NO RE-LEAF

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS - A reader sent in a chart of a Mountaineer race recently (see yesterday's comments) - but I'll bite...what does it mean?

One reader wants to know where jockeys are heading this winter...CHANTAL SUTHERLAND is reportedly headed to California, PATRICK HUSBANDS headed to Fair Grounds, EMMA-JAYNE WILSON is likely headed to Fair Grounds as well. GERRY OLGUIN has been known to go to California for a month before Woodbine gets started again.

EMILE RAMSAMMY is serving another suspension - not certain if this is a new one or an old one.

As far as Attard family members claiming off of Attard family members...still trying to find information on that one...

Voting is set to begin today for the SOVEREIGN AWARDS (I have had previews for most horse categories in the last few weeks)...right now you folks are speaking your mind about HORSE OF THE YEAR (SEE MY POLLL on the right).

I will ask you about other divisions as the week goes on..

WOODBINE WEDNESDAY

It is the penultimate Wednesday evening card for the 2007 season and nine races are up this evening (last post after 10:30).

There are a trio of non-claiming races including a 2yo allowance – race 2, which could be won by BONZANZA (Jump Start), a Kentucky bred who was wiped out last time in a sprint race and now he tries a route distance.

The colt goes for trainer Mark Casse and Patrick Husbands (73 for 277 together at Woodbine this year, average WIN PAYOFF - $8.02, Daily Racing Form stats).

Bonanza’s dam, Explore the Gold, by Fast Gold, won 6 races and she was 2 for 11 in route races.

JUMP START is the sire of this year’s Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner Mrs. Began.

The 3^rd race is an Ontario-sired filly and mare alloweance that was scrapped last week when the races were cancelled.

Favourite BENT ATTORNEY has been in the top 3 in 7 of her 8 races and has the best last-race Beyer Figure in the field of 71. The way this race will be run will be important because several are speed types.

The thinking hers is that DREAM LOVER, from the rail, may take back off the pace and try to rally as she did 2 starts ago when she ran a 70 Beyer.

And RACE 7 is an Ontario-sired race, non-winners of 2, at 7 furlongs for fillies and mares.

Racing for the $62,800 purse is LADY MOON, WICKED EMER and LA MANCHA, the 1-2-3 finishers in a similar race at 6 furlongs on Nov. 9. It is a very tough final leg of the WIN 4 since there does not appear to be much speed in the field.

Also this evening, the 9yo warrior VERY PROFESSIONAL is back in action in race 6 for $9,500 claiming. The 5-time winner this year can tie YOLIE for most wins on the year at Woodbine if he bounces back from a poor outing on Nov. 15.

In the race, stakes winner ANOTHER ASCOT drops from allowances to $9,500 claiming.

SAM-SON FARMS ENDS YEAR QUIETLY

(NOTES FROM DAILY RACING FORM )

BY BILL TALLON

The following is an excerpt from Thurday’s DRF, to read more, including an update on champion Shillelagh Slew..go to www.drf.com and find Track Reports.

The Woodbine meeting is winding down rather quietly for trainer Mark Frostad and Sam-Son Farm.

Frostad already has 10 horses at Fair Grounds, where he has 15 stalls, and many others have been sent to the Sam-Son spread in Florida.

"We've just got a few left to run here, bits and pieces," Frostad said.

One of Frostad's prospective starters here is Written in Stone, a 3-year-old gelding who won his maiden in impressive fashion in his second lifetime start on Nov. 10. Written in Stone scored in his Polytrack debut at seven furlongs after finishing off the board over the same distance on the turf here Sept. 15.

Last Sunday, Written in Stone breezed five furlongs in 59 seconds.

Written in Stone is a full brother to Strike Softly, a 4-year-old filly who began her campaign with back-to-back victories here in the Grade 3 Hendrie at 6 1/2 furlongs on May 13 and the Grade 2 Nassau over 1 1/16 miles of turf on June 2. Shortly thereafter, Strike Softly was sidelined by a suspensory problem.

"She's back in training in Florida," Frostad said.

Windward Islands, Speak Wisely, and Sail From Seattle, all of whom won stakes here this year for Frostad and Sam-Son, are getting some time off at Sam-Son's Florida base.

One Sam-Son stakes winner who will not be back next year is Count to Three, who was retired as scheduled after finishing fifth in the seven-furlong Bessarabian here last Sunday and will be bred to Smart Strike.

Count to Three, a 5-year-old daughter of Red Ransom, won 5 of 22 starts while finishing second 6 times and third 4 times. She had career earnings of $437,847.

"She'll make a nice broodmare," said Frostad.

(Editor's note - According to EQUIBASE statistics this morning, Sam-Son is 27^th in North American by earnings this year at just over $2 million from 27 wins.)

FROM THOROUGHBRED TIMES NEWS TODAY and EQUINELINE.COM

For a full list, see today’s Daily News from TT

LEADING SIRES OF ONTARIO-BREDS FOR 2007 by Earnings

Horse Strs Wnrs SW $$$

Bold Executive 127 73 4 $3,933,535

Bold n’ Flashy 93 54 2 2,107,773

Kiridashi 49 26 3 2,014,134

Langfuhr 39 19 3 1,975,927

Ascot Knight 63 32 0 1,514,265

Tethra 75 37 2 1,505,870

Whiskey Wisdom 63 31 1 1,419,937

One Way Love 70 28 1 1,373,994

Trajectory 68 23 1 1,315,388

Compadre 60 24 1 1,240,737

HORSEPEOPLE SEND IN THEIR SUBMISSIONS TO THE ORC

RE: HORSE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

(The documents are a bit long and involved but the recommendations for the RESTRUCTURING OF THE HORSE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (HIP) can be seen here..

http://www.ontarioracingcommission.ca/uploadedFiles/HIP%20Recommendations%20Full%20Doc%20Sept%202007.pdf

THE FOCUS, from a thoroughbred perspective, is the definitions of Ontario-bred and Ontario Resident mare..

THE RESPONSES, from various breeders and folks in the business, including WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT, SHANNONDOE FARMS, JOHN HILLIER etc., can be read here…

The letters from these folks are interesting – what do you think about RESIDENT ONTARIO MARE and its definition?

Read more…

http://theharnessedge.com/news.asp?Mode=View&Story=23779