FIGHTERS

 

Today – PREAKNESS DAY!! Who takes the 2nd jewel of the Triple crown?  Woodbine riders having tough week..Eugene Melnyk needs help

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRING LINE -= by Terence Dulay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREAKNESS STAKES – This is where horse racing’s hopes are high

 

How desperate are we for a Triple crown winner? A horse that we can call one of the greatest of all time? Those of us who still remember Affirmed, Seattle Slew and Secretariat have been on the edge of our seats for horses like SILVER CHARM, REAL QUIET, SMARTY JONES and CALIFORNIA CHROME, just a few who came down the Belmont Stakes stretch run with a chance at such glory.

Alas, it has been a long drought for a bitterly tough sweep.

The Preakness Stakes may be the “easiest” one of the legs to win, At least that is what trainer Bob Baffert says and he should know: his 3 Derby winners all came right back 2 weeks later and won the Preakness. It seems as if his Derby winner of this year, the fabulous AMERICAN PHAROAH is going to be able to do the same today (Picks for the Preakness are in Friday’s TORONTO STAR..http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/05/14/preakness-stakes-the-star-picks.html.

Baffert says the Derby is obviously a very tough race with the large field and the 1 1/4 mile distance. If the horse gets past that event, the relatively short rest (by today’s standard) should not be a problem as the Derby winner tends to meet only a handful of rivals for the Preakness.
It is the Belmont, at 1 1/2 miles, in 3 weeks, that is the tough one.

But first things first.
The top 3 finishers from the Derby figure to dominate proceedings today but no doubt the majority of racing fans want to see AMERICAN PHAROAH do it again and go to New York with the chance of a lifetime.

The Derby win was not overly dazzling, although the Pioneer ofthe Nile colt did come from post 15, secure a stalking position and outbattle the ridiculously game FIRING LINE down the stretch.
DORTMUND weakened a bit after setting the modest pace but he still held third.

Tactics will dictate everything in this result. By 6:20, we will know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDDIE O. – WOODBINE BEGAN HIS JUMP INTO HORSE OWNERSHIP
He shares his Preakness ideas

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/05/15/eddie-olczyk-shares-his-love-for-horse-racing.html

 

 

 

 

COWBOY UP!
PATRICK HUSBANDS DISPLAYS HIS REMARKABLE HORSEMANSHIP

Patrick Husbands continues to amaze.
Many riders would probably have just tried to pull THEBARBEROFBRAZIL out of the race after a bobbling incident at the quarter-pole left Patrick Husbands without his irons.
At about 1:09 of the video below, Thebarberofbrazil, who has been close to winning his maiden many times, was in the back of the maiden allowance field but a jostling incident when THE FEATHER LANDS came out and interfered with several horses, caused a bad step and Husbands was left riding cowboy.
Incredibly, Canada’s multiple-time champion jockey simply held tight and then threw the lines at his mount and the gelding took off. Rallying wide and down the middle of the track in the stretch, Husbands rode hard, despite being upright for 2 furlongs

It has been a rough week for riders as the races are fierce and there is not a lot of room out there.
In the last race on Friday, DAVID GARCIA was on front runner Cruz West into the stretch but tiring when Bold Diamond shifted over causing Cruz West to clip heels and fall badly. The field behind Garcia scattered and the horse got up and appeared okay.

News on David Garcia came from Garcia’s agent Steve Roberts who reported that the rider was doing well and, well, these guys and gals are tough as nails.

More Woodbine Friday

race 1 – The NORM MCKNIGHT stable continues to steamroll over the competition. Here, odds-on KOSCHECK stalks and rallies to win this $8,000 claiming race in his first start since May, 2014. Skye Chernetz picked up the win on the Mr. Scotty gelding.

race 2- A cool stretch battle set-up in this maiden claiming race for $10,000 between SEXY OPERATOR, a 3-year-old son of Showing Up and ONE FOR KAP, a son of Langfuhr. The two battled most of the way before SEXY OPERATOR edged away for Natural Eight Stable and trainer Bill Tharrenos. The winner was making his 3rd start of the season and Jeff Alderson picked up his 3rd win of the season. The winner was bred by Errol Bailey.
The fourth and sixth place finishers, Ranger Bill and Honky Tonk Man were claimed by Peter Armata and Fred Bahr respectively.
And B VEXED was 137 to1 in the 8 horse field and finished 3rd, paying $29 to show!

race 3- Winston Penny’s homebred SOLAR LADY led all the way at 8 to 5 to win her debut for $16,000 and 6 furlongs. The Not Bourbon filly, a 3-year-old, is the first winner from 5 runners from her dam Native Resolve, who won almost $200,000 on the track. Solar lady was ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva for trainer Don MacRae, his first winner of the meeting from 2 starters.
Two horses to watch from this race include DESERT SUMMER  and BOUNDTOGETMYWAY.

race 4 – THEBARBEROFBRAZIL wins his maiden in his 12th attempt. Bred by Janet Motz and Kingstead Stables and a son of Giant Gizmo who has won over $70,000.

race 5 – More theatrics as ALAN GARCIA also showed great agility – he almost fell off heavily favoured SOLO PLAYER when that gelding stumbled badly at the start. He got his irons back and chasing the pacesetter BATHSHEBA STATION but he was unable to get past 4th place. Bathsheba Station held on to win over Dr Harkness in this $16,000 claiming event at 6 furlongs and the time of 1:10.23 was good for a 74 Beyer Figure, tied for the highest of the day.
The winner is an Ontario bred by Mutakkdim, bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings in Ontario and he is owned by Lisa McCallum Smith and Cindy Cox. It was the first win for trainer Greg Cox this year and the 8th career win for the gelding.
David Moran rode the winner.

Race 6 -ACADEMIC was a vet scratch at the gate a few weeks ago when she became unsettled but she led all the way in this 1 1/16 mile maiden allowance to win her season debut for Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker The winner was bred by Spring Farm and she is by Henny Hughes from Awesome Lass by Awesome Again. She cost $54,000 as an April 2yo in training.
Luis Contreras rode the bay filly in this, her 4th career race. The of 1:44.48 was a 62 Beyer Figure.

Race 7 – an allowance race for Ontario sired 3-year-olds and there is an unbeaten Ontario bred 3-year-old in town – PORTREE, a son of Niigon. Making his 2nd start 3 weeks after winning his debut, Portree, owned and bred by Chiefswood Stable, won from last place as he rallied behind a hot pace battle between Easy Indygo and Cut to the Chase. Gerry Olguin rode the gelding for trainer Stuart Simon.
The time was 1:44.31, a 63 Beyer Figure.

race 8 – The co-highest Beyer Figure of the day of 74 went to BLACK BIRD ROCK who is 2 for 2 this year at Woodbine. She rallied from 4th tow n for Gary Barber and Mark Casse and it was the 2nd win for Patrick Husbands. The winner was bred by Eugene Melnyk and she is 7 for 31 in ger career with nearly $500,000 in the earnings. The time for 7 furlongs was 1:23.35.

race 9 – Winning this race with a wide rally was STRIKE ME AGAIN, owned by Linmac Farms and trained by Dave Cotey. The Milwaukee Brew gelding was eased in his only race of 2014 and Skye Chernetz rode.

 

 

 

EUGENE MELNYK ailing, Ottawa Senators ask for liver donator possibilities

 

A friend of racing, of charities and of his large network of family and friends, EUGENE MELYNK is not well and is in need of a liver. He is at Toronto General Hospital where thousands of calls are coming in and hundreds of faxes from people who want to apply.

The form can be accessed by going to the news report below.

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/shared_content.cfm?id=2955