You never know who you are going to see at Woodbine! DIONNE WARWICK looks amazing for 71 and she visited Gold Members of the OLG slots – then came up to the Woodbine Club for a photo shoot with some of the Gold Members.
Love Dionne Warwick! +Do you know the way to San Jose/, I Know, I’ll never Love this way again, “That’s what friends are for”, “Why do you have to be a heartbreaker”…
etc.
Also, Whitney Houston is a relative.
Janis Maine photo
A LITTLE BIT FOR EVERYONE
What is one of the great things about racing at Woodbine?
The 167-day meeting offers something for everyone out there – whether you are a big owner, smaller owner, trainer, jockey, or bettor.
The opportunities are endless, the money is good and gosh, if you are connected to a useful Ontario sired runner, wow, you can really rake in some bucks.
As I handicapped Saturday’s next-to-last racing card at Woodbine (did anyone else forget to try and save up during the season? hopefully you’re one of those few racing folks who gets paid all winter during the vacation!) – I noticed some pretty cool horses competing.
The 7th race on Saturday is a non-winners of 1 ‘other than’ for fillies and mares and several Ontario sired gals are treading into tougher territory.
But look at their stats:
NICOLA’S NICKERS – Mike Ambler/partners, Nick Gonzalez 10-4-2-1 $163,086
(Where’s the Ring)
This gal was a $22,000 yearling purchase 3 years ago. She was in races for $12,500 claiming this year (!!) and 4th in the yearling sales stakes. Emma-Jayne Wilson has been her rider most times.
CLEMENTIS
(Perigee Moon)
Bru-Mel Stables/Alison Crook
10-1-3-1 $93,605
Bred by Mike Byrne, this gal was bought for about $6,000 as a yearling and she has even picked up shares at the first allowance class after getting through the Ontario sired conditions.
AONE SAUCY MISS
(Best of the Bests -Ire)
Bred by Don and Joan Palmer, this gal is owned by Jeanne Ryan and trained by Daniel Wills and she is ridden y Kirk Johnson.
Her record this year is 9 -3 – 1- 2 and $134,849.
Not bad for a $1,500 yearling.
NICOLE’S NICKERS, a money machine…Norm Files photo
It really is quite something this Ontario sired program and while the allowance events and maiden events are certainly not offering up horses with Beyer Figures much higher than low 70’s, they are fun enough to bet on.
Ontario sired guys were on the spot last night at Woodbine in the popular SIR BARTON STAKES, a race that often offers a big prize to a smaller stable since most of the big guns have shipped out of town to to the farm.
It was Joe Stritzl, whose farm is just off King Road near Nobleton, Ontario who celebrated last night as his homebred 3yo colt by TRAJECTORY, named CROWN’S PATH, benefitted from a nice trip behind the speed and powered home to take the 1 1/16 mile race worth $150,000.
A dark bay paid a handsome 6 to 1 despite having hefty Beyer Figures such as an 84 when he was troubled 3rd in the Breeders’ Styakes in August.
Gerry Olguin rode the colt for trainer Greg de Gannes.
The Sir Barton featured a heavy favourite in J J For Dave, a steady, stakes placed gelding who rarely wins, and the recent double allowance winner OPENING MEET, who was coming off a “paired top” (best 2 races of his career in last 2 starts).
Both fellows were hard to play and CROWN’ PATH offered the best value and certainly some nice recent form.
MORE WEDNESDAY:
FIRESTONE FARMS’ CITY SPLASH dueled favoured WOODBINE KITTEN all the way and won the first race, a $20,000 claiming race for fillies and mares (NW-3). Danny Vella was taking his 20th win of the season. City Splash was claimed by trainer Marty Drexler.
STAGE TRIP got on the list of horses who have won the most races in Canada in 2011 – 5 wins now thanks to a score for $15,000 last night. The homebred Trippi filly is one of only a handful of horses from Roger Laurin’s barn and he was 7 for 27 going into last night at the Woodbine meet.
Ontario-bred TIPPERARY DAVOR (Olmadavor) won his maiden in race 3 as almost everyone’s pick. The 4yo, owned by Castle Peak and Construction, was the 20th winner for trainer Norm McKnight.
Trainer MIKE MATTINE sent out MUTTAK BAY (Mutakkdim) to win her 2nd race as a 2yo in the 4th, the first leg of the Pick 4. The Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms-bred, owned by Stacey Van Camp, led all the way with her new blinkers on.
EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, back from a scary spill on Sunday, won 2 races on the night.
TAP CHAP was odds on to win race 5 under David Moran, who won 28 races at the meeting (so far) in his first year riding here). The winning 2yo is owned by Roddy Valente and was down to $20K claiming, what he was taken for 2 months ago. Mike Doyle trains the Richard Lister bred gelding.
Race 6 – Wilson sits on MADAM INSPECTOR as he canters to her 5th win of the meeting. The 5yo mare, with earnings of over $300,000 is 5 for 8 this season and she was claimed by Brian Cullen’s VICTURA FARM last night.
The evening card went off the rails in the final leg of the Pick 4 when the filly PROUD ASPECT rode what seemed to be a speed bias to win at big odds for Laconian Racing and trainer Josie CarroL. The 3yo filly had been at Fort Erie since May and she won her maiden for $10K but her recent Beyer Figures had been in the 30s. She led all the way for $9,500 last night under Justin Stein.
The final race of the night was the 60th win for trainer READE BAKER of the meeting. BURLEIGH led all the way to win his maiden for Vera and Mike Simpson of CurRaghmore Farm. Two wins on the night for jockey Jim McAleney.
TOP WOODBINE HORSES BY WINS
1 Atlantic Hurricane 8 6 1 1 $391,033 75% 8 100%
1 Hank’s Hill 11 6 1 1 $110,543 55% 8 73%
3 Quick Code 9 5 0 2 $224,377 56% 7 78%
3 Consolidator Joe 7 5 1 1 $179,676 71% 7 100%
3 Madam Inspector 8 5 1 1 $140,152 63% 7 88%
3 Daring Delilah 8 5 2 0 $101,203 63% 7 88%
3 Major Marvel 11 5 2 2 $93,404 45% 9 82%
OWNERS
1 Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc. 79 28 10 6 $1,617,333 35% 44 56%
2 Bear Stables, Ltd. 148 32 16 18 $1,548,779 22% 66 45%
3 Donver Stable 68 14 3 9 $1,541,402 21% 26 38%
4 Stronach Stables 90 19 17 12 $1,295,249 21% 48 53%
5 John C. Oxley 57 12 14 9 $1,018,401 21% 35 61%
6 Norseman Racing Stable 82 12 16 14 $1,017,431 15% 42 51%
TRAINERS
1 Mark E. Casse 518 115 76 73 $6,561,921 22% 264 51%
2 Reade Baker 279 60 40 31 $2,957,582 22% 131 47%
3 Steven M. Asmussen 229 45 41 35 $1,739,710 20% 121 53%
4 Robert P. Tiller 283 44 44 41 $2,380,975 16% 129 46%
5 Sid C. Attard 285 42 55 50 $2,879,429 15% 147 52%
6 Roger L. Attfield 176 35 28 30 $3,163,260 20% 93 53%
7 Brian A. Lynch 163 32 24 27 $1,629,763 20% 83 51%
8 Josie Carroll 181 31 17 21 $2,643,530 17% 69 38%
9 Michael P. De Paulo 230 30 23 28 $2,056,221 13% 81 35%
9 Michael J. Doyle 272 30 25 26 $1,548,080 11% 81 30%
JOCKEYS
Rank Jockey Name Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings Win% Top3 Top3%
1 Luis Contreras 1,042 207 168 158 $11,426,876 20% 533 51%
2 Patrick Husbands 810 185 115 124 $9,378,240 23% 424 52%
3 Emma-Jayne Wilson 808 132 127 99 $6,224,622 16% 358 44%
4 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 722 125 115 112 $6,192,028 17% 352 49%
5 Justin Stein 695 99 114 93 $4,930,072 14% 306 44%
6 Tyler Pizarro 510 65 61 65 $3,778,697 13% 191 37%
7 Omar Moreno 585 63 80 68 $3,221,294 11% 211 36%
8 Emile Ramsammy 670 62 65 69 $3,295,349 9% 196 29%
9 Jesse M. Campbell 525 60 65 60 $3,243,539 11% 185 35%
TROUBLE A BREWIN’ WITH FLORIDA SIGNALS AT WOODBINE??
Gulfstream, Tampa Bay signals focus of dispute
By Matt Hegarty
A stalemate in negotiations over the simulcast rates paid by Canadian parimutuel outlets is jeopardizing the Canadian importation of signals from Florida’s Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs, which both open on Dec. 3, according to officials involved in the negotiations.
Woodbine Entertainment Group, which controls the import of simulcast signals for all pari-mutuel outlets in Canada, including account-wagering operations, has been unable to reach a deal on the signals controlled by Monarch Content Management, the simulcasting services company set up last year to market the signals from tracks owned by the Stronach Group and other tracks, including Tampa Bay Downs. The stalemate revolves around an increase in the rates paid by the Canadian outlets, according to Scott Daruty, the president of Monarch.
Monarch is demanding that the Canadian outlets pay a higher rate for the signals than under previous contracts, but the increase would “only bring the Canadian sites in line with every other outlet in North America,” Daruty said.
Officials of Woodbine did not return phone calls on Wednesday afternoon. An agreement would likely need to be reached by Friday for the signals to be available on Dec. 3 because of the requirement that simulcast contracts be approved by Canadian regulators.
EMILE RAMSAMMY TO BE HONOURED IN TRINIDAD
Santa Rosa Park hosts ‘Breeders’ Cup’ style race card
Ramsammy’s mount in one of the big events is GABBY’S GOLD:
Gabby’s Gold glitters at gallops
EARLY morning watchers were left almost spellbound by the gallop put down by Gabby’s Gold at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Sunday morning.
And if all goes well, this newcomer from the Derick Mosca barn to be ridden by Canada-based Trinidadian veteran Emile Ramsammy, will take a lot of beating in the US$50,000 Imported Juvenile Sprint Challenge over 1350 metres on Caribbean National Racing Challenge day, Saturday.
Gabby’s Gold glittered over 1000 metres in the brilliant time of 59.3 seconds, leaving turfites with dropped jaws.
Another stunning gallop was turned in by Strikes Not Spares who goes for the Impor-
ted US$100,000 Stayers Challenge.
The intended mount of champion rider Brian Harding zipped through an 800 metres gallop to be timed in 49.3 seconds.
“Horse of the Year” doubled, Bruceontheloose showed he is in great heart for the US$75,000 West Indian-bred Sprint Challenge over 1200 metres.
The grey wonder horse blazed a 600 metres run to be clocked in 35.2 seconds.
Another pair from the John O’Brien barn, galloping together, B’s Passion and Grand Riviere, went smartly over 1200 metres timed in a very good one minute 16.0 seconds.
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,151432.html
BAD WEATHER WARNINGS IN TRINIDAD..
Weather threatens ‘Challenge’ turf races
Wednesday, November 30 2011
WORK is progressing at rapid pace to have Santa Rosa Park, Arima, in ship- shape for the Caribbean Nations Racing Challenge on Saturday.
But the three races listed to be contested on the turf course is under threat of the inclement weather now being experienced,
ARC official Paul Cozier in a television interview on Monday said, plenty work had been done on the turf course, with the rails being lifted in some areas and the track itself.
He said, however, right now the course is very soft because of the heavy rains.
And up to yesterday, the rains continued to pour down on the racing plan, which means there is every likelihood that the turf races would be switched to the main dirt track. Such a decision must put Barbadian raiders including ex-derby winner Apostle and Chimichurri at a distinct disadvantage, both having never previously raced on a dirt track.
Workmen were seen busily putting a new face to the 17-year-old racing plant.
The grand stand has been give a new dressing up of paint at all levels, and work was continuing on the refurbishing of the trainers’ stand and grooms’ stand.
read more:
http://www.newsday.co.tt/sport/0,151485.html
RECENTLY HANDED OUT – B.C. AWARDS
Northern Causeway
Horse of the Year
Owner: Rozamund Barclay
2011
Hall of Fame Inductee
Bob Hall
Hall of Fame Inductee
Lord Nelson
Leading Jockey
Richard Hamel
Leading Apprentice Jockey
Marlo Dunn
Leading Trainer
Troy Taylor
Leading Owner
Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella
2 Year Old Fillies – BC Bred
2 Year Old Fillies – Open
Gabigotherway
Champion 2-Year Old Filly – Open & B.C. Bred Divisions
Owner: James Redekop
2 Year Old Male – BC Bred
2 Year Old Male – Open
Herescomelucky
Champion 2-Year Old Male – Open & B.C. Bred Divisions
Owner: Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella
3 Year Old Fillies –BC Bred
La Belle Rose
Champion 3-Year Old Filly – B.C. Bred Division
Owner: Corsair Holdings
3 Year Old Fillies – Open
Class Included
Champion 3-Year Old Filly – Open Division
Owner: Michael & Amy Feuerborn
3 Year Old Male – BC Bred
Herbie D
Champion 3-Year Old Male – B.C. Bred Division
Owner: George Robbins
3 Year Old Male – Open
Northern Causeway
Champion 3-Year Old Male – Open Division
Owner: Rozamund Barclay
2011
Older Fillies & Mares – BC Bred & Open Divisions
Dashing Daisy
Champion Older Female – Open & B.C. Bred Divisions
Owner: Glen Todd & Peter Tom
2011
Older Males – BC Bred
Almost Time
Champion Older Male – B.C. Bred Division
Owner: Swift Thoroughbreds Inc.
2011
Older Males – Open
St Liams Halo
Champion Older Male – Open Division
Owner: Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella
2011
Champion Sprinter
Classic Alley Kat
Champion Sprinter
Owner: Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella
2011
BC Bred Horse of the Year
Almost Time
B.C. Bred Horse of the Year
Owner: Swift Thoroughbreds Inc.
2011
