Sunday, November 09 2008

Shut It Down turns it on in Frost King Stakes

TORONTO, November 8 * Shut It Down blew by his rivals with ease to capture Saturday's $125,000 Frost King Stakes at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong event for Ontario-sired two-year-olds was the first added-money tally for the Porto Foricos gelding, who is trained by Lorne Richards and owned by K.K. Sangara.

After bobbling just after the start, Shut It Down regrouped and rallied to take the lead a furlong out, going on to a 5 ½ length score. Wildcat Fashion, who lost by a head in the Bull Page Stakes, rallied for second. Vandal Stakes winner Win and Reign was third.

Friday, November 07 2008

Mega Rush from off the pace suitable for the Frost King

TORONTO, November 6 * T V Stables charge Mega Rush looks to spring an upset in Saturday's $125,000 Frost King at Woodbine.

The two-year-old son of Megas Vukefalos enters the seven-furlong Ontario-sired event as the freshest of the eight juveniles. The Mike DePaulo trainee hasn't raced since he broke his maiden in a maiden dash on September 26.

"We thought we would wait and give him a shot in this race and give him a good chance to run big," said the Toronto native. "We've learned that we don't want to rush him back. He seems to run better when his races were spaced out."

Sunday, November 02 2008

A good time for Porte Bonheur in Ontario Fashion

TORONTO, November 2 - New York invader Porte Bonheur rallied on the inside to capture Sunday's $163,500 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine.

The six-furlong event was the daughter of Hennessy's first try over a synthetic surface. She adjusted to the Toronto oval's Polytrack with style, defeating onrushing Ontario-bred Lucas Street by 1 1/2 lengths.

The Chicago-based mare Miss Macy Sue, who set the pace, was third.

Saturday, November 01 2008

Retraceable hears no footsteps in taking Princess Elizabeth

TORONTO, November 1 * Retraceable, a bay daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, easily took Saturday's $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

Confidently ridden by Patrick Husbands, Retraceable watched from mid-pack as first-time starter Sanguine and favourite High Mist, who came into the 1 1/16 mile feature undefeated in three starts, took the seven-horse field through opening splits of :23.35 and :47.14.

Longshot Milwaukee Appeal surged to the front on the far turn, but Retraceable, eight-wide, was waiting to pounce. Down the lane, Retraceable widened her advantage and went on to a 3 ¼ length victory, timed in 1:44.76 on the Polytrack. Milwaukee Appeal held for second, while Flashy Got Even was third.

Friday, October 31 2008

Is Northern Netti Woodbine’s next top model?

TORONTO, October 31 - Northern Netti could become a diva of Ontario Fashion on Sunday at Woodbine.

So far in her career, the three-year-old is a model of perfection, entering the $150,000 sprint for fillies and mares with a perfect 3-for-3 dance card.

Far from a one-trick pony, the daughter of City Zip is a two-city, duel-surface talent.

Monday, October 27 2008

Utterly Cool wins Cup & Saucer with chilling ease

TORONTO, October 26 - Utterly Cool turned the $252,800 Cup and Saucer Stakes into a one-horse show, Sunday at Woodbine.

The two-year-old was the first of two Sid Attard-trained Ontario-breds to record added-money victories on the card, which also featured the Labeeb Stakes.

A gelded son of Smoke Glacken, Utterly Cool won the 72nd edition of the Cup & Saucer by 10 1/4 lengths, traveling 1 1/16 miles in a spiffy 1:44.62 over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course's yielding terrain.

Friday, October 24 2008

Which 2008 Breeders’ Cup horses have competed at Woodbine?

ARCADIA, CA, October 24 - While several 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships horses have some Canadian content, many of them haven't been near north of the 49th parallel.

Other Championship contenders, while having little Canadian content, have stepped hoof in the country, competing at Woodbine in preparation for Friday's and Saturday's races.

The following is a list of Breeders' Cup horses that have competed at Woodbine in their careers:

FEATURE:  C Karma.  Could it be for the filly?

Occasional horse racing fans are always looking for the horse to root for on the big day. They'll watch the Queen's Plate, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup and want to back a horse they can connect with.

This year, in the 25th edition of the Bredeers' Cup World Championships, set for this Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, the romantic horse is one with a decidedly Canadian angle.

Trained by Woodbine-based horseman Greg DeGannes, C Karma, rated 8-1 in the morning line for Friday's Juvenile Fillies Turf event, simply shouldn't be here.

Thursday, October 23 2008

‘Hello Maggie’ had lots to say in the Ruling Angel

TORONTO, October 22 - Windhaven's Hello Maggie May stormed down the Woodbine stretch to claim victory in Wednesday's $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes.

The 6 1/2-furlong event for three-year-old fillies was the first career stakes score for the Ontario-bred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid.

Hello Maggie May, who stopped the teletimer in 1:15.53, finished a neck ahead of 4-5 favorite Tribal Belle. Bear Lahaina was third.

Can ‘Spice’ rack up win in Sky Classic?

TORONTO, October 22 * Spice Route, who comes off a stellar second-place finish in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International, is set to contest the Grade 2, $250,000 Sky Classic Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.

A gelded son of King's Best, four-year-old Spice Route has shown great affinity for Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course, winning his Toronto oval debut on August 21, finishing fifth, beaten a length, in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf on September 7 and running second to Marsh Side in the International on October 4.

Jockey Jim McAleney, aboard for all three of the British-bred's Woodbine starts, expected Spice Route to fare well in the International.

Tuesday, October 21 2008

Breeders’ Cup Notes, from Santa Anita in Arcadia…Canadian report

ARCADIA, CA, October 20 -There are several Breeders' Cup contenders with some Canadian connection that will compete at the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, set for Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California this Friday and Saturday, October 24 and 25.

We'll track the various comings and goings of the Canadian team through the week.

Final entries will be drawn on Tuesday, October 21.

Monday, October 20 2008

Tell It as It Is speaks volumes in Maple Leaf

TORONTO, October 19 - Tell It as It Is was up in the final jump to capture Sunday's $180,350 Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine.

The four-year-old Kentucky-bred filly, who is owned by the Cinnamont Stable and is trained by James Smith, tagged stubborn favorite Arden Belle in the shadow of the wire to prevail by a nose. Born to Be finished third.

Tell It as It Is, who also won the Tattling on June 18, traveled 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.99.