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Sunday, June 08, 2008

BIG BUMMER

Start your engines again - it's OAKS day at Woodbine, it's hot and steamy and another big favourite is ready to go...



Early in the race DA' TARA is sent hard to the lead, Big Brown, a bit sweaty but it was hot, is eager but looking for a path....



As been said in this space..no such thing as a sure thing.

And what a great quote from KENT DESORMEAUX that completed the Toronto Star's view of the race yesterday:

"I can't fathom what kind of freaks those 11 Triple Crown winners were."

Amen.

There have only been 11 for a reason. Yes, a horse can dominate on the way but the 3rd and last leg is the tough one..on ole Big Sandy.

Certainly the mess that BIG BROWN was in entering the first turn was shocking.. some serious ADVERSITY for the first time. Perhaps Desormeaux overcompensated with the checking and steadying, some panic perhaps?
And then perhaps the horse became upset. It was almost 40C, that was that.

Kudos to those who bet DA'TARA, the Tiznow guy who just kept going and going.
I know at least one person who liked him. My pick Macho Again was not great yesterday.

But shame on the fans at Belmont Park (I for one am glad I didn't drive down there to watch that fiasco - broken plumbing, broken washrooms?) for booing a lovely horse like BIG BROWN - taking it out on him because we all expected more?

No doubt may were booing because of the connections.

No the horse can't hear it, but it's classless anyway.



NICK ZITO ET AL - CLASS ACT

He had the luck of Little Cliff on his side!

"That's what this sport is all about too,' said winning trainer Nick Zito about his colt Da' Tara upsetting the world in the Belmont.
Owner Robert LaPenta and Zito celebrated with jockey Alan Garcia, who set the colt hard to the lead.
It had been 6 races since Garcia had ridden the colt -4 different jocks rode the colt through maiden races, an allowance loss, a Florida Derby blow-out, a 5th in the Derby Trial and a 2nd in the Barbaro Stakes.
Improving Beyers Figures were nice but boy, it was hard to predict that winner.

LaPenta and Zito were in the news around Derby time when one of their former horses, Little Cliff, was found in a feedlot waiting to go to slaughter. The Zito family, with the help of LaPenta, have since taken the horse to a good home having been alerted to his plight.

Little Cliff was perhaps their lucky charm yesterday.



MEANWHILE...

IT'S OAKS DAY at WOODBINE!!

PICK 7 CARRY-OVER IS $111,000..



Good grief, another big favourite ready to go in a big race. Hold on to your hats.

First Harlem Rocker last weekend, then BB now GINGER BREW, who lays over the field in today's $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, 1 1/8 miles for 3yo fillies.

The PICK 7 has grown so slowly since opening day of the meeting but there it is - $111,000 in the carryover with a bit more added today.

After yesterday's action, you can't expect there to huge business today but the racing card is super.

GINGER BREW has a good running style for the Oaks today - there figures to be quite a bit of speed but she should be in a good stalking position.

It will be interesting to see how SHILLA (Marquetry) stretches out and if some of the longshots for for the smaller stables do - LADY D'WILDCAT - Shyman Farms and Steve Roberts, INITFORREAL (Arthur Silvera trainers for a partnership, etc.

And George Strawbridge has never won a Canadian classic (from what I can remember) and has supported Canadian racing for years.

His SUGAR BAY has a good chance to win the Oaks for her owner and breeder.
Her rider COREY FRASER won yesterday's Steady Growth Stakes and is riding well.



THE OAKS IS RACE 8 TODAY:



Post/ Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey Pedigree, breeder, last 3 Beyer Figures

1 Lady d'Wildcat/Shyman Farm/Steve Roberts/Emma-Jayne Wilson
(D'Wildcat-Avenue's Lady, Avenue of Flags, bred by Shyman Farm)
68, 65, 56

*Has not had clean trips in a while, better than she's shown, distance a big question


2 Ginger Brew/Stronach Stables Inc./Brian Lynch/Javier Castellano
(Milwaukee Brew-Coral Necklace, Conquistador Cielo bred by Adena Springs)
94, 88, 87
*Has purposefully been freshened by trainer Lynch, lures Castellano who sticks with her

3 Shilla/Victura Farm/Nick Gonzalez/David Clark
(Marquetry-Papoose, bred by Brian Cullen)
81,78. 67

*Top stakes trainer has trained her into race and it is her first route try. May be training job of the year.

4 Northern Kraze/Anderson Farms and Partner/Mark Frostad/Chantal
Sutherland
(Aljabr-Baraha, Dayjur bred by Anderson Farms)
69. 67, 55

*Maiden has shown potential but best race may be turf sprint

5 Sugar Bay/Augustin Stable/Mac Benson/Corey Fraser
(Syncline-Otra Vez by Rahy, bred by Augustin Stable)
67, 82, 82

*Lovely run last time when edged by 'Honey', race can't be as slow as Beyer Figs say

6 Gloriously / Woodford Racing/Mark Casse/Pat Husbands
Indian Charlie-Glory's Story, Defensive Play bred by Royal Oak Farm
80, 86, 73

*Late entrant is fast with good Beyer Figures, last furlong will be test


7 Initforreal/Rowbotham, Lindskog, MacKinnon, Richer & Boogmans/Arthur
Silvera/Constant Montpellier
(Real Quiet-Favored One, by Son of Briartic,bred by Richard Lister)
74, 57, 56
*Speed to run at

8 Money My Honey/Stronach Stables Inc./Brian Lynch/Eurico Da Silva
(Red Bullet-Collect the Cash, Dynaformer, bred by Adena Springs)
64, 82, 82

*Was not hard used to win latest but how could that Beyer Figure be so low?



9 Victory Romance/Donver Stable/Josie Carroll/Emile Ramsammy
(Slew City Slew-Moonbeam Dancing, Dance Brightly, bred by Donver Stable, Alberta)
76, 42, 76

*Headstrong an will have to be reined in to make the 9 furlong distance

10 Mrs. Began/ Zayat Stable/ Reade Baker/ Tyler Pizarro
Jump Start-Showmethegreencard, De Niro,bred by Mike Carroll
0, 64, 45

*Supplemented, comes off rough trip

11 Nicki Knew/Knob Hill Stable/Kevin Attard/Jono Jones
(Tethra-Panteccaria, San Romano bred by Knob Hill Stables)
69. 72, 71

12 Authenicat/Vinery LLC/Josie Carroll/Indefinite
(D'Wildcat-Authentic Deed, Alydeed, bred by Gail Wood)
61,75, 78

*Came out of latest with mucus in her lungs



VERY TRUE

Yesterday at Woodbine


How about TRUE METROPOLITAN taking his show on the road to the United States?

The 2-time Canadian champion is back and even better as a 6-year-old. A Florida-bred owned by Vancouver's Bob Cheema and trained By Terry Jordan, True Metropolitan came onto the track yesterday in the blazing heat and humidity and looked like a champion, touted himself and then the Grade 3 Eclipse Stakes in a laugher.

The son of Proud and True set a track record in his season debut at Hastings for 6 1/2 furlongs and came back to Woodbine, the site of his biggest wins.

Perhaps the Dominion Day 'Cap will be next for this monster (Tuesday July 1) - but it would be fun to see him head south too.

DANCER'S BAJAN is a more mature fellow as a 4yo and he won at 1 1/16 miles for the first time yesterday in the STEADY GROWTH STAKES for Ontario sired older guys. The Trajectory chestnut, owned by 3 Sons racing and trained by Robert Tiller, was given a beautiful trip by jockey Corey Fraser and he powered to a 1 1/2 length win over a fast closing Archers Alyancer.

More on yesterday's card of racing in tomorrow's post.



*To send a comment, letter, opinion, send me an email..(link is above on right)

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