Dave Landry photo of 2010 International

 

 

 

 

What ya doin tonight? – LADIES NIGHT at the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club in Champions – starts at 7:30 at Woodbine – meets some cool gals in the game, preview the Canadian International this weekend…come on out!

 

In International news – DANDINO is settling in well, good thing this guy didn’t pass his test as a hurdler!

 

He’s like a little powderkeg – AIR SUPPORT, by Canadian-bred Smart Strike, is well regarded in New York as a top turf star – he tries 12 furlongs for the first time at Woodbine Sunday

Vanessa Ng photo

 

 

 

CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL – SURE IS INTERNATIONAL!
Frankie Dettori in town

This Wednesday morning…early reports on landed European horses are pleasing:

on Twitter: Trainer James Fanshawe’s wife Jacko (?@jackofanshawe) posted this morning: “Dandino had a good trip to Woodbine and by all accounts is enjoying himself. He went out on the course for the first time yesterday.”

*DANDINO seems to be in the best form in the last 2 years and this is a horse who was going to switch over to hurdle racing but he didn’t do well and he returned to the flat and arrived in the Fanshawe barn.
There is just one Woodbine horse in the prospective 11 horse field for Sunday’s $1.5 Canadian International (the race that Secretariat made!) and that one, FORTE DE MARMI, is not really a local horse other than he has recently been trained by Roger Attfield.

*So, the 11 likely entrants (STORMY LORD is on the list but has been entered in the Knickerbocker in New York on Saturday and is most likely to go there) include a mix of Euro’s and Americans in a decent group old handicap turf runners. There is also a filly who is possible – LAY TIME, who will try to duplicate the win by Sarah Lynx last year in the International. She is a filly by that top sire Galileo although she has yet to travel 1 1/2 miles.

*FRANKIE DETTORI will ride our old friend JOSHUA TREE who won this race in 2010 and was 2nd in it last year. This 5yo by Montjeu was recently 3rd to Orfevre in the Prix Foy (GII) and that winner was a close 2nd in the Arc last weelend. Frankie rode him that day.

*WIGMORE HALL is ubeaten at 1 1/2 miles and at Woodbine. He won the Northern Dancer Stakes last month and is certainly a cool dude.
*The lightly raced IMPERIAL MONARCH is 3 for 4 in his career for the Tabor – Smith, trainer Aidan O’Brien twa, and he is also by Galileo.

The white-blazed bay is a very serious horse, having won the Prix de Paaris last time leading all the way on soft turf. Before that, he had a terrible trip in the French Derby but closed like the win once he got free, you can watch the race here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=linL9mO7FUg

from New York Racing media:

Multiple stakes-winning Ontario-bred Stormy Lord (has been entered) in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, trainer Ian Black confirmed by phone on Sunday.

“It’s 1 1/8 miles, and he likes some give in the ground,” said Black, who trains the 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding for David Willmot. “I thought we might get both [at Belmont ].”
Stormy Lord is also nominated for next Sunday’s Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, his home track. The $1.5 million “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is contested at 1 ½ miles.
“I think there are a lot of Europeans coming in and at 1 ½ miles, it might not be ideal,” Black said. “I’ll have a better idea in a couple of days, but I think it’s better than 50/50 we’re coming your way.”
Stormy Lord exits a repeat win in the PTHA President’s Cup at Parx Racing, his first victory since taking last October’s Labeeb Stakes at Woodbine. The gelding was narrowly beaten in two starts at Woodbine prior to the PTHA President’s Cup – the Grade 2 Sky Classic and a turf allowance.
Overall, he has earned $1,153,686 and boasts a record of 9-7-1 from 27 starts, with six stakes wins including last year’s Grade 2 Connaught Cup at Woodbine.
On Sunday, he turned in an easy breeze over the turf training track at Woodbine, covering five furlongs in 1:01.20.
“He went well,” said Black. “Just breezing, happy to be out there.”
Black said that if he chooses to run Stormy Lord in the Knickerbocker, the gelding likely will ship to Belmont on Thursday.

 

 

*POSSIBLE FIELD for CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL

Air Support/Stuart Janney/Shug McGaughey/Javier Castellano

Al Khali/Brous Stable and Wachtel Stable/Bill Mott/Garrett Gomez

Dandino/Elite Racing Club/James Fanshawe/Jim Crowley

Forte Dei Marmi/Stella Perdomo/Roger Attfield/John Velazquez

Imperial Monarch/Magnier, Tabor & Smith/Aidan O’Brien/TBA

Joshua Tree/Nabooda & Albahou/Marco Botti/Frankie Dettori

Lay Time/Robert Barnett/Andrew Balding/Jimmy Fortune

Prince Will I Am/Casa Farms I LLC/Michelle Nihei/Luis Contreras

Reliable Man/Fair Salinia Ltd./Alain de Royer-Dupre/Gerald Mosse

Scalo/Gestut Ittlingen/Andreas Wohler/Andrasch Starke

*Stormy Lord/Hat Trick Stables & Kinghaven Farms/Ian Black/TBA

Wigmore Hall/Mark Hawtin/Michael Bell/Jamie Spencer

*expected to race in New York on Saturday

 

 

*E.P. TAYLOR POSSIBILITIES

Canadian-bred ALL STAR HEART stretches out in distance for a chance at riches as does another Canuck, MOMENT OF MAJESTY, owned by Curtis Joseph/Sue Leslie.
Locally based STARS TO SHINE is also in the good field.

SIYOUMA, late maturing, could head to Dubai in the spring. She is a Group 1 winner who could be favoured on Sunday, her trainer said this:

“I don’t think she quite stays 10 furlongs but the nine on that turf at Meydan would be ideal.” – trainer of Siyouma, Francois Doumen
Read more about SIYOUMA here:

http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/siyoumas-sights-on-dubai-world-cup-night

*TAYLOR PROBABLES

All Star Heart/Ron McAnally

Barefoot Lady/Richard Fahey

Dream Peace/Chad Brown

Havant/Freddie Head

Kapitale/Andreas Wohler

Kissable/Roger Attfield

Moment of Majesty/Sue Leslie

Pagera/ Henri-Alex Pantall

Siyouma/ Francois Doumen

Stars to Shine/Mark Frostad

Trois Lunes/Francois Rohaut

Vamo a Galupiar/Neil Drysdale

 

 

*NEARCTIC STAKES POSSIBILITIES

A wide open mix of sprinters on grass with fillies, locals, Euros, US runners, you name it.
Interesting entrant is PRIVATE ZONE, an Ontario bred (from Adena Springs) who is owned by the Good Friends Stable. Rememner them? They were the group that won the Prince of Wales with Golden Moka. Like ‘Moka, this guy was a purchase from Panama.

Artic Fern/Mike Keogh

As de Trebol/Mauricio Delcher-Sanchez

Big Band Sound/Dan Vella

Fire Lily/David Wachman

Grand Adventure/Malcolm Pierce

Hammers Terror/Mike Stidham

Night Carnation/Andrew Balding

Private Zone/Leandro Mora

Stormy Rush/Lorne Richards

Super Chunky/Kenneth Cox

Woodbine trainer IAN BLACK was a)- happy that his trainee REALLY SHARP just missed winning the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland on Sunday (he’s inside) but b) not happy when the colt swerved out in midstretch, wiped out a bunch of rivals, was placed 6th and now does not have earnings to get into the Breeders’ Cup!

Steve Queen photo

 

 

 

UNCAPTURED HAS BEEN CAUGHT
The previously unbeaten 2yo Ontario bred colt UNCAPTURED, who was the rage of media sites (and was somehow even made an early favourite for the Kentucky Derby by one Las Vegas site!?)  fizzled in the Grade 3 Grey on Sunday after a bit of a rough trip.

The colt was steadied late but a claim by foul by jockey Patrick Husbands was disallowed.

The winner is a good 2yo – RIVER SEVEN may have been a maiden but he pushed the impressive debut winner TESSERON in his latest and those 2 ran the best on Sunday.

RIVER SEVEN is yet another top horse bred by Bill Graham’s Windhaven. He is a gelding by Johannesburg out of Sans Souci Island by Chester House and is owned by Tucci Stables, who named the colt for the band RIVER SEVEN.

Nick Gonzalez trains the gelding, who ran an 85 Beyer in the Grey.

 

In other 2yo news, DOUBLE MCTWIST ran an 81 in the Bull Page on Monday to continue the pattern of nice Beyer Figures earned by local babies this year. The winner is by TOMAHAWK out of CALL FROM THE BAR and is owned by Bret Biamonte, son of trainer Ralph Biamonte. Mom Mary bred the colt who is 2 for 2.

The Biamonte stable, which does extremely well with the 2yos, was rocked a while back with the death of its 2yo star of last year, MENLO CASTLE, who never did get into good form this season.

 

Godspeed MENLO CASTLE – MICHAEL BURNS PHOTOGRAPHY

 

 

*NOW THIS IS IMPRESSIVE!
Donnaguska, last 2 furlongs in 21 1/5??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO6vm7TIvrI&feature=share


LEADING WOODBINE OWNERS
Bear Stables leading by wins

1    John C. Oxley    84    23    19    18    $2,212,262    27%    60    71%
2    Bear Stables, Ltd.    178    35    31    30    $1,491,250    20%    96    54%
3    Melnyk Rcg St, Inc.    66    15    13    7    $1,446,155    23%    35    53%
4    Sam-Son Farms    71    15    13    10    $1,182,657    21%    38    54%
5    Stronach Stables    58    10    9    5    $950,064    17%    24    41%
6    Robert S. Evans    18    4    4    3    $919,032    22%    11    61%
7    C. E. C. Farms    56    10    15    9    $745,460    18%    34    61%
8    Paul M. Buttigieg    63    16    11    4    $739,466    25%    31    49%
9    Colebrook Farms    115    13    14    14    $733,342    11%    41    36%
10    Debmar Stables    79    15    10    15    $721,987    19%    40    51%

 

 

LEADING TRAINERS
Casse off on his own, Baker holding 2nd

1    Mark E. Casse    355    72    68    55    $5,579,622    20%    195    55%
2    Reade Baker    249    46    42    32    $2,781,244    18%    120    48%
3    Robert P. Tiller    242    39    34    45    $2,173,485    16%    118    49%
4    Sid C. Attard    196    34    35    23    $1,844,486    17%    92    47%
5    Scott H. Fairlie    168    33    36    20    $1,029,221    20%    89    53%
6    Nicholas Gonzalez    163    27    25    26    $1,462,016    17%    78    48%
7    Ralph J. Biamonte    107    23    20    16    $1,401,541    21%    59    55%
7    Brian A. Lynch    110    23    17    21    $1,129,402    21%    61    55%
9    Michael J. Doyle    189    21    23    24    $1,207,491    11%    68    36%
10    Malcolm Pierce    118    20    21    18    $1,535,989    17%    59    50%

 

LEADING TRAINER
Good 3 jock race here!

1    Patrick Husbands    586    134    107    81    $7,357,826    23%    322    55%
2    Luis Contreras    722    121    126    107    $6,466,823    17%    354    49%
3    Eurico Rosa Da Silva    588    114    95    92    $6,043,444    19%    301    51%
4    Justin Stein    647    98    80    104    $5,331,891    15%    282    44%
5    Emma-Jayne Wilson    582    89    97    92    $4,646,963    15%    278    48%
6    Jesse M. Campbell    430    60    44    53    $2,833,275    14%    157    37%
7    Tyler Pizarro    351    45    46    43    $2,273,933    13%    134    38%
8    Steven  Bahen    384    40    38    45    $1,805,222    10%    123    32%
9    Gerry Olguin    345    36    36    36    $1,637,941    10%    108    31%
10    Omar Moreno    305    32    26    42    $1,348,022    10%    100    33%

 

JIM & SUSAN HILL PURCHASE PROSPECTS AT GOFFS

Albertans Jim and Susan Hill were on a shopping spree overseas recently!:

11 Filly     Cape Cross (IRE)     Karliysha (IRE)     F     Jockey Hall Stud     Jim & Susan Hill     A15     €57,000
11   Colt     Marju (IRE)     Khatela (IRE)     C     The Castlebridge Consignment     Jim & Susan Hill     Q20     €80,000
11 Filly     Jeremy (USA)     Last Cry (FR)     F     Ballylinch Stud (Agent)     Jim & Susan Hill     G4     €28,000
11 Filly     High Chaparral (IRE)     Parvenue (FR)     F     Glenvale Stud     Jim & Susan Hill     L15     €52,000
11 Colt     Tamayuz (GB)     Anthyllis (GER)     C     Roundhill Stud     Jim & Susan Hill     A17     €70,000
11 Colt     Rock of Gibraltar (IRE)     Burnin’ Memories (USA)     C     Hawthorn Villa Stud     Jim & Susan Hill     C20     €85,000

 

Tree Pose at Fort Erie – photo by Norm Files

 

FROM FORT ERIE MEDIA:
Tree Pose Wins the Queen of Fort Erie Cup

Fort Erie, October 7th…The connections of Tree Pose have a lot to be thankful for after her outstanding effort in the Queen of Fort Erie Cup held on Sunday at the Border Oval.
Trained by Julie Robillard for the Six Brothers Stable, the 4 year old filly by Old Forester was ridden to victory by jockey Kirk Johnson.  With lifetime earnings of over $220,000, the filly has been rejuvenated since racing on the traditional dirt surface.  As a two year old she was a stakes winner at Woodbine but was given over a year off after a second place finish on September 6th, 2010.  Tree Pose only raced twice as a three year old and made the move to Fort Erie in July of this year.  She had been trained by Woodbine based conditioner Bill Tharrenos up until that point when she moved into Robillard’s care. She has now won two of her three local starts.
When the gates opened jockey Kirk Johnson quickly grabbed the early lead over favourite Time Sharing and jockey Terry Husbands.  Although Time Sharing continued to hound the eventual winner it was all in vein as Tree Pose proved to be the best in a gate to wire effort.
“I had plenty of horse left,” said Johnson.  “Julie did a superb job getting her ready for this race today.  I knew as soon as I got on her in the paddock that she was ready to win.”
For trainer Julie Robillard this is her first Cup victory.  The young trainer is currently sitting in second place in the trainers standings.  “I have 9 horses left in my barn to run before the end of the season.”
The Queen of Fort Erie Cup offered a purse of $30,000 and took place at a distance of 6 ½ furlongs.  The final time was 1:17.3.
Tree Pose returned $4.60 to win, $2.30 to place and $2.50 to show.  Time Sharing finished second and Molinaro Rush rounded out the top three.

 

IT’S WINTER AT FORT ERIE!

A muddy racing surface provided plenty of good luck for speed horses on the Thanksgiving Monday program at Fort Erie and the on track feature race was no exception.  In gate to wire fashion, Winter Lady under jockey Caroline Duquet took the Longshots OTB Cup for a purse of $30,000.
Trained by Woodbine based conditioner James Smith for owner Cinnamont Stables, the 2 year old filly is now a perfect two for two as far as her racing career is concerned.  The filly broke her maiden impressively in the mud on September 23rd and returned today to defeat a field of six other rivals.
“I knew the track was speed favoring today,” said jockey Duquet.  “It was just as easy as getting the lead.”
The well bred daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Stormy Winter was a bargain buy for the connections in 2011.  Purchased for only $5,000, Smith credits the low price to a poor name.  “This filly was already named when she went into the ring, her name was Swine Fu.  I think that kept a few people away,” explained Smith.  “I told the owner that the first thing we had to do was change her name.”
Smith has plans for his filly to race over the winter months in New York as she is eligible to compete in the New York bred stakes events.
Winter Lady covered the six furlong distance in 1.11.4 and returned $5.50 to win, $4.80 to place and $2.80 to show.  Silver Shasa finished second and Awesome Together rounded out the top three.