What a week and weekend (long in Canada) we are having…a thrilling Prince of Wales to start the week, $3 million wagered at Woodbine on Friday…AMERICAN PHAROAH on Sunday and 3 days of stakes action at Woodbine..hang on!
It is AUGUST 1 – SATURDAY MORNING and already Canadian racehorses are making noise! HENRY THE EXPLORER, by Henrythenavigator out of Game (Fr) by Montjeu won a 2yo maiden race at Doncaster this morning.
Bred in Ontario by SEAN FITZHENRY, the colt was a $5,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland last September. He is a half brother to stakes placed SEASON TICKET.
ACADEMIC SEND TO RYCROFT
Surprising news this Saturday morning as Thorougblog has learned that Woodbine Oaks winner ACADEMIC has been put on a van to Edmonton, Alberta and to the stable of TIM RYCROFT.
Bear Stables’ owner DANNY DION, who celebrated the Henny Hughes filly’s 66 to 1 upset win in the $500,000 Oaks only 6 weeks ago, took the flighty filly from trainer Reade Baker to point to the Canadian Derby at 1 3/8 miles against colts on AUG 15.
The 86th Canadian Derby noms are due Aug. 5. Currently favoured for the race is BLUE DANCER, who has never lost a race in Canada and recently won the Count Lathum at Northlands Park by a long margin with an 86 Beyer Figure. Blue Dancer is by Bluegrass Cat and he has been a front runner in his races.
Academic had 2 huge races off the winter/spring layoff after spending the winter in Ontario. Then when the ridiculous hot pace in the Queen’s Plate materialized, she chased and faded, understandable since she had just set a track record in the Oaks on the pace for 9 furlongs.
In June, the Bear and Reade Baker and the filly ACADEMIC stun the racing world with a Woodbine Oaks score at 66 to 1. Now the filly has been sent to another trainer in Alberta. CINDY PIERSON DULAY
ABOARD AMERICAN PHAROAH (yes, fake crowd noise)
LUCKY BREAK
WILL WONG captured this image of BREAKING LUCKY after he won the Prince of Wales Stakes. Jockey Jim McAleney tosses flowers in the air after his big win.
American owners Gunpowder Stable have emerged on the racing scene in just 2 years and BREAKING LUCKY, the Prince of Wales winner, was one of its first purchases. Tom Keithley and Ericka Devinney, from Pennsylvania, had Josh Stevens of Margaux Farm in Lexington KY buy them a few horses to embark of their operation 3 years ago.
‘Lucky’ was a $100,000 weanling purchase at Keeneland 3 years ago, offered for sale by Christine and Jay Hayden of Granton. ON.
The Gunpowder team also bought a colt whom they named DIVISIDERO and he is a stakes on the grass this year in the US.
Realizing they had a Canadian-bred in Breaking Lucky (Lookin at Lucky – Shooting Pary by Sky Classic) with a strong ‘classic’ pedigree, the team sought out trainer Reade Baker, who took his time with the sizy, gorgeous colt.
Baker was very high on the colt and despite the running line of 4th beaten 20 lengths in the debut outing by the colt at Gulfstream, it was quite a good run. the colt won his maiden and then was 2nd in an allowance race but along the way, briefly lost his main rider Jim McAleney who was on suspension.
The ever-loyal Baker put McAleney back on Breaking Lucky for the Queen’s Plate when the rider returned and the pair finished a good fifth. It all came together in Fort Erie for Lucky, Baker and McAleney.
READY FOR TAKEOFF – Breaking Lucky has been a lucky break for his interests. CINDY PIERSON DULAY PHOTO
TOWER IS POWER IN ETERNAL SEARCH STAKES
Woodbine Oaks fave finally gets a win
London Tower dug in gamely down the lane to turn back the challenge of Galina Point and win Wednesday night’s $125,400 Eternal Search Stakes, at Woodbine.
London Tower, a homebred daughter of Head Chopper owned and trained by Steve Owens, broke slowly in all three of her starts this meet, but overcame the issue in the Eternal Search, a 1 1/16-miles ‘Poly’ event for Ontario-sired sophomores to secure her third career stakes win.
The talented bay rallied from last of eight to win the Fury Stakes in her seasonal debut on May 3, but could not bridge the gap after difficult starts in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, when second, defeated 1 3/4-lengths by Academic, and last time out in the $250,000 Bison City Stakes, when third, a nose and a neck behind Brooklynsway and Eternal Search rival Galina Point.
Gary Boulanger took over from Alan Garcia aboard London Tower for the Eternal Search and the filly broke alertly to chase a front-running Ashford Calling into the turn while being carried a little wide by Internal Bourbon.
Ashford Calling set splits of :23.77 and :47.50 with Boggie, Internal Bourbon and London Tower, the even-money favourite, tracking her early foot from the rail out, with Galina Point, second choice in the wagering at 2-1, last of nine.
Internal Bourbon, with Alan Garcia aboard, burst through along the rail approaching the turn with London Tower making a similar outside move to overtake the pacesetter as Galina Point, with Patrick Husbands up, also urged into contention. London Tower took command at the top of the lane and was quickly taken on by Galina Point who tried, but could not get by a determined London Tower. Miss Sea rallied late for show money. London Tower, a neck winner, stopped the clock in 1:44.41.
She posted an 86 BEYER SPEED FIGURE.
Owens, who stands Head Chopper at his farm in Kleingburg, Ontario, had considered sending London Tower to the grassy Wonder Where Stakes, third jewel of the filly Triple Tiara, but decided on the Eternal Search as a potential easier spot.
“This was for confidence. I know she’s as good as a lot of the three-year-old fillies on the grounds and tonight she proved it,” said Owens. “She’s a hard tryer. She fights every step of the way. She broke well tonight. We’ve had some gate issues with her, but that’s her…she gets stubborn.”
London Tower banked $75,000 in victory while improving her record to 4-1-2 from seven starts.
Recaps – WOODINE FRIDAY – WEDNESDAY
Steamy hot days this week but at least the horses raced on Wednesday evening and by Friday the humidity dipped ever so slightly.
FRIDAY – SOLO PLAYER won for the 5th time this year in his 8th race, taking a $15,00 claiming race at 6 furlongs just 6 days after his previous race. The Brad McKnight gelding by Cuvee is trained by Norm McKnight and Alan Garcia is his main rider.
There was a scary spill in race 3 on the grass as MEG seemed to clip heels in the stretch run with Court Ajourned and she crashed to the ground taking Town Leader with her. Sheena Ryan, riding MEG, reported on Saturday morning that she had a fractured nose and bumps and bruises but she will be “back in the saddle soon.” Alan Garcia was on Town Leader and he is reported bruised but ok.
Kirk Johnson was riding Court Ajourned.
The winner of the race was COREY’S BEST, the 2nd winner of the season for trainer Bev Chubb, who trains this Seeking the Best 4yo filly for Kanny Ng.
Hey, the superior racehorse GIO PONTI ($5 million in earnings) has his first crop at the races and his first winner is MOST INSPIRING, a light grey filly who was a $57,000 yearling purchase by Derek Chin. Dan Vella trains this 2yo who was bred in Virginia. She immediately becomes a contender for the Natalma Stakes, a Win and You’re In event for the Breeders’ Cup. Luis Contreras rode the winner and he had 3 scores on the day.
DRINK IN MY HAND is 2 for 2 this year during a comeback from a layoff of 2 years. The white faced son of Giant Gizmo, owned and bred by Donver Sables, cruised to an allowance win in 1:23.15, good for a career est 80 Beyer Figure. Josie Carroll trains the 4yo and Contreras rode.
The PLAY THE KING prep was won on the lead by STACKED DECK who is tough to beat in a sprint if he has the lead. He was the lone speed in this 6 1/2 furlong dash and won for the 2nd time in his 4th race, posting a 96 beyer Figure. Brunce Lunsford owns and bred the 4yo who won the Charlie Barley Stakes last year. Barb Minshall trains and David Moran rode.
**On Wednesday, LONDON TOWER was the star of the night but there were some other notable performances.
BEAR’S PEARL (Seeking the Dia) won her 3rd race of the year and posted an 85 Beyer Figure with a 6 1/2 furlong turf win in 1:15.70. This gal has risen up from low claiming to the allowance class in the last year for owner/breeder Bear Stables and trainer Mike Depaulo.
RIVER MAID posted an 80 Beyer Figure in an allowance win in race 7. Owned by The Very Dry Stable and trained by Robert Tiller, the Where’s the Ring filly, bred by Jay Cochlin, won the 7 furlong race in 1:23.10 for her 3rd win in 7 races.
PATRICK HUSBANDS put on more theatrics on this night when he won the 2nd race on the grass on DIVINE INTRIGUE despite losing his irons in mid-stretch. Husbands is a remarkable athlete and this was the second occurrence of this during this summer.
And congratulations to DR. JENNY CREER and NINJA QUEEN who both ended a winless streak and were in the winner’s circle Wednesday night with Matt Moore after the mare rallied to win a 1 1/16 mile route race.
Conrad Belaire won the last race of the night with RING FOR MADDIE, who won her maiden with Gary Boulanger on board.
Sad news on the night was the breakdown of 2-time winning filly QUIXOTIC DREAM in a turf dash. Brenda Seifreid’s very fast filly was 2 for 2 this year.
EYES ON MONMOUTH
William Hill Haskell Invitational S. (gr. I)
Monmouth Park , Sunday, August 02, 2015, Race 12
1 1/8m
Dirt
$1,750,000
3 yo
5:52 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Weight Trainer
1 Upstart (NY) Joe Bravo 118 Richard A. Violette, Jr.
2 Competitive Edge (KY) Mike E. Smith 118 Todd A. Pletcher
3 Nonna’s Boy (KY) UNKNOWN 118 Todd A. Pletcher
4 American Pharoah (KY) Victor Espinoza 122 Bob Baffert
5 Mr. Jordan (FL) Paco Lopez 118 Edward Plesa, Jr.
6 Keen Ice (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 118 Dale L. Romans
7 Top Clearance (KY) Abel Castellano, Jr. 118 Wayne M. Catalano
8 Dontbetwithbruno (KY) UNKNOWN 118 Tod
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah never turned a hair when galloping in front of 5,000 adoring and cheering fans who turned out early on Friday morning to watch him continue his preparations up to Sunday’s Grade 1, $1.75 million William Hill Haskell Invitational.
“It was wonderful, wasn’t it?” said Jimmy Barnes, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s assistant, who watched the six-time Grade 1 winner gallop 1 3/8 miles under regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez, from the backstretch gap and heard the roar of affection sweep across the track.
Zayat Stables’ homebred went out at 7:30 a.m. during the 20 minute period reserved for Haskell runners, and Barnes reported the son of Pioneerof the Nile got over it fine and he continues to show his connections exactly what they want to see two days out from his first return to the races since winning the Belmont Stakes on June 6.
There was another chance for an “up close and personal’ with the colt, who has electrified racing fans across the continent, when Barnes brought him to the paddock for a schooling lesson with the horses competing in Friday’s first race.
http://www.si.com/horse-racing/2015/07/14/american-pharoah-return-triple-crown-bob-baffert
There is no second act in sports quite like that of a Triple Crown winner returning to the races, a high risk, low reward encore in which the horse cannot exceed what he has already accomplished—at best he can validate it. He can become more valuable, but not significantly so.
