WIN AND YOU'RE IN

Big cards all over the place today with the theme of Breeders Cup prevailing. Win one of those races at the Spa today and get a free pass to Monmouth's Breeders Cup in October.

Some of today's big events are addressed below - please write in at the end of the day and give your thoughts about the best performances (the new THOROUGHBLOG poll will ask about your favourites this year).

Have to start the day off with bad news however...

TRAGEDY AT WOODBINE – Friday’s races

Pin Oak homebred euthanized after accident

A very dramatic stretch run ended sadly yesterday at Woodbine when DYNAMITE STRIKE broke down after a collision late in the 8^th race for maiden allowance colts on the grass. Josephine Abercrombie’s 3yo Dynaformer – Strike It Up colt was charging up the rail under Patrick Husbands and looking to overtake MUSKWA nearing the wire when he appeared to shy, prop and run into the latter.

He went for a terrible tumble, Husbands got up immediately and was waving his arms in disgust – likely at Muskwa’s jockey JERRY BAIRD.

Another horse – UPTON PARK, making his first start of the year, fell over Dynamite Strike, throwing Jono Jones to the ground.

Upton Park ran away, other horses were pulled up, Jones was later okay as was Husbands. Dynamite Strike never recovered – having broken down and he was euthanized on the track.

Track stewards posted an inquiry (the replay was shown a dozen times, if not more, and that did not make fans happy as the spill was a bit gruesome) and later, did not disqualify MUSKWA, who was certainly drifting in through the stretch under right-handed whipping by Baird.

The stewards told THOROUGHBLOG that while Muskwa was drifting in, Dynamite Strike appeared to shy from something and hopped out a bit and into the back end of Muskwa.

(Perhaps he was shying from the fact that Muskwa was making things tight on him and the white railing was right there – there was no where else to go but backwards – and down?)

In other races – graded stakes winner VESTREY LADY ended a slump when she won the Victoriana Stakes prep – a race for which she is not eligible. Vestrey Lady was in a tough pace duel all the way but edged clear and held off a fresh LONDON SNOW.

Vestrey Lady is by Vicar and is owned by Harlequin Ranches.

READ THE STARS, a 4yo Ontario bred by Cryptoclearance, won his maiden at the allowance level in race 4 at 1 ¼ miles on the turf.

The Kingfield runner was one of 2 winners for jockey Chantal Sutherland on the card.

FOGARTY’S COVE, who had 1 win and 8 2^nd place finishes in his career,won for $20,000 yesterday for California Stable as the 3 to 5 favourite. Another masterful piece of riding by top jock Tyler Pizarro, who won the last race on layoff runner REGAL VALLEY (Sammy DiPasquale and Mike Kowalski), who was dropping from $60,000 claming to $25,000.

WONDER WHERE honours top mare

Saturday at Woodbine

WONDER WHERE was one of the best mares this country has ever seen. A $7,300 yearling, she was owned by Larkin Maloney and Conn Smythe. She won the Canadian Oaks, Selene, Woodstock, Belle Mahone, etc. and was Horse of the Year in 1959 over New Providence.

The race named in her honour is 1 ¼ miles on turf for 3yo fillies foaled in Canada and it’s the 3^rd jewel of the Triple Tiara. No winner of the Triple this year though since SEALY HILL won the Oaks and Bison City, but was disqualified from the latter.

SEALY HILL, STREET SOUNDS, SANS SOUCI ISLAND AND SASKAWEA make today’s edition the race of the S fillies.

SEALY HILL should handle the distance and she has decent grass breeding.

STREET SOUNDS loves turf and should handle the distance (same sire as Street Sense) – her ½ sister SILVER HIGHLIGHT won this race.

SAN SOUCI ISLAND is undefeated in 2 races and is the ‘wise guy’ pick in this class hike.

I’M A ROCKET, MAN

15 RACES AT CALDER FOR FUN CARD

The two-furlong ROCKET MAN is at Calder today – a $50,000 stake that has lured, once again, CALLER ONE (10-yeards-old). He was 2^nd to the mare Rain Song in the race last year.

Fort Erie based FAST TRICK – who just won at 2 furlongs there for $10K claiming – is in the field.

In the 2 mile TURFMARATHON – Canadian-bred DIXIE PIPE is an 8 to 1 chance – previously trained by Catherine Day Phillips.Canadian-bred SIX CROSS ROADS is also in the race – previously trained by Layne Giliforte.

Race 10 is the KING GEORGE’S WRONG WAY STARTER, going the ‘wrong way’ around the course at1 3/8 MILES.

Race 11 is the “GRAY PRIDE”, all grey horses! Cool! And ARCHER FLEET, a Canadian-bred is in the race.

SPA DOINGS

WOODFORD RACING’S Silky Smooth was 5^th in the Lake George yesterday – a surprising effort since she beat fellow Woodbine based RED BIRKIN. The latter had a nice trip but was a bit flat and also was squeezed back badly in the stretch.

BIG CARD TODAY AT THE SPA…win and you’re in – BREEDERS’ CUP 2007. If you win, you are given a berth in the Cup races.

WHITNEY – Grade 1 , 1 1/8 miles

A prestigious race – I remember watching PERSONAL ENSIGN beat 2 boys – Gulch and King’s Swan, in the Whitney – a few years back.

It’s a blockbuster field this year – a 105 Beyer Figure looks good but the winner may run as high as 110..good horses for sure. Is that PAPI CHULLO for real? Hard to imagine he had that kind of form reversal. The roll stops here.

A hot pace is predicted from this corner – here are some win possibilities:

LAWYER RON, tough post – 11 hole, so that is cause for concern.

SUN KING – the best race of his life was in this race last year,113 Beyer Figure. Tough luck horse, probably a better miler. Worth a play at nice odds.

MAGNA GRADUATE – fresh and split Flashy Bull and Diamond Stripes in the Foster Handicap last time.