WOODBINE TRACK HOURS

Early numbers reported by the Woodbine race office this morning suggest that 100 horses could ship into Woodbine today, however the bitterly cold temperatures may have most changing their minds. Snow is expected tomorrow also.

 

Starting Sunday, February 22nd –    Sand Ring Hours: 6:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. (weather permitting)

Starting Sunday –       Training Track Hours: 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. (weather permitting) There will be NO harrow break at this time.

We will warm up with some awesome racing tomorrow – stay tuned to THOROUGHBLOG for some picks for the FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, one of my favourite races.

 

 

EXCAPER READY TO BE “CANADIAN”
and Mr. Online is Canadian bred in Canadian Turf

 

EXCAPER, a graded stakes winner who has a fun little following in Canada will go after the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream on Saturday and the son of Exchange Rate, trained by Ian Black, appears to be sitting on a win. He comes off a good try in the El Prado Stakes when just caught by subsequent graded stakes winner Mshawish.

Yes, the American-bred fellow likes to finish 2nd a lot (9 times in his 22 races) but he drew the rail in the big field and perhaps new rider Jose Lezcano can time the grey’s move right.

“I think it’s a very even field and it should be a great race,” said Black’s assistant trainer Jeff Bowen. “He  is coming into it very good and Bryan Lynch’s horse (Silver Freak)  has a lot of speed from the outside so being in the 1 hole we will have to hope for a smart ride form our jockey.”

Some other fancy Canadians have won the Canadian Turf – IZVESTIA in 1991 being one of the most notable. Twilight Meteor and Super Sunrise were Canadian-breds who also won the race.

Gulfstream media preview of Jack Milton’s return in Canadian Turf:

Gary Barber’s Jack Milton is set for a return to Gulfstream Park after a two-year absence to run in the $150,000 Canadian Turf (G3), one of eight stakes (seven graded) on Saturday’s 12-race program that will be highlighted by the $400,000 Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2).

The Todd Pletcher-trained 5-year-old launched his career at Gulfstream on Jan. 15, 2013 with a 2 ½-length turf victory over War Dancer, who would go on to win multiple graded stakes, including a Virginia Derby (G2) decision over Jack Milton later that year. Jack Milton followed up his promising debut with a wide-trip second-place allowance finish three weeks later, never to return to Gulfstream while proceeding to compete in 10 stakes (nine graded) in his next 11 starts. The son of War Front captured the Transylvania (G3) at Keeneland in his first race away from Gulfstream and went on to become Grade 1 stakes-placed in the Secretariat at Arlington and the Jamaica Handicap at Belmont during his 2013 campaign.

Jack Milton started his 4-year-old campaign with a three-length allowance win at Churchill Downs and a 2 ¾-length triumph in the Poker (G3) at Belmont Park, dominating at a mile while closing strongly from off the pace.

“I think he’s the type of horse that’s really at his best when he’s allowed to settle and gets an honest pace up front,” said Pletcher, whose turf veteran is slated to face 13 rivals in the one-mile Canadian. “He’s got a pretty explosive kick in that scenario, so we’re looking forward to getting his season under way. He certainly looks well and he’s training super, so we’re hoping he comes back and has a big 5-year-old year.”

Jack Milton concluded his 2014 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, a third-place finish in the Fourstardave (G2) at Saratoga and a wide off-the-board finish in the Woodbine Mile (G1).

DOH!  Todd Pletcher on Jack Milton’s last race:

“We gave him a little freshening after the Atto Mile or the Woodbine Mile or whatever they call it these days.”

 

One of Canada’s most popular runners, EXCAPER, is fittingly a major contender in the Canadian Turf Handicap at Gulfstream on Saturday. Trained by King City’s Ian Black for Americans Richard and Nancy Kaster.

 

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH – PAST WINNERS

 

I remember being at my first FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH, watching DARN THAT ALARM win and that was a bit surprising to me. A few years later I was wild about Darn that Alarm’s brother STRONG PERFORMANCE,  contender in the ’86 Fountain of Youth. It was MY PRINCE CHARMING up posted a bit of an upset that day.

It is the first big race for the American 3-year-olds and while the distance does not often suggest a Kentucky Derby winner can emerge, recent winners  include UNION RAGS (Belmont) and Orb (Derby).
2014     Wildcat Red     3     Luis Saez     Jose Garoffalo     Honors Stable     1-1/16     1:41.85     $400,000     II
2013     Orb     3     John Velazquez     Claude R. McGaughey III     Janney/Phipps Stable     1-1/16     1:42.24     $400,000
2012     Union Rags     3     Julien Leparoux     Michael Matz     Chadds Ford Stable     1-1/16     1:42.68     $400,000     II
2011     Soldat     3     Alan Garcia     Kiaran McLaughlin     Clarke/Robertson/Braverman     1-1/8     1:50.23     $400,000
2010     Eskendereya     3     John Velazquez     Todd A. Pletcher     Zayat Stables     1-1/8     1:48.87     $250,000     II
2009     Quality Road     3     John Velazquez     James A. Jerkens     Edward P. Evans     1 mile     1:35.01     $350,000     II
2008     Cool Coal Man     3     Kent Desormeaux     Nick Zito     Robert V. LaPenta     1-1/8     1:50.07     $350,000     II
2007     Scat Daddy     3     John Velazquez     Todd A. Pletcher     Scatuorchio & Tabor     1-1/8     1:49.11     $350,000     II
2006     First Samurai *     3     Edgar Prado     Frank L. Brothers     Bruce Lunsford/Robbins     1-1/8     1:49.00     $300,000
2005     High Fly     3     Jerry D. Bailey     Nick Zito     Live Oak Plantation     1-1/8     1:49.70     $300,000     II
2004     Read the Footnotes     3     Jerry D. Bailey     Richard Violette     Klaravich Stables     1-1/16     1:42.71     $250,000
2003     Trust n Luck     3     Cornelio Velasquez     Ralph Ziadie     Paul Robsham     1-1/16     1:43.33     $200,000     I
2002     Booklet     3     Jorge Chavez     John T. Ward, Jr.     John C. Oxley     1-1/16     1:44.49     $200,000     I
2001     Songandaprayer     3     Edgar Prado     John F. Dowd     Bobby Hurley     1-1/16     1:43.48     $200,000     I
2000     High Yield     3     Pat Day     D. Wayne Lukas     M. Tabor & R & B Lewis     1-1/16     1:42.56     $200,000     I
1999     Vicar     3     Shane Sellers     Carl Nafzger     James B. Tafel     1-1/16     1:45.64     $200,000     I
1998     Lil’s Lad     3     Jerry D. Bailey     Neil J. Howard     Durst/Farish/Centennial     1-1/16     1:42.63     $200,000     II
1997     Pulpit     3     Shane Sellers     Frank L. Brothers     Claiborne Farm     1-1/16     1:41.86     $200,000     II
1996     Built For Pleasure     3     Gary Boulanger     Tommy Heard, Jr.     Tommy Heard, Jr.     1-1/16     1:43.64    $200,000
1995     Thunder Gulch     3     Mike E. Smith     D. Wayne Lukas     Michael Tabor     1-1/16     1:43.21     $200,000     II
1994     Dehere     3     Craig Perret     Reynaldo Nobles     Due Process Stable     1-1/16     1:44.70     $200,000     II
1993 #     Duc d’Sligovil     3     Julie Krone     Jeremy McNeill     Ray McNeill     1-1/16     1:45.16     $187,500     II
1993 #     Storm Tower     3     Rick Wilson     Ben Perkins, Jr.     Charles Hesse     1-1/16     1:44.98     $187,500     II
1992     Dance Floor     3     Chris Antley     D. Wayne Lukas     Oaktown Stable     1-1/16     1:45.32     $250,000     II
1991     Fly So Free     3     Jose A. Santos     Scotty Schulhofer     T. & E. Valando     1-1/16     1:44.30     $122,500     II
1990     Shot Gun Scott     3     Dave Penna     Ronald J. Sarazin     Jean Friedberg/Scott Hamilton     1-1/16     1:44.6$130,000
1989     Dixieland Brass     3     Randy Romero     Charles Peoples     Bayard Sharp/W. Farish     1-1/16     1:44.60     $130,000
1988     Forty Niner     3     Eddie Maple     Woody Stephens     Claiborne Farm     1-1/16     1:43.20     $165,000     II
1987     Bet Twice     3     Craig Perret     Warren Croll     Blanche P. Levy/Cisley Stable     1-1/16     1:43.40     $167,500     II
1986 #     Ensighn Rhythm     3     Julio Pezua     Leo Azpurua, Jr.     Lushland Farm     1-1/16     1:45.60     $130,000     II
1986 #     My Prince Charming     3     Jose A. Santos     Newcome Green     Don Aronow     1-1/16     1:45.00     $130,000
1985     Proud Truth     3     Jorge Velasquez     John M. Veitch     Darby Dan Farm     1-1/16     1:43.60     $175,000     II
1984     Darn That Alarm     3     Mike Venezia     George Gianos     Robert N. Caporella     1-1/16     1:43.00     $95,000     II

 

QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS

CONQUEST CURLINATE, a Canadian bred grey 3-year-old by Curlin owned by Conquest Stables, was 3rd in an Oaklawn allowance race on Thursday. Fresh off a maiden win with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure, the colt trailed a hot early pace, loomed wide on the last turn but flattened out to be beaten about 4 lengths.
His Beyer Figure was 70. The colt was bred in Ontario by Charles Hayden.

NIPIGON worked in 52 2/5 for Chiefswood Stable at Payson Park on Thursday, his 3rd workout of the year

ROAD TO THE PLATE”, a new podcast produced by Santino DiPaola of the blog CHRTB, is set to air its first episode Saturday evening. The project also includes Handel Viarruel and Julie Wright.

 

SPEEDHORSE MAGAZINE to have Canadian section

The impressive and jam-packed magazine SPEEDHORSE, covering Quarter Horse racing in United States, will have a Canadian section. The first issue, 30 pages worth, is available on-line now at http://speedhorse.com/speedhorse-canada-february-2015/

A preview of the upcoming season at Ajax Downs is included in the issue.