Friday, October 03 2008

E.P. Taylor & Nearctic Previews

TORONTO, October 2 * Regardless of how Sealy Hill, Canada's 2007 Horse of the Year, fares in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes, it will be her final career start at Woodbine.

But it may not necessarily be her last outing, according to conditioner Mark Casse.

"If she runs a big race, we're looking at taking her to the Breeders' Cup (Filly and Mare Turf, October 24 at Santa Anita in California). But if she doesn't, this is going to be her last start. We're just hoping the real Sealy Hill shows up."

Tuesday, September 30 2008

Pattison Canadian International Notes for Monday, September 29, 2008

EUROS ARRIVE

The rest of the European contingent arrived in Toronto at approximately 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon in preparation for Saturday's $2 million Pattison Canadian International.

Doctor Dino, Lauro, Lucarno and Mourilyan, all top Pattison contenders, were joined on the trip by Folk Opera and Toque de Queda, who are prepping for the $1 million E.P. Taylor, the International's filly and mare companion.

Quijano, one of the fancied European horses in the Grade 1, 1 1/2-mile event, raced in the Northern Dancer Stakes on September 7 and remained in training at Woodbine. Nearctic Stakes competitor, Santiago Atitlan, also remained after accompanying Quijano earlier this month.

Monday, September 29 2008

Sand Cove sets track record in Ontario Derby

TORONTO, September 28 - 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.

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.

Pattison Canadian International Notes for Sunday, September 28, 2008

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.

Saturday, September 27 2008

Pattison Canadian International Notes for Saturday, September 27, 2008

THE 'DOCTOR' IS IN

Multiple Grade 1 winner Doctor Dino, who counts the Hong Kong Vase and Man o' War Stakes among his triumphs, will likely be the favourite for the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International on October 4.

And, Frankie is back. Jockey Lanfranco Dettori, who won the 2000 International with Mutafaweq and the 2004 edition with Sulamani, gets the call.

A six-year-old son of Muhtathir, the French-bred Dcotor Dino has eight wins, five seconds and eight thirds from 27 career starts, for owner Javier Martinez Salmean and trainer Richard Gibson.

Monday, September 22 2008

Lickety Lemon finds winning note in Flaming Page

TORONTO, September 21 - Charles Laloggia's Lickety Lemon captured Sunday's 1 1/2-mile Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine.

The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, who won the Belmont Stakes at the same distance on dirt, gobbled up the extra yardage like an experienced stayer, galloping away to win the $102,500 event.

"She's got great endurance," said winning jockey Chantal Sutherland.

The bay filly is the second Woodbine-based sophomore in as many days to successfully defeat elder rivals. On Saturday, Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon won the Overskate Stakes in convincing fashion.

Friday, September 19 2008

71st Pattison Canadian International nominees announced

TORONTO, September 19, 2008 - Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced a world-class group of 25 nominees for the Pattison Canadian International, recognized as one of the world's great horse races, on Saturday, October 4 at Woodbine.

The Pattison Canadian International is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and features a "Win and You're In" guarantee.

A victory in the 1 ½-mile race, which takes place over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, earns the victor a berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, set for October 25 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Thursday, September 18 2008

Be A Hero For Just One Day - Support LongRun Day at Woodbine

TORONTO, September 18 - This year's LongRun Day at Woodbine, slated for Saturday, will include an autograph session and photo opportunity with three Queen's Plate-winning members of the Woodbine riding colony.

LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, whose adoption and placement programs help find homes for thoroughbreds in Ontario, will offer a little bit of everything for racing fans on September 20.

The event starts at noon on the second floor.

Will Bourbon jog or will he skate?

TORONTO, August 29 - Queen's Plate champ Not Bourbon returns to the Ontario-sired ranks in Saturday's $125,000 Overskate Stakes at Woodbine.

In the seven-furlong event, the earner of $966,160 will face four rivals, including salty four-year-olds Dancer's Bajan and Yummy With Butter, and six-year-old stalwart Archers Alyancer, who will be the first Woodbine stakes mount for apprentice Melanie Pinto.

Owned by Charles Fipke, Not Bourbon hasn't raced since finishing sixth in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 13.

Sports drive takes centre stage Saturday morning at Woodbine Racetrack

TORONTO, September 18 - Woodbine Entertainment Group wants every child in the Greater Toronto Area to have a chance to play the sport of his or her choosing.

In partnership with the City of Toronto, Toronto Breakfast Club and other local groups, WEG's sports equipment drive will conclude on Saturday, September 20 with a day filled with activities.

The ultimate goal is to collect; repaint and refurbish used items that can be distributed to youth organizations, which will pass the equipment on to local underprivileged children. Obviously new items are greatly appreciated.

Monday, September 15 2008

C Karma captures Natalma thriller

TORONTO, September 14 - Trainer Greg De Gannes may have a second ticket to next month's Breeders' Cup after his two-year-old filly C Karma earned herself a guaranteed berth with her neck victory in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.

As a 'Win and You're In' event, the winner of the one-mile turf event automatically earns a position in the starting gate for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on October 24.

C Karma held off a late challenge from 45-1 shot Freyga to capture the Natalma, which was her first stakes victory. Koonunga Hill stayed on late to finish third.

Sunday, September 14 2008

Tenjectory pulls 17-1 La Prevoyante upset

Tenjectory, owned by T.V. Stables, wore down 3-5 favourite Authenicat in deep stretch to take Saturday's $125,000 La Prevoyante Stakes, an Ontario Sires event for three-year-old fillies, at Woodbine.

With Eurico Rosa da Silva at the controls, Tenjectory rallied stoutly in the one mile turf dash and outdueled Authenicat for her first added-money score.

After Manitoba Miss led the nine-horse field through a quarter-mile in :23.96 and a half in :47.84 over a 'yielding' turf, the daughter of Trajectory, sitting seventh, had her work cut out as the field straightened away for the lengthy stretch drive.