THE SPICE OF LIFE

(Courtesy Arlington Park, Four Footed photos)

103 Beyer for Jambalaya
It was easily the biggest win by a Canadian-bred and owned, trained horse in several years and JAMBALAYA now can boast as being the best in our country this year, one of the best south of the border and certainly in the same class as some of our top grass horses.
Indeed, producing world class grass horses has been something Canada has done well - Chief Bearhart, With Approval, Sky Classic, etc.
Jambalaya becomes a new millionaire and continues to put Canadian-bred LANGFUHR, his sire, at the top of the world's best stallions.
There are siblings to JAMBALAYA around Ontario as his dam,Muskrat Suzie is owned by Dr. Brian Van Arem of Loretto, Ontario. There is a 2yo named Gauteng who is training at Woodbine.

Correction, Jambalaya was a $2,500 Keeneland yearling purchase.

BAKER BEARS ALL....

(THEFT BY JERRY ‘BEAR’ ED)

The first two furlongs dictated how the DUCHESS STAKES was going to go yesterday at Woodbine. When heavily favoured BEAR NOW went in :23 in the seven-furlong race, the others behind her were doomed. She went a lot faster for the 2nd two furlongs but the race was over and she won by a long margin in 1:22.

A Kentucky-bred with 3 stakes wins locally for Bear Stables and trainer Reade Baker, Bear Now had a new rider for yesterday’s race in Jerry Baird.

Bear Now (Tiznow - Controlled) was a $65,000 yearling purchase by Danny Dion.

Asked about a possible match-up with top Canadian-foaled 3yo filly SEALY HILL, trainer Reade Baker said ‘well Sealy Hill’s a honey but you know what bears do to honey.”

Yee haa!

MORE SATURDAY RACES

Thanks to a sizzling pace set by an enterprising CRYPTOGRAPHIC and jockey Tyler Pizarro, Matt Moore and DANCER’S FLYER launched a bid from well back on the last turn and zoomed past a 2nd leader, ROYAL AUTUMN, the favourite, to win the first race for $9,500, non-winners of 2. It was the 2nd win in 43 starts for the John Calhoun Kentucky bred. The gelding had been racing on the grass and just missed winning his latest on the Fort Erie turf for $8,000 claiming (against multiple winners).

ONE QUIET CAT continues to a mini-roll for trainer Mike DePaulo as the Cateinus filly was very game in the stretch run of race 2 to win the $50,000 turf claiming event. It was her 5th win in 20 starts.

A big field of unknown Ontario-sired 2yo fillies in race 4 was ultimately won the by the favourite.

Favoured D’WILD LADY became another winner for first crop sire D’Wildcat. The filly was making her 2nd start for trainer Gil Rowntree and Briar Hill Farm, which bred the daughter of Well Taught, by Beau Genius.

Meanwhile, the well-bet AFLEETS CHARM, by A Fleets Dancer, a poor 2yo debut sire (0 for 17) was never a factor.

THE GREAT CARUSO became the 9th grass winning foal for his dam Antoinetta when he won his maiden in his 2nd start in his grass debut in the 5th race. The3yo Sultry Song gelding is a full brother to turf stakes winner Song for Annie and a ½ brother to the late stakes winner Ok By Me and the turf stakes winner D J’s Rainbow; added blinkers for his first race since April and just held off SIERRA CAT from the Audra Cappuccutti barn.

ALBERTA-BRED 2yo CRYPTONITE KID was a super man in race 8 when he won his maiden in his 2nd start in a 6 furlong turf dash. The son of Cryptoclearance is the first foal of that handy turf mare Cozy Up Doc, who raced at Woodbine for trainer Sid Attard. The 2yo was 1st time Lasix for Class Action Stable and trainer Dan Vella.

SARATOGA STUFF

It was easy to get tired just watching JOHN VELASQUEZ on the $2.5 million yearling THE LEOPARD in yesterday’s 2nd race at Saratoga. The Storm Cat 2yo was 2nd in his career debut and was absolutely hard ridden all the way in the 6 furlong race yesterday, never allowed a breather in an all-out chase and once he finally got off the rail while in 2nd place in mid-stretch, he wore down the leader to win. How 2yo’s develop into strong, classic winners with races like these, I have no idea but I guess it works.

Will be interesting to see how THE GREEN MONKEY, a $16 million 2yo purchase, will be ridden in his debut.

TODAY AT WOODBINE

Vandal, one of the most important American sires of the 19th century.

The first edition of the Vandal was held in 1956 and it was for 2yo fillies

Now the race is for Ontario-foaled 2yo's.

Heading the field is the impressive debut winner DON'S FOLLY (by Tethra), the 85 Beyer he earned in his debut was super-strong. DONERAILE GEM is already a stakes winner in 2 starts but his last Beyer was a 60.