NOBLE BIRD RUNS IN EARLE MACK’S STARTING GATE SLOT IN PEGASUS
The PEGASUS WORLD CUP, Jan. 28, prospective field with last 4 Beyer Figures:
California Chrome – 104, 119, 112, 113
Arrogate – 120, 122, 99, 103
Keen Ice – 97, 103, 96, Dubai
Neolithic – 103, 100, 88
Shaman Ghost – 95, 106., 94, 99
Eragon, n/a has won 10 of 20 in Argentina
War Story, 99.97. 92. 86
War Envoy, 74, 76, 73, 83 (racing in turf sprints ;ast 2 races, dirt race at Del Mar 3 back)
Breaking Lucky – 99, 77, 105, 100
Ralis – 101,, 97, 97, 90 all turf route races, 2 wins, last win Hopeful at 2
Noble Bird – 77, 109, 96, 89
Prayer for Relief. – 54, 85, dirt in Ky. in the fall, before that Dubai, last win 2013 Remington.
Realistically, only 2 horses can win this race, however in horse racing, strange things can happen. However, the strangest thing that could happen is that the wild speed of Noble Bird makes for a, well, wild race.
However, horses such as RALIS and WAR ENVOY are badly overmatched, PRAYER FOR RELIEF is a 9-year-old horse who is many years past his prime and WAR STORY, who has had yet another trainer change, just ran a lifetime best off 99 when he pressed a slow pace. SHAMAN GHOST and BREAKING LUCKY, the Ontario-breds, can get shares with their best effort, NEOLITHIC is young and improving but likely going to be burned by the pace and KEEN ICE is also a possible fringer based on his best.
The Paulick Report reports on the $12 million race which has lured a wide assortment of horses. Only one horse has been pointed to the race since last year, California Chrome.
The brainchild of Frank Stronach, the Pegasus contest truly began when the race was first announced in January of last year. Details were finalized on May 11, and just days later all 12 slots had been sold for $1 million apiece to the following groups: Frank Stronach, James McIngvale, Sol Kumin and James Covello, Coolmore, Reddam Racing, California Chrome LLC, Daniel Schafer, Jerry & Ronald Frankel, Starlight Pegasus Partners, Reeves Thoroughbreds, Jeff Weiss & Rosedown Racing, and Ruis Racing.
It took a bit longer, however, for horses to fill all of those slots. The California Chrome LLC ownership group purchased one of the original spots, so the big chestnut has been pointing to the race from the start. Sol Kumin and James Covello sold their slot to Earle Mack in September.
HORSE RACING 3.0 – CHANGING THE GAME FINALISTS
Final five teams pitch judges to be named the winner of Horse Racing 3.0: Changing the Game and take home over $20,000
Winning teams will receive prize money, a six-month enrollment in iBoost and a possible pilot agreement with Woodbine Entertainment Group
Toronto, ON (January 16, 2017) – Launched last September with a 1.5-day ‘Design Jam’ that saw 16 teams develop their initial product solutions, Horse Racing 3.0: Changing the Game (HR3) is a Customer Centric Open Innovation program that challenged Canadian start-ups, entrepreneurs, developers and students to co-develop disruptive technology with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) to transform the horse racing industry.
Tonight the remaining five teams will pitch their innovations, developed over the past three months, to a panel of expert judges well known in the start-up and horse racing industries to determine the winner of HR3. Leaders will share lessons learned during the program for entrepreneurs and companies, insights on how millennials view horse racing and overall trends in innovation.
What: Horse Racing 3.0: Changing the Game Demo Day
When: Tuesday, January 17, 2017
6:55 – 7:55 pm Finalists’ pitch (10 minutes each)
8:20 – 8:30 pm Winner Announced
Where: Mattamy Athletic Centre
Alumni Lounge 4th floor
50 Carlton St, Toronto, ON M5B 1J2
Judges: Sean Pinsonneault, EVP of Strategy and Wagering, Woodbine Entertainment Group
Tom Via, Senior Vice President Operations, Woodbine Entertainment Group
John MacRitchie, Senior Director Business Development & Strategic Planning, Ryerson
Nick Eaves, Chief Venues & Operations Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Christine Magee, Chair & Co-founder, Sleep Country Canada
Jamie Rosenblatt, Associate, Golden Ventures
Jayson Horner, President and Chief Executive Officer, CanDeal
A total of $21,000 in cash prizes will be divided among the top three teams along with a six-month enrollment in Ryerson’s iBoost incubation zone, and the opportunity to enter into a pilot agreement with Woodbine. HR3 is a joint partnership between Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), iBoost and Ryerson University. More details are available at HR3.ca.
For more information:
Sandy Blackwood, Counsel Public Affairs, (647) 927-7346, sblackwood@counselpa.com
SOVEREIGN AWARD NEWS
The 2016 Sovereign Awards event will now be held on Thursday, April 13, 2017 to accommodate first day of racing taking place on Saturday, April 15, 2017.
The location is the Palais Royale in downtown, Toronto.
There is an Early Bird special in effect until March 15, 2017. You can purchase your tickets for $200 (plus HST)/ticket or $2000 (plus HST)/table of 10, on or before March 15, 2017.
After this date the tickets will be $250 (plus HST)/ticket or $2400 (plus HST)/table of 10.
Voting on the Sovereign Award contenders, horses and humans, is underway and closes January 23.
KAIGUN Gears Up for Return to the Races
Kaigun, like his workmate, Classic Empire, the Kentucky Derby favourite, is being prepared for his return to the races. The 7-year-old gelding has not run since finishing fourth in the Nijinsky (G2) at Woodbine in July. Last year at Gulfstream Park, the well-traveled Kaigun, who is owned in a partnership that includes Gary Barber and Casse’s wife, Tina, won the Pan American (G2).
“He hasn’t run in awhile, so I’m probably pointing him to an allowance race,” Casse said. “His form tailed off in the last couple of races, and I gave him some time. I would love to bring him back him back and give him a confidence booster. He’s a work or two away from running. I will look for a race in February.”
WINNERS – (chart and comments courtesy Thoroughbred Daily New)
6th-OP, $75,000, Alw (NW2X)/Opt. Clm ($35,000), 1-16, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:09.86, sy.
CONQUEST TWISTER (c, 4, Twirling Candy–Nasty Fever, by Stormin Fever), a winner on debut at Woodbine in August of
2015, was second by a nose next out there in the OLG Simcoe S. and filled the same position in the Coronation Futurity S. that
November. Las tseen finishing third in an Etobicoke optional claimer Sept. 18, the bay made his first start for these new
connections here after going through the ring as part of the Conquest Stables dispersal at Keeneland November. Nasty Fever has a 2-year-old Haynesfield colt named Hayne’s Fever and foaled a colt by Victor’s Cry last term
before returning to the winner=s sire. Sales History: C$100,000 Ylg ’14 CANSEP; $55,000 3yo ’16 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: MSP,
9-3-2-1, $186,901.
O-Rialto Racing Stables & Southern Springs Stables; B-Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T-Ron Moquett.