KASSEOPIA – 400,000 POUNDS OF HORSE
Claire Mackay calls him the most laid-back 2yo she’s ever been around’ Team Valor boss Barry Irwin hopes the chestnut colt by Showcasing is getting ready to put on a show for North America.
The 400,000 pound colt (his price of course) will start in the Grey Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine following a lopsided win on an all weather track at Kempton.
He was bought by Team Valor since that race and Charlie Fellowes has since shipped him to Woodbine with Mackay.
The Grey is one of two graded stakes events for the 2yos this weekend at Woodbine.
(photo courtesy of Claire Mackay)
APPRENTICE RIDERS plentiful at WOODBINE
AIMEE AUGER will make her debut as a jockey on Friday in the last race and is just the latest of a number of apprentice riders who are getting some late season experience.
AUGER, under the wing of agent Mike Luider (Emma-Jayne Wilson) has been preparing and preparing locally and she will ride Rob the Cradle in her debut on Friday.
KAYLA PIZARRO has been riding in Manitoba and Fort Erie and is at Woodbine for some races. Her brother is Tyler Pizarro. Kayla has won 8 races.
BRANDON DUCHAINE comes in from Northlands and Alberta and he has won 5 races.
WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
PRETTY BIRD led all the way to win the first race and MY NAME IS MICHAEL rallied to win the 2nd race but that was essentially it for predictable, low-priced winners on a wild night at Woodbine.
Patrick Husbands rode both winners. My Name Is Michael is 3 for 4 since coming to Woodbine and trainer Rachel Halden. Peyton was a very unlucky 2nd in this 9 furlong allowance/optional claiming race with posted an 86 Beyer Figure.
Race 3- Ellis Park, Indiana Downs inavder COPPERPLATE ran to his quick Polytrack workout times and won his first try on the surface in this $40,00 claiming race. The 4yo by Curlong, now trained by Dan Vella, battled on the pace all the way and won by inches over call Me Wally, the nice Ontario sired fellow who came off a troubled run in the Vice Regent Stakes.
The time of 1:09.71 was good for a hefty 85 Beyer Figure, a career best for Copperplate who was ridden by Alan Garcia for Pocket Aces racing. He paid $18 to win.
race 4- What a journey for REBELLION ON TAP and jockey Jim McAleney and this pair got out of traffic, dove inside to the 2 path and ralied to win this $25,000 claiming race for Heste Sport Inc. and trainer Bill Tharrenos.
It was the 4th win in 15 races for this 4yo by Rebellion.
The overbet favourite TRUE EXECUTIVE was pulled up for the second consecutive race and was reported to bled.
LUNAR LIGHT was checked hard and eased up in late stretch also.
race 5- 49-1 SUDDEN BID had a sudden rally from last to win this $8,000 claiming race and yes, this is the tme of year where anything goes. This chestnut by Alphabet Soup has had a few trainers, currently with Chris jolin, who put the blinkers on her. Sheena Ryan replaced Terry Husbands who booked off.
The winning owner is Phil Budhoo.
race 6 – REBEL LIONESS, another winner by Rebellion whho left Ontario too soon, had a hot pace set up for her by her entrymate Hurricane Lorraine and she won for Tequesta Racing and trainer Alison Crook. Luis Contreras rode as Omar Moreno booked off.
race 7 – beginner BOLDNPOSSIBLE led almost all the way in this maiden allowance but was caught by Ring for Essa, a Where’s the Ring filly for Paul Buttigieg.
race 8 – a maiden $8,000 claiming race went to HUTCHY, owned and bred by Steve Owens. This fellow has been a project and a half for Owens and his team but the gelding put it all together under Jermaine Bridgmohan to hold off Frascati Gold.
WELCOME SILVER MAX!
The breeding season is a few months away but this is the time that mare owners are picking stallions and there is some movement in the local stud directory.
WHERE’S THE RING is back from a short stint in Alberta and is at Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge. He is one of the leading sires of 2015 with several stakes winners and stakes horses including the top 2yo Beliveau.
New for 2016 will be SILVER MAX, who comes to Adena Springs North. The speedy and long-distance loving son of Badge of Silver – Kissin Rene by Kissin Kris was the guy who ended Wise Dan’s 9-race winning stream in 2013 when he won the Shadwell Mile – grade 1 on the Keeneland Polytrack. A winner of over $1.9 million, Silver Max was a versatile miler-type with tons of class and a litany of graded stakes wins.
