BLUE

almost as popular as ORB’S Kentucky Derby win was the furious rally of PYRITE MOUNTAIN to win the Wando Stakes at Woodbine and surge up the list of Queen’s Plate contenders….

STREAKIN!
Pyrite Mountain strips Horse of the Year Uncaptured in the stretch

Some may have been surprised but the few who picked PYRITE MOUNTAIN to win the Wando Stakes were able to cash a few tickets and have some brief bragging rights when the bay colt beat Horse of the Year Uncaptured in the 1 1/16 mile race.
The Beyer was 85 for the winner, a son of Silent Name (Jpn) – Golde Lined by Numerous bred by Sean Hall and trained by Mark Frostad for the Awesome Again Partnership.
There are 38 individual owners of Pyrite Mountain, who came from last in the tiny 4-hhorse field to win the Wando in his 3rd race of the year.

The colt had won the Kingarvie Stakes last year.

The other 3 colts in the field contested the pace through the race and then Uncaptured, coming off a drab run in the Blue Grass, went to the lead into the stretch. But is apparent the colt was not going to be able to pull away and he was passed by the Mountain and then almost lost 2nd to a gritty Midnight Aria who was 3rd.

Luis Contreras rode the 3-year-old, who was a $50,000 yearling purchase.
The AWESOME AGAIN partnership is one of 6 syndicates formed by Frank Stronach. Originally, the Horse Racing League was supposed to be on the stock market where people could buy shares in horses for a $1 or so.
That system did not get the blessing of the SEC and so, was just released as a syndicate where shaares were sold for $6,000.
Most people put $1,000 in every syndicate, which contains 20 horses. That’s 120 horses to follow and cheer for until November 2013 when they will all be sold.

Lorne Weiss, a longtime owner of racehorses (formerly of Class Action Stable), is one investor.
“The idea was to bring people into the business, show tham the excitement and fun of the game without a huge investment.”
Weiss, whose mother Edith is also a horse owner, said the fact that there are no extra costs once you buy into the syndicate is appealing.
The horses can then be followed on Twitter or on the website at HorseRacingLeague.cpm.

“You hope that 1 or 2 are really good and are stakes winners.” said Weiss. “And there are a lot of other perks: Mr Stronach is having all the shareholders at the Preakness for a number of big events and parties.

MORE ON HORSE RACING LEAGUE FROM ERIC MITCHELL at BLOOD-HORSE
The Stronach Group has taken a page out of the NASCAR marketing book by promoting its own six-team horse racing league for fans to follow and hopefully become more engaged with the sport.

Launched earlier this year, the Horse Racing League’s six teams are separate corporations that each own and will race 20 horses purchased as yearlings. Each corporation has been named after prominent homebreds raced by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm—Awesome Again , Ghostzapper , Ginger Punch, Macho Uno , Perfect Sting, and Red Bullet.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/72636/horse-racing-league-reaches-out-to-fans#ixzz2SbxUs7yW

MORE FROM SUNDAY WOODBINE:

Three-year-old Ontario bred DRENCHED held on to beat another locally bred 3yo SWEET LITTLE MAN in a 7 furlong allowance race. The winner is from Donver Stables and trainer Josie Carroll and is by top sire Stormy Atlantic. The latter is a homebred for Don Amos by Jazil.

Both could try a route to the Queen’s Plate in their next starts

Trainer DARREN GLENNON won his first race of the season when NICOLANA romped in race 2, a maiden $25,000 race at 6 furlongs. The winner is a George Farlow homebred by Vibank out of Ritzy Lady by Kissin Kris.

Charles Fipke watched his colt Golden Soul finish 2nd in the Kentucky Derby and then CHECK YOUR SOUL end a long winless streak in race 3 on Sunday. The son of Perfect Soul, who won the Plate Trial Stakes 2 years ago, rallied past RIVER RUSH, who won the Trial last year, to win for Roger Attfield. Patrick Husbands was winning his 2nd race in the first 3 Sunday events.

The race was delayed some 17 minutes when the ambulance for the track was unavailable.

Race 4 went to BET ON JACK, who was up just in time to beat the big and good looking PUT T ON HOLD in the $6,250 claiming race. The winner is trained by Tino Attard for young Joshua Attard. A race later, VALID’S BEST, who was plunging in class off a 1 1/2 year layoff for CEC Farms, rallied to win the 5th race for $20,000 claiming. He caught a clear VIGILARE in the late stages.

Speedster LITTLE RIVER was a predictable winner of race 6, leading all the way to take the allowance (First level) at 4 to 5 for Riley Magnum and trainer Gail Cox.

ONE BIG GATOR, formerly owned by Jam Jar of the late Bud Reynolds, won his season debut in race 7 for new owner Jim Passero. The One Way Love gelding, still trainer by John Ross, was the 3rd winner of the day for Eurico da Silva.

Race 9 was won by heavily favoured STRUT THE COURSE, a Strut the Stage 3yo filly owned by John Unger. The Barb Minshall trainer blew past the field in a big win and she is certainly one to think about come Woodbine Oaks time. Bred by Under, the filly is out of Bold C ourse by Trajectory.

The day’s finale was a maiden allowance taken by speedy I’M A KITTYHAWK, a popular pick at 5 to 1. The Tomahawk – I’m a Cheetah filly was making her season debut after 1 race as a 3yo for the Earle family and trainer Franz Crean. Davy Moran rode the winner. One filly to watch from that race is ONMYWAYTOTHETOP, who came from 14th to be 4th and out well for Nick Nosowenko.

HAPPY DAY! Skye Chernetz and Mr MacGuire after a win on Saturday – NORM FILES PHOTO

WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT – CONCERNED ABOUT CASINO LOCATION

TORONTO STAR – By: David Rider Urban Affairs Bureau Chief, Published on Mon May 06 2013

While officially neutral on a downtown Toronto casino, Woodbine says a gambling resort at any of the stated alternatives could endanger both the race track and Ontario’s horse racing industry.

Nick Eaves, chief executive of Woodbine Entertainment, made the comments Monday to the Star’s editorial board.

The not-for-profit body that operates the race track — with the help of revenue from 3,000 slot machines — is lobbying Toronto council to support expansion to a full casino with table games.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. says there will be a casino in the “C2 gaming zone” — an arrowhead-shaped area that includes Woodbine in northwest Etobicoke and bits of Mississauga, Brampton and Vaughan.

http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/05/06/toronto_casino_woodbine_entertainment_fears_gambling_resort_in_neighbouring_905.html

HE’S ALL WHITE – Cindy Pierson Dilay (www.horse-races.net) caught up with CHIEF WHITE FOX at Churchill Downs on Friday.