WORKOUTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUEEN’S PLATE UPDATE – Blinkers on Sweet Grass Creek

 

He does not look too much like his famous sire, WANDO, but his head marking and distinctive bump in the middle of his head are things that SWEET GRASS CREEK share with his daddy.

The glistening, copper-coloured colt, owned and bred by Wando’s breeder Gus Schickedanz, will be making his 3rd start off the layoff in the Queen’s Plate should all be well following a big workout at 6 furlongs on Thursday morning.

Sweet Grass Creek and Jesse Campbell powered through 6 furlongs in 1:12.20 with blinkers on for the first time. The colt also wears ear plugs and is still on a learning curve for trainer Mike Keogh.

The colt own his maiden in his 2nd start of the year at 1 1/16 miles with a good 76 Beyer Figure but pulled himself up in his latest when 2nd beaten a head in allowance company.

 

A tour of the backstretch on Thursday morning yielded the same thoughts from horsepeople about this year’s Plate:

“It’s one of the toughest fields I have seen in a long time,” said trainer Mark Frostad, who could start Scorch in the July 5 classic.

Indeed, the field is evenly matched with horses who figure to post a Beyer Figure in 85-90 range on the big day (only one horse has hit 90 or better on the Beyer Figure scale – CONQUEST CURLINATE did it twice with a 95 and 92 but both races were on dirt).

PATRICK HUSBANDS has picked up the mount on Plate Trial winner DANISH DYNAFORMER for trainer Roger Attfield and owner Charles Fipke.

The colt was ridden by Luis Contreras but that rider will stay with Ami’s Flatter who who did so well in the winter in graded stakes and is coming off a farm freshening.

Husbands has not ridden many horses for Attfield for several years and his last win for the trainer came in 2013.

his last stakes win for Attfield came in 2011 on Oregon Lady.

Interestingly, Husbands was the rider for Charles Fipke and Attfield in the 2011 Plate on CHECK YOUR SOUL, he finished 7th.

 

ALAN GARCIA will ride CONQUEST BOOGALOO while Shaun Bridgmohan rodes ‘Curlinate.

Newcomers to the possible entrants list include maiden OLYMPIC BID, maiden winner Easy Indygo and trainer Mark Casse said OAKTON could supplement to the race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Whoa – that bird was flying! PRETTY BIRD came off the September – June layoff for Debmar Stables, dropped in for just $10,00 claiming and won on the lead with an 81 Beyer Figure, the best number of the night. This Kentucky bred by Lookin at Lucky had won her maiden in the same manner in Sept. for $25,00 claiming under Patrick Husbands.
She scorched 6 furlongs in 1:09.42. Ricky Griffith trains the $15,000 yearling purchase.

More Wednesday

Race 1- FINGERTIPS did it! The Stevie Wonderboy 6-year-old gelding won his maiden in his 35th career start for a number owner and trainer Robert Gerl. Jesse Campbell rode the chestnut in this $10,00 claiming race.

race 2- maidens for $25,000 claiming was won by CASTELAO, a homebred for Dr. Ross McKague and Brenda McKague. The Smoke Glacken 3yo gelding was 1st time Lasix and making his 2nd start of the year. Eurico Ros da Silva rode for trainer Mike DePaulo.

race 3- on the grass and ASCOT MARTIN worked hard to win his maiden in his 13th start in this 1 1/16 mile race. The son of seeking the Dia has shown promise for Beclawat Stable but he finally got it done with the class drop to claiming – he went for a $47,500 tag.
Rober Tiller trains.

race 5- a 5 furlong dash for $8,000 fillies and mares  was the first winner of the Woodbine meeting for trainer Blair Miller: Cavelleta won a thriller in the last jump in her 5th outing of the year. The mare is 4 for 39 in her career for Prestige Stable and Omar Moreno gave her a great ride.

race 6- a maiden allowance was won on the lead by PORTA CAYA, who disappointed in her first 2 races but got it done at 14 to 1 in this 6 furlong dash for owner and breeder Brian Cullen. Steve Attard trains the daughter of Milwaukee Brew and Alan Garcia rode.

race 7 – WHERE’S THE WIDGET won this $32,00 claiming arce at 6 furlongs with ease under Da Silva while 1 to 5 shot Homebre Natural faded badly. The winner is a Giant Gizmo gelding who is 3 for 10 in his career for Mary Biamonte and trainer Ralph Biamonte.

race 8 – the second highest Beyer Figure of the night went to BIG LEGACY, who was the 2nd winner for Husbands on the night. This Survivalist gelding is now a 9-time winner in 22 races with this win in the starter allowance ($25,000) in 1:22.39 for 7 furlongs. The 6yo won his latest at 1 1/16 miles and then took this 7 furlong dash on the pace on a night speed did well and the track was fast.
Steve Simonovic claimed the gelding for $5,000 one year ago and Mark Casse trains.

 

OLG UPDATE

A Message to the Ontario Horse Racing Industry

For the first time, representatives from the horse racing industry, the Government of Ontario and crown agencies are working together in support of a sustainable industry.

Following government direction first announced in October 2013, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA), are working with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the Ontario Racing Commission, government and the broader horse racing industry on a number of initiatives that will help develop the industry and grow the horse racing customer base. The government, OLG and OHRIA restated their support for integration at a meeting in February 2015.

The overall goal of integration is to build the foundation for a sustainable horse racing industry in Ontario, but achieving that goal will take time and a significant amount of work. For many months, OLG and OHRIA have been working with the government to lay the groundwork for success.

As part of this collaborative effort, a committee structure has been established to guide the many areas involved in integration. Comprised of senior representatives from both OLG and the industry, the Horse Racing Industry Executive Committee is providing decisive leadership and guidance by:

Creating a business model for integration that is focused on stability
Determining an appropriate funding framework to ensure long-term sustainability
Providing advice to the government and supporting future legislative changes
Partnering with the industry to optimize branding and build public awareness about horse racing
Reviewing and assessing new horse-themed gaming products

The Industry Executive Committee meets bi-weekly. Joining us on the committee are: Preet Dhindsa (OLG), Richard Carson (OLG), Michael Keegan (OLG), Tina MacMillan (OLG), Jean Major (AGCO), John Snobelen (Ontario Horse Racing), Steven Lehman (Ontario Racing Commission), Jim Lawson (Woodbine Entertainment Group) and Hugh Mitchell (Western Fair District).

Our committee is supported by the work of other groups, including the Interim Governance Committee (IGC). Chaired by John Snobelen, the IGC is developing options for improving industry self-governance and is building the capacity necessary for effective partnerships with OLG. Read a recent update from John here.

One of our committee’s objectives is to begin to communicate regularly with members of OHRIA and the public about the progress being made on integration so that we can build a narrative to increase confidence in the long-term future of horse racing. We are working together on several initiatives and will have more to discuss in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Stephen Rigby, President and CEO, OLG and Chair of the Industry Executive Committee
Sue Leslie, President and Chair, OHRIA and member of the Industry Executive Committee

HORSES OFFERING PEOPLE ENCOURAGEMENT EXPANDS FOR 2015

from Standardbred Canada

Woodbine Entertainment Group, in harmony with Horses Offering People Encouragement, the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society, the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, and Halton Police’s COMMANDE program, are pleased to announce the launch of a spring session of HOPE at Windrush Stable in Moffat, Ont.

“We are thrilled to see the HOPE program expand into Halton Region,” says Jamie Martin, executive vice-president, racing, WEG, of the event that launched this May. “WEG remains committed to supporting and assisting racehorse adoption and placement programs that work tirelessly to ensure these horses are provided with the welfare, safety and dignity they so deeply deserve in their retirement. HOPE is a shining example of how retired racehorses can continue to have a positive influence on people after their racing careers are over.”

A therapeutic horsemanship program, HOPE unites retired racehorses with the community’s most vulnerable citizens.

“COSA is very pleased to support the effort to bring the HOPE program to Halton Region,” says, Bill O’Donnell, president, COSA.

Participants receive hands on training in basic horsemanship skills like grooming, haltering, tacking, herd dynamics and horse anatomy from experienced horse caretakers.

OSAS is thrilled at the opportunity to have HOPE participants enjoy their program’s horses.

“We are very excited and proud to work closely with HOPE and our other partners,” says Joanne Colville, events coordinator, OSAS. “Not only will people have the chance to be face-to-face with these wonderful horses, they will also get a better sense of farm life through tending to gardens and learning and interacting with other farm animals.”