WOODBINE TRACK HOURS
Early numbers reported by the Woodbine race office this morning suggest that 100 horses could ship into Woodbine today, however the bitterly cold temperatures may have most changing their minds. Snow is expected tomorrow also.
Starting Sunday, February 22nd – Sand Ring Hours: 6:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. (weather permitting)
Starting Sunday – Training Track Hours: 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. (weather permitting) There will be NO harrow break at this time.
We will warm up with some awesome racing tomorrow – stay tuned to THOROUGHBLOG for some picks for the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, one of my favourite races.
EXCAPER READY TO BE “CANADIAN”
and Mr. Online is Canadian bred in Canadian Turf
EXCAPER, a graded stakes winner who has a fun little following in Canada will go after the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream on Saturday and the son of Exchange Rate, trained by Ian Black, appears to be sitting on a win. He comes off a good try in the El Prado Stakes when just caught by subsequent graded stakes winner Mshawish.
Yes, the American-bred fellow likes to finish 2nd a lot (9 times in his 22 races) but he drew the rail in the big field and perhaps new rider Jose Lezcano can time the grey’s move right.
“I think it’s a very even field and it should be a great race,” said Black’s assistant trainer Jeff Bowen. “He is coming into it very good and Bryan Lynch’s horse (Silver Freak) has a lot of speed from the outside so being in the 1 hole we will have to hope for a smart ride form our jockey.”
Some other fancy Canadians have won the Canadian Turf – IZVESTIA in 1991 being one of the most notable. Twilight Meteor and Super Sunrise were Canadian-breds who also won the race.
Gulfstream media preview of Jack Milton’s return in Canadian Turf:
Gary Barber’s Jack Milton is set for a return to Gulfstream Park after a two-year absence to run in the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), one of eight stakes (seven graded) on Saturday’s 12-race program that will be highlighted by the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2).
The Todd Pletcher-trained 5-year-old launched his career at Gulfstream on Jan. 15, 2013 with a 2 ½-length turf victory over War Dancer, who would go on to win multiple graded stakes, including a Virginia Derby (G2) decision over Jack Milton later that year. Jack Milton followed up his promising debut with a wide-trip second-place allowance finish three weeks later, never to return to Gulfstream while proceeding to compete in 10 stakes (nine graded) in his next 11 starts. The son of War Front captured the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland in his first race away from Gulfstream and went on to become Grade 1 stakes-placed in the Secretariat at Arlington and the Jamaica Handicap at Belmont during his 2013 campaign.
Jack Milton started his 4-year-old campaign with a three-length allowance win at Churchill Downs and a 2 ¾-length triumph in the Poker (G3) at Belmont Park, dominating at a mile while closing strongly from off the pace.
“I think he’s the type of horse that’s really at his best when he’s allowed to settle and gets an honest pace up front,” said Pletcher, whose turf veteran is slated to face 13 rivals in the one-mile Canadian. “He’s got a pretty explosive kick in that scenario, so we’re looking forward to getting his season under way. He certainly looks well and he’s training super, so we’re hoping he comes back and has a big 5-year-old year.”
Jack Milton concluded his 2014 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, a third-place finish in the Fourstardave (G2) at Saratoga and a wide off-the-board finish in the Woodbine Mile (G1).
DOH! Todd Pletcher on Jack Milton’s last race:
“We gave him a little freshening after the Atto Mile or the Woodbine Mile or whatever they call it these days.”
One of Canada’s most popular runners, EXCAPER, is fittingly a major contender in the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream on Saturday. Trained by King City’s Ian Black for Americans Richard and Nancy Kaster.
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH – PAST WINNERS
I remember being at my first FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, watching DARN THAT ALARM win and that was a bit surprising to me. A few years later I was wild about Darn that Alarm’s brother STRONG PERFORMANCE, contender in the ’86 Fountain of Youth. It was MY PRINCE CHARMING up posted a bit of an upset that day.
It is the first big race for the American 3-year-olds and while the distance does not often suggest a Kentucky Derby winner can emerge, recent winners include UNION RAGS (Belmont) and Orb (Derby).
2014 Wildcat Red 3 Luis Saez Jose Garoffalo Honors Stable 1-1/16 1:41.85 $400,000 II
2013 Orb 3 John Velazquez Claude R. McGaughey III Janney/Phipps Stable 1-1/16 1:42.24 $400,000
2012 Union Rags 3 Julien Leparoux Michael Matz Chadds Ford Stable 1-1/16 1:42.68 $400,000 II
2011 Soldat 3 Alan Garcia Kiaran McLaughlin Clarke/Robertson/Braverman 1-1/8 1:50.23 $400,000
2010 Eskendereya 3 John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Zayat Stables 1-1/8 1:48.87 $250,000 II
2009 Quality Road 3 John Velazquez James A. Jerkens Edward P. Evans 1 mile 1:35.01 $350,000 II
2008 Cool Coal Man 3 Kent Desormeaux Nick Zito Robert V. LaPenta 1-1/8 1:50.07 $350,000 II
2007 Scat Daddy 3 John Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Scatuorchio & Tabor 1-1/8 1:49.11 $350,000 II
2006 First Samurai * 3 Edgar Prado Frank L. Brothers Bruce Lunsford/Robbins 1-1/8 1:49.00 $300,000
2005 High Fly 3 Jerry D. Bailey Nick Zito Live Oak Plantation 1-1/8 1:49.70 $300,000 II
2004 Read the Footnotes 3 Jerry D. Bailey Richard Violette Klaravich Stables 1-1/16 1:42.71 $250,000
2003 Trust n Luck 3 Cornelio Velasquez Ralph Ziadie Paul Robsham 1-1/16 1:43.33 $200,000 I
2002 Booklet 3 Jorge Chavez John T. Ward, Jr. John C. Oxley 1-1/16 1:44.49 $200,000 I
2001 Songandaprayer 3 Edgar Prado John F. Dowd Bobby Hurley 1-1/16 1:43.48 $200,000 I
2000 High Yield 3 Pat Day D. Wayne Lukas M. Tabor & R & B Lewis 1-1/16 1:42.56 $200,000 I
1999 Vicar 3 Shane Sellers Carl Nafzger James B. Tafel 1-1/16 1:45.64 $200,000 I
1998 Lil’s Lad 3 Jerry D. Bailey Neil J. Howard Durst/Farish/Centennial 1-1/16 1:42.63 $200,000 II
1997 Pulpit 3 Shane Sellers Frank L. Brothers Claiborne Farm 1-1/16 1:41.86 $200,000 II
1996 Built For Pleasure 3 Gary Boulanger Tommy Heard, Jr. Tommy Heard, Jr. 1-1/16 1:43.64 $200,000
1995 Thunder Gulch 3 Mike E. Smith D. Wayne Lukas Michael Tabor 1-1/16 1:43.21 $200,000 II
1994 Dehere 3 Craig Perret Reynaldo Nobles Due Process Stable 1-1/16 1:44.70 $200,000 II
1993 # Duc d’Sligovil 3 Julie Krone Jeremy McNeill Ray McNeill 1-1/16 1:45.16 $187,500 II
1993 # Storm Tower 3 Rick Wilson Ben Perkins, Jr. Charles Hesse 1-1/16 1:44.98 $187,500 II
1992 Dance Floor 3 Chris Antley D. Wayne Lukas Oaktown Stable 1-1/16 1:45.32 $250,000 II
1991 Fly So Free 3 Jose A. Santos Scotty Schulhofer T. & E. Valando 1-1/16 1:44.30 $122,500 II
1990 Shot Gun Scott 3 Dave Penna Ronald J. Sarazin Jean Friedberg/Scott Hamilton 1-1/16 1:44.6$130,000
1989 Dixieland Brass 3 Randy Romero Charles Peoples Bayard Sharp/W. Farish 1-1/16 1:44.60 $130,000
1988 Forty Niner 3 Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Claiborne Farm 1-1/16 1:43.20 $165,000 II
1987 Bet Twice 3 Craig Perret Warren Croll Blanche P. Levy/Cisley Stable 1-1/16 1:43.40 $167,500 II
1986 # Ensighn Rhythm 3 Julio Pezua Leo Azpurua, Jr. Lushland Farm 1-1/16 1:45.60 $130,000 II
1986 # My Prince Charming 3 Jose A. Santos Newcome Green Don Aronow 1-1/16 1:45.00 $130,000
1985 Proud Truth 3 Jorge Velasquez John M. Veitch Darby Dan Farm 1-1/16 1:43.60 $175,000 II
1984 Darn That Alarm 3 Mike Venezia George Gianos Robert N. Caporella 1-1/16 1:43.00 $95,000 II
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS
CONQUEST CURLINATE, a Canadian bred grey 3-year-old by Curlin owned by Conquest Stables, was 3rd in an Oaklawn allowance race on Thursday. Fresh off a maiden win with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure, the colt trailed a hot early pace, loomed wide on the last turn but flattened out to be beaten about 4 lengths.
His Beyer Figure was 70. The colt was bred in Ontario by Charles Hayden.
NIPIGON worked in 52 2/5 for Chiefswood Stable at Payson Park on Thursday, his 3rd workout of the year
“ROAD TO THE PLATE”, a new podcast produced by Santino DiPaola of the blog CHRTB, is set to air its first episode Saturday evening. The project also includes Handel Viarruel and Julie Wright.
SPEEDHORSE MAGAZINE to have Canadian section
The impressive and jam-packed magazine SPEEDHORSE, covering Quarter Horse racing in United States, will have a Canadian section. The first issue, 30 pages worth, is available on-line now at http://speedhorse.com/speedhorse-canada-february-2015/
A preview of the upcoming season at Ajax Downs is included in the issue.
