UPS AND DOWNS

In memory of Tesseron, April 23, 2010 – September 9, 2018

 

SKY IS THE LIMIT

Sky Promise sweeps western Triple

with files from DRF.com

Sky Promise (Sky Mesa)  closed with a rush to edge Weekend Wizard by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby at Hastings on Saturday. He paid $4.70 as the favorite in the 12-horse field.

It appeared Weekend Wizard, who along with Canadian Game set moderate interior fractions of 23.64 and 48.98 seconds, was home and cooled out mid-stretch. He had opened up a clear lead on the stretch turn, held a 2 1/2-length advantage at the eighth pole and didn’t appear to be slowing down in the stretch. However, he couldn’t hold off Sky Promise, who, with Rico Walcott riding, altered his course mid-stretch and made a determined move from inside of Weekend Wizard. Canadian Game held on to finish third.

The final time for 1 1/8 miles over a track rated fast was 1:51.71 for an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

The dark bay is now 3 for 3 (Manitoba, Canadian and BC Derbies) since he was claimed for $40,000 by trainer ROBERTINO DIODORO for owners  Rick and Clayton Wiest, R 6 Stable, and Norman Trembley.

Hastings Park’s blockbuster card of racing also feature (reports courtesy of Derby Bar & Grill, Richard Yates):

BC OAKS – Here’s Hannah
Here’s Hannah ($3.80) showed up where she usually does, that being the Winner’s Circle for the seventh time in eight starts following a wire-to-wire tour de force in the Oaks. Here’s Hannah set all the fractions, including some (a quarter in 23.1, the half in 47.3) that would have doomed a less talented horse. But Here’s Hannah has a high cruising speed, and after today’s win at a mile-and-an-eighth, there can be no doubt about her stamina. Tip Toe exhibited her quality with a dogged effort that had her second going into the final turn, but that was it. She was unable to narrow the gap for the last quarter mile. Raider closed well to be third, but she, like the others in the well strung-out field, was in a race that did not have anything to do with Here’s Hannah. The length-and-a-half she won by sounds closer than it appeared to be visually. Here’s Hannah was not in any danger of getting caught. Richard Hamel rode the winner and the duo has now won seven times in seven starts.

Here’s Hannah was never headed after breaking on top, although the longshot Bear tried mightily early. After Bear recognized the inevitable and retreated, her stablemate Tip Toe moved into position but was unable to advance against Here’s Hannah whose final time of 1:52.77 (74 Beyer Figure)  for the mile-and-an-eighth compared favorably to the 1:52.64 the older fillies and mares hung up in the Delta Colleen three races earlier.

Here’s Hannah, by Numaany, was bred in British Columbia by B. C. Stables. She is owned by B C Stables and Paul Caravetta. John Morrison trains and he has kept her on top of her game

S W RANDALL PLATE – Absolutely Stylish
Absolutely Stylish (Uncle Mo) won the S W Randall Plate at 9 furlongs for Peter Redekop with a 91 Beyer Speed Figure and paid $8.40. After he shook off the long-shot Silent Eagle, he had only runner-up Don’t Hold Me Back to contend with. He did so with considerable aplomb, drawing away by half a dozen lengths as they came home. Highway Boss made a move on the final turn and looked momentarily like he might finish second before flattening out and checking in third. Final time for the mile-and-an-eighth was 1:50.89.

DELTA COLLEEN STAKES – Reginella
Off a win in the Emerald Downs Distaff, the public made Reginella ($8.90) the second choice in the Delta Colleen and she did not disappointment, although things began to get a little desperate as they approached the wire. Notis the Jewell ran her to a nose with a late surge that closed a ton of ground but came up an ounce short. Top Quality put in a strong effort to be third, a half-length away from the first two. The top two covered the mile-and-an-eighth in 1:52.64.
She earned a 76 Beyer Figure.

Reginella was bred in California by DiPietro Thoroughbreds and is owned by Luigi DiPietro. The daughter of Minister’s Wild Cat is trained by Blaine Wright who has cut a swath through the Hastings’ stake program with his forays north from his Emerald Downs base.

SADIE DIAMOND FUTURITY – Dancin Shoes
Dancin Shoes (Cross Traffic) drew away to an 8 ½ length win over second choice Notice. Krissy ran evenly to finish third and was not far away from Notice, but they were both a long way behind Dancin Shoes. Final time for the 6 ½ furlongs was 1:19.22. Her Beyer Figure was 57.

Dancin Shoes had only a couple behind her after the first quarter, but not long after they straightened out for the run down the backside she kicked into gear and began to run past horses. Jockey Antonio Reyes seemed less concerned about saving ground than he was about having anything get in Dancin Shoes way. He rode her like she was much the best horse and he was right. When she caught the pace-setting Notice early on the last turn, the contest was for second because the winner was no longer in doubt. It was only a matter of how far and that turned out to be quite a bit.

Dancin Shoes was bred in British Columbia by her owners David Pihl and Delaurlyn Pihl. Barbara Heads trains Dancin Shoes who is from the first crop of Cross Traffic, a son of Unbridled’s Song

JACK DIAMOND FUTURITY – Dat Day
The only real surprise among the six stakes results was sprung by the maiden Dat Day ($24.20) in the Jack Diamond. Dat Day was the only price to win one of the day’s six stakes, the other five were won by favorites or second choices, but he was full value for the win. Arranger did all the work early and looked like the winner for all but the last few yards. He was still a solid second over betting favorite Call It a Wrap who closed well to be third. Fine efforts, but the day belonged to Dat Day who picked a pretty posh spot to shed his maiden condition.

Antonio Reyes kept Dat Day in the clear at the cost of giving up some real estate around the first turn, and to a lesser extent the final turn as well. Reyes had no real opportunity to tuck in early and was outside of Arranger around the second. Regardless, he just kept grinding prior to getting his reward for effort close to the wire. Dat Day required 1:19.35 to complete the 6 ½ furlong Diamond distance.

Dat Day is owned by Canyon Farms who also bred him in British Columbia. He is by New Year’s Day, a son of Street Cry.

 

TODAY – STANDARDBRED BREEDERS VS. PROVINCE

– 10am in Brampton (7755 Hurontario St. Room 212) – Motion for Summary Judgement 

A motion for summary judgement is addressed today in the 4-year-long battle between the Standardbred Owners in Ontario and the province of Ontario with regards to the cancelled of the slots-at-racetracks partnership program.

with files from Horse-Canada...  Back in March of 2015, the SBOA filed a legal challenge arguing the way in which the Slots of Racetrack Program (SARP) was cancelled amounted to a financial ruinous, “non-justifiable policy decision.” The initial motion sought a $60 million payment to Ontario’s standardbred breeders for “negligence and/or intentional misrepresentation, breach of contract and unjust enrichment” due the way in which the government handled the end of the province’s 13-year slots revenue sharing agreement with Ontario racetracks.

Read this story from one year ago about this journey.

 

ARTISTICO TAKES LEAD IN TURF ENDURANCE SERIES

TESSERON, last year’s champ, euthanized

The remarkable gate-to-wire victory by 5-year-old ARTISTICO in the 1 5/8 miles 3rd race of the TURF ENDURANCE SERIES at Woodbine was marred by the fatal breakdown of last year’s Turf Endurance champion TESSERON.

The almost-white 8-year-old, a popular runner at Woodbine for six years, appeared to clip heels around the last turn, steadied and then took a bad step on the grass course and was pulled up by Emma-Jayne Wilson. Tesseron’s injury was deemed to be too severe and he was euthanized on the course. Wilson booked off her last mount on the day but was not injured.

Purchased for $357,000 by Donver Stable as a yearling, Tesseron, a son of Tapit, showed lots of promise as a young horse with a 2nd place finisher in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes in only his 2nd start of his career following his debut win. He was also 4th in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club that year at Churchill Downs.
He raced just 4 times in 2013 but then won a turf allowance at Keeneland in April 2014 and an allowance race at Woodbine in November 2014. Trained by Josie Carroll, Tesseron raced just once in 2015, January, and did not return until 2016, May.

He did not have much luck in 2016 with nine minor placings before he was dropped in for $16,000 claiming a year ago. Kirk Sutherland was the new owner and Harold Ladouceur the new trainer and last summer Tesseron won two heats of the Turf Endurance series to take home the bonus prize.

The handsome gelding returned to racing at Woodbine after a two-race stint at Turf Paradise. He was second in one Endurance race before faltering to 7th in the most recent race.

Tesseron raced 32 times and had a record of 6-4-2 and $268,000.

4U Thoroughbred Racing Stable’s Artistico, who had stepped away from the Endurance series to race just 8 days ago in an allowance race where he was unplaced, set out for the lead from the inside post position and led the entire race for jockey Jesse Campbell. Meanwhile, Royal Intrigue settled towards the back half from the outside post and swept four-wide into contention approaching the six furlongs mark as the field began to bunch up. He continued in hot pursuit of Artistico down the stretch, but couldn’t catch the front-runner, who went the distance in 2:50.09. Camp Creek tracked the winner throughout and followed two lengths behind in third-place.

Artistico had opened the series winning at 1-3/8 miles on July 1 but opted to race elsewhere skipping the 1-1/2-mile second leg on August 5, which was won by series newcomer Royal Intrigue.

Trained by Sylvain Pion, the five-year-old Niigon gelding’s second endurance score gives him sole ownership of the top spot in the series standings, leading with 20 points. Royal Intrigue, who earned seven points bringing his total to 17, remains in striking distance for the finale. Points are awarded on a 10-7-5-3-2 basis for the top five finishers in each race. Horses finishing lower than fifth earn one point.

The fourth and final 2-1/4-mile leg will be held on October 14 when the series winner will be crowned. The overall point-leader will earn a bonus of $25,000 for his owner and $15,000 for his trainer.

Sent off at odds of 5-1, Artistico paid $12, $5.80 and $3.70. He combined with Royal Intrigue ($4.50, $3.70) for a $2 exacta worth $54. Camp Creek ($5.50) completed the trifecta, which paid $200.75 for a $1 ticket. Sine Metu edged out Lookin At Bravo and Itstartswithadrink for fourth-place, rounding out the superfecta, which was worth $725.90 for a $1 ticket.

Woodbine stakes winners this weekend were SHAMROCK ROSE, who romped in the La Lorgnette Stakes on Saturday for 3-year-old fillies. Owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad, Shamrock Rose, by First Dude, just won a Pennsylvania-bred stakes race at Presque isle and then won this open event under jockey Jerome Lermyte.

Sunday, GAMBLE’S GHOST continued to amaze with her stretch run. She was somehow up in tome to win the Belle Mahone Stakes for her 3rd straight stakes win for Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine on Wednesday evening. First race post time is 6:45 p.m. for the eight-race card, which features a Jackpot Hi-5 carryover of $631,143.79.

WOODBINE MILE SATURDAY – WIN AND YOU’RE IN/Natalma and Summer Stakes Sunday

Irish War Cry withdrawn, draw for Mile Wednesday

Stronach Stables’ DELTA PRINCE looms the favourite for the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile Saturday. The Street Cry (Ire)  5-year-old horse won the Grade 2 King Edward at Woodbine in his first race of the year and was recently beaten just a neck in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga.  Euro invader LORD GLITTERS has also raced well in Group 1 competition and will take plenty of support.

The forecast this week is for heat and humidity to return and the rain to end after a pseudo-monsoon today.  The Woodbine turf course will likely benefit from some good rain as it has been worked hard in the last few weeks.

Horse Owner Trainer   Jockey

Delta Prince / Stronach Stables / James Jerkens / Javier Castellano   104, 101

Divisidero / Gunpowder Farms LLC / Kelly Rubley / Jevian Toledo 100, 100 98  6yo 3rd in Fourstardave, seeks first win at 1 mile distance

Good Samaritan / WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club Int,SF Racing LLC, Head of Plains Partners LLC / Bill Mott / Joel Rosario 85, 96 96 – been racing on dirt, won G2 New Orleans H., won Summer S, on turf at WO as 2yo

La Sardane (filly) / Team Valor International / Neil Drysdale / Rafael Bejerano;  83, 92, 92  5th in Grade  2 Play the King to Mr Havercamp, won 3 races in NY before that

Lord Glitters / Geoff & Sandra Turnbull / David O’Meara / Jamie Spencer – Group 1 placed and recent winner of Group 3 Strensall Stakes

Mr Havercamp / Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry / Catherine Day Phillips / Eurico da Silva   98, 98, 95 Ontario-bred won Play the King

Stormy Antarctic / Mr. P K Siu / E.C.D Walker / TBD   In form gelding by Stormy Atlantic won Group 3 this year, close in Group 1 and Group 2

Vanish / Eight Star Racing Stables Inc. / Vito Armata / Ademar Santos   91, 83, 82  Claimed for $40,000 from Gary barber went on to be 2nd in Grade 2 Play the King

 

TORONTO THOROUGHBRED RACING CLUB

The popular Jim Proudfoot wrote about the Toronto Racing Club in the Toronto Star in the 1960s. A who’s-who of horse racing, E.P. Taylor, Conn Smythe, have been honoured, attended meetings and greeted members over the years.

Formed in 1961, the TTRC closed up shop with a final gathering on Sunday at Woodbine. The Club’s president SAM LIMA and wife Frances plus the directors celebrated the club which gave fans trips to farms, special racing days and presented horsepeople and horses with awards each year. Don Burton, who joined the club 56 years ago, was in attendance for this wonderful ceremony.

The club also presented LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society with a donation and treated guests to a buffet lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEENELAND SEPTEMBER SALE BEGINS 11 A.M. MONDAY

4,538 yearling catalogued, 151 bred in Canada

Keeneland kicks off its 75^th annual September Yearling Sale on Monday with the first of four Book 1 sessions to be offered to an assembly of the world’s leading buyers of Thoroughbred racing prospects. A total of 4,538 yearlings have been cataloged to the entire sale, which two years ago produced 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The September Sale will cover 13 sessions through Sunday, Sept. 23.

The 4,538 yearlings in the catalog were foaled in 27 states, provinces and foreign countries: Alberta (1),Arizona (1), Arkansas (6), British Columbia (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Florida (145), France (1), Illinois (5), Indiana (14), Iowa (14), Ireland (3), Kentucky (3,915), Louisiana (24), Maryland (28), Minnesota (9), New Mexico (1), New York (98), North Carolina (1), Ohio (18), Oklahoma (16),Ontario (149), Pennsylvania (35), Tennessee (2), Texas (9), Virginia (20) and West Virginia (4).

Read Keeneland’s Top 10 Tips for Attending the September Sale

BOOK ONE ONTARIO BREDS
(see online catalogue here)
3
4
34
36
49
58
105
161
180
268
331
403
629
759
780
797
803
835
847
848
872
887
932
944