Skygaze Graduates To Graded Stakes Winner In Maple Leaf

A trio of Mark Casse horses led the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes early and it was a Casse trainee in the lead at the finish, with Skygaze, a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, getting her first graded stakes victory at Woodbine Racetrack.

In the 10-furlong Maple Leaf, Broadway Lady took the lead in the race's opening furlong, Crystal Glacier and Skygaze traveling easily behind her. Broadway Lady set a slow pace, logging a first quarter in :24.93, a half-mile in :50.15, and six furlongs in 1:15.23, but Skygaze closed the gap easily on the far turn.

Skygaze moved easily to the lead at the one-mile mark, steadily gaining ground in the last quarter of a mile to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Sister Otoole rallied from far back to take second. Merveilleux came on late to finish third.

The final time for the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf was 2:03.65. Find this race's chart here.

Skygaze paid $8.30, $4.70, and $3.30. Sister Otoole paid $7.80 and $4.30. Merveilleux paid $4.40.

Bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, Skygaze is out of the Marquetry mare Skyscape. The 4-year-old filly was consigned by Gainesway and sold to owner Tracy Farmer for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the G3 Maple Leaf, Skygaze has three wins in five starts in 2021 for a lifetime record of six wins in 13 starts and career earnings of $281,684.

The post Skygaze Graduates To Graded Stakes Winner In Maple Leaf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Art of Almost Takes Ontario Matron At Woodbine

In a short field of six, Art of Almost and jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson went from back of the pack to the front of the line to win the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Breaking from the first post, the 5-year-old daughter of Dansili was taken back early, setting in sixth a half-mile into the 1 1/16-mile stakes behind front runners Crystal Glacier and Juxtapose. On the far turn, Wilson angled the Casse trainee out, going three-wide as the field entered the stretch.

Down the center of the Woodbine straight, Art of Almost made her bid for the lead in the race's final furlong, hitting the wire a length and a quarter in front. Skygaze passed Juxtapose to grab second. Crystal Glacier, Saratoga Vision, and Afleet Katherine rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the G3 Ontario Matron was 1:43.99. Find this race's chart here.

Art of Almost paid $19.80, $4.90, and $3.40. Skygaze paid $2.40 and $2.10. Juxtapose paid $4.90.

Bred in Kentucky by Fred Seitz, Dr. Ted Folkerth, J.R. Ward Stables, and Jon Kelly, Art of Almost is out of the First Defence mare Reimpose. Consigned by Brookdale Sales, the 5-year-old mare was purchased by owner D.J. Stables for $290,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. With her win in the Ontario Matron, Art of Almost has two wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of five wins in 25 starts and career earnings of $357,434.

The post Art of Almost Takes Ontario Matron At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Skygaze Romps To Victory In Belle Mahone At Woodbine

Skygaze, full of run late under rider Patrick Husbands, dashed away from her rivals with ease down the stretch en route to a three-length win in Sunday's $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Trained by Mark Casse, who won both Woodbine stakes on Saturday, Skygaze, a four-year-old daughter of American Pharoah-Skyscape, broke alertly in the Belle Mahone and sat second to pacesetter Fate Factor, who led the way through the opening quarter timed in :24.79.

Skygaze continued to track Fate Factor through a half in :48.73, but by the three-quarters mark, the positions were reversed.

It was game over mid-way down the lane as Skygaze romped to her fifth victory from 11 career starts for owner Tracy Farmer.

Crystal Glacier, also a Casse trainee, was second, a neck ahead of No Mo Lady. Art of Almost, another Casse charge, was fourth. Final time for the race was 1:42.72.

“By the three-quarter pole, I was loaded,” said Husbands. “She was the best today.”

It was the first stakes win for Skygaze, who was bred by Normandy Farm LLC. She was third in the 2019 edition of the Grade 3 Mazarine and third in the Grade 3 Trillium on June 26, her last start before the Belle Mahone.

“Last time I rode her, she was a little bit quiet,” noted Husbands. “Today, I went alone and warmed her up. It showed in her form that she likes to be in the race and the last time I rode her, she was flat the whole way with me. Today, she showed me that she really wanted to be in the race. She showed she was the best.”

Skygaze paid $5.50 to win.

The post Skygaze Romps To Victory In Belle Mahone At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine

Conditioner Mark Casse has three chances, in the form of Crystal Glacier, Heavenly Curlin and Skygaze, to capture his third Grade 3 Trillium Stakes title, Saturday at Woodbine.

Having won the 2013 and 2019 editions of the Trillium with Sisterly Love and Miss Mo Mentum, respectively, Casse will look to complete the stakes hat trick in the 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 main track event, with three serious contenders.

Crystal Glacier, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin, has assembled a record of three wins and a second from nine career starts for Live Oak Plantation.

Bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables, the dark bay has a pair of score in her past three races, back-to-back victories coming at Turfway Park this February.

“She's another one that ran well at Turfway,” offered Casse. “We tried there this year and actually had a very good meet. The horses ran well there, including her.”

The Trillium represents the first stakes appearance for Crystal Glacier, who won her career bow on August 9, 2019 at Ellis Park.

“She's a very nice horse and she really does like it at Woodbine.”

Heavenly Curlin, also a daughter of Curlin, will no doubt appreciate a return to the Woodbine Tapeta.

Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the 4-year-old bay rhymed off three consecutive triumphs at the Toronto oval in 2020, including a 5 ¾-length romp in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes on November 7.

Bred by Elevage II, LLC, Heavenly Curlin arrives at the Trillium off a fifth and ninth in two grass starts at Gulfstream.

She sports a record of 3-0-1 from seven career races with all three wins coming in her three Woodbine engagements.

“It was a tremendous effort in the Maple Leaf last year. We took her down to Florida and ran her in some tough spots. She just doesn't like the grass as much as Tapeta.”

Skygaze, who has contested five of her nine career starts at Woodbine, returns to Canada on a three-race win streak that began last fall in Ontario.

After rallying to secure a neck nod in a seven-furlong main track allowance race on October 3, Skygaze took her talents to Turfway Park where the 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah made a late charge to eke out another neck win on December 10.

Owned by Tracy Farmer and bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, the bay was 'much the best' in taking a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event by three lengths.

Skygaze brings a record of 4-0-2 from nine races into the Trillium.

“She won the Mazarine [at Woodbine] last year, but was disqualified,” noted Casse. “It took her awhile to get on track, but she ran really well at Turfway. We had planned on running her in a stake on Jeff Ruby Steaks day, but she didn't get in. She was on the AE's and didn't get in. So, we've been sitting and waiting for this spot for a long time. She's been training very well.”

Casse believes any of his Trillium starters could take all the spoils.

“They all like to win. They're all solid fillies and it wouldn't shock me for any of them to win.”

The Trillium is Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post time is 1:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 TRILLIUM

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Crystal Glacier – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

2 – Souper Escape – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

3 – Red Cabernet – Steven Bahen – Ian Black

4 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

5 – Merveilleux – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

6 – Brassy – Daisuke Fukumoto – Eoin Harty

7 – Skygaze – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Heavenly Curlin – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

The post Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights