Wednesday, August 27 2008

Smart Strike and Robert Tiller lead eight into Hall of Fame

TORONTO, August 26 - Four champion horses and four people will be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame Thursday night at the Mississauga Convention Centre in Mississauga.

The class of 2008 includes world champion thoroughbred sire Smart Strike and Sovereign Award champion older mare Wilderness Song, both owned by Sam-Son Farms of Milton, Ontario.

Robert Tiller, a multiple Sovereign Award-winning thoroughbred conditioner, was elected in the trainer's category. Louis E. Cauz, Managing Director of the Hall of Fame and Woodbine Entertainment's archivist and historian, Quebec-based breeder Pierre Levesque, founder and owner of Angus Farms, and the late Cliff Chapman, Jr., a legendary horseman and former publisher of The Canadian Sportsman, will join the Hall's Builders' category.

Monday, August 25 2008

‘Glitter’ rocks the Belle Geste Stakes

TORONTO, August 24 - Glitter Rox rallied from just off the pace to capture Sunday's $100,000 Belle Geste Stakes at Woodbine.

For the Glitterman filly, the seven-furlong event for Ontario-foaled fillies and mares was the first added-money tally of her career.

Glitter Rox finished one length in front of Dance to My Tune, who nosed out Half Sister for the runner-up position.

Koonunga Hill takes Ice Water Stakes

TORONTO, August 24 - Koonunga Hill captured Sunday's inaugural running of the $100,000 Ice Water Stakes at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong E.P. Taylor turf event is for two-year-old fillies.

After a dramatic stretch battle, even-money choice Koonunga Hill prevailed by a nose over Panther Strike. Freyga closed to be third.

Sunday, August 24 2008

Just Rushing just sensational in Play The King

TORONTO, August 23 * Just Rushing, a seven-year-old Ontario-bred son of Wild Rush, was game down the lane in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Play The King Stakes, at Woodbine.

Owned by Tucci Stables and trained by Sid Attard, Just Rushing, who finished second in last year's event, resisted a late challenge from a hard-closing Wollemi Pine to notch the victory in the key Woodbine Mile (September 7) prep.

Friday, August 22 2008

Kip Deville, Ventura in strong group of Woodbine Mile nominees

TORONTO, August 22 - Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced a solid group of 24 nominees to its key September Thoroughbred event, the Woodbine Mile.

The Woodbine Mile, set for September 7 in 2008, is one of the continent's most prominent one-mile turf races. For the first time, the event is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and features a lucrative "Win and You're In" guarantee.

Thursday, August 21 2008

Ian Black duo ready to deliver in Belle Geste

TORONTO, August 21 * Conditioner Ian Black will saddle a pair of four-year-old fillies, Glitter Rox and Prophetically, in Sunday's $100,000 Belle Geste Stakes, at Woodbine.

Glitter Rox, a bay daughter of Glitterman and Prophetically, a dark bay daughter of Pulpit, have established themselves as legitimate contenders in the seven-furlong turf event.

Black will have more girl power in the form of his riders.

Le Cinquieme Essai goes for third consecutive Play the King crown

TORONTO, August 20 * Le Cinquieme Essai, whose name is synonymous with the Play the King Stakes, looks for the natural hat trick, in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 turf feature at Woodbine.

A 12-time winner from 31 starts, along with nearly $1.5-million in purse earnings, Le Cinquieme Essai, a nine-year-old son of Fastness, attempts to net another win in the seven-furlong test over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Sunday, August 17 2008

You Will Love Me valiant in Victoriana

TORONTO, August 17 * You Will Love Me fought back in the final stages to take the $125,000 Victoriana Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

The four-year-old Earl Barnett trainee was a half-length winner of the turf event, defeating 7-5 Executive Flight, who also finished in last year's Victoriana and third-place finisher, 14-1 Bold Corky.

Saturday, August 16 2008

Window of opportunity all Serenading needs in Belle Mahone

TORONTO, August 16 * Serenading shed the bridesmaid label in impressive fashion, taking Saturday's $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine.

The four-year-old chestnut filly won the 1 1/16-mile event by 2 ¼ lengths, in what was her first added-money triumph, defeating runner-up Roving Angel and multiple stakes winner Bear Now.

Juliet’s Spirit still perfect after Ontario Debutante score

TORONTO, August 16 * Juliet's Spirit, a two-year-old bay daughter of Exchange Rate, is now three for three, after taking Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes by a head, at Woodbine.

Owned by Padua Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, Juliet's Spirit notched her second consecutive stakes score, having won the five-furlong My Dear on June 30 at the Toronto oval.

Friday, August 15 2008

Executive Flight looks to soar in Victoriana

TORONTO, August 14 * Executive Flight, a dark bay daughter of Bold Executive, goes after her ninth career win in Sunday's $125,000 turf Victoriana Stakes, at Woodbine.

Owned by Bill Soroklit Jr. and trained by Darwin Banach, the five-year-old mare has one win this year, that coming in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes on July 1, along with two thirds in three starts.

Thursday, August 14 2008

A good aura for C Karma heading into Ontario Debutante

TORONTO, August 13 * C Karma, a dark bay daughter of Exchange Rate, gets her first taste of stakes action in Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Debutante, at Woodbine.

Owned by Pamela Edel and trained by Greg De Gannes, the two-year-old Florida-bred broke her maiden in her most recent start, a two-length score at five furlongs over the Toronto oval Polytrack on August 2.

Sent off at 3-1, C Karma earned an 83 Beyer figure (Daily Racing Form speed rating) for the victory.