DUTY

 

FRIDAY AT WOODBINE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race 1  – two vet scratches of Saratoga Boy and Officeinthevalley left a 4 horse field with a big fave in MALIBU SKYLINE, who was so impressive winning his season opener for $16,000. This time, for $25,000, he was pressed by stablemate Gianni Drama and that set things up for SATURDAYATBERNIES, a shrewd claim by Julia Carey and Robert Melrose. The winner, taken from Gulfstream in a private deal has won 3 of 4 starts for trainer Carey including his Woodbine debut on Apr. 19. Gerry Olguin rode him in this win, the 6th score for that rider in 2014.
He is the 3rd 2-time winner at the meeting, joining MARTEN LAKE and CRISTALINO. Later SKYRISH joined the club.

Race 2- an allowance/optional claiming race with an even-money shot, SAVVY HESTER, who pressed the pace in the 1 1/16 mile race but weakened while Sam-Son Son Farms’ CHECKERED PAST bobbed and weaved looking for room off the turn for home, got it and blew past the leaders. Savvu Hester, fresh off big Beyer Figure efforts on grass in Florida, was 4th. The winner was ridden by Eurio da Silva for trainer Malcolm Pierce. She is an Ontario bred Smart Strike filly out of Catch the Flag by A.P. Indy and she is 3 for 8 in her career.

Race 3- Another small field for an allowance/optional claiming race for 3yo fillies and it was LLNARMON, a Woodbine Oaks hopeful (out of Oaks winner Gold Strike) who rallied up the rail late to beat SKY AMERICA. Roger Attfield was in the Woodbine winner’s circle for the first time in 2014 and the folly was co-favoured at 8 to 5 with Sky America.
Dick Bonnycastle is the owner and breeder of the Sky Mesa filly and it was a Sky Mesa exactor as Sky America held 2nd for John Oxley.

race 4- Tough sledding for another favourite –  HEZA SAUCY GUY was 1 to 2 in his first race since October for trainer Casse and rider Husbands. The maiden 4yo, a full brother to a 13 time winner, got locked in a mad pace battle early with the strong willed IMAGINE LENNON, also making his first start of the year. That rival got clear and powered on to victory for Tallyho Racing, a group of local foxhunter folks from the Caledon Hunt Club. Imagine Lennon is a War Cry gelding out of the grand old mare REGENTS SIGNET, dam of good ones like CREASE INFRACTION. Norm McKnight’s horses have been racing possessed: it was his 5th win with his 9th starter.
Galloping out like a monster in the race was ON THE RANGE.

Race 5 – a maiden $10,000 claiming race at 5 furlongs for fillies and it was the wide-rallying JANBEAR coming off the July – May layoff who won for Nick DeToro. Davy Mran rode. This filly was easy to like based on breeding and form from 2012 when she was claimed for $20K. She paid a healthy $25 to win.

race 6 – An $8,000 claiming race going 1 1/16 miles and while it was easy to predict that David Garcia on World Record would be sent to the lead (read the Closer Look in DRF) it was hard to guess he would open up some 12 lengths and go 22 4/5 and 46 3/5. No surprise then that this well bred fellow stopped very badly, almost caused Sneaky Money to get into serious trouble.
World Record, bred by the Phipps family, was gasping as he was in last place and still under heavy whipping.
Meanwhile, SEAWATCH was the very predictable winner as he blew past for Soli Mehta and partner and trainer Kevin Attard. Both Sneaky Money and Bestavailable had trouble in the race.

RACE 7 – DANAHER, making only his 4th start since 2012 and plunging in class from $40,000 lasted on the lead to win by half a head for $11,500. The Langfuhr gelding, who has back class but had been beaten almost 50 lengths in his 3 races since 2012 (2 runs this year) was ridden by Patrick Husbands.
Owned by Nadezda Dohnalova and trained by Desmond Maynard, Danaher had a horrible trip in his last race for $40K and did have reason to go better.

Race 8 – Okay, the pace battle developed as it looked like it would on paper, Stormin Clooney and Concorde’s March went headlong into a duel – 21 4/5 and 44 4/5 and, well, both folded badly and SKYRISH blew past and held off Flying Echo to win for the 2nd time this year. The white faced fellow, by Silent name (Jpn) is owned by Donald Ross and trained by Ian Howard; Justin Stein rode this guy well and note the 4yo had a fast interim workout since his season opener which he won.

race 9 – the Ontario sired allowance race at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares and it was very refreshing to watch Gerry Olguin aboard MAUNA KEA, the favourite, yes, but the filly broke very slowly in this, her 2nd race of the season. Olguin allowed the Peaks and Valleys gal to settle, saved ground in the 2 path into the last turn and then inhaled the leader, Angel with Class to win as the 5 to 2 choice. (and BEST BET over at jmbets.ca).
It was the 2nd win of the day for trainer Julia Carey who conditions this filly for Discovery racing and Edward Freeman. Mauna Kea is 2 for 9 in her career and she was bred by the owners.

Betting was $2.5 million.

TURF RACING delayed

A series of races carded for grass at Woodbine on the May 17 long weekend have been re-scheduled for Polytrack as the turf course struggles to rebound from our tough winter.
“We’re behind,” said Steve Koch, vice president of Thoroughbred racing. “Flowers aren’t blooming, the sun is not shining. It was a tough winter.”

Indeed, anyone who has their own lawn knows that the heavy snow and ice and cold temperatures took a toll on the greenery.
Koch said that the hope is that after the Victoria day long weekend, the grass will be ready to go as turf racing will certainly help field size.
“We’re off to a slow start. Once the races start lengthening out and turf races begin and other stables return from the south we will see bigger fields.”

 

 MARTEN LAKE brings friends together

 

 

 
When Marten Lake won for the second consecutive time at Woodbine on May 3, Kentucky Derby day, the cheers and smiles were loud and large. The fleet, white-footed Trajectory – Kain’s Deed, by Alydeed gelding is now 2 for 3 in his career (he raced once in the summer of his juvenile season) and has put some nice purse earnings in the pockets of owner and trainer David Bell
And breeders Paul and Mary Lou Little and Janice Zealand are benefiting too with breeders’ awards, well deserved for folks who have been in the Ontario horse racing business for many years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was Zealand who purchased Marten Lake’s dam, Kain’s Deed, early in 2008 for $25,000 (US) right before she was scheduled to sell at the Fasig Tipton Winter Mixed sale. The mare, an earner of $79,000 for owner and breeder Bill Sorokolit, had been claimed from her final race for $10,000 by Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield for Jack Werk, a pedigree nick guru.
Werk had the mare bred to Perfect Soul (Ire) and had bought her back for $19,000 from the 2007 Keeneland November sale.
Zealand bred the mare to Trajectory on the helpful advice of the late Dr. Mike Colterjohn, a close friend.

“Marten was bred on the same cross as Dancers Bajan,” said Zealand, about the multiple stakes winner raced by 3 Sons Stable who won $781,000 and was also by Trajectory and out of a mare by Grade 1 winner Alydeed.

When Marten Lake was born, the foal was put in the name of the Little’s daughters Alexis and Katie Ward.

At yearling sale time, the colt was hip no. 1, not exactly an ideal spot to be for that prestigious auction. Consigned for the Littles and Zealand by Kingstead Farms, the colt was bought back for $10,000. Later, David Bell approached Zealand about buying the colt. It was Bell who had bought another Little-Zealand special in a previous year – Hemlock Channel – now a winner of $198,000.

So Bell took the horse and raced him once as a 2-year-old, thinking that he had a fellow with some ability in his barn.  Marten Lake finished third in that 5 furlong dash in June, behind the fleet Iron Wolf, and  things were getting exciting.
But Bell did not feel that Marten Lake was ready to continue on racing as a juvenile and instead, put him away for the year. That proved to be shrewd thinking as Marten Lake (Bell is an avid fisherman in spots throughout Ontario, such as Marten Lake) won his return to racing by five lengths in 57 4/5 showing a beautiful, long, smooth stride. His Beyer Speed Figure was a smart 77.
The gelding came back to win right back in allowance company, this time coming from off the pace, getting out of traffic and rallying to win in 1:10 2/5, good for a 67 Beyer Figure.

While he has a pedigree for sprinting more than longer distances, the gelding certainly has shown late power in his races so maybe we will see him in the Queenston Stakes on May 17.

As for Kain’s Deed, her 4yo Roman Artistocrat is already a maiden winner at the meeting also (he is by Trajectory as well). Zealand has since leased the mare out and she had a  foal in 2013  by the Holsteiner stallion Arthos, who stands at Mesa Farms in Shelburne, ON. Should Marten Lake continue to do well, Zealand AND he Littles may have to get that gal back!

 Below – MARTEN LAKE and his Bunny

 

 

QUEENSTON NOMINEES May 17 a Queen’s Plate prep
17 noms

AMI’S HOLIDAY
b.c.3 by Harlan’s Holiday(Harlan) – Victorious Ami(Victory Gallop)
Ivan Dalos Josie Carroll
ATHENIAN GUARD
b.g.3 by Leonnatus Anteas(Stormy Atlantic) – Chopinina(Lear Fan)
A & L Racing Stables Inc. Michael P. De Paulo
BREW ON THE BEACH
b.g.3 by Milwaukee Brew(Wild Again) – Cawaja Beach(Where’s the Ring)
Hard Eight Stables Inc & Ace Racing Stable Inc Scott H. Fairlie
CANDY PASSION
b.g.3 by Candy Ride (ARG)(Ride the Rails) – Gentle Words(Bertrando)
Barraco, Tony, Bernardi, Dario, Cavalli, John and Metanovic, Mersad Scott H. Fairlie
COLTIMUS PRIME
dk b/.c.3 by Milwaukee Brew(Wild Again) – Certainly Special(Distorted Humor)
Cabernet Racing Stables Justin J. Nixon
EIGHTY NINE RED
ch.g.3 by Bold Executive(Bold Ruckus) – Timeless Silver(Silver Deputy)
John Russell & George Schramm Michael P. De Paulo
ENDEAVOR’S DREAM
b.g.3 by Endeavor(Capote) – Poet’s Dream(El Prado (IRE))
Tucci Stables Nicholas Gonzalez
FIREBALL MERLIN
b.c.3 by Curlin(Smart Strike) – Princess Ruckus(Bold Ruckus)
Gustav Schickedanz Michael Keogh
GO GREELEY
dk b/.c.3 by Horse Greeley(Mr. Greeley) – Orchids Halo(Smoke Glacken)
J. R. Racing Stable John A. Ross
HEART TO HEART
b.c.3 by English Channel(Smart Strike) – Ask the Question(Silver Deputy)
Terry Hamilton Brian A. Lynch
MARTEN LAKE
dk b/.g.3 by Trajectory(Gone West) – Kain’s Deed(Alydeed)
David R. Bell David R. Bell
MONEY TALKS
dk b/.g.3 by Mobil(Langfuhr) – Willow Woodman(Woodman)
R.P.I. Stables, Natural Eight Stable, F. Harrison & P. McLaughlin William Tharrenos
PROROGUING
b.g.3 by Silent Name (JPN)(Sunday Silence) – Executive Mist(Bold Executive)
Frank D. Di Giulio Jr. Robert P. Tiller
SPADINA ROAD
dk b/.g.3 by Where’s the Ring(Seeking the Gold) – Scarlet’s Castle(Sea Wall)
Rolph A. Davis Robert P. Tiller
SPEIGHTSONG
dk b/.c.3 by Speightstown(Gone West) – Song of the Lark(Seeking the Gold)
Sam-Son Farm Malcolm Pierce
THE IMPOSTER
gr/ro.g.3 by Wilko(Awesome Again) – Our Girl Harmony(Concorde’s Tune)
Robert P. Tiller Robert P. Tiller
TULIO’S BREW
ch.g.3 by Milwaukee Brew(Wild Again) – Yolie(Menifee)
Frank D. Di Giulio Jr. Robert P. Tiller
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

LUIS CONTRERAS TO RIDE SOCIAL INCLUSION IN PREAKNESS, CASSE TO RUN DYNAMIC IMPACT

Social Inclusion owner Ron Sanchez: We have a chance to beat California Chrome in Preakness
BY Jerry Bossert
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, May 8, 2014, 3:38 PM

The Triple Crown dreams of Art Sherman and California Chrome could end on May 17 in the Preakness Stakes, according to Ron Sanchez, who owns Social Inclusion.

“He’s (California Chrome) a nice horse, nice horse,” Sanchez said on a national teleconference. “He won easily last time in the Derby but I think we have a chance to beat him.”

Social Inclusion is a lightly raced colt who will just be making his fourth career start in the Preakness after tiring late to third as the favorite in the April 5 Wood Memorial.

“We have a shot,” Sanchez said. “But I still have a lot of respect for California Chrome. He proved he’s an outstanding horse and you have to respect that.”

Social Inclusion began his career with two sharp victories breaking his maiden and winning an allowance race over Honor Code in record time before suffering his first loss in the Wood Memorial when forced to be aggressive early after breaking from the difficult post 11.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/theraces/social-inclusion-owner-ron-sanchez-chance-beat-california-chrome-preakness-blog-entry-1.1784855#ixzz31DaMeSdT
ELECTION IN ONTARIO – JUNE 12 – will Horse Racing People step up?

FROM THE HARNESS EDGE

Time For People To Take Their Best Shot

It is now decision time for the Ontario horse racing industry. Time to show some backbone and take a stand.

On Friday, Andrea Horwath, leader of the provincial New Democratic Party announced she would not support yesterday’s budget as presented by Premier Wynne’s Liberals. So on June 12 Ontarians are headed to the voting booths.

Now the question to be answered is what position is the Ontario racing industry taking relative to this election? The answer is that there will be none and there is no strategy other than to stay neutral.

The belief exists among the various organizations that they dare not support any party for fear of retribution by the Ontario Liberals should they get back into office. And they believe they have to be prepared to work with any party that might get elected although the sad truth is it is the bureaucrats who run our governments. So if you are expecting guidance in that respect it will not be there.

From where we all sit there are perspectives that must be considered in choosing a course of action starting with an analysis of the current government’s overall performance this last term.

Let’s begin with the $1.1 billion gas plant scandal. The payouts for terminating the contracts to build plants in Oakville and Mississauga continue to have ramifications within our society.

http://www.theharnessedge.com/story.asp?Mode=View&Story=59632

 

TIM HUDAK fields questions on racing

PC leader says slots and racing partnership would be back on:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/5-2-14/hudak-answers-questions-racing.html

 

 

QUEEN’S PLATE – JULY 6- TICKETS on sale

 

 

 

PARISE SCORES BIG – no not Zach, the horse

It was very windy, sunny and the track was a bit kinder to speed but PARISE was still quick a spectacle at Woodbine yesterday. Mario Forgione’s 4yo gelding, named, like all of Forgione’s horses, after a hockey player ran in 1:08 3/5, just off the record of 1:08.

It was a startling outing for this seemingly delicate son of Tiznow out of stakes winner Officer Cherrie (owned by the late Charles  LaLoggia) as he had raced just twice in late 2012 with one 5th place finish. He raced a year later, last Nov. and won his maiden with a 75 Beyer and then was 4th beaten 9 in a Gulfstream race in Feb. He had been training at Payson Park with Rachel Halden and he is trained at Woodbine by John Charalambous. The gelding earned a whopping 96 Beyer Figure to be the 3rd fastest winner of the meeting.

PARISE was foaled at Blazing Colours Farm in Ontario, owned by April Wayenburg. Blazing Colours is in Welland, Ontario.

Race 9 Saturday – an allowance race for Ontario sired gals and the well regarded Bob Tiller runner SHE AIN’T BAD was the logical winner, rallying 3 wide to reel in wild pace runner Last Minute Lucky (21 3/5 first 2 furlongs). The winner is a Where’s the Ring filly out of She Ain’t Much by Phone Trick, bred by Ericka Rusnak and bought by 3 Sons Racing for $38,000 at the local auction. Her winning Beyer was 64 and it was her first race of the year, she is trained by Robert Tiller.

Race 1 – DUDE! Hesa Big Dude lumbered along and was up to win race 1, a $16,000 claiming race, for owner Tami Bobo. The Ontario bred by Fusaichi Pegasus out of Duda, by Theatrical (Ire) was bred by Shyman Farms and he is trained by Justin Nixon. It was the first win of 2014 for Nixon, 3rd start of the year for the Dude and Jesse Campbell rode.

Gentleman Jackson was just edged in the race and was claimed by Ken Lee, Dennis Mitchell et all and trainer Martin Drexler, who had previously trained the horse for Frank Cirillo.

The Beyer Figure for the 7 furlong race was 77 (1:24 2/5.)

 

Race 2 – FIRST WINNER FOR HEAD CHOPPER!  Owner/trainer Steve Owens and his wife Bev Lewis-Owens bred ZAZINGA, who led all the way to win the 5 furlong maiden allowance in her 2nd race of the season. The chestnut filly is by the Owens’s stallion HEAD CHOPPER (Mutakkdim) ,  a tough stakes winner in Ontario. He has had a couple of starters from small crops.

 

Race 3- SURE WOULD battled 3 wide on the pace and edged clear before holding off Guchi Gold to win her maiden for $20000 claiming. The grey Wando gal, out of Wood Fern, is a Gus Schickedanz homebred who was wearing ear muffs but had blinkers off. She was making the big class drop from maiden allowance to maiden claiming and she had tons of fast workout times. Mike Keogh trains and Omar Moreno rode.

Race 4- BET ON JACK owned by Joshua Attard and trained by Tino Attard was this corner’s pick (at http://jmbets.ca) to win his season debut and he was 2nd. Yesterday he saved ground and was up to edge old timer D’Oro Diablo as one of a few closing winners on a very windy day. Jack is a 5yo by With Distinction and he is 5 for 22 in his career – he rarely runs a bad race. Eurico da Silva rode the winner.

Race 5-A day after Manfred and Penny Conrad’s “international good-thing” AMETHEA had a troubled debut outing and was 2nd, their 4yo firster CONSTANTINO was up in time to win his debut in race 5, a maiden allowance. The Mark Casse trainee is by the late Master Command (sire of Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve) and is out of the stakes placed mare Simply Stylish. The windy conditions aside,  SPIN WILD went wild on the pace, 21 4/5, 44 3/5 and was wobbly by the end. The winner rallied up the rail to beat CAP IN HAND, a Midnight Lute 3yo colt out of stakes winner Heyahohowdy by Domasca Dan.

The latter, picked as the best Longshot at Jmbets.ca, was 30 to 1 but finished 2nd in his season opener and he could be a Queen’s Plate possibility for the Tucci Stable (although the Tucci’s told Thoroughblog yesterday that he is behind schedule).

Race 6- the puzzling race of the day as it was 35 to 1 shot KAY’S GRACE who was 4-5 wide on the turn and in the back of the pack early in the 6 furlong allowance/optional claiming event which was open but had only Ontario sired runners in it, but she rallied and won in her first outing since October.

Owned by Lisa Burry and Mike Dusnlows and trained by Burry, this gal was a nice one in 2-12 with $102K in earnings and a super race record. In 2013 she raced twice, with Lasix, and was not a factor. So, she was tough to like in this competitive dash especially with the 3yo Splashy Gizmo the big fave off the 82 Beyer Figure last fall when narrowly beaten by Paladin Bay in a stake. She was not a factor, however, closing mildly to be 3rd.

Woodbine’s handicapper Jim Bannon in the selections picked the triactor box (he picked it 3rd, 2nd 1st and for $1 that was worth $769.00

Race 7 – Flirting with danger here but it was Norseman Stables RED FEVER winning on the pace in the maiden allowance for Ontario sired rivals. This Where’s the Ring 3yo is out of Cat fever and she is by Mountain Cat. The winner was making his 2nd start of the meeting, 5th start of the year and 8th start of his career.  JOHN MATTINE has 3 races at Woodbine already.