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Lanni Continues to Build on Canadian Roots with Canuck Racing Club

The name Canuck Racing Club might not be a familiar one to most folks in the horse racing industry, however at least one of the personalities behind it most certainly is. Less than two weeks ago in Saratoga Springs, New York, bloodstock agent Donato Lanni made his presence felt when signing the tickets on five yearlings–led by a pair of sales-topping colts–totaling over $9 million in gross expenditures.

Already well established south of the border, the Montreal-raised Lanni decided to forge a deeper stake into the Canadian industry over the last few years, first creating X-Men Racing and more recently, joining forces with childhood friends Mark Halloran and Rob Van Blokland to form Canuck Racing Club.

“I'm from Canada and I wanted to spend more time here and I've built a bigger presence here with X-Men horses since a lot of them are here,” explained Lanni. “So I've been trying to buy more Canadian-breds so I can run more in Canada.”

Placing Canada's first jewel of the Triple Crown-the Queen's Plate–squarely in his cross hairs, Lanni unearthed Moira (Ghostzapper) for X-Men Racing–in partnership with SF Bloodstock and Madaket Racing–from its initial group of acquisitions in 2020. With trainer Kevin Attard at the helm, she was a runaway winner in last year's Queen's Plate, concluding the 2022 season as Canada's Horse of the Year.

While unlikely to draw the kind of support Moira drew last year heading into Canada's 10-furlong Classic, Lanni returns, this time with Canuck Racing Club and Daniel Plouffe in tow, and will be represented by Enjoythesilent (Silent Name {Jpn}) in the re-named King's Plate, run as such for the first time since 1951.

“These are my friends from elementary school that run it with me,” explained Lanni. “The Club is basically all new guys from Canada that never owned horses and the first horse they bought is running in the King's Plate. It is so great for the game.”

Initially on the outside looking in, the Kevin Attard trainee drew in after a miscalculation of his earnings was announced early Saturday, thus pushing El Cohete (Society's Chairman) onto the A/E list.

A $37,000 weanling purchase at the Keeneland November sale in 2020, the Adena Springs bred was a runaway winner on debut going seven furlongs at Woodbine May 28 before finishing a close-up third stretching to a 1 1/16 miles against $40,000 optional claimers July 7. Favored in his latest start, the gelding just came up a neck short of the win against similar company July 30.

“He's taking a big step up in class going from Ontario-sired company to open Canadian-bred company, but he's a horse that I think the distance is going to help and will be well suited for him,” explained Attard, who has five runners in this year's King's Plate. “We are going to be adding blinkers to his arsenal.”

In his latest work, the dark bay breezed five panels in 1:00 2/5 (11/52) over Woodbine's Tapeta surface Aug. 12.

“He worked really well last week, so it's pretty exciting to see him get into the race,” added Attard. “He's been pretty consistent and all he needs to do is just take another step in the right direction. I think he's a key player.”

Also under Attard's tutelage, Canuck Racing Club recently tasted success with one of its 2022 purchases–Vandoo (Souper Speedy)–who went wire-to-wire in a five-furlong maiden over Woodbine's main track July 29. The 2-year-old filly was a C$22,000 Canadian Premier Yearling purchase.

“It was cool to have a recent winner with these guys,” said Lanni. “It is a great opportunity for these guys.”

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Silent Runner Graduates To Stakes Winner In Frost King At Woodbine

In a quick turnaround from his last-out win on Nov. 12, Silent Runner bested a field of six other Ontario breds to win the Frost King Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. The 2-year-old son of Silent Name (JPN) gives his sire another stakes victory at the Toronto, Ontario racetrack, after Ya Mar won the South Ocean Stakes earlier on the card.

After an even break, Where's Neal showed his head first, taking a half-length lead over J M R Best of Turf and Silent Runner down the backstretch. Around the turn, jockey David Moran took Silent Runner to the outside of Where's Neal, the two dueling at the top of the stretch.

Down the Woodbine straight, Silent Runner dug in to pass Where's Neal midstretch, with Sir for Sure and Gatling Gun driving late. Silent Runner had too much momentum, hitting the wire thre-quarters of a length in front of Sir for Sure, who passed Gatling Gun in the race's final strides. Where's Neal held on for fourth.

The final time for the six furlongs over the Tapeta track at Woodbine was 1:16.96. Find this race's chart here.

Silent Runner paid $8.70, $4.50, and $2.80. Sir for Sure paid $7.40 and $4.40. Gatling Gun paid $3.40.

“He's a lovely little horse,” jockey David Moran said after the race. “He's a real ATM machine. I was a little worried coming back so quick with him (a winning performance on November 12). So, he broke really fast and I was there to take him back and get him in behind the speed. He settled lovely and then as you saw, when I asked him, he ran right to the wire. He's a lovely little guy.”

Bred in Ontario by owner C Scott Abbott Racing Stable, Silent Runner is out of the Bold n' Flashy mare Flashy Consort. Trained by Michael Doyle, the 2-year-old colt has three wins and three seconds in seven starts for career earnings of $166,177.

The post Silent Runner Graduates To Stakes Winner In Frost King At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Francine Villeneuve Seeks Second Frost King Crown, This Time As Trainer

Classy Whisper chases his second straight score when he takes on six rivals in the $100,000 Frost King Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

The son of Silent Name (JPN) heads into the 6 ½-furlong main track event for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds off two strong performances to start his career, including a mettlesome head victory at one mile and 70 yards over the Tapeta on Oct. 31, in a race originally slated for the turf.

“He's been really exciting,” said trainer and former jockey Francine Villeneuve, who rode Copper Trail to victory in the 2003 edition of the Frost King. “He's been precocious right from the beginning. He was a little difficult at first, but he's just taken everything in stride.”

The win came three weeks after Classy Whisper, owned by T and T Racing Team, debuted at the Toronto oval.

With Rafael Hernandez in the irons, the bay gelding, sent off at 18-1, held a head advantage at the stretch call of the 6 ½-furlong main track race, going on to finish second, a neck back of the winner Hunt Master.

Villeneuve, who enjoyed a successful career in the irons prior to her training career, is buoyed by the pair of gritty efforts ahead of her rookie's first added-money test.

“He's learning and getting better and better all the time. When he ran the first time and showed all that speed and determination, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't really expect that from him. On the second asking, when we stretched him out, we still didn't know what to expect, thinking that he might be just speed. But apparently, he's the kind of horse you can put where you want. He just has the will to win. That's why we made the decision to go in this race. I don't like to shorten him up again after going long, but I don't think it's going to be a big problem for him.”

Villeneuve, who received the 2004 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (contributions to the sport on and off the racetrack), is expecting another game showing from her rookie charge.

“Like I said, he looks like a horse that you can kind of put wherever you want. He doesn't need the lead, he doesn't have to be right up there… he's pretty agreeable. And Rafael [jockey, Hernandez] now knows him better as well, so I feel pretty confident in him. There are some tough ones in there, but we'll get an idea of what he's made of. It's been a long year, but he's very encouraging.”

Classy Whisper will be fashioning a similar look from his previous start.

“His first race, we had him closed up, his blinkers, and the second race, I opened them up because maybe if he could see the other horse, it might help him a little bit, and I think it did. So, we're going to keep it that way and let Rafael make a decision, based on the pace, of where he wants to be.”

Villeneuve is hopeful the journey finishes with a return trip to the Frost King winner's circle.

“To win this race with Classy Whisper, 18 years after winning it as a rider, that would be amazing.”

The race is named after Canada's 1982 Horse of the Year, a winner of 21 stakes, who was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1986.

The $100,000 South Ocean Stakes is also on tap for Sunday. Seven two-year-old Ontario-sired fillies will travel 6 ½-panels on the Tapeta.

Trainer Mark Casse is represented by Lois Len and Ya Mar. A chestnut daughter of Hunters Bay, Lois Len is 1-0-1 from five starts and will contest her fifth straight stakes race. A dark bay daughter of Silent Name (JPN), Ya Mar is 1-0-1 from three starts.

Thatsitthatsall, a daughter of Silver Max, was second in both the Muskoka and Victorian Queen. Trained and owned by Debra Rombis, the chestnut is 1-3-0 from four starts.

The Frost King is slated as race nine on Sunday's 11-race card. The South Ocean goes as race three. First post time is 12:55 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FROST KING STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Sir for Sure – Luis Contreras – Mark Casse
2 – Where's Neal – Kazushi Kimura – Daniel Vella
3 – J M R Best of Turf – Christopher Husbands – Steven Chircop
4 – Lucys Child (S) – Gary Boulanger – Phil Gracey
5 – Gatling Gun – Patrick Husbands – Barbara Minshall
6 – Silent Runner – David Moran – Michael Doyle
7 – Classy Whisper – Rafael Hernandez – Francine Villeneuve

SOUTH OCEAN STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Loaded Vixen – Luis Contreras – Andrew Smith
2 – Allpaidup (S) – Justin Stein – Randy Thompson
3 – Thatsitthatsall – Kirk Johnson – Debra Rombis
4 – Lois Len – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Ya Mar – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
6 – My Girl Sky – Steven Bahen – Katerina Vassilieva
7 – Swinging Mandy – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Dale Desruisseaux

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Not So Quiet Repeats In Overskate At Woodbine

Not So Quiet defended his Overskate Stakes title in impressive fashion Saturday at Woodbine Race Course in Toronto, Ontario.

Originally slated for 7 ½-furlongs on the Inner Turf, the Ontario-sired Overskate was changed to seven panels on the Tapeta after the Greater Toronto area saw steady rainfall on Friday evening through to Saturday.

Not So Quiet, under Rafael Hernandez, rained on everyone's parade in the Toronto oval's $100,000 feature.

Just as he did last year, the Mark Casse trainee arrived at the Overskate off a win in the Vice Regent Stakes.

It was longshot Derzkii, to the outside, and Not So Quiet who were running one-two, respectively, through an opening quarter of :23.02, but by the time the field of eight (Desolator was scratched) reached the half-mile marker in :45.76, Not So Quiet was a head on top.

Hernandez and the six-year-old son of Silent Name began to easily expand their lead around the turn for home. By the time the stretch drive got underway, Not So Quiet was already widening his advantage with ease and was volumes the best at the wire, winning by 3 ½-lengths in a time of 1:21.46.

Told It All rallied to finish second, Wave Baby was third and Derzkii was fourth.

Hernandez doled out high marks for the Heste Sport homebred who has enjoyed success at various distances and on different surfaces.

“He's nice. Last race [Vice Regent], he impressed me on the turf. He came running down the lane. It was the most impressive race he had so far. But he can do anything… he can do turf, he can do synthetic, he can be on the lead, come from off the pace. No matter how the race sets up for him, he finds a way to keep going.”

Not So Quiet, who paid $3.30 to win as the 3-5 second choice, is 8-0-2 from 16 career starts.

It was a big day for Casse, who won five races on the card: Similar Taste (Race 1), Ostracize (Race 2), Swot Analysis (Race 4), La Libertee (Race 5), and Not So Quiet (Race 9).

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