QUEEN’S PLATE PREVIEW MAGAZINE OUT NOW!
Buy yourself a copy and get in the ROYAL MOOD FOR CANADA’S BIG RACE!
This issue will NOT be handed out at Woodbine this year so saddle up and find yourself one…
TONIGHT….NEW PAGE FOR WOODBINE T.V. DEPARTMENT
Bet Night Live caters to beginners
The first installment of WOODBINE BET NIGHT LIVE will be on The Score tonight and fans will learn about betting and can win prizes.
For $24.00 (you open an Horseplayer account and deposit the money), you can enter a contest to pick winners on tonight’s Woodbine card.
The new show is a reportedly a big move away from the shows that have been for the hard core bettors and fans that have been on The Score for years.
The hosts are newcomers Chad Rozema and Laura Diakun, who is coming over to help from THE SCORE.
Heavy rain this afternoon ensures that all turf races will be taken off and run over Polytrack.
WOODBINE OAKS DRAW NEXT THURSDAY
Let the champion races begin!
Things start to get heated up at Woodbine next week when the draw for the $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS is held at WEGZ STADIUM BAR on Thursday for the Sunday June 13 tilt, the top race for Canadian bred 3yo fillies in Canada.
And the Oaks, Plate Trial and Queen’s Plate are all packaged up to be shown on CBC TV featuring Ron McLean, Jim Bannon and Renee Kierans.
The fillies have been impressive this season and while there are not many of them, it is possible the winner could be goodenough to go on 3 weeks later and test the boys in the Queen’s Plate.
Here is how the OAKS shapes up this season:
EMBUR’S SONG (Unbridled’s Song) 98, 99 Beyer Figures in 2 races – trained by Todd Pletcher, bred by Ted Burnett, owned by Fares Farm
ERNFOLD (Stormy Atlantic) 80, 81, trained by Roger Attfield, bred by Winsong, owned by Jiim and Susan Hill
FIRST WITH CLASS (Gone West) 78, 68, trained by Malcolm Pierce, owned.bred by Sam-Son Farms
ISABEAU’S ELEGANCE (Dixie Union), 74, 82, : trained by Mark Casse, bred by Denny Andrews/Blackwater, owned by Classic Oaks
MOMENT OF MAJESTY (Saint Liam), 77,81 trained by Sue Leslie, bred by Curtis and Nancy Joseph, owned by Curtis Joseph
OIL PAINTING (Distorted Humor) 74, 75, 71, trained by Josie Carroll. Bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and NETP, owned by Glenn Sikura and HIll ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings
RESENTLESS (Trajectory) 87, 82, trained by Ian Howard, bred by Ian Jamieson, owned by Don Ross
ROAN INISH (Elusive Quality) 75, 74 trained by Carlyn Costigan, owned/bred by Robert Costigan
TEE GAME (El Corredor) 72, 75, trained by Mike Doyle, owned by Hendrie Farm, bred by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equines Holdings
You can be sure that EMBUR’S SONG will be odds on – perhaps 4 to 5 in the race – but many will be bettin against simply because she has never had an pace pressure and she has won two modest events – albeit in fast times.
But there is not a lot of other speed in the Oaks as it shapes up right now – RESENTLESS is a speedball who is stretching out in distance but if she is rated (and she has been quite sick in recent weeks), then EMBUR’S SONG might be long gone.
The others, ISABEAU’S ELEGANCE, ROAN INISH, MOMENT OF MAJESTY and OIL PAINTING have all raced against each other and been separated by noses and necks.
You can watch OIL PAINTING’S 1:12 WORKOUT TIME yesterday that had PATRICK HUSBANDS raving on the Woodbine website under Thoroughbred Videos
(editor’s note – the Woodbine website/videos section was not updated or functioning properly as of yesterday but keep checking)
RRRRRRR YOU READY FOR THE OAKS?
The R gals – ROAN INISH and RESENTLESS are among the contenders. Norm Files photo
BELMONT STAKES ON SATURDAY
Drab field of 3yos for big race, other New York racing problems
Almost as an exclamation mark on the tailspin that is New York racing these days, the Belmont Stakes, the 3rd jewel of the American Triple Crown, once around ‘old sandy’, the 1 1/2 mile racetrack that has been the site of so many incerible moments, will be a dud of a group of horses.
It could be a good race, mind you, threatre wise, betting wise, but this is a drab group of horses so far and
it’s hard to see any good 3yo anywhere right now, including Woodbine.
Horse Trainer Jockey Owner Breeder
Dave In Dixie John Sadler Calvin Borel Ike Thrash, Dawn Thrash
Glencrest Farm LLC (KY)
Drosselmeyer William Mott Mike Smith WinStar Farm Aaron U. Jones & Marie
D. Jones (KY)
First Dude Dale Romans Ramon Dominguez Donald R. Dizney Donald
R Dizney (FL)
Fly Down Nick Zito John Velazquez Richard C. Pell Broadway
Thoroughbreds Inc. & W.S. Farish (KY)
Game On Dude Bob Baffert Martin Garcia Schiappa, Lanni, Mercedes
Stable,Diamond Pride LLC Adena Springs (KY)
Ice Box Ice Box Nick Zito Jose Lezcano Robert V. LaPenta Denlea Park,
LTD. (KY)
Interactif Todd Pletcher Javier Castellano Wertheimer EtFrere
Wertheimer & Frere (KY)
Make Music for Me Alexis Barba Joel Rosario Ellen and Peter O.
Johnson Richard Shultz (KY)
Spangled Star r Richard Dutrow Garrett Gomez Lawrence P. Roman, Jeff Levine
Grapestock LLC (KY)
Stately Victor Michael Maker Alan Garcia F. Thomas Conway, Jack Conway Adena
Springs (KY)
Stay Put Steve Margolis Jamie Theriot Richard Klein, Bertram Klein, Elaine
Klein Reklein Stables (KY)
Uptowncharlybrown Kiaran McLaughlin Rajiv Maragh Fantasy Lane
Stable Juan Bruno & Rose Hill Farm (KY)
EPSOM DERBY ON SATURDAY
Big fave is out…Montjeu colt noW choice
From PRESS ASSOCIATION
St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a setback and will not run in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
Ballydoyle’s three-year-old was found to have suffered a slight muscle injury in a hind quarter. Aidan
O’Brien’s colt was the long-time ante-post favourite for the premier Classic, but failed to impress jockey
Johnny Murtagh in a workout last Friday.
O’Brien told www.coolmore.com: “St Nicholas Abbey was due to work first thing on Tuesday morning, however when
he came out of his box we noticed he was stiff behind.”
The trainer continued: “He had looked slightly stiff on Monday evening. His work on Friday last was a little
lacklustre for him and that was the first time we had seen anything different, but he was fine afterwards.
“He was immediately examined and scanned by our vets. They found a slight muscle injury high up in his hind
quarter. This meant he could not work on Tuesday and we were advised to give him an easy few days.
“Obviously this will preclude him from running in the Investec Derby on Saturday.
“We always thought St Nicholas Abbey could walk on water and it is very unfortunate for all concerned to have a
etback like this so close to the big race.”
Jan Vermeer (Montjeu) 15/8
Workforce 11/2
Bullet Train (Sadler’s Wells) 6/1
Midas Touch 7/1
Cape Blanco 10/1
Rewilding 10/1
Azmeel 12/1
Coordinated Cut 20/1
Al Zir 33/1
Ted Spread 40/1
Buzzword 66/1
Hot Prospect 66/1
At First Sight 150/1
Bright Horizon 200/1
OLD FORESTER’S FIRST WINNER
more from Woodbine Sunday
GOLDEN GILDA reeled in a slowing late pace to win her maiden at the allowance level in the first race on Sunday to become the first winner for her 1st crop sire OLD FoRESTER.
The 2yo filly, a flashy chestnut just like her daddy, is owned by Russell Tanz and Barb Pirie, who also trains.
OLD FORESTER is a chestnut stallion with tons of white legs and he is a son of Forestry from an Irish Rover
mare. He won 6 of 22 races and $464K including the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger Stakes. He stands at T C Westmeath Stud for a fee of $4,000.
Bred by Brian Wallace, Golden Gilda raced 4 1/2 furlongs in 53. 31.
The 3rd race was a big win for William Gierkink’s homebred MOONLIT BEAUTY, a Perigee Moon mare who led all the way through 6 1/2 furlongs on very firm turf to win the allowance/optional ckaimer at 11 to 1 in her first race out of the Ontario sired races. The 4yo is 4 for 17 now with over $200K in earnings.
The Love 2 Win: John and Marilyn HIllier’s LONESOME CHEROKEE won the 2yo boys races in race 4 in 52.80 in his debut. The homebred by Patrol (the HIllier’s own stallion) is out of Run Deer Run by Cherokee Run. The colt dueled all the way and edged clear of MOLINARO HANDSOME,, the first runner for the local sire Line of
Departure, who had a sizzling workout coming into the race.
The Laurie Silvera barn chalked up another score with this 2yo and then came back with another win when
DRUMBLARE, a son of Smart Strike – Marimba Bella, won the 6th race for $37,500 for his 2nd win in 6 races.
S A Racing’s TETHRA’S WORD drifted out badly from the turn to the wire in race 5 but won the 5 furlong race for $20,000 claiming for her 3rd win in 4 races/ The 5yo mare had not raced since July. She was bred by Rocco d’Alimonte and Frank Annecchini.
Race 7 was a doozy in that SETTLE THE SCORE, a $20,000 claim last fall by Steve Owens from Bear Stables, won an allowance race over the much hyped Bear Stable runner BEAR’S FINISH LINE.
SETTLE THE SCORE, by Even the Score, had been 2nd in his seasonal opener and had ended 2009 with a maiden score for $32K.
GRAND ADVENTURE won the Grade 3 CONNAUGHT CUP, which was shortened this season to 7 furlongs on the grass from 1 1/16 miles, and gave Sam-Son Farms another fun one to play with on turf in 2010. The son of Grand Slam, a rare auction purchase ($75,000), was a stakes winner at 2 but raced just 4 times last year. The colt was coming off a big run at Keeneland.
Grand Adventure ran 6 1/2 on turf in 1:19.83 (record is 1:19.38) good for a 100 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.
The race was a messy one for champion RAHY’S ATTORNEY who was under a new rider in Jim McAleney. The gelding was trapped on the inside for much of the turn to the finish and never got going.
Favoured BOB’S RING, from the Silvera Stable, broke down in race 9 and was vaned off. The winner there was the grey VENOM, trained by Nathan Wallis.
E
EXELLENT ADVENTURE – GRAND ADVENTURE ( FOURTH FROM RIGHT. wins Grade 3 Connaught Cup_ Terence Dulay photo
WOODBINE SCOREBOARD – TRAINERS
Mark E. Casse 120 18 14 15 $889,797
Steven M. Asmussen 60 15 8 9 $504,044
Robert P. Tiller 67 14 6 10 $602,550
Laurie Silvera 51 12 8 6 $504,897
Sid C. Attard 57 10 11 6 $541,973
Reade Baker 62 9 11 13 $633,541
Nicholas Gonzalez 64 9 4 7 $305,483
Roger L. Attfield 39 8 5 5 $492,333
Josie Carroll 37 8 5 2 $352,940
Michael V. Pino 19 8 4 4 $233,419
Sam Di Pasquale 37 7 7 3 $186,165
Audre Cappuccitti 52 7 5 8 $364,254
JOCKEYS
Patrick Husbands 200 40 37 28 $2,015,653
Eurico Rosa Da Silva 167 37 21 28 $1,711,594
Emile Ramsammy 149 30 19 15 $1,215,457
Chantal Sutherland 162 28 16 23 $1,511,077
Omar Moreno 205 22 32 37 $976,157
Luis Contreras 81 19 10 12 $656,147
Emma-Jayne Wilson 148 18 21 18 $1,011,618
Tyler Pizarro 116 15 16 12 $701,640
David Clark 75 14 12 6 $503,676
Justin Stein 127 11 14 11 $493,522
James McAleney 106 11 14 7 $811,131
Jono C. Jones 92 10 10 10 $610,757
Richard Anthony Dos Ramos 70 10 5 4 $319,189
FORT ERIE REPORT
Mike Fox 4th
Queen’s Plate winner MIKE FOX, entered in a stakes race at Woodbine earlier in the meeting, instead made his
seasonal debut at Fort Erie in an allowance sprint on dirt but was 4th beaten 5 1/4 lengths. Jim McAleney went
down to ride the Giant’s Causeway horse, who has not won since an allowance score last year, lost to Spread the News, I’m Spectral and Great Addiction.
CACOUNA, track record setter and a longtime winner for owner/breeder Garland Williamson, was claimed from a win yesterday for $7,500. He is a 5yo by Yonaguska.
Chiefswood Stable won a race at Fort Erie yesterday when the Gone West fellow WESTERN FACTOR, a half brother to Queen’s Plate winner NIIGON, won his maiden for $5,000 claiming under Melanie Pinto. Juston Nixon trains.
First win for Williams
Jockey Marni Williams notched her first career victory guiding Huggy Rocks to a rail skimming win in the third
race at Fort Erie on Sunday.
The 29 year-old Toronto native let Huggy Rocks sit in behind the leaders throughout the 6 ½ furlong race and
when the rail opened up at the top of the stretch it was clear sailing.
“I really didn’t have to ask (him) (note – the horse Huggy Rocks is actually a filly) to run,” said Williams.
“I just waited for space and punched my way through. It really feels good to get the monkey off my back.”
Huggy Rocks pays $9.20, $3.60 and $2.90. Glorious Melody finished second, $3.10 and $2.50. Rare Solitaire ended up third returning $2.70.
Huggy Rocks is owned by A. Alber and Natural Eight Stable and is trained by Woodbine conditioner Bill
Tharrenos.
TRAINERS
Nicholas Gonzalez 36 11 11 3 $106,238
John Simms 41 7 6 9 $74,791
Lyle Morden 29 7 4 2 $66,766
Anthony Husbands 10 5 0 1 $41,378
Marilyn G. McMullen 18 4 3 3 $37,790
Henry Reid 13 4 2 2 $34,825
Anthony Adamo 5 4 0 1 $29,140
Michael Newell 32 3 6 4 $37,650
Howard Keen 41 3 4 4 $44,657
Ross Armata 17 3 4 4 $38,956
Allen Desruisseaux 10 3 1 1 $20,780
Louis M. Capi 4 3 1 0 $27,216
JOCKEYS
Krista Carignan 77 18 19 9 $190,680
Rui M. Pimentel 56 12 9 9 $134,505
Melanie Pinto 40 10 4 7 $93,686
Anthony Stephen 46 9 5 4 $88,368
Christopher Griffith 39 8 5 4 $75,344
Francine Villeneuve 38 5 7 7 $63,046
Daniel J. David 39 5 4 4 $50,324
Kirk Johnson 50 4 9 5 $62,793
Real E. Simard 56 4 7 14 $64,952
Regina Sealock 49 4 3 7 $49,976
Neil S. Husbands 8 4 0 0 $28,440
STEWART ELLIOTT – AVELINO GOMEZ AWARD
FROM woodbine media
TORONTO, June 1 – Stewart Elliott, whose reputation as one of thoroughbred racing’s hardest working jockeys is well-earned, was today named the 2010 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award.
Born March 1, 1965, Elliott lived in Toronto until he was seven years old, when, in 1972 he moved with his
family to Hong Kong for six years, where his father Dennis rode. Upon returning to North America, Elliott, Jr.
began to think about a riding career. He won his first race at Keystone Park (now Philadelphia Park) on January 31, 1981 with Jack’s Ruby.
Elliott has worked tirelessly at his craft over the years. On May 13, 2003, he recorded his 3,000th career win,
reaching the 4,000-win plateau on January 18, 2009, at Philadelphia Park. He has 4,185 career wins through May 31, 2010.
For all the awards and honours he’s received over the years, including his high-profile Kentucky Derby and
Preakness Stakes triumphs with fan favourite Smarty Jones in 2004, Elliott regards the Gomez Award as one of his most cherished accolades.
“I was so surprised when I got the call,” said Elliott. “It was the last thing I ever expected. But I am so
honoured and so thrilled to receive this award. I certainly have a lot of respect for the riders who have won
it in the past.”
The coveted Gomez Award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport.
Presented annually on Woodbine Oaks day (Sunday, June 13, in 2010) at Woodbine, the honour is in memory of one of the sport’s most heralded and revered performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.
As a lasting reminder of his contributions, a life-size statue of Gomez, who called Toronto home and raised a
family there, proudly overlooks Woodbine’s pristine walking ring. A replica is presented to each year’s
honouree.
Elliott is no stranger to Woodbine. He rode here in 2004, when he won with one of his five mounts on the
Queen’s Plate card. Before then he hadn’t ridden at Woodbine since 1987, when he won 22 races from 332 starts.
He has enjoyed success at the Toronto oval in recent times, including his victory with Milwaukee Appeal in the
2009 running of the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser.
“I love Woodbine,” said Elliott. “Even when I rode there in 1987, the facility was beautiful. They’ve done a
wonderful job of making it a first-class place for the horsemen and the fans.”
He plans on returning to Toronto to receive the Gomez Award on June 13.
“I’ve been pretty fortunate to have a good career,” offered Elliott. “Health-wise, I’ve been very lucky. To
ride a horse like Smarty Jones and now to receive this, I’m just very grateful.”
