IRISH MISSION edges Aldous Snow in the Breeders’ – M Burns Photo
MISSION STATEMENT
Irish Mission stamps herself top 3yo filly in Canada, 90 Beyer in Breeders’
1st Woodbine Oaks
1st Breeders’ Stakes
2nd Queen’s Plate
Not bad for a tall, amazon filly who has maintained a tough schedule this year as the Canadian-bred 3yos completed their trail through the Triple yesterday in the 122nd Breeders’ Stakes.
It was a wild stretch run in the 1 1/2 mile race as IRISH MISSION (Giant’s Causeway) came from 13th and took the lead before ALDOUS SNOW, the up and coming turf star, made his bid.
Trained by Mark Frostad, who earlier this year was let go as trainer for the famed SAM-SON FARMS, Irish Mission was never going to let Aldous Snow (Theatrical (Ire)) past – oh, he is owned by Sam-Son Farms, trained by Malcolm Pierce.
So the big season continues for Irish Mission,owned by American Shell Evans and bought by Patrick Lawley Wakelin for $375,00 for the owner. Neither were in town yesterday, a day that started off humid, rainy and gloomy, but ended with bright sunshine and a little less stickiness.
The filly is 3 for 11 in her career with $834,460 in earnings. She has made a wonderful progression from wandering 2yo (she was so green she used to actually speed up when her races were over) yo maiden winner at Keeneland to multiple Canadian classic winner, kudos to Frostad, Hughie Chatman and the Frostad stable.
Trainer Frostad, winning his 4th Breeders (2nd only to Roger Attfield), said the filly will get a bit of a rest.
Aldous Snow should be heard from later on. Dixie Strike, the Wales winner, made a nice bid into the stretch run but then stalled, looking as if the distance might have got to her.
Now the Ontario racing scene leaves the 3yo’s to focus on older horses and grass with the Woodbine Mile coming up in September.
Betting on the Breeders Card was about $700,000 higher than last year’s Breeders’ card.
Here is stakes winner MISTY MISSION with her 2012 filly by Unbridled’s Song at Sam-Son Farms – photo courtesy Dave Whitford
Sunday/Saturday bits
CRYPTIC MESSAGE, bred by Helen and Barry Irving and a $6,000 yearling purchase, is now 3 for 3 in her career as she won the Nandi Stakes on the pace, earning a 61 Beyer Figure, a career best. The CEC Farms-owned daughter of young sire Cryptograph is out of the Deputy Commander mare Abby O, who was unplaced for Gardiner Farms.
Emma-Jayne Wilson had previously ridden the filly but elected to take SILENT STAR for CEC Stables (not to be confused with CEC Farm of Eugene George), and that one was a belated 3rd.
Eugene George made an emotional and determined plea to the government after the race to re-consider its plan to demolish slots at racetracks and, in turn, horse racing in Ontario.
Trainer READE BAKER, who had a rough Saturday at Saratoga with TU ENDIE WEI and HUNTERS BAY both being unplaced in Grade 1’s, won 2 races: BRANDYMAN won for Dick Bonnycastle’s Harlequin Ranches in race 1 on Sunday – earning a hefty 87 Beyer Figure.
Race 2 started off a bit oddly as there was a delay when firster ROCK STAR MIA, listed with blinkers on in the Woodbine program, was not going to race with blinkers. Owner/trainer Mike McDonald reportedly entered the Grand Slam 2yo without blinkers and that was proven to be the case. Anyway, other 2yos were left hanging around a while but when ‘MIA’ came into the gate, he popped out, led all the way and won at nice odds. The colt was bred by James Mann and was a $5,500 yearling purchase.
RINGSFORTHEGIRLS (Philanthropist) won her maiden in race 5, on the pace on a track that seemed to be okay for speed (until the last sprint race of the day, that is). The Paul Buttigieg 3yo was not doing all that much in 3 previous races but sure looked good yesterday. She got a 61 Beyer.
STRIKE RED was a nice result for Sam-Son farms as she won an allowance with an 84 Beyer Figure. It was the 3rd win in 5 races for the stakes placed gal by Smart Strike.
Saturday
SALUTE! Tyler Pizarro is looking at someone, somewhere, as he celebrates the Seagram win on ALPHA BETTOR
Norm Files photo
Surprise SEAGRAM CUP – GRADE 3 winner ALPHA BETTOR earned a 98 beyer Figure for his last minute rally past City Wolf in the 1 1/16 mile race. Owned by Bulldog racing and trained by Dan Vella, who is certainly in the midst of a Sovererign Award-type season, Alpha Bettor was making the all mportant turf to Polytrack switch – but he was stilll hard to come up with at 23 to 1. Stronach Stables’ CITY WOLF ran valiantly for 2nd after moving early under the whip.
Murry Stroud’s Stroud Lane Farm bred the winner of race 2 on Saturday – the 2yo filly WE’LLSEEABOUTTHAT. The Graeme Hall filly out of Keep a Knockin was making her 2nd career start of her career.
SPRING IN THE AIR, a highly touted 2yo filly who was a troubled 2nd in the Shady well Stakes on July 15 to CRYPTIC MESSAGE, won her maiden wrapped up by about 10 lengths in race 4 on Saturday. She earned a 70 Beyer Figure and is a Canadian bred by Spring at Last, owned by John Oxley.
TARDY was on time and on the lead and he won his maiden in his debut for $20K in race 6 Saturday. The Bill Schettine colt by Cateinus is a full brother to $680K winner Cannonball, who place din 2 Breeders’ Cup races.
Later, the same owner/trainer won with ONE WORD, who is 2 for 2 at Woodbine having won a $20K claimer on Saturday.
SARATOGA SALE TODAY AND TOMORROW
Ontario breds up for sale..
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