133 racing days comes to an end with 14 races on the final afternoon today at Woodbine
The litany of betting opportunities includes a huge carryover/mandatory payoff in the High 5 last race – race 14 – at 7:40 p.m., the 64th Valedictory and a 1 7/8 miles marathon.
KING AND HIS COURT wins again, likely clinches champion 2-year-old honours
Gary Barber and Wachtel Stables’ KING AND HIS COURT is 2 for 2 since he was sold by Alex Patykewich as the son of former Ontario sire Court Vison won the 60th Display Stakes on Saturday. Bred by Patricia and Robert Weber and ridden by Gary Boulanger, King and His Court defeated stablemate Flowmotion and Ontario bred Guy Caballero in the 1 1/16 miles race.
The seasoned 2yo was racing for the 9th time this year and he posted a 74 Beyer Figure for the win in 1:45.10 He had a 76 Beyer Figure in the Coronation Futurity and is obviously well ahead of a lot Ontario sired/breds juveniles at this point but with low Beyer Figures.
Some winners from Saturday include NIIGON’S GLORY, who won a 10 furlong event for $40,00 claiming for $u Thoroughbred Raxing Stable and trainer Sylvain Pion. A consistently good 6yo, Niigon’s Glory won for the 2nd time this year and David Moran was the winning rider. Pion has 4 wins at the meeting with 17 2nds and 3rds and he has the sharp Sine Metu competing today.
The two top Beyer Figures of the day belonged to Niigon’s Glory (85) and IMPERATORE (81) who had a big season for Double Rubys Stables Inc. and trainer Katerina Vassilieva. The Roman Ruler gelding won 3 of 12 this year including a win for $20,000 claiming on Saturday. Rafael Herndandez rode, subbing for regular rider Alan Garcia who was riding in New York.
Vassilieva has 9 wins in 21 starts at the meeting.
The best part of 2016 and the 133 racing days at Woodbine is that a ton of different owners and trainers divided up purses and wins. Breeders too shared in the wealth as betting held its owns and is currently on a real high as the season ends.
Top Trainers of 2016 by Win Percentage: (from Equibase, minimum 50 starters)
McKnight Norman 199 58 29% 32 16% 23 12% 57% 32% $1,215,667
Day Phillips C 84 22 26% 10 12% 7 8% 46% -5% $952,566
Drexler Martin 111 27 24% 22 20% 17 15% 59% 28% $694,66
Keogh Michael 60 13 22% 11 18% 12 20% 60% 67% $697,9
Casse Mark E 458 96 21% 69 15% 79 17% 53% -28% $5,511,343
Griffith Ricky 56 12 21% 6 11% 6 11% 43% 2% $246,733
Pierce Malcolm 99 21 21% 21 21% 16 16% 59% -25% $1,339,494
Attfield Roger L 166 34 20% 21 13% 19 11% 45% -4% $2,206,411
Biamonte Ralph J 144 29 20% 16 11% 20 14% 45% -7% $990,144
Top Trainers by Return on Investment Percentage ($2 bet)
Keogh Michael 60 13 22% 11 18% 12 20% 60% 67% $697,907
McKnight Norman 199 58 29% 32 16% 23 12% 57% 32% $1,215,667
Drexler Martin 111 27 24% 22 20% 17 15% 59% 28% $694,666
Mcclachrie Denyse 115 19 17% 10 9% 21 18% 43% 15% $383,872
Minshall Barbara J 83 15 18% 13 16% 11 13% 47% 9% $818,479
Baker Reade 203 23 11% 24 12% 19 9% 33% 8%
