TODAY’S NEWS – WOODBINE MILE POSTS, TURF IS FIRM!, 2YO’S TOMORROW, LONGRUN GALA and 2 handicapping seminars this weekend!!
WOODBINE MILE POST POSITION DRAW
The trophies for the Northern Dancer (left) and Woodbine Mile – photo by Terence Dulay.
Purse $1,000,000. 1 Mile. Stakes. FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD.
1 Sand Cove Dos Ramos, R Attfield, R L 117
2 Sterwins Husbands, P Pierce, M L 119
3 Ferneley (IRE) Bejarano, R Cecil, B L 121
4 Field Commission Leparoux, J Vella, D L 119
5 Bribon (FR) Garcia, A Ribaudo, R L 124
6 Daylight Express Ward, A Peirce, R L1 117
7 Grand Adventure Da Silva, E Frostad, M L 112
8 Rahy’s Attorney Callaghan, S Black, I L 121
9 Ventura Gomez, G Frankel, R L 121
10 Jungle Wave Kabel, T Attard, S. C. L 121
TURF SHOULD BE “PERFECT” FOR BIG RACE
Woodbine trackman IRWIN DRIEDGER says Woodbine’s famous E.P. TAYLOR TURF COURSE is in very good shape for the 5 graded stakes races on grass this weekend and says the railings may come down tomorrow night so that all 3 stakes onSunday will race on the entire course from lane 1.
“Depending on the weather, if it’s good and it looks like it will be, the railings will come down tomorrow night,” said Driedger, a former jockey who was previously the manager of the Jockeys Benefit Associationof Canada.,
“We had been in lane 5 until last weekend and we are in Lane 3 this week, and for the 2yo stakes races tomorrow.”
Driedger admitted that with a lot of use of the outside part of the course during the last couple of weeks, it got “pretty chewed up.”
When Mile hopeful DAYLIGHT EXPRESS worked on the course on Sunday morning, the kick back of turf clods was substantial.
Last Saturday, stakes winner LADY ATTACK broke down fatally on the course during a race.
What is interesting is that the grass course is watered frequently and it has to be these days – there has not been rain for 19 days now (a record for Toronto) and there is no rain forecasted for the weekend.
“It’s going to be firm,” said Driedger. “And I expect it to be the same from the inside out.”
Yesterday, CAPTAIN MARK, a $40,000 claiming horse, scorched one mile on turf in 1:33.71.
SO WHO IS THE SPEED?
A firm course does not necessarily mean that speed will carry but last year, RAHY’S ATTORNEY stole the race as he stayed close toa soft pace.
This year, perhaps sprinting stretch-out JUNGLE WAVE could be on the pace (he was a bit too rank last timein the Play the King and they might try to wrangle him back, however). Or the Barabdos guy DAYLIGHT EXPRESS? And surely SAND COVE might take control early as a longshot in the field.
The others are all stretch runners and it will be the rattling turf course lovers that will be flying home in the late stages.
The course record of 1:31.84 set 5 years ago could be in danger!
BRIBON, top dirt miler, likes grass too.
Vanessa Ng photo
WOODBINE MILE SEMINARS TOMORROW AND SATURDAY!!
Join DAILY RACING FORM EDITOR BILL TALLON and yours truly at GREENWOOD TELETHEATRE TOMORROW for a handicapping seminar for the weekend races.
On Sunday, listen to more news and views for the Mile at Woodbine at 11 a.m. with special guests from the race expected to attend.
WOODBINE MILE IN THE NEWS
TORONTO STAR
Former claimer now a formidable contender for $1 million turf dash at Woodbine on Sunday
Chris Young
Sports columnist
No one should be surprised if Jungle Wave ends up winning Sunday’s $1 million Woodbine Mile. This is a race that looks wide open, with excellent opportunities for the canny horseplayer.
That brings us to Carlo and Lou Tucci, the rather sharp brains behind Jungle Wave, which drew the outermost No. 10 stall and a tantalizing 6-1 morning-line quote for the Grade I Mile over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor grass course. That’s fourth choice in the early reckoning, New York invader Bribon (5-2), last year’s runner-up Ventura (7-2) and defending champion Rahy’s Attorney (9-2) ahead on the board.
The Tuccis and trainer Sid Attard claimed Jungle Wave in May for $62,500 from top trainer Terry Jordan, whose horses don’t make a habit of moving up. Since then, the 4-year-old gelding has won all three grass races he’s contested, including the seven-furlong Play the King Stakes, final prep for the Mile.
“Lou called me the day before about this horse, he said he liked one for tomorrow – and I looked him up I said, `Lou, this guy scares me,'” Attard recalled of the run-up to the claim for Jungle Wave. “I had my son (and assistant trainer) Jamie call me from the tunnel when they brought him over that day. He said I should put the slip in, he was a really good-looking horse.”
http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/697503
NORTHERN DANCER STAKES POSTS
The Northern Dancer Turf (G1) $750,000
Post Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1 Marlang Debbie England Richard Dos Ramos
2 Musketier Rogrt Attfield Rafael Bejarano
3 Quijano Peter Schiergen Andrasch Starke
4 Medjool Mark Casse Corey Fraser
5 Marsh Side Neil Drysdale Javier Castellano
6 Champs Elysees Bobby Frankel Garrett Gomez
7 Cobotown Ron Analisa Delmas Tyler Pizarro
8 Just as Well Jonathan Sheppard Julien Leparoux
9 Marchfield Mark Casse Patrick Husbands
10 Solitaire H. James Bond Chantal Sutherland
SATURDAY
BRISNET.COM reviews the 2yo stakes tomorrow on the grass
Summer, Natalma spotlight juveniles turfers
A whole weekend of high-class turf action at Woodbine kicks off Saturday with a pair of juvenile stakes that might produce contenders for their corresponding Breeders’ Cup events at Santa Anita in November. The C$300,000 Summer S. (Can-G3) and C$150,000 Natalma S. (Can-G3), both at one mile, are meant to be preps for the Juvenile Turf (G2) and Juvenile Fillies Turf, but it is plausible that either one could potentially throw up a contender for their Grade 1 counterparts on the main track given the synthetic composition of Santa Anita’s main oval.
The 10-horse Summer, won by juvenile filly champion Dreaming of Anna in 2006, is comprised mostly of local talent. It has also attracted several U.S. invaders, including Saratoga maiden winners BECKY’S KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy), who graduated at 1 1 1/6 miles for trainer Wesley Ward, and BRIDGETOWN (Speightstown), who prevailed for Ken McPeek by 5 1/4 lengths around one turn. Team Valor and Todd Pletcher will be represented by FANTASTICO ROBERTO (Ire) (Refuse to Bend [Ire]), who won his first two starts on turf in Italy prior to his importation. Fourth in the Spectacular Bid S. on the Arlington Park Polytrack, he was withdrawn from the Cradle S. on Labor Day when that feature was moved from turf to the main track.
STORMY LORD (Stormy Atlantic), undefeated in two starts over the local lawn, captured the seven-furlong Summer allowance prep on August 28 by 2 1/2 lengths over RUHTRO (Werblin). Both of Stormy Lord’s victories were upsets — he was 11-1 and 10-1, respectively — but he figures to be a far shorter price, if not the favorite, on Saturday.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=16244
2009 LONGRUN GALA
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS!
Next Friday’s LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT GALA, the first iun 2 years, is to celebrate the horse, the Queen’s Plate’s 150 years and everyone who loves their horses. In addition to a fun night of dinner, music and dancing set in exquisite motif, the Gala features a silent auction and a live auction.
Here are the auction items:
1. VISIT BARBADOS – AN ISLAND PARADISE!
Trip for two, airfare and hotel included, to beautiful Barbados, our favourite island destination. Kindly donated by Barbados Tourism Authority and The Savannah Hotel.
2. FORMULA ONE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
A half day for two at Promosport Canada, behind the wheel of an open wheel Formula car. Kindly donated by a friend of LongRun.
3. AIR CANADA BOX FOR TORONTO RAPTORS GAME.
Terrific package for basketball fans who want to experience a game from a private box. Kindly donated by Bill Graham/Graham Bros.
4. ORIGINAL PASTEL RACING SCENE
A vivid piece of art depicting Manilla by renowned equine artist Kim McElroy. Kindly donated by Kim McElroy/Spirit of Horse Art.
5. EARTH RANGERS ANIMAL TRAINER EXPERIENCE.
Spend a unique day with the Earth Rangers and a variety of exotic wildlife. Kindly donated by Earth Rangers.
Also, LONGRUN will have an auction item to benefit injured jockey CHAD BECKON. Beckon, who apparently is an avid caricature artist, will do your image for you if you are the winning bidder.
NOT MANY TICKETS LEFT TO THE GALA, come and celebrate our athletes.
JUDITH’S WILD RUSH HEADED TO STUD
Norm Files photo.
Three-time champion JUDITH’S WILD RUSH will enter stud in 2010 at Stonebriar Stables in Fenwick, Ontario.
The big grey, wo has been racing this season mostly at Fort Erie, is owned by Harvey Tenenbaum.
More news to come as details are finalized.
HOT 2YO HEADED TO WOODBINE?
Huitzilopochtli secures division title
By Randy Goulding
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Huitzilopochtli wrapped up the local 2-year-old championship with another easy win in the $66,441 CTHS Sales Stakes at Hastings on Sunday.
With leading rider Fernando Perez in the irons, Huitzilopochtli was up close to an honest pace before taking control of the race at the quarter pole. After opening up a two-length lead at the top of the stretch, he drew off to win by a widening 4 1/2 lengths. Huitzilopochtli is undefeated in five starts and has won the last three stakes races for 2-year-olds at Hastings by a combined total of 20 1/2 lengths.
According to his trainer and owner, Juan Olmos, Huitzilopochtli came out of the race in excellent shape and will be pointed to the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Ascot Graduation on Oct. 25, where he will be stretching out to a middle distance for the first time.
“I am very happy with him,” Olmos said. “I will start giving him longer gallops to get him ready to go long. He’s kicking the barn down, so I can’t give him any time off.”
Olmos also trains El Sinaloense, who was the local 2-year-old champ last year. El Sinaloense is pure speed and is strictly a sprinter. Although there are some similarities between the two, Olmos thinks Huitzilopochtli won’t have any trouble stretching out.
read more at:
http://www.drf.com/news/article/107313.html
LEGAL JOUSTING HAS FIRST WINNER!
and gets a nice write up from BLOOD-HORSE
Byerly, Back in Business
By Scot T. Gillies
The first race on a Sunday card at Ontario’s Fort Erie Race Track is an unlikely source of inspiration for a pedigree review, especially when that event is a maiden claiming contest for 3-year-olds and up. But the two horse, best by a length in that race September 13, was a local gelding making a small mark in history.
Jousting Prince is an unassuming chestnut gelding from a modest family that boasts only a smattering of black type in recent generations. In fact, one has to delve back 11 generations to find greatness in the direct female line, here in the shape of the classic English racemare Sceptre. Jousting Prince’s own dam, Suzy Queen, was an unraced daughter of Rhythm, a Mr. Prospector stallion better known as a champion racehorse (with wins in the grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Travers Stakes) than as a sire, although he did produce several group I winners in New Zealand during his shuttle career. The gelding’s second dam is one of just 27 foals by the unknown Damascus son Jet to Damascus, and his third dam is by the similarly-obscure Dark Star stallion My Dad George.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/52582/byerly-back-in-business
JOCKEY CLUB RELEASES BREEDING STATS
The Jockey Club today reported that 3,439 stallions covered 56,901 mares in North America during 2008, according to statistics compiled through Sept. 9, 2009. These matings have resulted in 31,727 live foals of 2009 being reported to The Jockey Club on Live Foal Reports received as of Sept. 9, 2009.
As in past years, The Jockey Club estimates that the reporting of live foals, at this point in time, is approximately 90 percent complete. The reporting of live foals of 2009 is down 8.2% from last year at this time when The Jockey Club had received reports for 34,561 live foals of 2008.
Among the 11 states and provinces in which stallions covered at least 1,000 mares in 2008, only Pennsylvania produced more state/province-sired live foals in 2009 than in 2008 as reported at this time last year. The 11 states and provinces, ranked by number of state/province-sired live foals of 2009 reported through Sept. 9, are:
Stallion Location 2008 Mares Bred 2008 Live Foals 2009 Live Foals Pct. Change
Kentucky 21,620 15,040 14,257 -5.2
Florida 5,478 3,593 2,892 -19.5
California 4,081 3,004 2,528 -15.8
Louisiana 4,011 2,009 1,896 -5.6
New York 1,908 1,098 1,080 -1.6
Texas 2,074 1,055 1,000 -5.2
New Mexico 1,666 911 783 -14.1
Ontario 1,395 768 746 -2.9
Oklahoma 1,670 704 697 -1.0
Pennsylvan 1,405 533 692 +29.8
Maryland 1,214 811 664 -18.1
BRITISH COLUMBIA NEWS
SWIFT THOROUGHBREDS ACTIVE AT 2009 CTHS YEARLING & MIXED SALE
10 YEARLINGS ADDED AT A COST OF $216,500
Vancouver, B.C. (Sept. 16/09) – A tremendous amount of attention in the thoroughbred racing industry is always focused on the leading trainers and top riders. But at Hastings Racecourse this year another category that has taken on a rivalry of its own seems to heat up on a weekly basis. With 18 race dates left on the calendar, Swift Thoroughbreds Inc. is threatening to replace the team of Glen Todd & Patrick Kinsella as leading owners the past two seasons. Todd/Kinsella head into the weekend with 17 wins and purses of $322,325 while Swift Thoroughbreds has 15 winners and $325,548 in purse winnings.
The Swift group consists of Horatio & Jackie Kemeny and Mark & Naudia Mache … friends since childhood and regular visitors to Hastings during their high school days. There was considerable enthusiasm expressed among that foursome Tuesday with the Swift purchase of 10 yearlings at a cost of $216,500 at the 2009 CTHS (B.C.) Sale at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley. A yearling by Margie’s Wildcat (Storm Cat) out of Amy ‘n Jill brought $42,000. The gelding was sold by Black Canyon Thoroughbreds Ltd., with Nina Ferguson acting as their agent.
Bob Cheema lit up the sales board with a $70,000 bid for a yearling filly by the deceased stallion Regal Intention (Vice Regent) out of High On Believen (Honor Grades). Cheema purchased the filly’s half-sister, Canadian champion and BC Horse of the Year Dancing Allstar in the 2006 sale.
The team of Todd & Kinsella caused another ripple throughout the crowd with an offer of $43,000 for a Mazel Trick (Phone Trick) filly out of Ayne Z (Crusader Sword), a half-sister to 2008 champion juvenile El Sinaloense (Mud Route) and recent 2009 CTHS Sales Stakes runner-up Clear to Canada (Storm Victory).
Yearling sales across North America have been showing sharp declines this year but preliminary results released by the CTHS were positive because the average price for a yearling was up marginally. “The gross was down due to less horses being offered,” said Leif Nordhal, president of the B.C. Division of CTHS. “But overall, we were pleased with the way things went and so were the consigners. Quite a few said they will be breeding more horses next year.”
Nordhal singled out vice-president and Sales Chair Ralph Jesiak for the hard work he put into this year’s sale.
stats (COURTESY DAILY RACING FORM)
From 156 yearlings cataloged 87 were sold for a total of $968,700. Last year 188 were catalogued with 103 selling for a gross of $1,148,200. The average price for a yearling was roughly the same, $11,134 compared to $11,148 in 2008. The gross proceeds from all horses including broodmares, horses of racing age and weanlings, was also down, $1,004,100, compared to $1,158,400 last year. The average, however, was up marginally from $10,726 to $10,797.
