Woodbine news and notes, Kentucky Derby updates as Thoroughblog continues to watch morning workouts at Churchill Downs via live-stream..it’s all here!
PHAROAH FLIES SUNDAY MORNING
What a move by Kentucky Derby favourite AMERICAN PHAROAH Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. The son of Pioneer ofthe Nile flew through 5 furlongs in 58 with ease, was out in 1:11 flat (!!) and up in 1:27. Trained by Bob Baffert, this colt is all the rage at Churchill while Baffert’s other colt, DORTMUND, is also getting plenty of play. DORTMUND worked in 58 at Santa Anita yesterday morning.
With CARPE DIEM, UPSTART, MATERIALITY, INTERNATIONAL STAR, FROSTED and so many others, this is a very good Derby field.
This is a wonderful group of 3yos heading to the Derby – so many to choose from, but American Pharoah could be a special kind of colt.
Liked the looks of Kentucky Oaks gals I’M A CHATTERBOX and PUCA in works this morning. The latter worked well with the giant colt JAPAN for trainer Bill Mott.
Carpe Diem worked very early at Keeneland on Saturday morning, final derby prep – COADY PHOTO
DOUBLE DOUBLE -Tiller, Gonzalez, Casse win 2 each
Solo Player and Wild n Clever already 2-time winners at Woodbine
It was a very formful day at Woodbine on Saturday and as most predicted, SOLO PLAYER got the day started off with his 2nd win of the meeting, only 6 days after he began the season with a win. The chestnut 6-year-old by Cuvee, bred by Jim Sabiston, won this $11,500 claiming dash in a gallop for Brad McKnight and Norm McKnight. Alan Garcia rode again. The gelding is 8 for 39 in his career.
His Beyer Figure was 76, co-highest of the day (which did not have a stakes race scheduled)
Later in the day, WILD N CLEVER, a 4-year-old filly by Offlee Wild, bred by Denny Andrews, won a $60,000 allowance/optional claiming race for her 2nd win in 13 days. The fast filly beat the boys with an 86 Beyer Figure (56 4/5) in her season opener and worked hard to win this day over other fillies. She earned just a 67 Beyer Figure for this win according to Daily Racing Form (57 4.5 for 5 furlongs)
(There is an Emma-Jayne Wilson feature in the Toronto Sun and Wild N Clever is discussed..
http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/25/wild-n-clever-quietly-off-to-excellent-start-at-woodbine)
More from Saturday
Race 2 – HOLLYSINDEPENDENT, in her 2nd career start, rallied from off the pace at 5 furlongs to win her maiden for Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and trainer Pat Parente, It was the first win of the meeting for the winning stable.
This filly is an Ontario sired gal by MARCHFIELD out of San Diego Nights by Alydeed, bred by Larry Spindler. She had a bit of a slow start in this race but was relaxed off te pace by jockey Tyler Pizarro before she launched her bid. She had a tough rival to beat in Itwontgobad by a won by a nose at 7 to 1. The filly was a $19,000 yearling purchase.
Race 3- Maiden allowance for 3-year-olds, Ontario sired and first time starter PORTREE, by the late Niigon out of Eclipse Bay by Hennessy rallied from last to win at 6 1/2 furlongs under Gerry Olguin. The gelding, a full brother to Kurigane and Bayport, both decent winners, is trained by Stuart Simon. THE FEATHER LANDS was a bit of a troubled 2nd and this is a large son of Kentucky Bear who also has plenty of promise.
The time of 1:17 2/5 was translated to a 62 Beyer Figure.
Race 4- allowance race for non-winners of 1 ‘other than’ and while Splashy Gizmo had won her season opener off a very long layoff, this was a tough spot to double up. That gal finished last while front runner MISS TATEY CAT, owned by Andgi Swartz and trained by Nick Gonzalez, won in her first start back from Florida. She also won her last appearance, a turf race at Gulfstream. This Simon Pure Florida bred was ridden by Jesse Campbell.
Race 5 – A $20,00 claiming race for fillies and mares went to the big favourite ERMA LEE, owned by Soli Mehta and partner. Kevin Attard had this nice 7-year-old mare by Stormy Atlantic primed in this 2nd start of the season. She had been 4th in an allowance race first time out this year. It was the mare’s first win since 2013 and her 7th of her career. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode.
Race 6- Queen’s Plate eligible FIELD OF COURAGE scored a workmanlike win as the predictable favourite in this Ontario sired allowance over older horses. The son of Marchfield out of Miss Crissy by Bold ‘n Flashy was bred by Cavendish Investing and is owned by John Oxley. Mark Casse trained this colt in Ocala. Patrick Husbands gave him a picture perfect ride.
Field of Courage is a half brother to stakes winners GOOD BETTER BEST and MESA CIELO and he posted a career best 68 Beyer Figure for 1:16 4/5 for 6 1/2 furlongs.
Race 7 – Sharing the highest Beyer Figure of the day, 76, (although the Beyer Figures seem to be a bit low considering the track surface) was THE GREAT GIZMO, the second winner for jockey Da Silva and first of 2 for Robert Tiller. Owned by Mr. Rolph Davis, The Great Gizmo was very strong in the stretch to win his first race of the year as a 4-year-old. He did not race as a 2yo but has a $26,000 purchase, he has now won over $82,000.
The Great Gizmo is by Giant Gizmo out of Great Gizmo (that is a lot of Gizmos) by Great Gladiator. He was bred by Marcy Quayle in Ontario.
Race 8 – Hmmm, the ‘ole uncoupled entry rule – Mark Casse had the returning CONQUEST TITAN in this allowance/optional claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs, a 4yo colt who won the Swynford Stakes in 2013, 2nd in the Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 last year but off since June. The $475,000 2yo purchase had workouts in Ocala, Oaklawn and Keeneland, landed here for this race and was odds on. But it was the stablemate CONSTANTINO, owned by Conrad Farm (which also bred) who came from last to win for Casse and jockey Gary Boulanger. This Master Command Ontario bred was making his first start of the year and he is now 4 for 9 in his career.
His time of 1:16 was a 76 Beyer Figure, the co-highest of the day.
Race 10 – the last race of the day was a maiden allowance and the high flying Robert Tiller barn send out Queen’s Plate hopeful TOWN CALLED MALICE to win for owner/breeder Frank DiGiulio Jr. Thi is a bay gelding by Sligo Bay (Ire) – the sire of last year’s Plate winner Lexie Lou – and Patrick Husbands rode him to the jockey’s 2nd win of the day.
Town called Malice was making his season debut and his 4th career start. He time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17 3/5 – a 58 Beyer Figure.
Wagering at Woodbine on the card from all sources was a better $3.3 million and leads us into a good card of racing today.
HE’S BAAAAAACK
Essence Hit Man is back = Michael Burns Photo
How fitting.
ESSENCE HIT MAN, a champion bred by the late Audre Cappuccitti, won 3 consecutive JACQUES CARTIER STAKES, 2011, ’12 and ’13, but has been absent for a year. Well, the speedy gelding had a return workout this morning (Sunday) at Woodbine, a quick 2 furlongs according to trainer Larry Cappucciti.
The JACQUES CARTIER is today’s featured event at Woodbine. For more on the race and selections, see the post for today’s WOODBINE SELECTIONS.
CALGARY CAT drew the rail in a very good edition of the JACQUES CARTIER STAKES today at Woodbine.
WRAP UP – OCALA APRIL SALE
Final day Canadian buyers were:
013 f Tribal Rule — Decades of Style (IRE)
Peter Redekop BC, LTD, Alistair Roden, Agent 125,000
Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent
013 f Paddy O’Prado — Fancy Point
Christina Jelm, Agent for Colebrook Farms 90,000
90,000 Thomas and Casse, Agent fo
013 c Victor’s Cry — Itstartswithadream
Nick Gonzalez, Agent 37,000
CANADIAN BREDS SOLD
Here are the hip numbers, prices, workout times and breeding/consigner, barn
193 $145,000 ZAYAT ST. 10.1 C Ghostzapper Northglen Ontario Bobby Dodd, Agent 6
201 $32,000 JOHN CAULFIELD 10.1 F Artie Schiller Ochoa Ontario King’s Equine, Agent X 2
295 $25,000 R. PEARSON 10.4 C Speightstown Queen’s Park Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent I
347 NOT SOLD ($22,000) 11.1 C Society’s Chairman Romanced Ontario Derby Dreams, Agent I G
353 NOT SOLD ($37,000) 10.3 Y F Court Vision Rouge Lady Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent I G
378 MIKE RYAN $110,000 10.4 F Smart Strike Santerra Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent
436 D. PORCUN $18,000 10.4 F Where’s the Ring Silver Rush Ontario Eisaman Equine, Agent 7
455 RALPH BIAMONTE, C. GEORGE $30,000 10.3 F North Light (IRE) Skippy O Ontario Crupi’s New Castle Farm, Agent
473 OUT 10.3 F Lemon Drop Kid Snow Lady Ontario Top Line Sales LLC, Agent I 14
522 out C Repent Streetwise Ontario Thoroughbred Friends & Associates, Agent VII 20
530 $13,000 SPAN BLDSTK 10.3 C Plan Sugar Bird Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent II
547 out 10.4 C Cape Blanco (IRE) Sweet Kitten Ontario de Meric Sales, Agent X
683 NOT SOLD (37) 10.3 F Old Forester Woodland City (SAF) Ontario RiceHorse Stables 14
723 HARVEY SWARTZ $32.000 10.3 F Philanthropist Allegation Ontario Best A Luck Farm LLC, Agent
786 XAVIER INT. BLOODSTK. $100,000 10.2 C Court Vision Best Diamond Ontario Thomas and Casse, Agent
796 out F Uncle Mo Black Hills Goldie Ontario Parrish Farms, Agent 3
837 NOT SOLD (37) 11.0 C Court Vision Carolina Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent IV
900 OUT 10.2 F Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Consilia Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), A 957 $190,000 TM VENTURES 10.1 C Unbridled’s Song Destroy Ontario Eisaman Equine, Agent 7
1000 out C Zensational Embur’s Melody Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XLV
1010 $48,000 M. COOKE 10.4 C Sidney’s Candy Ethan’s Car Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent X 8
1045 out C Bernardini Flawless Diamond Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XLIII 8
1079 $40,000 TM VENTURES 10.2 F Flower Alley Glorious Hawk Ontario RiceHorse Stables 14
1137 NOT SOLD (77) 10.4 F Lookin At Lucky Higher World Ontario Eisaman Equine, Agent 7
1169 OUT 10 F Tizway Imaginary Gold Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XIX 5
1179 37,000 NICK GONZALEZ 10.3 C Victor’s Cry Itstartswithadream Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent I G
