NEW KING IN TOWN

ALEZZANDRO turned the tables on Mike Fox et al in the 3yo ranks yesterday at Fort Erie with a handy front running score at Fort Erie in his first dirt outing. Read more below.
(photo courtesy of www.horse-races.net)


Lots of hustle and bustle at Woodbine all weekend with a large crowd yesterday. Wagering and field size are up 4 months into the meeting.

Re; Na Somsanith and Chantal Sutherland suspensions. I believe they were from last year but if anyone knows the answer, feel free to write in!

WALE OF A RACE

92 Beyer for Alezzandro

Alezzandro got back the three-quarters of a length that cost him a Queen’s Plate victory three weeks ago when the 3-year-old colt won yesterday’s Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie racetrack, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown.

The giant colt, whose inexperience (just two previous career races) likely cost him holding off Mike Fox in the Plate, got his revenge in a big way, leading throughout every step of the 1 3/16 miles to win by one and three-quarter lengths under jockey Todd Kabel.

Mike Fox tracked Alezzandro closely all the way but could not quicken through the stretch and finished fifth in the field of six.

“(Jockey Wilson) Emma-Jayne had him right where we wanted to be but when Alezzandro starting edging away, he just couldn’t go with him,” said Mike Fox’s trainer Ian Black. “He ran hard, he tries.”

Jiggs Coz, a troubled third as the favourite in the Plate, had continued bad luck in the Prince of Wales, again as the public’s choice. The grey colt had a stutter-step start from the gate, changed his running style by trailing the field and then blew the last turn on his way to a hard charging second in the middle of the track.

Daaher, fourth in the Plate and invading from New York for Shadwell Farms, finished third.

Alezzandro, the 7 to 2 third favourite - Mike Fox was surprisingly only the fourth choice in the betting – paid $9.20 to win.

It was a fitting win for Knob Hill Stables, founded by the late Steve Stavro, since Alezzandro was a favourite horse of the owner, who named the homebred son of High Yield.

“We were so sad and happy after the Plate,” said Kabel. “For him to run that well and not win (the Plate)… But now it’s all worthwhile.”

Trainer Kevin Attard, just 31, was winning the biggest race of his young career at the track at which he began to train horses.

“It was nice to come back here where I had my first full year as a trainer,” said Attard, the nephew of Jiggs Coz’s trainer Sid Attard. “It felt great to have all the well-wishes.”

Attard has certainly picked up the same skills as his talented family members, which includes his training father Tino. He shipped Alezzandro from Woodbine to Fort Erie for a workout last weekend in order for the colt to get accustomed to the surface.

“He worked well, went nice and smoothly and everything just worked out perfectly,” said Attard.

Stavro hired Attard just a few months before passed away last spring and never got to see the trainer race one of his horses. Stavro’s widow, Sally, now operates Knob Hill Stables with her children.

Attard said Alezzandro is likely headed to the third jewel of the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes at 1 ½ miles on the grass, on Aug. 5.

3yo VERDICTS

So far, a 90 Beyer in the Plate by Mike Fox and then the 92 yesterday by Alezzandro says the crop is weak. The Wales winner could be getting better and better since he has only race 4 times so keep watching this big guy.

The fillies have been better - SEALY HILL in particular. The latter's dq in the Bison City Stakes was a topic for 2 letters in the Daily Racing Form on Sunday - critical of the decision and the subsequent appeal by the filly's connections.

WOODBINE WEEKEND WRAP

Hall of Fame trainer GIL ROWNTREE won his first race of the meeting when FLEET FOOT HARRY led all the way to win his maiden for $40,000 in the 1^st race on Saturday. The Ontario bred is yet another winner for the late sire A Fleets Dancer. The gelding was bred by his owner Ed Lang.

A late scratch in the first race was FRIENDSHIP ON FIRE, who got loose before the trainer. That gelding is trained by Bob Tiller.

Tiller had another unfortunate scratch in race 4 when first-timer SHES THE RIGHT ONE was scratched behind the gate.

Nice prospects that won on Saturday include NITE IN ROME (Harlan’s Holiday-Ascot Wedding), who won her 2yo debut at 6 furlongs on turf after drawing in from the also eligible list. The Ontario-bred is owned by Will Farish.

Domenic Triumbari’s TAREZ won the 4^th race for maiden 2yo fillies (Ontario-sired) in her 2^nd career start. She was a local yearling purchase for $15K US and is by Alydeed from Phi Beta.

The TORONTO CUP was contested over a turf course that had some ‘give’ to it since it had rained a lot during the day.

Much had been made before the race about how many of these races Sam-Son Farms has won, how many in a row TODD KABEL had won.

Well, WINDWARD ISLANDS chugged along in the stretch of the 9 furlong race and edged clear to win for that very team at 5 to 1.

The Cozzene Kentucky bred was adding blinkers and racing for just the 2^nd time in 2007.

Tucci Stables ARTIE HOT, a $30,000 claim earlier this year, looked like a winner into the stretch but had made his move so prematurely, he was weary in the final 1/8^th.

BOLD FINISH, owned and bred by Bill Diamant, earned a 90 Beyer Figure with his win in the allowance/optional claiming event after the Toronto Cup. The Bold Executive gelding beat a good field for his 2^nd win of the season for trainer Phil Gracey.

On Sunday, ALVENA won the Shady Well Stakes for 2yo fillies in track record time of :57.00 with a 75 Beyer Figure, her 2^nd win in 3 starts. The Jim and Alice Sapara homebred is by Seeking the Gold out of Willow Bunch. Jockey Pat Husbands left right after winning on the filly with a hand ride to take a helicopter to Fort Erie for the Prince of Wales.

Champion FINANCINGAVAILABLE got a late rider change from Todd Kabel to Tyler Pizarro and won the Royal North prep, race 2 on Sunday. The grey mare trailed in the 6 furlong turf dash but then unleashed an impressive kick in the stretch to win easily.

First time starter BEENTHRUTHEDESERT won his debut in Sunday’s finale. An Ontario bred by Bold Executive, the gelding is a full brother to stakes winner Bad Hat and is owned by Ted Coker and Jim Coburn.

EDGAR PRADO AT WOODBINE SUNDAY

Eclipse Award winning jockey EDGAR PRADO is taking over the reins on champion SKY CONQUEROR for next Sunday’s NORTHERN DANCER STAKES, part of the turf festival card of racing at Woodbine.

Sky Conqueror, 2^nd in the King Edward Gold Cup last time out and a Grade 1 winner this year with Javiar Castalleno riding, has been ridden by Todd Kabel locally.

The Northern Dancer is expected to be another showdown between Sky Conqueror and Jambalaya with a small field expected for the $750,000 race.

OTHER NOTES

Canadian-bred INDIAN VALE was unplaced in the Delaware Handicap yesterday…BEAR NOW, a graded stakes winner at Woodbine, had a messy trip in Saturday’s Delaware Oaks and was off the board…Alezzandro’s sire HIGH YIELD had a litany of other wins on the weekend including Alezzandro. One, INVESTOR’S GAMBLE (well named) won his debut at Assiniboia Downs at the age of 4. He was a $975,000 2yo in training purchase.