Tag: Racing

Wonder Wheel, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies en route to honours as the Eclipse Award winner in her division last year, will be looking to revitalize a subpar sophomore campaign when she makes her local debut in Saturday's Selene Stakes, at Woodbine.

The Selene, the major local prep for the July 23 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, will share billing on the blockbuster Canada Day program with the Marine Stakes, the penultimate stakes step on the road to the August 20 King's Plate. Both the Selene, which attracted 10 entrants, and the eight-deep Marine, are open Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile races for 3-year-olds.

Mark Casse, who conditions Wonder Wheel and also will field Solo Album, will be looking for a sixth straight and ninth overall Selene success. Patrick Husbands, aboard for five of those wins, will ride Wonder Wheel for the first time in what is also her debut on a synthetic surface.

Wonder Wheel, who had won Keeneland's Grade 1 Alcibiades at 1 1/16 miles prior to her Breeders' Cup tour de force, began her current season with a second-place finish in the mile and 40-yard Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Casse believed that effort would have Wonder Wheel primed for Keeneland's Grade 1 Ashland, which in turn was to be her springboard to the Kentucky Oaks, only to watch her finish a non-threatening sixth in Lexington and then end a troubled ninth of 14 in the Louisville showpiece.

“I was really disappointed with her effort in the Ashland,” said the trainer, from his Ocala base. “And the Oaks was kind of a weird-run race. Then I wanted to get her up there and train her on the Tapeta. I just find that horses thrive at Woodbine, more than anywhere. I just kind of felt like we needed to get her back to square one, try to get her some confidence.”

Solo Album comes into the Selene off a front-running maiden score over 1 1/16 miles when returning to Woodbine for her sixth career start and third of this season.

“She's a filly that's kind of one speed, likes Tapeta, runs long,” said Casse. “She's got a really big pedigree. If she could just get some black type, it would mean a lot for her in the future.”

Saffie Joseph, Jr., whose primary base is Gulfstream Park, has had Blind Spot and Be My Sunshine preparing for the Selene on site and is shipping up Honor D Lady.

Blind Spot finished first in the six-furlong Star Shoot on April 29 but was found to be guilty of interfering with the runner-up and had her number taken down.

The Maryland-bred won the listed Our Dear Peggy over a mile and 70 yards on Gulfstream's Tapeta surface but Joseph expects the Selene to be a tougher spot.

“This is a different class,” he said.

The Kentucky-bred Be My Sunshine will be making her stakes and Tapeta debut after running well at both Gulfstream and Keeneland.

“She missed some time, and might be short a work or two, but I'm hoping she'll run well,” said Joseph.

Honor D Lady ran well when shipping north last fall, ending a close third in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine. The Kentucky-bred became a stakes winner this spring in the listed Honey Ryder, a one-mile turf race at the Hallandale Beach oval, before rallying to finish third there in the listed Martha Washington over 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic strip.

'She's going into this race with a good chance,” offered Joseph. “She got a little far back last time.”

The Woodbine Oaks eligibles in the field are Tito's Calling, Friends for Life, Dolce Sopresa, Speed Trap and Fortyfiveseventy.

Twin City and Kaukokaipuu both broke through for their first stakes wins at the distance of seven furlongs last out and will be looking to use the Marine as a final stepping-stone to the King's Plate.

The Plate Trial, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, will be run July 23 but trainers Stuart Simon and Ted Holder plan to bring their respective charges into the King's Plate off a seven-week break.

Twin City had plenty of experience around two turns last year, graduating in his second start going long and then finishing a strong second in the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity.

Following a winter in Ocala, Twin City returned to action here in the open King Corrie Stakes and prevailed by a scant nose under regular rider Gary Boulanger.

“He came back in March,” said Simon, who also owns Twin City in partnership with Brent, Russ, and Roy McClellan. “He's a big horse, and he's always been mentally mature and that's the good part about him. In the Coronation, he was going good at the end. Distance isn't an issue.”

Kaukokaipuu, conditioned by Holder for Culpepper Island Syndicate, failed to find the range in seven starts at 2, but did finish second on five occasions and opened up his sophomore campaign with another runner-up effort. His two starts since then have been impeccable, however, as Kaukokaipuu won his maiden in lengthy fashion and then was a smart winner of the Queenston while giving Holder his first career stakes score.

The Marine represents a change in plans for Kaukokaipuu, who was supplemented at a cost of $2,250.

“I was going to go to the Plate Trial, but with this horse as good as he is I decided not to wait,” said Holder, who also had Kaukokaipuu in Florida with a long-term eye toward to the King's Plate.

“Off his last work, I don't think the distance will be a problem. It was something special.”

With his new regular partner Rico Walcott aboard, Kaukokaipuu breezed six furlongs last Sunday in 1:12.40.

Velocitor, the Coronation Futurity winner, will be looking to rebound off a seventh-place King Corrie finish with fellow King's Plate nominees Stayhonor Goodside, One Bay Hemingway and Simcoe also looking to polish their credentials.

American-bred shippers Turf King (IRE), who is sure to attract serious support with New York-based trainer Chad Brown and Woodbine's leading rider Kazushi Kimura in his corner, and Kentucky invader Midnight Rising complete the lineup.

FIELD FOR THE $150,000 GRADE 3 SELENE STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Fortyfiveseventy – Ryan Munger – Barbara Minshall

2 – Friends for Life – Eswan Flores – Stuart Simon

3 – Honor D Lady – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

4 – Dolce Sopresa – Justin Stein – Josie Carroll

5 – Be My Sunshine – Kazushi Kimura – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

6 – Wonder Wheel – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

7 – Speed Trap – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

8 – Blind Spot – Rafael Hernandez – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

9 – Tito's Calling – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Ross Armata, Jr.

10 – Solo Album – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

FIELD FOR THE $150,000 GRADE 3 MARINE
PP – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – One Bay Hemingway – Luis Contreras – Sid Attard

2 – Velocitor – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

3 – Stayhonor Goodside – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

4 – Kaukokaipuu – Rico Walcott – Ted Holder

5 – Turf King (IRE) – Kazushi Kimura – Chad Brown

6 – Twin City – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon

7 – Midnight Rising – Reylu Gutierrez – Jordan Blair

8 – Simcoe – Rafael Hernandez – Katerina Vassilieva

The post Champion Wonder Wheel ‘Back To Square One’ In Woodbine’s Selene Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Treason will look to make it two straight graded stakes scores when he takes on eight rivals in the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (G3), part of the Canada Day Racing Festival, Saturday at Woodbine.

A 1 1/8-mile main track event for 4-year-olds and up, the Dominion Day is part of a card that showcases four other graded stakes offerings: $200,000 Highlander (G2T), $175,000 Nassau (G2T), $150,000 Marine (G3) and $150,000 Selene (G3). ​

Treason, a 5-year-old son of Constitution-Cougarstown, arrives at his latest test off a sparkling effort in the Eclipse (G2) Stakes on June 4.

Under leading rider Kazushi Kimura, the bay, owned by LNJ Foxwoods and MSK Racing Ventures, LLC, converted a head advantage into a one-length lead at the stretch call, before going on to record a 1 ½-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race.

Carroll, who sent out champion Mighty Heart to win the 2021 Dominion Day, had plenty of praise for Treason after his first stakes victory.

“When people ask you about what makes you successful with horses, I say patient owners, owners that give you the opportunity to let their horses develop and do what they can do,” said Carroll, who will also send out Tyson and Duke of Love in the Dominion Day. “Treason is just a good horse. We thought he was a good horse from the beginning, and he really proved himself today.”

Kimura, who has 54 total wins on the year, was equally impressed.

“He is a great horse to ride, very easy on himself, and very strong. He didn't want to let anyone get by him in the stretch.”

Treason debuted in June 2021, breaking his maiden at 25-1 on the turf at Belmont in a one-mile race. After an eighth and two fifths in his next three starts, he returned nearly one year later at Woodbine in September 2022 and promptly dominated his rivals to the tune of a 16 ½-length win at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta.

Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, Treason concluded his 4-year-old season with a fourth in the Autumn Stakes (G2) in November.

“Josie has done a great job with this horse,” said Kimura. “I could feel he was ready to run when he won the Eclipse. He was very professional in the paddock and throughout the whole race.”

For Kimura, who came to Ontario in 2018 from his home in Hokkaido, Japan, a win with Treason would be extra special.

“Hopefully, we can come up with another big effort on Saturday and get a win on Canada Day.”

The Dominion Day is race nine on Saturday afternoon's 11-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

GRADE 3 $150,000 DOMINION DAY STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – War Bomber (IRE) – Sahin Civaci – Norm McKnight

2 – Artie's Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg

3 – Gaston – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Kevin Attard

4 – Tyson – Rafael Hernandez – Josie Carroll

5 – Golden Glider – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Treason – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll

7 – Carrothers – Declan Carroll – Martin Drexler

8 – Duke of Love – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

9 – Novo Sol (BRZ) – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

The post Canada Day: Carroll-Trained Treason Chasing Second Straight Win In Dominion Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

A pair of Grade 2 turf stakes, the $200,000 Highlander, and $175,000 Nassau, share the spotlight with a trio of other graded stakes as part of the Canada Day Racing Festival, Saturday at Woodbine.

The world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course will play host to a pair of star-stacked fields in this year's editions of the six-furlong Highlander (for 4-year-olds and up) and one-mile Nassau (for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up), both races having drawn local and U.S. interest.

One Timer, a 4-year-old son of Trappe Shot-Spanish Star, is no stranger to Woodbine, having won the main track Victoria Stakes in 2021.

Trained by Larry Rivelli for Richard Ravin and Patricia's Hope LLC, the bay returns to the Toronto oval for the Highlander a graded stakes winner after taking the $600,000 Franklin-Simpson (G2T) last September at Kentucky Downs.

One Timer returned to action on June 1 and notched a 4 ¼-length triumph over five furlongs on the Belterra Park turf.

“That effort at Kentucky Downs was extremely impressive,” praised Rivelli. “We gave him some time off after that race and got him going again in that race in Ohio. But he's ready now. This is the spot. He's doing really well and we're looking forward to coming up to Woodbine. E.T. [jockey, Baird] says he has a great cruising speed. Once he gets to the front, he wants to stay there.”

Bred in Kentucky by St. Simon Place LLC, One Timer is 6-1-0 from nine career starts, with $589,113 (U.S.) in lifetime earnings.

Saturday's race will mark the first time the well-travelled gelding will have competed twice at the same racetrack. ​ ​

“I hope he handles it [E.P. Taylor] as good as he's handled all the other turf courses he's been on,” said Rivelli. “He's the type of horse that is capable of being ready to go wherever he happens to be racing. One of those horses who just knows what to do and how to do it well.”

Other starters include multiple graded stakes placed Masseto (GB), graded stakes placed Oceanic, and multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet. ​

Sid Attard won three straight editions of the Highlander, with Signature Red in 2010 and 2011, and Smokey Fire in 2012.

Moira, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, will make the second start of her 4-year-old campaign in the Nassau.

Trained by Kevin Attard for owners X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, and SF Racing LLC, the daughter of Ghostzapper, who also earned champion 3-year-old filly at the Sovereign Awards ceremony earlier this year, finished second in the Belle Mahone (G3), a neck behind Super Hoity Toity in the 1 1/16-mile main track race.

This will be Moira's third try on the grass. She finished second but was demoted to eighth in last year's E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Keeneland on November 5.

“She's run two strong races on the turf,” said Attard, who won the 2017 edition of the Nassau with multiple Sovereign winner Starship Jubilee, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2019. “Unfortunately, the E.P. Taylor resulted in a disqualification, but that doesn't take away from the grit she showed and that ability to dig deep when the real running starts.

“She had a tough trip in the Breeders' Cup, but she showed that competitive fight again. If things had worked out differently, who knows what the result could have been? She's had some bad racing luck her past three starts, so hopefully she's due for some better luck this time around.”

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Moira won the 2021 Princess Elizabeth Stakes in her debut and followed it up with a second in the Mazarine (G3) to complete her 2-year-old campaign.

In 2022, she captured the Fury Stakes and Woodbine Oaks before a seven-length stunner in the $1 million Plate, in which she set Woodbine's 1 ¼-mile synthetic-track record.

Moira comes into the Nassau with a 4-2-0 mark from eight starts and $995,491 (U.S.) in career earnings.

“It would be great to see her get the win on Canada Day at her home track on one of the best turf courses in the world,” said Attard. “There's always a big sense of pride at our barn when you can take on top-level competition and win one for the home team.”

Other starters include multiple graded stakes placed Eminent Victor, graded stakes winner Fev Rover (IRE), multiple graded stakes placed Scotish Star (ARG), graded stakes placed Millie Girl, and graded stakes placed Sweet Enough (GB).

The Highlander and Nassau are slated as race eight and race 10, respectively. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE $200,000 GRADE 2 HIGHLANDER
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Cadamosto (IRE) (S) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

2 – Outlaw Kid – Eric Cancel – George Weaver

3 – Old Chestnut – Edgard Zayas – Martin Drexler

4 – Masseto (GB) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Lucky Score – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

6 – Oceanic – Reylu Gutierrez – Jordan Blair

7 – Souper Dormy – Declan Carroll – Martin Drexler

8 – Striker – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll

9 – Silent Poet – Eswan Flores – Nick Gonzalez

10 – One Timer – Rafael Hernandez – Larry Rivelli

FIELD FOR THE $175,000 GRADE 2 NASSAU
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Sister Lou Ann – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

2 – Millie Girl – Declan Carroll – Catherine Day Phillips

3 – Scotish Star (ARG) – Reylu Gutierrez – Todd Pletcher

4 – Moira – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

5 – Devil's Bit – David Moran – Roger Attfield

6 – Purrfect – Ryan Munger – Michael Stidham

7 – Sweet Enough (GB) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

8 – Fev Rover (IRE) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

9 – Eminent Victor – Rafael Hernandez – Chad Brown

The post Canada’s Reigning Horse Of The Year Moira Headlines Nassau; One Timer Leads Highlander Field appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post