NANDI IS DANDY

You have to shake your head sometimes – 10-year-old WAKE AT NOON, who flopped in 3 races last year after a couple of years at stud and was reportedly retired for good (according to a report this spring in the DRF) is back working again – at FORT ERIE.

Oh yes, Wake at Noon was the 2002 Canadian Horse of the Year.

Owners of racehorses - here's a bizarre tidbit...A racing periodical just had coverage of the Queen's Plate in its latest issue and reportedly (I have not seen it) did not once mention the owner Morgan Firestone or trainer Ian Black in its coverage of the race. Weird.

WHAT THE….

WOODBINE FRIDAY, MORE QUESTIONS

In an eerily similar stretch run on the grass to last Friday’s disaster, VALEISHA finished second in the 8^th race for maiden fillies and mares at 7 furlongs after forcing the pace all the way but came in slightly in early stretch causing STOLEN HUMOR to clip heels and fall, tossing Justin Stein into the portable rails. (Justin and horse were fine after the race it appeared)

Valeisha, a 99 to 1 shot, was disqualified.

Last week, Dynamic Strike was charging up the rail on Muskwa, who drifted over at least 2 paths, and then ran into that one, fell, broke a leg and was euthanized.

No change in the order of finish.

In the Bison City, SEALY HILL came in on Quiet Jungle and caused that one to steady (although she was not a contender at that point) and was disqualified.

This makes no sense to this corner and this weekend, I hope to have some explanations.

Sam-Son Farms’ OCALA SKY won the race, incidentally. A Dynaformer Ontario-bred who was much the best in a previous maiden race on Polytrack but got into traffic trouble. She won yesterday at 10 to 1.

Manitoba-bred TENACIOUS BEAR won his maiden a week after his big brother ALBARINO won a $32K claiming race. He’s by Forest Camp-Ms Tenacious by Buckley Boy. Owned by the Bear Stable.

Ontario-sired RED RAFFLES was a predictable winner at odds-on in race 2 for Kingfield Racing (Lessee). That was the day’s feature, a $73,500 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Gone Trajectory had to be vanned off after the race because of heat stroke.

Big delay before the 4^th race when jockey Matt Moore was injured in a gate incident. His 2yo, More Inspiration needed a new rider while the one beside him in the gate, Cats at War, was scratched as he was fractious.

Some very slow races and stretch runs in particular were visible yesterday. The 6^th went in 1:49 1/5 for 1 1/16 miles for $16,000 3yo fillies.

That race was ugly – many terrible trips and strange strategic moves. The early pace was very slow, 25 and change, 50 and change, some riders had their fillies 12-15 lengths off the pace. Around the final turn, some riders were asking their horses to rally while 6-7 wide (Never Left Out must have run a half a furlong farther than any horse in the race).

Meanwhile, leading rider Tyler Pizarro darted Goldstein up the rail to win for Ray Kong.

The Melnyk, Casse, Husbands train continued to roll in race 7 when BAYWOODS won her maiden without feeling the whip. She’s a Florida bred by Archers Bay.

And the last race on the card. Hmmm. Trainer TERRY JORDAN has done some wild things at the meeting with that 37% win average. REGAL PUSHER dropped steadily from 4 to 1 to 8 to 5 right at post time for the trainer.

Not only did she go 22 2/5, 44 4/6 but she kept going and won easily in a freakish, freakish performance.

She is a $25,000 claiming mare by Regal Intention.

NANDI STAKES TOPS LARGE CARD SATURDAY

Trainer NICK GONZALEZ appears to have a strangehold on the Nandi Stakes for Ontario-sired 2yo fillies today. The $125,000 race is the 8th on a large card at Woodbine with big fields and competitive events.

One of the Gonzalez fillies could be favoured although AUTHENICAT, was made the morning-line choice since she won her maiden last time out at odds-on despite a low Beyer Figure.

The filly is from the first crop of D'WILDCAT, who now stands in Florida. That sire also has the promising DESIRE AND FIRE in the field, she was 3rd on the grass in her debut and looks like a good one.

As for the Gonzalez trio - EXECUTIVE DECISION is a maiden but she almost caught up to win her 2nd start when edged by Authenicat. She's by Bold Executive.

Executrix (also by Bold Executive) was 2nd in the Shady Well Stakes in her last start. And DO IT ANYWAY is a first timer with fast workout times and she's by Sea Wall.

John Waterman sent in this note about a unique day of racing for him tomorrow…

I have one broodmare - Lovely Cabrini, and she has a 2yo running at Woodbine on Sunday named Prosperity Avenue. In addition, she has a 4yo named Cab running at Ellis and a 5yo named Sweet Salvation running at Philadelphia on Sunday also. Seems like incredible odds - she has 5 of racing age.

DAN MCGREW WINS

Dogwood Stables’ DAN MCGREW (Smart Strike – Blushing Maggie, Dynaformer) won a 12 furlong turf allowance at Ellis Park yesterday for his 2^nd win of his career. The 3yo Canadian-bred was bred by Louise Wright and Michael Lauer.