SEEKING ALBERT, by Einstein (BRZ), is a contender for the Breeders’ Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine – he is shown with trainer Mike DePaulo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

127TH BREEDERS’ STAKES – THIRD JEWEL OF CANADA’S TRIPLE CROWN

Sunday, Woodbine, 1 1/2 mile turf – Entries drawn today

 

Final Copy winning the Toronto Cup over Conquest Lemonraid on July 23 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photography)

 

With HOLY HELENA, the Queen’s Plate winner, tackling the big girls in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, COOL CATOMINE will look to grab the top 3-year-old ring in Canada (well, for colts at least) in the Breeders’ on Sunday.

The son of Spring at Last – Smart Catomine, Smart Strike, is coming off a huge win in the Prince of Wales on the dirt at Fort Erie and before that, his maiden victory on the Tapeta at Woodbine. His sire can have a good grasser and the mare has produced a local turf winner, can the Cat keep things going for the Jack of Hearts Stable, a relatively new group of owners, and John Ross?

Accomplished grassers in the field are CHANNEL MAKER, an eager fellow who has been pointed to this race since his Plate run in which he ran well to finish 4th. He is a stakes winner on the grass at 6 furlongs but has not won since that victory last August.

FINAL COPY is a grey gelding who has come to life since getting Lasix and discovering Woodbine turf for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Roger Attfield. The son of Malibu Moon – Seanachai by El Prado won the Toronto Cup on July 23 at 1 18 miles over Conquest Lemonraid and King and his Court, both Mark Casse trainees who will be in the Breeders’.

 

SEEKING ALBERT, a fascinating newcomer to Woodbine from Texas, just won an allowance race at 1 1/2 miles on the grass over older horses and is the latest success story for owner Robert Marzilli.

Marzilli, owner of Horse of the Year Caren (who is now sidelined for 2017), found SEEKING ALBERT, bred by Adena Springs, when searching for a Queen’s Plate horse. The leggy and tall dark bay son of Einstein (Brz) – Purple Trillium by Seeking the Gold had won a dirt race at Sam Houston in February.

Purchased for just $4,500 as a 2-year-old in training at the June sale in Ocala, 2016, Seeking Albert raced three more times in Texas before he was purchased by Marzilli.

Unfortunately, regulations in Texas with regards to shipping horses out of State were strict and tedious and it took Albert a long time to make his way to Woodbine.

In his first race for Marzilli, the colt was 7th on June 11 on the Polytrack and his Plate hopes were dashed.

Believing that the long journey negatively impacted the colt, trainer Mike DePaulo got him back on turf a month later and he won a 12 furlong allowance over older horses.

 

 

Horse – Owner Trainer
Channel Maker – Joey G and Gary Barber/Wachtel Bill Mott  4th Queen’s Plate, won Vandal Stakes on turf at 2, has not won since then
Conquest Lemonraid – Gary Barber Mark Casse  – 2nd in Toronto Cup and Charlie Barley Stakes
Cool Catomine – Jack of Hearts/John Ross John Ross*  Won prince of Wales on dirt, would be making turf debut
Final Copy – CHiefswood Roger Attfield  – won Toronto Cup
Glencairn – Bill Werner Roger Attfield – won his maiden at 9 furlongs on Tapeta, 2nd start on turf
King and His Court – Gary Barber Mark Casse – 3rd Toronto Cup
Lookin At Bravo – Derek Chin Kevin Attard – won maiden on turf at 10 furlongs
Major Eclipse – CHiefswood  Roger Attfield – won maiden on grass last time
Seeking Albert – Robert Marzilli   Michael DePaulo* – won allowance at 1 1/2 miles on turf over older horses
Woodbridge – Gus Schickedanz  Michael Keogh – 4th prince of Wales and 3rd in Charlie Barley
*supplemental entries

 

 

 ISABELLE WENC JOINS WOODBINE JOCKEY COLONY

Isabelle Wenc, nominated for a Sovereign Award in 2016 for top apprentice jockey in Canada, has arrived at Woodbine – photo from Northlands Park Horse Lovers FB Page

Thirty seven hours after leaving her home in Saskatoon, five-pound apprentice Isabelle Wenc has arrived at Woodbine to try her luck at the biggest circuit in Canada.
A winner of 30 races since beginning her career at Marquis Downs and Northlands Park, Wenc will ride Starlight Angel for trainer Kevin Attard on Friday.
Neal Wilson is her agent.
Wenc wrote on her Facebook page last week – – 3 years ago I got my jocks license. I never would have imagined in a million years I’d be off to Toronto someday and yet here I am, a few days away from leaving to a place I’ve always dreamed of being. I’ve come a long ways since then and have a long ways to go. There has been more hard days than good ones in this game and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon but I don’t regret following my heart for even a second
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOODBINE WRAP – PINK LLOYD CONTINUES TO BUILD THE WALL, 5 for 5 at 5

Kenora could be next, a half -brother is in the Aug. 31 yearling sale

 

PINK LLOYD – remarkable. 5 for 5 at 5 this year WOODBINE PHOTO

The remarkable PINK LLOYD topped last week’s Beyer Speed Figures with his 5th straight stakes win as he marches through an amazing 5-year-old season.

This leggy Old Forester fellow posted a 101 Beyer Figure in his Ontario Jockey Club win last weekend over San Nicola Thunder. Owned by the Entourage Stable that includes frank DiGiulio Jr and friends, the Robert Tiller trained gelding is perhaps headed next to the Kenora Stakes on Canadian Millions night on August 30.

 

Bred by John Carey, Pink Lloyd is out of the Great Gladiator mare Gladiator Queen. The mare has a yearling in the Canadian premier Yearling sale on Aug 31 by the exciting freshman sire Souper Speedy.

Pink Lloyd was bought at the 2013 yearling sale for $30,000.

 

More sales success stories include LISTENLINDALISTEN who won her 2nd straight stakes race Wed. night at Woodbine, the Eternal Search Stakes. The Court Vision – Queen ofthe Dawn 3yo filly was a $47,000 purchase in 2015 by Conrad Farms. The filly was bred by Tony and Leslie Russo. Listenlindalisten has won $168,000 in 5 races. Her Beyer Figure Wed. night was 76.

 

Top WINNING BEYER FIGURES (over 80) at Woodbine – August 11-16

101 PINK LLOYD  (by Old Forester)

97 MELMICH (By Wilko)

94 – CALL ME WALLY (Turf) (By Old Forester)

91 INVOLUNTARY (TURF)  (City Zip)

87 MR HAVERCAMP (Turf)  (Court Vision)

87 COURT SAVVY (Turf) (Court Vision)

84  SUGAR JONES 84 (Old Forester)

82 VILLAGEOFVIBANK (Vibank)

 

 

CANADIAN DERBY ON SATURDAY

 

CHIEF KNOW IT ALL, a grey son of Flashy Bull claimed for $100,000 at Churchill Downs, is the probably favourite for Saturday’s Canadian derby. The derby is the next-to-last that will be held at Northlands Park. Century Mile racetrack is expected top open next September.

The 3-year-old meets Alberta hotshot TROOPER JOHN (Colonel John) and AQUA FRIO a son of Uncle Mo.

Also in the field is DOUBLE BEAR, an Ontario bred by Kentucky Bear – bear’s Little Angel and a full sister to Double Bear is in the Canadian Premier’s Yearling Sale on Aug 31, offered by Sherry McLean’s Northern Dawn as agent.

More on the Canadian derby:

EDMONTON JOURNAL preview…

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/local-sports/chief-know-it-all-draws-good-post-for-canadian-derby

 

 

 

IT’S PARTY TIME!

OH CANADA!  Celebrating 250 years of racing in Canada and the horses who led us through the years!

 

The always popular LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society Gala will take place on Friday Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.

Dress in red and white to celebrate your country’s 150th birthday and 250 years of horse racing here (or cocktail attire) and enjoy a festive night:

6:00 p.m. Friday, September 22nd under the trackside tent at Woodbine

Plated dinner/open bar/entertainment/ live and silent auctions

Gail Wood to receive the Lana Hershelle Sniderman Award for her ethical treatment of her horses, her support since our inception and her help in LongRun acquiring our own facility

*Looking for auction items/sponsorships

$150.00 pp – tickets available through the LongRun office

**All proceeds to help the horses who run for our pleasure enjoy a dignified and happy retirement**

TOM COSGROVE IN GLOBE & MAIL NEWSPAPER – E.P. TAYLOR

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/leadership-lab/how-ep-taylor-used-his-business-acumen-to-rescue-ontario-horseracing/article35981408/