**UPDATED – TODAY’S NEWS – LONGRUN CHARITY FASHION SHOW ON JULY 19 (HAD WRONG DATE THIS WEEK!)…QUEEN’S PLATE CONTENDERS, BIOFUEL READY FOR MOTHER GOOSE..some are working this morning…more bits..
PHOTO – EUREKA! He’s leading all jockeys at Woodbine by 1, he’s on a Plate contender, Big Red Mike, and he’s a popular guy – good luck to everybody!
Eurico Rosa Da Silva, photo by Dave Landry
QUEEN’S PLATE UPDATES
Barbecue on Monday (also my birthday)
QUEEN’S PLATE WEEK is unique, it is unlike any other big race in the world for many reasonsn. It is the oldest continuously run race in North America, plus we have Royal representation now and then. The Queen’s Plate barbecue, inititated by Bruce Walker many years ago, is an interesting gathering for media and horsefolks involved in the race and the contenders are paraded in the paddock for everyone to see.
The post psoition draw is a breakfast in the paddock, always with interesting guests, and of course, the race on July 4 will be none we have had lately – secutiry for HRH Queen Elizabeth and a whole wack of people will jam Woodbine.
And the race is shaping up as a handicappers dream with many contenders in what could be a 16 -17 horse field. Not sure there are any superstars in the group yet but hey, perhaps one will finally emerage. It has been a while since the Plate produced a really, really good horse.
As mentioned earlier this week, the Plate has already lured some American riders. MIKE SMITH will be in town to ride Sam-Son Farms’ GIANT’S TOMB and JAVIAR CASTELLANO will ride the barns DARK CLOUD DANCER. The favoured runner of the Sam-Son trio is HOTEP, who will have Patrick Husbands.
EMBUR’S SONG will possibly have Garrett Gomez again since July 4, while an American holiday, does not have many big events that day as it is a Sunday.
Three fillies are pencilled in so far but a decision on MOMENT OF MAJESTY will be made at a late date as the connections need to dole out $25,000 to make her eligible to the race.
WILL SHE OR WON’T SHE??
Moment of Majesty looks to the future, but it will cost Curtis Joseph and friends $25,000 to run in Plate…Dave Landry photo
ARTIC FERN
dk b/.g.3 by Langfuhr(Danzig) – Wood Fern(Woodman)
Gustav Schickedanz Michael Keogh
BIG RED MIKE
ch.g.3 by Tenpins(Smart Strike) – Regent n’Flashy(Vice Regent)
Terra Racing Stable Nicholas Gonzalez
D’S WANDO
b.c.3 by Wando(Langfuhr) – Silver Taler(Bold Ruckus)
D’s Stable, Riviera Racing Stable and Yorktech Racing Stable Ian Black
DARK CLOUD DANCER
dk b/.c.3 by Storm Cat(Storm Bird) – Dancethruthedawn(Mr. Prospector)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
EMBUR’S SONG
b.f.3 by Unbridled’s Song(Unbridled) – Embur Sunshine(Bold Ruckus)
Fares Farm, Inc. Todd A. Pletcher
GIANT’S TOMB
ch.c.3 by Awesome Again(Deputy Minister) – Song of the Wild(Gone West)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
HOTEP
b.c.3 by A.P. Indy(Seattle Slew) – Eye of the Sphynx(Smart Strike)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
MOBILIZER
dk b/.c.3 by Motivator (GB)(Montjeu (IRE)) – Kris Is It(Kris S.)
Stronach Stables R. L. Attfield
MOBTHEWARRIOR
dk b/.g.3 by Mobil(Langfuhr) – Little Warrior(Woodman)
Andrew V. Fredericks Gregory de Gannes
ROAN INISH
dk b/.f.3 by Elusive Quality(Gone West) – Inish Glora(Regal Classic)
Robert J. Costigan Carolyn Costigan
SMART SKY
b.c.3 by Sky Mesa(Pulpit) – Flashy n Smart(Smarten)
C. Scott Abbott Racing Stable Ltd. Michael J. Doyle
WHO WE GUNNA CALL
dk b/.c.3 by Ghostzapper(Awesome Again) – Touch Dial(Phone Trick)
Castle Peak Farm, Ltd. Tino Attard
ALSO POSSIBLE – HOLLINGER, CAPTAIN CANUCK, MOMENT OF MAJESTY, VICAR STREET, GHOST FLEET
D’S WANDO WORKOUT ON WEB SITE..
He needs a fast pace up front but at least D’s Wando (Wando) had a good workout the other day as he prepares for the Plate. Mind you, his 59 and change was not quite as fast as that of GHOST FLEET (57 and change!) but the colt should handle the distance of the Plate.
see videos here:
http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/News/Pages/Videos.aspx
BIOFUEL in 5 horse MOTHER GOOD FIELD
If she handles the Belmont, deep sandy surface, she will win it. That`s what READE BAKER said this morning about Biofuel, owned by Brereton Jones, who starts tomorrow in her biggest test.
Champion BIOFUEL, who has dominated Woodbine fillies in her 2 runs this season, takes on some better ones in an important Grade 1 at Belmont tomorrow but the race set-up may work against her.
It will be her first race on the dirt and it is a one-turn 1 1/16 mile event with 3 Pletcher trainees in the race. On the Beyer Figures, she is a bit light but she was super impressive to rally behind a slow pace in the La Lorgnette.
DEVIL MAY CARE is the filly to beat as she ran a 100 Beyer Figure 2 starts ago.
BIOFUEL schooled in he paddock yesterday and will do so again at the 3rd race at Belmont today.
WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY WRAPS FROM WOODBINE
Trainer PAUL NIELSEN got his first win of the Woodbine meeting when CASUAL DUDE won a turf race for $40K claimers in race 3. The Sligo Bay 4yo is owned and bred by Anne and William Scott. Steve Bahen won 2 races on the night.
Owner/trainer/breeder BEV CHUBB has a good one in the 3yo BERMUDA REEF, a son of Tejano Run-Fabiana who won his maiden in his 2nd start on Wed. night after finishing 2nd in his debut. The bay gelding ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.66.
How about WINDFIELDS FARMS colours being in the winner’s circle? That’s an oddity these days. But WINGED HERMES (Mobil) won her maiden for $12,500 in race 6 for trainer Layne Giliforte. She is a Windfields bred filly.
ON Thursday, first-time TERRY JORDAN and first time gelding made a winner out of BENESTAR in race 1. The $40,000 claiming event was the first race for the Alvin Won gelding since Janaury.
On a roll is the MIKE KEOGH barn, just in time for Artic Fern racing in the Plate next week. Keogh sent out Gus Schicedanz’s MOBIL UNIT (Mobil) to win a 1 1/16 mile allowance race for Ontario sired 3yos as the even money favourite. Jone Jones rode.
In race 3, it was the surprosing JESTER’S BID, another winner for new sire Mr. Jester, won won the maiden allowance in her first race in almost a year. She had been blasted in her debut last July but rallied wide to grab the win yesterday for G T Heat Stable and trainer Abraham Katryan.
The Pick 4 got wild in race 5 when SOLAR BLESSING, a homebred for Ted Burnett, won the $16,000 claiming race at 19 to 1 under Eurico Rosa da Silva. It was a bizarre turn-around in form as the filly was last of 5 in her latest at the same level.
She is by El Corredor.
An incredible run for owner/trainer Richard Daviis with his filly MOUNTAIN ECHO had a bittersweet ending yesterdya. Davis claimed the filly last September for $25K and she had been 1st, 2nd or 3rd in 6 of her 7 races heading into yesterday. She won for the 2nd time this year in that $20K claimer and was finally claimed, by Franz Crean. Cory Spataro has ridden the Oregon bred very well.
And congrats to G T Heat (George Tharrenos) and Katryan as well as Omar Morneo, who took their 2nd win of the day with the filly G T’S GONE DANCING whon won a 5 furlong maiden allowance in the finale. She is a Dance to Destiny homebred.
In that race, UNITED THOROUGHBRED’S, a syndicate, started it’s first horse, WHERE’SACONNECTION and the filly had speed and then finished 3rd in a good effort. The filly drifted off the rail into the stretch and caused interference to some but was allowed to keep her placing.
BAY TO BAY TO THE SHORE
Saturday’s $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies on the turf will be a highly competitive event, matching locally trained horses, shippers from New York and Maryland, and a surprise package from Canada, who arrived at Monmouth Thursday morning.
Trainer Brian Lynch has sent Robert Smithen’s Bay to Bay down from Woodbine to continue her education in the mile and a sixteenth Boiling Springs. The daughter of Sligo Bay was a graded stakes winner on the grass last year at 2 (Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine), and this year finished second in the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland and won the American 1,000 Guineas at Arlington last out, both at one mile.
“There aren’t many spots for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine,” Lynch said, “so the Boiling Springs looked like the right spot for her to take another step forward.
We’re gradually stretching her out in distance, with the ultimate goal to get her up to a mile and a quarter by the fall,” the trainer said.
In her 3-year-old debut at Keeneland in April, Bay to Bay rallied wide to finish a game second after a poor start.
“She had too much to do after a tardy break,” Lynch said, “but she finished well. At Arlington, she ran well.
“She seems to be maturing with each race,” Lynch said. “She gets a little more seasoning with each start.”
Bay to Bay drew the outside Post 10 for Saturday, which does not thrill the trainer, who will probably have some instructions for jockey Alan Garcia.
“I’m not happy with the post,” Lynch said, “but it is what it is. There looks to be enough speed in there to guarantee a genuine pace. But I want her to sit midfield. I don’t want her to be too far out of it.”
The Boiling Springs will go as the ninth race on a 12-race Saturday program.
CALEDON ENTERPRISE ONLINE..
http://www.caledonenterprise.com/sports/article/90083
Fashion sense and horse sense
LONGRUN HOSTS JULY 19 FASHION SHOW IN NOBLETON!
Fashion and thoroughbred horse racing have always gone hand in hand. The Kentucky Derby, most likely the world’s most famous horse race, always attracts celebrities dressed to the nines, England’s Epsom Derby (pronounce that “Darby”) hosts the most extravagant hats ever seen, and our own Queen’ s Plate, held at Woodbine Racetrack, has a tradition of being a terrific day of dress-up.
Horses have been interwoven with mankind’s evolution throughout the ages – we’ve used them to go to war, plow our fields, transport us, and amuse us, and the millions of tax dollars collected by the government from wagering on our thoroughbreds goes to improve our quality of life through health care and education programs.
The incredible beauty and grace of the horse has inspired uncounted pieces of art and high fashion. Many fashion houses, most notably Hermes, Versace and Ralph Lauren, have long used equine themes to adorn their wares, which often cost more than the horses they portray! Even horses themselves may display a definite sense of style….leg wraps match saddle cloths and Swarovski crystals adorn their saddles and bridles. And for those of you who believe that a part of being fashion-conscious is having a trim figure, diet guru Jenny Craig spends her booming profits breeding and buying racehorses.
So we thought it was only appropriate to thank our race horses in a fashionable way by helping them enjoy a dignified retirement once their days at the track were over. LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, a registered charity operating out of Woodbine Racetrack, does just that by fostering, rehabilitating and reschooling these incredible athletes until a loving, forever home can be found. Through the efforts of LongRun Director and resident fashionista, Deborah England, and Sabrina Olivieri of Klementine’s, the idea of a fashion show was hatched to help our four-legged friends.
England, a Nobleton resident, has long been a patron of both Klementine’s and Daniel’s of Nobleton, and both establishments are happily co-hosting an evening of fun, fashion and fundraising on Monday, July 19. Cocktails and canapés, silent and live auctions and the latest styles on display promise to make this a gala evening. Tickets are only $75 and are available at both businesses. Funds raised will go a long way to help the 40 thoroughbreds currently under LongRun’s care, eagerly awaiting that special person who will give them a loving, permanent home.
THOROUGHBRED TIMES EXCERPT:
Willmot one of nine newcomers
to Breeders’ Cup board
by Jeff Lowe
David Willmot garnered the most votes and was one of nine newcomers elected to the Breeders’ Cup board of members and trustees.
Willmot, who recently stepped down as chief executive officer of Woodbine and breeds and races as Kinghaven Farms Ltd., received 15,677 votes in the proportional share holder election of Breeders’ Cup foal and stallion nominators.
Garrett O’Rourke (Juddmonte Farms, 15,309 votes), Jerry Crawford (Donegal Racing, 14,381), Bret Jones (Airdrie Stud, 13,959), Case Clay (Three Chimneys Farm, 9,732), owner-breeder Bobby Flay (8,757), pinhooker Niall Brennan (8,253), Michael Levy (Bluewater Farm, 7,687), and Robert B. Trussell Jr. (Walmac Farm, 7,229) are the other newcomers to the board of 48 members and trustees.
