The only QUEEN’S PLATE entrant that is by an Ontario sire (well, former Ont.sire) is ULTIMATE DESTINY, by Dance to Destiny, who previously stood at Sam-Son Farms in Milton. Ultimate Destiny races for the well known Waxman family – Brenda Selwyn Waxman is the owner, and the family includes harness trainer Issac Waxman, former horse owner Robert Waxman, etc.
Dance to Destiny, out of Dance Smartly, is in Saudi Arabia now.
Terence Dulay/horse-races.net photo
QUEEN’S PLATE…
KABEL TO RIDE CLASSIC BRYCE
In the midst of a riding comeback, TODD KABEL has picked up the mount on Classic Bryce in the Queen’s Plate. The dark bay colt by Grand Slam is owned by Bill Sorokolit and trained by Darwin Banach.
The field is firming up for the Plate with 14 likely starters.
The first two favourites, STRAIT OF DOVER, who figures to go off at 2 to 1 or so, and RIVER RUSH, the Trial winner (about 3 to 1) will take some beating. The longshots really look like longshots and several have possible distance limitations to address.
DIXIE STRIKE, the winterbook Plate fave, has made it into the field and she has blinkers for the Plate. The Dixie Union gal (same sire as Union Rags) comes off a bummer run in the Woodbine Oaks at odds – on. She has been busy this year but does possess an 89 Beyer from her Selene Stakes win.
Big Creek/Green Hills Farm Inc./Todd Pletcher/Ramon Dominguez by Indian Charlie
Classic Bryce/Bill Sorokolit/Darwin Banach/Todd Kabel by Grand Slam
Colleen’s Sailor/Terra Di Sienna Stables/Roger Attfield/John Velazquez by Northern Afleet
Dixie Strike/John Oxley/Mark Casse/Patrick Husbands by Dixie Union
Golden Ridge/Melynk Racing Stables Inc./Mark Casse/Luis Contreras by Distorted Humor
Irish Mission/Robert Evans/Mark Frostad/Alex Solis by Giant’s Causeway
Making Amends/Quintessential Racing Fla., et al/Mark Casse/Eurico Rosa da Silva by Repent
Macho Whiskey/Harlequin/Reade Baker/Emma-Jayne Wilson by Macho Uno
Peyton/Windhaven/Mike Doyle/Julien Leparoux by Grand Slam
Prince Raphael/Belle & Reddington/Debbie England/Richard Dos Ramos by Shakespeare
River Rush/Stronach Stables/Reade Baker/Jim McAleney by Orientate
Strait of Dover/Canyon Farms/Dan Vella/Justin Stein by English Channel
Ultimate Destiny/Brenda Selwyn-Waxman/Mike Keogh/Steven Bahen by Dance to Destiny
Wilcox/Melnyk Racing Stables Inc./Josie Carroll/TBA by Giant’s Causeway
DELEGATION – speeds 6 furlongs on turf in 1:08.17 in debut
WinStar Racing’s DELEGATION crushed a field of maidens at Woodbine on Friday in his debut and left a vapour trail while doing so. The time was very fast altough the Beyer Figure of 74 suggests the Beyer boys thought the grass was insanely firm.
The winner is a Speightstown colt out of Grade 1 winner Cindy’s Hero trained by Mark Casse.
Congrats to BARB MINSHALL who got the first win of the season yesterday when SEETHING came from miles behind to win his maiden in a 6 1/2 furlong dash for maiden allowance. Jesse Campbell rode the son of Greatness.
Outside runners prevailed a lot yesterday but the track was playing fair.
TAPIT’S BREW won his 3rd straight race despite a busy schedule. The Tapit gelding races for Ace Racing, which won 2 races on the card. While not always easy to figure out (sometimes the favoured runners throw craps), the Ace racing/Scott Fairlie runners are doing well this spring.
OH WHAT A NIGHT
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society put on a fun night for the breeders of our great equines last night in Milton at the Rattlesnake Point Golf course.
A full house enjoyed Prime Rib, Salmon and lots of other goodies, the wine flowed freely and a silent auction put on by LongRun had everything from a Polo event, to soccor tickets and cool wine bottle holders.
There were several cool moments on the night, hosted by Dan Loiselle and Vicki Passpas. One certainly was when JIM SABISTON came up to receive his award for being a 50 year member of the CTHS.
Sabiston, who bred last year’s Princess Elizabeth stakes winner ROSE AND SHINE was greeted by a loud ovation. Two other 50-year members were honoured by not present, RON CLARKSON and TED SMITH.
25 year members in attendance were GEORGE BIGLIARDI, FRANK DIGIULIO JR and GARLAND WILLIAMSON.
The Gillian Luxton Scholarship Recipient was Eva Hirmer and the leading owner for 2011 was Eugene Melnyk.
It was the presentation of the breeder of the year award – Gardiner Farms and Mint Juleup Cup, to Dr. Mike Colterjohn, that capped a great night.
Frank DiGiulio offered a nice speed before presented the Cup to Colterjohn’s brother and sister Richard and Shany.
NORTH AMERICA CUP
Okay, it’s not thoroughbred racing but there is a big horse race tonight in Ontario and it would be nice if people like DWIGHT DUNCAN and DALTON M.watched how great the business of horses is and what it does for our great province.
It is hard to been over-the-moon joyful these days because we all simply don’t know what is happening….
“I’d be lying if I said (the end of the slots-at-racetracks program) wasn’t affecting my mental health,” he confessed. “I’ve invested my whole life in the racing business in this province. This is a time of year where I’m normally pumped up, but I’ll be honest; it’s a bit depressing. ” – Bob McIntosh, owner/trainer
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