ON THE MOVE

TOP WINNING BEYER SPEED FIGURES Aug 31-Sept 2

It was a busy racing week but also quiet in terms of star horse quality at tracks across the country. The highest Beyer Figures for winners (not including Yearling Sales Stakes night at Woodbine) were mostly posted by winners trained by Norm McKnight. The McKnight stable had a big week to go ahead of MARK CASSE for winners, 70 to 68.

90 GWENDOLINE H

89 – WYATT’S TOWN

84 TOUCH OF DISNEY

81 NIIGON’S LEGACY (turf)

 

WOODBINE MILE; SEPTEMBER 15

Brian Lynch could visit Woorbine with Oscar 

The 20 nominated horses to the Sept. 15 Woodbine Mile, $800,000, Grade 1 on the turf, includes four Woodbine horses and MR HAVERCAMP is the boss of that group. Fresh off a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in his convincing win in the Grade 2 Play the King. The Ontario-sired son of Court Vision, a $19,000 (US) buy-back races for Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry.

Monday, former Woodbine trainer Brian Lynch said the mulitple Grade 1 winner OSCAR PERFORMANCE could sneak up for the Mile.   Oscar Performance, who was pulled up and vanned off as the favorite in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 11, worked a half-mile in 48.01 seconds Monday morning over the Oklahoma turf course in Saratoga.

Woodbine Mile nominations – horses in bold probable starters through Sept 4

ANALYZE IT» –
b.c.3 by Point of Entry(Dynaformer) – Sweet Assay(Consolidator)
William H. Lawrence Chad C. Brown

AROD (IRE) – 3rd in 2017 to World Approval, 6th in 2016 to Tepin, with 3rd new trainer and has new owner
b.h.7 by Teofilo (IRE)(Galileo (IRE)) – My Personal Space(Rahy)
Two Towers Partnership David Simcock

BIG SCORE
dk b/.c.4 by Mr. Big(Dynaformer) – Not Unusual(Unusual Heat)
George Krikorian Tim Yakteen

CODE WARRIOR  (mare) – likely headed to Presque for a race
dk b/.m.5 by Society’s Chairman(Not Impossible (IRE)) – Lady Natalie(Runaway Groom)
Zilli Racing Stables Michael P. De Paulo

DELTA PRINCE – Won King Edward at Woodbine, 2nd to Voodoo Song in Fourstardave at Saratoga
dk b/.h.5 by Street Cry (IRE)(Machiavellian) – Delta Princess(A.P. Indy)
Stronach Stables James A. Jerkens

DIVISIDERO
b.h.6 by Kitten’s Joy(El Prado (IRE)) – Madame Du Lac(Lemon Drop Kid)
Gunpowder Farms LLC Kelly Rubley

FLY TO MARS
b.g.4 by Ministers Wild Cat(Deputy Minister) – Warren’s Flyer(Doc Gus)
Gary Barber Peter Miller

GOOD SAMARITAN
b.c.4 by Harlan’s Holiday(Harlan) – Pull Dancer(Pulpit)
WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd., SF Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC William I. Mott

HOLD’EMFORRANSOM
ch.g.4 by Regal Ransom(Distorted Humor) – Ring Star(Great Gladiator)
Ballycroy Training Centre and Alex Brouwer Ian Black

IRISH WAR CRY – Never raced on grass, pulled up in latest – G2 winner
ch.c.4 by Curlin(Smart Strike) – Irish Sovereign(Polish Numbers)
Isabelle de Tomaso H. Graham Motion

LA SARDANE (FR) – 4th in Play the King 
b.f.4 by Kingsalsa(Kingmambo) – Foresta (FR)(Forestier (FR))
Team Valor International Neil D. Drysdale

LORD GLITTERS (FR) – G3 winner Strensall Stakes last start 
gr.g.5 by Whipper(Miesque’s Son) – Lady Glitters (FR)(Homme de Loi (IRE))
Geoff and Sandra Turnbull David O’Meara

MADE YOU LOOK
dk b/.c.4 by More Than Ready(Southern Halo) – Night and Day(Unbridled’s Song)
Three Chimneys Farm Chad C. Brown

MR HAVERCAMP – Won G2 Play the King at Woodbine 
dk b/.g.4 by Court Vision(Gulch) – Tennessee Lamb(Medaglia d’Oro)
Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry Catherine Day Phillips

OSCAR PERFORMANCE – Pulled up in Arlington Million, G1 winner 
b.c.4 by Kitten’s Joy(El Prado (IRE)) – Devine Actress(Theatrical (IRE))
Amerman Racing LLC Brian A. Lynch

PROJECTED (GB)
b.g.6 by Showcasing (GB)(Oasis Dream (GB)) – Deliberate (GB)(King’s Best)
Juddmonte Farms Chad C. Brown

STORMY ANTARCTIC (GB)
ch.g.5 by Stormy Atlantic(Storm Cat) – Bea Remembered (GB)(Doyen (IRE))
Mr. P. K. Siu Ed Walker

VANISH – 2nd to Mr Havercamp in Play the King 
ch.g.4 by Algorithms(Bernardini) – Elusive Hope(Elusive Quality)
Eight Star Racing Stables Inc. Vito Armata

VOODOO SONG – 5th in Monday’s Bernard Baruch
ch.c.4 by English Channel(Smart Strike) – Mystic Chant(Unbridled’s Song)
Barry K. Schwartz Linda Rice

YOSHIDA (JPN) – Next race is Breeders’ Cup Classic
b.c.4 by Heart’s Cry (JPN)(Sunday Silence) – Hilda’s Passion(Canadian Frontier)
WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International Ltd., SF Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC William I. Mott

BRITISH COLUMBIA CTHS YEARLING SALE – BC DERBY

Canadian Champion 3-year-old Colt honours could be up for grabs

Saturday’s BC Derby

The BC Derby (Sept 8) is one of six stakes on the richest card of the year at Hastings, which includes the $100,000 British Columbia Oaks, the $100,000 Jack Diamond Futurity, and the $100,000 Sadie Diamond Futurity.

By Greg Douglas – Dr. Sport for Derby Bar & Grill

There is no question that the Grade 3, $150,000 BC Derby Saturday is the premier event of the Hastings Racecourse season. Not just the Derby itself but the entire card that includes the $100,000 BC Oaks, the two $100,000 Jack and Sadie Diamond Futurities, the $50,000 SW Randall Plate and $50,000 Delta Colleen.

You don’t need a calculator to determine the total purse money on Derby/Oaks Day is $550,000. It is the ultimate afternoon of racing entertainment on the 2018 calendar.

Both Richard Hamel and Northlands Park perennial leading rider Rico Walcott have each won the renowned 1 1/8 miles challenge for 3-year-olds on three occasions. Hamel won aboard Second City in 2012, Majesticality in 2010 and Fancy As in 2001. Walcott won it last year with Chief Know It All, Alert Bay in 2014 and Title Contender in 2013.

The two will be going head-to-head in this year’s 73rd running of the BC Derby with Hamel riding Weekend Wizard for trainer Craig MacPherson and Riversedge Racing Stables while Walcott returns aboard Sky Promise for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Sky Promise is coming off a win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park on August 25. Weekend Wizard scored an impressive six-length victory in the Chris Loseth on July 1 and was runner-up to Sippin Fire in the Muckleshoot Derby at Emerald Downs on July 29.

Original plans called for Mario Gutierrez returning to his Hastings roots to ride Canadian Game in Saturday’s BC Derby for Reddam Racing and trainer Doug O’Neill. That’s the same combination, of course, that won the Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another in 2012 and Nyquist in 2016.

Aaron Gryder, who gained international recognition for his five consecutive wins at Hastings on Aug. 24 including three straight CTHS Sales Stakes, gets the call to ride Canadian Game. Glen Todd will be the trainer of record in O’Neill’s absence. Todd’s input as a trainer this year at Hastings is second only to Phil Hall, who is running away in the Leading Trainer standings with 31 wins.

Hall trains Peter Redekop’s Apalachee Bay in Saturday’s Derby field as well Wise Market, owned by Hall, Blair Law and Brian Albertson.

 

CTHS BC YEARLING AND HORSES OF RACING AGE SALE – SEPT. 11

In a week’s time, the CTHS will hold its annual sale and it has been sharing some photos of impressive youngsters on its Twitter feed. 89 horses catalogued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSINIBOIA DOWNS – MEDIA MELEE wins 69th Gold Cup

Taking advantage of a dream, rail trip, the Florida-bred gelding MEDIA MELEE beat out favoured Plentiful in the $30,000 Gold Cup on Labour Day Monday at Assiniboia Downs. Owned by John Ganas and trained by Steve Haskin, Media Melee is by Mass Media.