LONG WEEKEND

THE LOOONG WEEKEND is underway - racing was on Friday, Saturday, today, tomorrow (not a holiday for most), Tuesday and Wednesday.

The KING EDWARD BREEDERS' CUP may have been won a good horse although the field was a bit weak for the big money.
Tuesday's feature, the $300,000 Dominion Day attracted just 5 horses.



KING EDDY A GOOD RACE, I SWEAR


Squishy turf made the King Edward Breeders' Cup (Grade 2) a bit of a crapshoot since favoured SOCIETY'S CHAIRMAN, a delicate 5yo with 3 races, had never tried wet grass and the rest of the field were question marks.

ROYAL OATH emerged as the winner after a long, arduous stretch battle with ICE BEAR, taking home the bulk of the $300,000 purse.

A new arrival to Canada, Royal Oath was a flat 5th in the Connaught Cup in his first race from overseas.

It was a different horse that won yesterday from just off the pace under Pat Husbands.

"Last time, he had a nice trip, but he didn't fire down the lane," said Husbands, of the race won by Rahy's Attorney. "In his last work, he was a different horse. I don't think it was the track last time. He just wasn't happy. Right now, he's a good horse."

Royal Oath raced in England and Dubai before coming to Canada and showed the form Casse expected in the King Edward.

"The Farish's decided to bring him over here earlier this spring and I'm glad they did," said conditioner who won consecutive Sovereign Awards as Canada's top trainer in 2006 and 2007. "He came in a couple of days before the last race (Connaught) and he didn't have a great trip on the plane. The horse just looked flat to me.

"About a week ago, we worked him and I sent a text message to Bill (Farish Sr.) and I said, 'Okay, I just saw a good horse.' Luckily, he ran that way today."

Royal Oath is by Kingmambo out of Sherkiya by Goldneyev. He is the 78th stakes winner for his sire.




OTHER WINNERS


Trainer WILLIE ARMATA has had a big year in his first season of training. He dropped NO GRUMBLING down in class and won the 1st race at odds on ($3.80) for All Day Racing and Rainbow Stables. The gelding won his maiden for $15,000 and he's by Compadre out of Sleek Prospector (Geiger Counter)

John Fielding and trainer Reade Baker won the 2nd with HOLBORN, an Ontario bred by Smoke Glacken out of Featherinmycap (Rare Brick). A heavy favourite, the gret was winning his maiden for $32,000.

BILBO led all the way to win the 3rd race for Laurie Silvera and Love 2 Win and was claimed for $20,000. The gre Kentucky bred is by Point Given and he was the 3rd favourite to win on the day after 3 races.

Empress Stable homebred KOONUNGA HILL by Wonneberg out of Easy to Praise, by Alwuhush. won her maiden in her 2nd career race for 2yo fillies in race 4, the 4th favourite in a row to win on the day.
Trained by Steve Owens, the bay filly won by a neck over firster CATALEENDA, who was hard ridden for the entire 5 furlongs.

TREVON'S GLORY (Trajectory-Judith's Sister, Avies Copy) put a halt to favourite-day as he led all the way to win race 5 at 7 to 1, showing a dramatic reversal of form. The dark bay was 3 to 1 for his debut, finsihed 2nd, then was 2 to and favoured last time and was 9th beaten 20. Norm DeSouza trains for T. Wallen and partners.

Trainer SID ATTARD is on a serious roll, He won with Goldmart Farms' GAJA IN RACE 8 for $12,500 claiming fillies and then pulled off a head scratcher in the last with PRIVATE BATTLE, owned by Bob Harvey.
The latter had not racd since March when at Fair Grounds for a turf dash (she was 11th) and she had 2 Polytrack outings that were dull around a good grass event last year.
The Pick 4 paid $4,000.

DELAFORCE was a front running winner of the 9th race for Ken Parsley and Rick Pettifer. The Porto Foricos 3yo was a stakes winner last year at 2.



ELSEWHERE


At PHILADELPHIA PARK, NO ACRONYMS, B. f. 3, Milwaukee Brew —Last Supper, by De Niro won a 1 1/16 miles turf allowanc race for Petal Power racing. She is an Ontario bred with 2 wins in 9 races. She was bred by Adena Springs.


AND MORE

FROZEN FIRE, a German-bred, won this morning's IRISH DERBY at the Curragh, coming from absolutely last with a furlong out to win the classic with his ears pricked. The 16 to 1 shot is by Montjeu out of a Woodman mare and is owned by Michael Tabor and trained by Aidan O'Brien.