Sleek and powerful VIBANK topped Canadian 1st crop sires standing in the country in 2011 by progeny earnings – the stallion graces the cover of the 2021 SIRE BOOK, get your copy today!
Dave Landry photo
EXCAPER CLOSE 3RD IN FLORIDA – 82 Beyer
One of Canada’s top 2-year-olds, EXCAPER could not hold off stretch charges by Summer Front (War Front) and Finale and landed 3rd beaten just 1 3/4 lengths in the Dania Beach Stakes at Gulfstream yesterday. Owned by Richard Kaster and Fred Weiting and trained by Woodbine-based Ian Black, ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, EXCAPER sat a nice trip alongside the flank of the pacesetter and he battled for the lead into the stretch before stalling a bit.
His Beyer Figure was a career top of 82.
The son of Exchange Rate is a likely finalist for the Sovereign Award for champion 2yo male but that award seems likely to go to MARITIMER, the Coronation/Display Stakes winner.
CANADIANS ELSEWHERE
11-year-old wins 2011 debut
Here’s a wild story – ALFAARI’S MAGIC, at the age of 11 (soon to be 12) won a $5,000 claiming race at Charles Town yesterday at 4 1/2 furongs. It was his first race since last fall.
The gelding, who began his career in 2003 at Woodbine, missed 3 years of racing from 2006 to 2009.
Owned and trained by Scooter Davis, the Ontario bred by Alfaari – Better Be Bold, by Bold Laddie was bred by Eugene Melnyk.
He has 11 wins in just 37 races.
HA LONG BAY won the 9th race at Gulfstream yesterday for Toronto owner WEILA YE. The Kentucky bred gelding won the $30,000 claiming race on the grass with a fast rally from 11th place as the 2 to 1 favourite. Wayne Catalno trains the son of Miltary who was bred by Hedgestone Management.
Ontario-bred MOLINARO PADRINO won a $5,000 claiming event later on the Charles Town card for Molinaro Stable, The son of Compadre – Spcial Knight, by Ascot Knight is a homebred for Molinaro and the 4yo won by 8 lengths at 1 1/8 miles for trainer Les Frost.
In the last race at Charles Town , LOVER BOY won his maiden for $4,500 claiming at 4 1/2 furlongs for Kevin Buttigieg and trainer Ridhard Morden. The 4yo Ontario bred gelding is by Dance to Destiny out of Gift of Love, by Domasca Dan and was bred by Gracelynn Farm/1326029 Ontario Inc.
LEADING FIRST CROP SIRES IN CANADA 2011
Sire (his sire) YOB Fee Location 2yos Strts Wnrs Avg$ Top earner Total earnings
1 Vibank Silver Deputy, 2003 $1,500 (CAN) Park Stud, Canada 33 13 3 – – – – $11,780 Euphrasia
($42,513) $245,841
2 Sungold A.P. Indy, 2002 N/A Flying Horse Farm, Canada 8 2 1 1 1 – 1 $28,226 Sunnyside Gal
($118,316) $122,366
3 Seeking the Best (IRE) Seeking the Gold, 2001 $4,000 (CAN) Colebrook Farms Stallion Station, Canada 46 17 3 – – – – $7,446 Naviesbest
($32,306) $100,028
4 Wilko Awesome Again, 2002 $5,000 (CAN) Adena Springs Canada, Canada 71 19 4 1 – – 1 $5,608 Don Carlos R. ($28,920) $87,390
5 Second in Command Silver Deputy, 2000 $1,500 (CAN) Road’s End Farm, Canada 17 8 4 – – – 1 $10,195 Deputy’s Command ($19,172) $77,468
CHOCOLATE CANDY AND ‘BAR’
CHOCOLATE CANDY
Five year old Chocolate Candy has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Bar None Ranches Ltd. in Dewinton, Alberta Canada for a $2,500 stud fee. A deal has also been reached pending a physical inspection to shuttle Chocolate Candy to La Mission stud in Argentina.
Bred and raced by The Craig Family Trust (Sid and Jenny Craig), Chocolate Candy earned over $630,000 during his racing career — a career highlighted by wins in the El Camino Real Derby G3, The California Derby and the Real Quiet Stakes as well as running second to Pioneerofthenile in the Grade one Santa Anita Derby. Next up for Chocolate Candy was a trip to the Kentucky Derby, where he finished a hard closing fifth to Mine That Bird in the slop at Churchill.
Chocolate Candy’s sire Candy Ride has achieved considerable success at stud with three of his sons Misremembered, Twirling Candy, and Sidney’s Candy all retiring to stud in Kentucky for the 2012 breeding season. Chocolate Candy is out of the Seattle Slew mare Crownette.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Chocolate Candy retired with a record of four wins, three seconds and a third from twenty one starts and earnings of $632,205.
