This post dedicated to a keen racing fan,
horse lover, and all ’round super person,
Lynne Kehlbrier
**THOROUGHBLOG has cleaned up some loose ends – check out the LISTS on the main page of THOROUGHBLOG ..www.canadianthoroughbred.com/thoroughblog – the top 10 Canadian breds, Canadian owned, or trained horses for the BREEDERS’ CUP (16 days! yikes!), the top Canadian breds this year and I have added some awesome BOOKS to my list…enjoy!
GLUB GLUB
Flooding concerns in some area of Toronto Thursday morning after heavy rain since yesterday afternoon. Prospects of turf racing through weekend grim, BUNTY LAWLESS STAKES, a large field on Saturday, may shrink as it is likely to come off the grass. Good race anyway – PENDER HARBOUR VS. HIPPOLYTUS, another re-match!
Last night at Woodbine…rain didn’t slow down a nice debut outing by the 2yo filly MISS SCARLETT ROAD, a pretty chestnut by OLD FORESTER -TYPICAL, ALYDEED, owned and bred by Tucci Sstables. Sid Attard trains the filly who darted away in the stretch and won big IN :59.00.
Race 2, an allowance/optional claimer for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs was won by MISS LOLA, another coup for trainer GAIL COX, in the midst of a career season. This mare has blossomed since she got away from the grass but she bombed last time when 4 lengths behind Rashnaa at this level and distance at 3 to 1, had a 3rd different rider change and was hard to play yesterday. She was 10 to 1.
Another allowance/optional claiminer on the card was race 3 and the grey tank TEE GAME led all the way, just as trainer SAM DISPASQUALE said she would on THE SCORE show BET NIGHT LIVE last night from 7 to 9 p.m.
DiPasquale was confident of his mare’s chances and she was 7 to 1 coming off a 6th place finish beaten 17 lengths in a sprint (Ariana D, Avowal Stakes). Teddy Louie co-owns and Richard Dos Ramos rode the Ontario bred by El Corredor.
The night’s PICK 4 kicked off with a very logical winner who paid $12. KID WANDO, with the cycling upwards Beyer Speed Figures won his maiden for $25,000 claiming for Terra Di Sienna Stable. The Ontario bred was adding blinkers and Sebastien Madrid for trainer Brian Lynch.
Following Miss Scarlett Road’s win, there werer a lot of live PICK 4 tickets until….
Holy doodle, YANKEE BAILEY WEST came from miles behind to win race 6, a 3yo claiming race for $16,000, inhaling the mad pace duel between Old Blue Eues, Hank’s Hill and Mo Star. Jesse Campbell was riding for the first time and the owner is Dave Clancy and trainer is Steve Attard. Dave and Stephanie Whitford bred the Yankee Gentleman gelding who is 2 for 4 in his career. He paid off at 35 to 1, even though it was a small field.
STEVE SNOWDEN and DAN CONSIDINE’S SWEET CASSIOPEIA (Cassie-opie – a) won the 7th, an allowance (open) for her 2nd consecutive win. This is a good one by Five Star Day and she is trained by Barbara Minshall, her 12th win of the season.
JESSE CAMPBELL completed the hatrick in the finale when he guided the long overdue LANTANA LADY to win her maiden by for $12,500 for Victura Stable. Steve Attard was winning again on the night. The 4yo by Lion Heart is 1 for 15 now. In that race, a class dropper from $50,000 claiming to $12,500, DALIDA CAT, finished 6th.
FORT ERIE DATES FOR 2012
Fewer races day at Fort Erie track next year
By Brad Peters Niagara Falls Review
Next year marks the 115th year of operation for the Fort Erie Race Track. To commemorate the special year, there will be more special events, more unique start times and track officials hope it will be even more exciting than this year.
The only thing there won’t be more of is more racing.
At a press conference held Tuesday afternoon at the border oval, Jim Thibert, the chief executive officer for the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium announced that the not-for-profit organization had applied to the province for their 2012 racing dates, and that there will be less action on the track next season.
“We are pleased to announce that we have committed to applying for race dates for 2012,” he said in the media room at the track. “We will begin Sunday, May 6 and run through Tuesday, Oct. 16 for 69 days of thoroughbred racing.
http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3337906#.Tp6rMrgw9Ac.facebook
ATTFIELD, FROSTAD at Keeneland tomorrow
Friday, Keeneland, post time: 5:23 p.m. EDT
PIN OAK VALLEY VIEW S.-GIII, $150,000, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Trac N Jam K El Corredor Lanerie Hansen 117
2 In Step K Unbridled’s Song Gomez McLaughlin 117
3 Smart Sting Smart Strike Desormeaux Attfield 117
4 Bizzy Caroline Afleet Alex Cruz McPeek 123
5 Holidaysatthefarm Smarty Jones Lenclud Proctor 117
6 Safe Crossing K Stormy Atlantic Leparoux Sheppard 117
7 Diva Ash K Tapit Guidry Romans 117
8 Maid of Heaven K Empire Maker Castanon Gorder 117
9 Dynamic Holiday Harlan’s Holiday Prado Motion 123
10 New Normal K Forestry Graham Frostad 117
11 Daisy Devine K Kafwain Borel McKeever 117
12 Pinch Pie K Victory Gallop Albarado Dutrow 117
13 Barbies M K Afleet Alex Alvarado McKeever 117
14 Christmas Cove More Than Ready Castanon Matz 117
NO DECISION YET FOR NORTHERN PASSION AFTER HALF-MILE WORK
Terence Dulay’s image of NORTHERN PASSION
CHURCHILL DOWNS NOTES:
– In her first work over a dirt surface, John Oxley’s (Canadian-bred) Northern Passion, winner of the Grade III Natalma on turf at Woodbine in her most recent start, breezed four furlongs in :51.80 over a fast Churchill Downs track Tuesday morning under regular exercise rider Melanie Giddings in preparation for the GII $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf or the GI $2 million Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
“She went off the first eighth (of a mile) in about :14 (officially :13.80),” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “It was her first time not working in company so she didn’t really know what was going on at the beginning. The important thing is that she finished strong and she looked good. We’re happy.”
Northern Passion was awarded an automatic berth in the starting gate for the Juvenile Fillies Turf following her victory in the Natalma, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race; however, she could appear in the Juvenile Fillies on the dirt if she shows enough potential over the surface in the mornings.
“The slow time is just a reflection of the slow opening eighth,” Casse said. “I think she handled the dirt fine and she’s already won on two surfaces so I don’t know why she wouldn’t be able to handle the dirt. Also, my dad (Mark) has always said the Churchill surface is very comparable to Polytrack. A lot of turf and synthetic horses seem to like it on this dirt more than anywhere else.”
The Casse barn has had success this year with horses trying the Churchill dirt for the first time after previously racing exclusively on turf and synthetic surfaces, including a victory in the GI Stephen Foster Handicap Presented by Abu Dhabi with Pool Play.
Northern Passion, a $220,000 OBS Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase, will have another work on the dirt beneath the Twin Spires early next week before a final decision is made on her next start.
“Dad is coming to Kentucky next week for the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale and she’ll work while he is here,” Casse said. “That’s when we’ll decide where to go.”
Spirited Miss, another 2-year-old filly in the Casse barn who races under the Oxley colors, is also being considered for the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Fillies. The bay daughter of Sky Mesa ran fourth to her stablemate in the Natalma prior to finishing second in the Mazarine at Woodbine in her most recent start. She is scheduled to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday and will be stabled in Barn 24. There are currently no plans for when she will first work over the Louisville track.
BLACK CAVIAR GOES FOR 15-0 ON SATURDAY DOWN BELOW:
HERALD SUN.COM REPORT: CHAMPION mare Black Caviar has spooked rivals with only four prepared to chase her in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The world’s highest-rated sprinter, who is poised to emulate Carbine and Bernborough with a 15th consecutive win, is deemed unbeatable by bookmakers who will post her at $1.04 or lower.
Her rivals comprise one of the weakest fields she has faced.
Trainer Peter Moody will give stablemate Doubtful Jack, a wet-tracker, the chance to collect the $54,000 second prize purse, while fellow Caulfield trainer Tony Vasil will send around Balavan, who has won seven of 13 races but the best in open company only.
Wendy Roche will throw in Here De Angels, who notoriously misses the start.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviar-running-out-of-competition/story-fn67t2p0-1226171172862
GRITTANI wins battle of the breeders
Battle of the Breeds Results
October 16, Fort Erie…Two popular stakes events took place Sunday afternoon at Fort Erie Race Track. Over a track listed as sloppy, the Thoroughbreds competed against the Quarter Horses in races known as The Battle of the Breeds. The first event was run at 870 yards and the second at 440 yards. Each race offered a purse of $35,000.
In the 870 yard event, the Fall Distance Challenge, a field of seven horses went to the gate. Four of the entrants were Quarter Horses and three were Thoroughbreds. The race is made extra difficult because it starts on the turn which is referred to as “the hook” in Quarter Horse racing. As expected the Quarter Horses were quickest out of the gate and took early command of the race however the Thoroughbreds sat back off the speed and kicked into gear coming to the wire. The eventual winner was the Thoroughbred Grittani under a very smart ride by jockey Terry Husbands for trainer Alec Fehr and owners Steve Gilmour and Steve Johnson.
Grittani had tried the 870 yard stakes event, known as The Summer Distance Challenge, on July 3rd but was slow to break from the gate and after a strong late surge he managed to grab second place. Today his break was far better. “I have been working with this horse in the mornings,” said Husbands. “I knew as soon as we broke well that we were going to win.”
Quarter Horse, Jess Fischin ran well to finish in second and Wayman, the defending Thoroughbred champion of the July 3rd Battle of the Breeds Summer Distance Challenge finished in third.
Grittani, who is sired by Bold n’Flashy, covered the distance of 870 yards in 46.74 seconds. He returned $4.60 to win, $2.90 to place and $2.20 to show.
In the second Battle of the Breeds event held at 440 yards, the field was made up of eight Quarter Horses with only one Thoroughbred. There was never any doubt that the Quarter Horses would dominate in this event and that proved to be the case when Fast Flung Floyd under veteran rider Tony Bennett broke from the outside of the gate and was always in command winning the race impressively in a final time of 22.35 seconds. The gelding is conditioned by high percentage trainer Clint Crawford who also owns the son of Heza Fast Man.
“He is a neat little horse,” said jockey Bennett after the race. “He has been good to me winning this race twice.” Fast Flung Floyd won the Battle of the Breeds Summer Challenge also at 440 yards.
Quarter Horses rounded out the top three with the lone Thoroughbred finishing seventh.
With this victory added to his tally, Fast Flung Floyd now has 14 wins from 26 lifetime starts and earnings nearing $300,000.
Fast Flung Floyd returned $3.80 to win, $2.30 to place and $2.20 to show. Streaking Eye Opener was moved up to second through a disqualification and Vital Drive moved up to third.
Live Quarter Horse racing continues at Fort Erie on Saturday, October 22nd. Post Time 12:45.
LEADING HORSES IN CANADA BY NUMBER OF WINS
1 Dashing Daisy 8 6 1 1 $119,262 75% 8 100% 98
2 Quick Code 8 5 0 2 $219,639 63% 7 88% 97
2 Hank’s Hill 9 5 1 1 $100,652 56% 7 78% 94
2 Molinaro Rush 11 5 4 1 $39,901 45% 10 91% 80
2 Kinstar 10 5 2 1 $38,748 50% 8 80% 88
Tied for 2nd by number of wins in CANADA this year is QUICK CODE (Spanky’), who won on International day. He is an Ericka Rusnak-bred and he is trained by Mike DePaulo…
WOODBINE LEADING TRAINERS BY WINS
(before last night)
Twice as many starters for trainer MARK CASSE over mostly everyone else and the monopoly on the meeting continues as he hit 100 winners last week…
1 Mark E. Casse 433 101 70 57 $5,735,074 23% 228 53%
2 Reade Baker 216 47 31 26 $2,484,638 22% 104 48%
3 Sid C. Attard 233 35 49 40 $2,339,066 15% 124 53%
3 Steven M. Asmussen 195 35 37 32 $1,510,590 18% 104 53%
5 Robert P. Tiller 231 34 38 30 $1,840,667 15% 102 44%
6 Roger L. Attfield 152 31 25 25 $2,929,637 20% 81 53%
7 Josie Carroll 138 27 12 16 $2,425,947 20% 55 40%
8 Brian A. Lynch 132 25 20 24 $1,393,197 19% 69 52%
9 Steve Attard 161 24 27 22 $1,087,674 15% 73 45%
LEADING JOCKEYS
17 wins separates Contreras from Husbands…35 days left in meeting. DA SILVA is out for season and that leaves a nice alley for WILSON to charge through..
1 Luis Contreras 849 172 144 128 $9,692,640 20% 444 52%
2 Patrick Husbands 669 155 106 95 $8,057,457 23% 356 53%
3 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 722 125 115 112 $6,192,028 17% 352 49%
4 Emma-Jayne Wilson 647 103 103 76 $5,016,089 16% 282 44%
5 Justin Stein 528 74 82 70 $3,786,274 14% 226 43%
6 Tyler Pizarro 446 57 51 57 $3,415,742 13% 165 37%
7 Omar Moreno 478 54 61 59 $2,618,914 11% 174 36%
8 Emile Ramsammy 510 50 49 51 $2,606,819 10% 150 29%
9 James McAleney 354 45 33 42 $2,465,916 13% 120 34%
10 Gerry Olguin 382 44 42 58 $1,981,068 12% 144 38%
11 Jesse M. Campbell 414 40 52 48 $2,404,883 10% 140 34%
TOP OWNERS BY EARNINGS
Good battle here by earnings and number of winners!
1 Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc. 64 27 8 4 $1,485,379 42% 39 61%
2 Donver Stable 54 12 2 7 $1,471,395 22% 21 39%
3 Bear Stables, Ltd. 129 25 14 15 $1,323,730 19% 54 42%
4 Stronach Stables 80 19 16 10 $1,262,208 24% 45 56%
5 Mrs. Robert G. Ehrnrooth 1 1 0 0 $891,090 100% 1 100%
6 John C. Oxley 46 10 13 6 $875,247 22% 29 63%
7 Sam-Son Farms 78 10 7 8 $840,904 13% 25 32%
8 Norseman Racing Stable 65 7 16 11 $669,425 11% 34 52%
9 Three Chimneys Racing LLC, Lordship Stud and McStay, Clodagh 4 1 0 0 $618,858 25% 1 25%
10 Four D Stable 1 1 0 0 $613,380 100% 1 1
