WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING IS BACK, Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club meets tonight at the track…Kentucky Derby week in full force, Canadians in action in Oaks and Derby..let’s go!
Below is yesterday’s Backstretch Buzz at Churchill with Jill Byrne and a funny interview with NFL commentator/player TERRY BRADSHAW:
BODEMEISTER, could be the favourite
Did you see the Arkansas Derby? There is no question that the Empire Maker colt BODEMEISTER (bodee-my ster) is very talented. He’s fast and finishes fast. He has big Beyer Figures, a top trainer and an owner who could be sitting on his first Kentucky Derby win.
But BODEMEISTER did not race at 2 and it has been 130 years since a horse won the Kentucky Derby that did not race at 2. That’s a historical trend that is awfully tough to ignore.
CINDY PIERSON DULAY caught Bodemeister getting a bath yesterday
(www.horse-races.net)
Bob Baffert on the colt’s name:
“I happened to be at the barn at Del Mar with Bode and his friends and (Zayat) told me he needed some papers and was going to change the name of that horse. I told him, ‘I’ll just call him Bodemeister until the name comes out.’ I didn’t think twice about it. A month and a half later, I saw the papers on the desk and my bookkeeper said, ‘Look at this name, Bodemeister.’ I said, ‘What did he do that for?’ Usually it’s a jinx if you name one for your kid. I said, ‘Well, forget that horse.’
HARD NOT TO LIKE, 20 TO 1 FROM POST 5
Canadian-bred, owned and trained HARD NOT TO LIKE will contest the $1 million KENTUCKY OAKS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. Post time is 5:45 p.m.
The Sovereign Award nominee has never raced on the dirt and appears to be a tad short of the top fillies in the race but the presence of a lot of pace to run at certainly helps this Garland Williamson homebred.
With her Kentucky Oaks filly on her way to Louisville from Woodbine Race Course, trainer Gail Cox was excited to hear about drawing post position five for Friday’s $1 million Oaks at Churchill Downs.
“That’s a pretty good post,” the trainer said by telephone from the track outside of Toronto. “I’m certainly happy with that.”
Hard Not to Like left at 5 a.m. for her 10-hour van ride to Churchill Downs. The trainer will leave for Louisville Wednesday, with an expected arrival time of mid- to late-afternoon.
Churchill Downs veteran jockey Robby Albarado has the call.
SEE HARD NOT TO LIKE’S PAGE AT THE OAKS SITE:
http://www.kentuckyderby.com/oaks/contenders/hard-not-to-like
138th Kentucky Oaks
1 1/8 miles, all carry 123 pounds
Post time, 5:45 p.m. Eastern
TV: NBC Sports Network
(PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, CD M/L)
1. On Fire Baby, J. Johnson, G. Hartlage, 4-1
2. Grace Hall, J. Castellano, A. Dutrow, 5-2
3. Summer Applause, G. Gomez, B. Calhoun, 15-1
4. Eden’s Moon, M. Garcia, B. Baffert, 12-1
5. Hard Not to Like, R. Albarado, G. Cox, 20-1
6. Broadway’s Alibi, J. Velazquez, T. Pletcher, 4-1
7. Sacristy, M. Smith, W. Catalano, 50-1
8. Jemima’s Pearl, J. Talamo, B. Baffert, 10-1
9. Believe You Can, R. Napravnik, L. Jones, 10-1
10. And Why Not, J. Leparoux, M. Matz, 15-1
11. Karlovy Vary, J. Graham, R. Arnold, 20-1
12. Colonial Empress, C. Nakatani, D.W. Lukas, 50-1
13. Amie’s Dini, J. Court, R. Moquett, 10-1
14. Yara, J. Castanon, J. Garofollo, 30-1
15..ae-Oaks Lily, R. Bejarano, T. Hill, 50-1
ae – also-eligible; runs only in case of scratches by 9 a.m. Eastern on Friday.
LITTLE CANADIAN BRANCHES TO I’LL HAVE ANOTHER
Owner, jockey and chiropractor stem from Canada
I’LL HAVE ANOTHER, Canadian born owner, chiropractor, Vancouver based jock
by Cindy Pierson Dulay (yesterday)
I’LL HAVE ANOTHER is a sleek chestnut colt with a stalking style of running and a low head carriage. He races with a ‘win alot’ bridle (like Sea Hero when he won the Derby) and is trained by a very controversial, by capable trainer.
The colt, a son of Flower Alley (who raced for Canadian Eugene Melnyk) is also from a Canadian-bred 2nd dam (Force Five Gal), who was trained by Jim Day.
MARIO GUTIERREZ – HASTINGS PARK TO CHURCHILL DOWNS
UT San Diego feature
“A year ago, Gutierrez was an unknown, riding at obscure Hastings Park in Vancouver after being discovered in Mexico City in 2006 by Canadian horsemen Glen Todd and Troy Taylor” – UT SANDIEGO
Unknown jockey Gutierrez gets Kentucky Derby shot with I’ll Have Another
Written by
Ed Zieralski
Horse racing is packed with rags-to-riches stories, and jockey Mario Gutierrez is the latest, one that will unfold this week at the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Gutierrez, 25, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, will ride I’ll Have Another in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby for owners J. Paul and Zillah Reddam and trainer Doug O’Neill. He’ll try and be the 42nd jockey to win the Kentucky Derby riding the race for the first time.
A year ago, Gutierrez was an unknown, riding at obscure Hastings Park in Vancouver after being discovered in Mexico City in 2006 by Canadian horsemen Glen Todd and Troy Taylor. The Canadians offered Gutierrez a job riding at Hastings in 2006, and Gutierrez jumped at the chance. Gutierrez said he comes from a very poor Mexican family, but this Saturday he has a chance to change his life forever…
read more
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/30/unknown-jockey-gutierrez-gets-kentucky-derby-shot-/
J. PAUL REDDAM
born in Windsor, Ontario, started in standardbreds
feature story by Mary Forney:
http://www.toconline.com/html/files/Archives/jreddam.pdf
LARRY ‘THUMPER’ JONES
Transplanted Canadian is a chiropractor to the stars
Backstretch buzz: From hockey to horse chiropractor
By Jessie Halladay, USA TODAY
LOUISVILLE – Larry “Thumper” Jones had planned on a long career as a hockey player, winning the Memorial Cup playing for the Canadian New Westminster junior hockey team.
By Garry Jones, AP
Kentucky Derby hopeful I’ll Have Another is bathed by groom Inocencio Diaz at Churchill Downs on Monday. Larry “Thumper” Jones (not pictured) is working on the horse’s back.
Sponsored Links
But after a slip over a broken hockey stick during a game, Jones had back surgery that eventually forced him out of the sport. After unsuccessful rehabilitation, Jones said he met a Calgary doctor who had him fixed up in less than two weeks thanks to chiropractic work.
The experience transformed his career path. He took that, along with his upbringing in the horse country of Vancouver, and set his sights on equine care. “I transferred all that energy into helping horses,” he said.
read more
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/horses/story/2012-04-30/From-hockey-to-equine-chiropractor/54652384/1
more on Larry Jones:
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=f0111846-c57e-41e3-99c9-52446f4608bd
FORT ERIE STARTS UP SUNDAY
entries taken tomorrow
In the midst of more uncertainty, FORT ERIE RACETRACK, one of the darlings of North American tracks, gets rolling with its first day of entries tomorrow!
There is a ton of super event-days planned for the season and lots of chances to bet on good racing and see lots of cool stuff.
BREAKING NEWS: No commitment from OLG on Fort Erie’s plan for local takeover of slots facility
Slots at Fort Erie Race Track. Photo: Special to Bullet News
JOHN ROBBINS/Bullet News
FORT ERIE – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. executuves met with representatives from the Town of Fort Erie and the Fort Erie Race Track this afternoon to discuss the town’s plan for a local takeover of the slots facility, which was closed down on Monday.
But OLG officials still have no authority to support or reject Fort Erie’s plan, which some say is the best hope of returning at least some of the laid off slots employees to their jobs and securing the future of the Fort Erie Race Track, which is partially funded by slots revenues.
AFTER 12, WOODBINE STATS
Night racing is back at Woodbine as we move to a 4-day a week schedule for the month of May. Post time is 6:45.
Also, BET NIGHT LIVE, the racing show on THE SCORE is back so you can play along, bet the races and win some contest money!
Friday, post time is now 1:05 p.m. at Woodbine (10 races) and an expanded card is expected for Kentucky Derby day on Saturday.
Saturday is also the QUEENSTON STAKES, the first noted Queen’s Plate prep race and some of the contestants include FASTESTWHOGETSPAID, MENLO CASTLE, BEEKER STREET, DEAD ON and PEYTON.
The 7 furlong dash will feature some very nice middle distance runners looking to build on their foundation. So far, the Plate contenders look pretty good.
OWNERS
1 Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc. 7 3 1 0 $238,439 43% 4 57%
2 Bear Stables, Ltd. 21 5 5 1 $205,795 24% 11 52%
3 John C. Oxley 9 2 2 2 $163,103 22% 6 67%
4 William A. Sorokolit, Sr. 11 2 1 2 $154,986 18% 5 45%
5 Paul M. Buttigieg 9 3 3 0 $128,837 33% 6 67%
6 Cappuccitti, Audre and Gordon 10 1 1 0 $120,437 10% 2 20%
7 Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr. 8 2 3 1 $106,492 25% 6 75%
8 Sam-Son Farms 5 2 1 0 $102,871 40% 3 60%
9 Chiefswood Stable 5 2 2 0 $100,161 40% 4 80%
TRAINERS
1 Robert P. Tiller 36 10 7 8 $463,218 28% 25 69%
2 Mark E. Casse 37 8 7 6 $551,390 22% 21 57%
2 Reade Baker 22 8 7 1 $407,130 36% 16 73%
4 Josie Carroll 17 5 1 2 $205,839 29% 8 47%
4 Michael J. Doyle 21 5 2 4 $162,358 24% 11 52%
4 Wesley A. Ward 13 5 1 1 $105,887 38% 7 54%
4 Scott H. Fairlie 19 5 3 1 $102,737 26% 9 47%
8 Jim Ensom 4 4 0 0 $69,656 100% 4 100%
JOCKEYS
1 Luis Contreras 74 15 13 11 $765,817 20% 39 53%
2 Patrick Husbands 59 13 9 6 $639,606 22% 28 47%
3 Emma-Jayne Wilson 68 11 15 14 $552,469 16% 40 59%
4 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 64 10 9 10 $508,550 16% 29 45%
5 Justin Stein 71 9 10 9 $434,322 13% 28 39%
6 Gerry Olguin 43 8 5 3 $261,522 19% 16 37%
7 Jesse M. Campbell 40 5 4 5 $333,827 13% 14 35%
7 David Moran 58 5 3 4 $189,190 9% 12 21%
7 Jesus M. Rios 13 5 1 1 $105,887 38% 7 54%
