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Newstome, Owlette Take Opening Stakes Of Woodbine Meet

Stakes action kicked off at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, Canada, on Saturday afternoon with 3-year-old colt Newstome winning the $100,000 Woodstock Stakes and Owlette taking the six-furlong companion Star Shoot for fillies.

With Luis Contreras aboard, Newstome made headlines with a commanding victory in the season's first stakes event for trainer Michael Trombetta and owner Marie Trombetta.

Leaving from the inside, Aye Aye Sir charged out along the rail in the Woodstock with Lookinatamiracle and outsider Untitled looming through a :22.30 first quarter. The outside foes continued to press the pace into the turn and past the :45.14 half-mile mark with Newstome, who had stalked the front-runners early, joining the fray then sprinting away down the stretch for the wide-open win in 1:09.99. He ran off by 5 1/2 lengths, with Untitled chasing in second and Lookinatamiracle edging out Aye Aye Sir for the third-place honours. Striking Moon and Stormy Soul completed the order of finish.

“I got a great trip,” said Contreras afterwards. “He broke running and I was able to save ground and get in the stalk position. In the middle of the turn, I was just loaded with a lot of horse and turning for home, he just 'go.'”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Equivine Farm, the grey Goldencents–Newstouse colt, who won a pair of black type stakes stateside during a $175,000 juvenile campaign, was making his Woodbine debut and now boasts wins in half of his eight career starts.

In addition to picking up the mount on the stakes winner, Contreras is off to a great start to the season with four other victories so far through the first four race days.

“It's been a long wait and the most important thing right now is to stay safe, and stay like that for the whole rest of the meet.”

Sent postward as the 5-1 second choice, Newstome paid $13.90 to win.

Clayton and supplement Muchmorethanthis were scratched and entered in Sunday's ninth race, a $101,200 seven-furlong allowance race.

In the Star Shoot, Owlette set out for the lead from the gate and never looked back, winning her season's debut for jockey Jerome Lermyte and trainer Wesley Ward.

Owlette clocked panels of :22.13 and :44.12 en route to victory 1:09.55 by 1 3/4 lengths over Sovereign Award champion filly Curlin's Voyage, who got up for second off a ground-saving trip. Coach Lori finished third after closing outside of Two Sixty, who was used early and stalked the winner throughout.

New York Groove, Tara Dawn, Ima Beast, Cool Shadows and Take Charge Eh completed the order of finish. Gizmo Flash was scratched, with her connections opting to race in a six-furlong dash on Sunday.

Owlette, who paid $6.50 to win as the slight 2-1 favorite, was successful in her season's debut after winning the Shady Well and Victorian Queen Stakes last year at Woodbine for owner Ted Broeck Farm. Bred in Ontario by Michael Byrne, she now sports a career record reading 4-2-0 in six starts with $235,000 banked in purse earnings.

The Frac Daddy–Itstartswithadream filly made a great first impression on Lermyte, who picked up the mount as Patrick Husbands stayed aboard Curlin's Voyage.

“I had the chance to get on her a few times in the morning and I was very confident, and she proved today that she has the ability,” said Lermyte. “The whole trip she kept me confident. When we turned for home, she was still nice and relaxed. I knew I had more – I had another gear – and I was confident the whole way.”

Commenting on Owlette's ability to stretch out in distance, Lermyte noted that, “She went a mile and sixteenth [last year finishing second in the South Ocean Stakes] and she ran a good race. Wesley puts his horses on point, so you don't have to worry about anything.”

Owlette and Artie's Princess, who won a five-furlong allowance race on Opening Day for Lermyte and Ward, are both nominated to the Woodbine Oaks (August 15) and The Queen's Plate (September 12).

“She [Artie's Princess] gave me a very nice race. I was very happy with her so that's two nice fillies,” said Lermyte.

In other action, Woodbine Oaks eligible Avie's Samurai ($7.90) was an impressive winner in the afternoon's opener, taking the lead in the turn and winning the $101,200 seven-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:24.14. Contreras was aboard the homebred First Samurai–Avie's Sense filly for trainer Josie Carroll and owner Ivan Dalos.

The Queen's Plate nominated Golden Wave won his Woodbine debut with a 1:23.72 effort over seven furlongs in the fourth race, a $123,200 maiden allowance. The Atreides–Tidal Surge colt pressed the pace and turned into the stretch with the lead en route to a two-length victory over Fort Hope for trainer Mike De Paulo and owner Mickey Demers. Justin Stein rode the 13-1 upsetter, who returned $29.30 to win.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues, without spectators, on Sunday afternoon with an 11-race card beginning at 1 p.m.

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Mandella Ships Kanderel North To Win Alcatraz Stakes At Golden Gate

Kanderel shipped north from his home base at Santa Anita Park in Southern California and won Saturday's feature race at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, Calilf., the $75,000 Alcatraz Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Kanderel stalked the pace and produced a strong closing late kick, taking the lead in mid-stretch before outfinishing runner-up Ajourneytofreedom for the victory. Kanderel finished a head in front of the aforementioned foe and was two lengths clear of multiple Golden Gate Fields stakes winner and Alcatraz third-place finisher Bettor Trip Nick. Governance, Mylittlerunaway, Darnquick and Zimba Warrior completed the order of finish. Kanderel stopped the clock for one mile in 1:36.82 on a firm course.

A colt by Candy Ride, Kanderel was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Wertheimer and Frere. The dam of Kanderel, the Storm Cat mare Stormica, won the Richmond Handicap on the Golden Gate Fields grass course in 2005. With the Alcatraz Stakes victory in the bag, Kanderel improved his lifetime record to 2 wins from 6 starts with career earnings of $79,622.

Kanderel paid $4.60 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Ajourneytofreedom paid $10.20 to place and $2.60 to show while Bettor Trip Nick paid $3.60 to show.

The final race card of the 2020 Winter/Spring meet at Golden Gate Fields takes place on Sunday afternoon. First post on the 11-race program is 12:15 PM.

Mandatory payouts in the Golden Pick Six jackpot wager, Rolling Super High Five and the Early and Late Pick 5's will be in play on Sunday, and the Late Pick 4 wager on Sunday has a guaranteed pool of $250,000. The Late Pick 4 goes as Races 8-11, with the first leg going being the feature race of the day and the marquee race of the Winter/Spring meet, the $250,000 Grade 3 San Francisco Mile for older routers. All four races in the Late Pick 4 sequence will be run on turf.

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She’s A Julie Holds Off Point Of Honor To Win Ogden Phipps, Earn Breeders’ Cup Distaff Berth

She's a Julie added a second Grade 1 victory to her ledger, when displaying a powerful kick at the top of the stretch before running down Ollie's Candy to the inside of Point of Honor to win the 52nd running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Ogden Phipps by a nose Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, the 5-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality earned a “Win and You're In” berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

She's a Julie made amends after a poor result in the last out Shawnee at Churchill Downs, where she hopped in the air at the start, got out of position and was beaten 13 ¼ lengths.

Guided by jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. from post 3 in the six-horse field, She's a Julie laid fourth, one length off of pacesetter Blamed, who recorded an opening quarter mile in 22.84 seconds with Ollie's Candy and stablemate Golden Award to her outside second and third, respectively.

With the half-mile in 45.98 seconds, Blamed extended her advantage to a length but began tailing off as the field came around the far turn as She's a Julie, under a hard drive by Santana, Jr., made a three-wide move.

As Blamed dropped out of contention, Ollie's Candy found herself 2 ½ lengths in front with She's a Julie gaining ground in tandem with Point of Honor. The duo battled to a head-bobbing finish, with She's a Julie stopping the clock in 1:40.27.

Point of Honor was a neck to the better of Ollie's Candy and it was another 8 ¼-lengths to Blamed, followed by Pink Sands and Golden Award.

The victory was a second Grade 1 triumph for She's a Julie, who won the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill Downs in May 2019. The victory was a fifth graded stakes win for She's a Julie, all of which took place at different racetracks.

“Everybody put a lot of effort into this filly. Steve [Asmussen] said he wanted me to go to New York,” said Santana, Jr., who has piloted She's a Julie in her last 14 starts. “She's doing well. I worked her and we were really happy with her. Steve knows what he's doing and I always listen to him. Today, she was feeling good. We got a great break. I sat in the spot I wanted. I knew she was going to give it to me, and she kicked it in. She gave me a nice kick.”

The win marked a ninth Grade 1 triumph for the jockey-trainer combo of Santana, Jr. and Asmussen.

Asmussen also won last year's edition of the Ogden Phipps with subsequent 2019 Champion Older Filly Midnight Bisou.

She's a Julie was saddled by Asmussen's assistant Toby Sheets, who oversees his New York division, and he admitted that he wasn't sure his mare won the photo finish.

“I had to watch it one more time to be sure [she had won.] It was very close,” Sheets said. “I said to Ricardo before the race that there was a lot of pace in there, and that's how the race unfolded. It was a very patient ride and the pace upfront helped. She ran super.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, aboard runner-up Point of Honor, admitted that the defeat was tough, but nevertheless was proud of his filly's effort.

“It was a tough beat. I'm not disappointed at all,” Castellano said. “She ran her race. I expected a hot pace and she did everything she could. It was a 'bob' and these are all competitive horses.

“I let the speed go and sat behind the horses,” he continued. “I popped her out and I thought I was going to go by. At the quarter pole, I was a little concerned. I was asking her and she didn't take off and I thought I was going to be third, but she kept running and ran a good race. You can't ask for anything more than that.”

She's a Julie returned $31.40 on a $2 win bet and banked $165,000 in victory while enhancing her lifetime earnings to $1,187,880. Her record now stands at 19-7-2-4 and includes wins in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows and Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks during her 3-year-old campaign as well as a triumph in the following year's Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park.

She is owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables.

Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, She's a Julie is out of the Dubai Millennium broodmare Kydd Gloves and comes from the same family as Grade 1-winner Bodemeister. She was purchased for $160,000 from the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Blandford Stud.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Mike Lee for New York-bred 3-year-olds going one mile on the main track in Race 9 at 5:36 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:15 p.m.

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Admission Office Nips Arklow In Thrilling Louisville Stakes

Amerman Racing Stables' homebred Admission Office overcame the outside post, rallied wide in the stretch and narrowly edged 6-5 favorite Arklow by a head to win Saturday's 83^rd running of the $100,000, Grade 3 Louisville Stakes presented by Longines at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in thrilling fashion.

Admission Office covered 1 1/2 miles over firm turf in 2:27.25 – the second-fastest in the stakes' history only behind Simmard's 2:27.16 in 2012 – under jockey Julien Leparoux. Brian Lynch trains the winner for Mr. and Mrs. John Amerman.

No favorites won in the Single 6 Jackpot or Late Pick 5 sequences Saturday, which triggered massive carryovers for Sunday. The 50-cent Late Pick 5 carryover is $163,012 for Races 6-10, and the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot carryover is $87,414 for Races 5-10. If Arklow would have won, Saturday's Late Pick 5 and Single 6 Jackpot would have paid $434,700 and $87,414, respectively.

Lombo dictated the pace from the outset and led the field of 12 older horses through splits of :24.51, :49.59, 1:14.03 and 1:39.21 with Arklow galloping about five lengths behind in sixth along the inside and Admission Office to his outside in seventh. Last year's Louisville winner Tiz a Slam took over around the final turn with Arklow set to pounce just behind along the inside hedge and Admission Office looming with a wide rally. Admission Office poked his head in front at the top of the stretch while Arklow briefly waited for room along the inside as Tiz a Slam faded. Arklow, after briefly brushing with Tiz a Slam, hit his best stride with a furlong to run but it was the unhindered Admission Office who prevailed in a tight photo.

“We settled into a really nice spot early and he really liked the extra distance today,” Leparoux said. “He kept fighting the entire stretch.”

Florent Geroux, Arklow's jockey, said, “He got in a good spot early and we got a little tight late on the hedge. He was responding the whole time and ran a big race.”

The victory was worth $57,660 and improved Admission Office's career earnings to $432,957 with a record of 4-5-2 in 14 starts. It was the first career stakes win for Admission Office, who was a bridesmaid in four previous stakes, including a trio of Grade II events.

“He's been crying out for some more ground and a lot of his previous races he just seemed to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time,” Lynch said. “He's run some big races to get beat just a head and a neck. Arklow is an outstanding horse and it was a great battle today. Thankfully we had our head down at the right time on the wire. He's a well-accomplished horse and this will open the door up to more turf marathon races in the future.”

Admission Office returned $9.20, $4 and $2.80 as the 7-2 second betting choice. Arklow paid $3.40 and $2.80. He's No Lemon, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, was another 1 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $4.40 to show.

Ry's the Guy, Jais's Solitude, Tiz a Slam, Apreciado, Perfect Tapatino (FR), Sky Promise, Golden Dragon, Fearsome (GB) and Lombo completed the order of finish.

Admission Office, a 5-year-old son of Point of Entry out the Royal Academy mare Miss Chapin, was bred in Kentucky by his owners.

Betting on Churchill Downs' 11-race card on Saturday totaled $9,009,318.

Racing will continue Sunday beneath the Twin Spires with a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The program will feature a trio of allowance races, including a first-level sprint for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs headlined by the Chad Brown-trained Toledo.

Racing from Churchill Downs on Sunday will air on FS2 from 2-2:30 p.m. and FS1 from 2:30-6:30 p.m. as part of FOX Sports' “America's Day at the Races” coverage. It also will be broadcast on MSG+ from 1-6:30 p.m.

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