Sunshine makes us happy
Anything that has to do with sunshine is okay by me, sheesh, there was a rock-hard sheet of ice over the car this morning and fluffy snow that fell yesterday is now a rink.
So, lots of great racing and races to bet today...SUNSHINE MILLIONS day!
Woodbine is represented by FORBIDDEN BEAR in the 3yo sprint at Gulfstream. A Florida-bred by that cool, long distance grass horse Forbidden Apple, Forbidden Bear was an 'international' when he debuted at Woodbine. It was during the speed favouring days of Woodbine's Polytrack and he broke a bit slowly and raced wide and off the pace but circled and drew off. Pretty good horse, but good enough for these at this point?
Trainer Reade Baker has no doubt been pointing this Bear for this Dash.
While it seems impossible to get past young Mr. Talamo at Fair Grounds these days (he won another pile of races yesterday), Woodbine's leading jock EMMA-JAYNE WILSON won a pair including one of HER EXCELLENCY. A nicely bred daughter of Deputy Minister - Go Classic form the Sam-Son breeding operation, the 4yo won her maiden with a front running style.
At Gulfstream yesterday morning, Queen's Plate hopeful MARCHFIELD (A.P. Indy), owned by Eugene Melnyk and trained by Mark Casse, had a fast 5 furlong work in 1:00 4/5. Last year's Plate winner EDENWOLD was on the tab on Thursday, 1:02 for five fur.
Unsettling POLYTRACK story by Mary Jean Wall on Kentucky.com today... (linked on Equidaily) as Turfway's surface seems to be having trouble with cold temps like Woodbine's did last year.
Meanwhile, Woodbine announced that the Polytrack will be the surface opened for training on Feb. 11 and not the training track. Work on Polytrack is expected to be done when the weather warms up (August??).
Most of the news around Woodbine racing department these days is jockeys and agents (zzzzzz) but one surprising bit is that CHANTAL SUTHERLAND is reportedly heading back to Woodbine to ride. Sutherland left Woodbine to try New York and other locales and had some parting shots in the media with regards to Woodbine folks when she did so (along the lines of chauvenism).
So, lots of great racing and races to bet today...SUNSHINE MILLIONS day!
Woodbine is represented by FORBIDDEN BEAR in the 3yo sprint at Gulfstream. A Florida-bred by that cool, long distance grass horse Forbidden Apple, Forbidden Bear was an 'international' when he debuted at Woodbine. It was during the speed favouring days of Woodbine's Polytrack and he broke a bit slowly and raced wide and off the pace but circled and drew off. Pretty good horse, but good enough for these at this point?
Trainer Reade Baker has no doubt been pointing this Bear for this Dash.
While it seems impossible to get past young Mr. Talamo at Fair Grounds these days (he won another pile of races yesterday), Woodbine's leading jock EMMA-JAYNE WILSON won a pair including one of HER EXCELLENCY. A nicely bred daughter of Deputy Minister - Go Classic form the Sam-Son breeding operation, the 4yo won her maiden with a front running style.
At Gulfstream yesterday morning, Queen's Plate hopeful MARCHFIELD (A.P. Indy), owned by Eugene Melnyk and trained by Mark Casse, had a fast 5 furlong work in 1:00 4/5. Last year's Plate winner EDENWOLD was on the tab on Thursday, 1:02 for five fur.
Unsettling POLYTRACK story by Mary Jean Wall on Kentucky.com today... (linked on Equidaily) as Turfway's surface seems to be having trouble with cold temps like Woodbine's did last year.
Meanwhile, Woodbine announced that the Polytrack will be the surface opened for training on Feb. 11 and not the training track. Work on Polytrack is expected to be done when the weather warms up (August??).
Most of the news around Woodbine racing department these days is jockeys and agents (zzzzzz) but one surprising bit is that CHANTAL SUTHERLAND is reportedly heading back to Woodbine to ride. Sutherland left Woodbine to try New York and other locales and had some parting shots in the media with regards to Woodbine folks when she did so (along the lines of chauvenism).
posted by Jen Morrison @ 8:20 AM
9 Comments:
At 6:56 PM,
Anonymous said…
Very interesting... Emma-Jayne doesn't seem to have a problem with being female at Woodbine, quite the contrary I think.
At 7:08 PM,
Anonymous said…
i seem to remember the article being about Chantal complaining that her "beauty" was getting in the way of her being noticed for her riding ability....wah, wah, wah...it will be interesting to see what type of homecoming she gets from the backside. i believe that she burned a lot of bridges.
At 8:11 AM,
Anonymous said…
I think that it will be interesting to see Chantal riding here again. She was quite outspoken and I think that will come back to haunt her.
Any comparison to Emma (from an earlier post) is not realistic. however. Emma has been the leading Woodbine rider two years in a row. Even as a bug, Chantal did not achieve anything near that.
We lost Jill Scharfstein this year, so the number of female jocks is the same.
I think the female jockey to watch this year is Michelle Rainford. She has been steadily improving toward the end of the season. And with the 5 pound bug, she will likeley be stealing mounts from a lot of journeymen. male and female.
At 6:55 PM,
Anonymous said…
Wasn't comparing Emma to Chantal, you can't do that Emma has more talent and proves it everytime she rides. I was just merely stating that Emma doesn't seem to have a problem with being female and a rider at Woodbine.
At 7:58 PM,
Anonymous said…
The big difference between Emma and Chantal is that Emma used her skill, talent and ability to gain press and recognition....chantal used her looks.
Emma is the true athlete....she has proved it in her first winter riding in the Fair Grounds.
At 10:29 PM,
Anonymous said…
I agree with you 100% Emma is much the better athlete and person.
At 12:50 AM,
Anonymous said…
Why would Chantal ever waste her time coming back to Woodbine?? She might be better off trying out at the landing strip for a job. Besides she'll never get the shot that Michael Wright Jr gave her. Where did he go? one of the best trainers Woodbine ever seen, since the great Frank Merrill.
At 12:56 AM,
Anonymous said…
Is Chantal bring Mike Smith with her to pave the road?? Hope he has all his paper work in order, because these jockey in Toronto will be all over him, not her
At 2:45 PM,
Anonymous said…
Emma is 10 times the rider that Chantal could ever dream of being...but
and this is a BIG BUT...
Chantal is a lot better looking...
I for one can't wait to see Sexy Chantal again.
sure beats the homely looking female riding colony we have now.
Chantal Sutherland.....the Danica Patrick of horse racing.
Post a Comment