**Thoroughblog will continue to update the last day of racing at Woodbine for 2014 and gather some fun statistics for the year – all throughout later this week. I could be absent for a day or two starting today, stay tuned.
TURKISH, bred by Brereton Jones and now owned by Lawrence Cordes, stretches it out for the Valedictory win. He is off to Florida now to meet up with Tino Attard. Best wishes Turkish! MICHAEL BURNS/WEG PHOTO
A whopping $5.4 million was bet on the final Woodbine card on Sunday, up from $4.6 million last year, same # races but a week earlier (less snow).
It was a super day of racing as big stables, small stables and everything in between won races. Owner LAWRENCE CORDES got his first win in a stakes race in 45 years in the game when TURKISH held on to win the Valedictory as the 5 to 2 favourite over ROYAL BLESSING, who was later disqualified for interfering with Pender Harbour.
TURKISH won the prep for the Valedictory by 11 lengths and this was his 3rd win in 6 races in 2014. He had previously won 3 of 19 for Jones and trainer Reade Baker before being claimed by Cordes and trainer Tino Attard (Kevin Attard did the saddling). The 5-year-old is by Istan out of Tresor by Pleasant Tap. He posted an 86 Beyer Figure for the 1 3/4 miles in 3:02.19. Emma-Jayne Wilson has been his longtime rider.
The race started off badly, however, as the filly MARATHON RUN, streaked to the early lead but then appeared to break down in behind at the quarter-pole. She could not be pulled up until the clubhouse turn where she was then fractious before collapsing. She was dead when the van came to assist. The filly was a Box Office Event 4yo for Kanny Ng.
More Sunday
The young runners of trainer Robert Tiller usually win 1st time out, if not, 2nd time out. That was the case for PHIL IN THE BLANK, who led all the way through 5 furlongs and won the 1st race, a MSW for Ontario sired 2yos. The Philanthropist gelding was a $38,000 yearling purchase and he was bred by Paul Buttigieg. Patrick Husbands rode for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr.
Race 2- a maiden $8,000 claiming race at 5 furlongs for fillies and mares went to class dropping SIMPLY BELONGING, who blew away the field for Mike Newell and trainer Nick Nosowenko. The Belong to Me filly was ridden by Luis Contreras.
The Highest Beyer Figure of the night was earned by EIRIGH, who led all the way and won race 3 at 1 1/8 miles. The Ontario bred son of More Than Ready – Pleasant n Low by Pleasant Tap is owned by Donegal racing, an American group, and trained by Nick Gonzalez. The $100,000 yearling purchase was fallen in love with Polytrack after a rocky start to his career in Kentucky and New York. He posted an 88 Beyer Figure for his 3rd win in his 12th race. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode the winner.
The popular 1 7/8 mile race, always a fun feature on the last day of racing, was a chance for STOLONBOY to win it for the 4th year in a row. But the 9-year-old by maria’s Mon could not quite get things going as quickly as the 60 to 1 shot MAJOR PRODUCTION, who blew by and won easily under Krista Carignan. The 4yo by Strut the Stage was a non-winners of 3 eliguible but he loves long races and this Stephen Philpoot owned and trained gelding (a $3,000 purchase) is now 3 for 21. He was bred by Barry and Helen Irving in Ontario.
TITLES – Husbands has remarkable comeback
Mark Casse recorded his eighth straight training title and ninth overall, winning 93 races, after notching 85 wins in 2013. Casse recorded a record 119 wins in 2011. Casse also led in the purse earnings category, with $7,780,240 compared to $5,447,130 in 2013.
Nick Gonzalez, fifth a year ago, was second with 56 wins improving on his 30 triumphs in 2013. Bob Tiller, second in the standings with 62 wins last year, recorded his 50th win of the meet when Phil in the Blank won Sunday’s second race to finish third in the table.
