GIVE MOMMY A KISS…This little boy is a Tiznow colt and the first foal of Woodbine stakes winner OFFICER CHERRIE. The youngster was born at Blazing Colours Farm in Wellandport, Ontario.
SEND ME YOUR FOAL PICTURES TODAY!
BARBADOS GOLD CUP NEXT WEEKEND, CANADIAN-BRED STERWINS tops field
Eugene Melnyk returns to Gold Cup
EARLY NOMINATIONS FOR GOLD CUP (TO BE RUN March 6, 2010)
BARBADOS
APOSTLE
AREUTALKINTOME
BIRD WATCH (RESERVE)
BORDER SECRET (RESERVE)
BOUNCEBAK
DAYLIGHT EXPRESS (WON THE GOLD CUP LAST YEAR)
GRACE CHAPEL (RESERVE)
JOHN BRIAN
PEACEFUL ENVOY
PREACH TO ME
PURE TEMPTATION (WON THE GOLD CUP 2 YEARS AGO)
RING TIME (RESERVE)
SPICEY TIGER (RESERVE)
(13)
USA
BAD ACTION
BRIBON
(2)
CANADA
HARLOW’S COURT
STERWINS
THE STERWINS STRETCH…the grey 7yo is headed to the island! Terence Dulay photo
from CARIB DAILY:
Eugene Melnyk is once again throwing his support behind the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, which he won in 2004 with the seven-year-old Kathir.
Melnyk, who has resided in Barbados for almost 20 years, is a Canadian businessman who built a small medical publishing empire before selling it and founding Biovail Corporation. He later purchased the NHL Ottawa
Senators hockey club and Scotiabank Place, along with the team’s 20 500-seat world-class Entertainment Complex, among many other accomplishments including the successful launch of Trimel BioPharma, a company focused on developing innovative, patented applications for drug delivery and non-systemic delivery of Pharmaceuticals.
Melnyk first got involved in racing in the 1980’s, and has since become one of the major players in North
America.
He now owns a farm in Ocala, Florida, and another in Lexington, Kentucky, and the two comprise over 1 000 acres and have as many as 700 horses on them managed by Phil Hronec, and his staff of over 90.
As a partner with Bert Inniss, in Bert’s Bar, he spends time welcoming many guests from Canada, and especially Ottawa, Canada, where he proudly speaks of his Barbados connection.
Melnyk will tell you that next to his love for his children, his passion for horse racing is obvious. Almost
all of Melnyk’s horses are named after places in Barbados, which helps in promoting the island.
http://www.caribdaily.com/article/258854/eugene-melnyk-returns-to-gold-cup/
CANADIAN-BRED BICKERSONS seeks another graded stakes win
SILVER DEPUTY GAL AMONG THE BEST IN US
from Gulfstream press notes:
Jerry Romans, Jr.’s Sassy Image has won three straight stakes races while Lori and George Hall’s Bickersons romped home a seven-length winner of the Forward Gal Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in her last start. The two accomplished 3-year-old fillies will likely be the favorites in Saturday’s $150,000 Davona Dale Stakes (G2).
The one-mile Davona Dale is one of three graded stakes presented on Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Filly Festival program at Gulfstream. Also being run are the $100,000 Sabin Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at one mile and the $100,000 The Very One Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares to be run at 1 3/8 miles on turf.
Regular rider Robby Albarado flies in from New Orleans for the mount on Sassy Image as she bids to extend her streak of stakes victories for trainer Dale Romans. The chestnut daughter of Broken Vow completed her juvenile campaign with scores in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) and Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in the fall and won the Sweetest Chant Stakes here on Jan. 17 by 4 ½ lengths in her 2010 debut.
Jockey Joe Bravo gets the return call on Bickersons for trainer Kelly Breen after they teamed up for a stunning victory in the seven-furlong Forward Gal on Jan. 31. The daughter of Silver Deputy was making her first start since finishing fifth in the Starlet Stakes (G1) at Hollywood Park on Dec. 20 trying two turns as she did two races before finishing 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 6.
Other contenders that will attract support in the field of eight drawn for the Davona Dale include IEAH Stables and Whizaway Farm’s Amen Hallelujah with Julien Leparoux to ride for trainer Rick Dutrow and jockey Corey Nakatani flying in for the mount on Michael Imperio and Kona Stable’s Christine Daae for trainer Patrick Biancone.
Amen Hallelujah has returned to Dutrow’s Gulfstream Park after a successful foray to California winning the seven-furlong Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) on Jan. 16 in her first start since a third-place effort in the Starlet at Hollywood Park in December. The daughter of Montbrook tries dirt for the first time after winning three of eight on synthetic tracks at Arlington Park, Keeneland, Hollywood and Santa Anita.
Christine Daae makes only the third start of her career in the Davona Dale, but developed a following at Gulfstream when breaking her maiden last out on Jan. 15 by 8 ¾ lengths going seven furlongs. The chestnut daughter of Giant’s Causeway finished fourth in her debut at Hollywood Park on July 9.
Completing the field are Larry Byer and partners’ Female Drama, Rajiv Maragh; Rose Family Stable’s Joanie’s Catch, Paco Lopez; Juddmonte Farms’ Comic Marvel, John Velazquez; and Edward P. Evans’ Mambo Fever, Jeremy Rose.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
DAVONA DALE S.-GII, $150,000, 3yo, f, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Amen Hallelujah Montbrook Leparoux Dutrow Jr 118
2 Female Drama Indian Charlie Maragh Sciametta Jr 116
3 Joanie’s Catch First Tour Lopez Rose 120
4 Bickersons Silver Deputy Bravo Breen 118
5 Comic Marvel Distorted Humor Velazquez Mott 116
6 Christine Daae Giant’s Causeway Nakatani Biancone 116
7 Mambo Fever Stormin Fever Rose Dutrow 116
8 Sassy Image Broken Vow Albarado Romans 122
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
Castle Peak/Tino Attard win
It has been a good month for the Castle Peak Farm (and Consttruction) as it had a nice 3yo prospect win at
Tampa Bay Downs last week and yesterday, GREY BOUNDARY won a $10K claiming event at Gulfstream as the favourite.
An Ontario bred by Boundary- Grey Pearl by Waquoit, Grey Boundary was up to win by half a length over JOLLY JORDYN, trained by Mike DePaulo, also of Toronto.
This weekend, lots of locals are in action. AURORA LIGHTS, a graded stakes winner at Woodbine last year, is in the Sabin Stakes for Chiefswood Stable. The Kentucky bred by Pulpit will race one mile on dirt.
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
SABIN S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Justwhistledixie Dixie Union Leparoux Mott 123
2 Matchless Orinda Sky Mesa Velazquez Ma Wolfson 117
3 Amazing Greatness Nakatani Lynch 117
4 Miss Match (Arg) Indygo Shiner Garcia Matz 117
5 Aurora Lights Pulpit Velasquez Coatrieux 121
6 Champagne Eyes Flatter Trujillo Ma Wolfson 117
7 Jessica Is Back Put It Back Castellano Ma Wolfson 117
8 Slides Choice Devil His Due Castro Hamm 121
Charles Fipke’s LADY SHAKESPEARE has been seeking a dry grass course for her next race – she had to be scratched from 2 recent events:
Saturday, Gulfstream Park
THE VERY ONE S.-GIII, $100,000, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 3/8mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Proud Lisa Proud Citizen Castellano Orseno 117
2 Belle Allure (Ire) Numerous Maragh Clement 117
3 Morena (Per) Privately Held Trujillo Matz 121
4 Long Approach Broad Brush Leparoux Sheppard 117
5 Cable Dynaformer Garcia Clement 117
6 Celtic Princess (Brz) Public Purse Velasquez Caramori 117
7 In My Glory Honour and Glory Castanon Peery 117
8 Mystic Miracle Unbridled’s Song Coa Hennig 117
9 Closeout Repriced Prado Proctor 117
10 Zaskar (GB) Anabaa Castro Terranova 117
11 Changing Skies (Ire) Sadler’s Wells D’meaux Mott 117
12 Kiawah Cat Lemon Drop Kid Nakatani Mott 117
13 Nehantic Kat Tomorrows Cat Bravo Tagg 117
14 Lady Shakespeare Theatrical (Ire) Velazquez Attfield 117
MTO Jessica Is Back Put It Back Leparoux Ma Wolfson 117
AE Rcuandry A.P. Indy Rose Motion 117
CASSE BUSY, MAY SEND POOL PLAY TO BIG ‘CAP
Canadian-bred ready for his break through
As WINDFIELDS FARM is set to disperse all of its machinery and equipment and memorabilia (see ad this page), one of its last homebreds from when it was still a commercial operation, POOL PLAY, could put the famed farm in the headlines once again.
POOL PLAY (Silver Deputy – Zuri Ridge, Cox’s Ridge) is a stakes winner at Woodbine who may head west to Santa Anita for the prestigious SANTA ANITA HANDICAP.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/111025.html
COOL N COLLECTIVE TO RACE IN NEW YORK TOMORROW
13YO Canadian-bred could make history
Canadian-breds are in the news a lot these days and what about 13-year-old COOL N COLLECTIVE (Ruhlmann- Oanther Run), bred by Jim and Alice Sapara (Winsong Farms) in Ontario?
He is still racing and could be the oldest horse to win in New York should he be successful in a race tomorrow.
Reports are that the horse may be retired after the race.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55554/13yo-horse-tries-to-make-history-in-new-york
TWISTED WIT subject of forum chats
Canadian-bred TWISTED WIT,a stakes winner in Canada and now toiling in low level claiming ranks, has become the subject of feverish chat on various forums across the continent.
The horse is apparently in good hands these days in his current home in Florida and, according to a discussion
on Alex Brown racing:
One writer said: I talked to Monte this morning. He is “in love” with this old guy and promised me he
absolutely still loves his job and if there is one little kink with him he will be retired. This owner and
Monte have a love for older war horses and they have a quite a few almost millionaire geldings that they have
claimed to ensure their safe retirement when they are ready. He said he had a legit excuse for his poor
performance his last race and they will give him time and listen to him. He was thoroughly checked out and is
doing great. His staff and love of the horses is totally genuine and I can assure
everyone Twisted Wit hit the jackpot when he was claimed by Monte, the 2 horses we took from him were so well cared for. I will keep everyone updated as I hear from Monte about him.
http://forums.delphiforums.com/alexbrown/messages?msg=45848
WOODBINE STARTING TO BUZZ
Gensler newest Woodbine trainer
Just a little over a month now and Woodbine racing will be up and running. The training track opened for
business a week ago and, despite an unfortunate and horrific accident that claimed the life of a 2yo in the first week, things seem to be working smoothly.
This morning folks were bundled up as a brisk wind blew the snow around – it was -17 C with the wind chill. The only busy place of the entire backstretch was the Ontario Racing Commission licensing office where folks already started to line up to get their new 2010 passes.
News from around the track has HANK GENSLER, previously an assistant to top trainer Steve Asmussen, as having his own stable of runners this year at Woodbine.
Asmussen also has stalls for his 3rd year at Woodbine.
Horse of the Year of 2008, FATAL BULLET, is at Woodbine with the Reade baker Stable. The Red Bullet 5yo is gearing up for another season.
From the Woodbine media department…Trainer Sid Attard, who finished second in the standings last year with 54 wins, is one of 94 trainers currently stabled on the Woodbine backstretch.
The veteran was one of the first conditioners to test drive the dirt training track, which is a conventional dirt surface, as opposed to the synthetic Polytrack surface used for racing.“We sent out 14 horses,” said Attard. “It was in good shape this morning. The little bit of snow we had this morning really helped.”
Many of Attard’s pupils begin training in January on local farms and exercise centres before shipping to
Woodbine for the opening of training.Attard said he should have 20 horses in by the end of the week and about 30 by the end of February.
Karl Lagerborg, manager of stable area operations, said on February 16 there were a total of 536 horses on the backstretch.
MARCH 2YO SALE IN OCALA
Ontario-breds up for auction:
HIP COLOR YEAR
NO. NAME SEX FOALED SIRE DAM
5 …………………….B C……….08 Forest Wildcat………..Acadia
14 Hughes Your Dad……….CH C………08 Henny Hughes………….Alycheer
30 …………………….CH C………08 Badge of Silver……….Bacall
44 …………………….CH C………08 Niigon……………….Bob’s Choice
96 Duettina……………..B F……….08 Roman Ruler…………..Duet
146 …………………….B F……….08 Badge of Silver……….Hold the Spirit
174 …………………….DKB/BR C…..08 Tomahawk……………..Ligurian
239 …………………….CH F………08 Speightstown………….Quite a Ruckus
243 Benjamin Britte……….B C……….08 E Dubai………………Raphael Rose
256 …………………….CH C………08 Grand Slam……………Roman Romance
269 …………………….CH F………08 First Samurai…………Santerra
