CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL – MEMORIES

Thoroughblog will be digging in the closets here and surfing the net for cool moments in the history of the CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL, one of the greatest races in the history of Canadian racing – a racr that has brought some of the most important and top horses to Woodbine.

Such as Dahlia..some of you won’t even know how remarkable it was that this mare came to Woodbine and how incredible she was…

 

DAHLIA –
WOODBINE MEDIA – By Tom Cosgrove
The 1970s were kind to the Canadian International.
Thoroughbreds of the highest class graced the winner’s circle in those first few years of the decade, including the likes of Drumtop, One For All, and of course, the legendary Secretariat.
Then along came Dahlia.
She arrived at Woodbine exactly 40 years ago this month to contest the 37th running of the race, at the time the richest event ever run here.
Owned and bred by Nelson Bunker Hunt, Dahlia defined equine stardom on the international stage. Her 1974 appearance in Canada would be the fifth country to witness her greatness following England, Ireland, France, and the United States.
Earlier in the year she became the first filly ever to surpass a million dollars in career earnings, but true race fans could appreciate her other qualities, namely exceptional stamina, overall conditioning and that signature late-running style.
The Canadian International Championship, now called the Pattison Canadian International, was run a cold but sunny day in late October of 1974.
A top-notch field of eight lined up against Dahlia, including U.S. invaders Big Spruce and London Company, Protectora from Chile, French-bred Meautry, English classic winner Snow Knight, and local turf stars Carney’s Point, Olmedo, and Good Port.
Renowned jockey Lester Piggott, also making his first Canadian appearance, flew in from England to ride the four-year-old filly, meticulously prepared by trainer Maurice Zilber.
All horses appeared relaxed in the post parade but both Dahlia and Snow Knight were led by their handlers rather than stable ponies, a rarity on this side of the Atlantic to this day.
When the race began, Snow Knight, with jockey Sandy Hawley, quickly opened up a big lead on the backside, nearly 10 lengths on his closest pursuers and over 20 lengths on Dahlia.
As the field moved to the inner section of the old Marshall Turf Course, she began to quicken, advancing to the leaders.
Still behind horses and Big Spruce at her flank, she needed room, as Snow Knight faded on the hedge. Carney’s Point and London Company were in contention ahead of her.
Suddenly an opening appeared and Dahlia exploded.  She produced a jaw-dropping performance of pure speed in the late stages of a marathon race.
As the 2-5 race favourite, Dahlia certainly didn’t disappoint the racing faithful who came out to see her.  She had just added a memorable chapter to this Canadian classic and enhanced her impressive resume.
Dahlia raced for two more years before being retired in California. She returned to her Kentucky birthplace and became a productive broodmare.
She passed in 2001, but left an indelible mark, both here and abroad, in racing history.

 

NICK DETORO – PASSES AT 88

We have seen his familar red and black silks for decades and have bet on his successful angles – new claims and his horses stretching out in distance. NICK DETORO, a fixture at Woodbine (see statistics below), has had multiple stakes winners such as GOLDEN PATH, a top 2yo filly, COLONIAL SURPRISE and TORQUAY. Woodbine reported DeToro passed away yesterday/
He has been one of the busiest claiming trainers for years and has horses entered for tomorrow night at Woodbine.
DeToro has won over 360 races.

2015  71      10 10 8 $128,126
2014  102    11 7 16 $186,529
2013  96    17 10 10 $341,380
2012  110   12 10 13 $275,411
2011  109   12 11 12 $297,248
2010  97    13 11 12 $275,823
2009  126  12 12 16 $412,816
2008  119  9 18 18 $422,770
2007  130   13 19 18 $657,511
2006  117    14 20 17 $554,976
2005   111    15 14 19 $514,727
2004  122   18 11 17 $504,038
2003  117    15 10 9 $464,835
2002  91    16 13 8 $648,200
2001  98    16 19 12 $759,798
2000  90   14 11 8 $525,089
1999  103   23 10 18 $566,449
1998  50     5 7 8 $94,190
1997  103   12 10 14 $185,765
1996  146   16 17 18 $273,323
1995  123   12 20 21 $261,120
1994  79     8 12 12 $129,446
1993  116   14 13 16 $145,531
1992   31     3 3 2 $34,232
1991   13    0 2 3 $2,736
1990  48   5 1 5 $43,740
1989   79  9 12 9 $159,864
1988   102 10 10 18 $222,846
1987   84 7 12 12 $112,122
1986   122 8 11 11 $135,196
RIKER is an island, alone at the top of the 2yo standings

 

 

 

Riker1GreyS2015MB298

Riker – Woodbine/Michael Burns photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Undefeated 2yo RIKER, a Kentucky bred, Florida 2yo sale purchase, may be headed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on the dirt following his win in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

The son of Include from the winning mare Desvacion by Unreal Zeal was the only speed in the 1 1/16 mile race, set slow fractions and had enough to hold off the European colt Kasseopia.

He is 4 for 4 in his career for Carlo and Lou Tucci and trainer Nick Gonzalez. The winning Beyer Figure for the food time of 1:44 1/5 was 84.

Riker has yet to put a foot wrong over the Woodbine ‘Poly’ winning his five furlong debut by a 1/2-length over Conquest Nitro en route to another 1/2-length score in the six furlong Colin Stakes over well-regarded The Zip Zip Man. Last time out, Riker stretched out to seven furlongs with a prominent 2 1/2-length score over Tizzarunner.

Campbell, aboard for all four scores, continues to be impressed by the improving dark bay.

“I wanted to be in front and it worked out that way. He was very relaxed going into the first turn and at about seven-eighths he grabbed me pretty good. It wasn’t rank, he just surprised me a bit…he was ready to run today,” said Campbell.

The veteran conditioner was pleased with Riker’s effort travelling two-turns for the first time.

“I was really happy. Jesse and I weren’t surprised. He’s always galloped out well after his races. He worked out in :59 and change (:59.80 on September 24) and he galloped out very strong after that,” said Gonzalez. “He’s always showed lots of stamina in the morning. We give him lots of two-mile gallops and he takes it like it’s nothing. He’s growing from a boy to a man.”

Trainer Charlie Fellowes, who camei nto town with Kasseopia and then said goodbye to the colt following the race (he is going to trainer Graham Motion at Fair Hill), was a little less thrilled with the race as he told Thoroughblog he had hoped Kasseopia was allowed to be right on the lead as he was when he won his maiden by 9 lengths at Kempton recently.

Kasseopia was recently bought by Team Valor and Gary Barber.

Riker is the 13th foal of his dam and he has a half brother named Cashel castle who won the Grade 3 Lafayette Stakes as a 3yo.

 
STRUT THE COURSE CONFIRMED FOR E.P. TAYLOR

some possible CANADIAN – CONNECTED HORSES IN BREEDERS’ CUP RACES

 

Owner JOHN UNGER has told Thoroughblog that his champion mare STRUT THE COURSE, in line for a possible HORSE OF THE YEAR award (along with ACADEMIC) will stay at home and try the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on October 18.

Strut the Course is a multiple graded stakes winner this year and loves the local turf course. The daughter of Strut the Stage is trained by Barb Minshall.

In other local news as far as Breeders’ Cup, CALGARY CAT is not yet a Breeders’ Cup possibility as his interests continue to monitor the champion sprinter of 2015.

GRAND ARCH, a Canadian-owned, US based gelding, will go the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
MARK CASSE, Woodbine’s leading trainer, has a number of possible entries including Grade 1 winner TEPIN, an American owned and bred filly who will go in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Casse does have Canadian-bred CONQUEST DADDYO for the Juvenile Turf along with AIROFORCE and SIDING SPRING for the Juvenile Turf.

Canadian-owned CATCH A GLIMPSE is headed to the Juvenile filly turf

American owned and bred CONQUEST BIG E will be entered in the Juvenile.

Casse worked two horses on the fast Keeneland track Sunday morning with designs on Breeders’ Cup races on Oct. 30.
Conquest Stables’ Conquest Daddyo, winner of the Summer (G2) at Woodbine on Sept. 12, worked five furlongs in 1:01. Conquest Daddyo has earned a berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by virtue of the Woodbine victory.
Catch a Glimpse, winner of the Natalma (G2) at Woodbine the same day as the Summer, worked five furlongs in 1:01.60. Owned by Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler and Windways Farm, Catch a Glimpse earned a spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) with that victory.

 
SECOND TURF COURSE AT WOODBINE RUMOURS CONTINUE TO HEIGHTEN

Guelph Mercury – Dave Briggs

The likelihood is the new turf track would be placed where the harness oval is currently located at Woodbine, Martin said, adding the earliest a full-time move to Mohawk might happen is 2017.
http://www.guelphmercury.com/sports-story/5941969-mohawk-could-race-year-round-as-woodbine-expands/

 

 

 

C U AT EAU CLAIRE – stakes streak continues in $100,000 Sadie Diamond

DON DANARD’S BC-bred filly  C U AT EAU CLAIRE (Haynesfield) is a monster in BC – Jackie Humber photo

CU WINS THE SADIE DIAMOND

http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/stakes+streak+ends+another+continues+Hastings+Racecourse/11377633/story.html

 

 

 

GOLDEN HORN MUST DO MORE TO BE A SUPERSTAR…

 

RACING POST feature..

GOLDEN HORN (Cape Cross)  was the underdog on Sunday. It didn’t matter that he went into the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the highest rated racehorse in the world, or that he was the first ever horse to complete the Dante-Derby-Eclipse treble. He was up against Treve and she was the star of the show.

 

http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/world-class-golden-horn-must-do-more-to-become-a-superstar/1966461/latest/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

 

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO..PANTHER HERO – Ontario bred 2yo QH  wins $128,000 Alex Picov Futurity

Owner: John Wilson – New Liskeard, ON. Trainer: Scott Reid. Jockey: Cassandra Jeschke

 

 

 

SPENDTHRIFT MOVING ONTARIO STALLIONS

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/94926/spendthrift-moving-court-vision-victors-cry