KAREN JOHNSON on Twitter – took this photo of some 10,000 fans at Saratoga at 8 this morning to see AMERICAN PHAROAH gallop..
Saturday, Saratoga, post time: 5:46 p.m. EDT
TRAVERS S.-GI, $1,600,000, 3yo, 1 1/4m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Upstart Flatter Ortiz Jr. Violette Jr. 15-1
2 American Pharoah Pioneerof the Nile Espinoza Baffert 1-5
3 Mid Ocean Mineshaft Franco Weaver 50-1
4 Texas Red K Afleet Alex Desormeaux Desormeaux 8-1
5 Frammento K Midshipman Ortiz Zito 30-1
6 Frosted Tapit Rosario McLaughlin 6-1
7 Keen Ice K Curlin Castellano Romans 12-1
8 Tale of Verve K Tale of Ekati Stevens Stewart 30-1
9 King of New York K Street Boss Leparoux McPeek 50-1
10 Smart Transition Smart Strike Velazquez Shirreffs 20-1
SHAMAN GHOST on vacation at the farm
Queen’s Plate winner SHAMAN GHOST is taking some time off at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs farm in Aurora ON. “The Prince of Wales was a bit tough on him,” said Dermot Carty, director of sales at Adena Springs. “He’s getting some well deserved r and r.”
Shaman Ghost was a close second in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie, edged by Breaking Lucky. There are no plans for the colt going forward at this time.
UPDATES TO CTHS CANADIAN PREMIER YEARLING SALE CATALOGUE..
today’s siblings at WOODBINE
Race 1 MSW OSS
2 Star Journey Hip 227 1/2 sister by Court Vision
#3 Lady Vision Hip 181 1/2 sister by Victor’s Cry
Race 4 MSW OSS
#2 Ethical Funds Hip 231 1/2 brother by Milwaukee Brew
#8 Dzala Hip 255 1/2 brother by Victor’s Cry
Race 5 CLM 25K
#7 Lunar Light Hip 136 full sister
Race 8 OC 80K
#4 San Nicola Thunder Hip 190 1/2 sister by Milwaukee Brew
from Wednesday..
SARATOGA RACE 8 ALW – Re: HIP 111 in sale
WAVELL AVENUE, an Ontario bred filly by Harlington – Lucas Street by Silver Deputy, won an allowance race at Saratoga on Wednesday in 1:09.45. Bred by Eugene Melnyk, the 4yo has a yearling half sister by Court Vision in the Sept. 8 Canadian Premier Sale – Hip 111.
WAVELL AVENUE‘s updated earnings to put in your catalogue is $243,725. She is also stakes placed now as she was 3rd in Woodbine’s Zadracarta Stakes.
DELAWARE RACE 5 OC417K/SAL12K
#3 Star of the Forest (3rd, 1 mile on dirt) Hip 227 1/2 sister by Court Vision
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT WOODBINE
OVERHEARD tuned up for a fall campaign with a handy score in this 1 1/16 miles turf race, an allowance/optional claiming event. The Pin Oak 5yo mare forged clear of Copper Kitten to win in 1:42.69. Lexie Lou was scheduld to return off a layoff in this race but she was scratched due to an eye injury. Look for Lexie next week in a yearling slaes stakes event.
Overheard, trained by Malcolm Pierce, put up a 90 Beyer Speed Figure according to DRF.
The SUMMER STAKES prep went to SKY MARSHAL, owned by Barbara Minshall and Avelino Gomez. The 2yo colt by Sky mesa cost $40,000 as a yearling and he was 4th in his debut. He had blinkers on for the 7 furlong utrf race and led all the way over a closing Springhouse, a Gus Schickedanz homebred.
race 3 – a maiden 2yo filly race for $50,00 claiming went to the only beginner in the field – ALLWEHAVEISNOW. The bellamy Road gal won by 6 lengths in 1:12.19 under David Garcia. Kelynack racing Stables Inc. owns the filly and Rick Griffht trains. The Kentucky bred was a $1,000 weanling purchase.
race 4- JEFFREYS GIRL became the 4th winner for trainer Julie Belhumeur in 2015 with her maiden score for $10,000. The Saffir grey filly is a homebred for Robert Hardie.
race 5 – WAITINGINTHEWINGS and Jermaine Bridgmohan won her season debut after an 8 month layoff. Ashlee Brnjas had the Colebrook Farms mare ready to go and she won this $25,000 claiming race in the last strides over Eastern Atlantic.
race 6 – An entry at 1 -5 went down to defeat as Jim Ensom’s NATURAL BLONDE ralleid wide to win for the 2nd time this season. The Mobil mare was coming off a terrible trip when she was checked on the rail.
race 70 – an 80 Beyer Figure put up here by GOODOLDHOCKEYGAME who was racing in a non-stakes event for the first time since his maiden score first time out, 8 races ago.
The Frank DiGiulio Jr homebred by Old Forester was ridden by patrick Husbands the pair beat heavily favoured Drink in my Hand.
race 8 – SOLO PLAYER was looking for his 6th win of the season but he gave in late to classy EXECUTIVE FIVE, who was winning for trainer Darwin Banach and owner Lawrence Deakins. It was the 7th win in the 48th race for Executive Five and his first win since his season debut in 2013.
In a twist, Executive Five’s former trainer Ross Armata claimed the horse from this race for owner S A Stable.
DAN FLIES 5 FURLONGS
WISE DAN had a big workout at Keeneland this week as his preparations continue to go well for his return from the fractured leg. His next race is expected to be right here at Woodbine for the Sept. 13 Woodbine Mile. he has won this race twice and won the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Horse of the Year titles too.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/93931/wise-dan-goes-five-furlongs-in-59-flat
BELGIAN BILL leaning to Woodbine Mile
George Baker is leaning towards sending Belgian Bill on his travels again after giving him an entry into next month’s Ricoh Woodbine Mile.
Plans had been in place to run the globetrotting seven-year-old in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day at Ascot on October 17, following his creditable in defeat in the Arlington Million earlier this month.
http://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12040/9967962/belgian-bill-could-contest-ricoh-woodbine-mile
LIGHTNING SPEAR headed to Woodbine Mile
Trainer Stevens to quit training at end of season
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/26/olly-stevens-st-leger-victoria-pendleton
CANADIAN HORSES ON TRAVERS CARD
Saturday, Saratoga, post time: 4:25 p.m. EDT
PRIORITY ONE JETS FOREGO S.-GI, $700,000, 3yo/up, 7f
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Race Day K Tapit Castellano Pletcher 122
2 Takajo Congrats Cancel Terranova 118
3 Bourbon Courage Lion Heart Rosario Motion 118
4 Wildcat Red D’wildcat Lezcano Garoffalo 118
5 The Big Beast K Yes It’s True Velazquez Dutrow 118
6 Tamarkuz K Speightstown Ortiz Jr McLaughlin 122
7 Private Zone K Macho Uno Pedroza Navarro 124
8 Run for Logistics K Bernstein Arroyo Barker 118
9 Viva Majorca Tiago Leparoux Wilkes 118
10 Salutos Amigos Salute the Sarge Velasquez Jacobson 120
11 Den’s Legacy K Medaglia d’Oro Santana Jr Moquett 118
12 Falling Sky K Lion Heart Ortiz Wolfson 118
Saturday, Saratoga, post time: 3:47 p.m. EDT
NYRA.COM KING’S BISHOP S.-GI, $500,000, 3yo, 7f
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Commute K Hold Me Back Bridgmohan Casse 117
2 Grand Bili K City Zip Castellano Delgado 119
3 Competitive Edge Super Saver Velazquez Pletcher 121
4 Watershed Bernardini Rosario McLaughlin 117
5 Mr. Z K Malibu Moon Bravo Lukas 117
6 Limousine Liberal Successful Appeal Ortiz Colebrook 117
7 Holy Boss K Street Boss Santana Jr Asmussen 121
8 Classy Class K Discreetly Mine Stevens McLaughlin 117
9 Loose On the Town K Speightstown Lezcano Lynch 117
10 March K Blame Ortiz Jr Brown 121
11 Runhappy K Super Saver Prado Borell 117
VIEW FROM THE BOOTH – with Robert Geller
from Woodbine media
Check out Woodbine’s website each week, track announcer Robert Geller will comment on some of the horses that caught his eye, highlighting horses to key on in upcoming races at Woodbine. Follow Robert on Twitter @WoodbineGeller
GAMBLE’S GHOST – Race 3, Friday, August 14 (1st)
This 3YO daughter of Ghostzapper could not have been more impressive in her debut. Slow to find stride from the inside gate but allowed to find her feet, she trailed at the back of the field early. As her momentum built, she moved through the pack up the rail. Race favourite, Conquest Soprano had been coasting in her attempt to break the ice but once Gamble’s Ghost cut the corner, she slipped past her in a heartbeat, drawing off to score by 8-1/4 lengths, being geared down at the end of the 7 furlongs. Simply breathtaking!
KING’S PLEASURE – Race 4, Saturday, August 15 (2nd)
Keep in mind, this was a 5YO debuting at 7 furlongs for a $10,000 tag but in the context of that level, there was plenty to take away from this run. After a slow break, the chestnut son of Hard Spun made steady ground around runners. By the top of the lane, eventual winner Clever On Tap had already established a large winning break but King’s Pleasure cut back the margin to a length and a quarter at the wire, despite having been on the wrong lead down the stretch. He took money and probably will next out too.
STRING BIKINI – Race 6 Saturday, August 15 (5th)
This newcomer flew home when the race was all over in her debut at 5 furlongs in a maiden allowance. Unable to hold position early, she dropped to last at the 3/8ths. Note that the top two finishers remained the top two most of the run. When rider, Emma Jayne-Wilson released the brakes down the lane, String Bikini began to, dare I say it, unravel, splitting runners late for an eye-catching fifth. String Bikini was 21/1 odds that day but should continue to offer value until her form is, you guessed it, fully exposed.
Honourable Mention
AWSOME MOI – Race 7 Saturday, August 15 (6th)
Sorry, another first-timer. Awsome Moi appeared to be going nowhere in his debut as a 43/1 shot but kicked it in late after switching course then being taken up. The race didn’t completely fall apart and this 3YO that faced older showed signs of life.
