'WHAT'S HIS POST?' WEDNESDAY
(update) THE JIGG IS UP
Queenston starts Plate journey
Eight sophomores, most of whom are being pointed to the Queen’s Plate in less than 2 months time, will start in the 7 furlong QUEENSTON STAKES on Saturday – race 6 on a big card of racing.
Woodbine will also show the Churchill Downs card – the Kentucky Derby card that is – plus opening day at Fort Erie.
All but one of the Queenston entrants was originally nominated – Chaplain was supplemented for $3,000 since he, like other Woodford Racing runners, were not nominated to any races included the Plate or Woodbine Oaks.
Queenston favoritism will likely fall on the chrome-legged DANCER’S BAJAN, from the 3 Sons Racing Stable, who chased Like Mom Like Sons so very hard through the Woodstock Stakes stretch and earned a whopping 92 Beyer Figure.
That race may have taken something out of the flashy Trajectory gelding so the $150,000 purse is certainly up for grabs.
Making their 2007 Woodbine debuts are other early Plate faves JIGGS COZ, trained by red-hot Sid Attard (hey, he’s won 2 of the 5 stakes race already), the winner of the Display Stakes last year. The Cozzene-Young Brodie, Broad Brush colt is owned and was bred by Mel Lawson.
MIKE FOX, an imposing Giant’s Causeway colt, is back at home but in the card of another trainer. Ian Black sent this one out for a 48 flat work on Wednesday as the final prep for this race. The Fox’s season debut came at Tampa and was a messy trip from start to finish.
New face MARKDALE won his maiden at Keeneland at almost 28 to 1 with an 81 Beyer Figure and could be a sleeper. The Holy Bull-Dance to Reason colt was 1st time Lasix for that race.
The field is completed by Catsimile (Cat’s At Home), Limosano (One Way Love) and Northern Report (Snow Ridge).
DERBY POSTS TO BE DRAWN LATER
The order of post position selection is done - now for the real draw - coming later this afternoon. STORM IN MAY drew the first pick of posts while possible favourite CURLIN, is doomed for an outside slot as he picks 18th.
Stay tuned.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT WOODBINE
It’s one of the busier cards of the week and it often offers a different perspective on handicapping as horses have to race ‘under the lights’ for the some of the races on a Wednesday evening.
Woodbine treads into 4 racing days a week with the addition of Wednesday evenings tonight (you can watch virtually the entire card on THE SCORE cable channel).
You won’t see any stars of the sport tonight and the feature is the 1st race at 6:45 for Ontario-sired non-winners of 2 (zzzzzzz) but there are some tricky betting races.
A maiden allowance (race 3), ends the first Pick 3, and these older Ontario-sired mares travel 6 furlongs.
The favourite is likely RIVER BARROW, from the Reade Baker stable (one reader asked about his ‘slow’ start, no, Baker does not have less horses this year, but he does have 11 2nd and 3rd place finishes). River Barrow was prepping at Keeneland this spring and she just missed winning her 2007 finale.
The split of that race is the 6th event and is a much tougher puzzle. SPANISH COLONY, from the rail, could take betting support in her 2nd outing of the season (38 Beyer Figure in her opener) but this corner was impressed by Foxy La Tessa’s April 7 opener when 6th in an open race with a 55 Beyer Figure.
A 5yo maiden, Foxy La Tessa has had several chances but she’s worth a look at 8 to 1 or better.
The late Pick 3 has to pay boxcars since the races are mind-boggling.
That 6th race is wide open, the 7th race is an event filled with speedy claiming fillies and the 8th is a maiden claimer for bottoms ($12,500).
What to do with class plungers JOBURG GOLD (Johannesburg), dropping from maiden $50,000 and HOLY WINGS, dropping from $32,000?
A note – Trainer Jim Day’s horses in the card will not wear any shoes.
INDIAN VALE ON FRIDAY
Sealy Hill in Oaks highlights Canucks on big day
Eugene Melnyk’s homebred Canadian-born filly INDIAN VALE, currently number 2 on the HOT CANADIAN BRED list on THOROUGHBLOG, makes her 2nd start of the 2007 season in Friday’s Louisville Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs.
She’s won 6 of 8 career starts including the Grade 3 Next Move in her 2007 debut in March.
The Louisville is a tough field with Asi Siempre, Lemons Forever and Stronach Stables’ red-hot Sugar Shake in the line-up in the 1 1/16 mile race.
Later on the Kentucky Oaks card, another top Canadian-bred COBRADOR drew the outside post in the Crown Royal Americcan Turf Stakes for $150,000. The Canadian-bred by El Prado was on the edges in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in his last start and is being pointed to the Queen’s Plate in June.
The colt drew post 11 for the 1 1/16 mile turf race but he should move one spot in with the scratching of Imawildandcrazyguy, who is going to the Kentucky Derby.
REMEMBER THIS ‘RUNNER’?
One-time Queen’s Plate heavy favourite, WANNA RUNNER, is expected to return to racing in Saturday’s Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park. The El Corredor gelding has not raced since last summer. He was 10th in the Plate and trainer Bob Baffert said the gelding simply went off form.
Wanna Runner will be meeting the likes of Buzzards Bay and Molengao (2nd in the Santa Anita Handicap) on Saturday.
RARE SIGHTING
Fort Erie opens
Eight-year-old RARE FRIENDS, a champion and millionaire, is entered for $4,000 claiming on opening day at Fort Erie Saturday.
The first day of the Fort Erie season, which has been shortened in number of cards for 2007, has 9 races scheduled including the featured 1st race, a maiden allowance.
Rare Friends competes at 4 ½ furlongs against 10-year-old B.D. Victor and 8-year-old Expected Hour among others.
TODAY’S CANADIAN-BREDS
Elsewhere, THREE IN THE BAG is in an allowance race, race 1, on opening day of the prestigious Belmont Park meeting today. The ‘Bag is riding a winning streak in claiming events.
SUGAR SWIRL, who has flirted with top spots on the HOT CANADIAN-BRED LIST (at right), is in the 7th race at Churchill Downs today and is the 5 to 2 second choice. Trained by Bobby Frankel for Stronach Stables, Sugar Swirl (Touch Gold) races 1 mile against heavy favourite Eyes on Eddy.
MIKE SMITH TALKS ABOUT TIAGO, AND CHANTAL
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-spw-derbydiary2may02,1,6097561.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports
CATCH THE THRILL IN WORK NO. 2
Champion 2yo filly CATCH THE THRILL is already ahead of last year’s champion 2yo colt Leonnatus Anteas as she had her 2nd workout of 2007 yesterday at Woodbine.
The Sam-Son Farms filly went 3 furlongs in 37 3/5.
The Fury Stakes, the first prep race for the Woodbine Oaks, is on Sunday.
Don't be surprised if the Thrill comes to hand quickly and in time for the Oaks.
LARRY MILLSON’S BLOG FROM THE DERBY
Globe and Mail columnist Larry Millson has a blog this week during his Derby trip..you can read it here..
http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070501.wsptderby1/GSStory/GlobeSportsOther/home
Queenston starts Plate journey
Eight sophomores, most of whom are being pointed to the Queen’s Plate in less than 2 months time, will start in the 7 furlong QUEENSTON STAKES on Saturday – race 6 on a big card of racing.
Woodbine will also show the Churchill Downs card – the Kentucky Derby card that is – plus opening day at Fort Erie.
All but one of the Queenston entrants was originally nominated – Chaplain was supplemented for $3,000 since he, like other Woodford Racing runners, were not nominated to any races included the Plate or Woodbine Oaks.
Queenston favoritism will likely fall on the chrome-legged DANCER’S BAJAN, from the 3 Sons Racing Stable, who chased Like Mom Like Sons so very hard through the Woodstock Stakes stretch and earned a whopping 92 Beyer Figure.
That race may have taken something out of the flashy Trajectory gelding so the $150,000 purse is certainly up for grabs.
Making their 2007 Woodbine debuts are other early Plate faves JIGGS COZ, trained by red-hot Sid Attard (hey, he’s won 2 of the 5 stakes race already), the winner of the Display Stakes last year. The Cozzene-Young Brodie, Broad Brush colt is owned and was bred by Mel Lawson.
MIKE FOX, an imposing Giant’s Causeway colt, is back at home but in the card of another trainer. Ian Black sent this one out for a 48 flat work on Wednesday as the final prep for this race. The Fox’s season debut came at Tampa and was a messy trip from start to finish.
New face MARKDALE won his maiden at Keeneland at almost 28 to 1 with an 81 Beyer Figure and could be a sleeper. The Holy Bull-Dance to Reason colt was 1st time Lasix for that race.
The field is completed by Catsimile (Cat’s At Home), Limosano (One Way Love) and Northern Report (Snow Ridge).
DERBY POSTS TO BE DRAWN LATER
The order of post position selection is done - now for the real draw - coming later this afternoon. STORM IN MAY drew the first pick of posts while possible favourite CURLIN, is doomed for an outside slot as he picks 18th.
Stay tuned.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT WOODBINE
It’s one of the busier cards of the week and it often offers a different perspective on handicapping as horses have to race ‘under the lights’ for the some of the races on a Wednesday evening.
Woodbine treads into 4 racing days a week with the addition of Wednesday evenings tonight (you can watch virtually the entire card on THE SCORE cable channel).
You won’t see any stars of the sport tonight and the feature is the 1st race at 6:45 for Ontario-sired non-winners of 2 (zzzzzzz) but there are some tricky betting races.
A maiden allowance (race 3), ends the first Pick 3, and these older Ontario-sired mares travel 6 furlongs.
The favourite is likely RIVER BARROW, from the Reade Baker stable (one reader asked about his ‘slow’ start, no, Baker does not have less horses this year, but he does have 11 2nd and 3rd place finishes). River Barrow was prepping at Keeneland this spring and she just missed winning her 2007 finale.
The split of that race is the 6th event and is a much tougher puzzle. SPANISH COLONY, from the rail, could take betting support in her 2nd outing of the season (38 Beyer Figure in her opener) but this corner was impressed by Foxy La Tessa’s April 7 opener when 6th in an open race with a 55 Beyer Figure.
A 5yo maiden, Foxy La Tessa has had several chances but she’s worth a look at 8 to 1 or better.
The late Pick 3 has to pay boxcars since the races are mind-boggling.
That 6th race is wide open, the 7th race is an event filled with speedy claiming fillies and the 8th is a maiden claimer for bottoms ($12,500).
What to do with class plungers JOBURG GOLD (Johannesburg), dropping from maiden $50,000 and HOLY WINGS, dropping from $32,000?
A note – Trainer Jim Day’s horses in the card will not wear any shoes.
INDIAN VALE ON FRIDAY
Sealy Hill in Oaks highlights Canucks on big day
Eugene Melnyk’s homebred Canadian-born filly INDIAN VALE, currently number 2 on the HOT CANADIAN BRED list on THOROUGHBLOG, makes her 2nd start of the 2007 season in Friday’s Louisville Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs.
She’s won 6 of 8 career starts including the Grade 3 Next Move in her 2007 debut in March.
The Louisville is a tough field with Asi Siempre, Lemons Forever and Stronach Stables’ red-hot Sugar Shake in the line-up in the 1 1/16 mile race.
Later on the Kentucky Oaks card, another top Canadian-bred COBRADOR drew the outside post in the Crown Royal Americcan Turf Stakes for $150,000. The Canadian-bred by El Prado was on the edges in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in his last start and is being pointed to the Queen’s Plate in June.
The colt drew post 11 for the 1 1/16 mile turf race but he should move one spot in with the scratching of Imawildandcrazyguy, who is going to the Kentucky Derby.
REMEMBER THIS ‘RUNNER’?
One-time Queen’s Plate heavy favourite, WANNA RUNNER, is expected to return to racing in Saturday’s Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park. The El Corredor gelding has not raced since last summer. He was 10th in the Plate and trainer Bob Baffert said the gelding simply went off form.
Wanna Runner will be meeting the likes of Buzzards Bay and Molengao (2nd in the Santa Anita Handicap) on Saturday.
RARE SIGHTING
Fort Erie opens
Eight-year-old RARE FRIENDS, a champion and millionaire, is entered for $4,000 claiming on opening day at Fort Erie Saturday.
The first day of the Fort Erie season, which has been shortened in number of cards for 2007, has 9 races scheduled including the featured 1st race, a maiden allowance.
Rare Friends competes at 4 ½ furlongs against 10-year-old B.D. Victor and 8-year-old Expected Hour among others.
TODAY’S CANADIAN-BREDS
Elsewhere, THREE IN THE BAG is in an allowance race, race 1, on opening day of the prestigious Belmont Park meeting today. The ‘Bag is riding a winning streak in claiming events.
SUGAR SWIRL, who has flirted with top spots on the HOT CANADIAN-BRED LIST (at right), is in the 7th race at Churchill Downs today and is the 5 to 2 second choice. Trained by Bobby Frankel for Stronach Stables, Sugar Swirl (Touch Gold) races 1 mile against heavy favourite Eyes on Eddy.
MIKE SMITH TALKS ABOUT TIAGO, AND CHANTAL
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-spw-derbydiary2may02,1,6097561.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports
CATCH THE THRILL IN WORK NO. 2
Champion 2yo filly CATCH THE THRILL is already ahead of last year’s champion 2yo colt Leonnatus Anteas as she had her 2nd workout of 2007 yesterday at Woodbine.
The Sam-Son Farms filly went 3 furlongs in 37 3/5.
The Fury Stakes, the first prep race for the Woodbine Oaks, is on Sunday.
Don't be surprised if the Thrill comes to hand quickly and in time for the Oaks.
LARRY MILLSON’S BLOG FROM THE DERBY
Globe and Mail columnist Larry Millson has a blog this week during his Derby trip..you can read it here..
http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070501.wsptderby1/GSStory/GlobeSportsOther/home
posted by Jen Morrison @ 8:07 AM
2 Comments:
At 8:15 AM,
Anonymous said…
Jenn,
Score show has been cancelled due to The Score picking up a basketball game. Saw it on The Score's website - so no racing on t.v. tonight. :(
At 1:05 PM,
Anonymous said…
Jenn
Have you noticed that the Derby on Saturday follows a HOCKEY GAME!
I'll be really annoyed (that's being polite) if the Derby is
pre-empted by a '....' hockey game.
I hope whoever is playing that somebody loses fast and it doesn't go into overtime and ruin the Derby telecast.
Racing always gets the short end of the stick by the networks.
Tom W
Post a Comment