MONDAY

WOODBINE WEEKEND WRAP

Sister Peacock and Shakopee Town win opening weekend stakes

For just $9,000 Russell McLellan of Alberta bought SISTER PEACOCK as a yearling at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Kentucky bred by Real Solution was hip number 2893 in that giant sale and she has proven to be a wonderful bargain.

Racing for Russ and Brent McLellan and Stuart Simon and trained by Simon, SISTER PEACOCK led all the way to win the $100,000 Star Shoot Stakes on day 2 of the Woodbine season.

Ridden by Jesse Campbell, Sister Peacock easily grabbed the lead early in the 6 furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, set fractions of :22.97 and :45.99 and kept her closest pursuer, Missmizz, at bay en route to victory in 1:09.53. Power Gal finished third off a ground-saving trip and Intanga Rose was a troubled fourth, edging out Si Si Tequila, who challenged three-wide turning for home before drifting out in the stretch.

Speedy Soul, My Gal Betty, Kettle Valley and Special for You completed the order of finish. Malibu Dawn was scratched.
Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Sister Peacock in unbeaten at Woodbine in 3 races.

“Hats off to this athlete. Stuart did a great job getting her ready. Thanks to the connections,” said Campbell.

“Stuart’s a great horse trainer and they took her down south and she’s developed,” said Campbell, who was aboard for the filly’s first two career wins at Woodbine last year. “He phoned me last week when she worked and he said she worked good. I said, ‘No Stuart, she didn’t work good, she worked real good.’ She was well prepared. She got a little warm in post, but she was a professional when she saw the gate. She stood very quiet — she was standing really well – so I didn’t move her and she left there and it was on. She’s a very smart and talented filly, and Stuart and the crew do a great job. I’m just blessed.”

After opening her sophomore campaign with a pair of runner-up efforts in a pair of one-mile turf stakes at Gulfstream Park over the winter, Sister Peacock was back to her winning ways over Woodbine’s Tapeta surface.

“I think she’ll get a mile fine,” noted Simon. “She may like getting a mile around one turn a little better, but she kind of breaks fast and then she kind of almost rates herself – she does drop off the bit – so I think getting longer won’t be a big problem. But she’s fast so it’s hard to not run her where the fast races are too.”

On Saturday, opening day of the 133-day Woodbine meeting, owners Al and Bill Ulwelling of Minnesota and trainer Kevin Attard didn’t take long to follow up on their stakes win at the end of the 2018. The Minnesota family, who have increased their involved in Ontario racing, kept the streak alive after Pumpkin Rumble won the Valedictory Stakes as SHAKOPEE TOWN powered to an impressive win in the Whimsical Stakes (G3) on opening day.

Bred by the Ulwellings, the 4-year-old filly by former Canadian sire Jersey Town – Shakopee by Evansville Slew tracked the speed of Tarawa and Alinah through opening fractions of :22.22 and :45.35 with Shakopee Town gaining ground inside to challenge at the top of the stretch. She then rallied 3-1/4 lengths clear to take the lion’s share of the $125,000 purse and complete six furlongs in 1:09.55 under jockey Alan Garcia. Sly Beauty and Zestina finished second and third, respectively. Alnilah, Magic Spell and Tarawa completed the order of finish.

Previously trained by Gary Scherer, Shakopee Town earned her fifth career win from 11 starts.

“Gary sure did a wonderful job with her. He’s managed her great. She came to me looking fabulous,” said Attard of the Ulwelling’s homebred filly. “They were looking for some black type. They breed and they own this family so this was obviously a good opportunity and we passed with flying colours.

Attard has ranked among the top three trainers at the Toronto oval for the past four years, with his stable amassing a career-best local win tally of 55 last year including six stakes at Woodbine.

OPENING WEEKEND BETTING BONANZA

Almost $8 million wagering, up from $5.6 million in 2018

Opening day of the Woodbine season realized $4.084 in wagering (up from $3.2 million a year ago) and day two was $3.9 million up from $2.4 million in 2018. Considering the so-so weather and a small Sunday racing card, these are encouraging numbers.

A variety of big and small stables won the races over a quick Tapeta surface and most races were run at 5 furlongs.

SATURDAY, RACE 1 – The season opened with the impressive maiden win by BROOKIES BEAR owned by John Brnjas’ Colebrook Farms, Bear Stable and Mickey Demers. The 3-year-old dark bay by Old Forester – Peggys’anexecutive by Bold Executive was one of the most expensive yearlings sold in Canada in 2017 at $75,000.

She had two starts at 2 and came out with blinkers on and Contreras up and blew to a 7 length win in 57.73 for 5 furlongs. Ashlee Brnjas trains and assistant trainer Patrick Dixon was winning his first race since joining Colebrook this year.

RACE 2 – STATION ROCK snuck up the rail late on the turn to win his maiden for $14,000 claiming for Dominic Delillo’s Centennial Farm (Niagara) under apprentice Daisuke Fukumoto. The 4-year-old had raced in Florida and moved to the barn of trainer Ravendra Raghunath, now with 57 career wins as a conditioner. The winner is a Florida bred by Biondetti.

RACE 3- UNDERCOVER CAT is no secret these days. The Ontario-bred by Where’s the Ring – Runaway Cat by Forest Wildcat brought a 5 race winning streak into this allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs for owners Cory Hoffman and Stephen Chesney, all dirt wins at Mahoning Valley. The 7-year-old was win shy type in previous years but he now has 6 straight wins, 10 career wins in 45 starts. He was bred by El Batey Farm and Kevin Buttigieg, a 35% win trainer, saddled the Cat. Jesse Campbell rode the winner.

Side note, as an Ontario-sired and bred winner, Undercover Cat won a staggering $52,000 for winning this $67,500 allowance race. His recent wins were for $16,000 claiming.

RACE 4 – More KEVIN BUTTIGIEG as he sent out ADELLE’S PRINCESS to a longshot win in her season debut for himself, Dean Sprinter and Peter Naime. This Overdriven filly, bred in Florida, won her maiden in August and had trained at Mahoning Vslley since late March. Krista Carignan rode this gal to victory in this $40,000 claiming/optional dash that was trouble filled.

Adelles Princess stumbled at the start but battled H is Just a number and then edged clear. Never Sober checked on the turn and caused Far falla to check and both fillies lost all chance.

RACE 5 – Trainer SHANA LOPEZ won her 8th career race in her young training career by sending out first time starter LADIES SIGNATURE to win a maiden $25,000 claiming race. The beginner, owned by Elvis Waithe and bred by Bob Watson, had a troubled trip as she broke last in the 5 furlong dash, was steadied early in the race when on heels.

Once settled she chased a 3 horse pace battle before splitting fillies under Ademar Santos to win. The filly is by Signature Red, a noted high percentage debut sire.

Mislight suffered an injury in the stretch run and had a cast applied before being vanned off.

RACE 6– Perennial Sovereign Award winning trainer MARK CASSE relocated LADY GRACE to Woodbine and the $300,000 Kantharos filly got her maiden win after a trio of 2nds in Florida as the favourite. Gary Boulanger rode Tracy Farmer’s filly to the win.

RACE 7 – LOOOCH RACING’s DON’T BE SO SALTY, winner of the Display Stakes at Woodbine in 2015, was predictable winner of race 7 at 8 to 5 for trainer Abbey Larimer. The classy 6-year-old was 5 for 7 last year and is 7 for 12 on the synthetic. He won this starter/optional with a $40,000 claiming price in 1:22.63 It was the 10th win in 26 starts for the son of Tiz Wonmderful who was ridden by Luis Contreras.

RACE 9 – CIRCLE OF FRIENDS was very strong on the pace in this allowance/optional, essentially a race for non-winners last year.  This Midnight Lute 5-year-old, owned by 3 Sons Racing zoomed through fast fractions and won the fastest short dash of the day in 56.98, just half a second off the track record. Trained by Robert Tiller, the gelding was ridden to this 5th career win by Eurico da Silva. ericka Rusnak bred the stakes winner.

RACE 10 – ROSS ARMATA JR. had NEVAEH’S DREAM well prepared to win this allowance/optional race (he did not race for the the $40K tag). The Giant Gizno – Be My Valentine by Jackonsport 4yo was ridden by Steve Bahen for Lucky DiLuciano Stable. Anthony Luciano bred the gelding who is 2 for 8 in his career. Being Ontario sired/bred, Nevaeh’s Dream picked up more than $30,000.

SUNDAY – RACE 1 – Small fields dominated the card but that did not mean it was all favourites that won. The day began with a favourite Daily Double as the study 7-year-old mare LADY OF MORAY won Sunday’s opener with a tough speed run. The Philanthropist mare was well prepared by trainer Daryl Ezra for owner James Schlehr to win the starter/optional race (she competed without a claiming price) for her 14th career win in 43 races. Ezra claimed the mare last June for $4,500 and she has won  4 times for the owner and trainer. Jeff Alderson rode the winner.

RACE 2- Last year’s leading trainer Norm McKnight got his first win of the season as PRIZED BOURBON sped to an easy win for $7,000 claiming. The well bred 6-year-old mare was dropping from allowance races that she ran in one year ago. Bruno Schickedanz owns the Old Forester mare and Kazushi Kimura rode.

RACE 3 was a 5-horse field at the first allowance class. Not only did a horse go off at 20 to 1 in this tiny group but she won the race too. GOLDTOWN nabbed Goldrush Glory on the wire to give trainer Ross Armata Jr. his second winner of the young season.

Thomas Uniacke owns this Speightstown mare who was originally a $300,000 yearling purchase. a half sister to the multiple stakes winner espresso Shot, she  claimed by these connections from Gary Barber last summer for $20,000. David Moran rode Goldtown to the upset win.

RACE 4- FACT CHECKING posted an upset win to start the Pick 4, winning her season debut for owners and breeders Gill and Nancy Howard, Don Ross and trainer Ian Howard. This Ontario bred by The Factor – Questuary by Archers Bay was ridden by Omar Moreno who rode her all last year at 2 when she won 6-1-1-1. This was a $40,000 claiming race at 5 furlongs. Promise Me Bourbon eased up in the race as she bled through Lasix.

RACE 5– American trainer Mike Stidham brought up POWELL for this maiden allowance as a mate to the barn’s Missmizz who would later run very well in the Star Shoot Stakes. This Munnings colt was odds on and won like it, streaking to a 5 length win in 57.04, one of the fastest races of the weekend. Rafael Hernandez picked up his first win of the season.

Interesting debut run from the dark grey colt ARI GOLD SPEEDWAGON, the 3-year-old half brother to to champion Pink Lloyd. Off the pace early, the colt closed ground impressively while lugging in badly and jockey Sheena Ryan did well just to keep the colt straight.

RACE 7 – ‘Sir Laurie’ Silvera sent out VIVIDARI to win off the layoff in this maiden/optional race. The Ontario sired Old Forester gelding from Dancing Doris by One Way Love was tough on the pace in this 5 furlong dash under Daisuke Fukumoto. John Carey bred the gelding who was making just his 2nd career start. The winner’s share was a big $33,000 for the Ontario sired/bred gelding.

RACE 8 – Alan Garcia guided the very fast YALLHAVEANICEDAY to a big win in this $7,500 claiming race at 5 furlongs. A grey by Kentucky Bear owned by JC Stables and trained by John Ross, Yallhaveaniceday was making his season debut. He was claiming by trainer Luke Carnegie.

Sadly, the 8-year-old gelding HOPEHARD, making his first start since September with 2 workouts at Mahoning Valley, collapsed and died after the finish. The 10 time winner was making his 50th career start. Ademar Santos was taken to a nearby hospital with a possible collarbone injury.

AGCO ISSUES UPDATED INFORMATION ON RACE-DAY MEDICATION BAN

Checklist, Information bulletin from HBPA to its members

THURSDAY APRIL 18: We continue to work with AGCO and Woodbine to mitigate and understand the protocols for the new AGCO Directive on race day medication ban, we will do our best to keep you updated and try to understand what is permissible and what is not. We intend to continue discussions for clarification.

Today we received some very good news, that as a result of a coordinated effort the AGCO have advised they are relaxing the rule with respect to vets entering the stall. Vets will be permitted to enter the stall to examine your horse. This will permit scoping and drawing blood. The veterinarian cannot treat your horse or administer any medication. Should any trainer or vet administer any drug on race day it will result in your horse being scratched. The HBPA appreciates the regulator for listening to the concerns of horsepeople and then adopting a more reasonable approach for the welfare of the horse.

Ongoing discussion with respect to shippers is taking place and we will inform you once a decision has been made. Please note if a new shipping policy is enacted it will ALSO apply to horses shipping between Fort Erie and Woodbine. Please find attached a copy of the Race Day Ban Directive. The HBPA recommends this document be posted in your barn.

Directive began Friday April 19. This means going forward that 24 hours prior to First race post time the following day the protocols take affect. For example, if you are running in the 5th race on this Saturday then at first post time on Friday the medication ban is in affect. The ‘Race day medication ban’ goes into effect 24 hours prior to the 1ST race post time on the day that your horse is racing.

At first race post the protocols take effect as follows:

VETS may enter the stall on race day to examine your horse without being accompanied by the AGCO veterinarian or Woodbine security but they CANNOT treat your horse.
Your private vet may jog, examine, palpate, scope or draw a blood but CANNOT administer any medication without scratching your horse.

YES, YOU CAN
– Apply non‐medicated poultice and sweats to legs
– Use a magnetic or thermal blanket
– Use ice boots
– Use blueing
– Use electrolytes in powder form on feed or in drinking water
– Put Vicks on the nostril before going to the paddock
– Put alcohol in the bath water on hot days
– Wash your horses mouth out with water only
– Hoof dressings with no analgesic
– Use petroleum jelly
– Use fly spray
– Use non‐medicated shampoos
NO, YOU CAN’T
– Put any medication in or on your horse
– Have your vet medicate or administer any medication
– Use medicated poultice or sweat
– Use any paste electrolytes
– Use any type of paste that goes in the mouth
– Administer any anti‐ ulcer meds
– Use any throat flushes
– Use hoof dressing with analgesics
– Use acupuncture

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE AMAZING ESCAPE CLAUSE?

Santa Anita, maybe Assiniboia later in year

The most exciting Canadian horse of this year, ESCAPE CLAUSE, was once again the talk of Canadian racing last week with her amazing run in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom when just nosed out by American star Midnight Bisou. On Thursday night she was named Canada’s Champion Older Mare at the Sovereign Awards near Woodbine racetrack in Ontario.

Interestingly, the super mare has been racing all winter for trainer Don Schnell as the listed owner when in fact, Schnell is a co-owner with True North Stable of Keith Johns and Barry Arnason, who also co-bred. Arnason and the True North gang were in attendance at the Sovereign Awards to accept the trophy.

Ivan Biggs writes the popular Insider Newsletter for Assiniboia Downs and he talked to Schnell last week:

“She’s the soundest horse on the track but that can change,” co-owner/trainer Don Schnell told The Insider from Oaklawn Park after Escape Clause (8-1) finished second to Midnight Bisou (4-5) in the $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap for fillies and mares. “There’s a lot of luck involved in this business.” And, of course, she’s extremely valuable as a broodmare. She’ll fetch a big buck.

But first things first. The morning after the big Sunday effort, the 5-year-old was “happy and bouncing and listening to the birds,” Schnell said. “She’s intrigued by all the different birds out here,”

“She ran too good to be beaten,” he said, noting that Queen’s Plate winner Wonder Gadot veered into her in the first turn, causing jockey Tyler Baze to steady her and not being able to regain her full stride for an eighth of a mile.

Still, $150,000US for her second-place finish is more than she’s ever won in any race, bringing her lifetime earnings to $645,000, within striking distance of the Manitoba-bred record of $670,000 set by gelding Fancy As in 2000-2003.

LOOKING FOR ANOTHER HORSE TO RACE?

April 2-year-old sale at OBS has big catalogue, many Ont.-breds

Canadian owned SHAMROCK ROSE is among the horses gracing the cover of the April 23-26 OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training sale and that April purchase went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

A filly by freshman sire WICKED STRONG from Another Flashback (Curlin)  was a $22,000 buy-back last year and she worked in 21 2/5 for this sale. This is half sister to recent winner Oh Danny Bear who was bred in Ontario by Karen Carroll.

A Flatter colt worked in 9 4/5 and he was bought back for $190,000 as a yearling. The dam Ever Elusive has produced foals for Josham Farms in Ontario,

ONTARIO-BREDS IN THE SALE

Hip  Workout time  Birthdate   Breeding    Consignor

63    10.2 4/20/2017 C Will Take Charge Golden Mean ON Kings Equine, Agent IV 2
88    10.2 5/22/2017 F Distorted Humor Hangingbyamoment ON Randy Miles, Agent V 18
122    10.3 5/12/2017 C Overanalyze High Tee ON Grassroots Training & Sales LLC J
171    22.3 3/7/2017 C Union Rags I Thirtyfive ON Southern Chase Farm, Inc. (Greg & Karen Dodd), Agent 7
296   21.3 4/3/2017 C Tapiture Macho Woman ON Q Bar J Thoroughbreds LLC 14
332   10.2 3/12/2017 C Curlin Mekong Delta ON Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XIV 8
431   10.2 1/18/2017 C Atreides On Rainbow Bridge ON Golden Rock Thoroughbreds, Agent
549   out 1/31/2017 C Union Rags Ribbon Cutter ON Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent XXII 5

657 10.0   3/8/2017 C Strong Mandate Souci Girl ON Whitman Sales LLC, Agent VII 16
710 10.0   2/27/2017 F Congrats Surtsey ON Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XVII 8
802 10.2   3/23/2017 F Lea Van Lear Rose ON Desert Thoroughbreds LLC 16
901 out    4/20/2017 F American Tap Tapiture American Castle ON Ocala Stud, Agent 4
914 21.2      5/4/2017 F Wicked Strong Another Flashback ON Potrero Stables 20
979 out      4/26/2017 C Honor Code Beth’s Bling ON Eddie Woods, Agent XLVII 11
1002 10.1   4/2/2017 F Paynter Breech Inlet ON Randy Miles, Agent XV 18
1012 10.0   4/24/2017 F Summer Front Button Girl ON G. A. Thoroughbred Sales, Agent 20
1038 10.3   3/6/2017 F Mineshaft Cat’s Garden ON Potrero Stables 20
1072 10.1   3/16/2017 C Congrats Clare’s Bernardine ON Thoroughbred Champions Training Center LLC E
1097 out    3/18/2017 C Competitive Edge Cool Slew ON Brick City Thoroughbreds 19
1135 out     4/18/2017 C Street Sense Dattt Echo ON Kings Equine, Agent V 2
1167 10.1    2/27/2017 F Mizzen Mast Donna Getyourgun ON Grassroots Training & Sales LLC J
1214 9.4     5/9/2017 C Flatter Ever Elusive ON Woodford Thoroughbreds, Age

LETTER FROM FRANK STRONACH IN L.A. TIMES

Stronach will speak Tuesday evening in California

“As stakeholders, we have to prove to the public that we love and care for the horses –not only while they are racing but long after they finished their racing career,” he said. “That is why I strongly believe we need a Racing Charter of Rights where all the participants in our industry are protected, including the horses. I look forward to bringing forth a number of different ideas to you the people which love horses.” – Frank Stronach

ASSINIBOIA DOWNS NEWS

https://www.chrisd.ca/2019/04/19/assiniboia-downs-jockeys-2019-season/#.XL0BpuhKh9M