Happy Birthday to Queen Victoria – firstsSovereign of a confederated Canada.
The birthday of Queen Victoria was a day for celebration in Canada long before Confederation, with the first legislation regarding the event being in 1845 passed by the parliament of the Province of Canada to officially recognize May 24 as the Queen’s birthday.It was noted that on that date in 1854, the 35th birthday of Queen Victoria, some 5,000 residents of Canada West gathered in front of Government House (near present day King and Simcoe Streets in Toronto) to “give cheers to their queen.”
CALGARY CAT GETS STUNG BY BLACK HORNET
BLACK HORNET (right) holds off Puntrooskie in Grade 3 Vigil – WOODBINE PHOTO BY MIKE BURNS
Sunday’s Grade 3 VIGIL STAKES at 7 furlongs was supposed to be another crowning moment for the current champion sprinter in Canada, CALGARY CAT. The sleek chestnut had won the Jacques Cartier Stakes on April 26 in miraculous fashion, motoring from well back to grab the win with a career best 99 Beyer Figure.
Perhaps that effort took a lot out of him because he simply was not in the game on Sunday and was last of 5.
BLACK HORNET led all the way to win under a shrewd ride by Luis Contreras. The Pioneering – Start Singing, Siphon (Braz) gelding, now 5, was unable to get the lead in the Jacques Cartier and landed 4th but he likes the longer sprinter distance and trainer Pat Parente had him sharp and ready. Owned this year by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds and Aldo Ventresca (he was owned by Winview Farm until this season), Black Hornet ran the distance in a wild 1:21.70 but his Beyer Figure was 90, which tells you how fast the Polytrack was on Sunday.
Jus Luk Stables of Roger Fortier bred Black Hornet and he was raised by Bonnie Greener Rowntree.
Pender Harbour, a multiple champion, was fourth of five.
More Sunday
Sizzling hot trainer GREG COX won a race on Sunday, he’s won a race in 3 straight days (no runners today).
Sunday he won with QUEENSTOWN, who came from miles behind in her season debut (a la Henke) to win the 5th race for $20,000 claiming. Ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, this 5yo mare by Peaks and Valleys is 4 for 21 in her career and she won her season debut last May. Murray Stable owns and Frank Mermenstin owns
Race 1 Sunday – QUICKLIME upset big favourite Probably in the last jump to give jockey Jesse Campbell his 1,999 winner. This is a 7yo maiden bred by Box Arrow Farm who won this $8,000 claiming race in her 2nd start of the year. It was her first win in 2 years. Robert Gerl trains.
race 2 – TURN TO REALITY came off a terrible trip in her season debut to win this maiden allowance for a rolling Chiefswood Farm. Trained by Stuart Simon, this is a Niigon filly who was ridden by Gerry Olguin.
race 3- MACHO WHISKEY was coming off an 11 month vacation and won this $10,00 claiming race for John and Breeda Hayes. This class Macho Uno gelding was claimed last year from his 2nd of only 3 races. Emma-Jayne Wilson rode.
Race 4- Another who parlayed a tough opening race into a win was NINTH SYMPHONY, a speed son of Line of David out of Dry Heat by Dixie Union, bred by Spendthrift Farm in Ontario. This guy just missed in his first race of the year but led all the way here for Conor Healy, trainer Ralph Biamonte and jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva. He cost about $30,000 as a local yearling.
Big Beyer Figure for today other than the stakes race – 83.
race 6 – the first winner for trainer Alex McPherson on the year and owner John Atto came with THE BEST GLACIER, who rallied form far back and inside to win this starter allowance in his 4th race of the year – first back at Woodbine. Omar Moreno had the good ride and the Beyer was 81.
race 7- an allowance race for non-winners of 1 other than maiden or claiming was won from off the slow pace by MELMICH, a nice winner for trainer Kevin Attard and Stepehen Chesney and Cory Hoffman. This is a very cool Wilko gelding who was a $20,000 claim last year and a 2 time winner since then. It was hard to believe this guy won his seaosn debut since it looked as if the race would be won late by DOOGIE, making his first start of the season for Laconian Racing and trainer Josie Caroll. By Pioneer oftheNile (heard of him?), he had an easy trip on the inside on the slow pace while one that was pressing him all the way, Indian Guide, blew the turn for home and took out half a dozen rivals. But one of those was Melmich and while he was lugging in badly, Luis Contreras got him sorted out and up for the win.
DAILY DOUBLE DOUGH
HOT CROSS BUNS led all the way to upset race 9, an allowance race for ONtario sired fillies and mares. This gorgeous liver chestnut by Singing Saint was coolly ridden by Luis Contreras for Box Arrow Farm and Gord Colbourne and she held off 3 to 5 shot Shez a Masterpiece to win. The latter jumped and hopped and other bad things out of the gate and lost all chance.
race 10 BREAD WINNER, by Where’s the Ring out of Crumpet, won for Stablemates and trainer Scott Fairlie. Michelle Rainford in 1:09.78 after a wild pace chase with Scarlet Forester. The winner was making his season debut and outdueled Handsome Cowby in the stretch run.
Wagering was $3.2 million on Sunday – last year’s PREAKNESS weekend had wagering of $3.5 and $2.7 – for $6.2 million while this year’s Preakness weekend wagering was way up to $7 million!
Saturday at Woodbine wrap up
BEAR’S ROMEO won the first race for $8,000 claiming as the favourite for owner and trainer Dale Resruisseaux. Emma-Jayne Wilson rode this speed son of Kentucky Bear who was making his 2nd start of the season.
Race 2- small field for $40,000 claiming, fillies and mares and PARTYONTHEPATIO led most of the way for John Terdik and trainer Sammy DiPasquale. Luis Contreras rode this filly by Harlington who is now 2 for 9 in her career.
race 3 – HENKE, owned by Murray Stable and trained by Greg Cox, rallied from well back to win his season debut in this allowance/optional claiming race. He won the 1 1/16 mile race under Eurico Rosa da Silva and it was his 3rd win in his 13th race, The Sligo Bay – Victoria Bay, Northern Afleet gelding was bred by Frank Mermenstein and Tom McKrocklin.
Race 4- I’M CHIP slid up the rail with long strides to win this allowance race for Ontario sired runners, 2nd winner for trainer Sam DiPasquale on the day. Justin Stein rode the son of Sligo Bay – Miss Independence, Regal Search and Larry Spindler bred the 5yo. This gelding was claimed for $12,500 in December. He earned a career best 74 Beyer Figure with the win, 7 furlongs in 1:22.63.
race 5- a maiden allowance with a small field and the fast workout times and nice breeding on beginner ASHFORD CALLING meant she was a popular pick and she went off at 8 to 5. A long, good sized filly by Milwaukee Brew – Private Extension by Caller I D, this filly led all the way under Jesse Campebell and won nicely in 1:23.84. John Simms trains the filly for owner/breeders John and Jessica Pastorek.
race 6- a maiden allowance race at 1 1/16 miles went to the 4-year-old BUTTERFLY STRIKE, a ridgling for Sam-Son farms who led all the way to win in his 5th career race under Gerry Olguin. The son of Smart Strike held off a closing Impetuous Act and Golden Point (who was fanned 6-7 wide around the turn)
race 7- another first-timer getting a lot of buzz for the day was PIPERS JOURNEY, from the Chiwfswood Farm fold and she made easy work of this 2nd split of the 7 furlong maiden allowance. She won by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:23.08 , a 67 Beyer Figure and the faster of the 2 splits. She is by Niigon and is the 9th winner for the wonderful mare Lone Piper, by Dehere. Alan Garcia rode for Paul Attard.
Race 9 – the money poured in on BEAR’S BIG BOY and he won this $40,00 claiming race in 1:09.21, a 79 Beyer Figure. He was claimed by Tallyho Racing. The winner was making his season debut for Tucci Stables and trainer Jamie Attard. Patrick Husbands rode.
race 10 – This allowance race for Ontario sired 3-year-old fillies was won in an upset by OBEAH WOMAN, a Mobil filly out of Heart Beat by Apalachee. Bred and owned by Minshall Farms and trainer by Barb Minshall, she was making her season debut and blew past Take Back Ya Poils, who was odds-on but was on the pace and weakened to be 2nd.
Betting on Saturday at Woodbine was $3.7 million.
THIS IS A COOL STORY – THE ART OF READING DAILY RACING FORM
by Jay Cronley
Here’s why you should enjoy paying for good articles and books and past performances and news and human interest stories. Good writing makes a person think. Sitting quietly and thinking is almost a lost art. And writing is really hard. Good ideas tend to write themselves. But on a bad day, having to squeeze sense out of a lousy idea is as hard as any trade.
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/12865415/a-worthy-investment
