Ontario bred | Horse Racing Free Tips

Channel Maker Arrives at Old Friends

Fan-favorite Channel Maker (English Channel), the 2020 Eclipse Award-winning turf male who made a record six appearances at the Breeders' Cup, has taken up residence at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. The 9-year-old was donated to the farm by Adam Wachtel and his fellow owners.

Bred in Ontario by Ivan Dalos's Tall Oaks Farm, Channel Maker was a stakes winner at two for trainer Danny Vella and took the 2017 Breeders' S. He was a Grade I winner each year from 2018 to 2020, scoring his first such victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic before adding the Man O'War S. in 2019 and the Sword Dancer and a second Joe Hirsch the following year. He was also a close third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf en route to his championship.

A gallant second in the $1-million Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia at the outset of his 7-year-old season, Channel Maker retained his zest for racing into the latter part of his career, winning the GII Elkhorn S. in the spring of 2022 and this year's GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga in gate-to-wire fashion. He retired with a record of 10-6-5 from 56 starts for earnings of $3,915,983.

“I've idolized Channel Maker ever since I first laid eyes on him devouring the field in the 2020 Sword Dancer at Saratoga,” said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. “He arrived at Old Friends covered in dapples and in spectacular condition. Our deepest thanks to Adam and his partners, and to trainer Bill Mott, for allowing us to show him off to his legion of fans. We are honored.”

The post Channel Maker Arrives at Old Friends appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Sales Credit Update for Canadian Premier Yearling Sale

Thoroughbred owners with Ontario-breds competing in the claiming ranks at Woodbine or Fort Erie can check the Thoroughbred Improvement Program website for a list of sales credits eligible to be used on a yearling at the Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The sales credits currently on the website include those earned through Aug. 23 and the list will be updated Aug. 29 to include the results from Woodbine through Sunday, Aug. 28. The sales credits will be posted on each sales barn during yearling previews. On sale day, a final list will be available at the Ontario Racing booth. Ontario Racing staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Sales Credits and TIP in general.

Click to view the current Sales Credit List and for more information on how sales credits are accrued. For additional questions or details about transferring Sales Credits, please contact the Program Coordinator at tbprogram@ontarioracing.com.

The post Sales Credit Update for Canadian Premier Yearling Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Safe Conduct Outlasts Riptide Rock To Win Queen’s Plate

The fascinators and flowers were out in full force for Canada's signature race, the Queen's Plate at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. On one of the country's biggest race days, 13 loaded into the starting gate, all prepared to take their place in the long history of the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown. In the end, it was Safe Conduct, who benefitted from running just behind the early leader Take a Chance, who found a clear path to victory in the 162nd Queen's Plate.

In his first start in both Canada and on the Woodbine Tapeta, the Ontario-bred Safe Conduct broke from the rail post and got clear of the bunched field to sit a length behind Take a Chance with Haddassah third and Go Take Charge fourth and Riptide Rock last of all. The pace was a moderate one, with Take a Chance setting fractions of :24.01 for the first quarter, :48.37 for the half-mile, and 1:13.11 for six furlongs. Irad Ortiz, Jr., in town for a day's racing at Woodbine, kept Safe Conduct just off the leader throughout, moving to the lead as the field hit the top of the stretch.

With 13 horses, the stretch run quickly became a cavalry charge with several horses running into traffic issues trying to find a position to make their bid for the lead. Ortiz's move gave Safe Conduct the running room he sorked to put space between him and the field as they headed for the wire, leading by as much as a length down the stretch. David Moran moved Riptide Rock, who had been last until the top of the stretch, out into the center of the track, to find a lane for the gelding's closing kick. He quickly closed on Safe Conduct, but was unable to catch him, with the winner hitting the wire a head in front. H C Holiday was third and the filly Munnyfor Ro was fourth.

The final time for the mile and quarter Queen's Plate was 2:02.85.

Safe Conduct paid $8.00, $5.10, and $4.20. Riptide Rock paid $10.10 and $7.90. H C Holiday paid $15.40.

Bred in Ontario by Mitchell H. Kursner, Safe Conduct is a 3-year-old cold by Bodemeister out of the Congrats mare Duchess Dancer. Owned by WellSpring Stables, he is trained by Philip Serpe. Consigned by Cara Bloodstock, Safe Conduct was purchased by his owner at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $45,000. The Queen's Plate is the colt's third win in seven career starts.

The post Safe Conduct Outlasts Riptide Rock To Win Queen’s Plate appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

17-Year-Old Joshua Attard, Grandfather Tino Attard Team Up With Plate Hopeful Keep Grinding

Joshua Attard, the 17-year-old son of multiple stakes winning trainer Kevin Attard, is hoping his colt Keep Grinding gets a shot at Queen's Plate glory on August 22.

In his last year of high school, Joshua has high praise for his 3-year-old Ontario-bred (trained by his grandfather Tino Attard), who capped off his 2-year-old year with an impressive victory.

Horse: Keep Grinding
Sire: Tizway
Dam: Samsal
Trainer: Tino Attard
Owner: Joshua Attard
Breeder: Huntington Stud Farm Corp.
Record: 1-0-0 from 3 starts

On being a teenage Thoroughbred owner:

“It feels great. I never would have expected, to be honest, to have a horse like this at my age. I'm really excited to have an opportunity to have a horse that is eligible for the Queen's Plate, and that has a chance to be in the race.”

On when he knew Keep Grinding had potential:

“I knew when he started to work as a 2-year-old last year. I used to go in the summer, when I didn't have school, to watch him work and he would put on a show. His first race on the grass, I knew he had some talent because he came from far out of it and the race was a little short for him. He's a two-turn horse. When he broke his maiden, that's when I said I had a Queen's Plate prospect.”

On why he chose the name:

“I wanted to name my horse something that motivated me. I play hockey. When I go into the corners, I always tell myself to keep grinding for the puck. So, if I ever had the chance to own a horse I would name it Keep Grinding. It's something that motivates me and I hope it motivates other people.”

On the thought of having a Queen's Plate starter:

“I'm very excited and happy. I'm really looking forward to that possibility of being in the Plate. Hopefully, everything goes well and we make it to the race. He started training in the past three weeks. It would be great if my grandfather and I had a shot to be in the Plate.”

On staying patient with the race being run on Aug. 22:

“I try not to think about it. I keep my thoughts to myself. I know it's a hard road to get to the Queen's Plate, so we'll just hope the horse keeps developing and getting better each week.”

The post 17-Year-Old Joshua Attard, Grandfather Tino Attard Team Up With Plate Hopeful Keep Grinding appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post