ONTARIO-BRED CONQUEST DADDYO works for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
TOP BEYER FIGURES FROM WEDNESDAY/FRIDAY
94 WHERE’S THE WIDGET (Giant Gizmo) Friday , allowance
93 COPPERPLATE (Curlin) allowance Wednesday
83 GRAN BID – (Smooth Bid) turf allowance
So, the story of the week at Woodbine to this point is longshots, lots of them and a 4-win pair of days for trainer WILLIE ARMATA.
Oh yes, the stallion SMOOTH BID (Rubiano) also had a big week.
Armata’s 4 wins came from 7 starters and he had 2 other close finishes.
His two winners on Friday were both greys by Smooth Bid who had been breeding mares of owner Ron Delmas at Fieldstone Farms, which has recently sold off all of its horses.
The majority of the winners are owned by Curt Gonzalves who is 5-0 with his runners in the last month.
GRAN BID who was actually claimed by Gonzalves and Enza Armata for $6,000 in 2014 has won 2 straight races on the grass, the best surface for the offspring of Smooth Bid. He did not race on the grass in his first 7 races off the claim but hit turf last time for $30,000 claiming and won at 48-1.
He was a vet scratch recently but still won on Friday for $32,000 claiming at 6-1. Tommy Wong rode the 4yo gelding.
Of note, the dam of GRAN BID, LA GRAN RAQUEL, was recently bought along with a few others from a horse auction and her fate at the time was unknown. Now, La Gran Raquel, thanks to the generosity of Josie DePaulo and Jessica Alexandra, has a safe home.
The mind-boggling win for the stable came in race 8 when MY BID upset 2-5 favourite INTERNAL BOURBON in an Ontario sired turf allowance at 7 furlongs.
My Bid, also a 4yo by Smooth Bid, was a recent winner on the grass at Fort Erie with a 44 Beyer Figure when still in the care of trainer Carlos Grant, who trained for Fieldstone.
She had been run a 76 on the grass earlier in her career and despite getting blasted for $5,000 claiming her latest, sped by Internal Bourbon under Jeff Alderson at 72-1 to win.
Her Beyer Figure was, you guessed it, 76.
Armata’s Wednesday night winners were STORMY ROMANCE, making her 2nd start for Armata after being obtained from Gonzalves from Fieldtone. The grey Smooth Bid 3yo had just won her maiden with a 59 beyer Figure, a lifetime best, for $8,000 claiming and he doubled up for $8,000 on Wed. night under Luis Contreras.
Earlier in the evening, MISS VICTORIA won for the 2nd straight race for $9,500 claiming. The North Light mare has won 6 times this season and Armata claimed her for $8,000.
Other winners from the two days – WHERE’S THE WIDGET was making his first start at 1 1/16 miles and the 3yo by Giant Gizmo was not only a popular, front running winner but he ran one of the fastest races of the year at the distance – 1:43.12. He earned a whopping 94 Beyer Speed Figure.
The Pamela Edel-bred gelding is owned by mary Biamonte and trained by Ralph Biamonte and he is 3 for 9 this year. Eurico da Silva rode.
Friday’s finale race was a bit wild. SUPERSIXPHIL rallied to win under Eurico Da Silva but drifted in so sharply through the stretch that jockey Jesse Campbell on Simon’s Siesta appeared to almost fall off his mount, There was an inquiry but but the winner, a Super Six Stable horse trained by Mike DePaulo, never actually caused any interference or bumped Simon’s Siesta.
AMERICAN PHAROAH BREYER FIGURINE
Lousiville Courier-Journal feature by JENNIE REES
American Pharoah ran away with the Triple Crown, stole our hearts and is now expected to fly off shelves.
Breyer, the company known for creating plastic horses in yellow boxes found at toy stores, tack shops and farm supply stores, will unveil a series of collectible products to celebrate the champion thoroughbred — including a Breyer traditional (1:9 scale), stablemate (1:32 scale) and holiday ornament — just in time for the holidays at the 32nd Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Oct. 30 and 31 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington…
MORE ON BREYER HORSES etc/ (just answer 1-2 questions and the story opens up)
story by Jennie Rees (who is leaving horse racing ‘beat’ writing this year. Good luck Jennie!
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/2015/10/23/breyer-release-american-pharoah-collectible/73388192/
BIG RED MIKE and his BIG RED MIKE
Mike Romeo loves his family’s Thoroughbreds. His grandfather Dom has raced horses under the Terra Racing banner for decades and the stable is run by Mike’s father Frank.
Not only has Mike purchased a former claiming horse of theirs from an American track just to have him retired but they worked with LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement to find the perfect home for their Queen’s Plate winner BIG RED MIKE.
A handful on the track, Big Red Mike has slowly settled into a life of leisure and while Mike, the human, has never ridden a horse, he had a thrill recently when he climbed aboard his famous Plate winner.
Very cool.
MIKE AND MIKE (photo courtesy of Mike Romeo)
OJ AND HIS PEEPS AT THE RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT!
The photo below is from yesterday at the Kentucky Horse Park – OJIBWAY SIGNAL and Val Topp eventing. OJ raced for David Bell and Topp with plenty of success and now he is loving his second career.
HAYLEY MORRISON is also involved in the RRP this weekend and not only has published many lovely images if the event, also has a super blog site dedicated to retired racehorses:
http://www.bettingonasecondchance.com/
RETIRED RACEHORSE PROJECT AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
Val Topp’s OJIBWAY SIGNAL, a Woodbine winner who once ran in the Queen’s Plate, is one of some 150 entrants in the 3 event and competition series. You can view all the horses names and their riders on the site below.
Many Ontario horses such as PETER THE GROSS and last year’s sensational debut winner TAP FOR AMI (94 Beyer Figure).
Friday, October 23, 2015 – 8:00am to Sunday, October 25, 2015 – 5:00pm
Retired Racehorse Project
They say you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but what about an old horse? The Thoroughbred Makeover is proof that this age old saying does not apply to the horse world. This event is a great opportunity to see some retired race horses showing off their “new tricks.” There are around 350 Thoroughbreds training for this event, each horse with the option to compete in up to two of ten different riding disciplines. Come on out to the Covered Arena and see these Thoroughbreds in action.
The event is put on by the Retired Racehorse Program, and organization dedicated to building further careers for retired Thoroughbred race horses. The purpose is to promote the usefulness of these retired Thoroughbreds, who may otherwise be disregarded after their racing days are over. Thoroughbred Makeover is one of the program’s most important events, due to the fact that it showcases the versatility and unique capabilities that are often overlooked with these horses. For more information, or if you would like to support their program, you can visit their website at https://www.retiredracehorseproject.org/
