CIRCUITS

WOODBINE STAKES RACES TOTAL $16 MILLION

Woodbine Mile returns to $1 million purse

The 2019 stakes schedule at Woodbine, worth some $16 million and on par with last year, is highlighted by the 160th running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate on June 29. A total of 95 stakes will be run at the 133-day meet, which goes from April 20-Dec. 15.

The Grade 1 Woodbine Mile got a purse boost from $800,000 to $1 million, which was it’s previous purse.

A Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event, the Woodbine Mile heads the Sept. 14 program, which also includes the Grade 1, $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf.

The new twist on the stakes calendar for this year are added-money events to be run on the new inner turf course, which replaced the Standardbred track (which had been installed on a turf course 25 years ago). The previous inner turf, part of the outer Marshall Turf Course was the surface on which the great Secretariat ended his incredible career.

Two new five-furlong $100,000 stakes for 2-year-olds will be run over the new inner turf course, the Ontario Racing and the Woodbine Cares for fillies. They are supporting features on the Sept. 15 card, which is headed by two Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifiers for juveniles, the $250,000 Summer and the $250,000 Natalma.

The stakes that will be shifted to the inner turf course are the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen, the Charlie Barley, the Vice Regent, the Ontario Damsel, and the Eternal Search.

The Grade 1, $800,000 Canadian International is slated for Oct. 12. The supporting feature on that card, the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, has been increased in value by $100,000 to $600,000. It will anchor Woodbine’s new Ladies of the Lawn Series, which will offer $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers in the four-race series of graded stakes. The series also includes the Nassau, Dance Smartly, and Canadian, all Grade 2 stakes.

Canadian Millions Night will showcase Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society yearling sale graduates on Aug. 28, when six restricted stakes for them will be contested as a prelude to the yearling sale.

Three stakes races were dropped from the schedule this year – the Open Sky Classic Stakes for older horses on turf, the New Providence, an Ontario sired sprint for older horses and the Victoriana, which will now go as the Eternal Search Stakes, an OSS race on turf.

The entire stakes schedule can be viewed online at Woodbine.com

QUEEN’S PLATE TOP 10 – AVIE’S FLATTER HAS BOOMING WORKOUT

The main page of THOROUGHBLOG always has the latest Top 10’s for upcoming big races, Canadian-breds and my best latest books I have read.

While it is still a long way to June 29 and the Queen’s Plate, I have cobbled together a Top 10 list of contenders, headed by Ivan Dalos’ super good AVIE’S FLATTER who is getting ready for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9.

The Flatter colt had a big workout on Monday at Palm Meadows, 6 furlongs in 1:12 4/5 and you can watch it at this link, courtesy of XBTV.

Avie’s Flatter’s rival from his win in the Coronation Futurity, FEDERAL LAW (Scat Daddy – Gravelly Bay by Strong Hope) is up to 5 furlongs working at Casse Training Centre. Owned by Qatar Racing, the 3-year-old gelding was bred by Jim Dandy Stable, founded by the late Mel Lawson and owned by Jim Lawson.

Mark Casse trains Federal Law and also recent winner SKYWIRE, bred by the late Bill Graham.

Chiefswood Stables’ have a couple of good Canadian-bred fillies who will no doubt point to the Woodbine Oaks first,  Bold Script and Western Curl. The former, trained by Stuart Simon, has been working very well all winter including a move in 1:01 2/5 for 5 furlongs on Thursday at Palm Meadows and is likely headed to the HERECOMESTHEBRIDE STAKES on March 2 at Gulfstream.

Bold Script schooled in the Gulfstream paddock on Thursday.  Western Curl, also trained by Casse, is working at Palm Meadows as well.

Another filly, HASTLAVISTABABY, also trained by Casse, has been idle since a workout in late December.

The filly DESERT RIDE from Sam-Son farms, was a sharp debut winner but very rank in her 2nd place finish at Fair Grounds on Valentine’s Day. Come On Gerry has worked back since he was well beaten in the Holy Bull Stakes.

Another filly, HARD NOT TO LOVE just won her debut at Santa Anita and is on the cusp of getting into the top 10.

Not on the top 10 but one with promise especially if he comes to Woodbine and the Tapeta surface is GREEN FLEET owned by Donegal Racing. This Afleet Alex colt closed mildly from far back in a maiden race at Oaklawn Park last weekend.

ONE WEEK UNTIL THE MAIN TRACK OPENS AT WOODBINE

 

Hastings may have to delay opening day

 

For horses and horsepeople, it is time to get back to work.

On Monday, Feb 25, the backstretch opens for set-up and horses can be shipped in the next day. The training track and sand ring open on Wednesday and on March 1, the Tapeta will open.

But at Hastings Park in Vancouver, bad weather has played havoc with training. There are discussions about delaying opening day of the meeting, which is scheduled for April 21.

From the Derby Bar & Grill Newsletter:

HASTINGS CHANGES TRAINING HOURS

Hastings Racing Office announced due to the continuing cold spell that the track hours till further notice will be from 10:00am till 2:00pm

OPENING DAY AT HASTINGS

Racing Associations are currently discussing some possibilities to setting back opening day at Hastings. The current cold spell and the number of training days missed so far is obviously having an serious effect on having horses ready to run on April 21st.  We will keep you updated as talks continue with Hastings Management.

FORT ERIE CONSORTIUM GOING FORWARD

Fort Erie Observer:

The Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium’s (FELRC) board of directors have begun work on a strategic seven-year plan to ensure the Fort Erie Race Track continues to operate.

In a news release sent to media on Tuesday morning, the Consortium said its strategic plan will focus on developing revenue and expense models that will make the race track more sustainable. The plan will focus on four policy pillars, the first of which focuses on improving race economics for horse people, that will improve the racing products offered at the track.

The second pillar calls for increased compensation to staff to ensure the FELRC is competitive in maintaining experienced staff with unique skill sets and leadership capabilities.

The third pillar aims to address immediate and critical capital needs.

BARBADOS GOLD CUP DRAWS FIELD OF 10

A field of 10 was assembled with post positions at the draw for the 38th Barbados Gold Cup, sponsored by Sandy Lane Hotels. The $200,000 (BAR) race is at about 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds and upward and will be held March 2.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey have not sent a horse this year after winning in last season with SIR DUDLEY DIGGES, the Queen’s Plate champion and a Canadian-bred, and in 2014 and 2015 with Major Marvel and Sayley’s Creek.

There are 2 Gulfstream purchases/shippers entered in the 10 horse field plus one runner from Antigua meeting up with Barbados horses.

NIGHT PROWLER could be favoured as the son of Giant’s Causeway – Mary’s Follies by More Than Ready is a multiple graded stakes winner in the U.S. as a 3-year-old. The now 7-year-old gelding was second beaten a neck in an optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park with an 88 Beyer Speed Figure. He was purchased for this race and his rider Jalon Samuel has won the last 2 Gold Cups.

“Saffie [Joseph] chose the horse just for this race and he knows what kind of horse it takes to win this race,” said Gail Seales, whose family has won 7 Gold Cups.

Another US invader, BODIE TAP (Bodemeister – Puddy Tap by Tapit) is a 4-year-old colt claimed for $16,000 from a win at Gulfstream on Jan. 19 with a 77 Beyer Figure. The colt is the first Gold Cup starter for trainer Romell Lovell.

The sensational NORTHERN STAR (Carpe Diem) has won 10 races in succession and 17 of 21  in his homeland but had an operation on a foot last year. He won his comeback race recently.

GANDALF, a stablemate of Northern Star and Brave Star, and a son of Rocamadour, was a hotshot 3-year-old of 2018. BRAVE STAR (John Brian – Strong Opinion by Jeblar) won a Group 1 last summer through the disqualification of Gandalf.

INFRARED (Discreetly Mine – Heat Street by Street Cry (Ire) won a Group 1 in January and is in top form again.

The grey filly CELESTIAL STORM (Get Stormy – Raging Storm, by Unbridled Energy) is a top sprinter and one of several speed types in the field.

DEBONAIR DAVID (Sir Pracealot – Peyto Princess) is another runner for Sir David Seale. REFIRE (Lonhro – Refrain by Unbridled’s Song) is a top distance runner and course record setter.

And the Antigua invader, BURNDINES is  a multiple winning son of Scat Daddy who has been racing in Antigua as Baba Baba and Breakfast Fete. his recent wins have also been sprinting but he was a good New York turf runner in 2016.

MARCH 2 – 2019 – Race 9 [4:30PM] Purse:$214,000 1800M (Turf)
Plus Subscriptions totaling $25,000.00
NO APPRENTICE ALLOWANCE
THE XXXVIII SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR. 1. – INT. – BAR)
3-YEAR-OLDS AND OVER (WFA)

Post Horse Rating Age Weight Trainer Earnings in BAR  Jockey

1 CELESTIAL STORM(USA) (T)119 5 124 PARRAVICINO J.P R $138,401.00 Rasheed Hughes
2 NORTHERN STAR                    133 6 122 CHEESEMAN BSS V $390,422.00 Antonio Whitehall
3 DEBONAIRE DAVID(GB)         115 5 129 DEANE SCM E $47,755.00 Delano Lopez
4 NIGHT PROWLER(USA)          138 7 129 JOSEPH JNR. S $0.00 Jalon Samuel
5 INFRARED(USA)                       129 6 129 DEANE R $208,700.00 Anderson Trotman
6 BRAVE STAR                               121 4 118 CHEESEMAN BSS V $161,523.00 Affrie Ward
7 BURNDINES(USA)                    095 7 129 JOSEPH K $0.00 Winston Hurst
8 BODIE TAP(USA)                        117 4 125 LOVELL R $0.00 no rider
9 REFIRE(USA)                               115 6 129 DEANE R $106,466.00 Antonio Bishop
10 10 GANDALF                                119 4 118 CHEESEMAN BSS V $161,365.00 Rickey Walcott

LAST 10 WINNERS OF BARBADOS GOLD CUP

2018 Sir Dudley Digges 6 Jalon Samuel Michael J. Maker Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K.
2017 Dorsett 7 Jalon Samuel Robert Pierce Steve and Allan Madoo 1:54.3
2016 Dorsett 6 Jalon Samuel Robert Pierce Steve and Allan Madoo 1:49.2
2015 Sayler’s Creek 5 Rico Walcott Michael J. Maker Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1:53.4
2014 Major Marvel 8 Patrick Husbands BSS Michael J. Maker Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey 1:49.2
2013 Aristodemus 4 A. Trotman E. Deane SCM Sir David Seale 1:50.2
2012 Dancin David 5 Jalon Samuel E. Deane SCM Sir David Seale 2:02.6
2011 Zoom 6 A. Bishop Edward Walcott Jr. Gay Smith 1:49.4
2010 Sterwins 7 Patrick Husbands BSS Mark E. Casse Eugene Melnyk 1:48.4
2009 Daylight Express 4 Anderson Ward Robert Peirce Michael Taylor 1:51.40

Thank you to Kent Layne for additional information. Read Kent’s story here – more to come next week.

 

JUSTIFY’S HALF SISTER ONLY 5TH IN DEBUT

from Tampa Bay Downs media – Justify’s half-sister was the subject of attention before the eighth race at Tampa Bay Downs on Thursday on the turf, but another first-time starter, 3-year-old filly Pep, made a decisive stretch move up the rail under jockey Willie Martinez to pull off a 13-1 upset, defeating Chancetheracer by a length-and-a-quarter. The winner’s time was 1:43.02 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance. Pep is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trained by Todd Pletcher.

Egyptian Storm, a 3-year-old filly who is by Pioneerof the Nile out of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify’s dam, Stage Magic (making her a half to the champion), finished fifth, failing to fire but perhaps benefiting from the experience.