WOODBINE RACING IS BACK – even bigger news yesterday was the triple stakes scores by CANADIAN-BREDS AT KEENELAND: GRADE 1 WINS by Ontario bred and owned HARD NOT TO LIKE and Ontario bred JUDY THE BEAUTY and a Grade 2 win by OCCASIONAL VIEW..- Kentucky Derby hopes for locals fizzle but we still have Artie…
HIGH TEE, rail speed to win the first race of the year. Grey mare is trained by John Mattine and Luis Contreras rode. NORM FILES PHOTO
WOODBINE SELECTIONS FOR SUNDAY AT JMBETS.CA
MMM MMM GOOD – WOODBINE OPENS 59TH YEAR
Jockeys JESSE CAMPBELL and JUSTIN STEIN won 3 races each, LUIS CONTRERAS rode the opening winner, HIGH TEE for JOHN MATTINE, and a nice crowd enjoyed great weather for Woodbine’s opening day of the 2014 THOROUGHBRED season.
Wagering on the 10-race card was $2.7 million, down from $3.3 million on opening day last year.
Winners on opening day came from off the pace, outside, inside and on the lead while most of the winners were trained in Ontario over the winter.
High Tee was the lone winner who raced at Gulfstream Park recently – she was 9th in a single start there in January and dropping down big time in class for Woodbine’s first race, a $8,000 claiming dah as 5 furlongs. She is by El Corredor out of Steph’s Tee, bred by Hil ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc in Ontario and she is a half sister to stakes winner TEE GAME.
There were 2 claims from race 1 as Barb Pirie claimed HIGH TEE for herself and ABRAHAM KATRYAN claimed MISS ECHO DURING with finished 2nd.
THEY’RE OFF AT WOODBINE! First race starters Galloping D’Amour, (left) Cutie Girl and Cynder Time spring from the gate! MICHAEL BURNS/WEG PHOTO
Race 2 was won by the white faced SKYRISH, who rallied 4 wide to win the Ontario sired allowance race for older horses, non-winners of 2. Owned and bred by Don Ross, the 4yo Silent Name (Jpn) gelding won his May 2013 season opener also.
race 3- a maiden allowance, went to LEIF ERIKSON (the horse, not the explorer). Another rallying winner, The colt by Henry thenavigator – _ Gumboots by Storm Boot was 2nd by a nose in his debut last Sept., 11th in the Cup & Saucer on soft grass, and he trained in Florida over the winter. Owned by Eaton Hall Farm, who bred him also. Mike Doyle trains the 3yo colt.
The pick 4 started off with IDA BAMBINA rallying to win the allowance/optional claiming race that was made up of mostly Ontario sired horses. It was a messy race and featured a 3 to 5 favourite in stakes winner REGAL CONQUEROR. The quick horses at 6 furlongs simply are not quick at 5 or 5 1/2 furlongs, however, and Regal Conqueror was hard used to make a short lead befre she faded to 4th. Ida Bambina, owned by Charles Buscaglia and Samotowka Stable, bred by Mark Hughes, had some trouble on the turn when mildly steadied but then darted up the rail to win. others who were in trouble in the race were X Squared who checked and steadied on the rail and Sunshine Promise, who was rank and steadied in last place around the turn.
Race 5, a $62,50 claiming race, was won by SHACKLETON HILL, owned by Chris Jolin and Leah Oulette. Jolin trains the 6yo sold of Sir Shackleton who was 0 for 12 last year but in god form at the end of the Woodbine 2013 season. Juan Crawford rode the winner, who broke well from his outside post and was 3 wide and suring to the lead off the turn.
Trouble in the race for REASON TO DRINK, who steadied and then checked hard on the turn, losing all chance.
Race 6 was a $20,000 claiming race for non-winners of 2 and the quick gal DIXIE’S VOW was the front running winner for Margal Farms, trainer Dan O’ Callaghan and jockey David Moran. The filly was wired and washy in the paddock but was the best horse in her 6th career race. She is a Broken Vow gal bred by Farr Bloodstock in Ontario.
Race 7,a maiden allowance, was a buzz race early in the day as Laurie Silvera’s PENNY STAMP was a touted horse. At 8 to 1 in the morning line, she opened up at 8 to 5 and took plenty of betting support. However, a first time starter from the rail post can be intimidated or hesitant, she she broke a bit slowly and landed 2nd behind the fast winner CRISTINA’S HALO, owned by Fig Star Stables. Trained by Vito Armata, the 3yo filly is by Leonnatus Anteas out of Siwa by Alydeed and won by 7 lengths under Jesse Campbell. She had done little in 2 starts as a 2yo in June and July. The filly was bred u Hill ‘n’ dale Farms in Aruroa, ON and she was a $14,000 yearling purchase.
The featured race was a thriller and got a huge roar from the crowd because of the close finish. When the photo sign went up it was CAFE AU LAIT who came from last to win her season opener for the 2nd year at a row. last year she was 20 to 1, this year, 8 to 1. The Mobil mare is owned and bred by Kingfield Farms and Campbell rode this one too.
Race 9, a starter allowance for $25,000 was a fast race – 7 furlongs in 1:22.08 and it was won by NORTHERN HAMMER, by 9 1/4 lengths. This well bred son of Medaglia d’Oro was a $16,000 claim from Parx in December by High Five Racing and trainer Shane Learn. The $135,000 yearling purchase, who made his debut in 2011 against Uncle Mo and had some back class, was making his synthetic surface debut (he likes grass) and he certainly loved the footing.
Luis Contreras rode the 6yo gelding.
The day’s final race as an Ontario sired allowance worth $47,500 and the winner was John Russell and George Schramm’s EIGHT NINE RED, who won 2nd time out in his career last Nov. and rallied to beat Bear’s Reality in this 5 furlong dash. The latter went way too fast on the pace setting the hottest splits of the day. The winner was a $55,000 yearling and he is by Bold Executive, bred by Osplrey Stable. Mike DePaulo won 2 races on the day.
Riding in races for the first time since 2006 – CESAR MEJIA – shown here on VARIABLE RATE in the first race of the card (silks are different than what was published) – NORM FILES PHOTO
KENTUCKY DERBY DREAMS fizzle for Canadians
California-based DANCE WITH FATE, a Florida-bred 2-year-in training purchase by Two Step Salsa won the Blue Grass, Grade 1 at Keeneland and DANZA (Steet Boss) surprised the Arkansas Derby field for Eclipse Thoroughbreds in Kentucky Derby prep action on Saturday.
In the wake of these two were Canadian-breds ASSERTING BEAR, COLTIMUS PRIME, and Canadian connected COASTLINE, BIG BAZINGA and CONQUEST TITAN.
DANCE WITH FATE had just finished 2nd in the El Camino Real Derby when he moved a bit too soon. Corey Nakatanii rode the Peter Eurton trainee.
In the Blue Grass, Dance With Fate rallied wide from well back, following Medal Count and then sweeping by for a big win with a 97 Beyer Figure.
The colt cost $120,000 at the OBS April sale last year and he was 2nd in the Del Mar Futurity last year but 8th In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Over at Oaklawn, DANZA stalked in 3rd and then darted up the rail to win the Arkansas Derby at 41-1. he is trained by Todd Pletcher and had raced just 3 times, once since August when 3rd in a Gulfstream sprint to stablemate Anchor Down.
Danza is by sprinter Street Boss out of Champagne Royale, a winner, by French Deputy. Conquest Titan followed the winner but flattened out for trainer Mark Casse.
HARD NOT TO LIKE WINS GRADE 1 FOR ERIN, ONTARIO’S WILLIAMSONS
Sweep for Canadians in 3 Graded stakes, Judy wins Grade 1 Madison, ‘View wins Commonweath
HARD NOT TO LIKE, born and raised in ERIN, ONTARIO won the Grade 1 JENNY WILEY at Keeneland yesterday. KEENELAND/COADY PHOTO
HARD NOT TO LIKE, a gray 5yo mare owned and bred by Garland and Marie Williamson, came out of a crowd along the inside and snared the grade 1, $300,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. It was a huge win for the hard Spun mare who is out of Like a Gem, a good racemare for the Williamsons. Hard Not to Like was a top 2yo who was trained by Gail Cox in Ontario. The mare was 2nd in the Ashland in 2012 and then 6th in the Kentucky Oaks. She did not race again until Jan. 13 when Michael Matz took over. She won the Marshua’s River in her 2013 opener, a Grade 3 race but only nibbled in 6 races after that.
She returned in 2014 in Feb., won an allowance race at Gulfstream and then appeared in the Wiley. Javiar Castellano rode. She is 6 for 16 in her career with earnings of over $720,000.
(The finish) really was (tight). I was concerned a little bit turning for home. But I kept track of the pacemaker (Cloud Scapes) and tried to find the best spot. It was a little tight but this horse has good heart. She came through on the rail, and I squeezed a little bit and she gave me good run at the end. I said when I got through, ‘I got it!’ She’s really nice and gave me a good run today.” – Javiar Castellano.
One race before, JUDY THE BEAUTY rallied wide to win the 7 furlong Madison (Grade 1) for Wesley Ward. An amazing mare – she is 7 for 15 and is the newest CANADIAN-BRED MILLIONAIRE. She was bred by Adena Springs and was bought by Ward for just $20,000 at Keeneland as a yearling.
And before that race, OCCASIONAL VIEW rallied to win the Grade 3 Commonweath at 7 furlongs. The George Strawbridge bred 6yo gelding was claimed last October for 100,000 by Robert Trusell, almost won the Autumn Stakes at Woodbine in Nov. and he had been off since Jan. when blasted on the wet dirt at Oaklawn.
The gelding is trained by Ken McPeek who had been trying to run the son of Silver Deputy – Celebrate in another $100K allowance/optional claiming race:
“(Running Occasional View in the race was a) complete audible at the line of scrimmage. We wanted to run him the allowance/optional $100,000 (claiming race) and the race kept not filling and then it was like, ‘What do we do now?’ We had done the nomination for this race, and we briefly thought about putting him in for $80,000 (tag) a couple of days ago. Then Bobby (owner Robert Trussell) calls and says, ‘I don’t know – I kind of like the race on Saturday.’ And I said, ‘Well I have to get out of the race on Thursday, so yeah, it was not exactly as planned. It kind of happened.”
KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS
Rank Horse Points Owner(s) Trainer Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings
1. California Chrome 150 Steven Coburn & Perry Martin Art Sherman $782,250
2. Vicar’s in Trouble 120 Ken & Sarah Ramsey Mike Maker $760,000
3. Dance With Fate+ 108 Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable & Ciaglia Racing LLC Peter Eurton $600,000
4. Wicked Strong 102 Centennial Farms (Don Little Jr.) Jimmy Jerkens $640,000
5. Samraat 100 My Meadowview Farm (Leonard Riggio) Rick Violette Jr. $650,000
6. Danza 100 Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (Aron Wellman et al) Todd Pletcher $620,000
7. Constitution 100 Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC (Randy Gullatt et al & WinStar Farm LLC (Kenny Troutt)
Todd Pletcher $600,000
8. Hoppertunity 95 Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman Bob Baffert $576,000
9. Intense Holiday 93 Starlight Racing (Jack & Laurie Wolf & Donald & Barbara Lucarelli) Todd Pletcher $527,500
10. Wildcat Red 90 Honors Stable Corp. (Salvatore Delfino) Jose Garrofalo $665,000
11. We Miss Artie 60 Ken & Sarah Ramsey Todd Pletcher $544,000
12. Ride On Curlin 55 Daniel J. Dougherty Billy Gowan $354,387
13. Chitu 54 Tanma Corporation (Susan Chu) Bob Baffert $440,000
14. Tapiture 52 Ron Winchell Steve Asmussen $470,738
15. Midnight Hawk 52 Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings, Inc. (John Sikura), Mike Kitchen, Mike Pegram, Mike Tice & Joel Quenneville
Bob Baffert $320,000
16. Ring Weekend 50 St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola) & West Point Thoroughbreds (Terry Finley et al)
Graham Motion $260,000
17. General a Rod 40 J. Armando Rodriguez Mike Maker $240,000
18. Medal Count 40 Spendthrift Farm (B. Wayne Hughes) Dale Romans $226,500
19. Candy Boy 30 C R K Stable LLC (Lee and Susan Searing) John Sadler $380,000
20. Cairo Prince 24 Godolphin (Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum et al), Namcook Stables (Terry Murray), Paul Braverman, Harvey Clarke & Craig Robertson III Kiaran McLaughlin $520,000
21. Uncle Sigh 24 Wounded Warrior Stables (George “Chip” McEwen) & Anthony C. Robertson Gary Contessa $180,000
22. Vinceremos 20 WinStar Farm & Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC Todd Pletcher $191,666
23. Harry’s Holiday+ 20 Skychai Racing LLC, Terry Raymond & Jana Wagner Mike Maker $152,622
24. Commanding Curve 20 West Point Thoroughbreds (Terry Finley et al) Dallas Stewart $104,000
25. Pablo Del Monte 20 Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Wesley Ward Wesley Ward $102,000
DANCE WITH FATE was a late supplement to the Triple Crown recently. Smart move if he likes dirt. He won the Blue Grass on Saturday for Sharon Alexia, Bran Jam Stable and Joseph Ciaglia. KEENELAND/COADY PHOTO
