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The first card of racing for the 60th Woodbine season has been drawn and the 115th WOODSTOCK STAKES headlines the 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Newcomer to the scene ALAN GARCIA has 7 mounts on the card while American trainer WESLEY WARD, who has been known to come in for the Woodbine spring season, starts 5 horses in 5 races.

Rafael Hernandez comes in for Ward to ride his troops.

There are 66 horses entered in the 10 races with 8 brought in by American trainers.

SIMON HUSBANDS is back to ride at Woodbine and most of the top riders from last year have mounts on the card.

Speed will be the name of the game for the opening day card which includes 8 five-furlong races and the 6 furlong Woodstock and 6 1/2 furlong finale.

A new bet is being introduced – the Pick 5, a 20 cent base bet that begins on race 2. The bet requires picking 5 consecutive winners and it offers quite a high takeout rate of 25%.

This is the last year of the Polytrack as it will be replaced at year’s end and track announcer DAN LOISELLE will retire at the end of May (announcers said to be in the running for the job include Michael Wrona)

A handicapping seminar, jockey signing and other fun events will be offered on Saturday so get to the track early.

 

ONTARIO HORSE RACING WEBSITE

 

Check out Ontario Horse Racing’s super new website at http://ontariohorseracing.ca/ for everything Ontario horse racing, features and handicapping tips. For every level of horse fan or horseperson, Ontario Horse Racing is a group for all of us.

 

 

QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS – SHAMAN GHOST, NIPIGON, ‘DYNAFORMER entered

 

 

Trainer BRIAN LYNCH, speaking to Thoroughblog on Wednesday, said UNBRIDLED JUAN is getting set to have his first workout since his huge maiden score at Gulfstream a month ago. The grey colt, owned and bred by Stronach Stables/Adena Springs, won a key maiden race by 7 lengths with a 97 Beyer Figure.

“He is just about to start up on the worktab again,” said Lynch from Kentucky. “We will point to an ‘a, other than’ maybe on Derby day at Churchill and see where we go from there.”

Lynch also made mention that he is quite excited about his fast improving trainee SHAMAN GHOST, also a Stronach runner, who is entered for an allowance race at Keeneland today. The Ghostzapper 3yo is in race 8 and is 5 to 1.

On Saturday at Keeneland, NIPIGON makes his much anticipated return in a grass allowance race and he will meet DANISH DYNAFORMER and MILWAUKEE MIST. Nipigon was edged in the Coronation Futurity last year by DECISION DAY.

 

THOROUGHBLOG SALUTES SOVEREIGN AWARD PHOTO NOMINEES

Two of the three photos nominated for the Outstanding Photograph at the SOVEREIGN AWARDS tomorrow night at Woodbine were published on THOROUGHBLOG so that they would be eligible.