KING

 

 

**TUESDAY MORNING WORKOUT AT CHURCHILL

American Pharoah 4F in 48. ..Splits 24 35.80. Out 100.40 & 113.20.

Then the Tuesday morning bath for the champ – in other Belmont news – WAR STORY is out, to run in Ohio Derby…

POSSIBLE FIELD:

 American Pharoah    Bob Baffert    4.33       Victor Espinoza
Carpe Diem    Todd Pletcher    1.83       John Velazquez
Conquest Curlinate    Mark Casse    3.57       Joel Rosario
Frammento    Nick Zito    3.50       Corey Nakatani
Frosted    Kiaran McLaughlin    2.75       Joel Rosario
Keen Ice    Dale Romans    2.73       Kent Desormeaux
Materiality    Todd Pletcher    2.33       Javier Castellano
Mubtaahij    Mike de Kock    1.00       Christophe Soumillon
Tale of Verve    Dallas Stewart    2.25       Joel Rosario

 

Reminiscent of his workout before the Derby – just floating.

 

 

JUST AN OL ‘ FASHIONED STAKES WIN – and Mark Casse wins both stakes

Making her first start on Polytrack,her first start at Woodbine – OL’ FASHION GAL stalked the slow pace and then was up to win the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, holding off favoured DON’T LEAVE ME, who came from far behind to just miss.

The winner is owned by Bill and Vicki Poston and Mark Casse and team train the daughter of Sky Mesa out of Little Hussy, by Horse Chestnut. The Beyer Figure was 78 for 1:44.73.

The 1 1/16 mile race, while dominated by American-breds, had 2 Oaks gals in the field – LEADING EDGE was 3rd and SEASON TICKET 4th and both gals fared okay as the pace was on the slow side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Sunday

Race 1 – BEAR’S PEARL has been a wonderful grey gal for Bear Stables amd Mike DePaulo. The daughter of Seeking the Dia (a son of Storm Cat) led all the way under Eurico Rosa da Silva to win this starter allowance (412,500) by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:10.16, her 9th career win in 24 races. She was 4th in her opener against tougher but was long gone on this field at 6 furlongs. Bear Stables bred the 5yo mare. She earned a 73 Beyer Figure according to DRF

race 2
Class dropper MARKED IN STONE was a wild 1-5 for this $6,000 claiming race but could not lead all the way and the winner was FILL YOUR BOOT, the first winner for trainer Angus Buntain, whose family owns Greenoaks Farm. The winner is a Bold Executive 5yo who was making his 2nd start of the year and Carl Defreitas got his first win of the year. The gelding is 4 for 11 in his career.

Race 3 – Lots of 2yos making their debut in this Ontaro sired maiden allowance and it was a mixture of colts and fillies. The big favourite in the race was BELIVEAU, a Windways Farm-bred co-owned by Windways and Mike Ambler and the new East West Stable. The sizy dark bay by Where’s the Ring out of Minstrel Show by  Tale of the Cat had an awkward strat from the gate, was well back early, rode the and then abgled out to pick up the fast little gal Matilda Girl in the last few strides. He earned a 46 Beyer Figure for his win. Mark Casse trains and Patrick Husbands rode. He is a half brother to the multiple winner Super Colerosa.

Race 4 – MARTEN LAKE touted himself in the post parade in this non-winners of 1 other than maiden or claiming and, like so many races at Woodbine currently, the favourite in the race was heavily overbet. This time it was Platinum Glory, making his first start of the year. While that rival put in a mild rally, MARTEN LAKE, owned and trained by David Bell, caught Goodnight Hawk in the late stages to win the six furlong race with a 79 Beyer Figure for 1:09.78 for 6 furlongs.

Marten Lake is 2 for 3 this year and with the Ontario sired bonus, he earned a whopping $56,220 for the win, putting his career earnings to $158,000. gerry Olguin always rides this 4yo and he won 2 races on the card as well. Marten Lake was bred by Alexis and Katie Ward and he is by Trajectory out of Kain’s Deed by Alydeed.

Race 5 – at 1 mile on the grass, this allowance/optional claiming race introduced us to UCHENNA (Ire), a filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) out of Grade 2 winner Uriah (Ger)l who was making her 2nd start in North American for Triton racing LLC and trainer Roger Attfield. Previously trained by David Simcock, this fillt was 2 for 10 overseas. She won on the firm turf in 1:33.62 food for the day’s best 84 Beyer Figure. Alan Garcia rode

race 6 – CRUZ WEST had a scary first start of the year when he was cut off and fell down on May 15 but he won his maiden for $9,500 anyway on this 5 furlong dash under David Garcia. The changed a lot when one of the favourites, Bold Diamond, stumbled badly at the start. Crus West is owned by Track West Racing Inc. and it was the first winner of the year for trainer Victor Ramos. Roger Tanel bred the son of Dunkirk.
race 7 – Beginner HOLY MCNASTY led most of the way from the rail post and won this $25,000 maiden claiming race and was claimed by Tucci Stables. The con of Holy Bull, bred in Ontario by Ivan Dalos, was raced by True North Stable and trainer Lorne Richards. Gerry Olguin grabbed his 2nd win of the day.

race 9 – This was a roughly run race that went to LONG JOHNS, a 4yo by Bob and John – Hot Pants by Dixieland Heat. Owned and bred by Doug Anderson and Rita Eskudt, the gelding was coming off an August – May layoff and was well prepared by Catherine Day Phillips. The gelding avoided a lot of the melee behind him. On the turn, Free to Dance, under Alan Garcia, interfered with Confront and then in the stretch, Tucson veered out and interfered with Conquest Pacemaker. Only Free to Dance was disqualified as Conquest Pacemaker ended up beating Tucson.
Eurico Rosa da Silva rode the winner in this maiden allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs on the grass and the 1:15 4/5 was good for a 72 Beyer Figure.

race 10 – The last race was fun to watch as 10-pound apprentice JENNA BRAY steered WALES END to victory for her 5th career win. She is now a 5-pound bug for the season. Bray was riding for trainer Don MacRae who brought this Strong Hope gelding off the layoff very ready for this $8,000 claiming race.

Wagering on Sunday was a good $3.4 million.

 

 

Friday wrap up

Race 1- Just 3 juveniles in this race, the first 2yo event of the year as a virus marches through the Woodbine backstretch. GET’ERDONEBUD, a full brother to R U Watching Bud, was the winner for JOhn Ross and jockey Tyler Pizarro. He was bred by Bear Stables and cost $32,000 at auction.

Race 2- SHEZAFIRECRACKER bounced back from a dull run in her opener and won this $40,000 claiming race for Norseman Racing and trainer Sid Attard. The race changed a lot when speedy Mi Hat Mi Coat stumbled and lost Eurico Rosa Da Silva at the start.

race 3 –
SCINDIA, owned and bred by Beclawat Stable and trained by Robert Tiller, led all the way over 4 rivals to win this $32,00 claiming race for 3yo fillies at 6 furlongs. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode the daughter of Cool Coal Man.

race 4- JANBEAR won for Nick DeToro with a rally between rivals in the late stages of this $8,000 claiming race. The macho Uno gal is out of Whiskey and Low and was bred by Cavendish Investing. Justin Stein rode the 5yo mare.

race 5- Woodbine Oaks prospect  INTERNAL BOURBON won this 1 1/16 mile allowance ver 5 older rivals at odds on under Alan Garcia. The Not Boursbon filly is out of Internallyflawless by Giant’s Causeway and Charles Fopke owns and bred her. Roger Attfield trains. The 1:45.56 time was a 72 Beyer Figure.

race 6 – Very fast VEAISHA ran away to a huge lead in her first race as a 3yo and held on to win this maiden allowance by 1 3/4 lengths under Luis Contreras. Larry Attard trains for Veronica Attard and young Nathan Flight The filly is by Wando out of Love Co by Not for Love

rACE 7 – Odd goings on here – STACKED DECK needed a new rider after he reared up leaving the tunnel and Alan Garcia fell off. The 11 -1 shot for Barb Minshall and owner Bruce Lunsford got David Moran in a quick change and led al the way in a total theft – setting a slow first 2 furlongs in 23 and then quickening and leaving his rivals in the dust at 7 furlongs. He went in 1:21.99, a whopping 97 Beyer Figure. Queen’s Plate winner MIDNIGHT ARIA was a good 2nd.

race 8 – Alan Garcia was back to ride this race but it was the red hot Luis Contreras who guided the sleek, black newcomer DANGEROUS LAD to victory in this allowance/optional claiming race for Eugene Callahan. Josie Carroll trains the son of Bob and John. The time of 1:34.67 was good for an 89 Beyer Figure.
Any Given Royal was a very troubled 2nd.

race 9 – Kevin Pasher’s MISS SEA won a squeaker in her season debut in this maiden allowance at the odds of 2 to 5. She is a Marchfield filly out of March to the Sea by Mud Route, bred by Sue Foreman in Ontario. The filly was ridden by Jesse Campbell.
In this race,  first-time starter CONQUER THE SKY, trained by Paul Buttigieg, was scratched at the gate under Alan Garcia.

 

HASTINGS RACING CLUB OFF TO A GREAT START
from Derby Bar and Grill Newsletter:
Hastings Racing Club, manager Richard Yates reports sales have been very brisk over the first week and thinks we should be north of 70 owners by this weekend.

Yates said trainer Steve Henson is off to The Barrett’s Sale at Delmar this Thursday to purchase at least one horse and try to buy one privately.  He also added he thought a number of prospective new owners are waiting until the horses are in place before committing to join.

Its just a great way to get some new blood in the game for a small amount of money and its tax deductible.

 

 

QATAR TO UNVEIL 50M POUND HORSERACING DEAL

 By Roland Gribben
TELEGRAPH

Qatar’s royal family is poised to announce details of what is claimed to be the biggest sponsorship deal so far for British horseracing.

Investment estimated at more than £50m is understood to be earmarked for a series of races linked to the Royal Ascot schedule in a new sponsorship deal spread over 10 years.

The programme is expected to be announced after the Derby, on June 6 and in the run-up to Royal Ascot, which begins on June 16 for five days. It will be the latest indication of the al-Thani family’s support for British racing in an extensive sporting portfolio that has seen the Gulf state become the controversial host for the 2022 world soccer cup and the 2019 world athletic championship.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/11627729/Qatar-to-unveil-50m-British-horseracing-deal.html

 

HOW MUCH WHIPPING IS TOO MUCH WHIPPING?

WALL STREET JOURNAL

By Pia Catton

As American Pharoah stormed down the stretch in the Kentucky Derby, jockey Victor Espinoza urged his mount to pass stubborn rivals Firing Line and Dortmund. It worked, but the repeated use of the whip raised one of horse racing’s ugliest issues.

Espinoza appeared to strike the horse more than 30 times. The hard ride surprised even some seasoned observers.

“I don’t know that a jockey’s hands should be tied to any degree,” said Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. “On the other side, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/horse-racing-how-much-whipping-is-too-much-1432581757