**NOTE TO THOROUGHBLOG READERS – The HORSE-CANADA WEBSITE is going under the knife this weekend to change servers etc. so you won’t see any news until Monday enjoy the weekend!
LONGRUN DAY AT WOODBINE!
Time to get some gifts for the horses – and your friends and family too!
LONGRUN is holding its annual charity day at Woodbine today. LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society whose adoption and placement programs help find homes for thoroughbreds in Ontario, will once again
offer a little bit of everything for racing fans, starting at 11 a.m.
The calendars, which will be available on the second floor at the LongRun display, have been generously sponsored by the Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association of Ontario (HBPA) and feature many of LongRun’s beautiful thoroughbreds enjoying their retirement.
“Once again, Woodbine’s support has been an immeasurable help in assisting our mission to find homes for our valiant thoroughbreds who are no longer able to compete at the racetrack, said Vicki Pappas,
LongRun Chairperson. “The H.B.P.A.’s annual sponsorship of this calendar, which highlights the beauty and versatility of the thoroughbred, has proved to be one of our best marketing tools.”
VICTOR’S CRY LATEST STALLION TO LAND IN ONTARIO
Spendthrift Farm will move its recently purchased stallion VICTOR’S CRY to Park Stud to join Court Vision shortly as the American farm beefs up its ‘Share the Upside’ breeding program.
Victor’s Cry is a Grade 1-winning miler by top sire Street Cry. He scored his biggest win in the 2010 Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park, stopping the clock in 1:32 4/5. He also captured the Grade 2 Citation at Hollywood and was runner-up in the Grade 1 Eddie Read over 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar a year ago. He retires with six wins and earnings of $762,021.
Handsome, VICTORY’S CRY, by Street Cry, comes to Canada
FRIDAY
The featured event was the prep for the VALEDICTORY STAKES, the final stakes race of the season. The prep was a small field but had some star power.
On a surface that was really getting fast, likely because it was so cold, HOLY SCHNIEKIES opened up an enormous lead early in the 1 5/8 mile race, almost 20 lengths but after 6 furlongs in 1:13 and change, the fellow wilted and stopped. The duel between Eagle Poise and Queen’s Plate winner EYE OF THE LEOPARD was a dandy with EAGLE POSE, by Empire Maker, getting the win his first race back at Woodbine in more than a year. The 5yo has had a litany of trainers and layoffs, he was 2nd in thw 2009 Valedictory, and now he runs for Roverdee Stable and trainer Graham Motion.
Stakes winner RECONNECT won the first race, an allowance for Ontario sired gals, non-winners of 3, and she made it look easy after favoured SAVETHETHOUGHT got burned out in a pace duel early in the 1 1/16 mile race. The Colebrook homebred, trained by Ashlee Brnjas is by Niigon.
AVERY AMOUR won race 2 with a final push at the wire as City Splash faltered late after getting a big lead. It looked as if City Splash might hang on but the photo showed Avery Amour the winner for the Lamb family and trainer John MacKenzie.
HEY BATTER BATTER is a tough as nails fellow and he won the 3rd race for Ace Racing and Scott Fairlie, sticking his grey neck out to win a blanket finish with 4 others.
The 5th race, a 5 furlong dash, featured a hot pace duel in 21 3/5 and Harbour the Truth got away from the other speed and opened up a long lead into the stretch but he was run down by Red Cent,, trained by Robert Tiller for Norseman Racing. The Exchange Rate 3yo won the $19,000 claiming race for his 2nd win in 7 races.
VALLEY BREEZE won his maiden in his 5th race this year, a 410K claiming race and he was dropping from maiden allowances at Fort Erie and Woodbine. The Peaks and Valleys 4yo is a homebred for Stan Dobson. Paul Nielsen won his 3rd race of the season and Steve Bahen rode.
Wild stuff in race 7 as BIG BAND SOUND won the allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 2/5, sizzling. The Bernstein 4yo is 2 for 3 since the May to October layoff for Kendel Standlee and trainer Danny Vella. Emile Ramsammy rode. RED EAGLE was third but was eased up near the wire as he looked to be in some discomfort.
Race 8 Vella came right back with layoff filly VULCAN ROSE, who won her maiden for Chiefswood Stable and Slade Callaghan urged the filly to a short win over big fave Fairy Familiar. The 4yo is by Fusaichi Pegasus and out of Rose of Tara.
HANK’S HILL’S 6th win of the meeting leads all horses in Ontario and ties him for most wins by a horse in canada this year. He is a Florida bred by French Envoy.
THURSDAY
MEGA PRECIOUS won the opener at 2 to 5 as a standout in a drab field. The Chapel Royal filly won handily under Patrick Husbands for owners Dennis Ejack and Cam Ziprick of Alberta. Barb Minshall was winning her 14th race of the meeting. The filly is a kentucky bred by Chapel Royal.
HANDY HAROLD won a 1 1/2 mile race for $16,000 claiming under a shrewd rider by Emile Ramsammy. the handy 6yo gelding by Kinshasa has won over $220,000 for owner/breeder Ron Sadler.
Not many jockeys finish better than Emma-jayne Wilson who lifted ACTNG NAUGHTY to a win in race 3 for 2yo fillies, for $32K claiming. The offlee Wild – mariaburg, by Langfuhr filly, bred by Bill Graham, is now 2 for 6 in her career with over $60K in earnings. She was a $40,000 claiming by Love 2 Win Stables and trainer Don MacRae 2 starts before Thursday. Graham’s Harlan’s Panther was 3rd.
BLONDIE THE BEST was the best in race 4 to pick off the Pick 4, and mostly everyone was out of the bet as s oon as she won. The flashy chestnut, a beginner by Best of the Bests (Ire) – Passionate Blonde, by Geri was 42 to 1 but came from well back and blew by the leaders to win for Sheldon Pettle and trainer/co-owner Steve Attard. Jesse Campbell rode the filly who was bred by Display Farm.
SIR ANDREW, trained by ‘Sir Laurie’ Silvera won the 5th for $9,500 claiming with a sweeping rail rally around the last turn under Sunny Singh. The Mobil gelding, bred by William Gierkink, is 2 for 22 in his career now and it was his first top three placing in his 10th start of this season. HJT Racing owns the 4yo.
Blinkers on, turf to Polytrack – DO THE MATH, that’s a winner for Bosco Buttigieg and the ACZ Stable in race 6. Oh, and he was 47 to 1! The 3yo by Flower Alley, bred by Firestone Farns, was a $16,000 claim from his 2nd race when he was 2nd with a 58 Beyer. All he needed to do was skip along the rail on the lead under Sunny Singh (again!) and win over longtime maidens Bear’s Tizz and Riopelle.
DR. CHOPIN, a 2nd time starter for Norseman Racing broke down after battling on the lead.
SACSAYWAMAN had a slow start in race 7 but quickly got into position, rallied 4 wide around the turn and won the $8,000 claiming race for owner/trainer Steve Asmussen under Luis Contreras. It was her 4th win in 31 races. The Pick 4 paid 3 out of 4 for $1,300, you don’t see that often with 20 cent’ers available.
The last race went to RINK RAT, the BC-bred for Les Maisey, who won his maiden in his 18th try, for 9,500 claiming under David Garcia. John Mckenzie trains the Joey Franco 3-year-old.
GRADE 2 ON TAP AT WOODBINE
Sovereign Award status could be on the line for champion older horse in today’s Autumn Stakes…
James Street edged Stunning Stag in the Seagram, they fight it out today with the blossoming City Wolf waiting in the bushes. Mike Burns photography
Saturday, Woodbine, post time: 4:26 p.m. EST
AUTUMN S.-GII, $150,000, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m (AWT)
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Straight Story K Giant’s Causeway Campbell Goldberg 20-1
2 Court of the Realm K Powerscourt (GB) Ramsammy Berringer 15-1
3 Stunning Stag K Running Stag Olguin Attard 3-1
4 James Street El Prado (Ire) Husbands Carroll 4-1
5 Hotep A.P. Indy Stein Frostad 12-1
6 Mobilizer Motivator (GB) Pizarro Attfield 20-1
7 Pender Harbour Philanthropist Callaghan De Paulo 6-1
8 Artic Fern Langfuhr Clark Keogh 8-1
9 Unbridled Kimanchi Unbridled’s Song Contreras Lynch 12-1
10 City Wolf Giant’s Causeway Wilson Baker 5-2
CANADIAN-BRED IN THE MIX
MRS. REVERE S.-GII, $175,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER ML
1 Hungry Island More Than Ready Nakatani McGughy 4-1
2 Bizzy Caroline Afleet Alex Cruz McPeek 4-1
3 Groupie Doll Bowman’s Band Kuntzweiler Bradley 10-1
4 Holidaysatthefarm Smarty Jones Lenclud Proctor 20-1
5 Sea Level Drive K Malibu Moon Graham Arnold II 20-1
6 Smart Sting Smart Strike Velazquez Attfield 5-1
7 Don’t Tell Sophia K Congaree Castanon Sims 30-1
8 Trac N Jam K El Corredor Goncalves Hansen 30-1
9 New Normal K Forestry Albarado Frostad 12-1
10 Marketing Mix K Medaglia d’Oro Leparoux Proctor 5-2
11 Tourmaline K Kafwain Butler Rhone 50-1
12 Louvakhova Maria’s Mon Lanerie Wolfson 6-1
KEENELAND NOVEMBER PLOWS ON
Canadian buyers
0917 DB/BR.M. Wicked Diva Anderson Farms 180,000
Eaton Sales, Agent
0981 DB/BR.M. Butterstride Mike Vanin, Agent 32,000
Indian Creek (Dave C. Parrish, Jr.), Agent
0988 B.M. Catch That Song Anderson Farms 90,000
Indian Creek (Dave C. Parrish, Jr.), Agent
1080 CH.F. Intentional Cry Windhaven 125,000
Lane’s End, Agent for the Complete Dispersal of theEstate of Edward P. Evans (Spring Hill Farm)
1189 CH.M. Pin Turn (GB) Paradox Farm, Inc. 40,000
Denali Stud (Craig and Holly Bandoroff), Agent XVIII
1372 CH.M. Black Hills Goldie Buttigieg Training Centre 70,000
Royal Oak Farm (Damian and Braxton Lynch), Agent
1375 DB/BR.M. Bold Corky Mike Carroll 14,000
Three Chimneys Sales, Agent
1471 DB/BR.M. Gauze Anderson Farms 140,000
Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent for Aaron & Marie Jones
On the selling side, multiple stakes winner FREE FEE LADY sold for just $40,000 to Dell Ridge.
1403 GR/RO.M. Chopinina Larkin Armstrong, Agent 52,000
Hill ‘n’ Dale Sales Agency, Agent
PAULICK REPORT’S COOL LITTLE BREEDERS’ CUP VIDEO
catching the joy and scenes of the races, includes Charles Fipke
CAW REPORT: Racetrack teletheatres (off-track betting facilities) across the GTA are going tellerless.
http://www.crwu.blogspot.com/
Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) is pushing ahead with plans to automate all GTA teletheatres, threatening jobs at a time when attendance is booming and teletheatres are raking in huge profits. They are cutting off the important human element in Ontario’s gaming industry.
Ontario’s lottery and gaming sector was built to diversify the provincial economy with promises of corporate responsibility and the creation of good jobs in our communities.
Each year, millions of our public dollars help boost revenues for WEG and now they’re needlessly cutting out customer service employees. This doesn’t add up.
Real-life mutuel tellers currently play a vital role in the racing business. We provide …read more at WEBSITE link above
