AUDRE CAPPUCCITTI
1946-2012
Reports are coming in from social media only that top Canadian trainer AUDRE CAPPUCCITTI has passed away.
Audre was fun, personable and an all round great lady who kept her illness quiet. She loved to talk about her horses and was always generous with her comments and interviews.
Her horses have included DEPUTY INXS, the multiple champion, EL PRADO ESSENCE and champion sprinter ESSENCE HIT MAN, who will race for his late owner in the upcoming Kennedy Road Stakes.
Born in Mansfield Ontario 66 years ago, Audre has been around horses all her life – her grandfather was a breeder of show horses for the RCMP. Her husband Gord is part of the Cappuccitti family’s potato business, operating in Alliston as Ontario Potato Distributing Inc.
In 2010, stable star Essence Hit Man led barn to a $1 million season, its first first seven figure season since 2005
The Cappuccitti stable stats:
2011 243 15 t-29 $879,292 3
2010 234 19 t-24 $1,233,524 4
2009 225 19 t-20 $780,758 1
2008 244 31 10 $948,794 0
2007 229 17 t-24 $717,429 0
2006 277 8 t-55 $416,675 0
2005 272 26 t-10 $1,022,567 0
2004 249 27 13 $1,253,027 1
2003 253 20 19 $1,111,593 1
2002 279 30 12 $1,742,314 3
2001 310 45 6 $1,829,110 2
2000 289 45 4 $1,853,340 0
1999 287 40 t-4 $1,197,283 5
1998 404 62 t-2 $1,352,975 7
1997 281 46 4 $716,826 2
NIPISSING, serious business before, these guys were likely smiling later
Norm Files photo
UNBEATEN
It has been a great year for Canadian 2yo fillies, in particular those coming out of Ontario.
SPRING VENTURE, SPRING IN THE AIR and the unbeaten Ontario sired gal NIPISSING have been fun to watch in 2012. Two of them (Air and Nipissing) are Canadian-bred so hopefully they will still be around for the Oaks next season.
The victory by NIPISSING on Sunday in the South Ocean Stakes, over a small, modest field, was impressive as she was not hard used for a 73 Beyer Figure score.
The Niigon – Kiche filly track a soft pace of 24 3/5 and 49 and by the move to the far turn, bid 3 wide to duel Otonabee and Seeking Toussaud and then drew off with ease in 1:45.79. She then galloped out a mile ahead of her stablemate Otonabee.
She became the first stakes winner for Rachel Halden when she won the Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
The win may not help the filly win the Sovereign Award, since Spring Venture and Spring in the Air both won graded stakes (the former won 2) but she should be a finalist.
For owner/breeder CHIEFSWOOD STABLE, it was another bittersweet win in a rollercoaster year.
Its stallion NIIGON passed away recently and he has been providing the farm with almost all of its good winners. The barn has 21 Woodbine wins so far this season.
YOU’RE KILLIN ME SMALLS! Named for the funny line in the movie THE SANDLOT, Killen Me Smalls has driven us nuts with his bad starts but he was up to win his maiden for the famed Zayat Stables on Sunday. Norm Files photo
POSH SOX zipped up the rail under a Jesse Campbell hand ride to win for Mike Ambler on Sunday. She’s a cool one by Best of the Bests
Norm Files photo
BUT…DID YOU HAVE THAT ONE?
You hear a lot of that at Woodbine these days as the longshots land bombs all over the place right now. Horses changing form, or holding good form while others coming up from Fort Erie prove their worth and still others are just, simply, fresh and ready to go.
RUVEE, an Ontario sired 3yo by Tomahawk, led from start to finish and won his maiden at 60 to 1 in a surprising opener on Sunday.
The $67,000 maiden allowance had a $300,000 Giant’s Causeway colt in the field, Jamestown, a pair from Bear Stables that cost almost half a million combined, plus several others who had Beyer Figures in the 70s.
Ruvee, a speedy sort who had been 3rd and 4th in recent outings at the Ontario sired maiden allowance level, had a pair of 54 Beyers and a new rider in Davy Moran.
There was some trouble in the race as Forgotton Vow, a contender, was checked out of contention early, and Unbridled Bear broke slowly, but it was hard to imagine that nobody could run down this Frank Huarte homebred.
Ruvee is out of the Huarte family’s good mare Spanish Play.
GOLDEN GIRL SUE may have raced throughout 1 1/16 miles in the 3, 4 and 5 paths but even when 2 rivals came up inside of her on the last turn, she still won the $23,500 claimer in her 3rd race since being claimed by Rijack and Ace Stables and trainer Scott Fairlie. The 5yo mare by Bold Executive – Mad Bout You was bred by Gardiner Farms.
Golden Girl Sue was 6 to 1 under Michelle Rainford.
More longbombs in race 3 for maiden 2yo’s for claiming $20,000 as PASSING FLASHER led from start to finish at 11 to 1 over DUBLIN NIGHTS at 45 to 1. The winner, a Bold n Flashy colt out of Passing Star by Cape Canaveral, was dropping from maiden allowance and $32K claiming but had also just lost at Fort Erie. David Garcia rode for ARK Racing and Racing Canada and trainer Abraham Katryan.
The speed fest ended in race 4, the first leg of the first PICK 4 as favoured KILLIN ME SMALLS, a homebred for the American stable ZAYAT, came from a slow start and was up to win the 6 1/2 furlong maiden 2yo allowance for Ontario sired guys. The winner, a son of leading 1st crop sire MARCAVELLY out of Curly Girl by Golden Missile, has serious gate issues (2 previous starts were marred by slow breaks from the gate) but despite no gate works, he overcame another bad beginning to beat firster COUNTY LINEMAN, a member of the Ginger Punch racing syndicate, one of several teams organized by Frank Stronach’s Horse racing League.
Killn Me Smalls is trained by Steve Asmussen, who only has raced 3 other starters at the meeting, it was his first win.
Several others in the race broke badly, firster FOREVER BEST closed okay behind the slowing late pace.
The 5th race went to another front runner, RUN GOOSE RUN, a Mongoose filly making her 2nd career start and first since July. The race was a $10K maiden claimer.
At 30 to 1, AINTNOFLYSONME zipped up the rail from well back to win race 6 over 17 to 1 shot BELL’S FIRST LAD.
The winner, the 2nd for trainer Gord Colbourne in 3 days, was showing improving form and dropping a level to $10,000 claiming, non-winners of 2. Quincy Welch rode the sone of Limehouse.
POSH SOX also zipped up the rail in race 7, at 14 to 1, to continue a parade of bombers. This was an odd race as 4 to 5 fave JOHANNES, coming off a lengthy layoff, was an absolite mess of sweat and after she made an early, wide move to the lead, she stopped and landed 4th. The winner is owned by MIKE AMBLER, who bred the Best of the Bests filly and has watched her earn over $230,000.It was her 3rd win in 9 races this year and she rallied to win under Jesse Campbell, who didn’t need the whip in the late stages and nicely hand rode the filly.
The final race capped a huge week for Brenda Selwyn Waxman and trainer Mike Keogh. The team won their 3rd race in the last few days, this time with RAVENIST, who won her maiden for $23,500. the Survivalist filly was making her 9th career start and first since Sept. 1.
Selwyn Waxman also won with the 2yo MOUNT BREW and INCLUSA. That barn also has the owner’s ULTIMATE DESTINY, who was one of the better local 3yos earlier in the year before going off form.
FIRST WIN FOR TRAINER FERRIS
CHANTE DAN, at 20 to 1 on Saturday, become the first winner trained by 25-year-old Preston Ferris, former rodeo rider from Calgary, Alberta.
Ferris, who came to Ontario a few years ago, has been training for the Greer family and has a handful of runner for that stable. Ferris comes from a long line of horsepeople and his father is former rider Alex Ferris.
PROSPECTIVE – IRON HORSE
John Oxley’s PROSPECTIVE has had a super year and what a warrior this son of Malibu Moon is. He has traveled from Florida to Kentucky to Louisiana, Canada and parts between. On Saturday, he won the $150,000 Delta Mile with an 88 Beyer Figure.
8 tracks, 5 wins, all stakes, 4 jockeys, $544K this year alone for earnings of over $700K.
This high striding 3yo is not the flashiest dude, and he doesn’t even run all that fast. But he likes to win and it’s cool to see him doing well.
With just one start in Canada, he is not eligible for a Sovereign Award.
LONGRUN AUCTIONS OFF VINTAGE ROTHMANS JACKET
LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society is pleased to be offering a Rothman’s Ltd. International Jacket for auction on eBay.ca! Like all of LongRun’s 2012 eBay auctions, 100% of the auction value will be available to LongRun as part of eBay’s “Giving Works” program!
The jacket, generously donated by owner/trainer Nelson Bunting, was cared for by Woodbine jockey and LongRun supporter Emma-Jayne Wilson during the 2012 racing season, in order to encourage as many local and visiting jockeys as possible to autograph the jacket to support LongRun! We are happy to say that over 35 national and international jockeys were pleased to help support us and took the time out of their stay at the Toronto oval to emblazon the jacket with their names.
The autographs include (but are not limited to):
* Alex Solis
* Frankie Dettori
* Corey Nakatani
* Patrick Husbands
* Emma-Jayne Wilson
* Eurico Rosa DaSilva
* Luis Contreras
* Sandy Hawley
* Garrett Gomez
… And many others!
The auction is available at LongRun’s eBay page; www.http://myworld.ebay.ca/longrun1416 and will run from November 19th until November 26th 2012, with bidding beginning at $100.00!
Any questions can be directed to:
LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society
555 Rexdale Boulevard, P.O. Box 156
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 5L2
416-675-3993 ext. 3440 | info@longrunretirement.com | www.longrunretirement.com
WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING AT WOODBINE
With less than a month to go in the Woodbine 2012 season, there will be instances where horses are going to be taking huge class drops. It’s the name of the game, to win races.
It is concerning however, when situations like that of MICHAEL’S BAD BOY continue to appear year and year.
Certainly THOROUGHBLOG had been a loud voice in its opinion about the older horses that are still racing that may be past their prime.
From VERY PROFESSIONAL, to VERNE’S BABY , both who are deceased, itis hard for some of us to watch these horses continue to race when it appears they have nothing more to give, or prove.
MICHAEL’S BAD BOY won over $500K for Joan Agro, breeder. He has been racing lately for ADRIMAR RACING AND and number company and trainer Willie Armata.
Sure, they claimed the 9-year-old horse for $11,500 in July and have not had any luck since taking him from Agro. They need to recoup their money, that’s the business. That is fact.
The old timer is in for $6,000 claiming Wed. evening at Woodbine.
You may agree that this is a good move, or that it was a good move to claim a 9yo from a longtime breeder. You may agree with the gelding’s owner/breeder running him for $11,500.
Others may not agree that any of this is the right thing to do.
That’s the beauty of racing. Everyone has an opinion.
To read more on the Verne’s Baby story..
https://canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog/down/
