EMBRACE

PHIL’S DREAM YET ANOTHER SW FOR BUTTIGIEG

Big and beautiful PHIL’S DREAM (Philanthropist – Dream a Dream (GB) by Emperor Jones won the Overskate Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine to become the first 5-time winner at Woodbine for 2013.

The homebred for Paul Buttigieg was brazen on the rail on the pace and favoured ULTIMATE DESTINTY not  champion Pender Harbour could  reel him in. This 5yo missed racing from July 2011 to this spring because of a tendon issue. Buttigieg also sent out D C LOVE BUG tgo win her maiden for David Cruise.

Sunday, Eugene Melnyk won 2 races with WALES END (he was claimed) and CUMMINGS ROAD, in an off the turf event.

Horse Starts 1st 2nd 3rd Earnings  Win % Top 3 Top 3% 
1    Phil’s Dream        7    5    1    0    $235,092    71%    6    86% 
2    Go Greeley           5    4    1    0    $356,371    80%    5    100%  
2    Leigh Court         6    4    1    0    $283,840    67%    5    83%   
2    Renegade Man    6    4    1    0    $146,467    67%    5    83%  
2    Line of Best Fit    7    4    1    0    $142,216    57%    5    71%   
2    Daniel Be Good    6    4    1    1    $60,664    67%    6    100%   

 

LEADING WOODBINE OWNERS BY MONEY
1    Sam-Son Farms    77    16    12    11    $1,741,976    21%    39    51%
2    John C. Oxley    88    18    12    17    $1,577,612    20%    47    53%
3    Chiefswood Stable    65    15    9    8    $1,154,719    23%    32    49%
4    Bear Stables, Ltd.    107    23    9    15    $1,007,273    21%    47    44%
5    Tucci Stables    49    4    7    12    $999,207    8%    23    47%
6    Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc.    68    17    14    4    $983,140    25%    35    51%
7    Hill, Jim and Susan    57    12    9    8    $853,794    21%    29    51%
8    Morton Fink    1    1    0    0    $579,540    100%    1    100%
9    Buttigieg Training Centre    66    13    4    4    $554,304    20%    21    32%
10    Frank D. Di Giulio, Jr.    51    10    10    11    $519,655    20%    31    61%
11    J.R. Racing Stable Inc.    19    7    2    2    $509,419    37%    11    58%

 

TRAINERS BY WINS
1    Mark E. Casse    283    56    43    33    $3,838,330    20%    132    47%
2    Robert P. Tiller    190    39    30    29    $1,919,852    21%    98    52%
3    Reade Baker    163    31    18    26    $1,783,170    19%    75    46%
4    Josie Carroll    88    23    8    7    $1,113,118    26%    38    43%
5    Michael J. Doyle    139    22    21    11    $989,370    16%    54    39%
6    Malcolm Pierce    107    19    15    17    $2,013,913    18%    51    48%
6    Sid C. Attard    134    19    18    20    $871,244    14%    57    43%
6    Michael P. De Paulo    127    19    12    17    $733,271    15%    48    38%
6    Kevin Attard    94    19    16    14    $664,818    20%    49    52%
10    Nicholas Gonzalez    144    18    27    15    $1,499,728    13%    60    42%
10    David Cotey    182    18    19    21    $957,121    10%    58    32%

JOCKEYS BY WINS
1    Luis Contreras    583    117    95    82    $5,873,394    20%    294    50%
2    Eurico Rosa Da Silva    469    106    89    64    $6,390,769    23%    259    55%
3    Justin Stein    405    66    43    39    $3,435,538    16%    148    37%
4    Jesse M. Campbell    420    56    48    60    $3,803,565    13%    164    39%
5    Emma-Jayne Wilson    426    52    72    65    $3,063,088    12%    189    44%
6    Gary Boulanger    385    42    54    40    $2,519,343    11%    136    35%
7    Todd Kabel    370    41    44    46    $2,013,965    11%    131    35%
8    Skye Chernetz    377    38    38    42    $1,496,278    10%    118    31%
9    Omar Moreno    262    32    32    27    $1,403,337    12%    91    35%
10    Tyler Pizarro    275    31    30    49    $1,655,671    11%    110    40%

 

 

ASSINIBOIA DOWNS – 60 DAY MEET WRAPS UP WITH WAGERING INCREASE

By Allan Beeson

Everything went pretty well according to script Sunday, as Assiniboia Downs wrapped up the 2013 season.

Paul Nolan won his second straight leading rider title, Ardell Sayler won his 11th leading trainer championship and Janine Smith rode Zdeno to his third stakes win in the $50,000 Buffalo Stakes and his fourth victory in as many starts.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/horseracing/fabulous-finale-at-downs-224824852.html

 

 

MARQUIS DOWNS – SASKATCHEWAN ENDS MEETING

Bill Tallon – DRF

Marquis Downs showed an increase of almost 20 percent in average daily handle on its live product, averaging $43,370 for a total of $1,040,849 on its 24-day meeting, which ended Saturday.

Last year, the total handle for a 30-day meeting was $1,087,612, an average of $36,253.

Almost all of the handle is ontrack since the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, racetrack does not export its signal. Wagering on Marquis Downs is available on its website through Woodbine’s HorsePlayer Interactive.

Marquis Downs ran 193 races this year, 46 fewer than in 2012. The average field size was 7.36, down from 7.53 last year.

The race for leading rider ended in exciting fashion when Tim Moccasin captured the final race of the meeting with Spotlightonme to bring his win total to 34. Neville Stephenson rode 33 winners, and Krista Carignan was third with 32.

Wendy Anderson repeated as leading trainer with 24 wins, one more than Mike Tourangeau. Russell Gardipy was third with 11 wins.

Wind Dancer Stable was the leading owner with 16 wins and earnings of $55,247.

 

FORT ERIE’S EVERGREEN’ PLAN

Fort Erie Post
ByJames Culic

 As the Fort Erie Race Track gallops towards the end of the 2013 season, once again the prospect of permanent closure is hanging ominously over the 116-year-old facility.

But officials from the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium (FELRC) have devised a plan which they said will bring stability to the local track and ensure its long-term viability. Central to the proposal is a three-year “evergreen” contract for racing that is renewed annually, giving the industry a three-year notice period before the contract could change.

“As each year begins, the industry would know it has three more years left in the contract,” said Jim Thibert, CEO of the FELRC. “This will create more confidence, which will mean more investment in horses.”

http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news-story/4084792-fort-erie-race-track-seeks-extended-commitment/

 

NORTHLANDS PARK

Jim and Susan Hill among winning owners

Saturday was a day to celebrate all things Alberta at Northlands Park as the track celebrated Alberta Fall Classic Day. It also turned into Fernando Perez day, as he won four of the seven stakes events on the card. In a day filled with favorites, Hollywood Dreams lit up the toteboard at 14/1 to win the $50,000 Red Diamond Express Stakes. It was the third straight victory in the Red Diamond Express Stakes for Hollywood Dreams ($31.20) who won the 2011 and 2012 editions. Dean Martiniuk sent him out to the win for owners M & P Equipment and Met Set Ltd. Hollywood Dreams went up and battled with Kingoftherockies early on and made a bold move for jockey Fernando Perez on the turn to open up a big lead. Hollywood Dreams held off a late rally from Gone in a Flash who rallied late to get second, ahead of favored Bond James Bond who ran third.

The day started out with in the $50,000 Alberta Premier’s Futurity when heavily favored Legend Fortynine ($2.60) dominated a field of six runners to win the event. It was the second stakes win of the season for Legend Fortynine who also took the Two Year Old Sales Stakes. Legend Fortynine sat behind Artie’s Brother early on, but Fernando Perez pounced on that rival and drew away down the lane to win by 9 lengths for trainer Dale Saunders. All Run got up for second with Artie’s Brother third.

In the $50,000 Alberta Oaks it was all about Tell Me Lies and Amie Pooli as they went coast to coast as the heavy favorite to win by two and one quarter lengths. Sent off as the 1/5 favorite, Tell Me Lies ($2.70) broke beautifully and never looked back as she coasted home to a win for trainer Greg Tracy. Candy Alley ran second with Lynne’s Foxie Lady rounded out the triactor.

Wild Crush got first jump on favorite Silver Baubles to take home the top honors in the $50,000 Alberta Breeders’ Handicap by a length. Sent off as the 7/2 second choice, Wild Crush sat back early in last early on in the mile and one sixteenth race and jockey Rico Walcott elected to go wide to come after the leaders. Silver Baubles elected to stay inside and couldn’t get room until it was too late, and Wild Crush had already snuck away to win for trainer Rod Cone. Silver Baubles was second while Barfly’s Survivor finished in third.

For Cash finally broke through and got his first stakes win as he rallied late to get up and win the $50,000 Beaufort Stakes. Sent off as the 4/5 favorite, For Cash ($3.70) and Fernando Perez were towards the back of the pack early on as Johnnyjames went out and set a very slow early pace. Keene on Demand was the first to make a big move at the leaders and took the lead on the far turn. For Cash followed him to the outside and eventually put a nose in front and drew away to win by three and a quarter lengths. Keene on Demand held second ahead of Saintly Aura who ran third. For Cash is trained by Dale Greenwood for owners Southview Ag.

Bet on Soup utilized a perfect garden stalking trip under jockey Amie Pooli to pull clear late to win the $50,000 Sturgeon River Stakes for two year old fillies. Sent off as the 3/5 favorite, Bet on Soup ($3.50) was third early on as Absolute Ginger and Pay To Go Home went out and battled. Pooli wheeled Bet on Soup out at the quarter pole and they pushed by a stubborn Pay To Go Home and had to hold off a late rally from Rosavita who came up to grab the second spot late.

The stakes action closed out with the $50,000 Fall Classic Distaff with Brady’s Tomboy and Fernando Perez holding off a dramatic late charge from Regal Tigereyes to win by a neck. It was the fourth win on the card for Fernando Perez who had a career day on Alberta Fall Classic Day. It was the second winner in a row, and third on the day for owners M and P Equipment and Met Set Ltd, who also won with Hollywood Dreams and Legend Fortynine. Dale Saunders trained Brady’s Tomboy to the win.

 

POWDER PUFF DERBY RAISES $17,000

 

 

 

 

Preview of the event by Curtis Stock

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/sports/Ride+lifetime+Northlands+horse+trainers/8899747/story.html