It’s LONGRUN DAY at Woodbine – meet jockeys, get the gorgeous 2017 calendar, check out how to adopt a horse or help out at LongRun’s new farm!
Today at Woodbine!
**Thoroughblog also wants to wish MICKEY WALLS, champion jockey and now horse owner and exercise rider at Woodbine, a speedy recovery from a serious barn accident last week.
STRUT THE COURSE sells for $200,000
Canadian champion STRUT THE COURSE is off to her new career as a broodmare at Calumet Farms as she was sold yesterday at Keeneland. John Unger owned and bred the millionaire and she was sold as a racing or broodmare prospect by Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency.
Canadians who have been on the sales sheets on the buying end include Bill Graham’s Windhaven, with several broodmare purchases.
The Conquest dispersal begins Monday.
CHAMPIONSHIPS ON THE LINE AT WOODBINE
Today’s Princess Elizabeth Stakes, worth $250,000, for 2-year-old fillies and tomorrow Coronation Futurity, also $250,000, could go a long way in deciding the champion juveniles in Canada for 2016.
With just over 2 months to go before voting begins for the Sovereign Awards, the juvenile divisions are wide open. The 2yos only need to race in Canada twice to be considered for a Sovereign.
The Princess Elizabeth has 11 gals going 1 1/16 miles today and it is an intriguing field with no standout filly. The 3 choices will be Sam-Son Farms’ MYTHICAL MISSION, undefeated after 2 races, one on turf and one on the Tapeta, South Ocean Stakes winner CINDERVELLA and recent maiden winner ENSTONE from the Mark Casse stable.
Sam-Son Farms horses have won 6 editions of the Princess Elizabeth.
Mythical Mission, a daughter of Giant’s Causeway from the late mare Misty Mission, won her latest with a 61 Beyer Figure and she has come back with a :48.20 breeze for four furlongs. Eurico da Silva rides for trainer Malcolm Pierce.
Interesting entrants who appear to be major contenders include Steve Owens and Beverly Lewis- Owens’ Spring Tempest, recently 3rd in the Grade 3 Mazarine and a leading contender for the champion honours. Emma-Jayne Wilson rides this daughter of Spring at Last who was bought at the CTHS sale for $20,000 from the Everatt family.
Fourth in the Mazarine was LEMON ZIP, a Ghostzapper filly and one of 2 Ghostzapper gals in the field for owner CHiefswood Stable. Lemon Zi[ had a nice run through the stretch in the Mazarine.
Inaugurated in 1946 the Princess Elizabeth
Some recent winners of the Princess Elizabeth:
2015 Caren Jesse M. Campbell Michael P. De Paulo Robert Marzilli 1:44.56
2014 Brookslynsway Emma-Jayne Wilson John Ross John Ross 1:44.35
2013 Paladin Bay Gerry Olguin Harold Ladouceur Jessie L. Ladouceur 1:44.61
2012 Nipissing Steve Bahen Rachel Halden Chiefswood Stable 1:45.25
2011 Rose and Shine Luis Contreras Ralph Biamonte James Sabiston 1:45.56
2010 Grand Style Eurico Rosa Da Silva Michael Doyle G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 1:46.31
2009 Roan Inish David Moran Carolyn M. Costigan Robert J. Costigan 1:46.23
2008 Retraceable Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Mark E. Casse 1:44.76
2007 Mrs. Began Jim McAleney Reade Baker Zayat Stables LLC 1:47.10
2006 Catch the Thrill Robert Landry Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1:46.11
2005 Sugar Swirl Todd Kabel Robert J. Frankel Stronach Stables 1:50.00
2004 Victorious Ami Emile Ramsammy David R. Bell Ivan Dalos 1:48.44
2003 My Vintage Port Jono Jones Ken Parsley Richard Pettifer/Parsley 1:48.95
2002 Kabeeb Jim McAleney Roger Attfield Bill Werner et al. 1:49.49
2001 Ginger Gold Richard Dos Ramos Sid C. Attard Jim Dandy Stable 1:43.48
2000 Dancethruthedawn Gary Boulanger Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1:44.56
The CORONATION FUTURITY, to be run for the 113th time has 9 boys ready to go 9 furlongs tomorrow.
Recent maiden winner WOODBRIDGE will be well bet with a series of good Beyer Speed Figures. He is a Langfuhr gelding for Gus Schickedanz. GUY CABALLERO, by Quality Road, is a contender for Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry as is multiple stakes winner LOKFORPURSEMONEE, JUROJIN and ESCONDERA. It is a competitive field as well.
SENIORS DAY AT WOODBINE
TWO WONDERS is a wonder. The 9-year-old mare, currently owned by Elkestone Group and traine dby Ron Potts, won for the 26th time in her career on Friday at Woodbine in her 76th start. The Florida-bred had not been to Woodbine for some time before returning on Oct. 9 when 4th in the grass race for $40K claiming. She won for the same price yesterday under Alan Garcia, her 11th grass win. She has earned over $680,000 in her career.
Also on Friday, 10-year-old TEVEZ won for the 17th time when he took a $75,00 claiming race for Wilf Jones and trainer Justin Nixon. Melanie Pinto rode the Florida bred who has won 8 times at Woodbine.
And, not to be outdone, 7-year-old ALDOUS SNOW won the prep for the Valdecitory Stakes at 1 5/8 miles for Sam-Son farms. It was the Theatrical gelding’s 8th win in 35 races and he is a graded stakes winner.
