FLAIR

 

 

 QUEEN’S PLATE  – 4 DAYS!

The top Canadian-bred 3-year-olds representing owners from California, Kentucky, Alberta and Ontario  will be entered tomorrow morning for the 155th QUEEN’S PLATE, to be run Sunday as part of an 11-race card. post time on Sunday for race 1 is 12 Noon – the Plate will likely be in the 5:45 – 6 p.m. range.

FREITAG is officially out of the Plate so the 16 horse field looks set with 1 filly and 15 boys and an 8 to 5 favourite (or less) in WE MISS ARTIE.

LEXIE LOU, the filly, is getting a lot of buzz based on her sizzling Oaks win with that big Beyer Figure. AMI’S HOLIDAY will be the love for anyone who thinks he was in trouble enough to not win the Marine Stakes and ASSERTING BEAR is the choice for those who say this guy will just run all day long.

 

WALK THE RED CARPET when you arrive at Woodbine, sample some food at the Food Trucks, taste a Blue Diamond and party on! Plate day is the big event in Toronto this weekend and there are 16 horses to choose from to make your bet.

 

QUEEN’S PLATE PROBABLES  – 16 on the list

Horse     Owner       Trainer           Jockey                   last 3 Beyers (from most recent)       Comment

 

We Miss Artie – Ken and Sarah Ramsay                 Todd Pletcher Javier Castellano  82, 85, 85  Barely broke a sweat when winning Trial.

Asserting Bear – Bear Stables Ltd. Reade Baker  C. S. Kruse           82,76, 82 Marine winner was Dq’s, runner-up came back to take VicPark last weekend

Matador – John Oxley Mark Casse                         Julien Leparoux 85, 84 , 82  Lots of foundation from tons of tough spots in winter

Majestic Sunset – John Oxley        MarkCasse   Gary Boulanger             81, 69, 66   Still a maiden, blinkers on set him up for decent pace try in Trial

Ami’s Holiday – Ivan Dalos, Josie Carroll              Luis Contreras             81, 81, 78, trouble in Marine when 3rd, often lacks killer punch in route races

Tower of Texas – T Van Meter II, S Dilworth Roger Attfield  John Velazquez   75,80, 71 Wide trip in Trial, has some late power

Lexie Lou – Gary Barber Mark Casse  Patrick Husbands        92, 80. 73  Filly exploded to win the Oaks in fast time, 3 weeks back

Man o’ Bear – Bear Stables Ltd. Reade Baker           Emma-Jayne Wilson     64, 80. 68  Fifth in Trial in first 2014 run, playing catch-up

Niigon Express –Chiefswood Stable, Paul Attard Gerry Olguin    71,76,55      Second to Freitag at nine furlongs

Lions Bay – M, N V and H Earle Jamie Attard D Moran  77,75,59 maiden winner is going right direction, lacks seasoning

Coltimus Prime – Cabarnet Racing Stables Justin Nixon  Jessie Campbell   68,74,80 Won nine furlong allowance when leader tossed rider

Athenian Guard – A & L racing  M DePaulo Omar Moreno  -, 64, 70  Looked like he was going to win his return until he swerved and lost jock

One Destiny – Alec Fehr and W Penny 64,, 65, 63   Justin Stein Winner once in 3 races, trouble last time, lacks seasoning

Heart to Heart – Terry Hamilton Brian Lynch  Eurico da Silva  77, 92 (turf) , 79      Small fellow loves the grass, distance and Poly big questions

Rhythm Blues – Hillsbrook Farm  Nick Gonzalez   no rider 75, 71, 67  Improving fellow was 4th in Marine

Cap in Hand – Tucci Stables, Sid Attard  66 82, 73  Hmm, a Midnight Lite, owned by Tucci’s, claimed for Plate?

 

Final major workouts:

Ami’s Holiday (ON)     Colt     3     59.60     b     3/44
Athenian Guard (ON)     Gelding     3     1:00.80     b     12/44

Majestic Sunset (ON)     Colt     3     1:01.00     b     15/44
Matador (ON)     Colt     3     1:01.40     b     18/44
Niigon Express (ON)     Colt     3     1:01.40     b     18/44
One Destiny (ON)     Colt     3     59.00     b     1/44

Cap in Hand (ON)     Colt     3     1:13.80     h     2/4
Coltimus Prime (ON)     Colt     3     1:14.80     b     3/4
Heart to Heart (ON)     Colt     3     1:18.00     b     4/4
Lions Bay (ON)     Colt     3     1:13.40     h     1/4

Training track

Asserting Bear (ON)     Colt     3     59.40     b     1/15
Man o’ Bear (ON)     Colt     3     1:00.80     h     6/15

 

As far as workouts are concerned, the best place to glean information from works is from JIM BANNON and his JOURNAL, printed in the daily program at Woodbine and also available on-line on the woodbine website.

Bannon clocks and records and rates every workout each morning on the Polytrack and often gives this information out in the program. No other handicapper is involved in watching any workouts so this is a good source for that information. Bannon will often pick a first-time starter to win that no one else has picked because of the good workouts in the morning.

(remember, the horse had ‘a good workout’ if you saw it and rate it as such, otherwise, it had a ‘good workout time’ – there is a difference).

Check Bannon’s Journal each day for workout information and use that as you handicap our great races, including the Queen’s Plate,  at Woodbine.

 

 

THE MARINE STAKES REPLAY – what do you think?

Some believe the Marine Stakes was a deeper, stronger field that the Plate Trial. Others think that We Miss Artie could have won the Trial  by 10 lengths if asked to run? Two major prep races for the Plate that could spawn the 155th Plate winner:

 

 

 

CANADA DAY AT WOODBINE — OX-CARS

 

 

American owner JOHN OXLEY, trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands  won both stakes races at Woodbine on Canada Day including the Grade 3 Dominion Day with SKY CAPTAIN. It was that race that was the most shocking of the day (the year?) as the winner, a 4-year-old by (who else?) Sky Mesa out of Anchors Away by Smarty Jones beat 1 to 9 shot FRAC DADDY, who had easily won the Eclipse Stakes (Grade 2) on June 1.

Frac Daddy was just a little too eager in the 10 furlong Dominion Day and perhaps not as his best at the longer distance. He set the pace while being pushed along by another Mark Casse trainee, Patrioticandproud. He looked like he was going to make it home in front in early stretch but the lightly raced Sky Captain emerged at the eighth pole and ran him down.

The time of 2:03 2/5 was a 91 Beyer Figure, a career best for the winner. Sky Captain won his maiden in July 2012 at Churchill but was out of sorts in 4 races in early 2013. He missed a year before winning his 2 races at Woodbine in April and May. The colt was a $210,000 yearling purchase and he is 4 for 9 in his career with earnings of about $220,000.

Earlier, NORTHERN PASSION, a Canadian-bred filly by First Samurai, bred by Mel Lawson, won the Sweet Briar Too Stakes for Oxley et al. The winner was making her 3rd start off the long layoff and was returning to Polytrack for the first time in more than a year. She mowed down the speed to win as the favourite with n 80 Beyer Figure. She is 5 for 15 in her career with earnings of  $619,000.

Northern Passion was a $220,000 two-year-old in training purchase 3 years ago.

More Tuesday – ENOREE won the first race, a 5 furlong maiden allowance for fillies & mares. The Gus Schickedanz homebred is a grey 3yo by More than Ready out of Woodsmoke by Langfuhr and it was her first race since she was 3rd in the Deputy Jane West Stakes last fall. Mike Keogh trains and Gerry Olguin rode.

Race 2  – LADY GO GO won for the second consecutive race in this $8,000 claiming event. Hillsbrook farm bred the 4yo filly and she was claimed from HIllsbrook yesterday by Alex Patykewich. The winner is by Macho Uno and she is 2 for 13in her career. Jesse Campbell rode.

race 3- It was not a very pretty event. It had only 5 starters to begin but heavily favoured Karbu Gardens was pulled up on the first turn by Luis Contreras and vanned off. Later, Heathcote was eased up. At the finish, the 3 remaining horses were battling it out and it was REPORTING STAR winning his 2nd consecutive Woodbine race for Copper Water Thoroughbred Company (the Joe family from BC). Pat Parente trains this son of Circular Quay and Justin Stein gave him a good ride.

Race 4- The pick 4 started off with CHIEF’S EDGE winning this maiden claiming race on the grass for $50,000 – priced guys. The winner was making his 2nd start of the year for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Paul Attard (who have Niigon Express in the Queen’s Plate). Just Stein rode this 4yo by Pulpit.

Race 5- a maiden allowance was won by the lovely SINE METU, son of the underrated sire Rebellion. This lean bay guy rallied late between horses to win under Emma-Jayne Wilson for trainer Tom O’Keefe and Nadia White. The winner was an $8, 500 yearling purchase and he was 2nd time Lasix.

Race 7- a starter allowance on the grass and CHEDINGTON rallied late to win at 3 to 1 for Mike Doyle Racing. Sheena Ryan rode this Ontario bred by Langfuhr who was making her 2nd start of the year and first start on the grass since last fall.

Race 9  – Maidens on the grass and, well, who else could win this race on Canada Day but BEST COUNTRY, owned and trained by Roger Laurin. The Best of the Bests (Ire) gelding was making his 8th start and 2nd on the grass. He rallied late under Steve Bahen to win this sprint dash at a nice price of 6 to 1.

 

HASTINGS PARK packs them in for Canada Day