FLY DAY

From Fort Erie today..

SPARKS FLY AT STAKES DRAWS
Scott Lane/Bill MacKinnon heat things up

By Bob Summers

FORT ERIE, Ont. — If the horses in Sunday’s Rainbow Connection Stakes run as fast as tempers flared at the post position draw, it’s going to be an exciting and contentious 5 furlongs on the grass.

Thursday afternoon’s post position draw for the $125,000 race seemed quick and routine until race office administrator Candice Davies announced that jockey Robert King Jr., the Fort Erie Race Track’s leading rider and defending champion, had been named to ride two 5-year-old mares.

So she asked Scott Lane, King’s agent, to choose between Flashy Pink and Top Ten List.

Lane quickly took Top Ten List, a Maryland-based turf specialist who won the Rainbow Connection last year and is trained by Michael Trombetta, currently at Saratoga.

As soon as Lane announced his choice, he was met with a blast of profanity from William MacKinnon, the trainer of Flashy Pink, who said he had been given “first call” on the services of King, who has won 52 of 267 Fort Erie races with purse earnings of $571,596. King had ridden Flashy Pink three times earlier, including a victory at Woodbine in April.

Lane denied MacKinnon’s claim and added gasoline to the fire by calling MacKinnon several names insulting to his age and physical appearance. MacKinnon then walked over to Lane and the two traded insults at jaw-to-jaw range before race secretary Tom Gostlin restored order.

MacKinnon stormed out of the race office and eventually named Kris Robinson to ride Flashy Pink, who drew post No. 7 in the eight-horse field, headed by probable favorite Bosskiri, with David Clark aboard.

The previous day, MacKinnon said he thought Flashy Pink — who finished second to Bosskiri in the $50,000 Ernie Samuel Memorial Stakes at the Fort on July 15 — had a good chance to turn the tables in the Fort’s second-richest race of 2007.

“First time I hooked her [Bosskiri], she beat me by six lengths [at Woodbine June 23]; last time she beat me by two. I’m getting closer,” MacKinnon said.

Bosskiri, trained at Woodbine by Reade Baker, has posted two sharp works on the training track since the Samuel and will be looking for her second victory in four turf starts. On all surfaces, she has won 7 of 16 races while earning $463,429.

Top Ten List has won $481,644 overall, and is 4 of 13 on the turf with earnings of $391,556. When she won last year’s Rainbow Connection, a race restricted to daughters of Ontario-based sires, she was trained by Woodbine’s Robert Tiller. This year, she is winless in four starts for Trombetta.

Sunday’s race includes two other Fort Erie-based fillies — the Harold Ladauceur- trained Silver Foxtrail and Robert Williams’ Timely Matter.

The field (with weights and jockeys) in post position order: Timely Matter (116, Brian Bochinski); Shot Gun Ela (120, E. Rosa Da Silva); Top Ten List (120, King); Silver Foxtrail (116, Chris Griffith); Impressaria (116, Anthony Stephen); Bosskiri (120, Clark); Flashy Pink (118, Robinson) and Siwa (116, Jono Jones).

rsummers@buffnews.com

VINDICATION RAID

Woodbine Thursday

The superstar stallion VINDICATION had another 2yo debut winner from his first crop when the Ontario-bred DAWN RAID worked her way from post 12, raced wide in mid pack and then methodically wore down Kentucky bred Eva’s World in the last jump to win that maiden allowance yesterday at Woodbine.

The $70,000 yearling purchase is out of Embur Sunshine, who has been such a good producer for Josham Farms. Woodford Racing LLC owns and Mark Casse trains. The filly is a half-sister to stakes winner TEN FLAT and the tough gelding Embattle.

There were some big efforts yesterday by horses who paired up top Beyer Figures and wins. (And 6 winners in the Toronto Star for one particular handicapper!)

CURVE OF THE MOON won again, she won for $9,500 claiming in race 1 for her young trainer Steve Roberts. She’s by Whiskey Wisdom.

ALBARINO, by Langfuhr, bulled his way between horses off the last turn to win again for $40,000 claiming and he earned an 84 Beyer Figure. He’s owned and bred by Ross McKague,

And RAHY’S ATTORNEY, a homebred for the Ellie Boje Farm and partners, won another turf allowance race, this time with an 87 Beyer Figure. The Crown Attorney 3yo could be a serious force in the upcoming Vice Regent Stakes or Bunty Lawless Stakes.

Quebec-bred 2yo URN was edged late in his career debut by STREATERVILLE, an Arlington invader who bled in his debut race, added Lasix and blinkers for trainer Mike Doyle yesterday and won by a nose.

And the promising BEENTHRUTHEDESERT won for the 2^nd time in his 3 starts when he drove up the rail to win by a neck in a $62,800 allowance for Ontario-sired guys. The long chestnut gelding is by Bold Executive.

Jockey ROBERT LANDRY rode Rahy’s Attorney and the last race winner, HIGHLAND DEED (Trained by Lee Baker) for his first two wins since getting married on Monday.

RIDE ON COWBOY

KODIAK KOWBOY overcame some adversity to win another graded 2yo stakes yesterday at Saratoga, the ‘Special’, Grade 2. He was blocked around the turn and then had to barge through babies to win by 3 lengths in 1:15 4/5 for 6 ½ furlongs.

Since the Posse 2yo has raced twice in Canada, he is eligible for a Sovereign Award and he is easily the leader of that division.

At Arlington, Ontario-bred LORD CARMEN won an 9 furlong allowance race on turf for his 6^th win in 31 starts. The Ordway-Gregorian Winloc gelding was bred by Audrey Daniels. The gelding’s little sister runs tomorrow at Woodbine.