SUNDAY’S TOP WOODBINE BEYER FIGURES
HAMMERSTEIN – 89
MY NAME IS MICHAEL – 86
CONQUEST CITY GIRL – 80
TIZ IMAGINARY – no dream trip but on to Woodbine Oaks for Bill Graham
TIZ IMAGINARY, one of 4 possible runners in the Woodbine Oaks for trainer Mike Doyle – MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO/WOODBINE
The Mike Doyle-trained team of 3-year-old fillies for the Woodbine Oaks is as strong as ever after TIZ IMAGINARY overcame a near-disastrous checking incideint on the turn of the 7 furlong Fury Stakes to rally and win for Bill Graham’s Windhaven.
A surprising wave of horses being hard riddden and sent early on the turn of the race did not work well for most of the runners amd probably should not have worked for the daughter of promising young sire Tizway – Imaginary Gold by Mr. Prospector.
Sent to post at odds of 9-2, Tiz Imaginary raced from fourth position along the rail as Jennifer Lynnette sprinted through splits of :23.47 and :47.11 under pressure from Bearsatlanticmist. Jennifer Lynnette led the field into the turn as Tiz Imaginary was checked and shuffled back to last before being gathered up by Contreras to launch a furious charge, splitting rivals Crumlin Spirit and Bella’s Ballerina, en route to a narrow 1/2-length score. Jennifer Lynnette held place by 1 1/4-lengths over Crumlin Spirit. Tiz Imaginary covered seven furlongs in 1:25.43.
Contreras, who won three races on the card, stayed calm throughout the difficult trip but sure was excited at the wire as he pumped his arm in a big way at the wire.
“Down the backstretch I was in the dream position, saving all the ground. My horse was very comfortable there,” said Contreras. “Just before the three-eighths, they started to move a little bit early and got me in trouble. I just kept my eyes in my head and waited for the perfect time to make a move.
“She really impressed me. Most of the time when you get caught like that, the horse doesn’t give you that response,” continued Contreras. “I just tried to stay calm, let her sit, and wait for the right time to make a run.”
Doyle was full of praise for the improving Tizway bay.
“She’s a pretty nice horse. She’s three for five now. She’s had a couple of bits of trouble along the way, but she’s very nice,” said Doyle.
Although the filly has yet to travel beyond seven furlongs, Tiz Imaginary is now in the mix as one of several contenders for the 1 1/8-miles $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, which is slated for June 12.
Doyle was all smiles when asked if the filly would soon have a chance to try two turns for the first time.
“She’s going to her next start,” said Doyle.
Tiz Imaginary, bred in Ontario by Bill Graham, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 3-0-1 from five starts.
She paid $11, $4.10 and $2.60, combining with Jennifer Lynnette ($3, $2.10) for a $22.40 (2-4) exactor. A 2-4-1 triactor (Crumlin Spirit, $2.40 to show) was worth $43.10.
Doyle also has CRUMLIN SPIRIT, GARAVOGUE COLLEEN and the very nice DUBLIN DIVA for the Oaks, which is shaping up to me, at the moment, a lot more interesting of a race than the Queen’s Plate.
Here are some of the probables:
CAREN
b.f.3 by Society’s Chairman(Not Impossible (IRE)) – Jo Zak(Vilzak)
Robert Marzilli Michael P. De Paulo
CONQUEST DYNASTY
dk b/.f.3 by Court Vision(Gulch) – Chick(Sky Classic)
Conquest Stables, LLC Mark E. Casse
*CONQUEST PARTYGIRL Giant Gizmo – Alexis (Ire) – (would have to be supplemented)
CRUMLIN SPIRIT
b.f.3 by Court Vision(Gulch) – Heart Lake(Unbridled)
Dura Racing & M.J.Doyle Racing Stable Ltd. Michael J. Doyle
CURLIN KISSES
ch.f.3 by Curlin(Smart Strike) – Sunset Kisses(Sky Classic)
Conrad Farms Mark E. Casse
DUBLIN DIVA
b.f.3 by Leroidesanimaux (BRZ)(Candy Stripes) – Diva Ash(Tapit)
Dura Racing & M.J.Doyle Racing Stable Ltd. Michael J. Doyle
GAMBLE’S GHOST
dk b/.f.3 by Ghostzapper(Awesome Again) – Gambling Girl(Secret Claim)
Ivan Dalos Josie Carroll
GARAVOGUE COLLEEN
gr/ro.f.3 by Sligo Bay (IRE)(Sadler’s Wells) – Kiamika(With Approval)
Dura Racing & M.J.Doyle Racing Stable Ltd. Michael J. Doyle
NESHAMA
b.f.3 by Sligo Bay (IRE)(Sadler’s Wells) – Catch a Fire(Indian Groom)
Carnegie Hill Stable, Kingfield Racing Stable, Ltd., Anderson Farms Ontario, Inc. and John Fielding Catherine Day Phillips
CAREN
b.f.3 by Society’s Chairman(Not Impossible (IRE)) – Jo Zak(Vilzak)
Robert Marzilli Michael P. De Paulo
CONQUEST DYNASTY
dk b/.f.3 by Court Vision(Gulch) – Chick(Sky Classic)
Conquest Stables, LLC Mark E. Casse
NESHAMA
b.f.3 by Sligo Bay (IRE)(Sadler’s Wells) – Catch a Fire(Indian Groom)
Carnegie Hill Stable, Kingfield Racing Stable, Ltd., Anderson Farms Ontario, Inc. and John Fielding Catherine Day Phillips
SWOOP AND STRIKE
b.f.3 by Smart Strike(Mr. Prospector) – Dance With Doves(A.P. Indy)
Sam-Son Farm Malcolm Pierce
TIZ IMAGINARY
b.f.3 by Tizway(Tiznow) – Imaginary Gold(Mr. Prospector)
Windhaven Farms Inc. Michael J. Doyle
TRINI BREWNETTE
b.f.3 by Milwaukee Brew(Wild Again) – Dancing Allstar(Millennium Allstar)
Derek A. Chin Daniel J. Vella
WEST L. A. GIRL
ch.f.3 by Singing Saint(El Prado (IRE)) – Bambuyan(Gone West)
Gabe Grossberg Mark E. Casse
More Sunday/Saturday
The theme of the Woodbine races this week includes a slow track surface, a lovely turf course and the rails well out, promoting speed winners and some crafty rides.
One of those rides was Luis Contreras on HAMMERSTEIN who stole away with race 7 on the pace at 1 mile on the grass. The course favours horses on the lead and inside when the rails are way out anyway and he went 46 and change to the half mile. The dark bay colt, a 4yo for Bill Sorokolit, trained by Darwin Banach, hel d off a wave of rivals to win for the 2nd time this year on grass (he won at Tampa); The son of Bernstein (yep, same sire as Tepin) posted the day’s best 89 Beyer Figure and is one to watch this season.
CONQUEST PARTYGIRL led all the way through 1 1/16 miles in race 9, a maiden allowance for Ontario sired fillies and perhaps earned a ticket to the Woodbine Oaks. The three-quarter sister to Queen’s Plate winner MIKE FOX was making her 3rd career start and coming out of the key, Copper Fox maiden win (she, a daughter of Mike Fox). Patrick Husbands rode the $90,000 yearling purchase for Mark Casse and the Conquest team. The maidens Enchanted and String Bikini fared okay to be 2nd and 3rd. The time of 1:47.58 was good for a 78 Beyer Figure. The winner would have to be supplemented to the Oaks.
Thoroughblog will have to catch- up tomorrow on all the the winners from the long weekend…
