Coming up today at Woodbine – the Overskate Stakes for older sprinters, Ontario sired. A competitive race and it should be a thriller!
WOODBINE WRAPS
SOUTHERN RING, image by MRWILLWONG.com – check out Will’s awesome Woodbine photos on his web site and Facebook page!
SOUTHERN RING had a sizzling maiden win on Friday to top some super performances by our Thoroughbreds this week. The Sam-Son Farms’ homebred by Speightstown out of Seeking the Ring by Seeking the Gold won a 6 1/2 furlong turf dash on the engine in 1:14.76, posting an 86 Beyer Figure. The Malcolm Pierce trainee had been second to subsequent stakes winner Elsuive Collection in her debut (95) Beyer). Eurico da Silva rode.
Other races of note from Wed. and Frid.:
NIIGON’S LEGACY was very green but she led all the way to win a maiden allowance for 2yo fillies and 1 mile and 70 yards on Froday, in her second career start for CHiefswood Stable. The sleek dark bay posted a 67 Beyer Figure for1:43.42 under Justin Stein. Roger Attfield trains.
Stakes winner WILD CATOMINE got back on the winning track since her Fury win last May with an allowance won on the pace at 1 1/16 miles. The Milwaukee Brew 4yo was ridden by Gary Boulanger for trainer Mark Casse and owner John Oxley.
A very nice 2yo prospect is SPRINGHOUSE, a dark grey gelding by Limehouse out of Silver Spring by Langfuhr for owner/breeder Gus Schickedanz. This fellow had a lovely ride inside and behind leaders in the 1 mile grass race under David Moran and won going away for trainer Mike Keogh.
He earned a 70 Beyer for 1:36.86.
REAL COAL, in Friday’s 5th race, went from 48 to 1 and a 7th place finish last time to even-money in this maiden 2yo race for $25,00 claiming and won. The filly by Cool Coal Man is owned and bred by Paul Mouttat and while she veered in at the gao and was strong on the pace, she geld on to win under Alan Garcia. John LeBlanc trains.
GARAFRAXA was placed first in a maiden race 2 starts ago, then was 7th in the Algoma. She was trying grass for the 2nd time and won this allowance race for owner/breeders Howard and Judy Pottrins. The Vibank gal is 2 for 8 in her career with earnings of over $57,000. Jermain Bridgmohan gave the 4yo a great ride and this is a daughter of the Pottins’ nice mare Ma Peche.
On Friday, the 2nd race was thrilling to watch. It was just 5 furlongs, and a $16,00 claiming event but what a wild ride for the amazing gelding BET ON JACK, who rallied and came in and out of horses to win in time – his 10th career victory. He is currently owned bu Joshua Attard and trained by Kevin Attard, who has had 2 wins this week to go to 31 on the year. Luis Contreras rode this son of With Distinction like he owned the horse himself – awesome race – check it out:
And congratulations to trainer Sandra Dominguez who won her first race of the season when PISTON BROKE blew past his rivals to win a $12,500 maiden claimingrace on Wed. night. The 3yo by United States is also owned by Dominguez and Contreras rode the Florida bred in this 9th career start.
KEENELAND AFTER 4 SESSIONS
On Wednesday, the first Canadian based buyer at the sale was SAM-SON FARMS, which paid $200,000 for a War Front filly out of Soul Search, a Grade 1 placed mare mare by A P Indy.
After a day off of selling, Keeneland folks got back going yesterday.
JIM AND SUSAN HILL bought hip 758, a Kentucky bred bay colt by Union Rags (first crop) from the Distorted Humor mare Agatha, a half sister to Japanese champions Agles World and Hishi Akebono. The price was $180,000.
The Hills, who are from Alberta, also bought hip 805, a $60,000 filly from the first crop of To Honor and Serve out of Canadian stakes winner Bristol Pistol, the dam of Grade 3 winner Ice Bear.
Later, the Hills bought an Ontario bred full brother to champion ESSENCE HIT MAN, a colt born on March 31 last year. The son of Speightstown out of stakes winnin El Prado Essence went for $200,000 and was sold by Eaton Sales, agent.
The couple also bought a Ghostzapper filly for $160,000 (hip 951) from the family of Woodbine stakes winner Celmis; a Harland’s Holiday colt out of Grade 1 winner Lucifer’s Stone for $180,000; and a Tiznow colt for $150,000.
GARLAND WILLIAMSON, breeder and co-owner of Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Like, bought a $290,000 filly by Union Rags out of Bit of the Bubbly by A.P. Indy. The New York bred filly is a half sister to Past the POint, Grade 1 placed and 2 other stakes placed runners.
Williamson just had a homebred trained by Rachel Halden win his career debut, a Court Vision colt named Tilbury Court.
