RACEY

BEAR BULLISH WITH BABIES

Thoroughbred Daily News report/quote: “Danny wanted to upgrade the stable,”added Baker. “We bought more horses for less average the last few years–we usually bought about 12 or so– but Danny wanted to get some higher quality. So, though we got fewer horses, let’s hope they’re better.” – Reade Baker, trainer/advisor for owner Danny Dion.

Danny Dion went to the Keeneland April sale with a plan and the Albertan, who has raced champions such as Fatal Bullet and Bear Now, picked out 6 prospects that hopefully will continue to take him to the big time.

Dion, who shares the dream of the Kentucky Derby (he had Kentucky Bear one year who was one of the better 3yos in the spring in the U.S), bought pair of grey colts by Broken Vow and Unbridled’s Song respectively.

The former was a $50,000 yearling but turned over for $375,000.

The colt, born April 4, is the 2nd foal of Colleen Stakes winner Fashion Girl, a Tactical Cat mare. The colt is a Florida bred.

That was hip 138 and Dion bought the next hip also – the Unbridled’s Song for $300,000. Names BRONZE STAR, the colt is out of Grade 3 placed Fashion Star, dam of  Grade 1 winner EDDINGTON (Pimlico Special) and 4 other winners from 19 foals.

The Bear bought of of only a couple of Canadian-breds that sold – an Awesome Again filly out of Mamselle Aries.

Another gorgeous light grey bought by Dion was the Tale of the Cat colt for $190,000.

0015     B.F. Awesome Again — Mamselle Aries    Bear Stables Ltd.    100,000

    Eddie Woods, Agent IX

0034     CH.F. E Dubai — New Dimension    Bear Stables Ltd.    90,000

    Bloodstock Management (Robert Cunningham), Agent

0046     B.C. Stormy Atlantic — Promenade Colony    Bear Stables Ltd.    150,000

    Nick de Meric, Agent

0078     GR/RO.C. Tale of the Cat — Unbridled Spirit    Bear Stables Ltd.    190,000

    Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent

0138     GR/RO.C. Broken Vow — Fashion Girl    Bear Stables Ltd.    375,000

    Eddie Woods, Agent LXXVIII

0139     GR/RO.C. Unbridled’s Song — Fashion Star    Bear Stables Ltd.    300,000

    Hoby and Layna Kight, Agent

WOODBINE SUNDAY

If you liked big favourites then Sunday was a good day for you at Woodbine. Day 5 of the 2011 meting did not feature a stakes event but some of the races went as fast a stakes events.

Inside speed was deadly all day too.

The featured event, purse-wise, was the 6th, an allowance/optional claimer that went to Wesley ward’s CRIMSON GLORY, who battled on the pace through the stretch and held off stakes winner Dancing Raven to win under Juan Delgado. Ward has cooled off a bit since winning 5 on opening day. Crimson Glory is an Ontario bred by Polytrack supersire Ghostzapper.

Another allowance race – the 8th – was a first -level event that went to KINGS PARADE, well prepared by trainer Kevin Attard and ridden by  Omar Moreno. The El Prado gelding sizzled 7 furlongs in 1:22.86.

Maiden winners on the card included 2nd time starter URBAN FORESTER (77 Beyer Figure) who won the last race for trainer Phil England and owners Cedarow, Davidsoon, Lanning and partner. He’s a chestnut gelding by Old Forester.

$190,000 yearling HOI AN, by Successful Appeal and a half sister to Square Eddie, won her maiden from post 1 in race 7. She is owned by Discovery Racing and she was making her 2nd career start.

And Aiken trained DECADENT somehow paid $40.00 for owner Gus Schickedanz when he won the first race for older maidens. The son of Wando had been 2nd in a training race and had experience from last year. Longshot JOLSON, trained by Phil Gracey, was 2nd in a big showing off the layoff.

JOY IN KENTUCKY?

JOYFUL VICTORY beat 3 rivals in the Fantasy Stakes – Grade 2 at Oaklawn on Sunday and will head to the Kentucky Oaks as one of the favourites (May 6).

The grey daughter of Tapit was bred at Windhaven in Caledon , Ontario by Bill Graham. She is out of Wild Lucky Black, whose yearling last year went through the 2nd sale last fall and did not meet her reserve – she was bought back for $9,000 and is named Why Lucy Why.

JOYFUL VICTORY is ridden by Mike Smith. Her Beyer Figure for the win was 83.

The KENTUCKY OAKS is her next start –

MIXING IT UP AT KEENELAND

Ontario-bred filly MARKETING MIX came from 11th and won her maiden at Keeneland on the weekend with a 79 Beyer Figure. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro – Instant Thought was bred by Sean Fitzhenry and was a $150,000 yearling purchase. She races for Glen Hill Stable.