FAST AND FURY-IOUS

Happy Monday and all of a sudden, Woodbine's Polytrack seems to be settling a bit and now the outside is very favourable. The strung out finishes are not good, however, the surface is rotten still but probably safe enough.



LOOK WHOSE NAME’S IN LIGHTS

Brazilian-born EURICO ROSA DA SILVA is riding a blue streak these days at Woodbine and now sits atop the jockey standings with 15 wins in what surely has been a bizarre beginning to the 2007 season.
Da Silva, who won some 500 races during 5 years riding in Brazil and Macau, came to Woodbine in 2004 and he has had his heart and mind set on being the leading jockey. Always smiling, Da Silva guided two more winners yesterday including Tucci Stable’s 3yo filly NAME IN LIGHTS (Yankee Victor) in the 9th race for maiden fillies for $50,000.
His other winner was for owner/trainer Nick DeToro – SEVERI, a half-brother to stakes winning sprinter SLAM BAMMY by Whiskey Wisdom out of Miss Heidi.

SCOREBOARD

Eurico Rosa Da Silva – 15 wins
Emile Ramsammy – 14
Justin Stein -13
Tyler Pizarro – 13 (apprentice)

Trainers

Robert Tiller 10
Abraham Katryan -9
Sid Attard - 8

MAD FINISH

Long, leggy and ultra-shiny SASKAWEA benefited from a nice ride by Justin Stein and exploded to an impressive win in the Fury Stakes yesterday at Woodbine.
The Stormy Atlantic filly was the only gal in the field making her season debut but she was the only one, other than runner-up Quiet Action, that looked good at the finish.
Owned and bred by Les Perreira’s Beclawat Stable and trained by Steve Attard, Saskawea (there is a lake in the United Stakes named Saskawea) beat hotshot favourite Palace Pier who faded in the stretch after getting cooked in a pace duel.
The running time of 1: 24 2/5 was good for an 81 Beyer Figure.
Indeed, Saskawea was the best looking horse in the paddock but the Ontario-bred was up against Palace Pier from the very hot Darwin Banach stable, Palace Pier was 3rd in the Beaumont Stakes at Keeneland in her season debut.
Banker’s Street was also in the race and fresh from a huge win in her season debut. Grandy’s Glory also won her season debut while Quiet Action rallied nicely in a grass race at Keeneland.
But Saskawea stalked a 3 horse speed duel, was practically running over top of fillies inside the quarter-pole and then blew threw her weakening rivals to win handily.
Quiet Action came from far back to be second and Palace Pieer was third – earning a 74 Beyer Figure.
Saskawea is out of the St. Jovite mare Saintly Angel, who won $2,000 in 3 races and is out of the stakes placed mare Victorious Vice, dam of stakes winner Forest Princess.


IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE
Oaks picture getting interesting

She sure has a lot to learn it seems but QUIET JUNGLE crossed the finish line in first place for the first time in her career when she was up to win an allowance race for 3yo fillies.
The Forest Wildcat-Split the Arrow, Smart Strike filly was placed first in her debut at Fair Grounds and recently raced at Keeneland where she rallied from behind a slow pace.
Yesterday, Ms. Jungle edged pacesetter ROYAL MAGENTA (Kentucky-bred) and her Beyer Figure was a modest 77.
With SASKAWEA upsetting the Fury and champion CATCH THE THRILL unlikely to make the Woodbine Oaks next month, the classic is up for grabs.
HOT SPELL, the Quebec-bred by Salt Lake who won her debut at Bay Meadows back in March with an 88 Beyer Figure, finally ran back yesterday at Golden Gate Fields and rallied from far back to win a 6 furlong sprint allowance in 1:09 3/5 (no Beyer available yet).
Yet, Hot Spell is not Oaks eligible at this point. She is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.

THE MARCH TO THE PLATE HAS BEGUN

Talk about a reversal of form. MARCHFIELD, the impeccably bred A.P. Indy colt who was stakes placed as a maiden for Eugene Melnyk last year but blasted in a recent maiden race at Gulfstream when he bled through Lasix, up and won his maiden yesterday in his Woodbine return.
The race was a wild one early – like, before it started. The Stronach Stables’ entry of Mountain Wolf and Gator King were 4 to 5 on the odds board as expected. The former was fully expected to win.
But a few minutes to post, Marchfield went from 5 to 2 to 1-1, even-money, someone bet large.
And they cashed.
Following the giant Mountain Wolf and Todd Kabel, Marchfield swept up 4 wide and joined the Wolf in a tooth-and-nail battle to the wire. Marchfield won by a nose.
The Beyer? A stunning 91.
Marchfield, trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Pat Husbands, has to be considered a serious Plate contender now, so does the Wolf, who is apparently still learning the game.
The pair were far in front of third place finisher Cabazon, a 4yo American bred.
Interestingly, Melnyk’s U.S. trainer, Todd Pletcher conditions the winterbook Plate favourite Twilight Meteor.