800

PEAK A BOO!! This is a FACE that anyone can love.... DOCTOR DINO, well travelled, millionaire, very consistent - he's the star coming to Woodbine for Saturday's $2 million CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL.... Vanessa Ng photo




THOROUGHBLOG starts with post number 801 this morning - number 800 was yesterday's giant package of bits from a busy Saturday of racing...



(PHOTO - below right is FATAL BULLET and jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva and groom Wendy Dadswell...the gelding ran a 108 Beyer Figure in the Kentucky Cup Sprint on Saturday and he's headed to the Breeders' Cup)



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Now for my 801 ST POST!














SUPER SATURDAY AT WOODBINE COMING UP!


Oct. 4, ESPN, 4 graded stakes on grass..
feature is Canadian International but the other 3 races are previewed below...




Pattison Canadian International Notes for Sunday, September 28, 2008

EARLY LOOK AT THE PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL

(11) Horse/Owner/Trainer/Jockey


Cedar Mountain/Augustin Stable/Neil Drysdale/Indefinite
Champs Elysees/Juddmonte Farms/Robert Frankel/Garrett Gomez
Doctor Dino/Javier Martinez Salmean/Richard Gibson/Frankie Dettori
Lauro/Gestuet Ittlingen/Andreas Wohler/Eduardo Pedroza
Lucarno/Augustin Stable/John Gosden/Jimmy Fortune
Marlang/Gus Schickedanz/Debbie England/Richard Dos Ramos
Marsh Side/Robert Evans/Neil Drysdale/ Indefinite
Mourilyan/Ramzan Kadyrov/Herman Brown/George Baker
Quijano/Gestuet Fahrhof/Peter Schiergen/Andrasch Starke
Seaside Retreat/William Farish Jr./Mark Casse/Patrick Husbands
Spice Route/Harlequin Ranches/Roger Attfield/Jim McAleney


PCI CONTENDER MARLANG SHOOTS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS

Gus Schickedanz's Marlang, a bay son of Langfuhr, looks to win one for
the home team when he loads into the gate for Saturday's Grade 1,
$2-million Pattison Canadian International.

Trained by Debbie England, Marlang is undoubtedly on a hot streak, one
that has seen the bay win three of his past four races. His latest
triumph came in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes at Saratoga. Under Richard
Dos Ramos, Marlang took control from the start of the 1 3/16-mile event
and made every pole a winning one, crossing the wire a 1 3/4-length
victor.

Prior to the Saranac, the three-year-old took to Woodbine's E.P. Taylor
Turf Course for the 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Stakes, third jewel in the
Canadian Triple Crown, on August 3. And as he did in the Saranac,
Marlang seized command early and fended off all comers, crossing the
wire 2 3/4-lengths in front.

"I've always liked him," said England, who also saddled Marlang to
victory in the one mile Charlie Barley on June 21, his first grass test.
"I knew he'd always be better on the grass. I breezed him early on (in
his career) and he went in :35. I thought it was :37. Right then, I knew
he was a good horse. He was very nervous when he was young, but he's
really settled down and become very mature."


QUIJANO HOPING FOR THIRD TIME LUCKY

The Peter Schiergen-trained Quijano will try Woodbine's E.P. Taylor
Turf Course for the third time in his well-travelled career, hoping to
find the winner's circle when he goes postward as one of the favourites
in the $2 million, Pattison Canadian International on Saturday.

Last year, the German-bred finished a closing third in the Pattison,
only a length behind the winner, Cloudy's Knight.

This year, the six-year-old gelded son of Acatenango arrived early to
contest the Grade 1, Northern Dancer on September 7, and just missed by
a nose, losing to Pattison rival Champs Elysees.

"I think he raced a very good race," said Gisela Schiergen, wife and
assistant to the trainer. "He had a good travel and everything was
okay. I think it's a good set-up for him (for the Pattison). I think
he's as good this year as last year. He's consistent. But (likely
Pattison favourite) Doctor Dino is a tough horse. It all depends on the
race (trip)."

Quijano, bred and owned by Stiftung Gestuet Fahrhof, has earned almost
$2 million, while winning 13 of 23 career starts, including the Group 1
Gran Premio di Milano earlier this year in Italy. He'll be ridden as
usual by Andrasch Starke.


SPICE ROUTE DRILLS

Harlequin Ranches' Spice Route worked Sunday morning in preparation for
the most significant test of his career, Saturday's $2 million Pattison
Canadian International.

"He worked very well this morning on the main turf," said Hall of Fame
trainer Roger Attfield. "It was a really happy breeze. I think he went
in about a minute."

Woodbine clockers caught the King's Best gelding, who was guided by the
oval's leading rider Jim McAleney, in 1:00 3/5, breezing, for five
furlongs over the 'good' course.

Spice Route enters the International off a close fifth-place finish in
the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes on September 7.

Including Spice Route, the five top finishers in the 1 1/2-mile contest
are listed as probables for Grade 1 feature event, which is at the same
distance.


SCHOMBERG'S LAMAZE, GUEST DRAWMASTER DUTIES FOR PATTISON

Eric Lamaze, winner of a gold medal in the individual show-jumping
event at the recent Beijing Olympics will be the drawmaster for the
Pattison Canadian International, on Wednesday, October 1, at Woodbine's
east-end VIP tent.

He will assist in determining the post positions and speak briefly of
his participation in the sport at the noon media conference.

The 71st running of the Grade 1, $2 million event is set for Saturday.


E.P TAYLOR, NEARCTIC and SUMMER are also on the sked!

Three huge graded races, including the $1 million E.P. Taylor are also on the Saturday schedule and are also WIN AND YOU'RE IN RACES.

(That big, beautiful girl is TOQUE DE QUEDA (it means CURFEW in Spanish) 3rd in the Grade 1 Beverly D., one of the favourites for the E.P. Taylor.
Thanks to www.horse-races.net, Vanessa Ng for photo)


E.P. TAYLOR STAKES

Horse Trainer

Arden Belle R. Gerl
Callwood Dancer R. Attfield
Folk Opera S. Bin Suroor
Freen Lyons N. Drysdale
Hostess J. Bond
J'ray T. Pletcher
Sealy Hill M Casse
The Niagara Queen S. Asmussen
Toque de Queda M. Delzangles


(Photo - CALLWOOD DANCER has a red-hot trainer, Roger Attfield, jockey, Eurico Da Silva and she loves the Woodbine grass...)


NEARCTIC STAKES 6 furlongs,. turf


Heros Reward D. Capuano
Just Rushing Sid Attard
Mohegan Sky L . Rice
Mulmur M. Frostad
Off Duty L. Whiting
Quietly Mine (C Clement
Santiago Aitlan A. Wohler
Starticus R. Biamonte
Starvinsky B. Jackson
Storm Treasure S. Asmussen
The Great Caruso M. Pierce
True to Tradition S. Lake




SUMMER STAKES 1 mile, turf, 2yos

Bourbon Bay L. Stevens
Grand Adventure M . Frostad
Jess not Jesse L. Rice
Major Marvel D. Capuano
Relatively Ready D. Donk
Skipadate M . Casse
Utterly Cool S. Attard



BARBADOS CONNECTION
JOHNSON'S SAND COVE SETS TRACK RECORD IN ONT. DERBY

with some files from Woodbine Media office..




Barbadian Ralph Johnson's Sand Cove, ridden by Richard Dos Ramos, set a track record in winning Sunday's featured $162,800 Ontario Derby at Woodbine, his second consecutive stakes score.

His Beyer Figure was 96.

At the finish of the mile and one-eighth test over the Polytrack, Sand
Cove prevailed in a stretch battle with Secret Getaway to win by a neck
in 1:49.38, knocking 0.17 seconds off the former mark of 1:49.55 set by
Leonnatus Anteas last October.

Secret Getaway and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson actually poked a head in
front at the sixteenth pole, but Sand Cove dug in and came back to
tally.

In his last start, on August 31, Sand Cove, trained by Hall of Famer
Roger Attfield, tried the turf for the first time and scored a
half-length win in the Vice Regent Stakes.

Attfield, who trains the leading 3yo in Canada, NOT BOURBON, said he and Dos Ramos had a race plan before the event.

"The race wasn't unfolding the way I wanted it to or the way Richard
had wanted it to early on, but it all worked out," said Attfield.
"When the horse (Sand Cove) got his head passed at the 70-yard pole, he
just said no, didn't he? He's just a very nice, genuine horse. He's a
very versatile horse and I'm very lucky to train him."

Attfield indicated Sand Cove may go next in the turf Bunty Lawless
Stakes, October 12. "We'll see how he comes out of this race, talk it
over and see where we go from here."

Sand Cove, a $54,222 yearling purchase from the consignment of James and Janeane and Arika Everatt's Shannodoe Farm, is by BOLD EXECUTIVE out of MYTHICAL STATUS by MYTHICAL RULER.

He picked up $99,000 for the win, his fifth in 15 career
outings, as he pushed his bankroll to $344,949, paid $13.20, $5.40 and
$2.70, teaming with Secret Getaway ($5.10, $2.60) for a $48 (7-1)
exactor. A 7-1-3 (Sligovitz, $2.10 to show) triactor was worth $96.30
while a $1 Superfecta [7-1-3-5 (Delaforce)] was worth $180.50.

Speaking of the BUNTY LAWLESS...that was an option for Woodbine Mile winner RAHY'S ATTORNEY but after a workout on the turf yesterday, the Crown Attorney gelding is all set to go to Keneeland and race Saturday in the Shadwell Mile.

The Ian Black trainee went 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in his prep and is expected to ship out in mid week.


MORE WOODBINE FROM YESTERDAY


Hard to believe but the rail seemed to be treacherous again yesterday - simply too many logical horses made big moves up the rail on and just off the last turn and then stopped. Horses like HELLO MAGGIE MAY, STRIKING ATTITUDE and THUMBIN A RIDE.


BAYWOODS' super duper winning streak came to an end when the Archers Bay mare lost for $37,500 yesterday in race 1. She started the streak for $20,000 in May.
GIGI'S CHARM led all the way to beat her and that winner, a Mike Silvera trainee, was coming off a 6th place finisher, ebaten 17 lengths and a 32 Beyer Figure for $50,000.

KESAGAMI, the Coronation Futurity winner from last year, won for $50,000 claiming yesterday for his first win since his big score last year as a 2yo. The Carson City gelding is owned by Jim Dandy Stable and was ridden by Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Trainer STEPHEN EDWARDS won his first race since getting his trainer's license again this year just recently. His 2yo EDGE (The Cliff's Edge) whizzed around 2yos to win the 1 mile and 70 yard race quite easily in his 5th career start. He is an Ontario bred from the breeders Ferme du Bois Vert.

Race 4 was obliterated by 4 VET SCRATCHES..the turf allowance wound up with 4 entries and ICE BEAR a stakes winner this year held off a hard trying WOLLEMI PINE to win for the 3rd time in his 6th start this year.
Ice Bear, by Maria's Mon, continues the good year for George Strawbridge and trainer Mac Benson.

A 2yo filly allowance went to 1st time starter CASSIDY'S PRIDE, a Medaglia d'Oro filly bred by her owner Peter Mirabelli in Kentucky. Trained by Sandra Dominguez, the 2yo chestnut is out of a mare, Cassidy, who won $440,000 and 8 of 25 starts.
The filly was a handy winner under Martin Ramirez.

KNOCKER tried 1 1/16 miles for just the 2nd time in her career and won the 6th race for $60,000 claiming. The Evansville Slew mare had been 3rd in 5 of her 6 races this year. She is owned by Tucci Stable and trained by Sid Attard.

CRYPTONITE KID finally won in his 6th outing this year in a 1 mile turf allowance at even-money. The Class Action Stable colt is trained by Dan Vella and he had lost his last 2 races each by only a neck.

And the finale was a PAYNES BAY exactor as REGAN LODGE won for Eugene Melnyk and trainer Mark Casse in the 1 1/16 mile maiden allowance on grass. The filly held off a charging CAPTIVE SPIRIT, another Paynes Bay gal.




MONSOON HEADING TO TORONTO


Larry Carter's suddenly very good MONSOON RAIN is headed to Woodbine for the Durham Cup Stakes on Oct. 11.
The Old Trieste 6yo just won the ASSINIBOIA GOLD CUP with a 105 BEYER SPEED FIGURE for his 6th win in 12 races.
The gelding began his career 4 years ago for Darley Stud, raced twice at 2, did not race at 3 and then raced only a couple of times in 2006 and 2007.
This year in Manitoba the Marty Drexler trainee has emgered into the land's top older horses.