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Just 10 days remaining in Woodbine’s 2015 racing season and the time has come to clear off the desk, reflect on the wonderful horses and their humans from the year.

Voting for the SOVEREIGN AWARDS for the champions of the year begins on Jan. 2, who do you think deserves the trophies?

Contenders for top awards –

HORSE OF THE YEAR –

ACADEMIC  – Woodbine Oaks, Grade 3 Canadian Derby (boys), Grade 3 BC Derby (boys), 2nd Grade 3 Maple Leaf (older);

CATCH A GLIMPSE – Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Filly Turf, Grade 2 Natama Stakes

ARE YOU KIDDING ME – Grade 2 Eclipse, Grade 2 Autumn, Grade 2 Nijinsky , 3rd Grade 2 Sky Classic, 3rd Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, 3rd Grade 3 Durham Cup

Academic will be voted the Champion 3yo filly based on her remarkable journey across Canada. Catch a Glimpse, the wonderful 2yo filly for Gary Barber, Mike Ambler and Jeff Begg won on the big stage at the Breeders’ Cup and Are You Kidding Me was very good in every start in 2015 in many big races.

STRUT THE COURSE, the champion older mare of 2015, is still to race again this year and can enter the picture too. She won a pair of graded stakes on the grass and had a troubled run in the EP Taylor (Grade 1).

Let the discussions begin.

 

*Wagering on the weekend at Woodbine was a whopping $5.2 million on Saturday and $3.8 million on Sunday making for a $9 million weekend.

 

SATURDAY – SUNDAY TOP BEYER FIGURES (Winners)

 

MISS MISCHIEF – 95

WHERE’S THE WDIGET – 89

VICTORY EXCHANGE – 89

HEMLOCK CHANNEL – 86

 

NO TROUBLE – MISS MISCHIEF takes BESSARABIAN; ‘BREWNETTE the South Ocean

Diane Manning’s MISS MISCHIEF has visited Woodbine 3 times in 2015 and she finally got her win at the Toronto track with a fabulous flurry from of the pace to win the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes at 7 furlongs. Her Beyer Figure of 95 for 1:21.72.

The daughter of Into Mischief now appears to be the leader for Champion Female Sprinter in Canada based on her wins in this race and the HBPA Stakes at Presque isle. She was also 2nd in the Grade 3 Hendrie, 3rd in the Trillium Stakes and Grade 2 Presque Isle Masters Stakes.

 

TRINI BREWNETTE, a daughter of Milwaukee Brew from the brilliant stakes winning sprinter DANCING ALLSTAR (Millenium Allstar) rallied to win the South Ocean Stakes under Alan Garcia on Saturday. The CTHS yearling purchase (about $50,000), had been 8th beaten 10 lengths in her 2nd race, the Muskoka Stakes, in Septe,ber. Derek Chin owns the filly, Dan Vella trains and Trinity West Stables and Mr and Mrs Bud Malette bred her in Ontario.

Garcia, in his first full season at Woodbine, leads all riders with 18 stakes wins on the meet. He credited Vella for providing excellent pre-race instructions.

“He (Vella) told me to take a little back and save all the ground I can, and when it comes times to go, push the button and she’ll give you all she has,” said Garcia.

For Vella, the victory marked the first added-money score of the season and also his first victory in the South Ocean. Vella was pleased with the effort from the talented two-year-old, and was full of praise for Garcia.

“She trains like a filly with a big run and if you ask her too much early she can flatten out a bit. She likes to make that big, solid run. Being a lanky Milwaukee Brew, that’s kind of her style,” said Vella. “I was worried we might be too far back, but Alan is very modest, guys like him just keep showing up in the winner’s circle for big races. They do things the right way. When you have confidence in your rider it helps.”

Trini Brewnette banked $75,000 in victory while improving her record to two wins from three starts.

She paid $17.30, $8.10 and $5.60, combining with Neshama ($3.70, $3.10) for an $86.90 (6-2) exactor. A 6-2-5 triactor (Audacious Bear, $3.60 to show) was worth $371.20, while a $1 Superfecta [6-2-5-3 (Perfect Ella)] came back $796.

It was a 5-win day for EURICO DA SILVA who said following the stakes victory on Miss Mischief.. “i just want to stay focused and when the season is over, then maybe it will be time for smiles.”

 

More Sunday/Saturday

AZIMUT, a son of Bold ‘n Flashy, got his first win of the year in Sunday’s opener for $12,500 claijing, Bred by Bobby Breeze Acres (Jennifer Edwards) and owned by Colebrook Farms, the 4yo led all the way under Jeff Alderson at 4-5. Ashlee Brnjas trains.

JOHN ROSS scored his 14th win of the meeting when CONN’S REWARD won his maiden for $25,000 claiming. The $13,000 2yo purchase is now 3 and he was getting his first win in his 7th race. Steve Bahen rode the son of Warrior’s Reward who held off Gibbons Gambler.

ELIJAH, the BEST BET on The daily THOROUGHBLOG selections, won his maiden in race 3 at 3.45-1 for Michael Lay and Michael Loughry. Don MacRaw trains the US Range 4yo gelding.

STRIKE WITH MIKE rallied to win his maiden in his 13th start on Sunday in a $12,500 claiminger race. The Curlong 3yo, a three-quarter brother to Plate winner Big Red Mike, was ridden by Patrick Husbands for Terra Racing and trainer Nick Gonzalez.
race 5- HOLY MCNASTY is a tough one on the pace and he won his 2nd straight race in this allowance at 6 furlongs. The grey 3yo was the 2nd winner for Michael Lay and Michael Loughry and trainer Don MacRae. One of the 5 winners for Da Silva.
The gelding is a Tall Oaks-bred (Ivan Dalos) who is 3 for 7 in his career.

Race 6- ROBERT TILLER bought a Bold ‘n Flashy yearling at last year’s sale for about $2,300 and that flashy chestnut won his debut on Sunday in 58.13 by 4 lengths. Breed by Ballycroy Trainign Centre,, ORGANIZED MIND, out of the mare Crafty and Kind by Crafty Prospector, overcame the rail post and a pesky stablemate named Phillipian to win his debut.

race 7 – LARRY CAPPUCCITTU and the A & G Racing Stable won for the 2nd time at the meeting when SEEKING THE BAY won by an inch in this $20,00 claiming race. The Seeking the Dia 4yo, bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, was making his 3rd start after a short layoff and Terry Husbands rode.

Race 9 – a super training job by Josie Carroll and team as VICTRORY EXCHANGE rallied to win an allowance/optional claiming race in his first start since May of 2014. The Exchange Rate 5-year-old was a stakes-placed 4yo and looking like a nice prospect until the Ivan Dalos-trainee went on hiatus.

Victory Exchange, according to Dalos, was racing as a gelding for the first time. He ran 6 furlongs in 1:09.26.

race 10 – HE’S NO SAINT won this allowance race fpr Mark Hughes and James Brown, trainer Alec Gehr. The Singing Saint 3yo gelding was the 2nd straight winner with blinkers on for the first time.
On Saturday – AMBERWOOD started the day with a nice rally to win his maiden for owner and trainer Ron Sadler. The son of Old Forester is a homebred out of Loula and Gary Boulanger rode the 3yo to this maiden allowance win for Ontario sired fellows.

Race 2 – HEMLOCK CHANNEL is 7 for 20 now and this 6yo won for $25,000 claiming for trainer Marty Drexler. He was bred by Paul and May Lou Little and is an Ontario bred by E Dubai.

Race 3- Kentucky bred 2yo filly SOPHIA’S SONG won her maiden in this MSW for 2yos for Janice Attard and Abraham Hadeed. Trainer Sid Attard sent out this Bellamy Road filly to be 2nd in her debut to Jennifer Lynette and Gary Boulanger rode her to this front running win in 1:18.28 for 6 1/2 furlongs.

Race 4-, a maiden race for $8,000 claiming went to WILLOW BOB, trained by Alec Fehr for Debroah Fletcher. Bob has been best known this year for his 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishes in his 11 races but he finally got it done for Fehr, who had 2 winners on the weekend,

Race 5 – the first of 2 wins on the card for trainer/owner Dave Cotey and both were dropping to claiming for the first time.
THATLOOKONYERFACE, a sizy chestnut by Summer Bird, won a 1 1/16 mile maiden race for $25,000 under Tommy Wong. Barry Butzer id a co-owner.
Later, DEEP BLUE SEA had a dramatic reversal of form as she won for $25,000 maiden claimign after not finishing 2 straight races in october. Boulander capped a good day with that win.

TOP CANADIAN-BRED PRIVATE ZONE has new trainer, again

BRIAN LYNCH, who has a small string of horses at Woodbine but left the track earlier this year to race in New York, is the latest trainer for the remarkable Ontario bred PRIVATE ZONE. The soon-to-be 7-year-old, who has had 3 previous trainers since he arrived in the US from Puerto Rico, could race in the Cigar Mile.

Private Zone if owned by Good friends Stable of former jockey Rene Douglas and partners. The son of Macho Uno was recently 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Lynch won the Queen’s Plate this year with Stronach Stables’ SHAMAN GHOST, who  was 2nd in the Prince of Wales and then sent to the farm for the remainder of the season.

 

TALKIN HORSES WRAPS UP FOR 2015

 

Did you catch all 21 episodes of TALKING HORSES season 2? You can check out www.talkinghorses.com if you did not.

There was a year-long contest, a Groom of the Year winner, fun photos, selections and so much more, all available on our site.

The final episode featured many of horse racing’s biggest fans of all ages, did you see yourself on the clip?

Here is Episode 21: