HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUEEN VICTORIA!
All things Queen today, a Monday racing card, fourth straight racing day at Woodbine. The Sport of Queens syndicate will be out in full force as it’s filly QUEENS HONOR competes in race 9, a maiden race scheduled for the grass but rains were heavy yesterday.
IRISH EYES SMILING
Grizzel is a bear in Selene, 86 Beyer
Jockey David Moran guides Grizzel (IRE) to victory in the $125,000 Selene Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack.
(michael burns photo)
The Doyle brothers were all aglow as their filly GRIZZEL charged to victory in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday, a $125,000 race for 3-year-old fillies.
Owned by Mrs. Anna Doyle and Merriebelle Stable LLC, Grizzel and Davy Moran got out of a jackpot on the turn and got past Enstone to win the 1 1/16 race in near-track record time of 1:42.29.
The Beyer Figure was listed by DRF as 86.
The Selene featured some American-bred fillies against Woodbine Oaks hopefuls but other than Enstone, the locals did not do well.
Enstone, owned by East West Stable and trained by Mark Casse., finished second after winning the Fury Stakes in her local return, however, from all reports, the filly emerged from the race ‘off’ (Patrick Husbands dismounted early and walked her back to the unsaddling area).
Trainer Mark Casse reports the filly was filly was fine and thus, she emerges at the Oaks favourite.
The list of Oak probables would look like this: Enstone, Mythical Mission, Inflexibility, Cinderevella, Financial recovery, Ellan Vannin, Fresh Princess., Spring Tempest and perhaps Stallion Heiress.
A whole bunch of Doyles came over from Ireland to watch Grizzel, who was making her 3rd start in North America and second start at Woodbine. She had won the prep for the Selene in fine style.
She is by the Danehill sire Kodiac, a 4-time winner and Group placed sprinter. He has sired some 60 stakes horses including the brilliant 2yo filly Tiggy Wiggy.
Bred in Ireland by Martin Butler, Grizzel is out of the French-bred Mark of Esteem mare Milana. She was sold at auction three times and during her last trip through the ring she sold for $112,132 at the 2016 Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, where she was purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock.
Catalogue page – http://www.tattersalls.com/cat/breezeup/2016/60.pdf
Other big winners on the Sunday card at Woodbine include ROXY’S VISION, posting an 83 beyer Figure for an allowance win in his 2nd outing of the season for Ellie Boje Farm and Jean MacLellan. This was the 3rd winner for trainer Ian Black and his team in a couple of days. Roxy’s Vision and Emma=Jayne Wilson won the 7 furlong, off-the-turf race with flair, his 4th win of his career.
SKYLANDER GIRL, a multiple stakes winning 6yo who was for sale for most of 2016, was returned to the races htis year but owner and trainer Alex Patykewich. She won an allowance/optional claiming race with an 82 Beyer Figure for her first win in 2 years.
She has earned over $650,000 and has 5 wins in 33 races.
Patykewich is a remarkable 7 for 13 with his starters this season.
