USA) (Woodman (USA))
45 113 Debussy 30 3 9-0 J H M Gosden 63 Jimmy Fortune 103 119 122
b c Diesis — Opera Comique (FR) (Singspiel (IRE))
510 -11 Fame And Glory 27 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 J A Heffernan 122 128 134
b c Montjeu (IRE) — Gryada (Shirley Heights)
66 2-3 Gan Amhras 35 3 9-0 J S Bolger 41 K J Manning 115 131 133
b c Galileo (IRE) — All´s Forgotten (USA) (Darshaan)
77 -41 Golden Sword 30 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 C O´Donoghue 109 126 125
b c High Chaparral (IRE) — Sitara (Salse (USA))
88 1-5 Kite Wood 23 3 9-0 Saeed Bin Suroor 53 L Dettori 108 122 128
b c Galileo (IRE) — Kite Mark (Mark Of Esteem (IRE))
92 0-2 Masterofthehorse 30 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 Richard Hughes 111 122 125
b c Sadler´s Wells (USA) — Shouk (Shirley Heights)
1011 1-2 Montaff 28 3 9-0 M R Channon 60 R Hills 106 80 121
b c Montjeu (IRE) — Meshhed (USA) (Gulch (USA))
119 7-4 Rip Van Winkle 35 3 9-0 A P O´Brien 37 J Murtagh 115 130 132
b c Galileo (IRE) — Looking Back (IRE) (Stravinsky (USA))
124 1-1 Sea The Stars 35 3 9-0 John M Oxx 88 M J Kinane 121 137 138
b c Cape Cross (IRE) — Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki (USA))
1313 21 South Easter 29 3 9-0 W J Haggas 58 N Callan 105 117 117
ch c Galileo (IRE) — Dance Treat (USA) (Nureyev (USA))
EPSOM DERBY FEATURE
The Press – Fame and Glory tipped to win
By Tom O’Ryan »
– Johnny Murtagh’s loss could well be Seamie Heffernan’s gain in tomorrows £1.25million Investec Derby, which looks sure to be an Irish benefit, with the aptly-named Fame And Glory leading the way home.
With Aidan O’Brien saddling six of the 13 runners, and fellow Irishman John Oxx represented by 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars, British-trained runners look outclassed. It is, though, a fascinating race and, although Murtagh, O’Brien’s number one pilot, has elected to partner Rip Van Winkle, my fancy is one of his stable-mates, Fame And Glory, the mount of Heffernan.
Unbeaten in four starts, Fame And Glory, a Group 1 winner last autumn, has won both his races this term in the style of a potentially top-class horse and this step up to a mile and a half looks sure to suit him perfectly.
AJAX DOWNS OPENING WEEKEND
– The purses are up, the track is brand new and there are 11 races with good fields tomorrow for the first day of the 2009 Ajax Downs meeting.
Everyone who has been involved in Quarter Horse racing in Ontario for 40 years has been waiting for these days – the slots have helped purses and the facility has improved. Quarter Horse racing in Ontario is on the way up and most Quarter Horse folks are welcoming it.
With FORT ERIE closed on SATURDAY, MIKE MEHAK and DAVID PIQUES are among the riders named on horses on the big opening day card.
www.ajaxdowns.com/images/overnights/AJX_Jun6_Ovenight.pdf
Quarter Horses work on the new track at Ajax Downs in Ajax, Ontario. Racing starts there tomorrow with an 11-race card. Check Equibase for entries and workouts.
Dave Landry photo.
NORTHLANDS PARK REPORT
Full horse lottery
After a slow start to the thoroughbred season, things are looking up
By JOHN SHORT
– At last, Northlands Park racing secretary Jason Teague can relax. The fields are filling up.
“It was hard for trainers to get their horses ready for the early part of the year,” he said yesterday. “The weather didn’t help much.”
The biggest problem was cold weather, making it difficult — and at times impossible — to get horses onto a frozen track.
www.edmontonsun.com/sports/columnists/john_short/2009/06/05/9684541-sun.html
