Dave Landry photo of 2010 International
What ya doin tonight? – LADIES NIGHT at the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club in Champions – starts at 7:30 at Woodbine – meets some cool gals in the game, preview the Canadian International this weekend…come on out!
In International news – DANDINO is settling in well, good thing this guy didn’t pass his test as a hurdler!
He’s like a little powderkeg – AIR SUPPORT, by Canadian-bred Smart Strike, is well regarded in New York as a top turf star – he tries 12 furlongs for the first time at Woodbine Sunday
Vanessa Ng photo
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL – SURE IS INTERNATIONAL!
Frankie Dettori in town
This Wednesday morning…early reports on landed European horses are pleasing:
on Twitter: Trainer James Fanshawe’s wife Jacko (?@jackofanshawe) posted this morning: “Dandino had a good trip to Woodbine and by all accounts is enjoying himself. He went out on the course for the first time yesterday.”
*DANDINO seems to be in the best form in the last 2 years and this is a horse who was going to switch over to hurdle racing but he didn’t do well and he returned to the flat and arrived in the Fanshawe barn.
There is just one Woodbine horse in the prospective 11 horse field for Sunday’s $1.5 Canadian International (the race that Secretariat made!) and that one, FORTE DE MARMI, is not really a local horse other than he has recently been trained by Roger Attfield.
*So, the 11 likely entrants (STORMY LORD is on the list but has been entered in the Knickerbocker in New York on Saturday and is most likely to go there) include a mix of Euro’s and Americans in a decent group old handicap turf runners. There is also a filly who is possible – LAY TIME, who will try to duplicate the win by Sarah Lynx last year in the International. She is a filly by that top sire Galileo although she has yet to travel 1 1/2 miles.
*FRANKIE DETTORI will ride our old friend JOSHUA TREE who won this race in 2010 and was 2nd in it last year. This 5yo by Montjeu was recently 3rd to Orfevre in the Prix Foy (GII) and that winner was a close 2nd in the Arc last weelend. Frankie rode him that day.
*WIGMORE HALL is ubeaten at 1 1/2 miles and at Woodbine. He won the Northern Dancer Stakes last month and is certainly a cool dude.
*The lightly raced IMPERIAL MONARCH is 3 for 4 in his career for the Tabor – Smith, trainer Aidan O’Brien twa, and he is also by Galileo.
The white-blazed bay is a very serious horse, having won the Prix de Paaris last time leading all the way on soft turf. Before that, he had a terrible trip in the French Derby but closed like the win once he got free, you can watch the race here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linL9mO7FUg
from New York Racing media:
Multiple stakes-winning Ontario-bred Stormy Lord (has been entered) in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, trainer Ian Black confirmed by phone on Sunday.
“It’s 1 1/8 miles, and he likes some give in the ground,” said Black, who trains the 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding for David Willmot. “I thought we might get both [at Belmont ].”
Stormy Lord is also nominated for next Sunday’s Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, his home track. The $1.5 million “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is contested at 1 ½ miles.
“I think there are a lot of Europeans coming in and at 1 ½ miles, it might not be ideal,” Black said. “I’ll have a better idea in a couple of days, but I think it’s better than 50/50 we’re coming your way.”
Stormy Lord exits a repeat win in the PTHA President’s Cup at Parx Racing, his first victory since taking last October’s Labeeb Stakes at Woodbine. The gelding was narrowly beaten in two starts at Woodbine prior to the PTHA President’s Cup – the Grade 2 Sky Classic and a turf allowance.
Overall, he has earned $1,153,686 and boasts a record of 9-7-1 from 27 starts, with six stakes wins including last year’s Grade 2 Connaught Cup at Woodbine.
On Sunday, he turned in an easy breeze over the turf training track at Woodbine, covering five furlongs in 1:01.20.
“He went well,” said Black. “Just breezing, happy to be out there.”
Black said that if he chooses to run Stormy Lord in the Knickerbocker, the gelding likely will ship to Belmont on Thursday.
*POSSIBLE FIELD for CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL
Air Support/Stuart Janney/Shug McGaughey/Javier Castellano
Al Khali/Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable/Bill Mott/Garrett Gomez
Dandino/Elite Racing Club/James Fanshawe/Jim Crowley
Forte Dei Marmi/Stella Perdomo/Roger Attfield/John Velazquez
Imperial Monarch/Magnier, Tabor & Smith/Aidan O’Brien/TBA
Joshua Tree/Nabooda & Albahou/Marco Botti/Frankie Dettori
Lay Time/Robert Barnett/Andrew Balding/Jimmy Fortune
Prince Will I Am/Casa Farms I LLC/Michelle Nihei/Luis Contreras
Reliable Man/Fair Salinia Ltd./Alain de Royer-Dupre/Gerald Mosse
Scalo/Gestut Ittlingen/Andreas Wohler/Andrasch Starke
*Stormy Lord/Hat Trick Stables & Kinghaven Farms/Ian Black/TBA
Wigmore Hall/Mark Hawtin/Michael Bell/Jamie Spencer
*expected to race in New York on Saturday
*E.P. TAYLOR POSSIBILITIES
Canadian-bred ALL STAR HEART stretches out in distance for a chance at riches as does another Canuck, MOMENT OF MAJESTY, owned by Curtis Joseph/Sue Leslie.
Locally based STARS TO SHINE is also in the good field.
SIYOUMA, late maturing, could head to Dubai in the spring. She is a Group 1 winner who could be favoured on Sunday, her trainer said this:
“I don’t think she quite stays 10 furlongs but the nine on that turf at Meydan would be ideal.” – trainer of Siyouma, Francois Doumen
Read more about SIYOUMA here:
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/siyoumas-sights-on-dubai-world-cup-night
*TAYLOR PROBABLES
All Star Heart/Ron McAnally
Barefoot Lady/Richard Fahey
Dream Peace/Chad Brown
Havant/Freddie Head
Kapitale/Andreas Wohler
Kissable/Roger Attfield
Moment of Majesty/Sue Leslie
Pagera/ Henri-Alex Pantall
Siyouma/ Francois Doumen
Stars to Shine/Mark Frostad
Trois Lunes/Francois Rohaut
Vamo a Galupiar/Neil Drysdale
*NEARCTIC STAKES POSSIBILITIES
A wide open mix of sprinters on grass with fillies, locals, Euros, US runners, you name it.
Interesting entrant is PRIVATE ZONE, an Ontario bred (from Adena Springs) who is owned by the Good Friends Stable. Rememner them? They were the group that won the Prince of Wales with Golden Moka. Like ‘Moka, this guy was a purchase from Panama.
Artic Fern/Mike Keogh
As de Trebol/Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez
Big Band Sound/Dan Vella
Fire Lily/David Wachman
Grand Adventure/Malcolm Pierce
Hammers Terror/Mike Stidham
Night Carnation/Andrew Balding
Private Zone/Leandro Mora
Stormy Rush/Lorne Richards
Super Chunky/Kenneth Cox
Woodbine trainer IAN BLACK was a)- happy that his trainee REALLY SHARP just missed winning the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on Sunday (he’s inside) but b) not happy when the colt swerved out in midstretch, wiped out a bunch of rivals, was placed 6th and now does not have earnings to get into the Breeders’ Cup!
Steve Queen photo
UNCAPTURED HAS BEEN CAUGHT
The previously unbeaten 2yo Ontario bred colt UNCAPTURED, who was the rage of media sites (and was somehow even made an early favourite for the Kentucky Derby by one Las Vegas site!?) fizzled in the Grade 3 Grey on Sunday after a bit of a rough trip.
The colt was steadied late but a claim by foul by jockey Patrick Husbands was disallowed.
The winner is a good 2yo – RIVER SEVEN may have been a maiden but he pushed the impressive debut winner TESSERON in his latest and those 2 ran the best on Sunday.
RIVER SEVEN is yet another top horse bred by Bill Graham’s Windhaven. He is a gelding by Johannesburg out of Sans Souci Island by Chester House and is owned by Tucci Stables, who named the colt for the band RIVER SEVEN.
Nick Gonzalez trains the gelding, who ran an 85 Beyer in the Grey.
In other 2yo news, DOUBLE MCTWIST ran an 81 in the Bull Page on Monday to continue the pattern of nice Beyer Figures earned by local babies this year. The winner is by TOMAHAWK out of CALL FROM THE BAR and is owned by Bret Biamonte, son of trainer Ralph Biamonte. Mom Mary bred the colt who is 2 for 2.
The Biamonte stable, which does extremely well with the 2yos, was rocked a while back with the death of its 2yo star of last year, MENLO CASTLE, who never did get into good form this season.
Godspeed MENLO CASTLE – MICHAEL BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY
*NOW THIS IS IMPRESSIVE!
Donnaguska, last 2 furlongs in 21 1/5??
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO6vm7TIvrI&feature=share
LEADING WOODBINE OWNERS
Bear Stables leading by wins
1 John C. Oxley 84 23 19 18 $2,212,262 27% 60 71%
2 Bear Stables, Ltd. 178 35 31 30 $1,491,250 20% 96 54%
3 Melnyk Rcg St, Inc. 66 15 13 7 $1,446,155 23% 35 53%
4 Sam-Son Farms 71 15 13 10 $1,182,657 21% 38 54%
5 Stronach Stables 58 10 9 5 $950,064 17% 24 41%
6 Robert S. Evans 18 4 4 3 $919,032 22% 11 61%
7 C. E. C. Farms 56 10 15 9 $745,460 18% 34 61%
8 Paul M. Buttigieg 63 16 11 4 $739,466 25% 31 49%
9 Colebrook Farms 115 13 14 14 $733,342 11% 41 36%
10 Debmar Stables 79 15 10 15 $721,987 19% 40 51%
LEADING TRAINERS
Casse off on his own, Baker holding 2nd
1 Mark E. Casse 355 72 68 55 $5,579,622 20% 195 55%
2 Reade Baker 249 46 42 32 $2,781,244 18% 120 48%
3 Robert P. Tiller 242 39 34 45 $2,173,485 16% 118 49%
4 Sid C. Attard 196 34 35 23 $1,844,486 17% 92 47%
5 Scott H. Fairlie 168 33 36 20 $1,029,221 20% 89 53%
6 Nicholas Gonzalez 163 27 25 26 $1,462,016 17% 78 48%
7 Ralph J. Biamonte 107 23 20 16 $1,401,541 21% 59 55%
7 Brian A. Lynch 110 23 17 21 $1,129,402 21% 61 55%
9 Michael J. Doyle 189 21 23 24 $1,207,491 11% 68 36%
10 Malcolm Pierce 118 20 21 18 $1,535,989 17% 59 50%
LEADING TRAINER
Good 3 jock race here!
1 Patrick Husbands 586 134 107 81 $7,357,826 23% 322 55%
2 Luis Contreras 722 121 126 107 $6,466,823 17% 354 49%
3 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 588 114 95 92 $6,043,444 19% 301 51%
4 Justin Stein 647 98 80 104 $5,331,891 15% 282 44%
5 Emma-Jayne Wilson 582 89 97 92 $4,646,963 15% 278 48%
6 Jesse M. Campbell 430 60 44 53 $2,833,275 14% 157 37%
7 Tyler Pizarro 351 45 46 43 $2,273,933 13% 134 38%
8 Steven Bahen 384 40 38 45 $1,805,222 10% 123 32%
9 Gerry Olguin 345 36 36 36 $1,637,941 10% 108 31%
10 Omar Moreno 305 32 26 42 $1,348,022 10% 100 33%
JIM & SUSAN HILL PURCHASE PROSPECTS AT GOFFS
Albertans Jim and Susan Hill were on a shopping spree overseas recently!:
11 Filly Cape Cross (IRE) Karliysha (IRE) F Jockey Hall Stud Jim & Susan Hill A15 €57,000
11 Colt Marju (IRE) Khatela (IRE) C The Castlebridge Consignment Jim & Susan Hill Q20 €80,000
11 Filly Jeremy (USA) Last Cry (FR) F Ballylinch Stud (Agent) Jim & Susan Hill G4 €28,000
11 Filly High Chaparral (IRE) Parvenue (FR) F Glenvale Stud Jim & Susan Hill L15 €52,000
11 Colt Tamayuz (GB) Anthyllis (GER) C Roundhill Stud Jim & Susan Hill A17 €70,000
11 Colt Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) Burnin’ Memories (USA) C Hawthorn Villa Stud Jim & Susan Hill C20 €85,000
Tree Pose at Fort Erie – photo by Norm Files
FROM FORT ERIE MEDIA:
Tree Pose Wins the Queen of Fort Erie Cup
Fort Erie, October 7th…The connections of Tree Pose have a lot to be thankful for after her outstanding effort in the Queen of Fort Erie Cup held on Sunday at the Border Oval.
Trained by Julie Robillard for the Six Brothers Stable, the 4 year old filly by Old Forester was ridden to victory by jockey Kirk Johnson. With lifetime earnings of over $220,000, the filly has been rejuvenated since racing on the traditional dirt surface. As a two year old she was a stakes winner at Woodbine but was given over a year off after a second place finish on September 6th, 2010. Tree Pose only raced twice as a three year old and made the move to Fort Erie in July of this year. She had been trained by Woodbine based conditioner Bill Tharrenos up until that point when she moved into Robillard’s care. She has now won two of her three local starts.
When the gates opened jockey Kirk Johnson quickly grabbed the early lead over favourite Time Sharing and jockey Terry Husbands. Although Time Sharing continued to hound the eventual winner it was all in vein as Tree Pose proved to be the best in a gate to wire effort.
“I had plenty of horse left,” said Johnson. “Julie did a superb job getting her ready for this race today. I knew as soon as I got on her in the paddock that she was ready to win.”
For trainer Julie Robillard this is her first Cup victory. The young trainer is currently sitting in second place in the trainers standings. “I have 9 horses left in my barn to run before the end of the season.”
The Queen of Fort Erie Cup offered a purse of $30,000 and took place at a distance of 6 ½ furlongs. The final time was 1:17.3.
Tree Pose returned $4.60 to win, $2.30 to place and $2.50 to show. Time Sharing finished second and Molinaro Rush rounded out the top three.
IT’S WINTER AT FORT ERIE!
A muddy racing surface provided plenty of good luck for speed horses on the Thanksgiving Monday program at Fort Erie and the on track feature race was no exception. In gate to wire fashion, Winter Lady under jockey Caroline Duquet took the Longshots OTB Cup for a purse of $30,000.
Trained by Woodbine based conditioner James Smith for owner Cinnamont Stables, the 2 year old filly is now a perfect two for two as far as her racing career is concerned. The filly broke her maiden impressively in the mud on September 23rd and returned today to defeat a field of six other rivals.
“I knew the track was speed favoring today,” said jockey Duquet. “It was just as easy as getting the lead.”
The well bred daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Stormy Winter was a bargain buy for the connections in 2011. Purchased for only $5,000, Smith credits the low price to a poor name. “This filly was already named when she went into the ring, her name was Swine Fu. I think that kept a few people away,” explained Smith. “I told the owner that the first thing we had to do was change her name.”
Smith has plans for his filly to race over the winter months in New York as she is eligible to compete in the New York bred stakes events.
Winter Lady covered the six furlong distance in 1.11.4 and returned $5.50 to win, $4.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Silver Shasa finished second and Awesome Together rounded out the top three.
