Happy Hump day – tonight at Woodbine, Ladie’s Night for the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club with some personalities of the industry and a preview of the CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL!…rain, rain stay away! forecast for the big day on Sunday is a tad shakey but the fields should be loaded! – 20 EUROS’ arriving by planes this week…and DENNIS RODMAN tomorrow at the luncheon!
Rahystrada is an entrant in the International this weekend
www.-equiSport photos
IT’S INTERNATIONAL WEEK!
Okay, so who are these horses?
Lots of changes were being made to the look of the field for the Canadian International on Sunday, the $1.5 million jewel of the Woodbine racing schedule which still is a pretty decent affair even with it’s close placement to the Breeders’ Cup.
The EP Taylor and Nearctic are also going to be jammed packed this year – there will be some 45-50 horses in the three races combined.
Weather reports from here to Sunday are unsettled at best – with enough rain predicted to make course probably a bit less than firm but still firm for the Euro’s it would seem.
Latest news was that TREASURE BEACH, who just ran in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is going to race here.
He won the Grade 1 secretariat Stakes at Arlington with a close-up stalking trip and his Beyer was a smart 105. Note that DERBY KITTEN came out of the Secretariat to win Woodbine’s Ontario Derby.
Treasure Beach ran quickly on the pace in the Arc and faded to 14th behind Danedream.
It’s very rare these days that a horse will come back from the Arc and run at Woodbine.
Here are some comments on the 16 expected starters:
ARCTIC COSMOS – He was supposed to come last year but was not shipped because he injured a cannon bone and had to have surgery.
The 4yo son of now-Ontario sire North Light had a 13 month layoff before returning to be 2nd to Quest for Peace in the Oct 1 Cumberland Lodge Stakes.
QUEST FOR PEACE – Lightly raced and been tabbed as a ‘baby’ who is still learning. He is by top sire Galileo and just beat Arctic Cosmos in the Cumberland Lodge, his first graded stakes attempt.
(watch his race below from Racing Post link).
REDWOOD – Who loves Woodbine? This guy, a Juddmonte Farm star who came to Canada and won the Northern Dancer Stakes last year and then was a close 3rd in the International to JOSHUA TREE and MORES WELLS.
He is 0 for 3 this year but comes in fresh.
SARAH LYNX – A 4yo filly with 1 win – but it was a Group 2 score as a maiden and then she had a dreadful trip in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille last time behind Galikova. In this race because she is better at the distance of 12 furlongs.
STORMY LORD _ Canadian hope will no doubt track Kara’s Orientation as they are the likely speed. He won on a very soft turf in May in the 7 furlong Connaught and he just won on yielding turf
at Philly Park at 9 furlongs; He almost won the 12 furlong Breeders’ last year but this is a very tough spot.
BRONZE CANNON – A Kentucky bred by Lemon Drop Kid, he has been racing on synthetic dirt mostly since 2009 when he won the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes ay Ascot. He seemed to be on his way to being a star back then but he went to Rsussia, Germany and then Dubai and lost his form. Just back from a March – Sept. layoff.
MIKHAIL GLINKA Another by Galileo and his last win came last June at Ascot – 9 races ago. It was a Group 3 at 2 miles. He comes off 4th in a 1 mile listed race which ended a March layoff.
MUSKETIER – He’s 9 – wow, and he won the 12 furlong Singspiel this year over Grassy with a 98 Beyer Figure. A slight touch below some of these but a col dude.
RAHYSTRADA – He’s been everywhere – Woodbine will be the 16TH TRACK he has visited in his 35th race. He just won the Kentucky Turf cup and Kentucky Downs and was 5th in the Arlington Million. Almost never runs this far and could be a touch behind the good ones.
KARA’S ORIENTATION – Trying to come back to the 98 Beyer when he screeched to a big win in the 10 furlong Sky Classic. Was overwhelmed in Woodbine Mile.
CELTIC CONVICTION – Local hopse has lost a couple of tough ones in succession and he will be meeting older horses and open company for the first time.
JOSHUA TREE – Hey, he won the race last year on good turf. Different trainer these days but he is fresh and he was 3rd beaten 13 last time to Danedream, who came back and won the Arc.
MORES WELLS _ Was 2nd in thi s race last year amd je jas wpm a small race in France this season for a new trainer.
SIMMARD – One win in last 2 seasons and that was for claiming this year in Florida. Ran huge in the Northern Dancer last time, though.
LAUREATE CONDUCTOR – claimed this year for $62,500, he was 4th in Northern Dancer but distance is one big hurdle for him.
Redwood (pink cap), Mores wells (middle) and Joshua Tree in last year’s C.I. – Dave Landry photo
THE PROJECTED FIELD
Arctic Cosmos/Rachel Hood & Robin Geffen/John Gosden/William Buick
Bronze Cannon/Ramzan Kadyrov/Herman Brown/Tom Queally
Celtic Conviction/Dura Racing & M.J. Doyle Racing Stable/Mike Doyle/Emile Ramsammy
Joshua Tree/Nabouda & Albahou/Marco Botti/Adam Kirby
Kara’s Orientation/Max Berketa & Pinnacle Racing/Steven Chircop/Joel Rosario
Laureate Conductor/Bear Stables Ltd./Mike DePaulo/Luis Contreras
Mikhail Glinka/ Ramzan Kadyrov/Herman Brown/Bernard Fayd’Herbe
Mores Wells/Catherine O’Flynn/Mikel Delzangles/Sebastien Maillot
Musketier/Stella Perdomo/Roger Attfield/John Velazquez
Quest For Peace/OTI Racing/Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon
Rahystrada/Robert Courtney Jr./Byron Hughes/Julien Leparoux
Redwood/Juddmonte Farms/Charles Hills/Michael Hills
Sarah Lynx/Mrs. Robert Ehrnrooth/John Hammond/Christophe Soumillon
Simmard/Atttfield & Werner/Roger Attfield/Patrick Husbands
Stormy Lord/Hat Trick Stable and Kinghaven Farms/Ian Black/Justin Stein
Treasure Beach/Smith, Tabor & Magnier/Aidan O’Brien/Colm O’Donoghue
HERE’S THE SECRETARIAT WIN BY TREASURE BEACH…
QUEST FOR PEACE – ARCTIC COSMOS 1-2 IN CUMBERLAND THIS MONTH:
EARLY LOOK AT THE E.P. TAYLOR (14)
Adventure Seeker
Dream Peace
Dyna Waltz
Happy Clapper
I’m A Dreamer
Kinky Afro
Laughing
Magic Broomstick
Mahbooba
Mekong Melody
Miss Keller
Perfect Shirl
Sea of Heartbreak
Strawberrydaiquiri
NEARCTIC (14)
Artic Fern
Bated Breath
Bewitched
Fatal Bullet
Fiddler’s Patriot
Grand Adventure
Gypsy Ring
Hitchens
(f)Jenny’s So Great
Regally Ready
Riding the River
Right One
Signature Red
Yield Bogey
RECENT WINNERS OF INTERNATIONAL:
2010 Joshua Tree 3 Colm O’Donoghue Aidan O’Brien Smith, Magnier and Tabor 2:32.72
2009 Champs Elysees 6 Garrett Gomez Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms 2:28.36
2008 Marsh Side 5 Javier Castellano Neil D. Drysdale Robert S. Evans 2:28.73
2007 Cloudy’s Knight 7 Ramsey Zimmerman Frank J. Kirby S J Stables LLC 2:27.71
2006 Collier Hill 8 Dean McKeown Alan Swinbank R. Hall, D. Abell, R. Crowe 2:37.34
2005 Relaxed Gesture 4 Corey Nakatani Christophe Clement Moyglare Stud 2:32.64
2004 Sulamani 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:28.64
2003 Phoenix Reach 3 Martin Dwyer Andrew Balding Winterbeck Manor Stud 2:33.62
2002 Ballingarry 3 Michael Kinane T. J. Comerford Coolmore Stud 2:31.68
2001 Mutamam 6 Richard Hills Alec Stewart Shadwell Racing 2:28.46
2000 Mutafaweq 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor Godolphin 2:27.62
NEVER RETREAT – Tough turf mare won Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland – thanks to SARAH for comment on Thorougblog – and yes Sarah, this gal is the leader for HORSE OF THE YEAR IN CANADA while a likely Sovereign Award winner for turf mare – www.equisport.com photo
WOODBINE WEEKEND WRAP: BLUE HEART, GREY FILLY, CHECKERED FLAG
Ontario-bred BLUE HEART remained unbeaten with her win in the rich Mazarine Stakes yesterday at Woodbine, a 2-turn race for 2yo fillies. The event, which used to be graded – featured a large field of promising fillies including a three-pack from JOhn Oxley and trainer Mark Case.
The strength in numbers thing didn’t work, however, as American owners Mr. and Mrs. John Amerman celebrated the win by their very expensive filly by Exchange Rate.
“What a wonderful place this is,” glowed Mr. Amerman. “It’s beautiful and everyone is very accommodating.”
Amerman , as well as import jockey Joe Bravo, were made to confidence about the chances of Blue Heart, an Exchange Rate filly out of Flawless Diamond by Saint Ballado.
Lynch was telling Bravo over the phone that she would win.
Patrick Husbands rode the filly in her debut win but had other gals to select from also.
Blue Heart had to start from post 12 but she opened up into the stretch and then held off a fast closing Spirited Miss, one of the Oxley team, to win with a 76 Beyer Figure.
SOLID APPEAL was third for the Hills of Alberta.
Trainer MARK CASSE’S starters were 1-2-3 in the Grey Stakes (Grade 3) – PROSPECTIVE (Malibu Moon) was the winner with a modest 72 Beyer Figure.
The Bull Page Stakes on Monday was a ‘wunaway’ for that 2yo JENNA’S WABBIT, a son of Old Forester. The big, big bay gelding posted a 79 Beyer Figure for owner, breeder, trainer Ralph Biamonte and co-owners Mary Biamonte and Danny Lococo.
FORT ERIE – Red Hot Doll Wins the Longshots Cup
October 10, Fort Erie … A field of six 2-year old fillies went to the gate on Monday for the Longshots OTB Cup. A purse of $30,000 was on the line for the young runners who competed at a distance of six furlongs.
DOLL IS S-SIZZLING, EARNS 79 BEYER
Red Hot Doll, trained and owned by Brian Lynch came to Fort Erie from Woodbine on August 2nd to compete against maiden fillies. Not only did she win in wire to wire fashion under jockey Francine Villeneuve but she also set a new track record in doing so. Red Hot Doll went off as the heavy post time favorite on Thanksgiving Monday and did not disappoint her backers. She was quick to grab the lead straight out of the gate setting an opening quarter in a sizzling 22 seconds flat. Under a confident ride by Villeneuve, she widened her lead by seven lengths reaching the half mile mark in a quick 44.1. The only filly to attempt to take a run at the favorite was Comfit ridden by Kirk Johnson but it was all in vein as Red Hot Doll, a daughter of Officer, crossed the finish line by six lengths leaving the rest of the field in her wake. The final time was an eye opening 1.09.3.
After the race, jockey Francine Villeneuve was all smiles. “This race was a bit more of a challenge for her but she made it look easy,” said the popular jockey.
Francine has just four victories left to go until she reaches her milestone 1,000th career win.
QUARTER HORSES BACK AT FORT ERIE
October 8th, Fort Erie…Quarter Horses returned to Fort Erie on Saturday to showcase some of the fastest horses in Ontario racing. There were three stakes races featured on the 10-horse card.
Fort Erie Bank of America Supplemental Challenge
The $35,000 added Fort Erie Bank of America Supplemental Challenge was the longest race on Saturday’s program at 870 yards. It was won by Silver Grill, a gray six-year-old gelding who last ran and won a 440-yard race here at Fort Erie during the July Friendship Festival of Racing. Jockey Tony Phillips took the lead at the head of the lane and brought the horse home to win. “My horse tired, but I picked him up and he held on,” said Phillips. Trainer Barry Woods, who won the 870-yard Battle of the Breeds here last October with Silver Grill, was relieved. “I was concerned about the distance, he hasn’t had a race in over two months, but what he won on today was all heart.” Silver Grill, who is owned by Double Mac Racing returned $4.80 to win.
Ontario Jackpot Futurity
The second of three stakes races was the $150,000 added Ontario Jackpot Futurity at a distance of 350 yards. Entry in to the race for two-year-olds was based on earnings and was a display of the up and coming stars in Quarter Horse racing. The race was won with authority by Leanintoit, a bay filly by Tres Seis out of First Lady Amber. Jockey Kim Ito, who is making a strong comeback after a knee injury sidelined her for most of the 2011-racing season, rode the horse. “She broke really well. I could see the other horses around me and I was waiting for someone to come get us, but she just out ran them all,” said Ito. “Before I got hurt I was gate training her and she’s been training like a million dollars.” The filly is trained by Don Reid, owned by Don Ito and Richard Wincikaby and paid $9.90 to win.
Ontario Jackpot Derby
The third stakes race of the day was the $150,000 added Ontario Jackpot Derby at a distance of 350 yards. Open to three-year-olds, the race was won by The Rare Corona, a gelding by The Corona out of Rare Shake. Trained by Clint Crawford, this was the horse’s first stakes race. “He’s been a really good horse, very lightly raced and now he gets the rest of the season off.” The horse was ridden by jockey Tony Bennett, “He’s a smart horse and does whatever you ask. He has a bright future,” he said. The horse, bred in Oklahoma, is owned by Hershel Cole. The win is another notch in the belt for Clint Crawford, who has more than 30% winners from starters in Ontario. The Rare Corona paid $7.00 to win.
Live Quarter Horse racing actions continues on Saturday, October 15th and 22nd with a number of special events and promotions taking place including a Tiki Bar Hoedown Party featuring line dancing, roping demonstrations, handicapping contests and much more.
