FORCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOWER POWER

A sluggish start from the gate was not enough to hold LONDON TOWER back from winning her 3-year-old debut for Steve Owens and family, taking the Fury Stakes at 7 furlongs. The big bay gal by Head Chopper, bred by Owens, is 3 for 4 in her career and a strong favourite for the Woodbine Oaks in June. The Fury featured a runaway front runner in Starless Night, who, at 40 to 1, was leading late with Galina Point, owned by Gary barber, in hot pursuit.
London tower, ridden for the first time by Alan Garcia had broke quite slowly but she rallied hard to win by 1/2 a length in 1:22.43, an 80 Beyer. Starless Night was second over Galina Point.
The fillies Shez a Masterpiece, Brooklyn’sway and green Doctor all disappointed with off-the-board finishes.

 

TOP BEYER FIGURES OF THE WEEK

TAHNEE – 84
STEEL DUST DANCER  – 84
BET ON JACK – 81
LONDON TOWER – 80
R U WATCHINGBUD 79

 

SUNDAY

Race 1 – Wild finish to this 5 furlong dash as speedy SPLENDID GLORY, at 4 to 5 was pipped right on the wire by an inch by RINCE TAPEIGH, a Two Step Salsa filly making her 2015 debut for Dura Racing and Mike Doyle. David Moran rode the winner who took this $25,00 claing race for her 2nd win in 6 races.

race 2- The big Beyer Figure of the day, 84, was earned by a game STEEL DUST DANCER, owned by the Grasshopper syndicate and trained this year by Sam Dipasquale. The winner was making his 2015 debut and he won 4 of 8 races last year. This starter allowance was won with shrewd tactics by Jesse Campbell who slowed down the pace.

race 3- big betting support came in for ROUGE ET BLANC – she was even-money, but she went up to 9-2 and won anyway for trainer Arthur Silvera and Rowbothan and partners. The $16,000 claiming race was the filly’s 2nd start of the year. Emma-Jayne Wilson rode the daughter of Brother Derek.

Race 4 – BIRDIE NUM NUMS flew out of the gate and lasted for her maiden win for $10,000 at 5 furlongs. Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and Pat Parente celebrated their 2nd win of the weekend as did Sheena Ryan. The winner is an Oontario bred by Discreetly Mine bred by Bay Ridge Orchards.

race 5- The remarkable 9-year-old CHILKOOT PASS was up to win this $62,50 claiming race in his 2nd start of of the season. It was his 10th career win in his 53rd race. David Garcia rode for trainer Richard Morden.

Race 6- LIBERTY RIDE was the logical winner of this maiden allowance as he led all the way under Gary Boulanger. Mark Casse trains the Calumet Farm colt by Candy Ride.
race 7 – VOCAL VICAR rallied late under Omar Moreno and won this maiden race for $32,000 for Laurie Silvera. The Singing saint 3-year-old gelding, bred by Richard Moylan in Ontario, was making his first start of this year off fast workouts. He was a hefty 11 to 1.

race 9 0 BET ON JACK, owned by Joshua Attard and trained by Kevin Attard, for up to win this $25,000 claiming race at 5 furlongs with Alan Garcia riding, The gelding was a winner at Penn National in the winter and he was dropping out of a tough starter allowance at Woodbine on opening day.

race 10 – Speedy ANOTHER STORY was blasted after a bad start in his 2015 and career debut at Aqueduct in Feb. but breezed to the win here for Abraham Katryan. The 4yo is a Florida bred by Sardegna.

Wagering was just over $3 million for the day.
SATURDAY

NICK DETORO won his first race of the season when RADIANT MISS took the first event, a 6 1/2 furlong claiming race for $8,000, from 4 lengths off the pace. Bet down in the entry with Flight Path to 2-1 the Horse Greeley mare was winning in her 2nd start of the season. She won her maiden in her finale in August at Fort Erie for $4,750 claiming. Sheena Ryan picked up her first winner of the meeting.

race 2- The newcomer COMTESSE (GB) immediately took to the Polytrack in this first strat in North America and first run since October. Purchased by Greenwood Lodge farm last oct. for 29,000 pounds at auction, the Champs Elysees 4-year-old filly won this maiden allowance for older runners from just off the pace under Luis Contreras. Josie carrol trains.

race 3- Big speed battle in this 5 furlong dash for $20,000 claiming and it was one of the battlers, WHERE’S THE WIDGET who showed true grit to win by 3 lengths for Mary and Ralph Biamonte. The gelding is a 3-year-old by Giant Gizmo out of Lori’s Expectation by Valid Expectations and he was making his season debut. Pam Edel was the breeder. Omar Moreno rode.
The time of 57.62 was good for a 76 Beyer Figure.

race 4- As Kentucky Derby day was heating up, Woodbine followers kicked off a Pick 4 with a favourite winning, second choice MAYS TREAURETROVE chased and then powered away to win in her 2nd race of the season in this $6,000 claiming event. The Adena Springs bred by Foresrty was raced by Ben Hutzel and trained by Mike DePaulo but was claimed from this race by Parkway Racing and trainer Bill Tharrenos. Tharrenos also claimed 9th place finisher Solina Bambolina for Six Brothers Stable. Luis Contreras continued his hot hand with this fine ride.

race 5- From far back, ALPHABETICAL ORDER benefited from a great ride by Gary Boulanger to get up and win his maiden for Mike Wright in the 17th career start and first of the 2015 season. The gelding was winning for $9,500 claiming and he was bred by Wright. He had trained in Florida during the winter.

race 6- Stakes winner JADE DRAGON was just back from being bared from racing for 14 days after he bled in his April 11 opener in a starter allowance. The son of Trajectory was making his first start since June but was ultimately vanned off that day.
This day was an entirely different story as he sat a beautiful trip just off the pace duel under Tyler Pizarro and then just edged past Solo Player (already a 2-time winner in 2015) for the 7-1 win. Pat Parente and Joey Gee Thoroughbreds trainer and own Jade Dragon these days and he did have a fast workout time since his return off the vet’s list.
In this race, Bathsheba Station had an unfair start but sire ran well to  be 5th before he was declared a non-starter.

The time of 1:16.74 was good for a 76 Beyer Figure.

Nine-year-old LORD OF GREATNESS, a stallion, was claimed away from Entourage Stable which has raced the horse since 2010. The old-time was making his season debut and the earner of $549,000 was taken for $20,000 by Peter Armata.
Beaten favourite Colleen’s Sailor was also claimed; Trinity Racing took this one.

Race 7 – TAHNEE, making her first start since July of 2013 – a layoff of almost 2 years, burst out of the gate in this 5 furlong allowance and was long gone, cruising on the pace and running 5 furlongs in 56.53, just a few 100th’s of a sceond from the track record. The winner was prepared by Mark Fournier and C S Downs Farm and she is by Where’s the Ring out of Paopoose by Apalachee. Brian Cullen bred the 5-year-old mare who was ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva.
She earned an 84 Beyer Figure.

Race 9 MARTEN LAKE parlayed his 2nd place finisher in his opener at 5 furlongs to a win in this allowance/optional claiming event at 6 1/2 furlongs. owners and trainer by David Bell, the Trajectory gelding is 3 for 8 in his career and he was bred by Alexis and Katie Ward.
Gerry Olguin rode the winner.

Race 10 – CITY WELLS won this maiden allowance in his 2nd career race. Alan Garcia rode the Robert Evans-bred by City Zip and she ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.82.

Betting on Saturday was over $4.3 million.

FRIDAY

Race 1- It may have been a 5 horse field of maiden allowance 4-year-olds but the longshot shot in the race won: 29 -1 CONSPIRE. Rallying from off the pace under Erika Smilovsky, Conspire, making his 2015 debut, was up to beat heavily favoured Fordes Gap, a beginner, by a neck. Conspire, by Tale of the Cat, was a $110,000 purchase at the 2013 March juvenile sale by Colebrook Farms. It was the first win of the season for Colebrook and trainer Ashlee Brnjas as well as Smilovsky.
The 71 Beyer Figure the gelding earned (6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.98) was the 2nd biggest of the day.

race 2 – Claiming $12,500 and ROYAL GREATNESS, who did not win at all last year in 10 races, started this season off with a rallying win under Luis Contreras. The Jennifer Armata-Barrett owned gelding has been a good little earner for various barns in his years at Woodbine. The 6-year-old is trained by Ross Armata.

race 3- PENNY STAMP flopped at 4-5 first time out this year off the long layoff but won this $9,500 claiming race to win her maiden. Laurie Silvera owns and trains this Ontario bred by Saffir. Omar Moreno got his 3rd win of the season.

race 4- ARTHUR’S PASS, an Ontario bred by Alphabet Soup out of Fleet Kris by Northern Afleet, won his maiden off a September – May layoff in 1:17.09. The grey gelding, a 4-year-old, was well prepared by trainer Julia Carey for Doscovery Racing and breeder Frank Mermenstein. The gelding had raced 4 times in 2014 with a few minor shares. In this race he stalked inside as first-time starter Mechanical flew on the pace and then faded to fourth. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode the winner in this maiden allowance.

Race 5- The stewards were busy after this $7,500 claiming race for non-winners of 2 as DANCINWITHDUNKIRK barged up the rail in deep stretch, was put in tight by leader and heavy favourite EZZTHETIC but he pushed that one out of the way and won for Nick DeToro. However, after an inquiry, the grey was disqualified for the late infraction and Ezzthetic became the 7th winner for trainer Norm McKnight on the year.
The winner is a Mizzen Mast gelding who was ridden by Alan Garcia for Trinity Racing.

Race 6- Lethbridge, Alberta owner and trainer Jack Bolin and Robert Smith brought FIFTYSHADESLIGHTER into this $40,000 claiming race off a lot of good workout times, added blinkers to her and watch her won off the long layoff at 10-1. Bred by Sue Foreman, the Skip Away filly rallied wide under Justin Stein and then held off a flying District Attorney for Troy Wismer.

race 7 an allowance/optional claiming or non-winners of 3 or Ontario-sired non-winners of 3 for fillies and mares featured a wild finish. GENEROUS CONSORT wove her way through horses to win her season debut for Rainbow End racing, Soli Mehta and Ron House and trainer Darren Glennon. Contreras picked up another win with this super ride on Dr. House’s homebred by Philanthropist. The chestmut mare is 5-years-old and she won 2 of 6 races in 203 but was blanked in 8 tries last year. In her career the mare has now won 3 of 15 races and over $130,000.

race 8 – Shewrd ride by Da Silva as he placed HIDDEN TURN on the lead in this allowance race (non-winners of 1 other than), went 25.09 and 50.09 and she had enough to hold off favoured Charming Delilah. The winner was in Florida with Tino Attard and she raced 5 times and was in the purse picture each time. She loved her return to Woodbine and trainer Kevin Attard to take her 5th win in 25 races. She was bred by Mike Walsh in Ontario and is by Slip Bay (Ire_ – Turn to Me by Cozzene and she is owned by Hidden Springs Inc. The time of 1:44.81 resulted in the day’s best 78 Beyer Speed Figure.

race 9 – Arthus Amos’ homebred NORTHERN BRUCE won his season opener here, 1 1/16 miles for $8,00 claiming. The son of Silent Name (Jpn) is out of Involve by Include and he was blanked last year in 9 races (sound familiar? third horse to win on this card with no wins last year). In this race he stalked 4 lengths off the pace and then battled the filly Rebellious Love to the wire to win for Emile Ramsammy, his 2nd win of the meeting. Debra Rombis took over the training of the gelding this year and it was her 2nd win of the Woodbine meeting.

 

AT THE RITZ, putting on a show at Hastings Park – PHOTO BY LISA THOMPSON

 

 

THOROUGHBLOG DERBY CONTEST WINNER

Congrats to Gabriele Di Paolo whose picks in the Derby were:

12:39 am on May 2, 2015

8 Dortmund
10 Firing Line
18 American Pharoah

– or a contest-winning 6 points!

 

 

AJAX DOWNS BEGINS SUNDAY

Ontario horse racing – “three breeds, one vision”  – that is the motto on www.ontariohorseracing.ca, a new site dedicated to introducing our great sports to the public as well as putting the stars in the news.

QUARTER HORSE RACING at Ajax Downs begins May 10, this Sunday, with many improvement and upgrades. The trackside patio is larger with more seating, the sports and wagering room is refurbished and there are plenty of events set to occur during the season.

The race-day horses will also have vet checks on the morning of the races and horses must be on the grounds by 11 a.m.

There are hundreds of dedicated and passionate horsepeople who are breeding and racing horses in this business and it is a fast and exciting sport.

 

FORT ERIE GEARING UP
from Fort Erie media

Veteran jockey Eldridge Lindsay sat on top of his first horse before dawn eager with anticipation to set foot onto the freshly manicured racecourse. A professional jockey since 1989, Lindsay has seen his fair share of ups and downs. Last season he started off very strong, winning a number of races in the opening weeks of the meet but lightning struck mid-summer when he broke his wrist in the starting gate prior to a race. The winner of well over 400 career races, Lindsay was in high demand all morning with a number of horses to gallop and even some to breeze. “The track is in excellent shape, it’s just beautiful,” he said after his first several laps around the oval. Lindsay worked two different fillies for two different outfits a short distance of 3 furlongs, the faster of the two was Early Battle for trainer Dan Wills who covered the distance in a quick 36.3. “After the horrible winter we had, the track crew did a great job getting the surface ready. It just can’t get any better.”

With the future of horseracing at Fort Erie secure horsepeople were busy over the winter months preparing their animals, buying new stock and reinvesting in the industry. The stability has even brought some new faces to the backstretch including trainer Kerri Chalmers who made the move from Toronto with her 6 horses in tow. “I just love it here,” said the young trainer as she was busy tacking up one of her horses. Chalmers has been a professional trainer for two years but has been actively involved in racing for 10 years. “Once I knew there was a contract in place for a long term deal I decided to make the move.”

Live racing will get underway on Tuesday, June 2nd with the return of the popular twilight 4:15 post time. Opening day will include a free “Alive and Kicking” sunglass giveaway with the purchase of a Fort Erie program and will also feature the return of the entertaining Tiki Bar Summer Concert Series. Vinyl Flux, a band known around the Niagara Region for playing music that people know and love will get the party started with a free concert after the races.

Fort Erie will host 40 race dates from June 2nd until October 20th with racing taking place on Sundays at 1:50pm and Twilight Tuesdays running through to September 1st then switching to a 1:50pm post for the remainder of the meet.
“We are pleased to welcome back our horsepeople and our racing fans,” said Fort Erie’s CEO, Jimmy Thibert. “It’s great to see familiar faces and welcome new people to our facility. We are looking forward to a productive and prosperous season for everyone.”
The track’s events schedule features the return of popular promotions such as the Farmer’s Market, Breakfast Club, Circle the Course, and the 80th running of the Prince of Wales which will be held on Tuesday, July 28th with a special post time of 4:00pm.

For more information on live racing dates, events, and dining reservations go to www.forterieracing.com.

http://www.forterieracing.com/events-and-promotions/

 

THROUGH 9 RACE CARDS – GABRIELE DI PAOLO STATS ON WOODBINE HANDICAPPERS