DOMINION DAY AT WOODBINE
The annual Canada day graded event, the DOMINON DAY STAKES, GRADE 3, will highlight a rare WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON card today at Wodbine.
The blockbuster 10 race card starts off a semi-holiday week and the $200,000 race, at 1 1/4 miles, should be an intriguing one.
Renewing rivalries are ICE BEAR, MARCHFIELD and APPROVAL RATING, a trheesome who were a neck and a half length aprt at the end of the Grade 3 Ecipse Stakes on Jun 6.
The distance is considerably longer this time and would seem to favour the 2nd and 3rd place finishers from that last meeting.
Shipping in is VACATION, the first Ogden Phipps/Shug McGaughty runner at Woodbine since 1996 when the Breeders’ Cup was here.
This one is an improving colt who has come to life on synthetic surfaces and he just won a one-mile Grade 3 at Arlington.
Fast rising MICHAEL’S BAD BOY is in tough but this Ontario sired guy has never been better with 3 wins from 3 outings this year including the Steady Growth Stakes.
ICE BEAR is a big man on campus these days. www.horse-races.net photo.
MICHAEL’S BAD BOY is unbeaten this year for trainer Nick Gonzalez and has gone from rags to riches…Norm Files photo.
Also on the Woodbine card is the SWEET BRIAR TOO STAKES (named for the mare who put Gus Schickedanz on the map). That race pits Ontario sired AUTHENICAT against open company like VERDANA BOLD.
She won for them: DANCE FOR US became the first winner of the season for Minshall Farms and trainer Barb Minshall when she won the BISON CITY STAKES, 2nd leg of the Triple Tiara, by a long nose on Sunday. Maiden FLASHY GOT EVEN was a surprising 2nd at 45 to 1 (she’s on the outside). Norm Files photo.
LANDRY’S TACTICS
Jockey ROBERT LANDRY, one of the good guys in the local room, is one win away from 2,000 scores and he has some nice ones on tdoay’s card of racing.
TACTICAL AFFAIR is okay in race and how about his friend BOLD FINISH, – BOZO – in race 2 for $50,000 claiming?
Then there is the tough stakes filly AUTHENICAT in the 4th – the Sweet Briar Too Stakes, she meets tougher but has a chance.
He also has PERFECT BULLET in the Dominion Day and TRAJECTORY’S DREAM in the finale.
Could be his day.
HASTINGS PARK REPORT
COLOSSAL CANADA DAY CELEBRATION
Can ‘The Mouse’ Make It Four in a Row?
There will be $250,000 worth of stakes on the racing grill at Hastings Racecourse on Canada Day – July 1 – and without a doubt, the most popular item on the star-studded menu will be Spaghetti Mouse.
Always a fan favourite, Spaghetti Mouse – who turned seven this year – goes for his fourth consecutive win in the $100,000 Lieutenant Governors, the feature on Wednesday’s holiday afternoon card that starts at 1:25 p.m.
Spaghetti Mouse is the pride and joy of owners Nick and Pauline Felicella. He’s the all-time leading money-winning B.C.-bred with $868,911 and was named champion older male horse in 2008 in both the B.C.-bred division and open division after winning four stakes … the Lieutenant Governors, the Redekop BC Cup Classic, S.W. Randall Plate and John Longden 6000.
Trainer Lenore Daponte watched with great delight last Sunday morning when regular jockey Pedro Alvarado worked Spaghetti Mouse five furlongs in 59.60 seconds. “He seems to be right on top of his game,” Lenore told the Daily Racing Form. “Pedro just breezed him and he couldn’t have done it any easier.”
‘The Mouse’, as he is affectionately referred to by his legion of fans, lost by a neck to Bank Emblem on June 6 in the John Longden after finishing seventh in his initial start in the George Royal on May 2.
Hastings regulars will be watching one of the latest inductees into the BC Sports Hall of Fame decorating the winner in the $50,000 Chris Loseth Handicap as part of the Canada Day agenda. The man himself will be on hand to acknowledge the winner of the tough 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds. The two remaining stakes on Wednesday are the $50,000 Supernaturel and the $50,000 Vancouver Sun. Trainer Dino Condilenios has two of his top horses ready to go on Canada Day: Almost Time will be one of the favourites in the Chris Loseth and Teide will be trying for his first stakes win in the Lieutenant Governors.
NORTHLANDS REPORT
courtesy Jonathan Huntington
Dandy Dora is arguably the top three-year-old in Alberta after a convincing win in today’s $50,000 Chariot Chaser Handicap in Edmonton. Running away from the field, she crossed the wire five lengths ahead of Tricky Temper, who settled for second. The impressive result brought two questions for victorious trainer Greg Tracy.
Question 1: Who is better – stablemate Robo Willie (three-year-old male, winner of the President’s Stake) or Dandy Dora?
Answer: “Dora,” shot jockey Rickey Walcott, who answered before Tracy could open his mouth. Walcott should know – he rides both thoroughbreds.
Question 2: Is Tracy considering running Dandy Dora in the $300,000 Canadian Derby on Aug. 22 after the filly’s excellent performance today?
Answer: “Yeah. We will run her (in a) mile (stake) and go from there,” said Tracy. The next race for Dora in her age/sex category is the Northlands Oaks (1 1/16 miles) on July 19.
After the Chariot Chaser, Tracy revealed Dora had been sick in her last race. That was the Mount Royal Handicap, when she finished second. In five lifetime starts in Edmonton, the filly is four-for-five with $108,000 in earnings for owner Stan Ryan.
10-YEAR-OLD ONTARIO BRED BACK TO RACES
Pulls up “in distress”
RIGHTFULLY, a MARE of 1999, bred by Adena Springs, raced up until December 2002 before she was retired to the breeding shed.
She had foals in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and then was back racing In June.
She finished last twice for $4,000 claiming and was at Finger Lakes on Tuesday for Mike and Debra Divitto.
Yesterday she “pulled up in distress” in another $4,000 claiming race run in the Finger Lakes slop.
She is a one-time winner in her 19 race career.
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/FL063009USA9.pdf
DASHING ADMIRAL MAKES ALEX BROWN’S TOP BUNK LIST
ONTARIO BRED DASHING ADMIRAL, a stakes winner of over $500,000 but now losing for $4,000 claiming, has made it to the TOP BUNK LIST at the Alex Brown site.
http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Top_Bunk_List
* Spicy Stuff (foaled March 3, 1997) broke his maiden on 5/11/00 at Hollywood Park (defeating Tiznow!) and won the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar the same year. In 2004, he ran 2nd in the Kelso Handicap and 3rd in the Shecky Greene Stakes at Delaware Park. Earnings = $579,532 (72-19(1)-17-9). Ran at Delaware Park 8/2/08 for $5K; finished last; “showed little”. Unconfirmed reports he became the stable pony for his trainer.
* Moonshine Justice
(foaled May 2002) Entered in a Starter Allowance at Mountaineer for $5k 5/31 – came in first. Entered 6/15/09 in starter allowance at Mountaineer – scratched. Entered for $8k at Mountaineer 6/30/09.
* Ricardo A (foaled June 5, 1999) Received 12/4/08 from Turning for Home: “Ricardo A was claimed by Freddy Velazquez, who used to have him. I told Freddy about you and how you were interested in the horse when he is ready to retire, and he was very happy. I see him all the time at PHA, and will let you know if he needs you.” 🙂
Entered Philadelphia Park, 1/12, claiming $5k. Entered Philadelphia 1/16, claiming $7.5k. Entered Philadelphia Park 2/2 claiming $7.5k – finished 5th. Entered Philadelphia Park, 2/21 for $5k. Entered to run at Philly Park 5/24/09 for a $7.5k tag – finished 1st of 6. Entered for a $5k tag at Monmouth on 6/10/09 – scratched. Entered 6/16/09 at Philly for $7.5k tag – placed 1st. Entered 6/28/09 at Monmouth for $7.5k. Finished 3rd.
* Stormy Roman
(foaled 5/9/1999) Earned $503,000. . Entered $5k 5/31 at Suffolk Downs – scratched.
* Prince Slew (foaled January 4, 1998) Record 63-12(6)-9-8, made $573,000. Placed first in the 2003 Gold Cup Handicap, 2000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes, 2000 Louisiana Futurity, 2004 Cypress Stakes, 2001 Arcadia Stakes, and the 2000 Pelican State Stakes. Placed second in the 2002 & 2003 Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes, 2001 Louisiana Breeders’ Derby, and the 2001 Inaugural Handicap. Placed third in the 2004 Gulf Coast Classic, 2004 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes, 2004 John Henry Handicap, 2003 Cypress Stakes, and 2004 Bayou State Stakes. He was claimed once in his career in 2007 by owner Joseph Besecker. Ran for $4k at Penn National on 3/27/09 – finished 1st. Ran for $5k at Penn National on 4/18/09 – finished first. Ran in a $21k Starter Allowance at Penn National on 5/1/09 – chart lists him as DNF (did not finish) – “distanced”. Ran $5k Penn National 5/21/09 – finished 5th – “2wd, late rally”. Ran for a $6250 tag at Penn National on 6/3/09 – finished 9th of 10 – “wide, no factor”. Entered for $5k at Penn National 6/20/09 – card canceled after first race due to safety concerns. Worked 1/2 in 49.4 on 6/27/09 at Penn National.
* Running Free Running Free – came in 2nd in a $4,000 claimer on 5/31 lifetime at Emerald Downs. Lifetime earnings $534,844. Multiple Stakes winner in California.
* Summer Book Summer Book – came in 5th in a $5,000 claimer on 6/20 lifetime earnings $528,258. A stakes winner.
* Dashing Admiral 48 Starts: 12 – 4 – 5, $505,328, At 3: Won Bold Ruckus S.; 2nd Deputy Minister S.; 3rd Achievement H., Vice Regent S. Ran June 28, 09 claiming $4k Fort Erie, finished 4th of 6. Did not fire.
