**hey, don’t miss TALKIN HORSES on CTVtwo at 11:30 this morning, or on CTV at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon for one of the best shows of the year..www.talkinhorses.com is where you can go for past episodes..
Good luck to ACADEMIC, the Woodbine Oaks winner, who will challenge boys in the 1 3/8 mil Canadian Derby today at Northlands Park..
ARE YOU KIDDING ME (Black blinkers) renews his rivaley with Golden Sabre (3) in the Sky Classic Stakes on Sunday, part of the Breeders’ Stakes card. It’s the turf baby! TERENCE DULAY/HORSE-RACES.NET
TURF 101
The fall season for Woodbine racing means essentially one thing – grass and more grass.
Almost half of the stakes races to still be run at Woodbine will be on the turf and thus it takes some careful examination and care and some help from Mother Nature to get the EP Taylor turf course in prime condition.
Betting the races on turf takes a little more thought and creativity since the Taylor turf is outside of the main track and this is unique to North America. The long, sweeping turns and endless stretch run means you need a horse to rate and power on in the stretch. Class means a lot, pedigree means some and the firm or soft nature of the course must be taken into account.
Thoroughblog talked to Woodbine’s trackman Irwin Driedger, a champion jockey, about the turf.
Tblog – How often is the Woodbine turf cut?
ID – We cut it once a week, usually on a Tuesday, to about 5, 5 1/2 inches. By the weekend it can be almost 8 inches. The shorter the grass does not mean anything to the speed of the course, it has everything to do with the moisture in it.
The course did have a recent spell where it was very fast and firm, it must have been quite dry?
There was a week when it was really firm, we could not water it as we wanted to. We can have sprinkler malfunctions, the pumps won’t function and that affects us being able to water the course,
It takes a lot of time to water the whole turf course, there are 160 sprinklers to get all the way around. You have to make sure they turn on and shut off at the same time. Also, if it is windy, that affects where the water goes from the sprinkler when it goes up in the air.
We usually water on Sunday night or Monday morning. But if we are playing catch up with the watering, we have to be careful as the horses do cut up the course even when they are running fast over a firm turf.
There are some big turf races coming up, Wise Dan could be in town next month, how do you think the turf is now?
It’s been very good this year We have had downpours on Mondays or Tuesdays, other than the one week., and that has helped it.
We are hoping to get the “going stick” back from being repaired. It is a good tool for us to use – it’s actually mandatory in England to have it – as we can gauge how firm or deep the grass is.
Changing gears, the giant pile of Tapeta is at rest just outside the west entrance at Woodbine – when it is going to be put in?
The Polytrack has been pretty good this summer, it is draining well and performing like it should. The difficulty will come when we get into the minus-degrees. We have a plan for when that happens, we’ll add some oil.
Hopefully the day after we finish racing, we will get the Polytrack off and put on the Tapeta. You can see the water go right through it as it sits there. It is different than the Polytrack, it does not have rubber bits, the wax is different.
Thank you to Irwin Driedger for his information on the Woodbine turf and Polytrack!
Stacked Deck won the Play the King prep on the grass leading all the way – speed runners do well when the rails (dogs) are out in the 4 oR 5 lane) MR.WILL WONG photo
Toronto Star feature – Jim Bannon talks turf, Breeders’ Stakes preview..
FRIDAY WRAP
The hot and steamy weather is back for the next few days and with it comes voltaile weather with surprise storms and dark clouds.
Friday at Woodbine started off with some hot stuff and a very fast Polytrack:
LILLZ PEARL, the steel grey son of Bold Executive ran a sizzling race on the lead with several others and then pulled away for his maiden win in 1:09.49 under Jim McAleney. The Beyer was 76.
This 4-year-old out of Perfect Pearl by Holy Bull is the first winner this year for Ricky Singh, who also owns. Lillz Pearl did nothing in his first 3 career starts but with blinkers on, was 2nd at 79 – 1 and then 3rd and 2nd. He won the better share of $55,000 for this win.
He was bred by Paradox Farm, Sherry McLean and Hugh Sutherland and he was about an $8,000 yearling purchase.
Jockey Jesse Campbell fell off Trini Lime at the start when that horse stumbled and he booked off for the rest of the card.
race 2- on firm turf, DANCING ASHLEY picked up her first win of the season in her 5th outing, winnning this $50,000 claiming race for C E C Farm and trainer Ralph Biamonte. The Ontario bred by Olmodavor – Dancingonthewater by Dance Brightly was bred by Racehoss Inc and Patrick Husbands rode. This filly was a CTHS yearling purchase in 2012 for $4,000 and she has won over $285,000.
Race 3- Beginners from the rail often get a tough trip – it’s a fact. They may break a bit slowly, get intimdated, get squeezed back. GAMBLE’S GIRL, a first time starter from the Ivan Dalos – Josie Carroll fold, made her debut in a 7 furlong 2yo filly race and was sluggish out of the gate. She trailed the field by some 8 lengths early.
And then Luis Contreras gave her the cue. Like a rocket, this homebred by Ghostzapper rallied inside around the turn, had to be steered to the rail late on the turn and she roared past even-money faovourite Conquest Soprano like she was grazing.
“Oh this has been an enormous run..allowed to find feet and this has been an impressive debut winner,” said announcer Robert Geller.
The time was 1:22.60 for the 7 furlongs, a 74 Beyer. The filly is out of one of Dalos’s first good horses, Gambling Girl, a daughter of the modest sire Secret Claim.
Race 4- Bombs away to start the Pick 4 as MIGHTY SAMSON did the bounce-back thing and won for Tricia Greer and trainer Preston Ferris. This Strut the Stage 4yo gelding, bred by the late Mervyn Kirby as well as Greer, had won his maiden with a 58 Beyer Figure 2 strats ago for $19,000 claiming, was slow in his next race with a 35 and then rallied to win this 5 furlong dash at 27 – 1. Juan Crawford rode, replacing Sheena Ryan who was named but is injured.
Crawford rode the gelding last time out.
race 5- EZZTHETIC has hadsome frustrating times in his 4 races this season. He put it all together in this $9,500 claiming event at 6 1/2 furlongs, taking off out of the gate and crushing the field in 1:15.94. Norm McKnight trains for Trinity Racing and Luis Contreras rode.
race 6 – well hey, GARAFRAXA didn’t win the 6th race, a maidem allowance at 1 1/16 miles for ONtario sired fillies and mares but she sure worked hard to just miss. And then when narrow winner PHIL’S GORY came in through the stretch and took away the path of Rebel with a Chance, Garafraxa was promoted to the win spot.
This gal led almost all the way in her first 2 turn test and it was her 5th race of the year and 6th career start. She missed all of 2014 but trainer Judith Pottins has developed her well. She is a Vibank gal out of Pottins’ mare Ma Peche, by Umrigar. Jermain Bridgmohan had the good ride.
Race 7 went to the 7 horse QUIET COUNTRY who chased the pace early in this 1 1/8 mile turf event for Ontario sired non-winners of 3 and he held off Best Country to win. It was the first win of the year for the Silent Name gelding who is out of At A Country by Atticus.
In a rarity, Quiet Country is the uncle of Best Country, whose dam Concert Country is a half sister to Quiet Country.
Rakph Shepherd owns and bred the 4yo gelding and it was the first winner of the year for trainer Bruce Smither.
This gelding is 3 for 14 iu his career and Gary Boulanger gave him a great ride. The winner was 8 -1.
race 8 – an allowance/optional claiming race at 1 1/8 miles on the Polytrack was the fastest race of the day with a 92 Beyer Figure. The time of 1:49.79 was posted by TURKISH, who upset this good field that included Queen’s Plate winner Midnight Aria and stakes winners Ultimate Destiny and others.
This was aninteresting race as Turkish was going to the lead early in the race but then shuffled well back while Midnight aria went along in 24, 29 2/5. Luis Contreras, riding Turkish, allowed the giant chstnut to settle in the back and then he rallied home to edge Patrioticandproud despite bleeding heavily from his mouth.
The son of Istan, a stakes winner of the Valedictory last december, had done little in his 4 races this year but was making his first start on Polytrack since his big win and dropping out of the grade 2 Singspiel stakes. Tino Attard trains for Lawrence Cordes.
race 9 BREAD WINNER got the dough again. This guy rallied from well back to win this optional claiming race for $20,000 by a neck over Jacks Escarpment (Thoroughblog’s Best Bet of the day) under Gerry Olguin. That is 2 straight wins for the son of Where’s the Ring who is owned by Gary McMaster.
It was the 2nd win of the day for trainer Norm McKnight, who has 23 wins on the year. at Woodbine.
CASSE DECIDES NOT TO FINISH OUT DEL MAR MEET
Ron Mitchell – Blood Horse
With a diminished number of horses remaining in his division in Southern California, trainer Mark Casse has decided not to run any more horses at the current Del Mar meet and return to the East Coast.
Last year, Casse won with 10 of 56 starters at the two Del Mar meets, including four graded stakes, with earnings of more than $1.1 million. But Del Mar replaced its synthetic main track with conventional dirt and Casse has one win and $55,390 in earnings from only six starters midway through the current summer meet.
Casse’s summer base is at Woodbine in Canada, where the main track is a Polytrack synthetic surface. Casse, who also is racing horses at the Saratoga Race Course meet, is leading trainer at Woodbine with 42 wins and more than $2.6 million in purses.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93678/casse-decides-not-to-finish-out-del-mar-meet
BACK IN THE GROOVE
Calgary Cat runs down the returning Hit Man
Calgary Cat, Canada’s reigning champion sprinter, split rivals at the top of the lane and swept past Essence Hit Man en route to a comfortable victory in Wednesday night’s $107,400 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Kevin Attard for owners Stephen Chesney and Cory S. Hoffman, Calgary Cat arrived at the six furlong ‘Poly’ sprint from an impressive score in the Achievement Stakes when a 1/2-length better than next out stakes winner Phil’s Dream.
Hoffman and Chesney claimed Calgary Cat for $25,000 on November 15, 2013 and the champion chestnut has gone on to win eight of 12 starts for his new connections.
The Ontario Jockey Club Stakes featured the much anticipated return of Essence Hit Man, Canada’s champion sprinter of 2011 and 2012, who last raced on November 30, 2013 when second in the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes.
As expected, Essence Hit Man, with Luis Contreras up, was quickest from the gate setting splits of :23.20 and :46 flat with Speightsong and Puntrooskie pressing the early pace. Calgary Cat, expertly ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva, advanced through the turn from fifth position following the rallying Sorry About That.
Essence Hit Man maintained a 1/2-length lead at the top of the lane, but Calgary Cat, full of run, surged between Speightsong and Sorry About That before kicking clear of Essence Hit Man for a 2 3/4-length win. Essence Hit Man stayed on gamely to win a place photo over Sorry About That. Calgary Cat covered six furlongs in 1:09.50.
Da Silva was pleased with the effort of the versatile Calgary Cat.
“I was a little bit closer as the pace wasn’t as hot today. He was very comfortable where he was and when I asked him, he gave his best. He finished the race very strong,” said da Silva.
The Cowtown Cat chestnut won five of seven starts last season, including wins in the Grade 3 Bold Venture and Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, to secure Sovereign Award honours as the nation’s top sprinter. Calgary Cat appears to be well on his way to defending that title with three wins from four starts this meet including scores in the Jacques Cartier and Achievement Stakes.
Calgary Cat, bred in Ontario by WinStar Farm LLC, banked $60,000 in victory while improving his record to 10-3-1 from 19 starts.
ALERT! BAY goes for Longacres Mile
What: 80th Running $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3)
When: Sunday, August 16, 5:35 p.m. (Race 8)
Where: Emerald Downs
First Post: 2 p.m.
$200,000 LONGACRES MILE (G3)
Post Horse Jockey Trainer WGT ML
1 Del Rio Harbor Julien Couton Marshall Allen 116 30
2 Noosito Juan Gutierrez Doris Harwood 116 10
3 Fleet Eagle Diego Sanchez Paula Capestro 118 10
4 Taylors Deal David G. Lopez Troy Taylor 116 12
5 Majestic City E. Maldonado Richard Baltas 118 10
6 Absolutely Cool Rocco Bowen Tom Wenzel 118 15
7 Stryker Phd Leslie Mawing Larry Ross 123 9/5
8 Alert Bay Rico Walcott Blaine Wright 122 4
9 Sammy Mandeville Alex Solis Alex Solis 117 9/2
10 Prohibition Tiago Periera Vann Belvoir 115 20
11 Solemnly Swear Joe Steiner Mike Puhich 115 20
12 Modern Richard Hamel D. Condilenios 118 20
$200,000 LONGACRES MILE DRAWS FULL FIELD,
STRYKER PHD BIDS TO JOIN ELITE COMPANY
Defending champion Stryker Phd heads a full field of 12 older horses in Sunday’s 80th running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs.
Stryker Phd drew the No. 7 post-position at Wednesday’s annual Longacres Mile Draw Breakfast, with regular rider Leslie Mawing named to ride the 123-lb. high-weight. Track line maker Rob Rao installed the defending champion as the 9-to-5 favorite, followed by California invaders Alert Bay and Sammy Mandeville at 4-1 and 9-2.
The Longacres Mile goes as Race 7 with post time 5:35 p.m.
Unbeaten in his last six starts at Emerald Downs including a half-length victory in the 2014 Mile, Stryker Phd bids to join Amble In (1946, 1948), Trooper Seven (1980-81) and Simply Majestic (1988-89) as two-time winners of The Mile. He also would become the first to accomplish the feat at Emerald Downs.
Trained by Larry Ross for owners Jim and Mona Hour of Bellevue, Wash., Stryker Phd is beginning to challenge Noosa Beach for unofficial title of greatest horse in track history. A 6-year-old Washington-bred by Bertrando-Striking Scholar, he’s running in his third straight Mile and is unbeaten here since finishing runner-up to Herbie D in the 2013 Mile.
In last year’s race, Stryker Phd came from last to defeat Boyett by a half-length in 1:33.67. In two starts this year, Stryker Phd defeated Noosito by a neck in the one-mile Budweiser Handicap and beat Absolutely Cool by six lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Mt. Rainier Handicap.
“He worked really good last Sunday and he looked good on the track today,”said assistant trainer Sharon Ross. “We just have to make sure nothing happens to him between now and the race.”
Alert Bay enjoyed a remarkable 2014 season, winning six stakes and nearly $600,000 for trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop of Vancouver, B.C. A 4-year-old California-bred by City Zip, Alert Bay drew the No. 8 post and will be ridden by Rico Walcott at 122 lbs.
“His (two) races so far this year don’t indicate that he’s back to his 3-year-old form,” Wright said. “He’s trained very smart for this race. Hopefully he can come back here and get back to good form again.
“The Mile has always been on our radar since we turned him out last year,” Wright added. “It’s been a focal point for us and maybe he’ll make a good showing.”
BEYERS OF LGA MILE WINNERS AT EmD
2015: ???
2014: Stryker Phd-97
2013: Herbie D-100
2012: Taylor Said-98
2011: Awesome Gem-96
2010: Noosa Beach-99
2009: Assessment-94
2008: Wasserman-90
2007: The Great Face-91
2006: Flamethrowintexan-101
2005: No Giveaway-93
2004: Adreamisborn-99
2003: Sky Jack-105
2002: Sabertooth-96
2001: Irisheyesareflying-100
2000: Edneator-104
1999: Budroyale-106
1998: Wild Wonder-111
1997: Kid Katabatic-105
1996: Isitingood-105
