BOO! SHAMAN GHOST BLAST-OFF WITH HUGE WORKOUT FOR QUEEN’S PLATE
He has been enjoying his hay and oats at the Brian Lynch barn since his Marine Stakes win on May 16 while rivals horses battle it out for a spot in the Queen’s Plate.
And yesterday, SHAMAN GHOST, certainly one of the favourites for the race (July 5) worked 6 furlongs in a stunning 1:11 on Friday for Stronach Stables and trainer Lynch. Alan Garcia was on the son of Ghostzapper.
SHAMAN GHOST, the Marine Stakes winner and a serious Queen’s Plate favourite, sizzled in his Friday workout – 6 furlong in 1:11 under Alan Garcia – ERICKA RUSNAK PHOTO
In other Plate news, CONQUEST TYPHOON had a workout on Friday as he has recovered from an illness. The son of Stormy Atlantic, owned by Conquest Stables, worked 5 furlongs on the turf training in 1:01 4/5.
REACHING… Rob Love gets ready to snare a runaway Roger Attfield horse on Friday morning ERICKA RUSNAK PHOTO
FRIDAY FAVOURITES at Woodbine
It is a rare occasion when so many favourites win on a Friday at Woodbine – usually I tag the day ‘freaky Friday’.
But it was a formful day for the most part and the story of the day was the 2 WINS by trainer JULIE BELHUMEUR.
Belhumeur’s own 4yo gelding GIANTS HIGHWAY won the first race, a maiden $10,000 claiming event under Tommy Wong. The son of Giants Causeway was making his 12th career start and picking up not only his first win but his first top three placing.
Belhumeur then sent out THALIAS FIRE to win her maiden in a maiden allowance for ONtario sired fillies in race 3 for owner David crowe. The 3yo filly is by Philanthropist out of Tell No One by El Prado and was bred by Spring Farm. She was making her 11th career start and she re-joined Belhumeur’s barn this spring after the filly had 2 other trainers in 2014. Simon Husbands, who is getting on a roll, rode the filly to victory.
More Friday
race 2- The day’s highest Beyer Figure was an 80 earned by DANGEROUS LAD in his 2nd win in his 2nd race at Woodbine. This jet-black gelding by Bob and John runs with a high head carriage but Luis Contreras had him always in a good position to take this allowance/optional claiming race. Eugene Calahan’s 6yo is 6 for 24 in his career. Josie Carroll trains.
race 4- Two straight wins for WANDOBOYSLEW now, this one for Ace Racing Stable Icnc, trainer Scott Fairlie and jockey Michelle Rainford. The son of Wando won for $8,000 in his season debut for George Smith and won this race for $10,000 off a buellet 5 furlong workout.
race 5- a maiden $20,000 claiming race and MIGHTY SAMSON won at odds-on to become the first winner of the season for trainer Preston Ferris. The 4yo son of Strut the Stage, owned by Tricia Greer and co-bred by the late Mervyn Kirby, rallied in time in his 13th career race under Luis Contreras.
race 6 – Boy, was MY NAME IS MICHAEL happy to be back at Woodbine, happy to be back on turf..happy!
This 5yo horse left Ontario in 2012 to race in events such as the Blue Grass, Peter Pan etc. for trainer Bill Mott but he never got close. He was racing for $25K claiming recently in New York but won easily on the grass in this $32K claimer for new trainer Rachel Halden. Alam Garcia rode.
race 7 – a maiden allowance for Ontario sired horses at 9 furlongs and finally, ENTWISTLE got it done! The chestbut 3yo had 8 2nds and 3rds in his 9 races but he led all the way in his 3rd start off the layoff under Eurico Rosa Da Silva. He was bred by Kingview Farms and is owned by Kingview and trainer Roger Attfield. He is a Strut the Stage half brother to graded SW Someting Extra.
race 8 – on the grass for this $32,00 claiming race and HIDDEN TURN won a pace battle and then snuck away to win at odds- on for Hidden Springs Inc. This grey 5yo mare by Sligo Bay (Ire), bred by Mike Walsh, has 6 wins in 27 races and she has raced at a lot of different class levels. She was 0 for 12 on the grass going into this race. Eurico Rosa da Silva rode for trainer Kevin Attard.
Her Beyer Figure of 79 was the second highest of the day.
race 9 a maiden $16,000 claiming race and Chris Dunn’s LOADED FOR BEAR, a filly by Kentucky Bear, won under Patrick Husbands. The filly, bred by Jeff Norman in Ontario, had been in the barn of several other traines but rejoined Ricky Griffith’s stable in March in Florida.
HAT DESIGN CONTEST FOR THE QUEEN’S PLATE
Hat designer makes it to the semi-finals in Queen’s Plate competition
Vote online for Etobicoke’s Amparo Findlay’s design until June 24
By Tamara Shephard
Designing a special commission hat for a woman attending the Queen’s Plate is Amparo Findlay’s “ultimate goal”.
The central Etobicoke milliner is one step closer to realizing her dream.
“Spirited Away” is her custom entry in the second annual Millinery Design Competition at the Queen’s Plate.
The fashion-forward headpiece is espresso in colour, with brown silk trim, its crown and embellishments created with sinamay, an open-weave fabric she sculpted to give the hat height.
“It is my modern interpretation of horse racing,” Findlay said or her design, which took approximately 30 hours to create. “I associate horse racing with gracefulness, movement, strength and power. I randomly placed the cords on the crown in different circular designs to represent lines and fluidity of lines.”
TALKIN’ HORSES IS BACK ON THE AIR
The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association – Ontario, with sponsorship from Woodbine, OLG, CTHS and more, is back on the air for 2015. Along with the 30 minute show, which can be seen on Saturdays at 11:30 – CTV TWO and 1 p.m. on CTV, the show has a new website with behind the scenes images, past episodes and some comments and notes from the team.
Also, the contest, found on the site, gives you a chance to win a horse racing weekend at Woodbine with hotel stay, betting vouchers and dining at the track.
Check out Talkin’ Horses every Saturday and visit..
OCALA JUNE 2YO SALE – Ontario breds in the sale – by hip no., with workout time.
Ontario bred by BERNARDINI sells for $350,000
A colt by Bernardini from the Saint Ballado mare Flawless Diamond sold for $350,000 at the Ocala 2yo sale this week. Bred by Anderson Farms (Ontario), the colt was a $300,000 yearling last fall at Keeneland Sept., purchased by Ontario Bloodstock.
NICK GONZALEZ stocked up on Ontario breds at the sale – results are below (of Ontario breds)
23 NOT SOLD 19,000 22.2 F 13 Langfuhr Wood Fern Ontario Ends Well, Agent
25 Old Valyria WITHDRAWWN F 13 Old Forester Woodland City (SAF) Ontario RiceHorse Stables (Brandon & Alli Rice)
41 Cheburashka GOLDMART $40,000 10.3 C 13 Milwaukee Brew Zoogdidi (GB) Ontario RiceHorse Stables (Brandon & Alli Rice)
57 out F 13 Giant Gizmo Alexis (IRE) Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
109 GABE GROSSBERG $55,000 20.4 13 Singing Saint Bambuyan Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XIII 8
176 NOT SOLD 45,000 22.0 C 13 Court Vision Carolina Ontario Derby Daze Farm, Agent III G
197 out F 13 Court Vision Chick Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
209 OUT 21.3 C 13 Scat Daddy Classic Neel Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent VIII 8
229 $21,000 DURA RACING 10.3 C 13 Sky Conqueror Cost and Effect Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
236 $50,000 T MCCROCKLIN 10.2 F 13 Philanthropist Crimson Courtier Ontario RiceHorse Stables (Brandon & Alli Rice) 14
243 $27,000 DENHOLTZ 10.1 F 13 Discreet Cat Cumulus (GB) Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent V
281 $2,500 F. JIUS 10.4 C 13 Include D Pirates Marker Ontario de Meric Sales, Agent X 12
304 NOT SOLD 50,000 21.3 C 13 Zensational Embur’s Melody Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent VI 5
311 $18,000 E ROBERTS, FOR N NOSOWENKO 10.3 Updates Y F 13 Where’s the Ring Equideed Ontario RiceHorse Stables (Brandon & Alli Rice) 14
355 $350,000 STEVE YOUNG, AGENT 10.2 C 13 Bernardini Flawless Diamond Ontario Niall Brennan Stables, Agent XVIII 8
377 $13,00 CARLO TUCCI 10.4 F 13 Philanthropist Gaja Ontario RiceHorse Stables (Brandon & Alli Rice)
385 $20,000 J DEMORA 11.0 F 13 Shakespeare Georgia Song Ontario Grassroots Training & Sales LLC J
433 $17,000 N GONZALEZ 22.0 F 13 Include Hello Haley Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent II
503 23,000 RICHARD HOGAN, AGENT 10.4 Updates F 13 Sligo Bay (IRE) Kiamika Ontario M L Stable, Agent I
525 out C 13 Saffir Lady Elena Ontario Southern Chase Farm, Inc. (Greg & Karen Dodd), Agent E
592 out Updates Y F 13 Afleet Alex Mendocino Beano Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
636 NOT SOLD 30,000 10.2 C 13 Mast Track My Angel Grace Ontario M L Stable, Agent III C
640 130,00 KEN/SARAH RAMSAY 10.1 C 13 Gio Ponti My Pal Lana Ontario Thomas and Casse, Agent for Global Thoroughbreds
662 35,00 RICHARD HOGAN, AGENT 10.3 C 13 Milwaukee Brew No Sugar Tonight Ontario M L Stable, Agent I
664 Protest Song NOT SOLD 11,000 10.4 F 13 Rebellion (GB) Nursery Song Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I 16
749 out F 13 City Zip Princess Ruckus Ontario Eddie Woods, Agent LXXXIX 11
772 out F 13 Giant’s Causeway Quite a Ruckus Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
812 out C 13 Society’s Chairman Romanced Ontario Derby Dreams, Agent I G
897 out C 13 Sligo Bay (IRE) Sinhouse Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
915 $50,000 GARY YOUNG 21.1 F 13 Lemon Drop Kid Snow Lady Ontario Top Line Sales LLC, Agent
968 Prison Padre NOT SOLD (19000) 34.0 C 13 Repent Streetwise Ontario Vargas Sales, Agent
1013 $5,000 G PATRICK 10.3 Y F 13 Marchfield Tchopitioulas Ontario Thoroughbred Champions Training Center LLC 20
1015 Fainne Geal $12,000 RACING CANADA 22.0 C 13 Where’s the Ring Tenjectory Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent II
1071 NOT SOLD $14,000 10.4 F 13 Not Bourbon Unchecked Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
1077 Victory Salute $13,000 NICK GONZALEZ 22.2 F 13 Victor’s Cry Valid’s Best Lady Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I
1082 out C 13 Smarty Jones Victory Guaranteed Ontario M L Stable, Agent I C
1083 OUT F 13 Broken Vow Victory Romance Ontario Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent II
1084 $21,000 NICK GONZALEZ 10.2 F 13 Awesome of Course Vintage Moon Ontario M L Stable, Agent I
1092 Awesome Adler $4,000 N WILSON 36.0 C 12 One Way Love Awesome Olive Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent
1124 Picante $6,000 M VAN LITH 34.1 F 12 Wilko Real Beauty Ontario Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent
OTHER CANANDIAN BUYERS
38 10.1 F Leroidesanimaux (BRZ) Zamsweet Bobby Dodd, Agent Richard Hogan, Agent for Jan Martin 58,000
171 11.1 G Cosmonaut Cant Stop the Fire Flying Fish, Agent I Nick Gonzalez 9,000
292 10.2 G In Summation East Lake Classic Hawks Nest LLC, Agent Michelle Nihei, Agent for H. Robert Harvey 30,000
806 10.2 F Cowboy Cal Ringbang City M L Stable, Agent II East West Stable 70,000
996 10.4 C Marchfield Sweet Home Gap L. G., Agent II Nick Gonzalez 10,000
1040 10.3 F U S Ranger Tizzy Roll Grandpa’s Dream, Agent II Racing Canada, Inc. 3,000
