OCT23rahy1.jpg

 Terence Dulay photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAHY’S BACK – YOU’RE GONNA BE IN TROUBLE

A very soft grass course will welcome the guys in the BUNTY LAWLESS Stakes today at Woodbine.

SOCIETY’S CHAIRMAN and SAND COVE from the dangerous Roger Attfield barn are major contenders but they will have a tough time getting past 2007 Bunty winner RAHY’S ATTORNEY who is looking to get back on track with the drop from Grade 1 races.

He started the year so hot, with huge wins and efforts in 3 consecutive races but he has slipped past his best

form since then.

Today, Rob Landry is riding after the gelding has long been with Slade Callaghan.

***Three offspring of the mare ALYANCER race today at Woodbine in an oddity.

CALEDON, RAGING INFERNO AND ARCHERS ALYANCER, all bred by Ted Smth compete in various races today at Woodbine.

FRIDAY WRAP FROM WOODBINE

What a difference a day makes – and a whole lot of rain.

On Thursday, maidens and 2yos raced 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 and change.

Yesterday, Airofindifference beat a nice field of a level maiden allowance runners in 1:19 and change – and did

it with flair,he won by 5 lengths. The Florida bred by Wekiva Springs is owned by Geoff Roy and trained by Wray Lawrence.

The Daily Double was won by Patrick Husbands who came right back on the sizy DA POSSE to win race 2. Not long a gelding, the Posse 4yo was down from $40K claiming to $25K for Colebrook Farms.

Almost everyone’s pick to winrace 3 was BOADINI,a Langfuhr 2yo dropping in for $50K from maiden allowance for his 6th start of his 2yo season. Bred by Spring Farm and Gus Schickedanz,the bay 2yo went off at a stunning even-money, but he won like an odds-on choice.

He raced 6 furlongs in 1:11.

He is owned by Parklane Racing and trained by Norm McKnight.

Congrats to trainer ALEX BANKUTI who won his first race of the year with the Ciano Cat filly TICKET TIME. The Ontario bred 3yo,owned by Larry Deakins, was winning her maiden for allowances,Ontario sired, in her 5th career race. She had lost for $15,000 claiming 2 starts ago.

She is a daughter of the mare Timely Search and was bred by Gardiner farms and the Pakulski family.

A very fast 2yo on the grounds is THREE EIGHTY, who ran so fast on the pace 2nd time out on Oct. 11 (21 4/5 for first quarter mile) and was 3rd at 57 to 1. Yesterday, he led all the way to win at 6 furlongs for $20K

claiming for owner/trainer JOHN MACKENZIE.

 A $3,761 yearling purchase, he’s by local sire/stable pony/horse -about–the-house RAK WAKI out of Dr. Ron

House’s mare Consort’s Choice.

The AUTUMN PREP went to everyone’s choice ICE BEAR, the 5yo grey gelding who has put himself into the mix for champion older horse in Canada with his 3rd win of the season in his 7th race. A graded stakes winner this year, the George Strawbridge homebred is as honest and consistent as they come.

It was the Bear’s 9th win from 27 races and he has 7 other top three placings. The Maria’s Mon fellow’s

earnings now top $750,000.

He ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.78 under Chantal Sutherland.

Other winners on the day included Colebrook Farms and trainer Ashlee Brnjas (they won on Thursday too) with the Dance to Destiny 3yo BUBBLE HIGH. She won her maiden with a stalking trip over the deep Polytrack to win the $12,500 race in her 8th start.

A pair of grass races were washed off – as they may be all weekend. The 8th went to the lovely Mr. Greely filly GRAND ADVICE, won the allowance from 12th place and ran in 1:16.91 for trainer Roger Attfield.

The finale for $50K older guys at 7 furlongs on the Poly (originally sked for grass) went to WRITTEN IN STONE, a Smart Strike gelding for Sam-Son Farms who appears to have decided he prefers the Polytrack to the grass.

Unplaced in that race was stakes winner JUST RUSHING, who has slide from the stakes class to claiming this year at the age of 8.

THURSDAY WRAP

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Patrick Husbands, Woodbine’s leading rider – tough as nails.

Norm Files photo

PATRICK HUSBANDS emerged essentially none the worse for wear from a scary accident in the 3rd race. Riding first time starting 2yo PISTOL OF FIRE for Richard Day’s Kingview Farm, Husbands appeared to be in line to be trampled when his colt broke down at the 3/8 pole. Sonehow, a couple of horses cheched hard and avoided the fallen rider.

That 2yo claiming race was won by Iris Bristow’s beginner R SHINING HOPE, a Strong HGope felow trained by Nick Gonzalez. R Shining Hope is a homebred.

The most impressive outing of the day went to first timer BATTLE AT SEA, a highly regarded gelding who did not get his start until this week but it was worth the wait.

He won wrapped up and ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.71 for Sam-Son Farms – good for an 85 Beyer Figure.

He is a son of Smart Strike out of the unplaced mare Sails Unfurled, a daughter of stakes winner Spinnakers

Flying.

Race 2 went almost as fast as speedball 2yo ESSENCE HT MAN came fron a 2nd place finish to Suffoncified and won on Thursday with 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.90.

He’s a Speightstown homebred for Audre Cappuccitti and Todd Kabel, who won the first race, completed the

double.

BENT ATTORNEY inched closer to $400,000 in earnings with a win for $62,500 on the Polytrack. The Crown Attorney mare, bred by pring Farm, was winning for the 7th time in her 28 races and is owned by Centennial Farms Niagara.

And LONDON SNOW,a stakes winner for Kirk Bradden Stables Inc. went over $500,000 in earnings with a win for $47,500 claiming in a 7 furlong turf dash. The Trajectory mare had not won in 6 previous runs this season.

Interesting to note that in London Snow’s wake was CHOCOLATEFORLUNCH – who was honoured that very night in FORT ERIE.

READ MORE BELOW.

CANDY COATed – ‘Chocolate’ GAL WINS HORSE OF THE YEAR.

– Lyle Morden trained Chocolateforlunch took top honours at the 2009 Fort Erie Awards Dinner Thursday evening.

The five-year-old daughter of Bold Executive, a winner of 5 races this year, including the Fort Erie Slots Cup,

was named Fort Erie Horse of the Year. She was also voted top female sprinter.

Owned by Barbara Lewis and Winter Road Racing, Chocolateforlunch earned $66,840 this season winning four races

on the main track and one over the turf course.

Rui Pimentel and Nick Gonzalez dominated their respective categories. Rui winning his first ever Fort Erie

riding title while Gonzalez notched is third Fort Erie training title.

With three days left in the racing season Pimentel has ridden 94 winners, Gonzalez has saddled 27.

Melanie Pinto topped the female rider standings with 49 winners to date. Pinto is currently third among all

riders and is in a close battle for top apprentice with Micheal Mehak.

There is a three-way tie in the leading owner category. Ivan Dalos, Michael Annechino and Howard Keen have 11 wins apiece. Colebrook Farms, last years top owner is one back.

Top apprentice and leading owner will be announced on Tuesday when the 2009 racing season wraps up.

Other winners:

Male Claimer – Cacouna / Hillsbrook Farms / N. Gonzalez

Female Claimer – Here’stotemperance / M. Annechino / M. Newell

Male Sprinter – Spread the News / T. Grimes / J. Simms

Distance Male – Kilmoganny / G. McMaster / D. Ezra

Distance Female – Lucky Day / E. De Luca / J. Simms

Turf Male – Another Ascot / California Stable / D. Ezra

Turf Female – Alkmene – Colebrook Farms / A. Brnjas

Best Claim – Vikrant / David Trumble / A. Concessi

¼ Mile Champ – Krz n’ Flashy / Sylon Stable & Partner / R. Johnston

 

Outstanding Jockey and Trainer honours as voted by their peers.

Jockey – Eddie Robinson

Trainer – Nick Gonzalez

Assistant Trainer – Sharon Simms

Groom – Kendra Wieczorek

FORT ERIE’S FUTURE…

 Consortia working on Racetrack solution

   

For the third year in a row, the future of the Fort Erie Racetrack has not been solidified for its next season

of live-racing.

Last month, the newly-formed Fort Erie Thoroughbred Racing Consortia, a group consisting of representatives

from the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corporation (EDTC), the Town of Fort Erie and the

Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) announced its proposal to keep the track open,

requesting support from the provincial government to the tune of $75 million over the course of five years. As

of this week, EDTC general manager Jim Thibert has not been given an answer but hopes the fact that the track

is Fort Erie’s largest employer will be recognized and a solution will be reached.

“The track is the largest single private-sector employer in Fort Erie, induces economic spin-off and helps

promote Fort Erie….that is why the track is so important to Fort Erie,” said Thibert.

http://www.forterietimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2142135

CROWNING MOMENTS

Tonight at Woodbine

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Dave Landry photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, so harness racing has never made an appearance on Thoroughblog but I feel tonight’s festivities at

Woodbine must be mentioned.

A number of thoroughbred horsemen have commented on the stride and talent and speed of MUSCLE HILL, the 3yo trotter who goes for Breeders’ Crown glory tonight and a 20th consecutive win.

There is also a SCORE 123 contest and 7 other divisions of Crown races so save your oennies and bet tonight at Woodbine.

http://thescore.123racing.ca/

FATAL BULLET WORKS TODAY IN CALIFORNIA

BIOFUEL AWAITS ENTRIES

BIOFUEL, Brereton Jones’ homebred Stormin Fever filly, will ship out to the Breeders’ Cup home of Santa Anita next week should she get into the Juvenile Fillies.

The winner of the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Mazarine in her last start here, Biofuel breezed five furlongs in

1:02.20 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.20 in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

AND STILL, EVEN MORE WHIP HAPPINESS!

At this rate, someone can retire with the monies collected by the ONTARIO RACING COMMISSION for the number of times one has hit a horse.

There are jockeys already on stage 2 of the fines (2nd offense) as the number of times you can hit a horse in

succession  is closely scrutinized (3 in a row only):

www.drf.com reports:

The stewards have fined four riders for whip violations on Wednesday evening’s program.

Chantal Sutherland has been fined $1,200 for excessive use of the whip, as the stewards ruled she had struck her mount, Indian Apple Is, four times in succession in the late stages of her half-length victory in the Ruling Angel Stakes.

Indian Apple Is earned $69,000, and the rules call for Sutherland to forfeit 20 percent of her 10-percent share of the winner’s purse, excluding the $9,000 Ontario-sired bonus.

Luis Contreras was fined $200 for striking his mount, Nine Miracles, under the belly throughout the stretch run en route to her nose win in the eighth and final race.

Gerry Olguin has appealed a $300 fine and a one-day suspension for striking his mount, Cape Schanck, more than three times in succession during the stretch run of the eighth race. The ruling by the stewards marked Olguin’s second offense under the recently imposed guidelines.

Cape Schanck finished third, beaten a nose and a head.

And, Mike McMullen has been fined $300 and suspended for one day, Oct. 28, for raising his hand above his shoulder while striking his mount Vicar’s Vision in the stretch run of the fifth race. Vicar’s Vision finished seventh.

MARES BRED IN ONTARIO HOLDING STEADY

The number  of stallions in Ontario for 2009 was reportedly down by 6 1/2% but let’s see what the numbers are in 2010.

More than a half dozen new guys are coming to stand at stud next year so let’s hope there are some mares to

breed to these fellows.

The Jockey Club released stats this week:

state/prov  #stallions 2008  2009 % change  # mares bred 2008  2009 % change

Kentucky     318     307     -3.5     21,317     19,059     -10.6

Florida     202     155     -23.3     5,316     4,041     -24.0

Louisiana     230     216     -6.1     3,515     3,048     -13.3

California     233     201     -13.7     3,817     2,946     -22.8

Pennsylvania     89     97     +9.0     1,237     1,603     +29.6

New York     85     70     -17.6     1,839     1,561     -15.1

Texas     191     174     -8.9     1,722     1,411     -18.1

Ontario     77     72     -6.5     1,272     1,260     -0.9

New Mexico     128     124     -3.1     1,456     1,222     -16.1

Oklahoma     126     113     -10.3     1,335     1,222     -8.5

LEADING STALLIONS IN CANADA/ ONTARIO BY MARES BRED

Silent Name   (JPN)    80    ON

Tomahawk                70    ON

Sligo Bay (IRE)          69    ON

Trajectory                 67    ON

Finality                     64    BC

Cape Canaveral        54    AB

Marcavelly               51    ON

Survivalist               51    ON

Alumni Hall              45    ON

Bold Executive         45    ON

Niigon                     43    ON

Saint Stephen          43    AB

Philanthropist           42    ON

Gilded Time              41    AB

War Cry                  41    ON

Tempered Appeal       39    AB

Vibank                      39    ON

Aljabr                       38    ON

Whiskey Wisdom        38    MB

Gold Legend              37    AB

Old Forester              37    ON

Storm Victory             34    BC

Second in Command    33    BC

Tap Day                    33    ON

Western Expression    33    NY

Where’s the Ring       33    ON

Snorter                     32    BC

Bold n’ Flashy             30    ON

Best of the Bests (IRE)    29    ON

NATIONAL POST BLOGS ABOUT THE BACKSTRETCH

By Mark Medley, National Post

A procession of cars make the turn off Grand­stand Entrance Road and pass the security checkpoint as they

slowly drive down the main road of the Woodbine backstretch. It is only 5:40 a.m., but the flow of vehicles

suggests that, at this hour, the racetrack is one of the busiest places in the city. Headlights cut through the

pre-dawn darkness, briefly illuminating horses trotting down the side of the road, riders perched on top,

making their way from the stables to the track.

The backstretch is a village within the city; a self-sustaining community lost in the shadows of Woodbine’s

soaring grandstands, where people not only work but live, and which comes alive while most of Toronto sleeps.

From grooms to exercise riders, blacksmiths to hot walkers, more than 2,000 people work on the 187-acre

backstretch, 300 of whom reside here permanently during racing season. The population doubles when you take

into account the approximately 2,100 horses stabled here.

Read more:

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/24/t-o-a-to-z-the-community-that-ensures-woodb

ine-racetrack-thrives.aspx#ixzz0UrR7GjLv

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