GAMBLE’S GHOST is sitting on a big race and she is one of 2 very strong contenders for owner and breeder Ivan Dalos – MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO
QUEEN’S PLATE POSSIBLE FIELD – July 3
(with latest Beyer Figure, jockey, comments )
The post position draw for the QUEEN’S PLATE is Wednesday morning (a day earlier than usual).
14 horses are on the list of entrants although only half a dozen of these are serious contenders for winning the 157th edition of the Canadian classic.
The field is listed below with comments and Beyer Figures.
AMIS GIZMO – 85 Beyer Plate Trial Luis Contreras
– dominated Trial, wins on repeat. Owner/breeder Ivan Dalos ready for first Plate win.
Breeding notes – by Ontario sire GIANT GIZMO (Stronach) and from Dalos mare Galloping Ami, daughter of Dalos foundation mare Secret Ami
SHAKHIMAT – 81 Trial Emma-Jayne Wilson – 2 recent losses but is the king of the Queen’s Plate, Roger Attfield, worried? nah.
Breeding notes – by Lonhro (AUS), stood in NA for a couple of years before returning to his homeland. Bred by Stronach at Adena Springs in Aurora.
GAMBLES GHOST (filly) 82 Beyer Oaks – tough luck in the Oaks and she has a potent stretch kick – 2 chances for Dalos
-Breeding notes – more Ivan Dalos stuff and she is by the sire of last year’s Plate winner Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) from first good horse Dalos raced, Gambling Girl
LEAVEM IN MALIBU -85 Beyer in allowance win Gary Boulanger – hype horse could battle for 2nd favourite
-Breeding notes – Full brother to last year’s Plate contender Danzig Moon who broke down in Plate Trial; bred by Bill Graham and by Malibu Moon
ALL ON RED – 84 BEYER, 2nd in allowance – green, speed and could be very good
– Breeding notes, bred by Brother and sister David Anderson and Jessica Buckley, who lost their father Bob a few years ago. Bob is being inducted into Hall of Fame this year. A Hard Spun colt out of a mare who won a stakes race at 9 furlongs was a talented filly.
CRUMLIN SPIRIT – 76 when 4th beaten 3 lengths in Woodbine Oaks
- By former Ontario sire Court Vision, bred by Bill Graham
ESPOSITO – 84 Beyer in allowance win Alan Garcia – same profile (almost) as All On Red, except 1 race this year and 2 turns is question
Breeding notes – Ghostzapper again, Adena Springs/Frank Stronach bred, $45,000 2yo purchase by Donato Lanni, a Canadian
SCHOLAR ATHLETE – 84 Beyer on turf; gelding and blinkers worked, he won on the pace; can he rally from off the pace?
Breeding notes – by former Ontario sire EINSTEIN (BRZ), foaled at Adena Springs like others, $85,000 2yo purchase
HAMMERS VISION 87 and 89 in last 2 starts, both turf, Patrick Husbands
Breeding notes – by former Ontario sire Court Vision from Baytree, bred by Donver Stables
SIR DUDLEY DIGGES – 77 Trial – runs evenly in almost any race, 3rd to the top 2 in Trial
Breeding notes; foaled by Bernard and Karen McCormack, by long distance turf star Gio Ponti, $130,00 purchase as a 2yo
MY NAME IS JIM – 62 maiden win – big, strong guy led all the way to win at 9 furlongs last time against maiden
Breeding notes; bred by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt Meeuse, by Society’s Chairman, Ontario sire, $22,000 purchase
NARROW ESCAPE – 64 ALLOWANCE win – battled to a grtty win in season debut
Breeding notes – homebred for Jayson Horner, half brother to Prince of Wales winner Coltimus Prime, by Ontario sire Sky Conqueror
MIKE – 61 3rd to Narrow Escape
Breeding notes – by Philanthropist and full brother to millionaire Pender Harbour, co-owned by breeder Moira Gunn
ROCKET PLAN – 64 when 2nd in 7 furlong OSS sprint
Breeding notes – owned and bred by longtime Ontario breed William Gierkink by Adena Springs sire Plan
LEAVEM IN MALIBU knows the crazy longshots have to be in the Queen’s Plate field but he does not have to like it! Woodbine Photo
ROGER’ ATTFIELD’S 8 PLATE WINS…
2008 Not Bourbon
1995 Regal Discovery
1993 Peteski*
1992 Alydeed
1990 Izvestia*
1989 With Approval*
1987 Market Control
1976 Norcliffe
*Triple Crown winner
FRIDAY WOODBINE
Tapeta in fine shape, fair surface, turf very firm
HIPP SMITT doubled up in this allowance race for 3-year-olds, Ontario sired, as he dueled on the pace and then shook off the rivals under Michele Rainford. Scott Fairlie trains this bay gelding for TC Racing, Stablemates and Ace Racing. The son of Spaniard was bred by Sherry McLean and he is 2 for 4 in his career. His 6 furlongs was run in 1:11.42, a 76 Beyer Figure.
In Race 2, a rail rally by SPLASHY GIZMO was the winning move and it was the 2nd win in 6 races this year for the mare by Giant Gizmo. frank Russo owns and Tino Attard trains. Luis Contreras is the mares regular rider. The race was for $8,000 claiming.
Race 3- Rallying 3 wide from off the pace was VICTORIA RULES, a 4yo filly by Showing Up out of Golden Buckle by Touch Gold, was 4th and 5th in her previous races and dropped to $12,500 maiden claiming and added Lasix. Lisa Burry owns and trains and Emile Ramsammy rode the filly.
The pick 4 kicked off with LOST IN THE CLOUD coming from far off the pace and outside and then inside to win her debut for Natural Eight and TC Racing and trainer Bill Tharrenos. The filly’s entrymate was scratched and is entered in a maiden allowance on Sunday.
Lost in the Cloud is by Saffir from Northern Pine by Pine Bluff and she was bred by Ballycroy Training Centre. The filly was purchased for about $12,500 at auction and this was a maiden $16,00 claiming race. Gerry Olguin rode.
Race 5 – On the very firm grass and with the railings out so SPEEDY FOX led all the way and ran a 90 Beyer Figure for his 6 furlongs on turf in 1:08.21/ The Philanthropist – Foxs Consort, Foxtrail 5yo geldingh was making his 3rd start off the layoff and Sunny Singh rode for Trinity Racing. Norm McKnight is the winning trainer.
The race was for $40,000 claiming, non-winners of 3.
Race 6 – starter allowance for fillies and mare and SWEET BREW got her 4th career win in this 6 1/2 furlong dash. The grey mare by Milwaukee Brew is owned by LT Stable and Danny O’Callaghan trains, Jermaine Bridgmohan rode the winner in her 4th race of the season.
Race 7 was on the grass at 6 1/2 furlongs and odds-on favouruite DANCING ASHLEY rallied to win this $40,00 claiming race for C E C Farms and trainer Ralph Biamonte. An ONtario bred by Olmadavor she is 7 for 22 in her career and Patrick Husbands rode. She had the day’s 2nd best Beyer Figure of 76 for 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.22
Race 8 – Thoroughblog selection LILY’S GOLDIE ran hard and rallied wide all the way but missed winning at 9 to 1 by a neck to Show Shape, a 4yo by Saffir owned by Sheldon Pettle. Luis Contreras rode the winner came from justg 2 lengths off the pace for her 2nd win in 7 races. It was her 3rd race off the layoff and she had missed all of 2015. Steve Attard trains.The filly posted a Veyer Figure of 83, the second highest of the day for 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta in 1:17.56.
Race 9 favoued BELLA HUMOR was in a brief pace battle and then took off to win for the 2nd time this year. The Linmac Farms filly was winning for $10,000 claiming under Gary Boulanger. Dave Cotey trains.
JOHN PASSERO TO BE INDUCTED INTO FORT ERIE SPORTS WALL OF FAME
There was hardly a stakes race on the Ontario Jockey Club circuit that Passero didn’t win during the 1950s and 1960s.
His fellow backstretch mates knew him as ‘Pass Eye,’ and Passero had a large following of $2 bettors when New Woodbine opened in Rexdale, Ont., in 1956.
He won almost every race that year while training Canada’s Horse of the Year, Bill Beasley’s Canadian Champ. Passero had a total of 10 wins with the colt including the first running of the Queen’s Plate at the new track in Toronto along with the Prince of Wales and Breeders’ Stakes. Canadian Champ also won the Achievement Stakes, Plate Trial and Seagram Cup Handicup that year.
