Terence Dulay photo
RAHY’S BACK – YOU’RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE
A very soft grass course will welcome the guys in the BUNTY LAWLESS Stakes today at Woodbine.
SOCIETY’S CHAIRMAN and SAND COVE from the dangerous Roger Attfield barn are major contenders but they will have a tough time getting past 2007 Bunty winner RAHY’S ATTORNEY who is looking to get back on track with the drop from Grade 1 races.
He started the year so hot, with huge wins and efforts in 3 consecutive races but he has slipped past his best
form since then.
Today, Rob Landry is riding after the gelding has long been with Slade Callaghan.
***Three offspring of the mare ALYANCER race today at Woodbine in an oddity.
CALEDON, RAGING INFERNO AND ARCHERS ALYANCER, all bred by Ted Smth compete in various races today at Woodbine.
FRIDAY WRAP FROM WOODBINE
What a difference a day makes – and a whole lot of rain.
On Thursday, maidens and 2yos raced 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 and change.
Yesterday, Airofindifference beat a nice field of a level maiden allowance runners in 1:19 and change – and did
it with flair,he won by 5 lengths. The Florida bred by Wekiva Springs is owned by Geoff Roy and trained by Wray Lawrence.
The Daily Double was won by Patrick Husbands who came right back on the sizy DA POSSE to win race 2. Not long a gelding, the Posse 4yo was down from $40K claiming to $25K for Colebrook Farms.
Almost everyone’s pick to winrace 3 was BOADINI,a Langfuhr 2yo dropping in for $50K from maiden allowance for his 6th start of his 2yo season. Bred by Spring Farm and Gus Schickedanz,the bay 2yo went off at a stunning even-money, but he won like an odds-on choice.
He raced 6 furlongs in 1:11.
He is owned by Parklane Racing and trained by Norm McKnight.
Congrats to trainer ALEX BANKUTI who won his first race of the year with the Ciano Cat filly TICKET TIME. The Ontario bred 3yo,owned by Larry Deakins, was winning her maiden for allowances,Ontario sired, in her 5th career race. She had lost for $15,000 claiming 2 starts ago.
She is a daughter of the mare Timely Search and was bred by Gardiner farms and the Pakulski family.
A very fast 2yo on the grounds is THREE EIGHTY, who ran so fast on the pace 2nd time out on Oct. 11 (21 4/5 for first quarter mile) and was 3rd at 57 to 1. Yesterday, he led all the way to win at 6 furlongs for $20K
claiming for owner/trainer JOHN MACKENZIE.
A $3,761 yearling purchase, he’s by local sire/stable pony/horse -about–the-house RAK WAKI out of Dr. Ron
House’s mare Consort’s Choice.
The AUTUMN PREP went to everyone’s choice ICE BEAR, the 5yo grey gelding who has put himself into the mix for champion older horse in Canada with his 3rd win of the season in his 7th race. A graded stakes winner this year, the George Strawbridge homebred is as honest and consistent as they come.
It was the Bear’s 9th win from 27 races and he has 7 other top three placings. The Maria’s Mon fellow’s
earnings now top $750,000.
He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.78 under Chantal Sutherland.
Other winners on the day included Colebrook Farms and trainer Ashlee Brnjas (they won on Thursday too) with the Dance to Destiny 3yo BUBBLE HIGH. She won her maiden with a stalking trip over the deep Polytrack to win the $12,500 race in her 8th start.
A pair of grass races were washed off – as they may be all weekend. The 8th went to the lovely Mr. Greely filly GRAND ADVICE, won the allowance from 12th place and ran in 1:16.91 for trainer Roger Attfield.
The finale for $50K older guys at 7 furlongs on the Poly (originally sked for grass) went to WRITTEN IN STONE, a Smart Strike gelding for Sam-Son Farms who appears to have decided he prefers the Polytrack to the grass.
Unplaced in that race was stakes winner JUST RUSHING, who has slide from the stakes class to claiming this year at the age of 8.
THURSDAY WRAP
Patrick Husbands, Woodbine’s leading rider – tough as nails.
Norm Files photo
PATRICK HUSBANDS emerged essentially none the worse for wear from a scary accident in the 3rd race. Riding first time starting 2yo PISTOL OF FIRE for Richard Day’s Kingview Farm, Husbands appeared to be in line to be trampled when his colt broke down at the 3/8 pole. Sonehow, a couple of horses cheched hard and avoided the fallen rider.
That 2yo claiming race was won by Iris Bristow’s beginner R SHINING HOPE, a Strong HGope felow trained by Nick Gonzalez. R Shining Hope is a homebred.
The most impressive outing of the day went to first timer BATTLE AT SEA, a highly regarded gelding who did not get his start until this week but it was worth the wait.
He won wrapped up and ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.71 for Sam-Son Farms – good for an 85 Beyer Figure.
He is a son of Smart Strike out of the unplaced mare Sails Unfurled, a daughter of stakes winner Spinnakers
Flying.
Race 2 went almost as fast as speedball 2yo ESSENCE HT MAN came fron a 2nd place finish to Suffoncified and won on Thursday with 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.90.
He’s a Speightstown homebred for Audre Cappuccitti and Todd Kabel, who won the first race, completed the
double.
BENT ATTORNEY inched closer to $400,000 in earnings with a win for $62,500 on the Polytrack. The Crown Attorney mare, bred by pring Farm, was winning for the 7th time in her 28 races and is owned by Centennial Farms Niagara.
And LONDON SNOW,a stakes winner for Kirk Bradden Stables Inc. went over $500,000 in earnings with a win for $47,500 claiming in a 7 furlong turf dash. The Trajectory mare had not won in 6 previous runs this season.
Interesting to note that in London Snow’s wake was CHOCOLATEFORLUNCH – who was honoured that very night in FORT ERIE.
READ MORE BELOW.
CANDY COATed – ‘Chocolate’ GAL WINS HORSE OF THE YEAR.
– Lyle Morden trained Chocolateforlunch took top honours at the 2009 Fort Erie Awards Dinner Thursday evening.
The five-year-old daughter of Bold Executive, a winner of 5 races this year, including the Fort Erie Slots Cup,
was named Fort Erie Horse of the Year. She was also voted top female sprinter.
Owned by Barbara Lewis and Winter Road Racing, Chocolateforlunch earned $66,840 this season winning four races
on the main track and one over the turf course.
Rui Pimentel and Nick Gonzalez dominated their respective categories. Rui winning his first ever Fort Erie
riding title while Gonzalez notched is third Fort Erie training title.
With three days left in the racing season Pimentel has ridden 94 winners, Gonzalez has saddled 27.
Melanie Pinto topped the female rider standings with 49 winners to date. Pinto is currently third among all
riders and is in a close battle for top apprentice with Micheal Mehak.
There is a three-way tie in the leading owner category. Ivan Dalos, Michael Annechino and Howard Keen have 11 wins apiece. Colebrook Farms, last years top owner is one back.
Top apprentice and leading owner will be announced on Tuesday when the 2009 racing season wraps up.
Other winners:
Male Claimer – Cacouna / Hillsbrook Farms / N. Gonzalez
Female Claimer – Here’stotemperance / M. Annechino / M. Newell
Male Sprinter – Spread the News / T. Grimes / J. Simms
Distance Male – Kilmoganny / G. McMaster / D. Ezra
Distance Female – Lucky Day / E. De Luca / J. Simms
Turf Male – Another Ascot / California Stable / D. Ezra
Turf Female – Alkmene – Colebrook Farms / A. Brnjas
Best Claim – Vikrant / David Trumble / A. Concessi
¼ Mile Champ – Krz n’ Flashy / Sylon Stable & Partner / R. Johnston
Outstanding Jockey and Trainer honours as voted by their peers.
Jockey – Eddie Robinson
Trainer – Nick Gonzalez
Assistant Trainer – Sharon Simms
Groom – Kendra Wieczorek
FORT ERIE’S FUTURE…
Consortia working on Racetrack solution
For the third year in a row, the future of the Fort Erie Racetrack has not been solidified for its next season
of live-racing.
Last month, the newly-formed Fort Erie Thoroughbred Racing Consortia, a group consisting of representatives
from the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corporation (EDTC), the Town of Fort Erie and the
Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) announced its proposal to keep the track open,
requesting support from the provincial government to the tune of $75 million over the course of five years. As
of this week, EDTC general manager Jim Thibert has not been given an answer but hopes the fact that the track
is Fort Erie’s largest employer will be recognized and a solution will be reached.
“The track is the largest single private-sector employer in Fort Erie, induces economic spin-off and helps
promote Fort Erie….that is why the track is so important to Fort Erie,” said Thibert.
http://www.forterietimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2142135
CROWNING MOMENTS
Tonight at Woodbine
Dave Landry photo
Okay, so harness racing has never made an appearance on Thoroughblog but I feel tonight’s festivities at
Woodbine must be mentioned.
A number of thoroughbred horsemen have commented on the stride and talent and speed of MUSCLE HILL, the 3yo trotter who goes for Breeders’ Crown glory tonight and a 20th consecutive win.
There is also a SCORE 123 contest and 7 other divisions of Crown races so save your oennies and bet tonight at Woodbine.
FATAL BULLET WORKS TODAY IN CALIFORNIA
BIOFUEL AWAITS ENTRIES
BIOFUEL, Brereton Jones’ homebred Stormin Fever filly, will ship out to the Breeders’ Cup home of Santa Anita next week should she get into the Juvenile Fillies.
The winner of the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Mazarine in her last start here, Biofuel breezed five furlongs in
1:02.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.20 in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
AND STILL, EVEN MORE WHIP HAPPINESS!
At this rate, someone can retire with the monies collected by the ONTARIO RACING COMMISSION for the number of times one has hit a horse.
There are jockeys already on stage 2 of the fines (2nd offense) as the number of times you can hit a horse in
succession is closely scrutinized (3 in a row only):
www.drf.com reports:
The stewards have fined four riders for whip violations on Wednesday evening’s program.
Chantal Sutherland has been fined $1,200 for excessive use of the whip, as the stewards ruled she had struck her mount, Indian Apple Is, four times in succession in the late stages of her half-length victory in the Ruling Angel Stakes.
Indian Apple Is earned $69,000, and the rules call for Sutherland to forfeit 20 percent of her 10-percent share of the winner’s purse, excluding the $9,000 Ontario-sired bonus.
Luis Contreras was fined $200 for striking his mount, Nine Miracles, under the belly throughout the stretch run en route to her nose win in the eighth and final race.
Gerry Olguin has appealed a $300 fine and a one-day suspension for striking his mount, Cape Schanck, more than three times in succession during the stretch run of the eighth race. The ruling by the stewards marked Olguin’s second offense under the recently imposed guidelines.
Cape Schanck finished third, beaten a nose and a head.
And, Mike McMullen has been fined $300 and suspended for one day, Oct. 28, for raising his hand above his shoulder while striking his mount Vicar’s Vision in the stretch run of the fifth race. Vicar’s Vision finished seventh.
MARES BRED IN ONTARIO HOLDING STEADY
The number of stallions in Ontario for 2009 was reportedly down by 6 1/2% but let’s see what the numbers are in 2010.
More than a half dozen new guys are coming to stand at stud next year so let’s hope there are some mares to
breed to these fellows.
The Jockey Club released stats this week:
state/prov #stallions 2008 2009 % change # mares bred 2008 2009 % change
Kentucky 318 307 -3.5 21,317 19,059 -10.6
Florida 202 155 -23.3 5,316 4,041 -24.0
Louisiana 230 216 -6.1 3,515 3,048 -13.3
California 233 201 -13.7 3,817 2,946 -22.8
Pennsylvania 89 97 +9.0 1,237 1,603 +29.6
New York 85 70 -17.6 1,839 1,561 -15.1
Texas 191 174 -8.9 1,722 1,411 -18.1
Ontario 77 72 -6.5 1,272 1,260 -0.9
New Mexico 128 124 -3.1 1,456 1,222 -16.1
Oklahoma 126 113 -10.3 1,335 1,222 -8.5
LEADING STALLIONS IN CANADA/ ONTARIO BY MARES BRED
Silent Name (JPN) 80 ON
Tomahawk 70 ON
Sligo Bay (IRE) 69 ON
Trajectory 67 ON
Finality 64 BC
Cape Canaveral 54 AB
Marcavelly 51 ON
Survivalist 51 ON
Alumni Hall 45 ON
Bold Executive 45 ON
Niigon 43 ON
Saint Stephen 43 AB
Philanthropist 42 ON
Gilded Time 41 AB
War Cry 41 ON
Tempered Appeal 39 AB
Vibank 39 ON
Aljabr 38 ON
Whiskey Wisdom 38 MB
Gold Legend 37 AB
Old Forester 37 ON
Storm Victory 34 BC
Second in Command 33 BC
Tap Day 33 ON
Western Expression 33 NY
Where’s the Ring 33 ON
Snorter 32 BC
Bold n’ Flashy 30 ON
Best of the Bests (IRE) 29 ON
NATIONAL POST BLOGS ABOUT THE BACKSTRETCH
By Mark Medley, National Post
A procession of cars make the turn off Grandstand Entrance Road and pass the security checkpoint as they
slowly drive down the main road of the Woodbine backstretch. It is only 5:40 a.m., but the flow of vehicles
suggests that, at this hour, the racetrack is one of the busiest places in the city. Headlights cut through the
pre-dawn darkness, briefly illuminating horses trotting down the side of the road, riders perched on top,
making their way from the stables to the track.
The backstretch is a village within the city; a self-sustaining community lost in the shadows of Woodbine’s
soaring grandstands, where people not only work but live, and which comes alive while most of Toronto sleeps.
From grooms to exercise riders, blacksmiths to hot walkers, more than 2,000 people work on the 187-acre
backstretch, 300 of whom reside here permanently during racing season. The population doubles when you take
into account the approximately 2,100 horses stabled here.
Read more:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/24/t-o-a-to-z-the-community-that-ensures-woodb
ine-racetrack-thrives.aspx#ixzz0UrR7GjLv
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