ALMOND EYE LEAVES JAPAN CUP FIELD BLANCHED

Triple Crown winner scorches about 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:20.60

from Japan Racing Association..

This year’s triple crown winner and heavily favored Almond Eye became the second three-year-old filly after
Gentildonna in 2012 to dominate the Japan cup. The remarkable starlet prevailed in front of the nearly 100,000
crowd under jockey Christophe Lemaire by a record-breaking 2:20.6, 1.5 seconds faster than the previous record
set by Alkaased in 2005. After marking a second in her debut start, the Lord Kanaloa filly has been undefeated
since, landing six consecutive victories including the fillies’ Triple Crown—Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, G1),
Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1) and the Shuka Sho (G1). This is the first Japan Cup triumph and 15th JRA-G1
victory for trainer Sakae Kunieda while jockey Christophe Lemaire celebrates his second Japan Cup win—his first
was with Vodka in 2009. Lemaire now owns 22 JRA-G1 trophies and renewed his own record of eight G1 titles
won in the same year.
The highly targeted heavy favorite Almond Eye broke from the inner-most stall, hugged the rails a few lengths
from the frontrunner in second, steadily climbed the stretch hill and swooped past Kiseki at the furlong pole,
pulling away easily to a 1-3/4-length victory.
Breaking from stall eight, four-year-old Kiseki was rushed to the front before the initial turn, set the pace and
extended his lead up to three lengths in the backstretch, kicked into gear in the homestretch but proved no match
for the winner while driving home well holding off Suave Richard by 3-1/2 lengths for second.
Second favorite Suave Richard was quickly steered to the rails from a wide stall, was a bit keen in the backstretch
traveling in fifth behind Almond Eye, chased the leaders in the straight and gradually ran out of steam but
withstood the hard-charging Cheval Grand to secure third by a neck.
A bit fractious in the paddock, seventh favorite Thundering Blue broke from stall six, was unhurried as usual in
the far rear of the field, entered the stretch last, made a tenacious effort but was unable to reach contention and
passed his tiring rivals to finish 10th.

 

IKERRIN ROAD runs away with Kennedy Road

Alpine Stables’ IKERRIN ROAD zoomed up the inside late to win the 6 furlong KENNEDY ROAD STAKES at Woodbine on Saturday, a Grade 3 event for sprinters. The Vito Armata-trained 5-year-old have jockey Ademar Santos his first stakes win since coming here to ride earlier this year.

The Irish bred gelding by Iffraaj, claimed in May 2017 for $32,000 from Robert Masterson and trainer Mark Casse, has won 7 times for Alpine Stables including the Bold Venture Stakes last season.

The gelding had battled illness twice this year and, according to trainer Armata, was in grave condition. He has made an remarkable recovery, however and posted a 98 Beyer Figure for his time of 1:08.42 in near-track record time.

“Last year we thought when he finished second to Pink Lloyd, he’s going to come back next year, but it doesn’t work that way,” said Armata, noting the bay gelding has overcome sickness to return to top form this fall. “The horse is lucky to be here. It’s coming true. We gave him lots of time and there he is.”

 

Toronto Ont November 24, 2018.Woodbine Racetrack.Kennedy Road Stakes Ikerrin Road under Jockey Ademar Santos captures the $175,000 dollar Kennedy Road Stakes for owner Alpine Stable and trainer Vito Armata. michael burns photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHASING 221- EURICO DA SILVA wins, has 4 seconds on Saturday

Fast Negotiations came through to win under Eurico da Silva on Saturday after Woodbine’s leading rider had four second-place finishes on the day. That leaves Da Silva with 11 wins to go to tie the record of 221 for wins in a Woodbine meeting (Mickey Walls, 2009, 136 racing dates). 12 to beat it.

There are 13 racing dates left in this season.

here are Eurico’s mounts today!

Race Race PP  Race Type Breed Horse Trainer

1 Maiden Special Weight TB Kid Forester Michael De Paulo
3 Allowance Optional Claiming TB Kadley Michael Maker
5 Maiden Special Weight TB Dramatic Kitten Michael Maker
7 Optional Claiming TB Dirty Girl Robert Tiller
8 Bessarabian Stakes (Gr. 2) TB Moonlit Promise Josie Carroll
9 Maiden Claiming TB Sunset Cruise Malcolm Pierce
10 Allowance TB Conqueror Galactus (IRE) Jim Ensom
11 Maiden Claiming TB Real Dude Sid Attard

 

VIOLENCE WEANLING COLT TOPS CTHS WINTER MIXED SALE

 

Matthew Brouwer bid $15,000 and picked up a weanling colt by Violence – Tiz Shopping by Tiznow that topped the CTHS Winter Mixed sale last evening at Woodbine.

Sold by Ballycroy Training centre, the colt is the first foal of the placed mare. Violence, whose first foals are 3-year-olds of this year, has 12 black-type winners including graded stakes winners Cosmic Burst and Talk Veuve to Me.

The top mare was CLOUDLINE, a Cherokee Run mare sold by Shannondoe Farm to Joey Gee Thoroughbreds for $7,500.

http://www.cthsont.com/2018-cths-winter-mixed-sale-results.html

The CTHS Winter Mixed Sale was held Saturday evening at the Woodbine sales pavilion – LISA HOCKING PHOTO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CTHS WINTER MIXED SALE STATS

Gross $156,700
Sold 54
Not Sold 17
Outs 0
Average $2,902
Median $2,000

 

WAKE FOREST, $950,000 earner, CLAIMED FOR $8,000 SATURDAY

A previous owner has said he is retired now

 

WAKE FOREST at Woodbine – JULIE WRIGHT PHOTO

WAKE FOREST, a Grade 1 winner on turf for Sheep Pond Stable, Bethlehem Stable and Michael Dubb, along with trainer Chad brown, raced for $8,000 claiming at Gulfstream on Saturday.

A Group 3 winner in Germany, Wake Forest won the G1 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park in 2016 in his 3rd outing in North America.

The horse came to Woodbine in the fall of 2016 and was 2nd beaten a neck to The Pizza Man in the Northern Dancer stakes and 3rd to Erupt in the Canadian International, both Grade 1’s.

In 2017 he won the Grade 2 McDiarmida Stakes.

Wake Forest was off from June to April of this year and did not come back to his top form as an 8-year-old. He was sold at the July Horses of Racing Age sale for $90,000 and raced for R.A. Hill Stable and trainer Danny Gargan four times but did not get better than 4th while sliding down in claiming price.

He was well beaten for $8,000 yesterday and was claimed by Michael Dubb.

News came out that Dubb will retire the old timer and a press release will be out on Monday.

 

It is hard to believe that with the growth and awareness of racehorse retirement that there are still many of these occurrences. It is very much an expensive business, breeding, owning and training racehorses and to have any chance of making money it has to be looked at as a business (unless it is a hobby for those who can afford it).

However, surely when a horse does well for an owner or trainer, a small amount is possibly put aside in case the roll ends. For Wake Forest, who was sold by a group at auction despite his noble efforts, he is a lucky one it appears. Dumped in for $8,000 and not competitive is something this guy did not deserve.

Last week at Woodbine, we saw 2017 Prince of Wales winner Cool Catomine compete for $6,000 claiming and finish 2nd. The gelding had been claimed three races earlier for $20,000 as the gelding by Spring at Last simply was not able to re-discover his Wales form.

Cool Catomine was not claimed last week for $6,000.

It was not a great day all around for news of some familiar racehorses. I WANT REVENGE, graded stakes winner and favourite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, was recently picked up at auction for $10,000 only to pass away this weekend. Joe Nevills has this story:

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/illness-claims-former-derby-morning-line-favorite-i-want-revenge-at-age-12/