Month: September 2023

War Painter, under Patrick Husbands, struck the lead late en route to victory in Sunday's $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes for 2-year-old Ontario-sired fillies at Woodbine.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Canuck Racing Club, the daughter of Danish Dynaformer out of Morning Tale, by Tale of Ekati, came into the seven-furlong turf race with a second and third on her resume from her first two starts.

The third time proved to be the charm for the bay filly.

After an even start, it was 3-2 choice Olivia Rose who set the tempo early, taking her four rivals through an opening quarter of :23.70, while Husbands and War Painter sat at the back of the pack.

Olivia Rose continued to call the shots through a half in :46.85, the daughter of Silent Name (JPN) was a half-length clear of Never Silent, as War Painter was allowed to watch the proceedings from in fifth.

Still on top around the turn for home, Olivia Rose put away Never Silent and looked to dart away from her pursuers, but Husbands had War Painter in full flight, splitting rivals, and setting their sights on the front-runner.

A half-length behind at the stretch call, War Painter kept coming and eventually got the upper hand to secure a one-length victory. Olivia Rose finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Fourfiftyfour. Hurricane Clair, supplemented to the race was fourth, followed by Never Silent.

The final time over a firm E.P. Taylor turf course was 1:21.70.

“She broke sharp, and I just wanted to see how the race would unfold,” said Husbands. “She was just watching them the whole way and started to get away from me and I chirped at her, and she responded.”

The result was twice as nice for trainer Kevin Attard, who sent out Zippy Gizmo to win the $100,000 Bull Page Stakes two races earlier.

“A lot of guys are new to the game, some have had previous experience, so it's just a great way for people to get involved in a great sport and own a small fractional share of a horse,” said Attard, of Canuck Racing Club. “Now, we're in the winner's circle with a stakes winner in the first year. A pretty good start.”

Bred by Charles Fipke, War Painter finished second in her debut on July 29 before a third-place effort on August 27.

She paid $12.80 for Sunday's win.

The post War Painter Breaks Maiden In Victorian Queen, Caps Woodbine Stakes Double For Attard appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Zippy Gizmo got up in the final strides to take top prize in the $100,000 Bull Page Stakes, a seven-furlong grass event for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings Sunday at Woodbine.

A son of Amis Gizmo out of the City Zip mare Avie's Zip, Zippy Gizmo, with Kazushi Kimura aboard, got away last of six as the duo of Yacht Boy and 5-2 choice Meko Makee dueled for the early lead, with the latter eventually striking front to hold a narrow advantage through an opening quarter mile in :23.41.

Meko Makee extended his lead over Yacht Boy to a length after a half in :46.33, while Kimura and Zippy Gizmo continued to trail the field.

The pacesetting pair continued their tussle on the front coming off the turn for home but were soon greeted by Summer Commander and Brave Dancer, while Zippy Gizmo began to pick up momentum with an inside bid. It was Brave Dancer who emerged on top late, but a determined Zippy Gizmo found just enough to eke out a neck victory.

Brave Dancer finished a half-length ahead of Summer Commander for second. Bearing Down, Meko Makee and Yacht Boy rounded out the field.

The final time was 1:22.77 over a firm E.P. Taylor turf course.

An Ivan Dalos homebred, Zippy Gizmo came into his first stakes engagement off a maiden-breaking score on August 27, a 2½-length triumph at 6½ furlongs at Woodbine.

“I'm definitely really proud of him,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “We had the opportunity to work him out on the training track turf a while back and I thought he worked phenomenal out there. When the opportunity arose to get him out on the grass, he obviously broke his maiden. I thought he looked pretty impressive doing it. He's not a big horse, but he's got a lot of heart and he showed a lot of grit today.”

It was the second win from four starts for the chestnut colt.

“This is so special,” said Colleen Dalos, director of Dalos' Tall Oaks Farm. “As you know, we've been supporting Ontario, we have five stallions here. He's come from our flagship Victory Gallop line. (Sire) Amis Gizmo (a son of Giant Gizmo out of Galloping Ami, by Victory Gallop) is relatively new; this is his first stakes winner of his first crop and we're starting to see some amazing Amis Gizmos. We're excited about it and the first is always really special. Just a shout-out to my dad, who I think is the most ingenious, incredible breeder. We love you, Dad.”

Zippy Gizmo paid $9.10 for the win.

The post Zippy Gizmo Rallies From Last To First To Win Bull Page, Becomes Sire’s First Stakes Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Twin Creeks Racing Stable's graded stakes winner Law Professor, last seen finishing a distant sixth in the Pimlico Special (G3) on May 19, will return in Saturday's $400,000 Woodward (G2)  at Belmont at the Big A. He was second in last year's Grade 1 edition of the 1 1/8-mile event.

Trained by Rob Atras, the 5-year-old Constitution gelding received a freshening after racing seven times at five different tracks from September through May, including open-lengths victories at Aqueduct in the Queens County in January and Excelsior in April.

“He went home to Twin Creeks Farm for 30 days and got a real good freshening and came back looking really good,” trainer Rob Atras said. “He put some weight on, which he needed. He'd been in training for a while and shipping around a lot, so I think he needed it.”

The versatile Law Professor, who won the restricted Tapit last September at Kentucky Downs, made the grade in an off-the-turf edition of the 2021 Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2) when in the care of conditioner Michael McCarthy.

Law Professor was a game runner-up in last year's Woodward, battling with multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good the length of the lane and falling just 1 1/4-lengths short. He is slated to face a strong field on his return, including Grade 1 winner Zandon, dual graded stakes-winner Charge It, and Dubai World Cup (G1) runner-up Algiers.

“If we were shipping to face those kind, we probably wouldn't do it off the bench,” Atras said. “But we get to run at Aqueduct, which he seems to like, and we've been able to put quite a bit of good training into him. I'm hopeful he'll run a good race.”

Law Professor returned to Atras' barn in July and has since breezed seven times over the Belmont dirt training track, including a half-mile effort in 48.52 last Sunday. He was scheduled to breeze this morning but wet conditions have pushed the work back one day.

“I galloped him this morning. He's doing everything we need – I was just looking for a light half. We'll probably do it tomorrow now,” Atras said.

Manny Franco, aboard for both stakes scores here, will retain the mount in the Woodward.

Atras also noted that Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Kentucky homebred Harrodsburg is set to resume training after being sidelined with an injury following a third-place finish in the Dwyer (G3) on July 1 at Belmont Park.

The sophomore Constitution gelding graduated impressively in his March debut at Aqueduct and earned a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure for a close runner-up effort against older allowance company in May at Belmont.

“He came out of the race with a knee injury, which required surgery,” Atras said. “I was devastated as I thought he had a real bright future. He has a tremendous amount of ability that horse.”

Atras said that Harrodsburg is likely to resume light training in the next few weeks.

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