HIGH STAKES

Queen's Plate winner VICTOR COOLEY hams it up for photographer DAVE LANDRY at Windways Farm last week. The retired gelding enjoys playing in the snow and roughing up visitors.

UPDATE UPDATE.... IT'S HERE - WOODBINE STAKES 2009

courtesy Woodbine Entertainment

The 2009 season will feature an historic moment in the history of
Canadian racing. The highly-anticipated Sunday, June 21 (Father's Day) renewal of the
Queen*s Plate will mark the 150th consecutive edition of the grand
race.

The 1 1/4-mile event, worth $1 million, is Canada's most renowned horse
race, North America's oldest continuously-run stakes event and the first
jewel in Canada's Triple Crown of Racing.

The Toronto oval's richest event, the Grade 1, $2 million Pattison
Canadian International, will take place on Saturday, October 17. The 1
1/2-mile grass event headlines a stellar autumn card during which the
world renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course takes centre stage. The Grade 1,
$1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, for fillies and mares, and the Grade 2,
$500,000 Nearctic Stakes, a six-furlong turf dash, are also slated for
International Day.

All three added-money events, like in 2008, are part of the Breeders'
Cup Challenge Series, which features a lucrative "Win and You're In"
incentive that is certain to attract a strong cast of participants.

A score in the International, the E.P. Taylor or the Nearctic
guarantees the victor a berth in the corresponding championship event,
three weeks later, at the Breeders' Cup (November 6 & 7) at Santa Anita
Park in Arcadia, California.

ESPN, the prominent U.S. TV sports network, will again broadcast all
three International day "Win and You're In" events, live from Woodbine.

The Woodbine stakes calendar also features three other "Win and You're
In" events, all turf contests carded on the same September weekend.

On Saturday, September 19, the sport's 'young guns' receive their own
day to showcase their turf talents in the $300,000 Summer Stakes, a
Grade 3 grass test for two-year-olds, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Natalma
Stakes, for two-year-old fillies.

The weekend's third Breeders' Cup Challenge race is the $1 million
Woodbine Mile, the highlight of a lucrative $2-plus million racing day
on Sunday, September 20. The Grade 1, $750,000 Northern Dancer Turf
Stakes and the Grade 2, $300,000 Canadian Stakes, for turf fillies and
mares, will also be contested on Mile day.

The Grade 2, $250,000 Sky Classic Stakes is slated for Sunday, August
23. With the new date, the Sky Classic, in combination with the Northern
Dancer, creates a natural two-race, $1 million route to the Pattison
Canadian International.

The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, the first leg in
the Canada's Triple Tiara of Racing, is scheduled for Sunday, June 7.

The Grade 3, $250,000 Selene Stakes for three-year-old fillies,
traditionally a prep for the Oaks, will now take place on Saturday,
September 26.

The Woodbine meet runs for 167 dates from Saturday, April 4 to Sunday,
December 6.


2009 Stakes Schedule

April
$150,000 ACHIEVEMENT STAKES* - Saturday, April 11
$150,000 WHIMSICAL STAKES - Saturday, April 18 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 STAR SHOOT STAKES - Sunday, April 19
$150,000 JACQUES CARTIER STAKES - Saturday, April 25
$150,000 WOODSTOCK STAKES - Sunday, April 26

May
$150,000 QUEENSTON STAKES* - Saturday, May 2
$150,000 FURY STAKES* - Sunday, May 3
$125,000 NEW PROVIDENCE STAKES** - Saturday, May 9
$150,000 HENDRIE STAKES - Sunday, May 10 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 MARINE STAKES - Saturday, May 16
$150,000 LA LORGNETTE STAKES - Sunday, May 17
$150,000 VIGIL STAKES - Monday, May 18 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 LADY ANGELA STAKES** - Saturday, May 23
$150,000 CONNAUGHT CUP STAKES - Sunday, May 24 (Gr. 3, Turf)
$300,000 NASSAU STAKES - Saturday, May 30 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$150,000 PLATE TRIAL STAKES* - Sunday, May 31

June
$150,000 ECLIPSE STAKES - Saturday, June 6 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 STEADY GROWTH STAKES** - Saturday, June 6
$500,000 WOODBINE OAKS STAKES, presented by Budweiser*** - Sunday, June
7
$150,000 VICTORIA PARK STAKES - Sunday, June 7
$125,000 BOLD RUCKUS STAKES** - Wednesday, June 10 (Turf)
$125,000 BALLADE STAKES** - Saturday, June 13
$150,000 VICTORIA STAKES - Sunday, June 14
$100,000 HILL 'N' DALE STAKES - Saturday, June 20
$1,000,000 QUEEN'S PLATE STAKES*** - Sunday, June 21
$200,000 SCOTTS HIGHLANDER STAKES - Sunday, June 21 (Gr. 3, Turf)
$150,000 SINGSPIEL STAKES, Sunday, June 21 (Gr. 3, Turf)
$300,000 KING EDWARD STAKES - Saturday, June 27 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$250,000 BISON CITY STAKES*** - Sunday, June 28
$150,000 MY DEAR STAKES - Sunday, June 28

July
$200,000 DOMINION DAY STAKES - Wednesday, July 1 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 CLARENDON STAKES* - Saturday, July 4
$150,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL STAKES* - Sunday, July 5 (Turf)
$150,000 TORONTO CUP STAKES - Saturday, July 11 (Turf)
$300,000 DANCE SMARTLY STAKES - Saturday, July 11 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$150,000 SHADY WELL STAKES* - Sunday, July 12
$125,000 DEPUTY MINISTER STAKES** - Wednesday, July 15
$150,000 COLIN STAKES - Saturday, July 18
$150,000 ONTARIO MATRON STAKES - Sunday, July 19
$150,000 BOLD VENTURE STAKES - Sunday, July 19
$125,000 PASSING MOOD STAKES** - Wednesday, July 22 (Turf)
$250,000 WONDER WHERE STAKES*** - Saturday, July 25 (Turf)
$300,000 NIJINSKY STAKES, presented by Chinese Cultural Centre -
Sunday, July 26 (Gr.2, Turf)

August
$150,000 ROYAL NORTH STAKES - Saturday, August 1 (Gr. 3, Turf)
$125,000 NANDI STAKES** - Sunday, August 2
$500,000 BREEDERS' STAKES*** - Sunday, August 2 (Turf)
$150,000 SEAGRAM CUP STAKES - Monday, August 3 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 SHEPPERTON STAKES** - Wednesday, August 5
$150,000 DUCHESS STAKES - Saturday, August 8
$150,000 VANDAL STAKES* - Sunday, August 9
$150,000 ONTARIO DEBUTANTE STAKES - Saturday, August 15
$125,000 VICTORIANA STAKES** - Sunday, August 16 (Turf)
$125,000 ETERNAL SEARCH STAKES** - Saturday, August 22
$250,000 SKY CLASSIC STAKES - Sunday, August 23 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$200,000 PLAY THE KING STAKES - Saturday, August 29 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$150,000 ONTARIO COLLEEN STAKES - Sunday, August 30 (Turf)

September
$150,000 SEAWAY STAKES - Saturday, September 5 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 VICE REGENT STAKES** - Sunday, September 6 (Turf)
$125,000 MUSKOKA STAKES*** - Monday, September 7
$125,000 SIMCOE STAKES*** - Monday, September 7
$125,000 ELGIN STAKES*** - Monday, September 7
$125,000 KENORA STAKES*** - Monday, September 7
$125,000 ALGOMA STAKES*** - Monday, September 7
$125,000 HALTON STAKES*** - Monday, September 7 (Turf)
$125,000 LA PREVOYANTE STAKES** - Saturday, September 12 (Turf)
$150,000 SWYNFORD STAKES - Sunday, September 13
$125,000 OVERSKATE STAKES** - Sunday, September 13
$150,000 NATALMA STAKES -Saturday, September 19 (Gr. 3, Turf) WAYI
$300,000 SUMMER STAKES - Saturday, September 19 (Gr. 3, Turf) WAYI
$300,000 CANADIAN STAKES - Sunday, September 20 (Gr. 2, Turf)
$750,000 NORTHERN DANCER TURF, presented by VTECH - Sunday, September
20 (Gr. 1, Turf)
$1,000,000 WOODBINE MILE - Sunday, September 20 (Gr. 1, Turf) WAYI
$250,000 SELENE STAKES - Saturday, September 26 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 ONTARIO DERBY - Sunday, September 27

October
$125,000 VICTORIAN QUEEN STAKES** - Saturday, October 3
$150,000 DURHAM CUP STAKES - Sunday, October 4 (Gr. 3)
$150,000 CAROTENE STAKES* - Sunday, October 4 (Turf)
$125,000 CLASSY'N SMART STAKES** - Wednesday, October 7
$250,000 MAZARINE STAKES - Sunday, October 10 (Gr. 3)
$250,000 GREY STAKES - Sunday, October 11 (Gr. 3)
$125,000 BULL PAGE STAKES** - Monday, October 12
$500,000 NEARCTIC STAKES - Saturday, October 17 (Gr. 2, Turf) WAYI
$1,000,000 E.P. TAYLOR STAKES - Saturday, October 17 (Gr. 1, Turf)
WAYI
$2,000,000 PATTISON CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL - Saturday, October 17 (Gr.
1, Turf) WAYI
$250,000 CUP & SAUCER STAKES* - Sunday, October 18 (Turf)
$125,000 BUNTY LAWLESS STAKES** - Saturday, October 24 (Turf)
$150,000 FANFRELUCHE STAKES* - Sunday, October 25
$250,000 PRINCESS ELIZABETH STAKES*** - Saturday, October 31

November
$150,000 ONTARIO FASHION STAKES - Sunday, November 1
$125,000 FROST KING STAKES** - Wednesday, November 4
$175,000 MAPLE LEAF STAKES - Saturday, November 7
$250,000 CORONATION FUTURITY*** - Sunday, November 8
$125,000 SOUTH OCEAN STAKES** - Wednesday, November 11
$150,000 AUTUMN STAKES - Saturday, November 14 (Gr.2)
$150,000 JAMMED LOVELY STAKES* - Sunday, November 15
$150,000 GLORIOUS SONG STAKES - Sunday, November 15
$150,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES - Sunday, November 21 (Gr.3)
$150,000 BESSARABIAN STAKES - Sunday, November 22
$125,000 KINGARVIE STAKES** - Saturday, November 28
$150,000 ONTARIO LASSIE STAKES* - Sunday, November 29

December
$125,000 SIR BARTON STAKES** - Wednesday, December 2
$150,000 DISPLAY STAKES - Saturday, December 5
$150,000 VALEDICTORY STAKES - Sunday, December 6

*starters must be foaled in Ontario
**starters must be sired by Ontario-based stallions
***starters must be foaled in Canada
WAYI "Win and You're In"




If you missed THOROUGHBLOG this week, you missed the FRESHMAN SIRE CONTEST results, an update on PATENA, who is taking things slowly, SQUARE EDDIE'S bad luck (see below) and tons of notes and photos.

Today, Canadian bred DANCE BRIGHTLY (photo at right from www.harascaricoa.cl) is in the news..... read on!










Canadian bred SQUARE EDDIE, a Kentucky Derby hopeful who was headed to the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, has had the sidelines with an ouchy shin as reported by THE BLOOD-HORSE and Steve Haskin.

The Smart Strike - Forty Gran colt, owned by Paul Reddam and bred by Kinghaven Farms, could still make the Derby with one prep race before the May 2 event.

Of course the QUEEN'S PLATE looks good for him now too - should he miss the Derby.

The QUEEN'S PLATE, worth $1 million Canadian dollars, is very early this year - June 21 (Father's Day) and Square Eddie is certainly the early favourite for the 1 1/4 mile test.



DUBAI UPDATE -


DANCE BRIGHTLY FILLY GOES IN UAE OAKS TODAY!

The undefeated star SOS BRILLANTE (Chi) (photo at right from www.godolphin.com) is the one to beat in today's UAE OAKS in Dubai. Get to your TV or to a teletheatre to watch and wager on Dubai racing.

SOS BRILLANTE is 3 for 3 in her career and is a Chilean bred by the Canadian-bred sire DANCE BRIGHTLY. The Mr. Priospector-Dance Smartly stallion stood one year at Hill 'n' Dale in Kentucky, one year in Argentina and he has been at HARA CARIOCA since 2005.

SOS BRILLANTE was bought by Godolphin and she is 1 for 1 for her new owners since moving from Chile.

DANCE BRIGHTLY has sired ARDEN BELLE, graded stakes winner MEA DOMINA, MR. WHITESTONE and others.

UAE 1000 GUINEAS-Listed, $250,000, NH/SH3yo, f,
1600m
PP HORSE SIRE TRAINER WT

1 So Shiny (Arg) Indygo Shiner Barton 131
2 Sos Brillante (Chi) Dance Brightly bin Suroor 131
3 Purple Sage (Ire) Danehill Dancer (Ire) Martins 121
4 Esta Bailando (Chi) Dance Brightly Barton 131
5 Ever Loved Gone West Seemar 121
6 Fire Sale (Arg) Not for Sale (Arg) Brown 131
7 Devotee Elusive Quality bin Suroor 121
8 Estrela Boa (Brz) Our Emblem Bary 131
9 India Tiberina (Chi) Indy Dancer de Kock 131
10 Earth Living Yonaguska Ogasa 121


YESTERDAY - MY INDY wins again

from DUBAI RACING CLUB

Thursday night’s fourth meeting at Nad Al Sheba of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, kindly sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Derrinstown Stud, was highlighted by the second rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

Godolphin’s My Indy repeated his win in the first round with a hard fought success in the Thoroughbred version, a Group 3 contest over 1800m on dirt.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was on hand to greet his winner who, under Frankie Dettori, repelled challenges from Happy Boy and Asiatic Boy to land the spoils.

Winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “That was a very pleasing effort and this horse has really improved over the winter. We have no rush to decide his future targets and will sit down and discuss it sometime soon.”



CANADIANS ELSEWHERE

MOONLIT FLIT, a 3yo from the first crop of DANCE TO DESTINY won her maiden at Charles Town yesterday for $7,500 claiming. The Garboso Inc. filly rallied at 6 1/2 furlongs to win by a length. She is out of the Rise 'n' Shine mare Shine Is Mine.

IN the next race at Charles Town, JIMMY G won for Wags Nags. The 5yo Ontario bred is by Forest Camp out of Sea Witch by Sea Hero. He won as the favourite for $4,000 claiming.


WEEKEND PREVIEW
CANADIAN OWNED BLUE EXIT GOES IN STRUB


Jim and Susan Hill, who race horses at Woodbine and are from Alberta, and Harlequin Ranches (Dick Bonnycastle) are co-owners of the promising 4yo colt BLUE EXIT, who races Saturday in the Grade 2 STRUB STAKES.

The Pulpit colt won his most recent start and was brought to North Ameirca in a deal orchestrated by Canadian bloodstock agent Warren Byrne.

SHAFTED, trained by Woodbine-based MARK CASSE, could earn a berth on the Kentucky Derby trail should he do well in Saturday's Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.
The colt looks good in the field based on a nice win over the Santa Anita surface in his last start under jockey Joel Rosario.

Robert B. Lewis S. (G2)
February 7, $200,000, 3yo, 11⁄16m, Santa Anita Park, 4:07 PM PT
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Bittel Road Stormy Atlantic John R. Velazquez 122 Todd A. Pletcher
2. Pioneerof the Nile Empire Maker Garrett K. Gomez 122 Bob Baffert
3. Papa Clem Smart Strike Rafael Bejarano 115 Gary Stute
4. I Want Revenge Stephen Got Even SD Joseph Talamo 115 Jeff Mullins
5. Mark S the Cooler Johar Corey S. Nakatani 115 Doug F. O’Neill
6. Oil Man (Ire) Pyrus Mike E. Smith 115 John W. Sadler
7. Brother Keith Johar Tyler Baze 115 Robert J. Frankel
8. Shafted Mineshaft Joel Rosario 117 Mark E. Casse
9. Charlie’s Moment Indian Charlie Jose Valdivia Jr. 117 Walther Solis

Strub S. (G2)
February 7, $250,000, 4yo, 11⁄8m, Santa Anita Park, 4:38 PM PT
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Dixie Chatter Dixie Union Tyler Baze 117 Richard E. Mandella
2. Blue Exit Pulpit Mike E. Smith 117 Jerry Hollendorfer
3. Trevor’s Clever Stephen Got Even Michael C. Baze 117 Ted H. West
4. Victory Pete Five Star Day Chantal Sutherland 117 Alexis Barba
5. Gio Ponti Tale of the Cat Garrett K. Gomez 123 Christophe Clement
6. Medjool Monarchos Alex O. Solis 117 Julio C. Canani
7. Nownownow Whywhywhy Joseph Talamo 121 Patrick L. Biancone
8. Cowboy Cal Giant’s Causeway John R. Velazquez 121 Todd A. Pletcher
9. Wishful Tomcat Tactical Cat Joel Rosario 119 Robert J. Frankel
10. Cause Giant’s Causeway Martin Garcia 117 Myung Kwon Cho
11. Cherokee Artist Cherokee Run Jose Valdivia Jr. 117 H. Graham Motion
12. Wesley El Prado (Ire) Javier Castellano 119 Mark A. Hennig
13. Slew’s Tiznow Tiznow Rafael Bejarano 119 Doug F. O’Neill

Las Virgenes S. (G1)
February 7, $300,000, f, 3yo, 1m, Santa Anita Park, 3:05 PM PT
P Horse Sire Jockey Wt. Trainer

1. Navigator Stormy Atlantic Victor Espinoza 116 Ronald W. Ellis
2. African Skies (GB) Johannesburg Joseph Talamo 116 Patrick L. Biancone
3. Century Park General Meeting Tyler Baze 118 Bob Baffert
4. Nan High Yield Corey S. Nakatani 116 Craig Dollase
5. Stardom Bound Tapit Mike E. Smith 122 Robert J. Frankel
6. Haka Dynaformer Rafael Bejarano 116 Christophe Clement
7. Saucey Evening More Than Ready Garrett K. Gomez 118 H. Graham Motion
8. Toro Bonito El Corredor John R. Velazquez 116 Bob Baffert
9. Pinkarella Malibu Moon Joel Rosario 116 Doug F. O’Neill



AT FAIR GROUNDS SATURDAY...

The RISEN STAR STAKES for Kentucky Derby hopefuls, is the feature but there is a bunch of stakes races and lots of local interest.

Among the Canadian horses are FRENCH BERET and WINDWARD ISLANDS in the Fair Grounds Handicap. The former is one of the hottest Canadian-breds around right now.

GOOD AND LUCKY, Canadian-owned by Jim and Alice Sapara, is entered in the Mineshaft Handicap (Grade 3).
SHILLA, Ontario bred, is in the Pan Zareta Stakes.

The performance of FRIESAN FIRE, who won the Lecomte, will give us a good read on PATENA, the Canadian-owned fellow who is headed to the Louisiana Derby and was 2nd in the Lecomte.


Saturday, Fair Grounds
RISEN STAR S.-GIII, $200,000, 3yo, 1 1/16m
PP HORSE SIRE JOCKEY WT

1 Map of the World Hennessy Bourque 116
2 Indygo Mountain A.P. Indy Theriot 116
3 Nowhere to Hide Vindication Lanerie 116
4 It Happened Again Proud Citizen Thompson 120
5 Uno Mas Macho Uno Hernandez Jr 120
6 Friesan Fire A.P. Indy Saez 122
7 Giant Oak Giant’s Causeway Prado 120
8 Dumar Maria's Mon S Bridgmohan 120
9 Code of Honour Omega Code Toups 116
10 Soul Warrior Lion Heart Valenzuela 116
11 Summer's Empire Empire Maker Campbell 122
12 Flying Pegasus Fusaichi Pegasus Albarado 120
13 Au Moon Malibu Moon Leparaoux 116



JOCKEYS SHOW

If you want watch the show on Jockeys on Animal Planet (tomorrow night at 9 p.m.), here is a preview....