Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Mare’s Day!
WILD CATOMINE would not let favourites HOT N SPICY (grey) and LEXIE LOU (7) past and she won the FURY STAKES, the first major prep to the WOODBINE OAKS. John Oxley owns, Mark Casse trains and it was a big day for breeders Anderson Farms and Rod Ferguson. TERENCE DULAY – HORSE-RACES.NET PHOTO
WILD (and SWEET)
Oaks and Plate contenders win for breeders Anderson.Ferguson
She had just raced once, a few weeks ago, and won her maiden with a strong, wide speed battle style. But WILD CATOMINE looks like the real deal as she came right back and fought her way to a win in the Fury Stakes, defeating the imposing newcomer HOT N SPICY and recently sold LEXIE LOU. The Beyer Figure was a decent 81 for John Oxley’s gal, who was the most expensive yearling filly sold in Canada two years ago. The filly acted up in the paddock but settled down for Gary Boulanger once she was on the track.
This brawny Milwaukee Brew gal is out of Smart Catomine, who was owned by Anderson Farms and Rod Ferguson (breeders of Wild Catomine) but she was sold in 2011 for $25,000 to Bernard and Karen McCormack. The mare has a 2014 colt by Spring at Last and was scheduled to go to Stroll.
More Saturday – Windy day! Very strong winds made it a bit easier for the speed horses in the sprints.
Race 1 – CLOUDWATCHER was everyone’s pick and this mare had a nice trip under apprentice NICK WEBB and won the $8,000 claiming race in her first race since December. True North Stables owns and Lorne Richards trains. Webb was making his first start of 2014, he won 6 races in 2013. Interestingly, Cloudwatcher came form off the pace to win the 5 furlong dash, however she was the favourite.
Race 2- HONORABLE GUEST, owned and bred by Nancy Guest,. has had a sporadic career since he won the Frost King Stakes at 2 (and he was first or second in 8 races as a juvenile) but he used a 5 furlong prep to win this 1 1/16 miles starter allowance. The son of Old Forester set a slow pace and was mildly pressed by Regulat Bussiness, then Mist Opportunity and Sly Aspios flew around rivals on the last turn to join him and he repelled that pair. When 3yo Money Talks came rushing up the rail to take the lead, Honorable Guest surged again and he was geared down at the wire to win by a head. Mark Casse trains and Patrick Husbands rode this nice colt.
Race 3 – EASTERN ATLANTIC was dropped in class from $62,500 to just $25,000 and she led all the way to win in 1:10. 68, a 75 Beyer Figure. Tucci Stables has owned the mare (by Stormy Atlantic) for some time but she was claimed by Debmar Stables yesterday. Eurico da Silva rode for trainer Sid Attard.
Trouble in that race for 2 horses from the Marilyn McMullen barn: TOURING HONG KONG checked out badly on the rail and SEE YOU INTOWN was very wide on the turn for home.
Race 4- the Pick 4 started off with favoured CLICK winning the allowance/optional claiming at odds-on. He had blinkers on for his 2nd race of the year and this Tomahawk 4yo led all the way under Eurico da Silva. There was quite the smash up behind him on the turn, however. The incident happened in a blind area for the stewards head on cameras on the turn but it appeared as if MACHO WHISKEY shied from Barbasgo who was on the rail and had his turned turned inwards most of the race. Macho Whiskey veered out into several rivals (CHief Chato, Wakeboarder) but then regrouped and rallied to be 2nd. He was later demoted to 7th.
Race 5- A maiden allowance and there was more fracas as there were two vet scratches at the gate: SPANISH RIVER and BUTILOVESYABABE. After a short delay, LIONS BAY overcame a step-slow start and surged to the lead and held off everyone to win his maiden for the Earle family and trainer Jamie Attard. This white-faced 3yo colt is by Sligo Bay (Ire) out of Lions Raw by War Deputy and hei is a homebred who was making his 2nd career start. Davy Moran rode. The colt ran in 1:10.47, good for a 75 Beyer Figure.
Race 6 – Another favourite and an easy pick – SHARP SENSATION stalked KITTEN CANDY and won his 2nd race of the year after he raced in the Jacques Cartier and finished 6th. Owned by Jim and Susan Hill, SHARP SENSATION (by Sharp Humor) was ridden by Jesse Campbell.
The time of 1:09.46 was good for a 91 Beyer Figure.
Race 7 – Queen’s Plate hopeful TOWER OF TEXAS won for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield, who was there to cheer the son of Street Sense on as he rallied in time to beat Behold the Bear. The winner is owned by Tom Van Meter and Scott Dilworth and was bred by Anderson Farms and Rod Ferguson. He was a $195,000 Keeneland January ‘short’ yearling purchase. The colt is out of Rare Opportunity, dam of good ones like Street Sounds and Silver Highlight.
His Beyer was 71.
Behold the Bear had a minor drift in through the stretch and was disqualified and placed 3rd.
Race 9 – CHAMPION older horse ALPHA BETTOR beat 3 rivals in the prep for the Eclipse Stakes and earned a 92 Beyer Figure. This 6yo horse made a splendid appearance in the paddock for his season opener and he set a slow pace and held off Stealcase for his 9th win in his 27th race. Dan Vella co-owners and trains with Bulldog Stable. Justin Stein rode the horse and gave him a bunch of big pats at the wire.
race 10 – a maiden allowance from Ontario-sired guys and favoured SNOW LEGACY rallied and won at odds on in his 2nd race of the season. This son of Milwaukee Brew is out of stakes winner London Snow and he was 1st time Lasix for trainer John Charalambous. Kirk Bradden Stables owns and it was the first win of the season for jockey Steve Bahen.
Betting was a solid $3.3 million.
PREAKNESS UPDATE
In just 6 days, CALIFORNIA CHROME will be going for the 2nd jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes, 1 3/16 miles.
DYNAMIC IMPACT, trained by Mark Casse, worked SUNDAY morning in 1:01.60 for 5 furlongs over a good track.
POSSIBLE FIELD for Preakness
Bayern Bob Baffert 3.36 Rosie Napravnik
California Chrome Art Sherman 3.40 Victor Espinoza
Dynamic Impact Mark Casse 3.00 Miguel Mena
General A Rod Michael Maker 2.00 Joel Rosario
Kid Cruz Linda Rice 1.50 Julian Pimentel
Pablo Del Monte Wesley Ward 1.29 Jeffrey Sanchez
Ria Antonia Tom Amoss 4.14 Mike Smith
Ride On Curlin Billy Gowan 3.44 Calvin Borel
Ring Weekend Graham Motion 3.36 Alan Garcia
Social Inclusion Manny Azpurua 2.56 Luis Contreras
CANADIAN-BASED HORSES HEADLINE PRESQUE ISLE OPENER
Bunny, Shanagarry and Norquay at it again
FROM GoErie.com
Presque Isle Downs begins its seventh full season today, featuring the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes on the first evening of the 100-day meeting.
This is the second straight season the Tapeta-surface track will run Sunday through Thursday. On Monday, the eighth running of the $100,000 Tom Ridge Stakes is scheduled. Monday racing debuted at the Downs in 2013 and was an off-track wagering gold mine.
Pablo Morales, the runaway riding champion for two consecutive seasons, returns along with leading trainer Tim Hamm.
The eighth running of the Inaugural Stakes, the first race at the track that opened September 2007, has a field of 10 entered in the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.
Zensational Bunny, ridden by Gary Boulanger…read more at:
http://www.goerie.com/presque-isle-downs-opens-today
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH RESEARCH UPDATE come on out!
WEG and HBPA will co-sponsor a University of Guelph Research Update on Thursday, May 22nd in the Northern Dancer Room at Woodbine Racetrack. Presentations begin at 10:30a and a complimentary lunch will be provided. To register for this free event please contact Corinne at the HBPA offices (416-675-3802 or cep@hbpa.on.ca). Space is limited, please register early.
AGENDA:
10:30a Welcome, Strategy
10:45a Dr. Jeff Thomason – On the right track: Pros and cons of modern track construction
11:30a Dr. Thomas Koch, Dr. Judith Koenig – Update on umbilical cord blood stem cells and their use in the horse
12:15p Complimentary Lunch
1:15p Dr. Luis Arroyo – Pulmonary artery calcification and potential clinical consequences
2:00p Dr. Peter Physick-Sheard – Racetime heart rate & sudden death: The Woodbine ECG
study
