ONTARIO SALES GRADUATES STRUT THEIR STUFF
What a night at Woodbine with 6 sales stakes races on CANADIAN MILLIONS DAY at the track – a celebration of yearling/weanling graduates from the local sale and a VIP party to encourage new faces into the horse ownership game.
Capping the night of excitement was a special concert by the great ANDY KIM (Baby I Love You, Rainbow Ride, Rock Me Gently, Sugar Sugar etc.) and his band and back up singers who were very gracious in hanging out for the night and then playing for a great number of us who stayed to dance.
ANDY KIM and his band put on a great show for CTHS Canadian Millions Night, VIP party.
HALTON STAKES – HAMPSTEAD HEATH got things going on the night with a well timed move to win this 1 mile grass race for owner Robert Smithen. It has been a rough year for this nice grey 5yo but he got back on track with this score and the highest Beyer Figure of the night – a 90. Brian Lynch trains.
Smithen, who has had a number of good racehorses over the years, has had his best luck at the local sale. He bought this Macho Uno – Love Kiss fellow for just $30,000 in 2010. He was bred by RICHARD LISTER. His earnings now stand at $397,000.
HAMPSTEAD HEATH gets out of a funk and wins the Halton Stakes – NORM FILES PHOTO
ELGIN STAKES – Small field of 5 and it was the popular PENDER HARBOUR who did it again, winning with a power stretch run to get past a pesky Power Phil and win for the 11th time in his career. A $17,000 yearling in 2009, this Philanthropist- Uproar, Hail the Ruckus gelding has won $1.6 million for Denny Andrews, Roberta and Bob Giffen and Sandra Lazaruk. Mike DePaulo trains. His Beyer Figure was 81.
PENDER HARBOUR, $1.6 million for a $17,000 purchase. Selected and wintered by Gail Wood, bred by Paradox, owned by Denny Andrews, Sandra Lazaruk and Bob and Robert Giffin. Ridden by Luis Contreras. NORM FILES photo
ALGOMA STAKES – I’M A KITTYHAWK posted a mild upset for Martin and Victoria Earle and partners. The Earles bred the daughter of Tomahawk – I’m a Cheetah by Kiriashi and tried to sell her in 2011 but she did not reach her reserve and was bought back for just $10,000. The pretty gal with the crooked white blaze is trained by Franz Crean. There was a hot pace to run at as heavy favourite Aragorn Ami was off a layoff and rank. I’m a Kittyhawk posted an 82 Beyer Figure and she has won over $247,000.
CAT’S MEOW – I’m a Kittyhawk powers to Algoma win. Norm Files photo
MUSKOKA STAKES – the 2yo fillies at 7 furlongs featured a number of gals who had the lead at one point in this race but it was late burst by BROOKLYN’SWAY who took the trophy. This is another John Ross specialty, a filly bought for $9,000 last year. She is by Giant Gizmo out of Explosive Story by Radio Star, bred by HJT Stable. The filly was placed in two stakes to begin her career. Ross, of course, bought Lexie Lou 2 years ago for $5,500.
BROOKLYN’SWAY – or the highway! Emma-Jayne Wilson and the filly stretch to the wire in the Muskoka Norm Files photo
KENORA STAKES – the sprint was on and then over as BLACK HORNET sizzled on the pace and won big with an89 Beyer Figure. The Pioneering – Start Stingin, Siphon gelding had been sick all year but Pat parente got him in shape for this big race and he turned the tables on BEAR NO JOKE (It’s No Joke), who beat him last year. The winner cost just $4,500 at the local sale and he has won $380,000. Roger Fortier bred Black Hornet.
BLACK HORNET stung his rivals in the Kenora. He cost just $4,500 at auction! Norm Files photo
SIMCOE STAKES – Ron Clarkson bought back his homebred PHIL’S COCKTAIL for $18,000 last year and now the Philanthropist – Sunset Cocktail gelding has 2 wins and $142,000. He won the Simcoe at 7 furlongs on the pace and posted a 59 Beyer Figure. John LeBlanc trains.
PHIL’S COCKTAIL sped to a win in the Simcoe for owner/breeder Ron Clarkson. Clarkson, who has had some nice horses of the years and quite a few trainers, bought this guy back for $18,000. Norm Files photo
Betting on the night was just over $2 million.
