PRINCE OF WALES WEEK
Wide open race is any horse’s race
(Ron) Turcotte, the first jockey to be awarded the Order of Canada, started his career at Fort Erie, and rode Northern Dancer as a juvenile when he won the 1963 Summer Stakes over the Fort Erie turf. Turcotte said, “The Fort Erie track is a special place for me because in the summer of 1962 I landed my very first winner’s circle right here. – www.horse-races.net
A field of nine will go to the post on Sunday for the 77TH Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown. The favourite when betting opens will be IRISH MISSION, but the other filly in the race, DIXIE STRIKE, could certainly take enough cash to be the favourite too.
QUAESITOR has been supplemented for $12,500 and he just won his maiden with a solid 83 Beyer Figure. DEAD ON is the only horse in the field who has ever raced on a traditional dirt track and he was 2nd beaten a head. He was recently gelded and will have EMMA-JAYNE WILSON on board.
Two other newbies to the Triple Crown series are MENLO CASTLE and RUN IN ARUBA, trained by Ralph Biamonte. Neither has done much this season but then again, neither has raced on dirt.
THE FIELD
1 Classic Bryce Darwin Banach Todd Kabel 12-1
2 Ultimate Destiny Mike Keogh Steven Bahen 8-1
3 Dead On Malcolm Pierce Emma-Jayne Wilson 10-1
4 Dixie Strike Mark Casse Patrick Husbands 3-1
5 Menlo Castle Ralph Biamonte Omar Moreno 15-1
6 Irish Mission Mark Frostad Alex Solis 5-2
7 Run in Aruba Ralph Biamonte Jermaine Bridgmohan 20-1
8 Quaestior Ian Howard Slade Callaghan 8-1
9 Colleen’s Sailor Roger Attfield Corey Nakatani 4-1
DOES FIRST-TIME GELDING MEAN ANYTHING to a HORSE’S CHANCES?
Much has been made about reporting first time geldings at the races in the last few years. In California, a barn will get fined should it not report that a male horse has been gelded since it’s last race.
The project of getting this information correct to handicappers has always been difficult. It’s good to know, for sure, but does it mean anything?
Several trainers interviewed by THOROUGHBLOG are firm in their answers – it means nothing. One leading trainer gelded a litany of horses this spring and all returned to run the same, no better.
A study by FLATSTATS recently shows that in general, 6% of horses win ‘1st off the geld’ – not exactly a get-rich quick scheme:
“Male horses are gelded to keep their mind on the game and not think about the opposite sex”. This statement is not totally true and systems that are based on backing first run since gelded horses are not profitable either.
Yet punters and racing pundits think there is something in it. When Valeureux won at 100-1 at Nottingham back in March, the systems rumour mill went into overdrive as punters thought it must be true that geldings forget about the opposite gender and get on with winning rather than scoring. horse
READ MORE: http://www.flatstats.co.uk/articles/first_run_since_gelded.html
FORT ERIE FEATURES
Fort Erie Race Track: ‘I’m not closing this place. Not today, not ever.’ – Jim Thibert
PETER CONRADI/Bullet News
Jim Thibert
A large plaque hangs on a wall of the Prince of Wales Dining Room. It is, in fact, pretty much the entire wall – floor to ceiling in height, some seven feet long, it displays the names of every winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes since 1959. There are blank plates to display champions well into the future, too. All the way to 2038.
The question is, of course, will any be needed past 2012? That was the undercurrent Wednesday afternoon as horse racing aficionados gathered at Fort Erie Race Track for the annual pre-race ritual: the PoW draw. It’s where horses are matched to a starting position for this Sunday’s second jewel in Canada’s Triple Crown – always an exciting occasion for the border oval and its host town.
It’s the one time of the summer when the sport of kings turns its collective gaze to…
LAST 20 WALES WINNERS
2011 Pender Harbour Luis Contreras Mike De Paulo Denny Andrews Robert Giffin 1:55.74
2010 Golden Moka Anthony Stephen Brian A. Lynch Good Friends Stable 1:56.45
2009 Gallant Corey Fraser Mark E. Casse Woodford Racing LLC 1:56.74
2008 Harlem Rocker Eibar Coa Todd Pletcher Adena Racing Venture 1:56.46
2007 Alezzandro Todd Kabel Kevin Attard Knob Hill Stable 1:55.04
2006 Shillelagh Slew Dino Luciani Michael P. DePaulo David H. T. James 1:55.87
2005 Ablo Gerry Olguin Roger Attfield Michael & Phyllis Canino 1:56.90
2004 A Bit O’Gold Jono Jones Catherine Day Phillips Kingfield Racing Stables 1:57.69
2003 Wando † Patrick Husbands Mike Keogh Gus Schickedanz 1:55.84
2002 Le Cinquieme Essai Brian Bochinski Paul Nielsen William A. Scott 1:56.53
2001 Win City Constant Montpellier Robert P. Tiller Frank Di Giulio, Jr. 1:56.14
2000 Scatter The Gold Todd Kabel Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1:56.01
1999 (FILLY) Gandria Constant Montpellier James Cheadle Arosa Farm 1:56.20
1998 Archers Bay Robert Landry Todd Pletcher Melnyk / Bristow 1:55.20
1997 Cryptocloser Willie Martinez Mark Frostad Mack / Sorokolit 1:56.00
1996 Stephanotis Mickey Walls Barbara J. Minshall Minshall Farms 1:55.20
1995 Kiridashi Larry Attard Barbara J. Minshall Minshall Farms 1:55.00
1994 Bruce’s Mill Craig Perret Mark Frostad Earle I. Mack & partners 1:53.80
1993 Peteski † Dave Penna Roger Attfield Earle I. Mack 1:54.40
1992 Benburb Larry Attard Phil England Knob Hill Stable 1:57.40
(AND IN 1991, DANCE SMARTLY won the Wales/Triple Crown)
ONE OF THE FIRST ‘WALES I SAW IN PERSON: ‘Snoopy’ needed his long nose
Great interviews, fun to watch 1989 footage..
WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Bombs away!
Longshots highlighted the middle of the card on a nice Wed. night at Woodbine. Track playing fair and the turf course was reported to be in Lane 4 (Lane 3 was listed on the overnight entries).
Handicappers in general had a good night (TORONTO STAR, 4 winners, $411 exactor, best bet winner, longshot pick, 3rd).
Race 1- Congrats to trainer MARILYN MCMULLEN who won her first Woodbine race of 2012 when SWEET NIKOSI held on for dear life to win a 7 furlong, $16K claiming race with blinkers put back on. The A.P. Warrior filly is not 3 for 14 in her career and she is owned by Sam Passero.
Race 2 – BEAR TOUGH TIGER was 3 to 5 and worked hard to mow down the speedy ZIP IT NANCE to win the 5th race in his 8th start. The Roar of the Tiger 4yo gelding was dropping out of graded stakes races for Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker..
He posted an 89 Beyer Figure.
Race 3- Anyone who watched SIN CODIGO’S turf outing in March at Aqueduct when he had no racing room for much of the stretch run, would have loved him yesterday in a $37,500 claiming event back on turf. The 6yo gelding, owned by Earle Mack and trainer by Mark Frostad, was last turning for home but split horses while lugging in a bit and rallied in time to score. It was a vintage Patrick Husbands ride, who had another one of those hair-raisings later in the card.
Race 4- MR CHARTBUSTER rose to the top in his first race in almost a year and first race out of Alberta. But he was trying grass and his sire was a graded SW on turf and the mare produced turf stakes winner Dean’s Kitten. This 4yo led all the way to beat favoured THE BEAR VOW and put up a lovely $411 exactor. Trainer Barb Minshall had this gelding very ready for owner/breeder David Lovlie.
Race 5 – Lots of bad trips in this race for $10,000 claimers and the winner in a 3 horse photo was 30 to 1 shot MAPLE TINTS, the first winner for trainer JOHN CALHOUN this year. The 7yo tipped out 5 wide off the turn and won for the 4th time in his 53rd race.
race 6 – Big favourite SAVANDANA, out of an EASY GOER mare, was an easy pick and she won for DebMar Stables and was claimed by Clint Abraham.
race 7 – BIBI’S DOLL was odds-on but behind a wall of horses turning for home under Patrick Husbands. The 4yo filly, owner by Bibi Ullah and Oodith Singh found a narrow seam to come barging through, however, and she won as much the best. Laurie Silver trains the Officer filly who is now 3 for 19.
race 8 – FATHERFORGIVEME was forgiven for his gate antics last time when he lost Justin Stein at the start. That’s because he won his maiden for $16K last night under apprentice Tommy Wong. The blinkers were on for Teqquesta Racing and trainer Alison Crook..Betting on the night was a decent $1.9 million.
Today is the last THURSDAY card of racing until mid September.
MARK CASSE BUSY AT FASIG-TIPTON JULY
Speaks to Thoroughbred Daily News about plight of Ontario racing industry
“What’s going on in Canada is so unbelievable it can’t come true,” he said. “It would be the biggest injustice,
and I’m not just talking about for horse racing, I’m talking about for the government process. They’ve got
this deal that’s working where they=ve made billions of dollars. And if they shut down racing at Woodbine,
theyre going to lose billions, and they=re going to have about 50,000 people out of work.
“About three weeks ago, I was lucky to attend a committee with three cabinet members, and talked to
them for about two hours. They know what’s been proposed isn’t the right thing to do. It’s a big fight, and
we’re fighting every day. When the dust clears, I think there=s too many reasons for it to fail.” – Mark Casse as told to TDN
Local purchases:
9 C AFLEET ALEX RHYTHM GAL BACCARI BLOODSTOCK AGENT MARK CASSE, AGENT $250,000
16 C BLUEGRASS CAT SANCOIN ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX MARK CASSE, AGENT $50,000
118 C BIRDSTONE ANYHOW BROOKDALE SALES AGENT FOR JACK SWAIN MARK CASSE, AGENT $105,000
181 C SKY MESA DANCE FEVER GAINESWAY AGENT I MARK CASSE, AGENT $270,000
227 C FLOWER ALLEY GYPSY CHIMES KEITH LANCASTER AGENT FOR CARDINAL VENTURE II MARK CASSE, AGENT $160,000
313 F SKY MESA OUR FANTENE JOE DODGEN AGENT MARK CASSE, AGENT $270,000
BEAR STABLES, WALTON TAKE ONTARIO -BREDS
279 C EXCHANGE RATE MAGNA CUM LAUDE ELM TREE FARM LLC (MR. & MRS. JODY HUCKABAY) AGENT V BEAR STABLES LTD $40,000
51 C ZENSATIONAL STORMING STARLET HILL ‘N’ DALE SALES AGENCY AGENT PAUL SHARP, AGT FOR H. WALTON $120,000
ONTARIO-BREDS CATALOGUED with results
out 18 F HAT TRICK (JPN) SARALUNA UNBRIDLED’S SONG ONTARIO 8F-H ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX
$120,000 51 C ZENSATIONAL STORMING STARLET STORM BOOT ONTARIO 4F HILL ‘N’ DALE SALES AGENCY AGENT
RNA $70,000 128 C COWBOY CAL AWESOME LASS AWESOME AGAIN ONTARIO 6D ELM TREE FARM LLC (MR. & MRS. JODY HUCKABAY) AGENT I
OUT 142 C YES IT’S TRUE BOJANGLE NOW TIZNOW ONTARIO 7F OAK LODGE USA LLC AGENT
OUT 158 C PIONEEROF THE NILE CELTIC CRAFT DANEHILL ONTARIO 3G-H WARRENDALE SALES AGENT II
OUT 162 C JUMP START CHERISH DESTINY GRAND SLAM ONTARIO 8F-H ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX
$20,000 249 C ARAGORN (IRE) JINDY’S DREAM A.P. INDY ONTARIO 8F-H ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX
NOT SOLD $37,000 265 C DUNKIRK LAUNCH THE ROCKET FOREST WILDCAT ONTARIO 2C CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT
$40,000 279 C EXCHANGE RATE MAGNA CUM LAUDE PLEASANT TAP ONTARIO 6D ELM TREE FARM LLC (MR. & MRS. JODY HUCKABAY) AGENT V
NOT SOLD $30,000 317 F MINESHAFT PEACE DREAM (FR) LINAMIX (FR) ONTARIO 8F-H ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX
NOT SOLD $10,000 325 F PLEASANTLY PERFECT PETITE ELITE FUSAICHI PEGASUS ONTARIO 8F-H ST GEORGE SALES AGENT IX
OUT 338 C MAJESTIC WARRIOR QUINTESSA TOUCH GOLD ONTARIO 2D ROMANS RACING & SALES AGENT
