The MARINE STAKES was an amazing horse race and MR.WILL WONG (www.mrwillwong.com) captured a remarkable image. From left to right, DRAGON BAY, GREATEST GAME, BEAR’SWAY and THATLOOKONYERFACE reach for the wire. The latter won by a few inches over Bear’sway, who stalled ever so briefly in the battle before surging one stride too late.
Very windy in southern Ontario on Saturday and the weather has been quite cold. The strong winds surely played havoc with some horses/races on Saturday at Woodbine but there were speed winners, rallying winners and what a wild stakes race.
Toss in a couple of dashes of ‘Gelato’ and Goldmart and it was an interesting card of racing that lured almost $4 million in betting!
**NOTICE – WATCH THE TRIAL RACE for the EUROTURF SERIES tomorrow morning at Woodbine here.
http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/Woodbine/Horsepeople/Pages/EuroTurfSeries.aspx
What is that?..What?
THATLOOKONYERFACE!
One of the most thrilling stakes race finishes in recent years at Woodbine occurred on Saturday in the Marine Stakes as four of the 6 entrants battled to the wire together.
The race, for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, used to have a Queen’s Plate eligble or two but the schedule changed for this race and it comes before the 7 furlong Queenston Stakes next weekend. So American-breds were the rule of the day and it was a son of Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird, THATLOOKONYERFACE, the second-longest shot in the field at 32 to 1 won by a few inches over Wando Stakes winner Bear’sway who edged Greatest Game and Dragon Bay.
The winner was coming off a good but erratic run in the Wando for owner/trainer Dave Cotey who shares ownership with Barry Butzer. Gary Boulanger rode the winner who was the last of the 4 to come onto the scene in the stretch run. The stake earned an 82 Beyer Figure for a time of 1:45.14.
More Saturday
A small group of 5 in an Ontario-sired allowance race at 1 1/16 mile may have started a quest tot he Queen’s Plate for Goldmart Farms homebred CHEBURASHKA, well prepared off the layoff by Robert Tiller to lead all the way and win with a huge 81 Beyer Figure. His time of 1:45.94 was not far off the time of the Marine Stakes later in the day.
Eurico Da Silva rides this bay colt by Milwaukee Brew out of Zoogdidi (GB), a daughter of the major hore Singspiel (Ire).
The colt was bought back by Goldmart for $40,000 at a 2yo sale last June in Ocala. He is 2 for 5 in his career.
race 2- An $8,000 claiming race at 6 furlongs was down to 6 horses as Ruvee was scratched (he has been declared ineligible to race for 90 days due to a positive test for Minoxidil, found in the hair loss product Rogaine).
That set things up for a longshot as YER BLUES, who last win in October came at 62 to 1, charged down the stretch to win at 24 to 1 for Sam Passero and trainer Chris Jolin. The winner is an Endeavor 6yo gelding bred by Tucci Stables and he is 6 for 33 in his career. Jockey Kirk Johnson continues to have a big week.
race 3 – a maiden race for $16,000 at 1 1/16 miles and there was a big favourite in the race, In the Old Days was 1 to 2 and this giant Old Forester fellow bounded along on the lead under Patrick Husbands but he could not quite hold on in the late stages. RAIL CITY, a homebred for James and Janeane Everatt, wore down the leader between rivals to win in his first try at the distance. It was the Tale of the Cat gelding’s 6th career race and 2nd start this year. His trainer Lisa Burry has 2 wins this year and Jeff Alderson is riding well.
race 4- The classy SNOWY LEGACY does not race much but he is a talented Milwaukee Brew gelding out of the stakes winner London Snow. Owned and bred by Kirk Bradden Stables Inc., the gelding raced once in 2013, 4 timesin 2014 and just twice last year. He runs well when fresh so in this $20,000 claiming race at 6 furlongs, the John Charalmbous trainee battled on the rail on the pace with 4 others and kept on going to win under Steve Bahen. He posted a 71 beyer Figure.
race 5- This maiden allowance had several first time starters in the field and one of them, the Old Forester filly SUGAR JONES, was well regarded and had many fast workout times. Bred by Hope Stock Farm and purchased by Ted Burnett’s Josham Farms as a yearling 2 years ago for $70,000, the chestnut half sister to stakes winner Nikkis Bold Gelato showed a lot of professionalism to win.
She was checked out of the gate and was far back early but she came with a long, sustained rally from behind a 3 horse pace fracas to win handily while runing greenly on the wrong lead/ She ran in 1:11.51, good for a 71 Beyer Figure.Luis Contreras rode and Mike Mattine, with his 3rd win of the meet, did a super training job. Sugar Jones wintered at Global Equine Training Centre in Milton, ON.
race 6 – fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, claiming $16,000 and the last horse to move was AWFULLY SINFUL, who let the rest of the field get hard ridden on the turn and then she swooped’em 6 wide to win for Mike Wright. This Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms-bred mare by El Corredor is a 7-year-old who raced at Tampa all winter and ran well in all 7 starts.
Eurico da Silva continued to dominate the day with this ride and Awfully Sinful is 7 for 52 in her career with earnings of $280,000.
race 7 – Another maiden allowance race for Ontario sired fillies and MADISON WAY did things her way to win in 1:11.02 for owner David Potter. This is a Philanthropist filly out of Crimson Courtier, a decent local runner. Bred by Goldmart Farms, which had a very good day, MADISON WAY was in the very strong, key race won by COPPER FOX in her opener and was 5 to 2.
It set up perfectly for the Julia Carey-trainee as the pace was sizzling and several others checked and had bad trips (New sensaton is one to ta for next time). She agnled 4 wide off the turn and blew past the speed to win with a 72 Beyer Figure. This gal was in the same sale as Cheburashka and was sold for $50,000 (US).
race 9 – a 1 1/16 miles race for $16,000 claiming, older horses and Randy Exelby’s NORTH OF NEVER led all the way to win his season debut, his first win since 2014. The North Light gelding was 0 for 9 last year but dipped down one class level for this return and Patrick Husbands rode him perfectly. Marty Drexler with his 2nd win of the week.
Race 10 – a great day for the Kents at Hope Stock Farm as another Gelato (dam of Sugar Jones) won the last race – DEEP FREEZE, and Anne Kent still own him. This is a cool gelding (pardon the pun) by Where’s the Ring who was well prepared by Darwin Banach to win off the layoff in his 6th career race. This allowance race went in 1:22.89 and the winning Beyer Figure was a nice 79.
The gelding was well ridden by Luis Contreras who got away with a soft first 2 furlongs before darting away. Lots of wide trips and tough journeys in the race – tab Robin’s Song for next time.
Wagering on Saturday flirted with $4 million, checking at over $3.9 mil.
Get your tickets for this wonderful afternoon!
MARK CASSE WINS 2000TH RACE AT GULFSTREAM
Mark Casse, an eight-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s outstanding trainer, notched his 2000th career win on Saturday when Reimburse captured the second race at Gulfstream Park.
Sent to post as the 8-5 mutuel favourite in the one-mile turf event, Reimburse, a Gabe Grossberg homebred, settled off the early pace under rider Tyler Gaffalione before unfurling an impressive stretch run for a comfortable score. He paid $5.20 to win.
“We’re excited to be able win it with Gabe Grossberg; he’s been a loyal owner for many years,” said Casse.
Casse won his first race as a trainer at Keeneland with Joe’s Coming, his first starter, on April 14, 1979.
A 10-time leading trainer at Woodbine, the Indiana native’s name is synonymous with success in Canadian racing having recently been elected to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Casse, who has horses based in Ontario, Florida and Kentucky, was keen to share the moment with his team. His assistant trainers include his son Norman in Kentucky, Jamie Begg at Gulfstream Park, as well as Kathryn Sullivan and David Adams at Woodbine.
“We have such a wonderful team. When we first started I was doing it all. I don’t know how many times I drove the horse van to Churchill Downs,” said Casse. “Even now, I still have the same love that I have for the game and what I’ve tried to do with our team is go and find people that have the same passion.
“I think that’s one of the things that make this so great,” continued Casse. “I work with a number of people who share that same passion.”
A truly family affair, Casse also wished to thank his wife, Tina, for her continued support.
“I couldn’t do it without Tina. She makes sure everything works from a financial standpoint so I don’t have to worry about that,” said Casse.
