194 DIFFERENT WINNERS AT WOODBINE
A little MONDAY morning research on the first 34 days of racing at Woodbine yielded some fascinating items about who has won the races to this point. With the wins on Saturday and Sunday by owners such as Ontario’s Openwood Farm (Susan Rasmussen), Ryan Jones & Handel Love, Racer’s Edge/Maxis Stable and three others, there has now been 194 different ownership interests that have won at least one race at Woodbine so far at the meeting.That is 194 ownership interests (single person or partnership) winning at least one race of 294 who have started a horse.
In addition, with the wins on Saturday/Sunday by trainers Jamie Attard, Bonnie Eshelman, and Layne Gilforte and Ryan Jones all notching their first wins of the 2019 season at Woodbine, there have been 107 different trainers to win races this year from 232 races. From those winning trainers, 54 of them have won more than 1 race! That is over 50%, a unique situation at this time of the year.
The purse money is being well spread out this season at Woodbine and that is good news as we jump into the biggest week of racing so far this year – QUEEN’S PLATE WEEK.
The addition of the inner turf course, which is scheduled to begin racing on Friday (entries taken Tuesday) adds another fun opportunity for horses to the mix.
TESTING 1,2 3 – HEY HOWIE won the first race, a test race, on the inner turf, on Friday at Woodbine by a half length over the filly WILBURNRUBBER. The winner sped 5 furlongs in 58 1/5 and the 7 furlong turf course will certainly cater to speed and inside trips. MICHAEL BURNS PHOTO
It is great to see so many barns of owners and trainers, some with only a couple of horses, pick up some of the purses not just for winning races, but just for placing in races. In particular if the horse is Ontario sired and/or bred. Horses in low level maiden claiming races are earning in the neighbourhood of $9,000 for a runner-up placing.
QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS – 2 MORE ADDED TO GROWING FIELD
AVIE’S FLATTER has had any number of super workout times as he prepares for the |Plate – MICHAEL BURNS photo
Post position draw 9:30 a.m. Wednesday
Things are getting crowded for the favourites for the 160th Queen’s Plate on Saturday June 29.
Two more horses have been tossed into the field for the 1 1/4 mile Canadian classic.
JAMMIN STILL, owned by Derek Chin and trained by Kevin Attard and SUITEDCONNECTED, owned by Joe Triumbari and trained by Earl Barnett have been added. The lure of the $1 million prize and the long distance has certainly persuaded many to try their horses in what is a very tough race to win.
AVIE’S FLATTER had his final Plate workout on Sunday June 23, 47 4/5 flat for four furlongs on the Tapeta. Josie Carroll has been training the colt, owned by Ivan Dalos, into the race from his 6th place finisher in the American Turf. The video was posted on TWITTER.
SKYWIRE, the main threat to Avie’s Flatter, worked in 47 on Sunday for trainer Mark Casse.
See notes on the field below:
60th Queen’s Plate contender Lucas n’ Lori, trainer Kevin Attard. Woodbine/ michael burns photo
Queen’s Plate Probables – notes and last 3 Beyer Speed Figures
AVIE’S FLATTER (Javier Castellano) – 87, 81, 80 Ivan Dalos homebred – Flatter – Avie’s Empire by Empire Maker – Tr – Josie Carroll – Grade 3 winner this year on turf at Keeneland, won the Coronation Futurity at 2, seeking to be first to win that race and Plate in 44 years; Ivan dalos seeking first Plate win
SKYWIRE (Eurico da Silva) 87, 88, 66 – Gary Barber, Lou Tucci, Tr- Mark Casse ; Afleet Alex – Meandering Stream by Gone West (bred by Bill Graham) – Won Wando stakes, 2nd Grade 3 Marine; would be first Plate winner to be bred by the late Bill Graham; $45,000 Maryland 2yo
DESERT RIDE (filly) (Steve Bahen) 83, 75, 73 Sam-Son Farms homebred, Neil Howard, by Candy Ride (Arg)- Fun in the Desert by Distorted Humor – Oaks winner ran much faster than Plate Trial winner Pay for Peace three weeks ago; fillies have won last 2 Plates
ONE BAD BOY (Flavien Prat) – 89, 85. 73 SayJay Racing, Greg Hall, Brooke Hubbard, tr – Richard Baltas. by Twirling Candy – Cumulonimble by Stormy Atlantic; bred by Ron Clarkson – California based colt is a speedster, will race with blinkers off; 1 win came in 1 mile turf race at Santa Anita, recently 2nd in 1 mile stake at Golden Gate; $65,000 Keesep17
TONE BROKE (Ricardo Santana)- 81, Dubai Dubai, 77, 71 – L and N Stable, tr – Steve Asmussen – Broken Vow- Mendocino Beano by Smart Strike; bred by Sean Fitzhenry – A trip to Dubai for two races was disastrous but he bounced back in the Sir Barton stakes at Pimlico when 3rd behind King for a day, who came back to win the Haskell over Maximum Security; $40,000 KeeSep17
FEDERAL LAW (Jamie Spencer) – 68, 73, 75, Qatar Racing, Tr- Mark Casse by Scat Daddy-Gravelly Bay, by Strong Hope ; bred by Jim Dandy Stable – Queenston Stakes winner at 7 fur. led all the way in Plate Trial and held for 2nd; $220,000 Keep17; NotSold Goffs 2yo
HE’S A MACHO MAN (Patrick Husbands) – 75, 36, 62 – Di Scola Boy Tr- Josie Carroll son of Mucho Macho Man – Amelia Go Home by Lemon Drop Kid; Bred by Paul Buttigieg – Won 2 of 3 and unbeaten on the Tapeta – $47,000 CTHS yearling
PAY FOR PEACE (Rafael Hernandez) 71, 64, 52 – Team Penney and Carem Stable (Lisa Mosa), tr – Rachel Halden; by Silent Name (Jpn)- Dancing Bay by Sligo Bay (Ire) ; bred by Brian Lynch – nice win in the Plate Trial
RISING STAR (Justin Stein) 68, 65, 66 – Zilli Racing (Rob Marzilli), tr – Mike DePaulo. Ghostzzpper – Purple Trillium by Seeking the Gold; – maiden was a $325,000 yearling but claimed for $40,000 from a race at Oaklawn this winter; bred by Bill Graham
KRACHENWAGEN (Jeff Alderson) 66, 66, 49 – Greenwoaks Farm homebred, Tr- Angus Buntain by Head Chopper – Plantana by Trajectory – maiden win came at 5 furlongs, 5th in Plate Trial
LUCAS N LORI (Kazushi Kimura) – 67, 61, 50 Lori Cirillo and Kelly Waxman, Tr – Kevin Attard, son of Exhi – Hong Kong Dancer by Tejano Run; bred by Silver Springs Stud and Gary Parr – won his maiden at 1 1/16 miles in Nov. 2nd time Lasix but well beaten in two optional claiming races; $9,000 CTHS yearling
MOON SWINGS (Jesse Campbell) – 67, 77, 64 Zilli Racing (Rob Marzilli) Tr – Mike DePaulo – Malibu Moon-England Swings by Kitten’s Joy; $120,000 yg KeeSep 17; – maiden was third in the Plate Trial
SUITEDCONNECTED (Gary Boulanger) – 67, 63, 56 Joe Triumbari, bred by Dominic Triumari Tr- Earl Barnett By Rookie Sensation – Kaleidoscope Kerry by One Way Love – one-time winner 7th and 8th in two starts this year
JAMMIN STILL (Alan Garcia) 54, 74, 72 Derek Chin – Tr- Kevin Attard; bred by Bill Graham Take Charge Indy – Cat’s Garden by Tale of the Cat – maiden winner was 7th in Plate Trial with first time Lasix
*HISTORICAL BEYER SPEED FIGURES FROM PLATE TRIAL/PLATE WOODBINE OAKS
**The average winning Beyer Figure of the Plate winner in the last decade is 97.
Plate Winner -Plate Winning Beyer
2019 ????? ?????
2018 WONDER GADOT 95
2017 HOLY HELENA 96 (ran a 94 Oaks)
2016 SIR DUDLEY DIGGES 85
2015 SHAMAN GHOST 87 (had run 86 in Marine)
2014 LEXIE LOU 91 (ran 95 Oaks)
2013 MIDNIGHT ARIA 101
2012 STRAIT OF DOVE R 98
2011 INGLORIOUS 99
2010 BIG RED MIKE 92
2009 EYE OF THE LEOPARD 92
2008 NOT BOURBON 93
2007 MIKE FOX 90
2006 EDENWOLD 94
2005 WILD DESERT 92
2004 NIIGON 97
2003 WANDO 111
2002 T J’S LUCKY MOON 86
2001 DANCETHRUTH’N 94
2000 SCATTER THE GOLD 92
1999 WOODCARVER 97
1998 ARCHERS BAY 106
1997 AWESOME AGAIN 100
1996 VICTOR COOLEY 102
Plate Trial (or Oaks) Winner – Beyer
2019 71 Pay for Peace (83 – Desert Ride)
2018 88 (Telekinesis) (94 Oaks winner)
2017 82 (Guy Caballero) (95 Oaks winner)
2016 83 (Amis Gizmo)
2015 87 ( Danish Dynaformer)
2014 85 (We Miss Artie)
2013 88 (Dynamic Sky)
2012 88 River Rush
2011 90 (Check Your Soul)
2010 91 (Big Red Mike)
2009 85 (Eye of the Leopard)
2008 88 (Not Bourbon)
2007 88 (Jiggs Coz)
2006 81 (Pipers Thunder)
2005 92 (Dance With Ravens)
2004 97 (A Bit O’Gold)
2003 95 (Mobil)
2002 89 (Shaws Creek)
2001 96 (Win City)
2000 89 (Pete’s Sake)
1999 88 (Catahoula Parish)
1998 98 (Brite Adam)
1997 97 (Cryptocloser)
SANTA ANITA’S EMBATTLED MEETING ENDS; HORSE RACING ON THE WATCH
The LA Times have run several articles about the end of the Santa Anita meeting. Of course, Santa Anita has been the talk of the horse racing, the sports world, even the news world for much of the last 6 months, sadly, because 30 horses died.
While some changes were made to various regulations, it didn’t seem really clear what caused all the deaths and nothing major was done until trainer Jerry Hollendorfer was ruled out of the track late last week when his fourth horse broke down. Hollendorfer, a Hall of Fame trainer, will be welcomed at other tracks, however.
Then CNN came out with a documentary investigation show that was hard to watch (last weekend) and segments of that were played on the radio in the Toronto area.
Horse racing must make changes and racing commissions/stewards must be vigilant to races and training. Most horsepeople are passionate and are impeccable caretakers of their horses. A happy healthy horse is what most want.
But in this day and age of small fields, sometimes chances are taken and this is what needs to be eliminated.
