BUGGIE RACES

All of a sudden it's very warm in southern Ontario and getting warmer - forecast through next Monday are no rain and temps from 25-30 Celcius.
And that means the bugs are having a hey-day instead of going dormant. TV analyst Jim Bannon found that out the hard way last night when doing THE SCORE show under bright lights and outside for the races at Woodbine as he was literally attacked by hundreds of flying critters...time to move inside gang!

As for the racing....

Better late than never for TELL IT AS IT IS, a Chester House filly bred by the famed Calumet Farms in Kentucky. The filly only discovered grass racing in her last start on Sept. 1 and was 4th in the Ontario Colleen stakes. She just about set a course record for 10 furlongs last night in an allowance race – 2:01 2/5.

Owner – Richard Lister, trainer – Jim Smith

FLEETS DREAM won his maiden in race 2 at the MSW level (Ont. Sired). The A Fleets Dancer gelding (1/2 bro to champion Blonde Executive, SW Main Executive, stakes placed Cool Selection) might be as good as all his other super siblings. He was pounded down last time to 4 to 5 for his 3rd race of his career and won handily for the Bruno Bros.

Albert Sanges’ JUDITHS JEWEL (Trajectory) doubled up in race 3 and pretty much said he would with his fancy appearance in the post parade. The 3yo was making his 2nd start since coming out of that wild key race from Aug. 22 won by Cobotown Ron.

Mild upset in race 4, an allowance race that had 2 late scratches – Muskwa and Chaplain were not eligible for the conditions. Sue Foreman’s homebred Mazel Trick gelding led all the way to win the 6 1/2furlong dash under Matt Moore. It was the 3rd win in 10 starts for the gelding who is trained by Steve Attard. Laughing Moon and Primeric Prince, co-favourites, both flopped with 7th and 4th place finishes respectively.

The older guys stretched out to 1 ½ miles in race 5, a starter allowance for those who have competed for $16K in the last 2 seasons.

No surprises in this race as BENZ BOY, a Siphon Kentucky-bred who has had a litany of owners and trainers through his career,won as the favourite. It was his 10th win in 37 starts.

Speaking of no surprises, the OVERSKATE STAKES could not help but set up for 3yo DANCER’S BAJAN to beat the speedy older guys and he was actually favoured over Main Executive, who was softened up in the pace duel by Stonetown. (The latter was cutting back from a route race but still went on a speed mission in the 7 furlong dash). Main Executive stayed on for 2^nd over his stablemate Cool Selection. The 3 Sons Stable owner Dancer’s Bajan(Trajectory-Thoughtful Deed), who has been steady as a anything all season for trainer Robert Tiller.

Nine-year-old VERY PROFESSIONAL is a grand old guy – he won for the 15^th time last night in his 86^th start and for the 2^nd time in 12 races this year. Sturdy and gritty, he was dropping to $9,500 claiming for owner Willie Armata.

And INCI ON TIME, one of very few runners for the late stallion INCITATUS (his was a tragic story of a Barbadian champion, stakes winner at Woodbine, stallion in British Columbia who was brought back to the races as an old horse and he died after his return race) won his maiden in the finale as many predicted for trainer Deb England.

Apparently the gelding is owned by Incitatus’ owner John Kom-Tong’s son Jason.

OTHER STUFF..

DONA CHEPA – A 9-YEAR-OLD mare from Puerto Rico, lost another maiden race 2 days ago at Camerero racetrack and is 0 for 125 in her career, believed to be a record..BAUER, a listed winner trained by Luca Cumani, is in the Arc Trial this weekend and could race next at Woodbine in the Canadian International..

PALLADIO, who has struggled in recent starts, will take his stuff on the road to Suffolk Downs for the $500,000 Mass ‘Cap this weekend. He’s 12 to 1 and if he wins, can take an extra $100K bonus for being a graded stakes winner (Eclipse) this year…Canadian-bred JUNGLE FIGHTER is in the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at meadowlands Friday night for Stronach Stables and Justin Nixon…Canadian-bred DAN MCGREW (Smart Strike-Blushing Maggie) is in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf ‘Cap at Kentucky Downs on Saturday, facing Canadian-bred LORD CARMEN (Ordway-Gregorian Winloc)..