TRADE

TOP WINNING BEYER SPEED FIGURES

Daily Racing Form Fri-Sunday

104 LONG ON VALUE (turf, Highlander)
101 DELTA PRINCE (turf, King Edward)
100 SANTA MONICA (turf, Dance Smartly)
97 TIZ A SLAM (Dominion Day)
95 WONDER GADOT (Queen’s Plate)
93 GOLDEN SPEAR (turf)
91 SILENT SONET (turf, Zadracarta S.)

The 3-day Queen’s Plate Festival and long weekend of racing was sizzling on the track, at the betting windows and of course, outside in the very tough heat.

The remarkable work by horsepeople and Dr. Darryl Bonder of the AGCO to have ice, hoses, and scrapers available for the horses at dozens of points from paddock to track was very important.

Everyone’s Plate experience is different and memorable, whether you bet the winner, enjoyed the sights and sounds, concerts and racing or had a horse racing on the big day.

Friends of Thoroughblog, Bob Hunter, Neal Mendick and Jim Aston – the Jack of Hearts Stable and the boys of Don Mills, had their first horse in the Plate. Theresa Harrington, whose late husband Jack was the inspiration for the stable name, chronicled the day for the team.

Thank you Theresa for sharing the video with Thoroughblog and thank you Gord Downie and Tragically Hip for the song, “Ahead By A Century”

Thanks to Terence and Cindy Dulay at horse-races.net for great images from weekend of racing:

 

PRINCE OF WALES STAKES – July 24, 2018, FORT ERIE

Now that the Plate dust has settled and those 16 gals and guys are trying to reboot their batteries, who might show up for the 1 3/16 miles PRINCE OF WALES at Fort Erie on July 24.

The 2nd leg of the Triple Crown is raced on traditional dirt.

The last Plate winner to win the Prince of Wales was WANDO in 2003 and he went on to win the Triple Crown.

Trainer Mark Casse suggested WONDER GADOT could go in the ‘Wales as her race before the ultimate goal, the Grade 1 ALABAMA at Saratoga on August 18.

However, the trainer also said that John Oxley’s colt FLAMEAWAY, who battled hard on the Kentucky Derby trail this spring, by-passed the Plate to run in the Ohio Derby (he finished 6th) has always been pointed to the ‘Wales.

“Would Flameaway not like to see Wonder Gadot? Yeah, he probably would rather her not be there,” said Casse to the media scrum after the Plate. “But I don’t do that. Just like today, all my riders did their thing, nobody was helping the other one. We have a big stable, we run multiple horses for a lot of people, and you can’t do that. You have to let every horse be what they are and get them in the best place. And I think (the Prince of Wales) makes sense for Flameaway, and it probably makes sense for Wonder Gadot, and they’ll probably meet.”

Flameaway, owned by John Oxley, certainly deserves a chance to win a big race following two Grade 3 wins and 2nds in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Blue Grass.

Oxley and Casse won the ‘Wales with Uncaptured and Dixie Strike.

This corner would hazard a guess that perhaps Wonder Gadot will get a little break after what had to be a very taxing Plate win and go straight to the Alabama.

How about the amazing story of the JACK OF HEARTS Racing Stable of Neal Mendick, Jim Aston and Bob Hunter which watched AHEADBYACENTURY rally for 2nd on a day when stretch runners simply could not have success in the heat. The Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms bred son of Midnight Lute – Sinful, is headed to the Wales and this team with co-owner and trainer John Ross, won the race last year with Cool Catomine.

Aheadbyacentury’s 87 Beyer Figure in his amazing rally was the best Beyer of his career. He was a $67,000 purchase from the CTHS Ontario yearling sale.

COOLER MIKE was another great story from the Plate, finishing 3rd with an 83 Beyer Figure for the father and son team of Mike and Nick Nosowenko who bred the son of Giant Gizmo. ‘Stuck’ with the pretty chestnut after a buyer at the 2016 CTHS sale declined to sign the purchase ticket, the Nosowenkos have an exciting runner and he is expected to head to the Wales.

After the top 3 and Flameaway, it is a bit more difficult to confirm starters unless Plate 4th and 5th, Strike Me Down and Telekinesis compete. Perhaps there will be a couple of ‘fresh’ horses who sneak into the field.

 

WOODBINE WRAP

The stakes races on Queen’s Plate day were won by:

John Oxley, trainer Mark Casse, Patrick Husbands – Ride a Comet – Charlie Barley

Stronach Stables, James Jerkens, Javiar Castellano, Delta Prince, King Edward

Mrs J Magnier, Madaket and D Pearson, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz Santa Monica (GB) Dance Smartly

Madaket, Ten Strike et al, Brad Cox Florent Geroux Long On Value  Highlander

Gary Barber Mark Casse John Velazquez Wonder Gadot – Queen’s Plate

 

Americans had a a big day but on Friday and Sunday, Canadians took their share.

FAIRY HILL, an Ontario bred by Sligo Bay – Koonunga hill by Wooneberg won Friday’s LADY ANGELA STAKES for Ontario sired 3-year-old fillies. Claimed by Bruno Schickedanz and trainer Norm McKnight for $25,000 last fall, the bay gal came out of the Woodbine Oaks to hang on to win this 7 furlong stake under Jeff Alderson. Her Beyer Figure was 74.

Three stakes on Canada Day made for a super racing day (albeit sizzling hot again).

SILENT SONET, owned and bred by Ivan Dalos, won the Zadracarta Stakes on the grass in her return to the green stuff. The Silent Name – Dynasonet 4-year-old is trained by Nick Gonzalez and was ridden by Eurico da Sivla. She is 4 for 9 in her career.

The famous DOMINION DAY STAKES (GRADE 3) was upset by Chiefswood Stables’ TIZ A SLAM, who was ridden brilliantly by Steve Bahen to set a slow pace. He had enough to turn back the mighty Melmich (winner of the last 2 DD’s) for his 5th career win. This handsome 4-year-old colt won the Ontario Derby last year for trainer Roger Attfield but he has been in dull form for 5 subsequent stakes races on turf and synthetic. The son of Tiznow turned things around in a big way in this 1 1/4 mile fixture.

The Bison City, the 2nd leg of the Triple Tiara series, was won by SAFE TO SAY for Gary Barber and Jeff Begg’s Windways Farm. The basy filly, trained by Mark Casse, also benefited from a great ride as Jerome Lermyte took the Justin Phillip gal well off the hot pace and she won by a few inches in a wild finish. She posted a 79 Beyer Figure.

This miss was bred by Bay Ridge Orchards (Peter Hansen) and sold by Willow Ridge Farm (Bonnie and Bill Rowntree) for $95,000 at the CTHS Ontario sale. She is by Justin Phillips from Dicey Girl by Yonaguska.

After 37 days of racing in 2018, Rafael Hernandez continues to lead the rider standings as Eurico da Silva missed several days at the start of the season.

Interestingly, the pair did not have resounding weekend results with only a few wins apiece:

1 Rafael Hernandez        274 67 42 34 $2,123,324
2 Eurico Rosa Da Silva 207 48 47 21 $2,011,395
3 Patrick Husbands       176 36 32 38 $1,667,177
5 Gary Boulanger           200 35 28 25 $1,558,379
4 Luis Contreras              225 32 36 37 $1,590,696

On the leading Trainer’s list, Mark Casse has taken the lead from the Norm McKnight barn and these two are well ahead of the field:

1 Mark E. Casse          176 — 42 28 28 $2,518,478
2 Norman McKnight 101 — 36 20 11 $1,025,210
3 Robert P. Tiller        74 — 18 8 11 $610,841
10 Nicholas Gonzalez 64 — 13 10 4 $295,970
6 Kevin Attard             63 — 10 13 4 $336,491

Gary Barber is the leading owner by purse earnings:

1 Gary Barber             37 9 9 11 $976,779 
2 Bruno Schickedanz 61 22 9 6 $626,607
3 Chiefswood Stable 49 8 7 10 $523,320
4 Sam-Son Farm      28 7 6 2 $389,505
5 Stronach Stables   32 7 1 6 $361,549

OLG CANADIAN TRIPLE CROWN and TRIPLE TIARA NEED TWEAKING

Now that the Canadian Triple Crown has a sponsor with Ontario Lottery and Gaming it might be time to figure out a way to give Canadian horse racing a chance at a Triple Crown winner or a Triple Tiara winner.

With the Woodbine Oaks winner/runner-up almost always taking part in the Plate, the Bison City, the 2nd race of the Tiara, is usually left with a modest assortment of fillies. The last Tiara winner was Sealy Hill in 2007.

The Wonder Where Stakes on the grass is the final leg of the Tiara.

As for the Triple Crown, it is a unique series as the 3 races are run at 3 different distances on 3 different surfaces and only 7 horses have won it since 1959.

It might be just circumstances in recent years as the filly-winners don’t usually continue on with the series and perhaps when we do have a colt win the Plate, there will be hope for some Triple Crown excitement.

It is tough to determine what the solution would be for getting more attention to either series (should Wonder Gadot actually race in the Prince of Wales, there is no chance she will race in the Breeders’ Stakes, the 3rd leg) but a chance at a Crown or Tiara sweep could certainly be marketed well.

 

ONTARIO-BREDS OFFERED at FASIG TIPTON JULY &  SARATOGA SALE

It is sales season!

July 9 is the Fasig Tipton Horses of Racing Age sale, July 10 the July Yearlings, both held in Lexington, KY and on August 9, the Saratoga sale of yearlings at Saratoga Springs.

In the Horses of Racing Age Sale, some recognizable horses to Canadians include Alberta stakes winner C U AT EAU CLAIRE (Haynesfield) , recent Woodbine winners CROSS BORDER and CONQUEST SWAGMAN plus several John Oxley runners including GET THE NEWS and the unraced Canadian bred CAPTAIN THUNDER.

Just two Canadian-breds in the July yearling sale but there are a host of them in the Saratoga sale – hopefully some good ones were kept back for the CTHS Ontario sale in August.

July Yearlings bred in Ontario:

64 F  WICKED STRONG SPIDER DUST BROKEN VOW                 ONTARIO 2 TAYLOR MADE SALES AGENCY AGENT LXV
83 F  TAKE CHARGE INDY SWEET RANSOM RED RANSOM      ONTARIO 3 CARA BLOODSTOCK (BERNARD MCCORMACK) AGENT

Saratoga yearlings bred in Ontario

7  C TIZNOW JULES BEST JULES                               ONTARIO 8 SOUTH POINT SALES AGENCY AGENT III
20 F CURLIN LEAVEMINTHEDUST,  DANZIG       ONTARIO 9 EATON SALES AGENT FOR WILLIAM D. GRAHAM (WINDHAVEN FARM)
26 F AMERICAN PHAROAH LIFE AT TEN,  MALIBU MOON ONTARIO 6 GAINESWAY AGENT VI
51  F TALE OF THE CAT MY SISTER SANDY, MONTBROOK ONTARIO 3 VINERY SALES AGENT II
131 C PALACE MALICE TIMELESS SILVER, SILVER DEPUTY ONTARIO 8 SOUTH POINT SALES AGENCY AGENT I
133 F MACLEAN’S MUSIC TOULA, BOLD EXECUTIVE ONTARIO 2 HILL ‘N’ DALE SALES AGENCY AGENT
140  C UNCLE MO UNSPURNED,  LEMON DROP KID ONTARIO 5 CARA BLOODSTOCK AGENT FOR SAINTSBURY FARMS INC.                    (CHRISTINE & JAY HAYDEN)
144 C FLATTER VICTORIOUS AMI VICTORY GALLOP     ONTARIO 1 WARRENDALE SALES AGENT FOR TALL OAKS FARM
158 C MEDAGLIA D’ORO ANDROEAH ARCH                       ONTARIO 6 GAINESWAY AGENT VI
170 C AMERICAN PHAROAH BANGA RIDGE SNOW RIDGE   ONTARIO 5 CARA BLOODSTOCK AGENT FOR SAINTSBURY FARMS                     NC. (CHRISTINE & JAY HAYDEN)
217   F HONOR CODE FLAWLESS DIAMOND SAINT BALLADO ONTARIO 2 ANDERSON FARMS
226  F HARD SPUN GAUZE SAINT BALLADO                                ONTARIO 2 ANDERSON FARMS
237  F UNION RAGS HAPPY VALE DISTORTED HUMOR          ONTARIO 9 EATON SALES AGENT FOR WILLIAM D. GRAHAM                   (WINDHAVEN FARM)