Friday, October 17 2008

Fifteen Canadian-connected horses await next weekend’s Breeders’ Cup

TORONTO, October 16, 2008 - The consistent Bear Now, the fleet Fatal Bullet and 2007 Horse of the Year Sealy Hill head a list of 15 runners with Canadian connections that have been pre-entered to the 25th Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, set for Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, California on Friday, October 24, and Saturday, October 25.

Bear Now, Bear Stables Ltd.'s outstanding four-year-old Tiznow filly, is entered in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic, formerly known as the Distaff, which she competed in last year, at Monmouth Park. After racing at Woodbine over the summer (wins in Hill 'N' Dale and Ontario Matron), the Reade Baker trainee journeyed to Kentucky, where she won Turfway Park's Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Distaff, a 'Win and You're In' event. Woodbine jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva, who rode her at the Florence, Kentucky oval, is expected to get the call.

TSN TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF 2008 BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Breeders' Cup and TSN, Canada's Sports Leader, announced today that TSN will have exclusive live Canadian coverage of the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships on October 24 and 25 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The 25th running of the Breeders' Cup will feature 14 races over two days with record purses of $25.5 million.

Coverage begins Friday, Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET, featuring five Breeders' Cup Championship races for female horses with purses totaling $8 million. Friday's races mark the first time a major Thoroughbred event in North America will run an entire day of female Thoroughbred racing, culminating with the Ladies' Classic (formerly the Distaff).

Thursday, October 16 2008

Premier McGuinty honours Sandy Hawley

TORONTO, October 15 * Sandy Hawley, who will join seven other high-profile jockeys in The Living Legends Race, on October 18 at Santa Anita, was presented with a special certificate from Premier Dalton McGuinty, Wednesday evening at Woodbine. Premier McGuinty recognized Hawley's renowned career and his contributions to thoroughbred racing.

The presentation was made after the running of the second race by Dr. Shafiq Qaadri, MPP Etobicoke North, on behalf of the Premier and Woodbine Entertainment Group President and C.O.O. Nick Eaves. Dr. Qaadri offered his own recognition to Hawley and well wishes for the Legends Race.

‘Bold’ and beautiful career firsts for Pizarro, Armata

TORONTO, October 15 * Four-year-old Bold Corky gave jockey Tyler Pizarro and trainer Willie Armata their first career added-money wins, in Wednesday evening’s $125,000 Classy ‘N Smart Stakes, at Woodbine.

The daughter of Bold Executive took the lead midway of the backstretch, widened her advantage in early stretch and then held on valiantly to win the event for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.

You Will Love Me gamely pursued the dark bay, but to no avail, a neck back at the wire. Nicki Knew, who went off as the favourite, was another 1 ½ lengths behind.

Tuesday, October 14 2008

A happy finish for Mean Green in the Bull Page

TORONTO, October 13 - Two-year-old Mean Green, ridden by Jono Jones, wore down one rival and fended off another to win Holiday Monday's $125,000 Bull Page Stakes by a head.

The final time for the six furlong, Ontario-sired event for juvenile colts and geldings was 1:10.14 over Woodbine's Polytrack.

Mean Green, bred by Gardiner Farms and owned by Norseman Racing Stable, came into the added-money feature off a win in the Simcoe Stakes on September 1 and was made the 3-2 favourite. Wildcat Fashion, who finished fourth in the Simcoe, was gaining late, but couldn't get by the winner. Me the Sea and G T was third.

Monday, October 13 2008

Sand Cove dusts Bunty Lawless rivals

TORONTO, October 12 - Ralph Johnson's Sand Cove captured his third consecutive Woodbine stakes event in Sunday's $125,000 Bunty Lawless.

The Ontario-bred, who is trained by Roger Attfield and was ridden by Richard Dos Ramos, entered the Ontario-sired event on the strength of victories in the Vice Regent and Ontario Derby.

Under the wire a 3 1/4-length winner, the three-year-old colt upstaged four-year-old rivals Gone Trajectory (second) and Knight's Cause (third) for his fifth win of the season.

Saturday, October 11 2008

Palladio sets track record in taking Durham Cup

TORONTO, October 11 * Palladio, a six-year-old bay son of Lycius, won his first race in over a year in record-setting fashion, taking Saturday's co-featured Grade 3, $150,000 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine.

At the finish of the mile and one-eighth affair, Palladio and jockey Richard Dos Ramos stopped the clock in 1:49.29, besting Sand Cove's previous mark of 1:49.38 over Woodbine's Polytrack surface on September 28.

Sand Cove, also trained by Roger Attfield and ridden by Dos Ramos, will contest the $125,000 Bunty Lawless Stakes, Sunday at the Toronto oval.

Friday, October 10 2008

Pick 6 to be added to Thoroughbred betting profile

TORONTO, October 10 - Beginning this Wednesday, October 15, Woodbine Entertainment Group will be offering the Pick 6 as part of its Thoroughbred racing betting profile, replacing the Pick 7.

The Pick 6, which asks fans to pick the winners of six consecutive races, is a minimum $2 wager and offers a "major/minor" payout.

If a fan, or fans, get 6 of 6 in the wager, 70% of the net Pick 6 pool and carryover will be paid out (major).

Carotene first of four stakes at Woodbine this weekend

TORONTO, October 9 - Saturday's Carotene Stakes kicks off a $550,000 holiday weekend of added-money action for which Woodbine horsemen and fans will be thankful.

A 1 1/8-mile turf contest, the $150,000 Carotene is for three-year-old fillies, foaled in Ontario.

Kinghaven Farms' homebred Reverently seeks to borrow a page from her star younger brother and snag a major share of the purse.

Thursday, October 09 2008

Archers Alyancer upsets Mt. Sassafras

TORONTO, October 8 - Dennis Payer's Archers Alyancer converted a perfect a trip into a Mt. Sassafras Stakes triumph on a rainy Wednesday night at Woodbine.

For trainer John Simms, it was his first career stakes score at the Toronto oval.

"It was about time we got some luck with this horse," said Simms. "He's legit. He's been knocking on the door all year."

Monday, October 06 2008

Sutherland sweeps stakes with victory in Mazarine

TORONTO, October 5 - Mine That Bird won his fourth consecutive race and third-straight stakes event, in taking Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Grey Stakes at Woodbine.

Sent off at 6-1, the David Cotey trainee split horses around the turn and outfinished a gutsy rival in Bear's Conductor for the half-length victory. Mark Casse pupil Stimulus Plan finished third.

In his fifth career start and his first try around two turns, Mine That Bird traveled 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.45, under Chantal Sutherland.

Saturday, October 04 2008

Pattison Canadian International tops exceptional Saturday card at Woodbine

TORONTO, October 3 - The richest card in Woodbine's thoroughbred history (excluding the 1996 Breeders' Cup) is set for Saturday, highlighted by the $2 million, Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International.

The Pattison, which drew a field of 10 turf specialists, is the feature, but three other turf stakes - the $1 million E.P. Taylor for fillies and mares (5:16 pm), the $500,000 Nearctic for sprinters (4:35 pm) and the $300,000 Summer for two-year-olds (4:04 pm), will also be contested.