FIRST PLATE ON POLY
**Reminder - BARBADOS DAY at Woodbine tomorrow plus a Woodbine Workouts seminar at 8:30-10:30 a.m. with Mark Casse and Emma-Jayne Wilson.
DAVID CLARK booked off his mounts Friday because of soreness due to an accident yesterday at Woodbine. He will return tomorrow and will ride Jiggs Coz in the Plate on Sunday. Riders Michelle Rainford, Na Somsanith and Steve Bahen all fell off in a bad accident yesterday but only Rainford was off of her mounts with a strained knee.
Trainer LORNE RICHARDS had his first winner of the meeting when stakes winner ONLY IF SPLIT made a successful return to the races and won the 2nd race, an allowance race for Ontario sired fillies. The filly is by One Way Love.
Breeders' Stakes possibiltiies were in action in race 4 and SEHGAL stayed unbeaten in his 2nd start. The Bahri colt is out of the Theatrical mare Vina del Mar.
A colt that was beaten by Sehgal first time out this year, POACHERS MOON, came back to win his maiden in the next race, the 5th, winning for Roger Attfield.
The first-ever QUEEN'S PLATE on Polytrack and the first classic race in the world on Polytrack...it certainly has been a tricky surface to handicap and decipher not just for handicappers but for horsemen and the track people.
Woodbine's Polytrack is on the slow side this week so far, the kickback is still evident but strong headwind hitting the horses in the face yesterday made the stretch runs slow and hard for horses who did not have some size and strength to finish strongly.
Wide rallying types still have been doing well but rail horses have still be in the hunt.
64 people have voted on the Plate poll with Jiggs Coz the narrow choice as the Plate winner...
PLATE CARD - SUPERFECTAS ON ALL RACES, TWO PICK 4'S and let's hope.. A BIG CARRYOVER in the PICK 7 (today it is $26,000)
SEEN AND HEARD AT PLATE DRAW
Brad May of the Anaheim Ducks talked about his foray into racehorse ownership (2 wins with trainer Scott Fairlie) and Cindy Klassen brought her 5 (!!) medals from the last winter Olympics. Brad May said "Cindy's a thoroughbred (on skates) and I'm a plough-horse)"
Yesterday’s post position draw brought together media and horsepeople to talk Plate.
David Willmot had a poignant introduction to the folks when he noted that the Stavro family, Mel Lawson and Morgan Firestone were all longtime owners on the southern
“This is a tough game and these people have been loyal owners, it would be nice to see them get their Plate.”
Trainer Roger Attfield took a little shot at the racing department when asked why he entered maiden INCLUDE US. “Well, he shouldn’t be a maiden but I couldn’t run in a maiden race here the way the book was written.”
Ginny Depasquale, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher, said TWILIGHT METEOR was bucking and playing yesterday morning as he walked the shedrow.
Mark Casse, trainer of MARCHFIELD, was asked what scared him most in the race and he said “My horse not being fast enough.” His second concern would be the lack of pace that could hurt the colt’s stretch run.
JIGGS COZ got post 6 – trainer Sid Attard won the Atto Mile with Numerous Times from post 6 and the colt won his last race from the same post.
PLATE STORIES TODAY
http://torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2007/06/22/4280912-sun.html
More Stavro stuff: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070622.QUEENSPLATE22/TPStory/Sports
Marchfield
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/228107
PILE-UP AT WOODBINE
Thursday at Woodbine
Not sure what happened yesterday at Woodbine – no full moon to blame – but horses were clipping heels and falling, bolting, you name it.
The big accident was in the last race when three horses lost their riders.MICHELLE RAINFORD (apprentice) had to go for xrays at a local hospital after her
Earlier in the card, DAVID CLARK, who rides Plate favourite JIGGS COZ, clipped heels with his mount LEMON TWIRL in a maiden grass race and went down in a heap but walked off.
In the day’s first event, FAITH’S WAY bolted on the turn for home but then beat 2 rivals when straightened out.
In race 2, LOVE BY DESIGN was a gritty winner in the $16,000 claiming race around 2 turns and would have been the 2nd winner for trainer William Tharranos but the gelding was disqualified. A lot of crowding on the first turn caused two horses, Saygnitetodabadguy and Abracapocus to check, although form these eyes, it was hard to imagine that Love by Design, ridden by Gerry Olguin, was the main cause of what appeared to be just a traffic jam.
Lots of homebreds won yesterday – SHAWANAGA (Deputy Commander – Papoose) won her maiden in her 2nd career start for Brian Cullen’s Victura Farms in the maiden allowance on turf (where
Sean Fitzherny’s ABOUT THREE WEEKS made an Arazi-type move around the last turn on his way to his maiden score for $16,000 in the 8th race. The gelding is by Meadowlake out of Kiss Me Caitland.
And the accident-marred last race went to Sue Foreman and Murry Stroud’s YONAH MELEE, bred by Foreman. The filly is by Yonaguska out of Baby Millie.
posted by Jen Morrison @ 6:35 AM
21 Comments:
At 7:03 AM,
Anonymous said…
No question david Clark should be allowed to ride. He desreves the same consideration any one would have under the circumstances.
I am just wondering why the people that cover this sport have shied away from this story? I am guessing you are not going to answer this question.
I find it pretty hypocritical of you, after calling out Vern Fernandes, that you have been so mute on this topic.
Horse racing people are a funny lot. They want their sport to be taken seriously and covered like other sports. Yet circle the wagons and clam up when something like this happens.
It was said a lot a couple weeks back...It's all about credibility.
If Fort Erie should not be on T.V because I quote "people like Mr. Fernandes" what does it say about Woodbine and people like Mr. Clark?
At 7:16 AM,
Jen Morrison said…
In regards to above comment - horse racing and its people and those that cover it tend to shy away from anything controversial - that's the way it has always been in this sport. A small community of jockeys, trainers, owners, etc., those that cover the sport day in and day out (there are not many of them like there is in hockey, baseball etc.) would likely have a tough time getting quotes and interviews if they were focussing on situations like David Clark's.
let's remember, the media department at Woodbine is not going to report on david Clark and after that, only the Daily Racing Form, which did report on the accident, covers racing here every day.
This week, the Queen's Plate and its horses and horsemen are the stories. You could probably dig up all kinds of stories etc. on personal lives of the connections of the horses, but it really doesn't have anything to do with the running of the race.
There is no question that the wagons circle and things are kept hush-hush in horse racing - especially at Woodbine, and no matter what the story.
At 8:17 AM,
Anonymous said…
If you were to dig a little deeper on a few of the guys on the Anaheim Mighty Ducks or Ottawa Senators I'm sure you'd find lots of "juicy" stories to cover (maybe not quite as "sensational" as David Clark's, but I'm sure something "negative" or "dark" could be found on almost any of them if you dug deep enough).
The fact of the matter is - this story was covered and available to be covered by every media outlet out there when it happened yet most felt a small blurb would suffice.
Now, because a negative spin on anything seems to be a good way to sell papers according to the media - it seemed like a good time to bring it up again.
Here's a question....if David Clark were riding a 99-1 morning line shot in this race that most people that keep track of horse racing thought had no chance - would Strobel have written this same story - even though the only single solitary thing that's changed is that he's not on the favourite? He'd still have the chance at winning the $600,000 winner's purse....he's still been riding all this time since the accident.... .
My guess is that Strobel wouldn't have touched this story if Clark wasn't on the favourite and then most people wouldn't be having all of the discussions they are having and it would just pass by the wayside on Plate day without any focus on it at all.
It doesn't make it right or anything like that, but it does go to show what kind of "motives" go behind writing stories when they do and for what reason.
At 11:33 AM,
Anonymous said…
I agree with you Jen. Beat writers can't be expected to print tabloid type news on peoples lives away from the track when they are trying to report local racing news with class and professionalism. Anyone who has been around horsemen knows what kind of pride people take in there both their horse and their efforts and how personal insults are not taken lightly.
I am pulling for jiggs coz 100% for the simple fact that i love sid attard. He is one of the nicest people on the backstretch, and i would be very dissapointed if a career pinnacle win on sunday were to be ruined by some 2 bit, sensationalist writer trying to sell a few more copies.
Go Sid Go!
At 12:45 PM,
the_drake said…
What a twist this years Plate has taken....What a joke, this guy wrote the story like it was wrestling and Clark pulled off a mask and everyone found out just now that he was riding Jiggs Coz. Tough times for Canadian bred 3 y.o. boys, when a horse who finished 3rd in an Overnight at Belmont is 4-1. Wonder why Daaher is so high, if he doesn't bouce he'll romp. My prediction,Winning Beyer 89.
As for the BIG pick 7 carryover why does anybody play this bet? I think the pool at Fonner Park gets bigger than this. You can Pick 1 less race at Hollywood and play for a guarenteed $400,000 every day or even play Pick 4's with $100k in the pool at Keeneland.
Maybe Willmot should pry open his pockets to make wagering more attractive to the gamblers here, instead of blowing hot air about the offshores.
At 12:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
With all due respect.
saying, "i would be pretty dissapointed if a career pinnacle win on Sunday were to ruined by some 2-bit, sensalist writer" is kind of missing the point. I wonder if the family of that lady that was unfortunetly killed that day will feel the same way?
At 1:27 PM,
Anonymous said…
Anon 11:33
Do you consider the reporters that covered the Dany Heatley(who was not drunk) story classless and unprofessional.
why is it the "if i write about people they will never talk to me" thing keep coming up. Seems to me a professional journalist doesn't let this cloud their judgement.
At 6:08 PM,
Anonymous said…
Woodbine, Race 1 today:
Winner.....5-1
Favourite... out of the money.
Trainer of both horses, SC Attard.
The bettors are bushwacked again. The horses noted should have been coupled in the wagering. When Bill Robinson, (a top harness trainer at Woodbine) had results similar to the above WOODBINE refused his entries. Wanna bet WOODBINE starts to refuse SC Attards' entries.
Does the ORC exist to protect bettors or do they just sit there and calculate their pension entitlements. Memo to Ontario Gov't: Could you please appoint some competents to the ORC so that the betting rules are changed to protect the bettors from shenanigans. Current occupants of the ORC are there not on merit. They are rejects from certain other occupations and should be removed forthwith.
At 6:09 PM,
Anonymous said…
In the United States, Clark would be in jail but I guess in Canada he gets to ride a classic contender. The moral of story? If you are going to Drink, Drive and kill someone, you better do it in Canada. Oh that and the Canadian system is a joke....
At 7:09 PM,
Anonymous said…
I too think the morning line odds on Daaher are too high. There is no way he will be 15-1 at post time.
At 7:17 PM,
Anonymous said…
You can also bet that, in the United States, reporters wouldn't be running away, worried that no one will ever talk to them again.
At 9:42 PM,
the_drake said…
ANON 6:08
I used to love betting coupled entries too, back when I was 8 and I thought I had a better chance at cashing on my $2 show bet. The favorite in that race shouldn't have been the choice, but every idiot out there sees he ran in the Plate next year and gets excited, and blows their wad on him. He hasn't shown much his whole career and just got beat by a horse who won his NW2L for $20k, the horse in third that day broke his maiden for $10k or something around there. He was stretching out 2nd off the shelf off one of best ever races against false $40k horses, he screamed a bounce even if he was good enough to win this race which he isn't. Seriously before you call shenanigans look a little deeper into the race. BTW Ontario is not the only province/state were a trainers entry with seperate ownership is not coupled.
At 6:59 AM,
Anonymous said…
In response to The Drake's comment about the feeble pick seven (or whatever it's called) pool, it's my understanding that the gov't. won't let Woodbine seed the pool to make it more attractive - it's not a matter of Mr. Willmot "prying open his pockets".
And, to anonymous 609, David Clark would still be innocent until proven guilty, be it in the U.S. or Canada.
At 8:12 AM,
Anonymous said…
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it here, but Chantal Sutherland is riding beautifully these days. The time she spent Stateside is obviously paying dividends. She's seems to have learned a lot, riding against the likes of Edgar Prado and John Velazques in New York. And she looks like a much stronger rider today, especially with her ability to make a horse finish, than she was when she left Woodbine. Her recent tally of wins have an absolute pleasure to watch.
At 9:17 AM,
Anonymous said…
Anon 6.08.
I guess you also have a plethora of views on the assassination of JFK.
Are you saying that the trainer is cheating and fixed the race, with or without the help of the other jockeys and trainers?
At 9:30 AM,
Anonymous said…
I would have given Vern a fine . He may think twice the next time on making comments hurting the sport and livlihood that he works at
At 10:04 AM,
Anonymous said…
I agree that the Canadian justice system is a joke - but saying that Clark would be in jail if he was in the U.S. - are you kidding?
This is the country that let O.J. go for crying out loud!
If you're any kind of "celebrity" you pretty much have to walk into the police station yourself covered in blood saying I did it to be guaranteed to go to jail! (athletes included!).
Again it all comes back to "innocent until proven guilty"...charges are "alleged" right now until proven in a court of law. But I find the States takes that one step further because sometimes they ARE proven in a court of law and they still walk!
At 10:28 AM,
Anonymous said…
I have a question. What races do the 2 pick 4's comprise?
At 10:31 AM,
Anonymous said…
you'll be lucky if you get 6-1 on Daaher.
At 11:10 AM,
Anonymous said…
A DUI Case isn't rocket science. The point I was making with the US/ Canadian legal system had to do with the fact that the event took place over a year ago and we're still waiting for his trial to start. In the US, it doesn't take over a year to start a clear cut DUI case. It is a joke of a system because it takes a year to even start the process when its pretty clear cut as to what happened. This isn't the JFK assassination, its a man having too much to drink, driving with the result being, a young lady's death. Not rocket science, in the US, his trial would have started months ago and if you believe he is guilty ( as I clearly do) then you'd have to believe that he would be behind bars rather than riding the Queensplate fav. But hey, its your legal system.
And on a racing note, Daaher is a steal in this race.
At 2:09 AM,
the_drake said…
O.K. there's one thing big Dave get's off the hook for, the gov pins him down with the pick whatevers. He still has lost every point available with his Mother Woodbine schpeil (how the hell do you spell schpeil) a few years back. As for Leo, too bad he scratched, he would have eaten a tonne of stupid HPI talent money in the Plate. As for the dude who says Alezzandro is in it to win it, SURE, most horses with dueling 78 beyers in 2 starts are serious contenders for a million dollar race. Take the Knob Hill barn to Belmont or Saratoga in a few weeks and see how it does, If they win an allowance race by labour day I'll be surprised. I'm not nocking it, just commenting on the fact that you can make a tonne of money taking advantage of the Ontario Sired and Canadia bred programs, but don't say most of the horses can compete outside of Woodbine. I know the Plate has fallen on hard times, but it's not a NW2L for $40k yet. Twilight, Marchfield and Dahaar (if he takes to the poly, I was at Keeneland when he looked like a chump in his career debut)should be an easy tri and it might even hit for over $100 depending on who wins. Box em 20 times and watch the races the rest of the day, if Jiggs knocks you out so be it.
I'm still trying to figure out how the line makes sense, 4 horse below 6-1 and 5 horses above 12-1. Hey Jen did you take lessons on line making from For The Lead Battaglia, I'm sorry that was cruel nobody can be as bad as him.
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