REMEMBERING

In honour of my grandfather LEWIS MORRISON, a decorated war hero in WORLD WAR I

TRACK RECORD FOR LIKE A GEM - 89 Beyer

MORE SONGS FROM THE TUNE - 78 Beyer

(some files from Woodbine Entertainment media)

It was ‘Oh Canada’ in the Maple Leaf Stakes but not the favoured MONSAHEE (favoured??)
who came from the west off 11 straight stakes wins to try and win the hearts of the East and
a Sovereign Award for best older female.

It was the Ontario-bred LIKE A GEM, by Tactical Cat out of It’s a Ruby by Rubiano, who won
 her 3rd consecutive race (all with Emma-Jayne Wilson as her new rider) in the 1 ¼ mile stake
 and set a track record to boot.

She is owned and bred by Garland and Marie Williamson at Hillsbrook Farm in Erin.
Jim Cheadle is manager, Danny Vella is the trainer.

 In the Maple Leaf, Emma-Jayne Wilson took the Ontario-bred to the

 front, and was joined by Serenading, as the duo cut fractions of :24.24,  :48.91 and 1:14.25.
As the 10-horse field turned for home, I'm in Love, the second choice on the toteboard, loomed a threat, as did Tell It as It  Is, to the inside.

But Like a Gem dug in valiantly, crossing the wire a half-length in

 front, while stopping the teletimer in 2:03.51 on the Polytrack.

The previous Polytrack mark of 2:04.20 was set by True Metropolitan on

 July 1.

I'm in Love, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, was second, a half-length

 ahead of Tell It as It Is, who had won two consecutive 1 ¼-mile races on  the Toronto oval's
E.P. Taylor Turf Course. 

Monashee had a good rail trip stalking the pace but she was one-paced in her approach and
finished 8th.

"Once Serenading went by me on the first turn, that's when she (Like a

 Gem) settled down," said Wilson, who celebrated her second straight

 Maple Leaf victory, after taking the 2006 edition with Howaboutrightnow.  "She was traveling
very comfortably." 

"I knew they were coming. She knew where they were and she was giving

 me everything she had. I was joining with her and just kept on riding."

 Vella was impressed with the gutsy effort of the filly.

"We had a little trouble with her early in the year, but she's done a

 lot for us in a short amount of time," said Vella, who celebrated his

 first Maple Leaf win. "We took on all challengers today.

"We kind of asked her a little bit early. Our intention was not to give

 the race to anyone, but make them come and take it from us. That's

 what Emma did and the filly responded."

Like a Gem now has six wins, three seconds and two thirds from 18

 starts.

More from Saturday…

There’s a nice 2yo colt prospect from the Lorna Perkins barn with YES IT’S BULL (Yes It’s True out of a Holy Bull mare). A lanky,long striding fellow, he won his maiden off a lengthy layoff in his first 2 turn test. Very well prepared.

The track was fast this weekend (not so on Friday as it was quite slow) and it seemed that Saturday the outside paths were a better place to be.

SILK CANDY is a fast improving filly for the Stronach Stable. She bounced back from an off race to win the 6th race allowance at 9 to 2, right before Sam-Son Farms' promising WRITTEN IN STONE ran to his hype form last year,winning 2nd time out in his career at a huge 8 to 1 in 1:22 2/5.

Sunday’s stakes race, named in honour of the Hall of Fame mare, Queen’s Plate winner Jammed Lovely, was not pretty to watch but the little girl DANCE TO MY TUNE is fun to observe. Cutting back from 1 1/8 miles on turf to just 7 furlongs on Polytrack, the Stravinsky miss out of Bandore by Forty Niner powered past Lyrically after stalking a slow pace,and drew off to win from a hard charging Glitter Rox.

Owner/trainer Dave Cotey had not originally nominated the filly to the $150,000 race for Ontario foaled fillies so he had to supplement for $3,000.

The filly has 4 wins, 3 seconds and third in 11 races this year and also won the La Lorgnette Stakes.

SASKAWEA, the Ruling Angel Stakes winner last month off a layoff, was a sure bounce candidate (her trainer Steve Attard even said it in the pre-race interviews) and was indeed flat as a pancake. Surprisingly, she was overbet at even-money and a very popular pick.

Also on Sunday

HEY NOW, a $250K yearling by Foresty-Hushed Goodbye by Secret Hello, won his maiden in his 3^rd career start coming out of the key maiden race won by Miner’s Claim.

The colt has big speed and is no doubt a sprinter and he won by 6 yesterday in 1:10.22

He is owned by Cam Allard and trained by Mike DePaulo.

KNOCKER won her 5^th race of the year and 10^th in her last 22 starts (!!) when she won for $95,000 claiming in race 4.

The Evansville Slew Kentucky bred is owned by the guys at Very Dry Stable and trained by Bob Tiller. She sped 6 furlongs in 1:10.

Tiller came right back with Maverick Stables’ STORMY COMET, who won the maiden $25,000 claiming race in his 2^nd career start. That gelding was coming out of a key race – Jazz Nation’s maiden score – but he earned a 9 Beyer Figure first time out;

Yesterday, Stormy Comet wore blinkers and raced 5 furlongs in 57.96. Wow. His mum Cupid’s Comet won 19 sprint races.

The track seemed to play a bit better for the outside paths on Sunday but it was playing fairly otherwise with speed and stretch runners having success.

YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO BE..

Jockey R. Messina at Finger Lakes after the 8^th race on Friday.

Or the stewards for that matter.

Or the person who bet so much money on LEXINGTON CONCORD (.10to 1) to show, watched him win and then get disqualified to… 4^th!

The top 3 finishers officially paid $112, $74.50 and $266.50 to show respectively.

Check out www.drf.com for the charted result – 8^th race Finger Lakes on Firday, ouch.