PLATE NEWS…here comes Alex! 6 winners in Toronto Star including $18 winner…Belmont Stakes field…more!
ELITE ALEX HAS FIRST PLATE PREP – :57.00 BREEZING!!!
Trainer Tim Ritchey has informed THOROUGHBLOG that ELITE ALEX (Afleet Alex) had his first workout at Delaware Park yesterday in preparation for the June 26 Queen’s Plate.
“Elite alex breezed 5/8 a bit faster than we wanted but seemed well within himself – 57.oo and galloped out 3/4 in 1:11 this is first prep for Queens Plate” – Tim Ritchey Racing Stable.
ELITE ALEX graces the FACEBOOK page of TIM RITCHEY RACING STABLES…
Jamie Newell photo
2011 Queen’s Plate Contenders
1. Check Your Soul
2. Queen’splatekitten
3. Inglorious
4. Oh Canada
5. Bowman’s Causeway
6. Elite Alex
7. Seawatch
8. Strike Oil
9. Head Honcho
10. Okiyama
And Sunday’s VICTORIA PARK STAKES, just 2 weeks from the Plate could produce Plate starters..SEAWATCH is entered, PENDER HARBOUR and then there are maidens such as ONE BIG GATOR, JOJO’S MOJO and the winner ENDURING STAR still on the bubble.
IN OTHER NEWS…
JOYFUL VICTORY, the top Canadian-bred 3yo filly south of the border, is scheduled to race in the upcoming MOTHER GOOSE STAKES at Belmont Park…
There is QUEEN’SPLATEKITTEN, a fave for the Plate, and yesterday, MAPLE LEAF KITTEN won his maiden at Indiana Downs…
Maple Leaf Kitten, c, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Time to Indulge, by E Dubai. IND, 6-8, 1mT, 1:37 4/5. B-Kenneth L &
Sarah K Ramsey (ON).
JUNE 9 – 1973
a MOMENT IN HISTORY, a pretty big moment…
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
BELMONT STAKES – 2011
FIELD CHART COURTESY OF THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS
Saturday, Belmont Park, post time: 6:35 p.m. EDT
BELMONT S.-GI, $1,000,000, 3yo, 1 1/2m
PP HORSE SIRE ML
1 Master of Hounds Kingmambo 10-1
O-Mrs John Magnier; B-Silk and Scarlet Syndicate (KY); T-Aidan
O’Brien; J-Garrett Gomez. Lifetime Record: 8-1-3-1, $520,885.
Last Start: 5th GI Kentucky Derby May 7
2 Stay Thirsty K Bernardini 20-1
($160,000 yrl ‘09 KEESEP; $500,000 2yo ‘10 FTFFEB)
O-Repole Stable; B-John D & John Darren Gunther (KY); T-Todd
Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-0, $300,000.
Last Start: 12th GI Kentucky Derby May 7
3 Ruler On Ice K Roman Ruler 20-1
($100,000 yrl ‘09 KEESEP)
O-George & Lori Hall; B-Liberation Farm & Brandywine Farm (KY);
T-Kelly Breen; J-Jose Valdivia Jr. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-1, $166,500.
Last Start: 2nd Federico Tesio S. May 7
4 Santiva Giant’s Causeway 15-1
O-Tom R Walters; B-Paget Bloodstock; T-Eddie Kenneally; J-Shaun
Bridgmohan. Lifetime Record: 7-1-3-1, $257,597.
Last Start: 6th GI Kentucky Derby May 7
5 Brilliant Speed Dynaformer 15-1
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Tom Albertrani; J-Joel
Rosario. Lifetime Record: 9-2-2-2, $515,750
Last Start: 7th GI Kentucky Derby May 7
6 Nehro K Mineshaft 4-1
($170,000 yrl ‘09 KEESEP)
O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Mt Brilliant Farm LLC (KY); T-Steve Asmussen;
J-Corey Nakatani. Lifetime Record: 5-1-2-0, $425,140.
Last Start: 2nd GI Kentucky Derby May 7
7 Monzon Thunder Gulch 30-1
O/B-Sagamore Farm LLC (MD); T-Ignacio Correas IV; J-Jose Lezcano;
Lifetime Record: 8-3-0-1, $96,944.
Last Start: 6th GII Peter Pan S. May 14
8 Prime Cut K Bernstein 15-1
($55,000 wnl ‘08 KEENOV; $475,000 yrl ‘09 KEESEP)
O-Donald A Adam; B-Stuart McPee (KY); T-Neil Howard; J-Edgar
Prado. Lifetime Record: 7-2-2-2, $123,685.
Last Start: 3rd GII Peter Pan S. May 14
9 Animal Kingdom K Leroidesanimaux (Brz) 2-1
($100,000 yrl ‘09 KEESEP)
O-Team Valor International; B-Team Valor (KY); T-Graham Motion;
J-John Velazquez. Lifetime Record: 6-3-3-0, $1,938,700
Last Start: 2nd GI Preakness S. May 21
10 Mucho Macho Man Macho Uno 10-1
O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing & Dream Team One Racing Stable;
B-John D & Carole A Rio (FL); T-Kathy Ritvo; J-Ramon Dominguez.
Lifetime Record: 10-2-3-3, $610,643.
Last Start: 6th GI Preakness S. May 21
11 Isn’t He Perfect Pleasantly Perfect 30-1
($27,000 2yo ‘10 OBSAPR)
O-Kharag Stables; B-Diamond A Racing Corp (KY); T-Doodnauth
Shivmangal; J-Rajiv Maragh. Lifetime Record: 13-2-0-1, $90,222.
Last Start: 9th GI Preakness S. May 21
12 Shackleford K Forestry 9-2
($275,000 RNA yrl ‘09 KEESEP)
O/B-Mike Lauffer & Bill Cubbedge (KY); T-Dale Romans; J-Jesus
Castanon. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0, $1,471,666.
Last Start: 1st GI Preakness S. May
DID YOU KNOW…
ONE-TIME CONTENDER for the CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL, the gelding STREAM OF GOLD, has been retired from racing after losing badly for $3,200 claiming at Fairmount Park. A group of folks, racehorse lovers and reportedly some former owners, got together recently…the gelding has won over $700,000 and was a Grade 2 stakes winner…
WOODBINE WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Microburst delays races for 30 min.
RONALDINO is a cool dude – this 7yo gelding came off the August – June layoff for trainer Mark Fournier and blew by for his 12th win in his 24th start (that’s 50% folks!). He is a British Columbia bred by Katahaula County owned by Jack Fournier and Don Burwell. The price was $25K claiming.
It was easy pickens for the Daily Double too as SPEETHA was a predictable winner of the 2nd for Laconian racing and trainer Josie Carroll. The 4yo filly won the allowance race over just 3 rivals after a 30 minute storm delay (the rail horse E Xentrix was a late scratch). The winner was bred in Ontario by Daryl Goodfellow and she is 2 for 8 in her career now.
Big night for veetran trainer JAMES (MORT) HARDY who won a pair – SILVER MANCER strolled away to win her maiden in race 3, a maiden allowance for ONtario sired gals. The homebred is by Bold Executive and was ridden by David Garcia.
OCCASIO, almost 8 to 1 in race 5, won the $12m500 claiming race also with David Garcia up. The 5yo Northern Afleet gelding had been hitning for 2 consecutive races and was turning back from 1 1/16 miles to 6 1/2 furlongs.
ISABELLA BAY, a stakes winner at 2 last year, bounced back to winning form and led all the way to win a 1 1/16 mile allowance race to start the Pick 4. The race was scheduled for the grass but was taken off. The winner, a Strut the Stage filly who was 2 for 7 last year, had Patrick Husbands up for the front running score for Frances White, Gretchen Ross and partners.
MAJOR MARVEL has been a marvel to say the least. The speedy 5yo by Bernstein won his 3rd race in succession , winning for $25K for Mike Pino. Pino had claimed the fellow for $16K from Laurie Silvera. Last night, the Marvel put away Avensuesnalleyways through a tough pace battle and won by half a length in 1:16.25. Tucci Stables and Sid Attard claimed the gelding last night.
There was a rare dead heat for the win in race 7 when BAILEY’S RING and MARY VERONICA tied for $12,500. The former, A sILVERA TRAINEE DROPPING FROM oNTARIO SIRED ALLOWANCE, was ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson and is by Where’s the Ring and the latter was coming off an October layoff for Tweedhill Farm and trainer John Cardella with Eurico Rosa Da Silva riding.
And favoured THATSWHATYOUTHINK, owned by Martha Gonzalez won and was claimed from the finale, a maiden race for $25,000. The filly is by the red hot Old Forester bred by Tony and Leslie Russo. Wilson took another score on the night.
SUPERHERO – Major Marvel has won 3 in a row at Woodbine this season – Norm Files photo
SAM-SON’S ISLANDS AT BELMONT ON SATURDAY..
Saturday, Belmont Park, post time: 5:39 p.m. EDT
WOODFORD RESERVE MANHATTAN H.-GI, $400,000,
3yo/up, 1 1/4m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY TRAINER WT
1 Bold Hawk K Silver Hawk Lezcano Toner 115
2 Windward Islands K Cozzene Leparoux Frostad 117
3 Wishful Tomcat K Tactical Cat Studart Chatterpaul 112
4 Gio Ponti K Tale of the Cat Dominguez Clement 122
5 Al Khali K Medaglia d’Oro Garcia Mott 117
6 Viscount Nelson Giant’s Causeway Gomez O’Brien 117
7 Mission Approved With Approval Espinoza Chatterpaul 114
8 Prince Will I Am Victory Gallop Velazquez Nihei 119
9 Bim Bam Deputy Wild Cat Cohen Moquett 115
10 Straight Story K Giant’s Causeway Castellano Goldberg 116
TORONTO HORSE DAY is Saturday
Celebrate all things horse during the third annual Toronto Horse Day June 11.
Hosted by the Ontario Equestrian Federation, Greenhawk, Riding Academy at the Horse Palace and the Toronto police mounted unit the event, which goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Horse Palace, Exhibition Place, 15 Nova Scotia Ave., gives people the opportunity to learn the basics of horsemanship.
Stewart Forrest, Canadian Olympic equestrian trainer/coach on CBC’s Heartland and avid equestrian and actor Daniel Fathers, best known for his roles as Uncle Brown in Disney’s Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, are the official ring emcees showcasing different riding and driving styles and various horse breeds.
The live demonstrations will begin at noon and include jumping, reining, dressage, driving and more.
In addition to demonstrations, the program includes interactive stations and displays that will provide information on basic horse care, fitness benefits of horseback riding, tack and apparel and more.
Horse professionals including a farrier, vet and a jockey will be on hand to meet visitors and answer questions and Greenhawk Harness and Equestrian Supplies will host a free helmet fitting station.
The Toronto mounted police will be giving guided tours of their stables and introduce the police horses, while Woodbine Entertainment Group will introduce participants to the world of thoroughbred and standardbred racing and equine artist Debbie Goldring will provide people with tips and tricks on illustrating horses.
Visit www.horse.on.ca for details.
