PIZ-AZZ

Several big stories from yesterday's racing at Woodbine but you had to pay close attention to notice some of them.

ECCENTRIC, one of the better older horses on the grounds and favoured in yesterday's AUTUMN HANDICAP, was vanned off after the race after finishing a well beaten last but was reportedly a o.k. this morning according to the Roger Attfield barn.

TRUE METROPOLITAN scored a mild upset in the race, a Grade 3, and anyone who watched the race knew there was a chance he could break the record. He did set a track record in the process: His time of 1:42.22 was a new standard for the 1 1/16 mile distance.
The gelding was very strong and had a serious challenge from top 3yo LEONNATUS ANTEAS but he turned him away.
The winner has scored 7 times this year in 10 starts, a remarkable record, and he was champion older horse in Canada last year winning 7 of 12.
His lifetime totals are 16 wins in 33 races and over $910,000
The 5yo Florida-bred by Proud and True is owned by Bob Cheema and trained by Terry Jordan.
The horse's regular rider has been Todd Kabel (east) and Quincy Welch (west) but Jim McAleney was given the mount yesterday.
The gelding could contend for champion again this year.

Jockey TYLER PIZARRO won 5 races, half the card, as he gives it the ole' college try to catch back up to leader Patrick Husbands by wins.
Yes he rides a lot of "live" ones since he is an apprentice but the kid looked good on some of those winners
He outsmarted most on BOLD CORKY in the 7th as the pace was very slow over the Polytrack (which had lots of chunky kickback). That Ontario-sired allowance was a nightmare trip for FINTONA, who surely would have been closer had she not been hard rated at the back of the field behind the ridiculously slow pace.
Pizarro appeared to move too soon on HEDGE ON GOLD in race 5 but it worked out as the big gelding held on late to win the $10K claimer for trainer John Ross.
And he rode another one for Ross in the previous race, TALK TO ME GIRL, and she won big in that maiden $20K race for Kathy Gentles.

Emma-Jayne won a couple of nice races, getting a bit lucky to overcome traffic woes in race 3 to score on FRIEDNLY PASSAGE for the Colebrook team. The Friendly Lover mare was winning for $16K claiming.

And what was with the 2yo TOOK THE TIME winning his debut for Sequel racing in the 2nd?
While the Ontario -bred by Greenwood Lake-Smart Zone had the breeding to be a contender, the Mark Casse barn had 2 in the race and Patrick Husbands, who is the leading jockey because of the Casse barn, was on the other one.
Instead, it was Corey Fraser who got the gelding up to win after a bad start. The 2yo paid a surprising $48.

TODAY at Woodbine there is $21,000 Pick 7 carryover and two stakes. DANCING ALLSTAR has been scratched from the GLORIOUS SONG STAKES.
The champion sprinter Sovereign is up for grabs in the Kennedy Road with MAIN EXECUTIVE in the hunt (his sister Blonde Executive won the champion sprinter Sovereign).
Also, LEGAL MOVE and DANCER'S BAJAN are contenders, so is JUST RUSHING.

(Not for the nervous race-watcher - WAKE AT NOON, 10-years-old and coming off a hard win at Fort Erie in the slop with a 79 Beyer Figure - has been entered in the Kennedy Road.)

Thanks to commenters yesterday who talked about FORT ERIE and it's situation. Word is the beautiful track still has lives left to live.


At right is CINDY PIERSON DULAY'S Sovereign Award nominated photo for this year.
Her link www.horse-races.net offers up the photos and stories up for awards this year.
The photo is after RED ROCKS, owned by John Reddam, won the Breeders' Cup Turf last fall.