**It’s soggy, gloomy and cool in southern Ontario this weekend and will be darn cold at night through to Monday..
Monday is the test race for the EUROTURF SERIES at Woodbine, the -Clockwise turf sprints around the clubhouse turn to the main finish line. The test race will have a field of 5 or 6, cameras, etc. to make sure the track is ready for the June 10 opener.
FRENCH QUARTER POSTS 94 BEYER SPEED FIGURE IN WOODBINE WIN
Friday at Woodbine featured another mixed bag of winners including a rare Quebec-bred, a 40 to 1 winner another pair of winners for jockey Sheena Ryan who is on a real roll and the 18th win for the oldest horse racing at Woodbine right now (and hooray for Robert Tiller for claiming him back!)
Trending right now seems to be the early, hard scrub move on the turn so look for the riders who save their horses until the top of the stretch or later.
Race 1 – BLURRICANE from almost last to first at 5 furlongs in a starter allowance for fillies and mares. The Rebellion 4yo filly, bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack, was making her first start of the year and first for owners Ken Lee, G Bell and D Mitchell and trainer Marty Drexler. It was Drexler’s first winner of the season. She was claimed for $25,00 from her winning finale of 2015. She has won 5 of 11 races and is quite a neat filly. David Moran rode his 8th winner of the season in fine style.
race 2- CREATIVE THUNDER came off a September to May layoff, stalked inside the pace of hopehard and won this $12,500 claiming race under a nice rider by Kirk Johnson. Norm McKnight trains this 7yo gelding by none other than Tapit. Earl Shaw owns Creative Thunder who had many big workout times coming into this opener.
Creative Thunder’s Beyer Figure on Friday off 77 was the 2nd highest of the day for 7 furlongs in 1:25.02
race 3 – A $10,00 claiming race for fillies and mares, non-winners of 2, was a stunner – SHOWING TRUE at 40 to 1 edged stablemate JEFFREY’S GIRL, both gals trained by Julie Belumeur who is off to a smashing start in 2016.
SHOWING TRUE, owned by Craig Giuliani, was making her 2nd start of the season under Jeff Alderson and she loved moving back out to 1 1/16 miles it seems as she won for the first time since 2013 – yep, 3 years ago.
The Belhumeur exactor paid $640.00.
No great luck in racing comes without some bad luck, however, Belhumer along with trainer Fuank Huarte recently had horses suspended for 90 days due to positive tests (Acepromazine and ‘Rogaine’ the latter).
race 4- QUEENIE’S BOSS was a first time starter from the rail in a big field, a $5,500 yearling purchase and debuting for $12,500 for Julia Carey. Bred in Quebec by Ferme Image Inc., the daughter of Group 1 Japanese horse Utopia had some nice workout times but it was hard to imagine how she took off out of the gate and won big. Gerry Olguin was along for this ride on a 5 to 1 shot. The dam, Queen Razayana, had 3 previous foals, no winners.
race 5- Well liked beginner GOOD LOOKING LEO, trained by Mark Frostad, worked hard to win his debut by inches over the tough luck Gibbons Gambler in this $25,000 maiden claiming race. By Leonnatus Anteas, this is a 4yo beginner who was ridden by Sheena Ryan. Bred by Colebrook Farms, the colt is owned by a company of numbers (1200181)
race 6 – Refund on DIBS who was held at the start of this $20,00 claiming race and the winner was the big fave TIMBERLINE, a white faced filly well ridden by Sheena Ryan. By Old Forester, the Rachel Halden trainee is a homebred for Chris Harris.
race 7 – GREAT START, well named for trainer Nick Nosowenko as he is indeed off to a great strat. This gal was dropping fom 40,000 to 20,00 claiming for her 2nd start since last summer and she won big under a hot Alan Garcia. Michelle Newell owns the 4yo filly by Jump Start.
race 8 FRENCH QUARTER was the 2nd winner for Gerry Olguin as that rider took over from a litany of different riders who have been on this Norsemen.John Mattine gelding. The Florida bred tracked the rapid pace of Bear No Joke, took over turning for home and held off Cumming Road in 1:10.62 – a 94 Beyer Figure.
race 9 – LORD OF GREATNESS, well named and a 10-year-old entire horse, was claimed away from his long time trainer Robert Tiller and the Entourage Stakes in May 2015 for $20,00. He won for the 3rd time since changing barns when he took a $6,000 claiming race on Friday for his 18th career win. Jesse Campbell rode the old timer for Peter and Willie Armata. It was a tough race for the old guy but he looks great and he is closing in on $600,000 in career earnings.
The best news came after the race when it was announced that Robert Tiller had claimed the horse for $6,000.
FIRST FRANKEL IS FABULOUS…but what about this photo? Wow!
Cunco (city in Chile), the first offspring of the mighty Frankel’s to race, got his sire off to the perfect start when coming from behind to win a six furlong maiden at Newbury this afternoon.
Trained by John Gosden, Cunco was settled behind runners by Robert Havlin before quickening well inside the final furlong to get up near the line. The Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot could be on the agenda for the Clarehaven inmate now.
Owned and bred by Don Alberta Stable, Cunco did just his sire did – he won his debut on a Friday the 13th!
GETTY IMAGES – JULIAN HERBERT captured this image of CUNCO before his debut – watch your toes!! This is such an amazing photo from all aspects that I had to borrow it – congrats Julian, could be an award winner
WELCOME TO ONTARIO RACING!
Ontario Racing (OR) is a newly-created horse racing industry association, which was established to assume many of the functions of the Ontario Horse Racing division of the former Ontario Racing Commission.
Ontario Racing is responsible for directing breed improvement programs, setting an annual program of races and purses, attracting new horse owners, building a fan base and connecting the industry with government and the general public.
OR will serve as the voice of the horse racing industry and will work closely with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) towards the integration of horse racing into OLG’s gaming strategy.
OR will also serve as the Program Administrator for the Standardbred (SIP) and Thoroughbred (TIP) Horse Improvement Programs components of Ontario’s Horse Improvement Program (HIP) as well as the Quarter Horse Racing Industry Development Program (QHRIDP).
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
ONTARIO RACING
10 CARLSON COURT, SUITE 400
TORONTO ON M9W 6L2
(416) 213-1800
Ontario Finance Minister, Charles Sousa, pictured here in the centre with Ontario Racing Chair Sue Leslie, was the honoured guest at the Ontario Racing ribbon cutting ceremony which took place May 12 at the new Ontario Racing offices in Etobicoke.
Attending the Ontario Racing ribbon cutting ceremony on May 12, 2016 were from left to right: Jean Major, CEO of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) the industries new regulator; Cal Bricker, Senior VP of Horse Racing at Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG); Sue Leslie, Chair of Ontario Racing (OR); Ontario Finance Minister, Charles Sousa; John Snobelen, Interim Director at Ontario Racing; and Stephen Rigby, President and CEO of Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG).
FORT ERIE NEARS OPENING FOR 2016 – feature from Niagara Falls Review Ray Spiteri
Optimism and excitement has replaced pessimism and uncertainty at the Fort Erie Race Track.
Horse owners and trainers are setting up shop at the Catherine Street facility in preparation for the 119th season, which starts May 31 and will include 40 days of live racing.
They were buoyed over the winter by the provincial government’s two-year contract extension with the track, securing its future until at least 2021.
“We got five more years from now. Hopefully, somewhere along the line, we get more days, and get more money, so we can afford to go longer,” said Harry Eder, co-ordinator of horesemans relations with the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium.
The consortium is the not-for-profit group that operates the track.
“It’s not like before. Every year it was like, ‘uh oh, are we coming back?’ Now we know we’re coming back for the next five years.
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2016/05/13/track-officials-riding-high-into-new-season
MARK CASSE ONE FROM 2000 WINNERS
REIMBURSE begins the quest for 2000 winners for Mark Casse today. The train’s Gulfstream starters in races 2 and 3 come before QUASAR POWER, picked by Thoroughblog, at Woodbine..
here are his entries today
May 14 – Belmont Park – Kaigun Race 10 Man o’ War S. (Gr 1)
May 14 – Churchill Downs Moonlight Sky Race 10 Allowance
May 14 – Gulfstream Park Reimburse Race 2 Claiming $50,000
Maximum Drama Race 3 Maiden Special Weight
Conquest Pacemaker Race 5 Allowance Optional Claiming $62,500
Best Plan Yet Race 5 Allowance Optional Claiming $62,500
Cape Dynasty Race 8 Maiden Special Weight
Conquest Cherimash Race 8 Maiden Special Weight
Cat Ride Race 10 Allowance Optional Claiming $25,000
Totally Evil Race 11 Maiden Claiming $12,500
May 14 – Woodbine – Quasar Power Race 4 Claiming $20,000
Greatest Game Race 8 Marine S. (Gr 3)
Riker Race 8 Marine S. (Gr 3)
