CALIFORNIA CHROME polishes off training with big Saturday workout:
Onlookers were raving early Saturday morning after Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner CALIFORNIA CHROME had his final Belmont Stakes workout at Belmont this morning. Clockers got California Chrome going a half in 47.69, 5f in 59.93, with a very strong gallop out in 1:12.28, 1:26.28.
Some scribes are essentially giving the Belmont to the Chrome after the workout, his competition could be the following:
Post Horse Trainer Dosage Jockey M/L Odds
California Chrome Art Sherman 3.40 Victor Espinoza
Commanding Curve Dallas Stewart 2.14 Sean Bridgmohan
Commissioner Todd Pletcher 2.60 Javier Castellano
Kid Cruz Linda Rice 1.50 Julian Pimentel
Matterhorn Todd Pletcher 3.31 Joel Rosario
Matuszak Bill Mott 3.21 Julian Pimental
Medal Count Dale Romans 2.13 Robby Albarado
Ride On Curlin Billy Gowan 3.44 John Velazquez
Samraat Rick Violette Jr. 1.22 Jose Ortiz
Social Inclusion Manny Azpurua 2.56 Luis Contreras
Tonalist Christophe Clement 2.78 Joel Rosario
Wicked Strong James Jerkens 2.27 Rajiv Maragh
OLDER HORSES HIGHLIGHT WOODBINE WEEKEND
Champion ALPHA BETTOR tries to win the Grade 2 Eclipse Handicap for the second year in succession on Sunday and turf males tussle in the 7 furlong, Grade 2 Connaught Cup on grass today on what should be a sunny, glorious weekend at Woodbine.
The Connaught is a packed race with plenty of speed runners so look for a rapid time (course record is 1:19 1/5). Hard to say who the public will land on but SOMETHING EXTRA has won this race the last 2 years and is a tough 6-year-old for John Menary and Gail Cox. The son of Indian Charlie was 3rd in the Shakertown on April 12, a key race that has produced several horses who have done well since that race. The task will not be easy for Something Extra, however, with EXCAPER coming in from a 99 Beyer Figure effort, a win at Keeneland and DIMENSION, winner of the Play the King last year at Woodbine on the lead.
The Ontario bred OCCASIONAL VIEW looks like a major player in his 3rd start off the layoff. He has only raced on grass tree times but has won on the surface. RIVER SEVEN comes off a February layoff and he discovered a love for grass racing last fall.
In the Eclipse, ALPHA BETTOR meets American invader FRAC DADDY, who has found a love for Polytrack and is a formidable rival for the Bettor , STEALCASE and HIS RACE TO WIN.
Former racehorse DOWN BY THE DOCKS (a.k. Exaltation, James) is the next upcoming star for Canadian Eventing star Jessica Phoenix, a gold medial winner at the Pan Am Games. The son of Sea Wall was recently competing at Willow Wind, near Palgrave, the exact site where next year’s Pan Am Games eventing will be held. Phoenix has a number of former racehorses at her Equestrian centre including War Buckaroo (Exponential), her star horse. Good Luck James and Jessica!
MATADOR posts 85 Beyer Figure in allowance win
Matador bulled his way up the Thoroughblog Queen’s Plate contenders list with his easy win on Wednesday night in a weak allowance race. The colt looked good doing it and earned an 85 Beyer Figure. The Marine Stakes last weekend was an 82 Beyer Figure.
Speaking of the Marine Stakes, the result of the race – the disqualification of Asserting Bear from 1st to 3rd, has been appealed so the purse money has been frozen. The hearing should be in the next month or two.
Thoroughblog’s TOP 10 is below:
WOODBINE FRIDAY
You will not see a horse win any easier than MARCIAN winning the first race at Woodbine on Friday, the 23rd card of the season. This was a spine-tingling score for this mare by Roman Ruler, bred in Ontario by Donver Stables. She was making the first start of the year and simply dragged Eurico da Silva to the lead and won in almost a guzzle hold by 7 lengths in 1:10.76. She won the $12,500 race for D mac Racing Stable, trainer Don macRae and it was her 5th win in her 24th race. Two horses were claimed from the race and Marcian was not one of them: Royal Slam, 5th, by John Nyarady and Lil Sasha, 3rd, by Martha Gonzalez.
Race 2 – Another easy winner – Queen’s Plate eligible PENTAMETER was dropped in for $12,500 and he led all the way under Justin Stein to win for the 2nd time in his career. The Kinghaven farms, Hat Trick Stable runner is by Tiz Wonderful and he scored by more than 3 lengths for trainer Ian Black. He was not claimed but another dropper, Bold n Golden, a non-threatening 4th, was taken by Brad McKnight.
Race 3- Very logical winner in Stronach Stables’ SOMBRERO DE COPA and this 4yo won his maiden at the allowance class and is the first winner of the meeting for trainer Mark Frostad. The Kentucky bred was coming off a troubled run at Gulfstream on the grass and he has shown improving form. Emma-Jayne Wilson rode the son of El Prado.
Race 4- a hot pace developed in this 6 furlong race, an allowance for Ontario sired 3-year-olds, but a speed horse held on. RED FEVER is yet another 2-time winner at the meeting as he just won his maiden and now adds the allowance cor Norseman racing and trainer John Mattine. The gelding is by Where’s the Ring out of Cat Fever by Mountain Cat and Luis Contreras rode.
Race 5- another front running winner – PENELOPUS, who just lost for $12,500 but won for $20,000 on the pace for Dominion Bloodstock and HGHR. Skye Chernetx rode the Hennessy filly.
Race 6- Perhaps thinking the track was speed favouring, VEGAS WEEKEND and Luis Contreras bombed out to a huge lead in the 7 furlong, $62,50 claiming event but he was out of gas by the stretch run and CANDLES ON FRIDAY grabbed the win by a nose. This was the 2nd winner for John Mattine, who has 5 scores on the year. The winner was making his 2nd start of the year and was dropping to bottom claiming for the first win.
Race 7 – This allowance race for Ontario sired fillies & mares was like a little stake and BEAR’S GEM won at 7 to 1 after a tough trip to begin her season. This stakes winning daughter of Peaks and Valleys – Simply Precious by Ascot Knight (same breeder as Penelopus, Kingview Farm) is a 5yo and she is 6 for 18 in her career. Reade Baker trains for Bear Stables.
Race 8 – CITIUS is 2 for 2 in 2014 as he rallied to win this 5 furlong event for $50,000 claiming and he posted an 82 Beyer Figure. The 6yo gelding beat Phil’s Dream in his opener but then was 6th behind that rival in the New Providence Stakes. He held his form with this win, his 9th of his career. Contreras rode for Ralph Biamonte.
Race 9 – Brereton Jones’ DIVINE RIVER squeaked out a win under apprentice Sheena Ryan and it was the 2nd win for Baker on the day. The winner won the $40,000 maiden event in her first start of the year and she had been 2nd in her last 2 starts of 2013.
Baker is closing in on 1,000 career victories – he is at 996. He also has trained 113 stakes winners.
DONT FORGET to check out http://jmbets.ca/ for the Woodbine selections each day!
